The Interview

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notsowisetooth

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Okay, I got my pre-reqs, LoR, primary AADSAS, and the DAT's finally out of the way. Now I'm starting to think about the interview process.

I was just wondering how important is the interview? Also, what are you're chances of being offered admissions after you get an invite for an interview? I'm assuming that if you've been offered an interview, they like you (or your numbers, rather) and want to admit you and you have a pretty good chance of getting in unless you mess up big time(your schizo other half makes an appearance in the middle of an interview.)

What's the deal?
 
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Depends on the school, sometimes the interview matters a lot, sometimes not.
I think some schools have a point system where if your numbers, ECs, and interview add up to XXX points then you are in.
 
Interviews can go either way. Someone once told me that the schools have already decided on your status by the time you are invited to an interview - its up to you to reaffirm it or change it (for the better or worse). Thats why interviews are so important. I would take them very serious....
 
notsowisetooth said:
Okay, I got my pre-reqs, LoR, primary AADSAS, and the DAT's finally out of the way. Now I'm starting to think about the interview process.

I was just wondering how important is the interview? Also, what are you're chances of being offered admissions after you get an invite for an interview? I'm assuming that if you've been offered an interview, they like you (or your numbers, rather) and want to admit you and you have a pretty good chance of getting in unless you mess up big time(your schizo other half makes an appearance in the middle of an interview.)

What's the deal?
Click to expand...
Your interview is probably one of the most important parts of this whole process. It can make it or break it for you!!
There's no guarantee that they will take you if they interview you! At that point it's really about how well you present yourself and how much the interviewer is impressed by your interviewing skills. However, if you get an early interview you're probably getting accepted; whereas, if you get a late interview you MIGHT get accepted, rejected, or waitlisted.
I'd take the interview just as serious as the DAT (if not more serious)!!
 
My advisor said overall around 30% of those interviewed are accepted. But this varies by time, school, residency, obviously. I would not go into an interview with the attitude that you are already accepted. Everyone being interviewed has just about the same numbers, now it's about being a people-person and how well you dress (kidding).
 
sugarsting said:
My advisor said overall around 30% of those interviewed are accepted. But this varies by time, school, residency, obviously. I would not go into an interview with the attitude that you are already accepted. Everyone being interviewed has just about the same numbers, now it's about being a people-person and how well you dress (kidding).
Click to expand...

Very true, if you look at the ADEA Guidebook, it goes anywhere from 20-50% accepted for some schools, (though this can be slightly off because of people turning down acceptances). Before you go to ANY interview, go to the interview feed back section (at the very top of the page), and find out what questions they're going to ask. Practice your answers not in a way that you'll sound like a robot who's reading off a script, but just so you have a general framework in your mind of what to say. Most interviews ask the same 3 questions, and all of mine were REALLY laid back, and they tried to make it as stress free as possible.

Also, different schools have different ways of weighing the interview in the overall package, but it is really up to you to make or break it. I know that Pitt does a closed file, the interviewer cannot see any of your stats, and just see your personal statement and EC's. This puts everyone who gets an interview on an even playing field, so at that point its really about you, and not your numbers.

I think the interview is one of the most important parts of the application process, because not only are you letting them see the real you, but you're getting to see if the school really "fits" with you on a personal level, and the interview experience really makes a big impact on deciding which school to accept!

Good luck!
 
I was looking at Predents.com and I think it was NYU and Columbia that had huge percentages of acceptance for interviewees (like >70%) last year....for the people registered on that/this site. The sample size is so small though that it's not really significant except to show that (well, in my opinion) the better applicants are on this site. So don't be discouraged by the 30% number, because that includes everyone.
 
Vicviper said:
Very true, if you look at the ADEA Guidebook, it goes anywhere from 20-50% accepted for some schools, (though this can be slightly off because of people turning down acceptances). Before you go to ANY interview, go to the interview feed back section (at the very top of the page), and find out what questions they're going to ask. Practice your answers not in a way that you'll sound like a robot who's reading off a script, but just so you have a general framework in your mind of what to say. Most interviews ask the same 3 questions, and all of mine were REALLY laid back, and they tried to make it as stress free as possible.

Also, different schools have different ways of weighing the interview in the overall package, but it is really up to you to make or break it. I know that Pitt does a closed file, the interviewer cannot see any of your stats, and just see your personal statement and EC's. This puts everyone who gets an interview on an even playing field, so at that point its really about you, and not your numbers.

I think the interview is one of the most important parts of the application process, because not only are you letting them see the real you, but you're getting to see if the school really "fits" with you on a personal level, and the interview experience really makes a big impact on deciding which school to accept!

Good luck!
Click to expand...

At the top of what page?
 
sugarsting said:
I was looking at Predents.com and I think it was NYU and Columbia that had huge percentages of acceptance for interviewees (like >70%) last year....for the people registered on that/this site. The sample size is so small though that it's not really significant except to show that (well, in my opinion) the better applicants are on this site. So don't be discouraged by the 30% number, because that includes everyone.
Click to expand...

