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Dental School Interviews 2026-27: Formats, Dates, Questions

How dental school interviews work this cycle, school by school, with the AADSAS dates for fall 2027 entry.

For fall 2027 entry, US interviews run from about July 2026 to March 2027, and offers start on December 15, 2026. Most dental schools require an interview, usually one-on-one or with a small panel for about 20 to 40 minutes. A few run an MMI of short timed stations (Michigan, ATSU Arizona, Alberta, Saskatchewan, McGill), and some add a recorded Kira video first.

Start your free weekHow dental school practice works

Dates for 2027 entry

  1. May 12, 2026

    The 2026-27 ADEA AADSAS application opened. ADEA says AADSAS serves applicants seeking dental education in the US and Canada. Texas residents applying to Texas dental schools use TMDSAS instead.

  2. June 2, 2026

    AADSAS opened for submissions. Each school sets its own deadline, which can differ from the cycle dates, and some, like ATSU Arizona, review on a rolling basis.

  3. July 2026 to March 2027

    US interview season. Florida interviews from July to December, Kentucky from late August to early December, Michigan from September to January, Harvard from September to February, and Touro, Boston University and ATSU Arizona from September to March.

  4. October 10 to November 15, 2026

    Canadian deadlines. UBC's October 10 deadline has passed. Toronto, Western and Alberta close November 1, and Saskatchewan November 15.

  5. December 15, 2026

    ADEA's acceptance notification date: US schools may not tell you of an acceptance before it. An offer made by January 31 gives you at least 30 days to respond, and one made on or after February 1 may give as few as 15.

  6. February 5, 2027

    AADSAS closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Transcript and test score matching ends February 10 at 5 p.m. Eastern, and verification ends February 12.

  7. February to March 2027

    Canadian interviews. Toronto interviews around February 6 and 7, UBC on February 17 and 19, Western virtually in February, and Saskatchewan in February or March.

  8. Late February to July 2027

    Canadian offers. Western sends first offers in late February or early March, UBC and Toronto in March, Saskatchewan by mid-March, and Alberta between mid-May and early July.

School-by-school guides

Each guide covers the school's interview format, how it picks who to interview, how the interview counts toward offers, and practice questions, with links to the school's own pages.

United States

Interview topics

One-on-one, panel or MMI: formats by school

ADEA says most dental schools require an interview, and the format can be one-on-one, group or multiple mini interviews. Each school sets its own, so read every invitation for the type.

One-on-one and panel interviews

At many schools the interview is a conversation about your path to dentistry, often 20 to 30 minutes.

  • Florida: One open-file interview of 20 to 30 minutes with 3 or 4 Admissions Committee members, in person.
  • UIC: A closed-file interview with 1 or 2 faculty members, held virtually from September 2026 to March 2027. A UIC article on interview prep puts it at 20 minutes.
  • Touro: About 30 minutes, one-on-one and open file, in person or virtual.
  • Howard: A 25- to 30-minute panel interview (faculty, a student representative and alumni, or two faculty members), then a second interview with the Director of Admissions.
  • Kentucky: A panel of Admissions Committee members, faculty, staff and students, in a conversation style.
  • WesternU: A 25- to 30-minute interview with faculty, administrators, clinicians and/or a student.

Two interviews in one day

Some schools split the day into separate interviews.

  • UCSF: One interview with a faculty member and one with a current student. Neither interviewer sees your written application, and the student interview comes with a 30-minute writing exercise.
  • Iowa: Two timed interviews, each with a different pair of committee members, faculty and staff.
  • Harvard: One-on-one, conversational interviews with an admissions committee member. In the fall the first is virtual and not everyone gets a second.

Multiple mini interviews (MMI)

An MMI is a circuit of short, timed, independent stations.

  • Michigan: A virtual MMI of timed questions and scenarios, rated by committee members, faculty, students and staff.
  • ATSU Arizona: Three timed stations with a standardized patient, plus a group activity where you discuss a scenario and present a solution, and a panel interview.
  • Alberta and Saskatchewan: 10-minute stations: 2 minutes to read and prepare, then 8 minutes with the interviewer.
  • McGill: A virtual, asynchronous MMI you record in one sitting of under an hour.

