Frequently Asked Questions
General
The Admissions Process
The DAT
Letters of Recommendation
Application Fee
Advanced Standing/Transfer Students
General
1. Where is the Marquette University School of Dentistry located?
Marquette is Wisconsin’s only dental school and is located in Milwaukee, WI.
2. How many students does Marquette accept?
Each year we matriculate 80 students—40 Wisconsin residents and 40 non-residents.
3. What is the average GPA and DAT scores of your incoming students?
For the 2007 application cycle, our average incoming student has a cumulative GPA of 3.6 and a science GPA of 3.5. The average DAT score was 19.
4. How much does it cost to attend Marquette?
Our fee schedule can be found at http://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/admissions/tuition.shtml
5. Can I visit Marquette?
Anyone interested in visiting the School of Dentistry may schedule an appointment and tour of our facility by contacting Admissions at 1-800-445-5385. Tours are available most weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. There are no tours available on weekends. As appointments for tours do fill quickly, it is recommended that you call for an appointment 2 to 3 weeks in advance.
6. Does Marquette offer a 7-year DDS program?
Marquette offers a 7-year DDS program designed for students entering Marquette University directly from high school. The admissions process for this Pre-Dental Scholars program is handled through Marquette’s Undergraduate Admissions Office. Details of this program can be found at http://www.marquette.edu/student/ugrad/scholarships_predent.shtml
7. Do I need a Bachelor’s degree to get into Marquette?
While a Bachelor’s degree is not required for admission to Marquette, it is generally preferred. Due to the competitive nature of dental school admissions, Marquette rarely takes applicants that have not completed their Bachelor’s degree.
8. Does Marquette accept applications from foreign/international students?
Yes. Foreign/international student applications are considered with the out-of-state students for the 40 non-resident spaces in our class.
9. What graduate specialties does Marquette offer?
At Marquette we offer graduate programs in Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, and Endodontics. The admissions for these programs are handled through our Graduate School, not directly through the School of Dentistry. You can learn more about these programs by clicking on the following link http://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/about/ms.shtml .
10. How do I establish WI residency?
Generally an applicant is considered a WI resident if he/she went to high school in the state of Wisconsin, or has been living in the state for one full calendar year without attending school. Further information can be found at the following link http://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/admissions/residency.shtml .
11. Will an Admissions representative be visiting my school this year?
The majority of our school visits occur in September and October of each year. Some visits occur during the Spring semester as well. Our external visit itinerary will be posted on this website as it becomes confirmed.
The Admissions Process
1. How do I apply to Marquette?
The preferred method of application to Marquette is through the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). You can access their website at the following link http://www.adea.org/DAS/AADSAS/default.htm . In some cases, applicants can apply directly to Marquette using our in-house application. Applicants using the in-house application are cautioned that they will be required to submit all supporting credentials, including official transcripts, directly to Marquette. Students that apply through the “in-house” application are NOT given preferential treatment. If you wish to use the in-house application, you will need to call our office at 1-800-445-5385 and request that one be sent to you through the US Mail.
2. What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for our DDS program is January 1st. While we will accept application materials until January 1st, students who have their credential files complete (including official DAT scores) in our office by September 1st will receive optimum consideration. The best time to apply is during the summer months between your junior and senior years of undergrad.
3. How can I find out the status of my application?
Applicants can obtain updates on the status of their application by calling our office at 1-800-445-5385 or emailing us at dentaladmit@mu.edu . Additionally, the Admissions office will make every effort to update the AADSAS web portal in a timely manner.
4. Does Marquette require interviews?
The Admissions Committee selects which candidates it wishes to interview and sends out interview invitations beginning in early September. The interviews take place annually in October and November. Interviews are offered by invitation only. It is extremely difficult for an applicant to be admitted if he/she has not been interviewed during the fall interview cycle. Occasionally (if necessary) the Admissions Committee will do additional interviews in the spring. It is possible to be added to the alternate pool without an interview.
5. When will a decision be made on my file?
The Admissions Committee sends out initial offers of admission and denials on December 1. After December 1, the Admission Committee will make decision on a rolling basis.
6. Does Marquette retain application materials between cycles?
Yes. We retain letters of recommendation and DAT scores and will carry those over to the next year should the applicant choose to reapply. The applicant will need to submit a new application and new application fee each year they apply.
