Interview Preparations

[mtinamer]

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Hi all dental students,

I know I am making a brave move by making a predental related thread in the dental subforum, but I feel the advices given here will be the most valuable.

My question is simple. How did you guys prepare for your interviews? From your experiences, generallly how was the process? What questions should we expect from the interview in order to plan ahead. What to do/to be in order to make the best impression? That sort of things.

Any insight would be extremely appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[theleatherwalle]

I should actually get back to work, but ill answer this.

I basically only had two types of interviews.

1: Just you vs a group of interviewers.
2: A group of dental school applicants vs one or two interviewers.

I always advise a person to dress sharp, have a little preparation about what your gonna say, and to be nice to everyone including the students giving you the tour, your interviewers, and the other applicants.

You should know why you want to be a dentist, what you plan to do in 5-10 years, and a little about the school, and try not to worry about the other applicants. Some may have higher DATs some may have lower. You got to the interview now try to impress them.

REMEMBER: The student who are giving you an interview or eating lunch with you will sometimes talk to the admissions committee. Our opinion has 0 importance, but if you have 5 dental students who are upset at you telling the adcom member that you are rude or whatever. It could affect your application.

Best of Luck

Edit

Example questions.

Why dentistry?
Why our school?
Your DAT in this area was really high what did you do?
You seem to have struggled in this class why?
Usually they'll ask you one ethical question.
Usually you'll get one of the wall question. When I mean off the wall. I mean it will be completely random

I would say after 20-45 minutes the interview is over. Shake hands with everyone thank them for their time. Just sit back and wait for the response. People often gauge how their interview went poorly. So don't worry if you think you blew it.

My last piece of random advice. Try to make friends at the interview. Dental school and high school are sorta similar. People form little groups once school has started.

 

[mtinamer]

I should actually get back to work, but ill answer this.

I basically only had two types of interviews.

1: Just you vs a group of interviewers.
2: A group of dental school applicants vs one or two interviewers.

I always advise a person to dress sharp, have a little preparation about what your gonna say, and to be nice to everyone including the students giving you the tour, your interviewers, and the other applicants.

You should know why you want to be a dentist, what you plan to do in 5-10 years, and a little about the school, and try not to worry about the other applicants. Some may have higher DATs some may have lower. You got to the interview now try to impress them.

REMEMBER: The student who are giving you an interview or eating lunch with you will sometimes talk to the admissions committee. Our opinion has 0 importance, but if you have 5 dental students who are upset at you telling the adcom member that you are rude or whatever. It could affect your application.

Best of Luck

Edit

Example questions.

Why dentistry?
Why our school?
Your DAT in this area was really high what did you do?
You seem to have struggled in this class why?
Usually they'll ask you one ethical question.
Usually you'll get one of the wall question. When I mean off the wall. I mean it will be completely random

I would say after 20-45 minutes the interview is over. Shake hands with everyone thank them for their time. Just sit back and wait for the response. People often gauge how their interview went poorly. So don't worry if you think you blew it.

My last piece of random advice. Try to make friends at the interview. Dental school and high school are sorta similar. People form little groups once school has started.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it!!

 

[circa86]

every school, every interview, every question

http://studentdoctor.net/schools/?view=dental

 

[Stacker]

every school, every interview, every question

http://studentdoctor.net/schools/?view=dental

Most useful thing SDN has to offer as well as the most hidden.

 

[ossumpossum666]

One piece of advice would be to have your own questions prepared. In my case, I was always asked at the end if I had any questions for them...this might have just been a formality, but it seems like having at least one interesting question for THEM is a good idea. For example, I asked my interviewer about the rotations the students do at rural clinics around the state, and she happened to be the director of that program--it led to a pleasant little conversation.

 

[mtinamer]

Thank all for these helpful information, especially the link. Please pray for me and every one else going through this process right now 🙂

 

[Barking Lamb]

Most useful thing SDN has to offer as well as the most hidden.

Very True.

 

[foreveros]

remember to read a lot of dental articles on ethics etc...

they will help answer questions and think logically during your interview.

 

[219122]

Dress well (suit, tie), get a good night's sleep and be yourself - they invited you because they liked your application so now you are there to show the kind of person you are outside of your resume.

Be familiar with what you have on your application so that when they ask you about things you can elaborate intelligently. I would also agree that knowing about the school and having specific questions for your interviewer are good ideas as well.

I didn't get any questions about my grades really that I can remember (although my memory might be fuzzy since it was 4 years ago) they did ask about my interests, volunteering, why I applied there etc.

 

[DrJeff]

Most importantly, just be yourself!

Essentially the "vetting process" of getting into d-school happens via your application, recommendations, etc. If an admissions committee didn't think that you could handle the academic rigors of the school, then you wouldn't have gotten the interview in the 1st place.

The main thing that happens in an admissions interview, is the interviewers are trying to see what kind of a person that you are and if that personality is a fit for both the school and also the other students that they are trying to piece together for the class that you's matriculate with. Sure they'll end up with a very diverse class from many backgrounds year in and year out, but most of the time they'll end up putting together a class where personality wise there are far more members of the class who get along and compliment one another than don't. The last thing that an admissions committee wants to do is end up putting together a class that has so many personalities that clash not just with each other but also with the faculty, and most members of ther admissions committee are quite good at reading one's personality quickly. That's why they often ask a varied bunch of questions, some "easy", some "tough" and some just seamingly "way out there". It's all designed in a way to try and quickly get a glimpse into the person that you are.