title: U.S. dental school applicants and enrollees, 2009 entering class.
abstract: Over the past two decades, interest in dentistry in the United States has shown a steady period of growth. There were 12,210 individuals who applied to the 2009 entering class of U.S. dental schools. The number of first-time enrollees was 4,871, the highest figure since 1990. Men continue to comprise the majority of applicants and enrollees; however, the percentages of women continue to increase. While the 2009 underrepresented minority applicants comprised 12 percent of both the applicant and first-time enrollee pools, the percentage of underrepresented minority enrollees of underrepresented minority applicants decreased from 2008. Seventy-one percent of enrollees earned a baccalaureate degree in biological science or chemistry/physical science. Regardless of major fields of study, the percent rates of enrollment generally exceeded 32 percent.
authors.affiliation: Center for Educational Policy and Research, American Dental Education Association, Washington, DC 20005, USA.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Valachovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D004515:Education, Predental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult