Most dental schools interview, but the format depends on the school: a circuit of MMI stations, an open-file conversation with a committee, one-on-one interviews where the interviewer hasn't read your file, or a recorded video first. Here is what ADEA and named dental schools say about their interviews, the questions ADEA suggests you ask, and how to prepare.
From ADEA and schools' own admissions pages2026-27 cycleChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:Do schools interview?Formats by schoolWhat they look forQuestionsDos and don'tsHow to prepareFAQ
Do dental schools interview?
“The majority of dental schools require an interview be considered for entrance into a class.”ADEA GoDental
ADEA adds that the interview “can be in the form of one-on-one, group or multiple mini-interviews” and that the process and timing vary by school.
Interview formats by school
These come from each school's own admissions page. Formats change, so check the page for every school that invites you.
| School | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Virtual MMI | “The School of Dentistry uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format as part of our virtual interview.” About 300 candidates, September to January. Source |
| Ohio State | MMI, 4 stations | “moving around to four different interview stations,” run by “faculty and third- and fourth-year dental students.” Source |
| UCSF | Two interviews, closed file | One faculty and one student interview; the virtual student option adds “a 30-minute writing exercise.” Interviewers “do not have access to your written application.” Source |
| Florida | Open-file committee interview, in person | “One open-file interview with 3-4 members of the Admissions Committee that will last approximately 20-30 minutes.” Source |
| Touro | One-on-one, open file | “Interviews are 30 minutes, one-on-one, and conducted in an open file holistic format,” in person or virtual. Source |
| Utah | In person only | “Interviews are only offered in-person. There are no online interviews offered.” Source |
| NYU | Recorded video, then Candidate Day | “Each applicant to NYU Dentistry must complete an asynchronous video interview via Kira Talent.” Final candidates attend an in-person DDS Candidate Day. Source |
| High Point | Three short interviews plus a simulation | “Three 10-minute one-on-one interviews with WSDM faculty” and “A dental-related procedure simulation using haptic technology.” Source |
The open-file versus closed-file difference changes how you prepare. At Florida, “Anything on your application is fair game for questions” (UF). At UCSF, the interviewer hasn't read it, so you have to bring your own stories. For how MMI stations work, see our page on the MMI interview.
Two more formats to know. NYU’s first round is a recorded Kira video; see our Kira Talent interview guide. Some dental schools also require Casper, a separate situational judgment test: “In the 2026-2027 cycle, the University of Utah School of Dentistry requires the United States Casper 2 assessment” (Utah). See our Casper test guide.
What interviewers are looking for
UCSF says each interviewer assesses four competencies: motivation; self-awareness; problem-solving and critical thinking; and collaboration, teamwork, and leadership (UCSF). Florida says “The interview will focus on you, what you have gained from your experiences” (UF). Touro puts it simply:
“The goal of the interview is to assess the applicant’s suitability for dentistry.”Touro College of Dental Medicine
Questions to practice, and questions to ask
Dental schools don't publish their interview questions. Based on the competencies they name, practice these out loud. They are my practice prompts, not questions any school has published:
- Why dentistry, and not medicine or another health field?
- What have you learned from shadowing?
- Tell me about something you built or fixed with your hands.
- Describe a time you worked on a team that struggled.
- Tell me about a mistake you made and what you learned.
- Where do you see yourself practicing, and why?
- Why our school?
ADEA does publish questions for you to ask the school, “the best questions asked by previous applicants, as reported by dental school admissions officers” (ADEA). A few:
- What resources does your school offer to support students who are struggling academically?
- What are you most proud of about your dental school?
- How would you describe the relationship between students and faculty?
- How does your school promote a collegial environment?
- Are students supported early if they want to specialize?
- Does your program offer opportunities for community volunteering during dental school?
- What is a typical day like at your school? What is the classroom schedule?
ADEA's own flyer also warns: “DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS with answers that can be found on the internet” (ADEA).
Open-file interviewers have your application in front of them, so reread your own AADSAS personal statement before the interview. If you haven't submitted yet, see our AADSAS personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
ADEA's interview dos and don'ts
ADEA's interview flyer is practical. Among its points (ADEA):
- “READ THE INTERVIEW INVITATION to prepare for the right type of interview: group, one-on-one, virtual, etc.”
- “COMPLETE MOCK INTERVIEWS with friends and get advice from your college’s career center about interview skills.”
- For virtual interviews, “SIT IN A CLEAN, WELL-LIT ROOM where you can be clearly seen. Choose an area with a neutral background.”
- “Speak SLOWLY AND CLEARLY.”
- “DO NOT TAKE OVER the interview by responding with lengthy answers.”
- “Send a THANK YOU EMAIL.”
When you'll hear back
ADEA's traffic guidelines tell schools to “Notify applicants, either orally or in writing, of provisional or final acceptance no earlier than Dec. 15” (ADEA traffic guidelines). Offers from December 15 through January 31 come with a minimum 30-day response period; from February 1, it may be reduced to 15 days. So an interview in September or October won't produce an offer before mid-December.
How to prepare
- Read the invitation for the format. MMI, open file, closed file, recorded, or a mix.
- Reread your AADSAS application for open-file interviews. Every activity is fair game.
- Prepare five or six stories for closed-file interviews, since the interviewer knows nothing about you: why dentistry, shadowing, working with your hands, a team problem, a mistake.
- Keep answers focused. ADEA warns against lengthy answers, and High Point's interviews are 10 minutes each.
- Do mock interviews. ADEA recommends them. A practice interviewer can tell you what you can't hear yourself: rambling, filler words, and how you come across on camera.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for dental school applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you're nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It's $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do all dental schools require an interview?
Most do. ADEA says “The majority of dental schools require an interview be considered for entrance into a class.”
What is the dental school interview format?
It varies. Michigan and Ohio State use MMI stations, Florida uses an open-file committee interview, UCSF and Touro use one-on-one interviews, and NYU starts with a recorded Kira video.
What is an open-file interview?
The interviewers have read your application. Florida says “Anything on your application is fair game for questions.” At closed-file schools such as UCSF, interviewers do not see your written application.
What questions should I ask at a dental school interview?
ADEA lists questions such as “What are you most proud of about your dental school?” and “How would you describe the relationship between students and faculty?” Avoid questions the school's website already answers.
Are dental school interviews virtual?
Some are. Michigan's MMI is virtual, and Touro offers either. Utah and High Point interview in person only.
When do dental schools send acceptances?
Under ADEA's traffic guidelines, schools notify applicants of acceptance no earlier than December 15.
Every format and quotation on this page comes from ADEA or the school's own admissions page, linked where it appears. Last checked October 28, 2026.