Texas A&M outlines the following attributes as being vital in applicants: a clear motivation to pursue a career in dentistry, involvement in community service, observation or involvement in a dental office or clinic, involvement in a dental preparatory program, communication ability, leadership, and evidence of diverse cultural experience.
Baylor Dental School Overview
Baylor College of Dentistry (BCD), located in east Dallas, Texas (USA), is the dental education unit of the Texas A&M University System, and a component of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Almost two-thirds of all the dentists in the Metroplex received their education at BCD, and more than one-third of all dentists in Texas are graduates of the college. It is the largest single provider of oral health care services in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.
Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas opened its doors with 45 students 100 years ago as the State Dental College. Today, with an enrollment of approximately 520 and more than 8,000 graduates, the college is internationally recognized for its oral health sciences education, research, specialized patient care, and community service programs. The school provides the Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Dental Hygiene degrees, and graduate training in dental specialties.
Baylor College of Dentistry was named one of the top four dental institutions nationwide for periodontology, endodontics, and geriatric dentistry by American Health Magazine. In 1997, through its Center for TeleHealth, BCD became the nation’s first dental school to successfully demonstrate the use of telecommunications technology for dental medicine through a long-distance patient consultation between dentists at the BCD campus and 175 dental professionals convened in Orlando, Florida.
Each year, the college completes more than 103,500 patient care visits, 45 percent of which benefit low-income individuals. Of the care it provides, the college donates $3.3 million in services to the community. The college produces the nation’s only syndicated, weekly dental health news program, Dental Health Check.
Texas A&M Dental School Admissions Statistics and Requirements
Texas A&M College of DentistryAdmissions Statistics and Requirements is one of the best dental schools inTexas. It’s highly competitive to get into the Doctor of Dental Surgery atTexas A&M College of Dentistry. And the recent acceptance rate of the Doctor of Dental Surgery atTexas A&M University College of Dentistry is a bit low.
DDS Acceptance rate and Admissions statistics
In-state Tuition; $37,754
Out-of-state Tuition; $48,554
Application Fee ; No
Avg Cumulative GPA; 3.69
Avg Science GPA; 3.62
Avg DAT Score; 22
Acceptance Rate; 7.2%
Letters of Rec.; 2-3
Dental shadowing; N/A
AADSAS Application Deadline: ; September 30
Letters of Evaluation: ; Required
Average Cumulative GPA: ; 3.69
Average Science GPA:; 3.62
Average DAT Score: 22
Male: 52
Female: 51
TMDSAS Application
To apply for the Doctor of Dental Surgery ProgramatTexas A&M College of Dentistry, there’re a few approaches to apply to the DDS program.
For Texas residents, applicants must apply through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
AADSAS Application (must also submit the College of Dentistry online application)
TMDSAS Application
College of Dentistry online application
The earliest date for filing an application is May 1. And the Application Deadline for applying for the DDS program is September 30 the year prior to the desired admission.
Texas A&M Dental School Acceptance Rate
According to the latest admission statistics of the Doctor of Dental Surgery Program at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, the Texas A&M Dental School acceptance rate of the DDS program is 7.2%. It’s a highly competitive dental school acceptance rate.
Thisdental school acceptance rate is higher than theacceptance rate of the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine.
Below are the recent few years’ acceptance rates of theDoctor of Dental Surgery Program at Texas A&M College of Dentistry.
| (Acceptance rate of DDS program) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total Applicants | 1426 | 1457 | 1605 |
| Entering Class | 103 | 103 | 105 |
| Acceptance rate | 7.2% | 7.1% | 6.5% |
Below are the recent few years’ acceptance rates of theDental Hygiene Program at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry.
| (Acceptance rate of Dental Hygiene program) | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total Applicants | 165 | 184 |
| Entering Class | 30 | 27 |
| Acceptance rate | 18.2% | 14.7% |
Texas A&M College of Dentistry DAT scores
Applying for theDoctor of Dental Surgery Program at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, applicants must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). It’s should be taken in the spring or summer prior to applying.
According to the admission statistics of the DDS Program at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, the recent average DAT score of the DDS students is 22.
Texas A&M College of Dentistry GPA
If you want to apply for the DDS Program atTexas A&M College of Dentistry, you should have good GPAs.
Learn from the recent admission statistics of the DDS program, the average Cumulative GPA is 3.69, and the average Science GPA is 3.62.
