Iowa Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

University of Iowa DDS guide from its own pages: timed one-on-two interviews, in person Aug–Nov, situational and behavioral questions; Sept 30 deadline passed.

Iowa interviews in person from August to November 2026, plus one virtual interview day: timed one-on-two interviews, each with a different pair of interviewers, with situational and behavioral questions. Here is what Iowa publishes, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> Iowa DDS Requirements and Class Profile Dentistry at the University of Iowa began in 1882, its catalog says, and the College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics is in Iowa City. Its DDS takes four years, after "a minimum of three years of preprofessional study." You apply through AADSAS, then pay a University of Iowa application fee and complete an attestation. For the class entering in 2027, everything had to be received and verified by September 30, 2026, which has passed. Iowa's profile of the class that entered in 2026 reports: Figure. 2026 entering class. Class size. 80 (56 resident, 24 nonresident). Applications. 1,591 (144 resident, 1,447

nonresident). GPA. 3.81 overall, 3.75 science. DAT. 455 Academic Average, 458 Total Science Average, on the 200–600 scale. Mean age. 21 (range 20–27). Undergraduate schools. 31 (8 in Iowa). Which DAT scale are 360, 455 and 458 on?. The 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025. Iowa gives its minimum, an Academic Average of 360, and its class averages as three-digit scores, without naming the scale or giving old-scale equivalents, and we don't convert any. Its FAQ accepts tests taken in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for fall 2027, and tests taken before 1 March 2025 were scored on the old 1–30 scale. Iowa's pages don't say how the 360 minimum applies to an old-scale score, or how its class averages counted them. If your score is on the old scale, ask dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu. In state or out of state? Iowa considers applicants "in two separate applicant pools based on their residency status. Iowa residents are considered

separately from nonresidents." To assess in-state residency for admission, it follows the Iowa Board of Regents' policy, which says, for the University of Iowa's colleges of medicine and dentistry, "A minimum of 80% of enrolled students shall be residents of the State of Iowa." For that count only, the policy also treats as Iowa residents anyone who graduated from an Iowa high school or lived in Iowa for at least four consecutive years immediately before applying, among other definitions, and that doesn't by itself make anyone a resident for tuition. Iowa's class profile counts both groups: 2026 entering class. Resident. Nonresident. Applications. 144. 1,447 (48 meet the policy's Iowa-resident definition). Enrolled. 56. 24 (9 meet it). Out of state? Know these numbers. Iowa enrolled 24 nonresidents in the class that entered in 2026, from 1,447 nonresident applications, and it notes that 9 of those 24 meet the Regents' definition of an

Iowa resident. By our count, 65 of the 80 (56 residents plus those 9) meet it. Iowa publishes counts, not an acceptance rate, and we don't compute one. Its pages list a $100 application fee for international applicants ($60 in the US) and say "The Canadian DAT is acceptable for Canadian applicants." If you attended a school outside the US, that coursework needs a course-by-course evaluation from a US-based service, sent by the service to AADSAS. Prerequisite coursework Course. Semester hours. Quarter hours. Biology, with labs. 8. 12. General chemistry, with labs. 8. 12. Organic chemistry, with labs. 8. 12. Physics, with labs. 8. 12. English: two composition courses preferred, or one composition course and one writing-intensive course in literature, humanities or public speaking. 6. 9. Biochemistry: one course with the organic chemistry sequence as its prerequisite; no lab required. 3. 5. Microbiology (no lab required): strongly

recommended now, a required prerequisite from the 2027–2028 cycle. 3. 5. Grades: a C or better. "Grades of C- or lower and courses taken pass/fail or credit/no credit will not be accepted." When to finish: "Applicants may apply while in the process of completing prerequisite coursework," but admitted students must complete the required prerequisite coursework by June 30, 2027, "as a condition of enrollment." Iowa's FAQ says prerequisites don't expire and that post-baccalaureate courses count. Where: "Completing the prerequisite courses at an accredited four-year college or university is strongly encouraged. Community college coursework is accepted but not recommended for the prerequisites." Online coursework from accredited institutions is accepted, "but in-person coursework is strongly encouraged." AP or CLEP credit counts if it appears on an official college or university transcript. College hours: at least 90 semester hours (about

