Home > Academic Programs > International Dental Studies > IDS Admissions FAQ
ADEA CAAPID Application
PDF Supplemental Documents
$100 Application Fee
Dental Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Letters of Evaluation
National Board Dental Examination — Parts 1 & 2 (NBDE)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Dental Diploma / Certificate
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
Q: Can I submit my CAAPID application directly to the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry?
A: No, all IDS applicants (first-time or returning) must submit a CAAPID application directly with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
Q: Can I apply to the Dugoni School of Dentistry without going through CAAPID?
A: No, all IDS applicants (first-time or returning) must submit a CAAPID application directly with ADEA.
Q: I have previously submitted an application directly to the Dugoni School of Dentistry. Do I need to submit a CAAPID application?
A: Yes, all returning applicants must submit a CAAPID application with ADEA.
Q: Should I submit my CAAPID application before sending my supplemental documents in a single PDF file as an email attachment?
A: We encourage you to complete your CAAPID application first, since ADEA usually takes about 1-2 weeks processing time before releasing it to Pacific. During the final weeks before the deadline, ADEA processing time may take more than 2 weeks before releasing to Pacific. To avoid any issues with the application process, Pacific strongly advises that you do not wait until the ADEA/CAAPID deadline — Friday, May 31, 2019, 11:59 pm Eastern Time, to electronically submit your CAAPID application.
Q: What happens when I submit my CAAPID application with ADEA on the deadline date?
A: Applicants are highly encouraged not to wait until the deadline to submit their CAAPID application. Applicants who do apply on or near the ADEA/CAAPID deadline — Friday, May 31, 2019, 11:59 pm Eastern Time, must take full responsibility to fulfill ADEA's application requirements by filing an online CAAPID application, paying the processing fee and providing an ECE course-by-course evaluation report. Please understand that ADEA may take more than 2 weeks before releasing the CAAPID application to Pacific.
Applicants must send an email to ids@pacific.edu with the required attachment: a single PDF file with all supplemental documents. The email must be received by the IDS application deadline — Friday, May 31, 2019, 1:00 pm Pacific Time.
Q: How should I send my supplemental documents?
A: Applicants will collect all the required supplemental documents, scan the documents and combine them into a single PDF file to send as an email attachment to ids@pacific.edu. For submittal instructions, please refer to the 2020 IDS Application Guide. An example (Sample PDF — All Supplemental Documents) is provided for your reference. The IDS Office grants permission for the applicants to open any sealed envelopes to complete the scanning process. Please keep the original and/or notarized versions of the supplemental documents. Applicants who are invited to the interview and technical examination will be required to present them for verification.
Q: Do I need to wait for Pacific to send me an email before sending my PDF supplemental documents?
A: No, applicants who complete the step 1 process with ADEA should then send their PDF file with all supplemental documents to Pacific.
Q: Can I send the PDF file with all my supplemental documents before completing the CAAPID application with ADEA?
A: Yes, applicants may send their PDF file with all their supplemental documents before completing their CAAPID application with ADEA. Email confirmation stating your application status (complete or incomplete) will be sent once Pacific receives your CAAPID application from ADEA. Since the application process is not based on a first-come, first-serve (rolling invitation) process, we encourage our applicants to first complete their CAAPID application before sending the PDF file with all supplemental documents.
Q: What happens when I submit my PDF file with all supplemental documents on the deadline date?
A: Applicants are highly encouraged not to wait until the deadline to submit their single PDF file with all supplemental documents. Applicants who do apply on the deadline must send an email to ids@pacific.edu with the attached single PDF file with all supplemental documents. This email must be received by the IDS application deadline.
Applicants must take full responsibility to provide all supplemental documents that meet the IDS requirements; otherwise, the application will be considered incomplete. Applicants must fulfill ADEA's application requirements by filing an online CAAPID application, paying the processing fee and providing an ECE course-by-course evaluation report by the ADEA/CAAPID deadline. Please understand that ADEA may take more than 2 weeks before releasing the CAAPID application to Pacific. Applicants who submit their CAAPID application and PDF file email attachment should allow 4 weeks to receive email confirming your application status. When you receive an email confirming the application status is dependent on when ADEA releases your CAAPID application to Pacific.
