Were you able to tell if an acceptance was coming after an interview?

[deleted1010952]

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I've been lucky enough to have 3 interviews at some great schools so far. Some went very well. I was able to connect easily with my interviewers, answer their questions succinctly, and continue to have casual conversations. Some interviews didn't go well. The chemistry between me and the interviewers was dry and that led to me rambling and choking on some basic questions.

For those who are current dental students, did your sense of whether you did well or not during your interview align with your eventual results?

 

[deleted945327]

I've been lucky enough to have 3 interviews at some great schools so far. Some went very well. I was able to connect easily with my interviewers, answer their questions succinctly, and continue to have casual conversations. Some interviews didn't go well. The chemistry between me and the interviewers was dry and that led to me rambling and choking on some basic questions.

For those who are current dental students, did your sense of whether you did well or not during your interview align with your eventual results?

This is a great question. From what I’ve read and heard, you can have a great interview and still not get accepted. So to answer your question as best as possible, I would say that if your interview went very well, you have a better chance of getting accepted (just not guaranteed acceptance). Some times even an “okay” interview when you think all along you did poorly will lead to an acceptance.

 

[babytomato]

I've also had 3 interviews and feel the same way as you! Two I felt good about, one I felt like didn't go as well. Unfortunately that one interview took place at my favorite school I've interviewed at.

 

[deleted767916]

I agree that you can't read too much into an interview; sometimes you mesh really well and you don't get an offer and sometimes your interview goes supposedly horrible and you get an offer. However, I did have one interviewer straight up tell me he/she sees no reason why the school wouldn't accept me and I should get accepted; but they could be saying that to trick me!

 

[deleted904921]

i had one interview with a really tough one but i heard from dental students later that he's the type to see how work under pressure. i did lots of rambling and it was pretty intimidating haha so idk how i did.
i had another one which was very touching. and idk - it could be the case that he's just kind to everyone but he mentioned how i was interviewed for a reason and how i'll probably be getting more interviews

we'll see on dec 1 i guess.

 

[deleted904921]

Pretty much what I expected. In many ways, I feel like "tough" interviewers are better indicators because you'll know whether they were impressed or not. The interviewers who are jolly, friendly, and get you to relax are likely like that with all applicants so everyone goes away feeling good.

I guess I'll find out if the one interview I felt I botched will nevertheless lead to an acceptance at my top choice! Crossing fingers

wow this actually makes sense. i didn't think of it that way that the jolly interviewers are probably like that to everyone haha

 

[deleted945327]

Pretty much what I expected. In many ways, I feel like "tough" interviewers are better indicators because you'll know whether they were impressed or not. The interviewers who are jolly, friendly, and get you to relax are likely like that with all applicants so everyone goes away feeling good.

I guess I'll find out if the one interview I felt I botched will nevertheless lead to an acceptance at my top choice! Crossing fingers

I agree, tough interviewers are better indicators. But sometimes we don’t even know if they like the answer we give off ;D

 

[deleted945327]

wow this actually makes sense. i didn't think of it that way that the jolly interviewers are probably like that to everyone haha

I left one interview with everyone so happy. I realized it went well for almost everyone. I think those type of schools usually accept everyone unless you bombard the interview some how and appear shy.

 

[Blueshirts]

It's difficult to tell, but a word of advice is to be nice to all of the staff, sometimes striking up a conversation and being noticed as someone who can fit in at the school will help. Anecdotal, but at 1 school I said good morning and started a convo in the parking lot with someone, and that person happened to be an associate dentist in the clinic, he made sure to take my name down, and by the time my interview was finished (which was also a good interview) they let me know they would be suggesting me to the committee for admissions. While this might seem tough, to be out of your shell and always interacting, keep in mind that interpersonal skills is a huge part of dentistry and patient care and you will more or less be on a stage to both perform and interact well.

 

[bracketbuster68]

or those who are current dental students, did your sense of whether you did well or not during your interview align with your eventual results?

Not really. You have to wait until Dec 1st

 

[sunnyleo92]

Some schools consider the interview score only a part of the decision factor. That is why even though one gets a high interview score, if their other scores are not high enough they will not get a good overall score that will suffice for an acceptance.

 

[deleted945327]

Some schools consider the interview score only a part of the decision factor. That is why even though one gets a high interview score, if their other scores are not high enough they will not get a good overall score that will suffice for an acceptance.

That makes no sense. That’s like saying they’re interviewing you when you don’t even qualify. When I interviewed at one school, they told us everything on our application from certain parts of it got us the interview.

