Cracking the Code: Your Guide to Getting into UCLA Dental School

Gaining admission to the University of California - Los Angeles' (UCLA) dental school is a challenging endeavor, but with the right preparation and understanding of the admissions process, aspiring dentists can increase their chances of acceptance. UCLA admits only 88 students per year to their dental school, highlighting the competitive nature of the program. This comprehensive guide provides essential information about the application process, academic requirements, and key factors that can strengthen your candidacy.

Academic Excellence: GPA and DAT Scores

UCLA's dental program is renowned for its academic rigor, and the admissions committee places significant emphasis on applicants' academic performance. To be competitive, applicants should aim for high scores on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and maintain a strong GPA.

According to UCLA, students admitted to their dental program in 2019 had impressive academic credentials:

Average overall GPA: 3.77
Average science GPA: 3.73
Average DAT Academic Average score: 23
DAT Perceptive Ability score: 22
DAT Total Science score: 23

While these averages provide a benchmark, it's important to remember that admissions are holistic, and other factors are also considered. However, UCLA states that to be competitive for a spot in their dental school, you will need Dental Admissions Test (DAT) scores of 20 or higher ( the national average, according to the American Dental Association, is 19).

DAT: A Critical Component

The DAT plays a huge role in your application to UCLA. Applicants must take their Dental Admission Test (DAT) no later than December 31 and within a 3-year period, including the current year applying. Canadian DATs are not accepted. Official score reports from the American Dental Association will be imported through the AADSAS application. No, we do not accept unofficial score reports. No, the scores may be posted after December 31, but you must take the exam no later than December 31.

Degrees Held by Accepted Students

The majority of students admitted to UCLA's dental program possess a bachelor's degree, but advanced degrees can also enhance an application. Of the 88 students UCLA accepted into their dental program in 2019, 83 have a bachelor's degree, four have a master's degree, and one has a PhD.

The Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Applying to UCLA School of Dentistry is a challenging but exciting process. The application process involves several key steps:

AADSAS Application: Applicants must submit their application through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS).
Supplemental Application: In addition to the AADSAS application, applicants must complete the PPID Supplemental application form in order to be considered for admission. Your updated curriculum vitae needs to be resubmitted with the supplemental application. No, all supplemental documents must be received on or before the application deadline.
Letters of Recommendation: A minimum of three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to AADSAS for processing. No. Letters may be from objective sources who are familiar with your accomplishments which can include employers, supervisors where you have volunteered, as well as college teachers, college recommendation committees, college counselors and other appropriate individuals. We will accept up to two additional letters of recommendation. They must be different than those that were submitted to CAAPID. The additional letters must be official and unopened and submitted directly to the Office of Student Services. We do not accept electronic letters. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to CAAPID. Applications with incomplete CAAPID documents will be considered incomplete. The letter of recommendation should be written by the Dean during your time of study. If you are not able to acquire a letter of recommendation from the Dean, then we will accept a verification letter stating you were enrolled in the dental program and received your degree. The letter of verification can be written by the current dean or Registrar's office. If you are still unable to provide a letter of verification from your dental institution then we ask that you submit a statement to the School of Dentistry explaining why you were unable to submit a letter.
Transcripts: Submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. I submitted my ECE course by course report to CAAPID. No.
DAT Scores: Ensure that official DAT scores are submitted through the AADSAS application.

Rolling Admissions: Apply Early

Rolling admissions at the UCLA School of Dentistry means the Admissions Committee reads files and makes decisions on a continual basis. Applicants are informed of decisions between December and the end of April. Although individual decisions are not based on the date the application is received, applicants are urged to apply and complete their files as early as possible.

Holistic Review: Beyond the Numbers

The Admissions Committee at UCLA takes a holistic approach to evaluating applications, considering a wide range of factors beyond GPA and DAT scores. The Committee will consider significant work experience, community involvement, graduate studies, economic or educational disadvantage, rigor of undergraduate major, course load and indications of growth and maturity.

