Howard Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

Howard College of Dentistry DDS guide from its own pages: the panel and second interviews its older page describes, and the deadlines its two sites dispute.

Howard's older DDS page describes a 25–30-minute panel interview and a second interview with the Director of Admissions, and its two official sites give different interview windows and deadlines. Here is what Howard publishes, where its sites disagree, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> Howard DDS Requirements and Class Profile The Howard University College of Dentistry is in Washington, D.C. Its dental clinics have served the community since 1881, and its DDS page calls it "the fifth oldest dental school in the nation." The DDS is a four-year, full-time, in-person program with a class of 75–80. You apply through AADSAS, and once Howard receives your application, it emails you a link to pay its $75 application processing fee. Howard publishes its admissions rules on two official sites, and they disagree on several of them, including the deadlines. Neither names the 2026–27 cycle or prints a year on its admissions

dates, so the years in this guide are ours, for a fall 2027 start. Howard has two admissions sites, and they disagree. One is the DDS page on Howard's dentistry.howard.edu site, which this guide calls the older page. The other is the site of HUCD's Office of Student Affairs, hucdstudentaffairs.com, which the DDS page links for prospective students. They give different deadlines, interview windows, first-offer dates, GPA floors and coursework rules. The older page's own page data says it was last modified on January 6, 2026, but its text matches Howard's 2023–2024 Graduate and Professional Bulletin almost word for word, and it still carries a COVID-19 note on grades from 2021. It is also the only Howard page that describes the interview's format. The student affairs site looks more current: it gives the average GPA of successful candidates in 2025–2026 and DAT figures on the new scale. Where the two disagree, this guide shows both,

recommends the stricter reading, and suggests confirming with HUCDAdmit@howard.edu. Figure. What Howard publishes. Where. Class size. 75–80. Both sites. Interviews a year. “HUCD interviews 200-250 candidates per year”. Older page. Average GPA. 3.45, for “successful candidates in 2025-2026”. Student affairs applying page. Minimum GPA. “3.25 overall and 3.25 in science courses” (its FAQ cites 3.0; the older page, a 2.8 science GPA for screening). Student affairs applying page. DAT. Under the heading “Minimum Required Scores”: “Our more successful applicants score 19 (410) or above for Total Science and Academic Average” (19 on the old 1–30 scale, 410 on the 200–600 scale). Student affairs applying page. DAT (older page). “Competitive Scores”: 18 Total Science, 20 Reading Comprehension, 18 Academic Average, on the old 1–30 scale. Older page. Acceptance rate. Not published. None of the pages we read. Which DAT scale are Howard's figures

on?. The DAT has been scored on a 200–600 scale since 1 March 2025, and the ADA now reports every DAT score to AADSAS on that scale, converting older attempts. Howard's student affairs site gives both scales itself: "19 (410)" for Total Science and Academic Average, and its FAQ says "our more successful students meet or exceed the DAT scores (410)." The ADA's concordance table converts an old 19 to 410 in both the Academic Average and the Survey of Natural Sciences (Total Science), so Howard's pairing matches it. The older page's "Competitive Scores" are on the old 1–30 scale, with no scale named; on the ADA's table, an old 18 is 390 in the Academic Average and 400 in Total Science, and an old 20 in Reading Comprehension is 390 (the ADA's conversions, not Howard's). Plan on 410 or above in the Academic Average and Total Science, the stricter reading: the applying page prints its "19 (410)" under the heading "Minimum Required Scores,"

and the FAQ counts 410 among its "requirements for admissions." Howard gives no Perceptual Ability figure, but says "PAT scores are valued heavily for future dentists as well," and its FAQ adds that "PAT and Reading Comprehension are carefully considered for each applicant." GPA: three pages, three floors. Howard's student affairs applying page says "The minimum required GPA is 3.25 overall and 3.25 in science courses." Its FAQ says "our more successful students meet or exceed the DAT scores (410) and GPA (3.0) requirements for admissions." The older page says "Applicants should meet a minimum Science GPA of at least 2.8 to be considered eligible for application screening." Plan on the stricter reading, 3.25 overall and in science, and confirm with HUCDAdmit@howard.edu. The 3.45 for 2025–2026's successful candidates is an average, not a cutoff. In state or out of state? The Howard pages we read state no residency preference. The College

of Dentistry's mission, on its mission page, is "to provide exceptional dental education to qualified individuals from all backgrounds, emphasizing recruiting students from historically under-represented and disadvantaged populations." If you are an international student, the applying page says "you must also demonstrate English language proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or providing some other assurance of proficiency in English"; the DDS pages don't say whether Howard sponsors visas. Prerequisite coursework Course. Semester hours. Quarter hours. English Composition and Literature. 6. 9. General/Introductory Biology, with lab (on the student affairs list; the older page doesn't list it). 8. 12. Inorganic Chemistry, with lab. 8. 12. Organic Chemistry, with lab. 8. 12. Biochemistry. 3. 6 (the older page says 5). Human Anatomy, with lab (without it, two semesters of Anatomy & Physiology, Part I and

