High School Grade 12

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SPEP Grade 12 Requirements Program Curriculum

The curriculum for the SPEP 12:

• SAT PREPARATION encourages participants to focus on math, verbal and writing content areas and on test taking strategies while preparing them to take the SAT in the Fall
• PRECLINICAL DENTISTRY uses lectures and provides hands-on laboratory experiences using dental materials to increase students knowledge of dentistry
• INVESTIGATING DENTISTRY allows students to investigate a dental topic and present their findings
• CULTURAL COMPETENCY SEMINAR
• Workshops and special activities

Superheader Program Requirements

To be eligible for consideration, all individuals must:

• Have an interest in dentistry, health professions or science 
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Attend a Dallas-area school 
• Provide an official high-school transcript documenting a grade point average of at least 2.75 (or 
  77.5 on a scale of 100) 
• Submit an application, including an essay explaining how the summer program will contribute to educational and career goals in the health professions, including dentistry 
• Submit two letters of recommendation from a teacher, one must be from a science or math teacher 
• Sign a contract committing to participate in all required project activities 
• Have the first and second injection of the Hepatitis B vaccination series completed before attending the Program 
• Have a history of overcoming adverse circumstances 
• Demonstrate a strong potential of working in communities with limited access to dental care

Superheader Participant Support Provided

• A stipend to help cover the cost of food, transportation and miscellaneous expenses
• Clinic and laboratory supplies
• Notebooks and other instructional materials

Superheader Selection Process

• A committee will review all applications and select participants for each program
• Participants selected for SPEP 12 and their parents will be required to attend an orientation session
• Preference will be given to applicants with a minimum of 8 hours of shadowing/ volunteer in a dental office/clinic

Superheader How to Apply

All applicants must complete and submit the application and all supporting documents by February 27, 2026.
 
SPEP 12 Application -  2026 SPEP 12 Application

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HRSA Program Support Definitions

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.

hsra program support Applicant Criteria

An applicant is also considered academically disadvantaged 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

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