Alternate Planning

Not all students remain on track to be competitive applicants for program admission.

Recognizing this early is an important part of academic planning. The resources below are designed to help students research alternate dental hygiene programs, explore related health programs and other majors offered at MSU. Using these tools can help students make informed decisions, stay on track for graduation, and identify realistic options that align with their goals.

Alternate Dental Hygiene Programs

Choosing a dental hygiene program requires more than just finding a school with a dental hygiene major. You must confirm eligibility, transferability of credits, program requirements, and how competitive you are as an applicant. This guide walks you through the process, helping you gather accurate information, compare programs, and plan strategically for your educational and career goals. Some steps may be more relevant than others depending on your situation.

10 Step Guide to Alternate Program Planning

Alternate Major Exploration

Related Undergraduate Programs

Health Related Programs Outside MSU

10 Step Guide TO ALTERNATE PROGRAM PLANNING

Taking the time to complete this process can help you avoid delays, unexpected coursework, and missed application opportunities - setting you up for success as you develop your alternate plan.  If you’d like to follow along on our alternate planning guide worksheet, please reach out to alliedhealthadvising@mnsu.edu and we will send you a copy.

Step 1: Identify the Dental Hygiene Program & Key Contacts

Begin by identifying dental hygiene programs that align with your career goals. The American Dental Hygienists Association has a great website to help you explore different programs across the US. Find a Dental Hygiene Program - ADHA

Once you identify a program of interest, start by reviewing the program’s official website to gather both basic program details and contact information for follow-up questions.

Program Information to Identify

  • College or University Name
  • Campus Location
    • (Main campus, satellite campus, or hybrid/online)
  • Program or Degree Type
    • Associate Level
    • Bachelor's Level
    • Dental Assisting
    • Dental Hygiene
    • Advanced Dental Therapy
  • Program Length
  • Accreditation Status (CODA)
    • Verify that the program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which is required for licensure eligibility in most states.

Identify the Correct Contact

You will need to communicate directly with the institution to confirm admission and transfer details. Identify who to contact with questions about:

  • Dental Hygiene program admission requirements.
  • Transfer coursework and prerequisites.
  • Course substitutions or exceptions.
  • Application policies.
  • Competitiveness as an applicant.

Tip:

Look for one of the following roles on the program website: Dental Hygiene Program Advisor or Coordinator, Dental Hygiene Program Admission’s Contact, Transfer Evaluation Specialist, or Undergraduate Admissions Office and keep copies of all emails.

Step 2: Review Costs and Financial Aid

Investigate the financial commitment of the program.

  • Tuition cost per credit
  • Estimated total program cost
  • Available scholarships

Why this matters:

Dental Hygiene programs often have additional fees (labs, uniforms, exams, clinical requirements).

Step 3: Understand Application Deadlines & Criteria

Every program has specific timelines and requirements for you to identify and record.

  • Application deadlines
  • Application criteria may include:
    • GPA requirements
    • Science GPA requirements
    • English Language Proficiency
    • Required prerequisite grades
    • Certifications or credentials (if applicable)
    • Transfer credit policies

Step 4: Evaluate Prerequisite Courses and Confirm Transferability

Carefully review the prerequisite coursework required for admission. Do not assume courses will automatically transfer to fulfill the intended requirements.

Tool to Use: Transferology

Transferology.com is an online tool that helps students explore how their completed or planned coursework may transfer to other colleges or universities. It allows you to compare how credits apply toward specific majors or degree requirements. Not all colleges or courses are listed.

How to Use Transferology

  1. Go to transferology.com and create a free account.
  2. Select "Will My Courses Transfer?"
  3. Enter Your Course Information:
    1.  Choose:
      1. Your School(s)
      2. Term taken
      3. Department (e.g., BIOL, CHEM, ENG, PSYC)
      4. Course number
    2. Enter each course you want evaluated
  4. Add Courses to “My Courses”
    1. Add all relevant completed or planned coursework to your list.
  5. Search for Matches
    1. Search for the college or university you are interested in.
    2. Review how your courses may transfer.

Required Actions: Confirming Course Transfer & Evaluation

To receive an official transfer credit evaluation, students generally must apply for admission to the college or university. However, some institutions and dental hygiene programs can provide unofficial transfer evaluations, before formal admission. To determine whether this option is available, follow the steps below.

  1. Email the Dental Hygiene Program or Undergraduate Admissions Office
    1. Use the contact information listed on the program’s website.
    2. Clearly state that you are exploring eligibility and transferability.
  2. Attach Unofficial Transcripts
    1. Include transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, including any National Exam scores (e.g., AP, IB or CLEP).
    2. Ensure transcripts are readable and up to date.
  3. Ask How Each Course Will Be Accepted
    1. Request clarification on:
      1. Direct equivalencies for prerequisites.
      2. Courses that may not be accepted.
    2. Ask Whether Course Substitutions Are Allowed
      1. Some programs may allow substitutions for prerequisites.
    3. Confirm Responses in Writing
      1. Request confirmation via email.
      2. Save all correspondence for your records.

Best practice:

Use Transferology as a starting point. Always verify transfer decisions directly with the receiving institution.

Step 5: Identify Remaining Prerequisites

Next, you will need to determine the following:

  • Which prerequisites are still needed.
  • Whether these prerequisites can be taken at your current institution - verify with receiving institution.
  • Whether timing aligns with the application cycle.

Step 6: Check Special Academic Policies

Every dental hygiene program has academic policies that may affect eligibility such as:

  • Course expiration limits
  • Example: Science courses must be completed within the last 5–10 years.
  • Course repeat limits
  • Example: How many times can a course be repeated and what letter grade(s) are used?
  • Course type requirements
  • Example: Are online labs accepted for science courses?

Important:

These policies can disqualify applicants even if GPA requirements are met.

Step 7: Learn How Admission Decisions Are Made

How are students selected?

Questions to Ask:

  • Is admission based on a points system?
  • Are science courses weighted more heavily?
  • Are repeated courses penalized? Or averaged?
  • How are ties broken?
  • Is there a waitlist?

Step 8: Learn What Makes Applicants Competitive

Understanding how competitive a dental hygiene program is will help you realistically assess your chances of admission and determine whether changes to your academic or experiential profile are needed.

  • Number of applicants per admission cycle
    • Helps you understand overall demand for the program.
  • Number of students admitted per cycle
    • Gives insight into acceptance rates and seat availability.

Admitted Student Profile

Many dental hygiene programs share information about the typical or average admitted student. Look for details such as:

  • Average cumulative GPA.
  • Average prerequisite GPA.
  • Whether admitted students commonly have dental assisting experience
  • Whether observation or shadowing experiences are encouraged

Tip:

Not all programs publish this data. If it is not listed online, ask the dental hygiene program directly.

Step 9: Evaluate Your Competitiveness

Ask yourself:

  • Am I currently competitive for this program?
  • If not, is there anything I can do to improve?

Examples of improvement strategies:

  • Retaking key courses (if allowed).
  • Completing additional prerequisites

STEP 10: APPLY!

When you have chosen the programs you are interested in and eligible for, apply! You've got this!

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