Loma Linda Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

Loma Linda DDS guide from LLU's own pages: a personal interview by invitation, the Nov 1 deadline, the spiritual recommendation and LLU's standards.

Loma Linda invites selected DDS applicants to the school for a personal interview, with a tour, and publishes no format. Here is what LLU publishes, from its supplemental essay and spiritual recommendation to the standards LLU expects of every student, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> Loma Linda DDS Requirements and Application Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (LLUSD) was founded in 1953 and sits in the Inland Empire of San Bernardino County, "about 60 miles east of Los Angeles." Loma Linda University "is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church," and the School of Dentistry's motto is "Service is our Calling." Its DDS takes four years (15 academic quarters) of full-time study. You apply through AADSAS between June 1 and November 1, 2026, then complete LLU's own supplemental application when it is emailed to you. The class this cycle fills starts in August 2027, when LLU's 2026–2027 catalog

calendar lists DDS orientation and the first-year summer term. LLU's DDS admissions page, its program page and its catalog's DDS pages don't publish a class profile: no class size, average GPA or DAT, or acceptance rate. They do publish minimums and recommendations: Requirement. What LLU says. GPA. A minimum of 2.7 (its catalog: in science and in nonscience subjects, averaged separately); “To be a competitive applicant, a 3.5 or higher is recommended” (its FAQ). Science GPA. “A science GPA of 3.3 or higher is recommended” (its DDS page); “GPA of 3.2 or higher in science courses” (LLU's program page). DAT. Required; “DAT scores of 20 or higher are recommended,” and its FAQ advises “scores of 20 or above in all areas” (LLU's program page says “19 or higher”). These are old-scale figures: see below. DAT timing. Taken within 3 years of matriculation (its DDS page) or within the previous two years (its catalog); preference to applicants who

take it by October (its timeline says by the end of summer). Observation. At least 50 hours of dental practice observation; its catalog says 20 of them must be with a general dentist, before you interview; its timeline recommends 100. Letters. Three recommendations through AADSAS, plus a spiritual recommendation form with the supplemental application (details below). Supplemental application. An essay specific to Loma Linda University, a photograph and a $150 fee, returned within 30 days of LLU's email invitation. Interview. “A formal interview (by invitation only)”. English. “Proficiency in verbal and written English is required”. Degree. “A Baccalaureate degree is preferred”; at least 96 semester or 144 quarter units. Which DAT scale is LLU's “20” on?. The old 1–30 scale. LLU's pages print only old-scale figures and give no three-digit equivalent, but the DAT has been scored from 200 to 600 since 1 March 2025, and the ADA now reports

every score to AADSAS on the new scale, older attempts converted. LLU doesn't say how it reads three-digit scores against its "20." The ADA's concordance table converts old scores section by section, so "20 or above in all areas" is not the same new-scale number in every section. The table below gives the ADA's conversions, not LLU's targets; ask admissions.sd@llu.edu how LLU applies its recommendation. DAT section. Old 20 (LLU's DDS page): the ADA's new-scale equivalent. Old 19 (LLU's program page): the ADA's equivalent. Academic Average. 420. 410. Survey of Natural Sciences (Total Science). 430. 410. Biology. 420. 410. General Chemistry. 430. 410. Organic Chemistry. 430. 410. Perceptual Ability. 430. 410. Quantitative Reasoning. 430. 420. Reading Comprehension. 390. 370. GPA and DAT: LLU's pages disagree. LLU's DDS page recommends a science GPA of 3.3 or higher and DAT scores of 20 or higher; LLU's program page lists a science GPA of

3.2 or higher and DAT scores of 19 or higher under "Admissions Requirements." The DDS page asks for a DAT "completed within 3 years of matriculation," while the 2026–2027 catalog says applicants "are expected to have taken the DAT within the previous two years" and "Entering D1 students are expected to have taken the test within the past two years." The DDS page gives preference to applicants who complete the DAT "by October," while its own timeline says "by end of summer." Plan on the stricter reading of each: a science GPA of 3.3 or more, 20 in every section (old scale), a DAT taken within two years, and, for preference, by the end of summer (the catalog's "October of the year preceding expected matriculation" is October 2026 for this cycle, by our arithmetic). Confirm with admissions.sd@llu.edu. If you take the DAT more than once, "the most recent scores are used for admission criteria. The committee reviews all scores on the test."