Part II). 4. 6. Physics. 8. 12. Electives. 22. 33. Recommended courses: the student affairs list recommends physiology, microbiology with lab and histology with lab, 4 semester hours each; the older page recommends physiology "(unless taken with Human Anatomy)" and microbiology. Timing and age: "All pre-requisite classes must be completed by the end of the Fall semester in the application cycle," and Howard won't consider applications "for applicants with pre-requisites outstanding after December 31st of the application period" (December 31, 2026, this cycle; the year is ours). "Interview priority is given to students who will complete all prerequisites during the Fall of the application period or earlier," and "Conditional Acceptance may be offered to students enrolled in prerequisite courses during the Fall semester of the application period." Prerequisites can't be more than five years old when you apply; if you take multiple gap

years, upper-level science courses (master's-level or post-baccalaureate) completed within that timeframe "will be considered," and "A master's degree in Biomedical Science or Natural Sciences is preferable when considering applications." Grades and AP: the older page says "'CR', 'S', and/or 'P' grades are unacceptable for required courses" (its COVID-19 note accepted pass/fail for summer and fall 2021). On advanced placement and college-level entrance program credits, the older page says they "are not acceptable for required courses," while the applying page bars those "taken during high school." Plan on the stricter reading, that none count toward required courses, and confirm with HUCDAdmit@howard.edu. The DAT: required. "Under the new AADSAS format, applications may not be submitted without official DAT scores," the FAQ says, and the older page adds that "only the most recent score is considered." Howard words the age limit three

ways: "may not be more than two years old" (the older page and the applying page), "at the time of submission cannot be older than two (2) years" (the applying page) and "older than 2 years from the beginning of the application cycle for which you apply" (the FAQ). Of the two that say when the two years are counted, the applying page's is the stricter: it counts to the day you submit, so an application submitted on October 1, 2026 needs a DAT taken on or after October 1, 2024 (our arithmetic), while the FAQ's, counted from the cycle's opening in May, would accept one taken in or after May 2024. Plan on a DAT no more than two years old on the day you submit. Unofficial scores "may be sent via email to HUCDAdmit@howard.edu," and if you retake the DAT, the FAQ says you may send the new scores by email if you haven't already received a decision letter. The older page also accepts the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test from Canadian applicants.

Letters, through AADSAS: the FAQ requires "a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation that must include at least two letters from science professors who taught you and issued a grade in a science course"; a letter from a dental professional you have worked with or shadowed "is highly encouraged," and you may submit up to four. Committee letters are accepted, and with one, "the applicant should also include a letter from a dental professional with whom you are employed or have shadowed." Letters must be on letterhead and signed, and they go to AADSAS: "Do not send information directly to the Office of Admissions, as this will delay the review of your application." The applying page adds, "Noncompliance will render the application incomplete." Shadowing: "We highly recommend at least 120 hours of shadowing or significant work hours in a dental office," the FAQ says, and Howard "cannot provide applicants with shadowing

opportunities." The $75 fee: "Upon receipt of your application from AADSAS, you will receive a link via email with instructions for submitting the application processing fee of $75. We do not accept fee waivers." The FAQ says "Complete applications include current DAT scores, Letters of Recommendation, transcripts, and submission of HUCD application fees," and in its answer on DAT retakes adds, "Transcripts should be submitted to HUCDAdmit@howard.edu." Letters of intent "are not considered in the application process." Technical standards: the older page says "It is our mission to admit students who will support this endeavor by: exhibiting a mastery of knowledge in scientific and health care areas; demonstrating hobbies that require a minimal level of technical abilities; possessing communication and interpersonal skills as demonstrated in extra-curricular activities and letters of support; and at all times, displaying professional

attitudes and behaviors that personify and are expected of a dental professional." Its motor standards include operating dental handpieces "during dental treatment requiring controlled movements of less than 1-2 millimeter," and "It is the responsibility of the candidate for admission to review the technical standards for admissions." Coursework rules: Howard's pages disagree. Community college: the applying page says community college credits "are accepted for prerequisite courses if the student receives an Associate of Science or baccalaureate degree from the same institution" and that "A maximum of 30 Semester Hours/45 Quarter Hours of Community College credits for students enrolled to complete prerequisites will be accepted"; the FAQ says "We will accept a maximum of 24 semester hours/36 quarter hours from a community college to satisfy required courses." Online courses: the older page says "Online courses are not acceptable for the

