You're out of undergrad and have decided that dentistry is your future. The next step is to select a dental school. Choosing the right dental school can be a vital factor in determining the course of your career. Your dental school will require a serious time and financial commitment, so you want to be sure you are giving yourself the best opportunity possible. Here are some things to consider when choosing a dental school.

Not all dental programs are alike. Are you interested in community care? General practice? Teaching? Research? Each dental program may have a different focus, and you need to know if the focus of the school you are considering fits in with the kind of dentistry you want to practice. Some schools practice a traditional classroom instruction model, while others are organized according to a more broad problem solving pedagogy. You will need to decide which approach offers the best opportunities for learning for you.

You will need to make a decision based on the physical location of the school. Are you looking for something close to home, or are you willing to go far away to study dentistry? Are you prepared to take on the financial burden of not only tuition, but of living expenses in your new location if you choose to go away to school? Do you find the school aesthetically pleasing? This may seem a minor concern, but you will be spending a considerable period at the school that you choose, and at times you may be under intense pressure. Having the right environment may be the difference between graduating on time at the top of your class and a much less appealing alternative.

You should consider what kind of facilities the school has. If you are interested in lots of hands on research, obviously a state of the art laboratory will be desirable. If you are more interested in patient care, a school with access to a large hospital or community service center may be better for you.

You also need to think about the reputation of the school versus the likelihood of your being accepted. You can easily find out the percentage of applicants accepted and their average GPA and test scores for any of the top schools. You obviously want a school with a great reputation, but if it is not a school that is likely to accept you or if you would have too much difficulty meeting the requirements if you are accepted, this can be an unnecessary waste of time and money.

If you can, you should meet with the faculty and students at the programs you are most interested in. Talking with people already involved in the program will give you the best feeling for whether or not it is the right program for you to pursue your dental education.

Choosing a dental school is the first of many decisions that will start you on a path towards a career in dentistry. If you take the time to make an informed, intelligent decision here, the choices that follow will be that much easier for you.