Certificate of Graduate Program Preparation: Pre-Dental

Pre-Dental Certificate

Prepare a competitive Dental School application

The Pre-Dental Certificate is designed to prepare any student in any discipline, either seeking or having completed a bachelor's degree, for competitively applying to dental programs. This certificate requires significant preparation in the natural sciences and a strong GPA to complete. Students are required to seek out patient experiences to complete the certificate. The 300 hours (minimum) of required experience places students in a strong position to stand out among their peers.

Format

In-Person

Credit Hours

14 to 16 Credit Hours
*Depending on the student's course selections

Additional Requirements

Science GPA: 3.25
Courses: BIOL 362 x6

About the Program

The Pre-Dental Certificate guides students toward meeting important academic and non-academic prerequisites for achieving acceptance into most dental programs. The requirements are specifically selected because they are either required or suggested to obtain admission into these programs. Completion of the certificate requirements will increase the chances of students completing a competitive application.

The BIOL 362 requirement for Pre-Dental Certificate is a unique aspect of the Pre-Health certificate program at 麻豆传媒团队. BIOL 362 requires students to obtain documented experience with patients (e.g., shadowing, scribing, dental assistant, etc) for 50 hours per semester for a total of 300 experience hours over two years, which are necessary for a competitive application.

Students will obtain knowledge in relevant disciplines necessary to perform well on the DAT and for consideration into dental programs.
Students will obtain knowledge and experiences for consideration into dental programs.
Students will have competitive GPAs for consideration into dental programs.

The Pre-Dental Certificate at Saint Xavier provides an unique opportunity for students to have a guided experience that ensures they submit competitive applications to their desired progams.

麻豆传媒团队 has small courses taught by accessible and knowledgeable faculty with experience with various health programs.

麻豆传媒团队鈥檚 small class sizes provide personalized experiences and relationships with faculty, who can provide thoughtful and well-informed letters of recommendation to dental programs.

Students completing the Pre-Dental Certificate should be well-positioned to complete or nearly complete a biology and/or chemistry minor if they are not already pursuing a biology or chemistry major. Students completing the Pre-Dental Certificate would similarly have made significant progress toward a Biology major.

Required Courses:

CHEM 252: Organic Chemistry II (4)

PHYS 202: Physics II (4)

Electives: (Choose 2)

CHEM 301: Biochemistry (4)

Statistics: BIOL 303: Biostatistics (3) OR MATH 135 Introduction to Statistics (4)

BIOL 202: Human Anatomy (4)

BIOL 203: Human Physiology (4)

BIOL 255: Science Research and Writing Methods Seminar (3)

BIOL 306: General Microbiology (4)

Natural Sciences Division

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Contact the Office of Admission

773-298-3050
Toll Free: 844-GOTO-麻豆传媒团队 (844-468-6798)
Fax: 773-298-3076
Email: admissionFREE麻豆传媒团队
M-F: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Other Pre-Health and Research Certificates

Earn a Certificate of Graduate Program Preparation

Pre-Medicine

Pre-Optometry

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Physician Assistant

Pre-PT/OT

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Science Research

Application Process

An overall GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) is the preferred GPA for consideration for admission at most colleges of dentistry. The average GPA for the fall 2011 class at UIC College of Dentistry was 3.66. The science GPA average was 3.60; this GPA includes grades in biology, chemistry, physics, math, statistics and computer science courses.

Visit the College of Dentistry: Any student who wants to assess dentistry as a potential career is encouraged to visit the UIC clinics. When you go, make sure to make arrangements in advance and go dressed professionally.

Shadowing: While there is no formula for hours spent volunteering, working, or shadowing in a dentistry clinic, any exploration of the field helps students make more informed decisions regarding their suitability for a career in dentistry.

All U.S. dental schools require applicants to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Most schools (including the University of Iowa) use the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) for initiating an application. ADEA sponsors the online (AADSAS). Students should check the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools for deadlines at other schools and should apply well before listed deadlines.

ADEA has stated that the number of graduates of dental and allied dental programs should reflect their representation in the population and the communities in which they will serve. Recruitment, retention and graduation of practitioners from disadvantaged groups are goals that are important for the public's health (from the ).

Many colleges of dentistry have a summer enrichment program that, prior to matriculation, helps admitted students acclimate to the college. Students are encouraged to contact their pre-dentistry advisors and the individual dental schools for more information.

It is preferred that the DAT is taken no later than August of the calendar year preceding the year in which the applicant wishes to enroll in the dental college. Students register online at www.ada.org. The test consists of four sections: a Survey of Natural Sciences (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry), Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning, and Perceptual Ability. Two summary scores are reported, one on academic subjects and one for perceptual ability, as well as scores on individual sections. The scoring range is from 1 to 30. The average score for students accepted into the UI program is 19 for each subtest. The current national average is between 17 and 18.

Letters of evaluation will be required of applicants. Letters from a faculty member, dentist or physician, academic advisor, or employer would be appropriate. Information about the non-academic character of a student would be most useful as academic information is already in the application. Students should have their evaluation letters submitted directly through AADSAS.

Most schools screen applicants with some form of personal interview. The UIC College of Dentistry interview consists of structured and unstructured components and is conducted by two individuals, one of whom is an Admissions Committee member.

In general, applicants needed a 3.50 GPA or greater to be considered for interviews in 2024; however, there were some exceptions. Admission is based on GPA, DAT scores, research interest or experience, community involvement, leadership qualities, the interview, the essay, and letters of recommendation. The Admissions Committee consists of ten faculty and two dental students (all voting members), as well as three ex-officio members.

Prerequisite for enrollment in the College of Dentistry is consent for an external background check. This check includes but is not limited to past criminal offenses and registry information. If there is evidence of arrest for a crime(s), conviction for a crime(s), presence on an abuse registry, or other information which reasonably suggests that patient safety might be compromised, the student will be asked to provide additional information.

Dental schools vary as to whether they accept non-U.S. citizens. Some schools that do accept non-citizens require a substantial financial commitment up front. Since not all schools accept non-citizens and since the financial commitment of those that do may be substantial, students should thoroughly research and carefully consider such a decision and discuss it with their pre-dental advisors early in their undergraduate years.

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