Best Colleges for Pre-Dental Students: What to Look For
When you are choosing a college with dentistry in mind, it is natural to search for a ranked list. Lists can help you start, but they rarely answer the question that matters most: will this college help you prepare well for dental school?
The best colleges for pre-dental students share a few practical features. In this guide, you will learn what to compare when you visit or research a college, from pre-health advising to science courses and opportunities to gain experience. You will also find questions to ask admissions offices and current students. There is no single best college for everyone. The right choice depends on your goals, budget and the kind of support you need to do your best work.
Why there is no single best college for pre-dental students
Dental schools accept students from any major and from many kinds of colleges. ADEA's guide on where to apply encourages applicants to choose dental schools based on their personal goals. The same idea works when you choose a college. A famous name or a high ranking tells you little about the daily support you will get as a pre-dental student.
What schools do require is a set of prerequisite courses. ADEA's prerequisite overview describes a common foundation of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, each with labs. A good college for you is one where you can take these courses, learn them well and still have time for experience and rest.
What the best colleges for pre-dental students offer
Strong pre-health advising
A pre-health advisor helps you plan courses, prepare your application and understand deadlines. Ask how many students each advisor supports and how often students meet with them. Ask whether the college offers a committee letter. ADEA explains that AADSAS accepts either individual letters or one committee letter plus up to three individual letters.
Access to prerequisite courses and labs
Find out how often key science courses are offered and how large the classes are. Ask whether labs fill up quickly. A course that is hard to get into can delay your timeline. Also ask whether upper-level science courses, such as biochemistry or physiology, are open to non-majors.
Academic support
Tutoring, study groups and a learning center can make a real difference in demanding science courses. Ask how students get help when a class gets hard. Find out whether tutoring is free and whether peer mentors are available for chemistry and biology.
Ways to gain experience
Look for pre-dental clubs, research opportunities and nearby dental offices or community clinics. Ask how students usually find shadowing. Our guide to the best extracurriculars for dental school explains how to choose activities that reflect your interests.
Cost and fit
A college you can afford leaves more room in your budget for dental school later. Compare total cost, financial aid and how comfortable you feel on campus. You will do your best work in a place where you can thrive.
Questions to ask before you choose
Use these questions during visits or virtual tours:
- How does pre-health advising work, and when do students first meet an advisor?
- Does the college offer a committee letter?
- How often are biology, chemistry and physics courses offered?
- What tutoring and academic support exist for science courses?
- How do students find shadowing, research and volunteer opportunities?
- Can I talk with a current pre-dental student?
If you are still deciding on a major, our guide to the best pre-dental majors explains how to plan prerequisites in any field. For a year-by-year view of what comes next, read our pre-dental timeline.
Look beyond campus too
Some of your most useful experiences may happen off campus. Summer and winter breaks are good times to explore dentistry in new settings. A dental service learning trip is one option. On Smiles Movement trips, students shadow local dental professionals at mobile clinics and help with oral health education for children in partner communities.
Choose a college that supports your goals
The best college for you is one that helps you learn, grow and explore dentistry with steady support. If you want to add meaningful experience during your college breaks, Smiles Movement can help. Fill out the form or download our brochure to get more information about upcoming programs and trip dates.
Frequently asked questions about colleges for pre-dental students
Do dental schools prefer certain colleges?
Dental schools accept students from many kinds of colleges. They focus on your coursework, grades, DAT scores, experiences and letters.
Should I choose a college with a pre-dental major?
Not necessarily. Many colleges offer pre-dental advising that works with any major. What matters is completing the prerequisites and preparing well.
What is a committee letter?
A committee letter is a summary letter from a college's pre-health committee. AADSAS accepts one committee letter plus up to three individual letters.