Dental School Admissions

Welcome to my profile! With over 30 years of experience in higher education, I have a deep understanding of the dental school admissions process. As the former Assistant Dean for Prehealth Advising at Fordham University and the Columbia University School of General Studies, I have guided countless students on their journey to dental school. In fact, I have personally coached thousands of individuals, helping them craft compelling personal statements, navigate the application process, and excel in interviews. My expertise extends beyond the application itself—I can also provide valuable insights on building a well-rounded profile, securing strong letters of recommendation, and preparing for the rigorous coursework ahead. If you're ready to take the next step towards your dental school dreams, don't hesitate to reach out and schedule a consultation with me. Together, we can create a winning strategy for your dental school application.

Welcome to my profile! As a current student at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and a former dental assistant, I bring a wealth of firsthand experience and knowledge to dental school admissions coaching. My journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of the dental field, from patient care to the intricacies of dental practice operations. At Booster Prep, I specialize in creating high-quality content for the INBDE, helping students excel in their exams and secure their spots in top dental programs. With an extensive background in tutoring and mentoring at Temple University, I've successfully guided many aspiring dental professionals through the admissions process. Let's work together to craft a standout application that showcases your unique strengths and passion for dentistry. Reach out to start your journey towards a successful dental career!

Having gone to dental school myself and experienced first hand the challenges of the pre-dental/application experience, I have always felt passionate about imparting my knowledge unto the next generation of dentists. I co-founded/co-directed a pathway program for high school/college students interested in dentistry for over 12 years. Additionally, I have individually mentored/coached countless students on their journey to dental school and been a part of the admissions committee decisions at my institution. I have conducted admissions interviews for many years and am part of larger national committees involving admissions exams. I feel confident that I can help pre-dental students achieve the dreams with less anxiety and ambiguity. Most pre-health advisors at universities cater to pre-med students which greatly do a disservice to pre-dental students seeking an alternative, more nuanced path. I'm happy to fill that gap for you!

I'm a second-year periodontics resident at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, and I was accepted into every dental school I applied to — including my top choice. As the first person in my family to pursue dentistry, I built my own roadmap through the application process, from AADSAS and TMDSAS to interviews and secondary essays, without a mentor to guide me. That experience is exactly why I do this now: I know what the process looks like from the applicant's side, and I know what it takes to stand out. Beyond my own admissions track record, I bring a clinician's perspective that most application coaches don't have. During dental school, I served as president of several student organizations and received multiple scholarships and awards, and I matched into a highly competitive periodontics residency. I've spent years advising pre-dental students on everything from personal statements and secondary essays to interview prep, and I understand not just what makes an application compelling on paper, but what dental schools are actually looking for in a future clinician. I'm here to help you build the same kind of application — one that reflects both who you are and who you're becoming.

As a current first year dental student at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine with a Master of Public Health from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, I understand firsthand what it takes to build a strong and authentic dental school application. I recently navigated the admissions process, so I understand both the strategy behind a competitive application and the stress that comes with presenting years of experiences in a way that feels cohesive and genuinely reflects who you are. My background in teaching and mentorship has included years of tutoring, serving as a chemistry teaching assistant, and working as a Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Student Ambassador. These experiences taught me how to identify an individual's strengths and help them communicate with confidence. I bring extensive experience in research, public health, community service, and dentistry, which allows me to work with applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. My goal as a coach is not to turn your application into what you think an admissions committee wants to hear but to help you identify the experiences and qualities that make you distinctive, develop a compelling narrative, and communicate that story effectively throughout your personal statement, supplemental essays, and interviews.

Dr. Allen is a practicing general dentist and educator with nearly 40 years of experience in dentistry and dental education. A graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He serves as an assistant professor at Roseman University College of Dental Medicine. He also serves as an admissions committee member, as a reviewer and interviewer. Dr. Allen is deeply involved in helping shape the next generation of dentists through his teaching, admissions leadership, and mentorship. He lectures nationally on practice management and long-term success strategies for new dental school graduates. As an admissions coach, Dr. Allen leverages his mentorship and teaching experience to build meaningful connections with dental applicants. He is adept at identifying key attributes that contribute to shaping a comprehensive and competitive application, drawing from his firsthand knowledge of the admissions process and his experience working with a diverse range of candidates. His supportive approach, combined with his ability to provide personalized guidance and strategic advice, ensures that students receive the tools and resources they need to succeed in their pursuit of a career in dentistry. Dr. Allen has a track record of successfully mentoring a diverse spectrum of candidates, ranging from non-traditional and re-applicants to those taking gap years. This experience, coupled with his nuanced understanding of the dental school admissions process, makes him an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to craft a comprehensive and competitive application for dental school and dental specialties.

