Dental School Interviews

Admissions Interviews

Walking the walk and talking the talk.

Written By: Caylen Davis, DDS

Last Updated: June 2024

Finally! After all the long hours studying for the DAT and the stress of completing your application, you are finally here. You got an invitation to interview at a dental school! It is finally becoming real! GET EXCITED! This is a HUGE accomplishment. And now that you’ve made it this far, it’s time to seal the deal, pre-dent. Keep reading to find out how to ace your interview and get that acceptance.

What an interview invitations means

As you’re reading over your invitation email, in the middle of your nervous excitement, you might be thinking to yourself, “So, now what?”. What does an interview invitation signify for me as a pre-dental student?

Well, first of all, you should be very proud of yourself because this signifies that you have passed the first checkpoint! Your GPA and DAT qualifications are good, they liked your personal statement, your secondary application was great, and now you, as an applicant, look good on paper. They like you! Woohoo! Now the school would like to meet you in person and see if you are the same amazing student in person.

Second of all, you should go into this feeling confident. The admissions committee picked YOU. Based on your application — out of the hundreds or thousands they received — they saw something specific in you that made them want to invite you to their school to see if you’d be a good fit for their program. This is an incredible honor, so remind yourself of this. You will go into some interviews where the students are going on and on about how this may be their 7th interview and they still have 3 more to go to. Do not let this discourage you. Once you get to the interview phase, you are all on a level playing field. The admissions committee has already seen what your test scores and GPAs look like, now they are trying to see who you are as a person and connect the application to the person in front of them. This is the time to turn on the charm!

Push all of the negative thoughts out of your head while preparing for this final step in the application cycle. Now is the time to win over the committee with your personality and communication skills. You only need to focus on 2 things as you enter your interview day: connecting with the admissions committee and befriending your fellow interviewees. The rest will fall into place.

Why interviews are so important

As we just mentioned, the interview provides the school the opportunity to assess you as an applicant in person. Up until this point, you as a dental school applicant only existed on paper. Your scores, grades, achievements, service, etc., are what earn you an invitation to interview at dental school. Now your interview is the opportunity for the school to see and find out what they can’t learn about you on paper.

Everyone who interviews is on the same level now that you all have made it past the first hurdle. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take this next step seriously. I have heard of applicants who have amazing GPAs and high DAT scores and received multiple interview invites from schools but were not accepted. You can be book smart and look great on paper, but if you struggle during your interview and lack the skills that a dental school wants in a candidate, you can fall short. There have also been cases of the opposite, where an applicant doesn’t appear to be the most qualified on paper, yet they do well during their interview and have the skills that a dental school wants, so they do get accepted. With all this being said, it is really important to be prepared and do well at your interview so you can secure your spot in the upcoming class.

What Schools Are looking for

Throughout the interview day at the dental school you will be assessed for certain skills, the skills that a dental school typically assesses for are:

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

This isn’t necessarily a conclusive list, but these are skills that a dental school likes to see in a candidate. They want to know that you’re capable of handling a heavy course load, can communicate effectively, are self-confident, can overcome challenges, work well with others in a group setting, have manual dexterity and perceptual ability skills, etc. All of these are important characteristics of a good clinician.

Different Interview Formats

Open-File vs. Closed-file

The first terms to know regarding how your interview will be conducted are “open file” or “closed file”.

Probably the most common, open-file interviews are where the evaluator will have a chance to look over your ADEA AADSAS application and your secondary application or other supplemental materials before meeting you. This allows the interviewer to craft the conversation more to your unique background and explore elements of your application in greater depth. With this type of interview, you will want to ensure that you have thoroughly reviewed your application so that nothing catches you by surprise if your evaluator brings up something specific.

In closed-file interviews, the evaluator will not have the opportunity to look over your application before your interview. Because of this, the interview questions will be more exploratory and conversational.

An alternative to this is when the evaluator will wait to review your application until after the interview, to get to know you as a person rather than looking at your application information first. This is still considered an “open file” but the conversation portion is more of a “closed file”.

Different Interview Styles

Style 1) One-on-One

The most common and more traditional interview format is the one-on-one interview, where one evaluator will interview one candidate. Here, all the attention is on you. Remember to make eye contact (but not in a creepy way) to show that you are confident. Also, avoid fidgeting and focus on connecting with your interviewer.

Style 2) Panel or Group Interview

Sometimes the interviews are conducted with a panel of two or three evaluators for each candidate. Here, you will have to balance talking to multiple people at once and how much time you spend talking to each person. Eye contact is important here as well, but you now have to apply it to more individuals. No matter who is asking the question, still give the other evaluators a portion of your attention as well. At some point in your response, you should still be directing your attention to the other evaluators in the room; multitasking is key.

Style 3) Multiple Mini-Interviews

Another format that has been becoming popular is the “multiple mini-interview” (MMI). In this case, candidates rotate between stations every 7-10 minutes where they are confronted with questions that may be associated with hypothetical situations or certain tasks. These interviews are all about testing your ability to think critically on the spot and how you can convey your thoughts. To prepare for these, be confident in your answers and always remember your professionalism. These interviews do not test your knowledge but your problem-solving and communication abilities.

