Columbia Dental School Interview: Kira & Zoom 2026-27

Columbia DDS guide from Columbia's own pages: the Kira video assessment, Friday Zoom interviews, December 1 offers, prerequisites, GPA and DAT.

Columbia puts two parts of its review on camera: a recorded Kira assessment for designated applicants, and an interview on Zoom. Here is what Columbia publishes about each, and what it leaves out. return ( <> Columbia DDS Requirements and Class Profile Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM) enrolls approximately 92 students a year into its four-year DDS program, from more than 2,000 applications. It publishes a profile of the class that entered in 2025, and it is direct about what it does not require. Metric. Columbia's published figure. Note. Entering class. Approximately 92 a year. Four-year DDS program. Applications. More than 2,000 a year. Columbia publishes no acceptance rate. Average GPA. 3.8. Class entering in 2025. Mean DAT. 24. Old 1–30 scale; Columbia puts the national average at roughly 19. Minimum GPA or DAT. None. Scores should be in line with current students. Residency. No in-state preference. Columbia is a

private school. Which DAT scale is that 24 on?. The old one. Since 1 March 2025 the DAT has been scored from 200 to 600, and Columbia's 24 sits beside a national average of "roughly 19", which only fits the old 1–30 scale. If you hold a new-scale score, compare like with like: Columbia publishes no new-scale figure. Why this guide gives no acceptance rate. Columbia gives the number of applications and the size of the class, not the number of offers it makes, so no honest acceptance rate can be worked out from its pages. Prerequisite coursework Columbia counts in credits, with labs for the four core sciences: Course. Requirement. Lab. Physics. At least 8 credits (one academic year). Yes. Biology. At least 8 credits (one academic year). Yes. Inorganic or general chemistry. At least 8 credits (one academic year). Yes. Organic chemistry. At least 8 credits (one academic year). Yes. Biochemistry. One semester. Not required. English

composition or literature. 6 credits (one academic year); a writing-intensive class in another department also counts. No. A bachelor's degree from a US accredited college or a Canadian institution is required. Strongly recommended, not required: university-level credits in mathematics, sociology, history, fine or industrial arts, and a foreign language. Strong higher-level science gets preference "due to our biomedical curriculum", in Columbia's words. Non-science majors are welcome but must complete every prerequisite. The DAT is required , and the MCAT cannot replace it. Columbia accepts the Canadian DAT but prefers the US one. Letters: three from science professors, or one composite letter from a pre-health committee, sent through AADSAS. A letter from a dentist may be accepted as an additional letter, but it does not satisfy the requirement. Dental office work experience is not required , though Columbia expects "a strong

background in and demonstrated interest in the dental profession." A $75 supplemental fee , paid by credit card when you submit your AADSAS application. It is not refundable. The Columbia Interview Format: Kira and Zoom Columbia describes two separate parts of its admissions review. They are easy to confuse, because both happen on camera. The Kira Talent assessment (recorded video) In Columbia's words: "Designated applicants will be invited to complete an online asynchronous Kira Talent Assessment. The talent assessment is conducted as a video interview which will allow us to meet candidates virtually." Asynchronous means there is no live interviewer: questions appear on screen and you record your answers against a timer. Two details matter. Columbia sends it to "designated applicants" without saying how they are chosen, and it emails the details once your application has been received and meets all requirements. It also does not

publish how many questions there are or how long you get, so practice short timed answers in general rather than rehearsing for one exact format. Our list of dental schools that use Kira explains how the format works. Your setup is part of every answer. Reviewers see your lighting, framing and sound with each recording. Test them in the exact spot you will record, and look at the lens rather than your own face on screen. The interview: Fridays, on Zoom Separately, "Selected applicants will be invited for an interview. Interviews are scheduled on Fridays from September to February and take place at the College of Dental Medicine via zoom." Invitations come through the AADSAS portal, so watch it as closely as your inbox. Columbia does not offer tours during the admissions season. What Columbia publishes about the interview, and what it doesn't. Columbia publishes that the interview is by invitation, on Zoom, on Fridays between September

