The easiest dental schools to get into are usually accredited colleges with low gpa and sometimes no DAT requirements. There is no fierce competition for admissions.
Considering that most authorized institutions only accept less than 10% of applicants, prospective dental students may find the total acceptance rates dishearteningly low.
Let’s take a look at the best dental schools that offers admission to students with low GPA.
Dental School Requirements
There are several specifications for dentistry schools. The following are some fundamental prerequisites you could need for dentistry school, though:
College Undergraduate Degree
The standard prerequisites are 8 hours each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and English (all with lab work). Some colleges have more requirements.
Pre Dental science courses
It could be necessary to take more specialized courses like biochemistry or anatomy. Before enrolling in these courses to pursue your dentistry degree, see if your current college offers them. If not, see if the dental school does.
4 years of college
If you have more than four years of college experience and have taken a few relevant courses, some dental schools might be willing to admit you even if you didn’t major in science.
0-grade point average (GPA) or higher
Your GPA is very important, but the precise GPA you require will differ from school to school and be influenced by the GPA of other applications. Generally speaking, it is advised to have a GPA of 3.0, although obviously the higher the better.
Passed Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
Anyone can take the DAT, a computerized exam. However, you really need a year or two of biology and chemistry coursework in college to grasp it. The DAT should ideally have been passed within a year of your dental school application.
Letters of recommendation
A necessary condition for submitting an application to any university, institution, or school. Don’t, however, simply recycle your college application letters. Ask your professors for advice, and try to think outside the box a little.
Job shadowing
You “shadow” a dentist at this point and watch them work. There may be a minimum amount of shadowing hours necessary to enroll in some programs.
An awesome application
Making your application stand out is necessary because acceptance rates are so low, even for the easiest schools. Show that you are more than just a good team player and involved in the community by going above and beyond the minimum requirements.
List of Dental Schools With Low GPA
According to information regarding dental school acceptance rates published by BEMO Academic Consulting, the following institutions, nevertheless, offer top-notch dentistry programs and have some of the highest acceptance rates in the nation. Those interested in distant learning can apply to Short Dental Hygiene Programs Online
- University of Mississippi
- LSU Health Sciences Center
- Ohio State University
- University of Missouri – Kansas City
- Augusta University
- University of Washington
- East Carolina University
- University of Utah
- New York University
- University of Iowa
- University of Minnesota
- Medical University of Southern Carolina
- Indiana University
#1. University of Mississippi
There is only one public dental school in this state, and it is located in Jackson at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry. It would be a fantastic opportunity to spend your four years studying dentistry here. Students must successfully complete several semesters of English, chemistry, physics, biology/zoology, advanced biology/chemistry, math, and statistics in order to get admitted.
The Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA) accepts applications from this dental school (AADSAS).
#2. LSU Health Sciences Center
The School of Dentistry at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans is up-to-date and active. Oral and maxillofacial surgery, which can lead to the highest-paying positions once you graduate (an average income of $242,370), is one of the dentistry courses this institution provides in more quantity than typical.
But Louisianans have the best chance of success at this school. Only 56 Louisiana residents, 4 Arkansans, and 5 non-Arkansans from out-of-state are admitted each year for the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.
#3. Ohio State University
With clinical training programs and a number of community outreach initiatives, the Ohio State University College of Dentistry is among the finest at providing practical experience. You can become qualified for both general dentistry and dental specialty with a doctorate from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry.
To enable students to practice and learn using the most recent technology, this dental school has recently started a $95 million project to expand and improve the facilities. This campus is huge, crowded, and welcoming.
#4. University of Missouri – Kansas City
A community clinic and a student dental clinic are run by the school of dentistry at Kansas City University in the UMKC Health Sciences District. Both practice dentistry and research dentistry are available here!
The average DAT Academic Average for the Doctor of Dental Surgery program is 19, and the average science and math GPA is 3.6. As a result, even though this school has a greater acceptance rate for applicants, you will still need to meet these rigorous requirements.
#5. Augusta University
As a part of Augusta University, the Dental College of Georgia is situated in that city. Your whole fourth year of study is devoted to patient care, and as a student here, you’ll study on campus and have the option of attending one of the many clinics the dental college runs around Georgia. The doctor of dental medicine degree and a dual degree in oral biology are the two degrees available.
The state of Georgia will provide 90% of the selected applications, with the remaining 10% coming from other states (or countries).
#6. University of Washington
Along with graduate and postdoctoral programs, internships, and other educational opportunities, the School of Dentistry at the University of Washington (in Washington state, not DC) provides.
In the Office of Research, there are more training options. With 63 other students in your Seattle-based class, most of whom will probably already have a baccalaureate degree, you will be pursuing a degree in dentistry.
There are fewer course prerequisites to enter this dentistry school, but it is tougher to get a spot because of the tiny class size.
