Structure
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 2009 summer component will be held at SFSU for 8 weeks, from Monday, June 8 until Friday, July 31, 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 6 until Friday, July 31, with participants housed in SFSU student residences. Participants in the 1½-year program will not take the DAT until the second summer component, in 2010, 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 2009-2010 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 first-summer housing, 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).
- Optional guidance and support from a Learning Specialist and a Psychotherapist.
- 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.
- Enrollment in an 8-week Dental Morphology class at SFSU during the spring semester.
- The writing of a composite letter of recommendation.
