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US Dentistry · 2027 Entry

Howard University College of Dentistry

2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Howard University College of Dentistry is a US DDS program in Washington, DC that takes 2027-entry applications through ADEA AADSAS. Its published class profile lists a median GPA of 3.55, a 5.5% acceptance rate and a class of 75. The school holds a traditional interview: October 2026–March 2027.

Location
Washington, DC, United States
Established
1881
Interviews (2027 entry)
October 2026–March 2027
Decisions (2027 entry)
Rolling admissions
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Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) — Exterior of Howard University College of DentistryHoward University College of Dentistry (DDS) — ' Founders Library

Photo: Ajay Suresh · CC BY 4.0 · cropped

Photo: Josh from Washington, D.C., USA · CC BY 2.0 · Photo: Ajay Suresh · CC BY 4.0 · Photo: Jay Wald · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Full guide

How to get into Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) dentistry

Step-by-step: entry requirements, DAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.

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Interview guide

Prepare for the Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) interview

Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.

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Overview

About Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS)

Howard University College of Dentistry, founded in 1881, is one of the oldest dental schools in the United States and is the most prominent HBCU dental school in the country. Located on Howard University's Washington, DC campus, the college has trained more Black dentists than any other institution in US history.

Howard Dental has a deep historical and ongoing mission to train dentists who will serve Black and underserved communities, address oral health disparities, and promote dental health equity across the United States. The school benefits from Howard's position as a major research university in the nation's capital.

What makes Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) different

Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Howard University College of Dentistry is the foremost HBCU dental school in the United States, with a 140-year history of training dentists who have served Black communities across the country. The school's Washington, DC location provides access to federal oral health policy, government health agencies, and major dental research institutions.

Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) course & teaching

Traditional curriculum. 4-year DDS curriculum with traditional and integrated elements. Patient care begins in Year 2 at Howard's dental clinic, which serves a predominantly Black and underserved patient population in Washington, DC. Community rotation opportunities with DC community health centers and underserved neighborhood dental sites.

Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) research strengths

Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) is strong in these research areas:

  • Oral health disparities
  • Dental health equity
  • Oral-systemic health in Black communities
  • Periodontal disease
  • Oral cancer disparities

How the Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) interview runs

Format: Traditional one-on-one or panel interview at Howard University campus, Washington, DC

Howard University College of Dentistry interviewees have a 25- to 30-minute interview with an interviewing panel (faculty, a student representative and an alumnus, or two faculty members), followed by a second interview with the Director of Admissions.

As the most prominent HBCU dental school and a historic producer of Black dentists in the United States, Howard interviews strongly emphasize commitment to serving underserved communities, oral health equity, the oral-systemic health connection, and awareness of health disparities affecting Black and minority communities. Manual dexterity experience, dental shadowing, and genuine motivation for dentistry are also assessed.

Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) intake

Approximately 75–80 students per year.

Where Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) is

Howard University College of Dentistry was founded in 1881 and is based in Washington, DC.

Programmes offered:

  • General Dentistry
  • Oral Health Equity
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Prosthodontics
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Practise

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Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS)

Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) at a glance

Howard University College of Dentistry Dentistry — 2027 entry at a glance
GPA (median)3.55
Acceptance rate5.5%
Class size75
In-state preferenceNo stated in-state preference
Interview formatTraditional interview
IntakeApproximately 75–80 students per year
Howard University College of Dentistry Dentistry admissions profile — 2027 entry
Admission overviewBachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Howard Dental actively recruits from historically underrepresented groups in dentistry, particularly Black and minority applicants, though it welcomes applicants of all backgrounds. Dental experience, community service, and commitment to serving underserved populations are strongly valued.
GPA median3.55 overall / 3.48 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate5.5%
Class size75
In-state preferenceNone
CASPerNot required
AAMC PREviewNot required
Holistic review emphasisCommunity service in underserved settings, oral health equity commitment, dental experience, academic record, manual dexterity.
NotesEstimates from publicly available ADEA AADSAS data; verify for current cycle. DAT Academic Average median approximately 18–21 (hedged). HBCU institution — strong mission to train dentists for underserved and minority communities. No formal in-state preference. Checked 2026-09-12: this school publishes no class DAT average, so none is quoted.
Specialities offeredGeneral Dentistry, Oral Health Equity, Pediatric Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from Howard University College of Dentistry's published admissions data. Class profiles are republished each year — confirm which entering class these numbers describe before you rely on them.

Interview

How Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) interviews applicants

Howard University College of Dentistry Dentistry interview — 2027 entry
FormatTraditional one-on-one or panel interview at Howard University campus, Washington, DC
Interview window (2027 entry)October 2026–March 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)Rolling admissions
Post-interview chancesApproximately 35–50% post-interview (estimated).
Tutor insight
Howard Dental interviews reward applicants who can authentically speak to oral health equity, community service in underserved settings, and the specific health disparities affecting Black and minority communities. You do not need to be Black to apply to or attend Howard, but you should demonstrate genuine understanding of Howard's historical mission and commitment to health equity. Dental experience in community health settings — particularly with underserved or minority populations — is a strong differentiator. The oral-systemic health disparities angle is particularly important: know how conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and sickle cell disease affect oral health in Black communities.
Practice

Practise for your Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank485 dentistry questions inside

Interview questions matched to Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS)

Two questions from our US bank that match Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS)’s panel format. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

MediumMMI · PanelQ1

Your Long-Term Vision in U.S. Dentistry

Looking 10 to 15 years ahead, where do you realistically see yourself in U.S. dentistry — general private practice, a specialty, public health or community dentistry, academia, or another path — and what is it about that vision that motivates you now, at the start of your training?

Likely follow-up · Specializing means additional postdoctoral residency, often with more debt and a delayed income. How do you weigh that against the appeal of a specialty?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
HardMMI · PanelQ2

Integrating New Evidence When It Contradicts Established Practice

Imagine that, several years into practice, a high-quality systematic review concludes that a procedure you were trained to perform routinely offers little benefit and may carry small but real risks. Many of your respected colleagues continue to do it. Walk us through how you would evaluate this new evidence and decide whether, and how, to change your own practice.

Likely follow-up · What would you actually look at to judge whether this systematic review should change your behavior, rather than just trusting its conclusion?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS)Free dentistry interview question bank for Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) applicants →
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DAT & Admissions

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Interview preparation

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Sources

Where Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS)'s figures come from

Checked against Howard University College of Dentistry's own website on 15 August 2026: our record for the school was reconciled with what it publishes there. For most US schools that is class size and interview format only, so MCAT, GPA and acceptance-rate figures remain unconfirmed.

Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) — official course page →Entry requirements, interview format and deadlines published by the school itself. The primary source for everything on this page.
FAQ

Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) — frequently asked questions

Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Howard Dental actively recruits from historically underrepresented groups in dentistry, particularly Black and minority applicants, though it welcomes applicants of all backgrounds. Dental experience, community service, and commitment to serving underserved populations are strongly valued.

Apply to Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) with confidence

We've helped students turn their DAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) and other US dentistry schools.

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