135 quarter hours) by June of the year you enroll, with at least 30 of them at a four-year college or university. "Most applicants will complete a bachelor's degree before matriculation to dental school." Any major is fine. Recommended courses: anatomy, physiology, genetics, histology, public speaking and art. Iowa's FAQ says neither anatomy nor physiology is required, "but many of our current students have found them helpful." Its 2026–2027 catalog adds, for biology, "Preference is given to applicants who have completed more than 8 s.h.," and strongly recommends human anatomy and cell physiology. The DAT: "A minimum DAT Academic Average (AA) score of 360 is required," and official scores must be received and verified by AADSAS by September 30. "You do not have to delay submitting your AADSAS application until you have taken the DAT": add your planned test date to AADSAS, but Iowa's requirements sheet says "Application review will not

be performed until official scores are received." If you have taken it more than once, Iowa "considers the most recent scores in its evaluation." Letters, through AADSAS: three individual letters or one committee letter or packet, uploaded by your evaluators; "Letters sent by email or mail will not be accepted." Iowa says "Letters do not need to be written by specific professors or professionals," and strongly recommends letterhead, a date and a signature. Shadowing: "40 hours of dental shadowing is required and must be completed at the time of application submission," in a patient care setting, reported on AADSAS. "Shadowing completed during high school is not considered." Iowa's pages differ on shadowing specialists (see below). Volunteering and experiences: "A minimum of 40 hours of volunteering is recommended," and "Applicants who show a commitment to helping underserved communities and caring for others are given strong

consideration." Iowa's FAQ says "Research experience is not a requirement." The University of Iowa fee and attestation: once AADSAS verifies your application, Iowa emails instructions to create a MyUI Admissions Profile and pay a non-refundable $60 fee ($100 international), online by credit or debit card. After that come the instructions for the attestation, which Iowa says "is not used in the College of Dentistry admissions process." Your application isn't complete without both. The fee can be waived if you qualify for ADEA's Fee Assistance Program: send your FAP approval email to gradmail@uiowa.edu. Technical standards: interview participants certify that they can meet them "with or without accommodations." They include the ability to operate high-speed or low-speed dental handpieces "within a limited spatial tolerance level." Transfers: "We do not accept transfer students due to the Iowa College of Dentistry's education model."

Minimum GPA: Iowa's pages disagree. Iowa's application page and FAQ say "Applicants must have achieved a total and science grade-point average of 2.85 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate college work." Its 2026–2027 catalog says applicants "should have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) higher than 2.50 on a 4.00 scale; a GPA above 3.50 is preferred," and its downloadable requirements sheet gives no minimum GPA or DAT. Plan on the stricter reading, 2.85 or higher in both your total and your science GPA, and confirm with dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu. The class that entered in 2026 averaged 3.81 overall and 3.75 science. How old can your DAT be? Iowa's pages differ. Iowa's application page and requirements sheet say "DAT scores may not be older than 3 years at the time of application." Its FAQ says "Only DAT scores from tests taken in 2024, 2025, 2026 will be considered for Fall 2027 admission," which rules out a

2023 test even if it is less than three years old when you apply. Go by the FAQ, the stricter reading, and confirm with dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu. Shadowing specialists: “desirable” or “expected”?. Iowa's application page says shadowing in general dentistry and specialty practice "(orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics, etc.) is desirable." Its requirements sheet says "It is expected the dental shadowing be completed under general dentists and dental specialists." Treat it as expected: within your 40 required hours, shadow both general dentists and specialists, and confirm with dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu. CASPer or Kira?. Iowa's DDS admissions pages, its FAQ, its requirements sheet and the DDS page of its 2026–2027 catalog don't mention CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira or any similar assessment. Besides AADSAS and your coursework, what they do ask for includes the DAT, three letters or a committee letter, 40 hours of

shadowing, the University of Iowa fee and attestation and, if you are invited, an interview. To confirm a rule where Iowa's pages disagree, email dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu, the address Iowa gives for DDS admissions questions, or call Dental Student Admissions at (319) 335-7163. Changes to your application are a different matter: Iowa says "All updates are required to be submitted to ADEA AADSAS" and "Do not email updates to the Dental Student Admissions Office." The Iowa Interview: What the College Says Required, by invitation only. "Interviews are offered by invitation only. Selected applicants will receive an email with scheduling instructions and additional details." Iowa adds, "Candidates are required to interview for further admission consideration," and its catalog says select applicants are contacted "After a complete AADSAS application is received by the admissions office." In person, August to November, plus one