Open or closed file? At open-file schools like Florida and Touro, anything in your application is fair game. At closed-file schools like UIC and UCSF, the interviewer knows only what you tell them.

What dental school interviewers assess

Schools say they look for personal qualities, and the same few traits come up again and again.

  • UCSF: Motivation, self-awareness, problem-solving and critical thinking, and collaboration, teamwork and leadership.
  • Harvard: Motivation, empathy, maturity, capacity for civil discourse, resiliency, integrity and a passion for patient care.
  • Touro: Empathy, critical thinking, moral reasoning and ethical grounding, open-mindedness, collaboration and interpersonal skills.
  • UIC: Communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving, leadership, self-assessment, integrity and maturity, and passion for and knowledge of dentistry.
  • Florida: What you gained from your experiences, your journey to dentistry and why the profession fits you.
  • Your letters, too. AADSAS letter writers rate you on 10 attributes, including critical thinking, integrity, interpersonal skills, maturity, motivation to pursue dentistry and self-awareness.

Questions one school publishes: UT Health San Antonio lists questions such as whether you have had any experience with dentistry, what differentiates you and how you would rate your level of hand-eye coordination.

The DAT and shadowing hours

ADEA says all US dental schools require the DAT and suggests spending time shadowing a dentist. Both go into your application, so open-file interviewers can ask about them.

The DAT

The ADA's Dental Admission Test takes 5 hours and 15 minutes at Prometric centers in the US, its territories and select locations in Canada. It is no longer offered in Quebec.

  • Four sections. Survey of the Natural Sciences (100 items), Perceptual Ability (90), Reading Comprehension (50) and Quantitative Reasoning (40).
  • New scale. Tests taken on or after March 1, 2025 are scored from 200 to 600 in steps of 10.
  • Retakes. Wait 60 days between attempts, with at most four in any 12 months.
  • Timing. The ADA suggests the spring of your junior year or the summer right after.

Shadowing hours

AADSAS lists shadowing under Dental Experiences. You name the type of dentist and give only hours you have already completed. AADSAS does not collect any documentation for these sections.

  • 100 hours: Utah (with at least four dentists recommended) and Indiana (general dentistry plus at least two specialties, by October 1).
  • 75 hours: Tufts, with at least 40 hours with a general dentist.
  • 50 hours: Loma Linda (100 recommended), Kentucky (mostly general dentistry) and CU Anschutz (done by the time you apply).
  • 40 hours: Iowa, Pacific Dugoni (with a general dentist) and Minnesota (in person, by matriculation).
  • No set number: Boston University expects experience with a general dentist and accepts only in-person hours. UBC does not require shadowing but recommends at least 30 hours.

Be ready to talk about it. Know which dentists you shadowed, what each practice was like and what surprised you. A number alone tells the interviewer little.

Online or in person

Dental schools are split. Some interview only in person, some only online, and some add a recorded video step.

  • In person only: Utah offers no online interviews. Florida, Indiana and UBC also interview in person.
  • Online: Boston University interviews on Zoom, and UIC and Marquette interview virtually in 2026-27. Michigan and Western also describe virtual interviews on their current (undated) pages.
  • Your choice or a mix: Touro interviews in person or virtually. ATSU Arizona holds in-person days on Mondays and Tuesdays and a virtual day on Thursdays.
  • Recorded video first: Stony Brook, Columbia, Roseman and Indiana ask some or all applicants to complete a Kira Talent video assessment. Stony Brook uses it to choose who to interview.

ADEA's virtual checklist: Check the school's time zone, sit in a quiet, well-lit room with a neutral background, and be at your webcam 15 minutes early.

Dental school interviews in Canada

Canadian schools interview later, mostly in February and March, and many use the Canadian Dental Association's DAT.

The Canadian DAT

The English version has 210 questions: biology, general chemistry, perceptual ability and reading comprehension. The French version has 160 and no reading test.

