Undergraduate Dental Hygiene Program Admissions

• Go to your Student Center in ConnectCarolina and select “Apply for Change of Major/Minor” from the drop-down menu that says “Other Academic.”
• Select DENTAL HYGIENE as your program starting in the FALL term. Agree to have your information sent from UNC-Chapel Hill to Slate, the application server. Slate will send you an email invitation and the credentials needed to complete and submit your application to the dental hygiene program.
• Submit the application, including essays, shadowing form, and three letters of recommendation, by January 15. Letters of recommendation must be submitted through your application portal by indicating your recommender and identifying a valid email address for them.
• Audio Interviews: This portion of your interview will be a part of your completed application and will be reviewed along with other sections of the interview. Please be sure to take this portion of the application seriously.

• Go to the Common Application website, to create an account and add the University of North Carolina to your list of colleges to start your application online.
• Apply as an undergraduate transfer student to a professional program with dental hygiene as your intended major. You may also select a second major if you are interested in being considered for admission into the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Submit the Common Application, the Common Application supplement and application fee by January 15. Upload the three essays requested in your Common Application supplement. Upload the shadowing form, if required. Submit official transcripts from all high schools, colleges, and universities attended to: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Jackson Hall, CB 2200, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-2200
• Letters of recommendation must be submitted through your application portal by indicating your recommender and identifying a valid email address for them. If issues arise your recommender may submit their letter to uncsubmit@admissions.unc.edu. Please be aware that this may have a longer processing time than a letter submitted through your application portal.

• Select the device you are most comfortable using. We advise using your fully charged computer device and a reliable wireless connection.
• Eliminate background noise. Turn off the television, radio, or other noise before beginning. Make sure pets are situated and be sure to alert others within your home that you are beginning an interview to reduce distractions and eliminate unannounced noise during your interview process.
• Talking Points. Feel free to jot down talking points during your 30 seconds to guide you during your response.

• This portion of your interview will be a part of your completed application and will be reviewed along with other sections of the interview. Please be sure to take this portion of the application seriously.
• What you can expect:
  • Applicants will receive 3 questions
  • Only provide an audio response (no video)
  • You will have two attempts to record a response to the question asked.
  • You will have a 3-minute maximum to respond to each question.
  • The audio interview platform offers step by step instructions, a test run and countdown features to help minimize user error.

For an application to be considered, a student must be on track to complete the dental hygiene prerequisite courses prior to anticipated enrollment. Classes can be in-progress “IP” when the application is submitted. (Prerequisite courses are listed below.)

Successful completion of the dental hygiene prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the program.​

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrollment, but not application to the Dental Hygiene Program. However, it is strongly recommended the sciences (Chemistry, Microbiology and Physiology/Anatomy) be completed by the spring semester prior to entry in the dental hygiene program. The dental hygiene admissions committee will be considering an applicant’s potential based, in part, on their grades in these prerequisite courses.​

Upon receipt of decision, additional stipulations may be provided dependent on your submitted prerequisite completion timeline.​

Note: Math 110 is a prerequisite for Chemistry, and Bio 101 is a prerequisite for Bio 252 at UNC-CH.

Applicants, except those with experience as dental assistants, must complete a minimum of 20 hours of dental hygiene “shadowing.”

Consider visiting private practice dental offices, community dental clinics, or volunteering at dental health events (e.g., N.C. Missions of Mercy clinics). The dental hygiene admissions committee wants to make sure candidates understand the responsibilities and challenges a dental hygienist experiences on a daily basis. ​

Upload the Dental Hygiene Shadowing form with your application to the dental hygiene program.​

Three letters total are required:

• 2 academic from college-level instructors (this instructor must have taught you)​
• 1 professional from supervisor, dentist, additional instructor, mentor/advisor, coach, etc.​