California Northstate Dental School Interview: DMD 2026-27

California Northstate DMD guide from its own pages: an interview team using a standardized form, required CASPer, Dec 15 decisions and no federal loans.

California Northstate requires CASPer and interviews applicants by invitation, typically from August or September to March or April, with an interview team of at least one Admissions Committee member that evaluates applicants on a standardized form. Here is what CNU publishes, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> California Northstate DMD Requirements California Northstate University (CNU) describes itself as "a mission-driven, for-profit, private institution which was founded in 2006," and its College of Dental Medicine is one of its six colleges. The college's site gives its location as 2201 Broadway in Sacramento, where its Comprehensive Family Care Clinic treats patients, and CNU's 2026–2027 catalog says in-person classes meet at 2200 X Street in Sacramento (occasionally at 9650 West Taron Drive in Elk Grove). The DMD is "approximately a 172-week curriculum," delivered over 12 trimesters: "Students begin in July

of each year, culminating in a DMD degree granted in June of the fourth year." CNU says the college is accredited by CODA and "has been granted the accreditation status of approval with reporting requirements," with its next accreditation cycle in 2032. You apply through AADSAS and take CASPer; to receive CNU's supplemental application, your science and overall GPAs must be at least 2.80. The CNU pages we read publish no class profile: no class size, no average GPA or DAT for an entering class, and no count of applicants, interviews or offers. This is what they do publish: Measure. What CNU says. Minimum GPA. A science and a total GPA “over 2.80” on a 4.00 scale; science and overall GPAs of at least 2.80 are “required to receive a supplemental application” (the two differ at exactly 2.80: aim above it). Competitive GPA. “3.20 is preferred and 3.40+ will be the likely mean for each class” (its requirements page); “3.20 or higher will

generally be competitively necessary” (its 2026–2027 catalog). DAT. An Academic Average of 18 or above and a Perceptual Ability of 17 or above “is desired,” on the old 1–30 scale (the catalog writes the first as “18 (380)”). DAT age. Taken “no more than three years prior to application”; no Canadian DAT. Class profile. None published on the CNU pages we read. Which DAT scale is CNU using?. The old one. CNU's requirements page still says "The DAT is scored from 1-30 with 18 being the national average," but the ADA moved the DAT to a 200–600 scale on 1 March 2025. CNU's 2026–2027 catalog pairs the Academic Average target with one three-digit figure, "18 (380)," while the ADA's own concordance table lists an old Academic Average of 18 as approximately 390 on the new scale. Neither page gives a three-digit figure for the Perceptual Ability 17; the ADA's table lists an old Perceptual Ability of 17 as approximately 360, but that is the ADA's

conversion, not a CNU target. These are the scores CNU says it desires, not published minimums: its catalog says the Admissions Committee sets "minimum threshold standards for GPAs and DAT scores" each year and that applications below its minimum criteria are rejected, but the pages we read don't give this year's thresholds. The ADA's guide says that from 1 March 2025 every DAT score goes to AADSAS on the new scale, older attempts converted, so your scores reach CNU through AADSAS on that scale whenever you tested: ask cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu how it reads them, and until it answers, plan on the stricter reading, the ADA's 390 for the Academic Average. A bachelor's degree: preferred, or required?. CNU's pages word it four ways. Its requirements page says the college "prefers a baccalaureate degree," says an applicant must have a GPA over 2.80 "as well as a bachelor’s degree," and says "a minimum of 90 semester credits or 135 quarter

credits" is required. Its 2026–2027 catalog asks for "a plan leading to a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation," and both say that to be competitive you should complete a bachelor's degree before you start. Plan on the stricter reading, a bachelor's degree finished before classes begin in July 2027, and if you won't have one, confirm with cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu before you apply. In state or out of state? The CNU pages we read state no admission preference for California residents, and CNU's 2026–27 cost sheet lists a single tuition rate. Its Admissions Committee will "strive to increase the selection and enrollment of dental students who will be highly qualified, diverse, and sensitive to the oral health needs of the Northern California population." Not a US citizen or permanent resident? Ask first. CNU's catalog says it "accepts applications from graduates of foreign institutions provided they hold either US citizenship or US

