UMMC Dental School Interview & MMI (Mississippi): 2026-27

UMMC School of Dentistry DMD guide from its own pages: multiple mini-interviews with Admissions Committee members, Oct 1 AADSAS (passed) and Nov 1 deadlines.

UMMC invites applicants whose credentials indicate potential for success to an interview session that includes multiple mini-interviews with members of its Dental School Admissions Committee. Here is what UMMC publishes, where its pages disagree, and how to prepare. return ( <> UMMC DMD Requirements and Residency The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry, in Jackson, calls itself "the state's only dental school," and it admitted its first class in 1975. Its DMD is a four-year program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and UMMC says "There are 40 students in each dental class" (lower on the same page, "approximately 40"). You apply through AADSAS, whose deadline for UMMC is October 1, then complete UMMC's own supplemental application, which is due with every other material by November 1. UMMC's pages print no year on these dates. For this cycle we read them as October 1, 2026, which has passed,

and November 1, 2026: last cycle's catalog printed the same dates with 2025. Requirement. What UMMC says. Citizenship. Applications only from US citizens or lawful permanent residents. Residency. Preference to Mississippi residents; “in recent years, nonresidents have not been admitted” (one page also names Arkansas: see below). Coursework. At least 90 semester hours at an accredited US or Canadian college or university; its catalog says “at least three years of college work” with a grade of C or better. Bachelor's degree. “Strong preference” for applicants who will have completed one before entering. DAT. Required; scores more than three years old are not accepted; 90 days between attempts. Letters. Four, through AADSAS. Shadowing. At least 70 hours with at least four licensed dental providers (its catalog: four different dentists). Community service. At least 100 hours, 30 of them with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations (its

catalog: 80 hours). Minimum GPA or DAT. None published, and no class averages either. No GPA or DAT figures, on either scale. UMMC's DMD pages and its 2026–2027 catalog publish no minimum GPA or DAT score and no class averages, so there is no figure to compare yours with and no scale to convert. What they do say is what counts. The catalog: "Cognitive components include overall GPA, overall science GPA, overall DAT (academic average), overall science DAT and masters GPA, if applicable." The admissions committee's deliberations include "academic metrics including trends in GPA's and DAT scores." Since 1 March 2025 the ADA has reported DAT scores on the 200–600 scale. In state or out of state? UMMC's evaluation page says "the School of Dentistry gives preference to residents of the State of Mississippi; in recent years, nonresidents have not been admitted." Its 2026–2027 catalog says "In recent years, nonresidents have not been considered

for admission to DMD program in the School of Dentistry." Both say UMMC "currently accepts admission applications only from individuals who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents." UMMC decides residency from more than your AADSAS application: "it is based on information provided in the UMMC Secondary Application and, when requested, a Request for Review of Residency Classification form and supporting documentation." Its catalog adds that full-time members of the US military "must obtain orders to be based in Mississippi prior to starting first-year classes." Mississippi or Arkansas? UMMC's pages disagree. UMMC's prospective-students page says "the School of Dentistry gives preference to applicants who are residents of Mississippi or Arkansas at the time of application." Its evaluation page and its 2026–2027 catalog name Mississippi only, and say nonresidents haven't been admitted, or considered, "in recent years." The

prospective-students page itself adds that UMMC "may decline to consider applicants who cannot demonstrate residency as defined by Miss. Code §§ 37-103-7 and 37-103-13." Plan on the stricter reading, the one that excludes more applicants: a preference for Mississippi residents alone. If you live in Arkansas, ask DMDadmit@umc.edu before you apply. UMMC sends residency questions to its Office of Enrollment Management (its prospective-students page and catalog) or its Office of Student Records and Registrar (its evaluation page). Prerequisite coursework Course. Length. What UMMC specifies. English (its prerequisites page: “Humanities or English”). 2 semesters / 3 quarters. Must include 2 semesters of writing-intensive humanities or social science courses, such as history, English, comparative literature, philosophy or government; two writing-intensive English courses fit both pages' wording (confirm with DMDadmit@umc.edu). Inorganic

chemistry. 2 semesters / 3 quarters. With lab. Organic chemistry. 2 semesters / 3 quarters. With lab. Physics. 2 semesters / 3 quarters. With lab. General biology or zoology (I and II). 2 semesters / 3 quarters. With lab. Microbiology. 1 semester / 1–2 quarters. With lab, at a senior (four-year) college or university. Biochemistry. 1 semester / 1–2 quarters. At a senior (four-year) college or university. Mathematics. 2 semesters / 3 quarters. College algebra and trigonometry or higher; statistics counts (its catalog: “general, business or scientific statistics”). Hours, grades and your degree: "The School of Dentistry does not require a particular major," but you need at least 90 semester hours, which UMMC's catalog calls "at least three years of college work, totaling not fewer than 90 successful semester hours," each with a grade of C or better. "Strong preference is given to applicants who will have completed all requirements for a

