LSU Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

Q: What is the LSU dental school interview format?

The LSU pages we read don't describe one. Its admissions page says “Each applicant deemed by the committee to be competitive academically is invited to the dental school for an extensive interview process. This process varies from year to year.” Its 2026–2027 catalog says the interview “allows the applicant to see the school and talk with both students and faculty” and lets the committee evaluate “interest, enthusiasm, and social awareness,” and that “on the day of the interview, each applicant takes a chalk carving test as a second measure of manual dexterity.” Interviews are required and “scheduled 3-4 weeks in advance.” No LSU page we read describes an MMI, stations, a panel or a one-on-one interview, or says how long the interview lasts or who conducts it, and no post in a public applicant forum's LSU threads for 2025–26 or 2026–27 describes it.

Q: What GPA and DAT do I need for LSU dental school?

LSU's pages state no minimum GPA. They say “Generally a GPA of Above 3.6 is required for a competitive application” and “In recent years a 3.5 or higher science GPA has been necessary for a competitive application,” and its DDS page puts the mean GPA for entering freshmen at 3.8. For the DAT, “A target score would be an academic average of 440 with no single score lower than 410,” and for Perceptual Ability, “A score of at least 410 is generally required for an interview.” The 2026 entering class averaged 464 in Academic Average and 455 in Perceptual Ability. All of these are on the 200–600 scale. LSU's DDS page pairs 410 with an old score of 19; the ADA's concordance table agrees in six of its eight columns but converts an old 19 to 420 in Quantitative Reasoning and to 370 in Reading Comprehension. Our stricter reading combines LSU's two statements: no section below 410, and 420 or above in Quantitative Reasoning.

Q: Does LSU accept out-of-state applicants?

Yes, in limited numbers, and its pages disagree on how many. “Admission preference will be given to residents of Louisiana,” Arkansas residents “will be considered under the guidelines of the Arkansas Health Education Loan program” (up to 4 a year), and “Residents of other countries will not be considered for admission.” LSU's admissions page says “up to 11 residents from other states,” a figure that replaced 15 on that page after 21 May 2026 (archived copies); its DDS page, its FAQ and its 2026–2027 catalog say “Up to fifteen,” and its About Us FAQ says 15. Plan on 11 and confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. LSU's DDS page says out-of-state applicants “should have above average academic credentials as well as a proven connection (work, family and/or education) to Louisiana in order to be considered competitive.”

Q: When is the LSU DDS application deadline?

September 1, for filing AADSAS, and it has passed for 2026–27: LSU's admissions hub now says “Applications are now closed.” This cycle's AADSAS dates on LSU's DDS page were a May 12 soft launch and a June 2 official submission start. LSU's tips page says “A DAT score needs to be submitted before Sep. 1st,” that the DAT should be taken “no later than August 1,” and that LSU “must receive your completed application much earlier than the Sep. 1st deadline” to review it in time for fall interviews. LSU's $200 application fee is due with your application, and its supplemental application, emailed to qualified applicants, has no fee.

Q: How many shadowing hours does LSU require?

Shadowing itself is required: “The committee will not consider applicants for admission who have not shadowed in a general dentist's office.” The hours are a recommendation, and LSU's pages differ: its admissions page says “We recommend 50 - 100 hours in the offices of at least three different general dentists,” spread across the offices rather than 50 in each, and its FAQ says “We recommend 25-100 hours in the offices of at least three different general dentists.” Plan on 50–100 hours across at least three general dentists' offices and confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. You don't need a job in a dental office: asked, LSU's FAQ says “No.”

LSU School of Dentistry DDS guide from its own pages: an interview by invitation, a timed chalk carving, the Sept 1 deadline (passed), Louisiana preference.

LSU invites applicants it deems competitive academically to “an extensive interview process” it says varies from year to year, and on interview day each applicant takes a timed, 35-minute chalk carving. Here is what LSU publishes, where its pages disagree, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> LSU DDS Requirements and Admissions Figures LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry (LSUSD) sits on a 22-acre tract of land near City Park in New Orleans. Its first class of 27 dentists graduated on June 3, 1972, and its 2026–2027 catalog says "75% of the dental health care professionals in Louisiana have been trained at LSUSD." Its DDS curriculum covers "all four academic years," and the class that entered this year began classes on July 9, 2026. You apply through AADSAS, and this cycle's deadline, September 1, has passed: LSU's admissions hub now says of its dental program, "Applications are now closed." LSU says its

Admissions Committee "selects 75 students from the applicant pool for the first year class." Its pages give these figures: Figure. What LSU's pages say. Seats. 75 a year. Mean GPA, entering freshmen. 3.8 (“currently,” its DDS page says). Mean DAT, 2026 entering class. Academic Average 464 and Perceptual Ability 455, on the 200–600 scale. Competitive GPA. “Generally a GPA of Above 3.6 is required for a competitive application,” and “In recent years a 3.5 or higher science GPA has been necessary for a competitive application”. DAT target. “an academic average of 440 with no single score lower than 410” (200–600 scale). Perceptual Ability. “A score of at least 410 is generally required for an interview”. Applicants. “Over 700 applications” for the 2019 application cycle (its FAQ); 957 in 2022 (a 2022 infographic on its rural scholars page). The 3.8, 464 and 455 are class means, not cutoffs. LSU describes a GPA above 3.6 as what a

