Pre-Dentistry

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.
 

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.
 

Specific admission requirements vary per dental program. You should consult with schools of interest to determine their specific admission requirements. However, most dental schools require the following coursework for admission:
 

• Dental Admission Test: Students are advised to complete coursework in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physiology before taking the exam, ideally 13–15 months prior to enrollment. The computer-based test is administered by the Dental Admission Testing Program at Prometric Test Centers.
• AADSAS (Centralized Application Service)
  • American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)
  • Texas Dental School Application Service (TMDSAS) (For Dental Schools in Texas Only)
     

Many programs require a secondary application, often with additional essays and recommendations, after submitting through AADSAS or TMDSAS. For schools not using a centralized service, contact them directly for application materials.

Resources

• American Dental Association
• American Dental Education Association
• American Student Dental Association
  
   

Pennsylvania Professional Schools

• University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
• The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University
• University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine

Most dental schools require the following coursework for admission to a graduate program:

Chemistry: 2 Semesters

• General Chemistry I
• General Chemistry II

Organic Chemistry: 2 Semesters

• Organic Chemistry I
• Organic Chemistry II

Biology: 2 Semesters

• Principles of Biology I
• Principles of Biology II

Physics: 2 Semesters

• Physics I
• Physics II

Some dental schools require the following coursework for admission to a graduate program:

Math: 2 Semesters

• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Statistics

English: 2 Semesters

Anatomy and Physiology: 2 Semesters

• A & P I
• A & P II

Upper-Level Sciences

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Cell Biology
• Microbiology

Students entering the program with 70+ transferable credits or an associate degree must complete 30/31 Liberal Arts Core credits.

A total of 123 credits with 3 credits in a human diversity course are required to complete a Bachelor’s degree. To adhere to Franciscan values, community service hours are also required. In addition, at least 30 credits at the 300/400 level must be taken at Alvernia University.

Program requirements are subject to change. Contact your admissions counselor for the most up-to-date information.
 

Dental professionals enjoy an independent career lifestyle and have skills they can use anywhere in the world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dentists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, about the average for all occupations. The median annual wage in 2024 was $179,210.
 

• Internships: students have completed internships at a variety of sites, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, and healthcare clinics. One specific example includes the Trauma Surgery Internship that the Science Department offers in collaboration with Reading Hospital, providing firsthand experience for one student per semester.
• Research: students participate with Science Department faculty to complete research projects that make them more competitive in their applications to professional schools.
• Student Organization: the Pre-Health Professions Club provides an opportunity for students who are interested in the healthcare field to come together to support one another and collaborate on a variety of experiential learning events and service projects.

Note: The observational hours/shadowing requirement varies from school to school. Refer to individual program admission requirements for details.
 

With a growing demand of healthcare professionals, Alvernia and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) partnered to help prepare new doctors, dentists and pharmacists. This special Early Acceptance Program (EAP) with LECOM allows students to apply to LECOM medical, dental, or pharmacy school as early as their senior year of high school. Students who meet the requirements in high school are conditionally accepted into both Alvernia and LECOM’s program simultaneously.

Lake Erie College of Medicine (LECOM) is a private college with locations in Pennsylvania and Florida. Its main campus is located in Erie, PA, with additional locations at LECOM at Seton Hill, in Greensburg, PA and LECOM Bradenton, a branch campus in Florida.

LECOM Early Acceptance Admission Requirements

• SAT score greater than or equal to 1240 (Math and Critical Reading) or ACT score greater than or equal to 26
• High school GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Maintain a cumulative GPA at Alvernia of 3.4 or higher and a science GPA of 3.2 or higher

Students already attending Alvernia must meet these criteria to enroll into the Early Acceptance Program.
 

4 + 4 Track: Students must enroll in the EAP by February 1 of their second year at Alvernia University. After completing four years at Alvernia and meeting GPA and other requirements, students enter LECOM the following July. LECOM graduates will receive a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree and Alvernia will award the graduate with an appropriate bachelor degree.