LLU accepts Canadian DAT scores. Prerequisite coursework Course. What LLU requires. General biology. A full academic year (8 semester or 12 quarter units), with lab. General chemistry. A full academic year, with lab. Organic chemistry. A full academic year, with lab. General physics. A full academic year, with lab. Biochemistry. One semester or two quarters (its catalog: at least 4 semester or 6 quarter units); a full year recommended; lab courses don't meet the requirement. English composition. A complete sequence (two semesters or three quarters) including composition and literature; met by a bachelor's degree. Where and how: prerequisites "must be taken in the U.S or Canada," "All science pre-requisites must be taken in person," and "Science coursework completed at a four year school is preferred." AP science prerequisite courses aren't accepted. Grades and age: a C or higher in each course, and "Science sequences must be completed

within five (5) years of admission" (the catalog: within five years before matriculation). Units and colleges: at least 96 semester or 144 quarter units from an accredited school. The catalog accepts at most 64 semester or 96 quarter units from an accredited junior or community college, and LLU "accepts credits only from regionally accredited institutions." Recommended courses: LLU lists, in order of priority, histology, human gross anatomy, systems physiology, microbiology, cellular and molecular biology, immunology, neuroscience, genetics and biochemistry II or III. It also recommends small business management, human resource management, ceramics, business and the law, accounting, human development, marketing, sculpture and interpersonal communication, and the list on its program page also includes religion, psychology and statistics. Experience: LLU's FAQ recommends dental assisting experience before you apply. Already at LLU?

"Students who are enrolled in another program in Loma Linda University are not considered for admission until they have completed or have been released from the program." The supplemental application and the spiritual recommendation After AADSAS sends LLU your application, LLU emails you an invitation to its electronic supplemental application. Its DDS page gives two waits: "This can take from 4-6 weeks after the AADSAS application has been submitted," and, in its timeline, "6-8 weeks." You then have 30 days: What it contains: "The applicant must return the completed supplemental application and materials within thirty (30) days. This includes an essay specific to Loma Linda University, a photograph, and the application fee of $150." The LLU pages we read don't publish the essay's prompt or length, and they describe no essay or writing exercise at the interview. The spiritual recommendation: "A spiritual recommendation form must be

submitted along with the LLUSD supplemental application." LLU's catalog asks for "a reference from a spiritual leader," and its timeline suggests asking "religious leaders" in the spring before you apply. The LLU pages we read don't publish the form. Your other letters: the DDS page says "Three recommendations are required: employer or dental professional, pre-professional committee, or science professor uploaded with AADSAS application." The catalog asks for "a minimum of three personal references": one from a pre-professional committee or science professor, one from an employer or professional, and one from a spiritual leader. Members of your family can't write the required letters, and LLU encourages a pre-professional committee evaluation if your college prepares one. Follow-up: LLU's timeline says to check the AADSAS and LLU portals until your application is complete, and to call the Office of Admissions at 909-558-4621 about any

discrepancy. Three letters, or three plus the spiritual form?. The LLU pages we read don't say whether the spiritual recommendation is one of the three letters or an extra one: the DDS page lists three AADSAS letters and then the form, while the catalog counts a spiritual leader among "a minimum of three." To be safe, send three letters through AADSAS and the spiritual recommendation form with the supplemental application, line up your spiritual leader early, and ask admissions.sd@llu.edu. CASPer or Kira?. LLU's DDS admissions page, its program page and the DDS pages of its 2026–2027 catalog don't mention CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira or a hand-skills test. The admissions (dexterity) test you may read about belongs to LLU's International Dentist Program, a separate program for dentists trained abroad. Besides AADSAS, your coursework and the DAT, what LLU's DDS pages ask for is the supplemental application with its essay, photograph and

$150 fee, the letters and the spiritual recommendation, at least 50 hours of observation and, if you are invited, an interview. To confirm anything on this page, write to admissions.sd@llu.edu or call 909-558-4621 (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Friday). If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, LLU requires you "to pay the first year’s tuition and fees before registration for the first term." For 2026–27, LLU estimates first-year tuition and fees at $98,888; its estimates are for that academic year only, and it says amounts "are expected to increase each year." The Loma Linda Interview: What LLU Says Required, by invitation. The DDS page lists "A formal interview (by invitation only)" among its admission requirements, and the catalog says "An interview is required for admission." How you are chosen. "Based on the review of a completed supplemental application, DAT scores, transcripts, and