Below is the recent few years’ average GPA ofTexas A&M University College of Dentistry.
| Programs | Cumulative GPA 2020 | Science GPA 2020 | Science GPA 2019 | Science GPA 2019 |
| Doctor of Dental Surgery | 3.69 | 3.62 | 3.71 | 3.61 |
| Dental Hygiene | 3.52 | 3.43 | 3.58 | 3.48 |
Texas A&M Dental School Tuition
For the academic year of 2021-2022, the Texas A&M Dental School tuition and fees for in-state dental students are about $33,857 – $37,840 per year, and the tuition and fees for out-of-statedental students are about $44,656 – $48,640 per year.
Below is theacademic year of 2021-2022 estimated cost of attendance forin-state dental students.
| Resident | 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | 4th Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $37,754 | $37,840 | $36,842 | $33,857 |
| Loan Fees | $430 | $430 | $430 | $430 |
| Housing & Meals | $16,734 | $20,080 | $20,080 | $20,080 |
| Books & Supplies | $3,813 | $3,958 | $3,100 | $1,304 |
| Travel | $2,850 | $2,850 | $2,850 | $2,850 |
| Personal Expenses | $5,984 | $7,182 | $7,182 | $10,072 |
| Total | $67,565 | $72,340 | $70,484 | $68,593 |
Here is theacademic year of 2021-2022 estimated cost of attendance for out-of-state dental students.
| Resident | 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | 4th Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $48,554 | $48,640 | $47,642 | $44,656 |
| Loan Fees | $430 | $430 | $430 | $430 |
| Housing & Meals | $16,734 | $20,080 | $20,080 | $20,080 |
| Books & Supplies | $3,813 | $3,958 | $3,100 | $1,304 |
| Travel | $3,256 | $3,256 | $3,256 | $3,256 |
| Personal Expenses | $5,984 | $7,182 | $7,182 | $10,072 |
| Total | $78,771 | $83,546 | $81,690 | $79,798 |
Texas A&M College of Dentistry offers all kinds of financial aid and scholarships to help dental students to complete their studies. You can find the info aboutfinancial aid and scholarships on the website.
Texas A&M Dental School Requirements Checklist
To apply for the DDS Program atTexas A&M University College of Dentistry, applicants must meet the below admission requirements.
| Items | Requirements |
| TMDSAS Application, AADSAS Application, or onlineApplication | Required |
| Baccalaureate degree | Required |
| DAT scores | Required |
| GPA | Required |
| Letters of evaluation | Required |
| Dental Shadowing | See program website |
| Prerequisite Coursework | Required |
Prerequisite Coursework
Applying for the DDS Program atTexas A&M University College of Dentistry, applicants must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better.
| Courses | Semester Hours |
| Biology (minimum15 hours of lecture and 3 hours of formal laboratory) | 8 |
| Organic Chemistry | 8 |
| General Chemistry | 8 |
| Physics | 8 |
| Microbiology | 3 |
| Biochemistry | 3 |
| English | 6 |
| Statistics | 3 |
The Biology hours must include these courses for science majors:
Anatomy with Lab (4 semester hours)
Microbiology (3 semester hours)
Physiology (3 semester hours)
Programs and Degrees
Texas A&M University College of Dentistry offers the below programs and degrees.
Doctor of Dental Surgery Program
B.S. in Dental Hygiene
M.S. in Oral Biology
Ph.D. in Oral Biology
Graduate and Advanced Education Programs
Advanced Clinical Certificate Programs
Website: link
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University (TAMU), founded in 1876, is a world-renowned research university that is part of the world-renowned American Public University System.
What’s more, Texas A&M University is one of the few public universities in the United States to be endowed with land, sea, and space for academic research by the government. The University is located on 5,142 acres of land. With more than 6,000 acres of land for research, it is one of the largest campuses in the nation.
Texas A&M University is a traditionally strong engineering school, ranked in the top 10 nationally and globally in several graduate engineering disciplines
Who should you consult about a career in dentistry?
You should speak to the predental advisor on your university campus, Admission Offices of Dental Schools, the family dentist, other dentists in general practice and those involved in the various fields of dentistry such as public health, dental research, etc. Observation in the office of a general dentist is required. Information is also available from the American Dental Association, (ADA website www.ada.org), and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA website http://www.adea.org/).
Can high school students begin to prepare for a career in dentistry?
Yes. These students should take courses that will prepare them for admission to the predental college of their choice. In general, high school courses should include Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, English and courses that involve the development of hand skills.
Which college or university should a predental student attend?
We do not recommend specific colleges or universities. The college must be accredited and those having an active pre-health advisory committee and predental society are recommended.
The College of Dentistry provides complete information about admission requirements to predental advisors and to predental students. Counseling is available.