required course work"; the applying page rules out "Online completion of courses requiring a lab after 2022," though it says consideration will be given to military service members and women for online courses taken during deployment. Your degree: the older page accepts a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university "in the United States or Canada"; the applying page says "in the United States," and also that "Students must have obtained a BS degree to enroll in the College of Dentistry." Biology: the applying page requires General/Introductory Biology with Lab (8 semester hours), which the older page doesn't list. Plan on the stricter reading of each: no more than 24 community college hours toward required courses, prerequisites taken in person, 8 semester hours of biology with lab, and a degree from a US school; if your degree is a B.A., ask. Confirm with HUCDAdmit@howard.edu. CASPer or Kira?. None of

the Howard pages we read, on either of its admissions sites, nor its 2025–2026 catalog, mentions CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira, a multiple mini interview or any similar assessment, so they don't say whether one is required. What Howard does ask for is AADSAS, with your official DAT scores, transcripts and letters; its $75 application processing fee; and, if you are invited, the interview. To confirm a rule where Howard's pages disagree, email HUCDAdmit@howard.edu or call the admissions office at (202) 806-0337, Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern; its FAQ asks you to review the website first and "prepare your questions in advance." Don't use either channel to chase your application: the applying page says "Please do not inquire about the application status via email or phone," and that applicants with an update "will be notified via the application portal." The Howard Interview: What the College Says By invitation, by

email. Howard's FAQ says "If you are selected for an interview, you will receive an email invitation," and the older page adds, "Be sure to check your e-mail spam folders." A panel interview (the older page). "Interviewees have a 25-30-minutes interview with an interviewing panel. The panel will often consist of: faculty, a student representative, and Alumni; or two faculty members." A second interview, with the Director of Admissions (the older page). "Each student will have a second interview with the Director of Admissions." The page doesn't say how long it lasts, whether it falls on the same day as the panel, or what it covers. The setting isn't stated. Neither site says whether interviews are virtual or in person. "Format: In Person" (the older page) and "Format: In-person" (the applying page) sit under "Program Details," beside the program's length and class size: they describe the DDS program, not the interview. When: the sites

differ. The student affairs FAQ says "We conduct 8 interview sessions (2 in September; 4 in October; 2 in November)," that "Interviews may continue on a rolling basis until the class is filled," and that first-year rosters "are typically filled by January 31." Its applying page says interviews are scheduled "on a rolling basis from August to November," that "Final interviews are held in November," and that "Interviews will be conducted only in February, when the incoming class is not completely filled." The older page says "August - January: Interviews are scheduled." Who gets priority. "Interview priority is given to students who will complete all prerequisites during the Fall of the application period or earlier," and the applying page says your "application and supporting documents/fees should be submitted no later than November 1st to be strongly considered for an interview." What it counts for. The older page lists "personal

interview" among its "Factors in evaluating candidates," with "working or volunteering with underserved communities, work experience in dental settings, leadership, community service." Howard doesn't say how much the interview weighs. One description, from the older page: prepare for it. The only description of Howard's interview is on its older page, and the same words appear in Howard's 2023–2024 bulletin; the student affairs site doesn't describe the format at all. Prepare for what the older page describes, and follow your invitation where it differs. A panel that often includes faculty, a student representative and alumni (or two faculty members, the page says) hears your story from several angles at once, so practice answers that work for a professor, a dental student and a graduate alike, and keep your account consistent for the second interview with the Director of Admissions. What applicants report These come from a public

applicant forum and its invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports. They are not Howard's words: This cycle (2026–27): the tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, lists no Howard invitation yet. In the forum's Howard thread, as of 8 October 2026, no one had reported an invitation; one applicant posted on 2 October, "I got the email today to submit my supplemental." Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker, last updated 22 October 2025, listed Howard's first invitations on 27 August 2025 and a first interview date of 13 September, virtual. In the forum's thread, one applicant reported an invitation by email on 27 August. Another posted on 26 September that their interview was the next day; asked whether it was online or in person, they replied "Online via zoom," and asked whether it was open or closed file, they wrote: "It was nice they actually do read your interview before hand and the interview itself was very

conversational not too stressful." That is one applicant's account, and "interview" there seems to mean the application. Some fee emails came after the interview. Howard's applying page says interviews are scheduled "Following a review of files and payment of the supplemental fees." In 2025–26, one applicant who had interviewed in October posted on 3 November that they "got the supplemental email today," another, who had interviewed in September, wrote on 7 November that they had received it too, and a third posted on 3 November that they had received it without an interview invitation. The posts don't say whether the two who had interviewed had already paid. Pay as soon as your link arrives. Decisions: four applicants posted acceptances dated 15 December 2025, two of them saying the offer came by email ("Accepted via email at 11:32 cst," one wrote), on the date Howard's student affairs site gives for first decisions. None of the posts

