Pacific Dugoni Dental Interview Guide 2026-27

Pacific Dugoni DDS guide from its own pages: an in-person interview with one or more Admissions Committee members, its 3-year DDS and the Feb 5 deadline.

Dugoni invites applicants to the dental school in San Francisco for an in-person interview with one or more members of its Admissions Committee, most often from September through March, alongside an orientation seminar, time with current students and a tour. Here is what Dugoni publishes, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> The Dugoni DDS Interview: What the School Says The University of the Pacific's Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, at 155 Fifth Street in downtown San Francisco, awards the DDS in 36 months: its curriculum "begins in July and is divided into 12 quarters," and Dugoni says its students "are able to complete four academic years of instruction in three calendar years." You apply through AADSAS only. Dugoni has no secondary application, but it charges a $75 supplemental fee. This is what its undated DDS admissions FAQ says about the interview: In person, in San Francisco. "Applicants who appear to

meet the requirements will be invited to the dental school in San Francisco for an interview with one or more members of the Admissions Committee." The FAQ adds: "Interviews, by invitation, are in person. Candidates invited for an interview will be informed of any virtual interview days, if offered." Mostly September through March. "Most of our interviews are conducted from September through March." Dugoni's pages don't say when the first invitations go out. By phone, then email. "Invitations for interview are extended by phone and confirmed by email," and "If you are selected for an interview, we will call you to schedule, but will also follow up over email." The FAQ asks applicants to check their spam and junk folders for its emails. What it assesses. "During the interview the applicant's interest in dentistry, future plans, maturity and other personal qualities needed for successful work with patients are assessed." More than the

interview. "In addition, applicants will participate in an orientation seminar, meet informally with current dental students and tour the school." Dugoni doesn't say whether any of these is evaluated. Required for any seat. Asked whether interviews are required for an acceptance or an alternate position, the FAQ answers: "Yes, interviews, by invitation, are required for any potential position in the program." Who decides. "The Executive Admissions Committee reserves the right to override admissions recommendations made by faculty interviewers." Both the FAQ and the requirements page say so. One interviewer or several, and for how long? Dugoni doesn't say. Dugoni's words are "one or more members of the Admissions Committee." None of the Dugoni DDS pages we read says how many people will interview you, how long the interview lasts, whether your interviewers will have read your application, or what they ask, and none mentions an MMI,

interview stations, CASPer or Kira. An earlier version of this guide gave this interview a format, a length and a file policy taken from a forum survey of applicants, not from Dugoni's pages. Read your invitation, and prepare to tell your own story clearly whether or not your interviewers know your file. A writing sample? Only Dugoni's pathway page mentions one. Dugoni's page for Pacific's Pre-Dental Advantage Program, a pathway for students who enter Pacific as first-time college students, says those students must "pass a formal interview for the Dugoni School of Dentistry (includes a writing sample)." Dugoni's DDS admissions pages don't mention a writing sample, and Dugoni doesn't say whether one is part of every applicant's interview day. If your invitation doesn't say, ask sf_admissions@pacific.edu. Planning the visit. The dental school is on Pacific's San Francisco campus, at the corner of Fifth and Minna Streets in the SoMa

district; Dugoni calls the campus "easily accessible by car and public transit." Its FAQ's tour policy says visitors "must be fully vaccinated (with booster) and use a mask (surgical mask or N95) when on the clinic floors." Your interview day includes a tour of the school, but Dugoni doesn't say whether that policy applies to it: follow your invitation, and ask if it doesn't say. 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 Dugoni's words: This cycle (2026–27): the forum's invite tracker (compiled by a volunteer from applicants' reports), last updated 25 September 2026, lists Dugoni's first invitations on 25 August and a first interview date of 17 September, in person. As of 8 October 2026, the forum's Dugoni thread for this cycle held only its opening post, and no invitation had been reported there. Last cycle (2025–26): the

tracker listed first invitations on 22 August 2025 and a first interview date of 18 September, in person. In the forum's Dugoni thread, no applicant reported their own invitation. On 6 October 2025, one poster wrote of Dugoni that "on sept 19, they still had early october dates available" and that "they generally interview up until late november/early december before decision day and have 1-3 dates in january-feb too." On 13 October the same poster wrote that Dugoni "sent out more invites today." Dugoni's FAQ says "Most of our interviews are conducted from September through March." One applicant posted on 17 March 2026 that "the last interview day was last week," and on 19 March: "Got waitlisted today." Another posted "Rejected today OOS" on 3 April 2026. No post in either thread describes the interview itself: whether it was one-on-one, how long it lasted, whether the interviewer had read the file, or what was asked. What Dugoni