recommendations, you may be invited to LLUSD for a personal interview." The catalog says your records are screened once the supplemental application, recommendations, transcripts and DAT scores are on file, and "The DAT scores must be on file at Loma Linda University before an applicant is invited to interview." At the school, with a tour. "The applicant may then be invited to the school for a personal interview," and "At the time of the interview, a tour of the school will be given." The LLU pages we read don't mention a virtual option. What it is for. The interview "provides an opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors, including communication skills, core values, motivation, and passion for the profession; as well as genuine concern for others in the service of dentistry." Observation first. "Prior to interviewing, applicants are expected to complete a minimum of fifty (50) hours of observation/work experience in a dental

facility, twenty (20) of which must be done with a general dentist." The LLU pages we read don't describe the format: not how many people interview you or who they are, how long it lasts, or whether they have read your application. They don't give the months when interviews run either. What the catalog does say is that, before an applicant is considered for admission, "the applicant must meet specific criteria related to past academic performance (G.P.A.), performance on the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and a personal interview." What applicants report These are posts on a public applicant forum, and an invite tracker that a forum volunteer compiles there from applicants' reports, not LLU's words: This cycle (2026–27): the forum's invite tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, lists Loma Linda's first invitations on 3 July and a first interview date of 14 July, with the setting given as "Both" (in person and virtual). In the forum's

Loma Linda thread for this cycle, one in-state applicant posted on 10 August 2026 that they were notified by email on July 9, and listed the method of interview as "In Person." Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker listed first invitations on 21 September 2025 and a first interview date of 2 October, in person. In that cycle's thread, one applicant posted on 12 November 2025 that the invitation appears in Loma Linda's application portal, after an email saying your application status has changed, and that "you can choose either in-person or virtual. My interview was virtual with a closed file." The same applicant called it "a pretty standard interview, except that since they are a Christian school, you should be prepared to articulate your missional alignment," and posted on 15 December 2025: "Accepted via phone call." Those are the only interview reports in the two threads: one applicant in each cycle. Neither described the interview's

length, the number of interviewers or the questions, and no post mentions an MMI, a test or an essay at the interview. What LLU doesn't publish. The interview's format, length, number of interviewers and file policy; whether a virtual interview is offered; when interviews run; and how soon decisions follow. LLU does say acceptance letters go out from December to March (other decisions by email only), and an acceptance comes by phone call, email and a letter signed by the dean. Go by your invitation for the setting, and be ready to tell your story as if your interviewer has not read your file. Practice Your Loma Linda Answers Out Loud. LLU's personal interview, its catalog says, evaluates communication skills, core values, motivation and concern for others. Practice answering why dentistry, why Loma Linda and questions about service and values out loud, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. LLU's

2026–27 Admissions Timeline When. What LLU says. Spring, before you apply. “Contact teachers/advisors, religious leaders, professionals and/or employers to obtain commitments for writing recommendation letters (a minimum of three recommendations or one committee letter).” Complete your personal statement and your shadowing (“50 hrs. required, 100 hrs. recommended”). June 1, 2026. Applications opened (LLU's program page). June (first week). “Submit AADSAS application at adea.org with official transcripts. It is a major advantage to apply as early as possible.” LLU strongly recommends applying within the first two months, and its catalog recommends submitting AADSAS before August. Summer. “Prepare for DAT (8-10 hrs., 6 days/week x 8 weeks)”. Mid July (LLU's timeline). LLU's supplemental application invitation arrives by email, 4–6 or 6–8 weeks after you submit AADSAS (its page gives both). Within 30 days of the invitation (July–February).

Return the supplemental application, with the essay, photograph, $150 fee and spiritual recommendation form. July–April. Check the AADSAS and LLU portals until your application is complete. By the end of summer, or by October. When LLU prefers you to have taken the DAT (its pages give both; the catalog's “October of the year preceding expected matriculation” is October 2026 for this cycle, by our arithmetic). October 21, November 18 and December 16, 2026; January 20, 2027. Virtual information sessions on Zoom for LLU's dental programs, 3:30–4:30 PM as listed. November 1, 2026. AADSAS deadline (LLU's “Final Deadline”; no priority deadline is listed). December–March. Acceptance letters, mailed and emailed; all other decisions by email only. On acceptance. A nonrefundable $1,000 deposit, which becomes part of the first term's tuition; without it you lose your place in the class. May 1, 2027. A second nonrefundable $1,000 deposit “in order

