The New Jersey Dental College provides clear guidelines on the minimum required course subjects and semester hours. Remember, this is the absolute bare minimum required to apply. You'll likely want to obtain more than these prerequisites recommend:
- Biology: eight semester hours
- English: six semester hours
- Inorganic chemistry: eight semester hours
- Organic chemistry eight semester hours
- Physics: eight semester hours
At most colleges and universities on a semester system, the science class is worth three semester hours, and the lab portion is worth one. So, the classroom portion plus the lab equals four semester hours. The average GPA for admitted students is 3.65.
The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is administered by the American Dental Association. You can sign up on its website. The test is designed to challenge your knowledge of the natural sciences. Prep yourself by studying the principles of biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry. The test also gauges your perceptual ability, your reading comprehension level and your quantitative reasoning. You get five hours -- broken down into timed sections -- to complete the test. Plan to take the test in August, at the latest, of the year prior to the year you will be applying for admission. The average DAT score for admitted students is 19.8.
The American Association of Dental Application Service (AADAS) provides a streamlined application process to prospective dental students. New Jersey Dental School accepts applications only through this service. The service will gather all your information, including your transcripts, letters of recommendation, applications and any applicable fees, and send them off to your schools of choice.
The New Jersey Dental School requires between one and three letters of recommendation. If your recommendation is coming from the Pre-Health Advisory Committee, then you need only one. If your undergraduate school does not have such a committee, or you are not involved with it, then New Jersey Dental school requires three letters of recommendation from faculty. Approach professors or advisers who have worked closely with you during your time as a pre-health student. Make sure you excelled in their classes, and took advantage of any extracurricular activities they offer. Only ask for a letter of recommendation from someone who will leave the reader with a positive image of you.
Don't assume that the AADSAS will call your letter-writers asking when they'll be finished, or that it will track down your final transcript at your undergraduate institution. It's up to you to get all the vital documents and test scores to the clearing house and ensure that it receives updated transcripts after you graduate. Don't get overwhelmed, just follow through with each requested document, one at a time.