A closer look at the DDS Class of 2030
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) School of Dentistry welcomed 100 students to its Doctor of Dental Surgery Class of 2030 this summer, selected from 1,489 applications in one of the school’s most competitive admissions cycles. Of those applicants, 318 were invited to interview.
A more competitive year
According to Kelly Lemke, DDS, MS, director of admissions, application volume has climbed in recent cycles, driven in part by candidates reapplying after an unsuccessful year and in part by broader interest in careers that are hands-on and produce a visible result for patients. Applicants are also arriving with more shadowing hours and more chairside experience than in past years.
“Every year the applicant pool gets stronger, and every year the decisions get harder,” Lemke said.
Each application is reviewed by the school’s admissions selection committee, which weighs academic performance alongside service, leadership and sustained commitment to the profession.
Zane Gates, a first-year student whose father and sister both trained at the School of Dentistry, came in knowing what the program would ask of him.
“I knew this program offered a lot and held its graduates to a high standard, so you are signing yourself up to put your full effort into trying to achieve that standard,” Gates said. “Ultimately it was an easy choice, but you’re subjecting yourself to something deliberately difficult. It will be important to remember that I volunteered for this, even if an exam week occasionally makes me question my decision-making skills.”
Class representation
The class draws heavily from across Texas. Ninety-four students are Texas residents, including 16 from Bexar County and seven from border counties where access to oral health care is limited. Six students came from outside the state, arriving from Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana and North Carolina. Together they represent 33 undergraduate institutions.
Aliyah Gutierrez, a first-year student and Brownsville native who earned her undergraduate degree at UT San Antonio, said both distance and familiarity shaped her decision.
“Being from Brownsville, one of the things that initially drew me to the School of Dentistry was being relatively close to home,” Gutierrez said. “I also went to UTSA for undergrad, so San Antonio already felt like a home away from home. I had heard so many positive things about the program, and when I looked more into the school and its stats, I felt like what I was hearing matched what I was seeing.”
Students’ paths into the class vary. Twelve students were 25 or older when they applied. Two served in the military, one as a captain in the U.S. Army and one in the U.S. Navy, and four hold Health Professions Scholarship Program awards that will send them into service as dental officers after graduation. Several competed as NCAA athletes in equestrian, track and field, and gymnastics. Four entered through the Dental Early Acceptance Program, and three are enrolled in the DDS/PhD program administered through the Craniofacial Oral-Biology Student Training in Academic Research (COSTAR) program.
The first few months
Whatever they expected of a first semester, both students said what surprised them most was how quickly the class came together.
“I was surprised by how quickly I started to form relationships with my peers and even the faculty,” Gates said. “It’s something I expected would take months or even years to really get started. It’s just a great group of people spending a lot of time together and working toward a common goal.”
Gutierrez noticed the same thing, alongside a pace that took some adjusting to.
“Everyone tells you before starting dental school that the pace is fast, but I don’t think you can fully understand what that means until you experience it for yourself,” she said. “There is always something coming up, whether it’s studying, practicals, exams or other responsibilities, so you have to learn how to manage your time pretty quickly. It has challenged me, but it has also helped me become more organized and adaptable.”
Highlights from the Class of 2030
- 1,489 applications received for the 2026 entry year
- 318 applicants invited to interview
- 100 students enrolled
- 94 Texas residents and 6 out-of-state students
- 55 women and 45 men
- 3.85 average overall GPA and 3.80 average science GPA
- 461 average DAT score*
- 33 undergraduate institutions represented
- 16 students from Bexar County and 7 from Texas border counties
- Ages 20 to 34 at the time of application
* The American Dental Association moved the DAT to a 200 to 600 scale in 2025. Scores earned under the previous two-digit scale were converted to the new scale for this average.
Looking ahead
For now, the Class of 2030 is getting settled and preparing for the four years ahead. What the students have already found is each other.
“There have definitely been moments already where the pace feels overwhelming,” Gutierrez said, “but having a supportive class and being surrounded by people who are going through the same thing makes a big difference.”
“We look forward to watching this group excel and test their various talents. Supporting the growth of these students is paramount to the school and we know they will go on to positively impact the communities they eventually serve,” Lemke said.
Interviews for the next class are already underway, with another applicant pool moving through the same committee review.
View photos from the Welcome to the Profession Ceremony.