to secure a place in the class” (the catalog says May 1; the year is our arithmetic). August 1, 2027. Official transcripts for any coursework or degree completed since AADSAS, so you can register (the catalog says August 1; the year is ours). August 2027. DDS orientation and the first-year summer term (LLU's 2026–2027 catalog calendar, which prints no days); the rest of the first term's tuition and fees is due by matriculation. LLU publishes no interview window and no date for its first invitations. For the class that started in 2026, its incoming-student page listed DDS orientation on August 24–28, 2026, and says classes begin immediately after orientation. Early is better, in LLU's own words. "It is a major advantage to apply as early as possible." "We strongly recommend that you apply within the first two months." And, in the catalog: "Due to the high volume of applicants LLUSD recommends that AADSAS applications be submitted before

August." Another route in: the Bridge Pathway. LLU's Bridge Pathway "provides DDS applicants with a weak academic profile a chance to enroll in Dental Hygiene," with "Priority consideration given for the DDS program after Bridge Pathway." Its minimum entry requirements include DDS science prerequisites with a GPA of 2.7, a DAT score of 17 (old scale; the requirement names no section, though the page waives a DAT retake "if Academic Average is 17 or higher," and the ADA's table converts an old Academic Average of 17 to 370), successful completion of LLU's dental hygiene program, and an AADSAS application before the second year of that program. You apply to the hygiene program through DHCAS between November 1 and June 1. The pathway's page says applicants "may be invited to LLUSD for a personal interview"; it doesn't say how that interview relates to the DDS interview. What Loma Linda Looks For LLU's catalog says "The Admissions Committee

looks for evidence of scholastic competence, high moral and ethical standards, and significant qualities of character and personality," and lists, "In broad terms," the standards required for admission: "Intellectual capacity to complete the curriculum," "Emotional adaptability and stability," "Social and perceptual skills," the physical abilities to practice general dentistry, and "Commitment to a dynamic spiritual journey and service to mankind." With what it says the interview evaluates, they make the best checklist for your preparation: Communication skills: the first thing the catalog names for the interview. LLU's inherent requirements say students "must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, the faculty and staff, and other students," and "may be required to remediate written and/or verbal language skills before admission or during their program." Core values: the School of Dentistry "seeks students who

openly and enthusiastically align themselves with" its core values: belief in God, spiritual maturity, demonstrated compassion, service to others, commitment to excellence, critical thinking, respect for self and others, ethical integrity, principled care, pursuit of knowledge, conscientiousness and industry, and effective communication. Motivation and passion for the profession: at least 50 hours of observation before you interview, 20 of them with a general dentist, and LLU recommends dental assisting experience. Be ready to say what you saw and why it confirmed dentistry for you. Concern for others, in service: "Service Learning is the soul of Loma Linda University School of Dentistry." DDS students are expected to complete at least 120 hours of service before graduation, LLU offers "more than 20 international mission trips per academic year," and its home page counts 159 students (school-wide) who took part in an international

service-learning trip during 2024–2025. The catalog says community-based education "continues the original purpose of the school—to train dental health professionals to provide service to underserved populations locally and to encourage it abroad." Whole person care: the school's vision commits it to "whole person care of our patients," and LLU defines wholeness as "the lifelong, harmonious development of the physical, intellectual, emotional, relational, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of a person's life, unified through a loving relationship with God and expressed in generous service to others." Character: "Compassion, integrity, honesty, concern for others, and cultural sensitivity are required personal qualities," and students must "demonstrate the resilience required by a challenging educational program." For every LLU school, "admissions committees look for evidence of personal integrity, academic achievement, healthful

lifestyle, self-discipline, self-direction, and service to others." Faith, preference and LLU's standards The School of Dentistry's mission "seeks to further the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ," and its vision says "Our Lord's example inspires us to enrich our local and global communities through service." Adventists get preference, and LLU invites others who will live by its standards: "While preference is given to Seventh-day Adventist Church members, anyone interested in studying at Loma Linda University and willing to live by the institution's standards is encouraged to apply." LLU also says "Students come from many different faiths" and that it "highly respects students' religious values that differ from those of this academic community." What those standards are, in LLU's 2026–2027 catalog (they apply to every LLU student): No tobacco, alcohol or drugs: LLU's emphasis on health and the practices of its church