You're right, and that's also altered by people who don't take the acceptance.
 
sugarsting said:
I was looking at Predents.com and I think it was NYU and Columbia that had huge percentages of acceptance for interviewees (like >70%) last year....for the people registered on that/this site. The sample size is so small though that it's not really significant except to show that (well, in my opinion) the better applicants are on this site. So don't be discouraged by the 30% number, because that includes everyone.
Click to expand...
The time of your interview is very important in determining your chances of getting accepted. People who are interviewed early in the process (Oct/Nov) will most likely get in; Dec/Jan might get in or get wailisted; I wouldn't hold my breath for anything post Feb.
 
nze82 said:
The time of your interview is very important in determining your chances of getting accepted. People who are interviewed early in the process (Oct/Nov) will most likely get in; Dec/Jan might get in or get wailisted; I wouldn't hold my breath for anything post Feb.
Click to expand...

All of my interviews were Feb or later, 4 interviews, 3 acceptance, 1 wait list. 😀

But generally you're right for the most part - if you get a number of pre-December interviews its likely you'll get into at least one.
 
Vicviper said:
All of my interviews were Feb or later, 4 interviews, 3 acceptance, 1 wait list. 😀

But generally you're right for the most part - if you get a number of pre-December interviews its likely you'll get into at least one.
Click to expand...
Do you mind if I ask the name of the schools?
 
nze82 said:
Do you mind if I ask the name of the schools?
Click to expand...

bullet.gif
Columbia (Feb 06)
bullet.gif
Howard (Jan 30)
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Loma Linda (Mar 31)
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Pittsburgh (Feb 09)
on the house.
 
Vicviper said:
Hehe, thanks doc 😀 And I suppose my Howard interview was slightly before February, hehehe. Go go predents.com!
Click to expand...
I've heard that Howard is mainly for minorities. Is that right? Are you a minority?
 
Hehe... again, you really should check my pre-dents profile ( <----- look under my avatar), it has all of the information you're asking about.

Howard is a historically Black school, though it was about 42% Black, 40% Asian, and 8% everything else. They do have a missions of promoting URM education and community service, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for anyone else to get in. I was interviewed by a white student and white alum, and there were a number of white students. It's a really great school with an amazing faculty and facility. The Dean was awesome, and seemed like an all around cool guy. Their sim lab was also one of the better ones I've seen.
 
Vicviper said:
Hehe... again, you really should check my pre-dents profile ( <----- look under my avatar), it has all of the information you're asking about.

Howard is about 42% Black, 40% Asian, and 8% everything else. They do have a missions of promoting URM education and community service, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for anyone else to get in. I was interviewed by a white student and white alum, and there were a number of white students. It's a really great school with an amazing faculty and facility. The Dean was awesome, and seemed like an all around cool guy. Their sim lab was also one of the better ones I've seen.
Click to expand...
I would have checked that if I didn't prefer asking it directly from you😉
 
good grade and stats will get you an interview, good interview will get you in their school

basically, good stats will make the first cut and interview will make the second.
 
Now that we understand how important the interview is (and for one person how useful predents.com is :laugh:...jk), I think the next question should be how will/did you prepare for the interviews.....
 
yuppers said:
Now that we understand how important the interview is (and for one person how useful predents.com is :laugh:...jk), I think the next question should be how will/did you prepare for the interviews.....
Click to expand...

Interview prep is completely dependent on your social skills. I researched each school so I knew as much as I could about their program before the interview, and I had a rough outline of what I'd talk about in the standard questions such as why you want to be a dentist. Overpreparing can be a really big problem in interviews. If you script out what you're going to say to answers, you'll come off as a robot. At the same time, if you completely suck at interviews, preparing a ton might be what you need...
 
All of my interviews were totally casual, very conversational experiences. That makes sense because they're really trying to get to know you. Based on your stats they have a general idea of how well you'll be able to do, but the interview is really if they know, and if you know you're a match for them.

The best way to prep for an interview is to look at the interview feedbacks at the top of the page for the school you are interviewing at, as well as others, to get a general idea of which questions keep popping up. DO NOT write a script, but as others said, jot a few points down that you want to address. They just about ALWAYS ask why you want to be a dentist, and have a good narrative, but don't make it sound like you're reading off of a script.

One of the biggest things I found helpful was to imagine you were asked a question, and then respond out loud, as though you were talking to the interviewer - this may seem weird, but if you just do it in your head you won't say it exactly the same as you would if you were saying it aloud.

Overall, don't stress, just act natural, and be professional.
 
The above questions are very good, I got asked about half of them. Though I never got asked the scary weakness ones.

One great tip I got from my research PI, who's a dentist and on our med school admissions board, is that you NEVER say ANYTHING negative. You don't want to risk ruining the entire thing by accidentally offending someone. For example, don't say you didn't want to go into medicine because of the bad hours, and not being able to spend time with your family - their spouse may be a MD and spend long hours away from home, and this could strike a very negative chord. Instead, simply say something like, " dentistry allows for a flexible schedule that would allow me to spend plenty of time with my family."

Also, never say anything negative about any other school, as they may have gone there.

For the dreaded weakness questions, you simply don't say you have a weakness. Instead, say some weakness you used to have, and how you overcame it. For example, "Well, lets see, hmm.... Well, I used to procrastinate, but then I saw it starting to really affect me, and so I started to organize my schedules and assignments in a planner, and I found that it really helped me."

Hope that helped!
 
Does politics + interview = possible bad situation?
 
the interview is pretty important but i did have a dental school advisor come and speak to our dental club about it and this school, uf, used a point system and ur gpa and dat was a certain point value and your types of involvement and jobs were x amount of points as well as ur interview so they said they used this scale to help determine acceptances
 
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