This page is designed to help prospective students apply for the dental hygiene program. Please read this important information and download all documents linked above.

Dear Prospective Student,

Thank you for your interest in Germanna Community College 's Dental Hygiene Program. This program is an extension of Northern Virginia Community College 's existing Dental Hygiene Program. The program will consist of a combination of traditional and distance learning modalities. The curriculum is designed to prepare selected students to serve in a dynamic and growing health profession as valuable members of the Dental Health team. The Program is also designed to accommodate those students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete the baccalaureate degree in a health-related field.

The goals of the Northern Virginia Community College/Germanna Community College Joint Venture Dental Hygiene Program are:

1. To attract and graduate students who demonstrate optimum competency in ethics, values, skills and knowledge as deemed valuable by the dental hygiene profession.

2. To increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery by promoting the utilization of the dental hygienist as an integral part of the healthcare environment with an emphasis on disease prevention.

3. To improve the quality of life of others through evidence-based preventive, therapeutic, and educational services.

4. To offer a dental hygiene curriculum of the highest quality emphasizing professional development and life-long learning.

5. To facilitate student's active participation in professional organization and community outreach programs.

The ultimate goal of the Dental Hygiene Program is to prepare well-informed graduates capable of providing quality care as licensed members of the dental health team. All program activities and efforts are planned to achieve this goal.

Graduates of GCC's dental hygiene program will graduate with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from NVCC. At the successful completion of the program, the student will be eligible to take the National Board and Regional Board Examinations in Dental Hygiene leading to licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).

Enclosed is the information pertaining to admission to the dental hygiene program and Germanna Community College . Please read this information carefully, it is necessary that you completely understand the admissions process. If you have any questions concerning the information, please contact me. In this packet you will find:

•  Admission application – Northern Virginia Community College.

•  Admission application – Germanna Community College.

•  Application for Virginia In-state tuition rates

•  Admission requirements

•  Student responsibilities

•  A list of required courses

•  Information pertaining to personal expenses including a summary of expenses

•  Applicant questionnaire

•  Checklist for dental hygiene application for admissions process

If you have difficulty locating any of the above forms, please contact me immediately. Your application will be incomplete and not considered for admission if any of the required forms and/or information is missing.

There will be two (2) group information sessions. The first one will be held on January 8, 2008 at the Locust Grove Campus in room 114. The session will begin at 6:00 PM. The second one will be held on January 9, 2008 at the Fredericksburg Area Campus Phase I Building in room 212. The session will begin at 6:00 PM .

Fourteen (14) students will be selected to begin the program in August 2008. This is an extremely demanding and competitive program. The instructions for admissions must be followed explicitly. All the requirements for admission are listed on the links at the top of this page.

The application process for this program consists of an objective measure and a qualitative measure. The objective measure of this process includes the following:

• Numerical scores based on grades earned in courses that will be applied to the A.A.S. degree in dental hygiene. Four points will be awarded for A's, 3 for B's, 2 for C's, 1 for currently enrolled, and 0 for any courses not taken. NAS 161 and 162, Health Science I and II must be completed with a “B” or better prior to entering the dental hygiene program. Applicants may minimally be enrolled in NAS 161, Health Science I, to be eligible to submit their application to the program. Students who meet the prerequisite of a "B" or better in NAS 161 and 162 will have preference in the selection process. Acceptance to the program may be made contingent upon the successful completion of these requirements.
• Numerical scores based on service region residency. Applications for out of area residents will be considered. Students who live in the GCC service region will receive 5 points towards thier objective application score. Those outside of the service region will receive 1 point towards thier objective application score. Selection is based on the number of general education classes completed toward the degree as well as the grade in such classes, total grade point average, answers to essay questions, and one letter of recommendation. Courses completed and grade point averages at all educational institutions will be considered.
• Total GPA. Students who have a 3.6 - 4.0 GPA will receive 3 points, a 3.0 - 3.5 will receive 2 points, and a 2.5 - 2.9 will receive 1 point.
• Work/Volunteer experience. Students who have work or volunteer experience will receive 1 additional point to thier objective score. Work and volunteer experience may be demonstrated through the letter of recommendation, answers to essay questions, or by submitting documentation that would prove such experience. Students will not receive points for both work and volunteer experience.
• Students who have completed all of the general education requirements toward the degree will receive an additional point towards thier objective score.
• Students who have any other completed degree from an institution of higher education will receive 1 additonal point towards thier objective score.

The qualitative measure of this process includes answers to the essay questions and the letter of recommendation.

This is a self-managed application process. This process places the responsibility on the applicant to collect and return all supporting credentials in the same envelope with the application. This way you are assured that your application and all supporting credentials are received together and that your application is complete. Please forward your information in an envelope to Misty Sissom, RDH, MSCH, Local Coordinator, NVCC/GCC Dental Hygiene Program, Germanna Community College , 2130 Germanna Highway , Locust Grove , VA 22508 . Your completed application must be received by the Department of Dental Hygiene between January 1, 2008 and February 15, 2008. The following documents are to be included in your application:

•  Completed applications for both Northern Virginia Community College and Germanna Community College . If you have already applied to NVCC or GCC, please place your name and student ID number on the application and write "Already Enrolled" at the top of the application.

•  Two (2) copies of official transcripts from all educational institutions attended including high school transcripts. In order for the transcripts to be deemed official them must be in a sealed envelope with the signature of the registrar signed across the seal.

•  Completed applicant questionnaire with a copy of your driver's license verifying residency.

•  Completed application for in-state tuition rates.

•  One letter of recommendation. This must be submitted using the form linked above.

Please download each of these documents and fill them out completely and accurately. Print them off when completed and mail all documents in together at one time. It is your responsibility to make sure all of these documents are received in one packet between January 15, 2008 and February 15, 2008. Postmarked by February 15th is not acceptable. Incomplete application packets and application packets received after the deadline will not be considered for the August 2008 class.

Financial Aid is available to students in the dental hygiene program utilizing consortium agreements with NVCC. Students should apply for aid through the NVCC Office of Financial Aid. Germanna Community College should be listed as the institution on all financial aid forms until you are accepted into the dental hygiene program. GCC's financial aid code is 008660. This code needs to be on your financial aid application. The priority application date is April 1, 2008 . Students are encouraged to apply earlier than the priority application date. It is recommended that students apply after completing their 2007 taxes. For further questions on financial aid, please contact Jim Brunner, Coordinator, Financial Aid, 2130 Germanna Highway , Locust Grove , VA 22508-2102 . His phone number is 540-423-1044.

If you are not selected for the program or you wish to apply to the class beginning in August of 2009, applications will be available online in November 2008.

Sincerely,

Misty Sissom, RDH, MSCH

Local Coordinator

NVCC/GCC Dental Hygiene Program

Contact Information
Misty Sissom
Phone (540) 423-9823
Fax (540) 727-3047
E-mail: msissom@gcc.vccs.edu