doesn't publish. The interview's length, how many interviewers you will meet, whether they have read your file, the questions, the day's schedule, whether the orientation seminar, the student meeting or the tour is evaluated, when invitations start and when the first offers go out. Dugoni does say that "By May, all applicants will be notified by mail as to the final decision on their application." Because it doesn't say whether your interviewers will have read your file, reread your whole application before the day and be ready to tell its story yourself. Practice Your Dugoni Answers Out Loud. Dugoni interviews in person in San Francisco, with one or more Admissions Committee members, and says the interview assesses your interest in dentistry, future plans and maturity. Practice answering motivation, behavioral and ethical questions out loud, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. Dugoni's

2026–27 Admissions Timeline When. What Dugoni says. May 12, 2026. “AADSAS will open for applicants to start working on their materials”. June 2, 2026. “First day that applicants are able to submit their applications”. August 13–September 29, 2026. AADSAS “Academic Update Period 1”. September 1, 2026. Deadline for University of the Pacific Pre-Dental Advantage students only (passed). September 2026 to March 2027. “Most of our interviews are conducted from September through March”; invitations by phone, confirmed by email. Before November 1, 2026. “Final DATs submitted to us before November 1 will be given priority for review”. November 2026. The latest Dugoni recommends applying: “We recommend that you apply as early as June, but no later than November”. December 1, 2026–February 5, 2027. AADSAS “Academic Update Period 2”. December 15, 2026. ADEA's “2026–27 dental school acceptance notification date” (ADEA's calendar; Dugoni's pages give

no date for its first offers). February 5, 2027. “AADSAS Application Closes”; Dugoni's $75 fee portal closes on the AADSAS deadline. February 11, 2027. “Last day to submit all official documents to ADEA AADSAS for verification”. By May 2027. “By May, all applicants will be notified by mail as to the final decision on their application”. July 2027. Classes begin: the curriculum “begins in July”. Dugoni's pages print these dates without years. The AADSAS dates on its timeline match ADEA's calendar for the 2026–27 cycle, which closes AADSAS on February 5, 2027, so those years are ADEA's; the other years are ours, for the class that begins in July 2027 (the curriculum "begins in July"). Dugoni's FAQ calls the deadline "early February," and its requirements page says its fee portal "closes on the AADSAS application deadline at the beginning of February each year." Dugoni "may email periodic updates throughout the cycle (June-February)," but

it can't take calls or emails about your status: check AADSAS, where "Received/Under Review" means your application is complete. Get your final DAT scores in before November 1. Dugoni's FAQ says "Final DATs submitted to us before November 1 will be given priority for review," and both the FAQ and the requirements page give preference to scores provided "no later than November." Dugoni reviews only your most recent scores. If you plan to retake the DAT after applying, put the planned date on your application: "Your file will be placed on hold until we receive your new scores." If you then decide not to retake it, tell the admissions office so it can remove the hold. New grades go to AADSAS in its academic update periods, on the timeline above. Dugoni's FAQ also says "Application updates will not be accepted, unless requested by the Office of Admissions," and doesn't say how that rule relates to AADSAS's academic updates. You may send a

letter of intent to sf_admissions@pacific.edu, but Dugoni says it "cannot confirm receipt." If you are accepted, Dugoni asks for "a nonrefundable $1,000 enrollment fee" to hold your place, credited to your first quarter's tuition. Before you start, you must meet its health requirements, including full COVID-19 vaccination, and successfully complete a criminal background check, which Dugoni says "will not be a component of the application, interview, or selection process." ADEA's vendor runs it after a conditional offer, at an estimated cost of $40. Dugoni DDS Requirements and Class Profile Dugoni's DDS program page gives headline figures for DDS ’29, the class in its first year in 2026–27. Its admissions FAQ gives a second set for an "incoming class" it doesn't date: Figure. DDS ’29 (program page). An “incoming class” (undated FAQ). Class size. 143. “This year more than 2,700 individuals applied for 140 positions” (no year given). GPA.