Permanent Resident status at the time of application," and that it doesn't help applicants obtain visas, citizenship or permanent residency. The same section says CNU "accepts applications from international students provided they meet the same prerequisite requirements as U.S applicants." Coursework from outside the US, including Canada, must be evaluated by World Education Services (the catalog also names Education Credential Evaluators), and applicants whose degree is from a non-English-speaking country, or who haven't completed at least two years and 44 semester units at a US college or university, may be required to submit TOEFL scores. The catalog doesn't say how its two sentences on foreign applicants fit together, so confirm your eligibility with cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu before you apply. Prerequisite coursework Course. Required. Biology, with laboratory. 2 semesters, 3 quarters or 1 year. Inorganic (general) chemistry, with

laboratory. 2 semesters, 3 quarters or 1 year. Organic chemistry, with laboratory. 2 semesters, 3 quarters or 1 year. Physics (CNU names no lab). 2 semesters, 3 quarters or 1 year. Human anatomy. 1 semester, 1 quarter or 3 units. Biochemistry. 1 semester, 1 quarter or 3 units. College-level English. 2 semesters, 3 quarters or 1 year. AP, IB and pass/no pass: "IB or AP credits not accepted unless indicated"; for English, "IB or AP credits may be considered if they are accepted by the undergraduate program." Pass/No Pass credit counts for a required course only "under unusual circumstances," and CNU requires "Written documentation and explanation" of any academic difficulties, such as grades of I, W, D or F. The CNU pages we read give no minimum grade for each course and no date by which prerequisites must be finished. How much college: "Most students complete a bachelor’s degree before entering a dental school. However, a minimum of 90

semester credits or 135 quarter credits from an officially accredited US or Canadian College, or equivalent foreign institution, is required." On the degree itself, see the callout above. Recommended courses: microbiology, physiology, statistics, social sciences, immunology and foreign languages (the catalog adds a human anatomy lab and behavioral sciences). CNU adds that "it is advantageous for applicants to have course credit in cellular, molecular biology and histology," and that courses in "sociology, psychology, history, arts, ethics and humanism are of value." The DAT: "a requirement for admission," taken "no more than three years prior to application"; CNU "does not accept Canadian DAT results." On the scale, see the callout above. Three letters, through AADSAS: from "people who can speak to your character and life experience," and "Letters written by immediate family members will not be accepted." The pages we read name no

required writer, such as a science professor or a dentist. Experience: the CNU pages we read set no shadowing or dental-experience hours. CNU says applicants "should reflect a people/service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities" and "proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer, or other life experiences." Technical standards: "Standards in five areas must be met by all candidates: Observation, Communication, Motor Function, Cognitive, and Professional." They include the ability to "complete timed demonstrations of skills" and to "Recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships." CNU says reasonable accommodation is defined under US federal statutes for individuals with disabilities. Background check: "Applicants must pass a criminal background check" and "must be drug free and agree to abide by California Northstate University

Policy." CNU's 2026–2027 student handbook says the first background check "is a requirement for admission and is conducted prior to entering the program." Letters: have your writers submit through AADSAS. CNU's admissions page says "All letters of evaluation must be submitted directly from the evaluators. The Office of Admissions does not accept letters submitted by students." Its catalog says the office "does not accept letters submitted directly by students nor their evaluators." Both send your application through AADSAS ("All application materials will be submitted through AADSAS"), so the safe route is for each writer to submit their own letter through AADSAS, with nothing sent to CNU's office directly. If a writer can't use AADSAS, confirm the route with cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu first. No federal loans: plan your financing early. CNU "does NOT accept or otherwise participate in any federal direct student loan program (Title IV)

funding, any federal veterans’ benefits program (Title 38) funding, or any other government student loan program funding," and its School Performance Fact Sheet for the DMD (covering 2022 and 2023) says "students who attend this institution do not have federal student loans." Its financial aid office lists private educational loans, payment plans, and grants and scholarships instead. For students who entered in 2026–27, CNU's cost sheet lists first-year tuition of $93,339, estimated tuition and fees of $117,841 for the first year and $480,594 for the four-year program, and an estimated first-year cost of $148,303 with room and board, transportation and a laptop. Its 2026–2027 catalog gives the same first-year tuition and fees but prints the four-year total as both $480,594 and $443,445, and the first-year cost as $146,262: budget on the higher figures. The pages we read have no figures yet for the class entering in 2027. To confirm a

rule where CNU's pages disagree, email cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu, the address on its admissions page. CASPer: Required of All Applicants CNU's 2026–2027 catalog lists CASPer among its admission requirements: "Applicants must participate in the CASPer test." It says the test "evaluates applicants in ten key skills that have been associated with ability to succeed in an academic environment": collaboration, communication, motivation, problem solving, professionalism, equity, empathy, resilience, ethics and self-awareness. CNU's requirements page says "The application process will involve the use of the CASPer test. Snapshot is not required," and sends you to Acuity Insights, which runs CASPer, "for test dates and times, as well as to book your test." The pages we read don't say how CNU weighs your results. Rule. What CNU says. Who takes it. “Applicants must participate in the CASPer test” (its catalog); its admissions page lists “Take

