Dental School Acceptance Rates in

Dental School Acceptance Rates

What You Need to Know About Dental School Admissions Statistics

If you want to know how to become a dentist or can’t decide which schools you should apply to, researching dental school acceptance rates and admission data is the first step to preparing yourself.

Admission statistics for dental schools is useful information for applicants when choosing which dental schools to apply to and planning their dental school applications, whether they apply to the hardest or the easiest dental schools to get into. While the average dental school acceptance rates are highly competitive, similar to related professions like medical school acceptance rates, do not be discouraged if a school has a very low acceptance rate. Admissions statistics should be used to inform your preparation for applying to dental school, but numbers alone do not tell you everything you need to know.

We’ll look at a few other factors you should consider when deciding which dental schools to apply to.

#1: GPA and DAT Scores

For instance, many dental schools, as we can see above, have high average accepted GPAs and DAT scores. These are the primary indicators of applicants’ academic ability, so it is important to achieve as high as GPA and DAT score as possible. If you want to know whether you’re a competitive applicant to a particular school, check the average accepted DAT score or GPA and compare it to your own. For a better chance of acceptance, you should have a test score or GPA above the average. But this doesn’t mean a dental school won’t accept you if your scores are lower. Some schools have minimum GPA requirements or DAT score requirements, and other schools have no set minimum. Dental schools that set a minimum GPA are unlikely to consider your application if your grades fall below this minimum, whereas schools that have no set minimum GPA or DAT score typically use the scores of the previous admissions cycle’s matriculants to determine a baseline. Which means, if your score meets or beats the average GPA and DAT score of a school’s matriculants, you have a better chance of getting accepted. It's wise to create a DAT study schedule for yourself and start preparing for the test early!

#2: In State vs. Out of State

Just like medical schools and other professional programs, dental schools prefer applicants from their own state or province. This is to encourage dental school applicants who are more likely to stay and practice in that same state or province and contribute to improving dental health care for in-state residents. Which means if your goal is to get into one of the dental schools in Canada, you have an increased chance of success applying to one in your province of residence. The same goes for US applicants. As you can see in the statistics above, in-state applicants have a higher acceptance rate to dental schools than out-of-state applicants. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible for out-of-state applicants to get into a school, but it is more difficult.

#3: Acceptance rate and number of applications

Lastly, you should consider a dental school’s acceptance rate in conjunction with the number of applications it receives. Some dental schools will have lower acceptance rates because they are highly selective or only admit a small number of applicants. Other schools might be considered more competitive because they receive a high volume of applications and therefore only accept a small percentage. A lower acceptance rate doesn’t necessarily mean your chances are slim to none. If you meet or exceed the average GPA and DAT score, are an in-state applicant and have a stellar application, you have a better chance of getting into even a competitive school.

While you are never guaranteed acceptance, you can tip the scales in your favor by considering these factors when researching different dental schools. Create a list of schools where you are a competitive applicant based on your stats and the admission requirements. From there, research each of the schools to make sure they are the right fit for your education, values and needs. Even though you might be a competitive applicant at a certain school, it may not be your first choice. Take the time to curate a list of potential dental schools, rather than sending an application to every school you can find.

How to Get into Dental School

Getting into dental school is a challenge, as the acceptance rate for US dental schools is around 40%. In Canada, the acceptance rate is only around 13%. However, Canada only has 10 dental schools whereas the US has 70 institutions, so again, the numbers alone don’t tell us the whole story. Even if a school has a lower acceptance rate, you can still have a chance to get accepted if you meet the requirements, submit a strong application, ace your interview and apply as early as you can.

Average US dental school acceptance rate

To get into dental school requires a great deal of work and preparation, and you need to be prepared for both the admissions requirements and the admissions process to get into dental school. Next, we’ll look at what you need to know about dental school admissions requirements and the admissions process. Then, we’ll look at our tips for improving your dental school application!

Dental school application services

If you’re applying to a dental school in the US, you’ll most likely be using the AADSAS dental school application service. This is a one-stop portal for dental school applicants in the US, with the exception of students applying to dental schools in Texas, who must use the TMDSAS application service. You’ll need to register with the right service and get started on creating your application, which will be sent to all dental schools you apply to.

It is best to familiarize yourself with the application service you’ll be using so you can begin preparing your application as early as possible. Many dental schools use rolling admissions, which means you have a better chance of getting a spot in a program if you apply early before spots fill up! Apply as early as possible with as strong an application as possible. If you need guidance or expert help on your application, a dental school admissions consulting service might be worth it for you.