virtual day. "Each application cycle, approximately 240 candidates participate in our in-person interview process which occurs between August - November. We also offer one virtual interview day." Its 2026–27 timeline has interviews beginning in August 2026 and ending in November 2026. Iowa doesn't say when the virtual day is, or who is offered it. One-on-two. "The College of Dentistry uses a one-on-two interview format for interviews. Interviewers may include members of the Admissions Committee, faculty, and staff." Each interview is with "a different pair of interviewers." Timed, with situational and behavioral questions. "Each timed interview includes situational and behavioral questions." Iowa doesn't say how long each interview lasts. More than one interview. "Interview candidates complete two interviews, each with a different pair of interviewers, then repeat the process with a different pair of interviewers." The sentence doesn't

give a total. Prepare for at least two timed interviews, each with a different pair, and check the schedule in your invitation. The technical standards. "Admissions interview participants will certify that they have reviewed and agree that they are capable of meeting the College of Dentistry's technical standards with or without accommodations." The standards document "may be given at the interview session," and "The Admissions Committee can use this document when making admission determinations." Read it before you go. What it counts for. Iowa's catalog says the admissions committee "considers quantitative and qualitative components of the application, letters of recommendation, the interview, and other factors." One-on-two: what it means on the day. In Iowa's words, each interview is with "a different pair of interviewers," who may be Admissions Committee members, faculty or staff. Speak to both people, whichever of them asks (Iowa

doesn't say how a pair shares the questions). Because you'll meet more than one pair, expect to tell your story more than once: keep it consistent and specific each time. Iowa doesn't say whether its interviewers have read your application, so be ready to introduce yourself and explain your path without assuming they know your file. A 2023 news story on Iowa's site said, "After the application period closes, qualified students are invited to campus to participate in an interview day where they will talk to faculty and staff members, tour the Dental Science Building, and take in the atmosphere of the college." That describes the 2023–24 cycle. For 2026–27, Iowa's timeline has interviews beginning in August, before the September 30 deadline, and its current pages don't describe the interview day or say whether it includes a tour (its Tours and Events page offers campus visits with a student-led tour, separately): go by them and by your

invitation. What applicants report These are posts on a public applicant forum, and the forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports, not Iowa's words: This cycle (2026–27): the tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, lists Iowa's first invitations on 2 July and a first interview date of 4 August, in person. As of 7 October 2026, the forum's Iowa thread for this cycle held only its opening post, and no invitation had been reported there. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker listed first invitations on 13 June 2025 and a first interview date of 1 August, in person. In the forum's Iowa thread, one in-state applicant invited by email on 13 June listed an interview on 1 August, "which was first available." Two more, invited on 29 June (out of state) and 11 July (in state), listed interviews on 10 September and said 18 September and 3 November were also offered. All three described the interview as in-person. The

fee: one applicant, invited on 14 September, wrote on 3 October 2025 that the extra steps after the invitation were "just to create an account through their school website and pay the interview fee." Iowa's own pages describe no interview fee: they say its $60 application fee is requested by email once AADSAS verifies your application, and that an application without it is incomplete. "Deferred": eight applicants in that thread posted that they had been deferred: one on 8 August 2025, one on 2 September, five on 16 October, and one who gave no date. Those who said how they heard said by email, and the five who gave a residency were all out of state. Iowa's pages don't use the word or explain it. On 15 December, one of the out-of-state applicants deferred in October posted that the application had been denied without an interview. Decisions: in posts dated 15 December 2025, one applicant reported being accepted and two reported being

waitlisted. On 6 February 2026, one of those two, an in-state applicant, posted "Just got accepted this afternoon off the waitlist!" None of the posts describes the interview itself: how many interviews or interviewers, how long, or what was asked. One applicant asked for insight on 22 October 2025, before an interview the next week, and no one in the thread described it. What Iowa doesn't publish. How long each timed interview lasts, how many interviews you'll have in all, whether your interviewers have read your application, when the virtual interview day is and who is offered it, its questions (it names only their two kinds), the day's schedule, and when invitations go out (its timeline says only that interviews begin in August). Iowa does say applicants will receive an official notification by email on December 15, 2026. Practice Your Iowa Answers Out Loud. Iowa's interviews are timed and one-on-two, with situational and behavioral

questions. Practice answering both kinds out loud, as you would to two interviewers face to face, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. Iowa's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline When. What Iowa says. April 15, 2026. ADEA's Fee Assistance Program (FAP) application opened; Iowa's own fee can be waived for FAP-approved applicants who send their FAP approval email to gradmail@uiowa.edu. May 12, 2026. The ADEA AADSAS application opened. June 2, 2026. “First Day to Submit Your 2026-27 ADEA AADSAS Application”; Iowa recommends submitting “as soon as possible after the application cycle opens”. After AADSAS verifies your application. An email from the University of Iowa: create your MyUI Admissions Profile and pay the non-refundable $60 fee ($100 international); once it is paid, instructions for the attestation. August 2026. “Interviews Begin”; on the same card, Iowa says applicants selected for an interview

