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.
Program Overview
Dental schools accept students with a variety of different majors. Predental students can choose any major while completing the prerequisite coursework they need to score well on the Dental Admission Test.
Grand Valley students are exceptionally competitive. In Fall 2022, 67 percent of Grand Valley students were accepted to dental school on their first application. Nationally in 2020, 54 percent of applicants to dental school were accepted.
The preprofessional advising team 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 to support predental students, including a suture clinic, a healthcare experience panel, professional and graduate school fairs, personal statement workshops, and mock mini-interviews.
- 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's predental program offers all the courses necessary to gain admission to dental school and prepare fully for the DAT, including:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Art (sculpting, woodworking, sewing)
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Business
- Communication
- General chemistry
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Organic chemistry
- Social science and humanities
- Calculus
Career Options
Predental studies prepares students for dental school, and they go on to hold positions such as:
- General Dentist
- Oral Surgeon
- Orthodontist
- Periodontist
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
gvsu.edu/clasadvising
C-1-120-MAK
(616) 331-8585
[email protected]