Maryland Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

University of Maryland DDS guide from its own pages: a virtual, self-scheduled interview mid-Sept to late Feb, the Dec 15 deadline and the prerequisite rule.

Maryland interviews virtually from mid-September to late February, by an emailed invitation you self-schedule, and more than two unfinished prerequisites prevent an invitation. Here is what UMSOD publishes, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> Maryland DDS Requirements and Class Profile The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), in Baltimore, calls itself the world's first dental college: it began as the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, chartered by Maryland's General Assembly on February 1, 1840. Its DDS curriculum runs four years, D1 to D4, and its 2026–2027 catalog puts the class size at about 130 students. You apply through AADSAS. Once Maryland receives your verified application, it emails instructions for its supplemental application and a $90 processing fee, and it doesn't review your application until both are in. Maryland publishes no counts of applications, interviews or offers. This is what

it does publish about its students: Figure. What Maryland publishes. Where. Class size. About 130 students. 2026–2027 catalog. Students in the predoctoral (DDS) program, 2025–26. 525. 2026–2027 catalog. Average GPA. 3.7, for “the D1 class last year”. Admissions FAQ. Average DAT. About 440 on the 200–600 scale, “21 on the old scoring scale”. Admissions FAQ. Which DAT scale is 440 on?. The 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025, and Maryland gives the old-scale figure itself: its FAQ says the average DAT score was "about 440 (21 on the old scoring scale)." It doesn't say which class "the D1 class last year" is, which DAT score (such as the Academic Average) it averaged, or whether the 3.7 is an overall or a science GPA. Maryland accepts both scales: its application page says both scoring models will be accepted if they haven't passed their three-year expiration. Why this guide gives no acceptance rate. Maryland's pages publish

no counts of applications, interviews or offers, so no acceptance rate or interview rate can be worked out from them. It publishes no minimum GPA or DAT score either. It says applicants should present science and cumulative GPAs and DAT scores "which exceed the national averages," and that if you raise your GPA in a master's or post-bacc program, "we will expect a 3.5 GPA in post-grad coursework." In state or out of state? Maryland says "There are no specific residency requirements for admission, although Maryland residents receive preferential consideration." For tuition, it deems every incoming student out of state: to be considered for in-state tuition, you must complete an Application for In-State Classification in your first term. International students can apply to the DDS program, but Maryland says they are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships, and they must meet all University-monitored visa requirements. Prerequisite

coursework Course. Semester hours. Quarter hours. General biology, with labs. 8. 12. General or inorganic chemistry, with labs. 8. 12. Organic chemistry, with labs. 8. 12. Physics, with labs. 8. 12. Biochemistry. 3. 5. English composition. 6. 9. The interview rule: "Most of your prerequisite coursework should be completed at the time of the application. More than two in-progress or planned pre-requisites will prevent an interview invitation." All admission requirements must be completed by June 30 of the year you start (June 30, 2027, this cycle), and offers depend on finishing any outstanding prerequisites by then. Grades and age: every prerequisite needs a C or higher; a C- isn't accepted. Prerequisites must be completed within 10 years of matriculation, except English composition: for the 2026–2027 cycle, prerequisites taken before Fall 2017 won't be accepted. Labs, AP and IB: in-person labs are preferred, but online lab coursework

from accredited colleges and universities is accepted. AP and IB credit may count if your official transcript shows it as a specific course for a set number of credits, and Maryland recommends supplementing it with upper-level coursework in a similar subject. Any writing-intensive course can substitute for English composition. A degree is strongly encouraged: Maryland may consider applicants who have completed at least three academic years (90 credit hours) at an accredited university, with no more than 60 of the minimum required credits from a community or junior college. Non-science majors who meet the prerequisites are encouraged to apply. Recommended courses: human anatomy and physiology, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, histology, psychology and sociology. The DAT, US only: Maryland no longer accepts Canadian DAT scores. Official scores must be received by December 15 (December 15, 2026, this