3.75 average overall. 3.6 overall, 3.5 science. DAT Academic Average. 455. 460. Other DAT sections. Not given. Perceptual Ability 470; Total Science, Biology, General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry 460; Quantitative Reasoning and Reading Comprehension 450. Which figures, and which DAT scale?. Dugoni doesn't say which class its FAQ describes, so we give both sets as printed. Every DAT figure on both pages has three digits, so it is on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025; Dugoni gives no old-scale equivalents, and we don't convert any. It publishes no minimum GPA or DAT for DDS applicants and no acceptance rate, so we don't compute one. Its FAQ says applicants "should achieve a B or better in each course; no D, W, F or I grades," and "If your scores are significantly below our class averages, we recommend retaking the Dental Admission Test (DAT)." In state or out of state? None of the Dugoni DDS pages we read states a

preference for California residents, and its tuition page lists one DDS tuition rate: $135,700 for the 2026–27 academic year, the rate for students enrolled now. Its 2026–27 cost of attendance puts the first year's direct costs at $161,524, plus a $42,564 allowance for living expenses. Every applicant needs at least 90 semester or 135 quarter units from "an accredited U.S. or English-speaking Canadian institution." Coursework from any other college abroad needs a course-by-course evaluation by WES or ECE, sent to AADSAS by the deadline, unless it appears, with full credits and US grades, on the transcript of a US or English-speaking Canadian college, as study abroad. The same section notes that "financial aid is limited to United States citizens and permanent residents." Prerequisite coursework Course. Minimum (semesters or quarters). Biological sciences, with laboratory. 4 semesters or 6 quarters. Inorganic chemistry, with laboratory.

2 semesters or 3 quarters. Organic chemistry, with laboratory. 2 semesters or 3 quarters, or one semester each of organic chemistry and biochemistry (see below). Physics, with laboratory. 2 semesters or 3 quarters. English, speech or communication. 2 semesters or 3 quarters, including one course in composition or technical writing. Organic chemistry or biochemistry: "The Admissions Committee requires that applicants complete either two semesters of organic chemistry or one semester each of organic chemistry and biochemistry." (Dugoni's table attaches this note to biological sciences; its words are about organic chemistry.) Writing: "One course in composition or technical writing is required. Other courses should develop written or verbal communication skills." English as a Second Language coursework doesn't count. Highly recommended: anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry and histology or cell biology, which "Can be used to

count towards Biological Science prerequisite courses." Three years of college, a degree recommended: the "General minimum is three years of undergraduate coursework (90 semester or 135 quarter units)," and "Though we do not require a bachelor's degree to apply, it is highly recommended to have one to make an application more competitive." The FAQ adds that many successful applicants "completed three or more terms of full-time study at a college within the last three years" (four or more courses a term), and that "In each term, three of the four courses should be predental science courses approved for biology majors." Planned courses: "Applicants who are offered the opportunity to enroll must complete planned coursework at a specified performance level." Community college courses count "if they are transferable as equivalent to predental courses at a four-year college." The DAT: Dugoni reviews only your most recent scores, and it

accepts the Canadian DAT only from applicants at Canadian universities. How old your DAT may be is in the box below. Three letters, or a committee evaluation: "Two of the letters must be from science professors and one letter should be from someone of your choice (e.g., dentist, research, or work manager/supervisor)." Its how-to-apply page is narrower about the third: "from a health care professional or employer." A dentist you shadowed or an employer meets both. If your college has a pre-health advisory committee, Dugoni recommends a committee evaluation instead. Letters must be "physically signed by the writer," and AADSAS takes up to four. Shadowing: "40 hours minimum (minimum hours must be completed with a general dentist)." Dental assisting doesn't count toward it; AADSAS has a separate dental experience section for that. Research: "Research experience is not a requirement but is highly recommended." Courses that build a dentist's

skills: for patient relationships, the FAQ recommends "a course in journalism, public speaking, debate, interpersonal relationships, or drama"; for hand skills, "mechanical drafting/drawing, jewelry making, sculpting or ceramics"; and for running a practice, small-business accounting or marketing, consumer behavior or economics. Technical standards: students "must demonstrate ability to meet technical standards for advancement through and graduation from the DDS program," which include "steady hand control, and precise finger dexterity." The $75 fee: paid online with your AADSAS ID, "unrefundable," and required: "We cannot review any application submitted without payment of the $75 supplemental fee." How old can your DAT be? Dugoni's pages disagree. The requirements page, which names this cycle, says "For the 2026-2027 cycle, DATs taken before June of 2024 will not be accepted, and the exam will need to be retaken to be considered for

