One of your fellow applicants asked some questions about why I chose Harvard, so I am going to share my answer to him as "public property" in response to your request, akog. (Sharing resources and collaborating is something we do a lot of at Harvard, by the way!) I am going to only copy/paste my reply, though the questions are probably self-evident in my answers:
Congrats on the interview invitation! That's a great accomplishment!
I'll answer your questions as a list to keep things simple:
(1) Harvard's program is truly unique in that it provides the best medical education possible while also providing a solid dental foundation. The new curriculum, though still under construction, creates an active learning environment and the students are both phenomenally genuine and invested. All of the professors are looking out for you, no student struggles in search of dental patients, and everyone is genuinely happy. Every school had something wonderful about it, but the family atmosphere at Harvard and the true dedication to the students made this program stand out for me. I would treat the interview like a "first date." You need to feel the right connection to the school, its culture, its students, and the environment. That feel will be different for everyone, but you will know it when you experience it.
(2) We are the first year with the new curriculum, and, though we have had struggles, the faculty have listened to us every step of the way. They are truly responsive to and caring towards the students, valuing our education and well-being above all else. I have never felt as though I had so many people so fully invested in my success as I do at Harvard.
(3) The faculty are very approachable. They are intelligent, inspiring, and amazing, but very down-to-earth. You run into the dean in the cafeteria, have afternoon tea with faculty at the dental school, and spend all morning in class with wonderful researchers and physicians.
(4) The upperclassmen say there is no problem obtaining patients. They only see pediatric patients every other Wednesday (unless on their peds rotation), but they are not fighting for patients. The new curriculum allows us to enter the clinic every other Wednesday in the first year. The second year curriculum is still TBD. We also meet with hospital patients with the medical school. 3rd and 4th year are largely spent in the dental clinic, moving you quickly from simulation to actual patient care. If you want to assist faculty, you can do so from day 1.
(5) I find it important to keep an open mind as I progress through dental school. Most students here do specialize, and they find that they can focus on their specialty of interest in the clinic without facing repercussions for lacking in other departments. The school works with you to meet your needs/interests. Students also graduate and practice general dentistry, so everything is a possibility.
(6) Boston is a fun, young city. Longwood itself is a sterile medical environment. We are close to Fenway, though, which offers some nightlife, and we are only a short trip to downtown. I personally take the free shuttle to Cambridge a lot. A lot of my classmates are active hikers/climbers and use long weekends to get into the mountains or explore other outdoors activities. We did some rowing on the Charles, a class cruise on the Harbor, and a trip to an apple orchard. There's a lot to enjoy if you get out of the Longwood area, and there are many kind people all around. For someone who hasn't lived on the East Coast before, Boston is a very manageable city with a lot to offer.
As for the interview, just enjoy, relax, and be yourself. Everyone at Harvard is smart. You have the grades, the scores, and the recommendations to get an interview. What they want to know now is if you are a personable, empathetic individual. I am amazed at the class they created simply because EVERYONE is so compassionate and caring, and I think the interview is where they narrowed down the pool to this articulate, generous group. Again, so many people have these qualities, so it's a matter of taking a deep breath and being yourself. Some questions they asked were about research experience, something I am most proud of, why I think Harvard is the right fit for me, how I manage stress, and, of course, why dentistry. The questions I had for them, though, definitely outnumbered the questions they asked me, so the interview really was a conversation.
Good luck with your application process. There are so many deserving applicants, so just getting an interview is a wonderful accomplishment and, no matter what, you will end up at the right place for you.
(And, if you can, stay with a host at Vandy. It gives you the full 1st year experience since most [though not all] of us do live in the dorms.)
