Admissions
How to Apply
Applications and materials required for admission must be submitted through the ADEA AADSAS (ADEA's Associated American Dental Schools Application Service)
Individuals who previously matriculated to any dental school and for any reason either withdrew or were dismissed are ineligible to apply.
Pre-Clinical & Clinical Practice Location(s)
In the 1st & 2nd years, you will take your pre-clinical courses on the Valhalla, NY campus. Within the school-specific section on the AADSAS application, you will indicate where you are applying to complete your clinical practice years – at the Valhalla, NY campus, the Albuquerque, NM campus, or no preference – with the understanding that if you are accepted as an Albuquerque, NM cohort you will spend your 3rd and 4th year of dental school in Albuquerque, NM.
What We're Looking for in a D.D.S. Applicant
The Admissions Committee selects the incoming class from many qualified applicants. The committee strives to select candidates who are best qualified academically and promise to be outstanding graduates. Many factors are considered in the admissions process.
Academic Skills and Requirements
- Pre-dental science courses
- A well-rounded college education that includes humanities and social sciences
- Competitive GPA and DAT scores
- The conceptual, integrative, and quantitative skills needed to study and practice dentistry
You can see info on the stats of students we’ve accepted to give you an idea.
Personal Characteristics
- Altruism, compassion, honesty, integrity
- A commitment to care for the disadvantaged and underserved
- Excellent observational, communication, and motor functions
- The physical capacity and emotional maturity to complete dental school and practice dentistry independently
Our Application Review Process
The application process is competitive and each applicant is subject to an individual, flexible holistic review. Admission criteria are not weighted. Visit our Academic Requirements section for more info on prerequisites and technical standards.
A candidate will not be denied admission based on any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
An Emphasis on Diversity
Strongly motivated students from educationally deprived and historically underrepresented backgrounds are actively sought and encouraged to apply. It is the policy of the TCDM to seek to admit a diverse class with respect to gender, race, ethnicity, cultural and economic background, and life experience. The TCDM believes that a diverse student body provides a valuable educational experience that prepares dental students for the real world of dental practice in a multicultural society.
How the Admissions Process Works
The admissions department will contact select qualified applicants with an invitation for an in-person or virtual interview (see below). You should not contact TCDM about your application.
You can expect to be notified approximately 6 to 8 weeks after your interview date and no earlier than December 15 of the academic year before the academic year of enrollment. TCDM follows the ADEA traffic rules
If any admissions information submitted is discovered to be inaccurate or misleading, Touro College of Dental Medicine has the right to rescind or revoke any offer of admission, administer disciplinary action or dismiss the student while in dental school, or revoke his/her dental degree.
The Admissions Interview
The goal of the interview is to assess the applicant’s suitability for dentistry. The interviews are designed to evaluate non-cognitive domains considered critical to becoming an effective dental practitioner, such as empathy, critical thinking, moral reasoning and ethical grounding, open-mindedness, ability to collaborate as well as interpersonal skills.
Interviews are 30 minutes, one-on-one, and conducted in an open file holistic format; the interviewer has access to the applicant’s file prior to or during the interview.
The applicant is evaluated based on communication skills, flexibility, leadership, team experience, intellectual ability, learning skills and motivation, and preparation for dentistry.
Interviews are conducted from September through March. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.
International Students
International students are welcome to apply. As an international applicant, you will generally need to have completed undergraduate college work leading to a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college of arts and sciences in the United States or Canada.
All courses taken in satisfaction of the requirements for admission must be taken at or accepted as transfer credits by an accredited college in the United States or Canada and must be acceptable to that institution toward a baccalaureate degree in arts or sciences.
Federal law mandates that only US citizens or permanent residents are eligible to receive financial aid. (Permanent residents must provide a copy of their unconditional Green Card upon request when applying for financial aid.) Applicants who are non-US citizens or do not obtain permanent resident status by July 1st of the year entering dental school must deposit an amount equal to four year’s tuition and fees OR two years’ tuition and fees with a creditworthy US co-signer into a bank escrow account in advance of their matriculation to TCDM.
You can reach out to Touro International Student Services if you have additional questions.
If you already have a degree in dentistry and want to practice in the US, you can apply to our International Dentists Program, and earn your D.D.S. degree in only two years.
Class Stats
| Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | Class of 2025 | Class of 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications Received | 2,644 | 2,678 | 2,634 | 2,581 |
| Interviewed | 809 | 518 | 522 | 505 |
| Number in Class | 189 | 113 | 114 | 114 |
| Science GPA* | 3.47 | 3.43 | 3.46 | 3.38 |
| Non-Science GPA | 3.69 | 3.70 | 3.72 | 3.58 |
| Overall GPA | 3.55 | 3.53 | 3.56 | 3.46 |
| Total DAT | 21.0 | 21.4 | 21.2 | 21.2 |
| Diversity | 11% | 13% | 11% | 13% |
4 Year Combined Statistics
203+ colleges represented.
21+ states represented.
51% male, 49% female.
Average age of 26.
