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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
- Post-grad programs in:
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