Does it matter where you go for undergrad? Like if I go to USC would it give me a better chance of getting into the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry? Or if I go to the University of Colorado Denver will I get into the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine?
Simple answer is not at all unless you are in an accelerated / combined plan
No it does not. Your GPA and DAT scores matter. Maybe some extra curriculars. The extracurriculars never mattered when I was applying 30 some years ago, but it gives you something to talk about during the interviews that sounds good. But the gpa and dat scores will get you the interviews. I went to a no-name college (I’m a dentist). So did dh (physician). So did my two boys in med school.
Not unless you don’t go onto grad school
It does but there are so many other factors that determine how much.
Question? If I’m placed in college algebra freshman year, how can I take calculus before senior year? It’s a dental school prerequisite and I need it. It’s also on the DAT
you can take Pre-calc in sophomore year and Calc AB in Junior year
To some extent, yes. If your institution has a reputation for providing great preparation for pre health students, then admissions officers may be somewhat more forgiving if your GPA is just slightly below the average GPA of their matriculants.
However, you will have to realize that unlike with college admissions, there is no such thing as safety schools when it comes to dental school. Even great grades and test scores will not almost guarantee you admission to somewhere.
@ a name can help speak on your behalf in some situations, but your numbers will do a lot more of the talking than the name.
Like med school, you want to to find the balance between affordable school that you can get a good GPA but will sstill prepare you for the DAT.
Harvard may prepare you well for DAT, but be expensive and hard to keep up a good GPA.
East Podunk College may give you great scholarships and easy to get a good GPA, but may not prepare you as well.