in either thread describes the panel, the interview with the Director of Admissions, how long either lasted or what was asked, and none mentions an MMI, CASPer or Kira. Our 2026–27 interview tracker sets Howard's row (no invitation reported as of 8 October 2026) beside every other US and Puerto Rico school on the forum's tracker. What Howard doesn't publish. Whether interviews are virtual or in person; whether the student affairs site still uses the panel format the older page describes; how long the second interview lasts and whether both interviews fall on one day; whether your interviewers have read your application; what is asked; and this cycle's session dates. Prepare a clear account of your motivation, your service and your experiences that works for any interviewer, and follow your invitation on the setting. Practice Your Howard Answers Out Loud. Howard's older DDS page describes a 25–30-minute panel interview and a second

interview with the Director of Admissions. Practice telling your story and answering motivation, service and ethical questions out loud, clearly enough for faculty, students and alumni alike, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. Howard's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline Howard's admissions pages print no years on their deadlines and windows and name no cycle. The years below are ours, for a fall 2027 start, and where its two sites give different dates, both are listed: When. What Howard says. Where. May 2026. “The application cycle opens in May”; the applying page gives AADSAS's filing period as “June 1st through February 2nd”. Both sites. August 1 to November 1, 2026. “We will review applications from August 1st to November 1st”. Student affairs FAQ. Once Howard receives your AADSAS application. An emailed link to pay the $75 application processing fee (no fee waivers). Student affairs FAQ.

September to November 2026. “8 interview sessions (2 in September; 4 in October; 2 in November)”; the applying page says interviews are scheduled “on a rolling basis from August to November”. Student affairs site. August 2026 to January 2027. “August - January: Interviews are scheduled”. Older page. November 1, 2026. Submit your “application and supporting documents/fees” by then “to be strongly considered for an interview”; later “greatly reduces admissions opportunities”. Student affairs site. November 15, 2026. “The final date to submit to Howard is November 15th”. Student affairs applying page. December 1, 2026. “the deadline for submitting first round consideration is December 1st” (student affairs); “December 1st - First round acceptances are emailed” (older page). Both sites. December 15, 2026. “First decision notices will be emailed to applicants on December 15th”; accept “within thirty (30) days”. Student affairs site. December

31, 2026. No prerequisites outstanding: applications with prerequisites “outstanding after December 31st of the application period” won't be considered. Student affairs applying page. January 2027. “Interim Notification email is sent to applicants who will not be invited to interview”. Older page. From January 30, 2027. Applications submitted after November 1 “may be considered on a rolling basis, beginning January 30th, if spaces are available”. Student affairs applying page. January 31, 2027. First-year class rosters are “typically filled”. Student affairs FAQ. February 2027. “Interviews will be conducted only in February, when the incoming class is not completely filled”. Student affairs applying page. February 1, 2027. “the deadline for submitting applications”; “The application cycle closes”. Older page. April 1 and 15, 2027. Emails to “candidates accepting offers of admission at more than one dental school” (April 1) and to

waitlisted applicants (April 15). Older page. August 2027. Orientation and classes; the 2027 dates aren't published (in 2026, orientation opened on August 10 and classes began August 17). Student affairs site. Deadlines: plan on November 1. Howard's pages give four dates. The student affairs applying page says your "application and supporting documents/fees should be submitted no later than November 1st to be strongly considered for an interview" and that "The final date to submit to Howard is November 15th," yet the same page calls December 1 "the deadline for submitting first round consideration." The older page says "the deadline for submitting applications is February 1st of the year you expect to enter dental school." Plan on the stricter reading: submit AADSAS early enough that Howard's emailed fee link arrives, and pay the $75 fee, by November 1, 2026, and treat November 15 as the last day. Don't count on December 1 or February

1. Confirm with HUCDAdmit@howard.edu. First offers: December 1 or December 15?. The older page says "December 1st - First round acceptances are emailed." The student affairs site says "First decision notices will be emailed to applicants on December 15th," and its FAQ says "First-round decision letters are sent to applicants on December 15th." In a public applicant forum, four applicants posted acceptances dated 15 December 2025. If you get a December 15 offer, the applying page says you "must respond to the offer with acceptance within thirty (30) days," and the older page says acceptances "must be in writing" with a $1,000 deposit. After December 15, "decision notices are mailed to Wait-list applicants on a rolling basis as deemed necessary." Classes begin in the fall. The older page says "Third week of August is designated for new student orientation week" and that there are no spring or summer entering classes; the student affairs

site's new-student page says "The 2026 semester opens on August 10th with New Student Orientation. Classes begin August 17th." Howard hasn't published the 2027 dates. Accepted students must complete a background check after receiving an offer, the older page says. A deferral must be requested in writing and can be for one year only, and the applying page says it "may require a second interview prior to confirming enrollment eligibility" (the FAQ: "The Admissions Committee may require a follow-up interview"). What Howard Looks For The older page says Howard's "Office of Admissions conducts a preliminary screening and holistic review of each application," that your "latest academic record, scores on the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and letters of recommendation are significant credentials," and that "Factors in evaluating candidates include working or volunteering with underserved communities, work experience in dental settings,

