DMD Program: General Requirements for Admission

Penn Dental Medicine seeks applicants with a broad and strong educational background, who will have completed a four-year degree program prior to matriculation. While a foundation in science is desirable preparation for dental school, well-prepared candidates also possess course work in humanities, social science, and the arts. Non-science majors are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to those who have completed upper division science courses beyond the minimum requirements. All prerequisite courses should be completed by the applying term, prior to matriculation to dental school. The minimum course prerequisites for admission include:

• One year of biology with corresponding laboratory training (a minimum of two semesters of college biology or zoology). Advanced courses in anatomy, microbiology, and physiology are recommended.

• Three semesters of chemistry with corresponding laboratory training (including inorganic chemistry and at least one semester of organic chemistry). Additional work in organic and physical chemistry is recommended.

• One year of English, leading to competence in the use of the English language. Acceptable courses include speech, composition, literature, technical and business writing, and other writing intensive courses.

• One semester of mathematics — calculus is preferred.

• One year of physics, covering the basic principles of classical physics.

• One semester of biochemistry.

Advanced Placement (AP) course work can be credited towards predental requirements as long as the credit appears on your official college transcript.

Selection Factors
Penn Dental Medicine looks for students who will advance the profession and gives preference to those who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and leadership through extracurricular activities, community service, predental or research experience, or academic preparation. Because Penn Dental Medicine is a private institution, it is not bound by agreement to limit the number of out-of-state or international students in its program, and therefore, seeks a diverse student body.

Although there is no minimum grade-point-average or Dental Admission Test score requirement, careful consideration will be given to candidates with overall and science grade point averages (G.P.A.) of 3.2 or higher. The average scores for the August 2008 incoming class were as follows: mean overall G.P.A. of 3.68, mean science G.P.A. of 3.64, mean DAT academic of 20, the mean DAT PAT of 20, mean DAT reading comprehension of 20, and mean DAT total science of 20.

Application Procedures
Penn Dental Medicine participates in the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), a centralized application service sponsored by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). The AADSAS application must be completed electronically via the ADEA web site, www.adea.org. For more information regarding this application, contact: American Dental Education Association Application Service, AADSAS, 1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, 202-289-7201 or 800-353-2237, csraadsas@adea.org.

Application Deadline: January 1, 2010

Note: Due to the large number of applicants (2,201 for the class entering August 2009), it is highly recommended that candidates apply well in advance of the deadline date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If your application will not be completed prior to the deadline, please attach a statement to the Penn Dental Medicine Supplemental Application for Admission explaining what documents will be submitted after the deadline and reasons for their delay. Decisions to review late applications are at the discretion of the Admissions Selection Committee. All application materials and documents become the property of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and will not be returned to the applicant.

In addition to the AADSAS application, applicants are required to complete and submit the following for interview consideration:

• Penn Dental Medicine Supplemental Application for Admission — This application is available for download here. Essay portions must be typed. The Supplemental Application should be submitted directly to the Penn Dental Medicine Admissions Office as early as possible along with the application fee and fee card.

• Application Fee Card — This application fee card is available for download here. The fee card must be completed and submitted along with a $50 non-refundable application fee to the Penn Dental Medicine Admissions Office (check or money order payable to Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania).

In order to facilitate the processing of your application, please send the $50 application fee, fee card, and Supplemental Application at the same time.

• Dental Admission Test (DAT) Official Scores — Applicants must submit official scores by the January 1, 2010 deadline. Scores from tests taken in 2006 and earlier will not be considered. For test sites and schedule, contact: The American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1840, Chicago, IL 60611-2678, 800-621-8099.

• Letters of Recommendation — A minimum of two letters from professors or a committee letter prepared by the school's prehealth advisor and/or a committee familiar with the applicant's academic abilities is required. Penn Dental Medicine does not require letters from science faculty, unless you are a science major. Please refer to the AADSAS application instructions for submitting letters of recommendation. Although it is preferred that all letters be sent directly to AADSAS, we will accept letters sent directly to Penn Dental Medicine's Office of Admissions.

• Personal Interviews (by invitation only) — Personal interviews are conducted at Penn Dental Medicine from September 2009 through March 2010.

• Official Transcripts — All applicants must submit official transcripts to the AADSAS application service for verification. AADSAS applications will not be processed and sent to the individual schools until transcripts are received and verified. The Penn Dental Medicine Admissions Office requires official transcripts only from candidates who have been invited to interview. Please do not forward transcripts to the Penn Dental Medicine Admissions Office until notified to do so.

Canadian Applicants
• Canadian citizens and residents may submit Canadian DAT scores.
• Canadian course work will be processed similarly to U.S. course work on the AADSAS application.

International Applicants
Course work from students who complete their degrees in countries other than the U.S. and Canada will be considered provided they include the foreign course work on their AADSAS applications. In addition, translated transcripts must be submitted to the Penn Dental Medicine Admissions Office in order to review the student's academic performance. Although international students are not required to meet their minimum course prerequisites at a U.S. educational institution, preference will be given to those who have taken some course work in the U.S.

Transfer Students
Currently, the School of Dental Medicine is not considering transfer applications into the DMD program. This site will be updated should the policy change and applications become available.

Requirements for Reapplicants
In addition to completing all application procedures, reapplicants must also submit a reapplication statement describing any changes from previous applications relating to course work, grades, DAT scores, employment, and predental experience. This reapplication statement should be attached to the Penn Dental Medicine Supplemental Application for Admission. Failure to submit a reapplication statement will reduce interview consideration. Serious consideration will be given to reapplicants who have completed additional courses (full course loads) with exceptional academic records or completed an advanced degree. In situations where the Admissions Committee has concerns about vocational orientation, students should demonstrate extensive predental experience. DAT scores from 2006 and earlier will not be considered. Additional letters of support may be submitted from employers or professors familiar with recent work experience or course work.

The Admissions Process
The Admissions Selection Committee begins reviewing applications in Summer 2009. Selected applicants will be invited for a tour and an interview based upon information from the AADSAS application, the Penn Dental Medicine Supplemental Application for Admission, and letters of recommendation. Interviews are held weekly from mid-September through March at Penn Dental Medicine; there are no regional interviews. Travel and lodging information is included with the interview invitation. The Admissions Selection Committee issues acceptances on a rolling basis beginning December 1, 2009, continuing through mid-August. Accepted candidates are obliged to make a deposit of $500 to an offer of admission within the following schedule:

• 45 days after notification if received on or after 12/1/2009
• 30 days after notification if received on or after 1/1/2010
• 15 days after notification if received on or after 2/1/2010
• 10 days after notification if received on or after 5/1/2010*

An additional deposit of $500 is due on May 1, 2010 to continue to reserve a place in the class entering August 2010. Both deposits are non-refundable and are credited toward the first semester tuition payment.

*Candidates accepted on or after May 1 are obligated to make one deposit totaling $1,000.