The dental school interview allows you to be your own representative. You should have a strong, well rehearsed story of your abilities and your reason for becoming a physician. Any deficiencies in your record should be clearly explained but illustrate your personal responsibility for your record.

Dress: Dress as if you already are a professional.

Women should dress in low heeled, dark shoes, suit, skin tone hosiery, conservative jewelry, no perfume, short nails, and good hygiene. Hair should be short or pulled back. Hair should not fall in your face.

Men should not wear cologne, wear suit and tie, comfortable shoes (preferably black), and black socks.

Qualities Assessed: The admission committee is looking for the following qualities:

• Maturity and Responsibility
• Strong Interpersonal Skills
• Confidence
• Self Awareness 
• Empathy
• Academic Readiness
• Dexterity and Perceptual Skills

Tour: While you are touring the dental facilities, be sure to carry yourself well.   In an informal situation such as a tour you are definitely being observed. Once you enter the school you are being assessed. You want to appear relaxed and confident.

Preparation: As in any work situation, you should have a good pitch which summarizes your abilities and the reason you would be an asset to the dental school. After your grades and DAT scores, each school wants to inevitably know the type of contribution you will bring to the dental school.  

The interviewer wants to see the applicant's thought process. It is important to give intelligent answers with rational explanations. If they sense you are not informed then they will think you did not do enough preparation. They want to see you answer the question confidently, maturely and enthusiastically. Try to avoid beginning answers to questions with "I feel", "I believe", and "Um." It shows a lack of confidence and it makes your statements appear subjective. Review the website of each school, speak with students of the school, and know your application/secondaries.We strongly encourage researching health related topics well in advance of the interviewing process. During your last two years in dental school, you should stay abreast of current events not only for interview purposes but also for the verbal portion of the DAT.  Additional information for answering interview questions can be found under  Related Links.

Types of Interview:

Group interview:
Convey through your actions that you are a team player
Do not expect others to incorporate you in the conversation, show initiative
Refer to others answers when making your own comments/answers
Don't appear as though you are too serious
Find ways to incorporate others into the conversation.

Closed
Interviewer never sees the application folder. They interview you as you are presented and make notes accordingly.

Semi-Open
See the personal statement. Don't have accesss to GPA and DAT scores.

Open
Interviewer has complete access to your application.

Important topics:

• With discussion about SARS, monkey pox and the high incidence of AIDS there may be a focus on public health issues.  
• The American Dental Association is advocating that amalgam restorations are safe. Certain local government officials dispute this fact.
• Diagnosing oral cancer has been a leading campaign of the American Dental Association. Dentists are some of the leading professionals to diagnose systemic medical conditions by diagnosing dental problems. Increasingly, dentist are making an impact in the improvement of overall comprehensive care of patients.
• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) has been strongly enforce to maintain patient confidentiality, maintain standards of health care information and eliminate discrimination against patients. (i.e computers with patient information must be logged off after use and faxes including patient information must be accepted immediately)
• Also, ethics will be increasingly important issue given the economic and health care insurance climate that we are in. Many students overlook this topic in their interviews.

General Dental Questions Asked:

1. Why do you want to be a dentist?
2. How did you first become interested in dentistry?
3. What do you think of the closing down of some private dental schools?  
4. Do you have good manual dexterity? How do you know that you do?
5. How important are grades to you?
6. What are your favorite hobbies?
7. If you could cure any disease what would it be and why?
8. What are your three greatest achievements?
9. If I gave you $10,000 and you can save any money what would you spend it on?
10. Where do you see yourself 10 years form now?
11. Tell me about yourself?
12. You stated in personal statement ?..what did you learn from that,
    "              ?what did you mean by that?
    A professor in your recommendation said you are a hard worker, what did you do that showed diligence?
    Why choose dentistry instead of medicine?
    Why do you want to study dentistry?
    Are you aware of the academic difficulty of dental school?
13. Can you handle that kind of pressure?
14. If you could have dinner with three people in history who would you pick and why?
15. How do you think malpractice could be reduced?
16. How would you deal with a non-English speaking patient?
17. You receive a malpractice claim in the mail. How do you react?
18. What is your favorite book and why?
19. Do you feel you are prepared to enter dental school?
20. What are your weaknesses?
21. How do you rate good performance in dentistry?
    Possible Response:  As long as the patient has a clear understanding of the risks and benefits involved with  procedures, the patient is in the best position to make a decision. It requires me taking the time to provide all possible options to the patient. From there, good performance and job satisfaction come from exceeding my own expectations in terms of skill and diagnosis, not just what others expect of me. 
22. Can you describe yourself in three adjectives?
    Possible Response: Ethical, Empathetic, Charismatic, Diligent etc..
23. What do you consider a good income?
    Possible response: I live a modest lifestyle, so a good income is defined as enough money to provide a suitable standard of living for my family and I. I definitely prioritize a meaningful career as a dentist and job security over financial compensation. 

