Application and Admission WLHSDM

The Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine (WLHSDM) is committed to the recruitment and success of a diverse group of students with excellent academic and personal qualities that indicate their interest in meeting the distinct oral health needs of populations in the Texas border regions, western Texas, and southern New Mexico. The WLHSDM Committee on Dental School Admissions (CDSA) will carefully evaluate a candidate’s entire application packet, including cognitive and non-cognitive areas. Non-cognitive areas will include evaluations of an applicant’s personal statements, letters of evaluation, and other life, extracurricular, volunteer or employment experiences that are reviewed as part of their diversity of life experiences.

Admissions information data is weighted equally, and indicate the importance placed on attracting:

1. Individuals who are highly-qualified academically;
2. Can complete the rigorous curriculum in dental medicine; 
3. Have demonstrated the motivation, maturity, interpersonal skills, and empathetic qualities necessary for a contemporary health provider.

While evidence of high intellectual ability and a strong record of scholastic achievement are vital for success in the study and practice of dentistry, the WLHSDM also recognizes the importance of the qualities of compassion, motivation, maturity, personal integrity, and effective communic ation as necessary traits in the health professions. Therefore, the personal interview will focus on non-academic criteria. Interviewers will assess the applicant’s life experiences, motivation to enter dentistry, knowledge of issues in dentistry and health care, personal characteristics, interpersonal and communication skills, and problem solving ability.

In accordance with Title IX, TTUHSC El Paso will not discriminate in its employment or student admissions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a protected veteran. The CDSA will seek to select a class that is academically-qualified and also includes a variety of backgrounds, interests, and life experiences that will provide a stimulating and enriching learning environment. Of particular interest will be applicants from traditionally-under-represented populations in the health professions, such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds, under-represented minorities in dentistry, and from Texas border regions, western Texas, and southern New Mexico. Overall, the WLHSDM will strive to establish an environment that welcomes and promotes respect for the differences of all: students, faculty, staff and the populations we serve.

Application Requirements:

Admission Requirements:

It is preferred that applicants for admission to the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine (WLHSDM) at Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso will have completed an undergraduate curriculum and been awarded a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent before matriculation into the WLHSDM. However, exceptionally mature students without an undergraduate degree, who have outstanding academic records, superior performance on the Dental Admission Test, and highly desirable personal qualifications may be considered for admission. These applicants must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours (or 134 quarter hours) at a regionally accredited US or Canadian college or university.

Prescribed Coursework Requirements:

Note: Courses for non-science majors or for health career majors, such as nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, will NOT satisfy the required coursework. All required coursework must be applicable toward a traditional science degree.

• Each required course must be completed with a grade of C or better. Courses taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit will not count toward meeting the requirement.*
• *Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 are exceptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-requisites taken P/F will be accepted. Courses taken P/F in the Fall of 2020 will ONLY be counted if the option to take them for a grade was not offered. Beginning in Spring 2021, no pre-requisite course will be accepted if taken P/F. 
• All science pre-requisites courses must be taken for SCIENCE MAJORS, regardless of the respective undergraduate major of the student. All required coursework must be applicable toward a traditional science degree.
• Courses for non-science majors or for health career majors (nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, etc.) will not satisfy the required coursework. All required coursework must be applicable toward a traditional science degree. 

Education Eligibility Requirements:

• The WLHSDM will only review and consider for admission to the D.M.D. program applicants who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents of the U.S.
• Applicants must complete a minimum of 90 semester hours (or 134 quarter hours) at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university.  
• All pre-dental requirements must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian university/college.  
  • Foreign coursework will not count toward meeting any of the prerequisites, even if transfer credit has been given for them by a U.S. or Canadian school. 
• All required coursework must be completed before OR by the time of matriculation into the WLHSDM.  
• The WLHSDM does not currently support an international dental program. All students applying to the DMD program must follow the aforementioned requirements.

Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)

TMDSAS is the application service utilized by all Texas residents and non-Texas residents who are applying to a Texas dental school. All required materials are submitted to TMDSAS by the applicant. TMDSAS will transmit the application before letters or test scores are uploaded; however, individual applications will not be reviewed until these items have been received. Each application must be complete in order to be considered for admission.

Dental Admission Test (DAT)

The DAT is a requirement for admission. Scores should be no more than 3 years old. The DAT is used by dental schools to measure academic ability, scientific understanding and perceptual ability. It is required by WLHSDM for application review. It measures:

• Natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry)
• Perceptual ability (two- and three-dimensional problem solving)
• Reading comprehension (dental and basic sciences)
• Quantitative reasoning (mathematical problems in algebra, numerical calculations, conversions, etc.)