"preclude admission of applicants who use tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or narcotics," and "All students are expected to refrain from the use of tobacco, alcohol, and recreational or illegal mind-altering substances." Conduct: "Students at Loma Linda University are expected to uphold the Christian ethical and moral standards of this Seventh-day Adventist Church-related institution while on and off campus." Sabbath: Adventists keep Saturday as the Sabbath "from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday," and during those hours "University offices, laboratories, libraries, study halls, and recreation facilities are closed." Chapel and religion classes: LLU students' requirements include "chapel attendance each Wednesday morning in the University Church," and religion classes are part of every program. The DDS curriculum includes Christian Spirituality and the Health Professional, Christian Ethics for Dentists, Christian Compassion in Cultural

Contexts, Marriage and Family Wholeness, Jesus (or another religion course LLU allows in its place) and Christian Dentist in Community, plus a Professionalism, Mission, and Personal Development course in every year. A choice made before you apply: "The prospective student has the freedom to accept or reject these principles and practices prior to applying. Once application is made to this university, the applicant has chosen to abide by these principles and practices." Talking about faith and mission honestly. The LLU pages we read don't say what the interview asks about faith. They do say the interview evaluates "core values," list "Commitment to a dynamic spiritual journey and service to mankind" among the standards for admission, and ask for a spiritual recommendation. One 2025–26 applicant, on the forum, advised being "prepared to articulate your missional alignment." Our suggestion: read LLU's mission and standards before the day,

answer honestly about your own beliefs and your spiritual journey, and connect them to service and whole person care in your own words. Don't claim beliefs you don't hold, and don't treat the faith dimension as beside the point: LLU says it seeks students who align with values that begin with "Belief in God." The best Why Loma Linda material is in LLU's own pages. Service learning that LLU calls "the soul" of the school, with at least 120 hours expected of DDS students and "more than 20 international mission trips per academic year"; a mission of whole person care; a DDS curriculum with ethics and religion courses and a Professionalism, Mission, and Personal Development course every year; and a combined DDS and Master of Arts in bioethics, offered with LLU's School of Religion (48 units, "designed to fit the schedule of Doctor of Dental Surgery degree students"). Connect the parts that are true for you; the location alone is not a

reason. The practice questions below are ours, built on these criteria. LLU does not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? LLU's International Dentist Program is a separate DDS program with its own application, admissions (dexterity) testing and interview; see our Loma Linda International Dentist Program guide . ); }; export default LomaLindaDentalSchoolInterview; loma-linda-dental-school-interview Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Loma Linda Loma Linda Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Personal Interview Mission & Requirements Loma Linda Dental School DDS 2026-27 Loma Linda DDS guide from LLU s own a personal interview by invitation the Nov 1 deadline the spiritual recommendation and LLU s standards. Loma Linda dental school interview LLUSD interview Loma Linda DDS interview Loma Linda dental school requirements Loma Linda spiritual recommendation Loma Linda DDS supplemental application Loma Linda

dental admissions 2026-07-20 2026-10-08 Domestic Program Personal interview at the school by invitation (format not published) Loma Linda invites selected DDS applicants to the school for a personal interview with a tour and publishes no format. Here is what LLU publishes from its supplemental essay and spiritual recommendation to the standards LLU expects of every student what applicants report and how to prepare. LLU s catalog says the interview “provides an opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors including communication skills core values motivation and passion for the profession; as well as genuine concern for others in the service of dentistry ” and its DDS page says “A spiritual recommendation form must be submitted along with the LLUSD supplemental application.” Degree DDS (four years) Loma Linda California Interview Format A personal interview by invitation; format not published File Type Not published (one 2025–26

applicant reported closed file) Interviews Months not published; acceptance letters December–March Deadline November 1 2026 (AADSAS); LLU s supplemental within 30 days of its invitation Interview Setting At the school with a tour (LLU s catalog); one 2025–26 applicant reported choosing virtual Supplemental An LLU essay a photograph and a $150 fee Letters Three letters and a spiritual recommendation form (LLU s pages differ on how they count) Observation At least 50 hours 20 with a general dentist before you interview GPA Minimum 2.7; a science GPA of 3.3 or higher recommended (3.2 on LLU s program page) DAT “20 or higher” recommended (“19 or higher” on LLU s program page) on the old 1–30 scale (the ADA converts an old Academic Average of 20 to 420) CASPer / Kira Not on LLU s DDS pages Affiliation Owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Adventists get preference requirements Requirements & Application 2 prerequisites

