Admissions
This is your hub for everything related to the admissions process, including admissions requirements, ways to bolster your application, and FAQ's.
Admissions FAQ's
Find all Admissions Frequently Asked Question's below.
Q: Do I need to have all of my prerequisites completed before applying?
A: No. You do not need to have all of your prerequisites completed before applying. If admitted, you must have completed all of your prerequisites before matriculating. Applying prior to completion of all prerequisites will not disadvantage your application.
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Q: How old can my prerequisites be when applying to Dental School?
A: Prerequisites can be no older than five [5] years when applying to our DDS program. For example, if you’re applying to begin our program in Fall 2024, your prerequisites can be no older than Fall 2019.
Note: The ONLY prerequisite that can be older than five [5] years is English.
There may be unique circumstances in which a potential applicant might be considered for an exemption. One example is a candidate who has remained academically active even though their pre-requisites are older than five [5] years.
If you believe you qualify for an exemption, you are welcome to submti a five-year waiver request form: https://ubsdm.formstack.com/forms/sdm_5_year_exemption_request_form
Once submitted, our admissions committee will review the request.
Q: Why can’t my prerequisites be older than five years when applying?
A: Our rigorous curriculum requires students to have the most current knowledge, skills and abilities. Therefore, it is imperative these courses be no older than five years.
There may be unique circumstances in which a potential applicant might be considered for an exemption. One example is a candidate who has remained academically active even though their pre-requisites are older than five [5] years.
If you believe you qualify for an exemption, you are welcome to submti a five-year waiver request form: https://ubsdm.formstack.com/forms/sdm_5_year_exemption_request_form
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Q: Do you accept AP credit for prerequisite courses?
A: Yes. The only exception is Biology. We will accept upper level Biology courses in lieu of general Biology prerequisite.
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Q: Do you accept International Baccalaureate [IB] credit for prerequisite courses?
A: Yes. If your undergraduate insitution accepted the IB credit towards your degree, then we would consider the course as meeting our prerequisite. The only exception is Biology. We will accept upper level Biology courses in lieu of general Biology prerequisite.
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Q: Can my prerequisites be taken online?
A: We accept online lecture classes. However, labs must be taken in person and in a traditional brick and mortar setting.
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Q: Can I take my prerequisite courses at a Community College?
A: Yes. However, students are strongly urged to complete all prerequisite courses at a four-year institution.
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Would a post-baccalaureate or post-graduate course satisfy prerequisite requirements?
A: Yes.
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Should I take algebra based physics or calculus based physics to meet the prerequisite?
A: We will accept algebra based or calculus based physics.
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Q: Does your school prefer students who graduated from UB?
A: Our admissions committee does not give preferential consideration to those candidates who have graduated, or will be graduating, from the University at Buffalo.
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Q: Does pursuing a Biology or Chemistry major increase my chances of getting accepted to the UB Dental School?
A: No. While many students major in biology or chemistry, many do not. There is no required undergraduate major area of study for admittance. However, given our academically rigorous science curriculum, we encourage applicants to complete higher level science courses beyond the prerequisites.
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Q: I am thinking about completing my undergraduate degree in business before going to dental school. I’ll complete my business degree along with the science prerequisite classes. Do you get many applicants who do this?
A: We admit students from a variety of backgrounds who have taken multiple paths to enrolling.
Although most applicants choose to concentrate their academic efforts in the sciences, there is no required undergraduate major area of study. Students are encouraged to pursue a major in an area of interest. Students who do not major in the sciences are strongly encouraged to pursue additional coursework in biology and chemistry beyond the minimum required courses.
Q: What GPA do I need for admission consideration?
A: You must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 minimum Science GPA, as calculated by ADEA AADSAS, for admission consideration.
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Q: What GPA do I need to be considered competitive?
A: Please see this page for DDS Admission Statistics.
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Q: How does AADSAS calculate my GPA?
A: Please refer to the AADSAS Application Instructions Page for details.