AADSAS Advisory Board member, working with dental admissions officers to run the dental school application. Served as the 1-of-1 National Pre-dental Liaison, GoDental Liaison, and California Pre-dental Chair for the ADEA Council of Students, Residents, and Fellows. Have went through the admissions process myself to gain accepted to some of the most competitive dental schools in the world, including UCLA and UCSF's School of Dentistry. I work with former admissions officers to develop strategies for admissions, through the personal statement, interviews, and application. 350+ pre-dental students served.

I bring more than 30 years of experience as a dentist, educator, mentor, and healthcare leader, together with first-hand experience evaluating dental-school applicants. I served on the University of Western Ontario Dental School Admissions Committee, participating directly in applicant assessment and admissions decisions, and on the Canadian Dental Association Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) Committee. I have also consulted on two proposed dental-school development initiatives involving student recruitment, admissions strategy, and applicant assessment criteria. Throughout my career, I have mentored future dentists at every stage of their development—from aspiring dental students participating in shadowing and work-and-learn programs, to undergraduate dental students completing summer internships, to newly graduated dentists in postgraduate clinical training. I have also served as an Adjunct Professor in Periodontics at Western and have delivered more than 255 lectures, workshops, seminars, and scientific presentations. When I coach an applicant, I bring both the perspective of someone who has sat on the admissions side of the table and someone who has spent a career practicing, teaching, and mentoring in dentistry. I help students identify what genuinely differentiates them, develop a thoughtful application strategy, communicate their experiences authentically, strengthen personal statements, and prepare confidently for interviews. My goal is not simply to help you gain admission—it is to help you understand why dentistry is right for you and how to present the strongest, most authentic version of yourself to an admissions committee.

As an undergraduate student, I was rejected from 20+ dental schools because I lacked guidance on the application process. However, with an unwavering desire to become a dentist, I pursued a Master’s in Dental Sciences. During this time, I seized the opportunity to redeem myself—improving my GPA, building strong connections for personal recommendation letters, enhancing my personal statement and supplemental application writing skills, and gaining more clinical, research, leadership, and volunteering experiences. The second time I applied to dental school, despite my efforts, I received only one interview. However, I successfully navigated the interview and was accepted. In my third year of dental school, I decided to specialize in periodontology. When applying for residency, I applied to only three programs, interviewed at all three, ranked only my top choice—and still matched! I share my story because I want to show you that it is possible to go from being a 3.2 GPA international (Canadian) student with zero extracurricular experiences to confidently matching into my top-choice specialty residency program (with a <1.5% match rate). I've faced the same obstacles that many of you will encounter, and I’ve learned how to overcome them. With the momentum I've built through my pre-doctoral school experience, I've also understand what it takes to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive standing for residency applications. Over the years, I’ve helped dozens of students with dental school and residency applications and interviews. Whatever your needs may be, I hope to serve as a beacon of light, guiding you through this exciting yet challenging (and often confusing) stage of your academic journey!

With a background at McKinsey, venture investing and spechwriting in public sector / policy, I'll bring multiple lenses to your writing that I've seen lead to admits to top dental schools, specializations and dual-degree program. As a top-ranked coach on Leland, I've successfully guided over 400 clients into leading programs from HDSM to Penn Ortho to some lesser-known, but incredibly competitive fields within the dental world. In all my time coaching, I've helped applicants secure over $10M in scholarships with an editorial approach that might feel intense, but is direct and incisive to help bring out the absolute best in your writing. You'll be working with someone who's edited professionally in high-pressure situations, who understands how to elevate your writing and will be right alongside you in taking all your materials to a level where you'll stand out and begin to see it before you even hit submit. I also teach other coaches in essay writing, and will be a Senior Entrepreneurial Instructor this Spring through U Chicago Booth, helping executives on pitching, communication, and startup investing -- so will be putting many of the skills into practice that I work with people on through Leland. Though I originally didn't see myself working with med school residents, applicants, or much more complex specializations in the medical and dental worlds, my time in essay writing, interview preparation, and comprehensive application strategy has continued to translate into outcomes that land people in top universities, residency programs, fellowships, and even longer-term work with physicians launching their new practice. If you need guidance on your application strategy, writing, resume, recommendations, interview prep and more -- reach out and set up some time for us to talk through exactly what you're looking for and where you need help most.