Frequently Asked Admissions Questions

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Where can I get the applications? May I get the supplemental application early? Is it necessary to submit applications to AADSAS or is it possible to submit them directly to the University of Minnesota? When are applications due?

Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) applications may be obtained through the American Dental Education Association website:     www.adea.org

The application process begins with the AADSAS application and there is no way to bypass this step. The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry also requires applicants to complete a supplemental application, which can be found on-line at:  Supplemental Application 2008-2009. This is mailed directly to the University of Minnesota.

Remember that the University of Minnesota employs a rolling admissions process so it is to your best advantage to submit all application materials by September 1, 2008. However, deadlines are as follows:

AADSAS applications must be submitted to AADSAS no later than December 1, 2008.

Supplemental application materials should be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Diversity immediately. The deadline is December 1, 2008.

DAT scores must be received in the Office of Admissions and Diversity by December 1, 2008. If a student is retaking the DAT, new scores must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Diversity no later than January 1, 2009.

TOEFL scores should be submitted with other supplemental application materials. The final date for receipt is December 1, 2008. Remember, waiting to submit these scores can delay consideration of one's application by the Admissions Committee.

Please note that the AADSAS application and University of Minnesota Supplemental Application become available on May 15, 2008 for students applying for Fall 2009 admission.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry requires three letters of recommendation as part of the application process: one letter from an employer and the other two should come from science faculty (as per AADSAS instructions). These letters may be submitted with the AADSAS application for distribution to the designated schools, or sent directly to our school by the recommender. When selecting recommenders, one should first decide on a total picture that he/she wants to present to the Admissions Committee and then decide who can best help to convey this picture. Once the three recommenders are determined, the applicant should discuss the overall picture he/she is trying to convey and then specifically tell the recommender that he or she was selected because he or she can address a specific part of that overall picture.

Again, letters should be submitted with the AADSAS application. If they are not submitted with the AADSAS, they should be mailed directly to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry at the following address:

     University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
     Office of Admissions and Diversity
     15-163 Moos Tower
     515 Delaware Street SE
     Minneapolis, MN 55455

DENTAL ADMISSION TEST (DAT)

The DAT is administered by computer and is available for testing on just about any business day. Students must register by mail first or on the web at http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp. Upon receiving confirmation that their registration fee and application have been received, the candidate will be instructed to call the Prometic Testing Center to set up a testing time.

The DAT is scored on a 1-30 basis and tests knowledge in biology, general and organic chemistry, reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, and perceptual ability. Students should consider taking this exam when they have completed basic course requirements in biology, general and organic chemistry, and math. While we expect that competitive applicants will score at or above the national average, students accepted to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry usually score higher. For the class entering in the fall 2007, the average scores are as follows: academic average - 19.8 and perceptual ability - 19.2. Students should refer to the information supplied with their official score report to determine the average scores nationally. (Currently, the national averages on the DAT are between 17 and 18, so students really need to achieve scores > 18 in each sub-test area.)

If applicants do not achieve desired scores on their first test, they may take the DAT again after a 90-day waiting period. We will look at all sets of scores and we look for general improvement across all test areas. Official score reports sent to the school by the American Dental Association (ADA) will show up to four sets of scores.

Applicants must be sure to submit scores by December 1, 2008. If it becomes necessary to retake the DAT, applicants may submit new scores until January 1, 2009. Applicants must keep in mind that they will not be allowed to register for a subsequent test date for 90 days after the last exam date.

Applicants to the University of Minnesota should not delay submitting their AADSAS application until they receive DAT results. This can jeopardize their chance for admission. Rather, applicants should submit the AADSAS application with a projected test date (before December 1) - or a projected retest date. Then, applicants should follow up to be sure that official score reports have been received after the exam has been taken.

GRADE POINT AVERAGES (GPA)

What is the minimum GPA necessary to be considered for admission? What is the average GPA of those accepted to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry?

While the minimum GPA we can consider is 2.7, a much higher GPA is usually necessary to be considered competitive. The average entering GPAs for the 2007 entering class are: overall - 3.60, science - 3.53, BCP  (biology, chemistry, physics) - 3.51.

Applicants should keep in mind that AADSAS reports three different GPAs to the schools: the overall GPA (which includes original grades for any repeated courses); the science GPA (which also includes grades for math courses); and the BCP GPA (which is a calculation of an average for all biology, chemistry and physics courses). At the University of Minnesota, we look at all three of these GPAs, as well as the required course GPA.

