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Health Careers for BSU Students Community Guide: Dental School

Resources on Health Careers suitable for BSU students of all majors to pursue

Academic Planning

General Course Work*:
*Below are common course requirements but can vary between schools. Make sure to check for individual school requirements

  • Two Semesters of Biology with lab
  • CHEM 141 and CHEM 142
  • CHEM 243 and CHEM 244
  • PHYS 181 and PHYS 182 or PHYS 243 and PHYS 244 
  • ENGL 101 and ENGL 102

Potential Additional Requirements:

  • CHEM 352 or 452
  • BIOL 251, BIOL 252, and BIOL 302 or BIOL 395
  • One Semester of a social and behavioral science course

ADEA AADSAS Participating Dental Schools Required and Recommended Courses 

Committee Letters

The committee letter is submitted for students applying to medical and dental schools. It is made up of three parts: (1) a composite of the academic, clinical, extra-curricular, and personal elements of each applicant's undergraduate performance composed by the Health Professions Advisory Committee, (2) verbatim recommendation letters from each of the student’s references, and (3) a ranking of the applicant by the Health Professions Advisory Committee (see below for ranking criteria). The recommendation letters are an important component of the committee letter. Therefore, the importance of getting to know individual faculty members and other references so they have sufficient experience with students to write thoughtful and supportive recommendations on their behalf is essential.

If a student would like to request a committee letter, the student is required to first meet with the committee Chair, Dr. Alexandra Zilz, in order to discuss their eligibility. This conversation should take place at the latest during the Fall semester of the year a student plans to submit applications to medical or dental school. You are encouraged to complete a self assessment form before the meeting.

Below are the categories and general ranking criteria for a committee letter for medical school. A student’s specific circumstances may change which category the Health Professions Advisory Committee chooses. If you have questions about the ranking criteria for medical school or for dental school, contact Dr. Alexandra Adams at a10adams@bridgew.edu. 

The average DAT score and GPAs of students accepted into dental school are DAT score of 20.7, overall GPA of 3.57, science GPA of 3.48

  • Exceptional: An overall and science GPA of 3.7 or above, DAT score of 21 or above, plus clinical, leadership, and service experience.

  • Highly Recommended: An overall and science GPA of 3.5 or above, DAT score of 19 or above plus clinical, leadership, and service experience. 

  • Recommended without Reservation: An overall and science GPA of 3.3, DAT score of 17 or above, plus clinical, leadership, and service experience.

  • Recommended with Reservation: An overall and science GPA of 3.0-3.2, DAT score of 17-18, plus clinical, leadership, and service experience 

  • Unable to Comment: An overall and science GPA of 3.1 or below and a DAT score of 16 or below. A student may request the Health Professions Advisory Committee to submit their recommendation letters together with a general cover letter but without a committee letter or a student can request their references to individually submit their letters. 
    Note: We strongly encourage that if a student has these criteria, they focus on improving their GPA by retaking courses or attending a post baccalaureate program and retaking the DAT before applying to dental school. 

Materials Required for Requesting a Committee Letter

Should a student request a committee letter, the following needs to be submitted to Dr. Alexandra Adams at azilz@bridgew.edu. Read over the Committee Letter Request Form (see below) to learn more details about each of these requirements, fill out the required paperwork, and send the complete document back to Dr. Alexandra Zilz.

  • Committee Letter Request Form (see below)

  • Academic transcripts from all institutions attended other than Bridgewater State University 

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume 

  • Autobiography 

  • Recommendation Letters. Letters (in both a word and pdf version) should be sent directly by references to Dr. Alexandra Zilz at azilz@bridgew.edu 

  • A copy of your DAT scores. If a student has taken the standardized exam more than once, send copies of each exam score. Note: Committee letters will not be written without standardized test scores.