 

[sunnyleo92]

That makes no sense. That’s like saying they’re interviewing you when you don’t even qualify. When I interviewed at one school, they told us everything on our application from certain parts of it got us the interview.

I said some schools. As in if you get 80 for the rest of your app, you need a higher score in the interview to get in than another student with a score of 90. Both qualify academically but the other student does not need to do as well in interview as you should.

 

[deleted942432]

That makes no sense. That’s like saying they’re interviewing you when you don’t even qualify. When I interviewed at one school, they told us everything on our application from certain parts of it got us the interview.

You are naive my friend if you think everyone is on the same playing field once they get an interview. Some schools will put a lot of emphasis on the interview, while others, it's just another part of your overall application. Just because the person reviewing your application like something on your app and gave you a chance, doesn't mean the whole committee will throw out the rest of your app and make their decision base on an interview.

 

[deleted945327]

You are naive my friend if you think everyone is on the same playing field once they get an interview. Some schools will put a lot of emphasis on the interview, while others, it's just another part of your overall application. Just because the person reviewing your application like something on your app and gave you a chance, doesn't mean the whole committee will throw out the rest of your app and make their decision base on an interview.

That’s literally what an interview is....a fair play.

 

[pma96]

Some Interviews I felt like the interviewers were trying to convince me to attend their program. I could also tell by their facial expressions that they liked my answers. Others I was 80 % convinced went really bad and I wouldn't get in. I ended up getting into all of them so there's really not a way of knowing for sure until you're either accepted or rejected.

 

[iluvnetters]

Got accepted w/ scholarship to what i thought was my worst interview, and waitlisted at what i thought was my absolute best

 

[deleted942432]

That’s literally what an interview is....a fair play.

How can it be fair when everyone get different interviewers? You can get match up with an easy interviewer and someone else get a tough interviewer. Some interviewers might like your answers and others might not. The way I look at it is, an interview can break you but it cannot make you.

 

[deleted945327]

How can it be fair when everyone get different interviewers? You can get match up with an easy interviewer and someone else get a tough interviewer. Some interviewers might like your answers and others might not. The way I look at it is, an interview can break you but it cannot make you.

Because most interviewers are set on procedures. Every interviewer is different in how they communicate with someone. A lot of it is a matter of luck. Don’t get me wrong, some schools don’t put the whole emphasis on the interview after, but there are some schools that just have interviewers taking advantage of the applicant when asking questions which is not fair play at all.

 

[ncide]

I had some great interviews, and I thought I'd get in. Nope.

My worst interview, one where I was certain I had butchered, got me in.

 

[OrphanageCaretaker]

I butchered an interview... didn't get in. I nailed several interviews... I got in.

Very easy to tell if you're confident in your answers.

 

[deleted945327]

I had some great interviews, and I thought I'd get in. Nope.

My worst interview, one where I was certain I had butchered, got me in.

Highly unlikely to happen though, but still happened for you.

 

[ncide]

Highly unlikely to happen though, but still happened for you.

You sound like you know what you're talking about.

 

[deleted945327]

You sound like you know what you're talking about.

That's because I do

 

[ncide]

That's because I do

Interviewers are people with their own stories and experiences that shade their judgement. Each one is different and each casts a different light onto you as you tell your own story. The thing is, you don't know what is on their mind nor do you know how they'll perceive you.

An interviewer can hold a lot of influence or just be part of a committee that ultimately selects you on your application as a whole. You don't know. You can walk out of an interview and feel like the king of the world, but that doesn't mean anything. Like others have said, interviews that have gone well didn't necessarily lead to acceptances and less then stellar ones have for some. If you're convinced a good feeling at the end of an interview will get you an acceptance, then you may be in for a lesson come December.

 

[deleted945327]

Interviewers are people with their own stories and experiences that shade their judgement. Each one is different and each casts a different light onto you as you tell your own story. The thing is, you don't know what is on their mind nor do you know how they'll perceive you.

An interviewer can hold a lot of influence or just be part of a committee that ultimately selects you on your application as a whole. You don't know. You can walk out of an interview and feel like the king of the world, but that doesn't mean anything. Like others have said, interviews that have gone well didn't necessarily lead to acceptances and less then stellar ones have for some. If you're convinced a good feeling at the end of an interview will get you an acceptance, then you may be in for a lesson come December.

I’m not saying a good interview will get you acceptance. I’m saying if you know you butchered an interview, you most likely did get rejected. You feeling good about the interview knowing you did your best is the way to go and a better judgment on knowing your chances.

 

[giannis]

Wow a bunch of experts and people on the admissions committee here.