DDS Application Procedures

Expand All

DDS application procedures All applicants must apply through the TMDSAS

Please note: All applicants must also submit the College of Dentistry's Secondary Application.   All applicants will receive an emailed invitation to complete the required Secondary Application once their TMDSAS Application has been received by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. 
To apply to the program leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree the applicant should:
Access full information and the online application at the website for Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.

Timetable for filing application:
Earliest date: May 1, year prior to desired admission
Latest date: Application Deadline is October 1 in year prior to desired admission.

It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.

DDS application procedures Application Fees

The TMDSAS has a flat fee; we recommend applying to all 4 Texas dental colleges. Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires a secondary application but charges no additional processing fee.

As of Spring 2026, the application fee is a non-refundable, flat fee of $230.00 and is payable by credit card only.

TMDSAS does not grant application fee waivers.

DDS application procedures Secondary Application

Texas A&M College of Dentistry requires the submission of a secondary application. The Secondary Application will be available for electronic submission once the TMDSAS Application has been received by the Office of Recruitment and Admission.  All applicants will receive an emailed link to access the Secondary Application.
The application for admission is not complete until the secondary application is submitted.

DDS application procedures Screening of Applications

Our commitment in the admissions process is to acquire information that speaks to the potential of an applicant to serve with sensitivity and proficiency as a dental or dental hygiene professional. The following questionnaire provides valuable information about factors that may have impacted your personal or academic progress. Along with your personal statement in the main application it gives us insight into significant accomplishments that are not evident from examination of statistics of academic history or standardized test scores.

The applicant may be invited for an interview with the Admissions Committee. Interviews are scheduled by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. Although an official interview is not granted to all applicants, the College of Dentistry gladly provides complete information and counseling for all prospective students. Visits to the campus are offered during the spring semester.

The quality of academic achievement is the first point of consideration. The grade point average (GPA) and the Dental Admission Test (DAT) are the primary factors used in this evaluation. The interview with the Admissions Committee gives the opportunity for evaluation of non cognitive factors. Preference is given to residents of Texas and the surrounding states which do not have a college of dentistry. Consideration of any factors that may have impacted academic or personal history is important in interview selection and final acceptance decisions. Additionally, applicants seeking to enter dental school must be able to perform the essential functions required to complete the curriculum successfully.

Read the Essential Functions for Matriculation and Continuance in the Clinical Programs

DDS application procedures The “Whole File” Review

A comprehensive (whole-file review) of the application is performed to reveal characteristics critical to the practice of dentistry, factors that indicate success in the dental curriculum that are not evident from academic history or standardized test performance, and potential for future contributions to the dental profession. They include:

• Motivation to pursue a career in dentistry.
• Involvement in community service.
• Observation or involvement in a dental office or clinic.
• Involvement in a summer pre-dental preparatory program.
• Letters of evaluation.
• Communication capabilities including writing (as evidenced in personal statement) and conversational English proficiency.
• Region of Texas in which applicant resides. Ideally, all regions are represented by the student body.
• Residence in a Texas county designated as underserved by dental health professionals.
• Employment while attending college.
• Preparation to attend and succeed in post-secondary education.
• Applicant is first college attendee in his/her immediate family.
• History of extreme hardship.
• Leadership positions held in societies or organizations.
• Multilingual capabilities.

DDS application procedures Strengthening the Application

The application for admission to Texas A&M College of Dentistry may be strengthened by the following:

• Keep the GPA as high as possible
• Make above average scores in all areas of the DAT
• Upper-division biological science courses similar to those taken by the first-year dental students.
• Give careful attention to details in filing the application - apply early
• Ensure your personal statement explains your motivation for pursuing dentistry, including personal and academic achievements, hardships overcome and other factors that affected personal or academic progress
• Observation in a general practice dental office is required.
• Participate in activities to improve manual dexterity
• Take advantage of opportunities for community service
• Evaluate and be able to articulate your skills, abilities, attitudes, etc. to determine if you are motivated to make the commitment required for a career in dentistry.

DDS application procedures International Students

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and/or who have earned degrees at foreign institutions can be eligible for admission provided that they have completed:

• At least 90 credit hours of college course work including the prerequisites for dental school in a fully accredited college or university in the United States, or
• Earned a baccalaureate degree in a fully accredited college or university in the United States.

Preference is given to Texas residents, who are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents or who are in the process of gaining U.S. permanent residency by the time of dental school enrollment. (Official documentation will be required at the time of dental school application and before matriculation.)

International students with graduate or professional degrees are considered for admission only to the first-year dental class, regardless of the degrees held.

Canadian students are considered for admission provided they have successfully completed 90 credit hours or earned a baccalaureate degree at a fully accredited Canadian college or university.
International students should check with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners to verify their eligibility for obtaining a dental license in the State of Texas.

If you have any questions you may contact the Office of Recruitment and Admissions at (214) 828-8231.

Our office address is:

Office of Recruitment and Admissions
Texas A&M College of Dentistry
3302 Gaston Avenue, AEB Room 100
Dallas, TX 75246-2013
USA

DDS application procedures Guidelines for Admission with Advanced Standing Transfer Students

Applicants who have not earned a dental degree will be considered for transfer with advanced standing subject to the following requirements:

1.  All applications must be submitted no later than October 1 of the year prior to anticipated entry. Applications must be complete to be considered.
2.  Admissions will be contingent upon space availability in the designated class.
3.  Applicants must have attended or be attending a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association in order to be considered.
4.  Applicants must have predental records that are within the range of acceptability for our first-year class.
5.  Applicants must be in good academic standing at their present school.
6.  Preference is given to those applicants with high academic achievements.
7.  Preference is given to those applicants from Texas or the surrounding states.
8.  Applicants must have a valid, compelling reason for seeking transfer. Financial considerations alone are not considered valid.
9.  Applicants should be from a school having a curriculum similar to the College of Dentistry. We can not dedicate significant resources and faculty time to make up the differences in broadly different curricula.

Applicants fulfilling the requirements listed above will have their record reviewed by the Admissions Committee. If acceptable, they will be asked to report for an interview with the Admissions Committee and an evaluation by the appropriate department chairmen of the school.

Applicants who prove to be satisfactory to the faculty, department chairmen and the Admissions Committee will be accepted into our regular prescribed course of study leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.  The level of entry will be determined by the Admissions Committee in consultation with the department chairmen, but in no case will the level be more advanced than the beginning of the second year of studies.

Items to be submitted to the Office of Recruitment and Admissions:

1.  Completed application form.
2.  Official transcripts from all post secondary academic institutions attended including a dental school transcript.
3.  Official Dental Admissions Test scores.
4.  Official National Board scores (if applicable).
5.  Letters of recommendation from the dean of the dental school attended, from a basic science and a clinical science department chairman or course director.
6.  Copies of the curriculum for years completed with course descriptions.

If you have any questions you may contact the Office of Recruitment and Admissions at (214) 828-8231.

Our office address is:

Office of Recruitment and Admissions
Texas A&M College of Dentistry
3302 Gaston Avenue, AEB Room 100
Dallas, TX 75246-2013
USA