Dental Medicine Program Admission
The Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois (CDMI) considers for admission those students who possess the academic, professional, and personal qualities necessary for development as exemplary dental professionals. To select these students, the College uses a rolling admissions process within a competitive admissions framework.
Competitive Admissions
Within the competitive admissions framework, the College uses multiple criteria to select the most qualified, diverse group of candidates from an applicant pool that greatly exceeds the number of seats available. Applicants are evaluated on academic coursework, performance on the Dental Admission Test (DAT), their application (AADSAS) essays, letters of evaluation, and interviews. Demonstrated community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment is preferred.
Rolling Admissions
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois uses a rolling admissions process. Applications are reviewed and decisions to interview individual candidates are made at regular intervals during the admissions cycle. Interviews are conducted and the selection process of each candidate for College admission is made until the class is filled. Applicants are notified of their selection status as soon as possible after their interview date, but not prior to December 15 of the year preceding matriculation which is the earliest date the U.S. and Canadian dental schools have agreed to extend a position in the class.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for enrollment, an applicant should have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The College has a preferred minimum BCP science and cumulative GPA over 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Prerequisite Courses
| Courses |
Sem Hrs |
Qtr Hrs |
| Biology with lab |
8 |
12 |
| General Chemistry with lab |
8 |
12 |
| Organic Chemistry with lab |
4 |
6 |
| Anatomy* |
3 |
4 |
| Microbiology |
3 |
4 |
| Physics |
8 |
12 |
| Physiology* |
3 |
4 |
| Biochemistry |
3 |
4 |
| English Composition / Technical Writing |
6 |
9 |
| All science prerequisites must be courses designed for science majors. No survey courses will count to fulfill science requirements. |
|
|
No grade lower than C will be accepted for any prerequisite course. A grade of C– will not be accepted.
*The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II, as some universities offer combined courses.
Students seeking admission to CDMI must submit the following documented evidence:
- Completion of the prerequisite coursework.
-
- Grades of C or better (grades of C- are not acceptable)
- Submit competitive exam scores on the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT).
-
- All candidates must submit results from the US DAT to AADSAS.
- A total DAT score (summative scores less Total Science and Academic Average) should be 110 and above to be competitive
- Scores in the area of 18 or higher will be expected for the Academic Average, Reading Comprehension, Perceptual Ability, and Total Science sections
- Only DAT exam scores earned from tests taken no more than 3 years prior to matriculation are acceptable
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
-
- One must be from either a predental advisory committee or a science professor
- The other preferentially should be from either someone with a D.O./M.D. or D.D.S./D.M.D. degree and/or someone who can testify to the integrity and ethical standards of the applicant
- Letters written by immediate family members will not be accepted
- All letters of evaluation must be submitted directly by the evaluators to AADSAS
- Demonstrate a sincere understanding of, and interest in, the humanitarian ethos of healthcare and particularly dental medicine.
- Reflect a service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
- Reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous salaried work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
- Possess oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
- Agree to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
- Pass the Midwestern University fingerprinting and criminal background check.
International Applicants
An international student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post-secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, 6 hours in non-remedial English composition, and 3 hours in speech/public speaking.
Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the U.S. or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:
International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable US or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.
For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.
Additional Information
Technical Standards for Dental School Admission
The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the CDMI. Candidates must be able to perform the following abilities and skills.
- Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand, including those on a computer screen or electronic device. Observation necessitates the functional use of vision and sense of touch and is enhanced by the functional use of all of the other senses.
- Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate in English, proficiently and sensitively, in verbal and written form, and be able to perceive nonverbal communication.
- Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine motor movements, maintain equilibrium and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks.
- Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
- Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships. Candidate must be able to tolerate physically, mentally and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process. The candidate must agree to participate in touching/palpating on the skin and being touched/palpated on the skin by individuals regardless of gender in all academic settings, including dental head/neck exams, including intra- and extra-oral examinations. These activities will take place in large and small group settings as directed in the College's curricular requirements.
Candidates are required to verify that they understand and are able to meet these Technical Standards at least 4 weeks prior to matriculation (or if admitted later, within 1 week of deposit). Candidates who may only meet Technical Standards with accommodation, must contact the Office of Student Services to make a formal request for accommodation. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the College Dean/Program Director, will determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum.
Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the College. After matriculation, if a student fails to continue to meet the Technical Standards during subsequent enrollment, the student may apply for accommodation by contacting the Office of Student Services. If the accommodation needed to meet the Technical Standards alters the educational standards of the curriculum, the student's ability to satisfactorily progress in the curriculum will be evaluated by the appropriate College's Student Graduation and Promotion Committee.
