Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Admission Policies for 2010-2011

Applicants who wish to apply for admission to Howard University College of Dentistry (HUCD) must have access to the internet and submit an application on-line through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) at www.adea.org

AADSAS Application Dates for HUCD and other Dates of Importance

Filing Period June 1, 2010 through January 15, 2011

All credentials must be postmarked by January 27

DAT scores cannot be older than two (2) years

Application files will be acknowledged via email

Following review of files, interviews are scheduled for Saturdays between October 1 and February 15

If you are not contacted regarding an interview, you will not receive further correspondence other than the last decision notice.

First decision notices mailed to applicants by December 1^st

Last decision notices mailed to applicants April through May

Applicant must respond to acceptance within six (6) weeks of receiving the December 1st offer. Application files received after January 15 will not be acknowledged in writing. (These files will be reviewed and a decision made based on credentials in the file.)

Request for future consideration (deferment) after acceptance must be in writing. The request is good for one (1) year only and may require a second interview.

HUCD's supplemental application is found on the website and is completed by accepted students "only".

Admission to HUCD is highly competitive. The applicant's previous academic record(s), scores on the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and letters of recommendation are significant credentials in the selection process.

The minimum Criteria for Admission are:

• Bachelor of Science or Arts degree
• GPA: 2.7
• Total Science GPA: 2.7
• DAT: 17 (in each of the eight categories)

The following subjects are the minimum required core courses that must be obtained from an accredited four (4) year college/university in the United States or Canada:

Recommended coursework:

Advanced placement and/or college level entrance program credits are not acceptable for required courses. "CR", "S", and/or "P" grades are also unacceptable for required courses.

In addition to the Academic requirements there are Technical Standards taken into consideration for Admission.

The technical standards describe the essential functions necessary for advancement and completion of the competencies required for graduation.

1. The student will be required to demonstrate competency in the following described areas:

a. Obtain the requisite knowledge of normal/abnormal development, structure, and function of the human being, particularly in the area of the head, neck and oral cavity so that the student can utilize the knowledge in treatment planning and patient problem-solving.

b. Identify, describe and discuss the physical, chemical, and biological agents, hereditary and psychological factors, living habits, and social forces which affect bodily function.

c. Identify and utilize the general techniques and resources available to both the individual and the community for the prevention of disease and the maintenance of oral health.

d. Utilize the services and skills of the health care team to effectively enhance its effectiveness in the community.

e. Acquire basic skills necessary to:

1. Obtain an accurate and complete dental/medical history .
2. Perform a complete physical examination of the head and neck and oral cavity.
3. Order and interpret appropriate and essential laboratory tests.
4. Use and assemble data to provide a diagnostic appraisal and effective course of therapy, calling upon additional specialists and community sources as needed.

2. The student must demonstrate:

a. Critical reading, evaluation of information and the use of the scientific method in approaching dental problems.

b. The ability to carry out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with thoroughness and accuracy.

c. The ability to interpret findings that enable him/her to manage patients with consideration and perceptiveness that produces a diagnosis and treatment plan as part of the professional health team.

3. The standards and objectives set by each department in consonance with the overall objectives of the College of Dentistry.

• The knowledge needed to pass the Dental National Boards Parts I and II, the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam, the Curriculum Integrated Format (CIF) Clinical Examination and the ADLEX (American Dental Licensing Examination) and the Dental Hygiene Clinical Board Exam (NERB).
• The ability to enter the profession as a hygienist or general dentist or to pursue a specific discipline of special interest.

Other admission factors considered include the quality of courses taken and the performance of the student; academic honors; leadership skills; volunteerism or work experience in dental setting; research experience; communication skills, oral and written; individual character and alumni background.

Students who have been dismissed from another dental or medical school for poor scholarship, disciplinary reasons or outstanding failing grades are ineligible to apply.

Advance standing for transfer students occur infrequently because of curriculum differences between dental schools. However, if you decide to apply you must submit:

1. A letter indicating why you desire to attend HUCD;
2. A letter from the Dean of the dental school you currently attend stating that you are in good academic and professional standing;
3. A copy of the curriculum and an official transcript of the school you currently or previously attended.

All documents should be received by January 1 in order to be considered for admission at the start of the same academic year.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you have to complete all required coursework or have taken the DAT before applying to HUCD?

No, you do not have to complete all required coursework or take the DAT before applying to HUCD. However, if you receive an offer of acceptance, you must complete all requirements as specified in your acceptance letter. Otherwise, your offer will be rescinded.

I have a dental degree from my country and I would like to practice dentistry in the US. Will I be able to take coursework and complete a degree within one or two years at HUCD?

You may apply to the CAAPID Program through ADEA and if accepted, you will join the second year dental students (D2) and complete a degree within two years at HUCD? If however, you do not have the required credentials you may apply as a new applicant and follow the same admission requirements as indicated or you may apply to one of our postdoctoral programs by completing a PASS application online. Please visit www.adea.org to complete a PASS application. Postdoctoral programs are offered in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Advanced Education in General Dentistry and General Practice Residency.

Applicants possessing foreign degrees must pass Parts I and II of the National Boards to be eligible to apply to the CAAPID and postdoctoral programs.

Can an interested candidate who has a non-science major apply to HUCD?

Candidates do not have to be a science major to apply to HUCD. However, you must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the US, Canada and some accredited Caribbean Universities and meet the admissions requirements to apply to HUCD.

