Over the years of working with students, I’ve heard just about every dental school interview question there is. While every program has its own style, many of the same themes come up year after year.
Below is a list of 25 questions that students encounter most often. The first ten are almost guaranteed to appear in some form, while the rest come up frequently enough that they’re well worth practicing.
The ones you’ll almost definitely hear
- Tell me about yourself
- Why do you want to be a dentist
- Why did you choose this school
- What are your greatest strengths
- What are your weaknesses or areas you’d like to improve
- Tell me about a time you faced a challenge and how you handled it
- How do you deal with stress or pressure
- Tell me about a time you worked in a team and what role you played
- What qualities do you think make a great dentist
- Where do you see yourself in five to ten years
Other questions that come up often
- How did you prepare for the DAT and what did you learn from the experience
- What extracurricular or volunteer work has been most meaningful to you
- Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it
- Describe a time you had to manage a conflict with a peer or coworker
- What do you think is the biggest challenge facing dentistry today
- How do you stay current with new developments in healthcare or science
- What do you like to do outside of academics
- Who has been the most influential person in your life and why
- How would you handle an ethical dilemma in dental school
- What is one misconception people have about dentists
- How would you describe your communication style with patients
- How do you handle constructive criticism
- What does professionalism mean to you
- Tell me about a time you showed leadership
- Do you have any questions for us (always have one or two thoughtful ones ready)
Interview preparation tips
- Use specific examples whenever possible — they make answers memorable.
- Show growth: if you discuss a weakness or failure, focus on what you learned.
- Be ready to explain why dentistry, not just why you like science or helping people.
- Practice out loud so your answers sound natural and confident.
- End with one or two thoughtful questions about the program or school culture.
Final thoughts
Preparing for interviews takes time, but it’s worth it. You’ve already proven yourself academically by getting here. Now it’s your chance to share who you are, what drives you, and why you’ll make an excellent future dentist.
More guides for pre-dental students
- How Long Does It Take to Become a Dentist?
- DAT vs OAT Difficulty: Which Exam Is Harder?
- DAT Percentiles – How to Interpret Your Score and Improve Your Chances
— Nancy Steen
Orgoman LLC | DAT Destroyer