baccalaureate degree prior to entering," and if you are enrolled in a degree program, the catalog expects you "to complete the requirements for and earn that degree before enrollment in dental school," unless the Admissions Committee has approved otherwise. Online courses: "Effective Fall 2023, online courses will no longer be accepted to satisfy pre-requisites for the Doctor of Dental Medicine program. Online courses taken between Spring 2020 and Summer 2023 are acceptable to satisfy pre-requisites." UMMC says it will give non-traditional students special consideration case by case. Department codes: the catalog says "Courses taken outside science and math departments (course numbers other than BIOL, CHEM, PHYS or MATH) are not acceptable as required courses," and accepts no distance learning credit for required science and math courses. If a course you plan to count carries another code, a statistics or biochemistry course numbered

outside those four, for example, confirm it with DMDadmit@umc.edu. Until UMMC confirms, the stricter reading counts only courses numbered BIOL, CHEM, PHYS or MATH toward the science and math prerequisites. Old courses: "If a science course is being used for any course requirement (for any method) and was taken ten (10) or more years ago, it must be repeated." Community college: up to 65 semester hours from a junior college may count toward admission, but "it is strongly recommended that as many required science courses as possible be completed at a senior college or university to improve chances for admission." What doesn't count toward the 90 hours: correspondence courses, physical training, military science, dogmatic religion, math or science courses designed for non-science majors, and "course credit granted without college-level testing AND grade/quality points." Recommended, not required: foreign language, sociology, psychology,

speech, humanities, philosophy, embryology, histology, immunology, cell biology, physiology, comparative anatomy, gross anatomy and neuroanatomy. The DAT: required. UMMC says "It is strongly recommended that this test be taken in the spring, but no later than in the fall of the year preceding the desired date of admission" (for a 2027 start, fall 2026 at the latest; the year is our arithmetic). "DAT scores more than three years old are not acceptable," and "Candidates seeking to re-take the DAT must wait 90 days before a re-test is allowed." Four letters, through AADSAS: two from college science faculty who taught you biology, chemistry or physics; one from a dentist you have shadowed; and one community service or volunteer letter. If you are enrolled in or have completed a master's program, a letter from it "will fulfill one of the science faculty letters." Shadowing: "Effective June 1, 2025, applicants must complete a minimum of 70

hours of clinical shadowing with at least four (4) licensed dental providers." It may be paid or unpaid, and work in a dental practice may count if the experience "includes meaningful exposure to patient care, clinical workflows, and the delivery of dental services"; front-desk, billing and other administrative roles without clinical exposure don't count. "At least one shadowing experience must be with a general dentist," and "Shadowing multiple providers within the same practice will be counted as a single experience." Community service: "Effective June 2024, applicants must complete a minimum of 100 hours of community service," and "A minimum of 30 hours must involve service to vulnerable or disadvantaged populations." Service "should reflect consistent, sustained, and meaningful civic engagement, rather than one-time or episodic participation." On mission trips, "Service credit is limited to a maximum of 8 service hours per day," and

travel time and orientation sessions may not be counted. Technical standards: "It is the responsibility of the candidate for admission to review the technical standards for admissions." They include operating "high- and low-speed dental handpieces during dental treatment requiring controlled movements of less than one millimeter." Shadowing and service: UMMC's website and its catalog disagree. UMMC's evaluation page requires at least 70 hours of shadowing "with at least four (4) licensed dental providers"; its 2026–2027 catalog says "minimum of 70 hours of shadowing is required with at least four different dentists." The catalog's reading is stricter: a licensed provider who isn't a dentist would meet the first wording but not the second. Neither says outright that the four must work in different practices, but UMMC counts several providers in one practice as "a single experience," so the safest plan is four dentists in four different

practices, at least one of them a general dentist. On service, the evaluation page requires at least 100 hours, 30 of them with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations; the catalog says "a minimum of 80 hours is required." Plan on 100 hours, including the 30, and confirm both with DMDadmit@umc.edu. CASPer or Kira?. UMMC's DMD admissions pages and the DMD 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, four letters, the supplemental application with its $50 fee and, if you are invited, an interview session with multiple mini-interviews. To confirm anything here, email DMDadmit@umc.edu or call (601) 984-6060. UMMC's admissions office offers pre- and post-application counseling, and "The counseling period will begin in January and go through May." The UMMC Interview: Multiple Mini-Interviews By invitation, after