7. Do I need to complete all of my prerequisite coursework before I apply to Marquette?
Applicants are welcome to apply to dental school while their prerequisite coursework is in progress. If an applicant were to be accepted into the class, his/her offer of admission would be contingent upon satisfactory completion of all prerequisite coursework.
8. It is possible to defer admissions?
Generally, deferments are granted on a case-by-case basis, as determined by our Admissions Committee. Deferments have been granted in the past, but it is not an overly common practice. Our deferment policy can be viewed here.
9. In addition to grades, what makes an applicant competitive?
Admissions decisions are based on many factors. Having a strong orientation to the dental profession due to direct dental experience and solid recommendation letters is certainly important, but a candidate's trend of performance over time is considered first and foremost. Another major issue is the timing of the application. For optimum consideration, we should receive your completed credential file before September 1. If an applicant’s file is received too late to receive consideration for the fall interview cycle, his/her chances of being selected for admission are severely compromised.
DAT
1. What is the minimum DAT score required?
Our Admissions Committee does not require or request that an applicant retake the DAT provided that he/she has achieved a 14 or higher in every subsection. That being said, our average incoming student generally posts scores of 17 or higher in every subsection.
2. What is the average DAT score for an incoming dental student?
Our average DAT scores can be viewed in our profile.
3. Can I submit my unofficial DAT results directly to Marquette by fax?
Yes. The fax number is (414) 288-6505. We will keep these unofficial results in your file until your official results are received from the ADA. This takes approximately three weeks from the date of the test.
4. Does Marquette accept the Canadian DAT?
Yes.
5. Where do I take the DAT?
Information about scheduling your test can be found at the following link http://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/admissions/dat.shtml .
6. Do I have to take the DAT before I apply to Marquette?
No, you do not have to take the DAT before you apply, but you should have taken the test and submitted the scores to the Admissions Office by September 1. It is suggested that an applicant initially take the DAT in late May of their junior year to allow ample time to retake the test (if necessary) in advance of September 1.
7. How do I submit my DAT scores to Marquette?
If you are taking the test for the first time, you can select Marquette (#98) from the list of schools to which you want your scores reported. If you did not select Marquette initially when you took your test, you can request to have official scores sent to us via the form at the following link https://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/online/index.asp .
8. If I take the DAT multiple times, which score do you consider when reviewing my application?
While the Admissions Committee can see the scores of all tests, they only consider the most recent scores. Therefore, students that choose to retake the DAT assume some risk by retaking.
Letters of Recommendation
1. How many letters of recommendation does Marquette require?
Marquette requires 3 letters of recommendation. Two of those letters should come from science professors, and the third can come from a person of the applicant’s choice. If a non-traditional applicant is unable to secure letters from professors, letters from employers will suffice. A Committee letter can be submitted in lieu of three individual letters.
2. Can I submit more than 3 letters?
Yes, the Admissions Committee at Marquette will accept more than three letters. AADSAS will process no more than 4 letters for a given applicant.
3. Can I send my letters directly to Marquette? To what address?
Applicants can send letters directly to Marquette if they choose to do so. Letters should be sent to the following address:
Brian Trecek
Marquette University School of Dentistry Admissions Office
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
4. Does Marquette accept Committee letters?
Yes. Committee letters may be submitted in lieu of three individual letters.
Application Fee
1. How much is Marquette’s application fee?
Marquette’s application fee is $45. The $45 dollars must be paid via check or money order.
2. How should I pay my application fee? Can I pay it over the phone or online?
The Admissions Office does not accept payment over the phone or online. The application fee should be paid by check or money order.
3. To whom do I make my check/money order payable?
Marquette University
4. To what address should I send my application fee?
Fees should be sent to the following address:
Brian Trecek
Marquette University School of Dentistry Admissions Office
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
5. Am I required to send in my application fee?
The $45 fee required by the Admissions Office is our fee for the processing of your file. It is a required part of your credential file.
Advanced Standing/Transfer Students
1. Does Marquette offer an Advanced Standing Program for foreign-trained dentists?
Marquette offers an Advanced Standing program on a space-available basis. Details about the program can be found at the following link http://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/admissions/foreign.shtml .
2. Does Marquette accept transfer students from other US dental schools?
Marquette occasionally accepts applications from students wishing to transfer after their first year of dental school. Transfers are taken on a space-available basis, and are required to complete three years of study at Marquette. Information on the application process for transfer students can be found at the following link: http://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/admissions/transfer.shtml .
|
