Southern California Regional
Post Baccalaureate Dental Experience 2008

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The USC School of Dentistry offers a specialized Post Baccalaureate experience to assist students from under-represented backgrounds achieve their goal of becoming successful dental school applicants. 

The program, in cooperation with the 3 other southern California dental schools, begins with a four week summer program offered through the USC, UCLA, and Loma Linda dental schools.  This program focuses on a review of prerequisite sciences courses and concepts covered on the DAT examination as well as interpersonal skills, interviewing skills and study skills. 

A specialized academic-year program consists of matriculation in specific science courses and offers a service learning component which will take place in various locations including the USC School of Dentistry, its satellite clinics and other off-campus venues including UCLA and Loma Linda campuses.    Students will enroll in individualized programs of study which will include course work taken through UCLA Extension or a local California State University.  Students will be required to maintain a prescribed schedule and meet regularly with program advisors and assigned mentors.

Enrollment is strictly limited to 4 or 5 participants per year depending on funding.  No guarantee of future acceptance to dental or medical school is made or implied by participation in this program.              

CURRICULUM

  • The program is 11 months in duration and commences the third Monday in June.  The first week serves as an orientation week during which time the students become familiar with the USC campus and the school of dentistry.  The students receive a program overview, participate in an individualized assessment of academic strength and deficiencies, visit and become oriented with USC Community Clinics, etc.
  • The USC Post Baccalaureate students will participate in a 4 week summer program, joining the UCLA and Loma Linda Post Baccalaureate students.  This program “is designed to enhance basic science knowledge, problem solving skills” and includes lectures, workshops in the basic sciences, and small group science tutorials. 
  • The fall semester includes enrollment in a specified number of science courses through the UCLA extension center. (Students are directed to enroll in specific science courses based on the deficiencies in the student’s transcripts and/or performance on the DAT.)
  • Each student is enrolled in a personalized schedule for class meetings, etc. The schedule includes time to intern at the various USC healthcare delivery sites including Queens Care, the Oral Health Center, Mobile Clinic, etc 
  • In addition to clinic rotations, the spring semester includes individualized dental school re-application preparation and strategies - ie mock interviews, essay preparation, etc.  Students engage in team-building exercises, shadowing experiences and hands on clinical experiences.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

  • Student must be a members of a racial and ethnic population that is underrepresented in the dental profession relative to their numbers in the general population
  • Student must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. 
  • Student must have a minimum science GPA of 2.5 or higher and minimum DAT scores of 14 or higher
  • Priority is given to student who  have been previously unsuccessful applicants to dental school
  • Individuals who are not previous applicants may be considered if they have a documented commitment to the oral health profession.
  • Student must have completed an undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited United States college or university