Comprehensive Notes on Predental Track and Dental School Admissions

Overview of advising team and orientation purpose

• Liz Haney: Doctor, at university for over twenty years; expert on prehealth tracks; serves as advisor.
• Presenter: has been at UNC Charlotte for a year; assists with advising.
• Orientation goal: outline steps to be competitive for dental school; set expectations to avoid surprises in application.
• Key premise: understanding time commitment to become a dentist before starting work.

What it takes to become a dentist: degree timeline

• Bachelor’s degree: typically $4$ years.
• Dental school: typically $4$ years.
• General dentistry path: usually no residency required (unlike many medical pathways).
• Specializations (endodontist, orthodontist, prosthodontist): residencies can range from $1$ to $6$ years, depending on specialty.
• Predental status is not a formal major/minor; it’s a plan to become competitive for dental school.
• Two main streams during the path:
  • Complete bachelor’s degree (most important current agenda).
  • Complete dental school prerequisites and experiences (academic requirements, experiences, and extracurriculars).
• Advice to work with your academic advisor to ensure you graduate from UNC Charlotte while also covering dental school prerequisites.
• Some dental prerequisites may fit within the bachelor’s degree; others may be additional coursework.

Predental status, majors, and plan B

• No formal predental major required; you can major in almost anything.
• Common misperception: only science/math majors are viable for predental tracks; data shows many accepted students did not major in science/math:
  • East Carolina: $52 ext{\%}$ of first-year dental students majored in science or math.
  • UNC Chapel Hill: $60 ext{\%}$ of accepted students majored in science or math.
• Major in fields you enjoy; performance often reflects passion in your grades.
• Plan B: consider alternatives if dentistry doesn’t pan out or you shadow and discover another interest.
• BA vs BS in biology: for predental competitiveness, it generally doesn’t matter.
• If majoring in non-science, consider a minor to cover prerequisites and build breadth (e.g., biology minor with a non-science major).
• Common minors useful for predental students: Psychology, Gerontology, and other relevant tracks.
• Consider adding a minor in business (helps with private practice) or art (fine motor skills useful in dentistry).
• Spanish is advantageous due to large Spanish-speaking patient populations.
• Pause for questions on majors; no questions → move to prerequisites.

Core prerequisites and course planning basics

• Core courses (usually required by most dental schools; two semesters each):
  • General Biology I & II (
  • General Chemistry I & II (
  • Organic Chemistry I & II (
  • Physics I & II (two options: algebra-based or calculus-based; no universal preference for dental schools; check degree requirements)
  • English (two semesters)
  • Biochemistry (often required; one semester; note ECU introduced a 2025–2026 biochemistry requirement)
  • Math: Statistics (one semester; calculus rarely required)
• Practical note: after today, UNC Charlotte provides a course map on Canvas; red courses are consistently required; green courses may be DAT-tested or beneficial for rigor and preparation.
• Physics and Statistics: choose per degree requirements; confirm with your adviser.

NC dental schools and prerequisite nuances

• Three NC dental schools: UNC Chapel Hill, East Carolina University (ECU), High Point University (HPU).
• UNC Chapel Hill prerequisites typically include general biology, anatomy & physiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and English; some variation exists.
• ECU prerequisites typically include general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics; biochemistry is a new requirement for the 2025–2026 cycle; note that botany may not fulfill biology requirements per ECU policies.
• High Point University: new institution; detailed prerequisites not widely public; check with admissions.
• Important practice: always consult the official school websites for up-to-date prerequisites and policies; admissions policies can change.
• AP credits: policies vary; some programs may not accept AP credits; ECU has updated policies allowing AP credits if the granting institution provides credit and students take upper-level courses to compensate. Check each school's site for specifics.
• Online courses: acceptance varies by school; some accept online general education but not online prerequisites; contact admissions if you’re unsure; if an online course was completed with a strong grade, some schools may allow supplementation with an upper-level in-person course.
• Community college coursework: generally accepted if completed prior to transferring to a 4-year program; avoid relying on CC for most prerequisites after starting a 4-year program; if you completed an associate’s degree at a CC prior to transferring, this is usually acceptable.
• AP credits and online courses: policies differ by school; when in doubt, contact admissions to confirm.