screening. "Applicant files are reviewed by the School of Dentistry Admissions screeners. Applicants whose credentials indicate potential for success in the dental school program are invited for an interview session which includes multiple mini-interviews with members of the Dental School Admissions Committee." The pre-screening factors "include but are not limited to metrics (GPA and DAT scores), shadowing experiences, research experience, commitment to community service, as well as professionalism, leadership, and other non-cognitive attributes." Multiple mini-interviews, required. UMMC's 2026–2027 catalog says "Multiple mini-interviews with members of the Admissions Committee are required." The same sentence is in its 2025–2026 catalog. Who sits on the committee. The Dental School Admissions Committee "includes clinical and basic science faculty of the School of Dentistry and the School of Medicine, representatives of the dental

private practice, UMMC School of Dentistry students, and other administrative personnel" at UMMC. UMMC doesn't say which members conduct the mini-interviews. When. "Interviews are scheduled during specific periods and applicants are notified in advance of such periods." UMMC doesn't publish the periods, and "Applicants must not present themselves for interviews until requested to do so by the Admissions Committee." How it counts. "The DSAC reviews the entire file for every interviewed applicant." Its deliberations include "performance on multiple mini interviews rated by members of the Admissions Interview Committee," alongside where you were raised and educated, your life experiences and personal attributes (including the scores the screeners assigned), your written application, your letters and "trends in GPA's and DAT scores." Interviews are also among the non-cognitive components UMMC lists. What UMMC doesn't publish. Whether the

interview session is virtual or in person, how many mini-interviews it includes, how long each lasts, what the scenarios are, whether the raters have read your application, what else the session includes, and when interviews run. UMMC's plural, "multiple mini-interviews," tells you to expect more than one mini-interview, so practice giving a complete, structured answer to a new question or ethical scenario, then starting fresh at the next. Read your invitation closely for the setting and schedule. No applicant reports to go on. As of 8 October 2026, the forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports, lists no UMMC invitation date, interview date or interview method in either the 2025–26 or the 2026–27 cycle, and the forum's UMMC threads for both cycles hold only their opening posts. There is nothing reported about UMMC's interview to set beside its own words. Our 2026–27 interview tracker shows UMMC's row

beside every other school on the forum's tracker. Practice for UMMC's Multiple Mini-Interviews Out Loud. UMMC requires multiple mini-interviews with members of its Dental School Admissions Committee. Practice MMI-style ethical scenarios and interview questions out loud and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. UMMC's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline UMMC's timetable sits under the heading "Admission Timeline Application procedure (no exceptions to deadlines)." Here are its steps and the other dates UMMC gives, with ADEA's 2026–27 dates where UMMC sends you to ADEA: When. What UMMC says. Early May (ADEA: AADSAS opened May 12, 2026). “begin working on application”. Early June (ADEA: first day to submit, June 2, 2026). “begin submitting applications”. After AADSAS verifies your application. UMMC sends a link to its supplemental application; the fee is $50. In the spring, and no later than fall 2026 (the

year is our arithmetic). When UMMC strongly recommends taking the DAT for a 2027 start (“no later than in the fall of the year preceding the desired date of admission”). October 1 (2026, by our reading; passed). AADSAS deadline: “Application, all documentation and fees required by AADSAS must be received by AADSAS”. November 1 (2026, by our reading). UMMC deadline: “All application materials, including secondary application, fees, official transcripts and letters of recommendation, must be received”. Early December (ADEA: December 15, 2026). “earliest date of acceptance notification”; UMMC adds, “Check the ADEA website for all specific dates of submission and notification”. January through May. Pre- and post-application counseling with the admissions office. Before you enroll. Earn any degree you are enrolled in, unless the Admissions Committee has approved otherwise; acceptance is conditional until you matriculate. 2027 (no start date

published). This year's first-year class had orientation on August 5–7, 2026, and the DMD's first day of fall classes was August 11, 2026 (UMMC's 2026–27 academic calendar). UMMC gives no dates for interviews: they are "scheduled during specific periods and applicants are notified in advance of such periods." Reapplicants "must re-submit all materials (official transcripts, pre-professional recommendations, etc.) to AADSAS," and UMMC says "Do not send any materials directly to the School of Dentistry unless specifically requested to do so." Applicants and committee members "are required to sign a confidentiality agreement" that lets the committee review all applicant information. Acceptance is conditional: the Admissions Committee "may rescind an offer of acceptance at any time before matriculation" if an applicant fails to maintain the expectations it was based on, and its examples include "a significant decline in academic

