Student Stories – Shahzad’s Dental School Interview Experience

Meet Shahzad Mumtaz, a first year dental student at Boston University. Shahzad has generously offered to share some insights from his dental school interviews!

What type of interviews did you have?

The majority of my interviews were “traditional” interviews in which either one faculty member or one student, or some combination of that, were responsible for interviewing me. I had 2 interviews at most schools, but there were a couple in which I was interviewed by a joint pair of people from the school. All but one were “open” interviews in which the interviewer had access to my application prior to meeting me, which can both add and take away pressure depending on how you look at it.

What most intimidated you while preparing for interviews?

When starting out my interview preparation, I came to realize that the most important thing one should focus on was being concise and avoiding “filler” words like “um” and “like”. These words have become so colloquial that we don’t even realize we’re using them. I think what scared me most was not what I was going to talk about in my interviews, because the majority of that was talking about who I am as a person. To me, that was easy to talk about.

Rather, the manner in which I talked about myself and how I delivered that  was scary. The tone and strength of your voice, the ability to be concise and not ramble, not fidgeting while speaking, the ability to make eye contact while speaking- all of these were factors that are VITAL in demonstrating who you are as a person. I highly, highly recommend videoing yourself when preparing for interviews!

How did you deal with your nerves on interview day?

Everyone deals with nerves differently- it’s all about finding what works for you. For me, as a former collegiate swimmer, nerves were something I had grown accustomed to. On interview day, I reminded myself that I had “done the work” (i.e. prepare for the interview by doing my research and refining how I spoke) and now it was time to “perform”. I trusted that I had put in the work, so now it was all about executing. This was the routine that I developed while swimming. I knew that every single time I stepped up on the blocks, I could control the “controllables” and trust in my training to carry me through.

Also, smiling goes a long way in calming yourself down! We’re entering this profession because it brings us joy, so remind yourself of that.

What tips do you have on being a clear communicator?

Again, this all comes down to practice and repetition. Ask your friends and family to do practice interview questions and ask them to be blunt with their feedback. Constructive criticism is vital to growth, so ask them to point out every thing you do while answering questions. Video yourself speaking and look for all of the little things you do. Aim to speak slowly and concisely, have a strong voice, make eye contact with the interviewer(s), and practice not overly gesturing your hands. It is normal to speak while gesturing, but you don’t want to go overboard!

What advice would you give to someone preparing for their interview?

I definitely recommend doing your research on the school prior to the interview. What are they known for? What are the things that you are drawn to? What makes their school unique? You are bound to be asked, “Why did you choose to apply here?”. You want to demonstrate that you chose their school for a reason.

Also, practice answering the question, “Tell me about yourself?” It seems fairly straightforward, but trust me, this question can get individuals rambling on and on with no clear direction. Keep your answer concise (this is a common theme!) and paint a picture of who you are and what is most important to you.

Lastly- try not to stress out! The interview process is something extremely fun and exciting, and the school has invited you to an interview because they genuinely want to learn more about you. It is a great opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Have fun with it!