“will be contacted via email with additional details and instructions,” without saying when invitations go out. September 30, 2026, 11:59 pm EST (passed). Application deadline: “All application materials must be received and verified by this date,” including official DAT scores, letters, transcripts, the University of Iowa fee and the attestation; incomplete applications “will be cancelled and removed from further consideration”. November 2026. “Interviews End”. December 15, 2026. Decision notification by email; interviewed applicants who aren't offered immediate admission get a notification about their application status. March 1, 2027. If you hold a place at more than one school on “March 1 of the year of admission,” schools give you at least 15 days' notice to affirm it or withdraw, and may rescind an offer (ADEA's traffic guidelines; Iowa's card for this is dated “After March 5, 2026,” so the year 2027 is ours). June 30, 2027.

Prerequisite deadline: admitted students must finish the required coursework “as a condition of enrollment”. August 16–20, 2027. D1 orientation (“Mandatory”). If you're accepted, Iowa's 2026–2027 catalog asks for a non-refundable $500 deposit, credited toward your first fee payment: within 30 days of notification if you're accepted before February 1, and within two weeks if you're admitted after it. Its application page says offers are "conditional pending completion, at the applicant's expense, of acceptable Background Checks." Every admitted student is considered for Iowa's scholarships, with no separate application. Iowa doesn't accept letters of continued interest by email or mail: "We only accept materials submitted via the ADEA AADSAS application." September 30, or October 1?. Iowa's admissions pages set September 30 (11:59 pm EST), with everything "received and verified" by then, and its requirements sheet says official DAT

scores "must be received by September 30." Its 2026–2027 catalog says "Completed applications must be on file at ADEA by Oct. 1." Both dates have passed for 2026–27. If you're planning for a later cycle, go by September 30, the stricter date, and remember that Iowa's own fee and attestation, which come after AADSAS verifies your application, must be done by then too. Iowa recommends submitting "as soon as possible after the application cycle opens." Confirm dates with dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu. Not the admissions interview: the Pre-Dental Academy. For undergraduates planning ahead, Iowa's Pre-Dental Academy is a weekend run under the mentorship of members of its student chapter of the American Student Dental Association (June 26–28 in 2026, $350; applications for 2026 have closed). Its program includes "Mock admissions interviews," but Iowa says participation "does not imply or guarantee acceptance in the DDS program," and

those mock interviews are not the DDS interview. What Iowa Looks For Iowa reviews applicants "using a whole file review process, with consideration given to all components of the application," and its FAQ says "We utilize a whole file review of applicants and will evaluate more than just your scores." Its catalog says the committee selects "those who appear best qualified for the study and practice of dentistry." Each interview asks situational and behavioral questions, so these are the qualities to show: Growth through varied experiences: "Our admissions committee looks for candidates who not only display academic success, but who also display a level of personal growth by engaging in a variety of experiences." Those "could include (but are not limited to) academic enrichment, dental experience, employment, extracurricular activities, research, leadership, and volunteer/community enrichment." For each experience you mention, say what

changed in you. Caring for the underserved: "Applicants who show a commitment to helping underserved communities and caring for others are given strong consideration." Iowa recommends at least 40 hours of volunteering; have one specific story from yours. More than technique: "At Iowa, we believe dentists are more than technicians and must develop skills in critical thinking, professionalism, health promotion, interpersonal skills, cultural competency, interprofessional practice and practice management to be successful." A behavioral question is your chance to show one of these with a real example. Communication: Iowa's technical standards ask students to "communicate effectively and sensitively, both verbally and in writing, with patients, faculty, staff and classmates," and its curriculum runs a thread on "empathy, communication, interprofessional education and culturally responsive care" through all four years. Judgment, stress and