Prerequisite Coursework 3 supplemental-application Supplemental Application & Spiritual Recommendation 3 interview-format What LLU Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline LLU s Admissions Timeline 2 what-loma-linda-looks-for What Loma Linda Looks For 2 llu-standards Faith Preference & LLU s Standards 3 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 Motivation / Why Loma Linda Tell me about yourself. LLU does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it looks for. The LLU pages we read don t say whether your interviewer will have read your file (one 2025–26 applicant reported a closed-file interview) so build a 90-second answer that stands on its who you are what led you to dentistry and what draws you to Loma Linda. Why

dentistry? LLU s catalog says the interview evaluates your “motivation and passion for the profession ” and it expects at least 50 hours of observation 20 of them with a general dentist before you interview. Anchor your answer in something specific you saw a dentist do with a patient and say what it confirmed for you. Why Loma Linda? Use what LLU says about service learning it calls “the soul” of the school at least 120 service hours expected of DDS students “more than 20 international mission trips per academic year ” whole person care and a combined DDS and Master of Arts in bioethics with its School of Religion. Connect one of these to your own experience and be honest about how you see yourself in a school owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. What did you learn from your observation hours? LLU s catalog asks for observation “in a dental facility twenty (20) of which must be done with a general dentist ” and its

FAQ recommends dental assisting experience. Name one moment with a patient what the dentist did and what it taught you about the work. Values Service and Mission What does service mean to you? Tell me about a time you served others. LLU s interview looks for “genuine concern for others in the service of dentistry ” its standards for admission include “Commitment to a dynamic spiritual journey and service to mankind ” and its motto is “Service is our Calling.” Pick one experience and say what you did for whom and what it changed in you. Loma Linda s mission is to further the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ. How do you see yourself in a school with this mission? LLU says “Students come from many different faiths” and that it “highly respects students religious values that differ from those of this academic community ” and it gives Adventists preference. Answer honestly about your own beliefs and your spiritual journey show

that you have read the mission and connect it to the care you want to give. Don t claim beliefs you don t hold. What does whole person care mean to you? LLU s vision commits it to “whole person care of our patients ” and it defines wholeness through the “physical intellectual emotional relational cultural and spiritual dimensions of a person s life.” Give an example of noticing more than the immediate problem in someone you helped. Loma Linda asks every student to live by its standards on and off campus. How do you feel about that commitment? LLU says “The prospective student has the freedom to accept or reject these principles and practices prior to applying. Once application is made to this university the applicant has chosen to abide by these principles and practices ” and its standards include refraining from tobacco alcohol and recreational drugs. Show that you have read them and can commit to them and say why a community s

standards matter in a profession built on trust. Ethical / Scenario A patient can t afford the treatment they need. What do you do? LLU s DDS competencies include “Identify barriers that prevent patients from seeking oral health care” and “Demonstrate the ideal of service through the provision of compassionate personalized health care.” Acknowledge the patient without judgment explore legitimate options such as phased treatment or a community clinic and never lower the standard of care. Show your reasoning; a question like this rarely has a single right answer. A patient s beliefs differ from yours and shape a treatment decision. How do you respond? LLU s DDS competencies include the ability to “serve patients and interact with colleagues and allied dental personnel in a multicultural work environment without discrimination ” and its core values include “Respect for the individual.” Listen first explain the options and their risks in

plain words respect the patient s informed choice and involve your supervising dentist. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? LLU s School of Dentistry seeks students who align with core values including “Ethical integrity ” and its code of ethics applies to all of its students. Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust you. An anxious patient wants to stop in the middle of a procedure. What do you do? LLU s DDS competencies include “Use appropriate and effective techniques to manage anxiety distress discomfort and pain ” and its inherent requirements ask students to observe “changes in mood activity and posture in their patients.” Stop and listen acknowledge the fear explain what is happening agree on a signal to pause and involve your supervising dentist. Apply in the first two months then watch your email LLU says “We strongly

recommend that you apply within the first two months ” and its catalog recommends submitting AADSAS before August; LLU s AADSAS deadline is November 1 2026. LLU then emails you its supplemental application which you return within 30 days with an LLU essay a photograph the $150 fee and the spiritual recommendation form. Line up your spiritual recommendation early LLU s DDS page says “A spiritual recommendation form must be submitted along with the LLUSD supplemental application ” and its catalog asks for “a reference from a spiritual leader.” Its timeline suggests asking “religious leaders” in the spring before you apply. Members of your family can t write the required letters. Have your DAT and observation hours done early “The DAT scores must be on file at Loma Linda University before an applicant is invited to interview ” and “Prior to interviewing applicants are expected to complete a minimum of fifty (50) hours of observation/work