How can a dental school advisor help you?

Dental school admissions requirements

Dental schools have similar admissions requirements to medical school requirements or PA school requirements. Applicants do not need to have a specific undergraduate major, but a solid foundation in the sciences is often a prerequisite. Most schools also require students to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and submit a written application which includes a dental school personal statement and dental school recommendation letters or letters of evaluation. Like medical schools, dental schools also value real-world clinical experience or shadowing experience.

In general, the requirements for dental school are:

Writing a dental school personal statement? Check out this video:

How to Improve your Dental School Acceptance Chances

Having a good GPA and impressive DAT scores is great, but the more qualitative sections of your application shouldn’t be neglected. These are the application components which will secure you a dental school interview, and that’s your opportunity to really shine for the admissions committee. With a stellar personal statement and glowing letters of recommendation, you can make yourself an attractive candidate. But to really stand out from the crowd, you should put some effort into all of the following:

1. Participate in research

Research is an important activity to have in your dental school portfolio. It is not a requirement to get into dental school, but it may be highly valued by certain schools or add a competitive edge to your application. By participating in research, you can show admissions committees that you have a keen interest in the profession and have worked to develop important skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and analysis, which you will need to succeed in dental school. Keep in mind that lab research experience is just as valued by dental schools as research in the social sciences.

2. Demonstrate leadership and community-mindedness

A great way to stand out in your dental school application is to have a strong history of leadership and community involvement. Leadership and volunteer experiences can take many forms, from organizing a club initiative or event, to working in a homeless shelter or volunteering for a local church. Any experiences like these are excellent additions to your application, since they demonstrate to admissions committees that you are preparing yourself to become a leader and pillar in your community.

Want BeMo’s help with your dental school application? Here’s how we helped one of our students get into dental school!

3. Choose the best extracurriculars

Choosing the best dental school extracurriculars is tricky, but you can bolster your application with exemplary non-academic activities and interests. Admissions committees may ask how you spend your free time or what your interests are outside of school. Even if they’re not directly related to dentistry, they can still give your application a boost. For instance, an interest in painting or proficiency in a musical instrument aren’t directly tied to dentistry, but they show that you have excellent manual dexterity and creativity, which is valuable to dental schools. Volunteer work at a soup kitchen may not seem relevant to your application, but it shows empathy and a strong tie to the well-being of the community. Check out some dental school application experiences examples to get an idea of how to structure this part of your application and what key details to include.

Which extracurriculars are best for dental school? Check out this infographic:

4. Gain clinical experience and shadowing hours

Clinical experience or experience shadowing a dentist is not usually required of applicants, although some schools may list it as a preference. Without a doubt, having experience under your belt can be an advantage to your application. Shadowing a dentist gives you an insight not only into the profession and the day-to-day work of a dentist, but you can also gain a strong letter of recommendation. Getting some clinical experience from working at a dental office is also a great way to learn more about the profession and make sure it is a good fit for you. Admissions committees like to see that you have first-hand experience and understanding of the profession, and that you’re committed to dentistry.

5. Prepare for your CASPer test

Many dental schools ask applicants to take the CASPer test, a situational judgment test that evaluates applicants’ suitability for the profession. The CASPer is an online test that presents you with a variety of scenarios or prompts and asks you to respond to follow-up questions. The test evaluates your communication skills, professionalism and critical thinking and reasoning, among other soft skills and qualities. Prepare yourself ahead of time by reading up on CASPer test questions or consider taking a CASPer test prep course. Although not as comprehensive as the DAT, you should give yourself at least 6-8 weeks to prepare for the CASPer.

6. Ace your dental school interview

Your dental school interview is the final hurdle and your chance to impress the admissions committee in person. Be ready to answer the hardest dental school interview questions and common questions like "tell me about yourself". Try rehearsing with a mock interview so your performance is polished. A dental school advisor can be an expert resource here to provide professional feedback and advice, or you can ask a trusted friend to act as your mock interviewer. It is critical to prepare for your dental school interview, especially the manual dexterity question and other tricky interview questions, since this will be the last impression an admissions committee has of you before they make a decision.

Preparing for a dental school interview? Here are the questions you should know:

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting 

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

TikTok

YouTube

Instagram

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

LinkedIn

Twitter