CASPer Test” among the admission steps. Which test. CASPer, booked through acuityinsights.app/casper; “Snapshot is not required.” Duet isn't mentioned. When. No test date or results deadline on the CNU pages we read. And the interview. The catalog says “To be considered for an interview, applicants must meet the admissions requirements listed previously,” and CASPer is one of them. When to take CASPer. The CNU pages we read give no date. Its interviews typically begin in August or September, and its catalog says applicants are notified of their admission status on December 15, so book the earliest CASPer date you can once you decide to apply. When our CASPer research read Acuity's program directory in August 2026, it listed February 22, 2027 for California Northstate. That is Acuity's date, not CNU's, and we couldn't re-read the directory on 7 October: don't treat it as a target. If you're unsure your results will arrive in time, ask

cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu. The CNU Interview: What the College Says By invitation, after a file review. "To be considered for an interview, applicants must meet the admissions requirements listed previously. They must also submit all the materials necessary to complete their file. Applications that do not meet minimum criteria for GPAs and/or DAT scores are rejected." The Admissions Committee reviews the eligible applicants' files "to determine whether applicants merit an interview based on established criteria." An interview team. "When applicants accept an interview, they are interviewed by an interview team consisting of at least one Admissions Committee member." The catalog doesn't say how many people are on the team, how long the interview lasts, whether it is in person or virtual, or whether your interviewers will have read your application, and the other CNU pages we read don't either. A standardized form. "Team members evaluate

applicants based on a standardized form assessing whether the applicant is in alignment with the mission and vision of CDM." Your "road traveled." CNU's catalog says each applicant "will be evaluated on his/her own merit during the interview process," and that the applicant's personal "road traveled" will be explored "for life experiences, potential for service to underserved communities, and other attributes that indicate a high level of likelihood of successful completion of the Dental Medicine program and contributing to the oral health needs of the communities they will serve." Typically August or September to March or April. "The interview process typically begins in August or September and ends in March or April." The catalog gives no years; this cycle, that is August or September 2026 to March or April 2027. What happens next. "The Committee may recommend to admit, to deny, or to place the applicant on the alternate list for

admission. Recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval." The catalog says applicants are notified of their admission status "on December 15th of the year prior to matriculation" (December 15, 2026, this cycle). The form assesses alignment: know CNU's mission and vision. The pages we read don't include the form, but CNU does publish what it measures against. The college's mission is "To advance the science and art of healthcare through education, service, research, personal wellness, and social accountability." Its vision is "to provide constructive innovation in its education programs, and leadership in integrating oral health care into human health care systems." Know both well enough to connect them to your own experiences, in your own words, without reciting them. What applicants report These come from a public applicant forum and its invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports. They are

not CNU's words: This cycle (2026–27): the tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, listed no invitation, interview date or interview method for California Northstate. As of 7 October 2026, the forum's CNU thread for this cycle held only its opening post. No report is not proof that CNU has sent no invitations. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker, last updated 22 October 2025, listed CNU's first invitations on 5 September 2025 and a first interview date of 9 September, virtual, both within the August-or-September start in CNU's catalog. The forum's CNU thread for that cycle held two posts, neither about an interview: its opening post and, on 31 August 2025, a question about a group chat. No post in either thread, and no tracker cell, describes the interview itself: its length, the number of interviewers or what was asked. Our 2026–27 interview tracker sets CNU's row beside every other US and Puerto Rico school on the forum's tracker. What

CNU doesn't publish. Whether the interview is in person or virtual, the platform, how long it lasts, how many people interview you, whether they have read your file, what is asked, the form itself, how the interview is weighed against CASPer and your academics, and when invitations go out. Its catalog gives one notification date, December 15, and doesn't say how applicants interviewed later in the season hear. Prepare a clear, specific account of your path, your motivation and your service that works for any interviewer, in person or on camera. Practice Your CNU Answers Out Loud. CNU's interview team, with at least one Admissions Committee member, evaluates you on a standardized form for alignment with the college's mission and vision. Practice telling your story and answering motivation, behavioral and ethical questions out loud, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. CNU's 2026–27 Admissions

