Four Of The Top 25 Deadly Mistakes Candidates Make
That Ruin Dental School Interviews
And How to Avoid Them

You have some dental school interviews coming up and I'm sure you've checked out www.studentdoctor.net, read interview instructional articles on the web, spoken to friends who have had dental school interviews, or who are in dental school, and even met with your school counselor to ask how dental school interviews are run. This is all good due diligence. As a dental school interview coach of many years, most clients who come to me have done all the above, yet they are still often harboring many dangerous ways of thinking about their upcoming dental school interviews. These incorrect thoughts cause all sorts of troubles for them when they prepare to interview, and in the actual interview.

I want you to read this article carefully and understand that what appears to be common sense or obvious about dental school interviewing is often quite counterintuitive. I designed this so you can easily see the incorrect thought or mindset, why it is a problem (and how this is perceived to be undesirable by the interviewer) and most importantly, what you can do to PREVENT this from happening.

Let's get underway!

1. THE DEADLY MISTAKE IN THINKING: "It's an obvious fact that the interviewer will know how serious I am about becoming a dentist, since I made the supreme effort to complete all the application papers and to come all this way to be interviewed, so I won't bother focusing much for an answer on why I want to be a dentist."
   
   WHY THIS IS A PROBLEM: Dental school admissions officers screen interview candidates very, very carefully by attempting to determine their commitment to the profession. This is a major criterion for the interviewer. They must determine the answer to the question, "Will this candidate stick things out even when dental school becomes terrifically difficult?" Every year across the country many students drop out of dental school. The national dropout average is 20%! This is a percentage that scares the admissions officer, so they probe very, very carefully for this. They don't want to make an offer to a student who they believe is not committed to the profession. They don't want dropouts.
   
   HOW TO AVOID IT: You must convince the interviewer that not only do you have a deep commitment to the profession of dentistry, but that you go in with your eyes wide open to the challenges and problems in dental school, and you have done such due diligence about the experience that you accept the challenge, warts and all. You also need to convince them that you love the school, the area and the weather. This way they know you won't bail out. If they have any sense that you might be uncomfortable at their school, they will screen you out.
   
   
2. THE DEADLY MISTAKE IN THINKING: "All my friends who had dental school interviews told me everything to expect, so I'm sure my interview will be just like theirs."
   
   WHY THIS IS A PROBLEM: Assumptions are not your friend. Your small sample of people is nothing compared to the big world of interviews.
   
   HOW TO AVOID IT: Preparation is your friend. Cover all potentialities in the interview by gaming everything out and practicing.
   
   
3. THE DEADLY MISTAKE IN THINKING: "I only had a few shadow experiences, but I'll tell them I had over a dozen, and I can make up stuff to say."
   
   WHY THIS IS A PROBLEM: This is a disaster in the making. You can fake your way for a bit, but once the interviewer begins asking probing questions, your days as a clever interviewee are over.
   
   HOW TO AVOID IT: Either secure more shadow experiences, or interview the dentists you had them with in more depth. Seek out new dentists for informational interviews that only take 20-30 minutes. This way you'll have more material to share.
   
   
4. THE DEADLY MISTAKE IN THINKING: "When they ask me why I decided not to become a physician, I'll tell them about all the negative aspects of being a physician."
   
   WHY THIS IS A PROBLEM: The interviewer's son could be a physician, and the interviewer could see that as insulting. You can easily be seen as a negative, complaining individual. You are putting down a fellow health professional, and that is unprofessional.
   
   HOW TO AVOID IT: Never speak ill of any one, or of any profession. Give a few reasons for why medicine did not fit you, and why you love dentistry more, but be kind to physicians.