What Dental Students Should Know Before Going to School

Pursuing a career in dentistry can be a rewarding experience, whether you intend to open your own practice or find an adjacent career. However, succeeding in this field requires a lot of study and hard work. If you are considering dental school, you should make sure you are prepared for the journey ahead.

Since dentistry is a highly technical field, you may need extra support managing the rigor of your coursework and the expenses of dental school. At My College Companion, we strive to equip students with the resources they need to succeed in higher education, no matter their background or circumstances.

Preparing for Dental School

Most dental schools require students to have a bachelor’s degree before admission. Some common majors for prospective dental students include:

• Chemistry: A degree in chemistry can provide you with hands-on experience in a laboratory with many transferable skills.
• Business: A degree in business can provide you with a unique skillset in marketing yourself in a dental career, especially if you intend to go into private practice.
• Biological Sciences: A degree in biology can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of anatomy and the human body, which can make it easier to pick up the core skills you’ll learn in dental school.

You should also research your preferred dental schools to make sure you meet other prerequisites. Some institutions may require a certain number of credit hours in certain courses, including some you might not expect, like English composition. Speaking with a career counselor at your college can give you a clearer idea of how to smoothly transition into dental school.

Getting Ready for the Dental Admission Test (DAT)

As part of the admissions process at most dental schools, you will be required to take the Dental Admission Test, or DAT. The exam consists of 280 multiple-choice questions, evaluating your understanding of the sciences, reading comprehension, perceptual ability, and quantitative reasoning. The test is scored on a scale of 200 to 600, with an average score of around 400.

Your score on the DAT is not the sole deciding factor in whether or not you get into dental school, as it is not a pass/fail exam. Your score on the DAT will be considered alongside your GPA and past work experience. Nonetheless, getting a good DAT score is important. Most test prep sites recommend spending at least three months studying for the exam in advance, or around 250 to 300 hours.

Challenges Dental Students Face

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome in dental school is time management. You may have to juggle multiple obligations in a given week, including your curriculum, getting practical experience by shadowing professionals, managing family life, and working part- or full-time. If you feel overwhelmed, it never hurts to reach out to your peers or professors for advice about how to make the most of a tight schedule.

Scholarships for Dental Students

Dental school is expensive. Becker’s Dental Review reports that four years of dental school can cost upwards of $430,000, with non-resident students often paying higher costs. With that in mind, you should consider how you will address that financial burden in the short term and the future.

Pursuing scholarships and grants is one way to reduce your financial obligations during dental school. For example, the Saving Smiles Scholarship offered by Alexandria Dental Art provides $1,000 to one dental or pre-dental student per semester. It may also be worth your time to consider other, more general scholarships as well; depending on your situation, you could look at merit-based scholarships that reward academic performance or achievements, or need-based scholarships based on your household income.