Timeline The CNU pages we read publish no application deadline, and its catalog gives months, not years. For a class starting in July 2027, this is what CNU says (the years are ours): When. What CNU says. Within three years before you apply. Your DAT “must have been taken no more than three years prior to application” (“CNUCDM accepts DAT scores from the last 3 years”). With your AADSAS application. “All application materials will be submitted through AADSAS”; “Make application payment via Paypal (found on AADSAS application)”. If your GPAs qualify. CNU's supplemental application: “A minimum science and overall GPA of 2.80 on a 4.00 scale is required to receive a supplemental application”. As early as you can. CASPer: “Applicants must participate in the CASPer test”; no date on the CNU pages we read. Typically August or September 2026 to March or April 2027. Interviews: “The interview process typically begins in August or September and

ends in March or April”. December 15, 2026. Applicants notified of their admission status “on December 15th of the year prior to matriculation”. If you are admitted. The Student Enrollment Agreement, completed and submitted “to show intent to enroll” (the 2026–27 cost sheet lists a $250 nonrefundable Enrollment Agreement Fee), and a criminal background check “conducted prior to entering the program”. July 2027. Classes begin: “Students begin in July of each year” (CNU's 2026–27 academic calendar set this year's mandatory first-year orientation for July 8–10, 2026). The CNU pages we read give no date for invitations, no deadline for AADSAS, the supplemental application or CASPer, and no waitlist process beyond the Admissions Committee's option to recommend placing an applicant "on the alternate list for admission." Its catalog says "All changes and notifications are continuously updated as needed and posted to the ADEA web site and to

the CNU College of Dental Medicine web site under Admissions," so check both, and CNU's entry in your AADSAS application, for this cycle's deadline. Don't wait for a deadline. CNU's interviews typically begin in August or September, and it notifies applicants of their admission status on December 15. With no deadline on the pages we read, the safe plan is to submit AADSAS early in the cycle, book CASPer right away, and complete the supplemental application as soon as you receive it. Other routes into CNU's DMD, with their own interviews. CNU's College of Health Sciences runs a BS-DMD Early Assurance Honors Track (a partnership with the College of Dental Medicine) for "first-time undergraduate freshmen," whose finalists "will be selected to interview with the College of Dental Medicine Admissions Committee," and Pre-Health Professions Pathways whose students can earn "a priority interview" with the college. Those are the pathways' own

selection steps, not the AADSAS interview this guide describes. What CNU Looks For CNU's catalog says "A holistic review looking into the applicant as a whole person including metrics, experiences and attributes will take place," and "While grades and DAT scores are important, evaluation of motivation, communication skills, cultural humility, emotional maturity, and not the least, ethical standards, are of equal importance." Your interview team evaluates you on a form assessing your alignment with the college's mission and vision. With CNU's applicant qualities and technical standards, these make a practical checklist for the interview: Motivation and the humanitarian ethos: "Applicants must demonstrate a sincere understanding of, and interest in, the humanitarian ethos of health care and particularly dental medicine," and "should reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer, or

other life experiences." The pages we read set no shadowing hours, so the experiences you describe carry this. Communication: "Applicants must possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues." CNU's technical standards ask candidates to "Establish therapeutic relationships with patients" and to "Perceive relevant non-verbal communication such as changes in mood, activity, and posture." Cultural humility and service: the interview explores your "potential for service to underserved communities," and CNU looks for "a people/service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities." Its graduation competencies include patient interaction "in an empathetic and culturally humble fashion." Have one specific story about serving people whose background differs from yours. Emotional maturity: the technical standards ask for "the judgement and emotional stability required for

full use of their intellectual abilities," and the ability to "function effectively under stress, and display flexibility and adaptability to changing and uncertain environments." Ethical standards: "not the least" in CNU's list. Its standards include the ability to "Function within both the law and ethical standards of the dental profession," and its catalog says ethics and professionalism are "reviewed, role-modeled, emphasized and reflected upon throughout the program with weekly guided questions." Practice talking through an ethical dilemma out loud: the options, what you would weigh, and why. Teamwork and feedback: "Work effectively and professionally as part of the health care team," and "accept constructive feedback from others, and respond with appropriate modification." "Working as a team" is the first of the WECARE values CNU's College of Dental Medicine embraces. Have an example of each. Your road traveled: the interview

