Pre-Dentistry at Augustana

Contact: Dr. Jason A. Koontz Pre-Dental Coordinator

Julie Reynolds '07 Age: 24 Hometown: Aurora, IL High School: West Aurora Major: Biology (Pre-Dental) Current Work: DDS candidate, University of Iowa Then Julie worked as a dental assistant in high school and knew she wanted to enter the field when she came to Augustana. "The professors were what made the classes so great. They were just really talented teachers. We had really great access and small class sizes." Now After she finishes dental school at the University of Iowa, Julie plans to return the Chicago area and go into practice. However, having grown an interest in anthropology and global health at Augie, which peaked during her study abroad experience on the Latin America Term, she wants to one day lend her expertise to those in underdeveloped countries. Why Augustana? "I took some really, really great classes outside of the biology field that I think shaped me as a person as much as anything. They were in anthropology, classes on African culture. That created interests I didn't really know that I had."

Augustana provides an exceptional preparation for students wishing to become dentists. The college boasts an acceptance rate into dental schools of 70%. Also, once in dental school, our alumni have performed well, earning Augustana an outstanding reputation among the dental schools.

One characteristic that almost all dental schools have in common is the desire for all applicants to have a good understanding of the dental field, especially through clinical observations. Most undergraduate schools will require you to obtain this experience on your own. Augustana has a mentoring program for pre-dentistry students that allows them to get clinical experience and insight into the profession during their years at Augie. Typically, we start students in the clinics during their second year. This allows them to adjust to college during the first year and get a good start on the academics.

The greatest strength of any pre-dental program should be the academics. Classes will be taught by professors with PhDs, not by teaching assistants. Our class sizes are small. Classes seldom are over 60 and professors teach their own labs in the biology department.

Augustana is among the nation's most respected centers of undergraduate instruction in science and the pre-health professions. Our science building offers students the latest in high tech labs and research facilities, including the human cadaver dissection lab. Cadaver dissection offers pre-professional students an additional edge in preparation for dental school, as Augustana is one of the few undergraduate schools in the country to offer this opportunity.

Program outline

The traditional pre-dentistry route requires the completion of the bachelor of arts degree prior to matriculation into a dentistry graduate program. Any major can be chosen by the student. While fulfilling Augustana's degree requirements, students also complete a specified pre-dentistry curriculum consisting of courses primarily in chemistry, biology, and physics. Note: Programs exist throughout the country that do not require a BA degree for matriculation, often requiring a minimum of 94 credits. Program pre-requisites differ so check individual programs for more detail.

Augustana has been a part of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry Deferred Admit Program (DAP) for about 20 years. It is open to Iowa residents only. Students may be admitted as early as their first year at Augustana.  Students must maintain a specified grade-point average to assure matriculation to The University of Iowa College of Dentistry.