I think you can go to OSU, NEU, or a zillion other schools - and your odds for dental school will be similar.
U could go to UMASS Lowell or UMass Dartmouth -and you can still go to dental school.
Why these two schools in particular?
If budget matters, I’m sure you can find cheaper.
The “big names” won’t matter.
And dental school is expensive.
Bio, as a major, if you didn’t continue schooling is, on average, a more difficult degree to work with.
Good luck.
Here is a solid dental school’s requirements…the where is less important than the other parts:
A minimum of 87 semester credits or 130 quarter credits of courses from an officially accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university is required. A maximum of 64 semester credits from community or junior colleges will be applied to the 87 semester credits. (One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.) While acceptance is based primarily on performance quality, applicants are encouraged to have a broad liberal education.
Average DATs and GPAs for the 2023 entering class (DDS Class of 2027)
| Average GPA (Median GPA) | GPA Ranges | |
|---|---|---|
| BBCP (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics) | 3.63 (3.63) | 3.00-4.00 |
| Science | 3.66 (3.68) | 3.08-4.00 |
| Total | 3.73 (3.74) | 3.13-4.00 |
| Average DAT (Median DAT) | DAT Ranges | |
| Academic Average | 20.90 (21) | 17-28 |
| Reading Comprehension | 21.89 (22) | 16-28 |
| Perceptual Ability | 20.81 (21) | 16-28 |
| Total Science | 20.44 (20) | 16-30 |
- GPA (overall and science) is viewed in terms of consistency and improvement. But the quality of coursework and challenge per term are also considered. Applicants are required to provide written documentation of academic difficulties (e.g., “I,” “W,” “D” and “F” grades).
Satisfactory/No Credit, Incomplete and Withdrawal Grades
Only under unusual circumstances will credits graded on a satisfactory/no credit evaluation system be accepted for required courses. We will accept S/N courses and online labs for spring and summer 2020 semesters for prerequisite courses due to COVID-19. Applicants may submit a maximum of the following percentage of “S” credits in elective courses: 10 percent of the minimum total credits for 3-year students, and 15 percent of the minimum total credits for 4-year students. Incomplete grades are looked upon with disfavor by the Admissions Committee.
Letters of recommendation - Three (3) letters of evaluation are required.
- 3 letters of evaluation are required and must be received no later than January 10, 2024. Two letters must be from science or math faculty (who taught you in a lecture or lab course), with a third letter being submitted from a professional of your choice. We do recommend the third letter be from an employer or supervisor (from a volunteer, work, or research position). Letters of evaluation should be sent via ADEA AADSAS. You may submit additional letters beyond the three required letters through ADEA AADSAS or directly to the U of MN School of Dentistry (ddsapply@umn.edu) by the letter writer (we do not accept letters submitted by applicants).
Shadowing
The U of M School of Dentistry requires 40 hours of in-person exposure to dentistry by the time of matriculation. Shadowing, paid work, or volunteer experience in dentistry as a dental assistant, dental hygienist, or dental therapist will count towards this requirement. Virtual shadowing hours will not be counted. It is recommended that at least half of the 40 hours be completed in general dentistry. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete more than 40 hours, observe with more than one dentist, and gain exposure to different practice settings (community health center, group practice, private practice, etc.). Hours completed with a relative will not be counted.
Personal statement
As part of the AADSAS application, all DDS applicants must submit an essay describing their interest in dentistry as well as other interests and special achievements. The U of M Pre-Health Student Resource Center offers workshops on interviewing skills and writing personal statements that may be very helpful to you as a DDS applicant.
Official transcripts
Upon acceptance and prior to matriculation, official transcripts must be sent directly to the School of Dentistry from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended, and must verify sufficient credits and correct courses. Basic science coursework that is older than five years may be considered obsolete.