SFSU Adjunct Dental Post-Bac Program

Overview: (back to top)

SFSU has recently created the SFSU Adjunct Dental Post-Baccalaureate Program, a formal, 1- to 1½-year program that complements the SFSU/UCSF/Pacific Dental Reapplicant Program by supporting a group of non-disadvantaged reapplicants and first-time applicants (disadvantaged* or not). This program makes good use of SFSU's close relationships with Schools of Dentistry at UCSF and Pacific (but is not officially associated with them). A group of 10 participants chosen from about 60 applicants began the program in early June, 2007. A new group of 10 non-disadvantaged reapplicants and 1st-time applicants (disadvantaged or not) will be chosen for entry in the summer of 2008.

Mission: The SFSU Adjunct Dental Post-Baccalaureate Program is designed to provide academic support and caring guidance for 10 non-disadvantaged reapplicants and first-time applicants (disadvantaged* or not). Our program serves participants that show promise in gaining entry to a US dental school. Our immediate goal is to help participants become more competitive applicants, thereby increasing the number of disadvantaged students and underrepresented minorities gaining entry into US dental schools. Our long-term goal is to lessen health care disparities by better matching the dental provider and dental patient populations, and increasing the number of dentists practicing in underserved areas. The Program is intended for students that have already earned a bachelor's degree, have completed all pre-requisite course work for application to US dental schools. California residents are given preference, although residents of other states will be considered.

*An individual is considered "disadvantaged" if they:

1) come from an environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and ability to enroll in and graduate from a health professions school, and/or

2) come from a family with an annual income below a level based on low-income thresholds according to family size, published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census in the Federal Register, and adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index.

SFSU's Ethnic Diversity: With about 23,000 full-time equivalent undergraduates, and 6,000 full-time equivalent graduate students, SFSU has the fifth largest enrollment of the twenty-three California State University campuses and the forty-seventh largest enrollment of all universities in the United States. SFSU and the CSU system are committed to providing educational opportunities to the broadest possible range of students in the state. Reflecting the ethnically diverse urban area in which it is located, SFSU serves a significant number of underrepresented minority students. In 2005, of students who declared their ethnicity (84%), students of color comprised approximately 61% of the undergraduate and pre-health post-bac populations, and 42% of the graduate population. The undergraduate and pre-health post-bac students of color were distributed as follows: Native American, 1%; African American, 7%; Mexican American, 9%; Other Hispanic, 7%; Filipino, 11%; Other Pacific Islander, 1%; Asian, 20%; SE Asian, 4%. Faculty hire at SFSU also strongly emphasizes racial and ethnic diversity. In 2005, 34% of the 833 tenured and tenure-track faculty were people of color, distributed as follows: Native American, 1%; African American, 5%; Mexican American, 7%; Other Non-White, 3%; Filipino, 1%; Other Pacific Islander, 0.2%; Other Asian, 16%.

Structure (back to top)

Timelines: The Program will guide and support a cohort of about 10 participants for a period of 1- to 1½-years. Participants with strong GPAs but low DAT scores will be admitted to the 1-year program, spanning from early-June until the end of May the following year. Participants with low GPAs, regardless of DAT scores, will be admitted to the 1½-year program, spanning from early-July until the end of December the following year. The 1½-year program is designed to allow participants sufficient time to show sustained GPA improvement. See illustration below for details.

Summer Component

For participants in the 1-year program, the summer component focuses on developing and refining learning skills, review of scientific subject matter (chemistry, biology, physics, etc.) in preparation for retaking the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), and personal development as it relates to being a health care professional. The DAT is taken at the end of the summer. Each participant will be advised as to the proper courses for which to register during the academic year. The 2008 summer component will be held at SFSU for 8 weeks, from Monday, June 9 until Friday, August 1, with participants housed in SFSU student residences.

For participants in the 1½-year program, the first summer component consists of a 4-week Orientation & Academic Preparation Program, to be held Monday, July 7 until Friday, August 1, with participants housed in SFSU student residences. Participants in the 1½-year program will not take the DAT until the second summer component, in 2009, during which they will continue to live in their own housing.

