Undergraduate Requirements for Dental School
There are 61 dental schools in the United States, each granting either a Doctor of Dental Surgery -- DDS -- or a Doctor of Dental Medicine -- DDM. The majority of these schools require two years of college education, but the majority of applicants accepted will have a four-year degree. Like any other professional program, there are courses that you must take to be considered for acceptance into a dental school.
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Majors
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It is not necessary to be a science major, but it does build a good foundation for your dental education. If you choose not to be a science major, be sure that you are aware of the prerequisites for your school of choice. Most likely you will have to take several classes that are not part of your degree plan to meet the requirements for dental school.
Classes
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Most dental schools require one year, or two semesters, credit of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and the lab periods associated with each course. Certain dental schools may have other requirements, such as anatomy, statistics and calculus.
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The Dental Admission Test
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In addition to completing prerequisites, each applicant to dental school must take the Dental Admission Test, or DAT. The DAT is a comprehensive exam including sections that cover natural science, perceptual ability, reading comprehension and quantitative reasoning. The test costs $220 and lasts five hours.
The Application
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There will be either one or two applications that a potential dental student must complete. Often, there is a standardized application that allows potential students to apply to all dental schools within a state. For some schools, a secondary application to the school is also required. There is a fee for each application. You will be questioned about your educational career, volunteer work and experience. A background check will be performed. You will need at least two letters of reference. These are usually from professors, but some schools request a letter of reference from a dentist as well. You will also be required to write an essay explaining your motivation to attend dental school and become a dentist, and your goals associated with the career.
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References
Resources
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