leadership, community service and personal interview." The student affairs FAQ says "We are seeking students who have shown growth in their academic and career experiences. We are also seeking students with a record of leadership, empathy for others' needs, and strong community involvement." With Howard's mission and technical standards, they make the best checklist for the interview: Service to the underserved: "working or volunteering with underserved communities" is the first factor the older page names, and the same page says "The appreciation and cultivation of service are essential to the Howard dental education." Have one specific service story and what it taught you. Growth: the FAQ wants "students who have shown growth in their academic and career experiences." If your record has a low point, be ready to say what changed and show the evidence since. Leadership: named on both sites: "leadership" on the older page, "leadership

roles" on the applying page and "a record of leadership" in the FAQ. Empathy: the FAQ names "empathy for others' needs." Pick a moment when you noticed what someone needed and acted on it. Dental experience: "work experience in dental settings" is one of the older page's factors, and Howard highly recommends "at least 120 hours of shadowing or significant work hours in a dental office." Communication and hand skills: Howard's technical standards look for "communication and interpersonal skills as demonstrated in extra-curricular activities and letters of support" and for "hobbies that require a minimal level of technical abilities." Have one hobby that uses your hands ready to describe. Ethics and professionalism: the older page says Howard promotes "the highest form ethical decision making and execution of dental care," and its technical standards ask for "professional attitudes and behaviors" at all times. Howard's 2025–2026 catalog

lists DDS courses in Ethics and Professionalism and in Health Care Ethics. Clear reasoning: "As mandated by the Commission on Dental Accreditation," Howard's technical standards list critical-thinking skills, among them the ability to "Communicate effectively with others while reasoning through problems." Practice talking through a dilemma out loud: the options, what you would weigh, and why you would choose one. The best Why Howard material is in its clinics and its service. Howard's homepage calls it "one of the oldest dental schools in the nation and the only dental school in the District of Columbia." Its DDS page says students work with faculty at a 1:5 ratio in clinical modules, paired with peers at their clinical level for "a team based approach to learning"; collaborate with pharmacy, medicine and nursing students; gain clinical skills through rotations in its postdoctoral programs in orthodontics, pediatrics and oral and

maxillofacial surgery; and serve through international missions (it names Jamaica, Haiti, Guatemala, Sudan and Tanzania), community health centers, Mission of Mercy and Remote Area Medical. A Howard news story dated April 22, 2026 says about 30 fourth-year students joined University of Maryland dental students, dentists and volunteers to care for nearly 1,275 patients at the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy 2026, in Salisbury, Maryland, and another, dated April 14, 2026, describes students providing free dental care in Guyana, "This growing annual mission." Howard says its College of Dentistry has trained "more African American students than any dental school in the United States." Connect one of these to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve. A separate route: Howard's six-year B.S./D.D.S. program is open only to Howard students who enter its College of Arts and Sciences straight from high school. Its 2023 information sheet

describes its own interviews: for Phase I, the committee invites "a limited number of applicants for interview in June/July"; for a place in Phase II, which admission to Phase I "does not automatically secure," "Students will be interviewed by the admissions committee of the College of Dentistry and the Pre-Health Advisory Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences." Howard doesn't explain how those interviews relate to the DDS interview this guide describes. The practice questions below are ours, built on the criteria above. Howard does not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? Howard's two-year International Dentist Program is separate: you apply through ADEA CAAPID by July 31, and Howard's student affairs office says it does not process those applications. This guide covers only the four-year DDS; our comparison of advanced-standing programs includes Howard's. ); }; export default

HowardDentalSchoolInterview; howard-dental-school-interview Howard University College of Dentistry Howard Howard Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Format Dates & Requirements Howard Dental School DDS 2026-27 Howard College of Dentistry DDS guide from its own the panel and second interviews its older page describes and the deadlines its two sites dispute. Howard dental school interview Howard University College of Dentistry interview HUCD interview Howard DDS interview Howard dental school requirements Howard University dental school deadline Howard dental school panel interview 2026-10-08 2026-10-08 Domestic Program Panel interview and a second with the Director of Admissions (older page) Howard s older DDS page describes a 25–30-minute panel interview and a second interview with the Director of Admissions and its two official sites give different interview windows and deadlines. Here is what Howard publishes where its sites disagree

what applicants report and how to prepare. “Interviewees have a 25-30-minutes interview with an interviewing panel ” and “Each student will have a second interview with the Director of Admissions” (its older DDS page); its student affairs site says to submit by November 1 “to be strongly considered for an interview.” Degree DDS (four years full time) Washington D.C. Interview Format Older DDS a 25–30-minute panel interview and a second interview with the Director of Admissions Panel Older DDS it “will often consist of” faculty a student representative and alumni or two faculty members Interview Setting Not published (one 2025–26 applicant reported Zoom) Interviews Student affairs eight sessions September–November (its applying August–November); older August–January Submit By November 1 2026 (Howard prints no year) to be “strongly considered for an interview” Deadline Its pages November 15 (“The final date to submit to Howard”) December