admission." The FAQ says "DATs must be taken within one year of when the admission cycle begins every June." Read strictly, for this cycle, which began in June 2026, that would mean a DAT taken in June 2025 or later (our reading; the FAQ names no date). If your DAT was taken before June 2025, confirm with sf_admissions@pacific.edu that Dugoni will accept it before you rely on it. Fee waivers: Dugoni's pages disagree. The FAQ says "We do not accept fee waivers for the supplemental fee." The requirements page says "Applicants approved for the ADEA AADSAS Fee Assistance Program also receive a waiver for the Dugoni School's supplemental application fee ($75)," and asks for proof of approval by email to sf_admissions@pacific.edu and mperez1@pacific.edu. Plan on paying the $75. If ADEA approved your fee assistance, send the proof to both addresses and get the waiver confirmed before the fee portal closes with AADSAS on February 5, 2027.

CASPer or Kira?. Dugoni's DDS admissions pages, its DDS FAQ and the DDS pages of Pacific's 2026–27 catalog don't mention CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira or any similar assessment. What they do ask for: the AADSAS application with transcripts, final DAT scores, three letters or a committee letter, the $75 fee and, if you are invited, the interview. To confirm a rule where Dugoni's pages disagree, email sf_admissions@pacific.edu or call 415.929.6491; once you have applied this cycle, the FAQ gives 415.780.2093. Dugoni offers prospective applicants virtual advising appointments by phone or Zoom. Why Dugoni: Three Years, Year Round, and Humanism Dugoni's About page names three things it is "highly regarded for": its "Humanistic model of education that respects the dignity of each individual and fosters limitless potential for growth," its "Accelerated year-round predoctoral program," and "Innovation in dental curriculum, including

comprehensive patient care and competency-based education." Dugoni doesn't publish its interview questions, but a Why Dugoni answer built on these, in your own words, says more than one built on the city. Three years, year round. The 36-month curriculum runs in 12 quarters, each with ten weeks of instruction, a week of examinations and a vacation of one to four weeks. Dugoni's history page records that in 1942 the school "converts to a four-quarter, year-round, three-year program with new classes entering in July instead of September," to supply dentists for World War II. Its tuition page notes that its students "pay tuition for three years." Patients from the second year. Preclinical instruction in operative and fixed dentistry is concentrated in the first four quarters, in a simulation laboratory, and "Clinical work with patients is initiated in the fifth quarter." Second-year students practice clinical dentistry about 15 hours a week

and third-year students about 33. Pacific's catalog says its Clinical Practice Strand "supports comprehensive patient care which is based on the concept of private dental practice," with students learning under a team of clinical faculty led by a Group Practice Leader; second-year students treat patients "in a discipline-based model," third-year students "in a generalist model." Third-year students also treat patients at extramural sites around the Bay Area and rotate through the Special Care Clinic, which serves patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and each student provides care in a hospital operating room. Humanism, in Dugoni's words. Students "are referred to as 'doctor' from day one, and faculty members are encouraged to act as mentors, not just instructors. In turn, students are expected to take responsibility for their instruction and practice the professionalism that will be required of them when caring for

patients." The Helix Curriculum. Dugoni describes "the innovative Pacific Dental Helix Curriculum, which places a strong focus on active learning and critical thinking by integrating multiple disciplinary areas using small-group, case-based learning." Every student also completes a Personalized Instructional Program, which lets students "customize learning" through a project in a field related to dentistry that the core curriculum doesn't offer. Head, heart, hands. Dugoni's admissions office says it aims to "Recruit and enroll students who reflect the vision and core values of the dental school, including our head, heart, hands philosophy," which Pacific's catalog defines as biomedical and clinical knowledge (head); "professionalism, ethical behavior, empathy, and communication skills (heart)"; and clinical skills (hands). Humanism at Dugoni is not softness. Dugoni defines it plainly: "Our view of humanism is based upon honest

