Pre-dental students should consult with Dr. Pomeroy-Black in addition to their primary advisors for their majors. The pre-dental student should complete the required Principles of Biology courses as early as possible to provide flexibility in future course selections.
Pre-dental students should be familiar with the specific requirements set by the dental school(s) to which they plan to apply. The minimum requirements set by most schools of dentistry are:
- a minimum GPA of 2.8, with a “C” or better in all courses.The average GPA is 3.5-3.7.
- the following courses:
- Principles of Biology, with lab (8 semester hours)
- General Chemistry, with lab (8 semester hours)
- Organic Chemistry, with lab (8 semester hours)
- Physics, with lab (4-8 semester hours)
- One upper-level Biology course. Recommended Biology courses include Immunology, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Embryology, Genetics, Cell Physiology, and Neurobiology.
- demonstration of leadership in college and/or community organizations
- a minimum score of 16-17 on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). The average score is 19-21.
- shadowing hours (number varies by school)
- letters of evaluation
- personal statement
Students should keep records of dates, duration, and types of experience when shadowing or completing paid work in a dental setting.
Courses in the arts and social sciences, such as Scuplture and Psychology, are strongly recommended.