Summer pre-Dental Enrichment Program (SPEP) Collegiate II

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SPEP Collegiate II Information and Requirements Program Curriculum

The curriculum for the Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Program for College Students (SPEP Collegiate II) consists of five core courses designed to augment the students' knowledge base for taking the DAT and to help them prepare for dental school:

• Introduction to the Human Body integrates the biomedical sciences within a problem-based learning environment.
• Pre-Clinical Dentistry demonstrates the application of preclinical courses to dental practice and provides hands-on experiences using dental materials.
• Learning Strategies promotes the effective use of learning techniques and study skills.
• DAT Preparation assists participants in preparing to take the Dental Admissions Test.
• Investigating Dentistry provides students with an opportunity to investigate a dental topic and present the findings.

In addition, the students participate in workshops and activities such as:

• Pre-admissions counseling
• Intramural and extramural clinical rotations
• Interacting with dental students, faculty, and administrators.

SPEP Collegiate II Information and Requirements Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for consideration, all individuals must:

• Have dentistry as their career choice
• Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident (preference will be given to residents of the State of Texas)
• Have completed at least 60 semester hours of college by the end of the Spring Semester 2026
• Have completed at least 8 hours of biology, 8 hours of general chemistry, and 8 hours of organic chemistry (including labs)  by the end of the Spring Semester 2026
• Provide official transcripts from all accredited colleges/universities attended
• Have a grade point average of at least 2.75 or higher
• Complete a phone interview with Program staff
• Sign a contract, agreeing to participate in all required Program activities
• ** Be a member of a dentally-underserved population and/or be considered academically or economically disadvantaged and
• Demonstrate a strong potential of working with low-income populations or in communities with limited access to dental health care.
• An *academically disadvantaged individual is one who comes from an environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill and ability to enroll in and graduate from a health professions school. For the purpose of this program, an applicant is considered academically disadvantaged:

• if he or she is or will be a first generation college graduate to earn a baccalaureate degree in his or her family, or if he or she meets at least 4 of the following criteria:
• English is not the applicant’s primary language
• Overcame or is experiencing extreme hardship
• From a single parent family
• Non-traditional student (including older age)
• Significant employment while attending school
• Attended a low-performing high school
• Resident of a financially poor school district
• Resident of  a county designated as underserved by health professionals
• Resident of a lowest 10% per capita income county
• Other disadvantaged factor(s) identified by the applicant

An *economically disadvantaged individual is one who comes from a family with an annual income below a level based on low-income thresholds according to family size, published by the U.S. Census Bureau in the Federal Register, and adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Note: The pre-dental programs offered via Bridge to Dentistry will not accept auditors. Applicants who do not satisfy eligibility requirements, or cannot commit to the program in its entirety, will not be considered.

SPEP Collegiate II Information and Requirements Participant Support Provided

• Stipend to cover the cost of food and other expenses
• Housing accommodations (for participants who reside outside Dallas/Ft.Worth area)
• DAT application fee, if taken within six months of the program's DAT registration deadline
• Clinic and laboratory supplies
• Notebooks and other instructional materials

SPEP Collegiate II Information and Requirements Participant Responsibilities

SPEP Collegiate II participants are responsible for:

• Travel
• Parking Expenses (to, from, and during the Program)
• Immunization fees
• Food

SPEP Collegiate II Information and Requirements Selection Process

A selection committee, composed of the Program Director and Program Faculty, will review all applications and interview up to 50 applicants by phone to determine applicant motivation. Preference will be given to applicants who are currently enrolled in a four year college/university, have earned a Bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of 16 hours of volunteer/observation in a dental environment (i.e. office, clinic, dental school).

A minimum of twenty (20) applicants will be selected.

SPEP Collegiate II Information and Requirements Dental Admissions Test

The College will pay for the DAT if taken within 6 months of the program's DAT registration deadline. If a participant is applying to dental school for the 2026-2027 application cycle, we strongly recommend the DAT be taken by July 31, 2026.

SPEP Collegiate II Information and Requirements How to Apply

All applicants must complete and submit the SPEP Collegiate II online application and all supporting documents by January 31, 2026.
1. Access the SPEP on-line application at TAMU (https://apply.dentistry.tamu.edu/Admin/Default.aspx)
2. Create a new account
3. On the Welcome page, under New Application
a. Click 'APPLY' for SPEP Collegiate II Program
4. Carefully read the Application Instructions.
5. Complete all forms under Application.

• Include a personal statement (max 500 words) stating how SPEP Collegiate II will benefit the applicant's pursuit of dentistry as a career
• Submit letter of recommendation from a predental/pre-health advisory committee OR two letters from science professors who have taught you
• Submit most current official transcripts from all accredited college/universities attended
• Submit an applicant photo
• If you have taken the DAT, we will need a copy of your scores.

Should you encounter login issues, please contact: jmvillarreal@tamu.edu