Congratulations to our clients who heard good news today on December 15, 2025 – the first day that applicants were allowed to hear back from dental schools about their decisions for Fall 2026! It has been a long wait of several months since applying in the summer of 2025, and their hard work has paid off with many years of preparation and our expert advice!
Introduction
Having formerly worked in the admissions offices of several higher education institutions including NYU College of Dentistry, many prospective clients of our boutique firm are interested in dentistry. As an educational consultant since 2017, I am providing context for this popular area of professional study of pursuing a DDS or DMD.
Pre-Requisite Classes
Dentistry has an extensive list of pre-requisites required to be completed before entering a program. It is important to start planning years ahead to make sure these are mostly or all completed before applying. They include biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, English; labs are usually needed. It is key to check each dental school’s requirements, which may also include courses such as biochemistry, anatomy, histology, physiology, genetics, embryology, pharmacology, math, or art.
In addition to reviewing applications at NYU’s dental school, I advised 26 first year DDS students. I found that those who had not taken anatomy were at a disadvantage, so I recommend that my clients take it during college.
Testing
For dental school, the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is the option offered. It is on a computer and given most days of the year; sections include biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning. Unlike most colleges which are test optional, a dental school applicant must submit this test score to be considered.
Many US dental schools also accept the Canadian version of the DAT, due to the large number of Canadian applicants to their institutions; there are over 70 US dental schools, but only ten in Canada.
US News Rankings
In dentistry, there are no rankings of schools by US News & World Report. In the 1990s, many dental schools boycotted the rankings as they believed that the methodology did not fully capture program quality, and the rankings were cancelled and no longer exist.
School Lists
Due to only approximately half of applicants being accepted to at least one US dental school, it is important to have a larger list. I typically recommend at least 15-20 schools for most applicants; including a number of private options which are more expensive as the public schools are very competitive to be admitted. Clients tend to be more interested in attending a public in-state option to minimize loans.
Admissions Process: Essays, Extra-curriculars, Letters
In addition to the DAT, it is important that an applicant meet all required coursework, get experience shadowing dentists, and take part in activities. For letters, requirements often include two science related subjects and a dentist. Committee letters can be important if offered by the student’s college as their internal faculty and administrators will present the candidacy of an applicant; they can delay the admissions process significantly if they are not ready early enough in the cycle so it is up to the applicant and their advisor to assess if it is appropriate.
Students apply through the AADSAS (Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) central application system or if applying to Texas schools, they have their own system of TMDSAS (Texas Medical & Dental Application Service). The dental application process does not expect as high of a level of writing as the law school process which I also advise, but typically there is one main essay about why you want a career in oral health that is the same for every dental school and often supplemental essays for each school such as why you are interested in the school or if you are a re-applicant. Supplements can be due around the time of application or later on in the process if the applicant is invited to complete one; some just require basic information. Extra-curricular activities are listed in the application, and it is often important to show interaction with the community and experience shadowing dentists.
Timing of Application Cycle
For dentistry, it is ideal to apply by July 1 in order to have the best chances of acceptance, although the application opens in May. Chances diminish significantly after this time, as interviews start going out in the summer for some schools.
Gap Years
If a client has a strong GPA and DAT and good experience in leadership and exposure to dentistry, then it may not be necessary to take a gap year. However, a good number of applicants do need to take a gap year to fulfill all the requirements which include shadowing a dentist and perhaps taking additional coursework.
Interviews
Dental schools do require an interview to be admitted. Only a small percentage of the pool will be invited to interview if the admissions committees feel they are viable. These interviews can be online, but many schools choose to interview in person only, including NYU, and involve time on campus which may offer a tour, presentation from admissions, faculty interactions, etc.
Hiring
Many dentists choose to complete a residency after graduation. New York State requires new dentists to complete at least one year of a general practice residency (GPR) or specialty residency. There are also options to complete fellowships. Many dentists do choose to work for another employer at first. However, the vast majority will choose to work for themselves and start their own practices; nevertheless, a bigger share of dentists are choosing to work for corporate entities.
Scholarships and Graduate Loans
NOTE: Recent government changes have put a lifetime cap of 200,000 borrowing for professional programs such as JD and DDS/DMD; with a 50,000 annual limit per year. In addition, there is an overall limit of 257,500 for all federal loans for students (except Parent PLUS loans); so undergrad loans will count towards this as well. This is a very monumental change that will impact many applicants.
In dentistry, most schools do not offer substantial scholarships. It is very expensive to educate dentists; unlike medical schools which send their students to do rotations at hospitals the last two years, dental schools often need to supervise rotations for the last two years which requires expensive equipment and faculty expertise. Options that exist for future dentists include National Health Service Corps scholarship in which dentists commit to areas with dental shortages or the Students to Service Loan Repayment Program in which they serve at least two years after graduation for loan repayment or the Health Professions Scholarship Program available through the Army, Navy and Air Force which require active duty service for several years.
Conclusion
I have found clients are more anxious about the graduate admissions process due to current changes in the economy, which include artificial intelligence (AI) impacting employment in many industries. Given these developments and the changes in graduate school loans, it is important to help families navigate the process and be informed their options. Dentistry requires much investment of time and resources, but it can be a satisfying career for particular students who are self-aware, sure of what they want in the future, and willing to put in the effort to pursue this professional pathway.
