The University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Dentistry is one of 66 dental programs in the United States of America. The UMKC 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
UMKC Dental School Requirements: Prerequisite Courses
All students applying to the University of Missouri 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 | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| General Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Organic Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Physics | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Anatomy | ✓ | X | 4/6 |
| Biochemistry | ✓ | X | 4/6 |
| Cell Biology | ✓ | X | 4/6 |
| Physiology | ✓ | X | 4/6 |
| English | ✓ | X | 8/12 |
AP and community college credits are accepted at this University. However, only community college coursework will be accepted for prerequisites unless the student has additional advanced courses in the subject. Students should contact the Director of Admissions for guidance about Community College credit.
Pass/fail accepted for courses from Spring 2020, including prerequisites.
University of Missouri 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 | 3.76 | 3.35 | 3.64 | 3.26 |
UMKC Dental School Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Shadowing
DAT and Shadowing Overview:
100-200 hours of shadowing a general dentist are required by this university in a minimum of 5 office settings. In addition to this, applicants are required to have a minimum of 100 hours of community service in 5 different settings exhibiting evidence of service and compassion
UMKC 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 |
| 20.3 | 18 | 20.3 | 16 | 19.6 | 17 |
Applicants are required to take the DAT. If an applicant has completed the DAT more than once the most recent set of scores will be assessed 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. Additionally, check out our 10 tips to Ace the DAT from a 25+ AA test taker!
University of Missouri Dental School Requirements: Letters of Recomendation
This university requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation or one pre-health advisory committee letter for admission consideration. If there is not a pre-health advisory committee at least one letter from a faculty member and one from a dentist is required.
UMKC Dental School Requirements: CASPer Test
The CASPer test is an online assessment used to assist us in assessing non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that are important for successful students and dentists. It is a tool the UMKC School of Dentistry has adopted to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our holistic application review. It is strongly encouraged for applicants to take the exam and will be required for interview candidates.
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.
UMKC Dental School Requirements: Interview
| Mandatory | By Invitation | Number of Applicants Invited | Entering Class Size |
| ✓ | ✓ | N/A | 108 |
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.