#7. East Carolina University
Eight community service learning centers spread across North Carolina are available at this public research institution in Greenville for practical training while taking dental courses. But before you get too excited, this university only presently accepts applications from residents of North Carolina. This is done to solve the state’s existing shortage of dentists in practice.
In order to apply to this Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) certified dental school if you do reside in North Carolina, you must hold a college degree (in any major).
#8. University of Utah
The Doctor of Dental Surgery degree program and the General Practice Residency Program are the only graduate degrees offered by the University of Utah School of Dentistry.
The typical list of prerequisite courses for the DDS program includes a number of biology and chemistry disciplines that you must have studied. However, you’ll also need to have spent at least 40 hours total shadowing at least 4 different dentists in order to apply to this dental school.
Although the institution accepts applications from all states, it gives preference to students from Utah and its neighboring states, including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii.
#9. New York University
Almost 10% of all dentists in the nation are graduates of NYU College of Dentistry! That’s a remarkable statistic, and having NYU College of Dentistry on your resume will undoubtedly impress employers when you’re looking for work.
A bachelor’s degree OR a GPA of 3.5 and 90+ credits are requirements for admission to this dentistry school. In addition, you will require three separate letters of recommendation and 100 hours of shadowing (observing a practicing dentist).
#10. University of Iowa
This university also provides graduate specialty programs and advanced standing programs in addition to the DDS program. There is no minimum number of hours required for job shadowing, but you will need a C or higher in each of the courses on their list of prerequisites. The average DAT score of dental students accepted to this university is 20.5, just above the national average.
#11. University of Minnesota
There is only one dentistry school in Minnesota, and it is located at the University of Minnesota. Additionally, it is the sole dental school in the group of northern states stretching from Wisconsin to the Pacific Northwest.
It boasts of having 377 clinical operatories, a clinic with 71k square feet, and more than 1k new patients per month.
Dental therapists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, dental educators, and research scientists are all trained at the School of Dentistry at the University of Dentistry. One of the dentistry schools with the lowest GPA requirements is this one.
The programs they provide are as follows:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Dental Therapy
- Dental Hygiene
- UMN Pass: For International
- Specialty and Advanced Education Programs
- Community Outreach Experience
#12. Medical University of Southern Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Dentistry Medicine is its dental school. This university is situated in the American state of South Carolina’s capital city of Charleston. South Carolina doesn’t have any other dentistry schools.
Admission to the MUSC College of Dental Medicine is quite tough. for a class of 70 seats, there were reportedly 900 applicants. A little over 15 of the seats are set aside for out-of-state students, and the remaining 55 are only available to people who live in South Carolina.
The average undergraduate GPA is 3.6 overall. The average DAT perceptual ability (PAT) score is around 20, and the average DAT academic average (AA) score is 20.
#13. Indiana University
Indiana University’s dental school is called the Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD). It may be found on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, which is in the heart of Indianapolis. In Indiana, there is no other dentistry school. The University is also one of the least difficult dental schools for students from Indiana in terms of GPA requirements.
List of Dental Schools that do Not Require DAT
Numerous dental schools don’t demand that score. Several of these institutions include:
- Dentist College of Georgia
- Dentist University of South Carolina
- Dentist University of Tennessee
- Dentist University of California, San Francisco
- Dentist University of the Pacific
What is the Average Dental School Acceptance Rate?
The average acceptance rate for dental schools in the US is 53.5%, according to the American Dental Education Association.
In contrast, according to US News, all US institutions have an acceptance rate of roughly 70%. This indicates that dentistry schools are generally substantially more selective than the typical college.
Conclusion
Dentists are professionals who identify and address issues with teeth, gums, and other related oral health issues. They offer suggestions and guidance on how to take care of the teeth and gums as well as diet decisions that can affect oral health. Everyone appreciates this reputable line of work.
However, getting accepted into any dental college can be challenging, especially if one has a low GPA. For this reason, one must research the dental schools with the lowest GPA requirements stated above in order to enroll in the one that best matches theirs.
The best alternative to a dental college is the Dental Hygienist Schools.
FAQs on Easiest Dental Schools With Low GPA
The only way to boost your GPA over that requirement is to either enroll in post-baccalaureate courses or pursue a master’s degree, as many dental schools will not consider an application with a GPA below 3.0.
Here are the three hardest dental schools to get into:
The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
The University of California, San Francisco
Columbia University’s School of Dental Medicine
The University of Mississippi Dental School’s acceptance rate is 39.2%.
The acceptance rate for Lecom Dental School is 10.69%.
References
- https://www.ownyourownfuture.com – dental school requirements
- https://www.ownyourownfuture.com – list of dental schools with low gpa
- https://edureaders.com – list of dental schools that do not require dat
- https://www.inspiraadvantage.com – what is the average dental school acceptance rate
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