1. Dentistry …
a rewarding &
fulfilling career choice!
Barbara Miller, D.D.S., M.S.
Executive Director of Recruitment & Admissions
Texas A&M University
Baylor College of Dentistry

2. What does DENTISTRY
offer as a profession?
 Job security – great demand for
dentists
 Impact – opportunity to help
 Prestige –respect from the
community
 Compensation – financial rewards
 Creativity – art & science

3. Specialties of Dentistry
 General Practice (all aspects of dentistry)
 Pediatric (children)
 Oral Surgeon (removing teeth & other surgery)
 Periodontist (gums and supporting tissue)
 Orthodontist (braces)
 Endodontist (root canals)
 Prosthodontist (restorative; esthetic)
 Oral Pathologist (diseases)
 Oral Radiologist (radiographs [x-rays])
 Public Health Dentist (community)
 Research & Academics

4. And more!!!!!!!
 Allows for a balance between
personal and professional life

6. Texas A&M
University
Health Science
Center
Baylor College of Dentistry
Dallas
College of Medicine – College Station/Temple/Roundrock
Institute of Biosciences and Technology - Houston
School of Rural Public Health – College Station
College of Pharmacy -Kingsville
Coastal Bend Health Education Center –Corpus Christi
South Texas Center - McAllen

9. State Dental College– Founded in 1905

10. Baylor College of Dentistry in 2005

11. What can you do to prepare?....
 Good grades A/B (esp. science courses)
 Talk to college pre-health advisors
 Shadow a dentist
 Community service
 Get involved - school
- community
- church/mosque/synagogue/temple
 Develop leadership skills
 Apply early !!!!

12. DDS Entering Classes
2012 2011 2010 2009
Total Applicants: 1640 1569 1491 1328
TX 961 813 741 694
Non-TX Residents 679 756 750 634
New DDS Students:
Total 104 104 102 102
TX 98 96 95 92
Non-TX Residents 6 8 7 10
Total App/Enrollee 16/1 15/1 15/1 13/1
TX Res App/Enrollee 10/1 8/1 8/1 8/1

13. DDS Entering Classes
GPA 2012 2011 2010 2009
Cumulative 3.52 3.51 3.56 3.50
Science 3.47 3.46 3.48 3.43
DAT
Academic Ave 20 19.5 19.2 18.8
Perceptual 20 19.4 18.9 17.7

14. DDS Entering Classes
Degrees 2012 2011 2010 2009
Bachelors 102 100 98 96
Masters 2 4 4 6
PhD/MD/DDS 0 0 0 0
Four Years 0 0 0 0

15. DDS Entering Classes
Majors: 2012 2011 2010 2009
Biological Science 83 69 75 74
Predentistry/Health-
Related 5 8 8 3
Business 5 6 3 3
Chemistry/Physical Sci 4 7 8 14
Education 0 0 0 0
Engineering 1 2 2 0
Lang/Hum/Arch 2 4 1 2
Math/Comp Science 0 1 0 0
Social Science 1 2 1 1
Other Major 3 5 4 5

16. DDS Entering Classes
2012 2011 2010 2009
Gender:
Males 54 49 53 45
Females 50 55 49 57
Age:
Average 23.6 24.2 23.4 24
Range 21-34 21-39 20-34 20-40
Distribution:
<30 yrs 101 93 99 95
>30 yrs 3 11 3 7

17. D1 Fall

18. D1 Fall Semester
 Gross Anatomy w/ lab
 Biochemistry/Cell and Molecular Biology
 General Histology w/ lab
 Immunology
 Growth & Development
 Cariology & Prevention
 Dental Anatomy w/ lab
 Introduction to Clinical Practice
 Introductory Ethics & Academic Integrity
 Cultural Competence in Dental Health Care
 Introduction to Evidence-based Dentistry
& Clinical Research

19. D1 Spring Semester
 Physiology
 Neuroscience
 Microbiology
 Oral Histology w/ lab
 Occlusion w/ lab
 Introduction to Clinical Practice
 Cariology & Prevention
 Operative Dentistry w/ lab
 Dental Materials w/ lab
 Human Behavior in Dentistry
 Introduction to Evidence-based Dentistry
& Clinical Research

21. D1 Dental Materials Lab

23. • Seeking innovations in science, education
and health care delivery
Student Research Program
Enriches the educational
experience
Helps in admittance to
specialty programs
Adds knowledge to the
dental & scientific
community
Many opportunities
are available

24. • Seeking innovations in science, education
and health care delivery
Simulation Lab

25. Simulated clinical
experiences help
the students to
feel confident
about their clinical
skills before
treating patients.

26. White Coat Ceremony

29. Over 100,000 patient visits
annually to the BCD clinics

30. Over 14,000 patients
treated yearly at
external locations
• Texas Scottish Rite
Hospital
• Children’s Medical Center
• Baylor Hospital Emergency
Room
• Juvenile Detention Center
• DeHaro-Saldivar Clinic
• Community Dental Clinics
• Dallas Public Schools
• Children’s Oral Health
Center

32. Holiday Gala
Dinner & Dance

34. Average debt: $130,000
 Financial Aid
 Scholarships
Note: Baylor College of Dentistry
graduates pay off their student loans
in an average of 5 years
*Excellent return on educational investment*

35. Application Procedure
 Texas Medical & Dental
Schools Application Service
(TMDSAS)
 Complete your file early
 Timing (Sept 30 deadline)

36. What do we evaluate?
Cognitive Factors :
Academic History (GPA & Coursework)
Standardized Test Scores (Dental Admissions Test)
Non-Cognitive Factors : knowledge of the
profession, community service, communication
skills, leadership, extracurricular activities,
awards and honors, employment history,
experiences in overcoming adversity, etc.
Whole File Review

37. Requirements*
 90 semester hours minimum *
 6 semester hours of English
 8 semester hours of General Chemistry
 8 semester hours of Organic Chemistry
 8 semester hours of Physics
 3 semester hours of Biochemistry *
 14 semester hours of Biology * (12 hrs lecture;
2 hrs formal lab)
 3 semester hours of Statistics
 Grade of “C” or better in all required courses *
*NOTE: When the applicant pool is highly competitive,
candidates who receive offers have much more than the
minimum requirements.

38. To be more competitive:
 Select courses that will help prepare
you for dental school
 Take full course loads
 Shadow a general dentist & specialists
 Participate in on-going community
service activities; interacting w/people
 Prepare for DAT
 Participate in extracurricular activities