Undergraduate education is important for those who are considering becoming a dentist. Most colleges and universities require students to earn a Master's degree before they can become a dentist. In order to get accepted into graduate school for dentistry, you will need to make sure that you maintain a grade point average that is above a 3.0. Some top dentistry schools require students to have at least a 3.5 undergraduate grade point average.
Before you can earn your license as a dentist, you will need to complete your doctorate degree at a dentistry school. Many graduate schools of dentistry offer a wide variety of opportunities to help students excel in their education. For example, the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry programs emphasize clinical experiences, service projects and research. Although it is important to maintain a high grade point average to ensure graduation from a doctoral program, you must also excel at these other aspects of the program. Conduct unique research projects that you are passionate about and work hard to show off your skills during your clinical experiences.
You must earn a license in order to practice as a dentist. Licensing agencies generally do not consider your academic grades, but instead simply look to ensure that you have completed the requirements for graduating from an accredited program. However, if your state requires a licensing exam, which almost all states do, the exam will likely be easier if you earned higher grades throughout your education. You will need to have mastered the dentistry material in order to become a licensed dentist.
When it comes to finding a job as a dentist, your college academic achievement may or may not play an important role. If you plan on starting your own private practice you will not have to answer to anyone about your academic achievement, so your grades will likely not play much of a role. However, if you want to partner with another dentist or join a dental company as a part of their team, they may ask you questions about your academic achievement during the interview process.