DMD Admissions FAQs

Pre-requisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation (which generally occurs early August). We recommend that applicants take a majority of the prerequisite courses prior to taking the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Applicants should list any planned courses on the AADSAS application. An offer of admission is contingent on the successful completion of all prerequisite courses prior to enrollment.

Yes, the two semester Biology requirement, including labs, can be met with upper level Biology courses.

Applicants are required to complete two semesters of General Chemistry and two semesters of Organic Chemistry plus labs. Upper level chemistry and organic chemistry courses and labs will also meet the prerequisite. Please note that matriculating students have until the beginning of August (orientation) to complete any outstanding prerequisites.

HSDM strongly encourages applicants to complete pre-requisite courses, particularly science courses, for a letter grade. We understand that many schools offered students the option to take courses for pass/fail credit, or may have transitioned entirely to a pass/fail curriculum during the pandemic. HSDM will accept pass/fail credit for the following semesters: spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, summer 2021.

HSDM does not accept IB credits. However, HSDM will accept AP credits if an applicant's institution accepts the courses for credit, and they appear on the candidate's transcript. 

If you received AP credit from your institution but the credit does not appear on your transcript, please ask your registrar's office to send us a notification letter via email hsdm_dmd_admissions@hsdm.harvard.edu with your full name in the subject line.

A letter of recommendation from a math professor would count as a non-science letter of recommendation. Two of the three required letters of recommendation must be from faculty who teach biology, chemistry or physics-related courses, or from a Principal Investigator.  Applicants may submit up to four letters of recommendation in AADSAS.

HSDM is typically unable to provide tours given the clinical setting. However, applicants who are selected for an interview will be given a full tour of the School and will also have an opportunity to meet with current DMD students.

Though many candidates choose to major in the sciences, applicants may pursue any academic major of their choice as long as they demonstrate strong preparation in the sciences, including successful completion of the pre-requisite coursework. The Admissions Committee seeks candidates who will be active and involved members of the class, who are from diverse backgrounds, and who have a variety of interests, talents, skills, and knowledge as we believe that a diverse student body will contribute to a well-rounded class and a vibrant School.

HSDM encourages applicants to spend their gap year/s pursuing something meaningful to them (e.g. work, travel, research, or community service). However, the Admissions Committee also recommends that applicants continue to demonstrate their commitment to oral health.

HSDM considers DAT and Canadian DAT scores valid for two years from the start of the application cycle.

Yes. There is no expiration date on pre-requisite courses; these may be completed at any U.S., Canadian, UK, or Australian institution if they were taught in English. Similarly, letters of evaluation will be accepted from faculty members who taught you at any institution where you completed college-level coursework, or who mentored  your research.

HSDM reviews completed applications holistically and makes admissions decisions based on a comprehensive review. 

Research is not an admissions requirement at HSDM, and not all matriculating students will have participated in research. However, we believe acquiring the skills to effectively evaluate research and gauge it's impact on the dental field is a fundamental part of your education. All DMD students participate in some sort of scholarly project. These projects vary in scope and depth depending on the research interest of the student.

HSDM requires three letters of recommendation (and AADSAS can accept up to four). In addition, two of the three letters must be from a biology, chemistry, or physics professor, or a research mentor. Alternatively, a composite letter of recommendation from a Pre-Health advising committee will meet the full requirement for letters of recommendation. If a composite letter is submitted, any additional letters are optional.  All letters must be submitted through AADSAS.

Letters of recommendation should be written by professors who know the applicant in an academic setting; either they have taught a course the applicant has taken, or they have overseen the applicant's academic work as an academic advisor, research mentor, or thesis mentor. Applicants should be confident that professors are able to write a personalized letter and are in a position to assess the candidate's academic abilities, as well as personal qualities. Frequently, professors and teaching assistants will collaborate in letter writing for students in larger lecture classes; HSDM will accept co-authored letters.

Professional letters of recommendation—for example, letters from a supervisor or a dentist an applicant has shadowed—may be submitted as a fourth letter of recommendation.

HSDM does not have a minimum required number of dental shadowing hours. However, we expect applicants to explore all the Pre-Health professions, and to make a thoughtful and informed decision about dentistry for a career.