1 or February 1 Application Fee $75 by an emailed link; no fee waivers CASPer / Kira Not mentioned on Howard s DDS pages Class Size 75–80 GPA / DAT 3.45 average GPA for successful candidates in 2025–2026; more successful applicants score “19 (410) or above” in Total Science and Academic Average (19 on the old 1–30 scale 410 on the 200–600 scale) First Offers December 15 (student affairs site); December 1 (older page) requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What Howard Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline Howard s Admissions Timeline 2 what-howard-looks-for What Howard 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. Howard does not publish its

interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it weighs. Howard s older DDS page describes a 25–30-minute interview with a panel that often includes faculty a student representative and alumni and a second interview with the Director of Admissions. Howard doesn t say whether your interviewers have read your application so build a 90-second answer that stands on its who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and why Howard is the next step. Keep it consistent across both interviews. Why dentistry? Howard s older page lists “work experience in dental settings” among the factors it weighs and its FAQ highly recommends “at least 120 hours of shadowing or significant work hours in a dental office.” Anchor your answer in something specific you saw or did in a dental setting then say what it confirmed for you. A panel may include a dental student and alumni as well as faculty so make it concrete rather than

general. Why Howard? Use what Howard says about dental clinics serving the community since 1881; clinical modules with a 5 faculty ratio and “a team based approach to learning”; collaboration with pharmacy medicine and nursing students; rotations in its orthodontics pediatrics and oral and maxillofacial surgery programs; and service from Mission of Mercy to a Guyana mission it calls “This growing annual mission.” Its mission emphasizes “recruiting students from historically under-represented and disadvantaged populations.” Connect one of these to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve; Washington D.C. alone is not a reason. How have you served underserved communities and what did it teach you? On Howard s older page the first of the “Factors in evaluating candidates” is “working or volunteering with underserved communities ” and its FAQ looks for “strong community involvement.” Pick one experience say what you did and for whom

and explain how it shaped the dentist you want to be. Behavioral Describe a leadership role and what you accomplished in it. Howard s pages name leadership three “leadership” on its older page “leadership roles” on its applying page and “a record of leadership” in its FAQ. Pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome not just a title and say what changed because of you. Tell me about a setback and how you grew from it. Howard s FAQ says “We are seeking students who have shown growth in their academic and career experiences.” Choose a real setback academic or otherwise say plainly what went wrong and what you changed and show the evidence that it worked. Tell me about a time you noticed what someone else needed and acted on it. Howard s FAQ names “empathy for others needs” among the qualities it seeks. Keep the setup short show what you noticed and what you did and say what it meant to the other person. Tell me about a hobby or

activity that uses your hands. Howard s technical standards look for applicants “demonstrating hobbies that require a minimal level of technical abilities ” and its motor standards describe dental treatment “requiring controlled movements of less than 1-2 millimeter.” Describe one activity what you make or fix how you got better at it and what it taught you about precision and patience. Ethical / Scenario A patient can t afford the treatment you recommend. What do you do? Howard s DDS page says it takes “great pride in providing care for the underserved ” and its student affairs site describes community programs “for the homeless HIV patients and children.” Explain the options without judgment consider phased or alternative treatment and community resources and never lower the standard of care. Show your reasoning; a question like this rarely has a single right answer. A patient whose background differs from yours doesn t trust your

treatment plan. What do you do? Howard says its DDS prepares “competent professional and culturally sensitive clinicians ” and its mission statement speaks of “distinguished compassionate and culturally sensitive graduates.” Show that you would listen first explain the plan and its alternatives in plain words and respect the patient s right to decide. Your clinic partner wants to skip a step to finish faster. What do you do? Howard pairs students “with peers in your clinical level to ensure a team based approach to learning ” and its technical standards ask students to display “professional attitudes and behaviors that personify and are expected of a dental professional.” Raise it with your partner directly and calmly put the patient s safety first and involve the supervising faculty member if the shortcut would affect care. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? Howard s DDS page says it promotes “the highest form

ethical decision making ” and its homepage says it fosters “a culture of leadership integrity and innovation.” Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients will trust your license. Submit by November 1 and pay the $75 fee when the link arrives Howard s student affairs site says your “application and supporting documents/fees should be submitted no later than November 1st to be strongly considered for an interview” and that “The final date to submit to Howard is November 15th.” Howard emails you a link for its $75 application processing fee once it receives your AADSAS application and it takes no fee waivers so submit AADSAS early enough to pay by November 1. Prepare for a panel and a second interview Howard s older DDS page describes “a 25-30-minutes interview with an interviewing panel ” often faculty a student representative and alumni or two faculty members

