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:
DDS Application opens
May 2024
- 2025 Applicants can begin the ADEA AADSAS application process.
June 4, 2024:
- 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.
early application 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 not recommended as we have fewer interview opportunities available later in the admissions cycle.
application deadline - January 15
DDS Application Deadline - January 15, 2025
- Our fall 2025 DDS application deadline is January 15, 2025.
- If our admissions committee does not receive your official DAT or CDAT scores by this date, you will not be considered.
- We do not accept unofficial DAT or CDAT score reports.
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.
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)
Courses Impacted 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.
- We accept online courses, online labs, and pass/fail grades.
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.
academic 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.
- However, students who do not major in the sciences are strongly encouraged to pursue additional coursework in higher level biology and chemistry beyond the minimum required courses as our DDS curriculum is scientifically rigorous.
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.
minimum undergraduate gpa requirement
- All applicants must have an undergraduate minimum overall and science college grade-point average of 3.0 (as calculated by ADEA AADSAS).
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.
Exceptions to Undergraduate 3.0 GPA Requirement
- Exceptions to the undergraduate minimum GPA's are given to all applicants who have completed the equivalent of two semesters of full-time graduate coursework.
- Our admissions committee considers a minimum of 18 completed gradaute credit hours as meeting the equivalent of two full-time semesters of graduate coursework.
DAT (or CDAT) SCORES ARE REQUIRED
- DAT (or CDAT) scores are required for admission consideration.
- There are no DAT exam waivers.
- Applications will not be considered until 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.
DAT (or CDAT) SCORES timeframe
- 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 score requirements
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.
DAT SCORES submission
- Official DAT scores must be sent from the American Dental Association directy to ADEA AADSAS.
- Refer to the ADEA DAT score submission for more information.
- Please do not e-mail unofficial scores to our office. They will not be considered.
CDAT SCORES submission
- 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.
- We will receive the electronic scores directly from CDAT testing administration and you will receive confirmation.
- Please do not e-mail unofficial scores to our office. They will not be considered.
SCORES submission deadline
Official scores must be reflected in the AADSAS portal by January 15, 2025
- Applications without official DAT scores in the AADSAS portal by January 15, 2025 will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered.
- The DDS Admissions Committee is not responsible for making arrangements to have DAT or CDAT scores sent to our school.
- We strongly encourage applicants to shadow in a dental health care setting to obtain a realistic preview of the profession. It is essential applicants have a good understanding of the skills required, professional expectations.
- While the number of hours vary among applicants, the committee believes a minimum of 75 - 100 hours is a reasonable expectation.
- Additionally, the committee values a breadth of unique oral health care experiences over multiple hours in one dental setting.
COVID-19 Experience Notes:
- Our admissions committee understands that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted dental shadowing availability and experiences.
- Please utilize the COVID-19 Impact Statement on your ADEA AADSAS application to address how the pandemic may have have impacted your experience.
- Virtual shadowing will also be considered and this can be added to your AADSAS application.
- Our DDS Admission Committee 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 via 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 commitee will evaluate all letters submitted via AADSAS.
Please do not send recommendation letters directly to our dental school.
- Letters sent directly to our admissions office, dean, faculty, or staff will not be considered.
- Our committee only reviews recommendation letters submitted directly to AADSAS.
- 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 strongly encourage you to have others read your personal statement before submitting your application.
who is required to submit scores?
- 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 from an English speaking province of Canada, are waived from 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 |
- If admitted, international students must document their ability to meet all educational and personal expenses for the duration of the program.
- Proof of financial support is not considered during the admissions process. It is only required for admitted students who require the I-20 to process a student VISA. Additional information will be provided to those students who require the VISA.
- International students are eligible for assistantships and fellowships, but not for New York State or federal financial aid.
- 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 from applicants who refuse to submit the background check, or who receive an accurate unacceptable background check. Please refer to the background check policy below: