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Career in Dentistry FAQ's
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Interested in a Career in Dentistry?
The following
information has been prepared for you!
--The University of
Missouri Kansas-City School of Dentistry
As a student at
the UMKC School of Dentistry you will advance through a carefully
planned curriculum that incorporates a variety of learning
environments. The first two years involves a preclinical course
of study as well as biomedical classes. The school's multidisciplinary,
competency-based preclinical curriculum promotes the synthesis
and application of knowledge and skills.
Along with your preclinical training,
you will spend time in the school's clinic. When you begin
your dental education, you will join a clinical "team"
that includes first- through fourth-year students. Team dentistry
offers you a personalized approach to your clinical education,
allowing you to receive constant guidance and encouragement
from your team's faculty and students.
Early in your first year you
will assist upper-level students as they treat clinical patients.
Later in this year you will begin to deliver preliminary care
to clinic patients in applying oral diagnostic science training
as well as providing your patient with a dental prophylaxis.
Your clinical involvement will expand in your second year
to incorporate the treatment of a patient with simple periodontal
needs. In your third and fourth years you will have your own
clinical operatory to deliver comprehensive care to your own
pool of patients as you conduct your own dental practice.
 The
school's Roy J. Rinehart Dental Clinic offers you a realistic,
but controlled, environment in which to apply your knowledge
and skills as you deliver quality dental care to the greater
Kansas City community. The clinic not only provides oral health
care for about 100,000 patient visits annually, but it also
delivers ongoing treatment to underprivileged and mentally
and physically compromised patients. The clinic's 288 operatories
are equipped with state-of-the art technology that will allow
you to provide optimal care while maximizing your patients'
comfort.
However, the scope of the school's
contributions extends beyond the confines of its walls. Each
year, our students and faculty participate in clinical outreach
programs that provide care to area migrant workers, to patients
at nearby community health clinics and to those in need in
other sectors of the state. The school also annually sponsors
groups of students and faculty who travel to Third World countries,
where they deliver care to under served citizenry.
Kansas City
The School is located on Hospital Hill
in Kansas City, Missouri. It is affiliated with the UMKC Schools
of Medicine and Nursing, Children's Mercy Hospital and Truman
Medical Center (West). Other affiliations (satellite clinics)
include: Truman Medical Center (Lakewood), Baptist Hospital,
Kansas City Free Health Clinic, Veterans Administration Hospitals
in Kansas City and Leavenworth, University of Kansas Medical
Center, Kansas City Regional Center (for developmentally and mentally disabled patients), Ozanam Home for Boys,
Richard Cabot Clinic, Samuel Rodgers Community Health Center,
and Swope Parkway Medical Center.
One of Kansas City's most attractive
features is its cost of living, which is lower than most other
major metropolitan areas. Kansas City ranks second in housing
affordability among the nation's major cities. Its vibrant
downtown, comfortable suburbs, thriving business community,
variety of culture and sporting events and exciting shopping
and nightlife are evidence of a forward-looking and sophisticated
city.
Entertainment/Art available includes: the Nelson-Atkins Gallery, Kemper Museum of Modern Art, American Jazz Museum, Toy and Miniature Museum, Kansas City Repertory Theater, Lyric Opera, Kansas City Symphony, State Ballet of Missouri, and UMKC Conservatory/Theater productions. Sports includes the Royals (baseball), Chiefs (football), Wizards (professional soccer), T-bones (baseball), golf tours, horse and dog racing, river boat gambling, auto racing, boxing, wrestling, etc.
Although Kansas City is a large
(1.7 million plus) metropolitan area, it is a friendly city
with annual events, fairs and festivals. These include: Music
in the Parks, Crown Center Square concerts, Spirit Festival,
Renaissance Festival, Plaza Art Fair, Westport Art Fair, Brookside
Art Fair, American Royal, County Club Plaza Christmas lighting
ceremony, St. Patrick's Day parade, Operation Handshake, and
annual performances of "A Christmas Carol" and "The
Nutcracker".
Admission to Dental School
Every year thousands of college students
and graduates begin what is called the application process
which is required to gain admission to dental school. Unfortunately,
many interested students have very limited, outdated or misunderstood
information regarding this process.
To help you avoid this
situation we have prepared the following suggestions and information
about the application process at the UMKC School of Dentistry,
which might make applying for admission easier, less frustrating
and more rewarding for you.
 Early
in your college education, begin contacting and visiting the
UMKC School of Dentistry.
At the UMKC School of Dentistry we
encourage potential applicants to periodically come to the
school to talk about their plans for the future and their
academic record, and to talk with and observe our students
caring for patients in the predoctoral dental clinic. Before
you visit, we encourage you to call the Office of Student
Programs to arrange a convenient date and time for your visit.
By scheduling your visit you will ensure that admission representatives
will be able to accommodate your specific needs and interests.