cycle); DATs taken in 2024 and later are accepted; and Maryland considers your most recent DAT score (and your highest grade in a retaken course). Its catalog encourages you to take the DAT no later than November. An application without official scores, or one saying you plan to retake the DAT, stays on hold until the scores arrive. Fine manual dexterity: Maryland's prerequisites page says "Experience in the development of fine manual dexterity is essential," gained "by handling very small objects in a precise way," with examples such as model building, knitting, cross stitch, pipetting and embroidery, and not just the eye-hand coordination of sports. Its catalog calls such experiences "strongly recommended." Treat it as essential. What it looks at first: Maryland's FAQ says applicants are initially evaluated on "GPA, DAT scores, membership in a pre-dental association, and hours of shadowing." Shadowing: 100 hours, worded three ways.

Maryland's prerequisites page says "Applicants are required to complete a minimum of 100 shadowing hours with a General Dentist," that a specialized dentist is accepted if a general dentist isn't available to you, and that the hours "can be completed at more than one practice." Its FAQ says the 100 hours "should be with multiple dentists." Its catalog asks you to demonstrate "at least 100 hours of activities undertaken to investigate the dental profession." The stricter reading is at least 100 shadowing hours with general dentists, with more than one of them. Confirm with ddsadmissions@umaryland.edu. Letters: Maryland's pages disagree. Maryland's application page and its catalog both require a letter from a dentist. The application page says "There are no substitutions for the letter of recommendation from a general or specialized dentist"; the catalog says "A recommendation letter from a dentist is also required." The application page

also says its committee "strongly prefers" a package from your institution's pre-professional committee plus a dentist's letter "documenting at least 100 shadowing hours," and that if no committee is available, "a letter of recommendation from one science professor may be substituted." Its 2026–2027 catalog asks instead, without a committee, for letters "from one faculty member each in the departments of biology and chemistry." Without a committee, send both, plus the dentist's letter. AADSAS takes up to four letters, each signed and on official letterhead, and Maryland accepts letters only through AADSAS. On which dentist, the FAQ recommends "the dentist with whom you have shadowed many hours," while another FAQ answer asks for "the dentist who knows you best (besides a parent or family member or a shadow dentist)." Ask a dentist you shadowed who knows you well and isn't a relative, and confirm with ddsadmissions@umaryland.edu. If you

have over 100 hours split among several dentists, the FAQ says a letter from one you shadowed for at least 20 hours is acceptable. CASPer or Kira?. Maryland's DDS admissions pages, its admissions FAQ and the admission pages 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, letters of recommendation, at least 100 shadowing hours, the supplemental application with its $90 fee and, if you are invited, an interview. To confirm a rule where Maryland's pages disagree, its Office of Admissions is at ddsadmissions@umaryland.edu or 410-706-7472. Its FAQ notes that it has no advisors or counselors, and asks applicants not to send unofficial documents. The Maryland Interview: What UMSOD Says Virtual. In Maryland's words, "Interviews at UMSOD are conducted virtually." It doesn't name the video platform. You schedule it.

"Interview invitations are sent via email with instructions to self-schedule, based on availability." Mid-September to late February. Interviews "begin each cycle in mid-September and conclude in late February": mid-September 2026 to late February 2027 this cycle. Who interviews you. Maryland's 2026–2027 catalog says applicants advancing in the admissions process "will be invited for an interview with members of the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions," a committee its application page describes as "composed of members of the faculty, students and alumni." Its FAQ refers to "the faculty member/student with whom I interviewed," and a school news story from April 2026 describes a DDS student who "serves as a student interviewer for DDS candidates." Maryland doesn't say how many people interview you or for how long. What comes first. The catalog says interview invitations follow "receipt of the completed supplemental

