Admissions FAQ's

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To assist you in navigating the application process and understanding our guidelines, we have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). This section provides detailed answers on many topics including eligibility, requirements, submission deadlines, and general policy. Reviewing these FAQs is highly recommended.

Major and GPA FAQ DAT FAQ CDAT FAQ Prerequisite FAQ Interview Offer FAQ

Prerequisite FAQ

Do I need to complete all of my prerequisites before applying in AADSAS?

  • No. You do not need to have all of your prerequisites completed before applying. 
  • If admitted, you must have all of your prerequisites completed before the first day of dental school. 
  • Applying with outstanding prerequisites will not hurt your application.

How do I know whether or not my course(s) meet your prerequisite requirements?

  • Unsure if a course you've taken meets our prerequisites? Just fill out the prerequisite course equivalency form, and our committee will be happy to confirm it for you.

How recently must prerequisite courses have been completed for admission?

  • Prerequisites can be no older than five (5) years when applying to our DDS program.
  • For example, if you are applying to begin our program in fall 2026, your prerequisites can be no older than fall 2021.
  • The only prerequisite that can be older than five [5] years is English.
  • Upper-level science courses can be used to meet lower-level prerequisites. For example, if you took a 300- or 400-level chemistry course in the past five years, you do not need to retake a 100-level chemistry course to meet our admission requirements. 

What is the reason for the five-year age limit on prerequisite courses?

  • We require that prerequisite courses be no older than five years to ensure that applicants possess the most current knowledge necessary for our rigorous curriculum.
  • We may grant an exemption in unique cases, such as for applicants who have maintained academic relevancy even if their coursework is older. 
  • Examples of academic relevancy include current enrollment or completion of a graduate program or current employment in the health professions.

How can I confirm my prerequisite course(s) meet your admission requirements?

  • If you believe you qualify for an exemption, you are welcome to submit a Five (5) Year Prerequisite Exemption Form
  • Once submitted, our admissions committee will review the request and respond.

Do you accept AP credit to meet prerequisite requirements?

  • Yes. The only exception is biology. 
  • The AP course must be reflected on an official undergraduate transcript and must be verified by ADEA AADSAS. 
  • We accept upper-level biology courses in lieu of the general biology prerequisite.

Can I use a different course to meet your English prerequisite?

  • Yes, we will accept any writing-intensive course to fulfill the English prerequisite, regardless of the department (e.g., It doesn't need to be from a college or university English department.).
  • Many courses, particularly within the social sciences (such as sociology, psychology, history and economics), include a strong writing requirement and will qualify. As long as the course required significant writing assignments, you can use it to meet our requirement.
  • If you have any uncertainty about a specific course, please submit our prerequisite equivalency form for review.

Do you accept International Baccalaureate (IB) credit for prerequisite courses?

  • Yes. If your undergraduate institution accepted the IB credit toward your degree, it is reflected on your undergraduate transcript and verified by AADSAS, then we would consider the course as meeting our prerequisite. 
  • The only exception is biology. However, we will accept upper-level biology courses in lieu of the general Biology prerequisite.

Can my prerequisite courses and/or labs be taken online?

  • Yes. We accept all online lecture classes and labs from accredited U.S and Canadian colleges/universities.  

Should I take algebra- or calculus-based physics to meet the prerequisite?

  • We accept both algebra-based and calculus-based physics for admission consideration.

Other dental schools require calculus as a prerequisite. Do you require it for admission?

  • No. Calculus is not a requirement for admission to our program.

Do you accept courses from community colleges?

  • Yes. Community college courses can be used to meet prerequisite and minimum credit hour admission requirements.  

Do post-baccalaureate or postgraduate courses satisfy prerequisite requirements?

  • Yes, as long as the post-bac or postgraduate courses were taken at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university. 

How do I know if the college or university I am taking classes from is accredited?

  • If you are unsure whether or not the college or university is recognized, please contact AADSAS support services at 617-612-2045. 

Where can I indicate when I am taking my outstanding prerequisite courses?

  • You can indicate when you are taking outstanding prerequisite courses on your AADSAS application. 
  • If you are unsure where to indicate when you are taking outstanding prerequisites, you can contact AADSAS support services at 617-612-2045. 

My prerequisites were taken while on study abroad from a school outside the U.S. or Canada. Can these courses be used to meet prerequisite admission requirement's?

  • A course taken abroad can be used to meet prerequisite or credit hour requirements only if it was taught by your home school while you were studying overseas.
  • If a course was taught directly by a foreign institution (a school outside of Canada) in the country where you studied, it cannot be used to meet prerequisite or credit hour requirements.
  • Example: If you are a University at Buffalo undergraduate studying in France, a biology course taken directly from the University of Paris cannot be used to meet our requirements.