According to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), all dental schools in the US received about 11,759 applications in 2021. This is 6.75% more than the number of applications received in the preceding year.
What does this mean? More people are interested in dental, which means more competition for prospective students.
If you’re searching for some of the easiest dental schools to get into in the United States, you are in the right place. We reviewed 11 schools you can gain admission to with low academic stats.
Now let’s get to business.
How easy is it to get into dental school?
To be sincere, gaining admission into an accredited dental school in the United States is hard but not impossible. The competition continues to increase as more people are inclined to dentistry due to its reputation and monetary value.
Getting into dental school is only a small part of becoming a professional dentist; surviving dental school is another. For every ten applicants, only one will be enrolled; note that these ten applicants are not your regular 3.0 GPA holders.
Different schools have different selection methods but are based on the same principle. “How qualified is the applicant to study dentistry at our institution?” “Will he/she be a good fit for the university?”
What’s the bottom point? Dental school admission is tough, but you can still get in if you know what you are doing. You don’t need a 200 IQ; you must be above average.
Also Read:
- 13 Easiest Medical Schools To Get Into In The US
- 8 Easiest Vet Schools To Get Into With A Low GPA
- Easiest Physical Therapy Schools With Low GPA Requirements
- OT Schools With Low GPA Requirements
The Easiest dental schools to get into
Below are some of the easiest dental schools to get into. The list is based on admit rates, GPA, and DAT average.
1. Howard University College of Dentistry
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Howard University College of Dentistry is one of the oldest dental schools in the nation. Also, it is among the easiest dental schools to get into, with a low GPA in 2023.
Howard Dental School offers an accredited Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree and has a class size of 80. The school enrolls a lot of out-of-state students annually and has an average DAT score of 18 and an average cumulative GPA of 3.2.
2. Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Roseman University College of Dental Medicine is a private suburban dental school in Utah. Being a new institution, it is one of the easiest dental schools to gain admission to with a below-average GPA.
You may wonder why Roseman University Dental School has a low acceptance rate; it receives more than 2000 applicants annually and can only enroll 100. Also, the school does not give preference to in-state students or those with ties to Utah.
Roseman Dental School offers a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D) degree accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). It has a DAT Academic Average of 19.1 and an average cumulative GPA of 3.28.
3. WesternU College of Dental Medicine
Acceptance Rate: 9.3%
WesternU College of Dental Medicine is a small private dental school in California with an innovative Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program that prepares students for success in all areas of life. It receives almost 3000 applications and enrolls 69 students annually.
Apart from meeting the basic admission requirements, applicants must also have a minimum of 30 hours of dental-related work experience. Most admitted students have more than 100 hours of dental experience. Also, a BS or BA in any field may strengthen your application.
Although WesternU Dental School admits more in-state students, about 38% of matriculated students are out-of-state. The school has an average DAT score and overall GPA of 20 and 3.35, respectively.
4. ECU School of Dental Medicine
Acceptance Rate: 15.8%
East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is one of the best dental institutions in North Carolina. With a small class size of 53, it is notorious for rejecting out-of-state students. If you are not a State of North Carolina resident, don’t waste your time applying.
Also, the ECU School of Dental Medicine does not accept transfer students or internationally trained dentists. According to the 2022 Entering Class profile, the school has an average GPA of 3.6 and a DAT Academic Average of 20.45.
5. Louisiana State University School of Dentistry
Acceptance Rate: 71.9%
Founded in 1968, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry is a public dental school in New Orleans with a class size of 75. While it gives preference to residents of the state of Louisiana, it enrolls about 15 out-of-state students every year.
LSU School of Dentistry has an average GPA and DAT score of 3.61 and 21, respectively. If you are not a legal resident of the United States, don’t bother applying, as you will not be considered for admission.
6. The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
Acceptance Rate: 9.4%
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry is a private Jesuit dental institution in Michigan. It has a large class size of 144 and receives more than 1500 applications yearly.
Also, Detroit Mercy Dental School admits in-state, out-of-state, and international students. It even accepts Canadian DAT scores for admission.
