D.D.S. Program FAQs

No. However, a degree is strongly recommended because it affords the individual with a broad, liberal education. A degree also provides one with a major field of study, on which to build, if dentistry turns out to be a poor career choice for the individual. However, an academically qualified applicant, who has done his/her dental career exploration can save time and money by entering dental school after three years.

It is possible, but approximately 4% of two-year applicants are accepted nationally each year. If you are an outstanding two-year applicant, who really has explored the dental profession, we will consider you.  You must have at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter credits completed at the time of application.

Students generally take 15 credits/semester (fall, winter) or 15 credits/quarter (fall, winter, spring).  

Because you will be taking a very packed science curriculum in dental school, we are looking for evidence that you can manage full-time coursework, weighted heavily toward senior level science courses. If you have circumstances where you could not maintain full-time status, that should be explained in your personal statement.  

No. The choice of a major is yours. Choose a course of study of interest to you. It is true, however, that most Biology majors have an easier time with the dental school basic sciences than non-Biology majors. If your choice of major is a non-science one, you are encouraged to select "elective" courses in the sciences. This will enable you to build a stronger foundation for success within a dental curriculum.

You must repeat the course to earn a C or better.  

Continue to enroll in higher-level biologically based science courses. This is important! Consider initiating a Master's program (in an area of Biology). By doing this, you build a stronger foundation for a dental curriculum, improve your competitiveness by pursuing an academically challenged biology program, and perhaps obtain your MS degree at the same time!

No. If accepted, prerequisites must be completed before you matriculate. At the time of application, it is normal to have one or two prerequisites outstanding. However, any outstanding prerequisite courses should be in your planned/in progress section of your AADSAS application.  

Please be aware that many other applicants will have most, if not all, of the prerequisite coursework completed at the time of application. The more prerequisite coursework you have completed, the better we can evaluate your candidacy as a dental school applicant.  

We will accept AP/IB/CLEP credits to fulfill, in part, prerequisites. These courses must appear on an applicant’s undergraduate transcript as equivalent to a specific course at the applicant’s undergraduate institution. Letter grades are typically not associated to these credits, so that will have an impact on an applicant’s overall GPA. If the courses transfer as general transfer credits, they will not count toward prerequisites classes.  Letters from registrars will not be accepted in lieu of official transcripts.

We will accept coursework completed at a community college or two-year institution as part of a two-year degree completion and/or transfer credit into a four-year undergraduate institution. Candidates may also take select courses at a two-year institution, if the course is not available at their home institution or does not fit into their academic plan.  

If you are unsure if your completed coursework at a community college or two-year institution will satisfy Detroit Mercy Dental’s admissions requirements, please contact us dental@udmercy.edu.  

While we will accept online coursework, we have a preference for courses that are taken in person. Exceptions are made for courses taken online in 2020 and 2021 and Winter 2022, due to the impact of COVID-19 on higher education institutions. 

Some schools do not offer laboratories for these classes. In these cases, we will accept 3 credit hours as fulfilling the prerequisite in each category. Some schools will offer these courses as 4 (or more) credit hours, with laboratories integrated into the course itself. We will also accept these courses as fulfilling the prerequisite in each category.  

If the option exists at your school, we encourage you to take the laboratory course. This will reinforce what you are learning in lecture. You are not required to take the laboratory to apply.  

The ideal time is to take the exam the spring/summer of the year you apply. In addition, you should take the exam when you complete your organic chemistry sequence. 

Yes, you can apply as soon as you are ready and indicate your intended exam date. We will conduct a partial review of your file until we receive your DAT scores. When you finish the exam, you will receive a printout of your unofficial score. Send us an email with a picture of that sheet attached to dental@udmercy.edu, informing us that you’ve completed the DAT and you would like your unofficial scores to be added to your file. These unofficial DAT scores can then be used to complete a review of your application materials as part of consideration for admission to Detroit Mercy Dental. 

We do not endorse any specific test preparation programs. What is important is you carve out protected time on a regular basis to study. 

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.

You will see lots of suggestions online, ranging from 1 month to 6 months. You know your abilities and your schedule the best, so you need to figure out protected time to study for the DAT on a regular basis.  

A word of caution, do not base your study habits on other people, even if they said they got into dental school. You’re not them and you know what is best for you. 

DAT scores are considered current for the purpose of dental school admissions for two years. We will consider DAT scores two years from the date of application in AADSAS. All DAT attempts and scores may be viewed however, only scores from the last two years will be used to make an admissions decision. 

The Canadian DAT is accepted for students enrolled at a Canadian college or university. Students at colleges or universities in the U.S. are expected to take the U.S. DAT. 

You can take the test three times. If you wish to take it again after three attempts, you must get special permission from the American Dental Association. Please consult the American Dental Education Association’s website for more information.  

https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Application_Prep/The_Admissions_Process/DAT_(Dental_Admission_Test).aspx 

Biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics professors are all considered science professors. There is a preference for letters from professors who teach subjects related to human biology (e.g. human genetics, biochemistry, human anatomy, etc.). Detroit Mercy will accept science letters from the disciplines listed on this website.  It is your choice who your referees will be, but they must be from a discipline listed  on the  ADEA AADSAS Course Subjects page.