Do you offer tours of the dental building? If so, what office must I contact regarding a tour?

Tours are scheduled on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon during the Fall and Spring Semesters. You may contact the Office of Admission, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST. at 202-806-0400.

Whom should I ask to give me a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation must come from an advisor, counselor or instructor who is familiar with your academic background. Exceptions may be made for applicants who have graduated and are now working. In this situation, we will accept a letter from the applicant’s employer(s).

If I submit credentials after the deadline, will you review my file?

We may not have an opportunity to review your file. Therefore, you are encouraged to apply early.

Is housing available for dental students?

Yes. Each case will be approved based on individual needs. Dental students may choose to live on or off campus in housing available in the city or the surrounding area. visit : www.howard.edu/residencelife

What is the tuition at HUCD?

Tuition and Fees vary from First Year: $39,657/Second Year: $34,983/Third Year:

$30,737/Fourth Year: $30,314 and is subject to change without notice.

What is the average first year dental class size?

The average class size is 80 students.

What is the total number of applications received for the incoming first year dental class?

The Office of Admission received approximately 2,600 applications in the 2009-2010 cycle.

STATISTICS ON FALL 2009 CLASS

• The average age is 24 years old.
• 36 females & 50 males
• 63% are underrepresented minorities
• Class size: 80
• Average GPA: 3.17
• Average DAT Total Science: 17
• National Board Results - Average passing score:
• Part I 90% and Part II 80%

Other Programs Offered in the College of Dentistry

Certificate of Dental Hygiene

Call the Dental Hygiene Division at (202) 806-0079 for information and requirements to matriculate in this program.

The Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Dental Surgery Combined Education Program (BS/DDS)

The B.S./D.D.S. Combined Education Program is a special curriculum at Howard University spanning the predental and dental curricula. The program allows students to complete the requirements for both B.S. and D.D.S. degrees in six years instead of the traditional eight years. Only students of Howard University are eligible to participate in this program.  A limited number of students who have completed specific requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University will be admitted to the College of Dentistry at the end of the Arts and Sciences sophomore or junior year only. The B.S. degree will be awarded after the successful completion of the first two years of the D.D.S. program, and the D.D.S. degree will be awarded after the D.D.S. curriculum has been successfully completed.

The final selection of students to be admitted to any given year will be mutually approved by the Preprofessional Advisory Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Committee on Admissions of the College of Dentistry at Howard University. For further information on the program, visit: www.founders.howard.edu/preprof

The DDS/MBA program

The College of Dentistry has entered into an agreement with the School of Business to award the MBA degree to students in the College of Dentistry. The DDS/MBA program takes effect at the beginning of the 2010 Academic year.

Admission and Prerequisite Requirements:

Dental students in the College of Dentistry who wish to enroll in the MBA program must meet the following requirements:

A minimum score of 480 on the GMAT, a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0, and successful completion of calculus or applied calculus.

For DDS/MBA students, the work experience requirement for admission to the MBA Program will be waived.

The prospective applicant must also be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 as a current DDS student.

To be considered for the DDS/MBA Program, a DDS student must submit his/her full application to the MBA Program by the end of the spring semester of the second year enrolled in the DDS Program. In addition to meeting the above-referenced requirements of the MBA Program, the applicant must be endorsed by Dean of the College of Dentistry (or his/her designee).

For further information on the program, visit: www.bschool.howard.edu

International Dentists Program

This program affords a dentist who received a dental degree from outside the United States to matriculate in the third year of the predoctoral dental program, after calibration and competency assessment. The candidate joins the third year dental students (D3) and completes a degree within two years at HUCD. To be considered for admission to HUCD the applicant must have successfully completed the National Dental Boards Exams Parts I and II. All applications and credentials will be evaluated by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID) and must be submitted by January 15 of the anticipated year of admission. ADEA CAAPID is a centralized application service devoted to supporting dental schools that offer advanced standing programs for applicants with dental degrees earned outside the US and Canada. The application will be operated similarly to the current AADSAS and PASS application.

Academic Reinforcement Program (ARP)

ARP is an integral part of the academic program and serves as a retention mechanism of the College of Dentistry. The ARP program is designed to assist in the successful training of disadvantaged but competent students. Selection for this program is dependent on the recommendation of the Admission Committee, after the candidate has gone through the interview process.

The program has two phases: the prematriculation phase (summer program) and the matriculation phase. The Academic Reinforcement Program is a six week program subsidized by the Federal Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) and is conducted at the Howard University College of Dentistry and the College of Medicine. The objectives of this program are to introduce the student to the basic sciences, to strengthen learning skills and provide a measure of the student’s ability to handle our dental curriculum.

Courses offered in ARP are Gross Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Learning Skills, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills. Time and Task Management Strategies and Test-Taking Skills will also be presented. Satisfactory completion of the Program will be determined on the basis of examinations and attendance. While it is anticipated that all students will be successful, admission to the first year dental class will not be granted to any student who fails to complete the program and to pass all courses 0ffered. Students should note that admission to this phase of the program does not guarantee admission to the College of Dentistry. Admission is based on the adequacy of performance during this phase.

The matriculation phase affords continuing assistance over and beyond the classroom in all courses, laboratory and clinic areas and counseling on a more individualized basis than in the regular classrooms.