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A frequently asked and debated question on SDN relates to the ease or difficulty of entering a particular dental school. The assessment is a difficult process even when using only objective criteria. There are a number of objective parameters which can be used to assess how competitive a particular school happens to be. These parameters include the DAT scores (AA and PA), the GPA (overall and science), the number of applicants, the number of position available for first year matriculants, residency, and minority status.
The following ranking of top and bottom ten school is based upon AA, PA, GPA (overall), GPA (science), composite of DAT and GPA scores and on the ratio of applicants to enrollees. While the composite AA and GPA score (the AA, PA, GPA-o and GPA-sci scores are added together) may be of questionable value, it is, nonetheless, an empirical value which can be used to rank school. Such a system is, in fact, being used to rank applicants by at least one dental school in the country. The relevant statistical information used was obtained from the 2007 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.
It should be evident to all applicants that there is no school that is a slam dunk for acceptance. There are, however, certain schools to which gaining acceptance is less of a challenge in terms of applicant/enrollees ratio. For example, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana have the most favorable applicant/enrollee ratios; however, this advantage is of value only to residents of the states in question. Louisiana accepted only 2 non residents out of 60 first year enrollees. UT-SA with has a favorable applicant/enrollee ratio but it ranks 3rd in overall GPA. It should be stressed that the rankings are strictly intended as a guide to applicants. The absolute values can easily be misinterpreted. Lower DAT or GPA value does not mean the schools are less competitive for the particular pool of applicants. For example Boston, Loma Linda and UOP have a low GPA ranking but rate among the top in the nation for DAT scores. Meharry and Howard may have low DAT and GPA rankings, however, Howard and Meharry have very high applicant/enrollees ratios making them very competitive for the minority group. Puerto Rico may have low DAT and GPA score and a favorable applicants/enrollees ratio, however, these advantages are meaningful only to applicants that are both residents and of hispanic origin. Puerto Rico accepted only 2 out of state applicants and 2 non hispanics (Native Americans). It is hoped that this post will encourage applicants to analyze the available data and help them make an objective choice when deciding what school to apply to.
The following ranking of top and bottom ten school is based upon AA, PA, GPA (overall), GPA (science), composite of DAT and GPA scores and on the ratio of applicants to enrollees. While the composite AA and GPA score (the AA, PA, GPA-o and GPA-sci scores are added together) may be of questionable value, it is, nonetheless, an empirical value which can be used to rank school. Such a system is, in fact, being used to rank applicants by at least one dental school in the country. The relevant statistical information used was obtained from the 2007 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.
It should be evident to all applicants that there is no school that is a slam dunk for acceptance. There are, however, certain schools to which gaining acceptance is less of a challenge in terms of applicant/enrollees ratio. For example, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana have the most favorable applicant/enrollee ratios; however, this advantage is of value only to residents of the states in question. Louisiana accepted only 2 non residents out of 60 first year enrollees. UT-SA with has a favorable applicant/enrollee ratio but it ranks 3rd in overall GPA. It should be stressed that the rankings are strictly intended as a guide to applicants. The absolute values can easily be misinterpreted. Lower DAT or GPA value does not mean the schools are less competitive for the particular pool of applicants. For example Boston, Loma Linda and UOP have a low GPA ranking but rate among the top in the nation for DAT scores. Meharry and Howard may have low DAT and GPA rankings, however, Howard and Meharry have very high applicant/enrollees ratios making them very competitive for the minority group. Puerto Rico may have low DAT and GPA score and a favorable applicants/enrollees ratio, however, these advantages are meaningful only to applicants that are both residents and of hispanic origin. Puerto Rico accepted only 2 out of state applicants and 2 non hispanics (Native Americans). It is hoped that this post will encourage applicants to analyze the available data and help them make an objective choice when deciding what school to apply to.
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Top Ten
School AA School PA School GPA-o School GPA Sci
Harvard 24.4 Harvard 21.6 Neb 3.78 Harvard 3.77
Columb 22.16 Washin 20.33 Harvard 3.77 SUNY SB 3.72
UCLA 22 UCLA 20 UT-SA 3.74 Neb 3.7
Washing 21.22 Maryl 20 SUNY SB 3.71 Colo 3.66
SUNY SB 21 Boston 20 Colo 3.71 Penn 3.63
Penn 21 S Carol 19.89 Iowa 3.7 Iowa 3.63
UCSF 20.6 UOP 19.7 Penn 3.68 UCLA 3.6
UOP 20.5 Loma L 19.7 UCLA 3.65 S Ill 3.6
Conn 20 Colo 19.6 S Ill 3.64 UT-SA 3.6
USC 20 Mich 19.25 Missou 3.64 Missou 3.6
Bottom Ten
School AA School PA School GPA-0 School GPA-Sci
Kentu 18.44 Baylor 17.8 Puerto R3.45 UOP 3.29
Marq 18.44 UT-Hou 17.8 Tufts 3.41 Nevada 3.26
Missou 18.3 Kentu 17.64 UOP 3.37 Virgini 3.25
Louis 18 UMDNJ 17.58 Virg 3.36 Loma Lin3.24
Tenn 18 Louis 17 Temple 3.33 Arizona 3.21
W.VA 18 W. Va 17 NY 3.29 Temple 3.19
Miss 17.4 Miss 16.9 Loma L 3.27 NY 3.16
Howard 17 Howard 16 Boston 3.23 Boston 3.11
Meharry 16 Puerto R16 Meharry 3.1 Howard 3
Puerto R15 Meharry 15 Howard 3.09 Meharry 2.9
Top Ten Bottom Ten Top Ten Bottom Ten
School AA+GPA School AA+GPA School App/Enrol School App/Enr
Harvard 53.54 NY 43.31 Arizona 54 UT-SA 11
UCLA 49.25 Kentu 42.97 SUNyYsb 44 Missou 10
Wash 48.46 Tenn 42.81 Case 42 Oklah 10
Colum 48.15 Missou 42.64 Marq 37 Minn 9
SUNYsb 47.43 Louisv 42.03 Conn 35 UT-Hou 9
Penn 47.31 W. Va 41.94 Boston 34 Puerto R7
UCSF 46.98 Miss 41.48 Nevada 34 Louis 6
UOP 46.86 Howard 39.09 Creigh 33 Tenn 6
Colo 46.57 Puerto R37.78 Louisv 30 Georgia 4
S Carol 46.36 Meharry 37 Temple 29 Miss 4
