Destination Dental School
Destination Dental School is an intense gateway experience for undergraduate students and bachelor degree recipients who are interested in a career in dentistry. This program prepares individuals to successfully apply to dental school.
In this annual summer program, DDS Fellows learn about the dental profession, dental school application, financing strategies, and the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), participate in hands-on activities, conduct research projects, and network with faculty mentors, dental students and community leaders.
Students attend six virtual sessions held on Saturdays in April and May, and a five-day, in-person, intensive training program at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. DDS Fellows' travel and lodging expenses are covered through our program. Graduates receive reimbursement for one DAT and a waived application fee to the UBSDM.
How to Apply
Stay tuned for our 2026 application!
The application cycle for the 2026 Destination Dental School program will open in December 2025. Please contact Ms. Jessica Scates at jmscates@buffalo.edu with any questions.
To participate in Destination Dental, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements.
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or an individual granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status. Canadian citizens may be considered.
- Enrolled undergraduate student or recipient of a bachelor's degree.
- Minimum overall college GPA of 2.75.
- Disadvantaged status as described below. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
- Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act;
- Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families;
- Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years;
- Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degreeDownload pdf;
- Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell Grants;
- Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child;
- Grew up in one of the following areas:
- A U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or
- A Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas Download xlsx(qualifying zip codes are included in the file).
- Note: Only one of the two options listed above can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged background definition.
Questions?
Please direct questions about Destination Dental School to:
Jessica Scates
Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Operations
Office of the Dean