After you apply, interested schools will invite you to an interview. Here is a compilation of interview questions you can review as you prepare for interview day. Please do not feel like you have to practice every single one. This is mainly to help you understand the types of questions your interviewer(s) may ask you. Check the links page for a document of even more practice questions!
About You Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your two best points?
- What are your two weakest points?
- What are three things you want to change about yourself?
- How do you handle conflict?
- Explain your leadership/research/volunteer experiences?
- What extracurricular activities are you engaged in?
- Which of your college courses interested you the most?
- What interests you outside of dentistry and getting into dental school?
- Where do you see yourself in five/ten years?
Questions About Your Dental School Goal
- What did you do to prepare for the DAT?
- What dental procedures have you seen?
- How will you handle the stress of dental school?
- What do you think will be your greatest challenge in completing dental school?
- Why do you believe you have the ability to undertake the study and work involved in dental school?
- What branch of dentistry do you think would interest you? Why?
- Does your family support your decision to become a dentist?
- What did you like/dislike about the dental offices you have observed?
- If you are not accepted, what will you do?
- What would you do if you couldn’t be a dentist?
Dental School Questions Specific to the School Interviewing You
- Why do you want to attend [Dental School Name]?
- How are you a match for [Dental School Name]?
- Why should we choose you?
- Describe your method of learning. How does this fit with this dental school?
- Take us through your personal statement.
- What schools did you apply to and why those schools?
- What do you look for in a good dental school?
- Why do you want to go to school here?
- What sets you apart from other applicants?
- Do you have any questions for us?
Current Issues/Scenario Questions
- Name a situation where you had to make an ethical decision. What did you do?
- If you are accepted into two dental schools of your top choice, what would you do to make up your mind?
- Tell me a time when you witnessed dishonesty and what did you do?
- Is amalgam safe to use in dentistry?
- What are the responsibilities of a dentist to a patient?
- How do you think the dental profession has changed over the last 25 years?
- What is the biggest challenge facing dentistry today?
- What is the future of dentistry?
- How would you handle a situation where one of your patients has AIDS?
- You encounter a non-English speaking patient. How would you handle the situation?