Admissions
Information
Admission process video FAQ's
FOR INFORMATION
CONTACT:
Jane Walsh, RDH, JD,
Program Director of
Dental Hygiene
Telephone:
504-941-8156
Fax: 504-941-8154
E-mail: jwals2@lsuhsc.edu
PHILOSOPHY OF
ADMISSIONS
Admission to all programs at the LSUHealth School of Dentistry (LSUSD) is done on a competitive basis. Each admissions committee is charged with reviewing and accepting applicants who possess the best credentials. Selections are based on the criteria set forth below in Section 2. Committed to diversity and service to underserved populations, the committee encourages applications from qualified candidates who represent all backgrounds and those from underserved areas who want to return or remain to care for these communities. Specifically, LSUSD looks to encourage those from the Acadiana area and Rapides Parish or those obtaining their prerequisites in these parishes hoping to remain. After review of all applications during the spring semester, the most competitive candidates are invited for personal interviews with the admissions committee. At the completion of personal interviews, application scoring is tabulated and interviewed applicants are contacted regarding the outcome.
CLASS SIZE: The admissions committee selects up to 38 students from an annual applicant pool of approximately 140-175. Pending CODA approval of an additional LSU Alexandria educational site 6 students will be selected to attend classes and clinic sessions at that site. Please select your desired location and alternates from the boxes on the Resident verification form when submitted.
RESIDENCY:
Applicants must be a
Louisiana resident for
admissions to the Program
in Dental Hygiene. For
more details on residency
requirements, please click
here. Questions
about residency
should be addressed to the
Registrar of the
LSUHealth:
504-568-4829.
Admissions
Requirements and
checklist:
These links provide
downloadable checklists
and logs to help
applicants stay organized
and on track. Please
consider using these:
Pre-requisite Check list Click
here: Prereq Check
List
Admissions Check list Click
here: Admissions
Check List
Dental Hygiene
Shadow/Experience's Log Click
here: Dental
Hygiene
Shadow/Experience's Log
APPLICATION
MATERIALS
Admissions opens November 1st, for the following academic year. Application materials for admission to LSUSD are processed in two parts and each part has a separate fee. (see link above to an available checklist for admissions) Those parts are as follows:
Part 1: ADEA DHCAS
Part 2: Supplemental package
Part 1:
The Dental Hygiene Program at LSUHSC School of Dentistry participates with the ADEA Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service, known as ADEA DHCAS. ADEA DHCAS will charge users a fee. Please see their website for that fee amount which is subject to change. Applicants interested in our program should apply to the entry-level Dental Hygiene program online using the ADEA DHCAS application. To access this process visit www.adeadhcas.org. It is the applicant's responsibility to monitor the status of their application through ADEA DHCAS. If there are questions regarding your application with ADEA DHCAS call (617) 612-2045. The website provides both an email address (accessible via the website) as well as this phone number for follow up if needed.
- COMPLETED
DH-CAS APPLICATION
All sections of the application as supplied online by ADEA DHCAS must be completed by the applicant by the last business day of December by 4:00 PM CST to allow time for verification by ADEA DHCAS by February 1st.
- REFERENCE
LETTERS
Each applicant is required to submit two letters of reference through ADEA DHCAS. One is required from a college professor who has instructed them in a course. The other letter should either be from an additional teacher, beyond the one required, or non-teachers, such as dentists, co-workers, etc. A maximum of (3) are accepted. See the ADEA DHCAS website for information on this process.
- OFFICIAL
TRANSCRIPTS
Official transcripts
from all
colleges and
universities attended by
the applicant must be
sent to the ADEA DHCAS
Transcript Processing
Center, P.O. Box 9129,
Watertown, MA 02471.
These materials should
come directly from the
Registrar of the
institution.
- ATDH Test Results
Part 2:
The supplemental packet: This packet requires a separate fee. This fee is $50.00. The packet will not be processed without payment. This packet includes the following:
- APPLICATION
FEE
$50.00 Non-refundable application fee paid online through the LSUHSC Fee Payment Portal
- COMPLETED
RESIDENT VERIFICATION
FORM
To download this form
click here.
- PASSPORT-TYPE
PHOTOGRAPH
A recent color or
black-and-white
photograph must
accompany the Resident
Verification Form,
affixed to the upper
left hand corner.
- COPY OF
DRIVER'S LICENSE
(front and back)
- DRAFT CARD
STATUS(males
only)
Copy of your current
Draft Card status you
can print a copy off the
internet at www.sss.gov
Mail Part 2 A-E to:
Office of Student
Admissions
1100 Florida Ave., Box
28
New Orleans, LA 70119
- AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST SCORES and ATDH Score
Official ACT scores must be submitted to our office from ACT using the School’s ACT School Code which is is 1601. No photocopies accepted. It is the students' responsibility to contact the ACT Office at 319-337-1313 for permission to release these scores as part of your supplemental packet. The ATDH exam will prompt you to select a school to send the scores to. Select LSU and ADEA DHCAS
Mail Part 2 Information not sent by ACT or ATDH to:
Office of Student Admissions
1100 Florida Ave., Box 28
New Orleans, LA 70119
STATUS OF
APPLICATION
The Office of Admissions informs applicants of receipt of their supplemental fee and packet via email notifications through DHCAS. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that all items for both parts of the application process are received by the last business day of December, 4:00 PM CST. This deadline must be met in order to be considered for admission. An applicant will not be considered for an interview or admission until the application is complete. Application submissions must be completed by the last business day of December, 4:00 pm CST or they will not be considered for admission.
