Trends in academic qualifications and performance of dental students

The academic qualifications and dental school performance measures of students enrolled at public and private dental schools during the five-year period beginning in 1980 were examined. The results indicated that mean DAT academic averages and predental science GPA measures declined significantly over the most recent four years observed. For these qualifications, there were significant differences between those students enrolled at public and private dental schools, with those students enrolled at public schools tending to outperform those at private schools. The results of the analyses of dental school performance measures showed no clear, consistent pattern of decline over the same five-year period.