Pre-Dental Students
Dr. Rose's Handout
Download in word format here.
2 May 2005
PREDENTAL STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS-FAYETTEVILLE
PREDENTAL ADVISOR:
Jerome C. Rose
Anthropology Department
Old Main 330
E-Mail: jcrose@uark.edu
479-575-5247
GENERAL:
It is important that you keep your advisor informed of any changes in address,
email address and telephone number. It is frequently necessary to contact predental
students on short notice. All announcements, scheduled events, and deadlines
are now distributed by email so it is imperative that we have your email address.
I have sign-up sheets for appointments to see me for predental advising always
posted on the bulletin board next to the entrance to the Anthropology Department
Office at Old Main 330. Come by and sign up for a time slot and that is your
appointment. I will be waiting for you in my office at Old Main 348 at the end
of the hall on the left.
There is a student Dental Society on campus and you are encouraged to join and
participate. This is an entirely student-run club for all people interested in
teeth and dentistry. The officers send out notices of their meetings by email.
It is important to get your address to them. Keep in mind that all dental school
applications ask if you have belonged to a predental club while in college.
MAJOR:
Although many students major in Chemistry or Zoology, a predental student may
major in any subject such as Anthropology, French, Mathematics, Sociology, etc.
In fact, Dental Schools encourage a broad education and majoring in Zoology or
Chemistry will not provide an admission advantage. You should choose the major
that you want or are interested in.
DENTAL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS:
The majority of Dental Schools require the following science courses in addition
to other subjects normally taken by all students: two semesters of English composition
(ENGL 1013, 1023 or advanced writing courses), two semesters each of general
and organic chemistry (CHEM 1103/1101L, 1123/1121L, 3603/3601L, 3613/3611L),
two semesters physics (PHYS 2013/2011L, 2033/2031L), and one semester introductory
biology (BIOL 1543/1541L) along with introduction to zoology (BIOL 1603/1601L). One or two advanced
biology courses (such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, Dental Science (ANTH
4523), and biochemistry (CHEM 3813) are recommended. Practicing dentists recommend
business courses such as business law, management concepts, and accounting.
Current variations from this general pattern are listed below:
The University of Alabama in Birmingham requires six hours of mathematics, but
three hours could be statistics, computer science, accounting etc.
The Baylor College of Dentistry has the standard requirements and recommendations.
The Louisiana State University requires nine hours beyond the introductory biology
course to be chosen from: cell biology, molecular biology, histology, anatomy,
biochemistry, physiology, and embryology. They further require that three semesters
of English be taken.
The University of Louisville requires only the first semester of physics (mechanics)
and three semesters of biology after the introductory semester to be chosen from:
anatomy, physiology, cellular biology, microbiology, histology, biochemistry,
and immunology.
The University of Missouri at Kansas City requires a total of 4 semesters of
biology including biology I, anatomy, physiology and cell biology and recommends
additional courses such as histology, neuroscience, and microbiology. A college
course in mathematics (college algebra or higher) can be substituted for the
second semester of physics. Applied art classes such as jewelry making and sculpting
are recommended.
The University of Oklahoma requires a semester of psychology.
The University of Tennessee, Memphis requires that the applicant take two of
the following courses before beginning dental school: biochemistry, genetics,
comparative anatomy, developmental biology, cell biology, histology, microbiology,
molecular biology, physiology or neurobiology.
DENTAL EXPERIENCE:
All schools require that you have some experience in the dental profession. As
a guideline we can quote from the UMKC dental school: It is strongly suggested
that candidates observe in a minimum of five different dental offices such as
general dentists (required by all schools) and specialists. Students should log
a minimum of 80 to 100 hours of dental office observation.
ADVANCED ADMISSION:
Most students going on to Dental School earn either a B.A. or B.S. degree. Exceptional
students have been infrequently admitted after only 90 hours of course work.
Such students can earn a B.A. or B.S. degree from Fulbright College, University
of Arkansas, by using their first year of Dental School as their major (this
is called the 3/1 program). This pathway requires careful planning from the first
semester of the freshman year. Because all University and College requirements
must be met there are only 6 hours of electives in the B.S. program and B.A.
students must take 94 hours. The most difficult requirement to meet is the advanced
course requirements of the Fulbright College and, thus, all electives must be
numbered 3000 or above. (This option has not been used in recent years because
the dental schools have not accepted students without degrees.)
DENTAL ADMISSION TEST:
The American Dental Association mandated that all predental students take the
D.A.T. in the computerized test format. You can get all current information about
the test and register on line at www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat.