performance, failure to complete prerequisites or other course work and degrees in progress, patterns of unprofessional behavior and incidents discovered in a criminal background check." UMMC's 2026–27 tuition and fees for first-year DMD students are $41,123 for residents and $78,996 for non-residents; the class entering in 2027 will be charged 2027–28 rates, which aren't published yet. Which year? UMMC's timetable prints none. UMMC's How to Apply page and its 2026–2027 catalog give the deadlines as "October 1" and "November 1" and the earliest acceptance notification as "Early December," with no year. Its 2025–2026 catalog printed the same steps with years: October 1, 2025, November 1, 2025, and December 15, 2025 for the earliest notification. So for this cycle we read October 1, 2026 (passed) and November 1, 2026. UMMC tells applicants to "Check the ADEA website for all specific dates of submission and notification," and ADEA's page

lists December 15, 2026 as the 2026–27 dental school acceptance notification date. ADEA also says it "will not send your application to a school if it is received by ADEA AADSAS after the school's deadline." Confirm your dates with DMDadmit@umc.edu. A separate interview: the rural dentists scholarship. UMMC's Dr. G. Norris Howell Rural Dentists Scholarship Program, renamed in 2025, is open to college sophomores and juniors interested in practicing general or pediatric dentistry in a rural area, and its applicants must be legal residents of Mississippi. Its undergraduate phase has its own interviews: "Interviews with MRDSP Commission members will be held in March." Its benefits include DAT preparation, a rural dentist mentor and status as a "Preferred candidate for $35,000-per-year dental school scholarship." In dental school, scholarships "valued up to $35,000 per year" depend on available funding, and scholars must then practice in a

community of 10,000 or fewer, more than 20 miles from a medically served area, for as many years as they received funding. UMMC doesn't explain how this interview relates to the DMD interview. What UMMC Looks For UMMC names what it weighs. Its evaluation page lists the non-cognitive components: "honesty/integrity, ethics/values, respect for others, critical thinking, communication skills, altruism, motivation for dentistry, accountability, maturity, participation in Health Careers program, leadership, self-appraisal, research, campus involvement in leadership, and interviews." Its 2026–2027 catalog's list adds "support system," "excellence" and "vision of practice." UMMC's objective is "to prepare scientifically-minded, clinically competent, community-oriented, ethical dental professionals to serve the oral health needs of the state of Mississippi." UMMC doesn't say which of them its mini-interviews assess, but together they make a

practical checklist for preparing: Honesty, integrity and ethics: UMMC's core values are integrity, respect, excellence, compassion and professionalism. Its 2026–27 calendar lists a "D1 (DMD) Ethics Signing Ceremony" for first-year students, and the DMD includes ethics courses in the first, third and fourth years. Practice reasoning through a dilemma out loud: who is affected, the options, and why you would choose one. Altruism and service: UMMC's evaluation page requires at least 100 hours of service, 30 of them with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations, and says service "should reflect consistent, sustained, and meaningful civic engagement." Have one service story you can tell in depth: whom it served, what you did over time, and what it taught you. Motivation and vision of practice: your 70 or more hours of shadowing, with at least one general dentist, are your evidence. Be ready to say what you saw dentists do, what it confirmed

for you, and what kind of practice you want, and where. Communication and respect: UMMC's technical standards ask candidates to "communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and all members of the health care team both orally and in writing," and to "manage patients with a wide variety of moods and do so in a tactful, congenial and compassionate manner so as to avoid alienation and antagonism." Critical thinking: the same standards ask candidates, in educational and clinical settings, to perform their cognitive skills "in a critical and logical problem solving format and to do so within a specific time limited framework." Practice talking through a problem out loud: the options, what you would weigh, and why you would choose one. Self-appraisal, accountability and maturity: the standards also ask you to "behave in a professional, reliable, mature and responsible manner" and to "adapt to a changing environment." Have an example

of a mistake you owned and what you changed afterward. Leadership: UMMC lists "leadership" and "campus involvement in leadership" separately. Pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome, not just a title. Where you come from: the committee discusses "where an applicant was raised and educated noting financial, educational and socioeconomic advantages and disadvantages" and "an applicant's life experiences." UMMC's lead director of admissions put the mission this way in 2025: "We are finding, recruiting and training Mississippi students to care for Mississippians." Be ready to talk about your community and the oral health needs you have seen in Mississippi. The best Why UMMC material is in its service and its patients. UMMC calls itself "Mississippi's only dental school," with about 40 students in each class, and says its DMD students "benefit from early and continuous clinical experiences, interprofessional education, and close

