Chicago · Pre-Dental · Mentorship
PDI is the Chicago-area resource for pre-dental students — offering shadowing access, one-on-one mentorship, and educational programming built by dentists who've been where you are.
Why PDI Exists
Most pre-dental students struggle to find shadowing opportunities and mentors — not because they lack drive, but because they lack access. PDI was built to change that, right here in Chicago.
What PDI Offers
Whether you're figuring out if dentistry is right for you or finalizing your application, PDI meets you where you are.
Shadowing
Shadowing is the first step in any pre-dental journey — and one of the hardest to arrange on your own. PDI makes it straightforward.
Shadowing through PDI is completely free. We just ask that you come prepared, stay curious, and follow through — because the dentists who open their doors are doing it because they care about the next generation.
Email Us to Get Started1-on-1 Mentorship
Andrew is a current dental student — accelerated DMD program, class of 2028 — with a biomedical sciences background and a front-row view of what admissions committees actually look for right now. He works with students from high school through post-bacc, across all stages of the pre-dental journey.
Mentorship at PDI is selective. Not because we want to be exclusive — but because this only works when there's a genuine fit and the timing is right. Tell us about yourself and we'll be in touch.
PDI Foundations Program
Once Andrew joins practice, PDI will launch a small-group clinical education series at our Plainfield-area facility — real sessions, real environment, real dentistry explained from the ground up.
The PDI Foundations Program will open to a limited number of students. Leave your email and you'll be the first to know — including details on sessions, scheduling, and pricing.
Founded by Dentists
PDI was founded by a practicing Chicago-area dentist and his son — a current dental student — who knows firsthand what it takes to get in and what most pre-dental students are missing.
Coming from a family practice with deep Chicago roots, PDI is built on the belief that mentorship changes trajectories — and that every motivated pre-dental student deserves access to it.
Meet the Mentors
PDI's mentors are active practitioners who have navigated dental school admissions firsthand — and are committed to opening those doors for the next generation.
Born and raised in the Chicago area and a longtime Plainfield resident, Dr. Pete Gallos has been practicing dentistry for over 26 years. He earned his undergraduate degree with high honors from Benedictine University, followed by both a Bachelor's in Dentistry and his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry — graduating as Valedictorian with highest honors.
Dr. Gallos pursued extensive training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UIC, earning his Illinois Sedation license along the way. He has served as former medical staff at Bolingbrook Hospital and Rush Hospital, and has been inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy and Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society. He is a Past President of the Chicago Component of the Academy of General Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Dental Implant Association. His practice, Heritage Grove Family Dental, serves patients across all stages of life — from implants and orthodontics to sedation and cosmetic dentistry.
Andrew Gallos brings a uniquely current perspective to PDI — he is actively navigating dental school right now. He completed his undergraduate studies at Case Western Reserve University, then earned a Master of Biomedical Sciences from Roseman University before entering their competitive three-year accelerated dental program.
As a member of the graduating class of 2028 and the son of a practicing dentist, Andrew understands both sides of the mentor relationship. He founded PDI to give pre-dental students the structured guidance and real-world access that most applicants never receive — regardless of who they know.
Free Resources
PDI publishes in-depth guides on every major stage of the pre-dental journey. No email required. No catch. Just the information we wish someone had given us.
What to do freshman year through application year — coursework, shadowing, DAT timing, and the full AADSAS cycle.
View Roadmap →What to wear, how to act, what you'll see, and the terminology you'll hear on day one.
View Guide →GPA benchmarks, DAT score targets, shadowing requirements, and what committees actually look for.
View Guide →The structure that works, the most common mistakes, and what to include — and avoid — before you submit.
View Guide →A 6-month timeline, the resources that actually work, and section-by-section strategy for a competitive 430+ AA.
View Guide →Common questions, MMI station strategies, and what panels are actually looking for in every answer.
View Guide →Post-bacc vs. reapplying, gap year strategy, and the honest assessment most applicants never get — but need.
View Guide →Common Questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from pre-dental students and their families.
Email us at predentalinstituteofchicago@gmail.com with a little about where you are in your journey. You'll receive our free shadowing guide, and we'll work to connect you with a Chicago-area dental office for real observation hours. Shadowing through PDI is completely free.
Most dental schools require 100+ shadowing hours — but that's the floor, not the goal. Competitive applicants typically have 150–200+ hours across multiple settings, including a general dentist and at least one specialist.
Mentorship is offered in three tiers: a Single Session for targeted help on one thing, a Document Deep Dive built around your personal statement, and Full Cycle support covering every stage from school selection through submission. All mentorship is with Andrew — a current dental student who just went through this process.
Mentorship is application-based with limited availability, and each tier is scoped differently. Accepted applicants receive full program details and pricing during their initial consultation, so we can make sure the fit and the plan are right before anything else.
Shadowing placements are Chicago-area, since they happen in real local dental offices. Mentorship, however, is conducted over video calls and email — so students anywhere can apply.
A competitive Academic Average (AA) on the DAT’s 200–600 scale is roughly 430 or above — 400 is the national average, and most schools screen applications using the AA first. Our free DAT Study Guide covers a 6-month timeline and section-by-section strategy for getting there.
Most applicants take the DAT in the spring or early summer of junior year, after finishing general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology. That timing lets you submit your AADSAS application in early June with scores already in hand. Our free Pre-Dental Roadmap lays out the full year-by-year timeline.
Accepted students typically average around a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.4+ science GPA. A lower GPA isn't disqualifying — a strong upward trend, a competitive DAT score, and meaningful experience can offset it. That honest assessment is exactly what our mentorship is built for.
A small-group clinical education series taught at a real dental office in the Plainfield area — dental fundamentals, procedure walkthroughs, and honest conversation about the profession. Enrollment is limited and opening soon; join the interest list above to be notified first.
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