application," and Maryland doesn't review an AADSAS application until the supplemental application and the processing fee are both in. Applications are reviewed "in relation to their date of submission," and more than two in-progress or planned prerequisites will prevent an invitation. What it counts for. Maryland names "the outcomes of the personal interview" among the "key factors," alongside personal factors as reflected in your AADSAS essay and letters, your knowledge of the dental profession, and your extracurricular and leadership activities. Its catalog adds: "A personal interview does not guarantee admission." Afterwards. Maryland asks that thank-you notes go to the Office of Admissions at DDSAdmissions@umaryland.edu, which will forward them. It won't accept emailed DAT scores, letters, CVs, transcripts or academic updates, and asks applicants not to send documents outside its application requirements. 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 Maryland's words: This cycle (2026–27): the forum's invite tracker (compiled by a volunteer from applicants' reports), last updated 25 September 2026, lists Maryland's first invitations on 25 August and a first interview date of 8 September, virtual. That is earlier than the mid-September start Maryland gives, so go by your invitation. In the forum's thread for this cycle, the only reply as of 6 October 2026, posted on 2 October, asked whether anyone had heard anything that week. Last cycle (2025–26): two applicants reported invitations by email on 22 August 2025; one listed the interview as "Zoom," with the earliest dates offered September 16 and 17, and the other as virtual, on 17 September. An in-state applicant invited on 11 September listed a virtual interview on 30 September, and two out-of-state

applicants invited on 15 December listed virtual interviews on 7 and 12 January 2026. In the forum's Maryland thread, the five 2025–26 applicants who described the setting wrote Zoom (one) or virtual (four). None described the format: how many interviewers, how long, or what was asked. Other posts mention interviews on 11 November 2025 and 14 January 2026, and on 27 March 2026 one applicant asked whether anyone had heard from "the February interviews." One in-state applicant posted on 20 February 2026 that they had been accepted on 17 February, and later added that they had interviewed on 7 January. In March 2026, an out-of-state applicant who interviewed on 11 November posted that they had yet to hear anything back, and an applicant who interviewed on 14 January posted that their ADEA status still showed "Interviewed." What Maryland doesn't publish. How many people interview you, how long the interview lasts, whether your interviewers

have read your application, what is asked, and how soon decisions follow. Maryland does say the interview counts alongside your AADSAS essay, your letters, your knowledge of the dental profession and your extracurricular and leadership activities, so reread your whole application before the day and be ready to talk about any part of it. Practice Your Maryland Answers Out Loud. Maryland's interviews are virtual and self-scheduled, from mid-September to late February. Answer interview and ethical questions out loud, as you would on a video call, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. Maryland's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline When. What Maryland says. As early as you can. Applications are reviewed “in relation to their date of submission,” and because admissions are rolling, Maryland urges applicants “to apply much earlier than the application deadline”. Once Maryland receives your verified AADSAS

application (it says this may take up to four weeks). An email with instructions to create a Slate account, pay the $90 processing fee and complete the supplemental application; your AADSAS application isn't reviewed until both are in. Mid-September 2026 to late February 2027. Virtual interviews, self-scheduled from an emailed invitation. No later than November 2026. When Maryland's catalog encourages you to take the DAT. December 15, 2026. AADSAS application complete and verified by close of business, and official US DAT scores received; Maryland calls the deadline “final”. Rolling, until the class is filled. Offers of admission; you are notified online, so keep your email address current. With your acceptance. A $1,000 deposit, credited toward tuition and non-refundable. April 1, 2027. A second $1,000 non-refundable deposit to confirm you will enroll; Maryland withdraws applicants who don't pay it on time. June 30, 2027. All admission

requirements, including any outstanding prerequisites, completed. August 2027. Classes begin; Maryland admits students only at the beginning of the fall semester. Maryland gives no date for its first offers, and it grants no deferrals: an admitted applicant who wants to start in a later year is invited to reapply. December 15 means verified, not just submitted. Maryland's application page says your AADSAS application "must be complete and verified by AADSAS by close of business on December 15th," and its FAQ that "all application materials must be received by this date." Its catalog says AADSAS must be filed "prior to December 15." Maryland sends its supplemental application only after it receives your verified application, which it says may take up to four weeks, and it gives no separate due date for the supplemental application or the fee. To be safe, submit AADSAS well before December 15, and return the supplemental application and

