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UCLA

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for UCLA Dental School

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Background Information

  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • Institution Type: Public
  • Campus Setting: Urban
  • Dental Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery
  • Mission Statement: “To improve the oral and general health of the people of California, the nation and the world through education, research, patient care and public service.”
  • Year Opened: 1964
  • Number of Months to Earn Degree: 45
  • Campus Housing Available: Yes
  • Class Size: 88
  • Term Type: Quarter

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
No
Yes

Admissions Statistics: (2022 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
1489
88
5.91%
In-State
781
79
10.12%
Out-State
620
7
1.13%
International
88
2
2.27%

Class Breakdown by Race/Ethnicity:

Number of Enrollees
Percentage of Incoming Class
In-State
79
89.77%
Out-State
7
7.95%
International
2
2.27%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average
DAT Perceptual Ability
Cumulative GPA
Science GPA
23.1
23.2
3.83
3.81

Range of Academic Averages for Acceptance:

5th Percentile of Enrollees
95th Percentile of Enrollees
DAT Academic Average
19
27
Cumulative GPA
3.60
4.00
Science GPA
3.47
4.00

Prerequisites

Preferred
Strongly Preferred
Required
Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course
Credits (Semesters/Quarters)
Required Lab
Biology
8/12
Inorganic Chemistry
8/12
Organic Chemistry
6/8
Physics
8/12
Biochemistry
3/4
Composition
6/8
Psychology
3/4
  • Recommended courses include Anatomy, Cell Biology, Histology, Microbiology, Physiology, Social Sciences, Communication, Business, Composition, Technical Writing, Fine Arts, Philosophy, and Engineering

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites
Electives
AP Credit Accepted
Yes
No
Community College Coursework Accepted
Yes
Yes

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

  • 70 semester or 105 quarter units

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • O Hours Required
  • But 100 hours of in-person dental shadowing is strongly recommended

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • A minimum of 3 letters are required, but 4 is recommended. These can be from college professors, employers, supervisors, counselors, research supervisors or a pre-professional committee

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT
Canadian DAT Accepted
Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission
DAT Score Considered
Yes
No
No
Only the most recent score

Supplemental Information:

Participation in ADEA AADSAS
Required Supplemental Application
Supplemental Application Fee
Yes
No
Yes: $60 for all students

Interview Format

  • The interview is two virtual one-on-one interviews, each with a different faculty member. The interviewers will not have access to your written application.
  • There are breaks in between the interviews, where applicants can talk to one another. There is also a virtual school tour that is given per group either after or before the individual interview sessions.

Finances & Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Year
In-State Tuition
Out-State Tuition
Additional Fees
Estimated Living Expenses
D1
$47,360
$59,605
$34,962
$24,850
D2
$51,973
$64,218
$26,397
$33,133
D3
$51,973
$64,218
$13,358
$33,133
D4
$51,973
$64,218
$16,213
$33,133

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings 

  • Pre-Dental Opportunities
    • Summer Health Professions Education Program
    • Basic Dental Principles Lectures Series and Post-Baccalaureate program
    • R25 Undergraduate Research Training Program (BIG DOC)
  • Research
    • DDS/PhD degree allows oral biology research
    • T90/R90 Research Training Program has a dental, oral, and craniofacial focus
    • Dental Research Fellowship Program allows students to conduct one of four types of research: (1) literature review, (2) basic science research, (3) public and population health research, or (4) clinical research
    • Many tracks allow dental students to receive training and knowledge to research oral cancer, translational genetics, microbes, and regenerative medicine

2. Clinical Experiences

  • Clinical Curriculum Overview
    • D1-D2: Preclinical laboratory courses and general clinical coursework. Direct patient care begins at the end of D2.
    • D3-D4: Emphasis on training and instruction in the clinical field. 
      • Including: endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, operative dentistry, oral diagnosis, treatment planning, oral radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, anesthesiology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and removable prosthodontics.
  • Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
    • Post-grad programs:
      • Advanced Clinical Training Programs 
        • Endodontics
        • Orofacial Pain & Dysfunction
        • Orthodontics
        • Pediatric Dentistry
        • Restorative Dentistry
      • Preceptorship Programs (12 options):
        • Advanced Education in General Dentistry
        • Advanced Implantology
        • Advanced Prosthodontics
        • Endodontics
        • Hospital Dentistry
        • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
        • Oral Biology
        • Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction
        • Orthodontics
        • Periodontics
        • Restorative Dentistry
        • Surgical Implant Dentistry
      • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Internship
    • Residencies:
      • General Practice 
      • Advanced Education in General Dentistry 
      • Advanced Prosthodontics
      • Endodontics
      • Maxillofacial Prosthetics
      • Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology
      • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
      • Orofacial Pain & Dysfunction
      • Orthodontics
      • Pediatric Dentistry
      • Periodontics
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