Pre-Dentistry Handout

Pre-Dentistry is a career interest, rather than a major or formal program. Most people complete a full bachelor's degree, including a major, before entering dental school. Although most requirements are science courses, you can choose any major. The following courses meet requirements at the UMKC School of Dentistry and most dental schools:

• ENGL 101 Composition (3 credit hours)
• ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (3)

• BIOL 150 Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology (4, fall & spring, CHEM 184 co- or pre-requisite)
• BIOL 350 Principles of Genetics (3, requires BIOL 150 and CHEM 188) is required for BIOL 416
• BIOL 416 Cell Structure & Function (3, on Lawrence campus in spring, requires BIOL 350)
• BIOL 510 Comparative Anatomy* (5, fall)
• BIOL 600 Introductory Biochemistry (4, on Lawrence campus in fall)
• BIOL 646 Mammalian Physiology & 647 Lab* (4 & 2, on Lawrence campus in spring)

• CHEM 184 Foundations of Chemistry I (5, fall and spring, must be eligible for MATH 115)
• CHEM 188 Foundations of Chemistry II (5, spring & summer)
• CHEM 624 Organic Chemistry I & 625 Lab (3 & 2, fall & spring)
• CHEM 626 Organic Chemistry II & 627 Lab (3 & 2, spring & summer)

• PHSX 114 College Physics I (4, prerequisite MATH ACT >24 or MATH 104 Pre-Calculus)
• PHSX 115 College Physics II (4)

*If not needed for a biology major, you can use BIOL 240 Human Anatomy AND 241 Lab (3 & 2) AND 246 Human Physiology AND 247 Lab (3 & 2) to satisfy UMKC's anatomy and physiology with lab requirements.

Some dental schools require additional math, microbiology, and/or psychology courses.

BIOL 152 Principles of Organismal Biology, 400 Fundamentals of Microbiology, 503 Immunology, 560 Histology, Business Entrepreneurship, Spanish, and studio art courses, such as sculpting, ceramics (CER 131) or jewelry making (METL 132), are recommended.

There are many ways of sequencing required science courses. Here is one option:

*If you're a qualified Missouri or Kansas resident, apply for UMKC's Reserved Admission Program, http://dentistry.umkc.edu/Future_Students/dds.shtml#reserved, immediately after completing your fourth full semester!

If you're a prospective student, you can contact Admissions & Scholarships, (785) 864-3911, www.admissions.ku.edu, to schedule a tour and information meetings.

If you're currently a KU student, you can call 864-3500 to schedule a meeting with the premedical advisor, Paul Crosby. 

If you're currently a student in KU's College of Liberal ARTS & Sciences, and you add the pre-dentistry interest code, PDENA, by completing a change of interest code form in 109 Strong Hall, e-mail messages about Pre-Dentistry Club meetings and other information will be sent to your KU e-mail address.

For more information, see our pre-dentistry web site at www.medadvising.ku.edu/dentistry.

There is no dental school in Kansas, but there's an agreement for some seats for Kansas residents at the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry, and the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry encourages Kansas residents to apply.

UMKC encourages candidates to observe for a minimum of 80-100 hours in at least five different dental offices. Preference is given to candidates who have worked in a dental office, have a science GPA of at least 3.40, and a DAT academic average of at least 17 at the time of application.

If you plan to enter dental school immediately after your senior year, you should begin the application process in the spring of your junior year! Don't wait for application deadlines - Apply Early!

1. You can register for the DAT at www.ada.org/dat.aspx. It's computerized, so you can schedule it for a time that suits your preparation and application needs, ideally by June 1st in the summer between your junior and senior year. For more information, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/dentistry/dentDAT.shtml.

2. In the spring of your junior year, call 864-3500, and schedule an application meeting with Paul Crosby.

3. In the early summer between your junior and senior year, submit your American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) application at https://portal.aadsasweb.org. In the past, AADSAS has begun accepting applications in early June.

For tips on writing a personal statement, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/essaytips.shtml. When you finish a draft, call 864-3500 to schedule an essay review meeting!

4. Have your evaluation letters sent through AADSAS, www.medadvising.ku.edu/letters.shtml. Give writers an August 1st deadline, and be sure dental schools receive all of your letters by September 1st.

5. In the summer between your junior and senior year, complete supplemental applications.

6. In the fall and winter of your senior year, complete dental school interviews. For interviewing tips, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/interviews.shtml. In August or September, call 864-3500 to schedule a practice interview! Most dental schools start interviewing in September.