and February. It does not publish whether it is one-on-one, a panel or a set of MMI stations, how long it lasts, whether it is open or closed file, or how the Kira assessment and the interview relate in time. Prepare for a conversation that may or may not draw on your file, and confirm the details in your own invitation. Practice Both Columbia Formats with AI. Record timed answers the way Kira works, and rehearse live-style questions for the Zoom interview, with instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. Columbia's Admissions Calendar Columbia publishes its own calendar for the cycle. Here it is, in its order: When. What happens. June 1. The AADSAS application opens. June – August. Columbia's "ideal time to apply". August. Interview invitations begin, then continue on a rolling basis. September. Interviews begin, every Friday except holidays. December 1. First offers of admission are emailed. December 31.

Last day to submit AADSAS for Columbia. January – February. The entering class begins to take shape. March – April. The waitlist is used to fill the class. August. Orientation, and the first year begins. Two things follow. Columbia reviews applications on a rolling basis from August, so an application submitted in June or July is read while every seat is open, and one submitted in December competes for what is left. And the clock keeps running after an offer: you have 30 days to respond to an acceptance, a waitlist offer needs an answer within seven days, and waitlisted candidates are considered from February through July. What Columbia Looks For Columbia says it looks closely at "factors such as academic achievement and rigor, DAT scores, experience with higher level sciences, leadership, and community service, along with personal qualities such as integrity and a passion for healthcare." Together with what it says about the classmates

it seeks, three of these shape a strong interview: Collaboration. Columbia wants people "who will add to the collaborative nature of our student body." Have a story ready where the team's result mattered more than your own credit. Outreach and service. It looks for applicants who "contribute to the school and community through outreach and volunteering." Its third- and fourth-year students care for patients from the northern Manhattan community, so service in communities like that is worth naming. Comfort with medicine-level science. Columbia gives preference to strong higher-level science because of its biomedical curriculum, so be ready to talk about the hardest science you have taken and how you handled it. The best Why Columbia material is in its curriculum. Columbia calls itself one of four US dental schools that combine dental education with a medical school curriculum: the first 18 months are spent alongside students from the

Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Grading is pass/fail, clinical training begins in the second semester of the second year, and Columbia describes its new Center for Precision Dental Medicine as a clinical and educational facility. It also says half of its graduates go straight into specialty training. An answer that connects one of these to your own plans beats "it's Columbia" every time. The practice questions below are ours, built on these factors. Columbia does not publish its interview questions. Applying through CAAPID as an internationally trained dentist? That is a different program with its own process: see our Columbia advanced standing guide . ); }; export default ColumbiaDentalSchoolInterview; columbia-dental-school-interview Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Columbia Dental School Interview (DDS): Kira Zoom & Prep Guide 2026-27 Columbia Dental School Kira & Zoom 2026-27 Columbia DDS guide from

Columbia s own the Kira video assessment Friday Zoom interviews December 1 offers prerequisites GPA and DAT. Columbia dental school interview Columbia dental Kira Columbia DDS interview Columbia dental interview questions Columbia College of Dental Medicine admissions Columbia dental school requirements 2026-10-04 2026-10-04 Domestic Program Kira Talent + Zoom interview Columbia puts two parts of its review on a recorded Kira assessment for designated applicants and an interview on Zoom. Here is what Columbia publishes about each and what it leaves out. Columbia interviews on Fridays on Zoom from September to February. Degree DDS Recorded Video Kira Talent (designated applicants) Interview On Zoom by invitation Interview Days Fridays September – February Invites Begin August then rolling First Offers December 1 AADSAS Deadline December 31 Class Size ~92 from 2 000+ applications Avg GPA (2025) 3.8 Mean DAT (2025) 24 (old 1–30 scale)