and “a second interview with the Director of Admissions.” Practice answering for several listeners at once and telling the same story again in a second conversation and follow your invitation on where and when. Finish your prerequisites by the end of the fall “Interview priority is given to students who will complete all prerequisites during the Fall of the application period or earlier ” and Howard won t consider applications with prerequisites “outstanding after December 31st of the application period.” If a course is still in progress be ready to say when you will finish it and keep your coursework within Howard s five-year limit. Ask in writing but don t chase your status Where Howard s pages disagree write to HUCDAdmit@howard.edu with your questions prepared in advance as its FAQ asks. Its applying page says “Please do not inquire about the application status via email or phone”; updates come “via the application portal.” Letters

of intent “are not considered ” and letters of recommendation go to AADSAS not to the Office of Admissions. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years full time and in person; Washington D.C. Application AADSAS then Howard s $75 application processing fee paid through a link Howard emails once it receives your application (no fee waivers) Submit by November 1 2026 (Howard prints no year) to be “strongly considered for an interview”; “The final date to submit to Howard is November 15th” Other dates on Howard s pages December 1 for “first round consideration” (student affairs applying page); February 1 (older page) Interview By invitation by email; older a 25–30-minute interview with a panel (often faculty a student representative and alumni or two faculty members) and a second interview with the Director of Admissions Interview window Student affairs eight sessions (2 in September 4 in October 2 in November); applying August to

November and February only if the class isn t full; older August–January Interview setting Not published Class size 75–80 Interviews a year “HUCD interviews 200-250 candidates per year” (older page) Average GPA 3.45 for “successful candidates in 2025-2026” Minimum GPA 3.25 overall and in science (student affairs applying page); its FAQ cites 3.0 and the older page a 2.8 science GPA for screening DAT Official scores required before you submit; under “Minimum Required Scores ” “Our more successful applicants score 19 (410) or above for Total Science and Academic Average” (19 on the old scale 410 on the 200–600 scale); older “Competitive Scores” of 18 Total Science 20 Reading Comprehension and 18 Academic Average (1–30 scale; on the ADA s Table 1 400 390 and 390 on the 200–600 the ADA s conversions not Howard s) DAT age No more than two years old “at the time of submission” (applying page the stricter reading) or “from the beginning of the

application cycle” (FAQ); only the most recent score is considered Acceptance rate Not published Prerequisites English composition and literature 6 semester hours; biology with lab 8 (student affairs list only); inorganic and organic chemistry with lab 8 each; biochemistry 3; human anatomy with lab 4; physics 8; electives 22 Prerequisite timing Completed by the end of the fall semester; none outstanding after December 31 2026; no more than five years old when you apply Online AP and community college No online required courses (older page) or no online lab courses after 2022 (applying page); no AP or college-level entrance program credits (older page; the applying page bars those taken during high school); 24 (FAQ) or 30 (applying page) community college semester hours at most Letters At least three up to four on letterhead and signed through two or more from science professors who taught and graded you; a dental professional s letter

highly encouraged (with a committee letter Howard says you should also include one) Shadowing At least 120 hours of shadowing or significant work hours in a dental office highly recommended CASPer / Kira Not mentioned on Howard s DDS pages Bachelor s degree Required before enrollment from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States (the older page adds Canada) First offers December 15 (student affairs site); December 1 (older page); accept within 30 days of a December 15 offer Deposit $1 000 with your written acceptance (older page) Deferral In writing for one year only; a second or follow-up interview may be required What to have in place (the stricter reading where Howard s pages differ) An official DAT score before you Howard says applications “may not be submitted without official DAT scores”; no more than two years old on the day you submit (the applying page s rule stricter than the FAQ s count from the

start of the cycle); 410 or above in Total Science and Academic Average (the 200–600 scale) Three or four letters on letterhead signed in at least two from science professors who taught and graded you and ideally one from a dental professional you worked with or shadowed (Howard says to include one alongside a committee letter) At least 120 hours of shadowing or significant work in a dental office (Howard highly recommends it and doesn t say by when) Prerequisites with letter grades taken in person no more than five years old; any still in progress finished by the end of the fall semester with none outstanding after December 31 2026 A GPA of at least 3.25 overall and in science (the student affairs applying page s minimum; Howard s other pages give lower figures) Apply (Howard s AADSAS then the $75 fee by the emailed link) Submit AADSAS Howard reviews applications from August 1 to November 1 Pay the $75 application processing fee when

