Admission & Financial Aid
Application ProcedurePlease send all admission questions to this email address: dental@udmercy.edu
Academic PrerequisitesAcademic preparation must include the following specific requirements, both in time and in credit hours (Please note, eight semester hours in science and six semester hours in English are generally equivalent to a one-year course): Chemistry:
Biology:
Physics:
English:
The Office of Admissions reserves the right to modify the prerequisites in exceptional cases when an applicant's background supplants the need for such courses or when additional courses are necessary to an applicant's preparation for dental school. Grades of C or better are expected in prerequisite courses. Courses in psychology, especially human behavior are highly recommended, as are business courses. If a student wishes to strengthen his/her academic credentials, he or she should consult with predental advisors at their present university regarding the proper course of action. The School of Dentistry also stands ready to counsel students throughout their predental years. Students requiring specific guidance from the School of Dentistry may schedule an appointment with the Associate Director of Admissions. Dental Admission Test (DAT)All applicants for admission are required to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT), a national standardized test. This computerized examination, administered at various Sylvan Technology Test Centers, is available almost any day of the year. The testing program is designed to measure general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. Scores from the DAT are an important component to one's application to dental school and should be recognized as such by the student. Members of an Admissions Committee frequently use the DAT to predict a student's success or failure in the school's curriculum. Students are encouraged to obtain sample DAT information, consult commercially available preparatory books and embark upon a systematic, planned study program. Additional information about the DAT can be obtained by contacting the School of Dentistry's Office of Admissions at dental@udmercy.edu or by visiting the American Dental Association's (ADA) website at www.ADA.org. Preparatory material can be obtained from the Dental Admission Testing Program, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. Students are advised to take the DAT only after basic requirements in chemistry and biology have been completed. An applicant should try to achieve competitive scores of 18 or better in each section. Retaking the DAT, with the goal of achieving more competitive scores is encouraged, however the applicant is encouraged to consult with the Office of Admissions when contemplating retaking the DAT. DAT scores older than two years from the time of the test are not acceptable. The Canadian DAT is acceptable for Canadian applicants (www.CDA-ADC.ca). Application ProcedureThe School of Dentistry utilizes the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). This service is available to all students applying to dental schools participating in the application service. When you use AADSAS, you complete just one application. AADSAS distributes it to the schools you have selected. Applications are available May 15 through March 1 of each year. Simply visit the American Dental Education Association's (ADEA) website to submit your application electronically or download and print the application via their home page at www.ADEA.org. After the AADSAS deadline, applications will be accepted directly to the School of Dentistry. This is not encouraged, however, and should only be done when it is not possible to meet the AADSAS deadline. A non-refundable application fee of $75.00 (U.S. funds) is due at the time of application and should be sent directly to the School of Dentistry. By agreement among American dental schools, the earliest date of acceptance is December 1. Applicants are accepted from December 1 until the class is filled. Letters of RecommendationA composite letter of recommendation is required if the college has a preprofessional advisory committee. If no such committee exists, a minimum of two letters from science faculty in prerequisite areas are required. Applicants are encouraged to spend time in a dental office and are also required to have a letter from a dentist attesting to the applicant having spent a reasonable amount of time with the practitioner exploring the dental profession. An applicant who feels that the application did not allow explanations of certain aspects of scholastic history may submit a written personal statement directly to the Office of Admissions. Selection FactorsThe Admissions Committee reviews all completed applications and selects applicants for admission to the School of Dentistry. Selection is based on academic performance in undergraduate studies, DAT scores, and personal characteristics and potential success as determined by letters of recommendation and personal interviews. The Admissions Committee requests an interview for the purpose of gaining information not readily gained from the application. Interviews are by invitation to applicants being seriously considered for admission. Academic AchievementA minimum grade point average in science courses of 2.85 is recommended. An academic record, which may appear weak initially but shows three to six terms of progressively increasing quality, is looked upon favorably. If a candidate is able to demonstrate strong, steady academic improvement within an academically challenged biology program, they will appear more competitive when compared with other applicants. Reapplication Requirements and Suggestions
Canadian ApplicantsOntario Grade 13 Full credit is given for Grade 13 or OAC English toward fulfilling the English requirement (achieved grades of "C" or better are required in order to be acknowledged). Grade 13 or OAC science courses do not fulfill the requirements in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. However, credit is given for these courses toward meeting the requirement of eight (8) semester hours in each science prerequisite when these courses are also taken in a university. All Canadian applicants having attended an Ontario High School are required to submit an official high school transcript in addition to the required university transcript(s) to receive credit for Grade 13 or OAC course work. Canadian applicants from the province of Quebec, should submit a CEGEP transcript to receive the same consideration for CEGEP as OAC course work. Dental Admission Test (DAT) U.S. or Canadian examination results are accepted. On either examination, please be certain you request DAT results be sent to the University of Detroit Mercy. For more information, contact: Canadian Dental Association - or - Dental Admission Testing Program Financial Aid Canadian citizens do not qualify for U.S. federal financial aid programs unless the applicant is also a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. ("Green Card"). The University of Detroit Mercy Scholarship and Financial Aid Office has limited information on alternative loans for nonresidents of the United States (these loans usually require a U.S. cosigner). We suggest Canadian applicants contact financial aid/loan institutions in Canada. The University of Detroit Mercy is an approved professional university outside of Canada and many of our Ontario students receive OSAP. For more information, contact: Student Support Branch Camellia Taylor
Financial Aid Coordinator
University of Detroit Mercy, School of
Dentistry
Telephone: 313-494-6617 Fax: 313-494-6912 Email: taylorca2@udmercy.edu Information about Licensure in Canada For more information, contact: National Dental Examining Board
of Canada Information about Practicing in the United States The North American Free Trade Agreement established a new category of non immigrant visas. One of these visas is called the TN Visa which allows members of professions to apply for admission at an entry point into the United States instead of submitting a formal application to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in Lincoln, Nebraska. The INS Office processing TN applications is located at the Detroit-Windsor tunnel. The TN application consists of the following: (1)Proof of Canadian citizenship. (2)Evidence that the intended U.S. activity is one listed on Schedule 2 (ADentist@ is listed). (3)Evidence that the alien has the necessary credentials to be a professional in one of the Schedule 2 fields (diploma). (4)Proof of license to practice the profession if one is required in the state of intended employment. (5)Documentation of the arrangement of remuneration for the U.S. activity. (6)A statement that the purpose of the entry is temporary (note: renewal should be no problem). (7)Filing fee. Questions about admissions? dental@udmercy.edu |