Dental School Acceptance Rates

Dental School Acceptance Rates

How to Use Dental School Admissions Statistics to Increase Your Chances of Acceptance

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 are useful when choosing which dental schools to apply to and planning your dental school applications, whether you are applying to the hardest or the easiest dental schools to get into. However, make sure to research the schools that interest you the most to determine their requirements. In some cases admissions statistics might be higher because of strict application requirements or preferences for in-state students.

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

#1: GPA and DAT Scores

Many dental schools have high average accepted GPAs and DAT scores. These are the primary indicators of your academic ability and often act as first-round cut-offs, 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. Dental schools that set a minimum GPA are unlikely to consider your application even if you meet the minimum – you must strive to meet the average accepted scores of previous year’s matriculants to have a realistic chance of acceptance. 

#2: Acceptance rate and number of applications

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 and/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 more 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. You can 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 educational goals, 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 preferred dental schools, rather than wasting your time and money sending an application to every school you can find.

Bonus: In State vs. Out of State Acceptance Rates

Just like medical schools and other professional programs, most 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 the state’s residents. Make sure to check how your preferred schools treat out-of-state applicants; equal to in-state applicants or with preferential treatment for in-state applicants. This may lower your chance of admission. 

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