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Dental School FAQs

Which major should I choose?

While the practice of dentistry is grounded in scientific principles, there are no specific majors you must choose in order to be admitted to a professional program.

However, majoring in a science field helps complete the required classes and prepare you for the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Some of the most common such majors at SUNY Cortland include:

What classes are prerequisites for dental school admissions?

Most dental schools require the following courses:

  • Biological Sciences I and II with labs (BIO 201 and BIO 202)
  • General Chemistry I and II with labs (CHE 221 and CHE 222)
  • Organic Chemistry I and II with labs (CHE 301, CHE 302, and CHE 304)
  • Physics I and II with labs (PHY 105 and PHY 106)
  • Mathematics - full year of Calculus (MAT 121 and 122) or one semester of Calculus and one semester of Statistics (MAT 201)
  • Most require that you take a year of English (CPN 100 and CPN 101)

Some also require the courses below, while others simply suggest them as beneficial:

  • Cellular Biology (BIO 210)
  • Genetics (BIO 312)
  • Microbiology (BIO 304)
  • Human Anatomy (BIO 324) and Human Physiology (BIO 514)
  • Biochemistry (CHE 451)
  • Psychology (PSY 101)
  • Sociology (SOC 150)

Most dental schools also note that the following courses can be advantageous:

  • Basic business courses. Many dentists end up in private practice.
  • Applied art courses. Sculpture (ATS 106) to develop manual dexterity; drawing, painting and ceramics courses also help.
  • Foreign Language

* Consult the American Dental Education Association website for additional information on individual schools.

What are other requirements for dental school admissions?

  • GPA of 3.4 or higher to be considered a competitive applicant
  • Shadowing experience with a dentist
  • Score of 18 or higher on each section of the DAT

What are some other tips?

  • Outstanding grades and an excellent DAT score are essential, but it is also important that you are a well-rounded student with other interests and activities on your application, both dental-related and otherwise.
  • Increasingly, professional schools value applicants with demonstrated cultural and social competency – namely a recognition of and training in understanding cultural differences, biases and inequities in the profession.
  • Taking on leadership roles and participating in activities outside of the classroom demonstrates that you can effectively interact with people, which is necessary for success in dentistry.
  • Some leadership roles that exist at SUNY Cortland: participation in a student organization such as SUNY Cortland Emergency Medical Services; tutor or teaching assistant; supplemental instructor; student justice; or participation on a sports team.

Is there a timeline to make sure I stay on track for dental school?

First year and sophomore year

  • Work with your pre-dental advisor to plan courses and experiences that will help your dental school application.
  • Begin to complete biology, chemistry and physics requirements. Early academic success is a must.
  • Attend health-related events on campus. These are hosted by groups such as Alumni Engagement, Career Services, various student clubs and academic departments.
  • Get involved on campus and off of it through undergraduate research, volunteer work, clinical experience or other areas that excite you.

Junior year

  • Complete medical school prerequisite requirements by the end of spring semester.
  • Prepare extensively and then take the DAT.
  • Gather letters of evaluation from faculty members and others.
  • Prepare your personal statement and admissions essay. Be sure to have it proofread by another source including faculty members and Career Services.
  • Apply for admission at least a year in advance.
  • Review dental school resources such as the Official Guide to Dental Schools, the American Student Dental Association website and the American Dental Association careers website.
  • Continue activities inside and outside of the classroom.

Senior year

  • Practice mock interviews with the College’s Pre-Dental Advisory Committee before medical school admission interviews.
  • Complete forms for financial aid.
  • Send thank-you notes to evaluators and mentors.