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DMD Admissions Process

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Applicants must meet all admission requirements before their applications can be processed by the Office of Admissions to then present to the Admissions Committee. This committee comprises faculty, alumni, and upper-level student representatives. Careful review of applications is ongoing. Consideration is given only to those candidates who have submitted completed AADSAS applications and fees. If an applicant has a fee reduction waiver letter from AADSAS, a copy of this letter should be forwarded via email so that the supplemental application fee can be waived.

A non-refundable $75 supplemental application fee is required at time of application.

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Personal Interview

Interviews are by invitation only and sent after thorough review of submitted material. Most interviews take place during the fall term of each year. The interview is composed of personal interviews with members of our faculty, and presentations by various department chairs and directors. Applicants have an opportunity to interact with our current dental students and tour the School of Dental Medicine facilities. 

During the interview, applicants are expected to display evidence of personal exposure to the field of dentistry, as well as qualities of maturity, motivation, and integrity. Personal interviews do not guarantee admission.

Minority Recruitment

The School of Dental Medicine is committed to recruiting, enrolling, and graduating a diverse population of students.

"The University of Pittsburgh, as an educational institution and as an employer, values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial/ethnic and cultural diversity. Accordingly, the University prohibits and will not engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. Further, the University will continue to take affirmative steps to support and advance these values consistent with the University's mission. This policy applies to admissions, employment, access to and treatment in University programs and activities. This is a commitment made by the University and is in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations."

–From the University of Pittsburgh Graduate and Professional Bulletin

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is dedicated to preparing culturally competent world class clinicians, educators and scientists that are as diverse as the challenges faced and populations served. Applicants from population segments underrepresented in dentistry are encouraged to apply for admission.
Opportunities for diverse immersion experiences are afforded by the eight chartered student organizations at the School of Dental Medicine as well as more than four hundred other student organizations in this academic community.

Offers of Admission

The School of Dental Medicine Admissions Committee is the sole determining body that decides to whom offers of admission will be made.  Admission is offered based on criteria discussed above.
By general agreement among schools, the earliest date of acceptance to American dental schools is the first business day of December. A rolling admissions process begins on this date and continues until the class is filled. The School of Dental Medicine class size is limited to 80 students. Applicants are notified initially by phone, followed by written acceptance and offers of admission.

Please note that the University has a limited number of seats in its incoming class.  As a result, offers of admission do NOT guarantee enrollment to the extent that a deposit is not submitted before all seats are filled (as described below).  As such, it is imperative that you submit your deposit as soon as possible and complete the steps by the dates listed in the offer of admission letter.

Offers of admission are contingent upon the following

Deposit

An enrollment deposit in the amount of $2,000 is required. All deposits are nonrefundable, except as otherwise set forth in the Offer of Admission letter. Upon matriculation, all deposits will be credited towards tuition costs. 

Seats for the incoming class will be filled in the order in which deposits of individuals who have been offered admission to the University are received (i.e., seats are filled on a rolling basis upon receipt of your deposit). In order to guarantee enrollment at the University, applicants who have been offered admission must submit their deposit before the class is filled. In any case, the deposit is due no later than the due date on your Offer of Admission (though, if the class is filled prior to that date, submission of the deposit by the due date does not guarantee enrollment).

If all seats for the incoming class are filled prior to the final deposit deadline, any individual who has been offered admission who has not yet submitted their deposit will be notified that all seats have been filled.  Any individual who has been offered admission who submits their deposit after the seats are filled will be placed on the deferred enrollment list.  If seats later open up (e.g., if an individual fails to complete the remaining steps outlined in their offer of admission, or if an individual chooses to forego their deposit in favor of attending another school, or if seats open up for any other reason), individuals will be moved from the deferred enrollment list into the incoming class in the order in which they submitted their deposit. As such, it is critical to submit enrollment deposits as soon as possible, even after all seats for the class have been filled. Any individual who has been offered admission who submits their deposit after all seats are filled and who does not have the opportunity to enroll in the class because they were never offered a seat in the class after initially being placed on the deferred enrollment list will be refunded their $2,000 deposit (note: if an individual is offered a seat in the class after initially being on the deferred enrollment list but that individual declines to enroll, the individual will not be refunded their deposit.)

Essential Program Standards

Offers of admission are contingent upon the applicant's ability to fulfill the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Essential Program Standards. Individuals who have been offered admission will receive the updated version of Essential Program Standards with all other credentialing information.

Completion of a successful FBI background inquiry, as well the successful completion of any contingencies including an applicant's baccalaureate degree must be done by June 30. Continued satisfactory academic performance and behavior during the period between acceptance and enrollment also is required. A final offer of admission is determined once all conditions and contingencies of acceptance have be successfully completed. Misrepresentation of credentials by an applicant is reason for immediate revocation of admission offer.

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