Pre-Dental Guide

Pre-Dental Preparation Pathway

Dentistry is a four-year professional program, which is followed by a one-year residency for licensure in New York. The dental degree may be either DMD or DDS, depending on the program. Students attend dental school after they have completed an undergraduate degree or (rarely, a minimum of 90 semester hours toward a degree). Occasionally, those who enter after three years complete an undergraduate degree by applying their first year of dental schoolwork as 30 hours of elective credit toward an undergraduate degree.

Traditionally, Dental Schools require two semesters of biology with lab, two semesters of general chemistry with lab, two semesters of organic chemistry with lab, and two semesters of physics with lab. Some Dental Schools also require courses like English composition, an additional upper-level biology course like A&P, microbiology and biochemistry. Additionally, dental schools may also substitute one semester of biochemistry for the second semester of organic chemistry. But remember, students must also score competitively on the Dental School Admissions exam (DAT) and in addition to these, Statistics and Genetics are covered content, so these must be prioritized.

The most popular majors for the Pre-Dental Path at SUNY Brockport are Biology and Biochemistry, although prerequisite courses can be taken as part of any student’s degree program.

Recommended Pre-Dental Coursework at SUNY Brockport

BIO201/BIO202 General Biology I and II with labs
CHM205/CHM206 General Chemistry I and II with labs
CHM305/CHM306 Organic Chemistry I and II with labs
PHS205/210 Intro to Physics I and II or College Physics I and II with labs
MTH122 Precalculus and MTH201 Calculus and MTH243 Intro to Statistics
BIO302 Genetics with lab
BIO310 Biological Chemistry or BIO467 Biochemistry I
ENG112 College Composition and either ENG210 Creative Writing or ENG300 Adv Composition
An Art course (ART212, 261, 361 371 are recommended)
A Business course (BUS263 is recommended)

The courses listed above should not be taken in an online mode because otherwise, they may not be considered valid by the recipient dental schools.

Dental Pathway Minor

Academic Credentials Required for Admission

Admission to dental school is extremely competitive, and admissions committees are able to choose from among many talented students. The median cumulative GPA and DAT scores for the 2023 entering classes at three popular Dental Schools are shown in the Table below:

School	Overall GPA	Academic DAT	Applications	Offers/Accepted
Stony Brook	3.59	21.5	1,,080	100/46
Buffalo	3.61	20.5	1,327	149/93
LECOM	3.38	19.2	N/A	N/A

Nationwide, in 2023 there were 11,198 applicants to dental schools. Most admitted students had applied twice before being accepted. About 58.6% of applicants are now enrolled in a dental school program. An overall GPA of 3.52 and science GPA of 3.41 (on a 4.0 scale) is the average GPA of applicants, with successful enrollees averaging significantly higher at 3.65 overall and 3.57 in the sciences; this is the highest GPA profile in over 20 years, and it’s becoming more competitive than ever. 74% of enrolled dental school applicants had above a 3.50 overall GPA. 9.4% of enrolled dental school applicants had GPAs below a 3.00.

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is required for admission to dental school. It is a standardized, computer-based exam that consists of four sections: a Survey of Natural Sciences (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry), Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning, and Perceptual Ability. Two summary scores are reported, one on academic subjects and one for perceptual ability, as well as scores on individual sections. The current (2023) national average for all test takers is approximately 19.7 (Science 19.2 and PAT 19.4), with the DAT scores of admitted students being higher at 20.3 (Science 20.4 and PAT 20.2). It is typically taken after the required natural science courses have been completed. Preparation for the DAT consists of self-study and taking DAT practice tests or participating in a formal DAT test preparation course. Students register online.

Professional Experience

Students must obtain professional dental experience prior to application. For most schools, 50-100 hours of dental assisting and/or shadowing will satisfy this requirement. SUNY Brockport will not place students in Dental Offices. However, our PPH advisors are prepared to coach students on securing these opportunities independently of their academic coursework.

Personal Characteristics & Professionalism

Admission to dental school requires more than high grades! Dentists not only focus on patient care, but many also run their own businesses. You should work hard to develop your diverse and unique set of personality traits. Consider taking courses or participating in activities that will shore up your communication skills, showcase your leadership abilities, or highlight your passion for serving others. You’ll need to demonstrate that you are a strong communicator, are excited about the science and profession of dentistry, are artistic and detail-oriented, and trust-worthy.

