Over two decades, interest in dentistry in the United States has shown a steady period of growth. Nearly 12,200 individuals applied to the 2008 entering class of U.S. dental schools, while the number of first-time enrollees was 4,794, the highest figure since 1990. Men continue to comprise the majority of applicants; however, the percentage of women applicants continues to increase. Underrepresented minority appli cants comprised 12 percent of both the applicant and first-time enrollee pools. The largest number of applicants came from states that are among those with the largest populations in the United States: California, New York, Florida, and Texas. Nearly four out of five enrollees earned a baccalaureate degree in biological science, chemistry/ physical sciences, or pre-dentistry. Regardless of major fields of study, the percent rates of enrollment generally exceeded 34 percent. The majority of applicants and enrollees placed in the upper GPA and Dental Admission Test (DAT) percentiles. The average age of 2008 enrollees was twenty-four years.