Once a high school student decides that a career in dentistry is right for them, they might consider a combined Bachelor of Science (BS) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. These ambitious students will gain conditional acceptance into the partnered dental school, allowing them to streamline their path to a dental career. Aspiring dental professionals must showcase a blend of strong academics, relevant experiences, and a genuine passion for dentistry. A competitive application isn’t built overnight—here are five steps direct dental hopefuls should take to increase their chances of acceptance.
1. Achieve Strong Academics And Test Scores
Starting from freshman year, students should be mindful of academics. While BS/DMD programs aren’t expecting perfection, they are expecting students to have taken a rigorous course load and performed well in them. Augusta University requires applicants to have at least a 3.7 GPA—any lower and Augusta will not consider the applicant for their Dental Scholars Program.
Students aren’t expected to take every Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or honors classes available to them, but they should try to take as many advanced STEM classes as possible. Ultimately, taking more advanced classes isn’t always better, because students still need to balance their coursework with their extracurriculars. If they don’t have time to participate in clubs, volunteering or other activities due to a heavy course load, it might hurt their application because they haven’t proved their abilities outside the classroom as well.
In addition to maintaining high grades, students should also be performing well on their standardized tests, including AP or IB exams and the SAT or ACT. BS/DMD programs might have strict requirements when it comes to SAT or ACT scores, with many programs requiring a school of 1350 or higher. Virginia Commonwealth University’s Guaranteed Admission Program for Dentistry has a minimum requirement of 1330 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT. However, the accepted students typically had between 1360-1510 or 31, respectively.
2. Obtain Clinical And Dental Experience
In addition to having strong academics and test scores, BS/DMD candidates will also be considered based on their passion and interest in dentistry. Since students are committing to a path at a young age, the admission officers want to make sure that the applicants have a strong understanding of the field and are fully committed to joining the career.
Students can showcase this interest and passion for medicine through shadowing dentists and volunteering in dental offices, hospitals or other healthcare clinics. Being able to demonstrate an interest through their essays and interviews is key to the success of the application.
3. Build A Competitive Direct Dental Resume
Not only is it important to gain dental-related experiences, but students should also pursue their interests outside of dentistry through the clubs they join and the places they volunteer. BS/DMD applicants should feel free to join a variety of clubs such as Robotics, DECA or even the Anime Club if their interests lie in those fields. Through participating in various clubs, students can gain leadership positions, which is an important quality that aspiring dentists should possess. Demonstrating this skill through their activities can help the admission officers imagine what type of undergrad student and dentist they will be.
Similar to academics, more extracurriculars aren’t necessarily better – students should make sure they have enough time to fully commit to each activity and are only pursuing interests they are passionate about. Focus on quality over quantity.
4. Secure Strong Letters Of Recommendation
One piece of the puzzle that sometimes gets overlooked is letters of recommendation. Students should ask for letters of recommendation from at least two junior-year teachers. Give the teachers enough time to craft an exceptional letter by asking early, ideally by the end of junior year. This will allow the teachers to spend the summer before senior year working on writing the letter. While students often focus on asking teachers from classes where they performed well, it is also a good idea to ask a teacher of a class where they showed significant growth, demonstrated a real passion for the subject or had a strong relationship with the teacher. Asking core teachers (English, Foreign Language, Math, and Science) is often a good idea.
Additionally, BS/DMD applicants should consider asking a dentist they shadowed and built a strong relationship with. This could help to demonstrate their passion for the field. Students can also ask for additional recommendations from volunteer coordinators, coaches or managers they worked closely with and who can highlight their strong qualities.
Once again, more isn’t always better. Applicants should be strategic about who they ask for letters of recommendation because, ultimately, an admission officer only has so much time to spend reviewing each application. If two recommendations would have a similar perspective of the student and do not add anything new to the profile, it would be better to submit just one letter of recommendation from the person who you think would write the strongest one.
5. Begin Working On The College And Direct Dental Applications Early
The Common Application has already released its prompts for the 2025/26 application cycle (spoiler: they remained the same as last year). Students could start working on their personal statement, activity list and a “Why Dentistry” essay over the summer to get a head start on their applications. Many direct dental programs require multiple essays to be submitted for a complete application and waiting until the last minute could hurt the student’s candidacy. Take the time to read sample essays, brainstorm a strong essay that showcases attractive qualities and experiences and write multiple drafts. Seeking feedback from a trusted confidant is also a good idea to ensure that the tone and message conveyed are correct.
Don’t Wait, Begin Working Now!
Building a competitive direct dental application is a multifaceted process that requires a student to work in advance of the deadlines. Admission officers are looking for students with strong leadership skills, commitment to service, and a solid academic foundation. It is up to the student to put together a compelling application that showcases their strengths. By crafting your resume and application strategically, you can increase your chances of getting accepted into a direct dental program.