Pre-dental Pathway

Pre-Dental Resources

Please email asda.uh@gmail.com for any questions. Thank you. Click blue text below for links!

(A Guideline)

Timeline of a Pre-Dental Student

  • Plan courses and experiences that will help you to prepare to apply to dental school.
  • Meet with a Pre-Health Professions Advisor or talk with a mentor ( like our family program! ) if you need guidance
  • Start to complete the pre-requisite courses required for dental school, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Organic Chemistry
  • Join a dental-related organization (like UH ASDA Pre-Dental Chapter) to get exposure to the dental profession
  • Shadow or intern at a dental office
  • Work as a dental assistant
  • Apply for a Summer Program
  • Consider other career paths if you have other interests

 

  • Complete dental school pre-requisites by the end of your 2nd semester
  • Prepare for and take the DAT
  • Apply for admission at least a year in advance
  • Request for recommendation letters from faculty and others

Learn more

  • Take advantage of "mock interview" practice with University Career Center Staff before dental school admission interviews (See our Facebook for updates!)
  • Send thank you notes to evaluators and mentors

 

Learn more

Credit to ADA.org: Predental Timeline

Taking the Dental Admission Test (DAT)

WHAT IS THE DAT?

 

  • The DAT is a dental education admission test designed to provide dental education programs with a means to assess program applicants’ potential for success. It is administered year round by Prometric test centers in the United States, its territories (including Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) and Canada.
  • The DAT is comprised of multiple-choice test items presented in the English language. The test is developed according to established test specifications. The DAT consists of a battery of four tests on the following: Survey of the Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. In the DAT, both the U.S. customary system and the metric system (Imperial System) of units are used. 

 

STUDY RESOURCES

 DAT Bootcamp www.datbootcamp.com


  • 90 day subscription
  • Highly Recommended
  • Use code "MARLENEDAT10" for 10% off!

 

 DAT Booster www.boosterprep.com/dat


  • Highly Recommended
  • Use code "asdauh" for 10% off!

 

DAT Destroyer www.orgoman.com


  • Lifetime
  • Highly Recommended

 

Youtube Channel Recommendations:


  • Chad's prep - organic chemistry!


 

Look at DAT Breakdowns on Student Doctor Network or the DAT Bootcamp Study Group Page to find a study method that best suits you!

 

General Texas Dental School Pre-Requisite Courses

General Requirements

  • Must complete minimum of 90 semester hours at a U.S./Canadian university.

Must have earned a “C” or better in the following courses:


  • English (6 semester hours)
  • General Chemistry (8 semester hours)
  • Organic Chemistry (8 semester hours)
  • Physics (8 semester hours)
  • Biochemistry (3 semester hours)
  • Biology (14 semester hours: 12 lecture + 2 laboratory)
  • Statistics (3 semester hours)

  • Must take DAT (Dental Admissions Test)

Learn more

Texas Dental School Specific

UT School of Dentistry at Houston requires:

 

  • Microbiology (3 semester hours)

 

New Requirements for Texas A&M College of Dentistry DDS Admission for Entry Year 2020 or Later:

 

  • Anatomy with Lab (4 semester hours)*
  • Physiology (3 semester hours)*
  • Microbiology (3 semester hours)
  • Biology ( 18 semester hours: 15 lecture + 3 laboratory)

     *A&P 1 and 2 are not accepted, because they are not considered an upper level course


For out of state dental schools, please check the websites of respective schools for details about admission requirements.


Learn more

Admission Requirements for Texas Dental Schools

UT School of Dentistry at Houston (UTSD-Houston)


UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry (UTHSCSA)


Texas A&M College of Dentistry (TAMCOD)


UTTUHSC Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine (WLHSDM)


Statistics for Other Schools:


Learn more

Keeping yourself busy:

Summer Programs to Apply to!

Below are some recommended programs. Click on their links to learn more!
*Be aware of program eligibility, requirements, and deadlines.*

SHPEP:

The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) is a free summer program for students to explore their interests in medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, and more. 
Open to Freshmen & Sophomores, as well as Juniors at certain sites.

Deadline: 02/05

BIBS:

During this 9-week, dental-focused program, you will become proficient in biostatistics, biomedical informatics, and behavioral sciences. You will gain skills via a structured introduction to data analytics, which will become increasingly critical to understanding oral healthcare in the decades ahead.
Open to freshmen and above.

Deadline: 02/21

SODSURP:

Students will have the opportunity to work with researchers and clinicians focusing on research topics with direct relevance to oral health and patient care. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in seminars designed to provide exposure to a wide range of oral health research topics and to educate students on how to apply to dental school.
Must be at least 18 to apply.

Deadline: 03/01

SPEP:

The curriculum for the Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Program for College Students (SPEP Collegiate II) consists of five core courses designed to augment the students' knowledge base for taking the DAT and to help them prepare for dental school.
Open to those who have completed organic chemistry I & II

Deadline: passed (01/31)

LEAD:

The objective of LEAD 1-3 is to provide opportunities for college students to strengthen their academic science background, prepare for and successfully take the DAT, improve leadership qualities, and increase the knowledge of a career in dentistry. Program participants who engage, acquire knowledge, and actively participate in the program activities will be more competitive applicants for admission to dental school.
Open to Freshmen and above.
Must be a member of an underrepresented minority in the health professions
Deadline: 03/01

PFS:

The purpose of Profile for Success (PFS) is to assist junior and senior level college students and recent graduates through the admissions process for dental school. Program participants will also have an opportunity to increase their knowledge of career opportunities within dentistry. Preparation for the DAT is the main focus of this program, alongside clinical simulations/lab experiences. Travel to and from the University of Michigan, as well as on campus housing, is provided by the program for all participants. Participants will also receive a stipend to cover living expenses.

Open to college juniors, seniors, and recent college graduates
Deadline: 03/01

Research @ UH:

Linked above is the official UH page for recommended NSM-related opportunities and ways to get involved in research on campus.
Be sure to check for eligibility requirements per site.
Deadline: varies

Summer Academy Mentor:

This link is for undergraduate students interested in teaching different grade levels over the summer for a summer academy camp (approx. two weeks). Depending on which camp you choose to join, you can help teach high schoolers or middle schoolers topics ranging from biotechnology to game design.

Open to all college students, preference to STEM majors.
Deadline: rolling application, try to submit before April

Selecting Courses & Study Resources
at the University of Houston

Required Pre-Dental Courses = * & Recommended Courses = **

*General Chemistry I & II + labs

Recommended Prof: Chen, Larson

*Organic Chemistry I & II + labs

Recommended Prof: Bean, Olaf

Study Tips:

*Biochemistry I

Recommended Prof: Antunes, Sen, & Liu

Study Tips:

Take an SEP workshop concurrently with these courses! (IDNS Workshop)

*Intro to Biology I & II + labs

Recommended Prof: Cheek, Farmer, & Gifford

**Microbiology (* required for all Texas Schools)

Recommended Prof: Knapp

**Human Physiology (* required for TAMU)

Recommended Prof: Ogletree

**Anatomy & Physiology I & II  + labs (*required for TAMU)

Recommended Prof: Ogletree

or

**Comparative Anatomy (* required for TAMU)

Recommended Prof: Wayne

Study Tips:

  • Go over study guides/summary slides if provided
  • Use ChatGPT to generate questions on your notes
  • Anki decks and Quizlets


*Statistics for Science

Recommended Prof: Poliak, Wang

or

*Statistics for non-Science

Recommended Prof: Poliak, Wang

*Physics I & II

Recommended Prof: Portillo, Morrison 

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