experience in a dental facility twenty (20) of which must be done with a general dentist.” Know LLU s standards and answer honestly about your values LLU s catalog says the interview evaluates “core values ” and that once you apply you have chosen to abide by LLU s standards which include refraining from tobacco alcohol and recreational drugs. Read its mission and standards before the day and practice talking about your values your service and your spiritual journey honestly and in your own words. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years (15 academic quarters) full time; Loma Linda California Application AADSAS between June 1 and November 1 2026; then LLU s supplemental application by email invitation returned within 30 days Supplemental application An essay specific to Loma Linda University a photograph and a $150 fee plus the spiritual recommendation form Interview Required by invitation; a personal interview at the school

with a tour; format length interviewers and file policy not published Interview window Not published; acceptance letters December–March Letters Three recommendations through AADSAS (employer or dental professional pre-professional committee or science professor) and a spiritual recommendation form; the catalog counts a spiritual leader among a minimum of three Observation At least 50 hours 20 of them with a general dentist before you interview; 100 recommended Minimum GPA 2.7 in science and in nonscience subjects averaged separately Recommended GPA Science GPA of 3.3 or higher recommended (DDS page); “GPA of 3.2 or higher in science courses” listed under “Admissions Requirements” (program page); 3.5 or higher “To be a competitive applicant” (FAQ) DAT “20 or higher” recommended (DDS page; “19 or higher” on the program page) on the old 1–30 scale; taken within 2 years (catalog) or 3 years (DDS page) of entry; Canadian DAT accepted DAT the

ADA s conversion of an old 20 Academic Average 420 Total Science 430 Perceptual Ability 430 Reading Comprehension 390 (the ADA s figures not LLU s targets) Class size GPA and DAT averages Not published on LLU s DDS pages Acceptance rate Not published CASPer / Kira Not on LLU s DDS admissions page its program page or its catalog s DDS pages Prerequisites A year each of general biology general chemistry organic chemistry and general physics all with lab; biochemistry (one semester or two quarters; a lab course doesn t count); English composition (met by a bachelor s degree); C or higher; all taken in the US or Canada the sciences in person and within five years Bachelor s degree Preferred; at least 96 semester or 144 quarter units Affiliation Owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Adventists get preference and anyone willing to live by LLU s standards is encouraged to apply Deposits $1 000 nonrefundable on acceptance; a

second $1 000 due May 1 Tuition and fees first year $98 888 (LLU s 2026–27 estimate) Start August DDS orientation and the first-year summer term (LLU s 2026–2027 catalog calendar) LLU s the spring before you apply Ask for your recommendation letters including a religious leader for the spiritual recommendation ( “a minimum of three recommendations or one committee letter”) Complete your personal statement Complete your 50 hours required and 100 recommended by LLU s timeline; its catalog wants 20 of the 50 with a general dentist Apply (LLU s June to February) Submit AADSAS LLU strongly recommends the first two months and its catalog before August; LLU s deadline is November 1 2026 Watch your email for LLU s supplemental application invitation 4–6 or 6–8 weeks after you submit AADSAS (its page gives both) Return it within 30 days with your LLU essay a photograph the $150 fee and the spiritual recommendation form Take the LLU gives

preference to applicants who take it by the end of summer or by October (its pages give both) Check the AADSAS and LLU portals until your application is complete; call 909-558-4621 about any discrepancy Before an interview (LLU s conditions) Your DAT scores on file at it invites no one to interview before then Your supplemental application recommendations and transcripts on LLU screens records once they are At least 50 hours of observation 20 of them with a general dentist completed before you interview If you are invited Check your invitation for the date and the setting; LLU s pages describe an interview at the school with a tour Prepare to talk about your motivation your values and your service in your own words Read LLU s mission and standards and be ready to say honestly how you see yourself at a faith-based school Prepare a Why Loma Linda answer and your own questions for the interviewer Hard dates November 1 LLU s AADSAS deadline