Prerequisites for Admission

Applicants for UCLA’s 4-year DDS program must have at least three years of coursework, with the majority of applicants having four. Likewise, applicants must have at least 90 semester units or 135 quarter units. All required courses must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher and must be completed no later than June 30th of the year you seek admission for. Accredited community college course work is accepted, but limited to only 70 semester or 105 quarter units. Other recommended courses that will be considered in an application are histology, physiology, human or comparative anatomy, social sciences, microbiology, communication, business, composition, technical writing, fine arts, philosophy, engineering, and classics.

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Additional Information for International Applicants

Yes, Effective March 2018, applicant must pass NBDE Part 1 and Part 2 to apply. No. Yes. Yes. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements in each subject section OR have a combined total TOEFL score of 95 or higher for exams taken before January 21, 2026.

Important Considerations for Re-applicants

I applied to the program last year but I was not accepted. Re-applicants must submit a new AADSAS application and pay the supplemental fee again. The decision code for complete files will be set to “Received/ Application Complete.”

Additional Information

No, a minimum of three letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to AADSAS for processing. No, the scores may be posted after December 31, but you must take the exam no later than December 31. No, we do not accept unofficial score reports.

Financial Aid and Housing

No. citizens nor permanent residents do not qualify for financial aid. They must, therefore, secure a private loan to cover the cost of the program.

Where will I live? For a small fee, you can use the UCLA Community Housing Office to assist you in locating an apartment. If you wish to purchase access to their database of housing listings under "Affiliates-Staff, Post-docs, Extension" click "purchase annual membership online". You will need to upload a copy of your acceptance letter when registering. Additionally, there are several online magazines that list apartment rentals on the Internet that are not affiliated with the university: Apartments for Rent, Westside Rentals, Rentable. We recommend that you live within walking, biking, or busing distance from campus. The Big Blue Bus (City of Santa Monica) and the Culver City Bus runs frequently to UCLA. Residents qualify for the discounted tickets.

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Advanced Clinical Training (ACT) Programs and Preceptorships

The Advanced Clinical Training (ACT) Programs have patient treatment as an element of the program, with minimum enrollment of one year. After completion of the ACT Program, the trainee will receive a certificate that is signed by the dean of the School of Dentistry as well as by the individual program’s director. There will be a separate commencement ceremony held in the summer each year for graduates of the ACT Programs. Preceptorships are observer programs.

Commitment to Patient Care

The UCLA Faculty Group Dental Practice is comprised of a team of general practitioners, dental specialists and dental hygienists. Our faculty provides a full range of specialist treatments and preventive services allowing us to meet the diverse needs of patients of all ages. Having specialists as well as general dentists in the same practice enables the team to discuss your individual dental needs and treatment options allowing for efficient and coordinated care. Our practitioners are dedicated educators and researchers that take pride in providing the highest-quality dental care to the UCLA community and general public. Many of our practitioners are highly sought after nationally/internationally for their clinical expertise. We have access to the state-of-the-art technologies in dentistry today. We also have digital radiography, which significantly reduces patient radiation exposure compared to conventional radiographs. In order to provide you with a healthy and safe environment, we have taken every possible precaution to meet or exceed all sterilization guidelines. Patients of the practice should feel confident in knowing that every instrument we use to treat our patients is new, sterilized or disposable. Our steam autoclaves and cassettes systems are closely monitored every day and are also tested once a week by our well established biological sterilizer monitoring program, in association with a licensed commercial company. We also use a 7-stage water purification treatment to produce distilled-quality autoclave and dental water in all our treatment rooms and together with specialized techniques, we eliminate the formation of Biofilm or residues in our water lines. The practice is located on the UCLA Campus next to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Westwood Boulevard. Please note that our Faculty members/practitioners also have teaching and research responsibilities. Their practice is usually limited to 1 - 1.5 days per week for patient care. Please contact us at (310) 794-5750 to schedule an appointment. Your new patient visit will include a comprehensive oral examination with your chosen faculty member and any necessary X-rays will be taken. If you have had recent x-rays in another office, please bring them with you to your new patient appointment. This will help in determining if any additional X-rays are necessary. All other appointments will be scheduled once the examination has been completed. Yes, there is a fee for all exams and specialist consultations. Yes, the practice provides orthodontic services for adults and patients of all ages. Please contact the practice at (310) 794-5750 for all dental emergencies Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Please call (310) 825-6301 and ask for the Hospital Dentistry Resident on call.

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