Office of Students, Admissions and Alumni, School of Dentistry
Questions and Answers
about
the Admissions Process
This section is designed to answer questions most asked by our applicants about our admission process. For more information, contact the at 706/721-3587.
Who decides whether or not I'll be accepted?
Acceptance
into the School of Dentistry is recommended to the Dean by an Admissions
Committee appointed by the Dean of the School of Dentistry. The Office of
Students, Admissions and Alumni has the administrative
responsibility of advising applicants on admissions procedures and preparing
applicant files for committee decisions.
What is the Admissions Committee looking for in an applicant?
Generally
speaking, the committee will select the best applicants for admission from
all who apply each year. This means you will be "competing" with
all other applicants.
Each applicant for next year's class will be assessed by the committee based on the following factors (not in priority order): grades overall, grades in science courses, pattern of grades, Dental Admission Test scores, letters of recommendation, interviews, proficiency in English and communication skills, motivation for becoming a dentist, unusual educational experiences or background, life experiences, work experiences, demonstrations of leadership in activities, involvement in community and extracurricular activities, volunteer work, honors and awards received, residence in a health professions shortage (underserved) area, research experiences, and experience in an oral health care setting. While all applicants may not have experiences in all of these areas, the Committee considers achievement in all of these areas as part of the student selection process.
High grades and DAT scores alone do not guarantee acceptance. However, the dental school curriculum is demanding and rigorous, and high grades indicate the applicant's potential ability to successfully complete our program.
The ideal applicant will show up very well in all categories, but many are accepted because they show exceptional promise in certain areas.
The admissions committee strongly encourages applicants to visit a dental office to learn as much as possible about the practice of dentistry from a practitioner. It is important to have some first-hand knowledge of dental practice prior to a decision to pursue a career in dentistry.
How many students will be selected for admission?
The
entering classes are scheduled for 62 students.
How high do my grades have to be to get admitted?
Because
you will be compared with other applicants, it is impossible to tell at the
outset just how high your grades have to be. Much depends on how good the
other applicants look in comparison to you. It is possible to have high
grades and not be accepted because of other factors that the committee
considers important. DAT. scores, references and interviews all provide
information about you that will be considered in an admissions decision.
Minimum requirements are as follows:
- Overall GPA 2.8 & Science GPA 2.8
- DAT Academic Average & Perceptual Ability 13/14 or 14/13
While we cannot necessarily predict this year's accepted applicant grade point average based on past statistics, the following figures will give you some idea of how you stack up compared to prior accepted students: On a 4.0 system, the average admitted student in the past had about a 3.49 average in both the required science courses and overall. Students accepted with grades below the average generally had poor beginnings in undergraduate school, but then performed at a very high level their last several quarters, both overall and in the required science areas. While many of these so-called "late bloomers" were not accepted, several are taken each year.
Again, we want to emphasize that grades aren't everything as other factors are also important in the admissions process.
How important is the Dental Admission Test (DAT)?
An
applicant's DAT scores and grade point average provide the admissions
committee with important predictors of success. Therefore, the DAT is
important with emphasis being placed on both the academic portion and the
perceptual ability tests. Both need to be high, as you will be competing
with other applicants.
The average admitted students in the past had 19.0 on the academic portion and a 19.1 on the PAT portion of the DAT.
How can I tell if I should retake the DAT? Will it hurt my
chances if I retake?
If your DAT scores are below 16 on the
academic or perceptual ability tests, you should consider retaking the DAT.
This is particularly true if your science and overall grade point averages
are not very high. If you have any doubt whether you should retake the DAT,
call the Office of Students, Admissions and Alumni at 706/721-3587 for
counsel. We cannot tell you what to do, but can advise you on the total
applicant situation regarding the DAT so that you can make a better
decision. In the past, many accepted students have taken the DAT at least
twice, and most people improve their scores with a second testing. Remember
that an applicant is now limited to three times the DAT can be
taken. All scores will be considered that are within 2 years of application. Therefore, if you retake because your scores are low to begin
with, you have nothing to lose.
When should I first take the DAT?
Applicants must
take the DAT no later than September 30 of the year preceding the academic
year for which they are seeking admission. For example, applicants for the
2008 entering class must take the DAT no later than September 30, 2007.
As a general rule, students interested in applying to dental school should plan to take the DAT early enough to have a second chance to take the test before the test deadline for a particular year. It is a good idea to take the DAT during the spring of your junior year so you have another chance to take the test during the summer or early fall of your senior year if your scores from your first attempt at the test were not as high as you would have liked.
Since the DAT has sections related to biology, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry, it would be to your benefit to have completed as many of the required courses as possible before taking the DAT. Since there is no physics section, these required courses can be taken later if scheduling permits or dictates.