feedback: the standards include "Exercising good judgment in a professional manner at all times," "functioning effectively under stress" and "Accepting criticism and responding appropriately." Have an example of each: a hard stretch you managed, and feedback you acted on. Nervous patients: the standards also ask for "Managing apprehensive patients with a range of behaviors in a respectful and congenial manner." Ethics: Iowa holds students to the standards of conduct in the ADA's Code of Ethics and ADEA's Statement on Professionalism in Dental Education, among others, and its technical standards list autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice and veracity ("accepting our obligation to tell the truth and expect that others will do the same"). In a situational question, name the principle you're weighing and why. Hand skills and spatial sense: the standards ask students to "Comprehend and mentally visualize three-dimensional

relationships" and to operate dental handpieces "within a limited spatial tolerance level." Have one activity you can describe concretely. Iowa's core values: "Excellence, Compassion, Respect, Character, Creativity, and Collegiality." Its mission page defines character as "Holding ourselves to the highest ethical and professional standards" and respect as "Ensuring a professional and trustworthy environment for patients, faculty, staff, and students." Situational and behavioral: Iowa's two kinds of question. Iowa names both. Generally, a behavioral question asks what you did ("Tell me about a time you…"): answer with one real situation, what you did, and what came of it. A situational question puts you in a scenario and asks what you would do: talk through the people involved, your options and the principle that decides it, then commit to an answer. Iowa doesn't publish its questions, and its interviews are timed, so practice both kinds

out loud, against a clock. The best Why Iowa material is in its clinics and its state. Iowa's DDS page calls the college "the only dental school in the State of Iowa," and its About page says "78% of Iowa dentists are graduates of the college." Students begin working in the clinic "near the end of the first year," and Iowa says "students provide the majority of patient care," with "ample opportunities to perform numerous procedures rather than assisting or shadowing." Third-year students rotate through "clerkships," and every fourth-year student spends five weeks at an extramural site, in Iowa or elsewhere in the country, at Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Reservations or private practices in underserved areas; the catalog adds that students may choose the Colorado Migrant Worker Program or the Indian Health Service Program. Iowa's About page says its Student Research Program "engages about 40% of pre-doctoral students," and

a Dental Public Health distinction track adds four courses. Its tuition page lists the FIND loan repayment program, whose purpose is "to increase the number of dentists in rural, underserved areas of Iowa," and in the class that entered in 2026, Iowa's profile counts 31 students raised in rural areas. Connect one of these to the dentist you want to be and where you want to practice. The practice questions below are ours, built on these criteria. Iowa does not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? Iowa's DDS FAQ says that if you already have a dental degree from another country, "you may be eligible for Iowa's Advanced Standing Program," which has its own contact, kelly-smith@uiowa.edu. Our CAAPID Program Finder compares advanced standing programs, Iowa's among them. ); }; export default IowaDentalSchoolInterview; iowa-dental-school-interview University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics Iowa Iowa

Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Timed One-on-Two Interviews & Requirements Iowa Dental School DDS 2026-27 University of Iowa DDS guide from its own timed one-on-two interviews in person Aug–Nov situational and behavioral questions; Sept 30 deadline passed. University of Iowa dental school interview Iowa College of Dentistry interview Iowa DDS interview University of Iowa DDS requirements Iowa dental school requirements Iowa dental school one-on-two interview 2026-10-07 2026-10-07 Domestic Program Timed one-on-two interviews each with a different pair of interviewers; in person plus one virtual day Iowa interviews in person from August to November 2026 plus one virtual interview timed one-on-two interviews each with a different pair of interviewers with situational and behavioral questions. Here is what Iowa publishes what applicants report and how to prepare. Iowa “uses a one-on-two interview format”: candidates “complete two

interviews each with a different pair of interviewers then repeat the process with a different pair of interviewers ” and “Each timed interview includes situational and behavioral questions.” Degree DDS (four years) Iowa City Iowa Interview Format Timed “one-on-two” interviews with situational and behavioral questions each with a different pair of interviewers File Type Not published Interviews In person August–November 2026 plus one virtual interview day; by emailed invitation Deadline September 30 2026 59 pm EST (passed): everything received and verified; its catalog says October 1 Application Fee $60 to the University of Iowa ($100 international) plus an attestation Minimums GPA 2.85 total and science (its above 2.50); DAT Academic Average 360 (200–600 scale) CASPer / Kira Not on Iowa s DDS pages Class Size 80 (2026 entering 56 resident 24 nonresident) GPA / DAT 3.81 overall 3.75 science GPA; DAT Academic Average 455 Total Science