How to prepare For interviews

before your interview day

Now that we’ve covered the “what” of interviews, we can transition to the “how” of interviews – how to prepare, how to dress, and how to excel. While each dental school will be unique, here are some universal rules to follow to prepare you for any interview:

Research the school: Before going to any interview, you have to know the school itself. Look through the school’s website to read the school’s mission and initiatives. Is the program focused on research, public health, or providing dental care to low-income or underrepresented populations? Maybe the school has community service clinics or external rotations. Your job is to demonstrate how your interests align with that school’s mission.
Know your application: Know your application inside and out. Interviewers to ask, “Tell me about your role in ABC research…,” or, “What was the biggest challenge you encountered as the president of XYZ club?” Add to what you’ve already written and be able to elaborate on your experience. Also, be sure to bring a copy of your resume. It’s a nice gesture not only for the interviewer but also to review yourself if needed.
Talk to current students and alumni: It’s always a good idea to connect with current students before attending an interview. Ask them about their experience, what they like about their school, what they don’t like about the school, and why they chose to go there over other schools. What organizations are they involved in? How are the relationships between faculty and students? You can also ask about their interview experience and if they have any tips.
Understand current trends in dentistry: Talk to dentists about challenges they face in the industry as well as larger trends and innovations they see in dentistry across the country. Do some basic research on current issues in dentistry. You don’t need to be an expert on this, but even 30 minutes of research can help you prepare to answer the common question, “What do you see as some of the biggest challenges in dentistry today?”
Conduct mock interviews: Practice makes improvement. Current dental student organizations sometimes hold an “impressions day” on their campus for pre-dental students and often include a mock interview. This it’s a great resource if you live near a dental school. Pre-dental advising offices on college campuses can also help with mock interviews or even reach out to a mentor to conduct a mock interview for you.

How to dress for interviews

Sometimes, figuring out what to wear and how to look for interviews can be the most stressful part. The general rule of thumb is to dress conservatively and professionally. You want to stand out with your personality, not your clothes. Here are some things to remember:

Business Professional: Business professional attire is the most formal of professional attire and consists of a pants suit (or a skirt suit for those who dress in feminine attire), a long button-up shirt or blouse, neutral pantyhose or dark socks, and moderate, professional shoes. Make sure any suit is well-tailored and flatters you.
Suit & shirt colors: The best colors to go with for business professionals are black, gray, tan, and navy blue. This is the same for shirts and blouses, but you can incorporate a discreet pattern. Sometimes you can have a light pop of color such as a light pink blouse with a black suit, but overall, keep it pretty neutral.
Skirt Suit Length: If you choose to wear a skirt suit, make sure the skirt is tailored correctly and is at an appropriate length. You don’t want the skirt too tight and it should ideally stop 1-1.5 inches above the knee.
Ties: Should you choose to wear a tie (necktie or bow tie is up to you, however, I would say that most interviewees in my cohort wore neckties), try to avoid loud patterns.
Shoes: For masculine forward footwear, stick to leather-like dress shoes (like an Oxford) with laces in a neutral color. Make sure the color of your shoes matches the color of your belt if you plan on wearing one. For feminine forward footwear, and moderate-height heels (3 inches or shorter) flats, or loafers are appropriate. Keep in mind that interview days often include a tour so make sure you will be comfortable walking.
Accessories: It’s okay to wear some jewelry, but try not to overdo it as it can become distracting. Wedding bands/engagement rings, a watch, and simple stud earrings (small hoops or diamond or pearl studs) are all appropriate. Bracelets can be distracting if you talk with your hands and necklaces will not be seen very well with a suit. Cuff links and a tie clip are also appropriate. If you choose to wear an Apple Watch, be sure not to fidget with it too much and make put it in “Do-Not-Disturb” mode for your interview.
Hair: Make sure your hair is clean and styled.
Perfume/Cologne: Keep any worn scent very minimal. Sometimes, it’s even better to not wear any at all if you are worried you won’t be able to tell if you put on too much.

After The Interview

Questions to ask the interviewer

After your interview, the interviewer will likely ask if you have any questions for them before you conclude. Never say you don’t have any questions! Asking questions shows that you’re interested in learning more about the school and that you’re invested in the program. If you can’t think of anything to ask, here are some great questions to end with:

How many of the students from the graduating classes go on to do private practice? Residency? Military? Academics?
How does this school prepare students for private practice? Non-profit health centers?
I read that your school offers Residencies A, B, and C. How much exposure do predoctoral students have to experience the specialties?
What sort of technology seen in private practice offices can be seen in the student clinics? (CAD/CAM milling machines, digital intraoral scanners, 3D printers, etc.)
How much interprofessionalism occurs between dental students and other healthcare students?

Author’s Note: Try to limit it to 2 questions. For dental school admissions interviews, you want to make sure the interview stays centered on them getting to know you. If you decide to pursue a dental specialty in the future, those interviews are more appropriate for 3-4 questions as you are making sure the program is an appropriate fit for you as well.

thank you letters

Once you are done with your interview day, thank-you notes are an absolute MUST. Everyone who interviewed you did it on a volunteer basis because they are committed to finding the best applicants for their school. Show them that you are not only grateful for the opportunity but that you are the best fit for the incoming class.

A thank you note should be written for everyone who interviewed you that day. Hand-written notes are nice, but it can be difficult to obtain addresses, so an emailed thank-you note is appropriate as well. Here is a template you can use for your letters:

Author’s Note: Try to send your thank you notes within 24-48 hours after your interview if possible. You don’t want too much time to pass between the interview and expressing your gratitude. Also, do not be discouraged if you don’t hear back from the interviewer. They are likely very busy faculty members and students and will be receiving a lot of thank-you notes from other candidates as well.

The Big Picture

The interview can be the most nerve-wracking part of applying to dental school, but remember, if you made it this far, it means you are already liked by the school that invited you. They just want to get to know you better. Take this time to show them what you’re all about and why you deserve to be there!