collaboration with faculty." Service runs through the curriculum: Service Learning and Community Oral Health courses fall in each of the four years, the first of them through the School of Dentistry, "the student run Jackson Free Dental Clinic" and other approved opportunities. At Dental Mission Week, now in its tenth year, 427 Mississippians received free dental care in 2026, and UMMC says the event has provided acute dental care to nearly 8,000 patients; its dean says "Our entire School of Dentistry participates." In the fourth year, the Community Outreach Dental Externship places students in mostly private dental offices three or four days a week, and in the Mission First rotation students treat an underserved population at an inner-city volunteer clinic serving the Greater Jackson area. The Regions CRET Innovation Suite, opened in 2019, gives students access to simulation labs, digital impression systems, 3D printers and a laser

room, and UMMC broke ground on a new clinical building on March 6, 2025. 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. UMMC does not publish its interview questions or its mini-interview scenarios. For how to structure an answer to an MMI scenario, see our dental school MMI prep guide . Internationally trained dentist? UMMC's DMD accepts applications only from US citizens or lawful permanent residents, and its catalog requires all required coursework from an accredited US or Canadian college or university. ADEA's CAAPID finder lists 47 advanced standing programs, none of them in Mississippi. To compare those programs, see our CAAPID program finder . ); }; export default MississippiDentalSchoolInterview; mississippi-dental-school-interview University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry UMMC UMMC Dental School Interview (DMD) 2026-

Multiple Mini-Interviews Deadlines & Requirements UMMC Dental School Interview & MMI (Mississippi): 2026-27 UMMC School of Dentistry DMD guide from its own multiple mini-interviews with Admissions Committee members Oct 1 AADSAS (passed) and Nov 1 deadlines. UMMC dental school interview University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry interview University of Mississippi dental school interview UMMC DMD interview UMMC MMI Mississippi dental school interview UMMC dental school requirements UMMC dental school shadowing hours 2026-10-08 2026-10-08 Domestic Program Multiple mini-interviews with members of the Dental School Admissions Committee by invitation UMMC invites applicants whose credentials indicate potential for success to an interview session that includes multiple mini-interviews with members of its Dental School Admissions Committee. Here is what UMMC publishes where its pages disagree and how to prepare. UMMC says

“Multiple mini-interviews with members of the Admissions Committee are required ” and that “in recent years nonresidents have not been admitted.” Degree DMD (four years) Jackson Mississippi Interview Format Multiple mini-interviews with members of the Dental School Admissions Committee in an interview session by invitation Interview Setting Not published Interviews Not interviews are “scheduled during specific periods ” with applicants notified in advance Deadlines October 1 for AADSAS (passed); November 1 for the supplemental application and all other materials (UMMC s pages print no year; 2026 by our reading) Supplemental Fee $50 with a link sent after AADSAS verifies your application Earliest Acceptances “Early December” on UMMC s pages; ADEA s 2026–27 notification date is December 15 2026 CASPer / Kira Not on UMMC s DMD pages or its catalog s DMD page Class Size 40 (“approximately 40” lower on the same page) GPA / DAT No minimums or

class averages published Residency Preference to Mississippi residents; “in recent years nonresidents have not been admitted” (one page also names Arkansas) Citizenship US citizens or lawful permanent residents only Shadowing At least 70 hours with at least four licensed dental providers at least one a general dentist (its four different dentists) Community Service At least 100 hours 30 with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations (its 80 hours) requirements Requirements & Residency 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format UMMC s Multiple Mini-Interviews 2 timeline UMMC s Admissions Timeline 2 what-ummc-looks-for What UMMC 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 Why dentistry? UMMC does not publish its interview questions or its mini-interview

scenarios; these are practice questions built on what it says it weighs. “Motivation for dentistry” is one of the non-cognitive components UMMC lists and it requires at least 70 hours of clinical shadowing with at least four licensed dental providers at least one of them a general dentist (its catalog says four different dentists). Anchor your answer in something specific you saw a dentist do then say what it confirmed for you. UMMC doesn t say how long each mini-interview lasts so practice a complete answer of about two minutes. Why UMMC? Use what UMMC says about the state s only dental school about 40 students in each class service learning courses in each of the four years (the first through the School of Dentistry the student-run Jackson Free Dental Clinic and other approved opportunities) Dental Mission Week and fourth-year rotations in mostly private dental offices and at an inner-city volunteer clinic serving the Greater Jackson

