| Q. |
How can I get an application for admission? |
| A. |
Applications are now available exclusively
online. You can access our online application via the "Apply
Online" link from the DMD Admissions Procedures pages,
or by going to the URL secure.dentistry.ubc.ca. |
| |
|
| Q. |
When is the application deadline? |
| A. |
In 2011, our application deadline is November 4, 2011, the DAT exam is held in November, and application would be for admission into the 2012/13 academic year. See our website for exact deadline dates. |
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|
| Q. |
Can I send my credentials (i.e. transcripts, letters
of reference, and test scores) ahead of my application? |
| A. |
Yes. These credentials are filed in our "holding"
file and later matched with your application. They are filed
by name so please be sure to let us know if any of your credentials
refer to your previous name(s). |
| |
|
| Q. |
Are you on rolling admissions? |
| A. |
No. |
| |
|
| Q. |
When are offers of admission made? |
| A. |
Offers are usually made in early March. For applicants
who will not complete their pre-dental requirements until
April of the year of application, a conditional offer of admission
will be made in early March. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How many applications does the Faculty receive each
year? |
| A. |
We receive approximately
300-350
applications each year. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How many students are accepted each year? |
| A. |
The Faculty accepts
students into the First Year Dentistry
class each year. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Does the Faculty accept International students? |
| A. |
No. The Faculty only accepts Canadian Citizens or Landed
Immigrants/Permanent Residents of Canada into the 1st year
of the dental program. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Is the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) required? |
| A. |
Yes. A minimum score of 12 must be obtained on the carving
portion of the exam for your application to be considered. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Do you accept the U.S. DAT? |
| A. |
No. We only accept the Canadian DAT. |
| |
|
| Q. |
For how long is the DAT score valid? |
| A. |
The DAT is valid for 5 years. |
| |
|
| Q. |
If I write the DAT more than once, which results are
used? |
| A. |
The best overall test results are used, as long as the
tests were taken within the last five years. However, we will
not take individual scores from different tests to create
the best score in each category. |
| |
|
| Q. |
What components of the DAT does the Admissions Committee
consider? |
| A. |
The Admissions Committee considers the Academic Average,
the Perceptual Aptitude Test and the Carving components of
the DAT. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Can I send updates on transcripts after my application
has been completed? |
| A. |
Only the information submitted by the application deadline
is used to select students for interviews and acceptance.
If you are offered a conditional acceptance, you must send
us your final transcripts at the end of May. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Which program of study should I enroll in to prepare
for dental school? |
| A. |
There is no preferred program of study as preparation for
dental school. You should choose a program that will help
you achieve an alternate career choice, should you be unsuccessful
in pursuing admission into dental school. |
| |
|
| Q. |
When am I eligible to apply to the Faculty of Dentistry? |
| A. |
Applicants who have successfully completed a minimum of
90 UBC credits or the equivalent of three years of full-time
courses in any degree program at a recognized university and
who have completed the required prerequisite courses are eligible
to apply. Applicants who will complete these requirements
by April of the academic year in which they apply are also
eligible to apply, but if accepted they will receive an offer
of admission that is conditional upon completion of the required
courses. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Are people with previous dental degrees eligible to
apply to the UBC program? |
| A. |
No. There is a special program for dentists who have obtained
their degree in a country outside of Canada and the United
States. Please click on the "International
Dental Degree Completion Program" for more information. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Is there any special consideration given to applicants
with graduate degrees? |
| A. |
No. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Is it possible to transfer into the UBC dental program? |
| A. |
The Faculty no longer considers advanced standing applicants
from other Canadian and U.S. dental schools. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Do you require a minimum academic standing to apply? |
| A. |
Yes. The minimum academic standing required is 70% or 2.8/4.33
(SFU) or 4.5/9 (UVic). Due to the large number of applicants,
the competitive average is often much higher than 70%. See
our Entrance
Statistics for details. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Which years are used to calculate the grade point average? |
| A. |
The overall GPA is calculated on all university level courses.
For students who have completed 4 or more years, we will drop
your worst year as long as it consists of at least 24 credits
and is not your most recent year. |
| |
|
| Q. |
I have IB/AP credits, how are these handled? |
| A. |
The minimum grade required for IB credit in Biology
or Chemistry is 6. The minimum required for AP credit in
Biology and Chemistry is 4. If you have a grade of 5 in
IB or 4 in AP in English, you may be eligible to take the
First Year English exemption test. If you received lower
scores than those listed and received credit at another
university, you cannot assume you will receive credit at
UBC. |
| |
|
| Q. |
I attended a University in Ontario and was not required
to take English. Can I use my OAC (Grade 13) English credits;
to meet the requirement? |
| A. |
No. OAC courses are not considered to be at the university
level. No credit will be granted for these courses. |
| |
|
| Q. |
I have completed a Bachelor of Science degree but do
not have the English requirement. Do I have to return to university
to take English? |
| A. |
No. If you have a degree you can take the English
Exemption Test which is administered by our English
Department at UBC. You should contact the English Department
directly for further information on taking this test. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Why does UBC require Biochemistry as a prerequisite? |
| A. |
Biochemistry provides background necessary to master
many of the topics covered in the initial phases of the
curriculum. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Is it acceptable to attend university on a part-time
basis, and still be considered for admission to dentistry? |
| A. |
There should be some indication in your academic record
that you are able to handle a full-time course load. The
Committee recommends that you complete a full course load
(24-30 credits) in the first 4 years of university. |
| |
|
| Q. |
My school uses a very tough marking scheme. Will I get
credit for the difficulty of the program? |
| A. |
No. For the purposes of assessing eligibility and selection
for interview we do not attempt to adjust the GPA for degree
of difficulty of the program. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How will my graduate degree be used in the GPA calculation? |
| A. |
The results of your graduate program will be included
in the overall average. |
| |
|
| Q. |
If I have a bad year, will it be used in the GPA calculation? |
| A. |
The worst year (must be at least 24 credits) is dropped
for students who have completed 4 or more years of university
as long as it is not your most recent year. |
| |
|
| Q. |
What criteria is used to select candidates? |
| A. |
Overall academic record, DAT results, letters of reference,
personal essay, work experience, volunteer work, extra-curricular
activities, interview results, and PBL assessment. |
| |
|
| Q. |
What qualifies an applicant for an interview? |
| A. |
The Committee offers an interview to
short-listed applicants. Candidates
are selected based on their overall academic record, DAT
results,
letters of reference, personal essays, work experience, volunteer
work, and extra-curricular activities. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How many interviews may I have? |
| A. |
Applicants are limited to a maximum of two interviews taken
under the revised CDA structured interview format. UBC began
using this revised interview format in February/March 2001. |
| |
|
| Q. |
How many PBL sessions may I participate in? |
| A. |
Applicants are limited to a maximum of two PBL sessions. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Can I be invited to the Open House if I have attended two interviews and PBL sessions? |
| A. |
You are not required to attend the Open House if you have already attended two interviews and PBL sessions. Your best score for the interview and PBL sessions will be used to evaluate your application. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Is there a limit to the number of times I can apply? |
| A. |
No. You can apply as many times as you like. |
| |
|
| Q. |
I am not a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Immigrant, what
are my chances of admission? |
| A. |
Only Canadian Citizens and Landed Immigrants/ Permanent
Residents of Canada are eligible to apply to the 1st year
of the DMD program. |
| |
|
| Q. |
Do you have quotas for mature students, students with
degrees, specific program, place of residence, etc? |
| A. |
No, we do not have a "special" or "mature"
category. All applicants are considered equally. |