Participate in organizations that serve others, within or outside healthcare.
Participate in leadership opportunities, such as serving as a peer mentor; becoming a leader in a Brockport student club; or through participation in Brockport’s Leadership Development Program.
Consider exploring research opportunities with science faculty members. Credit for research can be arranged for BIO 424, 493 or CHM 399, for example. Research experience as an undergraduate is a plus but do it only if you are interested. Having this experience is not a deal maker—although many successful applicants have participated in a research project.

Diversity in Dentistry

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to explore this career path. Historically a profession most populated by men, for the past five years, women are enrolling in dental schools at a higher rate than their male counterparts. However there has been little change in the percentages of underrepresented minorities enrolling in each dental school class. The field will indeed benefit from a professional practicing population that looks like that of its community. There are a variety of supports available for applicants from different backgrounds. Connect with a Pre-professional Advisor for more information.

Application Process

Applications for dental school are submitted through the centralized, online Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS): www.adea.org/aadsas. Applications should be submitted in the early summer preceding the year for which a student is seeking admission. Since many dental schools have rolling admissions, it is in a student’s best interest to apply early (after June 1st and before July 15th). Submitting your application close to the deadline for regular admission means you are competing for far fewer spots. Students applying to dental school should consult the ADEA Official Guide to dental Schools for school-specific application information.

Some Dental schools may offer early admission decisions which allow students to be accepted early in their undergraduate years. Students accepted for early admission are guaranteed admission to the program if they maintain appropriate GPA overall and in science and achieve higher than a particular score on the DAT exam. For example, the University at Buffalo Dental School offers this option. These programs are very competitive, accepting few students.

Many schools require or strongly recommend a “committee letter” in addition to your letters of recommendation. The Committee Letter is a summative and evaluative response to both your application portfolio and formal interview with SUNY Brockport’s Pre-professional Advisory Committee. Interviews are offered only to current students and recent alumni who have built a competitive application portfolio in a timely manner while being mentored by a Pre-professional Health Advisor.

The best recommendations are written by individuals who you have developed relationships with. Superficial recommendations are not helpful to your portfolio. Consider asking professors that you’ve gone to office hours with or spent time in the lab working on a project with. Connect frequently with the dental practitioners with whom you’ve shadowed. Look to develop lifelong professional connections as you engage on this journey. If using the Committee Process, letters of recommendation will be sent directly to the PPH Director for Committee Review. If you are applying to dental school outside of the Committee Process, letters will be uploaded by your recommenders to the application system.

Dental schools require on-campus or virtual interviews. Schools contact selected candidates to arrange the interviews. Interviews vary by school; applicants should check with the schools to which they have applied for the interview timeline. The interview is an important part of the selection process, and candidates should prepare well for it. Some schools are using newer formats, such as mini multi-interviews (MMI) for their interviews. Students should check with their Pre-Health advisor for information about this format. Practice interviews are available through the Career Services in Rakov Center, should a student desire additional practice.

The AADSAS application asks applicants whether they have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, as well as whether they have been subject to disciplinary action while attending college. The applicant has the opportunity to describe what was learned through the experience. This information is communicated to the dental schools. Students should make careful decisions throughout their undergraduate years, since incidents of drug and/or alcohol use or possession, academic dishonesty, and others, can have negative consequences for a dental school application. Most dental schools conduct a Criminal Background Check on all admitted students, and some require forms from Student Affairs regarding college-level disciplinary actions. Students found to have been dishonest on their applications are not admitted or are dismissed. The lesson from this is that you must disclose everything in your application: the consequence of not disclosing is greater that the consequence of disclosing! Your postings on social media websites may also be checked. Please connect early with a Pre-professional Health Advisor to discuss any concerns.

Pre-Dental Guide

Pre-Dental Preparation Pathway

Recommended Pre-Dental Coursework at SUNY Brockport

Academic Credentials Required for Admission

Professional Experience

Personal Characteristics & Professionalism

Diversity in Dentistry

Application Process

Deadlines

Early Admission Option

The Committee Process

Letters of Recommendation

Dental School Interviews

Criminal Background Checks