Practical questions and planning around AP credits and timelines

• AP credits: some schools do not accept AP credits; others may accept AP with upper-level course supplementation; verify with each school’s admissions page.
• If you have already started a degree elsewhere and are considering shortening time to degree, keep in mind admissions look for readiness, maturity, and demonstrated achievement beyond grades.
• Planning ahead: monitor prerequisite requirements as you select courses; the websites of target dental schools will guide you on what to take and when.

The timeline to dental school: paths, timing, and timing pitfalls

• No single path; common path is straight from undergrad to dental school in the following sequence:
  • Graduate undergraduate degree in spring; apply for dental school in the following year; start dental school in fall.
  • Typical age of first-year dental student: $24$ years.
• Two major timeline patterns:
  • Direct path: graduate undergrad and immediately apply/start dental school in the fall after graduation.
  • Gap-year path: graduate, work or gain experience, apply later; increasingly common and can be beneficial for maturity, experiences, and DAT preparation.
• Official application timeline considerations:
  • Dental admissions test (DAT) is the entrance exam; plan to take it in the middle of the application cycle; aim to have the option to retake if needed.
  • Core DAT sciences/math courses should be completed before taking the DAT: $General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Statistics$.
  • Typical application window: opens in $April/May$; submit in $June$; scores may be sent after testing.
• If you’re considering summer coursework to condense prerequisites, be cautious:
  • Summer courses are often accelerated (e.g., 5 weeks for organic chemistry); ensure you’re confident about performance before taking on intensive summer terms.
• Financial planning: professional health programs can be costly; consider gap-year work to save for tuition and living expenses during dental school.
• Practical planning tool: many students use spreadsheets to map coursework and DAT prep; plan ahead for non-core electives (business, arts, etc.).
• If planning a gap year, use it to complete more upper-division coursework, gain more extracurricular experiences, and improve DAT readiness.

The admission criteria: what admissions committees scrutinize

• Four main quantitative factors:
  • Academic record (GPA, coursework rigor, semester load)
  • DAT scores (total and section scores)
  • Extracurricular activities (dentally relevant experiences, community service)
  • Dental-related experiences and community service balance
• GPA details (multiple GPAs are calculated by dental schools):
  • Overall cumulative GPA
  • BCPM GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math)
  • B GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
  • Non-science GPA (other courses)
• Emphasis on consistent, rigorous coursework; not just “g attachment” to a few high grades; a single weak semester is manageable, but overall trend matters.
• Red flags on transcripts:
  • Repeated courses and their impact when both grades appear on the transcript
  • Frequent withdrawals or repeatedly taking the same difficult course; admissions view this unfavorably if it indicates ongoing struggle
  • Transfer from CC to 4-year institutions should be done in a way that preserves perceived rigor; avoid taking only pre-reqs at a CC after arriving at a 4-year program
• Benchmark example (as of 2024): accepted class had an overall GPA around $3.6$ and DAT score around $21$ (DAT scoring historically on a scale ending at 30; older scale used 440 as total score). Note that scoring changes may occur with cycles.
• Practical advice: focus on improving the main gateways you control today: GPA, DAT, and relevant experiences; there is little room to compensate for a weak area with perfect performance in others.

