Destination Dental School Application Components

• Last name
• First name
• Email
• Current address
• Phone number
• Date of birth
• Age at the time of application

• Male
• Female
• Non-binary
• Transgender
• Prefer not to say.

• African American/Black
• American Indian/Alaskan Native
• Asian
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Middle Eastern/North African
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
• White
• Mixed race/ethnicity
• Prefer not to disclose.
• Other (If selected, please describe.)

• USA
• Permanent Resident
• Other (If selected, please describe.)

Current level of education:

• Undergraduate first-year/freshman
• Undergraduate sophomore
• Undergraduate junior
• Undergraduate senior
• Bachelor's degree
• Graduate school
• Graduate degree
• Doctoral/professional degree

Undergraduate institution

State

Undergraduate graduation date (or expected date) [Semester, Year]

Undergraduate major(s)

Undergraduate minor(s)

Overall undergraduate GPA

Undergraduate major GPA

What is the highest level of education your parents/guardians completed?

• Less than high school
• High school diploma or GED
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• PhD, MD, JD or other professional degree

Do you have family members who are in the dental profession?

• Yes
• No 

Please identify which criteria you meet below. (Eligible candidates must meet two or more of the following.) Select all that apply. 

• 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 degree;
• 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) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or b) a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
• Other disadvantaged status
• If selected ‘Other disadvantaged status’ please describe.

Please indicate if you are currently or formerly a participant in a funded program such as an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) or a similar mechanism at your school.

Do you have experience conducting research?

• Yes
• No

If yes, please describe. (100 words max.)

What research areas do you find most interesting? (100 words max.)

Have you prevoiusly applied to dental school?

• Yes
• No

Have you previously applied to this program?

• Yes
• No

What do you expect/aspire to do after graduating from your undergraduate program? Select all that apply.

• Pursue DDS
• Pursue MD
•  Pursue master’s degree
• Pursue PhD
• Pursue MPH
• Pursue dual degree
• Professional school
• Explore job opportunities
• Undecided
• Other

Recent reports by the National Institutes of Health state that persisting oral health inequities result in oral diseases that disproportionately burden marginalized and underserved populations. Many of these disparities are caused by the social determinants of health. In your opinion, what is the dentist’s role in addressing the social determinants of health of their patients? (1,200 characters max.) 

Please state your reasons for applying to this program. Your 600-word response (max) should cover why you want to pursue a career in dentistry and how this program will assist you in your pursuit. We recommend within your response you weave in the following: What experiences (professional, educational, life) have you had or challenges you have overcome that have prepared you for this career, how have you shown dedication to the pursuit of a career in dental medicine, and what information will help us to evaluate your preparation and ability to succeed.  

Your personal statement will be evaluated on how clearly you respond to the prompt, the evidence of your strengths and educational goals, and clear indication of your intent to pursue a career in dentistry. In addition, reviewers expect applicants to stay within the word limit and recommend applicants have their personal statements reviewed for spelling and grammar before submission. 

Please upload your most recent resume highlighting the professional/lived/volunteer/educational experiences that provide you with the skills needed to be a successful dental student. Evaluators expect resumes to be organized and free of errors.  

Two (2) letters of recommendation from professionals who know you well (professor, advisor, supervisor, etc.) should be sent directly to the program by your recommenders. Individuals submitting letters of recommendation on your behalf can access the information on the letters of recommendation form. Please note, letters of recommendation are a part of the application package. Applications without letters of recommendation will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. 

By submitting this application, I affirm that the facts set forth in it are true and complete. By signing this application, and if selected, I understand that it is my responsibility to attend all DDS functions and educational activities, both virtual and in-person, to maintain my DDS Fellow status. I also understand that all DDS activities are mandatory, unless specified otherwise, and that failure to comply with program guidelines may jeopardize my benefits. 

Do you agree? 

• Yes
• No