explores your "life experiences" and the attributes that suggest you will finish the program and contribute "to the oral health needs of the communities they will serve." Know how to tell your own path, briefly and specifically. Why CNU? Start with its clinics and its community work. CNU's catalog says clinical care "takes place in a comprehensive care clinical model," and that "Learners will engage in the provision of care in community-based clinics, serving populations in need, in their final year of the program." Its current community sites include La Clinica in Vallejo, Peach Tree Health in Yuba City, Sacramento Native American Health (SNAHC) and WellSpace Health, and it lists Ampla Health in Yuba City as "accepting students in March 2026." At its Comprehensive Family Care Clinic in Sacramento, "All care is provided by a dental student team under the direct supervision of faculty." Its research program has "an emphasis on

translational and community service research aimed at addressing the significant disparities in oral health and access to oral health care among residents of California’s Northern Central Valley," and its research and community page describes work on the Virtual Dental Home, a system of care that brings dentistry to places such as schools and nursing homes, and on alternatives to sedation and general anesthesia for people with special needs. Students "engage in rich interprofessional education alongside peers in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, psychology, and other disciplines," and reflect on their progress in a portfolio course at the end of each trimester. Connect one of these to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve. The practice questions below are ours, built on these criteria. CNU does not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? CNU's catalog says it "does not accept students with advanced

standing from international programs," and it doesn't admit transfer students from other dental programs. Compare advanced standing programs in our CAAPID program finder . ); }; export default CaliforniaNorthstateDentalSchoolInterview; california-northstate-dental-school-interview California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine CNU California Northstate Dental School Interview (DMD) 2026- CASPer Interview Team & Requirements California Northstate Dental School DMD 2026-27 California Northstate DMD guide from its own an interview team using a standardized form required CASPer Dec 15 decisions and no federal loans. California Northstate dental school interview California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine interview CNU dental school interview California Northstate DMD interview California Northstate dental CASPer California Northstate dental school requirements CNU DMD requirements 2026-10-08 2026-10-08 Domestic

Program Interview team (at least one admissions committee member) + CASPer California Northstate requires CASPer and interviews applicants by invitation typically from August or September to March or April with an interview team of at least one Admissions Committee member that evaluates applicants on a standardized form. Here is what CNU publishes what applicants report and how to prepare. Applicants are “interviewed by an interview team consisting of at least one Admissions Committee member ” whose members evaluate them on “a standardized form assessing whether the applicant is in alignment with the mission and vision of CDM”; and “Applicants must participate in the CASPer test.” Degree DMD (about 172 weeks; classes begin in July) Sacramento California Interview Format An interview team of at least one Admissions Committee member; applicants evaluated on a standardized form Interview Setting Not published (the forum s tracker reported

virtual in 2025–26) Interviews Typically August or September to March or April CASPer Required; no date on the CNU pages we read (Acuity s directory listed February 22 2027 when we read it in August 2026); Snapshot not required Deadline None on the CNU pages we read Supplemental Science and overall GPAs of at least 2.80 required to receive it Decisions Applicants notified of their admission status on December 15 “of the year prior to matriculation” (December 15 2026 this cycle) Minimum GPA Science and total “over 2.80”; “3.20 is preferred” (its requirements page) DAT Academic Average 18 and Perceptual Ability 17 desired (old 1–30 scale); taken within three years Class Size Not published on the CNU pages we read Federal Loans CNU doesn t participate in federal student loan programs Tuition $93 339 first-year tuition; $117 841 first-year tuition and fees (2026–27 entrants) requirements Requirements 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework

3 casper CASPer 2 interview-format What CNU Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline CNU s Admissions Timeline 2 what-cnu-looks-for What CNU Looks For 2 sample-questions Practice Interview Questions 2 preparation-tips Expert Preparation Tips 2 admissions-stats Admissions Statistics 2 prep-checklist Prep Checklist 2 faq FAQ 2 Traditional / Motivational Tell me about yourself. CNU does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it looks for. CNU s catalog says each applicant s personal “road traveled” will be explored “for life experiences potential for service to underserved communities and other attributes ” and it doesn t say whether your interviewers will have read your application. Build a 90-second answer that stands on its where you come from the experiences that led you to dentistry and why CNU is the next step. Why dentistry? CNU says