area. Connect one of them to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve; residency alone is not a reason. Where do you see yourself practicing in ten years? UMMC s 2026–2027 catalog lists “vision of practice” among its non-cognitive components and its objective is to prepare dental professionals “to serve the oral health needs of the state of Mississippi.” Name a place you know a need you have seen there and the kind of practice you want. If rural practice interests you know that UMMC runs a rural dentists scholarship with a service obligation. MMI / Ethical Scenario You see a classmate copying answers during an exam. What do you do? UMMC lists honesty/integrity and ethics/values first among its non-cognitive components integrity is the first of its core values and its 2026–27 calendar includes an Ethics Signing Ceremony for first-year students. Talk through your reasoning out name the conflict consider a direct conversation first

then the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust your license. A patient at a free clinic needs more treatment than can be done today. What do you do? UMMC students take part in Dental Mission Week and volunteer at the Jackson Free Clinic and in the fourth-year Mission First rotation they treat an underserved population at an inner-city volunteer clinic. Acknowledge the patient without judgment explain what can be done today and what comes next look for legitimate options for follow-up care involve your supervising dentist and never lower the standard of care. A question like this rarely has a single right show how you weigh it. A patient is anxious and upset before treatment. How do you respond? UMMC s technical standards ask candidates to “manage patients with a wide variety of moods and do so in a tactful congenial and compassionate manner so as to avoid alienation and antagonism.” 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. Should dental graduates who receive state scholarships be required to practice in rural areas? UMMC s rural dentists scholarship asks its scholars to practice in a community of 10 000 or fewer more than 20 miles from a medically served area for as many years as they received funding. Present both sides the state s need for rural dentists and the graduate s freedom and debt take a position and say what would change your mind. UMMC lists critical thinking and communication skills among the qualities it weighs. Behavioral / Self-Appraisal Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you do about it? Accountability and self-appraisal are among UMMC s non-cognitive components and its technical standards ask candidates to “behave in a professional reliable mature and responsible manner.” Be

specific about what went wrong what you did to fix it and what you do differently now. Tell me about your most meaningful community service. UMMC s evaluation page requires at least 100 hours of service 30 of them with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations and says service “should reflect consistent sustained and meaningful civic engagement rather than one-time or episodic participation.” Pick service you kept up over time and talk about the people it served and what it taught you not the hours. Describe a time you led a group through a challenge. UMMC lists “leadership” and “campus involvement in leadership” among its non-cognitive components. Keep the setup short show what you did to move the group forward and say what changed because of you. Tell me about a time you had to adapt quickly to a change. UMMC s technical standards ask candidates to “adapt to a changing environment display flexibility and function appropriately in the

face of those uncertainties inherent in dental education.” Describe the change how you adjusted and what you would carry into dental school. Finish everything UMMC asks for by November 1 UMMC s timetable headed “no exceptions to deadlines ” gives October 1 for AADSAS and November 1 for UMMC; its pages print no year and for this cycle we read them as October 1 2026 which has passed and November 1 2026. After AADSAS verifies your application UMMC sends a link to its supplemental application ($50) and by November 1 it needs “All application materials including secondary application fees official transcripts and letters of recommendation.” Don t send anything directly to the School of Dentistry unless it asks. Meet the shadowing and service rules by the stricter reading UMMC s evaluation page requires at least 70 hours of shadowing with at least four licensed dental providers at least one of them a general dentist; its catalog says four

different dentists and UMMC counts several providers in one practice as “a single experience.” Plan on four dentists in four different practices. For service plan on at least 100 hours 30 of them with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations though the catalog says 80. Confirm with DMDadmit@umc.edu. Prepare for multiple mini-interviews UMMC requires “Multiple mini-interviews with members of the Admissions Committee ” a committee that includes faculty representatives of private dental practice dental students and administrative staff. It doesn t publish how many mini-interviews there are how long each lasts the scenarios the setting or which committee members conduct them. Practice giving a complete structured answer to a new ethical scenario or personal question out loud then starting fresh and read your invitation closely when it arrives. Show the committee who you are and where you come from UMMC s committee discusses “where an

