Pre-Dentistry
Follow Your Path To A Doctorate Of Dental Medicine At Catawba College
Because much of the required coursework is in the sciences, most Pre-Dental students select Biology, Biochemistry, or Chemistry as their majors. As long as the required prerequisite courses are taken any major can be pursued and degree awarded. Our pre-health advisors will assist you with confirming each of your prospective dental programs’ prerequisite course requirements and work with you towards your goals.
You should let your academic advisor know as soon as possible that admission to dental school is your post-graduation goal. Your advisor will work with you to ensure that you take the required prerequisite coursework, complete the required hours of clinical experience if necessary, and mentor you towards research experiences that will broaden your training and make your application stand out.
Pre-Dentistry students at Catawba College should take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) at least a year prior to seeking admission to dentistry school. The DAT measures a student's general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. Students pursuing a career in dentistry should complete at least one year of courses at Catawba in Biology as well as general and organic Chemistry before taking the DAT.
Program Highlights
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Pre-Health Advisory Committee
We provide advisement on preparing for admission to your dental medicine program, draft "Committee Letters" of recommendation, and conduct mock interviews.
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Pre-Dental Assistant Research
Conduct an Independent Study with a faculty member, apply for summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), and complete a dental internship.
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Leadership Experience
Get leadership experience and network with peers with similar interests by becoming an active participant in one of Catawba’s many clubs and organizations.
Participate
Participate
Get connected with the Pre-Health Club at Catawba College. In this organization, you’ll have the opportunity to meet alumni that have walked your same path towards a health career, as well meet other students with similar goals.
Program Details
Dr. Israel Santiago Suarez '17 Biology Graduate; Ph.D. in Medicinal ChemistryWork your tail off and you will get into the best schools for med, vet, PA, dentistry, pharm, bio, chem! Professors [at Catawba] are so welcoming and patient, willing to meet with the students one-on-one. Furthermore, the students are not competing against each other, but rather encouraging and helping each other. I realized life in the sciences couldn't possibly be that hard when you have the right people encouraging you every step of the way.
Recommended Experiences
While it is important to have good GPA and DAT scores, most dental schools want to know that they are admitting well-rounded individuals that have such qualities as the desire to help people, self-confidence, the ability to meet challenges, the ability to get along with people, and the capacity to work independently. There are many experiences that students can have while at Catawba College to demonstrate their commitment in these areas:
Clinical Experience
Catawba students can get some of the best clinical experience by shadowing a dentist or completing a dental medicine internship. We recommend students seek out opportunities as early and often as possible, keeping an accurate and detailed journal of your experiences including dates, locations, contact information, and if it was paid or volunteer-based. The number of hours and a synopsis of the work involved should also be recorded.
Research
Students at Catawba College have the option of doing an Independent Study with a faculty member. Look into summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) through the National Science Foundation (NSF) and internships at the North Carolina Research Campus.
Networking
Network and make connections with professionals that can write good letters of recommendation for you. Most programs require multiple letters, some of which should be from dentists or scientists that can comment on your specific abilities and personal qualities that would make you an excellent dentist. Your goal should be to have at least one practicing dentist write a letter of strong recommendation on your behalf.
Resources For Dental Medicine
Resources For Dental Medicine
Prepare for Dental School
Prepare for Dental School
Most dental schools use the following as selection criteria for admission:
- Completion of Prerequisite Coursework
- Overall GPA and GPA of Required Courses
- Score on the DAT
- Dental Office Shadowing Experiences
- Letters of Recommendation
- Application through the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)
- Interview
Net Price Calculator
Net Price Calculator
We know that a college education is one of the most important investments a student will make in their lifetime.
Catawba College's Net Price Calculator is a tool used to provide students with an estimate of the financial aid they might qualify for prior to receiving their official Financial Aid Award.
Catawba students in Dr. Megan Flocken's Biomedical Ethics class visited the local Downing Farm to explore sustainable agricultural practices in action.
Three Catawba College undergraduate students have each been awarded Yarbrough Undergraduate Research Grants from the North Carolina Academy of Sciences for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, Catawba College students and their faculty mentors in the Natural Sciences attended several scientific conferences locally, regionally and nationally to present exciting research and professional development opportunities. Twenty-two students presented a total of thirty-one oral and poster presentations this year, highlighted within four off-campus conferences.