Q: After sending both the CAAPID application and PDF file with all supplemental documents, when will I receive an email confirming my application status?
A: Upon release of your CAAPID application from ADEA and the receipt of your PDF file email attachment, please allow 2 weeks to receive email confirming your application status (complete or incomplete). Applicants who submit their CAAPID application and PDF file email attachment should allow 4 weeks to receive email confirming your application status. During this one-month period, more than half of all applications for this cycle will be received. To ensure receiving email confirmation, please be sure to add ids@pacific.edu and wchang@pacific.edu to your email address contacts. Please be sure to check your email inbox as well as your junk/spam folders to make sure you do not miss any emails.
Q: I have submitted my PDF file with all supplemental documents, can I update any documents?
A: Yes, applicants who submitted their PDF file with all supplemental documents will be allowed to provide updated supplemental documents (dental CV, TOEFL, advanced degree, transcript of advanced degree) to be received as an email attachment before the deadline. To avoid any confusion, there is no need to resubmit the entire PDF file. Simply submit the updated document(s). If there is more than one, please combine them into a single PDF document in the requested order. Pacific will not consider any updated supplemental documents received after deadline.
Q: If I applied in a previous application cycle, do I have to submit all supplemental documents again?
A: Yes, returning applicants will need to submit all supplemental documents in a single PDF file to send as an email attachment.
Q: Can I send some of the supplemental documents while waiting for other documents?
A: No, applicants should not send partial supplemental documents. You are encouraged to send all supplemental documents at once in a single PDF file as an email attachment.
Q: Will I be requested to provide the original supplemental documents to Pacific?
A: Applicants who are offered an invitation to the interview and technical examination will be required to provide the original and/or notarized versions of the supplemental documents for verification. Failure to provide the supplemental documents or if there are any discrepancies, the invitation offer will be rescinded, which means the candidate will not be interviewed nor allowed to take the technical examination.
Q: Can I submit any updated supplemental documents to the Dugoni School of Dentistry after the deadline?
A: No, all supplemental documents, as detailed in the Application Checklist, must be received on or before the IDS application deadline. Documents received after the deadline will not be considered or reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: What happens to my CAAPID application and supplemental documents if my application status is considered incomplete?
A: Incomplete applications will not be considered or reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee. All received applications and documents will become the property of University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and will not be returned. The $100 application fee is non-refundable.
Q: Can I pay the application fee online with a credit card?
A: Applicants will pay the $100 (USD — non-refundable) application fee online with a credit card (American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa). Please be sure to provide all requested payment information, including your CAAPID #.
Q: Do I need to copy the same format of the provided sample dental CV?
A: Applicants will provide information about their dental experience from the time of earning their initial dental degree to present (unless noted otherwise). It is recommended that you replicate the CV like the sample format and classify your dental experience by International and/or United States / Canada and elaborate in each of the bold heading (Applicant's Name, Dental Degree, Advanced Degree(s), Certificated Program, Continuing Dental Education, Dental Experience, Publications/Presentations/Research, Dental Association(s) and Awards & Honors). If you do not have any information to share under any of the headings, omit typing the heading in the CV.
Q: Do I need to submit letters of evaluation to the Dugoni School of Dentistry when I already submitted them to ADEA?
A: Applicants submitting letters of evaluation directly to the IDS Office will have the flexibility to provide 2 letters in English to be reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee. The letters must be written by international or U.S. dental professionals (dentists, dental faculty, etc.) with whom you have worked recently. Letters of evaluation submitted to ADEA will not be considered for review by Pacific. A dean's letter is not required.
Q: To whom should the letters of evaluation be addressed?
A: Although it is not mandatory, the letters of evaluation may be addressed to the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: May I submit more than 2 letters of evaluation to Pacific?
A: Applicants will be allowed to submit two letters of evaluation in the PDF supplemental documents. If more than two letters are submitted, your PDF supplemental documents will be returned for resubmittal with a maximum of two letters of your choice.
