Pre-Dental Advantage Program PROGRAM OVERVIEW If you are looking to pursue a career as a doctor in a dental clinic or a private practice, University of the Pacific’s Pre-Dental Advantage Program provides a highly effective route for students entering college for the first time. When you complete the program, you will earn both a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of the Pacific (Stockton Campus) and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (San Francisco Campus).
Dugoni School of Dentistry
At Pacific, you will benefit from small class sizes, versatile university resources and many layers of support. During your first year, you will have weekly meetings with an assigned adviser. Our student-run Pre-Dental Society and one-on-one consultations with a faculty adviser create opportunities to better prepare for dentistry and community service.
PRE-DENTAL ADVANTAGE PROGRAM ADVISER
Marcos Gridi-Papp mgridipapp@pacific.edu | 209.946.2960
"Our pre-dental program is uniquely versatile because it allows students to prepare for a career in dentistry with two, three or four years of undergraduate instruction. The level of acceleration is based on student needs, interests and performance at Pacific. In all cases, our students graduate with a BS in biological sciences (other majors possible) in addition to the DDS." Marcos Gridi-Papp Pre-Dental Program Adviser and Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
PROGRAM VERSATILITY The path toward a career in dentistry requires dedication. Because students display a wide range of interests and performance, our program offers three modalities to accommodate your needs. You do not necessarily have to make your choice during the first year.
OUTCOMES
When students complete the undergraduate portion of the program they are well prepared for admission to Pacific’s Dugoni Dental School and other top dental schools in North America. Upon completion of the entire program, students earn a BS degree in addition to the DDS, facilitating further specialization.
DEGREES OFFERED
Bachelor of Science Doctor of Dental Surgery
NOTE: Pacific’s Dugoni School of Dentistry is the only dental school in the United States offering a year-round, accelerated threeyear DDS program. The graduate portion of the Pre-Dental Advantage Program can be completed at any other dental school but in four years instead.
PREPARATION IN HIGH SCHOOL If you are interested in dentistry, there are several things to consider before applying to college: Talk to dentists or shadow them at work to see if this profession is a good fit for you. College courses are best taken in college after the high school experience has been completed. Advanced high school courses can sometimes interfere unfavorably with the curriculum of the Pre-Dental Advantage Program. All applicants are encouraged to carefully read and agree to the technical standards of the Dugoni School of Dentistry. All applicants should review the Dental Board of California license requirements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT
go.Pacific.edu/PreDent