Apart from fulfilling all academic prerequisites and submitting DAT scores, transcripts, and other supplemental materials, applicants must have at least 60 hours of mental experience with a general dentist at the time of application. The school has an average incoming total GPA of 3.62 and an average overall DAT of 20.
7. Ohio State University College of Dentistry
Acceptance Rate: 9.65%
Ohio State University College of Dentistry is one of the largest public dental schools in the nation. It offers a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program and a dual DDS/Ph.D. degree program. It has more than 500 dental and dental hygiene students.
Ohio State Dental School has an average total GPA of 3.65 and a DAT Academic Average of 21. Apart from completing the prerequisite courses and meeting the minimum GPA and DAT requirements, applicants must complete 40 hours of dental experience (most admitted students have an average of 120 hours).
Are private dental schools easier to get into?
Generally, expensive private dental schools are easier to get into, considering they admit many students and would do anything to fill their class seats. Although, there are some exceptions, like Harvard, the Univesity of the Pacific, UPenn, etc.
I think applying to any public dental school in your state is better. You will reduce costs and potential loan debts and have a better chance of getting in, provided you meet their admission requirements.
One thing you want to avoid is applying to overpriced or predatory dental schools. Always check the cost of attendance and financial aid programs available to dental students before applying to any institution.
It’s also important to remember that when choosing a dental school, you should consider the quality of education and experience opportunities. Some more expensive schools may offer better facilities, faculty, or resources. Also, look at the school’s academic reputation, board pass rates, and job placement rates.
Consider as well the location and setting. Would you thrive in a big city or prefer a smaller, more intimate environment? Is the school in a location where you would want to live and possibly establish your practice after graduation?
Lastly, don’t forget to consider the school’s culture and values. Some schools might emphasize research, while others might focus on community service. Ensure the school aligns with your personal values and career goals.
5 Tips for prospective dental students
What should prospective dental students know before applying to any dental school? Here are some tips that may help you.
1. Be passionate about it
In his statement, Joe writes that he loves the dentistry career due to its reputation and value in society. He doesn’t have any prior experience in dental or job-dental fields. Also, during his interview, Joe doesn’t appear passionate about being a dentist. A few months after applying, he received his rejection email.
Don’t be Joe. Depending on your passion, the admission committee can easily detect if you are qualified for admission. Some of the things that display your passion include:
- Personal statement/essay.
- Good academic standing.
- Interview.
- Work experience(s).
- Extracurricular activities.
- Awards and accomplishments.
- Life experiences.
With this said, don’t try to game the system by “faking it till you make it.”
2. Apply Early
All dental schools in the US have a deadline for applications. Once the deadline ends, the application portal is closed until the next academic session.
It is better to apply early to avoid losing the opportunity of applying to your dream school. Also, applicants interested in the early decision program may need to apply early.
3. Only apply to schools you are a good fit for
You don’t want to waste your time applying to Tufts dental school with a 3.2 GPA. If you know you are not eligible for admission to a dental school, don’t apply.
For example, if you don’t have any volunteer experience, applying to schools that consider it a top selection factor would be unwise.
4. Be competitive
Ever played a game of chess? Notice how powerful the queen is in the game? The same applies to gaining admission into any dental institution in 2023. There are other applicants you are competing with for the same spot.
Ensure your grades, DAT above 20, shadowing above 150 hours, prerequisite coursework completed, etc.
5. Proofread your application before submitting it
Nobody wants to review a sloppy application with errors and unfilled required spaces. Check your application to make sure there are no problems.
It is worth noting that none of these schools are inferior to other institutions in the dental field, and they are not so easy that you can be offered admission without doing some hard work.
Now that you have reached the end of this article, sharing it with others will go a long way for us. Thanks 🙂
Resource:
Sam is a brilliant young Nigerian biochemistry student and an aspiring entrepreneur. Despite facing many challenges, he has never lost his passion for learning and drive to make a difference in the world. Read more about him here.