TOP 5 EASIEST DENTAL SCHOOLS TO GET INTO IN 2022
Are you interested in knowing the easiest dental schools to get into in 2022? If so then this article is for you. Feel relaxed and make sure you go through the post.
Which are the easiest Dental Schools to get into (2022)? As dental problems continues to be one of the worrying health challenges of human kind, dentist also continues to be in demand. The teeth and its associated diseases is a problem for a vast majority of people.
Those who study dental science are armed with the knowledge to offer dental solutions. So, if dentistry calls you and you’re looking for the easiest dental schools to get into, then you’ve visited the right page.
So, you’re aiming to study dentistry in one of the many dental schools in the USA. But your path to becoming a highly respected and highly paid dentist is not going to be easy. The 10 easiest dental schools to get into are still some of the hardest schools to enroll in!
In this article, we’ll countdown the easiest dental schools to get into across the states and help you out with a few tips and tricks on acing your application (scroll to the end for those).
Why These Schools are Easy!
The quickest way to determine how “easy” dental schools are to get into is by comparing the acceptance rate. The acceptance rate is usually given as a percentage, e.g., 10%. That means for every 100 students applying to that dental school, only 10 will be accepted.
The average acceptance rate for all universities across the USA is 68% according to U.S. News. For dental schools, the average acceptance rate was 5.1% according to the American Dental Association’s (ADA) 2017-2018 survey of dental education.
Dental schools are hard to get into!
So, comparing acceptance rates is a good place to start. We’ve listed 10 dental schools with the lowest acceptance rates below. But there are a few other things you should consider.
First, most dental schools will prioritize students who live in the same state. If you want to attend a dental school out of state, it will be much harder.
READ ALSO:OXFORD ACCEPTANCE RATE
What makes a school easy to get into can also depend on your qualifications. You will need a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) to get into dental school, but some schools will have differing requirements. Some might need a general chemistry degree, while others require more specific courses. This will make some schools harder to get into than others, depending on your previous education.
Students wishing to practice standard dentistry will follow the curriculum for a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (DMD). Each program offers one or the other of these degrees.
Prospective dental students should apply early because most programs have rolling admissions. Most dental programs, especially those on this list, favor in-state candidates, and some require a commitment to remain in the area to practice.
Top 10 Easiest Dental Schools to Get Into
There are a few ways to find the acceptance rate for each dental school. The most reliable (but longest) method is to approach each school individually and ask them. Another way is to use comparative websites. But we did the hard research ourselves and used the data pulled directly from the ADA.
These 5 schools had the highest percentage of first-year enrolment for the applications they received, as recorded in part 2 of the 2018-19 survey. This is the most up-to-date survey released by the ADA at the time of writing this article.
1. University of Mississippi
39.2% Acceptance Rate
The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry is the only public dental school in this state, located in Jackson. Spending your four years studying dentistry here would be an amazing opportunity. The requirements for admission include completing multiple semesters on English, chemistry, physics, biology/zoology, advanced biology/chemistry, math, and statistics.
This dental school is also a participant of the ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) which we’ll explain at the end of this article.
READ ALSO:EASIES VET SCHOOLS TO GET INTO 2022
Pros: great city location, offers a good range of specialties
Cons: Rarely considers transfer students, requires math as well as science courses
2. LSU Health Sciences Center
16.8% Acceptance Rate
LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans has a modern and vibrant School of Dentistry. This school offers more dentistry courses than usual, including oral and maxillofacial surgery, which can lead to the highest-paying jobs once you graduate (an average salary of $242,370).
But this school is best for residents of Louisiana. For the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, they only accept 56 Louisiana residents, 4 Arkansas residents, and 5 out-of-state residents (other than Arkansas) per year.
Pros: excellent courses for high paying jobs, international student program
Cons: very limited places for students located outside of Louisiana
3. Ohio State University
14.8% Acceptance Rate
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry is one of the best for offering hands-on experience, with clinical training programs and several community service programs. A doctorate from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry prepares you for primary care and dental specialties.
This dental school has recently embarked on a $95-million project to expand and improve the facilities, so students who attend can practice with and learn using the latest technology. This is a large and busy (yet friendly) campus!
Pros: excellent practical clinical training program, community service programs
Cons: larger classes, busy and fast-paced environment
4. University of Missouri – Kansas City
14% Acceptance Rate
The School of Dentistry at this university in Kansas City operates a student dental clinic and community clinic in the UMKC Health Sciences District. You can find dentistry options in research fields as well as practicing fields here!
