Penn Dental DMD Admissions Guide (2027)

Quick facts

• Degree: four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).
• Location: Robert Schattner Center, 240 South 40th Street, Philadelphia.
• Application: ADEA AADSAS plus an invited Penn supplemental and $100 fee.
• Deadline: December 1, 2026.
• Tests: US or Canadian DAT; for this cycle, accepted test dates begin January 2024.
• Dental observation: at least 100 hours before application, including 50 in general dental practices.
• Interview: invitation-only interview days held weekly from September through March. Current 2026-27 DMD admissions page

Admission requirements

Applicants need at least 64 semester hours at application, including 32 in basic sciences and mathematics, and 96 hours including all prerequisites before matriculation. A four-year bachelor's degree is preferred but not mandatory. Prerequisites require grades of C or higher and are two semesters of general biology with labs; three semesters of chemistry with corresponding labs in an approved general/organic combination; one semester of biochemistry without a lab; two semesters of physics with labs; one semester of mathematics; and two semesters of English composition or approved writing-intensive work. Current 2026-27 DMD admissions page

AP and IB may count when shown on an official university transcript. Prerequisites normally require letter grades, with limited 2020-21 pandemic exceptions. Online coursework is evaluated in the context of the full record.

Penn accepts the US and Canadian DAT, with official scores from January 2024 or later for the 2026-27 cycle. It publishes no numerical GPA or DAT minimum; applicants with at least 3.2 overall and science GPAs receive special consideration. Applicants need at least 100 dental-observation hours before submitting, including 50 in one or more general dental practices. At least two professor evaluations or a pre-health committee letter are required. International applicants may use foreign coursework with AADSAS reporting and a course-by-course ECE evaluation; TOEFL is not required for the four-year predoctoral route.

Important dates

Penn's current 2026-27 page sets December 1, 2026 as the AADSAS application deadline and asks applicants to submit official DAT scores by that date. Verified applicants receive an invitation to Penn's applicant portal, supplemental and $100 fee; Penn recommends prompt submission but publishes no separate supplemental deadline. Current DMD admissions page

The office reviews files beginning in July. Interview invitations are sent August through February, interview days occur weekly from September through March, and rolling offers begin December 15. The class enters in August 2027, but the exact start date is not published. ADEA AADSAS opened May 12, 2026 and accepted first submissions June 2. ADEA AADSAS dates

How selection works

Penn uses holistic review. Published factors include academic preparation, DAT performance, leadership, extracurricular and community service, exposure to dentistry, research, adaptability to changing technology, interpersonal skills, compassion and engagement. Grades and DAT results are considered in the context of the complete application. Current 2026-27 DMD admissions page

Interview-day selection is based on AADSAS, Penn's supplemental and evaluations. Penn is private and seeks a class from all 50 states and many countries; it publishes no Pennsylvania-resident restriction, preference or seat allocation. The school does not publish factor weights, interview scoring, committee vote rules or wait-list ordering.

Interview details

Confirmed

Selected applicants are invited to an interview day based on the AADSAS application, Penn supplemental and letters. Interview days are held weekly from September through March; invitations are emailed August through February. Current 2026-27 DMD admissions page

Not published

The current official page does not publish whether Fall 2027 interview days are in person or virtual, the number or length of conversations or stations, interviewer roles or file access, prompts, rubric, scoring scale, numerical weight or accommodation process.

Who this program may suit

Penn's four-year predoctoral DMD seeks academic readiness alongside leadership, service, dental exposure, research, adaptability and interpersonal skill. Applicants should connect their observation record to specific lessons about patient care and show how their broader experiences prepare them to contribute to a diverse class. Current DMD admissions page This page covers the first-year four-year DMD at Penn Dental Medicine, not Perelman Medicine, advanced standing for internationally trained dentists, dual degrees, specialty residencies or graduate programmes.

Practice and next step

Record a response about a dental-observation experience that revealed a patient need or communication challenge. Ask a reviewer whether you distinguish observation from participation, connect the lesson to your preparation and avoid generic claims. Make one adjustment, record a second attempt and compare focus and credibility.

Frequently asked questions

Does Penn Dental Medicine award a DDS?

No. The regular four-year predoctoral degree is the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).

Is a bachelor's degree required?

No. Penn prefers a four-year degree but permits applicants who meet its 64-hour application and 96-hour matriculation requirements.

Is the Canadian DAT accepted?

Yes. Penn accepts official Canadian DAT results, though it prefers the US DAT.

Are international applicants eligible?

Yes. Penn considers foreign coursework with AADSAS reporting and a course-by-course ECE evaluation; TOEFL is not required for the four-year predoctoral programme.

Sources

Verified August 12, 2026. Current official sources: Penn Dental Medicine 2026-27 DMD admissions contract, Penn DMD programme and curriculum identity and ADEA AADSAS dates.