458 on the 200–600 scale (2026 entering class) Residency Separate resident and nonresident pools; Regents at least 80% of enrolled students Iowa residents Decisions December 15 2026 by email requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What Iowa Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline Iowa s Admissions Timeline 2 what-iowa-looks-for What Iowa 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 Behavioral Tell me about a time you received criticism. What did you do with it? Iowa does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it looks for. Iowa says “Each timed interview includes situational and behavioral questions ” and its technical standards ask for “Accepting

criticism and responding appropriately.” Pick a real piece of feedback say what you changed and show the result. Keep it Iowa s interviews are timed and it doesn t publish how long they last. Tell me about your experience with an underserved community. What did it teach you? Iowa says “Applicants who show a commitment to helping underserved communities and caring for others are given strong consideration ” and it recommends at least 40 hours of volunteering. Describe one who you served what you did and how it shaped the dentist you want to be. Describe a stressful stretch you managed. How did you keep your work to standard? Iowa s technical standards include “Enduring physically and mentally challenging workloads and functioning effectively under stress.” Use a real example with real stakes say what you prioritized and what you let go and what you would do the same way in dental school. Tell me about a time you worked with people whose

backgrounds or training differed from yours. Iowa says dentists “must develop skills in critical thinking professionalism health promotion interpersonal skills cultural competency interprofessional practice and practice management ” and its curriculum covers “interprofessional education and culturally responsive care.” Show how you listened adjusted and contributed and what the group achieved. Situational / Ethical A patient becomes anxious and wants to stop partway through a procedure. What do you do? Iowa s technical standards ask for “Managing apprehensive patients with a range of behaviors in a respectful and congenial manner.” Pause and acknowledge the fear explain in plain words what is happening and what stopping would mean respect the patient s choice and bring in your supervising dentist. Talk through your reasoning out Iowa names situational questions. A classmate posts a photo of a patient s mouth in a group chat. What do you

do? Iowa s technical standards list “respecting the confidentiality of patients faculty staff and classmate’s information and relationships.” Talk to your classmate first and ask them to delete it explain why it matters and say when you would take it further. Show that you can be fair to a peer and protect the patient at the same time. A patient asks you to put a different date on a treatment record so their insurance will pay. How do you respond? Iowa s technical standards list “accepting our obligation to tell the truth and expect that others will do the same.” Decline clearly and kindly explain that the record must be accurate and look for honest ways to help such as phasing treatment or other payment options. Name the principle you are weighing and Iowa doesn t say how it scores answers so make your reasoning easy to follow. Your clinic partner keeps arriving late and patients are kept waiting. What do you do? Iowa s core values

include respect “Ensuring a professional and trustworthy environment for patients faculty staff and students ” and its technical standards include “Being accountable for one’s actions.” Talk to your partner privately first find out what is going on and offer help and involve faculty if patients keep waiting. Show that fairness to your partner and care for patients can go together. Motivation & Why Iowa Why dentistry? Iowa s page names situational and behavioral questions and doesn t say whether it asks why dentistry but be ready anyway. Iowa says applicants “should demonstrate a confirmed interest in dentistry” by shadowing a dentist and it requires 40 hours. Anchor your answer in something specific you saw while shadowing and what it confirmed for you. Why Iowa? Use what Iowa says about clinic work from near the end of the first year students who “provide the majority of patient care ” third-year clerkships and five weeks at an

extramural site serving underserved patients; its tuition page also lists the FIND loan repayment program for rural underserved areas of Iowa. Its About page says “78% of Iowa dentists are graduates of the college.” Connect one of these to how you want to learn and where you want to practice. What did you learn from shadowing a general dentist and a specialist? Iowa requires 40 hours of shadowing by the time you submit and its requirements sheet says “It is expected the dental shadowing be completed under general dentists and dental specialists.” Compare one thing you saw in each setting and say what it taught you about the dentist you want to be. Practice timed situational and behavioral answers Iowa says “Each timed interview includes situational and behavioral questions ” and it doesn t publish how long each lasts. Practice out loud against a for a behavioral question one real example and its result; for a situational one your