For the Doctor of Dental Surgery program, the average DAT Academic Average is 19 and the average science and math GPA is 3.6. So, while this school has a higher acceptance rate for applications, you’ll still need to pass these high standards.
Pros: courses for practicing and researching dentistry, accepts applicants from all states
Cons: high GPA requirements and DAT scores
5. Augusta University
13.8% Acceptance Rate
The Dental College of Georgia is located in Augusta as part of the Augusta University. As a student here, you’ll study on campus and may attend one of the many clinics the dental college serves across Georgia – your entire fourth year of studying is dedicated to patient care. There are two degrees on offer: The Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and a dual degree in oral biology.
90% of the applicants accepted will be from the Georgia state, while the other 10% are from other states (or countries).
Pros: excellent focus on patient care and practical teaching in clinic environments
Cons: fewer programs/specialties to select, mainly for residents of Georgia.
Requirements for dental school can be even more specific than for general medical programs, in some cases. Most schools require the DAT, or Dental Admission Test, and many use the Associated American Dental School Application Service, or AADSAS, to pre-screen application.
Candidates can apply once they have three years of undergraduate work usually. Most schools have a list of required and preferred coursework, largely in the sciences.
Students wishing to practice standard dentistry will follow the curriculum for a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (DMD). Each program offers one or the other of these degrees.
Prospective dental students should apply early because most programs have rolling admissions. Most dental programs, especially those on this list, favor in-state candidates, and some require a commitment to remain in the area to practice.
The Requirements You Need for Dentistry School
You can’t just jump into dental school unprepared – all will have requirements that you need to fill first. It varies from university to university, of course, but even the easiest dental schools to get into will require some (or all) of the following:
College Undergraduate Degree – 8 hours of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry (all with lab work), plus physics and English are the general requirements. Some universities require more.
Predental science courses – more specific courses may be required, such as anatomy or biochemistry. If your current college doesn’t offer that, check if the dental school offers these courses to attend before going for your dentistry degree.
4 years of college – some dental schools may be prepared to accept you if you’ve attended more than 4 years of college and studied some relevant courses, even if you didn’t major in a science degree.
0-grade point average (GPA) or higher – your GPA matters quite a bit, but the specific GPA you need will vary from school to school and depends on the GPA of other applications. The general advice is to have a GPA of 3.0 but obviously, the higher the better.
Passed Dental Admissions Test (DAT) – the DAT is a computerized test that anyone can take… but really, you need a year or two of college education in biology and chemistry to understand it. Ideally, you need to have passed the DAT in the 12 months before your dental school application.
Letters of recommendation – an essential requirement for applying to any university, college, or school. But don’t just reuse your letters from college applications. Talk to your professors and think outside the box a little – are there any dentistry-specific academics that you know who could write a letter of recommendation for you?
Top 3 Tips for Dental School Acceptance
Finally, we’ll leave you with our three best tips to help optimize your dental school application process. Good luck!
Leave plenty of time – there should be at least 12 months between the time you submit your application and the enrolment date. Make sure you have everything ready!
Prep for the interview – don’t overlook this stage of the application. Practice like crazy as the school will use the interview to assess your capabilities and qualities. It’s also a chance for you to ask any questions you have about the school.
Check out the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) – this service allows you to submit one application to multiple dental schools at once, saving you a lot of time. Some schools will only accept applications through this program. Just beware that it costs a fee, and you will lose some of the personal touch from your application. You might want to customize each application statements and letters to the specific schools to improve your chances.
Studying Dentistry in the US
The United States is one of the best locations on earth to study dentistry. Not only that the country houses some of the world’s best dental schools, it is also home to some of the easiest to get into. However, if you wish to study dentistry in the US, then you’ll have to note that the cost of living is on the high side here (that is, if you are an international student).
Nonetheless, there exist many financial aid initiatives that can help you study dentistry for free of charge. All what you need to do is research on the latest scholarships opportunities in the United States for international students. Once you locate the one you like, try and check if you’ve met the criteria.
One tip you should know is that the more financial aid program you are applying for, the better your chances of winning one.
Easiest Dental Schools to Get into Canada
1. UBC Faculty of Dentistry.
2. Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.
3. McGill University Faculty of Dentistry.
4. The University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry.
5. The University of Saskatchewan, College of Dentistry.
