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- DDS/DMD-PhD Student
Hey everyone,
I just wrapped up a full cycle of interviews this past year and am entering my D1 year and wanted to share some advice that I wish I'd heard earlier. There’s already a lot of good info here on SDN, but I figured a fresh perspective might help someone currently prepping.
1. Most interviews follow similar themes — but the delivery matters.
You’ll see variations, but almost every school asks some mix of:
It’s less about memorizing a perfect answer and more about showing who you are and how you think. Practice until your answers feel natural and honest.
2. Don’t over-script, but don’t wing it either.
I practiced in a mirror answering questions and gave mock interviews with friends and admissions counselors, hearing yourself out loud makes a huge difference. I also wrote down general bullets to my answers so I could review them before my interviews.
3. Learn school-specific vibes.
Some schools are more relaxed (ECU, for example) and others are super structured or intense (like Harvard MMI). Check SDN interview feedback and watch YouTube vlogs to get a sense of what to expect.
4. Low-cost prep resources actually exist.
There are plenty of websites that give you some interview questions too! I kept seeing $200+ coaching sessions or mentoring and didn’t want to drop that much. I have started seeing some cheaper and newer ones like Denterview which is great and gives students actual interview questions and approach for like $15. Looks like it goes pretty well with other resources like the classic Youtube videos, blogs, reddits, and of course SDN etc.
5. Confidence matters more than a perfect answer.
At the end of the day, they want to know if you’re someone they’d want to teach and work with for 4 years. Own your story, smile, and don’t be afraid to pause before answering. That calmness stands out.
Practice enough so your story flows smooth, but do not overpractice to where you are a robot!
You guys are gonna do awesome and if you have any questions or want some more interview guidance please DM!
I just wrapped up a full cycle of interviews this past year and am entering my D1 year and wanted to share some advice that I wish I'd heard earlier. There’s already a lot of good info here on SDN, but I figured a fresh perspective might help someone currently prepping.
1. Most interviews follow similar themes — but the delivery matters.
You’ll see variations, but almost every school asks some mix of:
- “Why dentistry?”
- “Why this school?”
- Ethical/scenario questions
- Diversity, teamwork, and resilience
- Something about your application (GPA, research, shadowing, etc.)
It’s less about memorizing a perfect answer and more about showing who you are and how you think. Practice until your answers feel natural and honest.
2. Don’t over-script, but don’t wing it either.
I practiced in a mirror answering questions and gave mock interviews with friends and admissions counselors, hearing yourself out loud makes a huge difference. I also wrote down general bullets to my answers so I could review them before my interviews.
3. Learn school-specific vibes.
Some schools are more relaxed (ECU, for example) and others are super structured or intense (like Harvard MMI). Check SDN interview feedback and watch YouTube vlogs to get a sense of what to expect.
4. Low-cost prep resources actually exist.
There are plenty of websites that give you some interview questions too! I kept seeing $200+ coaching sessions or mentoring and didn’t want to drop that much. I have started seeing some cheaper and newer ones like Denterview which is great and gives students actual interview questions and approach for like $15. Looks like it goes pretty well with other resources like the classic Youtube videos, blogs, reddits, and of course SDN etc.
5. Confidence matters more than a perfect answer.
At the end of the day, they want to know if you’re someone they’d want to teach and work with for 4 years. Own your story, smile, and don’t be afraid to pause before answering. That calmness stands out.
Practice enough so your story flows smooth, but do not overpractice to where you are a robot!
You guys are gonna do awesome and if you have any questions or want some more interview guidance please DM!
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