Thoughts on buffalo interview

[MikeSavona]

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Very relaxed, very conversational (even though it was with a panel). I usually get people to smile and laugh pretty easily, but the panel was a bit more serious. While it was very relaxed, I believe I failed to impress the committee. I can not say anything went wrong, but I find it hard to believe I will be accepted without having aced the interview. For all those interviewing at buffalo - it ain't so bad, no one attacks you, no reason to freak out. Best of Luck

 

[dentalWorks]

I sorta felt the same way with the panel.... they were pretty serious, and they never gave me any sign if they liked my answers or not.

However, I believe I did do MUCH better on the 2nd interview (the case scenario with Dr. Brown).... Dr. Brown is sooo easy to talk to, I really enjoyed that 10 minute talk we had

 

[majd007]

Very relaxed, very conversational (even though it was with a panel). I usually get people to smile and laugh pretty easily, but the panel was a bit more serious. While it was very relaxed, I believe I failed to impress the committee. I can not say anything went wrong, but I find it hard to believe I will be accepted without having aced the interview. For all those interviewing at buffalo - it ain't so bad, no one attacks you, no reason to freak out. Best of Luck

do u mind i f i ask u how you "failed to impress the committee"? What was missing in ur interview, and what should u have done/said differently?
Best of luck.

 

[MikeSavona]

It is hard to describe a general "bleh" feeling after an interview. Not good, not bad, just.... bleh. During interviews I can normally loosen the atmosphere ie. get ppl laughing/smiling the entire time. This was different. Don't get me wrong, it was a relaxed tone, but some charisma was missing from both sides. Some questions and answers, some small talk with 3 different people, and then you are on your way. I really dont know what I would do differently or even IF I would do something differently. It is just the way everything unfolded. I'm still hoping I will get in, and maybe I went to far saying i don't think I will. I'd say I am 50/50. My best advice - get a good nights sleep, don't over prepare, and be yourself. Simple but true.

 

[threeblindmice]

For me, I thought it was a really good interview. I actually really enjoyed talking with them and everything went really smoothly. That being said, it all depends on the day you interview at this school, so all you really needed to do was have the best interview of those who interviewed that day. It makes it a little difficult since the day I went everyone said their interview went well so who's to say one was better than another. My guess is that if they took a lot of good notes so they could plead your case more convincingly to the committee then that means you're fine. If not then they will probably just go off memory,say a few nice things they remembered you saying and the committee won't be overwhelmingly convinced.
With that kind of format, they aren't going to go back to the committee and tell them how funny you were. They are going to tell them the things that made you stand out and would make you a good fit for their school specifically. If you look at predents from past years you'll see they put a ton on the waiting list and deny very few that get an interview. My guess is that they mark the box labeled acceptable at the bottom of those papers for most the interviewed candidates and that actually getting that acceptance is based more on how well they represent you to the committee. The only things jokes-good or bad- may do is affect the spin they put on their comments-positive or negative. Also if you're telling too many jokes that means less time spent on actual content to write down and suggest to the committee. Give them some actual substance to talk about to the committee. My advice is that you'll have more luck to get that positive spin by just being extremely genuine and sincere that this is where you want to go than by trying to get a laugh out of them. Best of luck to those who interview there!

 

[threeblindmice]

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[lnngu]

I guess chemistry isn't something you can always manufacture. One thing that threw me off during the interview was that the first thing they asked me was how many other interviews I had received...right after Barbara told us that that was one thing they were told NOT to ask, hehe.
But I think I recovered fine, and had a very positive experience there. But we'll see Dec 1st. Who knows, maybe we'll find out we don't know how to read people? 😛

 

[Pennywisdom]

How many people were in the panel? And did any of you send thank you cards?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ashley1234]

Why do they want to know how many schools we applied to and how many interview we received? How does that help them make a decision?

 

[Dr NAT]

what was this writing sample about? how much did you write? Thanks in advance...

 

[Pennywisdom]

Why do they want to know how many schools we applied to and how many interview we received? How does that help them make a decision?

I'm not sure. I just had my interview and I did respond to that question honestly.

 

[dentalWorks]

Why do they want to know how many schools we applied to and how many interview we received? How does that help them make a decision?

they are just trying to have a conversation with you. they are NOT going to use the answer to the "how many schools you applied to" to make a decision..... when you talk to your family and friends and tell them you want to become a dentist, don't they sometimes ask you "oh thats cool, so where are you planning to apply? how many places you applied to? where do you prefer to go?"...... Same conversation-style but here, its with a dental school instead of a family/friend member

 

[dentist10]

anyone else had any interview at Buffalo?... i have one coming up, just wanted to know whats the possibility of being accepted if you had an interview from them. and thanks to everyone for their advise 🙂

 

[UBDent19]

When are you going to be there?

 

[dentist10]

on the 21st... 🙂

 

[Hyperpolarized]

I sorta felt the same way with the panel.... they were pretty serious, and they never gave me any sign if they liked my answers or not.

However, I believe I did do MUCH better on the 2nd interview (the case scenario with Dr. Brown).... Dr. Brown is sooo easy to talk to, I really enjoyed that 10 minute talk we had

can u please tell me what the format of the interview is... I'm interviewing there on friday and have no idea what to expect because each school is so different!
thanks!

 

[dentalWorks]

can u please tell me what the format of the interview is... I'm interviewing there on friday and have no idea what to expect because each school is so different!
thanks!

The first interview, is you and 2-3 people interviewing you at the same time. For me it was a faculty member + 2 4-year dental students. Overall, It was not bad, but I couldn't get a read from them as to.... how my answers were looking. They were friendly, and did not stress me out at all. All questions were the basic ones "why dentistry? how many schools you applied to? what would make you a great dentist? etc etc"

The 2nd interview, is one that I LOVED. It was not a real interview, you just go and have a 10 minute talk with Dr. Brown about a case scenario thats actually taped on his desk. You walk in, shake hands with him, you sit down, you read it and talk about it. There is no right/wrong answer, he just wants to hear you talk, thats all