competitive application generally needs, a science GPA of 3.5 or higher as necessary in recent years, and an Academic Average of 440 as a target; the one threshold it ties to an interview is a Perceptual Ability score of at least 410, which it says is generally required. The LSU pages we read give no acceptance rate, and we don't compute one. Which DAT scale are these on? The 200–600 scale. The DAT figures on LSU's admissions and DDS pages are three-digit scores on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025. Its DDS page pairs two of them with old-scale scores: "an academic average of 440 (21 old score) with no score lower than 410 (19 old score)." The ADA's concordance table agrees on 440: an old Academic Average of 21 converts to 440. For 410 it agrees in six of its eight columns, but it converts an old 19 to 420 in Quantitative Reasoning and to 370 in Reading Comprehension. Our stricter reading, combining LSU's two

statements section by section, is no score below 410, as LSU's admissions page puts it ("no single score lower than 410"), and Quantitative Reasoning at 420 or above, which is the ADA's conversion of an old 19, not LSU's figure. Since 1 March 2025 the ADA has reported every DAT score to AADSAS on the 200–600 scale, older attempts converted. LSU's FAQ, an older page that still gives the average DAT as "21," generally advises a retake "if their score is 19 or below," without naming a section; the ADA's table converts an old Academic Average of 19 to 410. Ask ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu if you are unsure where you stand. In state or out of state? "Admission is restricted to legal residents of the United States. Admission preference will be given to residents of Louisiana." Residents of Arkansas "will be considered under the guidelines of the Arkansas Health Education Loan program," and "Residents of other countries will not be considered for

admission." LSU's DDS page adds: "Out of state applicants should have above average academic credentials as well as a proven connection (work, family and/or education) to Louisiana in order to be considered competitive." Out of state? LSU's pages disagree on how many seats. LSU's admissions page says "At the present time, 60 slots in the class are reserved for residents of Louisiana, up to 4 for Arkansas residents, and up to 11 residents from other states," and "Up to 11 students may be accepted from states other than Louisiana and Arkansas." Its DDS page, its FAQ and the DDS page of its 2026–2027 catalog say "Up to fifteen students may be accepted from states other than Louisiana and Arkansas," and its About Us FAQ lists 56 Louisiana residents, 4 Arkansas residents and 15 out-of-state residents. Archived copies show the admissions page itself said 56, 4 and 15 as late as 21 May 2026. Its DDS page, which still says fifteen, was also

revised after that date (on 21 May it still gave the DAT on the old scale), so LSU's pages don't show which figure is current. Plan on the stricter reading, up to 11 seats for applicants from states other than Louisiana and Arkansas, and confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. For residency rules, the admissions page links an LSU-wide policy, Permanent Memorandum 31, on residency classification for tuition purposes "at any campus of LSU" (last revised September 11, 2023), whose primary test includes, among other conditions, being domiciled in Louisiana "continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes." LSU says residency questions go to the Registrar of the LSU Health Sciences Center (504-568-4829). Prerequisite coursework Course. Hours. What LSU specifies. Biology/Zoology. 12. With labs. General (inorganic) chemistry. 8. With labs. Organic chemistry. 8. With labs. Physics. 8. Physics I

and II, with labs (its catalog: “General Physics with Laboratory”). English. 9. In composition or literature, “taken in the English department with the respective course codes: ENGL, WRIT, LIT, etc.”. Biochemistry. 3. No lab named on LSU's pages. Microbiology. 3. No lab named on LSU's pages. 90 hours, and LSU's pages differ on when: LSU's admissions page says "A minimum of 90 hours of academic coursework must be completed" at an accredited college or university "prior to registration in dental school," and its 2026–2027 catalog asks for at least three full academic years and "not less than 90 semester hours of credit prior to the date of school of dentistry registration," adding that the minimum requirements "may not necessarily be completed prior to application for admission." Its DDS page puts it as "You must complete a minimum of 90 hours of college work to be considered for admission; however a four-year degree is preferred." The

stricter reading is 90 hours completed before LSU considers your application; if you will have fewer when you apply, confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. Non-academic courses (bowling, dancing) and courses for specialized fields such as pharmacy or dental hygiene "are generally not acceptable." Where you study: LSU's DDS page accepts coursework from "any college or university whose institutional accreditation is recognized by the US Department of Education"; its admissions page and catalog name accreditation by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). If your college might not meet both descriptions, ask ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu before you apply: the stricter reading is coursework from a college that meets both. A degree: "Possession of an academic degree is not a requirement per se for admission to LSUSD," but "The vast majority of students, however, do earn a degree prior to enrollment in

dental school," and "Completion of your degree is highly desirable." Asked whether three college years are enough, LSU's FAQ answers "Technically, yes. However, an applicant completing only three years of college would generally not be competitive against degreed applicants." Your major: "No particular major field of study in college is required for admission to dental school," but "Majoring in a science, however, will make an applicant more attractive to the Admissions Committee." AP credit and your GPA: "AP credits are accepted if the course is listed with an A-F or P/F grade on an official transcript." LSU calculates your overall GPA from all college work attempted: if you retake a failed course and earn a B, "both the F and B will be used in calculating the GPA." Recommended courses: LSU's admissions page lists comparative anatomy, histology, cell and molecular biology, physiology, genetics, embryology and virology, which "should be