When you visit the school, be
on time. If you are going to be late, call the Office of Student
Programs and let them know that you have been detained. While
you are visiting the school, you will want to make a good
impression, so dress appropriately. Although a suit and tie
are not necessary, jeans or shorts and open toed shoes are
not appropriate.
Find out the minimum
number of college hours and grade point average needed to
be a competitive applicant; determine what GPAs those who
have been admitted have had in recent dental classes.
At the UMKC School of Dentistry, the
following are the Dental Student Admission Committee’s guidelines
for GPA/college semester credit hour/Dental Admission Test
(DAT) minimums and preferences:
• Preference will be given to candidates
with 90 or more semester hours of college credit at the time
of application with a science GPA of 3.40 or higher and/or
a DAT academic average of 17 or higher - the overall GPA will
be considered although it will not receive the same weight
as the science GPA
• A candidate with 90 or more semester
hours of college credit at the time of application with a
science GPA of 3.00 and a DAT academic average of 16 or higher
can be considered for an interview - the overall GPA will
be considered although it will not receive the same weight
as the science GPA
• The minimum science GPA which can be considered for an interview is a 3.0. The minimum DAT academic average which can be considered for an interview is a 16.
• It should be noted that no more than
60 hours of college credit can be earned at a community college
and preference will be given to candidates who complete the
science prerequisites at a four-year institution.
Find
out the entrance requirements
No specific college major is required. However, a candidate must have successfully completed all of the following college course work by the end of the winter/spring semester of the year you wish to begin the dental program (i.e., you would have been accepted provisionally by the Admission Committee):
• Four semesters of biology with labs. In particular we require general biology I, anatomy, physiology and cell biology — other courses that have counterparts in the dental curriculum (i.e., histology, neuroscience, microbiology) are strongly recommended
• Two semesters of general chemistry with labs
• Two semesters of organic chemistry (please note that for the class to begin in 2009 we will no longer accept the five-hour terminal organic chemistry course as meeting this prerequisite)
• Two semesters of physics with labs (college algebra or higher) (please note that for the class to begin in 2009 we will no longer accept one semester of physics and one semester of college math as meeting this prerequisite)
• Two semesters of English composition
*Lab sessions required
It is advantageous to have course credit in
mathematics, formal logic, biochemistry, business, social/behavioral
sciences (such as psychology), communication skills, computer
science, the humanities and applied arts (such as sculpting,
jewelry making, etc.).
Learn about the
clinical and educational support programs, student services,
patient pool, etc.
The UMKC School of Dentistry attracts
students with varying backgrounds who soon learn to call Kansas
City home. Students find that the "city of fountains"
offers small-town friendliness and a lower cost of living
than many other cities of comparable size. Kansas City offers
a plentiful variety of comfortable residential areas
and affordable housing opportunities.
Even though choosing a dental school/program that best suits
your academic goals is very important, so, too, is considering
how the school's location will satisfy your personal needs
during your four years of study.
 Every
step of the way at UMKC, from the first lecture to the last
clinical patient, your development will be fostered by the
school's talented and experienced faculty. Our faculty will
work closely with you, providing you with the individualized
assistance and attention that will transform you from dental
student to practicing dentist.
We recognize that while life
as a dental student is rewarding, it is equally demanding.
To enhance your scholastic success, an array of counseling
and academic support services can assist you in improving
your learning skills, study habits and time management.
All of these services are coordinated by a full-time academic
monitor who tracks the academic progress of all students and
provides assistance and support when necessary.
Our students also rely on our
Office of Student Programs for help and guidance in financial
aid, academic records and housing. Our school's Instructional
Resources Library is stocked with educational films, slide
shows, and videotape presentations as well as a large number
of personal computers to complement your studies and support
your academic endeavors.
The UMKC School of Dentistry
clinics are fortunate to be able to attract a large patient
population from the five-county, bi-state metropolitan area
of Kansas City. The school's clinics deliver care to approximately
33,000 patients through more than 100,000 patient visits annually.
Obviously, an abundant supply of patients enables our dental
students to experience an extremely broad range of oral health
needs.
Talk with the students
at the UMKC School of Dentistry to learn what they like and
don't like about the school. You should also talk with faculty
and get their impression of the school and its program.
Applicants and potential applicants
are always welcome to come to the UMKC School of Dentistry
to talk with students, faculty and staff and to observe the
students treating patients in the predoctoral dental clinic.
We encourage you to ask our students anything. We value their
opinions and you can count on them to be honest with you.
Determine how to
apply for admission as well as the application deadlines,
and make sure your application is submitted early.
To apply for the D.D.S. program, you must submit an application through the American Dental Education Association’s application service (AADSAS). Although the deadline for submission is October 1, early applications are strongly recommended. A preference is given to applications received in the Office of Student Programs of the School of Dentistry prior to September 1. Keep in mind that AADSAS can take up to two months to process and deliver an application. Therefore, it is extremely important that you apply in June or July of the year prior to anticipated entry into dental school.
