FASTFACTS

  • The median pay for dentists was $159,200 in 2019.
  • Get assigned to a chemistry, biochemistry or biology advisor at new student orientation.
  • Work with the Career Services Office often so that you can get internships at local dentist offices.
  • The projected percent change in employment for dentists from 2018 to 2028 is 7%. This rate is faster than average for occupations.

Fulfilling Your Dental School Requirements

You can major in anything as a pre-dental student as long as you fulfill your dental school requirements. Each dental school has a list of prerequisite courses that you must take to apply to the school. You should look at those required courses as early as you can when you’re at PC. But don’t worry: You’re never alone during the process. Your advisor will help you navigate and plan.

According to the American Dental Association, you should begin completing your biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry requirements during your freshman and sophomore years. You can wait until your junior year to take physics. Although not required, it’s recommended that you also take eight hours in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, cell biology, and genetics.

Dental school doesn’t require only science classes. You’ll also need to take six hours of math and English. Your pre-dental advisor will also recommend that you take a psychology course as well as a course in business, finance, or accounting.

While you’re at PC, you’ll have opportunities to practice taking the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and interviewing for admission to dental schools. If you want to graduate from PC and go straight into dental school, you’ll need to apply to dental school during  the spring or summer before your senior year at PC. You should plan on taking the DAT the summer before your junior year, although most students wait until later. You’ll interview for admission to dental school sometime between September and February of your senior year.

MORE INFORMATION

If you have other questions about the program, please contact email, Dr. Austin Shull, at ayshull@presby.edu or call 1-800-476-7272.


How You’ll Prepare for Dental School Outside the Classroom

At Presbyterian College, shadowing, experiential learning and service opportunities will help prepare you for dental school and prove your dedication to a career in dentistry.

EXPERIENCE #1

The Pre-Dental Club is a great option for pre-dental students to support one another and gain exposure to the dental profession.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amerat.

EXPERIENCE #2

Interning at dentists' offices lets you learn from different dentists while showing dental school that you're committed to the career.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amerat.

EXPERIENCE #3

Joining various organizations on campus and holding leadership positions lets dental schools know that you can balance schoolwork with other obligations. PC's chapters of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Society For Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB) are two chemistry organizations that you can join.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amerat.

EXPERIENCE #4

Volunteering shows dental schools your desire to help others. You can volunteer with the PreDental Club, the ACS, ASBMB, Student Volunteer Services, other groups, or on your own.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amerat.


Career Outlook for Dentists

Several PC graduates have gone on to earn or are still currently pursuing their Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degrees. Many are working as dentists.

Emily Phillips ’16 and Tannor Byrd ’20 earned biochemistry degrees and are now at the James B. Edwards College Of Dental Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Darcy Nirenstein ’17 and Bardin Davis ’18 earned chemistry degrees before going to MUSC. Another chemistry graduate, Michael Nicholson ’14 is practicing general dentistry at the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Allison Jenkins recently earned a biology degree from PC and is pursuing a DMD at MUSC. Peter Heitman ’15 earned a biology degree from PC and his DMD from MUSC.  He now practices general dentistry in the U.S. Army. Biology graduate Jared Tavernier owns and operates a family dentistry.

According to the BLS, most dentists are general practitioners and handle many dental needs. Some dentists specialize in certain areas and must complete additional training before practicing in those areas.

James Wilson ’12 earned his bachelor’s degree from PC and DMD from MUSC before earning a Master of Science in Oral Biology. He’s now serving in a periodontics residency.

After taking the same route at PC and MUSC, Danielle Gill served in an oral and maxillofacial surgery internship, residency, and then fellowship. She’s now an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

The median pay for dentists was $159,200 in 2019. The projected percent change in employment for dentists from 2018 to 2028 is 7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This rate is faster than average for occupations.

CAREER PROFESSIONS

  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here
  • List Items Here