fee as soon as the instructions arrive. What Maryland Looks For Maryland says "Quality is the preeminent criterion in the admissions process." Its process "strives to identify applicants who possess the ability to think critically and who have demonstrated independence and self-direction," and applicants "must give every promise of becoming successful students and practitioners of the highest ethical standards." Its decision is based on your academic record, the quality of your programs and your DAT, with personal factors and the interview "also key factors." The factors it names, and the qualities in its technical standards, make the best checklist for the interview: Knowledge of the dental profession: Maryland expects you to understand the profession "through observation of dental practice and by reading appropriate literature." Know what you saw in your shadowing hours, and one thing you have read about dentistry. Critical thinking:

practice talking through a problem out loud: the options, what you would weigh, and why you would choose one. Independence and self-direction: have a story of something you started or carried through without being told to. Extracurricular and leadership activities: pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome, not just a title. Maryland's FAQ names membership in a pre-dental association among the first things it evaluates, so if you belong to one, be ready to say what you did in it. Ethics, empathy and integrity: Maryland's technical standards ask students to "Display empathy, integrity, concern for others, and interpersonal skills, interest and motivation in becoming a dental professional." Practice talking through an ethical dilemma out loud. Taking feedback: the same standards ask students "to accept appropriate suggestions and criticism and, if necessary, respond by modification of behavior." Have an example of feedback you

acted on. Fine manual dexterity: be ready to describe how you built it: by handling small objects precisely, not just through the eye-hand coordination of sports. Research and a broad education: Maryland calls prior research experience "desirable" and wants a challenging program "supplemented by a broad selection of courses in the social sciences, humanities, and arts." If you are changing careers, Maryland says you "will receive careful consideration," so have a clear account of why dentistry. The best Why Maryland material is in its clinics and its history. Maryland calls itself the world's first dental college, and its catalog says the school "played a seminal role in the development of science-based dental education"; the first year includes a course in the history of dentistry. Maryland says students begin their patient care experiences during their first year, and its DDS page describes "patient-centered and student-centered

General Practices, simulating the structure of a dental practice." The clinical program runs year round. Students have off-campus rotations, for which Maryland says transportation is required; third-year students rotate for one week at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; and the fourth year includes a yearlong Community Service Learning Externship. Students take part in Mission of Mercy events across Maryland and a longstanding Special Olympics Maryland partnership. A DDS can be combined with a master's in clinical research or public health in five years, or with a PhD in seven to eight, and you must first be admitted to the DDS program. 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. Maryland does not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? Maryland considers graduates of

dental schools outside the US and Canada for its DDS with advanced standing only when a place is available, and says such admissions "occur infrequently"; compare programs in our CAAPID program finder . ); }; export default MarylandDentalSchoolInterview; maryland-dental-school-interview University of Maryland School of Dentistry Maryland Maryland Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Virtual Interview & Requirements Maryland Dental School DDS 2026-27 University of Maryland DDS guide from its own a virtual self-scheduled interview mid-Sept to late Feb the Dec 15 deadline and the prerequisite rule. Maryland dental school interview University of Maryland School of Dentistry interview UMSOD interview UMSOD DDS requirements University of Maryland dental school requirements Maryland dental school virtual interview 2026-10-06 2026-10-06 Domestic Program Virtual interview (format not published) Maryland interviews virtually from mid-September to

late February by an emailed invitation you self-schedule and more than two unfinished prerequisites prevent an invitation. Here is what UMSOD publishes what applicants report and how to prepare. Interviews are virtual and self-scheduled from an emailed invitation and “More than two in-progress or planned pre-requisites will prevent an interview invitation.” Degree DDS (four years) Baltimore Maryland Interview Setting Virtual Interview Format Not published; with members of the admissions committee Scheduling Invitation by email; you self-schedule Interviews Mid-September to late February Interview Rule More than two in-progress or planned prerequisites prevent an invitation Deadline December 15 2026 (AADSAS complete and verified) DAT Official US scores received by December 15 2026 CASPer / Kira Not on Maryland s pages Shadowing At least 100 hours Class Size About 130 (2026–2027 catalog) Average GPA / DAT 3.7; about 440 on the 200–600

