Updated October 26, 2026

Buffalo Dental School Interview (UB): Format, Dates and Tips

What happens at the University at Buffalo dental school interview, how you get one, and how offers are decided.

For 2027 entry, the University at Buffalo is still interviewing, and its December 1, 2026 application deadline is ahead. Interviews are in person only and run from September 2026 to February 2027. About 300 of more than 2,700 applicants interview for a class of about 95, and decisions start in December. UB sends the interview format only to invitees.

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Key facts (2027 entry)

Next step: Interview invitations keep going out through February 2027. The completed application deadline is December 1, 2026, and decisions for interviewed applicants begin in December.
Format: An in-person interview. UB says detailed information on the format and structure is sent only to applicants it invites.
Online or in person: Exclusively in person. UB does not offer virtual interviews.
When: September 2026 to February 2027. Dates get fewer in January and February.
Who is picked: About 300 candidates from more than 2,700 applications, after a holistic review. New York residents get no preference.
Class: About 95 students. Typically 30-35% come from outside New York State.
Deadline: December 1, 2026 for a completed AADSAS application with all parts, including official DAT scores.

What happens on the interview day

UB calls the interview a key part of admissions. It is a chance for the committee to know you beyond your grades and experiences.

In person only. UB holds every interview in person so the process is the same for all candidates. It cannot offer virtual accommodations.
Your motivation. UB says you may discuss why you want dentistry, your academic and extracurricular experiences, and your personal and professional goals.
Your questions. The interview is also your chance to ask about the program, curriculum, clinical experience and student life.
Faculty and students. UB describes interviews as a chance to engage with its admissions team, faculty and current students.
Format not published. UB sends details on the format and structure only to applicants it invites. It does not publish the length or the number of interviewers.

Pick your date early. UB lets you choose from a set of dates but does not make custom ones, and options thin out in January and February.

How offers are decided

Decisions start in December for applicants who have already interviewed and finish in spring or summer 2027. UB does not publish how the interview is scored.

By email. Official decisions go to the email address in your application. Interviewed applicants who are not admitted right away also get a status notice.
No in-state edge. New York residents and UB alumni get no preference, and there are no quotas or legacy admissions.
Background check. All offers depend on an acceptable background check, paid for by the applicant.

How you get an interview

UB reviews completed applications on a rolling basis from June to February. Invitations are not first come, first served, so a later applicant can be invited first.

Holistic review. UB weighs science grades, critical thinking, compassion and service, a realistic preview of dentistry, communication skills, leadership and life experiences.
Extra factors. These include coming from a Dental Professional Shortage Area, unique work or service, leadership that made a change, and barriers you have overcome.
3.0 GPA minimum. Both overall and science GPA must be at least 3.0 in AADSAS. The only exception is 18 or more graduate credit hours.
DAT required. There is no minimum score, but UB prefers an Academic Average of 370 or better on the new DAT (17 or better on the old DAT or the Canadian DAT). Only tests from 2024 to 2026 count.
75 to 100 hours of shadowing. UB calls this a reasonable expectation and values a range of settings over many hours in one office. Virtual shadowing is considered.
Letters through AADSAS. One committee letter or three individual letters. Letters sent straight to the school are not considered.

Letters of intent don't decide it. UB says a letter of interest or intent will not decide an interview offer, and not sending one is no penalty.

Dates for 2027 entry

UB's deadline is late, but it warns there are fewer interview slots later in the cycle.

June 2, 2026 (passed). AADSAS submissions opened.
August and September 2026 (passed). Interview offers began in August and interviews began in September.
October 15, 2026 (passed). UB's recommended latest DAT date, so official scores reach AADSAS in time.
December 1, 2026. Completed application deadline, with official DAT scores received.
December 2026. Decisions begin for interviewed applicants.
February 2027. Final interviews. Applicants not invited are told by email, typically by the end of February.
Spring and summer 2027. Decisions finish.

Already a dentist abroad? UB's two-year International Dentist Program is the route for dentists trained outside the US, not the DDS.

How to prepare

UB says dentistry is a people profession built on communication and understanding human behavior. Practice for that.

Why dentistry. Have a clear, specific answer drawn from what you saw while shadowing, not a general wish to help people.
Your settings. UB values range in your shadowing. Be ready to compare what you saw in different offices or specialties.
Your goals. Know where you want to be in ten years and how UB's training fits that path.
Your questions. Bring two or three real questions about the curriculum, clinic or student life.

Prepare for any format. Since the format isn't public, practice a conversation about your file and a few short scenario questions out loud.

Practice questions

Questions in the style of a In person (format not published) station, written for applicants to University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.

A lot of dentistry is about managing chronic conditions like tooth decay and gum disease over a patient's lifetime, rather than curing something once. How does that long-term focus fit your personality?

Link it to something you have kept up for years, and show you value long-term patient relationships.

Many procedures in medicine happen while the patient is asleep, but most dental procedures happen while the patient is awake and watching. How does that dynamic appeal to you?

Use a moment from shadowing to show you like talking patients through care in real time.

You are a dentist. A patient refuses to let you use the high-speed drill because they say the noise triggers their PTSD, but they have decay that can't be removed with hand instruments alone. How do you work through this with them?

Take the fear seriously, ask what would help, and offer real options without dropping the treatment the patient needs.

You are a dentist. A nervous patient asks you a highly technical question about the materials you are using, and you can tell they are testing your knowledge. How do you reassure them without talking down to them?

Answer plainly, welcome the question, and treat the testing as a sign of worry, not a challenge.

While shadowing, did you ever see a patient ask the dentist a clinical question they couldn't answer right away? How did the dentist handle that moment, and what did it teach you about professional humility?

Describe what really happened, then say what you would copy and why.

You direct a community dental clinic. A sponsor offers a grant, but the money can only be used for extractions, not for fillings or root canals. Would you accept it? Why or why not?

Weigh the good the money does against pushing patients toward losing teeth, and look for a middle path.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Buffalo dental interview in person or virtual?

In person only. UB says this keeps the process standardized and fair for all candidates, so it cannot offer virtual interviews.

What is the UB dental interview format?

UB does not publish it. Applicants selected for an interview are sent the detailed format and structure. UB says you may discuss your motivation, experiences and goals.

How many applicants does UB dental interview?

UB receives more than 2,700 applications a year and interviews about 300 candidates, for an incoming class of about 95.

When is the Buffalo dental school deadline?

Your completed AADSAS application, with every part and official DAT scores, must arrive by December 1, 2026. UB warns there are fewer interview slots later in the cycle.

Does UB dental prefer New York residents?

No. New York residents get no preference, and typically about 30-35% of the incoming class is from outside New York State.

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.

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Admissions Timeline · read October 26, 2026
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: DDS Admissions Requirements · read October 26, 2026
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Holistic Admissions · read October 26, 2026
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Admissions FAQ · read October 26, 2026
ADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center: Application Cycle Dates · read October 26, 2026