Candidates who are applying for the DAT must submit either the paper application
form included in the registration booklet or the online application (at the website
listed above). To request the Application and Preparation Materials booklet,
contact: Dental Admission Testing Program, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1846,
Chicago, Illinois 60611 (312)440-2689.
After the application and fee payment are processed, the Prometric Candidate
Contact Center will receive notification of the candidate’s eligibility
for DAT testing. The Computerized DAT is administered by Prometric at Prometric
Testing Centers. Candidates must wait at least 90 days before retesting. Also,
a letter will be sent to the candidate. The candidate will receive instructions
to call an 800-number to register with the Prometric Candidate Contact Center
for the DAT. By calling the 800-number, the candidate will be able to arrange
the day, time, and place to take the DAT at a Prometric Testing Center. Prometric
requires at least a 48-hour advance notice for scheduling a test.
The nearest testing center is the Sylvan Testing Center in Fort Smith, AR. You
may make an appointment by calling their testing center at (479) 484-0702 or
by writing to Sylvan Testing Center, 2409 S, 56th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72903.
You may also visit the Sylvan website at www.educate.com. The test is administered
most days of the year.
It is recommended that the DAT be taken in the spring semester of the junior
year after completing all the science course requirements, in particular your
organic chemistry courses. This provides additional opportunities to take the
test again if necessary. (Physics is not on the test.)
Preparation materials for the DAT can be obtained from a variety of sources
such as the Kaplan preparation course (521-8599 in Fayetteville or http://www.kaptest.com/)
and a variety of prepare-yourself books (such as Rudman’s Questions and
Answers on the DAT - see the following website for this book and others http://www.ebout.net/Study_DAT.html)
and software such as that produced by ScholarWare (www.scholarware.com) which
is highly recommended by dental schools. UMKC suggests that “students use
the scope of examination section in the front of the DAT book and then use their
college text books to look up the information.” This is then followed
by taking practice tests on their computers using the various software tests
that
are available for purchase. I suggest that students take practice tests and
then analyze each question they got wrong, determine why they got it wrong,
and then
correct their understanding of the material so that it cannot happen again.
Keep in mind there really are only so many questions that can be asked and
if you
take enough different practice tests you will have seen almost all the questions.
WHEN TO TAKE THE D.A.T.:
All dental schools require you to take the Dental Aptitude Test. You should take
the test during the Spring semester of your Junior year so that you have the
opportunity to take it again in the summer before your Senior year. Early admission
applicants will take the test during the Spring semester of their Sophomore year.
Further, the University of Missouri, Kansas City suggests that students should
have taken the test prior to sending in their applications. On the application
they ask you to mark the schools to which you wish to send your scores. Check
off all the schools to which you might wish to apply and also have them sent
to your predental advisor. This way there is a copy of your scores for emergencies.
WHERE TO OBTAIN THE APPLICATIONS:
On or after 15 July you should write or call the University of Tennessee-Memphis
and Baylor for their application forms. Their applications are also available
on their web sites. The addresses are listed previously. The University of Louisville,
Louisiana State University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of
Alabama in Birmingham, and the University of Oklahoma all use a uniform application
known as the AADSAS (American Association of Dental Schools Application Service)
form. This can be obtained by writing American Association of Dental Schools
Application Service, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 101, Washington D.C.
20036 after 1 April (1-800-353-AADS) or you may apply on line at www.adea.org/.
This one form is used to apply to all schools previously listed. If you have
not filled this form out by 1 September, you are going to be too late.
APPLICATION STEP ONE:
Fill out the AADSAS application form and any non AADSAS application forms. Do
this completely and neatly. This should be done by 1 September (and earlier for
Oklahoma). Remember to make a copy of each completed form before you mail it.
Loss in the mail is not uncommon.
APPLICATION STEP TWO:
All schools require a letter of evaluation from the predental advisor and these
will be done on the 1st of October of each year. Each student should make an
appointment for an interview with the predental advisor and bring the following
items: a copy of your completed dental school application, list of all dental
schools to which you intend to apply, a copy of your transcript, names of three
faculty members who know you well, and a complete resume that includes social
clubs, offices held, leisure activities, jobs during school and summers as well
as other things that you would like us to know about you. Make sure that you
have filled in the information concerning your name, address, and social security
number.
When asking others for letters of recommendation provide them with stamped addressed
(to the Dental School) envelopes. Recommendations are to be sent directly to
the Dental School.