CREDITS FROM COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

How many credits are required for admission? Can I take courses at a community college? Will you accept credits from a technical school?

The minimum number of credits required for admission is 87 semester hours or 130 quarter hours. Applicants can take a maximum of 64 semester hours or 96 quarter hours at a community college but credits from a technical college generally do not transfer.

The credits need not be totally completed at the time of application but must be completed by the spring term prior to matriculation. Completed credits must include those for prerequisite courses.

REQUIRED COURSES FOR ENTRY INTO DENTAL SCHOOL

What courses do I need to take to be considered for dental school? Do I have to take all of these courses to apply? Can any of the prerequisite courses be waived?

The following courses are required for admission to dental school:

It is also strongly suggested that applicants include strong science electives in their curriculum. These include anatomy, cell biology, histology, microbiology, physiology. Other strongly encouraged courses include hands-on art courses (drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.), speech communication (fundamentals of public speaking, interpersonal communication, etc.), medical terminology, and learning and academic skills courses.

CREDITS FROM FOREIGN SCHOOLS

I am a foreign student; will my credits for undergraduate course work transfer?

While the standard requirement is 87 semester hours from an officially accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university, the School of Dentistry will consider international coursework from an accredited college or university, if supplied with official or certified transcripts, mark sheets, and degree statements from all institutions attended. Transcripts must be evaluated by ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.) In addition, applicants must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of prerequisite courses and/or upper division science courses from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Canada. English courses taken from an international college or university do not fulfill the School of Dentistry English requirement for admission.

International students must be aware that if accepted, they must also guarantee sufficient funds to meet all their educational and personal expenses for the duration of their F-1 status at the University of Minnesota.

FOREIGN TRAINED DENTISTS

The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry recently added an advanced standing program for foreign trained dentists: UMN PASS

EARLY DECISION PROGRAM

Do you have an Early Decision Program? Who is eligible? How does it work? When/how do I apply?

The University of Minnesota does have an Early Decision Program. Through this program an admissions decision is made early based on a student's performance to that point. The program is geared toward residents of Minnesota and applicants from the region. Refer to the school's web site for specific details on the DDS Early Decision Program for the Entering Class of 2009.

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have completed their basic course series in biology, general and organic chemistry. Please refer to the eligibility criteria listed on the school's web site.

Admissions professionals will evaluate the student's transcript and course plans to ensure that all parameters of the program will be met prior to matriculation. Once the decision is made, the student will receive a letter confirming the agreement and outlining the parameters that the student agrees to fulfill prior to matriculation.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, TOEFL REQUIREMENTS

Do I need a TOEFL if I am a U.S. citizen? I don't think I need a TOEFL because I went to high school here, is that right? I took English courses in college, do I still need to take a TOEFL? What scores are required?

Anyone for whom English is not their native language must take an English language proficiency exam. The School of Dentistry requires that applicants take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This requirement holds true regardless of citizenship, length of time in this country, or any courses taken.

Scores required are as follows:

Can I transfer from another dental school to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry?

The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry will consider transfer requests from dental school applicants. A transfer is only possible at the end of their second year of the program.

Transfer applicants should understand that a transfer request to the School of Dentistry could be a very lengthy process. Therefore, it is highly recommended that individuals considering a transfer apply during the fall of their second year of the dental program. Transfer requests must be made no later than December 1 of the year prior to matriculation at the School of Dentistry.

The following policy applies to transfer students:

1. Transfer students must first be accepted by the Admissions Committee before any consideration of transfer is undertaken. There must be a place available in the class to which the transfer student is requesting admission.
2. Transfer students are accepted only at the end of their second year, and must have been certified by their previous school as capable of treating comprehensive care patients.
3. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will assess the comparability of curricula between the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and the transferring institution and shall seek approval from all course directors as to the acceptability of course work from the transferring institution.
4. No transfer courses will be accepted with "D" or "F" or "N" or "I" grades as meeting comparable course requirements at the University of Minnesota.
5. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must receive copies of all current transcripts from the transferring institution prior to matriculation at the University of Minnesota.
6. The transfer student must be evaluated by the preclinical course directors prior to entering into comprehensive care of patients.
7. The curricula to be given the transfer student must either waive or fulfill all course requirements in the classes scheduled in year one and two of the dental curriculum before the student will be authorized to register for third year courses.

All transfer students must pay a $1000 transfer fee deposit to initiate a transfer. If the student matriculates, the $1000 fee will be applied, as a credit, to his/her tuition and fees. This fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable if the student does not matriculate in the year to which he/she has applied.