DDS Required Prerequisite & Core Courses

• Download a printable, accessible copy of the Q&A

Who should you consult about a career in dentistry?

You should speak to the predental advisor on your university campus, Admission Offices of Dental Schools, the family dentist, other dentists in general practice and those involved in the various fields of dentistry such as public health, dental research, etc. Observation in the office of a general dentist is required. Information is also available from the American Dental Association, (ADA website www.ada.org), and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA website http://www.adea.org/).

Can high school students begin to prepare for a career in dentistry?

Yes. These students should take courses that will prepare them for admission to the predental college of their choice. In general, high school courses should include Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, English and courses that involve the development of hand skills.

Which college or university should a predental student attend?

We do not recommend specific colleges or universities. The college must be accredited and those having an active pre-health advisory committee and predental society are recommended.

The College of Dentistry provides complete information about admission requirements to predental advisors and to predental students. Counseling is available.

What specific college courses must an applicant take?

Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires a minimum of ninety semester hours; however, most students complete a degree before beginning the program. A grade of "C" or better is required for all required courses. An applicant must include the required hours:

• Six semester hours of English
• Three semester hours of Statistics (from Math or Statistics Department)
• Eight semester hours of General Chemistry
• Eight semester hours of Organic Chemistry
• Eight semester hours of Physics
• Three semester hours of Biochemistry
• Eighteen semester hours of Biology -- (minimum) 15 hours of lecture and 3 hours of formal laboratory.
  The Biology hours must include these courses for science majors (this refers to the course designation, not the applicant's major):

*Note: The Anatomy and Physiology requirements can be satisfied by either individual courses or the combined A&P 1 and A&P 2 (with both labs) for science majors. Predental students who take the individual courses of Anatomy and Physiology (3000 level or higher) will be better prepared and therefore more competitive as an applicant; however, the approved, combined Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2 courses will meet the requirement.

To help verify that you are taking approved science major's courses, please refer to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) website. They have a Prescribed Course Listing by University of approved courses http://www.tmdsas.com/PLAN/references/COURSE_LISTINGS/index.html.

No course should be planned for Summer Session 2 of the year of entry as it conflicts with our start date.

What additional courses are recommended?

Histology, Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Immunology and Biochemistry II are suggested to strengthen the student's science background.

What major fields of study are preferred?

Although we do not require a specific major, the majority of successful applicants have majored in the Biological or Biomedical Sciences. Taking more than the minimum number of biology courses and performing well in them will make the applicant better prepared and therefore, more successful in gaining admission.

When should the Dental Admission Test be taken?

The applicant should take the DAT in the spring or summer prior to applying. The DAT is offered at Prometric Testing Centers with locations throughout the country. An applicant with below average scores on the test may wish to retake the test in order to become more competitive. A 90-day waiting period is required before re-testing.

• Dental Admissions Testing Program - ada.org/education/testing

Application Procedures

The School participates in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). This central processing service allows the applicant to apply to any or all of the dental schools in the State of Texas. Texas Residents MUST apply through the TMDSAS.

Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires the submission of a secondary application in addition to the primary application. This application can be accessed from links on the TMDSAS Web site or at the our application site TAMHSC APP.

THE APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL THE SECONDARY APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED.

The School participates in the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) for out-of-state students only. Out-of-state applicants have two application options. They may apply through the TMDSAS, our preferred application service, or through AADSAS. Please note: Out-of-state applicants who apply through AADSAS must also apply with the Texas A&M College of Dentistry application. The College of Dentistry application is available online at the application site TAMHSC APP.

To apply to the program leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree the applicant should:

Access full information and the on-line application at the website for
www.tmdsas.com

Timetable for filing application:
Earliest date: May 1, year prior to desired admission
It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.

Application Fees:

The TMDSAS has a flat fee; we recommend applying to all of the Texas dental colleges. Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires a secondary application but charges no additional processing fee.

Is an interview required?

Yes, an interview is required. The applicant may be invited for an interview with the Admissions Committee. Interviews are scheduled by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. Although an official interview is not granted to all applicants, the College of Dentistry gladly provides complete information and counseling for all prospective students. Visits to the campus are offered during the spring semester.

On what basis are students accepted?

The quality of academic achievement is the first point of consideration. The grade point average (GPA) and the Dental Admission Test (DAT) are the primary factors used in this evaluation. The interview with the Admissions Committee gives the opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors. Preference is given to residents of Texas and the surrounding states which do not have a college of dentistry. Consideration of any factors that may have impacted academic or personal history is important in interview selection and final acceptance decisions. Additionally, applicants seeking to enter dental school must be able to perform the essential functions required to complete the curriculum successfully.