Within 30 days of its LLU s supplemental application December– acceptance letters May 1 second $1 000 deposit for accepted students (LLU says May 1; the year is our arithmetic) August DDS orientation and the first-year summer term What is the Loma Linda dental school interview format? LLU lists “A formal interview (by invitation only)” among its DDS admission requirements and its catalog says selected applicants may be “invited to the school for a personal interview ” which “provides an opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors including communication skills core values motivation and passion for the profession; as well as genuine concern for others in the service of dentistry.” A tour of the school is given at the time of the interview. The LLU pages we read don t say how long the interview lasts how many people interview you or whether they have read your file. One 2025–26 applicant on a public forum described “a pretty

standard interview” that was virtual and closed file. Is the Loma Linda interview virtual or in person? LLU s catalog describes an interview at the school with a tour and the LLU pages we read don t mention a virtual option. Applicant reports one 2025–26 applicant wrote that “you can choose either in-person or virtual” and chose virtual; one 2026–27 applicant listed an in-person interview; and the forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists both settings for 2026–27. Go by your invitation. Do I have to be Seventh-day Adventist to attend Loma Linda? LLU s pages don t require it and they give Adventists its catalog says “While preference is given to Seventh-day Adventist Church members anyone interested in studying at Loma Linda University and willing to live by the institution s standards is encouraged to apply.” It says “Students come from many different faiths” and that it “highly respects students

religious values that differ from those of this academic community.” The standards apply to every LLU s emphasis on health and its church s practices “preclude admission of applicants who use tobacco alcoholic beverages or narcotics ” and students take religion classes and attend chapel. LLU “Once application is made to this university the applicant has chosen to abide by these principles and practices.” What is the Loma Linda spiritual recommendation? LLU s DDS page says “A spiritual recommendation form must be submitted along with the LLUSD supplemental application ” and its catalog asks for “a reference from a spiritual leader” among “a minimum of three personal references.” Its timeline suggests asking “religious leaders” in the spring before you apply. The LLU pages we read don t publish the form and they don t say whether it counts as one of your three letters; to be safe plan on three AADSAS letters plus the form and ask

admissions.sd@llu.edu. Is there a pre-interview essay at Loma Linda? Not on the LLU pages we read. The essay LLU describes is part of its supplemental application which you return within 30 days of its email invitation and which “includes an essay specific to Loma Linda University a photograph and the application fee of $150.” LLU gives no prompt or length for it on those pages and they mention no essay or writing exercise at the interview. What GPA and DAT do I need for Loma Linda? LLU s minimum GPA is 2.7 (its in science and in nonscience subjects averaged separately). Its DDS page recommends a science GPA of 3.3 or higher and DAT scores of 20 or higher and its FAQ says “To be a competitive applicant a 3.5 or higher is recommended” and advises DAT “scores of 20 or above in all areas”; LLU s program page lists a science GPA of 3.2 or higher and DAT scores of 19 or higher. LLU s DAT figures are on the old 1–30 scale while scores now

reach AADSAS on the 200–600 the ADA s table converts an old 20 to 420 in Academic Average 430 in Total Science and Perceptual Ability and 390 in Reading Comprehension. Those are the ADA s conversions not LLU s targets so ask admissions.sd@llu.edu. LLU doesn t publish its class averages. When is the Loma Linda DDS application deadline? Submit AADSAS between June 1 and November 1 2026. LLU then emails you its supplemental application which you return within 30 days with an LLU essay a photograph the $150 fee and the spiritual recommendation form. LLU says “We strongly recommend that you apply within the first two months ” and its catalog recommends submitting AADSAS before August. Acceptance letters go out from December to March. Does Loma Linda require CASPer or Kira for dental school? LLU s DDS admissions page its program page and the DDS pages of its 2026–2027 catalog don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights or Kira. They ask for the DAT

letters and a spiritual recommendation at least 50 hours of observation the supplemental application with its essay photograph and $150 fee and if you are invited an interview. The admissions (dexterity) test on LLU s site is for its International Dentist Program not the DDS. Loma Linda Dental Advanced Standing Interview Guide LLU s International Dentist Program for internationally trained dentists with admissions (dexterity) testing on fall Sundays and an interview by invitation from the results. International Program /schools/loma-linda-dental-advanced-standing-interview UCLA Dental School Interview Guide Another California UCLA interviews four-year DDS applicants by invitation between July and January and publishes no format. Domestic Program /schools/ucla-dental-school-interview Pacific Dugoni Dental School Interview Guide In San Dugoni s accelerated year-round three-year DDS with an in-person interview with one or more members of

its Admissions Committee most from September through March. Domestic Program /schools/pacific-dugoni-dental-school-interview Western University Dental School Interview Guide Also in Southern WesternU s required CASPer on-campus interviews and published class stats. Domestic Program /schools/western-university-dental-school-interview