Prospective students from across Florida packed the final Pre-Dental Forum of 2025 on July 11 in a UF College of Dentistry, or UFCD, lecture hall, seeking a closer look into one of the nation’s most competitive dental programs.
Pre-dental students, as well as undergraduates representing other complementary disciplines like business, were greeted with a presentation on “How to Build a Competitive Application” for UF’s top-tier Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, or DMD, program. These valuable insights came straight from our Associate Dean of Admissions Pamela Sandow, a UFCD DMD graduate from the Class of 1986, putting a friendly face to the potentially daunting admissions process.
Sandow emphasized that while UFCD maintains highly competitive standards, the admissions committee takes a holistic approach, evaluating each applicant’s complete profile beyond test scores and grades alone.
Following the presentation, current DMD students joined for a Q&A session covering topics like academics and campus life. Honest perspectives from these second-, third- and fourth-year dental students gave attendees an authentic glimpse into what their future could look like.
In a room packed with potential peers, prospective students could have been hesitant to voice their questions. However, the warm and welcoming attitudes of the current DMD students made it clear they were eager to field any curiosities. So, hands shot up all around to ask about everything from the rigorous nature of the program to the camaraderie fostered within it.
Our DMD students progress through the four-year program as a cohort, creating lasting bonds in the process. From group chats exchanging resources and reminding each other of upcoming assignments to tailgating on gamedays and peer-to-peer mentorship, fellow students ultimately “become family,” remarked one fourth-year dental student.
The Q&A also clarified topics like the potential benefit of a gap year prior to application, allowing for relevant professional work experience or additional time to study for the Dental Admissions Test, or DAT. The current students even joked about their common experiences attempting to “improve dexterity” in quirky ways before beginning dental school. One second-year student even admitted to an online impulse purchase of knitting supplies the summer before he started at UFCD.
As it turns out, no at-home tricks hold a candle to the niche dexterity skills acquired in UFCD’s state-of-the-art dental simulation lab, said one fourth-year student.
“If there’s anything you can do to prepare, we haven’t found it!” She joked, quelling nerves and making the rigor of the doctoral program seem slightly more approachable.
In moments of humor like this, prospective applicants saw a clearer picture of what sets UFCD apart as one of the nation’s top dental schools. Whether seeking final encouragement to apply or guidance for their next steps, attendees left with both practical advice and a sense of the community they could find at UFCD.