applicant was raised and educated noting financial educational and socioeconomic advantages and disadvantages ” your life experiences your written application your letters and your mini-interview ratings. Its non-cognitive components start with “honesty/integrity ethics/values respect for others critical thinking communication skills altruism.” Prepare one specific story for each and be ready to talk about the oral health needs you have seen in Mississippi. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DMD four years; Jackson Mississippi Application AADSAS by October 1 then UMMC s supplemental application ($50; the link comes after AADSAS verifies your application) with all materials by November 1; UMMC s pages print no year (2026 by our reading; October 1 has passed) Interview By invitation after an interview session that includes multiple mini-interviews with members of the Dental School Admissions Committee; setting periods number and length of

the mini-interviews not published Earliest acceptances “Early December” on UMMC s pages; ADEA s 2026–27 dental school acceptance notification date is December 15 2026 Class size 40 students in each dental class (“approximately 40” lower on the same page) Acceptance rate Not published; UMMC s pages give no applicant interview or offer counts GPA and DAT No minimums or class averages published; UMMC weighs overall and science GPA overall DAT (academic average) and overall science DAT DAT Required; scores more than three years old not accepted; 90 days between attempts; strongly recommended in the spring and no later than the fall of the year before you start Coursework At least 90 semester hours (its three years of college work with a grade of C or better) at an accredited US or Canadian college or university; strong preference for a completed bachelor s degree Prerequisites Two semesters each of English (writing-intensive humanities or

social science) inorganic chemistry organic chemistry physics and general biology or zoology the sciences with labs and mathematics; one semester each of microbiology (with lab) and biochemistry at a four-year institution; online courses no longer accepted since Fall 2023 except those taken between Spring 2020 and Summer 2023 Letters Four through two from college science faculty (biology chemistry or physics) one from a dentist you shadowed and one community service or volunteer letter; a master s program letter can fulfill one of the science letters Shadowing At least 70 hours with at least four licensed dental providers at least one a general dentist; several providers in one practice count as a single experience; its catalog says four different dentists Community service At least 100 hours 30 with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations (effective June 2024); its catalog says 80 hours CASPer / Kira Not on UMMC s DMD pages or its

catalog s DMD page Residency Preference to Mississippi residents; nonresidents not admitted (or considered) “in recent years”; one page also names Arkansas Citizenship US citizens or lawful permanent residents only Tuition 2026–27 First-year tuition and fees $41 123 for residents and $78 996 for non-residents; 2027–28 rates not yet published Classes begin No 2027 date published; this year s first-year class had orientation on August 5–7 2026 UMMC s requirements Prerequisites with labs where UMMC requires them from an accredited US or Canadian college or university; online courses are no longer accepted since Fall 2023 except those taken between Spring 2020 and Summer 2023 and UMMC may rescind an offer if you fail to complete prerequisites in progress At least 90 semester hours with a grade of C or better and any degree you are enrolled in earned before you enroll The DAT strongly recommended in the spring and no later than fall 2026 for

a 2027 start; scores more than three years old aren t accepted At least 70 hours of shadowing with at least four dentists in four different practices at least one of them a general dentist (the stricter reading of UMMC s pages) At least 100 hours of community service 30 of them with vulnerable or disadvantaged populations (the stricter reading) Four two from college science faculty one from a dentist you shadowed and one community service or volunteer letter Apply (UMMC s AADSAS then the supplemental link after verification) Submit AADSAS by October 1 (passed for this cycle) After AADSAS verifies your application complete UMMC s supplemental application and pay the $50 fee Have all materials including official transcripts and letters of recommendation in by November 1 Don t send materials directly to the School of Dentistry unless asked; reapplicants resubmit everything through AADSAS If you are invited (UMMC doesn t publish the

interview periods) Wait for the “Applicants must not present themselves for interviews until requested to do so by the Admissions Committee” Read your invitation for the setting the date and what the session includes Practice short structured answers to ethical scenarios and personal questions out loud one after another Prepare examples of integrity altruism communication critical thinking accountability self-appraisal and leadership Hard dates (UMMC s pages print no years; the years are ours for the 2026–27 cycle) October 1 AADSAS deadline (passed; UMMC s pages print no year) November 1 UMMC deadline for all materials (UMMC s pages print no year) December 15 ADEA s 2026–27 dental school acceptance notification date ( “Early December”) What is the UMMC dental school interview format? UMMC says “Applicants whose credentials indicate potential for success in the dental school program are invited for an interview session which includes

