The University of Maryland School of Dentistry is one of 66 dental programs in the United States of America. The UMSOD 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
University of Maryland School of Dentistry Requirements: Prerequisite Courses
All students applying to the UMSOD must have completed at least a minimum of 3 years of study (90 semester hours / 135 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 |
| Biochemistry | ✓ | X | 3/6 |
| Composition | ✓ | X | 6/9 |
AP and community college credits are accepted at this University.
AP credits for prerequisites will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Credit must have been given for specific courses by the undergraduate institution.
Pass/Fail grades will be accepted, but letter grades are preferred. Opinions of Pass/Fail grades are based on previous achievements.
UMD 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 | 3.57 | 3.15 | 3.47 | 2.95 |
University of Maryland School of Dentistry Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Shadowing
DAT and Shadowing Overview:
100 hours of shadowing were preferred previously, however, UMSOD will be lenient with this number. UMSOD hopes that the decision to pursue dentistry hasn’t been a recent one so “some” shadowing has been accomplished.
UMSOD 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 |
| 21.2 | 18 | 21.0 | 16 | 21.0 | 18 |
Applicants are required to take the DAT. If an applicant has completed the DAT more than once all scores will be reviewed with emphasis on the most recent set of scores 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 Maryland School of Dentistry Requirements: Letters of Recomendation
The Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions strongly prefer to receive a recommendation package from the applicant’s institutional pre-professional committee and a letter from a general or specialized dentist documenting at least 100 shadowing hours.
If no such committee is available, letters of recommendation from one science professor may be substituted. There are no substitutions for the letter of recommendation from a general or specialized dentist.
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.
UMD Dental School Requirements:Interview:
| Mandatory | By Invitation | Number of Applicants Invited | Entering Class Size |
| ✓ | ✓ | N/A | 133 |
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.