Aspiring pre-health students who have an interest in oral healthcare and preventing oral pathologies often hope to become dentists one day. However, getting into dental school is not as easy as it seems. There is a very rigorous one-year application process that consists of writing and submitting a primary application, supplemental essays and interviewing. According to the admissions statistics from the American Dental Association (ADA) for the year of 2018-2019, only 55.3% of dental school applicants were admitted into the 66 accredited dental schools in the US. With each dental school having its own set of requirements and admissions criteria for acceptance, obtaining a MS in Biomedicine at Eastern Mennonite University will give applicants a competitive edge.

Hands-on experience with cadavers

It is rare for a pre-health student to have experienced cadavers in their collegiate education. The Anatomy & Physiology cadaver lab helps many students not only get comfortable with dissecting but also helps build manual dexterity, which is required from pre-dental students. Manual dexterity is the ability to use your hands in a skillful, coordinated way to grasp and manipulate objects and demonstrate small, precise movement. Past pre-medical and pre-dental alumni have expressed gratitude towards being able to improve upon their hand-eye coordination and ambidexterity through the hands on experience that cadavers offered. 

Networking with alumni who are current dental students

Students in the program can contact past alumni to ask any questions about the application process as well as dental school. Being in a close-knit community of students, many of the past alumni are eager to help as much as possible which makes it extremely beneficial for the current students. Previous MS in Biomedicine graduates have gone on to attend VCU School of Dentistry and Howard School of Dentistry. 

Shadowing local dentist

EMU is located in heart of the Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg with plenty of dentists in the area to shadow. Many of the dentists are also affiliated with EMU, giving the MS in Biomedicine student an advantage when completing shadowing hour requirements. The program also has a practicum component added in the program, where a student is required to shadow a doctor, dentist, PA, etc. for 40 hours over the summer.

Biomedical research

Although not always a requirement, having research experience may be advantageous in creating a competitive dental application. When many students think of research, they automatically think of laboratory-based bench research. However, students of the MS in Biomedicine program are able to be involved in a plethora of other research experiences some of which include: clinical, social science, and epidemiological. Pre-dental track students in the past have done lab research on topics such as “the effect of kombucha on a cow tooth” as well as social research on topics like “determining the link between smile symmetry and character perception at Eastern Mennonite University.” 

Challenging courses that prepare you for dental school

Courses a student takes in the program are a great introduction of courses in dental school. The program requires you to work hard with challenging assignments, exams, and presentations. It is through the rigors of the program that a student can build a good work ethic. Although the classes are challenging, EMU also has a 12:1 student to facility ratio which makes the professor readily accessible to students.

DAT prep courses

The DAT can a big hurdle for a pre-dental students. It is seen as a monster of exams and requires 2-4 months of preparation on average. When taking challenging classes, it can be hard to start studying for the DAT.  The MS in Biomedicine program has a DAT prep course added as a part of the curriculum. This allows students to take a lighter course load that semester to study for the DAT. With the program advisor doing regular check-ins, you are required to keep on top of your studying for the DAT.

Cross-cultural experience

As a dentist, you’re bound to have patients from all different walks of life. As a MS in Biomedicine student, after your second semester, you spend 3 weeks in a different country learning about their healthcare system as well as delving deep into the culture of the country. This past summer, 2^nd year MS in biomedicine student went to Peru, where the pre-dental students were able to shadow and work with the local dentists as well as visit, tour and learn about a dental school in Lima, Peru.

Peer support of your peer

One of the main aspects that separates this program from many others is the camaraderie among the students. Students often collaborate on assignments, projects, and study for exams with each other. Not only does this help students form a long-standing relationship with each other, but it also helps hold each other accountable to get the work done.

Committee Letter Recommendation

If you’ve successfully completed one or two years of the program, the pre-health advising committee at the school will send a committee letter/packet for your application. This can be a huge advantage as you wouldn’t have to wait on individual letters from professors.

Overall, EMU’s MS in Biomedicine not only prepares a pre-dental student for the rigors of dental school but also provides various resources so they can stand out during the application process. Each student is given individualized attention so they can put their best foot forward. That being said, the program is CHALLENGING and will require you to give your greatest effort. If you know dentistry is the path you wish to pursue and you’re ready to give your 110%  then EMU’s MS in Biomedicine will make sure you get to your goals.

Resources

• The Importance of Manual Dexterity, https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Application_Prep/Preparing_for_Dental_School/The_Importance_of_Manual_Dexterity.aspx.
• “How to Get Into Dental School and Become a Dentist.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/how-to-get-into-dental-school-and-become-a-dentist.
• (n.d.). photograph. Retrieved from https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-1009293413-cartoon-gums-white-baby-teeth-molar-tooth