APPLICATION STEP THREE:
The dental schools will be in touch with you for various reasons: to verify receiving
materials, to ask you to send transcripts, pictures, letters of recommendation,
etc. ALWAYS REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
The dental schools will contact you by telephone or letter to schedule an interview.
Remember to DRESS NEATLY and to be yourself when you go for the interview. This
should be an enjoyable experience.
APPLICATION STEP FOUR:
Wait patiently for admissions letters. Once accepted, the schools will send information
on financial aid and student loans.
APPLICATION STEP FIVE, ARKANSAS HEALTH EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM:
To receive ARHEG funding a student must be a certified Arkansas resident by filling
out an Application and Affidavit and submitting them to the Coordinator, ARHEG,
Arkansas Department of Higher Education, 114 East Capitol, Little Rock AR 72201-3818.
Telephone number is 1-800-54-STUDY. The necessary information and application
can be found at http://www.arkansashighered.com/arheg.html
This funding is available to a student accepted at one of the contract dental
schools: University of Tennessee, Memphis (18 entering slots); Meharry Medical
College (1); Louisiana State University (4); University of Louisville (1);
University of Oklahoma (1); Baylor College of Dentistry (officially known as
Texas A & M
University System HSC, Dallas. TX) (3); University of Missouri, Kansas City
(2).
THE DENTAL SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR ARKANSAS RESIDENTS
The Arkansas Health Education Grant Program (ARHEG), which is funded by the state
of Arkansas, provides assistance for Arkansas residents attending certain out-of-state
accredited health - dental - professional schools that are unavailable in Arkansas.
The ARHEG is administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE)
and assistance is provided pursuant to rules established under Act 1218 of 1999.
Such assistance is currently available for attendance at certain accredited schools
of dentistry.
The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board (AHECB) determines the priorities
for the applicable programs. Based upon these priorities and the availability
of funding, the Board establishes the number of student places (contract slots)
for entering students in dentistry. Based upon these determinations, the ADHE
negotiates contracts with participating schools either (1) through the SREB or
(2) directly with the institutions. The AHECB allocates a number of contract
slots to each participating school, and each school selects students certified
as Arkansas residents to fill its allocated slots. If the school participates
in the SREB contract program, the State pays a set fee per student to the SREB
as follows: Dentistry $12,000.
In return, the SREB negotiates a contract with the school to hold a certain
number of slots open for Arkansas students and to charge those students resident
tuition.
(Exceptions: Students attending the University of Tennessee (dentistry), Texas
A&M University System Health Science Center (dentistry), University of
Louisville (dentistry)) are charged the resident tuition plus the difference
between the
non-resident tuition and the sum of the resident tuition and the SREB contract
fee. Schools which do not have a resident/non-resident tuition differential
agree to hold a number of slots open for Arkansas students at reduced tuition.
Non-SREB Contracts: If the school has a direct contract with the ADHE, the contract
basically provides that the State will pay to the schools that charge different
resident and non-resident tuition an amount equal to the difference between the
resident and non-resident tuition, which the school will apply to the tuition
and fees of such students. Should the differential exceed the contract price
approved for similar programs by the SREB, the lesser amount will be paid. For
schools which charge the same amount of annual tuition for residents and non-residents,
and such annual tuition is extraordinary as determined by the ADHE, the amount
will not be less than $5,000 per student, which the school will apply to the
amount of tuition and fees of such students.
CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION
To receive ARHEG funding assistance to study dentistry a prospective student
must be "certified" as an Arkansas resident. Certification is a procedural
process that is initiated by the student by completing the Application and
Affidavit and submitting them to:
ARHEG Coordinator, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, 114 East Capitol
Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201-3818
Phone: 1-800-54-STUDY or (501) 371-2000 Fax: (501) 371-2001 or Email: finaid@adhe.arknet.edu
Students may request information and application packets from the ARHEG Coordinator,
or obtain the same information from the ADHE website (www.arkansashighered.com/arheg.html).
The prospective student also must apply to and be accepted by a school that is
under contract with the State. The total number of contract slots is limited
by available funds, so it is important to apply and gain acceptance by the school
at the earliest possible time.
Note: Requests for certification are processed by ADHE on a monthly basis. Students
applying for the ARHEG and residency certification receive a letter from ADHE
confirming their certification status; at the same time, an updated list of certified
students is sent to the institutions participating in the ARHEG. Participating
institutions have sole discretion in selecting grant recipients from the list
of certified students using the same criteria they use in determining those students
that will be accepted for enrollment.