Updated October 26, 2026

UW Dental School Interview: Format, Dates and Who Gets In

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

For 2027 entry, UW's October 1 AADSAS deadline has passed. The University of Washington School of Dentistry invites about 150 to 200 selected applicants to in-person interviews, held from August to November, and offers go out from December 15. UW does not publish the interview format. Washington and WICHE-state residents get primary consideration, and a typical class of 71 is 85-90% Washington residents.

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Key facts (2027 entry)

Next step: In-person interviews for selected candidates through November, then offers from December 15.
Format: An in-person interview for selected candidates. UW does not publish whether it is one-on-one, a panel or an MMI, or how long it lasts.
When: August to November, in the fall.
Who is picked: About 150 to 200 candidates from over 1,000 applications a year. Washington and WICHE-state residents get primary consideration.
Class: 71 students. A typical class is 85-90% Washington residents and 10-15% mostly from WICHE states.
Secondary: Sent to selected applicants in the fall, with a $100 fee.
Deadline: October 1 at 9 p.m. Pacific for AADSAS, and the last day to take the DAT. Both have passed for 2027 entry.
Offers: From December 15 until the class is full, per UW's timeline. Its how-to-apply page gives rolling offers from December 1 to about March 1.

What happens on the interview day

UW invites selected candidates to interview in person during the fall. Its admissions pages do not describe the day itself.

In person. UW says interviews will be in person during the fall.
August to November. Selected candidates are invited to interview in these months.
About 150 to 200 interviewed. UW invites roughly 150 to 200 candidates from its applicant pool.
Format not published. UW does not say whether the interview is one-on-one, a panel or an MMI, who interviews you, or how long it lasts. Check your invitation for details.

Prepare for any format. Since the format isn't public, practice both a conversational interview about your file and short scenario questions.

How offers are decided

UW's Admissions Committee decides on a rolling basis. It does not publish how the interview is scored.

From December 15. The timeline says accepted applicants are told from December 15 until the class is full.
Two different windows. The how-to-apply page says decisions run from December 1 to about March 1. Go by what your own emails say.
Prerequisites by July 1. All coursework must be done by the end of spring quarter before you start.

The RIDE track

RIDE (Regional Initiatives in Dental Education) is for students who want to serve rural or underserved areas. Its first two years are at Eastern Washington University in Spokane.

You apply to UW in the usual way. Admission to RIDE is decided after you are accepted.

How you get an interview

UW receives over 1,000 applications a year for 71 seats. Residence matters most, then your service and knowledge of dentistry.

Washington and WICHE first. UW gives primary consideration to residents of Washington and the WICHE states: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming.
Community service. UW highly values applicants who show a sustained commitment to community service.
Knowledge of dentistry. Competitive applicants show an effort to learn about the profession through shadowing and dental-related experiences. UW does not publish a minimum number of hours.
Three letters. Sent through AADSAS. UW suggests one from a dentist, one from a science faculty member and a character reference, often from community service or volunteer work.
Grades and DAT. A solid B average or better is expected in the sciences. Only the US DAT is accepted, not the Canadian DAT.
Secondary application. Selected applicants get a secondary application in the fall, with a $100 fee. UW does not publish its prompts.

Next time, apply well before October 1. UW recommends completing your file well before the deadline, though it says decisions are not based on the date your application arrived.

Dates for 2027 entry

UW lists its dates without a year. One line on its how-to-apply page still says November 1, but its timeline and the rest of the page say October 1.

May 12, 2026. The AADSAS cycle opened.
June 2, 2026. First day to submit an AADSAS application. UW started receiving applications in June.
August to November. In-person interviews for selected candidates, running through November.
October 1. Last day to take the DAT, and the AADSAS deadline at 9 p.m. Pacific. Both have passed for 2027 entry.
December 15. Acceptances begin and continue until the class is full.
July 1. All prerequisite coursework must be done.
2028 entry. UW lists its dates without a year and has not posted dates marked for 2028 entry.

How to prepare

UW's priorities are clear from its pages: service, real knowledge of dentistry and the region it serves.

Bring a service story. UW wants sustained community service. Pick one commitment you kept up over time and be ready to say what changed because of it.
Show what you saw in a clinic. Be specific about what dentists actually did while you shadowed and what you learned about the job.
Know the region. UW serves Washington and the WICHE states, and RIDE trains dentists for rural and underserved areas. Think about access to care outside big cities.
Know why UW. If you are from outside Washington, be ready to explain your ties to the region and why you want to train there.

Plan the trip. Interviews are in person in the fall, so book travel early once your invitation arrives.

Practice questions

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

You are a dentist at a city council meeting. A council member wants to stop fluoridating the town's water to save money, arguing that toothpaste already has enough fluoride. Make the case for keeping it.

Use plain language, respect the budget concern, and explain who would be hurt most if fluoridation stopped.

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

Weigh short-term relief against long-term harm, and look for ways to accept help without steering patients toward losing teeth.

You work at a community clinic with income-based sliding-scale fees. A patient on the lowest fee tier mentions they just bought a luxury car. How do you handle this?

Avoid jumping to conclusions, follow the clinic's policy fairly, and keep the patient's care and dignity in view.

Dentistry means making precise movements even when your hands and back are tired. Tell us about a time you kept your focus and fine motor control during a physically exhausting task.

Pick a real example, describe how you managed fatigue, and say what you learned about pacing yourself.

You are working as a dental assistant. The lead hygienist and the front desk receptionist start arguing loudly about scheduling mistakes right next to the open waiting room. How would you handle this?

Protect the patients first, calm things down without taking sides, and suggest a private follow-up.

You are a dental student. A patient just found out they will wait six months for dentures at the school clinic and is frustrated by the slow pace of student care. Talk with them.

Acknowledge the frustration honestly, explain why care takes longer, and offer something concrete you can do.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UW dental school interview in person?

Yes. UW says interviews are in person during the fall, and its timeline says selected candidates are invited from August to November.

How many applicants does UW dental interview?

About 150 to 200 selected candidates, from over 1,000 applications a year for a class of 71.

Does UW dental school prefer Washington residents?

Yes. UW gives primary consideration to Washington and WICHE-state residents. A typical class is 85-90% Washington residents, with the rest mostly from WICHE states.

What is the UW dental school application deadline?

October 1 at 9 p.m. Pacific for AADSAS, and the DAT must be taken by October 1. Both have passed for 2027 entry. One line on UW's how-to-apply page still says November 1, but its timeline says October 1.

Does UW dental have a secondary application?

Yes. Selected applicants are sent a secondary application in the fall, with a $100 fee.

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.

UW School of Dentistry: How to Apply · read October 26, 2026
UW School of Dentistry: Admissions Timeline · read October 26, 2026
UW School of Dentistry: Admissions Requirements · read October 26, 2026
ADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center: Application Cycle Dates · read October 26, 2026