Application Procedures

AADSAS Application Service

The American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) is a centralized application service for students who wish to apply to dental school. Candidates may apply to participating dental schools nationwide through this service. AADSAS saves the candidate time and effort by eliminating the need to complete multiple applications. Since AADSAS is essentially an information clearinghouse, it has no influence on a school’s appraisal or selection of candidates. The service also does not have any information about the criteria used by dental schools to select candidates for admissions.

Students must apply through AADSAS and complete their application electronically via the web at https://portal.aadsasweb.org.

AADSAS enters information into a database and distributes that information in a standardized application form to each school selected. A candidate will receive a confirmation copy of his or her application for review and correction, if necessary. Candidates and potential candidates may visit the web site at www.adea.org for answers to frequently asked questions about the AADSAS application process.

The VCU School of Dentistry participates in AADSAS and abides by all the rules and regulations that they recommend. All candidates, including re-applicants and D.5 students, are required to submit credentials through this service. The earliest date for applications being accepted by AADSAS is June 1st. Applications for VCU must be submitted to the AADSAS offices by November 1st to be considered for the following year. However, it is HIGHLY recommended that applications be submitted to AADSAS as early as possible as the process is time intensive. Our school requires that candidates apply to AADSAS electronically through the web site www.adea.org. AADSAS processing takes 4-8 weeks after your application, transcripts and payment is received.

All applicants are required to send a non-refundable check or money order payable to the VCU School of Dentistry in the amount of $70 along with a 2x2 style photograph. You MUST include your full legal name and AADSAS ID number with your check and photograph. Send all of the information to the following address:

Office of Admissions
School of Dentistry
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 980566
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0566

Make checks/money orders payable to: VCU School of Dentistry. Please note the VCU application fee is a separate fee from that of AADSAS.

Please note that if you are re-applying through AADSAS you need to submit an entirely new application, including DAT scores and letters of recommendation. No data from the previous application cycle is carried over to the new application cycle.

A minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation are needed to complete the application. At least two of these are to be from science professors and the third must come from a dental practitioner who knows the candidates professional abilities through direct observation via shadowing or volunteer work. AADSAS accepts and processes a maximum of four individual letters of evaluation or one Pre-dental Committee Report/Letter, plus the option of one additional letter of evaluation. AADSAS has created this option for applicants whose Pre-dental Committee Report does not include a letter that may be required by a particular dental school, e.g., from a practicing dentist.

Letters of recommendation and official transcripts should also be sent directly to the AADSAS office at the following address:

AADSAS
1400 K Street NW
Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20005
(617) 612-2045

Once the candidate's application is received in our office from AADSAS, it then is reviewed and a decision is made on whether or not an interview will be granted. We highly discourage applicants calling our office to find out the status of their application. All calls requesting such information will be directed to the AADSAS portal to identify information necessary to complete your application. Check the "Status" button on the application tool bar or email inquiries to aadsasinfo@aadsasweb.org. Only candidates who are invited to interview will be sent a supplemental application with his or her invitation letter to be completed and returned to our office as soon as possible.

* For your own individual use, a VCU application checklist is provided below to ensure you have all the required materials in order to complete your application with our school:

VCU School of Dentistry Checklist