State Residency

While the CDSA will accept applications from non-Texas residents, applicants will be informed that, as an institution supported by the state of Texas, state law requires the WLHSDM to admit an entering class composed of at least 90% Texas residents.

Additionally, the WLHSDM will only consider candidates for the DMD program who are either U.S. citizens or who have permanent resident status.

Secondary Application
The WLHSDM does not require a secondary application.

Letters of Evaluation

The following letters of evaluation are required for each applicant:

• Two individual letters of evaluation OR one Health Professions Committee Letter/Packet
• Option to submit one additional letter

Evaluators should know an applicant well enough to evaluate them both academically and personally.  Applicants are encouraged to include evaluators who are current or former professors that can speak to their academic ability in the natural sciences, as well as to the candidate’s non-cognitive traits. If you attend a university that provides committee letters or packets, we will accept this in lieu of two individual letters of evaluation. For more information on letters of evaluation go to www.tmdsas.com.

Patient Exposure

There is not a minimum number of hours required for admission. However, the admissions committee prefers evidence of depth and breadth of patient exposure. The more practitioners and community clinics in which you are able to volunteer, the more exposure you will have to a variety of philosophies on modes of health care delivery, patient interactions, and community needs. It is important to demonstrate through your patient interaction experiences that dentistry is the health care field to which you are committed.

Minimum GPA and DAT Requirement for admission

Our minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0 and the minimum score on the DAT is a 17. However, in EY 2021 in the state of Texas for accepted students, the average GPA was a 3.71, the SGPA was a 3.63 and the DAT was a 21.1.

International/Transfer or Advanced Standing applicants

Due to the unique structure of its curriculum, WLHSDM does not admit transfer or advanced standing students. Individuals who wish to enroll at WLHSDM will be evaluated with all other students applying to the D1 class. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

For more information on Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine Admissions, go to: https://elpaso.ttuhsc.edu/sdm/admissions/default.aspx

International Applicants

At this time, WLHSDM does not have an international program. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Application Timeline

The WLHSDM follows the TMDSAS Timeline found at: https://www.tmdsas.com/apply-now/deadlines.html

Standards for Curricular Completion

Purpose

This document provides information about the technical skills that are required to provide oral health care services and complete the curriculum at Hunt SDM. All prospective and currently-enrolled students, as well as all faculty, should review these standards, as they are integral to the successful completion of our program. They also serve as a guide to understanding the various characteristics necessary to become successful clinicians. Hunt SDM will assist students with disabilities and who are otherwise qualified, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Hunt SDM expects each student to demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes prior to graduation that are deemed essential to the practice of dentistry by the faculty at Hunt SDM. The curriculum has been designed to ensure that graduates achieve the level of competent clinicians, and the following standards are meant to clarify essential functions to fulfill this goal. Since the treatment of patients by students (under faculty supervision) is a significant part of the Hunt SDM curriculum, patient safety is a primary reason for developing these standards. Therefore, an essential standard is that students are able to provide safe patient treatment within a reasonable period of time.

The performance standards are described below in several broad categories, to include observation and sensory, communication, motor function, knowledge integration and application, and emotional, behavioral, and professional skills. Matriculation and continued enrollment through graduation is predicated upon these performance standards.

Observation and Sensory

Each student is expected to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes through observation of demonstrations, presentations, experiences, and clinical environments. These inter-professional experiences may include biomedical sciences, simulation activities, anatomy labs, clinical encounters, and electronic presentation techniques, and may incorporate various health care viewpoints. Knowledge acquisition is expected from the following sources in support of patient care: paper, video, slide, cadaver, and imagery, as well as through auditory, visual, olfactory, tactile and somatic sensations. The expectation of accuracy is not related to close or distance observation. Interpretation of non-verbal communications is expected during all clinical interactions. The student must be able to execute gross and fine motor movements, see fine detail even during patient movement, focus at a variety of distances, and discern variations in color, texture, shape and depth.  They must be able to gather clinical information by palpation or transmittal of sensation through instrumentation. Clear vision resolution is required to accurately read and record patient information and handwriting, examine imaging and small detail, and discern depth, width, and angulation.  The ability to work well and efficiently in a bustling, noisy environment, and to communicate effectively with patients in these situations is expected.

