HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT A CAREER IN DENTISTRY?
Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) encourages you to keep in close
contact with the pre-dental advisor on your campus to discuss proper course
selection and sequence. Because the decision to enter dental school is such an
important step, you should consult your pre-dental advisor for valuable
information and sound advice to help answer career questions.
You are also encouraged to contact the IUSD Records and Admissions Office (Room
105 of the Dental School) as soon as you begin your plan of study. At that
point, admission procedures and dental prerequisites can be discussed.
Participate in a pre-professional club, a Biology Club or some type of
pre-professional organization on your campus.
Plan to attend
Dental Day hosted every October by the first
year dental class of IUSD. Dental Day is an interesting and informative program for all
those who are exploring a career in dentistry.
Plan to spend time in several dental offices to observe and
discuss dentistry as a profession with the dentist and the auxiliaries in the
office. Contact your family dentist and/or a dentist in your community to
schedule a time when you can observe in her/his office.
Contact the following websites:
WHEN AND HOW DO I APPLY TO DENTAL SCHOOL?
All applicants to IUSD must apply through the American Association
of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS).
AADSAS is a centralized application services sponsored by the American Education
Association (ADEA). AADSAS simplifies the application process for both
applicants and schools by allowing applications to complete one application
form. Information is then sent in a standardized format to the dental
schools requested by the applicant. AADSAS begins accepting applications
on May 16, 2008. All DDS applicants must submit an online
application at the ADEA website.
In order for your application to be sent by AADSAS, you must submit your
application to AADSAS no later than December 1, 2008. Because IUSD
maintains a rolling admissions policy, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY EARLY.
Therefore, in order for your application
to be reviewed and interview granted for the fall selection meeting, IUSD
must receive your application much earlier than the December 1st deadline.
HOW MUCH IS THE AADSAS PROCESSING FEE?
For 2009, the processing fee is $195.00 for the first dental school and $60 for each additional dental
school.
WHAT MATERIALS NEED TO BE COMPLETED THROUGH AADSAS?
- Application forms, including the biographical sketch and educational
information.
- Official transcripts from each college or university attended.
AADSAS will verify all transcript
information provided by applicants. Applications will not be sent to
requested schools until all transcripts are received and verified.
- AADSAS processing fee.
- All letters of evaluation.
What new features are available
through AADSAS?
The 2009 application cycle includes electronic submission of letters of
evaluation
HOW SOON WILL IUSD RECEIVE MY APPLICATION FROM AADSAS?
IUSD should receive your application approximately six weeks after the date
your application is received by AADSAS.
WHEN SHOULD I SEND SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
TO IUSD?
After we receive your application from AADSAS, we will send a letter to you
indicating which supplementary materials you will need to send directly to IUSD.
The following information will be requested:
- $50 non-refundable application fee (if you have never attended an IU campus); the
application fee for international students is $60
- Official DAT scores
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO KEEP MY APPLICATION FILE TO
UP-TO-DATE?
For applicants who wish to enter dental school in 2009, final acceptance will
not be granted until their files are complete. Thus, you should be sure to
provide the IUSD Records and Admissions Office with all of the items listed in the
question above and any other information requested. Failure to do so may result
in your acceptance being reconsidered or rejected by the Admissions Committee. Your file must
be complete with DAT scores and letters of evaluation before you
can be granted an interview. IUSD will accept only three required academic
letters of evaluation and one optional personal letter of evaluation.
TO HOW MANY DENTAL SCHOOLS SHOULD I APPLY?
Applicants usually apply to between four and seven dental schools.
WHAT UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR SHOULD I SELECT?
Any undergraduate major is acceptable for application to Indiana University
School of Dentistry. Students should choose a major in which they are
interested, in order to have an alternate career if they are not accepted to
Dental School. If you major in a natural or physical science, you should
minor in a humanities or social science and vice versa. The 2008 entering class consists of students who majored in
Biology (57%), Chemistry (8%) and Pre-Dentistry (2%).
HOW MANY YEARS DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE D.D.S.
DEGREE?
Dental school is a four-year program which begins the first week in July. The
curriculum runs year-round.
WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF BEING ACCEPTED TO INDIANA
UNIVERSITY?
There were 1,778 applications to the 2008 entering class. One hundred
and one students
will matriculate. Detailed
Profile
of the 2008 entering class is available.
WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF BEING ACCEPTED TO IUSD AFTER
ONLY 3 YEARS OF COLLEGE?
The entering class of 2008 included only one student who completed three
years of undergraduate coursework, and their average GPA was 3.55. Most
applicants accepted to IUSD earn a baccalaureate degree prior to entering dental
school.
