Pre-Dentistry

Western does not offer a “Pre-Dental” major, and there is no formula for getting into dental school. Selection committees evaluate applicants across multiple areas through a holistic review process. Important components include DAT scores, GPA (both cumulative and science), letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, community service, cultural competency, manual dexterity, and an interview, as well as background checks (including legal, conduct, and social media records).

Dental schools emphasize the importance of a liberal arts education and do not recruit students from one specific major or discipline. This gives you flexibility in planning your educational program. Use your undergraduate years to explore many academic fields, to develop basic skills and knowledge, to demonstrate expertise and to experience a field of study (major) of your choice. Dental school admission is competitive, so make every effort to maintain a strong GPA. Align with a major in which you both excel and enjoy. While Biology and Chemistry are popular choices, Pre-Dental students have majored in a diverse range of disciplines including Anthropology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Business, Kinesiology, Languages (i.e. Spanish), and Sociology. Some pursue combined majors such as Anthropology/Biology, Biochemistry, and Cellular & Molecular Biology.