communication of clear expectations along with positive support for diligent effort. Although kindness is valued, humanism is not interpreted to mean softness, weakness, or superficial niceness." Students "are expected to set very high standards, to work hard, and to take personal responsibility for their own learning process." Its examples of humanistic student–faculty interaction include constructive feedback, a good work ethic and high ethical standards, and exclude public criticism, authoritarian behavior and minimum effort. In a Why Dugoni answer, show both halves: care for patients and classmates, and ownership of your own learning. What Dugoni Looks For Dugoni's FAQ says what its Admissions Committee weighs when it chooses whom to interview: "each applicant's scholastic record, scores on the DAT, AADSAS essay, letters of evaluation, evidence of manual dexterity (including the perceptual ability portion of the DAT) and other

personal attributes and qualities as well as demonstration of his or her understanding about a career in the dental profession." With what it says the interview assesses and its technical standards, that makes the best checklist: Interest in dentistry, and an understanding of the career: the interview assesses your "interest in dentistry," and the committee looks for "understanding about a career in the dental profession." Draw on your 40 or more hours with a general dentist: say what you saw and what it showed you about the work. Future plans: also named among what the interview assesses. Be specific and honest about where you are headed, and how comprehensive patient care modeled on private practice prepares you for it. Maturity and personal qualities: the interview assesses "maturity and other personal qualities needed for successful work with patients," and Dugoni's technical standards say "Compassion, integrity, concern for others,

interpersonal skills, interests, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational processes." Have a story for each quality you claim. Manual dexterity: the committee weighs "evidence of manual dexterity (including the perceptual ability portion of the DAT)," and the technical standards ask for "steady hand control, and precise finger dexterity." Be ready to describe an activity that built your hand skills. Communication: students must be able to "communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, faculty, staff, and classmates" and to "communicate in lay language so that patients and their families can understand the patient's conditions." Stress and feedback: students must "be able to endure physically-taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress," to "adapt to changing environments," and to "accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior."

Have an example of each ready. Apprehensive patients: students must be able to "manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, congenial, personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them." Ethics: "A student must always act in the best interest of the patient and society even when there is a conflict with the student's personal self-interest," under codes that include the ADA's Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct. Integrity is one of Dugoni's six core values: "exemplifying the highest personal and professional ethical principles." The practice questions below are ours, built on these criteria. Dugoni does not publish its interview questions. A Pacific undergraduate? Pacific's Pre-Dental Advantage Program (3+3, with 2+3 and 4+3 options) has its own requirements, and its page says students who meet them, with every application material received by September 1, qualify for a

guaranteed interview. Dugoni doesn't explain how that pathway's "formal interview" relates to the one its DDS FAQ describes. Internationally trained dentist? Pacific's catalog describes a separate International Dental Studies program, "which grants a DDS degree after two years of training to individuals who have graduated from a foreign dental school"; see our Pacific Dugoni IDS guide . ); }; export default PacificDugoniDentalSchoolInterview; pacific-dugoni-dental-school-interview University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Dugoni Pacific Dugoni Dental School Interview (DDS): Format Questions & Prep 2026-27 Pacific Dugoni Dental Interview Guide 2026-27 Pacific Dugoni DDS guide from its own an in-person interview with one or more Admissions Committee members its 3-year DDS and the Feb 5 deadline. Pacific Dugoni dental interview University of the Pacific dental school interview Dugoni DDS interview Dugoni DDS

requirements Dugoni dental school interview questions Dugoni three-year DDS Dugoni humanistic model Dugoni dental admissions 2026-07-20 2026-10-08 Domestic Program In-person interview with one or more Admissions Committee members Dugoni invites applicants to the dental school in San Francisco for an in-person interview with one or more members of its Admissions Committee most often from September through March alongside an orientation seminar time with current students and a tour. Here is what Dugoni publishes what applicants report and how to prepare. Applicants are invited “to the dental school in San Francisco for an interview with one or more members of the Admissions Committee ” and also “participate in an orientation seminar meet informally with current dental students and tour the school”; the DDS itself takes 36 months year round. Degree 36 months year round starting in July; San Francisco Interview Setting In person in San