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Q: When considering my grades to meet GPA and Science minimums for admission requirements, do you look at grading with +/- grades, or without +/- grades?
A: We only consider AADSAS grading with +/- grades.
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Q: I am planning to apply to the program in 2024. I repeated a course for a higher grade, I would like to know if the school will average both grades into my GPA.
A: We receive all grades directly from AADSAS, the centralized application service. AADSAS will show both grades, and both will be a part of your overall GPA. Please refer to the AADSAS Application Instructions Page for details.
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Q: Should I repeat courses in which I did not do well, even though I passed them?
A: No, this is rarely helpful. Any student should be expected to do well in a course the second time. The Admissions Committee will not often be impressed by such action.
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Q: I won’t meet the overall GPA or Science GPA requirement by the January 15, 2024 deadline. However, I’m taking Fall 2023 classes and should be able to meet this requirement by end of December. Will I still be considered?
A: No. You must have both an averall GPA & Science GPA of 3.0 or better indicated in the AADSAS portal by January 15, 2024. If these averages aren’t met by January 23, your application will not be considered. The only exception is for those students who have the equivalent of two full-time semesters of graduate coursework.
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Q: I have a 2.99 Overall GPA or Science GPA, because I’m so close to your minimum, can I still be considered?
A: No. You must have a 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 Science GPA as calculated by AADSAS to be considered. The only exception is for those students who have the equivalent of two full-time semesters of graduate coursework
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Q: I didn’t meet your undergraduate GPA minimums for consideration. To strengthen my application, is it better to pursue a Masters Degree or enroll in a post-baccalaureate program?
A: If your GPA did not meet our minimum requriements for consideration, we would encourage you to assess whether or not dentistry is the correct career path as our curriculum is built on a strong science foundation.
When choosing between a Masters or Post-Bacc program, we recommend candidates pursue a Masters degree. If in the event dental school does not work out, you will have a Masters degree in hand.
We also encourage candidates to choose a program that will further their educational goals regardless of whether or not they gain admittance to our program.
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Q: I didn’t meet your undergraduate GPA minimums for consideration. Should I complete a Masters Program or enroll in additional undergraduate courses?
A: When choosing between a Masters degree and additional undergraduate courses, we recommend candidates pursue a Masters Degree.
Q: How old can DAT scores be for Fall 2024 consideration?
A: Only scores from tests taken in 2021, 2022, or 2023 will be considered for Fall 2024 admission.
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Q: What if I met the DAT requirements between two SEPARATE test dates? Does that meet the minimum?
A: No. All minimum DAT requirements must be met from the MOST RECENT test date to be considered.
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Q: What if I take the exam twice? Will you count the higher score?
A: No. We will only look at the scores from the MOST RECENT test date regardless of which exam had higher scores for admission consideration. If your most recent set of scores does NOT meet minimum requirements, your application will not be considered even if you previously met minimum DAT scores.
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Q: What if I am off by one point in one section? Can I still be considered?
A: No. If you do not meet the minimum requirements, even if it is by one point, your application cannot be considered. We hold all candidates to the same set of admission standards.
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Q: Is there a certain date by which I need to have minimum DAT scores met?
A: Yes. You must submit a valid, minimum DAT score in the AADSAS portal by January 15, 2024. Your application will not be considered if you haven’t met this requirement even if you are taking another DAT after January 15. No exceptions.
It is recommended that the DAT be taken no later than December 1 in order for your scores to reach AADSAS by the UB School of Dental Medicine application deadline of January 15, 2024. You should consult DAT exam administration if you have any questions about the time it takes for schools to receive official score reports in AADSAS.
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Q: I just took my DAT and received an unofficial score report after the exam. Will you accept it if I send it to you?
A: No. We only accept official score submittedthrough the AADSAS portal. Our committee will see when your official scores have arrived. You can also check the ADEA AADSAS application instructions.
Please do not send or e-mail copies of your DAT score reports to our admissions office. They will not be considered.
