Using a dental school application checklist can make you feel more confident that you have considered every detail and fulfilled all the requirements when applying to dental school. With dental school acceptance rates being so competitive, you would not want to miss a deadline or face rejection because you didn’t know what to expect or prepare in advance.
By following the checklists provided in this article, you’ll be sure you’ve got everything covered and can move on to more exciting tasks, such as preparing for dental school interview questions and answers.
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Dental School Application Checklist Overview
Applying to dental school is a lengthy process that begins long before application season opens. If you’re an American student enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program, you’ll want to start planning for dental school before or during your freshman year. Canadian students will follow about the same timeline, despite some differences in the provincial high school and university systems.
Undergrad Year 1 (0–29 credit hours) Freshman
In Year 1 of your undergrad, you’ll want to see an advisor to discuss your interest in pursuing dental school so that they can help you choose your courses. You should also start getting involved in pre-dental activities and thinking about how you will cover the cost of dental school.
Undergrad Year 2 (30–59 credit hours) Sophomore
In Year 2, you will continue the same activities as in Year 1, but you should start taking the necessary science courses and aim for more intensive, in-depth experiences in dentistry and health care-related work.
Undergrad Year 3 (60–89 credit hours) Junior
Year 3 of your undergrad is a crucial year for completing any academic requirements, taking tests, such as the DAT, and preparing to submit your application for dental school in the summer.
Undergrad Year 4 (90+ credit hours) Senior
If all goes well, you will know midway through Year 4 of your undergrad where you have been accepted and can focus on completing any remaining coursework in anticipation of graduation.
The following checklists are based on a four-year undergrad schedule and the ADEA recommendations for students preparing to apply to dental school.
Academics Checklist
Undergrad Year 1 (0–29 credit hours) Freshman
Undergrad Year 2 (30–59 credit hours) Sophomore
Undergrad Year 3 (60–89 credit hours) Junior
Undergrad Year 4 (90+ credit hours) Senior
Extracurriculars Checklist
Undergrad Year 1 (0–29 credit hours) Freshman
Undergrad Year 2 (30–59 credit hours) Sophomore
Undergrad Year 3 (60–89 credit hours) Junior
Undergrad Year 4 (90+ credit hours) Senior
Financial Checklist
Undergrad Year 1 (0–29 credit hours) Freshman
Undergrad Year 2 (30–59 credit hours) Sophomore
Undergrad Year 3 (60–89 credit hours) Junior
Undergrad Year 4 (90+ credit hours) Senior
Dental School Application Checklist
Undergrad Year 3 (60–89 credit hours) Junior
Undergrad Year 4 (90+ credit hours) Senior
How to Apply
Most dental schools in Canada and the US use the centralized ADEA AADSAS (Associated American Dental Schools Application Service). By enabling students to submit a single application for several dental colleges, this service seeks to streamline the application process for dental programs. Although it will save you time and effort, it's critical to recognize the level of dedication required to guarantee a complete application for each of your schools.
Dental schools that do not participate in the AADSAS dental school application process manage their own separate application processes. Students applying to dental schools in Texas must apply through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS), for example. Depending on the school, Canadian applicants may use AADSAS but face additional requirements. Foreign-educated dental graduates will apply through the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID) if they are interested in advanced dental programs in the US. For non-DDS programs, such as an undergraduate degree with four years of dental education, students may use the Common Application.
FAQs
1. When should I start planning for dental school?
If you did not start to think about dental school in high school, you should start preparing during your undergraduate degree. Most dental schools require a bachelor’s degree or at least 90 credits for entry into their programs. In each year of your undergrad, you should take steps to advance your plans for dental school: take prerequisite courses, acquire shadowing hours, improve your manual dexterity, research dental schools and programs, start the application process, and work out a DAT study schedule.
2. How many credits do I need to apply to dental school?
To increase your chances, plan to complete an undergraduate degree. You’ll need at least 90 credits for many dental schools, but most will require a completed 3- or 4-year degree.
3. When do I apply to dental schools using AADSAS?
Apply early! You can send in your application as soon as June. Early applicants have a better chance of receiving an interview.
4. When do I apply to dental schools using TMDSAS?
The application opens in May and closes on November 1.
5. When do I apply to Canadian dental schools?
If you use the AADSAS application to apply to Canadian dental schools, follow the instructions. If you apply directly, follow the instructions given by the specific school regarding their application deadlines.
6. Can I use the AADSAS application to apply to Canadian dental schools?
Yes, several Canadian dental schools accept applications via ADEA AADSAS, but be sure to check any additional requirements, such as language competency testing, deadlines, and CASPer test criteria.
7. Do I need biology and chemistry to apply to dental school?
Yes, you will need to fulfill prerequisite course and lab work requirements to apply to dental school. In addition, you will need these courses to perform well on the DAT, which is mandatory.
8. What DAT score do I need to get into dental school?
Out of a possible total of 30, a score between 20 and 23 is good, and a 21 is considered competitive for dental school hopefuls. It's a good idea to create a solid DAT study schedule and take practice tests to prepare.
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