Doctor of Dental Surgery
General Information

Thinking about a career in dentistry?

• Are you the independent, entrepreneurial type?
• Do you like working with your hands?
• Are you interested in a career that has a high income potential?
• Would you like flexible work hours?
• Are you interested in improving the health of others?
• Do you like variety in your workload?
• Are you interested in an academic career in the health sciences?
• Are you interested in public health?

If you answered yes to some of the questions above, you may be well suited for a dental career.

How does one become eligible for admission into dental school?

College requirements
You must complete a minimum of 90 hours of college work to be considered for admission; however a four-year degree is preferred. You must have successfully completed:

Additional highly recommended courses are: Comparative Anatomy, Cell and Molecular Biology, Embryology, Histology, Microanatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology and Genetics. The mean Grade Point Average for entering freshmen is currently 3.6.

Dental Admission Test
A competitive score on the DAT is considered to be an academic average of 19 with no score lower than 17. The mean academic average for entering freshmen is 20.

Application to the School of Dentistry
The LSUHSC School of Dentistry participates in the ADEA administered Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). All applications for admission to the first year class for LSUHSC School of Dentistry must be submitted through this service.  The application is in two parts. Part I is the AADSAS application process. Part II is for applicants who have completed Part I and qualify to receive the supplemental application directly from the LSUHSC School of Dentistry Admissions Office.

You may submit your application to ADEA beginning June 1 of the year preceding the year for which you are seeking admission

Residency
Admission is restricted to legal residents of the United States.  Admission preference will be given to residents of Louisiana. Residents of Arkansas will be considered under the guidelines of the Arkansas Health Education Loan program. Up to five students may be accepted from states other than Louisiana and Arkansas.  Residents of other countries will not be considered for admission.

Part I

1. AADSAS (www.adea.org)
2. DAT scores released to LSUHSC School of Dentistry through AADSAS
3. $50.00 nonrefundable application fee mailed directly to LSUHSC School of Dentistry (Check only-payable to LSUHSC)
4. Send letters of evaluation directly to AADSAS: 2 basic science professors or 1 pre-professional school committee evaluation.

Only qualified applicants, as determined by the Admissions Committee, will receive these materials directly from the LSUHSC School of Dentistry Admissions Office.

Deadlines:
Deadline for filing AADSAS is November 1.
*Early application is highly recommended. Interviews begin October 1.*

For more Information?

Office of Admissions
Dr. John Ritchie, Director of Admissions, Diversity and Minority Affairs
Ms. Pat Ritchie, Administrative Assistant
Local: (504) 941-8124
FAX: 504-941-8123
Email: ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry
Office of Admissions
1100 Florida Avenue, Box 228
New Orleans, LA 70119

As part of the Dental Admissions process applicants are asked to demonstrate their hand skills by performing a chalk carving exercise.