taken if at all possible to enhance the competitiveness of an application" (its DDS page lists microanatomy instead of virology). Its catalog also strongly recommends "Courses that will assist in the development of manual skills, such as drawing, ceramics and sculpture." The DAT: required, with the official results sent to LSU through AADSAS. LSU strongly recommends taking it "prior to the June AADSAS application process," and its tips page says "The DAT should be taken (or retaken) no later than August 1, in order for your scores to reach LSUSD by our application deadline of Sep. 1st." It also says "Applicants to LSUSD should not delay submitting their AADSAS application until they receive DAT results," and "If you are retaking, be sure to update your scores on the AADSAS portal." The LSU pages we read give no limit on how old a score may be. Letters, through AADSAS: two from basic science professors, or one pre-professional committee

evaluation. LSU's admissions page says applicants "are required to submit a minimum of two recommendations from science teachers who have instructed them in the classroom," and "A committee recommendation is preferred, if available at your school." Community service: "Applicants are expected to have a minimum of 50 hours (preferably 100+) in high quality community service / volunteer outreach projects." Technical standards: LSU "expects all applicants and students" to meet them. They include the ability to "Comprehend and mentally visualize three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures" and to "Perform moderately taxing and repetitive work while paying attention to specific intricate detail." Background check: "Background checks are required on all applicants accepted into the LSUHSC School of Dentistry"; LSU says Certiphi performs them. Shadowing: required, and LSU's pages differ on the hours.

Both LSU's admissions page and its FAQ say "The committee will not consider applicants for admission who have not shadowed in a general dentist's office." The admissions page says "We recommend 50 - 100 hours in the offices of at least three different general dentists. These 50 - 100 hours are cumulative hours spread over the 3 - 4 different offices, not 50 hours in each office." The FAQ says "We recommend 25-100 hours in the offices of at least three different general dentists." Plan on the stricter reading, 50 to 100 hours spread across the offices of at least three general dentists, and confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. Asked whether you need a job in a dental office to be considered, the FAQ says "No." CASPer or Kira? Not on LSU's pages, but there is a chalk carving. LSU's DDS admissions pages, its FAQ 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, your letters, LSU's $200 application fee, the supplemental application if LSU sends you one and, if you are invited, the interview, with a timed chalk carving on the same day (below). To confirm anything here, email ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu or call (504) 941-8124, the contacts LSU gives for its Office of Admissions; its DDS page names Mindy Guillotte, Coordinator. The LSU Interview: What the School Says By invitation, if you are competitive academically. "Each applicant deemed by the committee to be competitive academically is invited to the dental school for an extensive interview process. This process varies from year to year." Its 2026–2027 catalog says "Following review of all application materials, competitive applicants will be invited for an interview." Required, with a few weeks' notice. "Interviews are required for admission consideration and are scheduled 3-4 weeks in

advance." From around August 1, until the class is filled. LSU's admissions page says "Interviews begin around August 1" (its DDS page: "Interviews begin in August"), and its tips page says "Interviews are conducted and the selection process of each candidate for admission is made until the class is filled." The LSU pages we read give no end date. What it is for. The catalog says "It allows the applicant to see the school and talk with both students and faculty. It allows the committee to evaluate the applicant on interest, enthusiasm, and social awareness—qualities that are important for a dentist but that cannot be measured by standardized tests." LSU's admissions page says the personal attributes it weighs, from communication and ethics to "where in the state the applicant was raised," are assessed by the personal interview and your letters. A chalk carving the same day. "Also, on the day of the interview, each applicant takes a

chalk carving test as a second measure of manual dexterity." It is "a timed (35 minutes) exercise," and "Chalks are scored from 0-10 with a 6 or above generally required to be competitive for admission." Your social media may be read. LSU says your accounts "may be reviewed during the application/interview process" and that what you post "may influence committee members’ decisions regarding your suitability to our program." The chalk carving: what LSU publishes. LSU's admissions page says "LSUSD is one of the few schools still utilizing this test that was once part of the DAT. It is administered as part of the interview process and is a timed (35 minutes) exercise." Its chalk carving page links instructions, a measurement diagram ("Chalk Carving Test Measurements," with top, side, bottom and two perspective views) and a video titled "LSUSD Chalk Carving updated." Both files carry 2014 in their names. The instruction sheet names the

knife, "Laboratory knife, Style 7R, Buffalo Dental item # 55600," and says you should be able to order the chalk on Amazon.com and from Grainger, Pyramid School Products and Teacher's Stop. LSU's virtual mini-admissions workshops, scheduled on Zoom for April and May 2026, were to include "a review of the chalk-carving exercise." Practice with the knife the sheet names and the diagram's measurements, time every attempt at 35 minutes, and ask ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu if anything is unclear. The LSU pages we read don't say how the chalk score and the interview are weighed together. Virtual or in person? LSU's pages describe a visit: applicants are invited "to the dental school," and the catalog says the interview "allows the applicant to see the school." The same wording was on LSU's DDS admissions page in October 2025 (an archived copy) and in its 2025–2026 catalog, during a cycle in which the forum's invite tracker lists LSU's interviews

as virtual, and LSU says the process "varies from year to year." For 2026–27 the tracker lists them as in person (below). Go by your invitation. What applicants report These come from a public applicant forum and its invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports. They are not LSU's words: This cycle (2026–27): the tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, lists LSU's first invitations on 7 July 2026 and a first interview date of 14 August, in person. The forum's LSU thread for this cycle held only its opening post on 8 October 2026, so no applicant there has described an invitation, the interview or the chalk carving. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker, last updated 22 October 2025, listed first invitations on 1 July 2025 and a first interview date of 1 August, virtual. The forum's LSU thread for that cycle also holds only its opening post. Against LSU's pages: both first reported interview dates fall in August, as