scale (21 on the old scale) for “the D1 class last year” Residency Maryland residents receive preferential consideration requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What Maryland Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline Maryland s Admissions Timeline 2 what-maryland-looks-for What Maryland 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. Maryland does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it weighs. Maryland doesn t say whether your interviewers have read your application so build a 90-second answer that works either who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and why Maryland is the next step.

Why dentistry? Maryland names “knowledge of the dental profession” among its “key factors” and expects you to understand the profession “through observation of dental practice and by reading appropriate literature.” Anchor your answer in something you saw in your shadowing hours then say what it confirmed for you. Why Maryland? Use what Maryland says about its patient care from the first year; “patient-centered and student-centered General Practices simulating the structure of a dental practice”; off-campus rotations and a fourth-year Community Service Learning Externship; and its history as the world s first dental college. Connect one of them to how you want to learn; praise for the name is not a reason. What have you learned about dentistry from shadowing and from your reading? Maryland requires at least 100 shadowing hours and expects knowledge of the profession “acquired through observation of dental practice and by reading

appropriate literature.” Name one thing you saw and one thing you read and say what each taught you about the profession. Behavioral Tell me about a time you took the initiative without being asked. Maryland looks for applicants “who have demonstrated independence and self-direction.” Pick something you started or carried through on your own keep the setup short and say what happened because of it. Describe a leadership role and what you accomplished in it. “Extracurricular and leadership activities” are among the “key factors” Maryland names. Pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome not just a title; if you belong to a pre-dental association which its FAQ names among the first things it evaluates say what you did in it. How have you developed your manual dexterity? Maryland s prerequisites page calls experience in fine manual dexterity “essential” and says it is gained “by handling very small objects in a precise way ” with

examples such as model building knitting cross stitch pipetting and embroidery not just the eye-hand coordination of sports. Describe one activity what you made how long you have done it and what it taught you about precision. Tell me about a time you received criticism. What did you do with it? Maryland s technical standards ask students “to accept appropriate suggestions and criticism and if necessary respond by modification of behavior.” Show that you listened changed something specific and what improved as a result. Ethical / Scenario A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? Maryland wants “practitioners of the highest ethical standards ” and its technical standards ask students to display “empathy integrity concern for others.” 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? Integrity is among the qualities Maryland s technical standards ask students to display. Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust your license. Your classmate is nervous about receiving a local anesthetic injection from you in a practice session. How do you handle it? Maryland s students are required to serve as patients for their classmates in procedures such as local anesthesia impressions sealants and cleanings. Show that you would explain each step make sure your classmate agrees to go ahead work at their pace and bring in the supervising faculty member if they want to stop. A patient refuses the treatment you recommend. How do you respond? Balance the patient s right to decide with their wellbeing. Explain clearly find out what worries them offer

alternatives document the conversation and do not abandon the patient. Apply with no more than two prerequisites left Maryland says “More than two in-progress or planned pre-requisites will prevent an interview invitation.” Plan your courses so that most are finished when you apply and every one is done with a C or higher by June 30 2027. Apply early and return the supplemental quickly Maryland reviews applications “in relation to their date of submission” and urges applicants “to apply much earlier than the application deadline.” It doesn t review your AADSAS application until its supplemental application and $90 fee are in so complete them as soon as its email arrives. Prepare for a video interview you book yourself Maryland s interviews are virtual and invitations come by email “with instructions to self-schedule based on availability.” Book a slot when the invitation arrives set up your camera light and sound in advance and practice

