VCU Dentistry DDS Admissions Guide (2027)

Quick facts

• Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), four years.
• Location: Richmond, Virginia; the academic year begins in July.
• Application: ADEA AADSAS; no supplemental application, but an $85 school fee is required.
• School deadline: January 1; most interview invitations go to applicants complete before September 1.
• Education: 90 semester hours at application and a qualifying bachelor's degree before enrollment.
• DAT: required within three years; no school minimum is published.
• Interview: on campus; the current interview-day page describes a 30-minute interview with two faculty members. Current DDS application process

Admission requirements

Applicants need at least 90 semester or 145 quarter hours from an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution at application, and admission is contingent on completing a qualifying bachelor's degree. Required courses, completed with C or higher, are eight semester hours each of general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and college-level physics, all with lecture and laboratory; three biochemistry; three mathematics or statistics; and three English. Current DDS requirements

Applicants may complete no more than 60 semester hours at a community college and then need at least 60 at an accredited four-year institution. Transcripted AP and IB credit is accepted. Prerequisites are preferred within five years and other coursework within ten; pass/fail prerequisites are not accepted apart from the published spring and summer 2020 exception. There is no GPA minimum; VCU reports an admitted average around 3.7.

A complete file includes verified AADSAS, an official DAT no more than three years old, the $85 school fee and either a committee letter or three evaluations: two from life-science instructors and one from a dentist. The final accepted DAT date is December 1. Canadian DAT scores and Canadian applicants are accepted. General-dentist shadowing of 100-150 hours is strongly encouraged but not required.

Important dates

ADEA AADSAS opened May 12, 2026 and accepted first submissions June 2. VCU's current annual application deadline is January 1, with the final DAT date December 1. The school says most applicants invited to interview are complete before September 1, interviews run from September through February with a holiday break, and dental schools may begin acceptance notifications December 15, 2026. Current DDS application process ADEA AADSAS dates

The DDS academic year begins in July. The current source does not publish the exact July 2027 first day, later decision waves or final wait-list date.

How selection works

VCU uses holistic review and publishes satisfactory college performance, acceptable DAT results, psychomotor ability, service involving interaction with others, lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity as selection factors. Current selection process

As a public institution, VCU gives preference to Virginia residents. The current school FAQ describes a 95-person class with about 60 Virginia residents and 35 nonresidents. The school does not publish a GPA or DAT cutoff, quantitative factor weights, academic ranking formula, committee voting rules, interview weight or wait-list order.

Interview details

Confirmed

Selected applicants are invited to the school in Richmond. The current interview-day page describes a full day from approximately 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with curriculum and financial-aid information, a tour, lunch and a wax-carving activity. It specifies one 30-minute interview with two faculty members. Interviews normally run September through February with a holiday break. Current interview day

Not published

The current sources do not publish interviewer file access, exact prompts, rubric, scoring scale, interview weight, accommodations or travel support. A separate selection page uses broader wording about a series of personal interviews with faculty and student committee members, while the more specific current interview-day page says one 30-minute interview with two faculty; the packet preserves the specific current-day description and does not infer an extra student interview.

Who this program may suit

VCU emphasizes service, psychomotor readiness, intellectual curiosity and preparation for lifelong learning. Applicants should connect dental exposure or community work to a grounded understanding of patients, manual responsibility and continued professional growth. Current selection process This page covers the regular predoctoral DDS in Richmond, not VCU School of Medicine, the International Dentist Program, transfer, dental hygiene or postgraduate routes.

Practice and next step

Record a response about a service, dental or hands-on experience that shows how you learned from another person and adjusted your approach. Ask a reviewer whether you make the interaction, your action and the evidence of growth specific. Make one adjustment, record a second attempt and compare clarity and credibility.

Frequently asked questions

Does VCU require a bachelor's degree?

Yes. Applicants need at least 90 semester hours at application, and an offer is contingent on completing a qualifying bachelor's degree.

Is there a supplemental application?

No. VCU states that there is no supplemental application, but applicants pay an $85 school fee.

Does VCU publish a DAT minimum?

No. The DAT is required and must be no more than three years old, but no minimum is published.

Does VCU prefer Virginia residents?

Yes. VCU explicitly gives state residents preference and reports a typical class split of about 60 residents and 35 nonresidents.

Sources

Verified August 12, 2026. Current official sources: VCU DDS application process, admission requirements, selection process, interview day, FAQ and ADEA AADSAS dates.