WVU dental school, WV State establish early admission program

The West Virginia University School of Dentistry has entered into a collaborative agreement with West Virginia State University for a Dental Early Admission Program (DEAP).

The purpose of DEAP is to help facilitate predental students' transition into the Doctor of Dental Surgery program at the WVU School of Dentistry. Participating undergraduates will take part in prehealth professions seminars and community service activities while enrolled at West Virginia State.

West Virginia State is responsible for DEAP student recruitment. Specific academic benchmarks must be achieved, and students must complete community service hours and spend time shadowing in multiple general dentistry practices.

Annually, the School of Dentistry will reserve two spots in the entering dental class for West Virginia State students meeting DEAP requirements. Priority will go to West Virginia residents, but qualified nonresidents could be selected as well.

The West Virginia State DEAP partnership marks the third such collaboration for the WVU School of Dentistry. Earlier this year, the school announced the establishment of DEAP agreements with West Liberty University and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. The school also has a similar early admissions program with Shepherd University called DentSTEP (Dental Student in the Eastern Panhandle).