Want to become a doctor or dentist? Start here.
Want to become a doctor or dentist? Start here.
Is a future in health appealing to you? If you want to take on a high-paying, stable profession that will allow you to help people every day, you may want to become a doctor or dentist. To make your dream a reality, you’ll need to choose a strong undergraduate program that will set you up for future success. Here’s a step-by-step guide that will take you from earning a bachelor’s degree to entering professional school.
Step 1: Choose a strong pre-professional program
Pre-professional programs prepare you to apply to medical school or dental school — and give you a roadmap for your future career. Choose a common major within a pre-professional track since medicine and dentistry aren't offered at the undergraduate level. Or, you can talk with your advisor about other major options.
Common pre-medical and pre-dentistry majors
Biology
A biology major is a very common path for students who want to become a dentist or doctor. This major will align your studies with the typical requirements for medical programs as well as the content for the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) or Dental Admission Test (DAT®). You’ll learn about anatomy, genetics, immunology, virology, cell biology and more.
Biochemistry
Earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry is also common if you want to become a doctor or a dentist. This major will provide you with a thorough education in biology and chemistry, as you study the chemical processes of living organisms. The lab experience you’ll gain will help you have a better understanding of pharmaceuticals and disease detection.
Chemistry
Because chemistry is at the heart of developing effective pain relief and pharmaceuticals, improving materials for fillings, and finding better ways to repair and replace teeth, it’s a great choice for a pre-dentistry or pre-med major. There’s also a good amount of chemistry on the DAT and MCAT, so mastering these concepts as an undergraduate is important.
Making the most of your major
No matter what major you choose, getting good grades in college will show you are able to think critically and understand in-depth content. This will set you up for the medical or dental school of your dreams. Going to a school with smaller class sizes, like the University of Northern Iowa, will be an advantage, as it allows you to more easily access one-on-one support directly from professors when you are learning more advanced concepts.
Step 2: Get real experience
College is a great time to start getting real experience that will help you in med school, dental school and your future career. This could take many forms such as clinical shadowing, volunteering, interning or conducting undergraduate research. The more you can interact with patients before becoming a doctor or dentist, the better!
Not only does this kind of work look great on a resume and graduate school application, but it also confirms you’re on the right path in your studies. Hopefully, you’ll love the work you’re doing and look forward to doing more of it once you’ve graduated from med or dental school.
When you’re choosing an undergraduate program, look at what kinds of partnerships and opportunities an institution can offer. At UNI, biology majors can join the Pre-Medical Club or the Pre-Dental Club – student organizations offer professional networking, job shadowing and employment opportunities. It’s a great way to learn from your peers and set yourself up for success.
UNI also offers students studying the sciences and health-related fields ample undergraduate research opportunities, as early as freshman year. At some larger schools, you may not have the opportunity to get this practice so early in your academic career. UNI students get hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology like synthetic cadavers and medical manikins, allowing them to warm up to the idea of working with real-life patients.
Another fantastic connection you’ll have by attending UNI is the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP). This six-week training program at 12 locations throughout the U.S. helps students interested in health professions develop skills, network, gain clinical exposure and plan their academic paths. Perhaps best of all, students who participate in SHPEP are guaranteed an interview for professional school. UNI sends students to this highly competitive program each year.
Step 3: Prepare for the MCAT or DAT
Before you can attend medical or dental school, you will have to take a standardized exam for admission. For future doctors, this is the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and for dentists, it's the Dental Admission Test (DAT). These are multiple-choice exams that test your understanding of scientific concepts and critical thinking abilities.
Future doctors usually take their exam sometime in the calendar year before they will start medical school. Future dentists most commonly take the exam in the spring of their junior year of college. Exactly when you take these rigorous exams will depend on many factors such as when you are taking certain coursework that may be present on the exam.
As a member of the National Association of Advisors for Health Professionals, UNI’s provides students with free resources to study for both.
Step 4: Stand out on your professional school application
To actually get into medical or dental school, your application will most likely include the following:
- Transcripts
- Resume
- MCAT or DAT scores
- A personal statement
- Letters of recommendation
UNI’s partnership with the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and other regional professional schools allows students to receive collaborative advising, coursework guidance and timely information about professional schools. You’ll also receive support in the dental and medical school application process. UNI’s size also helps you easily connect with professors, which will lead to strong letters of recommendation.
Become a doctor or dentist by starting your journey at the University of Northern Iowa
If becoming a doctor or dentist is your number one goal, the University of Northern Iowa is the right place to start. UNI grads regularly have some of the top medical school and dental school placement rates in the Midwest. Our biology majors have recently gained admission to MD, DO and dental programs at rates 10 to 16 times above the national average! The university’s medium size is perfect to give each student the individual attention they deserve, while still providing competitive opportunities.
If you’re concerned about the amount of debt you’ll take on as a pre-med or pre-dentistry student, you’ll be glad to know that UNI students graduate with less debt than state and national peers, with one-third of all students graduating with no debt at all!
We need more great doctors and dentists. Starting your journey at the University of Northern Iowa ensures you will get a fantastic education at a great price, setting you up for long-term success. Submit your application today!
As Iowa's only regional comprehensive university, we are designed to provide critical coursework with real, practical fieldwork.
Real, relevant academic excellence for a world that expects future-ready graduates.
- 94% of UNI grads find success within six months of graduation.
- UNI undergraduate students get research experience as early as freshman year.
- UNI has the only dementia simulation taking place in a whole house in the state.
- UNI is ranked a top regional public university by U.S. News & World Report.
