Admission Criteria for Predoctoral (DMD) Dental Education Program

LCSDM seeks to admit a student population with demonstrated academic capabilities and a firm commitment to the profession of dentistry.

Every application that meets the minimum requirements (DATAA of 370 and Science GPA of 2.8) receives a holistic, full-file review considering a spectrum of quantitative and qualitative factors.

Minimum Criteria:

  • Science GPA in undergraduate or graduate courses: 2.8
  • Academic Average on the DAT: 17 (370 using 3-digit scoring)
  • Total undergraduate course credit hours: 90
  • Grade of C or higher for all required courses

Must also show evidence of:

  • Shadowing at multiple dental offices and/or clinics
  • Healthcare-related and other community service
  • One letter of evaluation from the undergraduate Health Professions Advisory Committee or pre-health professions program director, OR two letters of evaluation, preferably from science faculty.
  • Applicants are considered on a competitive basis with attention given to the undergraduate grade-point average, with an emphasis on the last 30 credits of science prerequisites, Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores, evaluation by pre-professional advisors and/or university professors, extramural achievements, and interviews conducted by members of the LCSDM Admissions Committee.
  • Impacting factors affecting academic performance are also taken into consideration.
  • No single criterion carries a specific weight in the School’s comprehensive open-file candidate assessment process.