options the principle that decides it and a clear answer. Tell your story the same way to each pair Candidates “complete two interviews each with a different pair of interviewers then repeat the process with a different pair of interviewers.” Each pair may include Admissions Committee members faculty or staff and Iowa doesn t say whether they have read your file so introduce yourself clearly every time and keep your examples consistent. Read the technical standards before you go Iowa says interview participants “will certify that they have reviewed and agree that they are capable of meeting the College of Dentistry s technical standards with or without accommodations ” and its committee “can use this document when making admission determinations.” Read them and have an example ready for communication stress and taking feedback. Next everything by September 30 and updates only through AADSAS Iowa cancels applications still missing

official DAT scores letters transcripts the University of Iowa fee or the attestation at its September 30 deadline and it recommends applying “as soon as possible after the application cycle opens.” After you submit send updates through AADSAS Iowa doesn t accept emailed updates or letters of continued interest by email or mail. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years after at least three years of preprofessional study; Iowa City Iowa Application AADSAS then the University of Iowa s non-refundable $60 fee ($100 international) and an attestation through MyUI once AADSAS verifies your application Deadline September 30 2026 59 pm EST (passed): everything received and verified or the application is cancelled; the 2026–2027 catalog says October 1 Interview Required by emailed invitation; in person August–November 2026 plus one virtual interview day; timed one-on-two interviews with situational and behavioral questions; approximately

240 candidates a cycle Interviewers A different pair for each interview; may include Admissions Committee members faculty and staff Class size 80 in the 2026 entering class (56 resident 24 nonresident) Applications 2026 entering class 1 591 (144 resident 1 447 nonresident) GPA 2026 entering class 3.81 overall 3.75 science DAT 2026 entering class Academic Average 455 Total Science Average 458 on the 200–600 scale Acceptance rate Not published as a rate; Iowa publishes counts (1 591 applications and a class of 80 for 2026) Minimum GPA 2.85 total and science on Iowa s admissions pages; its 2026–2027 catalog says above 2.50 with above 3.50 preferred Minimum DAT Academic Average 360 (200–600 scale) DAT Official scores verified by AADSAS by September 30; most recent scores used; no older than 3 years at application on its application page and requirements sheet but only tests taken in 2024 2025 or 2026 for fall 2027 per its FAQ (go by the FAQ

the stricter) Prerequisites Biology general chemistry organic chemistry and physics 8 semester hours each with labs; English 6; biochemistry 3 (no lab); C or better not pass/fail; finished by June 30 2027; microbiology required from the 2027–2028 cycle College hours At least 90 semester hours by June of the year you enroll 30 of them at a four-year college or university; most applicants finish a bachelor s degree Letters Three individual letters or one committee letter or packet through AADSAS; they don t need to come from specific professors or professionals Shadowing 40 hours required completed by the time you submit; high school hours don t count; general dentists and specialists (“desirable” on its web page “expected” on its requirements sheet) Volunteering At least 40 hours recommended CASPer / Kira Not on Iowa s DDS admissions pages or its catalog s DDS page Residency Separate resident and nonresident pools; Regents at least 80%

of enrolled students Iowa residents Decisions December 15 2026 by email Deposit $500 non-refundable credited toward first within 30 days if accepted before February 1 within two weeks if admitted after (2026–2027 catalog) Tuition 2026–27 estimate First year in 2026–27 (the class that entered in 2026): $61 314 for Iowa residents $86 452 for nonresidents; fall 2027 rates aren t published and Iowa s Board of Regents finalizes rates each summer Transfers Not accepted Before you submit AADSAS (prerequisites and the DAT can still be in progress) 40 hours of dental shadowing completed by the time you submit with general dentists and specialists; hours from high school don t count Your experiences reported on Iowa recommends at least 40 hours of volunteering and gives strong consideration to a commitment to underserved communities A total and science GPA of at least 2.85 the stricter of Iowa s published minimums Iowa lets you apply while

completing prerequisites and before taking the add your planned test date to AADSAS Apply (Iowa s steps in its order) Submit AADSAS as soon as possible after the cycle opens (June 2 in 2026) Have your transcripts three letters or one committee letter and official DAT scores (Academic Average 360 or higher) sent to AADSAS Once AADSAS verifies your application create your MyUI Admissions Profile and pay the $60 fee ($100 international) then complete the attestation Have it all received and verified by September 30 ( 59 pm EST) and send any later updates through AADSAS only If you are invited (interviews August–November 2026) Follow the scheduling instructions in your invitation email Read Iowa s technical interview participants certify that they can meet them Practice timed situational and behavioral answers out loud Prepare a Why Iowa answer and your own questions and expect to tell your story to more than one pair of interviewers Hard

