Location: Boston, MA
Institution Type: Private
Campus Setting: Urban
Dental Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Dental Medicine
Mission Statement: “Provide lifelong learning opportunities and exceptional service to impact health care nationally and globally.”

Year Opened: 1963
Number of Months to Earn Degree: 48
Campus Housing Available: No
Class Size: 115
Term Type: Semester

Combined degrees offered:

B.A./B.S.

M.B.A.

M.P.H.

M.S.

Ph.D.

Other Degrees

International Dental Graduate Programs:

Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs

Advanced Standing Program for IDGs

Yes

Admissions Statistics: (2024 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 24

Acceptance Rates by Location:

Number of Applicants

Number of Enrollees

Enrollment Rate

Overall

3,240

110

3.40%

In-State

170

17.65%

Out-State

2,650

2.64%

International

420

2.38%

Class Breakdown by Residency:

Number of Enrollees

Percentage of Incoming Class

In-State

27.27%

Out-State

63.64%

International

9.09%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average

DAT Natural Science

DAT Perceptual Ability

Cumulative GPA

Science GPA

19.8

19.5

19.6

3.51

3.44

Range of Academic Averages for Acceptance:

5th Percentile of Enrollees

95th Percentile of Enrollees

DAT Academic Average

Cumulative GPA

2.91

3.93

Science GPA

2.79

3.95

Prerequisites

Preferred

Strongly Preferred

Required

Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course

Credits (courses/ credit hours)

Required Lab

Biology

3 / 12-13

General Chemistry

2 / 8-10

Organic Chemistry

2 / 8-10

Physics

2 / 8-10

Biochemistry

1 / 3-4

Upper-level coursework in subject(s) above

6 / 2

Recommended courses include: Additional upper-level courses in Biology, Biochemistry, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or Physics

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites

Electives

AP Credit Accepted

Yes

Community College Coursework Accepted

Yes

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

Of the 45 prerequisite credit hours, 30 must be completed at a four-year institution, including at least one sophomore-level (or higher) course in each science discipline.

Required Shadowing Hours:

O Hours Required
Competitive applicants must have ample in-person experience with a general dentist (paid or volunteer).

Letters of Recommendation:

Option 1: One pre-health committee evaluation
Option 2: Three letters, two from faculty and one additional academic or personal reference

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT

Canadian DAT Accepted?

Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission?

DAT Score Considered

Yes

Interview consideration may be based on self-reported DAT scores, but official DAT scores are required for admission.

Only the most recent score

Supplemental Information:

Mandatory Casper

Participation in ADEA AADSAS

Required Supplemental Application

Supplemental Application Fee

Yes

Yes: $75 fee for all students

Interview Format

Remote, open file interview with an admission committee member between September and March.

Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2025:

Year

In-State Tuition

Out-State Tuition

Additional Fees

Estimated Living Expenses

$99,680

$13,716

$36,900

$99,680

$19,399

$33,965

$99,680

$10,263

$30,750

$99,680

$10,263

$30,750

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings

Pre-Dental Opportunities
- MS in Oral Health Sciences
- Boston University Metropolitan College Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Pre-Medical Studies
- Boston University MMEDIC-Dental (Modular Medical Integrated Curriculum – Dental Track) is available to sophomore pre-dental students enrolled in an undergraduate degree at BU
Research
- Research focuses span from stem cell biology and tissue regeneration to public health issues related to periodontal disease progression
- Pre-doctoral Research Program allows dental students to participate in formal research training for course credit
  - Intensive Research Elective courses (IREC) create structure though the research experiences within D1-D3 curriculum
- Pre-doctoral Research Program and the Student Research Group allow students to participate in research under faculty mentors

2. Clinical Experiences

Clinical Curriculum Overview
- D1: Foundational biomedical and behavioral science courses. Preclinical courses and patient-centered experiences through chairside assisting. Students gain knowledge of dental terminology and techniques.
  - Ends with an eight week dental practice internship called Applied Professional Experience (APEX)
- D2: Simulation lab helps students develop patient care skills. Problem-based learning (PBL) challenges help students to experience the business and patient-ethics aspect of dentistry.
- D3: Students get assigned to Group Practice teams in which faculty members guide students towards taking on greater responsibility in patient treatment.
- D4: Continued patient care. Students pursue research, elective externships, and community service.
Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
- Postdoctoral:
  - Applied Biomechanics
  - Dental Biomaterials
  - Dental Public Health
  - Orofacial and Skeletal Biology
- Residency:
  - Endodontics
  - Esthetic, Digital, and Operative Dentistry
  - Geriatric
  - Implantology Fellowship
  - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Internship
  - Orthodontics
  - Orthodontics Fellowship
  - Pediatrics
  - Periodontology
  - Prosthodontics
  - Special Care Dentistry

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