Students with low GPA

1. Why was your GPA low in undergrad? You did so well in your master's program.
   Possible Response: I acknowledge that I could have performed better during my undergraduate years at (university name-especially if it is prestigious).  However, I did improve my record over the four years at (university name). I was slightly unprepared for the emotional circumstances that surrounded me during college and living far from home for the first time did not help me.  I expected to do well in my graduate program to prove that I have mastered upper level science material and to provide a strong foundation for medical school.  I'm convinced my diligence will be helpful in dental school.

Dental School related

1. How will you pick a dental school if you only visited the school once?
2. Why would our dental school be suitable for you?
3. What other schools have you applied to? What schools have you been accepted to?

Ethical Questions

1. What is something that you have done in the past that you regretted?
2. What do you think of fluoridation?
3. What are your feelings about amalgam restorations? Do you feel it is safe?
4. Are admission quotas fair?
   Possible Response: It is important to give extra consideration to students who are underrepresented in the dental field.  Patients typically respond better to dentists who come from similar backgrounds.  However, the student should meet certain qualifications in order to be placed in dental school. It is an injustice to the students as well as the profession to allow students into the class who will struggle to stay competitive.
5. How do you feel about treating a patient with HIV?
   Possible response:  I do not consider someone with HIV an "HIV patient". I consider them a patient of mine which I must respond to with proper care. As with all patients, I would use universal precaution procedures.  I would institute the same precautions (i.e proper handling of needles, double gloving etc..) in treating HIV patients as I do with other patients. I would be sensitive to the needs of the patient, obtain a full medical history and do my best to provide optimal treatment. I would expect my auxillary staff to do the same.
6. How do you feel about treating indigent patients?
   Possible response: My reason for becoming a doctor was to be an advocate for the underserved patient population. (Insert: your background giving proof to this statement) Presently, the insurance landscape makes it more difficult for lower class people and now even middle class people to receive optimal health care due to more employee contributions to insurance funded programs and HMO insurance programs. Many elderly patients are fleeing to Canada to fill prescriptions because they cannot afford the increased costs of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, many dentists are increasingly opening boutique practices so they can reduce their patient load and spend more time treating patients.(which typically are wealthy patients) Slowly, those who have access to healthcare will only be the wealthy.  I believe there is more satisfaction in helping those less fortunate. From my past experience I found them to be very appreciative of my efforts. I welcome the opportunity to help indigent patients.
7. What would you do if someone cheated on an exam?
   Possible response: I would ask the cheater to tell his/her instructor he/she cheated. If he/she refuses, I would grudgingly let the student know that I will have to tell the professor myself. Inherently it is wrong to cheat but in addition, grades are typically done on a curve. The cheater may a) continue to cheat and/or b) upon hearing of this incident, prompt others to cheat to stay competitive.  If one person cheats and continues to do so, it could become a widespread transgression throughout the class. The system of grading students competence based on exams would no longer be valid and the educational system is compromised.  

Technology

1. If you receive patient sensitive information via e-mail, how would you handle it?
2. Do you think dentistry is too impersonal with the advent of technology?

Dental Care Questions

1. What are three problems facing dental care?
2. How can the government improve dental care?
3. Where do you think dental care will be in 10 years?
4. How do you feel about socialized dentistry?
5. Do you think dental care is a right or a privilege?
6. How do you think we can increase access of dental care? See dental programs aim to help low income families (NPR)
7. What do you think of DMOs?
8. How do you think managed care will influence your practice of dentistry?

When asked if you have any questions for the interviewer:

1. Describe the schools curricular innovations? Then follow by adding,
   I ask because I'm interested in ?.
2. Does your dental school focus on problem based learning as an educational approach?
3. How do your students perform on the National board exams? How do they perform on the regional clinical exams?
4. How well do graduates fare in post-graduate specialties?
5. What research opportunities are available?
6. Does your alumni typically reside in the area after completing dental school?

Thank you cards

Definitely remember the write the names of your interviewers (even the person who conducts the tour) and obtain business cards if it is possible. The cards should be sent the day after the interview to successfully leave a favorable impression.

Waitlisted

If you find that after your interview you are waitlisted, continue to send updated information about your achievements. Any publications, transcripts or work related experiences which occurred after the interview should be forwarded to the committee.

Also, you should definitely state your strong interest in the dental school. The school should be convinced that you would definitely accept an admission to the school.

Some students are accepted into dental school the day before the first term begins! Circumstances change so never assume you will not gain admission until after the freshman class has been determined.

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