AZ Interview Comments and Questions

[Jeppedo]

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First off, what were they looking for?
I asked a mundane question and got the response: We cannot tell you... Obviously we could not/can not ask them what they are looking for in their students because those old grumpy men will stonewall us.

Second, what's with the geography/government questions?
Yes we have three branches of government in the US... and I would really like to become a dentist for these reasons... (should I ever get a chance to tell you)

Third, since we all died in that group activity disaster (both groups) does this mean that we all suck and we won't be accepted?
Wow, that's all I have to say....


To top all of this off I feel like I interviewed well.... or did I?

 

[Jeppedo]

When did you interview? Your questions were similar to mine....

Despite the quirky interview process, what did you think of the school?

I interviewed very recently. I am concerned about the lack of tenured faculty... How concerned can ad-juct faculty be for their students? Also... the school was not all of what I expected it to be. Although it had nice new facilities, it appears that the students there would take all of their classes in one of two rooms, the sim lab or a lecture hall. There are no research opportunities at ASDOH, and if you want to specialize you would have to move once again.

 

[VegasBabyVegas]

I interviewed very recently. I am concerned about the lack of tenured faculty... How concerned can ad-juct faculty be for their students? Also... the school was not all of what I expected it to be. Although it had nice new facilities, it appears that the students there would take all of their classes in one of two rooms, the sim lab or a lecture hall. There are no research opportunities at ASDOH, which is a big deciding factor for me; and if you want to specialize you would have to move once again.

Overall, the interviewers all seemed like they had a rod up their ass, and I don't want to graduate from dental school with a permanent rod up my ass.

I disagree. With most dentists getting back trouble, having a rod up your A$$ might actually save money on future back surgery.

 

[Ruprick]

Appreciate you posting my private message in the public forum. No big deal, I guess.

 

[Jeppedo]

Appreciate you posting my private message in the public forum. No big deal, I guess.

My response was too good to not be appreciated by all.

 

[SuperC]

I think you all are missing the point...

Most schools ask the same old generic questions, which if you are a serious applicant, you have rehearsed with your brother, friend and dog.

Interviews like AZ are designed to see who you "really" are. They can be frustrating and difficult. Odd ball questions and strange situations test your calmness and ability to think well under pressure. They couldn’t care less if you can name 10 capital cities in Europe.

I can tell you that this process simulates life in a dental office more than a cheesy, question like "So, why do you want to be a dentist?"

Those who are in dental school will agree with me.... How did thinking on your feet help you (if you have dealt with this) when you broke off an endo file in a tooth, or just anesthetized a patient after you found out he/she is allergic to epi? In my years of assisting, I dealt with these cases that are rare, but if you spend long enough time in a dental office, WILL HAPPEN.

While I did not apply to AZ I think more interviews should be this way...

-C

 

[Jeppedo]

You should interview at AZ and become frustrated with the process like almost everyone else here then. I felt like my interview went well there; but I feel that even the Christ child would not be accepted there, only because he lacked a service orientation.

Impersonal questions like who is Lewis "Scooter" 5 felony accounts Libby should not, in my mind, dominate an interview. The focus on academics, volunteerism, work experience, etc... was only cursory.

My bold prediction is that AZ adcoms will realize the folley of their ways, convert to Buddhism and only accept Buddhist students.

 

[SuperC]

Come on Jep... EVERYONE knows who Lewis "Scooter" 5 felony accounts Libby is!!!

If you got that wrong.... sheesh, you are going down buddy!
-C

 

[ElDienteLoco]

...I, personally, feel like I interviewed well there and expect to see an acceptance...

Unless you are the first person in your family to go to college, 2 million hours plus of dental community service volunteering, charismatic, work excellently in groups and smell great, I wouldn't be so sure of an acceptance letter. Good luck.

Non-tenured faculty is great. Our faculty is awesome and if someone doesn't care about the students or does a terrible job, the Dean sends them packing. Why would a tenured faculty member "care" more about students. He has no incentive.

 

[Jeppedo]

Unless you are the first person in your family to go to college, 2 million hours plus of dental community service volunteering, charismatic, work excellently in groups and smell great, I wouldn't be so sure of an acceptance letter. Good luck.

Non-tenured faculty is great. Our faculty is awesome and if someone doesn't care about the students or does a terrible job, the Dean sends them packing. Why would a tenured faculty member "care" more about students. He has no incentive.

I'm all of those things as well as I can do a knee-bounce frontflip on a trampoline... alright, I'll temper my comment --> I think that I will be accepted at AZ since the interview went so well.

To the crazy tooth: Thanks for your comments on the faculty, it really helps to hear that from a student who goes to AZ.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Overall, the interviewers all seemed like they had a rod up their ass, and I don't want to graduate from dental school with a permanent rod up my ass.

AZ is hands down one of the most chill dental schools in the country. Trust me on this. I've seen it verified time and time again as I've traveled around the country, visisted other dental schools, and spoken with other dental students. My class has two transfer students this year, one from Oregon and one from UCLA, and both cannot believe how laid back our school is in terms of professor/doctor and student interaction.

