At Lander, you’ll gain the core knowledge you’ll need to perform well on the DAT, get into dental school, and pursue a rewarding dentistry career.
Our small class sizes mean your professors can offer 1-on-1 guidance, advising, and mentoring as you pursue the scientific inquiry, compassion and critical thinking skills that define LCM graduates.
What LCM Grads in Dental School Have to Say
“Lander College for Men set me up perfectly to attend Columbia Dental School. I felt that I was prepared better than half my class. I would describe my experience at Lander as a springboard for my next step in life.”
- Seth Levitin, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine ‘20
“The professors offered an excellent education, and my advisors spent a lot of time with me, offering guidance and advice regarding preparing for the DAT, applying to dental school, creating a resume, and improving my interview skills.”
- Zachary Mann, Touro College of Dental Medicine ‘25
“[While at Lander] I spent a weekend at the home of an oral surgeon who offered me the opportunity to shadow him. Seeing how he interacted with his patients as well as the finesse, artistry and advanced skill set that he used in his daily practice was really a major catalyst in my decision to pursue dentistry.”
Classwork and Advising for Future Dentists
LCM’s faculty know that most students in the sciences are headed for careers in healthcare. You’ll major in biology, but our recommended course sequence is intentionally tailored to ground you in the knowledge and skills you’ll need for dental school, as well as dental school admission requirements. You’ll learn not just the biological functions of the human body, but also how to apply what you’ve learned in a clinical setting or a research lab.
Compared to hundreds of students in other schools, you’ll be in class with a few dozen at most at Lander. When it comes time to apply to dental school, your professors can craft recommendations that bring your academic performance to life. They’re also able to connect you with alumni who can let you know what to expect at the next level.
Whether you choose to stay within Touro’s university system for dental school or apply elsewhere, LCM’s faculty also know what admissions committees looks for. They can guide you to the leadership and practical experiences that will help your application stand out. When it’s time to interview, they’ll support you with mock interview sessions to help you hone your responses.
“When I teach, a large part of it is that I put myself in my students’ place. I visualize it as if I'm sitting in a chair listening to a professor. I think about how I would want it to be explained to me.”
Hands-on Learning: Clubs, Job Shadowing, and Research
In the lab, with the guys in your classes, and on your own, you’ll find many opportunities to prepare for dental school while at Lander.
Clubs
Our biology club gives pre-dental students an inside look at careers in healthcare and helps prepare students to become medical professionals. Speakers invited to campus share useful tips and ideas for your path to a rewarding career.
Research
LCM students work side-by-side with faculty on health-related research projects. Poster sessions at Research Day and presentations with professors at professional conferences offer additional chances to share what you’ve learned.
Career Services and Pre-Dental Advising
Career Center staff and your professors can help you find shadowing and internship opportunities in dentistry. These experiences help you envision your work life after college and allow you to make connections with people currently practicing in your field.
Spotlight: Career Week with Alumni
Each winter LCM welcomes alumni back to campus for career week. At dinner and in informal conversations with alums, pre-dental students gain real-world insights about dental school, their future careers, and managing their professional and religious commitments.
At a recent dinner, pre-dent student Yosef Aronov was inspired by dentist Seth Faigen, who runs a private dental practice in Kew Gardens.
“We discussed everything from maintaining work-life balance to dealing with patients and running a successful practice. Dr. Faigen's analogy about running a marathon — where ‘you don't need to trip others to win, you just need to run faster’— really struck a chord. It reminded us that in dentistry, helping each other out doesn't take away from our own success; it actually helps us all win. So, while we focus on our studies and exams, we should also lend a hand to our peers, knowing that together, we can all thrive in this profession.”
What You Can Expect from Lander
Aside from small class sizes, experienced faculty, individualized attention, and demanding academics, you can expect alumni connections, support to enter the professional world, and an understanding of what you might be looking for as a Torah Jew raising a family and earning a living.
- As with all Touro majors, we have a strong alumni network you can rely on, and a powerhouse Career Services department that will prepare you for the workplace and help you start your career.
- No disconnect between your morning in the Beis Medrash and your afternoon in a college classroom. Torah infuses everything we do. The shiur course you’ll take on Jewish Medical Ethics is one example of the balance and coordination you’ll find here.
- As part of our mentoring program, we can match you with alumni currently in the field to guide you and answer any questions on your career.
- We host career night dinners each year. Alumni come back to campus and gather around the dinner table with you, offering their insights to help you get an inside view of their career with real talk about the profession.
“Touro has its own dental school, medical school, and many different schools of health sciences. These all provide opportunities for our students, because students who apply from Lander College of Men have a bit of a foot in the door in Touro’s panoply of graduate and professional schools.”
- Dr. Henry Abramson, Dean, Lander College for Men
