Admissions

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This is your hub for everything related to the admissions process, including admissions requirements, ways to bolster your application, and FAQ's.

Admissions Requirements Holistic Admissions Admissions FAQ's Transfer Students

Admissions Requirements

In order to be considered for the four-year DDS program at the University at Buffalo, applicants must meet our admission requirements.

ON THIS TAB:

The 2025 ADEA AADSAS Application Schedule

Beginning May 2024

2025 Applicants can begin the ADEA AADSAS application process.

Early Application Strongly Encouraged

  • We have a rolling admissions process. This means the earlier we receive your completed, verified application, the earlier our committee conducts a full file review of your application and you can be considered for an interview.
  • Waiting until the deadline is a poor strategy that results in an applicant competing for far fewer positions in the entering class.
Starting June 4, 2024:
  • 2025 applicants and reapplicants, make the choice to submit early.
  • June 4, 2024 is the first date to submit an ADEA AADSAS application.
  • If all official transcripts are received, ADEA AADSAS will start the application verification process.
  • Applicants who submitted all required documents for ADEA Fee Assistance will begin receiving decision statuses.

Minimum Credit Hours

Prior to Application — 60 Credit Hours

Applicants must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours — two full years — of study at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university prior to application.

Prior to Enrollment — 90 Credit Hours

Applicants must complete a minimum of 90 credit hours of study at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university prior to enrollment in the DDS program. Students are strongly encouraged to earn a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment in the DDS program. Students who will not earn a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment must demonstrate a higher level of academic performance.

Prerequisite Courses

Required Courses

All applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university:

  • 2 semesters = 6 credit hours = 8 quarter hours of English including composition
  • 2 semesters = 8 credit hours = 12 quarter hours of General, inorganic chemistry (including laboratory)
  • 2 semesters = 8 credit hours = 12 quarter hours of Organic chemistry (including laboratory)
  • 2 semesters = 8 credit hours = 12 quarter hours of General biology (including laboratory)
  • 2 semesters = 8 credit hours = 12 quarter hours of General physics - algebra or calculus based (including laboratory)
  • 1 semester = 3 credit hours = 5 quarter hours of Biochemistry (does not require a laboratory component)

Students are strongly urged to complete all prerequisite courses at a four-year institution.

Courses Affected by COVID-19 - IMPORTANT
  • The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine will be flexible in the graded requirement for pre-requisite coursework if an applicant attends a school that made system-wide grading changes.
  • In these situations we will accept online labs and pass/fail grades considering many changes due to COVID-19.
Are Your Pre-Reqs Equivalent?

If you are unsure if any course you took (or are currently taking) meet our prerequisite requirements, you are welcome to submit the prerequisite course equivalency form and our committee will be able to confirm.

Suggested Courses

Histology coursework is strongly recommended prior to matriculation.

In addition, while dentistry is a discipline based in the biological sciences, the practice of dentistry is very much a “people” profession based on communication skills and an understanding of human behavior. Prospective dental students are encouraged to take courses in psychology, sociology, public speaking, composition and the humanities to better interact with patients.

Suggested Majors

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 as our DDS curriculum is scientifically rigorous.

GPA

All applicants must have an undergraduate minimum overall and science college grade-point average of 3.0 (as calculated by ADEA AADSAS) . Exceptions to the minimums are given to all applicants who have completed the equivalent of two semesters of full-time graduate coursework.

How are Grade Point Averages [GPA] calculated?

Learn more about how ADEA AADSAS calculates grade point averages by visiting the ADEA Frequently Asked Questions page.   

Dental Admission Test [DAT] /Canadian Dental Admissions Test [CDAT]

Official scores must be received by January 15, 2025

Applications without official DAT scores by January 15, 2025 will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered.

  • DAT (or CDAT) scores are required for admission consideration. There are no exam waivers.
  • Applications will not be considered before official DAT or CDAT scores are submitted to AADSAS.
  • When more than one DAT or CDAT score is reported, the most recent set of scores is considered to meet our admissions requirements.
  • Only scores from tests taken in 2022, 2023, or 2024 will be considered for Fall 2025 admission.
  • It is recommended that the DAT or CDAT be taken no later than December 1, 2024 so your scores may reach AADSAS by the UB School of Dental Medicine application deadline of January 15, 2025.