HSDM does not have minimum GPA or DAT score requirements. Applications are reviewed holistically, with consideration given to academics, experiences, and other materials. 

Admissions is only able to review each application one time. If an applicant plans to retake the DAT, the applicant should notify Admissions by email and request that their application be placed on hold pending updated DAT scores. The applicant should indicate the approximate date of the exam. It is the applicant’s obligation to notify Admissions when the hold should be removed; otherwise, the application may not be reviewed.

Once an application has been processed, HSDM Admissions will email instructions for submitting the $95 application fee online. Please be sure to include your full name, email address, and AADSAS ID on the order so that Admissions can match submitted application fees with the appropriate application. The application fee is waived in certain circumstances. If you believe you qualify, please notify us by email at hsdm_dmd_admissions@hsdm.harvard.edu.

An application is considered complete once Admissions has received an applicant’s verified AADSAS application, a nonrefundable processing fee of $95, three letters of evaluation from faculty members (i.e., academic references) or a Pre-Health committee letter, and DAT scores.

Note: The most frequently missing application requirement is the third letter of recommendation from a non-science faculty member. Please note that a letter of evaluation from a dentist the applicant has shadowed would count as a fourth letter of recommendation, but would not fulfill our faculty recommendation requirement. Applicants who have used up their four allotted recommendation spaces in AADSAS should ask their faculty member to email their letter to Admissions.

HSDM Admissions sends applicants an email notification when the application has been received and when the application is complete. If the application is incomplete, the applicant will receive a one-time notification email outlining which pieces of the application are missing. Applicants may also refer to the WebAdmit portal for status updates.

The Admissions Committee begins reviewing completed applications in late June. Admissions notifies applicants who are selected for an interview on a rolling basis between September and February. We appreciate your patience as the Admissions Committee conducts a careful review of each application.

Admitted applicants are notified beginning December 15 and on a rolling basis thereafter. All applicants will receive a status update by the end of March.

Due to the small size of the office, Admissions is unable able to counsel applicants about their admission potential, or provide application feedback. 

Yes.  International students are eligible to apply to HSDM provided they have completed all of the prerequisite courses in English at an institution in the United States, Canada, UK or Australia. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree from another country are advised to spend at least one year at a US college or university to become familiar with the US educational system.

TOEFL is not required for international students applying to the four-year DMD program. However, all DMD prerequisite courses must be taken in English at a US, Canadian, UK, or Australian institution of higher learning. Learn more about TOEFL requirements. 

HSDM accepts the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (CDAT). To expedite the initial review of your application, email your unofficial CDAT score report to DMD Admissions as soon as you receive it. Please be aware that the Admissions Committee requires official CDAT scores before any final admission decisions are released.

The DMD-Advanced Standing Program at Harvard School of Dental Medicine is designed for international students with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from outside the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., as well as licensed physicians from these countries who wish to specialize in dentistry. Accepted students join the second year of the DMD program in October, complete the same coursework and clinical training as four-year DMD students, and graduate with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Typically, 2–3 students are admitted each year based on available space. For application details, email hsdm_advanced_standing@hsdm.harvard.edu.

Internationally trained dentists who seek a post-doctoral degree and do not plan to practice dentistry in the United States are eligible to apply to our Advanced Graduate Education (AGE) Programs. 

Please Note: Admissions is unable to personally meet with Advanced Standing candidates or provide a tour. However, candidates who are invited to interview and visit the campus will receive a full tour with current students. For application-related questions, please email: hsdm_advanced_standing@hsdm.havard.edu.

Upon acceptance to an HSDM program, applicants who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents of the United States will receive information related to obtaining an F-1 or J-1 visa. Proof of adequate financial resources must be presented for HSDM to begin the process. Funds must be in U.S. dollars and students' (or sponsors') accounts must be in a bank that has a U.S. branch. More information about the visa process is available on the Harvard International Office's website.

Due to the small size of our school, and because of our on-site clinics, we can only accommodate current HSDM DMD students. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer electives, externships, or exchange periods of study to non-HSDM students.