dates September 30 application deadline (passed) December 15 decision notification by email June 30 prerequisites complete August 16–20 mandatory D1 orientation What is the Iowa dental school interview format? Iowa says “The College of Dentistry uses a one-on-two interview format for interviews ” with interviewers who “may include members of the Admissions Committee faculty and staff.” “Each timed interview includes situational and behavioral questions ” and candidates “complete two interviews each with a different pair of interviewers then repeat the process with a different pair of interviewers.” That sentence gives no total and Iowa doesn t say how long each interview lasts or whether interviewers have read your application. Interviews are required by emailed invitation and run in person from August to November 2026 plus one virtual interview day. Is the Iowa dental interview in person or virtual? In person plus one virtual day. Iowa

says “approximately 240 candidates participate in our in-person interview process which occurs between August - November. We also offer one virtual interview day.” It doesn t say when the virtual day is or who is offered it. On a public applicant forum the three 2025–26 applicants who described the setting (in posts from June and July 2025) all wrote in-person and the forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists Iowa s 2026–27 interviews as in person (as of its 25 September 2026 update). Does Iowa use the MMI? Iowa s own pages describe no MMI. They describe timed “one-on-two” interviews each with “a different pair of interviewers ” with situational and behavioral questions. In a public forum s 2025–26 Iowa thread no applicant described the format at all. Prepare for timed interviews with two interviewers at a time. Does Iowa require CASPer or Kira for dental school? Iowa s DDS admissions pages its FAQ

its requirements sheet and the DDS page of its 2026–2027 catalog don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment. Besides AADSAS and your coursework what they do ask for includes the DAT three letters or a committee letter 40 hours of shadowing a $60 University of Iowa fee and an attestation and if you are invited an interview at which you certify that you can meet Iowa s technical standards. What GPA and DAT do I need for Iowa dental school? Iowa s admissions pages require a total and science GPA of 2.85 or higher and “A minimum DAT Academic Average (AA) score of 360.” Its 2026–2027 catalog says “higher than 2.50 ” with “a GPA above 3.50” preferred so plan on 2.85. The class that entered in 2026 averaged 3.81 overall and 3.75 science with a DAT Academic Average of 455 and a Total Science Average of 458 on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since March 2025; Iowa gives no old-scale equivalents. Its FAQ accepts DAT

scores from tests taken in 2024 2025 and 2026 for fall 2027 and Iowa uses your most recent scores. Does Iowa accept out-of-state applicants? Yes. Iowa considers residents and nonresidents “in two separate applicant pools ” and for residency it follows an Iowa Board of Regents policy under which “A minimum of 80% of enrolled students shall be residents of the State of Iowa ” with a broader definition of Iowa resident for that count. Its profile of the class that entered in 2026 counts 1 447 nonresident applications and 24 nonresidents enrolled 9 of whom meet that definition beside 144 resident applications and 56 residents enrolled. Iowa publishes counts not an acceptance rate. When is the Iowa DDS application deadline? September 30 2026 at 59 pm EST and it has passed for 2026–27. By then everything had to be received and official DAT scores letters transcripts the University of Iowa application fee and the attestation; Iowa says

incomplete applications “will be cancelled and removed from further consideration.” Its 2026–2027 catalog says “Completed applications must be on file at ADEA by Oct. 1.” For a later cycle go by September 30 and apply “as soon as possible after the application cycle opens.” Decisions come by email on December 15 2026. How many shadowing hours does Iowa require? Forty. Iowa says “40 hours of dental shadowing is required and must be completed at the time of application submission ” and “Shadowing completed during high school is not considered.” Its application page calls shadowing in general dentistry and specialty practice “desirable ” and its requirements sheet says “It is expected the dental shadowing be completed under general dentists and dental specialists ” so shadow both and confirm with dental-student-admissions@uiowa.edu. Iowa also recommends at least 40 hours of volunteering. Minnesota Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In

Minnesota s Kira first round for select applicants then a live 20-minute structured closed-file interview with two faculty for select applicants who complete it. Domestic Program /schools/umn-dental-school-interview Creighton Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Creighton s virtual interview with a member of the admissions committee plus a mandatory in-person presentation and tour; AADSAS by December 1. Domestic Program /schools/creighton-dental-school-interview Marquette Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Marquette s virtual personal interviews for 2026–27 on dates its own pages list from September 18 2026. Domestic Program /schools/marquette-dental-school-interview