Student Stories – Grace’s Dental School Interview Experience

Meet Grace Shelledy, an incoming first year dental student at UCLA. Grace has generously offered to share some insights from her dental school interviews!

What type of interviews did you have? (traditional, MMI, etc.)

My first interview was closed file, in which my interviewers didn’t know anything about me, including my scores. I was interviewed by one faculty member. The interviewer had questions prepared for me, and they asked every applicant identical questions, with time left over at the end for questions.

My second interview was also closed file, and I was interviewed by one faculty member, and then a current student separately.

My third interview was open file, in which my interviewer had reviewed my whole application, and had specific questions prepared for me based on the information I had submitted.

In my fourth interview, I was interviewed by three faculty, rotating between them at stations. It was still an open file interview with traditional questions, not a MMI style. I enjoyed getting to know the perspectives of several faculty members at this school.

What most intimidated you while you were preparing?

I completed a mock interview with my college counselor. For one question, I tripped over my words, and continued to struggle through the rest of that question, but bounced back with the following prompt. This worried me a bit for my real interview day, but I reminded myself that the resilience I showed in not letting one mistake ruin the whole interview was in fact a strength. The more you can practice in different settings with various people, especially those you don’t know well, the more experience and ultimately confidence you will go into your interview day with.

How did you deal with your nerves on your interview day?

On my interview day, I woke up early and read through a document I made of bullet points to common questions. I reviewed the school’s website one last time, and finalized questions I wanted answered that day. I gave myself plenty of time to physically get ready, got a good breakfast in me, and walked or ubered to the school. Overall, being as prepared as possible calmed my nerves.

Once I was at the school with the other applicants, it was easier for me to relax. I reminded myself that they were all just like me, and I usually made a couple new friends by the end of the day. For the interview itself, I liked to think of it as a conversation between the two of us, in which they wanted to get to know me better, but I also wanted to get to know the school better. Afterall, it could potentially be my new home for four years!

What tips do you have on being a clear communicator?

Don’t use filler words like “um,” “like,” and “you know what I mean.” Assume your interviewer doesn’t know what you mean. Explain things thoroughly, and explain the “why” for everything, even if you think it’s obvious. In addition, try to avoid touching your hair, face, or over the top movements with your hands, so your interviewer can focus on your words and not unnecessary movements.

What advice would you give for someone preparing for their interviews?

Truly get to know each school you interview at, and focus on what makes them unique and what that institution is proud of. Tailor what you talk about to the school. For example, if they are research heavy, highlight the research lab you participated in, or just the experiences you had in required lab courses. Make your story fit in with their values, so it is easy for your interviewer to imagine you as a student there.