Application/Admission

Requirements for Admission to the Doctor of Dental Surgery Program

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry seeks to enroll the highest caliber of students who will become exemplary health care professionals. To achieve this strategic objective, the dental school has established admissions criteria that permits flexibility in choosing an undergraduate program while remaining discriminative with regard to scholastic achievement. Students who are majoring in either science or non-science disciplines, as well as individuals interested in career changes, are encouraged to apply. In addition, those individuals who are interested in changing their careers will receive careful consideration for admission. The admissions process strives to identify applicants who possess the ability to think critically and who have demonstrated independence and self-direction. In all respects, applicants must give every promise of becoming successful students and practitioners of the highest ethical standards.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate not only that they have participated in a challenging program in their respective disciplines, but also that it was supplemented by a broad selection of courses in the social sciences, humanities, and arts. Applicants should also be able to demonstrate at least 100 hours of activities undertaken to investigate the dental profession. Additionally, experiences that develop manual dexterity are strongly recommended. An important distinction is demonstrating an ability to manipulate very small objects (such as beads, needle work or small simulation models) as opposed to the eye-hand coordination of most sports.

Although the completion of a bachelor’s degree before dental school matriculation is strongly encouraged by the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions, applicants who have successfully completed at least three academic years (90 credit hours) in an accredited university will be considered for admission.

No more than 60 of the minimum required credits will be accepted from a community college or junior college; these credits must have been validated by an accredited college of arts and sciences. All admission requirements must be completed by June 30th of the desired year of admission. Applicants must also present favorable recommendations from their respective pre-professional committee or, if no such committee is available, from one faculty member each in the departments of biology and chemistry. Applicants will not be admitted with unresolved conditions or unresolved failures.

Requirements for admission are subject to change without prior notice, as the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions reserves the right to modify the prerequisites when additional courses are necessary to improve an applicant’s preparation for dental school. At the minimum, the undergraduate curriculum must include the following:

• 8 Semester Hours of General Biology (including laboratories)
• 8 Semester Hours of Inorganic Chemistry (including laboratories)
• 8 Semester Hours of Organic Chemistry (including laboratories)
• 8 Semester Hours of Physics (including laboratories)
• 3 Semester Hours of Biochemistry
• 6 Semester Hours of English Composition

Moreover, applicants are expected to achieve superior grades in these prerequisite courses, because these are predictors of dental student performance in the first two years of the dental curriculum.

A strong record of academic achievement is essential, and all applicants should present science and cumulative grade point averages (GPA) and Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores that exceed the national averages. All applicants are encouraged to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) no later than December of the year before admission. The final admission decision will be based on DAT scores, performance in previous academic programs, the quality of those programs, and personal factors as evidenced by letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and a personal interview.

Before applying to the dental school, potential applicants should note the University of Maryland’s Policy Concerning Prevention and Management of Student and Employee Infection with Bloodborne Pathogens, and the School of Dentistry’s Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation. In addition, individuals who may have a prior or subsequent conviction or nolo contendere plea for a felony may encounter denial or removal of licensure.

Application and Acceptance Procedures

Students are admitted only at the beginning of the fall semester in August. All applications, with the exception of transfer and advanced standing applications, are processed through the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). The application service, Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), will verify transcripts, calculate the grade point average for each applicant, and furnish pertinent information to the dental school. Although the AADSAS application must be filed by all applicants prior to January 1st of the desired year of admission, early filing of the application is strongly recommended. The dental school also charges a separate application review fee of $90, which should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions at the same time the AADSAS application is submitted.

Candidates whose applications meet preliminary screening criteria will be invited to continue with the admissions process and will receive an invitation to complete the University of Maryland supplemental application. Upon receipt of the completed supplemental application, applicants advancing in the admissions process will be invited for an interview with members of the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions. A personal interview does not guarantee admission.

The Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions, comprised of members of the faculty, students, and alumni, selects qualified applicants for admission based on the applicant’s academic performance, DAT scores, faculty recommendations, and the personal interview. A deposit of $1000, to be credited toward tuition, must accompany an applicant’s acceptance of an offer of admission. An additional $1,000 deposit is due by April 1st to confirm intent to enroll. Admission is contingent on completion of all prerequisite coursework and continued satisfactory academic performance and behavior during the period between acceptance and enrollment.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Students currently enrolled in dental schools within the United States, as well as graduates of non-United States/nonCanadian dental schools, may apply for admission with advanced standing. It should be noted, however, that such admissions occur infrequently because of limited space availability or incompatibility of curricula at different schools. Students admitted with advanced standing may be exempted from certain courses, based on skills assessment by the faculty.