Extracurriculars: building a compelling dental-related experience portfolio

• Core goal: demonstrate commitment to dentistry and readiness for a demanding program.
• Dental-related experiences:
  • Shadowing a dentist (aim for total hours): typically around $100-200$ hours; best to shadow around $3$ general dentists and $1$ specialist (orthodontist, prosthodontist, endodontist).
  • Target: at least $100-200$ hours; $200$ hours is more competitive.
  • Shadowing strategies: start with your own dentist or family/friend dentists; reach out to dental offices to request shadowing opportunities.
  • Dental-related volunteering: essential; aligns with seeing patients and day-to-day practice.
  • Common avenues for dental-related volunteering: Missions of Mercy clinics (Mecklenburg County and statewide), Give Kids a Smile, free clinics, shelter clinics, Agape free clinic, mobile dental clinics; some opportunities require early registration.
  • Overseas dental trips can be valuable for comparing health systems, but must be ethical and not replace U.S.-based hours; ensure program is reputable and does not permit unqualified practice.
• Other important experiences:
  • Community service: non-health-care-related volunteering still counts as demonstrating community commitment and empathy; examples include food/clothing drives, church/community events, etc.
  • Research experience: valuable, especially for certain schools (e.g., UNC Chapel Hill); aim for about one academic year of research; pathways include Office of Undergraduate Research positions and direct lab work with faculty; honors programs can incorporate research into curriculum.
  • Honors programs: departmental or college honors can add rigor and provide structured research opportunities; beneficial for transcripts and competitive profiles.
  • Study abroad: enhances cultural understanding and global health perspectives; useful for comparing health systems.
  • Leadership programs and roles: demonstrate management potential for future private practice ownership.
• Maintaining professional relationships:
  • Build and maintain good rapport with dentists, volunteer coordinators, professors, and advisors to secure strong letters of recommendation.
• Personal well-being and balance:
  • Maintain hobbies and personal interests to manage stress and present a well-rounded profile; activities like art, music, sports, or other passions can be a positive talking point in interviews and also help with fine motor skills.
• Practical tracking tips:
  • Keep a dedicated log of each activity: start/end dates, hours, facility, supervisor, and contact person.
  • Note reflections and patient interactions to craft robust stories for applications and essays.
  • Keep content organized to simplify application writing and interviews.
• Cautions:
  • Avoid minor legal/ethical issues; admissions may probe past incidents; be prepared to discuss with accountability and growth when needed.
• Key takeaway: three elements under your control early on are GPA, DAT, and dental-related experiences; interview readiness and letters follow from consistent performance and relationships.

Additional reminders and resources

• Useful resources: American Dental Association (ADA), American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
• Campus resources: predental club for peer networking and guidance; prehealth@Charlotte.edu for advising.
• Study abroad policy note: study abroad programs and liability concerns lead to directing inquiries to Study Abroad Office for program-specific guidance.
• PowerPoint access: if you want the presentation, share your email; a copy of the slides can be emailed to attendees.
• Final note on timing and decisions:
  • Begin predental planning early to distribute workload and reduce stress toward application.
  • Track activities to ensure you can assemble complete details for applications and essays.
  • Prepare for interviews by reflecting on your motivations and lessons learned from experiences.
• Common question recap from the session:
  • Shadowing hours, volunteer hours, and how to balance with coursework.
  • Whether working as a dental assistant can substitute for shadowing; not a substitute, but it is valuable experience.
  • Whether most science courses require lab components; biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics typically require labs; check specific course maps for lab requirements.

Quick reference: key numbers and dates to remember

• Degree timeline: $4$ years undergrad + $4$ years dental school.
• Typical shadowing hours: $100-200$; aim for $200$ for strong competitiveness.
• Average first-year dental student age: $24$.
• Typical accepted class metrics (as of 2024): approximately $3.6$ overall GPA; DAT approximately $21$ (and a $440$ on the older scale).
• Core DAT preparation includes: $General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Statistics$.
• Core prerequisites to check with schools: biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, English, and biochemistry (where required).

Closing guidance

• Start now: focus on maintaining strong grades, preparing for the DAT, and gaining dental-related experience.
• Don’t rely on one weak area to be compensated by others; aim for a steady, well-rounded profile.
• Use the resources available (ADA, ADEA, predental club, advisors) and stay in touch with mentors for letters of recommendation.
• If you want the slides, share your email; we’re happy to provide the PowerPoint.