Four years at SBU, four years in Bradenton, Fla.
Students accepted into this competitive program have a reserved seat waiting for them at the LECOM School of Dental Medicine upon graduation from St. Bonaventure University. Up to five students are accepted each year.
Accepted students receive a provisional letter of acceptance to LECOM upon entering the program at St. Bonaventure University, and a seat is reserved in the dental school class that begins four years after. The acceptance is provisional in that academic, comportment, and procedural requirements must be maintained while at St. Bonaventure in order to move on to dental school. Requirements are detailed in writing when a place is offered in the program.
In Phase I of the program, students complete a B.S. or B.A. degree in four years while at St. Bonaventure University. Majors other than biology require prior approval but are possible as long as dental school prerequisites are fulfilled. The student then goes on to Phase II at LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton, Fla., where the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree is completed in four years.
Applicants must submit a complete application to SBU. Applications that are complete by Dec. 10 receive priority. Later applications will be considered as space allows. Required application materials that do not fit into online applications should be mailed to the Office of Admissions (see address at bottom of page). Transfer students are not eligible for this program.
A brief online LECOM application must be completed before the LECOM interview can be scheduled. Go to:
https://portal.lecom.edu/ICS/Affiliated_Undergrad_College_Inquiry.jnz?secure=true
Qualified applicants will be interviewed at SBU by invitation in January and February. A second interview is conducted at LECOM. Decisions on acceptance are made after the LECOM interview.
Application Requirements
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Applicants must be U.S. citizens or hold a Permanent Resident Visa
- Transfer students are eligible with restrictions.
- 1240 (ERW+M) SAT or ACT composite 26.
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High school average of 90% (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or higher as calculated by the St. Bonaventure Admissions Office
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Community service is evaluated and taken into consideration
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Two essays:
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One essay (Personal Statement) that will be included with your Common App.
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An additional essay titled “Applying to Dental School,” which details your interest in working in the profession of dentistry and why you are interested in starting that process at SBU and then continuing at LECOM.
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A resume that organizes all of your extracurricular activities in one place (church, clubs, sports, hobbies, volunteering, clinical exposure, employment, etc.).
Maintenance Standards of Phase I of the Program
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Must be a full-time student
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Minimum overall grade point average of 3.4 (A = 4.0)
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Minimum GPA of 3.2 or better in all science courses
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Grade of C or better in all courses
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Limitations placed on use of AP credit, summer coursework, and courses taken outside of SBU
- 100 hours of shadowing in a clinical dental setting
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Maintain character/comportment requirements
Additional requirements to move onto LECOM
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Satisfactory performance on the DAT
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Background check, including drug and alcohol screening
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Must meet LECOM's health and technical standards
- Complete additional application requirements: AADSAS and LECOM secondary applications, letters of recommendation, final transcripts, etc.
- SBU students must enroll prior to starting their third year.