Francisco; invitees are told of any virtual days if offered Interview Format With one or more Admissions Committee members; length not published File Type Not published by Dugoni Interview Day Also an orientation seminar an informal meeting with current students and a tour Interviews Most from September through March; invitations by phone confirmed by email Deadline AADSAS closes February 5 2027; Dugoni recommends applying by November Supplemental Fee $75; no secondary application DAT Final scores in before November 1 get priority for review CASPer / Kira Not on Dugoni s DDS pages Class Size 143 (DDS ’29) GPA / DAT 3.75 overall GPA; DAT Academic Average 455 on the 200–600 scale (DDS ’29) Shadowing 40 hours minimum with a general dentist Decisions Every applicant notified by mail by May interview-format What Dugoni Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline Dugoni s Admissions Timeline 2

admissions-requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 why-dugoni Why Three Years and Humanism 2 what-dugoni-looks-for What Dugoni 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. Dugoni does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it looks for. Its FAQ says the interview assesses your “interest in dentistry future plans maturity and other personal qualities needed for successful work with patients ” and Dugoni doesn t say whether your interviewers will have read your application. Build a 90-second answer that stands on its who you are what led you to dentistry and where you are headed. Why dentistry? Your “interest in dentistry” is the first thing Dugoni s FAQ

lists among what the interview assesses and its Admissions Committee weighs your “understanding about a career in the dental profession.” Anchor your answer in something specific you saw while shadowing (Dugoni requires at least 40 hours with a general dentist) then say what it confirmed for you. Why Dugoni and why a three-year year-round program? Use what Dugoni says about 36 months in 12 quarters starting in July so students “are able to complete four academic years of instruction in three calendar years”; patients from the fifth quarter; the Helix Curriculum s “small-group case-based learning”; and a humanistic model that “stresses the dignity of each individual.” Show that you understand the pace and why it suits you and connect one feature to how you learn; the city alone is not a reason. Where do you see yourself in ten years? Dugoni s FAQ names “future plans” among what the interview assesses. Be specific and general practice or

further training the patients you hope to serve and how Dugoni s comprehensive patient care “based on the concept of private dental practice ” prepares you for it. Behavioral Tell me about a time you received critical feedback. What did you do with it? Dugoni s technical standards say a student “must be able to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior ” and it counts “Constructive feedback” among its examples of humanistic student–faculty interaction. Pick real feedback show what you changed and say what happened next. Describe a stretch of sustained pressure and how you handled it. Dugoni s DDS runs year round and its technical standards ask that students “be able to endure physically-taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress.” Choose a sustained period rather than one bad day and show how you planned kept your standards and looked after yourself; one of its competency statements is

“Demonstrate healthy coping and self-care strategies.” Tell me about a time you showed maturity in a difficult situation. Maturity is one of the qualities Dugoni s FAQ says the interview assesses. Describe a situation where you took responsibility kept your composure or put someone else s needs first and what you learned. Dugoni says humanism “places great responsibility on each member of the dental school community.” What have you done with your hands and what did it teach you? Dugoni s Admissions Committee weighs “evidence of manual dexterity (including the perceptual ability portion of the DAT) ” and its FAQ suggests “mechanical drafting/drawing jewelry making sculpting or ceramics” to build hand skills. Describe one activity what you made how you improved and how long you kept at it. Ethical / Scenario A patient is anxious and upset before treatment. How do you handle it? Dugoni s technical standards ask that students be able to

“manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful congenial personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them.” 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 can t afford the treatment you recommend. What do you do? Dugoni says it provides “approximately $500 000 of uncompensated dental care on an annual basis ” and its standards ask students to “act in the best interest of the patient and society even when there is a conflict with the student s personal self-interest.” Acknowledge the patient without judgment explain the options and their trade-offs 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 one of Dugoni s core values

(“exemplifying the highest personal and professional ethical principles”) and its technical standards ask students to “act with impeccable integrity in their interactions with students faculty staff and the public.” Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust you. A faculty member corrects you sharply in front of a patient. How do you respond? Dugoni lists “Public criticism” among what humanistic student–faculty interaction excludes and “Constructive feedback” among what it includes and its standards ask students to accept criticism and adjust. Show that you would stay calm and professional with the patient take the correction on board and raise any concern privately and respectfully afterward. Get your final DAT scores in before November 1 Dugoni s FAQ says “Final DATs submitted to us before November 1 will be given priority for review ” and both its

