Pre-Dentistry
If your goal is to enter dental school, we offer majors that give you the educational foundation you need to do exceedingly well in graduate studies and your professional career.
Ambrose Advantages
- Foundational and Comprehensive Education
- We Give You Choices
- Career-Focused Opportunities
Earn your undergraduate degree at St. Ambrose and enjoy our 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, support from a community of learners, and an education that surpasses your expectations.
The requirements for dental school focus on the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, which include many courses within the Biology and Chemistry majors at SAU.
Course requirements for admission to dental school differ among institutions, but a common theme for all programs is a dedication to oral health and patient well-being. Students can demonstrate this dedication through volunteer efforts, job shadowing, and internships in dental offices.
Many dental programs in the Midwest region require:
• One year General Biology + lab (BIOL 199, 200)
• One year General Chemistry + lab (CHEM 105, 106)
• One year Organic Chemistry + lab (CHEM 207, 208, 209, 210)
• One year Physics + lab (PHYS 203, 204)
• Biochemistry + lab (CHEM 319)
• Microbiology (BIOL 251)
• One year Human Anatomy & Physiology (BIOL 230, 232)
• One year English (ENGL 101 + ENGL elective)
Individual dental programs may have additional requirements.
The entrance exam for dental school is the DAT (Dental Admission Test). In order for you to enter a dental graduate program in the fall semester after graduation, you should plan to take the DAT no later than the summer after your junior year.
Additional courses that are beneficial to complete prior to taking the DAT are:
• Biodiversity
• Lifespan & Development
• Genetics
• Ecology
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Elementary Functions
• Statistics
No matter which undergraduate major you choose - Biology or Chemistry - we offer the foundational courses required by most dental programs in the Midwest, including physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. Many of our elective courses also prove beneficial to students who take the Dental Admissions Test. We offer genetics, ecology, statistics, and molecular biology, to name a few.
You can job shadow and intern, and our Career Center will help find placements that fit your goals and demonstrate your dedication to patients and their well-being. The Center is staffed with career professionals who will help you obtain - and possibly earn college credit for - an internship.
If your plans change, your SAU undergraduate degree gives you many career options. Our Biology and Chemistry graduates have successful careers in research and development, allied health professions, education, pharmaceuticals, forensic science, agriculture, and more.
At SAU, you get a well-rounded education grounded in the Liberal Arts and within a campus community that works for social justice in the spirit of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.
As a graduate, you will have developed critical thinking skills, an awareness of the world outside the classroom, and knowledge that spans beyond your major. These aspects of your education will strengthen you professionally - and personally.
Scholarships and Grants
St. Ambrose offers excellent scholarships and grants, work-study and other financial aid options! Full-time students may be eligible based on your strong academic performance in college, your talent in fine arts or athletics or your demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAU school code for the FAFSA is 001889.
ON CAMPUS
Merit-Based Scholarships
4.0 GPA: $24,000
3.75-3.99 GPA: $22,000
3.0-3.749 GPA: $20,000
2.5-2.99 GPA: $18,000
2.0-2.49 GPA: $14,000
If GPA is 2.0-2.49, additional documents and review required for admission.
OFF CAMPUS
Merit-Based Scholarships
4.o GPA: $17,000
3.75-3.99 GPA: $16,000
3.0-3.749 GPA: $15,000
2.5-2.99 GPA: $14,000
2.0-2.49 GPA: $13,000
If GPA is 2.0-2.49, additional documents and review required for admission.
ADDITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL AID
Ambrose Advantage Full-Tuition Scholarship
Pell-eligible Iowa residents, learn more here
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarship: $500 per year
Parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Catholic Traditions Scholarship: $1,000 per year
Students with Catholic religious denomination or plans to graduate from Catholic high school
Minority Scholarship: $500 per year
Ethnically diverse student
Athletic Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability
Fine Arts Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability in music, art and theatre
Faith Learning Justice Campus Ministry Scholarships: $2,000 per year
Recognition of involvement in church and community service and interest in strengthening faith and growing as a leader in campus ministry
Scholarships are determined by unweighted GPA, and are renewable for four years of undergraduate student. Increases in scholarship awards due to change in GPA will be reviewed until March 1.
Grants are money that you don't repay, and they can come from government or private sources. SAU receives all financial aid funds directly - including loans and grants - then applies them to your account: once in the fall term and once in the spring term. Grants can be used to cover your tuition, books, and housing costs. You must apply for grants each academic year. If you have any loan funds in excess of your costs, you may receive a refund. If you are a first-time borrower, there is a 30-day hold on your first disbursement. For all of these grants, you must complete the Free Application Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as it is available.
Iowa Tuition Grant
To be eligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant, you must be a resident of Iowa as defined by the State Board of Regents and currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at an eligible Iowa college or university (SAU is eligible). Iowa College Aid administers need-based college financial aid for Iowans, such as the Iowa Tuition Grant.
Award: $7,500 maximum
Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to students of the highest need based on how much your family can contribute to your education. The U.S. Department of Education sets a threshold. Then, when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it computes where you land within that threshold and determines if you qualify for the grant and for how much.
Award: $6,895 maximum
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
You must file a FAFSA to qualify for a Pell Grant. This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students who have submitted all required documents for review and in time for the review to be complete. If you are eligible for a Pell Grant or SEOG, the awards will appear on your financial aid award letter.
Award: $400 maximum
Federal Work Study
Must secure campus employment.
Award: $2,560
Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Provides aid to students intending to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low-income families (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education or a state education agency). Review criteria and all details here.
Award: up to $4,000
There are many opportunities to receive scholarships from outside sources, here are a few websites to begin researching your options:
- Fastweb
- College Board Scholarship Search
- Scholarships.com
- Peterson's Award Database
- Scholly (app download)
Another tip: Next time you're on campus, check out the bulletin board outside Student Financial Services where we post more flyers and applications for outside scholarships.
Contact
Admissions Office
Admissions and Welcome Center
310 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6300
admit@sau.edu