Columbia University Dental School Requirements

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

  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

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 CourseRequiredLab RequiredCredits (Semester/Quarter)
Biology8/12
General Chemistry8/12
Organic Chemistry8/12
Physics8/12
BiochemistryX3/4.5
EnglishX6/9
*A semester credit hour is an academic unit earned for fifteen 50-minute sessions of classroom instruction with a normal expectation of two hours of outside study for each class session. Typically, a three-semester credit hour course meets three 50-minute sessions per week for fifteen weeks for a total of 45 sessions. For more information about how long a semester/quarter is click here.

Columbia University Dental School Requirements: GPA Calculation and Requirements

Minimum Overall GPA to ApplyAverage Overall GPA of accepted applicantsLowest Overall GPA AdmittedAverage Science GPA of accepted applicantsLowest Science GPA Admitted
None3.753.423.713.30

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 HoursDAT RequiredCAD DAT AcceptedDAT Scores Considered
N/AMost Recent Score

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 ScoreMinimum AA Score Given AdmissionMean Perceptual Ability TestMinimum PAT Score Given AdmissionMean Total ScienceMinimum Total Science Score Given Admission
23.92121.71823.620

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:

MandatoryBy InvitationNumber of Applicants InvitedEntering Class Size
N/A88

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.

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