What specific college courses must an applicant take?
Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires a minimum of ninety semester hours; however, most students complete a degree before beginning the program. A grade of “C” or better is required for all required courses. An applicant must include the required hours:
- Six semester hours of English
- Three semester hours of Statistics (from Math or Statistics Department)
- Eight semester hours of General Chemistry
- Eight semester hours of Organic Chemistry
- Eight semester hours of Physics
- Three semester hours of Biochemistry
- Eighteen semester hours of Biology — (minimum) 15 hours of lecture and 3 hours of formal laboratory.
The Biology hours must include these courses for science majors (this refers to the course designation, not the applicant’s major):
| Anatomy with Lab* | 4 semester hours |
| Physiology * | 3 semester hours |
| Microbiology | 3 semester hours |
*Note: The Anatomy and Physiology requirements can be satisfied by either individual courses or the combined A&P 1 and A&P 2 (with both labs) for science majors. Predental students who take the individual courses of Anatomy and Physiology (3000 level or higher) will be better prepared and therefore more competitive as an applicant; however, the approved, combined Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2 courses will meet the requirement.
To help verify that you are taking approved science major’s courses, please refer to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) website. They have a Prescribed Course Listing by University of approved courses.
No course should be planned for Summer Session 2 of year of entry as it conflicts with our start date.
What additional courses are recommended?
Histology, Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Immunology and Biochemistry II are suggested to strengthen the student’s science background.
What major fields of study are preferred?
Although we do not require a specific major, the majority of successful applicants have majored in the Biological or Biomedical Sciences. Taking more than the minimum number of biology courses and performing well in them will make the applicant better prepared and therefore, more successful in gaining admission.
When should the Dental Admission Test be taken?
The applicant should take the DAT in the spring or summer prior to applying. The DAT is offered at Prometric Testing Centers with locations throughout the country. An applicant with below average scores on the test may wish to retake the test in order to become more competitive. A 90-day waiting period is required before re-testing.
- Dental Admissions Testing Program – www.ada.org/dat.aspx
Application Procedures
The College participates in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). This central processing service allows the applicant to apply to any or all of the dental schools in the State of Texas. Texas Residents MUST apply through the TMDSAS.
Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires the submission of a secondary application in addition to the primary application. This application can be accessed from links on the TMDSAS Web site or at the our application site TAMHSC APP.
THE APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL THE SECONDARY APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED.
The College participates in the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) for out-of-state students only. Out-of-state applicants have three application options. They may apply through the TMDSAS, through AADSAS or with the College of Dentistry’s online application. Please note: Out-of-state applicants who apply through AADSAS must also apply with the Texas A&M College of Dentistry application. The College of Dentistry application is available online at the application site TAMHSC APP.
To apply to the program leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree the applicant should:
Access full information and the on-line application at the website for
Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service
www.tmdsas.com
Timetable for filing application:
Earliest date: May 1, year prior to desired admission
Latest date: Application Deadline is September 30 in year prior to desired admission
It is to the applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible.
Application Fees:
The TMDSAS has a flat fee; we recommend applying to all of the Texas dental colleges. Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires a secondary application but charges no additional processing fee.
Is an interview required?
Yes, an interview is required. The applicant may be invited for an interview with the Admissions Committee. Interviews are scheduled by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. Although an official interview is not granted to all applicants, the College of Dentistry gladly provides complete information and counseling for all prospective students. Visits to the campus are offered during the spring semester.
On what basis are students accepted?
The quality of academic achievement is the first point of consideration. The grade point average (GPA) and the Dental Admission Test (DAT) are the primary factors used in this evaluation. The interview with the Admissions Committee gives the opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors. Preference is given to residents of Texas and the surrounding states which do not have a college of dentistry. Consideration of any factors that may have impacted academic or personal history is important in interview selection and final acceptance decisions. Additionally applicants seeking to enter the dental school must be able to perform the essential functions required to complete the curriculum successfully.
What can one do to improve chances for admission?
The application for admission to Texas A&M College of Dentistry may be strengthened by the following:
- keep the GPA as high as possible
- make above average scores in all areas of the DAT
- Upper-division biological science courses similar to those taken by the first-year dental students.
- give careful attention to details in filing the application – apply early
- assure your personal statement explains your motivation for pursuing dentistry, including personal and academic achievements, hardships overcome and other factors that affected personal or academic progress
- observation in a general practice dental office is required.
- participate in activities to improve manual dexterity
- take advantage of opportunities for community service
- evaluate and be able to articulate your skills, abilities, attitudes, etc. to determine if you are motivated to make the commitment required for a career in dentistry.