applicants “must demonstrate a sincere understanding of and interest in the humanitarian ethos of health care and particularly dental medicine ” and “should reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous work volunteer or other life experiences.” Anchor your answer in one specific experience and say what it showed you about caring for patients not only about the work itself. Why California Northstate? Use what CNU says about its a comprehensive care clinical model community-based clinics serving populations in need in the final year rotations at community sites (its catalog s current list includes La Clinica in Vallejo Peach Tree Health in Yuba City and WellSpace Health) interprofessional education alongside students in medicine pharmacy nursing and psychology and research on oral health disparities in California s Northern Central Valley. Connect one of them to how you want to learn and whom you

want to serve; Sacramento alone is not a reason. What do CNU s mission and vision mean to you? CNU s interview team evaluates you on “a standardized form assessing whether the applicant is in alignment with the mission and vision of CDM.” Its mission is “To advance the science and art of healthcare through education service research personal wellness and social accountability.” Pick one part such as service or social accountability and tie it to something you have done in your own words. Behavioral Tell me about a time you served people whose background is different from yours. CNU s catalog says the interview explores your “potential for service to underserved communities ” and it names cultural humility among the qualities it weighs equally with grades and the DAT. Describe what you did what you learned about the people you served and what you would do differently now. Tell me about a time you received critical feedback. CNU s

technical standards ask students to “accept constructive feedback from others and respond with appropriate modification.” Say what the feedback was what you changed and what improved as a result. Tell me about the biggest challenge on your path to dental school. CNU weighs emotional maturity equally with grades and the DAT and its technical standards ask students to “function effectively under stress and display flexibility and adaptability to changing and uncertain environments.” Keep the setback short and spend most of the answer on what you did next and what it taught you. Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team. “Working as a team” is the first of the WECARE values CNU s College of Dental Medicine embraces and its technical standards ask students to “Work effectively and professionally as part of the health care team.” Keep the setup short and spend most of the answer on what you contributed and how the team got there.

Ethical / Scenario A patient is anxious and upset before treatment. How do you handle it? CNU s technical standards ask students to “Establish therapeutic relationships with patients” and to “Perceive relevant non-verbal communication such as changes in mood activity and posture.” Show that you would notice the fear acknowledge it explain each step in plain words agree on a signal to pause and involve your supervising dentist if the patient wants to stop. A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? CNU s mission includes “social accountability ” and its students provide care in community-based clinics “serving populations in need” in their final year. Acknowledge the patient without judgment explore legitimate options such as phased treatment or a community clinic and never lower the standard of care. Show your reasoning; a question like this rarely has a single right answer. You see a classmate cheating on an exam.

What do you do? CNU weighs ethical standards (“not the least ” its catalog says) equally with grades and the DAT and its technical standards ask students to “Function within both the law and ethical standards of the dental profession.” Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust your license. A patient refuses the treatment you recommend. How do you respond? CNU s graduation competencies include “the ability to represent the patient’s best interests in the delivery of oral health care” and patient interaction that addresses “the patient’s concerns and desires.” Find out what worries the patient explain the options and their risks in plain words respect their right to decide document the conversation and don t abandon them. Take CASPer as early as you can CNU s catalog says “Applicants must participate in the CASPer test ” and that to be considered for an

interview you must meet its admission requirements but the pages we read give no CASPer date. Interviews typically begin in August or September so book a date through Acuity Insights as soon as you apply. Acuity s directory listed February 22 2027 for CNU in August 2026; that is Acuity s date not CNU s. Know CNU s mission and vision well CNU s interview team evaluates you on “a standardized form assessing whether the applicant is in alignment with the mission and vision of CDM.” Learn its mission (education service research personal wellness and social accountability) and its vision (“constructive innovation” in its education programs and leadership in integrating oral health care into human health care systems) and connect each to your own experience. Tell your road traveled with specifics CNU says “While grades and DAT scores are important evaluation of motivation communication skills cultural humility emotional maturity and not the

least ethical standards are of equal importance ” and that the interview explores your “life experiences” and “potential for service to underserved communities.” Prepare two or three concrete stories that show those qualities rather than a list of activities. Plan your financing before you accept CNU doesn t participate in federal student loan programs. For students who entered in 2026–27 its cost sheet lists $117 841 in estimated tuition and fees for the first year and $480 594 for the four-year program. Its financial aid office lists private educational loans payment plans and grants and scholarships so work out how you would pay before you accept a seat. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DMD about 172 weeks over 12 trimesters starting in July; Sacramento California Application AADSAS; application payment through a PayPal link in the AADSAS application; no deadline on the CNU pages we read Supplemental application Science and overall

