The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry is one of 66 dental programs in the United States of America. The UKY Dental School Requirements are categorized here in the priority of what an applicant must submit to be considered:
Academic
- Pre-requisite courses
- Minimum number of years of undergraduate study required
- GPA
Non-Academic
- Dentistry Admission Test (DAT)
- Dental Shadowing
- Letter of References
- Personal Essay
- Interview
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Requirements: Prerequisite Courses
All students applying to the University of Kentucky Dental School must have completed at least a minimum of 4 years of study (120 semester hours / 180 quarter hours). Students must also complete the following prerequisite courses listed below:
| Prerequisite Course | Required | Lab Required | Credits (Semester/Quarter) |
| Biology | ✓ | ✓ | 2 Semesters |
| General Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 2 Semesters |
| Organic Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 2 Semesters |
| Physics | ✓ | ✓ | 1 Semester |
| Biochemistry | ✓ | X | 1 Semester |
| Microbiology | ✓ | X | 1 Semester |
| English | ✓ | X | 2 Semesters |
AP and community college credits are accepted at this University.
AP courses must be taken for a grade option, not pass/fail, and appear as a credit on the student’s undergraduate transcript.
UKY Dental School Requirements: GPA Calculation and Requirements
| Minimum Overall GPA to Apply | Average Overall GPA of accepted applicants | Lowest Overall GPA Admitted | Average Science GPA of accepted applicants | Lowest Science GPA Admitted |
| NR | 3.67 | 3.28 | 3.58 | 3.10 |
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Shadowing
DAT and Shadowing Overview:
This dental school strongly recommends that applicants have at least 50 dental shadowing hours, however, the minimum is 20.
UKY Dental School Requirements: DAT Admission Score Statistics:
| Mean Academic Average Score | Minimum AA Score Given Admission | Mean Perceptual Ability Test | Minimum PAT Score Given Admission | Mean Total Science | Minimum Total Science Score Given Admission |
| 20.2 | 18 | 20.8 | 17 | 19.8 | 17 |
Applicants are required to take the DAT. If an applicant has completed the DAT more than once the highest of all DAT scores will be considered when calculations are made. That being said, all scores are evaluated holistically.
Students looking to test their knowledge in preparation for the DAT can click on this link to access our free practice tests for both the Canadian DAT and American DAT. Additionally, check out our 10 tips to Ace the DAT from a 25+ AA test taker!
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Requirements: Letters of Recomendation
The admission committee to this dental school requires two letters written by science faculty from an undergraduate/graduate institution and one letter from a dentist they have shadowed.
Students may also choose to have a fourth letter submitted by another individual who can share insights about the applicant’s achievements, personal qualities, the potential for success in a rigorous curriculum, and motivation for a career in dentistry.
AADSAS Personal Essays
This University may take into account the AADSAS personal essay you submit to the ADEA. Your personal statement is a one-page essay (not to exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces, carriages, numbers, letters, etc.) that gives dental schools a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in dentistry. For more information on the personal essay click on the link above.
UKY Dental School Requirements:Interview:
| Mandatory | By Invitation | Number of Applicants Invited | Entering Class Size |
| ✓ | ✓ | N/A | 65 |
Shortlisted candidates will be required to partake in an interview with the admissions team. The interview process for this dental school is unknown. If you are looking for interview practice check out our posts on both MMI Practice Questions and Standard Interview Practice Questions.
Requirements for other Dental Schools in America:
If you would like an in-depth analysis of the dental school requirements for other dental schools in the United States of America click on this link. Those looking to compare the costs of dental schools can click here.