multiple mini-interviews with members of the Dental School Admissions Committee ” and its 2026–2027 catalog says “Multiple mini-interviews with members of the Admissions Committee are required.” The committee includes School of Dentistry and School of Medicine faculty representatives of private dental practice dental students and administrative staff and its deliberations include “performance on multiple mini interviews rated by members of the Admissions Interview Committee.” UMMC doesn t publish the setting how many mini-interviews there are how long each lasts what they ask which committee members conduct them or whether the raters have read your application. Does UMMC use the MMI? Yes in its own words. UMMC s evaluation page describes “an interview session which includes multiple mini-interviews ” and its 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 catalogs both say “Multiple mini-interviews with members of the Admissions Committee are required.” UMMC

doesn t say how many mini-interviews there are how long each lasts or what they ask and no applicant post in a public forum s UMMC threads for the last two cycles describes its interview. Our practice complete structured answers to ethical scenarios and personal questions one after another. Is the UMMC dental interview virtual or in person? UMMC s pages don t say. They say only that “Interviews are scheduled during specific periods and applicants are notified in advance of such periods ” and that “Applicants must not present themselves for interviews until requested to do so by the Admissions Committee.” The forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists no UMMC interview method in either the 2025–26 or the 2026–27 cycle and the forum s UMMC threads for both cycles hold only their opening posts. Go by your invitation. Does UMMC require CASPer or Kira for dental school? UMMC s DMD admissions pages and the

DMD page of its 2026–2027 catalog don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment. Besides AADSAS and your coursework they ask for the DAT four letters of recommendation at least 70 hours of shadowing at least 100 hours of community service (its catalog says 80) the supplemental application with its $50 fee and if you are invited an interview session with multiple mini-interviews. Does UMMC accept out-of-state applicants? UMMC gives preference to Mississippi residents and its evaluation page says “in recent years nonresidents have not been admitted”; its 2026–2027 catalog says nonresidents “have not been considered for admission to DMD program” in recent years. Its prospective-students page names a preference for residents “of Mississippi or Arkansas at the time of application.” The pages disagree so plan on the stricter reading a preference for Mississippi residents alone and if you live in Arkansas ask

DMDadmit@umc.edu before you apply. UMMC accepts applications only from US citizens or lawful permanent residents and it decides residency from its secondary application and when requested a residency review form not from AADSAS alone. When is the UMMC DMD application deadline? UMMC s timetable headed “no exceptions to deadlines ” gives October 1 for AADSAS and November 1 for UMMC when “All application materials including secondary application fees official transcripts and letters of recommendation must be received.” Its pages print no year; its 2025–2026 catalog printed the same dates for 2025 so for this cycle we read October 1 2026 (passed) and November 1 2026. The supplemental link comes after AADSAS verifies your application with a $50 fee. UMMC lists “Early December” as the earliest acceptance notification and points applicants to ADEA whose 2026–27 notification date is December 15 2026. How many shadowing and community service

hours does UMMC require? UMMC s evaluation page says “Effective June 1 2025 applicants must complete a minimum of 70 hours of clinical shadowing with at least four (4) licensed dental providers ” with at least one experience with a general dentist and counts several providers in one practice as “a single experience”; its 2026–2027 catalog says “at least four different dentists.” For service the evaluation page requires at least 100 hours “Effective June 2024 ” with “A minimum of 30 hours” serving vulnerable or disadvantaged populations; the catalog says “a minimum of 80 hours is required.” Plan on the stricter readings four dentists in four different practices and 100 hours including the 30 and confirm with DMDadmit@umc.edu. What GPA and DAT do I need for UMMC dental school? UMMC s DMD pages and its 2026–2027 catalog publish no minimum GPA or DAT score and no class averages on either DAT scale. Its catalog says “Cognitive components

include overall GPA overall science GPA overall DAT (academic average) overall science DAT and masters GPA if applicable ” and its screeners weigh “metrics (GPA and DAT scores)” before interviews. You need at least 90 semester hours with a grade of C or better a DAT no more than three years old (“DAT scores more than three years old are not acceptable”) and 90 days between attempts if you retake it. UAB Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Birmingham an interview with UAB s Admissions Committee by invitation virtual “at least in the beginning of the cycle”; AADSAS by October 31 2026 and Offer Day on December 15 2026. Domestic Program /schools/uab-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. UTHSC prefers Tennessee residents and considers Arkansas residents under the Arkansas Health

Education Grant guidelines; its September 30 deadline has passed. Domestic Program /schools/tennessee-dental-school-interview Dental College of Georgia Interview Guide (DMD) In Augusta DCG s on-campus interviews by invitation conducted by faculty alumni and professional staff from mid-August to early December; Decision Day is December 15 2026. Domestic Program /schools/augusta-dental-school-interview