GPAs of at least 2.80 required to receive it; no fee amount prompts or deadline on the CNU pages we read CASPer Required (“Applicants must participate in the CASPer test”); Snapshot not required; no date on the CNU pages we read Interview By invitation; an interview team of at least one Admissions Committee member whose members evaluate applicants on a standardized form for alignment with the college s mission and vision; typically August or September to March or April Decisions Applicants notified of their admission status on December 15 2026 (“December 15th of the year prior to matriculation”) Class size Not published on the CNU pages we read Acceptance rate Not published; the CNU pages we read give no applicant interview or offer counts Minimum GPA Science and total GPA “over 2.80” on a 4.00 scale; “3.20 is preferred” (its requirements page); “3.20 or higher will generally be competitively necessary” (its catalog) DAT Required;

Academic Average 18 and Perceptual Ability 17 “desired” (old 1–30 scale; the catalog writes “18 (380)”); taken no more than three years before you apply; no Canadian DAT Prerequisites Biology general chemistry and organic chemistry with labs (2 semesters or 3 quarters each); physics (2 semesters or 3 quarters); human anatomy and biochemistry (1 semester or 1 quarter each); college-level English (2 semesters or 3 quarters) College credits At least 90 semester or 135 quarter credits; non-US coursework including Canadian evaluated by WES Bachelor s degree CNU s pages disagree (it “prefers” one; “as well as a bachelor’s degree”; “a plan leading to a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation”): plan to finish one before July 2027 Letters Three through AADSAS from people who can speak to your character and life experience; none from immediate family Shadowing No hours set on the CNU pages we read Residency No admission preference for

California residents stated on the CNU pages we read; one tuition rate International applicants The catalog requires US citizenship or permanent residency of graduates of foreign institutions and also says CNU accepts international students who meet its prerequisites; confirm with CNU Advanced standing CNU doesn t accept advanced standing students or transfers from other dental programs Federal loans Not CNU doesn t participate in federal student loan programs Tuition 2026–27 entrants $93 339 first-year tuition; $117 841 estimated first-year tuition and fees; $480 594 for four years (its cost sheet; the catalog also prints $443 445) What CNU asks for (its pages don t say which items must be done before you apply) Biology general chemistry and organic chemistry with labs plus physics human anatomy biochemistry and college-level English At least 90 semester or 135 quarter credits and a bachelor s degree planned before classes begin in

July 2027 A DAT taken no more than three years before you apply; CNU desires an Academic Average of 18 and a Perceptual Ability of 17 (old 1–30 scale) Science and total GPAs over 2.80 (3.20 preferred) Three letters through AADSAS from people who can speak to your character and life experience not immediate family Community service or extracurricular activities that show a people and service orientation Apply (no deadline on the CNU pages we read) Submit AADSAS early in the cycle and pay CNU s application fee through the PayPal link in the AADSAS application Book CASPer as soon as you the CNU pages we read give no date and Snapshot isn t required Complete CNU s supplemental application when you receive it (science and overall GPAs of at least 2.80 are required to receive it) Complete your CNU considers applicants for an interview only once they “submit all the materials necessary to complete their file” If you are invited (interviews

typically August or September to March or April) Prepare for an interview team of at least one Admissions Committee member; the CNU pages we read don t say whether it is in person or virtual so follow your invitation Learn CNU s mission and vision and connect them to your own experiences Prepare your road traveled story examples of service teamwork and taking feedback and an ethical dilemma to talk through Prepare your own questions about CNU s clinics and community sites Dates in CNU s catalog (the years are ours) December 15 CNU notifies applicants of their admission status July classes begin What is the California Northstate dental school interview format? CNU s 2026–2027 catalog says “When applicants accept an interview they are interviewed by an interview team consisting of at least one Admissions Committee member. Team members evaluate applicants based on a standardized form assessing whether the applicant is in alignment with the

mission and vision of CDM.” It says each applicant s personal “road traveled” will be explored “for life experiences potential for service to underserved communities and other attributes ” and that the interview process “typically begins in August or September and ends in March or April.” The CNU pages we read don t say how long the interview lasts how many people interview you whether it is in person or virtual whether your interviewers have read your file or what is asked. Is the California Northstate dental interview virtual or in person? The CNU pages we read don t say. On a public applicant forum the invite tracker that a volunteer compiles from applicants reports listed CNU s 2025–26 interviews as virtual with a first interview on 9 September 2025; as of its 25 September 2026 update it listed no CNU invitation interview date or method for 2026–27. Go by your invitation. Does California Northstate use the MMI? The CNU pages we read

