Utah Dental School Interview: Format, Casper, Dates and Tips
What happens at the University of Utah dental school interview, how you get one, and how it decides your offer.
The University of Utah School of Dentistry interviews DDS applicants in person only. There are no online interviews. Applicants are picked from their AADSAS information after review, and the school does not publish the interview format or length. Last cycle, interviews ran September to November, and first offers go out December 15.
Key facts (2027 entry)
- Format
- An interview. The school does not publish its style, length or who interviews.
- Online or in person
- In person only. No online interviews are offered.
- Who is picked
- The Admissions Committee reviews completed applications and selects interviewees from what you submitted through AADSAS.
- Casper
- United States Casper 2 is required in the 2026-2027 cycle, as part of the supplemental materials.
- When
- Last cycle (2025-26), interviews took place September to November. The school has not posted months for this cycle.
- Minimums
- 3.0 cumulative and science GPA, 380 in every DAT section, and 100 shadowing hours.
- Deadline and offers
- AADSAS and all credentials by October 15, 2026. First-round acceptances begin December 15.
What happens on the interview day
Utah interviews only in person. It does not describe the format, so plan for a conversation about you and your application.
- In person only. There is no online interview option, so plan to travel if you are invited.
- Format not published. The school does not say how long the interview lasts, who interviews or whether it uses stations.
- Values in play. Utah looks for commitment to its values of compassion, trustworthiness, excellence, innovation and equality. Expect your answers to be read against them.
Know your file. Interviewees are chosen from their AADSAS information, so reread your essay and activities before the day.
How offers are decided
Utah reviews applicants holistically, on objective and subjective criteria. It does not publish how much the interview counts.
- Objective. Cumulative GPA, DAT scores and science grades.
- Values. Commitment to compassion, trustworthiness, excellence, innovation and equality, and to a humanistic culture and learning environment.
- The underserved. Commitment to the school's mission of making a meaningful impact on the health of the underserved.
- December 15. First-round acceptances are offered from this date.
How you get an interview
The Admissions Committee reviews applications once they are complete, then selects applicants for in-person interviews.
- Hard minimums. A GPA below 3.0, cumulative or science, is denied. You also need at least 380 in every DAT section.
- 100 shadowing hours. The minimum. Utah recommends shadowing at least four different dentists.
- Supplemental. Qualified applicants get a link after submitting AADSAS. It asks for a form, DAT scores if not sent, a $100 fee and official Casper results.
- Three letters. Two from science instructors who taught and graded you, and one from a committee, non-science instructor, dental professional, employer, supervisor or clergy member.
- Degree and status. A bachelor's degree from an accredited US school is required. Utah accepts only US citizens and permanent residents.
Current D1 averages
- DAT. 470 Academic Average, 480 Perceptual Ability and 480 Survey of Natural Sciences.
Dates for 2027 entry
Utah applies through ADEA AADSAS and does not review applications submitted after October 15.
- June 2, 2026. AADSAS opened for submissions.
- October 15, 2026. Last day to file AADSAS, and all credentials must be received.
- September to November. Interview months in the 2025-26 cycle. Treat them as a guide, not this cycle's dates.
- December 15. First-round acceptances begin.
How to prepare
Utah's own criteria give you a checklist. Prepare a short story for each value.
- One story per value. Compassion, trustworthiness, excellence, innovation and equality. Have a real example for each.
- Know the clinics. Utah describes itself as dedicated to serving the underserved, with clinical training from the first year and a mobile clinic that serves communities across the state.
- Use your shadowing. You shadowed at least 100 hours. Pick moments from different dentists that show what you learned about patients.
- Practice scenarios. Casper tests how you handle tricky situations. Practicing short ethics prompts out loud helps for Casper and the interview.
Plan the trip early. Since there is no online option, sort out travel as soon as an invite arrives.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Interview (in person, format not published) station, written for applicants to University of Utah School of Dentistry. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
Many low-income adults only see a dentist when they are in severe pain. How could a community clinic with tight resources shift these patients toward preventive care?
Give one or two practical ideas and show you understand why patients delay care.
You are volunteering at a free community dental clinic. The clinic director asks you to help with fillings using composite material that expired a year ago, saying there's no budget for new supplies and it's better than leaving patients with untreated decay. What do you do?
Respect the goal of helping patients, but refuse unsafe care and suggest real options for getting supplies.
You are a dental student assisting an upperclassman in the school clinic. You see them drop a curing light tip on the floor, wipe it with a napkin, and get ready to use it in the patient's mouth. What do you do?
Act right away for the patient's safety, but speak to your classmate calmly and privately.
Tell us about a time you damaged equipment or materials that belonged to someone else. How did you break the news to them?
Show you told them quickly and honestly, and that you offered to make it right.
Think of the dentist you shadowed who had the best chairside manner. What specific words or actions did they use to build trust with a new patient in the first few minutes?
Name concrete things the dentist said or did, then say how you would use them.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake you couldn't fix right away, and you had to live with the consequences for a while before you could make it right.
Own the mistake, explain how you handled the wait, and end with what you changed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Utah dental school interview in person?
Yes. The University of Utah School of Dentistry offers interviews only in person. There are no online interviews.
Does Utah dental school require Casper?
Yes. For the 2026-2027 cycle it requires the United States Casper 2 assessment, an open-response situational judgment test. Official results are part of the supplemental materials.
When are Utah dental school interviews?
The school has not posted months for this cycle. In the 2025-26 cycle, interviews took place September to November.
How many shadowing hours does Utah dental school require?
At least 100 hours. The school recommends shadowing a minimum of four different dentists.
When does Utah dental school send acceptances?
First-round acceptances are offered beginning December 15.
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 of Utah School of Dentistry: Interview (DDS) · read October 25, 2026
- University of Utah School of Dentistry: How to Apply (DDS) · read October 25, 2026
- University of Utah School of Dentistry: Admissions Requirements (DDS) · read October 25, 2026
- University of Utah School of Dentistry: United States Casper 2 · read October 25, 2026
- University of Utah School of Dentistry: DDS Program · read October 25, 2026
- University of Utah School of Dentistry: DDS Admissions Quick-start Guide 2025-2026 (PDF) · read October 25, 2026
- ADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center: Application Cycle Dates · read October 25, 2026