  • Soap carving is suspended. The Manual Dexterity Test, carving soap to exact specifications, is suspended because of COVID-19 restrictions and related logistics, and CDA says it will bring it back as soon as possible.
  • Which DAT. Alberta accepts only the Canadian DAT. Toronto, UBC and Western accept the CDA or ADA DAT. McGill does not use DAT scores.

Formats at Canadian schools

Formats range from a short faculty interview to a full MMI.

  • Toronto: A 20-minute interview with two faculty members, in person at the Faculty.
  • UBC: In person, with teams of general practitioners and faculty who do not see your file or grades. Out-of-province applicants may interview at another school that uses the revised CDA structured interview.
  • Western: A structured, standardized virtual interview with a 3-person panel that may include a dentist, a community member and a dental student.
  • Manitoba and Dalhousie: Manitoba's page for the 2026-27 year (fall 2026 entry) describes a CDA structured interview of up to 35 minutes with two panelists. Dalhousie describes a structured interview of about 40 minutes with two dentists.
  • Alberta, Saskatchewan and McGill: MMIs. Saskatchewan's interview counts for 20% of the ranking.
  • Casper: Toronto and Alberta require Casper 2. Laval's undated page ranks on 60% academics, 20% Casper and 20% structured interview, and McGill uses Casper for 20% of its interview selection.

How to prepare for a dental school interview

Start with your own application, then practice the format each school uses, out loud and timed.

  • Know why dentistry. Have a specific answer to why dentistry and not medicine or another health career, tied to something you saw or did.
  • Reread your file. Open-file interviewers will ask about your activities, grades and personal statement. Have a short story for each experience.
  • Practice ethics scenarios. Work through a patient who wants treatment they do not need, a patient who cannot pay, and a colleague whose work looks poor.
  • Know the profession. Read up on debt, access to care and the business side, such as private practice and group practices.
  • Follow ADEA's basics. Arrive 30 minutes early, bring the invitation and ID, do not take over the interview with long answers and do not ask questions you could answer online. Afterward, send a thank-you email.

Example question: A patient asks you for cosmetic work you think they do not need. What do you do?

Example question: Tell us about a time you worked on a team that was not getting along.

  • Why dentistry: How to answer "Why dentistry?" in a dental school interview or AADSAS personal statement: a 4-part structure, 3 example answers, weak answers and follow-ups.
  • Best interview prep: Dental school interview prep compared: free ADEA and pre-health resources, coaches (BeMo, Leland, Inspira), AI tools (Confetto, DentPrep, Intervly) and prices.

Practice questions

The questions dental school interviews ask, by type: Dental school interview format and questions.

Frequently asked questions

What is a dental school interview like?

Usually a 20- to 30-minute conversation with one interviewer or a small panel about your motivation, experiences and fit. Florida runs one open-file interview with 3 or 4 committee members, and UIC a 20-minute closed-file interview with 1 or 2 faculty.

Do dental schools use the MMI?

Some do. Michigan runs a virtual MMI, ATSU Arizona three stations with a standardized patient, and Alberta and Saskatchewan 10-minute stations. McGill uses a recorded, asynchronous MMI.

When do dental schools send acceptances?

ADEA's notification date for this cycle is December 15, 2026, and US schools may not notify you before it. Offers made by January 31 give you at least 30 days to respond, and offers from February 1 may give as few as 15. Canadian offers mostly come from late February to July.

How many shadowing hours do I need for dental school?

It depends on the school. Utah and Indiana require 100 hours, Tufts 75, Kentucky and CU Anschutz 50, and Iowa and Minnesota 40. UBC recommends at least 30.

Are dental school interviews virtual?

Some are. Boston University uses Zoom, and UIC and Marquette interview virtually in 2026-27. Michigan's undated page also describes virtual interviews. Utah, Florida and UBC interview in person.

Is there a manual dexterity test for dental school?

