Terrible committee interview

[plumerias]

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Sorry for the long post. I've been stressing out all winter break about this. 🙁

So my school's pre-health office is relatively helpful, as long as you take their advice with a grain of salt. If you go through the process they'll give you a committee interview by a "member of the pre-health committee" which is usually a science professor, then I suppose the professor reports back to the pre-health advisor. If all goes well, the advisor compiles your 3 LORS from your dentist and two professors and write a cover letter committee letter with strongly recommend/recommend/recommend with reservations after you go through the process of making a portfolio.

Well, I had my interview and went TERRIBLY. I couldn't articulate anything I wanted to say. Honestly, it's my fault for not preparing enough. My interviewer gave me lots of feedback to help me prepare and gave me an encouraging story of a brilliant student she had that was similarly awful at articulating what they wanted to say. She pretty much coached him and he passed his interviews with flying colors. She strongly recommended me to come back to do more mock interviews, which I'm going to do.. and she also mentioned that the committee advisor won't release my files unless they think I'm ready (grade-wise or whatnot).

Not sure what I'm asking.. I'm just worried that they'll recommend me with reservation. The rest of my app is not bad.. I'm a music major/bio minor, 3.7/3.45 oGPA/sGPA and I'm taking the DAT soon, planning on a 20AA+, 50+ hours shadowing, and I'm already set to volunteer at a community clinic in the spring.. I'd be crushed if I got screwed by the committee. My other 3 letters should be strong as well. The thing is, I had them sent to the pre-health office to be held already and I'd have to ask my professors for the letters again, leading to the question of why I'm not using the committee.

I mean, logically, if I went back and showed improvement in my interview, they should recommend me without reservation. Why would they even release my file if they're going to recommend me with reservations..? What should I do? Should I try and patch things up or just forget the committee? I'm going to ask my interviewer about it when I see her this week, but let me know what you guys think..

 

[Faux]

just do a few more mock interviews with them and you'll be fine. Don't think they are going to recommend you with reservation just because you fumbled a bit during our interview 😛. Your grades are there and now you just have to take the DAT. Even with a 18 AA, you'll still be getting interviews.

1. So tellme a little about yourself.
2. Why do you want to be a dentist?
4. What differentiates you from the rest of the applicants?
5. I like you and this all sounds great, but what can I go back and tell the admissions committee that will convince them that we want you in our upcoming class
6. Why did you apply to our Dental school (+ what other schools)
9. What type of dental program are you interested in?
10. Can you explain the (A-F) grade you received in this class? OR Your grades slipped in particular semester, any reason?
12. In the past, what has happened to you that has made the biggest impact on your life?
13. We noticed you withdrew from a class, why?
14. Dentists require a great deal of hand coordination. Do you have any relevant experience?
15. Do you think the role of a Dentist has changed, and how so?
16. How did your friends/family react to your interest in Dentistry?
18. Do you have any plans after graduation?
19. What would make you happy 10 years from now?
20. If you had to change anything aboutyourself, what would it be?
21. How do you spend your free time? OR What do you do to relax?
What would you say was the best day or experience you ever had?
How do you see yourself, what are your good characteristics?
If you could meet anybody, in all of history, and eat dinner with them, who would it be?
What do you do when you are stressed out?
What are things you dont like about dentistry?
Is ____ your first choice?
Why, other than wanting to help people, do you want to be a dentist?
What is your biggest strength and weakness?
Have you been involved in any ethical situations?
Tell me what you think would be a negative factor if you attended ____?
What was the biggest challenge you've experienced recently?
What would you do if you could not go to dental school?
What is an important quality that a dentist should have?
What do I need to know about you that is important?
What is your greatest failure?
What is your most effective study style?
Why should we accept you over someone with similar or better credentials?
do you like to study in group?

+ research the school.

My dental school interviews were actually my first interviews period. I actually wrote down the answer for each question and would read it every few days and the morning of my interview. After every interview I would add/revise my list and even my answers. Obviously I'm not going to memorize each answer, but it helps get your mindset in the right place and it helps you keep track of points you want to make. Know about the school, do your research and dress well. One you finish your first interview, you'll be fine after that.

 

[DentalDoge]

I used to be bad at articulating what I want to say since English is my second language. But over the years I've learned how to talk to people better. An easy thing to do is to try and meet people. Every time you meet someone, it's an opportunity to practice learning how to read people and responding appropriately to different types of people.

Though I can't help with committee interviews because I got all of my letters individually, but I can help with articulating your thoughts better under pressure. I've interviewed at 3 schools and must've done well to have 3 acceptances.

Feel free to post here or PM me if you would like for me to elaborate.

 

[mds7]

I was a music major too, actually I have a bachelors and masters in it. At my school if you weren't granted a committee letter then they still sent your letters out, just without a committee letter attached. Honestly, if you don't get the letter it's not the end of the world. I just got into dental school without one. Happy to be starting in August. Just put in the work with your interview skills. Having a non traditional major will work to your benefit as long as you can articulate it.

 

[plumerias]

You guys are seriously awesome. Thanks for all the tips and encouragement. I'll start with the questions Faux posted. I'll probably have some questions and PM you guys soon. 🙂

@mds7 Ah, I love hearing about musicians who crossover to other fields! What was your concentration? Were you ever asked why you went from music to dental? And congrats on the acceptance!

 

[dentalgirl7893]

So this is kinda off topic but I'd try to get at least 100 shadowing hours. I know you said you're volunteering at a clinic but it sounds like you're going to consider that volunteer hours. A lot of schools have cut offs of 100 and it will help your application. Also I'm pretty sure a committee can't hold your grades and such if you decide you want to apply without them. The committee at my school pushed gap years on everyone so they didn't want me to apply but I decided to anyway so they had to release my stuff. Good luck! 🙂

 

[plumerias]

@dentalgirl7893 Thanks for the advice! I'll try and get some more shadowing in after I take my DAT then. It'll be good for me to shadow multiple dentists anyway.

My committee can't withhold my grades, but they won't release my other LORs from the professors that they're keeping on file. So worst case scenario, I'll have to bother my professors again to send them directly when I apply. I'd be bummed if I had to take another gap year.. I'm already a senior.

 

[dentalgirl7893]

@dentalgirl7893 Thanks for the advice! I'll try and get some more shadowing in after I take my DAT then. It'll be good for me to shadow multiple dentists anyway.

My committee can't withhold my grades, but they won't release my other LORs from the professors that they're keeping on file. So worst case scenario, I'll have to bother my professors again to send them directly when I apply. I'd be bummed if I had to take another gap year.. I'm already a senior.

You definitely still have enough time to turn your committee interview around. I have no doubt it'll turn out fine! Just practice and go ace it!