Pre-Dental

Become a Leader in Dentistry

Do you want to make a difference in people’s lives by improving their oral hygiene and health? Through F&M’s pre-dental program, you can set yourself up for a successful career in dentistry.

About Health Professions Advising: Pre-Dental

The pre-dental program is offered through F&M’s Health Professions Advising as a supplement to your chosen major. And while you won’t declare your major until your sophomore year, your pre-dental advising will begin the moment you step on campus.

As a pre-dental student, you’ll work with the Director of Health Professions Advising throughout your time at F&M. You’ll enjoy personalized guidance on recommended courses to take and specialized programming, resources, and more to help you develop the skills and experiences you’ll need to be a competitive applicant to dental school. Whether you are looking for a summer internship, deciding when to apply to dental school, or trying to select which school to attend, the F&M’s Health Professions Advising is with you every step of the way.

Personalized Guidance & Workshops

As a pre-dental student, you will work with Marissa Sheaf, M.S.Ed., Director of Health Professions Advising, throughout your time at F&M. Marissa provides one-on-one advising during drop-in hours and appointments, enabling you to get personalized guidance on the prerequisites for dental schools, how to become a competitive applicant, and more. She also creates and oversees experiential learning programs where you can gain clinical experience and helps connect you with alumni in the field. Additionally, Marissa presents on numerous topics and holds workshops throughout the year designed to provide insight and exploration into different careers in healthcare.

Clinical Opportunities

Immerse yourself in the day-to-day life of dentistry prior to entering the field. Marissa Sheaf, M.S.Ed., Director of Health Professions Advising, creates and oversees experiential learning programs through which you can gain clinical experience and helps connect you with alumni in the field. By maintaining partnerships with alumni dentists and several local facilities, Marissa will guide you toward opportunities to shadow dentists and dental residents as they care for patients. These shadowing experiences offer you a unique opportunity to get a step ahead in your graduate school endeavors as you can count these hours toward most dental school requirements.

Research Opportunities

Every student at F&M has extraordinary opportunities to engage in independent or faculty-led research. Pre-dental students at F&M can apply for funding to support their off-campus research projects.

DipDental Club

Clubs and organizations are another way to get involved while supplementing your academic experience. The DipDental club offers opportunities for pre-dental students to connect, socialize, and enhance their academics. DipDental plans various programs throughout the year, including:
  • Sessions about interviewing hosted by the head dentist and program director of the Dental Residency Program at Lancaster General Hospital
  • Workshops on becoming a competitive applicant for dental school
  • Campaigns increasing awareness of oral hygiene on campus
  • Smile of the Week on social media

Dental Admission Test (DAT) Preparation

If you plan to attend dental school after graduating from F&M, you will need to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Our Health Professions Advising team will help you prepare for this exam with customized study and preparation strategies and through test-preparation resources, including an official practice test from the American Dental Association.

Success Beyond F&M

F&M pre-dental students are distinctly prepared to continue forging their path to dentistry after graduating from F&M. Many of our graduates go on to dental school after F&M before beginning their career as a leader in the field.

Graduate School

The individualized learning and hands-on experiences F&M provides our students gives them an advantage in the application process. Out graduates have been  admitted to some of the nation’s top programs, including:

  • Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
  • Georgetown University School of Dentistry
  • New York University College of Dentistry
  • Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
  • University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine

Career Paths

Many F&M alumni have become leaders in dentistry, including in private practice, clinics, and other settings. They hold positions such as:

  • Dental Clinic Director
  • Dental Hygienist
  • Dental Director
  • Dentist
  • Family Dentist
  • Oral Surgeon
  • Orthodontist
  • Prosthodontist

Student Spotlight

“I fell in love with helping others through dentistry.”

Pre-dental student Lily Murphy ’26 has always loved working with kids, but she wasn’t sure what that would look like in dentistry. She found her niche by gaining hands-on experience in pediatric dentistry. “Most children fear the dentist, so it’s important to take the time to make sure they are calm and feel safe,” she said. During her internship, Murphy shadowed dentists while they performed procedures and helped dental assistants prepare exam rooms and instruments. “It has been such an amazing experience to understand how a dental practice runs,” she said. Murphy noted that F&M’s pre-dental program also helped her land a volunteer opportunity with the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic. “From that opportunity, I fell in love with helping others through dentistry,” she said.

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Beyond Career Services

Health Professions Advising is offered through F&M’s Center for Career and Professional Development. The Career Center cultivates professional development experiences that embolden students and alumni to design and navigate fulfilling careers with courage and curiosity.

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