The hardest dental schools to get into are the ones where you can’t rely on your grades to get you in.
The most difficult dental schools to get into are those that aren’t simply looking for the best students with the highest GPA and SAT scores. Instead, they’re looking for students who show particular aptitude in a specific area of study—and sometimes not even just a strong academic one.
Some of these schools will look at your extracurricular activities, others will look at your personal statement, while still others will consider how much work you’ve done as an undergraduate student.
Dental schools that are “easier” to get into generally have lower standards than those that are harder to get into because they simply expect better from their applicants and don’t have time for someone who isn’t prepared.
If you’re interested in attending one of these schools—or if you’re curious about what it takes to get into one—here’s a list of some of the hardest dental schools to get into:
Hardest Dental Schools To Get Into
Introduction
If you’re looking to become a dentist, you’re likely hoping to get into one of the best dental schools in the country. However, you should know that it’s not going to be easy! Only the top applicants are accepted at these highly-competitive schools. If you feel like your stats aren’t strong enough for some of these schools, don’t get discouraged: there are plenty of great dental schools that won’t be as hard to get into. So before you start applying, check out this list of dentistry schools ranked by acceptance rate (with information about tuition and graduation rates), and use it as a guide for creating your school wishlist.
Harvard University
Harvard is the oldest dental school in the US, having been founded by John Warren, a Harvard Medical School graduate and dentist. It is also a private university located in Boston, Massachusetts.
The acceptance rate at Harvard is low: only 1 out of 8 candidates are accepted to this dental program each year. While tuition rates may be higher than other universities’ tuition rates (with an estimated $50k price tag per year), being accepted into Harvard means that you’ll have access to some amazing facilities and resources–you might even meet someone famous! And if you do get rejected from Harvard? Don’t worry–there are plenty of other fantastic programs across the country that can offer you opportunities as well!
When it comes down to it, though, there’s no denying how prestigious this university is both within America’s academic community as well as on an international scale; many students dream about attending one day because they know its reputation precedes itself when it comes time for them to apply for jobs later on down their career path too!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
As one of the largest public dental schools in the country, UAB has a high number of applicants. The school’s acceptance rate is also one of the highest at 85%. It’s ranked in the top 10 for research and its faculty consists of many individuals who have taught at other universities such as Harvard, Yale and University of Michigan. The school is known for its dental education as well as their research initiatives—which are funded by grants from NIH (National Institute Of Health). The university also offers scholarships to students based on merit or financial need which can help make attending this prestigious institution more affordable than others.
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry is a private institution located in Loma Linda, California. The school was founded in 1891.
The school is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Of all the dental schools in the country, this one might be the most difficult to get into. It has an excellent reputation for research and is part of a larger university system that ranks 5th on US News and World Report’s list of best public universities.
East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine
East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine has been ranked as the best dental school in North Carolina and the eighth best in the country by U.S News & World Report. The school also serves as one of only two dental schools in North Carolina and is one of twelve top-tier American schools affiliated with the AACD.
East Carolina is well known for their high acceptance rate, with 98% of applicants being accepted each year. This percentage places ECU at 12th overall on our list of hardest dental schools to get into with a 3.7% acceptance rate rating them 11th overall on that list as well! In addition to these impressive statistics, East Carolinian students take home an average GPA above 4 out of 4 points – making ECU another school whose students have proven themselves worthy enough to join this elite list!
Virginia Commonwealth University School Of Dentistry
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry is a top dental school in the United States. It is located in Richmond, Virginia and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1.
In addition to being a public university, VCU School of Dentistry also has an acceptance rate for regular admissions that’s lower than the average for all US medical schools (5%). In addition, it does not have separate application deadlines or fees for international students.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. UNC has a 4 year program and a 100% acceptance rate. The school also has a low tuition rate and student to faculty ratio.
University of California Los Angeles
UCLA is a public research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world and has been ranked 14th best university in the world. UCLA is a member of Association of American Universities (AAU), an association of leading research universities in North America.
The school was founded on February 23, 1919 by William G. Templeton as Los Angeles State Normal School at its original campus location on Vermont Avenue and Sunset Boulevard before moving to its current campus location on Westwood Boulevard in 1924 due to its growing student population. UCLA offers undergraduate and graduate studies through 10 colleges: College Of Letters And Science; Henry Samueli School Of Engineering And Applied Science; School Of The Arts And Architecture; School Of Theater Film Television; Herb Alpert School Of Music; John Wooden Center For The Culture Of Sport; Graduate Schools Of Education/Social Welfare Information Studies/Library Sciences Nursing Pharmacology Biochemistry Molecular Biology Physiological Science/Psychology Social Welfare Humanities/Arts Management Anthropology Economics Political Science History Public Health Business Administration Psychology Sociology Theater Film Television Dance Music Theatre Dance Philosophy Religion Comparative Literature Linguistics Communication Studies Cultural Studies Philosophy History Political Economy
Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
- Research Ranking: #1
- Clinical Training Ranking: #3
- Dental Education Ranking: #1
Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry
Temple University is a public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Temple University is the largest employer in the city of Philadelphia, and one of the largest employers in Pennsylvania.
Temple University was founded on October 17th 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell and local community leaders to provide a non-sectarian education for boys and girls from all walks of life. In its 125 year history, Temple has grown from its original mission to become a top tier public research institution with over $2 billion in sponsored research funding and more than 25,000 students across six campuses throughout Philadelphia and beyond.
It is not easy to get into a top dental school.
It is not easy to get into a top dental school. In order to do so, you need to be a good student with good grades, a good test taker, and more. You also need to be able to communicate effectively both in written and verbal forms; solve problems; work well on teams; advocate for your patients’ best interests; and much more.
Conclusion
It is not easy to get into a top dental school. There are many things you can do to send your application to the top of the pile. Work hard, study for the DAT or MCAT, and volunteer in your community. Write a catchy personal statement and bring up your GPA with extra classes if needed. Submit all of this on time, be honest about any difficulties or achievements in your past, and remember not to get discouraged by rejection letters.