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Q: I already met your minimum DAT scores, but they are outdated. Will you still accept these scores?
A: No. You must have a minimum DAT score with an acceptable test date by January 15, 2024.
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Q: When do you suggest I take the DAT exam?
A: It depends. Most students tend to take the DAT exam during their junior year of undergraduate, but this is completely up to you. Take it only when you feel truly prepared.
- Please remember that DAT scores are only valid for a certain period of time and you should consider this when taking your exam.
- Additionally, official DAT scores take time to reach the AADSAS portal. Our school is not responsible for the timing of when official DAT scores are uploaded into AADSAS. Remember, we do not accept unofficial DAT score reports.
Q: Do you accept the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test [CDAT]?
A: Yes. The Canadian DAT is acceptable for Canadian applicants (www.CDA-ADC.ca). Please note that candidates are encouraged to investigate the timing of score reports prior to taking the Canadian DAT to ensure that results will meet the application deadline of January 15, 2024. Our committee must have valid, minimum official CDAT scores in by January 15, 2024. You will not be considered if you don’t meet this deadline.
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Q: What are the minimum CDAT scores needed for admission consideration?
A: In order to be considered, you MUST HAVE:
- DAT Reading Comprehension: 16 minimum score on most recent test date
- All other DAT Sections: 15 minimum score on most recent test date
Note: Our committee does not consider the Manual Dexterity section for evaluation.
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Q: How do I submit official CDAT scores to the Universiy at Buffalo?
A: Please see the CDAT testing administration webpage: https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/becoming/dat/faqs/
When you register for a CDAT exam, up to 5 official transcripts of your DAT scores are included in the DAT registration fee (and 1 personal copy). During registration, you can choose to have official transcripts of your DAT scores sent to the schools of your choice.
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Q: Can I submit a copy of my CDAT score for consideration?
A: No. We can only accept score reports directly from CDAT testing administration. Please take particular note as we must receive your official CDAT score report by January 15, 2024.
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Q: I’ve submitted all of my materials and you will receive my CDAT after Januarey 15, 2024. Can I still be considered?
A: No. If we do not receive your valid, official minimum CDAT by January 15, 2024, you will not be considered for admission during the current cycle.
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Q: If I take the Canadian DAT & US DAT, which scores will be considered?
A: The most recent set of scores will be considered to meet our minimum reqiurement regardless of whether they are DAT or CDAT and/or regardless of which scores are higher.
Q: I am an international student who already has a degree in dentistry from another country. I would like to practice in the United States, should I apply to the DDS program?
A: No. If you already have a dental degree from another country, you may be eligible for our International Dentist Program [IDP] which is two years in length compared to a traditional four-year DDS program. Please contact our IDP Admission Office with any questions.
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Q: Does your school place preference on in–state students?
A: All in-state and out-of-state candidates who meet our admission requirements will receive a full file review and equal consideration.
All admission data is located on the Commission on Dental Accreditation [CODA] website.
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Q: How do I know if I’m an In-State student? How can I qualify for In-State Residency & Tuition?
A: Please refer to the UB New York State Residency Page.
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Q: Do you offer Dental School tours?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot give personal tours of the dental school. Our school is clinic-based, which means we can have a few hundred patients in our clinics at any given time.
However, if you are interested in visiting our school, we encourage you to join our Buffalo ASDA Pre-Dental group. These students work with our admissions office to coordinate open houses throughout the year.
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Q: Can I meet with an admissions officer to gain an initial review of my application?
A: With so many applicants applying each year, we don’t have the capacity to offer preliminary review of your application. However, we would encourage you to contact our Buffalo ASDA Pre-Dental group to gain advice from current students.
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Q: Does your school qualify for IB?
A: Please check here.
For more information please contact the Office of Student Affairs
Phone: 716-829-6925
Fax: 716-829-2731
Email: sdmadmit@buffalo.edu
Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., M-F
DDS Admissions
School of Dental Medicine
315 Squire Hall
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14214