Letters 3 science professors or a committee letter Supplemental Fee $75 requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format Kira and the Zoom Interview 2 kira-assessment The Kira Assessment 3 zoom-interview The Friday Zoom Interview 3 timeline Columbia s Admissions Calendar 2 what-columbia-looks-for What Columbia 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. Columbia does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it looks for. It also does not say whether the interview draws on your file so build a 90-second arc that works either who you are the two or three experiences that led you to dentistry and why Columbia is the next step. Rehearse it on camera

since both the Kira assessment and the interview happen on screen. Why dentistry? Trace it to a specific moment then show how you tested the interest. Columbia does not require dental office work experience but it expects \ a strong background in and demonstrated interest in the dental profession \ so name what you did to build yours. Why Columbia? Use what Columbia says about dental education combined with a medical school curriculum 18 months alongside Vagelos medical students pass/fail grading and patient care in northern Manhattan. Connect one of them to your own plans; a reason only Columbia can satisfy beats praise for the name. How do you see the link between oral health and overall health? Columbia describes dentistry as \ the oral health specialty of medicine\ and lists oral-systemic health among what its program combines which makes this worth preparing. Give one concrete example you have seen or studied and say what it means

for how you want to practice. Behavioral Tell me about a time a team s result mattered more than your own credit. Columbia says it wants people \ who will add to the collaborative nature of our student body.\ Use situation action and result and spend the last third on what you did for the team rather than what the team did for you. Describe your most meaningful service or volunteering experience. Columbia looks for applicants who \ contribute to the school and community through outreach and volunteering.\ Pick one experience be specific about the people you served and say what you would carry into caring for patients. Tell me about a time you led a group. Leadership is one of the factors Columbia names. Clubs research teams jobs and volunteering can all supply the story. Focus on how you moved people and what changed because of it. What is the hardest science course you have taken and how did you handle it? Columbia gives preference to

strong higher-level science because of its biomedical curriculum taught at first largely by medical school faculty. Name the course what made it hard and the method you used to master it. Ethical / Scenario A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? Acknowledge the patient without judgment explore legitimate options such as phased treatment or a community clinic and never lower the standard of care. Interviewers listen for your reasoning not a single right answer. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? Integrity is one of the personal qualities Columbia names. 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? Balance the patient s right to decide with their explain clearly find out what worries them offer alternatives document the conversation

and do not abandon the patient. Kira-Style Practice Prompts Tell us about a time your plans changed suddenly. What did you do? Columbia does not publish its Kira questions so treat these as practice for the format not predictions. Answer in three beats what happened what you did what you learned and practice against a timer until you finish cleanly. What would you add to your dental school class? Columbia does not publish this question but it says it seeks candidates \ who will add to the collaborative nature of our student body \ which makes it worth practicing. Name one specific thing show it in a short example and stop; a recorded answer has no follow-up question to rescue it. Describe a time you received difficult feedback. Name the feedback your first reaction and what you changed. Short honest answers read better on camera than polished ones. Apply in June or July Columbia calls June to August its \ ideal time to apply\ reviews on

a rolling basis from August and starts interviewing in September. An application submitted near the December 31 deadline competes for the seats that are left. Practice on camera twice over Columbia s Kira assessment is recorded and its interview is on Zoom so both happen on screen. Practice with the camera on review the recordings and fix your lighting framing and sound before either invitation arrives. Make \ Why Columbia\ about the curriculum Columbia describes itself as one of four US dental schools that combine dental education with a medical school curriculum and says half of its graduates go straight into specialty training. Tie your answer to one of those facts and to your own plans. Watch the AADSAS portal and your email Columbia notifies interview invitations and first offers through the AADSAS portal and sends Kira details by email. Once an offer comes you have 30 days to respond; a waitlist offer needs an answer within seven

days. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS (four-year program) Class size Approximately 92 from more than 2 000 applications a year Acceptance rate Not published by Columbia Class entering 2025 Average GPA 3.8; mean DAT 24 on the old 1–30 scale (national average roughly 19) Minimum GPA or DAT None; scores in line with current students Residency Private school; no in-state preference DAT Required; the MCAT cannot replace it; the Canadian DAT is accepted the US DAT preferred Prerequisites At least 8 credits (one academic year) each of physics biology inorganic or general chemistry and organic chemistry all with lab; one semester of biochemistry (no lab required); 6 credits (one academic year) of English composition or literature or a writing-intensive class in a non-English department Letters Three from science professors or one pre-health committee letter Dental office work experience Not required; a demonstrated interest in dentistry

