Getting into the school of your choice can be a pain. After filling out all the applications, getting recommendations from past teachers, and buying supplies, the thought of moving away from home can be stressful. Even more imposing than all this is how you’re going to pay for it all. Tuition rates are sky rocketing, so even if you get accepted by the school of your choice, the biggest hurdle may be paying for it. Luckily for aspiring future dentists, there is a number of dental school centric scholarships offered that can make it less like pulling teeth and more like a gentle cleaning. Below are just a few of the many scholarships for the aspiring dentist.
The American Dental Association
Leading the charge in providing dental scholarships is the ADA. Though the number of scholarships offered by the ADA varies depending on the funds available, the ADA still offers a number of awards that help aspiring dentists reach their goal. These dental scholarships include Dental Student Scholarship, Underrepresented Minority Dental Student Scholarship, Dental Hygiene Scholarship, Dental Laboratory Scholarship, and the Dental Assisting Scholarship. The monies awarded are directly transferred to the student financial office and are to be used to alleviate such costs as tuition, materials, room and board, and other fees.
National Dental Association Foundation Scholarship
This dental scholarship is offered by the National Dental Association (NDA) for underrepresented minorities. This particular scholarship is available for those in their freshman year, or equivalent, pre-doctoral studies, and post-doctoral awards which awards up to $10,000. In order to qualify for these, students must maintain a 3.5+ GPA, are legal US citizens, provide evidence of volunteer or community service experience, and provide a letter of acceptance from a dean of students and a letter of recommendation from an undergraduate professor.
Colgate Scholarships
It is no surprise that Colgate offers dental school scholarships. It should also not come as a surprise that they offer more than 20 scholarships and fellowship programs. The Colgate-Palmolive and the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation Scholarship is just one that Colgate offers. This awards up to $10,000 for those who are looking to further their education in the field of dentistry as well as building a stronger community. This award, as implied by the name, is only available to US citizens of Hispanic decent.
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship
This dental scholarship is for those who are looking to support both their country and their local community. This scholarship provides students with funds to pay for tuition, room and board, supplies, and more. Should one choose to receive this, the recipient is obligated to serve for every year of aid received with a minimum of 3 years of active duty. This is annually awarded from any of the service branches.
National Health Service Corp. Scholarship Program
Much like the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship, the NHSC Scholarship requires all who accept it to serve two years providing oral health care services in areas that are deemed under-served. This program provides prospective students with funds to pay for tuition, books, supplies, room and board.
