Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine prerequisites

3 semesters · 12 credits · lab

Most dental schools ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

Three courses rather than the usual two: "Biology with lab, 3 courses or 12 to 13 credit hours." One semester more biology than most dental schools ask for, so it is worth planning early.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. The DAT's general chemistry section assumes the full sequence.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab at most schools. A small number accept one semester plus biochemistry; confirm on the school's page before planning around it.

1 semester · 3 credits

Roughly half of schools require a semester and the share grows every cycle. The DAT does not test it, but first-year dental biochemistry assumes you have seen it.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters, algebra-based accepted essentially everywhere. A handful of schools want only one semester; the two-semester plan covers them all.

GSDM's prerequisite list carries no English or writing requirement. The six lines it publishes are biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and the two upper-level science courses.

2 semesters · 6 credits

"Two additional upper-level courses in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or physics, totaling at least 6 credit hours." Wider than the key's label suggests: upper-level chemistry or physics answers it just as well as upper-level biology, and the biochemistry prerequisite is counted separately from these two.

3 credits

Named by a minority of schools and useful preparation for the first year regardless.

3 credits

Required at a meaningful minority and recommended widely; a strong pick for the spare science slot.

100+ hours

No number is published. The FAQ says "we do expect competitive applicants to have experience with a general dentist before applying to the DMD program," and counts paid work, volunteer work and traditional shadowing in dental settings, but "we do not accept online or virtual experience; only in-person dental experience is accepted."

100+ hours

Few schools publish a number; committees still read for a service habit held over time.

1 letter

An explicit full substitute for the three individual letters: three letters of evaluation "or a pre-health committee evaluation." Where your college offers one, it is the simpler route.

GSDM asks for "two from faculty" without naming a discipline, so the requirement is recorded on the any-discipline faculty line instead. Science professors of course qualify; the point is that non-science professors are not disqualified.

2 letters

"Three letters of evaluation (two from faculty and one additional academic or personal reference), or a pre-health committee evaluation." GSDM says faculty, not science faculty, so a professor in any discipline answers both of these. The third letter is deliberately open: another academic or a personal reference is acceptable.

No dentist letter is named. GSDM asks for two faculty letters plus one additional academic or personal reference, or a committee evaluation, and leaves the writers otherwise open. In-person experience with a general dentist is still expected, but the school does not require a letter from that dentist.