What can one do to improve chances for admission?

The application for admission to Texas A&M College of Dentistry may be strengthened by the following:

• keep the GPA as high as possible
• make above average scores in all areas of the DAT
• Upper-division biological science courses similar to those taken by the first-year dental students.
• give careful attention to details in filing the application - apply early
• assure your personal statement explains your motivation for pursuing dentistry, including personal and academic achievements, hardships overcome and other factors that affected personal or academic progress
• observation in a general practice dental office is required.
• participate in activities to improve manual dexterity
• take advantage of opportunities for community service
• evaluate and be able to articulate your skills, abilities, attitudes, etc. to determine if you are motivated to make the commitment required for a career in dentistry.

What does the Admissions Committee look for when they do a 'whole-file review' of an application?

A comprehensive (whole-file review) of the application is performed to reveal characteristics critical to the practice of dentistry, factors that indicate success in the dental curriculum that are not evident from academic history or standardized test performance, and potential for future contributions to the dental profession. They include:

• Motivation to pursue a career in dentistry.
• Involvement in community service.
• Observation or involvement in a dental office or clinic.
• Involvement in a summer pre-dental preparatory program.
• Letters of evaluation.
• Communication capabilities including writing (as evidenced in personal statement) and conversational English proficiency.
• Region in Texas, in which applicant resides. Ideally, all regions are represented by the student body.
• Residence in a Texas county designated as underserved by dental health professionals.
• Employment while attending college.
• Preparation to attend and succeed in post-secondary education.
• Applicant is first college attendee in his/her immediate family.
• History of extreme hardship.
• Leadership positions held in societies or organizations.
• Multilingual capabilities.

How can a re-applicant become more competitive?

• All re-applicants must be enrolled in coursework to be considered as a well-prepared candidate. We recommend taking post bac coursework in the biological sciences or a one-year master's degree in biomedical sciences to further prepare for the dental school curriculum, keep current with study skills and prove to the Admissions Committee the applicant's motivation and preparedness. (for example: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry II, microbiology, histology, neuroscience, cell & molecular biology, immunology)
• Re-applicants need to critically review their applications for areas that may need further work: biological science coursework, DAT scores, GPA, community service and volunteer work, general dental office shadowing experience.
• Re-applicants should continue to participate in shadowing and on-going volunteer activities during the application cycle.
• Re-applicants who follow this advice to improve their academic background and general application will be more successful than those with little change from year to year.
• Working in a dental office alone will not improve the applicant's preparedness.

Does your school consider D.D.S. transfer applicants?

The School will consider transfer applications based on the space availability in our class.  Please refer to the Transfer Guidelines, listed on the Application Procedures page,  for full details.  

What type of academic calendar is followed?

The College of Dentistry operates on a semester system with new classes beginning only once a year in August. A current calendar is available upon request.

What is the cost to attend Texas A&M College of Dentistry?

The tuition and fees for the student in the College of Dentistry can be found here.

To view the Cost of Attendance (COA) estimate provided by the Financial Aid Office please visit the website Scholarships and Financial Aid - Aggie One Stop and select College of Dentistry.

Tuition refund guideline

(Tuition refund guideline is available on request and is published in our catalog.)

For a complete listing of tuition and fees, see the Health Science Center Catalog available on TAMU the web site.

To view the Cost of Attendance (COA) estimate provided by the Financial Aid Office please visit the website http://financialaid.tamu.edu/Professional/Cost and select College of Dentistry.

Students are discouraged from holding any outside employment which may be detrimental to the pursuit of their education. In no case may a student accept a position which conflicts with regularly scheduled school hours. When scholastic progress is questionable, students may be asked to discontinue outside work.

Are loan funds available?

Yes, the College of Dentistry participates in several types of loan and scholarship programs. Students are classified as independent for consideration in professional school so aid is available based upon your documented need. Students complete FAFSA and submit requests for aid to the Office of Student Aid.

What is the attrition rate?

Because of the intense efforts in selecting only highly qualified students, few students fail to complete our programs.

Are there summer predental programs available?

A Summer Predental Enrichment Program exists to strengthen academic background, introduce the profession of dentistry, improve study skills and increase preparedness for admission to Dental School. For information, contact the Office of Student Development. Web address - https://dentistry.tamhsc.edu/student-development.

What opportunities exist beyond general practice?

Most D.D.S. graduates are in the private practice of dentistry. There is also a need for dentists who are interested in scientific research and teaching. Specialty areas in dentistry include Dental Public Health, Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics. Competition for admission to these graduate programs is high. Dentists also serve in public health agencies, educational institutions, the military and dental industry.