The UCSF dental school interview format

UCSF School of Dentistry publishes a page for invited candidates, DDS Interview Candidates, and it is specific. You complete two interviews, one with a faculty member and one with a current student, and both are evaluated by members of the Admissions Committee. Neither interviewer has access to your written application, so this is a closed-file interview.

Item	What UCSF says
Faculty interview	One-on-one on Zoom, in a slot you choose from your invitation email
Student interview, virtual option	One-on-one on Zoom plus a 30-minute writing exercise, on select dates
Student interview, in-person option	One-on-one with a current student, a campus tour, a 30-minute writing exercise and lunch with student club leaders
Open or closed file	Closed: interviewers do not have your written application
Both interviews required	Yes; missing either is treated as withdrawal of interest
Length of each interview, number of questions, writing prompt	Not published

UCSF does not say which months interviews run on this page. Check your invitation.

The four competencies UCSF scores

Each interviewer assesses the same four competencies, which UCSF lists:

Motivation
Self-awareness
Problem-solving and critical thinking
Collaboration, teamwork and leadership

This is a gift for preparation. Every answer you give should serve one of the four. "Why dentistry?" is motivation. "Tell me about a weakness" is self-awareness. A case about a patient who wants a treatment you would not recommend is problem-solving. A story about a team is collaboration. Because the student interviewer scores the same four, the conversation should not turn into a casual chat; treat it as a real interview.

What UCSF looks for

UCSF's admissions policies say the school uses holistic review, has removed minimum GPA and DAT scores, and evaluates academic preparedness, community engagement and fit for the institution and profession of dentistry. The DDS page adds that the committee considers motivation for a dental career, potential for future success and insights from the interview. Its FAQ says the average GPA of incoming students is 3.6, that it recommends at least 100 hours of dental shadowing but sets no minimum, and that research is not required. The school's strategic framework, True North, has six pillars, including Education, Exceptional Care and Community Engagement, and the admissions policies refer to the school's PRIDE values.

The application and timeline

ADEA AADSAS: the application opens for input on May 9 and can be submitted starting June 1. For the 2026-27 cycle the deadline is October 1 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Late applications are not considered.
DAT: required. UCSF recommends taking it by September 1. Scores are valid for two years. The entering class averages about 23 on both Academic Average and Total Science.
Letters: three, through AADSAS.
Supplemental questions: in the UCSF section of AADSAS. They ask what is important to you in choosing a school, why you want to join the UCSF community and how you will contribute, and an optional open space.
Prerequisites: completed by September 1 before you arrive, with at least a C minus.

Because interviewers do not have access to your written application, repeat the key points from your supplemental answers aloud. They are also the best material for "why UCSF."

The writing exercise

Both student-interview options include a 30-minute writing exercise. UCSF does not publish the prompt. Treat it like a short timed essay: state your view in the first two sentences, give one example, and leave a minute to reread. Practice with a prompt about a professional dilemma and no help from anyone else.

How to prepare for UCSF

Build one story per competency. Write four stories and a backup. Each should have a clear problem, your action and what you learned.
Prepare for a closed-file start. Your interviewer knows nothing about you. Open with a clear, two-minute introduction that covers your path to dentistry and what you want from dental school.
Prepare two audiences. A faculty member may probe your judgment more deeply, and a student may probe how you would be as a classmate. UCSF says both assess the same four competencies.
Know UCSF's own language. Read the True North page and the DDS curriculum page so you can say something specific, not generic, about the program.
Test the technology. The faculty interview is on Zoom, and so is the student interview if you choose the virtual option. Use a quiet room.

UCSF dental school practice questions (written by us, not UCSF)

UCSF does not publish its interview questions. These are ours, built from the four competencies. Practice each aloud for about two minutes.

Why dentistry, and what have you done to test that decision?
Tell me about a time you were uncertain about your path. How did you decide?
What is a weakness that could affect you in dental school, and what are you doing about it?
A patient asks for a cosmetic treatment you do not think is in their best interest. What do you do?
You are shadowing and see the dentist skip a step to save time. What do you do?
Describe your experience with fine hand skills. What does it say about how you learn a new manual task?
Tell me about a team you were part of when a conflict arose. What did you contribute?
A patient is afraid of the dentist and will not open their mouth. How would you approach them?
How do you think dentistry should handle patients who cannot afford care?
Why UCSF, and what would you contribute to the class?

For a wider set, see our dental school interview questions guide.

A drill for two closed-file interviews

Write your two-minute introduction and say it aloud three times. Cut anything that is not on the path to dentistry.
Match each of the four competencies to a story. Time each story at two minutes.
Have one friend play a faculty member and ask three follow-ups per story. Have another play a student and ask what you would do outside of class.
Do the writing exercise once with a 30-minute timer and score it against the first-two-sentences rule.
Repeat two days later.

If you do not have partners, Confetto's dental school interview prep uses AI mock interviews that ask follow-up questions based on what you actually said and give rubric-based feedback afterward. The question bank has over 500 questions, and you can start with a 7-day free trial.

UCSF dental school interview FAQ

Is the UCSF dental interview an MMI?

No. UCSF describes two one-on-one interviews, one with a faculty member and one with a current student.

Is it virtual?

The faculty interview is on Zoom. The student interview can be virtual or in person, your choice.

Do interviewers see my application?

No. UCSF says interviewers do not have access to your written application.

Is there a writing exercise?

Yes, 30 minutes, with either student-interview option.

What is the application deadline?

October 1 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern for the 2026-27 cycle, through ADEA AADSAS.

Applying to other California or large urban schools? See our guides to the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and NYU College of Dentistry interviews, or our dental school interview prep page.

Sources: UCSF School of Dentistry DDS interview candidates, DDS program and FAQ, how to apply, admissions policies and True North pages.

Confetto isn't affiliated with UCSF. Everything here about the school comes from its public admissions pages, checked in October 2026. Formats and dates can change between cycles, so go by your invitation email.