• Predental College Years
• Limitation on Community College Work
• Required Courses
• Grade Point Average: Assessed on an individual basis.
• The Dental Admissions Test
• Applying to the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry
• Transfer Students (Advanced Standing)
• Health
• Reservation of Powers

Predental College Years: General minimum is three years (90 semester or 135 quarter hours).

Limitation on Community College Work: Courses taken at a community college will be acceptable if they are transferable as equivalent to predental courses at a four-year college. Students should submit a copy of an advanced standing evaluation form provided by the four-year college or a course equivalency statement from the community college.

Students may not elect pass/fail options in required course work unless a narrative transcript is provided by the school.

*The Admissions Committee requires that applicants complete either two semesters of organic chemistry or one semester each of organic chemistry and biochemistry. Students are advised to complete one course in anatomy as part of the four required semesters of biological sciences.

**One course in composition or technical writing is required. Other courses should develop written or verbal communication skills. English as a Second Language (ESL) course work does not meet this requirement.

Grade Point Average (GPA): Your overall & Science GPA, the schools attended, and the difficulty of your course load are all assessed on an individual basis.

Dental Admissions Test (DAT): Preference is given to students who provide Dental Admissions Test scores no later than September and no older than 2 years. To receive a current application, please call the American Dental Association, Department of Testing at 1-800-621-8099 or online at http://www.ada.org.

Applying to University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

Send Directly to  The Associated American Dental School Application Service (AADSAS):

• AADSAS Application
  The AADSAS application is an online application that you can access from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) website. The downloadable paper application has been discontinued. Individuals who absolutely cannot submit an online application should contact AADSAS in writing to request special accommodations. To receive an application from ADEA, log onto: http//www.adea.org/AADSAS/ . We recommend that you apply as early as June but no later than October. The official deadline is December 1. 

• Letters of evaluation
  Three letters of evaluation are required. If your undergraduate institution has a pre-health advisory committee, a committee evaluation is recommended. Otherwise you must submit two letters of evaluation from science instructors and an additional letter from a health care professional or employer. Additional letters of evaluation from health care professionals who know you well may be submitted at your discretion.

• Official transcripts
  Send official transcripts from  all colleges, universities, and professional schools you have attended.

Send directly to Pacific dental school:

• Application Fee
  A $75.00 application fee made payable to the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at Office of Admissions 2155 Webster Street Room 202 San Francisco, CA. 94115. Please make sure that you include your correct name, address, and AADSAS or Social Security number for proper identification.

• Official Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores
  The American Dental Association (ADA) will forward your official DAT scores to Pacific if you request them to do so at the time of your test. If you did not direct the ADA to send Pacific your scores, please contact the ADA at (800) 621-8099 or you can print a DAT transcript request form online at http://www.ada.org and have your scores sent to us as soon as possible. DAT scores older than 2 years will not be accepted and will need to be re-taken before the Executive Admissions Committee will consider for an interview.

Transfer Students/Advanced Standing: Only under unusual and compelling circumstances does the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry accept transfer students. Incompatibility of dental education programs inhibits transition from another school to the University of the Pacific's program. Students requesting such classification usually matriculate with the first-year class. No student will be admitted to advanced standing beyond the second year. Special action regarding transfers is required.

Health Requirements, Medical, and Disability Insurance: Prior to matriculation, health requirements must be met and documentation submitted to the Admissions Office, as follows:

• Medical Examination: Submit the school's "Clinical Examination Form," signed by a physician confirming that a medical examination was completed within one year of the date of matriculation.
• Measles, Rubella (German Measles), and Mumps: Provide documentation of presence of positive titers. Documented vaccination with live attenuated measles and rubella virus is adequate. A history of measles and rubella as childhood diseases is not sufficient.
• Tuberculosis: Submit the report of a Mantoux tuberculosis skin test. With a history of tuberculosis OR a positive skin test, submit the physician's report of a chest X-ray taken within the year prior to matriculation. Chest X-rays may be required at intervals, and suppressive medication may be recommended.
• Hepatitis B: Every dental student is required to submit documented proof of presence of antibodies to the Hepatitis B virus or to complete the Hepatitis B vaccination series. It is recommended that this be done prior to matriculation; in all cases, however, it must be done before a student is allowed to treat patients. If a student does not have documented proof of having antibodies to this virus, the vaccination series is available at the school for a fee.
• Medical and Disability Insurance: All enrolled students and residents participate in mandatory medical insurance and disability insurance programs selected by the School of Dentistry. No student is exempt from participation in these programs. Insurance premiums are assessed with tuition and other fees.

Reservation of Powers: The School of Dentistry reserves the right to modify or change admissions standards or requirements any time without prior notice. The information on this sheet is not to be regarded as creating a binding contract between the student and the school.