LSU's pages say. The first invitation dates the tracker reports, 1 and 7 July, are weeks before the "around August 1" that LSU's tips page gives for decisions to interview. The format: no post or tracker cell describes who interviews, for how long, what is asked or how the chalk carving runs. Our 2026–27 interview tracker sets LSU's row beside every other US and Puerto Rico school on the forum's tracker. What the LSU pages we read don't say. Who interviews you and how many, how long the interview lasts, whether your interviewers have read your application, what is asked, the day's schedule, this cycle's setting in so many words, how the chalk carving and the interview are weighed together, and when interviews end. Prepare a clear, specific account of your path, your motivation and your experiences that works whether or not your interviewers know your file, and practice the chalk carving against the clock. Practice Your LSU Answers Out

Loud. LSU invites applicants it deems competitive to an interview that it says lets the committee evaluate interest, enthusiasm and social awareness, with a timed chalk carving the same day. Practice answering motivation, behavioral and ethical questions out loud and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. LSU's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline LSU's DDS page lists this cycle's AADSAS dates without a year; ADEA, which runs AADSAS, gives the same May 12 and June 2 dates for 2026. The rest come from LSU's DDS pages and its 2026–2027 catalog. LSU's application has two parts: Part I is AADSAS, with your DAT scores, your letters and LSU's $200 fee, and "Part II is for applicants who have completed Part I and qualify to receive the supplemental application." When. What LSU says. April 17, April 24 and May 1, 2026 (passed). Virtual mini-admissions workshops on Zoom, with “an overview of the admissions process, a

review of the chalk-carving exercise, and an opportunity for Q&A”. May 12, 2026. AADSAS “Soft Launch” on LSU's DDS page (ADEA: “2026-27 ADEA AADSAS application opens”). June 2, 2026. “Official Submission Start Date”; LSU strongly recommends taking the DAT before this June AADSAS process. With your application. LSU's $200 non-refundable application fee: its DDS page says it “must be paid on the Pre-Admission Payment Portal” (its catalog: “paid online”), while its admissions and tips pages also allow a check payable to LSUHSC; the stricter reading is the portal, and ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu can confirm; “Please note this is not a supplemental fee and must be submitted at the same time of your application. Your application will be incomplete until your fee has been received.”. If you qualify (no date published). Part II: LSU emails its supplemental application to qualified applicants, “as determined by the Admissions Committee,” and “No

supplemental application fee is required.” Its catalog says to send the supplemental application, a recent passport-size photo, proof of residency, a copy of your driver's license and, for male applicants, a copy of your draft card status directly to the Admissions Office. No later than August 1. Take (or retake) the DAT, so your scores reach LSU by September 1. Around August 1. Interviews begin, each “scheduled 3-4 weeks in advance”; LSU's tips page says decisions to interview are made “at regular intervals beginning around August 1”. September 1 (2026 by our reading; passed). “Deadline for filing AADSAS is Sept. 1st,” and “A DAT score needs to be submitted before Sep. 1st”; to be reviewed in time for fall interviews, LSU “must receive your completed application much earlier”. September 12 and October 3 (passed); November 7 and December 12, 2026. Saturday-morning tours of the school, 9:00–10:30 am, hosted by the LSUSD Pre-Dental

Committee (sign-up links on LSU's tours page). The first Monday in December (December 7 in 2026, by our count). When LSU says first offers are “usually extended”; ADEA lists December 15, 2026 as this cycle's acceptance notification date (see below). Until the class is filled. Interviews and selection continue; LSU's older FAQ says acceptances are given “throughout the interview year” and “This can occur through March”. July 2027 (our estimate). Classes begin; the LSU pages we read don't give the 2027 date. The class that entered in 2026 registered on July 6, had orientation on July 7 and 8, and began classes on July 9, 2026 (its 2026–27 calendar). When do offers come? LSU's pages and ADEA's date. LSU's tips page says "The first offers of admission are usually extended on the first Monday in December," and its admissions page says "Usually the earliest date for notification of acceptance is the first Monday in December." Its FAQ says the

first acceptances "are given after the first Monday in December." None of these pages is dated, and the first Monday in December 2026 is December 7 (our count). ADEA, which runs AADSAS, lists "Dec. 15, 2026" as the "2026–27 dental school acceptance notification date." LSU's pages don't say which date it follows this cycle; our reading is to plan on December 15, 2026, the later date, as the earliest an offer is likely, and to confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. Once you have an offer, LSU's catalog says to accept "within the time specified in the acceptance letter," that offers are "regarded as provisional acceptances," and that "It is improper for an applicant to hold more than one place of acceptance at any one time." September 1 has passed: what now?. If you applied, check your AADSAS status regularly, as LSU's tips page asks, and watch your email: LSU emails its supplemental application to those who qualify, and interviews are

scheduled 3–4 weeks in advance. If you are planning for a later cycle, LSU says it must receive your completed application "much earlier than the Sep. 1st deadline" to review it in time for fall interviews, strongly recommends the DAT before the June AADSAS process and says to take it no later than August 1, and scheduled its mini-admissions workshops for April and May this year. LSU Health's tuition table for the 2026–27 academic year, which covers students enrolled now, lists tuition and fees of $38,654 for residents and $70,254 for non-residents. What LSU Looks For LSU's Admissions Committee "is seeking applicants who demonstrate the ability to successfully complete the DDS program, who possess and display compassion and concern for others, and who will provide the best possible dental care for the people of Louisiana." It names four "Major factors considered in the admissions process": academic ability, manual dexterity, motivation