If undergraduate students complete 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours),
including all Arts & Sciences requirements (humanities, language, etc.) they
may be eligible to receive a B.S. degree after their first year of dental
school. Bachelor's degrees are granted from your undergraduate campus, not the
dental school. Check with your undergraduate advisor to see if such a program is
offered at your campus, if interested.
Students in the 2008 entering class completed an average of 153.3 credit hours at
the time of matriculation.
IS AGE A FACTOR WHEN BEING CONSIDERED FOR DENTAL
SCHOOL?
No. IUSD does not consider age as a factor when looking at a dental
applicant's credentials.
HOW CAN I BETTER MY CHANCES OF BEING ACCEPTED TO IUSD IF MY GPA IS LOW?
If an applicant is not admitted and has completed a bachelor's degree, it is
suggested that he/she completes a one-year pre-professional master's program in
biology. If this is not possible, students should
enroll in at least six hours each semester and complete upper level or graduate
science courses such as cell
biology, genetics, histology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Courses in
business, inter-personal communication, psychology, and solid art
(jewelry-making) are also suggested. Fluency in Spanish is also
beneficial.
The entering class of 2008 included very few students who earned less than a
3.20 cumulative or science GPA, and most of those students earned either a
master's degree or a doctoral degree to improve their GPA and enhance their
chances for admission.
In general, "D" work should not be repeated, but additional, higher
level course in the same area should be taken. Repetition of a course does NOT
remove any grade from your AADSAS application. All grades will be computed in
your GPA (including FX grades from Indiana University).
DO I STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING ACCEPTED IF I
COMPLETE MY PREDENTAL COURSES AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY?
As long as you attend an accredited college or university, complete the
pre-dental requirements, and meet the minimum GPA requirements, your application
will be considered. IUSD does NOT give preference to IU graduates. At lease
thirty (30) of the required ninety (90) hours must be taken at a four-year
college. It is
preferred that applicants complete upper level science courses at 4-year
institutions (i.e. those that grant baccalaureate degrees).
WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED PRE-DENTAL COURSES I MUST
TAKE?
For the entering class of 2009 the following courses must be completed by
June 30, 2009.
- 8 semester/12 quarter hrs. of each of the following:
- BIOLOGY or ZOOLOGY
- INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- GENERAL PHYSICS
- 4 semester/6 quarter hrs. of each of the following:
- ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- ANATOMY
ALL SCIENCE COURSES LISTED ABOVE MUST INCLUDE
LABORATORIES
- 3 semester/4.5 quarter hrs. of each of the following:
- BIOCHEMISTRY LECTURE
- PHYSIOLOGY LECTURE
- 2 semester/3 quarter hrs. of each of the following:
- INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY
- ENGLISH COMPOSITION
- A minimum of 90 semester hrs. (135 quarter hours) of college credit
is required.
IS PARTICIPATION IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
NECESSARY?
It is not necessary to participate in extra-curricular activities if they
interfere with academic performance or jeopardize your college GPA. However, the
Admissions Committee does look for well-rounded individuals who have interests
and hobbies beyond academics. Involvement in extracurricular activities can
broaden your background and enhance academic discipline (i.e. the ability
balance your time between academics and outside activities).
WHAT CRITERIA DO THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
USE IN SELECTING STUDENTS TO IUSD?
Criteria used for selection of students include your science GPA (i.e. math,
physics, biology, chemistry), overall GPA, DAT scores, academic
letters of evaluation, results from the personal interview, years and hours of college
credit, degrees received, motivation, manual and artistic skills, character,
personality, ethics, and exposure to the field
of dentistry.
The average cumulative GPA was 3.53 for the 2008 entering class at IUSD. The
average science GPA was 3.48.
IS THE PERSONAL INTERVIEW REQUIRED?
Yes. The personal interview is required. Interviews at IUSD are typically
conducted from September through February.
HOW CAN I OBTAIN EXPOSURE TO DENTISTRY?
You are encouraged to talk to your family dentist or a dentist from your home
town during the summer and school breaks. Spend time with them during working
hours, if possible, to observe how the office operates.
HOW MANY LETTERS OF EVALUATION ARE NEEDED?
All letters of evaluation must be sent directly to AADSAS. AADSAS will
only process four letters of evaluation, therefore, IUSD will accept only three required academic letters of
evaluation and
one optional personal letter of evaluation. Interviews will be granted to selected applicants only after
the three (3)
academic letters of evaluation, DAT scores and the application fee have been received by the IU School of Dentistry. These
evaluations may be in either form:
- One evaluation from a pre-dental or pre-professional committee
- Three academic letters of evaluation from faculty members whose subjects you have
completed at the university you attended. At least two of the three should
be from your science professors; the third can be from any of your
professors.
