dental · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · private
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine prerequisites
What Penn asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 4 lines differ from the standard dental school set, marked below.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Two semesters with lab. As universal for dental school as it is for medical.
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Penn's chemistry ask is three semesters total, not four: "Three semesters/five quarters with corresponding labs in either combination of: two semesters/three quarters of general chemistry and one semester/two quarters of organic chemistry or two semesters/three quarters of organic chemistry and one semester/two quarters of general chemistry." Additional work in physical chemistry is recommended.
- Organic chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
One or two semesters with lab depending on which side of Penn's three-semester chemistry combination you take; see the general chemistry line for the full quoted rule.
- Biochemistryrequired
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.
- Physics with labrequired
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.
- English or writing-intensiverequired
2 semesters · 6 credits
Two semesters of English or writing-intensive coursework at most schools that name it.
- College mathematicsrequiredextra here
No published minimum
"Mathematics: One semester/two quarters. Acceptable courses: calculus (preferred), statistics or any college-level math course."
- Anatomy and physiologyrecommended
3 credits
Named by a minority of schools and useful preparation for the first year regardless.
- Microbiologyrecommended
3 credits
Required at a meaningful minority and recommended widely; a strong pick for the spare science slot.
Experience hours
- Dentist shadowingrequired
100+ hours
A hard pre-application gate: "Applicants must apply with a minimum of 100 hours of dental observation completed prior to application submission of which 50 hours must occur in one or more general dental practices. Experiences can be paid." And the exclusion: "Volunteering, pre-dental club activities and mission trips should be reported on the AADSAS application but do not count towards our 100-hour minimum requirement." The majority of hours should occur in the U.S. or Canada.
- Non-clinical volunteeringrecommended
100+ hours
Few schools publish a number; committees still read for a service habit held over time.
Letters
- Committee letterrecommended
1 letter
Accepted nearly everywhere in place of individual faculty letters where your college offers one.
- Science faculty letternot required here
"Penn Dental Medicine does not require letters from science faculty, unless you are a science major." The two required professor letters are recorded on the any-discipline faculty line instead.
- Faculty letter (any discipline)requiredextra here
2 letters
"A minimum of two letters from professors (preferably from your major course of study) or a committee letter prepared by the school's prehealth advisor and/or a committee familiar with the applicant's academic abilities is required." Letters must be on letterhead with the evaluator's title and original hand-written signature.
- Dentist letternot required here
Penn's stated letters requirement is two professor letters or a committee letter; no dentist letter appears anywhere in it.
Also on the school’s page
Penn publishes prerequisites in semesters rather than credits and layers on credit-hour gates: "a minimum of 64 semester credit hours complete at the time of application," of which "32 credit hours must be composed of basic sciences and mathematics prerequisite courses," and "ninety-six credit hours, which includes all prerequisite courses, must be complete in order to successfully matriculate." A four-year bachelor's degree is preferred at matriculation but not required. Every prerequisite needs a letter grade of C (2.0) or higher, with COVID-era P/F exceptions for 2020 and 2021 terms. "Although there is no minimum grade point average or Dental Admission Test (DAT) score requirement, special consideration will be given to candidates with overall and science grade point averages of 3.2 or higher." DAT scores from test dates starting January 2024 and later are required for the 2026-2027 cycle; both ADA and Canadian versions are accepted and unofficial scores are not considered. General biology is the standard two-semester sequence with labs; advanced anatomy, microbiology, and physiology courses are highly recommended but will not fulfill it. Application through ADEA AADSAS plus a supplemental application and $100 fee, deadline December 1, 2026, with no fee waivers.
School
dental.upenn.eduCheck your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Penn still needs from you.
See it for dental school