ISP Selection Process & Admissions Statistics
The Advanced Standing International Student Program (ISP) uses a holistic review process when considering applications, and we look for candidates with a strong combination of the following items:
- GPA/School(s) Attended, Class Rank
- NBDE Part I and II or INBDE (required)
- Graduate degrees earned (dental-related regarded most highly)
- Personal Statement
- Letters of Recommendation
- TOEFL
- Dental experience, including dental assisting, lab technician, hygiene, North American observerships
- Research
- Teaching
- Service Ethic
- Leadership
- Continuing Education
Admission decisions are based on the candidate’s overall fit for the ISP. This includes, but is not limited to, communication with the program staff, faculty, and admission committee, evaluation of the CAAPID and University of Colorado supplemental application/documents, an evaluative in-person interview, evaluation of a bench exam, application components from previous cycles and submission of an ethically sound application.
The ISP accepts students regardless of their citizenship and visa status; however, citizens, permanent residents, and refugees/asylees are highly considered due to the certainty that their immigration status will enable them to be financed for the program and remain in the program for the entire duration.
Interviews and bench tests will be held in March, April and June. Provisional acceptances will be offered by July. CU Dental does NOT participate in rolling admissions. Should an accepted student choose not to attend CU Dental, an alternate applicant who was not initially admitted will be contacted and offered admission. Under special circumstances, the ISP administrative team may consider a request for early acceptance. This is on a case-by-case basis.
Please do not contact our office to find out the status of an application. Applicants may call ONLY after two weeks if they have not received the email confirmation that their application is complete.
CU Dental's holistic review process focuses on finding a variety of well-rounded students outside of traditional backgrounds. The information below gives a snapshot of our Class of 2026; however, these statistics change with every entering class.
Countries represented in the Class of 2026: Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan and Venezuela.
- The class was 23-52 years old when they applied, with an average age of 31.
- The average TOEFL score for the accepted class was 103.5.
- The average GPA for the class was 3.43.*
- 95% of the class has passed the NBDE Part II/INBDE.
- 47.5% of the class were re-applicants.
- 32.5% of the class are specialists in their home country or have received a Master of Dental Surgery.
- 9.82% of applicants were admitted.
*Grades are not standard across schools internationally, and this may not be an accurate picture of a successful applicant.