Minimum DAT or CDAT Scores for Admission Consideration

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.

Canadian Dental Aptitude Test [CDAT] Score Submission
  • At this time, candidates are unable to send official CDAT scores directly to ADEA AADSAS.
  • Instead, candidates who take the CDAT should make arrangements to have official scores sent electronically to the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.
  • There is no need to send any paper copy of your scores to our office. We will receive the electronic scores directly from CDAT testing administration and you will receive confirmation.    

Experience in Dentistry

The Student Admissions Committee strongly encourages applicants to acquire adequate numbers of hours in health care settings in order to maximize their understanding of the health care field. While this number will vary among applicants, we believe a minimum of 75 - 100 hours is a reasonable expectation. Additionally the committee values a breadth of unique experiences over multiple hours in one setting.

COVID-19 Experience Notes:
  • Our admissions committee understands that the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic has impacted dental shadowing availabiliyt and experiences. Plesae utiliize the COVID-19 Impact Statement on your ADEA AADSAS application to address how the pandemic may have have affected your experiences prior to applying to dental school.
  • Our committee also suggest obtaining a realistic preview of the profession virtually. This may include social media, webinars, and podcasts. Virtual shadowing will be considered and this can be added to your AADSAS application.

Letters of Evaluation

The UB School of Dental Medicine requires applicants to submit either a minimum of one [1] composite committee letter/report or three individual letters of evaluation.

ADEA AADSAS allows applicants to submit one committee letter and one individual letter, or four individual letters.  

  • Our Admissions Committee accepts a composite committee letter/report. If the undergraduate school does not have such a committee or a mechanism for providing a composite letter, applicants may submit individual letters of evaluation.
  • If you are submitting three individual letters, we encourage you to obtain letters from those individuals who can best attest to your academic abilities, personal attributes, and why you are a good candidate for dental school consideration.
  • All letters of evaluation must be submitted to AADSAS through the AADSAS Portal. ADEA AADSAS allows applicants to submit a maximum of four individual letters of evaluation or one committee letter/report plus the option of one additional individual letter. Although the School of Dental Medicine only requires three letters of evaluation, the Student Admissions Committee will consider all letters of evaluation submitted to AADSAS.
Letters sent directly to our admissions office, dean, faculty, or staff will not be considered.
  • The DDS Admissions Committee only reviews recommendation letters in AADSAS.  

Personal Statement

  • The personal statement provides you the opportunity to let our committee know who you are beyond all other facets of the application. 
  • Candidates can share their academic, professional, and personal goals, and why they are choosing to pursue dentistry. 
  • Please note that the admissions committee is not looking for candidates to write anything in particular. Your statement is your own.
  • We srrongly encourage you to have others read your personal statement before submitting your application. 

Proficiency in English for Non-Native Speakers

Because command of the English language is essential for successful professional school study, applicants whose first language is not English, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate their English proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students who have completed a full undergraduate degree in the United States or an English speaking Province of Canada can be considered for a waiver of the TOEFL requirement.

2025 TOEFL Score and Deadline
  • Students must achieve scores at or above minimum of 79 (internet based) or better obtained within 18 months of the application deadline. 
  • Official TOEFL score reports must be received by our application deadline of January 15, 2025.

Submit TOEFL Score Reports

  • Official TOEFL Score Reports must be submitted by using the following codes:
Institution Code
2925 SUNY U at Buffalo
Graduate Study Code 01
Name of Department Biological Sciences
Department Code 38 Dentistry

Improve Your English Skills

UB’s English Language Institute offers programs during the summer and the academic year for those students who want or need to improve their competence in reading, speaking, or writing English prior to applying to dental school.

Proof of Financial Support for International Students

If admitted, International students must document their ability to meet all educational and personal expenses for the duration of the program. Foreign students are eligible for assistantships and fellowships, but not for New York State or federal financial aid. Students should contact their own government or the American Embassy or Consulate for financial information.

Background Checks

All offers of acceptance and admission are conditional pending completion, at the applicant’s expense, of an acceptable Background Check from a vendor approved by the UB School of Dental Medicine. Once accepted, applicants will receive instructions on how to apply for the Background Check. Admission offers may be withdrawn for applicants who refuse to submit to the Background Check or who receive an accurate unacceptable Background Check.

Contact Us

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