Location: Boston, MA
Institution Type: Private
Campus Setting: Urban
Dental Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Dental Medicine
Mission Statement: “HSDM’s mission is to develop and foster a community of global leaders dedicated to improving human health by integrating dentistry and medicine at the forefront of education, research, and patient care.”

Year Opened: 1867
Number of Months to Earn Degree: 43
Campus Housing Available: Yes
Class Size: 35
Term Type: Semester

Combined degrees offered:

B.A./B.S.

M.B.A.

M.P.H.

M.S.

Ph.D.

Other Degrees

DMSc

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: 23

Acceptance Rates by Location:

Number of Applicants

Number of Enrollees

Enrollment Rate

Overall

1,263

2.77%

In-State

6.49%

Out-State

1,068

2.62%

International

118

1.69%

Class Breakdown by Residency:

Number of Enrollees

Percentage of Incoming Class

In-State

14.29%

Out-State

80.00%

International

5.71%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average

DAT Natural Science

DAT Perceptual Ability

Cumulative GPA

Science GPA

24.9

22.5

3.91

Range of Academic Averages for Acceptance:

5th Percentile of Enrollees

95th Percentile of Enrollees

DAT Academic Average

Cumulative GPA

3.61

4.00

Science GPA

3.59

4.00

Prerequisites

Preferred

Strongly Preferred

Required

Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course

Credits (Semesters/Quarters)

Required Lab

Biology

8/12

General Chemistry

8/12

Organic Chemistry

8/12

Physics

3/4

(recommended)

Biochemistry

3/4

Composition (prefer expository writing course)

6/8

Recommended courses include: Behavioral Sciences (e.g. Psychology, Sociology, etc.) and Mathematics (1-semester of Calculus and Statistics/Biostatistics)

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites

Electives

AP Credit Accepted

Depends (see note below)

Yes

Community College Coursework Accepted

Yes (discouraged)

Yes

Comments: Each subject area has its own AP credit policy. Regardless of whether AP credit is accepted, advanced-level coursework may be used to fulfill basic requirements.
- AP Biology: No
- AP Chemistry: Yes (only for one semester or semester equivalent)
- AP Physics: Yes (only for one semester or semester equivalent)
- AP Composition: No

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

N/A
Applicants should make every effort to take the majority of required courses at the institution that will be conferring their degree.

Required Shadowing Hours:

O Hours Required
Recommend and expect applicants to be adequately exposed to the profession.

Letters of Recommendation:

Option 1: Three individual letters from faculty members (up to 4 will be accepted). At least two must be from science professors.
Option 2: Pre-health committee letter

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT

Canadian DAT Accepted?

Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission?

DAT Score Considered

Yes

All scores considered

Supplemental Information:

Mandatory Casper

Participation in ADEA AADSAS

Required Supplemental Application

Supplemental Application Fee

Yes

Yes (if offered an interview)

Yes: $80 for all applicants

Interview Format

Two one-on-one interviews with members of the admissions committee.
There are both in-person and virtual options.

Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2025:

Year

In-State Tuition

Out-State Tuition

Additional Fees

Estimated Living Expenses

$73,874

$11,967

$34,469

$73,874

$33,990

$30,989

$73,874

$28,072

$33,804

$73,874

$28,072

$33,804

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings

Pre-Dental Opportunities
- Bridge to Dental School Program (for 3rd-4th year college students or during gap year)
- Pre-Dental Mentorship Program
- Harvard Dental School’s “Introduction to Dentistry” 7-week virtual course
Research
- All students are required to complete a research project by the end of D4. This involves selecting an area of interest, finding a mentor, designing and completing a project, and presenting or publishing the results.
- Various research focuses such as color science in dentistry, disease prevention, oral implantology methods, and health services
- DMD-PhD Program
- DMD-DMSc program provides a special focus on clinical research in oral and craniofacial biology and medicine in academic dentistry

2. Clinical Experiences

Clinical Curriculum Overview
- D1: Students observe in the Teaching Practices clinic once a week and focus on learning the fundamentals of medicine.
- D2: Clinical observation rotations extend to a wider range of dental topics, such as oral medicine, oral hygiene, pediatric dentistry, behavioral science, and more.
- D3: Students begin to evaluate and treat patients.
- D4: Students continue to provide care at the Teaching Practice and Harvard Dental Center while learning more advanced techniques. Required rotations and externship experience include a comprehensive care rotation, general dentistry rotation, and an oral surgery rotation.
Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
- Post-grad programs:
  - AEGD Program - Rural Track
  - Dental Public Health
  - Endodontics
  - Orthodontics
  - Oral Medicine
  - Pediatric Dentistry
  - Periodontics
  - Prosthodontics
  - General Practice Residency
  - Dental Education (MMSc)
  - Geriatrics
  - Implant and Digital Dentistry
  - Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Residency
  - Oral Biology Research
  - Orofacial Pain Residency

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