We require three (3) letters total: two (2) must be from a science professor who has taught you in a graded course and one (1) must be from a practicing general dentist in the U.S. or Canada whom you have shadowed.  

If your school grants committee letters, then that committee letter may replace the two (2) letters from a science professor.

Ask the professors you select to write letters, for an appointment. The purpose is to allow you to present yourself and your goals. Request supplemental, or additional, letters from humanities professors and/or teaching assistants. The most important part of any letter is some indication that the writer knows you reasonably well and supports your application.

We want to be certain you have explored the dental profession and that your career choice has been made on the basis of sufficient exposure. A mistake in the choice of a career is extremely costly today in terms of time, effort, and money! Be certain that you have spent sufficient time in the dental office so you have seen the negative, as well as the many positive aspects of dentistry.

Letters submitted directly to the School of Dentistry or to AADSAS must be originals, dated, signed and on official letterhead. Copies are acceptable when submitted with an original cover letter from a Preprofessional Committee or Career Planning and Placement Office.

Please let your recommenders know that we would like the letters (1) on official letterhead, (2) dated, and (3) signed. You are waiving your rights to see these letters, so ensure you are giving your recommenders sufficient time to write you letters and upload them to AADSAS. As well, ensure they have sufficient information from you to write a strong letter (e.g. CV, copy of your personal statement, ask to meet with them, etc.) 

Students - a guide for letters of recommendation and sample letters are found below.  You do not have to follow this exact format.  Please print out the instructions PDF and give it to your referees, if necessary.  It is up to you to cultivate relationships with your referees.  You choose the professors and dentists who best represent you.  Please review the guide found here:  https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_AADSAS_Applicant_Help_Center/Filling_Out_Your_ADEA_AADSAS_Application/Academic_History/5_ADEA_AADSAS_Course_Subjects 

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

If you are a recipient of the AADSAS Fee Assistance Program, forward your email confirmation to dental@udmercy.edu and we will waive our application fee. Additional information can be found on the ADEA AADSAS Application Fees and Fee Assistance Program page.

No.  You will receive an email with instructions on how to pay your fee online and upload a photo of yourself.

You will receive an email when we process your application.  This email will give you the instructions needed to set up your account in our portal and pay your fee.

Visit the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) web site at www.ADEA.org. Click on "Student Applicant and Advisor Information, AADSAS, and PASS" and then, click, on "Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)". Applications become available June 1 in the year prior to the anticipated date of graduation. You may apply online.

You should apply when you are ready, and you can put forward the strongest application package possible. The earlier you apply, the better chance you have of earning an interview spot, as available interview spots quickly fill up. 

The admissions cycle opens around mid-May as a soft open. This means you may begin to fill out your application and gather materials in the portal. Around June 1st, the cycle officially opens and you may submit your application and pay the associated fees. These dates are subject to change annually; for specific dates for the current year please visit:  

https://www.adea.org/GoDental/The_application_to_dental_school__ADEA_AADSAS.aspx

The deadline for consideration at Detroit Mercy Dental is December 31. All materials must be received and verified by AADSAS by this date. 

We will send you an email acknowledgment.

By agreement among dental schools, acceptances will not be issued before December 15 of each year.  Applicants are accepted from that date until the class is filled.

Not necessarily. When a class is filled, we begin a waiting, or alternate, list. If someone withdraws (and people do for many reasons), the Admissions Committee will select the most qualified person from the waiting list, regardless of when they were placed on the list.

No. If accepted, prerequisites must be completed before you matriculate. At the time of application, it is normal to have one or two prerequisites outstanding. However, any outstanding prerequisite courses should be in your planned/in progress section of your AADSAS application.  

Please be aware that many other applicants will have most, if not all, of the prerequisite coursework completed at the time of application. The more prerequisite coursework you have completed, the better we can evaluate your candidacy as a dental school applicant. 2  

We will accept coursework completed at a community college or two-year institution as part of a two-year degree completion and/or transfer credit into a four-year undergraduate institution. Candidates may also take select courses at a two-year institution, if the course is not available at their home institution or does not fit into their academic plan.  

If you are unsure if your completed coursework at a community college or two-year institution will satisfy Detroit Mercy Dental’s admissions requirements., please contact us dental@udmercy.edu.  

Students generally take 15 credits/semester (fall, winter) or 15 credits/quarter (fall, winter, spring).  

Because you will be taking a very packed science curriculum in dental school, we are looking for evidence that you can manage full-time coursework, weighted heavily toward senior level science courses. If you have circumstances where you could not maintain full-time status, that should be explained in your personal statement.  

Some schools do not offer laboratories for these classes. In these cases, we will accept 3 credit hours as fulfilling the prerequisite in each category. Some schools will offer these courses as 4 (or more) credit hours, with laboratories integrated into the course itself. We will also accept these courses as fulfilling the prerequisite in each category.  

If the option exists at your school, we encourage you to take the laboratory course. This will reinforce what you are learning in lecture. You are not required to take the laboratory to apply.