Boston University Dental School Requirements

The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine program is one of 66 dental programs in the United States of America. Its requirements are categorized here in the priority of what an applicant must submit to be considered:

Academic

1. Pre-requisite courses
2. Minimum number of years of undergraduate study required
3. GPA

Non-Academic 

1. Dentistry Admission Test (DAT)
2. Dental Shadowing
3. Letter of References
4. Personal Essay
5. Interview

GSDM Requirements: Prerequisite Courses

All students applying to Boston University must have completed at least a minimum of 4 academic years of undergraduate study (120 semesters and 200 quarter hours) before matriculation into the DMD program. They must include the following courses: 

Prerequisite Course	Required	Lab Required	Credits (Semester/Quarter)
Biology	✓	✓	12/18
General Chemistry	✓	✓	8/12
Organic Chemistry	✓	✓	8/12
Physics	✓	✓	8/12
Biochemistry	✓	X	4/6
Composition	✓	X	4/6
Math*	✓	X	8/12

Boston 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
N/A	3.33	2.68	3.44	2.89

All university courses taken are used in the calculation of the admission GPA.

The GPA, the school(s) attended, and the quality of the academic course load are all assessed on an individual basis.

Advanced Placement credit is not accepted toward the science prerequisites. Advanced Placement credits will be accepted for English and math/statistics prerequisites if the degree-granting institution awarded college credit toward the bachelor’s degree.

GSDM Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Shadowing

DAT and Shadowing Overview:

Dental Shadowing Hours	DAT Required	CAD DAT Accepted	DAT Scores Considered
Read Below	✓	✓	Most Recent

GSDM recommends that students have dental shadowing hours, however, they do not specify the number of hours recommended. They do take into account the pandemic-related limitations when evaluating dental shadowing, community service and other in-person experiences.

Boston Dental School 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	17	20.2	16	19.8	17

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. 

Boston University Dental School Letter of References

All applicants to the Boston University may provide letters of recommendation to the admissions team. Boston University states that letters of recommendation are an important decision-making factor in admission.

AADSAS Personal Essays

Boston University will 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.

Boston University Dental School Interview:

Mandatory	By Invitation	Number of Applicants Invited	Entering Class Size
✓	✓	N/A	77

Shortlisted candidates will be required to partake in an interview with the Boston University admissions team. The interview process for this Dental School is not specified. If you are looking for interview practice check out our posts on both MMI Practice Questions and Standard Interview Practice Questions.

Boston University Dental School Offers of Admission Decision:

The GSDM admissions committee places primary emphasis on an applicant’s undergraduate record. The committee takes into account the applicant’s scores on the Dental Admissions Test, as well as factors such as the quality and difficulty of courses taken, demonstrated leadership ability, and motivation for the study of dentistry. Applicants’ personal statements submitted as part of the AADSAS application and letters of recommendation are important elements in the evaluation.

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.