FAQ and its requirements page give preference to scores provided “no later than November.” If you are retaking the DAT put the planned date on your Dugoni holds your file until the new scores arrive and reviews only your most recent ones. Apply by November and pay the $75 fee right away Dugoni recommends that you apply “as early as June but no later than November ” even though AADSAS stays open until February 5 2027. Pay the $75 fee online with your AADSAS ID as soon as you “We cannot review any application submitted without payment of the $75 supplemental fee.” Answer the phone “Invitations for interview are extended by phone and confirmed by email ” and most interviews run from September through March. Keep your voicemail working and check your spam and junk folders as Dugoni s FAQ advises. Plan for more than the interview Interviews are in person at the dental school in San Francisco and invitees also take part in an orientation

seminar meet current students informally and tour the school. Dugoni doesn t say whether those parts are evaluated so treat every conversation as part of the visit and bring questions for the students you meet. Requirement Detail Degree awarded 36 months year round in 12 quarters beginning in July; San Francisco Application AADSAS only (no secondary application) plus a $75 supplemental fee paid online with your AADSAS ID; AADSAS closes February 5 2027; Dugoni recommends applying “no later than November” Interview Required for any seat; by invitation by phone and confirmed by email; in person in San Francisco with one or more Admissions Committee members; most from September through March Interview day Also an orientation seminar an informal meeting with current students and a tour Interview length file policy Not published Class size 143 (DDS ’29); Dugoni s undated FAQ says “more than 2 700 individuals applied for 140 positions” in an

unnamed year GPA DDS ’29 3.75 average overall (the undated 3.6 overall and 3.5 science for an “incoming class”) DAT DDS ’29 Academic Average 455 on the 200–600 scale (the undated Academic Average 460 Perceptual Ability 470) Acceptance rate Not published and we don t compute one Minimum GPA or DAT None published for DDS applicants; the FAQ says applicants “should achieve a B or better in each course” DAT Final scores before November 1 get priority for review; only the most recent scores count; the Canadian DAT only from Canadian universities; Dugoni s pages differ on how old a DAT may be Prerequisites Biological sciences 4 semesters inorganic chemistry 2 organic chemistry 2 (or one semester each of organic chemistry and biochemistry) and physics 2 all with labs; English speech or communication 2 including a composition or technical writing course College coursework At least three years (90 semester or 135 quarter units); a bachelor s

degree is highly recommended not required Letters Three (two from science professors one of your choice) or a committee evaluation; AADSAS takes up to four Shadowing 40 hours minimum with a general dentist; dental assisting doesn t count CASPer / Kira Not on Dugoni s DDS pages Residency None of the Dugoni DDS pages we read states a preference for California residents; one tuition rate Tuition 2026–27 $135 700 a year for current DDS students; first-year direct costs $161 524 plus a $42 564 living allowance Decisions Every applicant notified by mail by May; a nonrefundable $1 000 enrollment fee holds an accepted seat What Dugoni requires At least three years of college (90 semester or 135 quarter units) from an accredited US or English-speaking Canadian institution; a bachelor s degree is highly recommended not required The prerequisites with labs and one course in composition or technical writing; planned courses must be completed “at a

specified performance level” if you are offered a seat At least 40 hours of shadowing with a general dentist (dental assisting doesn t count) Three letters two of them from science professors or a committee evaluation A DAT Dugoni will accept (its pages differ on how old it may be); Dugoni sets no deadline to take it but final scores in before November 1 get priority Apply (AADSAS only plus the $75 fee) Submit AADSAS from June 2 2026 and no later than November as Dugoni recommends Pay the $75 fee online with your AADSAS ID (it is nonrefundable); if ADEA approved your fee assistance ask Dugoni to confirm a waiver Watch AADSAS for “Received/Under Review ” which means Dugoni has everything it needs Send new grades through AADSAS s academic update periods; Dugoni s FAQ also says “Application updates will not be accepted unless requested by the Office of Admissions” If you are invited (most interviews run September through March) Answer

Dugoni s call and watch for the email that confirms it Plan your trip to the dental school in San Francisco for the interview the orientation seminar the student meeting and the tour Prepare answers on your interest in dentistry your future plans and your maturity and a Why Dugoni built on its three-year program and humanism Read your invitation for anything else such as a virtual day or a writing sample and ask sf_admissions@pacific.edu if it is unclear Hard dates Before November 1 final DAT scores in for priority review February 5 AADSAS closes and Dugoni s fee portal with it By May (2027 by our arithmetic; Dugoni prints no year): every applicant notified of a final decision by mail July 2027 (our arithmetic): classes begin; Dugoni s curriculum “begins in July” What is the Pacific Dugoni dental school interview format? Dugoni s FAQ says applicants who appear to meet its requirements “will be invited to the dental school in San