to be a dentist and personal attributes. Its catalog says the interview lets the committee evaluate "interest, enthusiasm, and social awareness." With its technical standards, they make a practical checklist for the interview: Communication and cooperation: "Since dentistry is regarded as the ‘ultimate people profession,’ possession of the ability to communicate and to provide and obtain cooperation from other individuals is highly desirable." The technical standards ask students to "Communicate with patients to elicit information, detect changes in mood, activity and to establish therapeutic relationships." Motivation you can document: "The committee wants to know why the applicant wants to become a dentist and what they have done to document that fact. The best way to do that is to shadow dentists." LSU's FAQ lists "knowledge of dentistry as a career" among the things that matter to the committee. Composure, ethics, leadership and

service: "Ability to manage stress, possession of high ethical standards, demonstrated history of leadership, demonstrated history of community service and unique personal attributes are also considered to be desirable qualities." Have one specific story for each. Louisiana, and where you would practice: "Other criteria considered include where in the state the applicant was raised, a strong motivation to practice in dentally under served areas of the state, as well as whether there were any factors in the applicant’s background that hindered his/her level of academic achievement." LSU says these criteria are assessed by the personal interview and your letters. Interest, enthusiasm and social awareness: the qualities the catalog says the interview evaluates. It adds, "An understanding of social and community problems will be very helpful in meeting the responsibilities of the profession of dentistry." Hand skills: "Possession of

appropriate hand-eye coordination is considered essential to a successful application." LSU judges it from the DAT's Perceptual Ability section, the chalk carving and your letters: "Since teachers know that manual dexterity is an important aspect of dental admissions, it is frequently mentioned in their letters." Be ready to describe one activity that built your hand skills. Adaptability and care: the technical standards ask students to "Be adaptable and possess sufficient flexibility to function in new and stressful environments" and to "Demonstrate appropriate motivation, integrity, compassion, and portray a genuine interest in caring for others." Handle it yourself, and mind your profile. LSU counts maturity among your personal attributes: "If there are questions, please email or call yourself. Having your parent, grandparent, neighbor, etc. makes us question your level of maturity." It also says "Your social media accounts

(Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and information contained therein may be reviewed during the application/interview process." Write to admissions yourself, and make sure what you post is something you would discuss in an interview. The best Why LSU material is in its reach across Louisiana. LSU's mission is "to serve the needs of the citizens of the State of Louisiana," and its 2026–2027 catalog says students, residents and faculty "provide care in 11 locations statewide with an average of 100,000 patient visits annually," while each year the school "participates in community outreach events to reach the underserved and impoverished in our state." Its curriculum uses a "diagonal format that extends clinical and basic sciences over the entire four years," and its simulation laboratory has 84 stations and its benchtop laboratory 100. Its Rural Scholars Track scholarships, "funded with private donations," encourage students

to practice in Louisiana's Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, "which are primarily rural": "For every year that a student receives a waiver of their base tuition, they are required by contract to practice in a HPSA area for at least one year" (a 2022 infographic; LSU's page counts five graduates since the program began in 2017). The school's home page announces "the newly established Special Care Clinic," and a seven- to eight-year DDS/PhD is offered "particularly for students who plan to remain in academia." Connect one of these to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve. The practice questions below are ours, built on these criteria. The LSU pages we read publish no interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? LSU's DDS FAQ answers "Are applicants with an international dental degree considered?" with "No." Its About Us FAQ counts 5 students from its Internationally Educated Dentist Program in its graduating

dental class; this guide doesn't cover that program. To compare advanced standing programs, see our CAAPID program finder . ); }; export default LSUDentalSchoolInterview; lsu-dental-school-interview LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry LSU LSU Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Chalk Carving Deadlines & Requirements LSU Dental School DDS 2026-27 LSU School of Dentistry DDS guide from its own an interview by invitation a timed chalk carving the Sept 1 deadline (passed) Louisiana preference. LSU dental school interview LSU School of Dentistry interview LSU Health New Orleans dental school interview LSU DDS interview LSU dental school chalk carving LSU chalk carving test LSU dental school requirements LSU dental school out of state Louisiana dental school interview 2026-10-08 2026-10-08 Domestic Program Interview by invitation with a timed chalk carving on interview day (format not published) LSU invites applicants it deems

competitive academically to “an extensive interview process” it says varies from year to year and on interview day each applicant takes a timed 35-minute chalk carving. Here is what LSU publishes where its pages disagree what applicants report and how to prepare. LSU s 2026–2027 catalog says “on the day of the interview each applicant takes a chalk carving test as a second measure of manual dexterity ” and its admissions page calls it “a timed (35 minutes) exercise” scored “from 0-10 with a 6 or above generally required to be competitive for admission.” Degree DDS (four years) New Orleans Louisiana Interview Required; by invitation for applicants “deemed by the committee to be competitive academically”; scheduled 3–4 weeks in advance Interview Format Not published; LSU calls it “an extensive interview process” that “varies from year to year” Chalk Carving On interview timed (35 minutes) scored 0–10 with 6 or above “generally required to