describe no its catalog describes an interview team of at least one Admissions Committee member whose members evaluate you on a standardized form. No one in the forum s 2025–26 or 2026–27 CNU threads described the interview at all. Prepare to talk about your path your motivation and your service in whatever format CNU uses and practice talking through ethical questions out loud. Does California Northstate require CASPer for dental school? Yes. CNU s 2026–2027 catalog says “Applicants must participate in the CASPer test ” which it says evaluates ten collaboration communication motivation problem solving professionalism equity empathy resilience ethics and self-awareness. Its requirements page says “Snapshot is not required” and sends you to Acuity Insights for test dates and booking. The CNU pages we read give no CASPer date; when we read Acuity s directory in August 2026 it listed February 22 2027 for California Northstate which is

Acuity s date not CNU s. The catalog lists CASPer among the requirements you must meet to be considered for an interview so take it early. The pages we read don t say how CNU weighs CASPer. What GPA and DAT do I need for California Northstate? CNU requires a science and a total GPA “over 2.80” on a 4.00 scale and science and overall GPAs of at least 2.80 to receive its supplemental application. Its requirements page says “3.20 is preferred and 3.40+ will be the likely mean for each class”; its catalog says “3.20 or higher will generally be competitively necessary.” On the DAT CNU says an Academic Average of 18 and a Perceptual Ability of 17 or above “is desired ” on the old 1–30 scale; its catalog writes the first as “18 (380) ” though the ADA s concordance table lists an old Academic Average of 18 as about 390 (and an old Perceptual Ability of 17 as about 360) on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since March 2025. Your DAT must have

been taken no more than three years before you apply and CNU doesn t accept the Canadian DAT. The CNU pages we read publish no class averages. The ADA s guide says every DAT score has gone to AADSAS on the new scale since 1 March 2025 older attempts converted so ask cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu how CNU reads yours; until it answers plan on the stricter reading the ADA s 390 for the Academic Average. When is the California Northstate DMD application deadline? The CNU pages we read publish none for AADSAS its supplemental application or CASPer. Its interviews typically begin in August or September and its catalog says applicants are notified of their admission status on December 15 (December 15 2026 this cycle) so apply early in the cycle and take CASPer as soon as you can. Check CNU s entry in your AADSAS application for its deadline and confirm with cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu. Can I use federal student loans at California Northstate? No. CNU

says it “does NOT accept or otherwise participate in any federal direct student loan program (Title IV) funding any federal veterans’ benefits program (Title 38) funding or any other government student loan program funding.” Its financial aid office lists private educational loans payment plans and grants and scholarships. For students who entered in 2026–27 its cost sheet lists first-year tuition of $93 339 estimated tuition and fees of $117 841 for the first year and $480 594 for the four-year program (its catalog also prints a four-year figure of $443 445) and an estimated first-year cost of $148 303 with room and board transportation and a laptop. Does California Northstate accept out-of-state and international applicants? The CNU pages we read state no admission preference for California residents and its 2026–27 cost sheet lists one tuition rate; its Admissions Committee aims to enroll students who are “sensitive to the oral

health needs of the Northern California population.” For international applicants CNU s catalog says it “accepts applications from graduates of foreign institutions provided they hold either US citizenship or US Permanent Resident status at the time of application ” and also that it “accepts applications from international students provided they meet the same prerequisite requirements as U.S applicants.” Coursework from outside the US must be evaluated by World Education Services. CNU doesn t accept advanced standing students. Confirm your eligibility with cdm.admissions@cnsu.edu before you apply. Western University Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) Another California DMD that requires WesternU s with a last test date of November 12 2026 on-campus interviews from September to February and 320 interviews from 2 627 applicants for fall 2025. Domestic Program /schools/western-university-dental-school-interview UCSF Dental School

Interview Guide (DDS) In San UCSF s DDS requirements from its own pages the Class of 2029 s DAT and GPA about 200 applicants interviewed a year and no preference for California residents. Domestic Program /schools/ucsf-dental-school-interview Pacific Dugoni Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Also in Northern Dugoni s accelerated year-round three-year DDS in San Francisco with most of its interviews from September through March. Domestic Program /schools/pacific-dugoni-dental-school-interview