Application Process - DMD

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The Director of Admissions is the primary contact for students making applications to LMU-CDM.

ADEA AADSAS Application

LMU-CDM participates in a centralized application service, the ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS). The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) offers prospective students a convenient, centralized on-line application service for accredited dental schools. Through ADEA AADSAS, students can file one electronic application. ADEA AADSAS then verifies and distributes the information to each of the colleges designated by the applicant. AACOMAS can be reached at www.adea.org.

Admissions Requirements by Pathway of Entry

Required Undergraduate Courses:

  • General Biology: 8 semester hours (including lecture and lab)
  • Inorganic (General) Chemistry: 8 semester hours (including lecture and lab)
  • Organic Chemistry: 8 semester hours (including lecture and lab)
  • Physics: 8 semester hours (including lecture and lab)
  • English: 8 semester hours

Note: Labs are required in all science prerequisites unless otherwise noted.

Recommended Undergraduate Courses:

  • Anatomy and Physiology: 4 semester hours
  • Biochemistry: 4 semester hours
  • Cellular & Molecular Biology: 4 semester hours
  • Histology: 4 semester hours


Direct Freshman Entry – BS to DMD
This pathway is appropriate for high school seniors applying to LMU who would like to complete their Bachelor of Science (Biology, Chemistry, or Pre-Health Professions Track) and DMD degree in 8 years via the BS/DMD degree path.

These students must meet the following criteria for undergraduate admissions:

Required Entrance Test(s):

  • For high school seniors, either the ACT or SAT to determine eligibility to take biology and chemistry courses. Students applying to the Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) program must possess a cumulative high school GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Minimum Score on Required Entrance Test(s): ACT of 25+ or SAT of 1250

Students Must Satisfy the Following Requirements for Guaranteed Admissions:

High School Seniors:

  • Complete the LMU College of Dental Medicine Application for Admissions
  • Initial Admissions Interview with LMU-CDM Admissions Committee (During Senior Year)
  • 1000-word essay – How you arrived at this career goal.
  • Two letters of reference attesting to community service and leadership ability addressing character and other skills (from non-relatives)
  • Overall Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.3
    • Required GPA in Undergraduate Major: Student must maintain at least a 3.3 (science) and 3.2 (non-science) GPA
    • Minimum GPA for each Required Course: A C+ is the minimum grade need for all required courses. However, a “B” or better is generally needed.
  • Required Technical Standards and Competencies for Program Admission:
    • DAT – Dental Aptitude Test (can be no more than one year old): Student must score a 19 or better
    • 60 Observation/Shadowing Hours in a General Dentist’s Office
    • Chalk/Soap Carving Exercise: Student Must Score a Minimum of 7/12
  • During the summer before the last year of college, the student will apply to LMU-CDM through the ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS) for admissions to the DMD program with three letters of recommendation. The student will be required to complete the supplemental application and meet for a second interview with the LMU-CDM Admissions Committee.
  • Applicants must pass the Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine criminal background check.
  • Applicants must be drug-free, as evidenced through required drug-testing (completed upon offer of admission).

LMU-CDM Technical Standards for Admissions and Retention
Candidates for admission must also have abilities and skills in five areas: I) Observation; II) Communication; III) Motor; IV) Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative; and V) Behavioral and Social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitations in certain areas, but candidates should perform in a reasonably independent manner (Technical Standards). 

  1. Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced by the functional use of all other senses.
  2. Communication: The candidate must communicate effectively, efficiently, and sensitively in both oral and written form and perceive nonverbal communication.
  3. Motor: The candidate must coordinate both gross and fine muscular movements, maintain equilibrium, and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks.
  4. Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem- solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record, and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three- dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
  5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required to utilize his/her intellectual abilities fully, the exercise of good judgment, the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. The candidate must tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness, and ability to function as an effective team player, and interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process.

Students must attest to the ability to meet technical requirements. Any student seeking accommodation must follow Lincoln Memorial University's established process through the Department of Student Services. No accommodation is available for preclinical and clinical courses.

Post-baccalaureate Degree Entry
To qualify for entry via this pathway, students must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year institution. Prerequisites and recommended courses align with those of previous pathways.

  1. Complete the Associated American Dental Schools Application through ADEA (AADSA ADEA) and the LMU College of Dental Medicine Supplementary Application.
  2. At a minimum, applicants must report both a science and a cumulative GPA over 3.00 (although over 3.33 will be generally competitively necessary) on a 4.00 scale and a plan leading to a bachelor's degree before matriculation. Minimum science and cumulative GPAs of 3.33 on a 4.00 scale are required.
  3.  Applicants must submit competitive scores on the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT). An Average Academic score of 19 or higher and a Reading Comprehension score of 19 or higher is desired. The DAT must have been taken no more than three years before the application.
  4. Three letters of recommendation are required. One must be from either a predental advisory committee or a science professor; the College of Dental Medicine prefers other letters to be written by either a dental or medical professional or someone who can attest to the applicant's integrity and ethical standards. Letters written by immediate family members will not be accepted. All letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to the school by those completing the letters. The Office of Admissions will not accept letters submitted by students.
  5. Complete 60 observation/shadowing hours before entering the DMD program.
  6. Applicants must demonstrate a genuine understanding of, and interest in, the humanitarian ethos of health care, particularly dental medicine.
  7. Applicants should reflect a people and service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
  8. Applicants should reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous salaried work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
  9. Applicants must possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues. Directions for the required essay submission will be provided before scheduling an interview.
  10. Applicants must pass the Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine criminal background check.
  11. Applicants must be drug-free, as evidenced through required drug-testing (completed upon offer of admission).
  12. In addition to students' GPA and DAT scores, prospective students granted an interview would participate in a chalk/soap carving exercise. This exercise will take thirty-five minutes and the carvings evaluated by the Admissions Committee. These results will be used as an adjunct to the GPA and DAT in the selection process. Students must score a minimum of 7 out of 12 to be eligible for admissions to the College of Dental Medicine program.

Admissions criteria are weighted with an emphasis on academic performance will account for about 1/3 of the final score, which includes science GPAs, nonscience GPAs, cumulative GPAs, number of hours completed per semester or quarter, and institution(s) attended. The DAT scores and the chalk/soap carving exercise results will account for about 1/3 of the final score. Motivation, experience, recommendations, community service experience, and the interview evaluation will account for about 1/3 of the final score. The ranking formula, the weighting, and the scoring will be analyzed and reviewed before each admission cycle by the Admissions Committee (Applicant Ranking Plan).