Special Program in Dental Medicine

UConn's Special Program in Dental Medicine links undergraduate preparation with four years of dental education, resulting in dual degrees from UConn: a BA/BS and a DMD. Students focused on a career in dental medicine have the opportunity to combine an undergraduate program in one of more than 115 majors with dental education. The program, designed as an eight-year curriculum, provides flexibility to accommodate individual choices should a student decide to accelerate undergraduate efforts, or take an extra year to graduate.

Students will be connected with the School of Dental Medicine during their undergraduate careers through special seminars, health-profession events, and mentoring opportunities to further enrich the undergraduate experience and strengthen preparation for the School of Dental Medicine.

All students accepted to the Special Program in Dental Medicine will be enrolled UConn's Honors Program. Special Program students are required to be enrolled in the Honors Program as they enter UConn.

Admissions Requirements and Deadlines

Applicants must be entering as a first-year student and demonstrate exceptional performance in academics, including advanced preparation in mathematics and laboratory sciences, and a strong commitment to the dental profession. There are no state residency requirements, although Connecticut residents will receive special consideration. UConn is committed to attracting members of underrepresented populations for its programs.

To be considered, an applicant should have:

An overall secondary school grade point average of 3.5 (4.0 scale)
A completed application to the University, which includes all supporting documents, the responses to the program-specific essay questions, and an optional resume. All documents must be received by November 15. A secondary school profile should also be submitted along with the secondary school transcript
Two letters of recommendation that address the applicant’s interest in the field of medicine, received by November 15

The application process for the Special Program in Dental Medicine follows our test-optional policy. No admission decision shall be impacted, and no student disadvantaged, if a standardized test score is not provided. Should you feel your standardized test score is an accurate reflection of your academic ability, and would like to have it considered as part of the application review, UConn requires official SAT or ACT scores to be sent directly from the appropriate test provider. SAT II subject tests are not considered in the application review.

In order to matriculate into the School of Dental Medicine, students must meet the following criteria during their undergraduate career:

Maintain a college 3.5 cumulative science grade point average (4.0 scale);
Receive a minimum score of 20 on the Academic Average and Total Science sections of the DAT;
Complete course work in general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry;
Participate in clinical, research, and community service activities;
Obtain a favorable interview result with the Dental School Admissions Committee at the beginning of the junior undergraduate year.

How to Apply

Students can apply to the Special Program in Dental Medicine directly through the Common Application. The Supplemental Application is also available for students who will not be using the Common Application to apply to the University as well as for those who have already submitted the Common Application. The University does not have a preference to which application is used.

Applying with the Common Application

Applicants must:

Indicate their interest in the program under the “Academics” tab in the University of Connecticut questions section.
Answer the program-specific questions and name their recommenders under the “Member Questions” tab in the “Writing Requirements” section.
Refer to the statement on recommendation letters below for additional information.

The optional resume can be uploaded as an attachment within the Common Application.

Applying with the Supplemental Application

Applicants must:

Have submitted an application for admission to the University and activated your University issued NetID in order to access the supplemental application.
Answer the program-specific questions and name their recommenders on the supplemental application. Essays questions must be saved in a single Word or PDF document and uploaded to the supplemental application. Remember to include your name and date of birth in the document’s header. Please do not use your Social Security Number.
Refer to the statement on recommendation letters below for additional information.

The optional resume can be uploaded through the supplemental application.

Supplemental Application

Supplemental Application Questions

Recommendation letters should address your current academic status, extracurricular achievements, personal qualities, and potential for future success in/contributions to the dental field and the community. Applicants will be asked to name their recommenders as a part of the application. Recommendation letters may be sent via:

Fax to (860) 486-1476. The fax coversheet should be sent attention to "Special Program in Dental Medicine."
Email to onestop@uconn.edu. The subject line should read "Special Program in Dental Medicine Recommendation."
Naviance, Common Application, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or other electronic platforms.

Undergraduate Admissions

Special Program in Dental Medicine

Admissions Requirements and Deadlines

How to Apply