answering out loud in the same setup. Send nothing extra by email Maryland won t accept emailed DAT scores letters CVs transcripts or academic updates and asks applicants not to send documents outside its application requirements. Thank-you notes to your interviewers go to the Office of Admissions at DDSAdmissions@umaryland.edu which forwards them. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years (D1 to D4) in Baltimore Maryland Application AADSAS complete and verified by close of business on December 15 2026; then Maryland s supplemental application and a $90 processing fee (no fee waivers) Interview Virtual by an emailed invitation you self-schedule mid-September to late February; with members of the Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions (format not published) Interview rule More than two in-progress or planned prerequisites will prevent an interview invitation Class size About 130 students (2026–2027 catalog); 525 students

in the predoctoral (DDS) program in 2025–26 Average GPA and DAT GPA 3.7 and DAT about 440 on the 200–600 scale (21 on the old scale) for “the D1 class last year” (admissions FAQ) Acceptance rate Not published (Maryland publishes no counts of applications interviews or offers) DAT Required US DAT only; official scores received by December 15 2026; tests from 2024 on accepted on either scale; most recent score considered Prerequisites 8 semester hours each with labs of general biology general or inorganic chemistry organic chemistry and physics; 3 of biochemistry; 6 of English composition; C or higher; none taken before Fall 2017 except English composition Coursework A bachelor s degree is strongly encouraged; applicants with at least 90 credit hours at an accredited university may be considered; no more than 60 of the minimum required credits from a community or junior college Shadowing At least 100 hours with a general dentist (a

specialist if no general dentist is available); the FAQ says the hours should be with multiple dentists Letters A pre-professional committee package or without one a science professor (the one faculty member each in biology and chemistry) plus a required letter from a dentist Manual dexterity Experience developing fine manual “essential” on Maryland s prerequisites page “strongly recommended” in its catalog CASPer / Kira Not on Maryland s admissions pages or its catalog s admission pages Residency No residency requirement; Maryland residents receive preferential consideration Deposits $1 000 with your acceptance and $1 000 more by April 1 2027 both non-refundable Deferrals Not granted; reapply to start in a later year Requirements to have in place Prerequisites with a C or higher none taken before Fall 2017 (except English composition) and no more than two in progress or planned when you apply At least 100 shadowing hours with general

dentists with more than one dentist to be safe a pre-professional committee package or letters from a biology and a chemistry faculty member plus a dentist s letter Hands-on experience that builds fine manual dexterity such as model building or needlework A US DAT taken in 2024 or later ideally by November 2026 Apply (Maryland s AADSAS first then its supplemental application) Submit AADSAS well before December 15 2026 with transcripts official DAT scores and letters sent through AADSAS only Make sure AADSAS verifies your application and your official DAT scores reach Maryland by December 15 2026 When Maryland s email arrives (it says receiving your verified application may take up to four weeks) create your Slate account pay the $90 processing fee and complete the supplemental application If you are invited (interviews run mid-September to late February) Self-schedule a slot from the emailed invitation Set up your camera light and sound

and practice answering out loud in that setup Reread your AADSAS essay and activities and be ready to talk about your shadowing and your manual dexterity Prepare a Why Maryland answer and practice talking through an ethical dilemma out loud Send any thank-you note to DDSAdmissions@umaryland.edu Hard dates December 15 AADSAS complete and verified; official US DAT scores received April 1 second $1 000 deposit if you have accepted an offer June 30 all admission requirements including prerequisites completed August classes begin at the start of the fall semester What is the University of Maryland dental school interview format? Maryland says “Interviews at UMSOD are conducted virtually” and run from mid-September to late February with invitations “sent via email with instructions to self-schedule based on availability.” Its 2026–2027 catalog says applicants advancing in the process are invited “for an interview with members of the Committee