Howard s emailed link arrives (no fee waivers) Have your application documents and fee in by November 1 2026 to be “strongly considered for an interview”; “The final date to submit to Howard is November 15th” Don t send letters of intent (“not considered”) or ask about your status by email or phone; updates come through the application portal Invitations and the interview (Howard s windows eight sessions September–November August–November or August–January) Watch your email and your spam invitations come by email Prepare for a 25–30-minute panel interview often with faculty a student and alumni or two faculty members and a second interview with the Director of Admissions (the older page s description) Follow your invitation on the Howard doesn t publish whether interviews are virtual or in person Prepare a Why Howard answer a specific service story and an ethical scenario to talk through Hard dates (Howard prints no years on these

dates; the years are ours for a fall 2027 start) November 1 submit everything to be strongly considered for an interview November 15 “The final date to submit to Howard” (later dates on its December 1 2026 and February 1 2027; don t count on them) December 15 first decision notices (the older page says December 1); accept within 30 days December 31 no prerequisites outstanding January 31 when Howard says first-year rosters are “typically filled” What is the Howard dental school interview format? The only Howard page that describes it is the older DDS page on dentistry.howard. “Interviews are by invitation only. Interviewees have a 25-30-minutes interview with an interviewing panel. The panel will often consist faculty a student representative and Alumni; or two faculty members. Each student will have a second interview with the Director of Admissions.” The same words appear in Howard s 2023–2024 bulletin and its student affairs site

which looks more current doesn t describe the format. Howard doesn t say how long the second interview lasts whether your interviewers have read your application or what is asked. Is the Howard dental interview virtual or in person? Howard s pages don t say. “ In Person” appears on its DDS page but under “Program Details ” where it describes the DDS program not the interview. For 2025–26 a public applicant forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports listed Howard s interviews as virtual and one applicant in the forum s Howard thread described theirs as “Online via zoom.” Follow what your invitation says. Does Howard use the MMI? No Howard page we read describes an MMI. Its older DDS page describes a panel interview and a second interview with the Director of Admissions and none of the Howard pages we read mentions stations or a multiple mini interview; nor does any post in a public applicant forum s 2025–26

or 2026–27 Howard threads. Prepare for a panel interview and a second interview. Does Howard require CASPer or Kira? None of the Howard pages we read on either of its admissions sites nor its 2025–2026 catalog mentions CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment so they don t say whether one is required. What Howard does ask for is AADSAS with your official DAT scores transcripts and letters; its $75 application processing fee; and if you are invited the interview. If you re unsure write to HUCDAdmit@howard.edu. What GPA and DAT do I need for Howard dental school? Howard s pages disagree. Its student affairs applying page says “The minimum required GPA is 3.25 overall and 3.25 in science courses” and “Our more successful applicants score 19 (410) or above for Total Science and Academic Average” (410 is on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025). Its FAQ cites a 3.0 GPA and a DAT of 410 and its older DDS page a

2.8 science GPA for screening and old-scale “Competitive Scores” of 18 Total Science 20 Reading Comprehension and 18 Academic Average (400 390 and 390 on the new scale by the ADA s concordance the ADA s conversions not Howard s). Plan on 3.25 and the applying page prints its DAT line under “Minimum Required Scores.” Howard gives 3.45 as the average GPA of “successful candidates in 2025-2026 ” and publishes no acceptance rate. When is the Howard DDS application deadline? Howard s pages give four dates and no years. Its student affairs applying page says to submit your “application and supporting documents/fees” by November 1 “to be strongly considered for an interview ” that “The final date to submit to Howard is November 15th ” and that the deadline “for submitting first round consideration is December 1st.” Its older DDS page says February 1. Plan on November 1 2026 treat November 15 as the last day and confirm with

HUCDAdmit@howard.edu. When does Howard interview and when do decisions come out? Its sites differ. The student affairs FAQ says “We conduct 8 interview sessions (2 in September; 4 in October; 2 in November)” and that first-round decision letters go out on December 15; its applying page says interviews are scheduled “on a rolling basis from August to November ” and in February only when the incoming class isn t full. The older DDS page says “August - Interviews are scheduled” and “December 1st - First round acceptances are emailed.” In a public applicant forum four applicants posted acceptances dated 15 December 2025. Howard s two websites disagree. Which should I follow? Neither names the 2026–27 cycle. The student affairs site hucdstudentaffairs.com which Howard s DDS page links for prospective students looks more it cites a 2025–2026 average GPA and the new DAT scale. The dentistry.howard.edu DDS page still carries a COVID-19 note on

2021 grades and its text matches Howard s 2023–2024 bulletin but it is the only page that describes the interview s format. Where they disagree follow the stricter rule usually the earlier date or the higher figure and confirm with HUCDAdmit@howard.edu or (202) 806-0337. Maryland Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Up the road in a virtual interview you self-schedule from an emailed invitation mid-September to late February and a December 15 deadline. Domestic Program /schools/maryland-dental-school-interview VCU Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Richmond VCU s interview day at the school with a 30-minute interview (“2 faculty and 1 candidate”) per its interview-day page and a wax tooth carving. Domestic Program /schools/vcu-dental-school-interview Meharry Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In two interviews with Meharry faculty dental alumni or Nashville dentists at a school its catalog calls “one of two historically Black Dental

Schools in the nation.” AADSAS deadline December 15. Domestic Program /schools/meharry-dental-school-interview