I simply couldn't ask for more in this catergory.

 

[Dental Mom]

I'm all of those things I think that I will be accepted at AZ since the interview went so well.

Jeppedo, I'm happy to see that you think this way 🙂 I hope you get in and that they let you know soon! If not, oh well another window will open for you and you will end up at your dream school. Good luck

 

[Beestieboy]

First off, what the hell were they looking for?
I asked a mundane question and got the response: We cannot tell you... Obviously we could not/can not ask them what they are looking for in their students because those old grumpy men will stonewall us.

Second, what's with the geography/government questions?
Yes we have three branches of government in the US... and I would really like to become a dentist for these reasons... (should I ever get a chance to tell you)

LOL, did you actually make the mistake of asking them what kind of student they wanted? Sounds like your interview went exactly like mine. That was where my interview went really south. They said the exact same thing to me and the mood for conversation just died. Man, I didn't like that experience much at all. I loved the school and facilities, but the intervew was a big turn off. Oh, and I got my rejection letter earlier this week. Meh, I'm over it.

SuperC, I couldn't disagree more. That interview was not an accurate depiction of who I am at all. In all my other interviews there was a good open discussion between the interviewer and me. A natural conversation was what predomindated the interview, not just answering questions from a firing squad. At AZ they ask a lot of questions that there are right answers for. They want a certain answer or you really do get a 0 on that question. The personalities of the old guys doing the interviews were simply grumpy old men. That exactly how they came across to me. They didn't allow me to get comfortable in the interview and never gave me anything to play back on so you never know if they hate you, like you, want you to shut up, want you to keep going, etc.

*sigh* You know, I loved the school and it used to be my #1 choice, but it's too bad that the interview process doesn't equate to what the school is like. Talking to the students I got a totally different feel than what I got in the interview. The students were great, helpful, and laid back. Needless to say, the interview was none of the above.

Good luck to you all.

 

[Beestieboy]

Thanks man. I appreciate the kind words and I've considered doing that, but....I think they really pride themselves on being "different". They know they are very different and embrace it. I will keep thinking on it (as much as it pains me) but I know they have enough people that like the "difference" in their approach that I wouldn't expect any changes or for them to reconsider my rejection for one moment. While I know most schools would like to see that you have the grades and scores to prove you can do well with the coursework and want to interview you to make sure you're not socialy ******ed, Arizona must want something else. It can't just be doing well on the manual dexterity test as I did excellent on that (thank you 20 years of piano and guitar playing). It can't just be knowing current events as I knew all those (about Tom DeLay and the hurricanes). Maybe it's geography. I didn't know where Lucern was. Maybe they just want to see how you react to the wierdness. I didn't freak out and tried to roll with it and even make a slight joke where appropriate. Didn't seem to work though. I just couldn't get them to crack a smile. The firing squad just kept pouring on the questions and taking their notes.

Gavin is a leader of sorts over at AZ and a Mod here so the things said here do get around at Arizona. Dean Dillenberg and others all commented to me about Gavin and what a good ambassador he was for them on this board and how they do look at the feedback. Maybe Gavin would be kind enough to share my experience with them. In fact, while I was interviewing, our group saw him and there were a couple of SDN'ers in my group that knew him (I should say knew OF him) and said hi to him. He looked at us a bit funny and walked a little faster away from our group. LOL, I can't blame him though. Some people you've never met yelling after you would be a bit creepy I guess.

Good luck to you too.

 

[VegasBabyVegas]

Arizona must want something else.

Maybe it's something more simple....maybe you had a piece of spinach in your teeth or some eye crusties they kept staring at? Maybe you're a big guy and they thought that you were going to kick the crap out of them at any second. With your stats and seemingly "non-socially retarted" personality, it might have been something...stupid?

 

[Beestieboy]

LOL, ya know, I hope it's something like that. Dental school application is competitive and I'm sure they are just looking for ways to cut you. I must have done something that gave them the green light for the cut.

I wish it was the other way around and they were looking for reasons to keep you but I've very sure from my experience and others I've read here that AZ is looking more for reason to cut than keep. 3,000 applicants this year to Arizona....that's crazy. Not that it's a bad school. In fact, quite the opposite.

 

[ItsGavinC]

In fact, while I was interviewing, our group saw him and there were a couple of SDN'ers in my group that knew him (I should say knew OF him) and said hi to him. He looked at us a bit funny and walked a little faster away from our group. LOL, I can't blame him though. Some people you've never met yelling after you would be a bit creepy I guess.

Good luck to you too.

I'll pass your comments on. I walked away quickly because I was already in a hurry. I was late for a meeting (again).

 

[ItsGavinC]

This comming from a guy who has a 3.77 average will pull alot of weight.

LOL, not to be rude, but in the real world, a GPA doesn't pull any weight.

 

[ItsGavinC]

LOL, ya know, I hope it's something like that. Dental school application is competitive and I'm sure they are just looking for ways to cut you. I must have done something that gave them the green light for the cut.