Academic Year Component

For participants both the 1- or 1½-year Programs, the academic year component consists of rigorous upper division course work in the life sciences and related areas. The curriculum will be designed specifically to magnify the strengths of the student’s academic profile. The academic year component will also focus on addressing real and perceived weaknesses in a student’s preparatory background. It is expected that students undertake 9-12 units of course work each semester, and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in these courses. Program staff will work closely with each student to address all aspects of the application process. This includes 1) assisting with the completion of the primary application; 2) assisting with the development of a personal statement that clearly presents the challenges overcome by the student as well as other personal strengths; 3) advising each student in the selection of dental schools where the expectation for successful application is most likely; 4) assisting with the development of a strong secondary application; and 5) enhancement of interview skills. The 2008-2009 academic year component will be held at SFSU during regular fall and spring semesters, with participants responsible for finding their own housing. A 5-week break occurs between semesters, from mid-December to late-January.

Student Status

Students admitted to the SFSU Adjunct Dental Post-Baccalaureate Program matriculate into SFSU as "2nd-Bacs". See the Informal Post-Bac web page for more details and a list of available courses.

Support: The Program provides support to participants by way of the following:

Financial aid may be available in the form of subsidized summer housing, tuition reduction, DAT fees, dental school application fees, and subsidized and unsubsidized loans, depending on documented level of financial need.

A 4-week summer Orientation & Academic Preparation Program that helps form a cohesive group and enhances study skills (1½-year Program only).

An intensive 8-week summer DAT Prep Program that reinforces the knowledge and skills needed to achieve a high score on the DAT (both 1- and 1½-year Programs).

Guidance and support from a Learning Specialist and a Stress-Management Specialist

A weekly Dental Colloquium

Rigorous advanced science course work

Occasional 1-2 hour lectures presented by SFSU Faculty, Dental Faculty and Dental Students from UCSF and Pacific.

An opportunity to present a 10 minute PowerPoint talk on a dental topic to SFSU students and faculty the end of the fall semester.

The writing of a composite letter of recommendation.

Admission Requirements & Preferences (back to top)

Graduation from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning with a baccalaureate or higher degree and a final GPA of 2.5 or above, or a GPA of 2.5 or above for the most recent 60 semester units (90 quarter units) of course work. Bachelor's degree must be completed by the end of the first summer of participation.

US dental school reapplicant or 1st-time applicant intending to apply during the 2008-2009 or 2009-2010 AADSAS cycle.

Minimum DAT scores of 14 for the Academic Average and PAT.

Demonstrated desire to work with underserved communities or in communities with limited access to dental health care.

Legal residents of California preferred, but residents of other states will be considered.

Preference will be given to those who were granted an interview by a school of dentistry.

Admissions finalists will be required to participate in a formal interview to be held on the SFSU campus.

Application Process (back to top)

Downloadable 2008-209 Paper Application (Applications are now being accepted!!): Applicants must download, complete and mail in to the SFSU Adjunct Dental Post-Baccalaureate Program. Supporting documents required in the application include:

Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
A personal statement using prompts provided in the application.
A current résumé using prompts provided in the application.
Three letters of reference, at least two from college science faculty members.
Written explanation of disadvantaged status using prompts provided in the application.
Documentation of legal state residence.
A complete copy of your most recent AADSAS application (reapplicants only).
A copy of a denial letter from a US dental school (reapplicants only).
A copy of a letter from a school of dentistry inviting you to an interview (reapplicants only, if available).
If you are a Disadvantaged Reapplicant, do not apply to this program; instead, apply to our Reapplicant Program.
Deadline: April 4, 2008

Click here to download a 2008-2009 paper Application (Application are now being accepted!!).

Costs (back to top)

Tuition: Summer: $0; Fall :$2,049; Spring $2,049. Out-of-State students pay and additional $339 per unit of course work. Full or partial tuition waiver may be granted on the basis of financial need.
Housing: Space in SFSU dormitories is available at $50 per day plus obligation to buy at least a one meal ($7) per day food plan. Full or partial room and board during the summer will be granted on the basis of financial need.
Financial Aid is available in the form of tuition reduction, summer room and board, DAT fees, dental school application fees and subsidized and unsubsidized loans.

Inquiries: E-Mail dentreapp.sfsu@gmail.com for further information.

A portion of the funding for the SFSU Adjunct Dental Post-Baccalaureate Program is provided by the Dental Pipeline II Program of The California Endowment.

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Updated 5/29/08