Personal letters of evaluation are discouraged unless they document
dental exposure, manual dexterity skills, or community service. IUSD does
not accept character references.
DOES AN APPLICANT HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER TO THESE
LETTERS OF EVALUATION?
It is not required that an applicant sign a waiver, but IUSD and the writer
of the evaluation must know whether or not information submitted will be
confidential.
DOES AN APPLICANT HAVE TO USE IUSD EVALUATION FORMS
FOR THE LETTERS OF EVALUATION?
No. AADSAS provides a standard form for all letters of
evaluation. Beginning with the 2009 process, evaluators will also
have the option of sending their letters of evaluation electronically.
WHEN IS THE DENTAL ADMISSION TEST (DAT) GIVEN?
A computerized version of the DAT is available to candidates at specific
Prometric Testing Centers. Candidates may take the computerized version after
submitting their DAT application to the ADA and scheduling a test date/time with Prometric. Candidates may take the computerized DAT almost any day of the week and
will receive their scores immediately after completing the exam. Dental
Admission Test software and sample tests are also available through the ADA.
SHOULD I TAKE A REVIEW COURSE TO PREPARE FOR THE
DAT?
National surveys conducted by the American Dental Association indicate that
most dental applicants do not take a review course for the DAT. You will
automatically receive a sample test titled "DENTAL ADMISSION TEST SAMPLE
TEST ITEMS" with your DAT application.
IS THE DAT REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION TO DENTAL
SCHOOL?
Yes. Test scores range from "1" to "30". To consider your self a
competitive applicant, you should score 18 or better in every section of the
DAT. No one in the entering class of 2008 scored less than 17 on the
academic average or the total science section of the DAT.
HOW MANY TIMES MAY I TAKE THE DAT AND WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER RETAKING THE DAT?
A recent ADA ruling limits the number of times you can take the DAT to three.
Applicants who score less than 17 on either the academic average or total
science or less than 18 on the reading section of the DAT will not be considered
for an interview.
WHAT IS COVERED ON THE DAT?
There are four examinations in a multiple-choice format included in the
Dental Admission Test Program: Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General
Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry) Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning,
and Perceptual Ability.
Successful performance on the DAT requires completion of at least one year of
college education, which should include courses in biology, and general and
organic chemistry. Physics is not covered on the DAT. Most applicants complete two or more years of college prior to
taking the examination.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE THE DAT?
The examination fee is $175. This fee includes the submission of an
official copy of your DAT scores to five dental schools, a personal copy, and a
copy for your pre-dental advisor. Fees are not refundable.
Walk-in candidates are not permitted; candidates must register ahead of time.
ARE STUDENT LOANS AVAILABLE?
Yes. The majority of dental students at IUSD pay for their education with
student loans. Once you have been accepted to IUSD, you will receive a financial
aid packet. Your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and bank loan
forms will be included in this packet. Tuition usually increases 10-12% each
year.
ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE?
Yes, but the scholarships are very limited. They usually range between
$100.00 and $500.00.
WHAT POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AT IUSD?
| Dental Materials |
Pediatric Dentistry |
| Endodontics |
Periodontics |
| Operative Dentistry |
Preventive Dentistry |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery |
Prosthodontics |
| Orthodontics |
Dental Sciences (Ph.D.) |
HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY CHANCES OF BEING CONSIDERED
FOR A POST-GRADUATE PROGRAM?
If you are considering applying to a post-graduate program after dental
school, you should contact the department chair of that program as soon as you
begin dental school. These programs are very competitive, therefore, you will
need to maintain a high GPA while in dental school in order to be considered.
IF I AM A NON-RESIDENT, HOW CAN I ESTABLISH
RESIDENCY FOR FEE-PAYING PURPOSES?
With very few exceptions, if you enter Indiana University School of Dentistry
as a non-resident, you will remain a non-resident (for fee-paying purposes)
throughout your four-year dental education. To establish a "resident
student" classification, you must continuously reside in Indiana for at
least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first scheduled day
of classes in which you register in the university. Attending Indiana University
School of Dentistry for one year does not entitle you to resident tuition if you
are not from Indiana.
Note that physical presence in Indiana for the predominant purpose of
attending an institution of higher education shall not be counted in determining
the 12 month period of residence. Please refer to the
IUPUI Residency Policy
for further information.
WHO SHOULD I SPEAK WITH IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions, you may contact the Director of Admissions:
Robert H. Kasberg, Ph.D.
Indiana University School of
Dentistry
Room 130
1121 W Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 274-8173