Not on the admission tests right now. The Canadian DAT's soap-carving Manual Dexterity Test is suspended, and the US DAT has no hands-on section: its four parts are natural sciences, perceptual ability, reading comprehension and quantitative reasoning. Check each school's own interview day for any hands-on task.

Sources

Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.

  1. ADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center: Application Cycle Dates · read October 26, 2026
  2. ADEA GoDental: Apply to ADEA AADSAS · read October 24, 2026
  3. ADEA GoDental: Resources and FAQs · read October 24, 2026
  4. ADEA GoDental: Admissions Process · read October 24, 2026
  5. ADEA: Traffic Guidelines for offers of admission · read October 24, 2026
  6. ADEA AADSAS: Dental School Interviews Dos and Don'ts (PDF) · read October 24, 2026
  7. ADEA: Admission Officers and Advisors FAQ (DAT score scale) · read October 24, 2026
  8. American Dental Association: Dental Admission Test (DAT) · read October 24, 2026
  9. Canadian Dental Association: DAT FAQs · read October 24, 2026
  10. Canadian Dental Association: DAT Candidate Guide (PDF) · read October 24, 2026
  11. University of Michigan School of Dentistry: How to Apply · read October 24, 2026
  12. ATSU Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health: DMD Admission Requirements · read October 24, 2026
  13. University of Florida College of Dentistry: DMD Interview · read October 24, 2026
  14. UIC College of Dentistry: How to Apply to the DMD Program · read October 24, 2026
  15. UIC College of Dentistry: How to Prepare for the Dental School Interview · read October 24, 2026
  16. Harvard School of Dental Medicine: DMD Admissions · read October 24, 2026
  17. UCSF School of Dentistry: DDS Interview Candidates · read October 24, 2026
  18. Touro College of Dental Medicine: Admissions · read October 24, 2026
  19. University of Kentucky College of Dentistry: DMD Admissions · read October 24, 2026
  20. University of Kentucky College of Dentistry: Pre-Dental Requirements · read October 24, 2026
  21. Howard University College of Dentistry: Doctor of Dental Surgery · read October 24, 2026
  22. University of Iowa College of Dentistry: DDS Application Process · read October 24, 2026
  23. UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry: Interview Tips · read October 24, 2026
  24. Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine: Your Interview · read October 24, 2026
  25. University of Utah School of Dentistry: Interview · read October 24, 2026
  26. University of Utah School of Dentistry: Requirements · read October 24, 2026
  27. Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine: FAQ · read October 24, 2026
  28. Marquette University School of Dentistry: Prospective Students · read October 24, 2026
  29. Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: DDS Admissions · read October 24, 2026
  30. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Admissions Requirements · read October 24, 2026
  31. Roseman University College of Dental Medicine: DMD Admissions · read October 24, 2026
  32. Indiana University School of Dentistry: DDS How to Apply · read October 24, 2026
  33. Tufts University School of Dental Medicine: DMD Program Application · read October 24, 2026
  34. Loma Linda University School of Dentistry: Dentistry, DDS Program · read October 24, 2026
  35. CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine: DDS How to Apply · read October 24, 2026
  36. University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry: DDS Admissions Requirements · read October 24, 2026
  37. University of Minnesota School of Dentistry: Preparing to Apply · read October 24, 2026
  38. UBC Faculty of Dentistry: DMD Admissions Procedures · read October 24, 2026
  39. UBC Faculty of Dentistry: DMD FAQ · read October 24, 2026
  40. University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) · read October 24, 2026
  41. Western University Schulich: Dentistry Admission Requirements and Interviews · read October 24, 2026
  42. University of Alberta Mike Petryk School of Dentistry: Doctor of Dental Surgery · read October 24, 2026
  43. University of Saskatchewan: Dentistry Admissions · read October 24, 2026
  44. McGill Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences: DMD Selection Process · read October 24, 2026
  45. University of Manitoba Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry: Applicant Information · read October 24, 2026
  46. Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry: Academic Advising · read October 24, 2026
  47. Université Laval: Doctorat en médecine dentaire · read October 24, 2026