be competitive for admission” Interview Setting LSU s pages describe a visit “to the dental school ” the same wording as in 2025–26; the forum s tracker compiled by a volunteer from applicants reports lists in person for 2026–27 and virtual for 2025–26 Interviews Begin around August 1 and continue until the class is filled Deadline September 1 for AADSAS (passed) with a DAT score in before September 1; LSU s $200 application fee is due with the application Supplemental Application Emailed to qualified applicants; no supplemental fee CASPer / Kira Not on LSU s DDS pages or its catalog s DDS page Class Size 75 a year GPA / DAT GPA 3.8 (entering freshmen); DAT Academic Average 464 and Perceptual Ability 455 (2026 entering class 200–600 scale) Residency Louisiana preference; up to 4 Arkansas residents; from other states up to 11 on its admissions page and up to 15 on its other pages Shadowing Required in a general dentist s office; 50–100

hours across at least three general dentists recommended (its 25–100) First Offers Usually the first Monday in December LSU s pages say; ADEA s 2026–27 acceptance notification date is December 15 2026 requirements Requirements & Admissions Figures 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What LSU Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline LSU s Admissions Timeline 2 what-lsu-looks-for What LSU 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. LSU doesn t publish interview questions on the pages we read; these are practice questions built on what it says it weighs. The LSU pages we read don t say who will interview you or whether they will 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 LSU is the next step. Its catalog says the interview lets the committee evaluate “interest enthusiasm and social awareness”: let your story show all three. Why dentistry? LSU s committee “wants to know why the applicant wants to become a dentist and what they have done to document that fact ” and says “The best way to do that is to shadow dentists.” Anchor your answer in something specific you saw in a general dentist s office (LSU won t consider applicants who haven t shadowed in one) then say what it confirmed for you. Why LSU? Use what LSU says about care in 11 locations statewide with an average of 100 000 patient visits a year a curriculum that extends clinical and basic sciences over all four years simulation and benchtop laboratories the Rural Scholars Track and a newly established Special Care Clinic under a mission “to serve the needs of the

citizens of the State of Louisiana.” Connect one of them to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve; New Orleans alone is not a reason. Where do you see yourself practicing and why? LSU considers “where in the state the applicant was raised” and “a strong motivation to practice in dentally under served areas of the state.” Name a place you know a need you have seen there and what you would bring to it. If you are from out of state LSU s DDS page says out-of-state applicants should have “a proven connection (work family and/or education) to Louisiana”: be specific and honest about yours. Behavioral Tell me about a time you handled a stressful situation. LSU lists the “Ability to manage stress” among the qualities it considers desirable and its technical standards ask students to “Be adaptable and possess sufficient flexibility to function in new and stressful environments.” Keep the setup short show what you did to stay steady

and organized and say what you would carry into dental school. Describe a leadership role and what you accomplished in it. LSU names a “demonstrated history of leadership” among the qualities it weighs. Pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome not just a title and say what changed because of you. Tell me about your community service. What did it teach you? LSU expects “a minimum of 50 hours (preferably 100+) in high quality community service / volunteer outreach projects ” and its catalog says “An understanding of social and community problems will be very helpful in meeting the responsibilities of the profession of dentistry.” Pick one experience describe the people you served and say what it taught you about a community s needs. How have you developed your hand skills? LSU calls hand-eye coordination “essential to a successful application ” assesses it in part with a timed 35-minute chalk carving on interview day and its

catalog strongly recommends courses that build manual skills “such as drawing ceramics and sculpture.” Describe one activity what you made how long you have done it and what it taught you about precision and patience. Ethical / Scenario A patient is anxious and upset before treatment. How do you handle it? LSU s technical standards ask students to “Communicate with patients to elicit information detect changes in mood activity and to establish therapeutic relationships ” and its Admissions Committee looks for applicants who show “compassion and concern for others.” Show that you would acknowledge the fear explain each step in plain words agree on a signal to pause and involve your supervising dentist if the patient wants to stop. A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? LSU s mission is “to serve the needs of the citizens of the State of Louisiana ” and its About Us FAQ says the school accepts Medicaid and that when

a student or resident provides the care “the fee is typically 50% of what a dentist in private practice might charge.” Acknowledge the patient without judgment explore legitimate options such as phased treatment or a community clinic and never lower the standard of care. Show your reasoning; a question like this rarely has a single right answer. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? LSU looks for “high ethical standards ” and its technical standards ask students to “Demonstrate appropriate motivation integrity compassion and portray a genuine interest in caring for others.” Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust your license. A classmate posts a photo from clinic on social media and a patient can be seen in it. What do you do? LSU takes social media it says applicants accounts “may be reviewed during the application/interview

process” and that what they post “may influence committee members’ decisions.” Talk to your classmate privately and ask them to take the photo down explain why a patient s privacy matters and involve a faculty member if the post stays up. Show your reasoning not just the rule. Apply in June well before September 1 LSU s AADSAS dates this cycle were a May 12 soft launch a June 2 official submission start and a September 1 deadline and its tips page says “LSUSD must receive your completed application much earlier than the Sep. 1st deadline” to review it in time for fall interviews. Pay LSU s $200 application fee with your “Your application will be incomplete until your fee has been received.” Practice the chalk carving under a 35-minute clock LSU s chalk carving is “a timed (35 minutes) exercise ” and “Chalks are scored from 0-10 with a 6 or above generally required to be competitive for admission.” Download the instructions and the