In my mind, it's exactly the opposite. Dental applications are so competitive that schools are looking for that one reason to keep you. The default is getting cut or not getting an interview or not getting an acceptance, or whatever you want to call it.

I'm sure you're a great person, have a great application, and will make a fabulous dentist. Maybe the school made a mistake in not accepting you. Maybe they didn't. Who knows. What I do know is that admissions committees are made up of human beings, and they have good and bad days just like everybody else. Dental applicants want everything to be a process where if X and Y add up to Z, then the null hypothesis is true and the person gets accepted. I don't think any school operates like that, although perhaps some come close. In all honesty, filling a class with honest and hard-working students who only have a 3.0 average GPA, isn't going to necessarily result in a graduating class of ******ed dentists. I know that the admissions game instills in us a belief otherwise (and BYU certainly instills that in us as well).

A lack of acceptance doesn't mean your application wasn't good. It may mean that on that certain date, and at that time and place, it wasn't good enough. You'll go on to great things and get plenty of acceptances, this I'm sure of.

 

[MissingPolaris]

Gavin, don't you just feel special? I didn't get to meet you while I was there otherwise I would have asked you for an autograph...😀

 

[Beestieboy]

Thanks Gavin. Do you really remember us saying hi to you? If you do, you've got a great memory or wierd interviewee's don't yell at you often.

LOL, I wouldn't expect anything I say to have any sort of weight much of anywhere reagrdless of GPA, DAT, or whatever. Real world is an entirely different animal. Plus, who's going to listen to a reject right? 😉 Well, the one sure thing is that Arizona is going to fill their 54 spots with great people. If they miss some and reject some great people, it's too bad. But luckily for dental school, there are a lot of great people applying to become dentists.

I think what you said about that day not having everything come together at the right time is pretty much correct. When I walked out of the room I could feel that something hadn't gone quite right. I could tell that I didn't connect with the 2 old dudes. After I left I'm sure they probably looked at each other and said "What do you think? Did you feel it?" "Nah" and that was it. I could feel it. I don't know why it went down that way, but it did.

Man, no wonder you've got 7500+ posts. You know you can just edit your post and add to it right? LOL, I'm kidding man (don't hit me).

 

[Dental Mom]

Thanks Gavin. Do you really remember us saying hi to you? If you do, you've got a great memory or wierd interviewee's don't yell at you often.

LOL, I wouldn't expect anything I say to have any sort of weight much of anywhere reagrdless of GPA, DAT, or whatever. Real world is an entirely different animal. Plus, who's going to listen to a reject right? 😉 Well, the one sure thing is that Arizona is going to fill their 54 spots with great people. If they miss some and reject some great people, it's too bad. But luckily for dental school, there are a lot of great people applying to become dentists.

I think what you said about that day not having everything come together at the right time is pretty much correct. When I walked out of the room I could feel that something hadn't gone quite right. I could tell that I didn't connect with the 2 old dudes. After I left I'm sure they probably looked at each other and said "What do you think? Did you feel it?" "Nah" and that was it. I could feel it. I don't know why it went down that way, but it did.

Man, no wonder you've got 7500+ posts. You know you can just edit your post and add to it right? LOL, I'm kidding man (don't hit me).

Beestieboy, some people have left interviews feeling like the blew the whole thing but they got accepted 🙂 So don't give up and chin up.

 

[MissingPolaris]

Beestieboy, some people have left interviews feeling like the blew the whole thing but they got accepted 🙂 So don't give up and chin up.

I think he got a rejection letter already...I still can't believe plp with high stats like that would get rejected. Even if he did very bad on the interview, I would think that he can at least go on "waitlist"

 

[Beestieboy]

LOL, yeah, there isn't much hope left for me there now, but I'm ok. They actually don't do a "waitlist" there. If you hear anything from them after the interview but before Dec. 1st it's only bad news. If you don't hear from them, that's good. No news is good news because you're being considered for acceptance. I can't remember what they said for sure but I believe if you have interviewed and haven't heard anything by Jan 1st, you can call and find out your standing at the school. Otherwise, just know that you are in the running.

 

[Lostinbul]

Beestieboy buddy!
Hey like you already know I feel your pain about Arizona! But I just saw your good news on one of your other posts! UOP baby!!! If I am correct Arizona was your first choice because you hadn't heard anything from UOP........well, you might still land a spot at your #1.

I'm going to settle this right here and now! In the case of Beestieboy Arizona did make a very big mistake! One so big I really feel like calling and letting them know how I feel (lol, like me calling would do anything). Oh well, I'm sure UOP will be very grateful for Arizona's mistake. Good luck to ya buddy!

 

[Beestieboy]

Thanks bro. I really appreciate it. I'm just sad I won't get to go there when you'll be accepted there. 😉 I'm sure you'll love it. Good luck to you and I hope you all don't hear from AZ for another month!

 

[ItsGavinC]

Beestieboy, some people have left interviews feeling like the blew the whole thing but they got accepted 🙂 So don't give up and chin up.

So true. It's just a tough thing to pin down.