Admission requirements typically include a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, with a curriculum generally including: It is the responsibility of the student to consult each program/school they are applying to for a complete list of pre-requisite coursework.
- Two semesters of Biology with lab
- Two semesters of General Chemistry with lab
- Two semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab
- Two semesters of Physics with lab
- Two semesters of College-Level Math
- Biochemistry
- Two semesters of English
- Genetics
- Microbiology
Consult our Pre-Dental Curriculum, a comprehensive guide to undergraduate preparation.
It is a student's responsibility to check with individual programs regarding the coursework needed to matriculate at their institution.
Being a Competitive Applicant:
Dental school academic admission requirements span a wider range than those of medical schools, but competitive dental school applicants must have a GPA greater than or equal to about 3.4. A GPA of 3.0 is required for a committee interview.
Use our GPA Calculator Spreadsheetto see where you stand.
If you are an international applicant we encourage you to check with individual dental schools on specific admissions requirements.
With the dental school application process taking one full year, students are highly encouraged to think about their application timeline in advance:
It is the responsibility of the student to review all program requirements.
Part of your pre-dental journey will be to cultivate knowledge of your future profession, develop proficiency in various skills, and demonstrate a compassionate approach to dental care. The application will ask you for experiences relevant to your application.
These experiences can be broken down into the following categories:
| Academic Enrichment | Employment | Volunteer |
| Dental Experience In Person | Extracurricular Activities | Shadowing/Clinical Observation |
| Dental Experience Virtual | Research | Manual Dexterity |
Start here with our Experiences Resources Guide
FIU organizations that may provide resources or networking opportunities to find experience in the above topic areas:
For an extensive list, please refer to Panther Connect.
Other resources:
All applicants must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) to be considered for admission.
What is the DAT?
The Dental Admissions Test is administered to understand the skill levels of applicants seeking admission to dental school. Dental schools use information concerning candidates’ DAT performance to inform admissions decisions.
While all dental schools require applicants to participate in the DAT Program, DAT results are just one factor considered in evaluating applicant admission potential. Validity studies have shown that test scores in conjunction with academic performance are useful in predicting success in dental school. The relative importance of these predictors in the admission process is determined by each dental school.
An important update regarding the DAT: Starting March 1, 2025, the American Dental Association (ADA) will implement a new scoring system for the DAT. The current 2-digit score reporting scale (1 to 30) will be replaced by a 3-digit reporting scale (200 to 600). To help you understand these updates, please review the DAT FAQs about the new scoring system.
More information can be found on the Dental Admission Test website.
When should you take the DAT to be considered competitive?
Based on whether or not you want to take a growth year, the ideal timeline to take your DAT should be:
- Straight through: spring semester of junior year
- One-growth year: summer of junior to senior year
- Two growth years: summer after senior year
- Multiple growth years: no earlier than 2 years before application
Students are highly encouraged to have an DAT score report prior to starting the application process. Not having a score report will put students at a disadvantage when applying since their application will not be considered complete.
Test Preparation
Pre-dental students are encouraged to apply to different types of dental schools.
The Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) administered by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
Application Resources
(Note that, if you’re applying to dental schools in Texas, you’ll need to submit those applications through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS), which has its own timeline.)
