Pre-Dentistry

Admission Requirements for Dental School
From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to these professional schools. Dental schools will review your application holistically, and you can work with your advisors to provide a competitive application.

Experience in Dentistry
It is expected by most Dental schools that candidates will exhibit a confirmed interest and motivation in a dental career by participating in career-related activities such as job shadowing, community service and other volunteer opportunities. You should demonstrate an interest in addressing health gaps or commitment to service and care for underserved communities to make yourself more desirable. Having strong career experiences and life accomplishments will allow you to validate your professionalism and maturity, which are strongly considered in the application process. Additionally, many dental schools require students to job shadow a dentist. Students are encouraged to obtain a minimum of 100 hours.

Other qualifications. Dentistry requires diagnostic ability and manual skills. You should have good visual memory; excellent judgment regarding space, shape and color; a high degree of manual dexterity; and scientific ability.

College Major
You are not required to select a particular major in order to be eligible for admission to a dental program. In selecting a college major, consider how you will satisfactorily complete the prerequisite courses for your designated dental program in addition to the college/university's degree and major requirements.  Work with your academic and/or pre-dental advisor to plan your course schedule.

You have the option to choose from a wide variety of undergraduate majors to prepare you for a dental program.  Suggested undergraduate majors include Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Neuroscience.

GPA
Most programs look for a minimum undergraduate cumulative 3.0 GPA but the average GPA for matriculates is a 3.5 cumulative and a 3.4 in the sciences. Keep in mind these numbers are averages and various schools can have their own averages that are higher or lower. Also, these averages are climbing higher each year and admission to dental schools is more competitive than ever. Be sure you take your studies seriously and put in the proper time for reading, studying, and review for each course.

Some dental schools may have additional courses required or recommended. Review the admission requirements of the dental schools to which you plan on applying in advance.

All required courses must be taken for a grade. Each school has its own policy regarding AP credit. Usually, AP credit in these areas should be followed with additional upper level work in the same discipline including labs.

Job Outlook
Dentists held about 151,500 jobs in 2014. According to the American Dental Association, about 3 out of 4 dentists in private practice are solo proprietors, and almost 15 percent belong to a partnership.

Employment of dentists is projected to grow 18 percent through 2024, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Job prospects should be good, reflecting the need to replace the large number of dentists expected to retire.

Earnings
Median annual wages of salaried general dentists were $159770 in May 2016. Earnings vary according to the number of years in practice, hours worked and specialty. Self-employed dentists in private practice tend to earn more than salaried dentists.

Online Resources
For information on dentistry as a career:

• American Dental Association
  
• Bureau of Labor Statistics-Dentists
  
• Explore Health Careers
  

For more information on general dentistry or on a specific dental specialty:

• Academy of General Dentistry
  
• American Association of Orthodontists
  
• American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  
• American Academy of Periodontology
  
• American College of Prosthodontists
  
• American Association of Endodontists
  
• American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
  
• American Association of Public Health Dentistry
  

DAT (Dental Admission Test)
A minimum DAT score of 16 is typical with the average for matriculates about 20/30. You should aim to have a score between 19-21 in order to stay competitive.

Most students take this exam the summer before their senior year. In order to register for the DAT you will need to complete the following:

• Obtain a DENTPIN: http://www.ada.org/dentpin.aspx
• Schedule a time to take the test: http://www.prometric.com/ADA/default.htm
• Take the test
• Retain the unofficial score report after completing test

Michigan Dental Schools

• University of Detroit Mercy – School of Dentistry
  
• University of Michigan – School of Dentistry

Applying to Dental Schools
Most Dental Schools use the ADEA AADSAS (Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) site as a centralized application site. 

• To apply: https://portal.aadsasweb.org/
• Create a new account
• Submit your application accurately but early if possible