Nervous about dental school interviews? We’ve got you covered!

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If you applied to dental school this cycle, you’ll begin hearing back from schools about interviews before you know it! We’ve compiled a list of five tips to help you prepare for your first dental school interview. We know just how nerve-wracking interviews can be, but with preparation and confidence, your interviews can showcase your strengths and take your application to the next level. We’ve got you covered!

Really know your application and personal statement.

Dental school interviews are a chance for the admissions panel to clarify and learn more about the things you wrote in your application and personal statement. You’re almost certain to be asked about many of the experiences listed on your application. Be prepared to talk about anything and everything you included on your application, and don’t just repeat exactly what you wrote — expand and add more details.

You should also be prepared to address any weak points in your application. For example, if you got a less-than-stellar grade in a science class, you might be asked if anything happened during that time that affected your grade.

Practice, but don’t script yourself.

There’s value in thinking about how you would answer some of the most common interview questions (“Why dentistry?” “Why our dental school?” “What sets you apart from other candidates?”). If it helps, you can jot down some key points you want your answers to address. However, avoid sounding scripted and rehearsed. Interviews are intended to be a conversation, and admissions committees want to admit candidates who are authentic and personable. If you memorize answers, you risk coming across robotic and inauthentic.

Research your schools.

Before an interview with a particular school, research the program. Think about what makes the program unique and why you would be a good fit. Jot down several things that interest you in the program, since you’re highly likely to be asked why you applied to that particular school. The less generic you can be, the better! You could say almost any school offers “great clinical experience” or “opportunities for service.” Get more specific — is there a specific service organization at this school that you’d love to join? Are you drawn to the way the school allows students to treat diverse patient populations and get in the clinic early, within the first year?

During your research, you’ll likely have questions about the program. Come prepared to every interview with at least three or four questions for your faculty or student interviewer (questions that can’t be easily answered just by looking online). Asking questions shows genuine interest in a program.

Come prepared with key stories and experiences.

You know the classic interview question format: “Tell me about a time… (you demonstrated leadership/dealt with a conflict/were faced with an ethical dilemma/etc.).” It can be tricky to recall these moments on the spot, so reflect on some of these questions before your interview and think about how you might answer them. It’s also a good idea to come prepared with a few experiences that are applicable to a wide range of questions. For example, maybe you founded a club at your university. Through that club, you got amazing service and leadership experience, but you also had to deal with conflict between some of your members and budget cuts. That’s a great story to have in mind during your interviews, because it can be used to answer lots of different questions. The other advantage of mentioning specific stories in your interviews is that stories help support your answers. You can say “I’m a great leader,” but it’s so much better to back that up with specific stories demonstrating just how you lead.

Mindset matters!

It’s natural to be nervous before an interview, but there are steps you can take to prevent your nerves from getting the best of you. First, remind yourself that the interview is really just a conversation between you and another person (or small group of people). It’s a chance to highlight your personality and show that you are just as great in person as you are on paper. Additionally, remind yourself that you wouldn’t have been invited for an interview in the first place if you weren’t a great candidate who the school was seriously considering for admission. The interview is just one more step in that process, but you’ve already clearly impressed the admissions committee! Reminding yourself of all of these things can help you feel at ease. Right before the interview starts, take a deep breath, tell yourself that you’re amazing and going to do great, and then go for it!

Want more interview prep? CrackDAT offers interview preparation and a list of 175 dental school interview questions to help you shine during your interviews. For more advice, you can also check out our previous blog posts with in-person and virtual interview advice.

We wish you the best of luck during interview season — you’ve got this!

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