Find out about letters of recommendation:
how many are required, who should write them, and when they
should be submitted.
We require a minimum of three letters
of recommendation. If there is a prehealth advisory committee
at your school, they must submit a letter for you. If there
is not a prehealth advisory committee but there is a predental
advisor, a letter must be submitted from that person. In addition,
we suggest that you seek recommendations from faculty members
at your school, employers, dentists you have talked with or
observed, physicians, clergy, etc. Ask people who can give
us information regarding your maturity and self-reliance,
how you accept responsibility, your interest in dentistry,
your work ethic and discipline, your critical thinking ability,
what kind of student you are, your readiness for rigorous
professional study, etc. You need to use your own judgment
regarding the actual number of letters you submit.
We prefer recommendation letters be submitted through the AADSAS application service. This allows your reference letters to be included as part of your full dental application. Your AADSAS application will be processed even if your reference letters are not on file yet. Once AADSAS receives your letters they will send UMKC a copy and also grant us access to them electronically. Applicants may submit a maximum of four individual letters of evaluation, or one committee letter/report plus the option of one additional letter of evaluation. Please refer to the “Evaluator” section of the AADSAS Application Instructions for further instructions. https://aadsas.adea.org/
 Find
out what is required for you to be invited for a personal
interview.
Applicants who meet the GPA/college hour
minimums for the UMKC School of Dentistry are eligible to
be invited to the school for a personal interview. Residents
of Missouri are given preference as are residents from Kansas,
Arkansas, New Mexico and Hawaii (states with which UMKC has
contractual or other arrangements). A personal interview at
UMKC takes place on a one-to-one basis with a faculty member
who assesses your general knowledge, maturity and discipline,
social responsibility, motivation for and commitment to dentistry,
ability to think critically, communication skills, and professional
appearance and presence.
Following
the interview, your application will be reviewed by the Dental
Student Admission Committee in a timely fashion. No notification
of an admission decision will be made prior to December 1
in accordance with guidelines established by the American
Dental Education Association.
When
you apply for admission, find out if additional information
is required.
When considering candidates for admission,
the UMKC School of Dentistry’s Dental Student Admission Committee
reviews the entire scope of information that is available
on each candidate. This will include the student’s science GPA,
Dental Admission Test scores, responses to items on the application
survey, letters of reference, interview assessment, and any
information provided by the candidate. In addition, the Dental
Student Admission Committee looks for evidence of the following
factors in making the difficult choices among candidates:
1.
Demonstrated investigation of the profession of dentistry
– it is strongly suggested that candidates observe in a minimum
of five different dental offices (the offices of general dentists
and specialists) and acquire a minimum of 80-100 hours
of dental office observation, preference is given to candidates
who have worked in a dental office
2. Evidence of social conscience and compassion (i.e., caring
attitude, sensitive to those in need, significant community
activities) –- it is strongly suggested that this be active
and on-going participation in volunteer activities
3. Evidence of critical thinking and problem-solving ability
(e.g., performance in courses requiring this skill, such as
laboratory segments or formal logic or research experiences)
4. Full academic loads with evidence of a broad liberal arts
and sciences education (i.e., fine arts, business, mathematics,
humanities, computer science, etc.), all accomplished at a
high level of achievement
5. A range of extracurricular activities, especially those
demanding significant leadership and interpersonal skills
6. Demonstrated ability to balance full academic schedules
with extracurricular involvement and/or employment (i.e.,
effective and efficient management of time)
In addition to the AADSAS application, application survey, letters of reference, interview, acceptance is contingent on submission of a criminal background check.
Find
out if you can submit information to clear up any inconsistencies
or questions about your previous performance in college.
At UMKC, we urge you to talk to your interviewer
about any inconsistencies contained in your application (previous
grade performance, a break in your academic record, etc.).
But it would also be to your advantage to submit this information
in writing to the Dental Student Admission Committee so it
can be included in your application. Taking the initiative
to explain a situation could make a difference in the Committee’s
response to your application.
Academic
Program Upcoming Events
UMKC
2007-2008 General Catalog
For
More Information
We hope the information in this brochure
will help make the admission process for applying to the UMKC
School of Dentistry a positive experience for you.
For
more information about the UMKC School of Dentistry, please
contact:
Office of Student Programs
650 E. 25th St.
Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
Phone: 816/235-2080 or toll-free 800/776-8652. (People
with speech or hearing impairments can call 800/735-2966 (TT)
or 800/735-2466 (Voice).
Fax: 816/235-2157
E-Mail: umkc-dentalstupgms@umkc.edu
World Wide Web: www.umkc.edu/dentistry
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