Admissions

The Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois considers for admission those students who possess the academic, professional, and personal qualities necessary for development as exemplary dental professionals. To select these students, the College uses a rolling admissions process within a competitive admissions framework.

Admission Requirements 

To be competitive, an applicant should have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and possess both a science (biology, chemistry, and physics) and total GPA of 3.00 or more on a 4.00 scale.  

Prerequisite Courses: 

Course	Semester/Quarter Hours
Biology with lab	8 Semester/12 Quarter hours
General Chemistry with lab	8 Semester/12 Quarter hours
Organic Chemistry with lab	4 Semester/6 Quarter hours
Anatomy	3 Semester/4 Quarter hours
Microbiology	3 Semester/4 Quarter hours
Physics	8 Semester/12 Quarter hours
Physiology	3 Semester/4 Quarter hours
Biochemistry	3 Semester/4 Quarter hours
English Composition/Technical Writing	6 Semester/9 Quarter hours

In order to be considered for admissions, an applicant must: 

1. Complete above prerequisite courses with grades of "C" or better.
2. Submit competitive scores on the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
   • All candidates must submit results from the US DAT.
   • Scores in the area of 17 or higher will be preferred for the Academic Average, Reading Comprehension, Perceptual Ability and total Science sections.
   • The DAT test must have been taken no more than 3 years prior to the matriculation date.
3. Submit three letters of recommendation.
   • One must be from either a predental advisory committee or a science professor.
   • One must be from someone with a D.D.S./D.M.D. degree.
   • One must be from someone who can testify to the integrity and ethical standards of the applicant.
   • Letters written by family members will not be accepted.
   • All letters must be submitted directly from the evaluators. The Office of Admissions will not accept any letters submitted by students.
4. Demonstrate a sincere understanding of, and interest in, the humanitarian ethos of health care and particularly dental medicine.
5. Reflect a service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
6. Reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous salaried work, volunteer work, or other life experiences. 
7. Possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with faculty, colleagues, and patients, consistent with the standards applicable to the College’s required curriculum, learning environment (preclinical and clinical), and the practice of dentistry.
8. Agree to abide by Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy. 
9. Pass the Midwestern University finger printing and criminal background check.

Competitive Admissions 

Within the competitive admissions framework, the College uses multiple criteria to select the most qualified, diverse group of candidates from an applicant pool that greatly exceeds the number of seats available. Applicants are evaluated on academic coursework, performance on the Dental Admission Test (DAT), their application (AADSAS) essays, letters of evaluation, and interviews. Demonstrated prior dental experience and community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment is preferred.

Rolling Admissions 

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois uses a rolling admissions process. Applications are reviewed and decisions to interview individual candidates are made at regular intervals during the admissions cycle. Interviews are conducted and the selection process of each candidate for College admission is made until the class is filled. Applicants are notified of their selection status as soon as possible after their interview date, but not prior to the earliest date the U.S. and Canadian dental schools have agreed to extend a position in the class.

Application Process 

To initiate the application process, prospective students must apply directly to ADEA AADSAS at:

655 K Street NW 
Suite 800 
Washington, D.C.  20001 
Phone: 202/289-7201; 
Fax: 202/289-7204 

1. Students may apply online. Students may access an AADSAS application in mid-May of the academic year preceding the year in which they plan to matriculate.
2. After receiving an applicant's processed information from AADSAS, the Office of Admissions creates the applicant file. Concurrently, the office sends a supplemental application to all applicants.

Please note: Status of the application can be tracked on the MWU website. Instructions for accessing accounts are available from the Office of Admissions. Candidates must notify the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address and/or e-mail address. All requests for withdrawal of an application must be done in writing to the Office of Admissions via e-mail at admissil@midwestern.edu.

Application Deadline 

1. The deadline to submit an official Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) application to Midwestern University is January 1; however, to be competitive within the rolling admissions process, prospective students should submit their AADSAS applications as early as possible after June 1 of the year prior to their desired matriculation.

2. The Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois completion deadline (meaning all required materials for the application including DAT test scores) is February 1 of the expected matriculation year.

Interview and Selection Process 

After the Office of Admissions receives these materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit interviews based on established criteria of the Admissions Committee. Applicants who receive invitations to interview must respond within one week (as the cycle approaches the end, this time may be reduced). The Chair of the Admissions Committee, with the approval of the Dean, may also place candidates on an interview "wait list" pending possible interview openings toward the end of the interview cycle.

When applicants accept interviews, they join other interviewees to meet with members of an interview panel, which is composed of dental and College of Graduate Sciences faculty. Applicants are rated on a standardized evaluation form relative to pre-determined criteria. At the conclusion of the interviews, team members forward their evaluations for each applicant to the Dean. The Dean, in consultation with the CDMI Director of Admissions, may recommend to accept, to deny, or to place applicants on the alternate list. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies applicants of their status after the interviews, but not before the date that all dental schools have agreed would be the first notification date.

Reapplication Process 

After receiving either denial or end-of-cycle letters, or letters of dismissal from the College, applicants/students may reapply for the next enrollment cycle.

To initiate the reapplication process, applicants must submit their applications to AADSAS. Applications are then processed according to standard application procedures.

Transfer Admission 

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois may in its own discretion elect to accept transfer students from other dental schools. Generally, a transfer student must be in good standing, provide a compelling reason for the transfer, and otherwise meet all other requirements imposed by the College. 

Candidates must also observe the following procedures:

1. All inquiries for transfer to Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.
2. Completed applications are returned to the Office of Admissions and must include transcripts from the previous dental school, class rank, a statement of the reason for transfer and a Dean's letter of "Good Academic Standing."
3. The Admissions Committee reviews all completed applications to determine whether applicants merit interviews based on established criteria of the Admissions Committee.
4. Selected candidates undergo an interview process and a psychomotor skills test.
5. The Admissions Committee makes recommendations to the Dean for a transfer admission decision, as well as recommendations for additional coursework that may be required to achieve curriculum equivalency.
6. Applicants are notified by the Dean of final transfer admission decisions.

Advanced Standing Admission 

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois may in its own discretion elect to award advanced standing credit for well-qualified dental graduates from other countries.  An advanced standing student must meet all other requirements imposed by the College. 

Candidates must also observe the following procedures:

1. All inquiries for transfer to Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.
2. Completed applications are returned to the Office of Admissions and must include national board scores, results from TOEFL with a minimum score of 80, transcripts from the previous dental school, course-by-course evaluation by a recognized service (WES or ECE), and a personal statement.
3. The Admissions Committee reviews all completed applications to determine whether applicants merit interviews based on established criteria of the Admissions Committee.
4. Selected candidates undergo an interview process and a psychomotor skills test.
5. The Admissions Committee makes recommendations to the Dean for a transfer admission decision, as well as recommendations for additional coursework that may be required to achieve curriculum equivalency.
6. Applicants are notified by the Dean of final transfer admission decisions.