1. Home
  2. Prospective Students
  3. Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
  4. Apply to CWRU SoDM
  5. Accelerated High School Applicants

Accelerated High School Applicants

The CWRU School of Dental Medicine has established articulation agreements to support exceptional high school students who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment and maturity to pursue a lifelong career in dentistry. To participate in this admissions process, high school seniors are admitted by a host undergraduate institution who then ultimately selects the participants for these articulation programs. Please contact the host undergraduate institutions and their pre-health advisors if you have questions about a program.

Case Western Reserve University Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP)

Exceptionally qualified high school seniors who plan to pursue careers in dentistry are offered places each year in the Pre-Professional Scholars Program in dentistry.

Participants in this 3+4 program complete three years of undergraduate coursework at the home institution before committing to starting the four-year DMD curriculum at CWRU SODM. To complete this program, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

  • The participant appropriately declares his/her intention to be considered for the 3+4 program at a home undergraduate institution as prescribed. Students who transfer from community college or another undergraduate institution are excluded.
  • The participant must complete 90 semester course hours as dictated by the home undergraduate institution, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.50 in overall and science-rigorous coursework (according to AADSAS rules). The participant should investigate the requirements for earning a bachelor's degree upon successful completion of the first year of dental school (degree in absentia) as offered by the undergraduate institution.
  • The participant must maintain an AADSAS-calculated minimum GPA of 3.50 in overall and science coursework. All prerequisites must be taken by the completion of the third year of undergraduate study. Please note: Regardless of AP or transfer credit, students will not be eligible to enter the School of Dental Medicine unless they have completed at least 6 semesters of undergraduate study at the home institution, not including summer terms.
  • Completion of some/a few of the following (not all) upper-level science coursework is strongly recommended: biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, advanced molecular biology, physiology, human or comparative anatomy (science-rigorous), evolution, immunology, histology, and neuroscience.
  • Completion of some/a few of the following (not all) social science coursework is also recommended: ethics, statistics, psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, economics, business, community health, and political history.
  • Mastery of a critical language (including American Sign Language) is desirable.
  • The DAT should be taken by January of the student's third year, though scores taken before May of the student's third academic year will be considered. Scores of 19 or better must be achieved in the Academic Average and 18 or better on the Perceptual Ability Test parts of the DAT.
  • While not a specific requirement, there is an expectation by CWRU SODM that the participant develops a profile consistent with the goals of our educational community. By the end of the third (junior) year, each participant should have an outstanding record of leadership, scholarship, and service that prepares him/her for the responsibility of professional stewardship to a diverse community of patients as an engaged scholar and health care practitioner.
  • Participants are required to meet with their pre-health advisor and an admissions officer from the CWRU SODM at least once each undergraduate semester to discuss his/her progress in the curriculum and preparation for the dental school curriculum.
  • An institutional letter of evaluation must be submitted by the home institution's pre-health advisor or institutional committee before the participant can begin his/her fourth year at Case SODM. This evaluation should address the participant's relationship with advising resources and the participant's pre-professional attributes and competencies in preparation for the SODM curriculum and its early exposure to patients.
  • If an applicant loses eligibility to participate in this program at the undergraduate level, he/she is encouraged to apply through the traditional application process.
  • Satisfactory completion of all coursework at CWRU SODM. A bachelor's degree from the home institution is awarded after successful completion of the first year of dental school, and the DMD is awarded after the participant fulfills all graduation requirements for the SODM.

Participating Schools

Process for high school applicants

A high school applicant petitioning to participate in a 3+4 articulation program must be accepted by the partnering undergraduate institution by the conclusion of the published regular admissions deadline. Each undergraduate admissions office forwards selected applications to the CWRU SODM Office of Admissions for further consideration. The Office of Admissions will invite desirable applicants for interviews during the months of February and March, and final decisions will be made by around April 1.

Information for Participants in their last year (PPSP or 3+4)

Once a participant feels he/she is ready to enter our dental program in the following summer, he/she must complete an ADEA AADSAS application (beginning with the entering class of 2019) by the end of the fall semester.

After the application is complete, the participant will be invited to the School of Dental Medicine for a final interview, tour of the school, and a discussion regarding financial aid.

The final offer letter will be issued after the participant interviews, submits official transcripts current through the fall semester, submits a copy of his/her DAT scores, and has an enthusiastic letter of evaluation from the undergraduate health professions advisor or committee.

Upon completion of the file, at the next convenient date when offers are delivered, an offer of admission will be issued to the advisee.

Advisees who are ready for the transition to dental school will have a record not only of outstanding academic performance but also of exemplary initiative, dedication, and leadership that reflects his/her maturity, insight, and full potential as a member of the dental profession.