University Honors

Applying to Dental School

(Prepared by Andrew Baker for the Pre-Dental Club, 2004, used with permission; modified from the original for general distribution)

Step 1: Pre-Dental Folder

  • See Tammy Craft for outline. Can begin working on freshman year. Needs to be completed before spring break of junior year and submitted to Ms. Craft for the campus interview after spring break. Check with Dr. Sitz for additional details.
  • A complete folder includes at least three letters of recommendation (two from science professors), transcript from Hokie Spa, photo, personal statement, resume and a list of dental experience.
  • Look for announcements of the campus interviews via the Pre-Dent Club website or the Pre-Med/Pre-Dent website during spring semester of junior year. One must sign up for an interview time with Ms. Craft before spring break of the junior year. After spring break during the junior year, one participates in the campus interview. This will serve to prepare one for the interview atmosphere at the dental school, and the campus interview serves as a basis for the letter of recommendation from the University Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Committee. The Committee also reviews the personal statement, which is important in the application process. One is eligible to participate in the campus interview ONLY if the Pre-Dental folder is complete.

Step 2: Work with Pre-Dental Advisors

  • If one has access to a University Pre-Dental Advising Committee, dental schools will expect a letter of recommendation from that committee. Therefore, it is important to meet with Dr. Sitz at least once per semester AFTER your freshman year to evaluate your progress. The freshman year should be spent establishing a competitive grade point average.
  • The Dean of Admissions from the VCU/MCV Dental School visits Virginia Tech at least once per year. It is important to stay abreast of the meeting time, schedule a visit with the Dean through Ms. Craft, and let the Dean also review your progress and preparation for the application process. This is an excellent opportunity for direct advising from the Dean of Admissions at a dental school to which most Virginia Tech students will apply.

Step 3: Make sure you have taken, or will take, all required classes to apply to dental school

  • Although some schools vary in their requirements, they generally are: two semesters of biology with labs; two semesters of general chemistry with labs; two semesters of organic chemistry with labs; two semesters of physics with labs; two semesters of English; and two semesters of math.
  • Check with the specific dental school before you apply. Some schools require additional classes such as psychology and biochemistry.
  • The Dean of Admissions from VCU/MCV will also suggest additional useful classes such as genetics, microbiology, cell biology, immunology, animal physiology, etc. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to take as many of these “suggested” courses as possible.

Step 4: Take the DAT

  • Given that the DAT is computer-based, there is considerable flexibility in scheduling a time to take it. However, one should keep the following in mind:
    • Most students take the DAT during spring semester of their junior year;
    • The DAT should be taken after you have finished organic chemistry (or most of it);
    • Physics is not on the DAT;
    • The DAT is computer-based, so be prepared for taking the exam in this format; and
    • If you need to re-take the exam, you must wait at least 90 days.
  • The DAT consists of four sections: Survey of Natural Sciences (biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry), Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning (with NO calculator).
  • The cost was $165 in 2003-2004 (this includes the cost to send the scores to five schools; additional schools are $10 per school.)
  • Application for the DAT can be found here. Applications are reviewed only once per week, so plan ahead for processing time.

Step 5: Transcripts and Letter of Evaluation Matching Forms

  • Download “Matching Forms” from www.adea.org and fill them out.
  • Give the “transcript-matching” form to the Registrar and “letter of evaluation matching” form to Ms. Craft. They will forward your transcripts and recommendations to AADSAS. You must notify them when you want the material sent in.

Step 6: Apply through AADSAS

  • Assuming one plans to attend dental school immediately after graduation, the application process should begin the summer after the junior year.
  • Go to the www.adea.org website, click on “AADSAS,” and open an account. This will allow you to create a profile and password, which allows one to work on the application at his or her own pace. Remember, this is a very time consuming process – the application instruction manual is 56 pages long!
  • Most of the application consists of basic questions about you, your family and your education. This is also the section that requires answers to some basic questions as to why you are applying to dental school. You also have to type a personal statement. The PS can be pasted from a Word Document, and the PS should have been reviewed for clarity, accuracy and content by the Pre-Med/Pre-Dental Committee and others.
  • Most of the time is spent completing the course work section of the application. This requires matching every undergraduate class that you have ever taken with an AADSAS class code. However, only about half of the courses you will have taken actually match a code that they have. You will spend most of your time trying to find classes that are similar to the classes you have taken.
  • Using the course work data, the AADSAS will compute eight different GPAs: Total Course Work, BCP (biology, chemistry and physics), Science, and Non-Science. All four are computed with and without + or – letter grades.
  • The application is available on May 15 and the earliest date for submission is June 1. The application is not sent immediately to the dental schools because it takes AADSAS another two to three weeks to process. A copy will be sent to you via mail when AADSAS has processed it and sent it to the dental schools you requested.
  • The cost for sending out the application materials was $195 for the first school, $60 for each school up to 10, and $50 for schools 11 through 20 (costs in 2004).

Step 7: Processing Fees and Supplemental Applications

  • Now that you have completed the AADSAS application, you’re all done, right? WRONG! Yes, the dental schools have received your application, but the dental schools won’t look at it until you send them a separate processing fee. Many applicants don’t realize this.
  • Most dental schools will send out supplemental application forms if they are interested in you – either via e-mail or regular mail to your permanent address. Some supplemental applications are very straightforward, others require writing. Every school is different with respect to this aspect of the application process, so check before you apply.
  • The processing fee ranges between $60 and $100, depending on the school. You must pay a separate fee for each school.

Approximate application costs, assuming five dental schools are applied to:

  • DAT $165
  • AADSAS Fees $435
  • Processing Fee (about $70 per school) $350
  • Certified Mail (SEND EVERYTHING THIS WAY!) $60
  • Total Cost $1010
  • For additional information, see the Pre-Dental Club webpage.

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