Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Dental (Post-Bac Certificate)
Creighton’s post-baccalaureate pre-dental certificate program may be a perfect option for you if you’ve applied to dental school and been denied admission. This program will help you strengthen your credentials and skills in order to better prepare you for the rigors of dental school at Creighton University.
The post-baccalaureate program in dentistry is an intensive four-semester program delivered in a small-group format. Participants will be considered as students with special status by the School of Dentistry.
Program Details
Program Goals
As you prepare for the rigors of dental school at Creighton University, you’ll learn:
- Principles in medicine
- Critical thinking skills
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
Outcomes
Successful post-baccalaureate students will be prepared to enter dental school by:
- Meeting or exceeding minimum standards on the Dental Admission Test (DAT)
- Excelling in the classroom with enhanced academic skills
- Being a positive influence on peers
- Exhibiting professionalism and interpersonal skills
- Participating in learning outside the classroom, through volunteerism and clinical or mentoring opportunities
Admissions Requirements
To be eligible to apply for the Creighton University School of Dentistry Post-Baccalaureate Program, an applicant must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or foreign national with a visa permitting permanent residence in the U.S.
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in the U.S., which indicates a significant focus on science
- Have applied to and been denied entry into a dental school
- Not have been accepted previously to an accredited dental school
- Not currently be enrolled in dental school or any other health or allied health professions degree-granting program
In addition, students are expected to meet the responsibility of the program fees and their own living expenses, in addition to any tuition fees for the courses. Financial assistance is available through FAFSA, Creighton University payment plan and alternative loans.
PBP-Dental Application Process
Applicants to the School of Dentistry Post-Baccalaureate Program must submit:
- The application for PBP-Dentistry, including a personal statement.
- A copy of the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) application to dental school.
- The AADSAS summary sheet from the current AADSAS application cycle, if applicable. This form will list all schools to which you have applied. (This form is not available through Creighton.)
- Test scores from the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) for all attempts at the DAT not reported in the AADSAS application above. (These scores may be copies of reports sent to you.)
- Transcripts of all academic work not reported on your AADSAS application (optional).
- Three letters of reference from professors and/or community leaders, sent directly to the Office of Dental Admissions, that speak to your commitment to the study of dentistry, potential for success, empathy and compassion for humankind and rationale for lack of success to date in gaining entry into a school of dentistry.
The Post-Baccalaureate Admissions Committee will conduct interviews with selected applicants in the spring of the matriculating year. Seven participants and a list of alternates will be selected and will be notified by letter of acceptance.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition rates are updated each year. Visit our financial aid site to learn more about the cost of attendance.
Financial Aid
To help make your studies at Creighton University more affordable, we encourage you to file the FAFSA to apply for financial assistance.
Due to the costs of the program and limited federal loan funds, many students opt for an alternative loan to help cover the costs of this program. Admitted students will need to provide a copy of the alternative loan approval (or other satisfactory payment arrangement) along with their acceptance letter.
Career Paths
Students who earn their post-baccalaureate pre-dental certificate and go on to graduate in dentistry may pursue career options such as:
- Private practice
- Community health center work
- Military dentistry
- Dental school teacher
- Continuing on to a specialty program
