The Columbia University College 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
- 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
Columbia University Dental School Requirements: Prerequisite Courses
All students applying to Columbia University must have completed at least a minimum of 3 academic years of undergraduate study (90 semester hours or 120 quarter hours). They must include the following courses:
| Prerequisite Course | Required | Lab Required | Credits (Semester/Quarter) |
| Biology | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| General Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Organic Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Physics | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Biochemistry | ✓ | X | 3/4.5 |
| English | ✓ | X | 6/9 |
Columbia University 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 |
| None | 3.75 | 3.42 | 3.71 | 3.30 |
All university courses taken are used in the calculation of the admission GPA.
The Columbia University Dental School will accept Pass/Fail courses during the spring sessions.
Columbia University Dental School Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Shadowing
DAT and Shadowing Overview:
Dental shadowing hours are a required part of your application. However, the number of dental shadowing hours is not specified. We recommend at least 100 hours of dental shadowing.
Columbia University 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 |
| 23.9 | 21 | 21.7 | 18 | 23.6 | 20 |
All sections including the Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS), Perceptual Ability Test (PAT), Reading Comprehension Test (RCT), and Quantitative Reasoning (QR) will be used by the admission team. If an applicant has completed the DAT more than once the most recent score will be used when calculations are made.
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.
Columbia University Dental School: Letter of References
All applicants to Columbia University are required to provide a minimum of three academic letters of reference. While they will accept a letter from a dentist, it will not satisfy the requirement.
AADSAS Personal Essays
The Columbia University Dental School 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.
Columbia University Dental School Interview:
| Mandatory | By Invitation | Number of Applicants Invited | Entering Class Size |
| ✓ | ✓ | N/A | 88 |
Shortlisted candidates will be required to partake in an interview with the Columbia University admissions team. The Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis beginning in August. Selected applicants will be invited for a tour and interview. If you are looking for interview practice check out our posts on both MMI Practice Questions and Standard Interview Practice Questions.
Columbia University Dental School Offers of Admission Decision:
The Columbia University Dental School’s offers for admission for dental school will be based upon academic achievement and rigour, DAT scores, experience with higher-level sciences, leadership, and community service, along with personal qualities such as integrity and a passion for healthcare. They select a diverse group of students who have a combination of cognitive and non-cognitive strengths that will help them become the next generation of oral healthcare leaders.
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.