measurement diagram from LSU s chalk carving page practice with the knife its instruction sheet names and time every attempt. Shadow at least three general dentists “The committee will not consider applicants for admission who have not shadowed in a general dentist s office.” LSU s admissions page recommends 50–100 hours in the offices of at least three different general dentists “cumulative hours spread over the 3 - 4 different offices not 50 hours in each office”; its FAQ says 25–100. Aim for the stricter 50–100. Show interest enthusiasm and social awareness LSU s catalog says the interview lets the committee evaluate “interest enthusiasm and social awareness—qualities that are important for a dentist but that cannot be measured by standardized tests.” Prepare a specific story for each and if you hope to practice in an underserved part of Louisiana say where and LSU weighs “a strong motivation to practice in dentally under served

areas of the state.” Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years; New Orleans Louisiana Application soft launch May 12 official submission start June 2 deadline September 1 (passed; “Applications are now closed”); a $200 non-refundable LSU application fee due with the application Supplemental application Emailed to qualified applicants as determined by the Admissions Committee; no supplemental fee; LSU s catalog lists a passport-size photo proof of residency a copy of your driver s license and for male applicants your draft card status Interview Required; by invitation for applicants “deemed by the committee to be competitive academically”; scheduled 3–4 weeks in advance; begins around August 1 and continues until the class is filled; format length and interviewers not published Chalk carving On interview day; timed (35 minutes); scored 0–10 with 6 or above “generally required to be competitive for admission” Seats 75 a 60

Louisiana up to 4 Arkansas and up to 11 from other states on LSU s admissions page; its other pages say up to 15 from other states (its About Us 56 4 and 15) Residency Preference to Louisiana residents; admission restricted to legal residents of the United States; residents of other countries not considered Acceptance rate Not published as a rate Applicants “Over 700 applications” for the 2019 application cycle (its FAQ); 957 in 2022 (a 2022 infographic) GPA Mean 3.8 for entering freshmen; LSU says a GPA above 3.6 is generally required for a competitive application and a 3.5 or higher science GPA has been necessary in recent years DAT Mean Academic Average 464 and Perceptual Ability 455 (2026 entering class); target Academic Average 440 with no single score below 410; Perceptual Ability of at least 410 generally required for an interview (all on the 200–600 scale) DAT timing Strongly recommended before the June AADSAS process; no later

than August 1; a score submitted before September 1 Prerequisites Biology/zoology 12 hours general chemistry 8 organic chemistry 8 and physics 8 (with labs) English 9 biochemistry 3 and microbiology 3 completed before registration; at least 90 hours of academic coursework by registration on LSU s admissions page and in its catalog but “to be considered for admission” on its DDS page (the stricter reading) Bachelor s degree Not required “per se”; “Completion of your degree is highly desirable” Letters Two from basic science professors who taught you or one pre-professional committee evaluation (preferred if available) through AADSAS Shadowing Required in a general dentist s office; 50–100 hours in the offices of at least three general dentists recommended (its 25–100) Community service A minimum of 50 hours (preferably 100+) expected CASPer / Kira Not on LSU s DDS pages or its catalog s DDS page First offers Usually the first Monday in

December LSU s pages say; ADEA s 2026–27 acceptance notification date is December 15 2026 Tuition 2026–27 $38 654 for residents and $70 254 for non-residents tuition and fees (LSU Health s 2026–2027 table for students enrolled now) Background check Required of all accepted applicants What LSU asks of you (requirements and recommendations) biology 12 hours general chemistry 8 organic chemistry 8 and physics 8 (with labs) English 9 biochemistry 3 and microbiology 3 all completed before you register At least 90 hours of academic LSU s catalog says the minimums “may not necessarily be completed prior to application for admission ” but its DDS page says 90 hours “to be considered for admission”; the stricter reading is 90 hours before LSU considers your application (confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu) The DAT ideally before the June AADSAS process and no later than August 1; LSU says not to delay your AADSAS application while you wait for

results Shadowing in the offices of at least three general dentists 50–100 hours in all (LSU won t consider applicants who haven t shadowed in a general dentist s office) At least 50 hours (preferably 100+) of community service Two letters from basic science professors who taught you or a pre-professional committee evaluation (preferred if your school has one) Apply (LSU s Part I then Part II if you qualify) Submit AADSAS soft launch May 12 submissions from June 2 deadline September 1; LSU says it “must receive your completed application much earlier” than September 1 for fall interviews Pay LSU s $200 non-refundable application fee at the same time as your application Have your DAT scores released to LSU through AADSAS and update them in AADSAS if you retake If LSU emails you its supplemental application send it with a passport-size photo proof of residency a copy of your driver s license and for male applicants your draft card status

Prepare for the interview early (LSU gives 3–4 weeks notice) Watch your email after you LSU emails its supplemental application to those who qualify and schedules interviews 3–4 weeks in advance Practice the 35-minute chalk carving with LSU s instructions its diagram and the knife it names Prepare stories that show interest enthusiasm and social awareness plus how you manage stress your ethics leadership and service Prepare a Why LSU answer where you would practice and why and your own questions Handle every contact with admissions yourself and review your social media LSU says your accounts “may be reviewed during the application/interview process” Hard dates September AADSAS deadline (passed for 2026–27) December 15 ADEA s acceptance notification date for 2026–27 (LSU says first offers usually come the first Monday in December) Until the class is interviews and selection continue July classes begin (our estimate; the class that

