Dentistry, DDS

Method of Application

The LSUHSC School Dentistry participates in the ADEA administered Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). All applications for admission to the first year class for LSUHSC School of Dentistry must be submitted through this service. The application is in two parts. Part I is the AADSAS application process. Part II is for applicants who have completed Part I and qualify to receive the supplemental application directly from the LSUHSC School of Dentistry.

Part I

1. AADSAS https://portal.aadsasweb.org/
2. DAT scores released to LSUHSC School Dentistry
3. $175.00 nonrefundable application fee mailed directly to LSUHSC School of Dentistry (check only-payable to LSUHSC)
4. Send letters of evaluation directly to AADSAS: two (2) basic science professors or one (1) pre- professional school committee

Part II

To be completed only when contacted by the LSUHSC School of Dentistry Admissions Office.

The following information must be sent directly to the Admission’s Office:

• Supplemental Application
• A recent passport size photo (2 ½ x 2 ½) attached to the application
• Proof of residency
• A copy of you current Draft Card status (males only). Printed copies can be found at www.sss.gov
• A copy of the applicant’ drivers license

Dates for Filing

Deadline for filing with AADSAS is October 1.

Personal Interview

Following review of all application materials, competitive applicants will be invited for an interview. The interview is important to both the applicant and the Admissions Committee. It allows the applicant to see the school and talk with both students and faculty. It allows the committee to evaluate the applicant on interest, enthusiasm, and social awareness—qualities that are important for a dentist but that cannot be measured by standardized tests. Also, on the day of the interview, each applicant takes a chalk carving test as a second measure of manual dexterity.

Dental Admission Test

All applicants are required to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), sponsored by the American Dental Association (www.ada.org) It is strongly suggested that applicants complete this test prior to the year they wish to enter school. The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

Minimum Requirements

Admission to the LSUHSC School of Dentistry is on a competitive basis. The following preparation and achievement are required for consideration for admission.

1. Attendance for at least three full academic years at a college of arts and sciences accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and completion of not less than 90 semester hours of credit prior to the date of school of dentistry registration, subject to the limitations given in the section on evaluation of college records. The above minimum *requirements may not necessarily be completed prior to application for admission. Approval of admission is tentative, pending satisfactory completion of minimum requirements and maintenance of a satisfactory academic record before the date of registration.

Satisfactory completion of the following college courses

• Biology / Zoology with Laboratory [12 Hours]
• Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory [8 Hours]
• Organic Chemistry with Laboratory [8 Hours]
• General Physics with Laboratory [8 Hours]
• English [9 Hours]
• Biochemistry [3 Hours]
• Microbiology [3 Hours]

2. Attainment of an acceptable quality point average
3. Submission of acceptable scores on the Dental Admission Test
4. Possession of all the TECHNICAL STANDARDS set forth under ACADEMIC STANDARDS
5. Personal interview

Other Admission Information

Evaluation of College Records-Grade point averages are calculated from all college hours attempted. In calculating the quality point average, grades recorded in institutions at which D is the lowest passing grade are interpreted as follows: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, and F = 0. Correspondence courses and courses in military science, physical education, and other such subjects are not considered in determining the quality point average or the total number of semester hours required for admission. Other courses for which admission credit is not given are those that relate specifically to a professional curriculum such as law, medicine, dental hygiene, dental laboratory technology, education, pharmacy, agriculture, etc.

Other Recommended Courses - Courses that will assist in the development of manual skills, such as drawing, ceramics and sculpture are strongly recommended.

Advanced courses in biological sciences, such as cell and molecular biology, genetics, comparative anatomy, physiology and histology are strongly recommended.

Courses in advanced mathematics, psychology, social studies, economics, speech, and philosophy (logic) are also desirable. Selection of Courses - It is strongly recommended that those who wish to prepare themselves for the study of dentistry should enroll in a degree curriculum in college. While most applicants follow a program in biology or chemistry, it is quite possible for those from other major disciplines to receive favorable consideration for admission to dental school. Care should be exercised in planning the course of study to be certain that the required subjects in chemistry, biology, physics, and English can be completed satisfactorily before the date for registration.

If the student does not enroll in a degree curriculum, it is considered important to follow a program that will allow time to take several of the strongly recommended subjects and to complete more than the specified minimal number of required courses and credit hours. Elective courses should be chosen in relation to the student’s special interests and aptitude. An understanding of social and community problems will be very helpful in meeting the responsibilities of the profession of dentistry. In addition to a good technical education, it is desirable for the student to have a broad cultural background.

Residency Requirements

Admission is restricted to legal residents of the United States. Admissions preference is given to residents of Louisiana. Residents of Arkansas will be considered under the guidelines of the Arkansas Health Education Loan Program. Up to five students may be accepted from states other than Louisiana and Arkansas. Residents of other countries will not be considered for admission.

Committee on Admissions

Responsibility for selection of entering students has been delegated to the Committee on Admissions by the faculty. When all necessary data, credits, and other required information for each application have been received and evaluated, the applicant is considered by the Committee.

Provisions Governing Acceptance of Applicant

1. All offers to accept an applicant for admission to the School of Dentistry are regarded as provisional acceptances. These are based on evidence submitted at the appropriate time that all required course work has been completed prior to the time for registration. The applicant must also demonstrate a continuation of a satisfactory personal performance and a level of academic achievement that is compatible with ability previously demonstrated.
2. Applicants must notify the Office of Admissions of their desire to accept a place in the class within the time specified in the acceptance letter. Failure to notify the office promptly will be considered as sufficient reason to withdraw the offer. Acceptance of the offer for admission should be accomplished in the manner specified in the acceptance notice.
3. It is improper for an applicant to hold more than one place of acceptance at any one time. An applicant who accepts a place in the class is under obligation to cancel the acceptance of places that may have been established previously with other schools. It is also understood that if an applicant who has accepted a place with the school of dentistry subsequently decides to attend another school, the applicant will provide prompt notification of the change in the acceptance status.

Combined DDS/PhD

Students also have the option to enter into a DDS/Ph.D. program conferred by the School of Dentistry and the School of Graduate Studies. The DDS/Ph.D. program is particularly for students who plan to remain in academia as a career choice. The 7-8 year program consists of the first year of dental school followed by 3-4 years of Ph.D. research/graduate courses. Following the successful defense of the Ph.D. dissertation the student completes the final 3 years of dental school. The Ph.D. portion of the program can be in several disciplines, including Microbiology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Anatomy/Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or Genetics. Interested students should contact the Office of Admissions, ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu for more information.

General

The curriculum in dentistry represents a blend of basic, clinical and social sciences covering all four academic years. It is formally structured to present the basic principles, concepts, and philosophies of dentistry, yet flexible to allow for individual student capabilities and interests. Its goal is to inspire the student to academic greatness by enhancing and facilitating the correlation of learning experiences. The diagonal format that extends clinical and basic sciences over the entire four years was used in planning the curriculum. As the emphasis on basic and pre-clinical sciences decreases from year one to year four, the student’s exposure to the clinical sciences increases. The objectives of this approach are to help the student interrelate the basic and clinical sciences and to comprehend fully patient care and its rationale.

• Dentistry Curriculum