The Still Scholars Early Acceptance Program is designed to provide early admission to outstanding pre-dental students who have as their goal to become Doctors of Dental Medicine at A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH), without the requirement to complete the DAT. This program encourages students to focus on developing strong academic and leadership skills, yet allows them to focus on their undergraduate experience without the additional pressures of a qualifying DAT score. Visit https://www.atsu.edu/missouri-school-of-dentistry-and-oral-health/admissions/still-scholars for complete details.
Applicant Criteria
To be eligible to apply for ATSU-MOSDOH’s Still Scholars program, the following requirements must be met:
- A minimum of four semesters (or 45 semester credit hours or equivalent) completed by the end of the second/sophomore year of college
- Two years of full-time coursework remaining prior to graduation with a BS or BA degree from a regionally accredited undergraduate institution
- Student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- At least 27 semester hours of prerequisite coursework (see list below), along with one additional hard science course finished by August 1 after the sophomore year. Some examples of hard science courses could include: Microbiology, Genetics, Pharmacology, Exercise Physiology.
- All college courses that meet pre-requisites must be taken after high school graduation with the exception of the eligible English advanced standing credit referenced in the prerequisite course list below.
- Received a B or above in all pre-requisite courses (see pre-requisite list below)
- Completion of a minimum of 50 hours of dental clinical experience (shadowing, paid, or volunteer clinical experience in dentistry)
- Completion of a minimum of 50 hands-on community service hours in an underserved area (not fundraising)
- Strong leadership experiences strongly preferred
- The applicant must have achieved a minimum 3.4 cumulative grade point average and a 3.4 minimum science grade point average on a 4.0 scale
- Three letters of recommendation from the following professionals unrelated to applicant:
- science faculty that you received a grade from OR health professions advisor
- dentist that you have shadowed
- advisor for a service organization you are an active member of
Application/Admission Process
Application opens each March and will be due to the MoWest Health Professions Advisory Committee on ~April 15 for review. Qualified applicants will be interviewed by the committee and applications of students selected for nomination will be forwarded to ATSU Admissions (from the Pre-Health Advisor) on or before August 1.
Student applications will be reviewed by ATSU and an interview conducted in early fall. Students given conditional early assurance into ATSU-MOSDOH through the Still Scholars Program will be required to successfully complete facilitated assignments and activities prior to submitting a final AADSAS and secondary applications to MOSDOH. A final pre-matriculation interview will be conducted in early fall of the student’s senior year to provide early assurance into ATSU-MOSDOH’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program.
(Pre-req coursework list)
- General Biology – One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours (zoology or microbiology are acceptable alternatives)
- General Chemistry – One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- Organic Chemistry – One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- Human Physiology – 3 semester hours/ 4 quarter hours
- Biochemistry – 3 semester hours/ 4 quarter hours – 300 college level minimum
- Physics (algebra-based) – One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- English composition/Technical writing – minimum of 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours (English may be taken as Advanced Placement Credit)
- Human Anatomy – 3 semester hours/ 4 quarter hours
Prior to matriculation into ATSU-MOSDOH, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s of art or science degree from Missouri Western State University, plus all remaining pre-requisite courses. The DAT will not be required for admission through the Still Scholars program but admitted students must complete and submit a DAT score prior to matriculation.