We have selected the most commonly-asked questions by accepted students and have tried to answer them by directing you to the appropriate source.

For additional information contact the UCSF School of Dentistry admissions office:

Office of Admissions
UCSF School of Dentistry
513 Parnassus Avenue, S-619
San Francisco, CA 94143-0430
(415) 476-2737
http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/admissions/admiss_main.html

Q. How much is tuition at the UCSF School of Dentistry?
A. The UCSF Student Financial Services website offers comprehensive information on the cost of attendance, the local cost of living, the cost of books and other academic supplies, as well as detailed information on financial aid and scholarships.

Q. Does UCSF have campus housing for dental students?
A. UCSF offers affordable, safe and convenient on-campus housing to all students, as well as information on and assistance with finding off-campus housing. For students interested in the on-campus option, it is recommended that you add your name to the waiting list as soon as possible:

Campus Housing Office
500 Parnassus Avenue, Room 102
Phone: (415) 476-2231
Fax: (415) 476-6733
E-mail: housing@casmail.ucsf.edu
http://www.cas.ucsf.edu/cho/

Q. Can I take classes during the summer prior to entering dental school?
A. It is not recommended that you take classes during the summer prior to entering dental school.

Q. When do classes begin?
A. Introduction to Dentistry begins on Monday, September 18th, 2006. The Dedication ceremony takes place on Thursday, September 28th, 2006. Please be aware that attendance on September 18th, 2006 is mandatory for incoming students. Incoming students failing to attend any one of these events will be removed from the class, and their place will be given to the first alternate.

Academic Calendar

Q. When do I register for classes?
A. Before students can register, they must receive their final admission notification from the Office of Admissions. The Registrar's Office will mail instructions for registration to the student sometime during the Summer. Please check the UCSF Registrar's Office website during the Summer for more information.

Q. When will I get my Final Admission?
A. For all applicants granted Provisional Admission, the Office of Admissions requires that you send official transcripts of all schools attended (AADSAS only sent photocopies of your transcripts at the time you applied to UCSF). Transcripts must show the degree (BA/BS/Master's) posted, and indicate when it was obtained. If the student has fulfilled any of the requirements with APE credit, it is required that an official APE report be sent as well. Once all documentation is submitted a final evaluation will be conducted to ensure that all requirements have been satisfied, and if so, Final Admission will be granted at that time. Please contact the Office of Admissions if you have additional questions about this process: 415-476-2737.

Q. Which vaccinations will I need before entering school?
A. Every new student and readmitted student is required to submit documented proof of possessing antibodies to the Hepatitis B virus, or to initiate the Hepatitis B vaccination series before being cleared for registration. It is required that you receive all of the shots or at least the first two shots of the Hepatitis B series, which are given a month apart, prior to starting school. The third vaccination in the series is free from Student Health Services once the student has entered the school. By the end of the first six months of school, you must have completed the Hepatitis B series. You must also submit proof of having had the Chickenpox (Varicella) by providing Student Health Services with the results of your Chickenpox titer. In addition, documentation must be provided of your Measles and Rubella immunizations, or a positive titer for Measles and Rubella. Please contact Student Health Services at (415) 476-1281 if you have additional questions about these requirements.

Q. What kind of computing capabilities are required of students?
A. Students are required to have the capabilities detailed in the Computer Requirements for the Class of 2009.

Q. What kind of financial aid is available at UCSF?
A. Student Financial Services administers several financial aid programs offering loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study. Funds are limited and are awarded only to students who demonstrate need, therefore all student resources and assets will be considered sources of income for the purposes of meeting educational costs. UCSF generally requires parental financial information, although this does not affect eligibility for financial aid but rather helps determine the type and amount of aid offered. Entering students should apply for financial aid as soon as they have been accepted (or provisionally accepted) for admission. By completing the UCSF Financial Aid Application package students are automatically considered for all programs administered by the Student Financial Services office. Visit the Application Process page for additional information.

Q. What kinds of scholarships are available to dental students?
A. A variety of awards are made each year from UCSF School of Dentistry scholarship funds. Criteria for these awards and scholarships vary widely, and new scholarships are established each year. All admitted and enrolled dental students are considered for scholarships by the school's Scholarship Committee. Applicants with a GPA of B, B+ and above will be considered for the UC Regents Scholarship. This is a scholarship based solely upon academic achievement, and no additional application is necessary. Student Financial Services encourages students to investigate sources of financial assistance beyond what is offered by the federal and state governments and schools. Visit their scholarship page for additional information.

Q. What will the pre-doctoral dental curriculum be like during the next four years?
A. A new curriculum will be implemented at the School of Dentistry, starting in the Fall of 2004. Under the new curriculum, coursework for dental students will be organized in thematic streams that emphasize the integration of basic and clinical sciences. The new curriculum is comprised of an integrated educational approach, taking advantage of student-centered teaching modalities and tremendous advances in technology.

The five academic streams for the pre-doctoral program will be:

• The Foundations of Biomedical Sciences Stream incorporates the basic science disciplines that form the core knowledge for understanding human health and disease. It includes extensive basic scientific background in courses structured around organ systems and human pathophysiology.
  
  
• The Foundations of Dental Sciences Stream includes specifically oral-related disciplines. Students master the knowledge needed for dental diagnoses, understand the development and progression of dental diseases, and apply scientific understanding to dental problems.
  
  
• Scientific Methods in Clinical Dentistry Stream provides reasoning tools for analyzing and solving problems related to the practice of dentistry. These include an understanding of research and knowledge of the dental literature.
  
  
• Preventive and Restorative Dentistry Stream incorporates the traditional preclinical courses in a seamless presentation of material in order to develop skills necessary to provide the highest quality of dental care.
  
  
• The Patient-Centered Care Stream emphasizes comprehensive care for patients. It begins in the first year with skills in patient interviewing, examination, communication, and infection control. As students progress, they take on more demanding tasks and develop independence, judgment and skill in diagnosing and treating patients in the Student Dental Practices and community clinics.

Q. How is student life on campus?
A. UCSF offers a variety of cultural, recreational, and student organization-sponsored events on an almost daily basis. The UCSF Campus Calendar lists some of these. EMPACT! is a major sponsor of recreational and cultural events, and additional information about campus organizations can be found on the Registered Campus Organization pages. The Millberry Recreation and Fitness Center is a well-equipped facility located in the Millberry Student Union, with a beautiful view of Golden Gate Park and northern San Francisco.

Q. What specialty programs can I apply for after finishing dental school?
A. The UCSF School of Dentistry offers several programs designed to prepare dentists to become specialty practitioners, teachers and researchers, and most lead to certification in the student's chosen area of training. Currently, UCSF offers programs in advanced education programs in dental public health, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and craniofacial sciences, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, endodontics, and prosthodontics. Please contact the Office of Admissions at the address or telephone number below if you have additional questions.

Office of Admissions
513 Parnassus Avenue S-619
Phone: (415) 476-2737
Fax: (415) 476-4226

Q. Who should I contact if I have other questions?
A. You are welcome to contact the Office of Admissions at the address or telephone number below. Please also contact the Office of Admissions if you feel that an important question has not been addressed here, and we will consider including it on this page. You feedback is very important to us!

Office of Admissions
UCSF School of Dentistry
513 Parnassus Avenue, S-619
San Francisco, CA 94143-0430
(415) 476-2737
http://dentistry.ucsf.edu/admissions/admiss_main.html