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USC

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for USC Dental School

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Background Information

  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • Institution Type: Private
  • Campus Setting: Urban
  • Dental Doctoral DegreDoctor of Dental Surgery
  • Mission Statement: “The mission of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC is to provide education, scholarship, and outreach that improves oral, dental, craniofacial, and general systemic health and well-being locally, nationally, and internationally.”
  • Term Type: Trimester
  • Year Opened: 1897
  • Number of Months to Earn Degree: 40
  • Campus Housing Available: Yes
  • Class Size: 144

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: 24

Acceptance Rates by Location:

Number of Applicants
Number of Enrollees
Enrollment Rate
Overall
2252
144
6.39%
In-State
946
93
9.83%
Out-State
1048
37
3.53%
International
258
14
5.43%

Class Breakdown by Residency:

Number of Enrollees
Percentage of Incoming Class
In-State
93
64.58%
Out-State
37
25.69%
International
14
9.72%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average
DAT Perceptual Ability
Cumulative GPA
Science GPA
20.5
20.1
3.73
3.67

Range of Academic Averages for Acceptance:

5th Percentile of Enrollees
95th Percentile of Enrollees
DAT Academic Average
17
26
Cumulative GPA
3.25
4.00
Science GPA
3.07
4.00

Prerequisites

Preferred
Strongly Preferred
Required
Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course
Credits (Semesters/Quarters)
Required Lab
Biology
8/10
Inorganic Chemistry
8/10
Organic Chemistry
8/10
Physics
8/10
Composition
8/10
Philosophy/Fine Arts
8/10
  • English composition and Philosophy/Fine Arts requirements are usually waived if you have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S or Canada prior to starting dental school.
  • Recommended courses include: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Histology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Physiology, and other upper division science courses.

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites
Electives
AP Credit Accepted
No
Yes
Community College Coursework Accepted
Yes (discouraged)
Yes

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

  •  60

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • O Hours Required
  • But 10-20 hours are recommended

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • Three letters are required:
    • One from a practicing dentist
    • Two letters from science professors (biology, chemistry, or physics), or one
      committee letter

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT
Canadian DAT Accepted?
Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission?
DAT Score Considered
Yes
Yes
No
Most recent score only

Supplemental Information:

Participation in ADEA AADSAS
Required Supplemental Application
Supplemental Application Fee
Yes
No
Yes: $85 for US students and $150 for Canadian students

Interview Format

  • Up to 8 students solve a problem-based learning case in person with guidance from an admissions
    team and a faculty member

Finances and Application Logistics

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2023:

Year
In-State Tuition
Out-State Tuition
Additional Fees
Estimated Living Expenses
D1
$113,739
$113,739
$21,092
$26,040
D2
$113,739
$113,739
$14,206
$26,040
D3
$113,739
$113,739
$9,943
$26,040
D4
$75,826
$75,826
$8,013
$26,040

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings 

  • Pre-Dental Opportunities
    • Dental Explorers Program (one week program including team building, clinic shadowing, and hands-on clinical exercises)
    • Summer Enrichment Programs
  • Research
    • Craniofacial Biology PhD Program
    • Summer Dental Student Research Program allows incoming DDS students to conduct research
    • Student Research Group provides students with networking opportunities through research presentations on campus and national conferences. 
    • Annual Research Day allows students to showcase their research

2. Clinical Experiences

  • Clinical Curriculum Overview
    • D1: Pre-clinical training in the simulation laboratory. Majority of science coursework is taught via problem based learning. 
    • D2: Transition to direct patient care and assist in hygiene cases. Rotate through USC specialty clinics
    • D3-D4: Students treat more complex cases in the patient clinic
  • Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
    • Post-grad programs in:
      • Endodontics
      • General Practice
      • Advanced Operative and Adhesive Dentistry
      • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
      • Orofacial Pain
      • Orthodontics
      • Pediatric Dentistry
      • Periodontics
      • Prosthodontics
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