Does it matter what I major in while in undergraduate school?
Your undergraduate major is not a significant factor in the admissions
process. You must do well in your major and other courses that contribute to
your overall grade point average, and you must do well in the required
science courses. Our pre-dental course requirements are purposely kept at a
minimum to allow participants maximum flexibility in selecting a major and
choosing elective courses. But do allow yourself opportunity to earn a solid
academic background in science courses.
How many years of undergraduate school do I need to complete to
have my best chance of acceptance?
You must complete at least 135
quarter hours (90 semester hours) at an accredited American college or
university before you are eligible to enter the School of Dentistry.
Therefore, the earliest you can apply for admissions is after June 1 between
your sophomore and junior years.
Most students enter dental school after completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree. Very few students are accepted after completing only three years of college work. Generally these applicants are mature, academically highly qualified or have significant life experiences prior to application.
You should keep in mind the fact that many applicants are not accepted each year. We advise all applicants to plan their program taking into account the fact that they may take several years to gain acceptance to dental school, or they may never be accepted. To get the most out of the undergraduate program, you should plan on obtaining a bachelor's degree or completing whatever course work is necessary to enter another field of your choice. This way, if you are not accepted into dental school, you can follow your alternative plans without spending a lot more time in school.
On what basis are applicants invited to interview? How important
are the interviews?
As applications are received, they are screened
by the admissions committee based on criteria set up by the committee.
Applicants judged to be qualified based on grades, DAT scores, letters of
recommendation, and other non-cognitive factors such as community
involvement, leadership in extracurricular activities, experience in oral
health care or health care, awards and honors, and residency in a health
professions shortage area are invited to visit the campus for admission
interviews. At its option, the committee may decide to invite some
additional applicants who it believes have good potential for success in our
program.
Because the admissions committee is interested in the personal qualities of the applicants as well as their grades and DAT's, interviews play an important part in the admissions process. While the shortcomings of interviews are well-understood, they do provide the committee with useful, though subjective, information. The interviews also provide the applicants selected for interviews with a chance to present themselves on a personal basis.
Is there any age limit for applicants?
Age is generally
not a factor so long as you are competitive with other applicants. We have
accepted applicants as young as 19 and as old as 43. Individuals in the work
force who desire a career change are also encouraged to apply as long as
they can substantiate their reasons for desiring a career in dentistry.
How many letters of recommendation should I submit? Whom should I
choose to send recommendations?
We only ask for three
recommendations, and prefer these come from your pre-dental advisor (or
faculty advisor if you're not a pre-dental student), your family dentist (or
other dentist who knows you, or someone from a health profession) and
another reference of your choosing.
You should not use members of your family as references, and we suggest that you try to select people in responsible positions or professions if possible. Of course, it is very important that the person knows you personally. Recommendations from political figures or other well-known personalities are fine, provided the person knows you personally and can comment on your abilities from first-hand experience. Otherwise, a recommendation from someone who can comment about you from direct knowledge would carry much more weight.
When will I know whether I'm accepted or not?
Normally
the admissions committee completes filling the entering class sometime in
January of each year. As soon as a decision is reached on your application, a
letter will be sent to you advising you of the committee's decision.
Will it hurt my chances if I'm also applying to medical schools
or other professional schools?
The admissions committee considers
each applicant on his or her merits, including motivation. If you are
well-motivated for the study of dentistry, the fact that you are interested
in other professions at the same time will not adversely affect your
chances. If admissions committee members are aware that you have applied to
other programs, they may question your interest in dentistry.
Will the fact that I'm a minority person or a woman be taken into
consideration?
The Medical College of Georgia is an equal
educational opportunity institution, and the School of Dentistry is
committed to enrolling minority and women students. Those judged to have
promise as future dentists are given every consideration for admission, and
many minority and women students are enrolled in the dental school. We
encourage students with diverse backgrounds to apply, including minorities,
women, and other non-traditional students, because we believe that a diverse
student body is an asset to the education of all students at the Medical
College of Georgia and is an asset to the dental profession and the State of
Georgia.
How much difference does it make if I'm a resident or a
non-resident of Georgia?
Residency makes a difference. At present,
the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry is not accepting
non-residents.
Is there an application deadline?
Yes. Classes begin
each August, and the application deadline is October 15 of the previous
year, i.e., over nine months prior to the date of expected first enrollment.
If you have further questions, please contact:
Office of Students, Admissions and Alumni
School of Dentistry
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, Georgia 30912-1020 or
Telephone 706/721-3587
FAX: 706/721-6276
Email: