Loma Linda Dental School Requirements

The Loma Linda University School of Dentistry is one of 66 dental programs in the United States of America. The Loma Linda dental school 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

Loma Linda Dental School Requirements: Prerequisite Courses

All students applying to the Loma Linda dental school must have completed at least a minimum of 3 academic years of undergraduate study (96 semester hours or 144 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
Composition	✓	X	3/6
Biochemistry	✓	X	6/12

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses are accepted however applicants must provide official Advanced Placement transcript and receive a determination from LLUSD.

Pass/Fail grades will be accepted for spring and summer 2020 if letter grades are not an option. The Admissions Committee prefers letter grades, if available for all prerequisite courses.

LLUSD 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/R	3.49	2.91	3.37	2.79

Loma Linda Dentistry Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Shadowing

DAT and Shadowing Overview:

Dental Shadowing Hours	DAT Required	CAD DAT Accepted	DAT Scores Considered
100	✓	✓	Most Recent Score

100 hours of Dental Shadowing are recommended but not required for acceptance to the program. Shadowing is, however, a requirement for consideration.

Loma Linda 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
20.5	18	21.1	17	20.2	17

If an applicant has completed the DAT more than once the most recent score holds the most weight 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. 

Loma Linda Dental School: Letter of References

LLUSD required three letters of reference: employer or dental professional, pre-professional committee or science professor uploaded with AADSAS application. A spiritual leader reference letter should be submitted along with the LLUSD supplemental application.

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.

Loma Linda Dental School Interview:

Mandatory	By Invitation	Number of Applicants Invited	Entering Class Size
✓	✓	N/A	100

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.