Pacific Dugoni DDS Admissions Guide (2027)

Quick facts

• Entry cycle: Summer 2027; the regular DDS is 36 months over 12 quarters and begins in July. DDS programme
• Application: ADEA AADSAS; no secondary application, with a separate $75 school fee. Admissions requirements
• Education: at least 90 semester or 135 quarter units; a bachelor's degree is recommended but not required.
• DAT: required; for the 2026-27 cycle, tests before June 2024 are not accepted. Canadian DAT is accepted only from applicants attending Canadian universities.
• Experience: 40 hours shadowing a general dentist; dental assisting does not substitute.
• Interview: invitation-only, usually September through March and ordinarily in person, with possible virtual days if the school offers them. Admissions FAQ

Admission requirements

Applicants need at least 90 semester or 135 quarter transferable units, equivalent to three academic years. A bachelor's degree is recommended but not required. Community-college work is accepted when transferable to a regionally accredited four-year institution. Admissions requirements

Prerequisites are four semesters or six quarters of biological sciences with laboratory; two semesters or three quarters of inorganic chemistry with laboratory; two semesters or three quarters of organic chemistry with laboratory, or one organic chemistry course plus one biochemistry course; two semesters or three quarters of physics with laboratory; and two semesters or three quarters of English, speech or communication, including at least one composition or technical-writing course. ESL does not satisfy English.

The DAT is required. For the current 2026-27 cycle, scores before June 2024 are not accepted, and the school prioritizes files with final scores by November 1. Only the most recent DAT is used. The Canadian DAT is accepted only from applicants at Canadian universities. Pacific publishes no minimum GPA; its entering averages are descriptive, not thresholds.

Applicants submit three letters: two from science professors and one evaluator of choice, or a committee letter under the school's alternative. At least 40 hours of shadowing a general dentist are required; dental assisting does not count toward this threshold.

Applicants with education outside the United States may apply, but must complete the 90 semester or 135 quarter units at an accredited U.S. or English-speaking Canadian institution. Other foreign study requires WES or ECE evaluation. International students should be prepared to fund the full three-year programme because financial aid is limited.

Important dates

The 2026-27 ADEA AADSAS service opened May 12, 2026 and accepted first submissions June 2. Pacific advises applying as early as June and, in its FAQ, no later than November, while the current requirements page says the school deadline and $75 fee portal close at the beginning of February. It does not state an exact February 2027 date. ADEA AADSAS Admissions requirements

Pacific gives priority to applicants whose final DAT is available by November 1, 2026. Interviews are typically scheduled from September through March, corresponding to September 2026-March 2027 for this cycle. The school says admissions decisions are completed by May. Admissions FAQ

The regular DDS begins in July, but the exact July 2027 orientation and first-class dates are not currently published. The school also does not publish an exact 2026-27 school deadline, complete-file deadline, first-offer date, final decision date or current seat-deposit schedule on the current regular-DDS pages.

How selection works

Pacific evaluates applicants individually using academic preparation, DAT performance, the AADSAS personal statement, recommendations, manual dexterity including the DAT perceptual-ability component, personal attributes and understanding of the dental profession. Admissions requirements

Selected applicants receive an invitation-only interview. One or more Admissions Committee members evaluate the applicant's interest in dentistry, plans, maturity and personal qualities for patient care. The Executive Admissions Committee considers the full file and may make a decision different from an interviewer's recommendation. Admissions FAQ

The school publishes no numerical GPA, DAT, experience or interview weights; screen rubric; residency preference; committee vote formula; or wait-list order. Current entering averages describe a prior class and should not be treated as cutoffs.

Interview details

Confirmed

Interviews are by invitation and are usually held September through March. Pacific describes an in-person visit with one or more Admissions Committee members, an orientation seminar, time with students and a school tour. The interview considers interest in dentistry, future plans, maturity and qualities important for work with patients. The school may offer virtual interview days, but does not promise one to every candidate. Admissions FAQ

Not published

Pacific does not publish the 2026-27 number or duration of interview encounters, panel size, interviewer file access, question domains beyond the broad factors above, manual-dexterity activities on interview day, scoring anchors, numerical interview weight or post-interview vote mechanics. Candidate invitation instructions control whether a specific date is in person or virtual.

Who this program may suit

Pacific Dugoni's regular San Francisco DDS compresses the professional curriculum into 36 months and 12 consecutive quarters, beginning in July. Applicants should be able to explain how they manage sustained workload, seek feedback and build technical skill without sacrificing patient-centred judgment. DDS programme

This page covers regular first-year DDS admission. The International Dental Studies programme for dentists educated outside the United States and Pacific's undergraduate Pre-Dental Advantage routes have separate identities, eligibility rules and application processes and should not be imported.

Practice and next step

Record a response about a time you had to improve a technical or communication skill under a demanding schedule. Ask a reviewer to identify whether you show a repeatable learning method, receptiveness to feedback and attention to the person affected. Make one adjustment, record a second attempt and compare structure, evidence and patient-centred judgment.

Frequently asked questions

When is Pacific Dugoni's Summer 2027 deadline?

The current 2026-27 requirements page says the deadline is at the beginning of February but does not publish the exact date. Apply early and confirm the date in AADSAS rather than importing an older cycle's calendar. Admissions requirements

Is a bachelor's degree required?

No. At least 90 semester or 135 quarter units are required, and a bachelor's is recommended.

How much general-dentist shadowing is required?

Forty hours. Dental assisting does not substitute for the shadowing requirement.

Is the interview in person?

The current FAQ describes an in-person interview programme and says virtual days may sometimes be offered. A candidate should follow the modality in the invitation.

Sources

Verified August 12, 2026. Current official sources: 2026-27 regular DDS requirements, prerequisites, DAT, letters, shadowing, fee and deadline boundary, regular DDS admissions FAQ and interview process, 36-month regular DDS identity and July start, separate International Dental Studies identity and 2026-27 ADEA AADSAS dates.