D.D.S. Program Admission

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  Academic Prerequisites

  Academic preparation must include the following specific requirements, both in time and in credit hours (Please note, eight semester hours in science and six semester hours in English are generally equivalent to a one-year course).

  Please note prerequisites should be completed within 5 years of the application date. Candidates whose prerequisites are older than 5 years at the time of application are advised to retake these courses, preferably at a 4-year institution. 

  Chemistry:

  • Eight semester hours (12 quarter hours) of Inorganic or General Chemistry with laboratory.
  • Eight semester hours (12 quarter hours) of Organic Chemistry with laboratory.

  Biology:

  • Eight semester hours (12 quarter hours) of General Biology or Zoology with laboratory.
  • Additional courses strongly encouraged include: Anatomy, Physiology, and Statistics.

  Physics:

  • Eight semester hours (12-quarter hours) with laboratory.

  English:

  • Six semester hours (9-quarter hours).
  • First year college courses in Composition will satisfy the requirement.
  • Three semester hours of credit in literature may be used to satisfy part of  this requirement if the course description confirms that writing was integral to the course.

  Biochemistry:

  • Three (3) semester hours if no lab is available or Four (4) semester hours if lab is available. (4.5 - 6 quarter hours)

  Microbiology:

  • Three (3) semester hours if no lab is available or Four (4) semester hours if lab is available.  (4.5 - 6 quarter hours)

  The dental admissions committee reserves the right to modify the prerequisites when additional courses are necessary to an applicant's preparation for dental school. Grades of C or higher are expected in prerequisite courses; however, high B grades or higher are truly more competitive.

  Courses in sociology and psychology, especially human behavior are highly recommended, as are business courses.  Prerequisites taken at a 2-year institution are accepted.  Candidates are encouraged to take as many senior level (third and fourth year level) science courses as possible to be competitive. Applicants are strongly advised to consult with a counselor or pre-health advisor at their school.

  Academic Achievement:

  A minimum GPA (science and overall) of 3.0 is required for consideration.  Given the competitive nature of applying to dental school, applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA in either category should seriously consider delaying submission of their application until their GPA is more competitive.  GPAs of 3.5 or higher are considered strong and competitive, though any application with a GPA of 3.0 or above will be reviewed and considered. A full-time academic load (15-18 semester hours) of three or four science courses each term is encouraged, particularly during the junior and senior undergraduate years.

  Credit Minimum:

  To be eligible, applicants must have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours.

   

  Minimum vs. Competitive Applicants:

  Please note that the pre-requisites coursework and a 3.0 GPA are considered a minimum.  Competitive applicants have many senior (3 and 4 years) level science courses (e.g., bio, chem). 

   

  Note - Canadian Students:

  • For those who have completed Grade 13 or OAC, full credit is given for Grade 13 or OAC English toward fulfilling the English requirement (grades of “C” or higher are required in order to be acknowledged). University prep courses in English are also considered.
  • Grade 13 or OAC science courses do not fulfill the requirements in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. However, credit may be given for these courses toward meeting the requirement of eight semester hours in each science when these courses are also taken in a university. 
  • 6 credit hours (or a full year sequence) is equivalent to U.S. 8 credits hours for science courses (i.e. biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics)
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  Dental Admission Test (DAT)

  All applicants for admission are required to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT), a national standardized test. Scores from the DAT are an important component to one's application to dental school and should be recognized as such by the student.   Members of an admissions committee frequently use the DAT to predict a student's success or potential failure in the school's curriculum. Additional information about the DAT can be obtained by visiting the American Dental Association's (ADA) website at  http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp.

  Students are advised to take the DAT only after basic requirements in chemistry and biology have been completed. Applicants should attempt to earn an 18 in each section as a target minimum, with 20 or better considered competitive, though all DAT scores will be reviewed and considered. Retaking the DAT, with the goal of achieving more competitive scores is encouraged. DAT scores older than two years from the time of the test are not acceptable.

  The Canadian DAT is acceptable for applicants from Canadian colleges or universities only: http://www.cda-adc.ca.

  DAT scores received by Office of Admissions after December 31^st will not be accepted.

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  Diversity Statement

  Detroit Mercy Dental is committed to diversifying its student body and the dental workforce.  The admissions committee seeks to increase the applicant pool of students from historically underrepresented race/ethnicity (HURE) groups and first-generation students, as defined by ADEA.  Guided by our mission as a Jesuit & Mercy institution, in alignment with the values of social justice and equity, our vision of diversity also includes individuals from educationally and economically disadvantaged populations, as defined by HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration).
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  Letters of Recommendation

  Two (2) letters from science faculty within disciplines of biology (non-plant or non-environmental), chemistry, physics, or mathematics (including statistics) - by whom the candidate has been instructed and where a grade was earned - are required. Strong preference given for letters from biology or chemistry professors. A single (1) composite/committee letter can take the place of the two letters from science faculty, provided that science faculty (using the criteria laid out previously) are included in the committee reviewing the applicant. Letters from research mentors do not fulfill this requirement unless the applicant has also taken a class with that professor.

  One (1) letter from a general dentist (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) attesting to the applicant having spent a reasonable amount of time with the practitioner chair side exploring the dental profession. Candidates are required to have a minimum of 60 hours of shadowing with a general dentist. Dentist must be practicing in the U.S. or Canada. Letters from relatives of the applicant are not acceptable.

  General Guidelines for Letters of Recommendations:

  Letters of recommendation must be dated and must appear on official letterhead (college/university or dental office).  Professionally, they must include an original signature with typewritten name beneath the signature as well as professional title.  Faculty should include the course code, title and term within the content of their letter.  It is highly recommended that letters of recommendation from TA's, Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) or PhD candidates be cosigned by the course director or department chairperson.  

  Please print and give these guidelines to your referees when you ask them for letters of recommendation.

  • Letters of Recommendation Guidelines
  • Sample letter of recommendation – Dentist
  • Sample letter of recommendation – Science Faculty
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  Selection Factors

  The Director of Dental Admissions reviews all completed applications and together with the Dental Admissions Committee selects applicants for admission to the School of Dentistry.

  Selection is based upon various components of a dental school application which may include cognitive and non-cognitive components of an application: difficulty of an undergraduate curriculum, academic performance in undergraduate studies, DAT scores, and personal characteristics and potential for success as determined by letters of recommendation, personal statements, and personal interviews, to name a few. The dental admissions committee requests an interview for the purpose of gaining information not readily gained from the application. Interviews are BY INVITATION to applicants being seriously considered.

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  Reapplication Requirements and Suggestions

  Submit  your  application  early.  American  dental  schools  operate  on  a   "rolling  admission  cycle"  (applicants  are
  accepted from December 1st until the class is filled). With numerous applications being received by dental schools each year, and an increased quality in those applications, dental schools have been filling their incoming classes earlier and earlier.

  Continue  to  enroll  FULL-TIME  in  upper-division  (graduate)  biologically-based  science  courses  (non-plant  or  non- environmental). If you have already obtained your BS degree, it is suggested you begin working toward a Master's degree (preferably in an area of biology, basic medical sciences, or public health).

  Submit new letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be submitted from current professors each year you apply.
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  Estimated Cost of Attendance

  • Estimated Cost of Attendance for 2023-24 (pdf)
  • Technical Standards for Dental and Dental Hygiene Programs