🦷 The Dental School Interview

1. Presentation & punctuality

• The look: Opt for a well-tailored pantsuit and ensure your shoes are polished and clean. Professionalism starts the moment you walk into the building.
• The arrival: Being early is not just about being on time—it is about giving yourself five minutes to breathe and calm yourself before you start interacting with others.

2. The “bullet point” strategy

To avoid sounding rehearsed or robotic, do not memorize paragraphs. Instead, memorize a few key points for common questions. For some questions, use signposting words like firstly, secondly, and thirdly to keep your answer structured and easy for the interviewer to follow.

Example: “Why this school?”

• Firstly: Clinical opportunities (e.g., high volume of dentures or early implant exposure).
• Secondly: Research infrastructure (e.g., specific faculty labs or student research groups).
• Thirdly: Community impact (e.g., local outreach programs or a small, collaborative class size).

3. The “toolkit” method

The toolkit is a collection of versatile personal stories that demonstrate your personality. When you are asked a question, you pull a relevant story from your toolkit and share it.

• Why it works: Every applicant can say they are “hardworking”—but a specific story proves it. Stories make you memorable and distinct.
• The balance: If the question is not strictly about dentistry, feel free to pull from your personal life (sports, hobbies, family, or past jobs). The committee wants to know who you are.

🛠️ Building your toolkit

For example, identify stories that cover these categories:

💡 Pro tip for the interview room

When a question is asked, take a two-second reflective pause. This shows you are processing the question thoughtfully. In those two seconds, pick a story that fits best, and then deliver your answer using that story as your evidence.