CREDIT HOURS:
A minimum of 60 semester
hours (outlined below)
of academic coursework
must be completed.
Prerequisites
by College
Pre-requisite Check list Click
here: Prereq Check
List
Academic Electives
- 5 hours |
Fine Arts - 3
hours |
Psychology - 3
hours |
*Biology - 13
hours |
*Gen. Chem. - 6
hours |
Sociology - 3
hours |
Math - 6 hours |
Humanities - 9
hours |
Speech - 3 hours |
English - 9 hours |
|
TOTAL:
60 |
- These classes must be
from a college or
university whose institutional accreditation is recognized by the US Department of Education prior to
registration in the
Dental Hygiene Program.
- Students may apply for
the Dental Hygiene
program before
completing all
classes. However,
all required courses
must be successfully
completed by the end of
May for
the Dental Hygiene class
starting in August.
- All prerequisites must
be completed within 10
years of application.
- Because of their
foundational
significance, all
science courses must be
taken within 5
years of application and
through an in-person and
not on-line format. (Due to COVID 19, IN PERSON FORMAT is waived from Spring 2020-Fall 2021).
- Non-academic courses
(i.e. bowling, dancing…)
or courses for a
specialized field of
study (i.e. pharmacy,
nursing…) are not
acceptable.
- Successful completion
of required courses is
defined by a grade of C
or above.
2. Admissions
Criteria
Two major areas
are considered in the
admissions process:
1. ACADEMIC
ABILITY: LSUSD
considers dental hygiene
to be a profession with a
solid scientific basis.
Students entering this
educational program must
possess a strong
educational base and the
ability to comprehend the
basic sciences to build on
this existing knowledge.
The following information
is utilized to determine
the intellectual ability
of the applicants:
- OVERALL GPAThis
numeric factor is
calculated on the basis
of ALL
academic college work
attempted. In other
words, if a student
makes an F in a course,
which is subsequently
retaken with a grade of
B, both the F and B will
be used in calculating
the GPA. In recent years
a 3.2 overall GPA has
been the minimum
necessary for a
competitive application.
- SCIENCE GPA
Many studies have shown
that science GPA is one
of the best indicators
of academic success in
professional school.
This average is
calculated from the
grades achieved in
biological sciences and
chemistry. In recent
years a 3.1 science GPA
has been the minimum
necessary for a
competitive application.
- ACT SCORES
The American College Test (ACT) is a standardized exam, which acts as a common data point that a can be used to compare all applicants. A minimal acceptable composite score must be at least a 20 or above to be considered for admissions. Super scores can be considered.
- REFERENCES
Applicants are required
to submit two
references, (SEE SECTION
1 OF APPLICATION) one
must be from a college
professor who has
instructed them in the
classroom. These written
statements should
provide the committee
insight into the
applicant's aptitude,
character and abilities
both as a student and
person.
- PERSONAL ESSAY
This should provide the
committee with insight
of the applicant's
connection and
commitment to the
profession of dental
hygiene. (Submitted through ADEA DHCAS)
- CONTINUED
ACADEMIC INVOLVEMENT:
In addition to GPA, the
committee considers the
intensity and trajectory
of course work as well
as gaps, withdrawals and
level of courses taken.
Length of time since the
applicant's last
academic experience is
also considered
2. PERSONAL
ATTRIBUTES
Since dental hygiene is
regarded as a "people
profession", possession of
certain soft skills is
evaluated through the
interview process. The
ability to communicate and
obtain cooperation from
other individuals is a
must. The ability to
manage stress and
possession of high ethical
standards are also
considered to be desirable
qualities. In addition,
those interested in a
career in dental hygiene
should determine whether
they have the commitment
and flexibility required
to teach and educate their
patients as well as the
ability to be taught and
receive feedback in very
close one on one settings.
These criteria are
assessed by:
- PERSONAL
INTERVIEW:
The 50 or so applicants
deemed most academically
competitive by the
Committee Chair will be
invited to interview
with the Admissions
Committee.
- REFERENCES:
The reference letters
submitted to DH CAS are
designed to help the
committee evaluate these
traits and are reviewed
by the committee prior
to interviews.
- DENTAL
EXPERIENCE 80 hours:
80 hours of dental experience through work in a dental office, shadowing a dental hygienist or volunteering in a dental setting is required. Applicants that are invited for interviews will be asked to provide a copy of the Dental Hygiene Shadow/Experience log (see link below) when they arrive for the interview or via email should interviews continue on line. (that determination has not yet been made). Dental Hygiene Shadow/Experience's Log Click here: Dental Hygiene Shadow/Experience’s Log
Want More
Information?
Contact:
Jane Walsh, RDH, JD, Program
Director of Dental Hygiene
Telephone:
504-941-8156
Fax: 504-941-8156
E-mail: jwals2@lsuhsc.edu |