Policy for Admission with Advanced Standing

The University of Maryland, School of Dentistry’s policy states that it may be possible for exceptionally talented graduates of a non-United States/non-Canadian dental school to gain admission to the University of Maryland’s Doctor of Dental Surgery Program with advanced standing. Candidates should be aware that the application process is complex since it is challenging to assess a candidate’s performance in different curricula at other institutions. Furthermore, all admissions considerations are contingent on space availability within the program. Our class size is approximately 130 students. A current student would have to withdraw or be dismissed in order for a space to become available for an advanced standing student.

Two categories of candidates for admission with advanced standing:

• Transfer students
• Internationally trained dentists

Transfer Students

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for consideration for transfer, applicants must be currently enrolled in a U.S. or Canadian dental school, and in good academic and professional standing. First consideration will be given to applicants whose personal circumstances compel them to transfer.

Application Process

Application for admission with advanced standing should be requested from the Office of Admissions. Completed applications should be returned no later than March 1st, along with the following:

• A detailed letter describing the reason for the transfer request
• The $350 application fee (payable to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry)
• A letter from the Dean of the dental school, verifying that the student is currently enrolled and is in good academic and professional standing
• Official undergraduate transcript
• DAT score report
• Official dental school transcript
• National Boards Part I score report
• Syllabi for dental courses already taken

Preliminary Review

After required materials have been submitted, faculty members and the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions will review the documents and determine if a personal interview is warranted. Only candidates being seriously considered will be asked to interview.

Review by Departments

If the candidate is recommended by the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions, the candidate’s course syllabi will be forwarded to the Dental School Department Chairs (or their designees) who will review them and, if necessary, communicate directly with candidates for further clarification. The Department chairs/designees then provide the Office of Academic Affairs with their recommendations regarding placement within the curriculum.

Admissions and Placement Decisions

The Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions makes the final decision regarding admission. The Progression Committee develops specific recommendations regarding placement or modification to the students’ curriculum or course requirements to accommodate individual strengths and weaknesses. The Assistant Dean of Admissions and Recruitment notifies applicants of admission decisions and, if indicated, placement decisions. Space must be available within the projected class in order for an offer of admission to be extended.

Internationally Trained Dentists

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for admission with advanced standing as an internationally trained dentist, applicants must have successfully completed the DDS degree (or its equivalent). Additionally, candidates must have passed Parts I and II of the National Dental Board Examination.

Application Process

Applications for admission with advanced standing should be requested from the Office of Admissions. Requests for an application must be submitted no later than January 1st of the year of desired matriculation. The completed application should be returned to the Office of Admissions along with the following:

• A detailed letter describing the reason for seeking admission with advanced standing
• The $350 application fee (payable to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry)
• Official reports of National Board Part I and Part II scores
• Results of a TOEFL, if English is not the native language
• Clear, legible photocopies of the dental degree (DDS equivalent), course transcripts, and grades or examination scores, with certified English translations
• A course-by-course evaluation of academic credentials, performed by a recognized evaluation service
• Three letters of recommendation from former faculty members or recent professional contacts

Preliminary Review

After required materials have been submitted and preliminarily reviewed, the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions makes a determination regarding a personal interview. Candidates being seriously considered for admission are interviewed by members of the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions. After the preliminary interview, the Committee makes a determination whether the candidate should be invited to complete the comprehensive skills analysis, conducted by the departments. For candidates invited to continue with the application process, the fee for the skills assessment is $2,000, payable on or before the date of the first departmental assessment.

Review by Departments

Candidates receive a list of School of Dentistry department chairs (or designees) who meet with the candidates and conduct academic and preclinical skills assessments. The School of Dentistry reserves the right to modify or waive all or part of the skills assessment, based on the backgrounds of individual candidates. Candidates will contact the faculty directly to make arrangements for their evaluations. Upon completion of the skills analysis, the department chairs/designees provides recommendations to the Office of Academic Affairs regarding admission and placement

Admissions and Placement Decisions

The Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions makes the final decision regarding admission. The Progression Committees develop specific recommendations regarding placement or modification to the student’s curriculum or course requirements to accommodate individual strengths and weaknesses. The Assistant Dean of Admissions and Recruitment notifies applicants regarding admissions and placement decisions. Space must be available within the projected class in order for an offer of admission to be extended.