What does the Admissions Committee look for when they do a ‘whole-file review’ of an application?
A comprehensive (whole-file review) of the application is performed to reveal characteristics critical to the practice of dentistry, factors that indicate success in the dental curriculum that are not evident from academic history or standardized test performance, and potential for future contributions to the dental profession. They include:
- Motivation to pursue a career in dentistry.
- Involvement in community service.
- Observation or involvement in a dental office or clinic.
- Involvement in a summer pre-dental preparatory program.
- Letters of evaluation.
- Communication capabilities including writing (as evidenced in personal statement) and conversational English proficiency.
- The applicant’s ability to contribute to the diversity of the class (broadly defined) including their race or ethnicity, socioeconomic background, talents, life skills and experiences and special attributes.
- Region in Texas, in which applicant resides. Ideally, all regions are represented by the student body.
- Residence in a Texas county designated as underserved by dental health professionals.
- Employment while attending college.
- Preparation to attend and succeed in post-secondary education.
- Applicant is first college attendee in his/her immediate family.
- History of extreme hardship.
- Leadership positions held in societies or organizations.
- Evidence of diverse cultural experience.
- Multilingual capabilities.
How can a re-applicant become more competitive?
- All re-applicants must be enrolled in coursework to be considered as a well-prepared candidate. We recommend taking post bac coursework in the biological sciences or a one-year master’s degree in biomedical sciences to further prepare for the dental school curriculum, keep current with study skills and prove to the Admissions Committee the applicant’s motivation and preparedness. (for example: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry II, microbiology, histology, neuroscience, cell & molecular biology, immunology)
- Re-applicants need to critically review their applications for areas that may need further work: biological science coursework, DAT scores, GPA, community service and volunteer work, general dental office shadowing experience.
- Re-applicants should continue to participate in shadowing and on-going volunteer activities during the application cycle.
- Re-applicants who follow this advice to improve their academic background and general application will be more successful than those with little change from year to year.
- Working in a dental office alone will not improve the applicant’s preparedness.
What type of academic calendar is followed?
The College of Dentistry operates on a semester system with new classes beginning only once a year in August. A current calendar is available upon request.
What is the cost to attend Texas A&M College of Dentistry?
The tuition and fees for the student in the College of Dentistry are recommended by the administration and are approved by the Board of Regents and may be adjusted as economic conditions warrant.
Estimated Education Expenses:
(Estimates for 2019-2020)
Tuition & Fee, Books & Supplies, Loan Fees (does not include living & other personal expenses)
DDS TEXAS RESIDENT
| CLASS | Estimated Education Expenses |
| 1st Year | $31,456 |
| 2nd Year | $32,159 |
| 3rd Year | $31,395 |
| 4th Year | $29,388 |
DDS OUT OF STATE
| CLASS | Estimated Education Expenses |
| 1st Year | $42,256 |
| 2nd Year | $42,959 |
| 3rd Year | $42,195 |
| 4th Year | $40,188 |
Tuition refund guideline
(Tuition refund guideline is available on request and is published in our catalog.)
For a complete listing of tuition and fees, see the Health Science Center Catalog available on TAMU the web site.
To view the Cost of Attendance (COA) estimate provided by the Financial Aid Office please visit the website https://financialaid.tamu.edu/Professional/Cost-of-Attendance#0-DentalStudents and select College of Dentistry.
Students are discouraged from holding any outside employment which may be detrimental to the pursuit of their education. In no case may a student accept a position which conflicts with regularly scheduled school hours. When scholastic progress is questionable, students may be asked to discontinue outside work.
Are loan funds available?
Yes, the College of Dentistry participates in several types of loan and scholarship programs. Students are classified as independent for consideration in professional school so aid is available based upon your documented need. Students complete FAFSA and submit requests for aid to the Office of Student Aid.
What is the attrition rate?
Because of the intense efforts in selecting only highly qualified students, few students fail to complete our programs.
Are there summer predental programs available?
A Summer Predental Enrichment Program exists to strengthen academic background, introduce the profession of dentistry, improve study skills and increase preparedness for admission to Dental School. For information, contact the Office of Student Development. Web address – https://dentistry.tamu.edu/student-development.
What opportunities exist beyond general practice?
Most D.D.S. graduates are in the private practice of dentistry. There is also a need for dentists who are interested in scientific research and teaching. Specialty areas in dentistry include Dental Public Health, Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics. Competition for admission to these graduate programs is high. Dentists also serve in public health agencies, educational institutions, the military and dental industry.
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