How did you ace your interview

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penkitten11

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We all know that being offered an interview is in no way a guarantee of admission no matter how many schools you interviewed at. Also, many times regardless of your stats, adcoms will make their decisions solely on the interview. How did YOU ace your interview? I'd appreciate feedback especially if you got in. 🙂
 
We all know that being offered an interview is in no way a guarantee of admission no matter how many schools you interviewed at. Also, many times regardless of your stats, adcoms will make their decisions solely on the interview. How did YOU ace your interview? I'd appreciate feedback especially if you got in. 🙂

by reading the SDN interview feedback section. Also your statement above is semi false, certain schools like UOP accept 100% of their applicants. While some schools like USC accept only 25% of their applicants. So it does matter where you interview as much as how you interview,
 
by reading the SDN interview feedback section. Also your statement above is semi false, certain schools like UOP accept 100% of their applicants. While some schools like USC accept only 25% of their applicants. So it does matter where you interview as much as how you interview,

i believe you mean interviewees lol, not applicants
 
We all know that being offered an interview is in no way a guarantee of admission no matter how many schools you interviewed at. Also, many times regardless of your stats, adcoms will make their decisions solely on the interview. How did YOU ace your interview? I'd appreciate feedback especially if you got in. 🙂

The reality is, the interview is not a means to weed-people out (they've left that to GPA and DAT), as matter of fact, its a way for the school to know your personality and how you "might" fit in with their class.

IMO, use good judgement and be your self.... lack of nervousness and good communication skills is what theyr looking for, ace this part, and you'll ace most interviews..... I know it sounds very theoretical, but imagine you are having an interview with someone you know very well (brother, mother, father, etc), are you gonna be nervous talking to them? no
 
Walk in like you own the place, and you will.
 
"Be your self" is such a cliche, but it is true. Unless you are an Oscar actor, a lot of things you are feeling and thinking will somehow be conveyed through the interview. For example, don't make up why you want to be in dentistry, even if you think your reason is not noble or up to par. It's better than making one up. When you get into school and have been attending it for some time, it's not good for the school to realize then that what you presented during the interview wasn't really you.
Plus, you don't need to be the same as everyone. Schools will want diversity not only in ethnicity but in motivation, personality, and specific goals in life.
Try to be relax and good luck!
 
It comes down to the feeling the interviewer has about you. Just be yourself and if they like you, you will be accepted.
 
You can't overemphasize how important confidence is. Make sure you feel good in what you're wearing, listen to "psych up" music before hand, do whatever works for you to build yourself up. If you believe in yourself, your interviewer will believe in you. In addition to that, all the common sense stuff. Be honest, be yourself, yada yada yada.
 
Go in there like you're going to meet your girlfriend's (or boyfriend's) parents. 👍
 
I just studied up on everything about the school, found lots of questions to practice, be myself and not give fake/ very rehearsed sounding responses, take your time to think about your response so it comes out the right way( don't feel as though you have to respond immediately with a good answer), come off as a confident and fun person,and remember to smile!
If you do all of these well, I don't think you can go wrong.

Goodluck
 
during my interview, there were a couple of times i asked if I could have a moment to think, and they would let me. that helped a lot so i wasn't stumbling or rambling on about a topic.
 
any time the question why dentistry etc came up, i tried to drop a analogy of knowing whats right for you and what you want, and you could ask "why" your wife, having kids when you did, buying the house you did, taking the job you did. sometimes there MIGHT be a better option / time / circumstance for you in the perfect world, but right now this is what's perfect for you and there is no definitive "why".
-also helps them relate their personal achievements to you (loving their wife/job/kids)

BAM ~~ acceptance
 
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