is expected Kira Talent Online asynchronous video assessment for designated applicants Interview By invitation on Zoom on Fridays from September to February Key dates Application opens June 1; invitations from August; first offers December 1; AADSAS deadline December 31 Supplemental fee $75 non-refundable Before you apply Aim to submit AADSAS in June or July inside Columbia s \ ideal time to apply\ Line up three science professor letters or a pre-health committee letter Check every prerequisite against Columbia s credit counts labs included Pay the $75 supplemental fee by credit card when you submit Start preparing for Kira and the Zoom interview Columbia does not say which comes first If you are invited to the Kira assessment Test your camera lighting and sound in the exact spot you will record Practice timed recorded answers to motivational behavioral and ethical prompts Build four or five stories that cover teamwork service

leadership and a setback Watch your Columbia sends the Kira details there If you are invited to a Zoom interview Re-read your application in case the interview draws on it Prepare a specific Why Columbia answer tied to its medical-school curriculum Prepare questions about the curriculum clinical training and the northern Manhattan patients you would treat Run a full mock interview on Zoom with the camera at eye level Does Columbia dental school use Kira? Yes. Columbia says designated applicants will be invited to complete an online asynchronous Kira Talent assessment a recorded video interview. The details come by email once your application has been received and meets all requirements. Columbia does not publish how many questions it asks or how long you get. Is the Columbia dental interview virtual? Yes. Columbia says interviews are scheduled on Fridays from September to February and take place via Zoom. Selected applicants are

notified through the AADSAS portal. Columbia does not offer tours during the admissions season. What GPA and DAT do I need for Columbia dental school? Columbia sets no minimum GPA or DAT but it looks for scores \ in line with those of our currently enrolled students.\ The class entering in 2025 averaged a 3.8 GPA and a mean DAT of 24 on the old 1–30 scale against a national average Columbia puts at roughly 19 and Columbia notes that the range varies from year to year. It publishes no figure on the new 200–600 scale. When does Columbia send interview invitations and offers? Invitations begin in August and continue on a rolling basis interviews run every Friday from September except holidays and the first offers go out on December 1. The last day to submit AADSAS for Columbia is December 31. Does Columbia require shadowing or dental office experience? Columbia says dental office work experience \ is not required for admission \ and it

states no minimum number of shadowing hours. It does expect applicants to have \ a strong background in and demonstrated interest in the dental profession \ so be ready to show how you built yours. Does Columbia prefer New York residents? No. Columbia is a private school and makes no distinction between in-state and out-of-state applicants. Does Columbia award a DDS or a DMD? A DDS the Doctor of Dental Surgery. Columbia notes that the DDS and DMD are equivalent professional dental degrees. It does not accept transfer students into the DDS program. Stony Brook Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Also in New Stony Brook s Kira Talent Assessment which it uses with your AADSAS application to choose interviewees and its October 1 deadline. Domestic Program /schools/stony-brook-dental-school-interview Columbia Dental Advanced Standing Interview Guide For internationally trained Columbia s advanced standing program its CAAPID requirements and

interview. International Program /schools/columbia-dental-advanced-standing-interview NYU Dental School Interview Guide NYU s two-stage DDS the required Kira Talent video interview and the in-person Candidate Day. Domestic Program /schools/nyu-dental-school-interview Harvard Dental School Interview Guide Harvard s DMD interview format questions and preparation strategy for domestic applicants. Domestic Program /schools/harvard-dental-school-interview Rutgers Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) For US applicants through Rutgers invitation-only interview DAT-first rule December 15 offers and class profile. Domestic Program /schools/rutgers-dental-school-interview Touro Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Touro s 30-minute one-on-one open-file interview in person or virtual from September through March and its Class of 2030 profile. Domestic Program /schools/touro-dental-school-interview