College of Dental Medicine - Illinois

Midwestern University's College of Dental Medicine - Illinois (CDMI) is part of an outstanding University with a long tradition of providing exceptional educational experiences to students in medicine, pharmacy, and other health-related disciplines. CDMI students will learn the interprofessional roles that are a part of the delivery of optimal oral health as a component of overall general health. Midwestern University's CDMI administration and faculty are leaders committed to excellence in education and patient care, who also strive to contribute to the future of the dental profession. The faculty provides a collegial and positive environment for student learning in one of the most worthy and needed professional disciplines of our healthcare system.

• Basic, behavioral, and clinical sciences
• Preclinical simulation studies
• Practical clinical dentistry
• Community clinical rotations

The Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.

• General dental practice
• Graduate education in any of the dental specialties
• Armed services (military)
• Public Health Service or Indian Health Service
• Dental industry
• Dental education
• Dental administration

To be competitive, an applicant should have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and possess both a science (biology, chemistry, and physics) and total GPA of 3.00 or more on a 4.00 scale. 

Students seeking admission to CDMI must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Completion of the prerequisite coursework.
   • Grades of "C" or better (grades of "C-" are not acceptable)
2. Submit competitive exam scores on the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT).
   • All candidates must submit results from the US DAT to AADSAS.
   • A total DAT score (summative scores less Total Science and Academic Average) should be 110 and above to be competitive 
   • Scores in the area of 18 or higher will be expected for the Academic Average, Reading Comprehension, Perceptual Ability, and Total Science sections
   • Only DAT exam scores earned from tests taken no more than three years prior to matriculation are acceptable
3. Submit two letters of recommendation.
   • One must be from either a predental advisory committee or a science professor
   • The other preferentially should be from either someone with a D.O./M.D. or D.D.S./D.M.D. degree and/or someone who can testify to the integrity and ethical standards of the applicant
   • Letters written by immediate family members are not acceptable
   • All letters of evaluation must be submitted directly by the evaluators to AADSAS.
4. Demonstrate a sincere understanding of, and interest in, the humanitarian ethos of healthcare and particularly dental medicine.
5. Reflect a service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
6. Reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous salaried work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
7. Possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
8. Agree to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
9. Pass the Midwestern University fingerprinting and criminal background check.

Prerequisite Courses

No grade lower than a C will be accepted for any prerequisite courses (i.e. a grade C– will not be acceptable).

*The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II, as some universities offer combined courses.