entered in 2026 began on July 9 2026) What is the LSU dental school interview format? The LSU pages we read don t describe one. Its admissions page says “Each applicant deemed by the committee to be competitive academically is invited to the dental school for an extensive interview process. This process varies from year to year.” Its 2026–2027 catalog says the interview “allows the applicant to see the school and talk with both students and faculty” and lets the committee evaluate “interest enthusiasm and social awareness ” and that “on the day of the interview each applicant takes a chalk carving test as a second measure of manual dexterity.” Interviews are required and “scheduled 3-4 weeks in advance.” No LSU page we read describes an MMI stations a panel or a one-on-one interview or says how long the interview lasts or who conducts it and no post in a public applicant forum s LSU threads for 2025–26 or 2026–27 describes it. What is

the chalk carving at LSU? A hand-skills test given as part of the interview process. LSU s admissions page says “LSUSD is one of the few schools still utilizing this test that was once part of the DAT. It is administered as part of the interview process and is a timed (35 minutes) exercise. Chalks are scored from 0-10 with a 6 or above generally required to be competitive for admission.” LSU s chalk carving page links instructions a measurement diagram and a video and the instruction sheet a 2014 file names the a Style 7R laboratory knife Buffalo Dental item # 55600. Practice under a 35-minute clock. The LSU pages we read don t say how the chalk score and the interview are weighed together. Is the LSU dental interview virtual or in person? LSU s pages describe a applicants are invited “to the dental school ” and its catalog says the interview “allows the applicant to see the school.” The same wording was on its DDS admissions page in

October 2025 and in its 2025–2026 catalog a cycle in which a public forum s invite tracker compiled by a volunteer from applicants reports lists LSU s interviews as virtual. For 2026–27 the tracker lists them as in person with a first interview date of 14 August. LSU says the process “varies from year to year ” and the chalk carving is taken “on the day of the interview.” Go by your invitation. Does LSU require CASPer or Kira for dental school? LSU s DDS admissions pages its FAQ and the DDS page of its 2026–2027 catalog don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment. The extra test LSU does describe is the chalk carving “a timed (35 minutes) exercise” given as part of the interview process. Besides AADSAS and your coursework LSU asks for the DAT your letters its $200 application fee and if you qualify its supplemental application which has no fee. What GPA and DAT do I need for LSU dental school? LSU s pages state

no minimum GPA. They say “Generally a GPA of Above 3.6 is required for a competitive application” and “In recent years a 3.5 or higher science GPA has been necessary for a competitive application ” and its DDS page puts the mean GPA for entering freshmen at 3.8. For the DAT “A target score would be an academic average of 440 with no single score lower than 410 ” and for Perceptual Ability “A score of at least 410 is generally required for an interview.” The 2026 entering class averaged 464 in Academic Average and 455 in Perceptual Ability. All of these are on the 200–600 scale. LSU s DDS page pairs 410 with an old score of 19; the ADA s concordance table agrees in six of its eight columns but converts an old 19 to 420 in Quantitative Reasoning and to 370 in Reading Comprehension. Our stricter reading combines LSU s two no section below 410 and 420 or above in Quantitative Reasoning. Does LSU accept out-of-state applicants? Yes in

limited numbers and its pages disagree on how many. “Admission preference will be given to residents of Louisiana ” Arkansas residents “will be considered under the guidelines of the Arkansas Health Education Loan program” (up to 4 a year) and “Residents of other countries will not be considered for admission.” LSU s admissions page says “up to 11 residents from other states ” a figure that replaced 15 on that page after 21 May 2026 (archived copies); its DDS page its FAQ and its 2026–2027 catalog say “Up to fifteen ” and its About Us FAQ says 15. Plan on 11 and confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. LSU s DDS page says out-of-state applicants “should have above average academic credentials as well as a proven connection (work family and/or education) to Louisiana in order to be considered competitive.” When is the LSU DDS application deadline? September 1 for filing AADSAS and it has passed for 2026– LSU s admissions hub now says

“Applications are now closed.” This cycle s AADSAS dates on LSU s DDS page were a May 12 soft launch and a June 2 official submission start. LSU s tips page says “A DAT score needs to be submitted before Sep. 1st ” that the DAT should be taken “no later than August 1 ” and that LSU “must receive your completed application much earlier than the Sep. 1st deadline” to review it in time for fall interviews. LSU s $200 application fee is due with your application and its supplemental application emailed to qualified applicants has no fee. How many shadowing hours does LSU require? Shadowing itself is “The committee will not consider applicants for admission who have not shadowed in a general dentist s office.” The hours are a recommendation and LSU s pages its admissions page says “We recommend 50 - 100 hours in the offices of at least three different general dentists ” spread across the offices rather than 50 in each and its FAQ says “We

recommend 25-100 hours in the offices of at least three different general dentists.” Plan on 50–100 hours across at least three general dentists offices and confirm with ds-admissions@lsuhsc.edu. You don t need a job in a dental asked LSU s FAQ says “No.” UAB Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Birmingham an interview with the Admissions Committee by invitation held virtually at least early in the cycle. AADSAS by October 31 2026. Domestic Program /schools/uab-dental-school-interview UTHealth Houston Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In a required interview by invitation conducted by an Admissions Committee member or designee; TMDSAS is required of Texas residents. Domestic Program /schools/uthealth-houston-dental-school-interview Tennessee (UTHSC) Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In one interview at the College of Dentistry usually with three faculty members and the Admissions Committee chair; interviews usually begin in early

July. Its September 30 deadline has passed. Domestic Program /schools/tennessee-dental-school-interview