Predental Studies
Predental students gain the strong foundation on which to build their studies at a dental school, leading to successful careers in the burgeoning health industry.
Students are admitted directly into this program.Program Overview
Dental schools accept students with various majors; predental students at GVSU commonly choose biomedical sciences, biology, biochemistry, or behavioral neuroscience. Students are assigned an advisor to guide them in preparing for professional school and completing the prerequisite coursework to score well on the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
Grand Valley students are exceptionally competitive. In Fall 2023, 67 percent of Grand Valley students were accepted to dental school. Nationally, 54 percent of applicants to dental school were accepted.
The preprofessional advising team in the CLAS Academic Advising Center is prepared to help students achieve their dreams of dental school.
Why Pursue Predental Studies at Grand Valley?
- Predental students at GVSU have access to state-of-the-art labs, including a cadaver lab, that provide unique and rigorous preparation for dental school.
- The preprofessional advising team maintains a robust preprofessional website to help students find various resources and connect to shadowing and volunteer opportunities. The team also coordinates various workshops and events throughout the year, in coordination with the GVSU Career Center, to support predental students, including a healthcare experience panel, professional and graduate school fairs, personal statement workshops, and dental school interview preparation.
- Students are able to join the PreDental Club at GVSU, which connects students with dental school admission representatives, current dental students (GVSU alumni), volunteer and other networking opportunities.
- Predental students are provided with a high level of support through the dental school application process, through one-on-one advising, webinars/workshops, and application review services.
Location & Format
Undergraduate students in this major study at the Grand Valley Allendale Campus.
Format:- Face To Face
Coursework
Grand Valley offers all the courses necessary to gain admission to dental school and prepare fully for the DAT, including:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Art (sculpting and metalsmithing)
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Business
- General chemistry
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Organic chemistry
- Social science and humanities
- Communication
Career Options
Predental students who graduate from GVSU and are successful in being admitted to dental school go on to hold positions such as:
- General Dentist
- Oral Surgeon
- Orthodontist
- Periodontist
Those not going on to dental school find careers as a:
- Biochemist
- Research assistant
- Laboratory assistant
- Hospital administrator
- Clinical research associate
- Health care recruiter
Combined Degree Programs
Most undergraduate majors that predental students pursue can be combined with a master's degree if a student decides they would like to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree before starting dental school. On average, students save $8,500 in our combined degree programs and take up to four fewer classes than if earning the degrees separately.
You can even build your own combined degree from programs in different disciplines to further personalize your education and meet specific career goals.
Admission Requirements
Visit the Admissions website for undergraduate requirements.
Helpful Links
For More Information
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
253000xa.com/clasadvising
C-1-120-MAK
(616) 331-8585
[email protected]