Doctor of Dental Medicine

Minimum 90 semester or 135 quarter units of undergraduate/graduate coursework

• Must be completed by matriculation at a regionally accredited U.S. institution

Minimum 30 hours of dental-related work experience

• Must have a minimum of 30 hours of experience as a dental assistant, dental hygienist, dental laboratory technician and/or observing dentists.
• 30 hours must be completed at the time of application
• Be sure to list your experience hours in the “Shadowing Experience” section of your AADSAS application. If you do not list your hours in this section, your application will not be processed.
• Although the minimum is 30 hours, to increase your competitiveness, we recommend 100+ hours
• The quality of experience hours is also important.
• Work experience may be paid or on a volunteer basis

Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

• DAT scores are valid for three years (based on the start of the application cycle). For the 2022 entering class, test dates prior to May 11, 2018 are NOT acceptable.
• DAT must be taken by December 1, 2021.
• Official DAT scores must be received before application will be considered
• Canadian DAT scores are not accepted

Letters of Recommendation

• The letters of recommendation requirement may be fulfilled one of two ways:
  • Obtain one (1) letter of recommendation from your undergraduate institution’s pre-professional committee; or
  • Obtain three (3) letters of recommendation:
    • One (1) letter of recommendation from a dentist or another professor (dentist should not be a family member)
    • Two (2) letters of recommendation from science professors
      * Acceptable Subjects for Science Letters
• Methods of submitting letters of recommendation:
  • Electronic: Letters can be electronically submitted by the recommender to the application service or other services such as Interfolio but the letter must be typed on official letterhead and signed.
  • Paper: Letters must be typed on official letterhead and signed by the recommender. Letter should be mailed in a sealed envelope that is signed over the seal by the recommender. Letters can be mailed to: WesternU, Attention: Admissions Operations, 309 E. 2^nd St, Pomona, CA  91766
  • Email: Letters may be attached to an email sent directly from the recommender, but the letter must be typed on official letterhead and signed. The recommender’s email address must be a business or school email address. Emailed letters should be submitted to [email protected].

Note: Letters that do not meet the above requirements will not be accepted.

Although not required, having earned a BS or BA will likely strengthen your application

• BS or BA may be in any subject

Proof of Legal US Residency – If Required

• International applicants, or any other applicants who are not U.S. citizens and who are living in the U.S., must provide proof of legal U.S. residency prior to matriculation.

Step 1: Prerequisites and Application Requirement

Step 2: Make Yourself a Competitive Candidate

Step 3: Preparing and Submitting your Application