Communication

Each student must respectfully and sensitively communicate with faculty, residents, staff, students, other health professionals, patients and their families, community organizations, and leaders.  It is expected that the student have sufficient communication skills in the English language to obtain and share information from any venue, such as publications, lectures and their supporting materials, written or electronic testing, other patient care members, and patient interviews.  Data and material may require retrieval from patient records, backgrounds, unspoken behaviors and posture.  The student must be able to communicate with the patient and their parents, families, guardians, and community partners to assure compliance with various preventive and treatment recommendations.  Communication includes speech and writing, and must be effective for overall success in this program, as well as for the delivery of oral health care and its accurate documentation.

Motor Function

A student must be able to repetitively position around a patient for prolonged periods of time, whether sitting in a chair or standing.  The student must be required to have functional physical mobility and coordination of both gross and fine motor skills (including facility of vision and touch), in order to safely and efficiently use various types of dental instrumentation. Some examples include, but are not limited to, the following: the use of hand instruments, scalpels, high- or low- speed suction and rotary handpieces; image capturing and restoration-producing equipment; operation of foot pedals and task-operating buttons and pads; and a variety of other electronic devices. A student must also have the ability to perform palpation, percussion, auscultation, basic laboratory tests and other diagnostic procedures.  A student must be able to respond to clinical situations in a timely manner and provide general and emergency dental care. Likewise, a student must be able to perform basic life support, including CPR; assist in movement of patients (including children and those with special needs); physically restrain those patients who lack motor control; and support co-workers in delivering care.  Students must adhere to universal infection protocols and meet established safety standards applicable to inpatient and outpatient settings and other clinical activities. Collectively, these skills require not only the coordination of gross and fine motor skills, but also require the student to function under stress and develop the endurance for physically taxing workloads.  All tasks must be performed within a reasonable time period, as determined by faculty, to accommodate an atmosphere of patient-centered care.

Knowledge Integration and Application

A student must be able to analyze, integrate, and synthesize information to solve a variety of problems.  Additionally, the student must be able to apply this knowledge to understand structures spatially, including two- and three-dimensional relationships. Problem-solving skills must include the ability to address new difficulties in a timely, sometimes rapid, manner.  

Emotional, Behavioral, and Professional Skills

A student is expected to demonstrate psychological and sociological health, including the attributes of maturity and emotional stability that will enable them to succeed despite strenuous workloads, stressful situations, time limitations, and a variety of environments and venues.  Collectively, this requires the full use of intellectual abilities, good judgment, prompt completion of tasks and skills, and professional communications and relationships with others.  The clinical care of patients can present uncertainties and unusual circumstances, and the student must respond with patience, compassion, integrity, empathy, effective personal and interactive skills, and an overall passion for working in the health care arena.  Patients can present with a variety of moods and behaviors, and the student must be able to assess and manage the patient without provoking them.  The student must also be able to relate to patients and other health care workers with professionalism (which includes honesty, integrity, respect, and acceptance of diversity). A student must always act in the best interests of the patient and society, and this supersedes the student’s self-interests. The student must be a responsible and trustworthy professional at all times. The student must refrain from any actions, including personal appearance and social communications, which may detract from the profession and/or this educational institution. These include actions, attitudes, and communications at all university-sponsored events, educational locations, and off-campus clinical sites. The Hunt SDM expects students to maintain the ethical and professionalism standards outlined in the American Dental Association’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct, the American College of Dentists Ethics Handbook for Dentists, the Texas State Board of Dentistry, and the Code of Professional Conduct at Hunt SDM. 

Disclosures

The Hunt SDM has determined that these essential skill functions are not only necessary but fundamental to completing the curriculum and providing oral health care services. Applicants who can perform these functions with or without reasonable accommodations will be considered.  The Hunt SDM does not inquire about disability or accommodations prior to admission, and each applicant will be considered based on the published criteria for admission.  Should an applicant disclose a disability during the admissions process, they may be asked for documentation, which should be sent to the Director of Admissions.  With matriculation throughout the program, any student disclosing a disability and requesting accommodation is asked to provide documentation of their disability to determine the appropriate accommodations.  In order to matriculate through the curriculum, a student must be able to perform all these essential functions with or without accommodation.  An inability to perform these essential functions may lead to a withdrawal of an offer of admission or dismissal after enrollment.  Requests for accommodations by matriculated students should be sent to Hector Noriega, Associate Director for Academic Success and Accessibility Office, Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, Texas 79905, disabilitysupport.elp@ttuhsc.edu.

A copy of the Standards for Curricular Completion is provided to all matriculants in their pre-matriculation packet. It is included in the WLHSDM Student Affairs Handbook and also appears on the website. When a student is offered and has deposited the placement guarantee fee to the WLHSDM, the student will sign the acknowledgment that they have read and they understand the standards must be met, with or without accommodation(s).