SUNY Oneonta's Pre-Health Professions Office provides specialized guidance and support for students preparing to apply to dental school to be a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM).
Who are Dentists?
"Today’s dentists are highly sophisticated health professionals who provide a wide range of oral health care services that contribute to the general health and quality of their patients’ lives. They are at the forefront of new developments in dental implants, computer-generated imaging and cosmetic and aesthetic procedures.
Dentists are instrumental in the early detection of oral cancer and systemic conditions that manifest in the mouth. They can also serve as first responders in the event of a large-scale health emergency.
Advances in dental research, including genetic engineering, the discovery of links between oral and systemic diseases, the development of salivary diagnostics and the continued development of new materials and techniques, make dentistry an exciting, challenging and rewarding profession."
- ExploreHealthCareers.org
Learn More
Schools of Dental Medicine - ADEA.org.
Tips for applying to Dental School - Apply to Dental School: You Can Do It!
Acceptance Rate
40% of SUNY Oneonta applicants were accepted into DDS or DDM programs
(2021-2024 Report)
SUNY Oneonta students have recently attended the following Dentistry programs: Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of University of Southern California, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois, New York University College of Dentistry, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, University of New England College of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.
Prerequisite Courses & Electives
Students must consult SUNY Oneonta's current undergraduate catalog for course descriptions, prerequisites, and time of year when courses are offered to plan properly in advance.
Prerequisites for Dental School:
- BIOL 1001: Investigative Biology Laboratory
- BIOL 1002: Cellular Perspectives in Biology
- BIOL 1004: Organismal Perspectives in Biology
- BIOL 2000: Cell & Molecular Biology
- CHEM 1111: General Chemistry I
- CHEM 1121: General Chemistry II
- CHEM 2212: Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 2222: Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 3302: General Biochemistry or CHEM 4312: Biochemistry I
- COMP 1000: Composition
- COMP 2000: Advanced Composition
- MATH 2230: Calculus I
- PHYS 1030: General Physics I: Non-Calculus
- PHYS 1040: General Physics II: Non-Calculus
- STAT 1010: Introduction to Statistics
A minimum grade of C or higher is typically required in each prerequisite course. Though a strong application includes a prerequisite and overall GPA greater than 3.4, programs are seeking applicants that are well-rounded in educational and life experience and can articulate an understanding of the career and vision for themselves in the Profession.
Dental education programs may change course prerequisites at any time and may have additional requirements, preferences, or policies that are not reflected in this prerequisite course list or on the Preparing for Dental School Guide. Programs may also allow applicants to substitute courses or choose different prerequisites. Applicants should review the program-specific details and contact programs directly to determine whether a particular course will fulfill a prerequisite. Students have the responsibility to check entrance requirements for schools to which they intend to apply.
Dental School Requirements
Students should regularly review the Dental School Admission Requirements and the ADEA Guide to Dental Education.
Applicants are evaluated via Holistic Review, based on Experiences, Attributes, and Metrics:
- Professional Experience (Leadership, Accomplishments, Dentistry Experience, Research and/or Work Experience)
- Personal Statement
- letters of evaluation (HPAC letter preferred)
- GPA Calculations, including: Bio/Chem/Phys, Science, non-Science, Overall, other calculations
- Dental Admission Test (DAT), sections included in the Candidate Guide:
- Survey of the Natural Sciences
- Perceptual Ability
- Reading Comprehension
- Quantitative Reasoning
Application Timeline
Application to dental school is made through the centralized application, AADSAS.
- ADEA AADSAS Application Cycle opens annually in early May for programs starting the following year.
- ADEA AADSAS application submission to dental schools begins in late May
Updated application information is available at ADEA.
- Application Assistance is available at the ADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center.
- Applicant Guides are available from the American Student Dental Association.
APPLY EARLY! We suggest submitting your application during the summer. Do not wait until deadlines approach to submit your application.
Letters of Evaluation
Evaluation Letters are generally requested from science faculty, other course instructors, healthcare professionals, current or former employers, and professional references.
- Students can request up to four letters of evaluation to be submitted on their behalf for dental school applications
- Some students may seek a "committee letter" for their dental school application, which requires a very specific application and interview process with the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC).
- Questions regarding HPAC should be directed to the HPAC Chair.