Francisco for an interview with one or more members of the Admissions Committee.” The interview assesses “interest in dentistry future plans maturity and other personal qualities needed for successful work with patients ” and invitees also “participate in an orientation seminar meet informally with current dental students and tour the school.” Dugoni doesn t publish the interview s length how many interviewers you will meet or whether they will have read your file. Most interviews run from September through March. Is the Dugoni interview virtual or in person? In person. Dugoni s FAQ says “Interviews by invitation are in person. Candidates invited for an interview will be informed of any virtual interview days if offered.” A public forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists Dugoni s interviews as in person in 2025–26 and 2026–27 with first interview dates of 18 September 2025 and 17 September 2026. Is

the Dugoni interview one-on-one or open file and how long is it? Dugoni doesn t say. Its own words are “an interview with one or more members of the Admissions Committee ” and none of its DDS pages gives a length or a file policy. An earlier version of this guide gave this interview a format a length and a file policy taken from a forum survey of applicants not from Dugoni s pages. Prepare to tell your story clearly whether or not your interviewers have read your application and read your invitation for details. Does Dugoni require CASPer Kira or a secondary application? No secondary Dugoni s FAQ says “You need only to file an Associated American Dental School Application Service (AADSAS) application ” though there is a $75 supplemental fee without which Dugoni says it “cannot review” your application. Dugoni s DDS admissions pages and the DDS pages of Pacific s 2026–27 catalog don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights or Kira. Dugoni s

International Dental Studies program for dentists trained abroad is a separate track with its own requirements. What GPA and DAT do I need for Dugoni? Dugoni publishes no minimum for DDS applicants. Its DDS program page gives the DDS ’29 class now in its first year an average overall GPA of 3.75 and a DAT Academic Average of 455; its undated FAQ gives an incoming class s averages as a 3.6 overall and 3.5 science GPA a DAT Academic Average of 460 and Perceptual Ability of 470. All of these DAT figures are on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since March 2025 and Dugoni gives no old-scale equivalents. Its FAQ says applicants “should achieve a B or better in each course; no D W F or I grades ” and recommends retaking the DAT if your scores are “significantly below our class averages.” When is the Dugoni DDS application deadline? AADSAS closes on February 5 Dugoni s timeline gives February 5 without a year and ADEA s 2026–27 calendar gives

February 5 2027. Dugoni calls it “early February ” and its $75 fee portal closes the same day. But it recommends that you “apply as early as June but no later than November ” and it gives final DAT scores submitted before November 1 priority for review. Every applicant is notified of a final decision by mail by May. Does Dugoni award a DDS and how long is the program? Yes the DDS. Pacific s 2026–27 catalog says the Dugoni School “offers the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree” in a “36-month program.” The curriculum “begins in July and is divided into 12 quarters ” each with ten weeks of instruction a week of examinations and a vacation of one to four weeks so students “are able to complete four academic years of instruction in three calendar years.” Clinical work with patients starts in the fifth quarter. How many shadowing hours does Dugoni require? “40 hours minimum (minimum hours must be completed with a general dentist) ” says Dugoni s

requirements page and “Dental assisting experience cannot be counted towards shadowing”; list dental assisting in AADSAS s dental experience section instead. A bachelor s degree isn t required to apply but Dugoni says one is “highly recommended ” and research experience “is not a requirement but is highly recommended.” California Northstate Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In CNU s catalog describes an interview with an interview team of at least one Admissions Committee member typically from August or September to March or April. CASPer is required. Domestic Program /schools/california-northstate-dental-school-interview OHSU Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Portland OHSU invites selected applicants to interview by teleconference with members of its admissions committee with invitations from September to March (dates “may vary”). Deadline January 1. Domestic Program /schools/ohsu-dental-school-interview UCSF Dental School

Interview Guide Also in San UCSF s DDS requirements from its own pages the Class of 2029 s DAT and GPA about 200 applicants interviewed a year and no preference for California residents. Domestic Program /schools/ucsf-dental-school-interview UCLA Dental School Interview Guide UCLA interviews four-year DDS applicants by invitation between July and January and publishes no format. Domestic Program /schools/ucla-dental-school-interview NYU Dental School Interview Guide NYU s two-stage DDS required Kira Talent video interview and in-person Candidate Day. Domestic Program /schools/nyu-dental-school-interview