Planning for an application to dental school is both essential and critical - it is a decision that will take years of preparation. Future applicants will need to take both academic and experiential timelines into consideration well in advance to properly prepare for an application cycle. Below, you will find resources specific to pre-dental timelines.

Suggested Academic Timelines:

First Year

Fall	Spring
Intro Chemistry I with Lab CHEM 101/111	Intro Chemistry II with Lab CHEM 102/112
Intro Biology I with Lab BIOL 101/111	Intro Biology II with lab BIOL 102/112

 

Second Year 

Fall	Spring
Organic Chemistry I with Lab CHEM 223/225	Organic Chemistry II with Lab CHEM 224/226
Cell Biology or Genetics BIOL 251/BIOL 282	Cell Biology or Genetics BIOL 251/BIOL 282

 

Third Year 

Fall	Spring
Biochemistry CHEM 361	Physics II with Lab* PHYS 112/112L
Physics I with Lab PHYS 111/111L	Science Electives**

 

Fourth Year

Fall	Spring
Physics II* PHYS 112/112L	Science Electives**
Science Electives**

*The DAT is different from the MCAT in that it does NOT cover biochemistry or physics. Applicants will be ready to take the DAT after the conclusion of their sophomore year in this plan, so they can choose to take their DAT any time after that. A spring DAT is the latest time to take the test and still plan to apply in the summer of the same cycle year.

**Most dental schools will require biochemistry, but not all. Most schools will recommend cell biology, genetics, anatomy/physiology, microbiology, or any combination of these courses. It is incredibly important to start your research on schools early so that you can determine how many and what kinds of courses to take prior to admission.