Application Process

Our Selection Process

The 2009 Summer Dental School Experience targets incoming college sophomores and juniors from communities that are historically underrepresented in dentistry: African Americans, Latinos, American Indians, African immigrants, Hmong, Vietnamese and other immigrants, individuals from rural areas with limited health care facilities, individuals who are first generation college students, and those who are economically disadvantaged. However, all students are welcome to apply.

Application to the Program

The University of Minnesota Dental School invites Minnesota’s college freshmen and sophomores, from economically challenged, minority and rural communities to participate in an all expense paid, five-day Dental School Experience from June 8-12, 2009. The aim of the experience is to increase minority and rural students’ understanding of the dental profession, dental school, the dental school admissions process, and the DAT (Dental Admissions Test).

Complete the application form to the best of your ability. Read the following information carefully before you begin the application.

Before Your Application Is Sent

Before you send your application, please make certain you have asked a faculty member or trusted advisor to complete the brief reference form.  Your file will not be completed until our office has received the reference form from your advisor.  In addition, you must provide an official or unofficial copy of your college/university transcript.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION

Email Communications

Email is our preferred method of communication.  You will need to:

• Provide an email address that you will use for at least three to four years. You may need to create an email account with a free or campus provider that you will have access to for this period of time.
• Choose an email address that includes your name or part of your name. The address must project a professional image. This email address may be provided/forwarded to scholarship agencies, employers, and mentors. 
• Provide an email address of a trusted contact (parent, friend) as your backup. If the emails we send you are returned to us unopened, your backup contact will receive the information via email. He or she must be able to forward the information to you in a timely fashion.

Certification

By sending the application as an email, you certify that the information provided on the application and all other subsequent application materials is complete, accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. By sending this document, you understand that misrepresentation or fraudulent information is sufficient grounds for canceling admission to the 2009 Summer Dental School Experience program.

Privacy Statement

All information on this application form is private. The information requested will be used for identification, to determine admission, and to establish your Summer Dental School Experience file. Failure to provide information may delay or affect the admission decision. Information provided will be shared with offices within the University of Minnesota for uses described above and may be released to outside organizations and bodies in limited circumstances. These organizations may include, but are not be limited to: federal grant sources, state grant sources, admissions committees representing Minnesota’s medical schools, and private/corporate philanthropic organizations.

Recommendation 

A recommendation is required for the 2009 Summer Dental Experience program application. You will need to ask a faculty member or campus liaison to provide his or her opinion about your academic performance, potential as a program participant, and general attitude and work ethic. By sending this application, you waive the right to request information regarding the recommendation form from Dental Experience team members. You may contact the reference directly to attain a copy of his or her completed recommendation form.

Transcript

By providing a transcript from your college or university office, you accept that Summer Dental School Experience leadership has access to private and personal data. You understand that your personal data will not be released to outside bodies under any circumstance. However, you understand that your transcript and general information may be reviewed generally, whereby your name and private data will be eliminated, and that you will be labeled as “a participant.”

 Invitation to Participate

By participating in the 2009 Summer Dental School Experience program, you acknowledge that you may be asked to participate in studies, events, or programs related to pre-dental education. Your participation is entirely voluntary.

Application Check List

You must complete and submit the entire application by February 28, 2008.

The completed application includes:

___        The actual application form.

___         A copy of your official or unofficial college or university               transcript.

___         A reference form completed by a college or university               faculty member or trusted advisor.

Application Deadline: February 28, 2009

All documents and forms may be emailed, mailed or faxed, but all materials must be received by our office no later than March 20, 2008 for your application to be considered.  No late applications or additional information will be accepted.

Please direct all materials to:

Dr. Naty Lopez
Office of Admissions and Diversity
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
15-163 Moos Health Sciences Tower
515 Delaware St. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Fax: (612) 624-0882
Email: lopez216@umn.edu

After Your Application is Sent

You will receive an email confirmation when your entire application is completed. This includes your application, your transcripts, and the reference form.

You will be contacted by the Minnesota’s Future Dentists selections committee with follow-up questions regarding your application as needed.  All applicants will be contacted by the committee on or before April 15, 2009 regarding their status with the program.

Approximately 20 individuals will be accepted to the program and an additional three individuals will be placed on a waiting list, based on a ranked order. Other applicants will receive invitations to pre-dental development events that will be offered during the 2009-2010 academic year.

The Fine Print

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.