on Dental Recruitment and Admissions ” a committee of faculty students and alumni and its FAQ refers to “the faculty member/student with whom I interviewed.” Maryland doesn t publish how many people interview you how long it lasts whether it is open or closed file or what is asked. Is the Maryland dental interview virtual or in person? Virtual. Maryland s application page says “Interviews at UMSOD are conducted virtually ” and that you self-schedule from an emailed invitation. It doesn t name the video platform. In a public applicant forum s Maryland interview thread five 2025–26 applicants described the one wrote Zoom and four wrote virtual. Does Maryland use the MMI? Maryland s own pages don t mention an MMI multiple mini interviews or interview stations; they describe a virtual interview with members of its Committee on Dental Recruitment and Admissions and publish no format. None of the 2025–26 applicants who posted in a public

forum s Maryland interview thread described an MMI. Lists that call Maryland an MMI school aren t supported by its pages; prepare for a virtual interview and go by your invitation. Does Maryland require CASPer or Kira for dental school? Maryland s DDS admissions pages its admissions FAQ and the admission pages 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 letters of recommendation at least 100 shadowing hours the supplemental application with its $90 fee and if you are invited a virtual interview. What GPA and DAT do I need for Maryland dental school? Maryland publishes no minimum. Its FAQ says “our average GPA for the D1 class last year was 3.7 and our average DAT score was about 440 (21 on the old scoring scale)”: 440 is on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since March 2025 and the 21 is Maryland s own old-scale

figure. The FAQ doesn t say which class that was or which DAT score it averaged. It asks for science and cumulative GPAs and DAT scores “which exceed the national averages ” and expects a 3.5 GPA in any post-grad coursework you take to raise your GPA. DATs taken in 2024 or later are accepted on either scale and Maryland considers your most recent score. Can I apply to Maryland with prerequisites still in progress? Yes but no more than two counting planned courses or you won t be invited to interview. Maryland says “Most of your prerequisite coursework should be completed at the time of the application. More than two in-progress or planned pre-requisites will prevent an interview invitation.” All admission requirements must be completed by June 30 2027 every prerequisite needs a C or higher and for the 2026–2027 cycle prerequisites taken before Fall 2017 won t be accepted except English composition. How many shadowing hours does Maryland

require? At least 100. Maryland s prerequisites page says “Applicants are required to complete a minimum of 100 shadowing hours with a General Dentist ” accepts a specialist if no general dentist is available to you and says the hours “can be completed at more than one practice.” Its FAQ says the 100 hours “should be with multiple dentists ” and its catalog asks for “at least 100 hours of activities undertaken to investigate the dental profession.” To be safe shadow general dentists for 100 or more hours with more than one dentist and confirm with ddsadmissions@umaryland.edu. A letter from a dentist is required. Does Maryland give preference to in-state applicants? Yes as a preference. Maryland says “There are no specific residency requirements for admission although Maryland residents receive preferential consideration.” It doesn t publish how many in-state students it admits. For tuition every incoming student is deemed out of state;

to be considered for in-state tuition you must complete an Application for In-State Classification in your first term. International students can apply to the DDS program but are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships. Howard Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Washington D.C.: Howard s older DDS page describes a 25–30-minute panel interview and a second interview with the Director of Admissions; its two official sites give different dates. Domestic Program /schools/howard-dental-school-interview Dental College of Georgia Interview Guide (DMD) At Augusta DCG s on-campus interviews by invitation conducted by faculty alumni and professional staff from mid-August to early December. Domestic Program /schools/augusta-dental-school-interview VCU Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Richmond VCU s interview day at the school with a 30-minute interview (“2 faculty and 1 candidate”) per its interview-day page and deadlines that

differ by page. Domestic Program /schools/vcu-dental-school-interview Penn Dental School Interview Guide Also in the Mid- Penn Dental s DMD interview and how to prepare. Domestic Program /schools/penn-dental-school-interview Rutgers Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) Also in the Mid- Rutgers invitation-only interview DAT-first rule December 15 offers and class profile. Domestic Program /schools/rutgers-dental-school-interview Which Dental Schools Use MMI vs. Traditional Interviews? Interview formats by school for 2026-27 including Maryland s virtual interview and which schools own pages describe an MMI. Interview Formats /blog/dental-school-interview-formats-by-school