Q: What happens if my letter is not written in English?
A: Applicants will provide the letter in its original language along with an English translation from a bona fide English translator.
Q: Am I allowed to open the sealed envelopes provided by my evaluators?
A: Yes, the IDS Office grants the applicants the permission to open any sealed envelopes to complete the scanning process. Please keep the original and/or notarized versions of the supplemental documents. Invited applicants to the interview and technical examination will be required to present them for verification.
Q: Can I apply to the IDS program now and take the NBDE Parts 1 & 2 later?
A: No, it is recommended to wait for the NBDE report before providing all supplemental documents in a single PDF file to be sent as an email attachment.
Q: Will my application be considered with a NBDE Parts 1 & 2 score of 74 (just one point from 75) or a Fail result?
A: No, applicants who earned a score less than 75 or a Fail result, are encouraged to retake the NBDE to score 75 or higher or earn a Pass result; otherwise, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: Am I required to take the TOEFL?
A: Yes, all applicants, including U.S. citizens, are required to take the TOEFL. Provide the TOEFL score report with a scores earned between January 2017 to present. An internet-based test (iBT) total score of 92 or higher is required.
Q: Am I exempt from taking the TOEFL when I have earned a degree from a U.S. college/university that did not require me to take a TOEFL since my English is good/proficient?
A: There are no exemptions. All applicants are required to take the TOEFL.
Q: Can I provide a screen-shot version of the TOEFL score report printed from the internet?
A: No, a screen-shot version of the TOEFL score reported printed from the internet will not be accepted nor considered. Provide the scanned version of either the printed official TOEFL score report that ETS sent to you postally or the PDF report.
Q: Can I apply to the IDS program now and take the TOEFL later?
A: No, it is recommended to wait for the TOEFL report before providing all supplemental documents in a single PDF file to be sent as an email attachment.
Q: Will my application be considered with a TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) total score of 91?
A: No, applicants who earned less than the iBT total score of 92 are encouraged to retake the TOEFL; otherwise, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: Can I apply with a medical degree?
A: Only applicants who have earned a dental degree (BDS, DDS, DMD, Odontology, Stomatology) are eligible to apply to the IDS program.
Q: Can I apply with a provisional dental degree?
A: The IDS program does not accept provisional dental degrees nor offer any exceptions to this dental degree requirement. Applicants are required to submit a scanned version of the dental diploma/certificate to be included in the single PDF file to be sent as an email attachment.
Q: What grade average will be considered?
A: A U.S. grade average of 2.00 - 4.00 is required. Applicants with a grade average of 0 - 1.99 will not be eligible to apply to the IDS program.
Q: Do you accept any other agency's evaluations?
A: The IDS program will only accept ECE course-by-course evaluation with a U.S. grade average of 2.00 - 4.00.
Q: What if I discover an error was made on my grade average calculation?
A: Corrected grade average from the ECE course-by-course evaluation will not be accepted after deadline. If ECE provides a second grade average (best result or comprehensive), Pacific will only consider the comprehensive grade average.
Q: As an international student, am I eligible to apply for federal financial aid?
A: No, only students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents or eligible non-citizens are eligible to apply for federal financial aid.
Q: Does the Dugoni School of Dentistry provide any kind scholarships for the applicants?
A: The Dugoni School of Dentistry does not have a scholarship program for incoming IDS students.
Q: Does my visa status have any bearing on the application process?
A: The IDS Office does not take your visa status into consideration during the application process.
Q: As an international student, will I be required to submit a proof of financial ability, Certification of Finances (COF) form, to request a student visa?
A: Yes, all accepted, incoming students on a visa will be required to submit a COF form to show available funds to cover full costs (tuition, dental kit, books, fees and living expenses) for the program. The COF form will be released in mid February prior to matriculation in July.
Q: What countries (by dental education) do our IDS students come from?
A: IDS students come from all over the world. Since the inception of the IDS program in 1987 up to 2018, we have had students who have received their dental educations from the following nations:
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen.