Temple Kornberg Dental Advanced Standing Interview
Prepare for Temple Kornberg's advanced standing interview. Four-component evaluation: faculty interview, bench test, OSCE, and CASPer. Full prep guide 2026.
Complete prep guide for Temple Kornberg's four-component evaluation: faculty interview, bench test, OSCE, and CASPer. return ( <> The Temple Kornberg Evaluation Format in Detail Temple Kornberg's evaluation is the most structurally complex in the Tier 2 CAAPID programs — four distinct components across a single interview visit. Understanding the sequence, what each component evaluates, and how they fit together is the foundation of effective preparation. The Two-Program Structure Temple offers two routes for internationally trained dentists: 24-month Advanced Standing Program: The primary track. Applicants enter the equivalent of the third year of the predoctoral program. The full four-component evaluation (interview, bench test, OSCE, CASPer) is required for eligibility. Preference is given to applicants with advanced clinical experience and who meet the competency standards expected of a student entering the junior year — meaning
strong clinical depth, not just board exam passage. 36-month Program: Serves two populations — applicants who apply for the 24-month program and are waitlisted, and applicants who enter through vacated seats in the second year of the predoctoral program. The evaluation requirements apply to the 24-month program specifically. If you are interested in the 36-month pathway, confirm current requirements directly with admissions. Applicants should have completed at minimum two years of clinical experience following their dental degree, or graduated from a CODA-accredited residency or postgraduate program. This is a meaningful threshold — Temple is not designed for recent dental school graduates with limited post-graduation practice experience. Critical Program Distinction. The 24-month program requires the full four-component evaluation (interview + bench test + OSCE + CASPer) and gives preference to applicants with advanced clinical
experience meeting junior-year competency standards. The 36-month program serves applicants who are waitlisted for the 24-month track or who enter through vacated second-year seats. Understand which program you are targeting before your interview day. Stage 1: Faculty Interview The evaluation sequence begins with a formal faculty interview conducted by a member of the Kornberg search committee. This is an oral examination assessing communication skills, professional conduct, motivation, and fit with Kornberg's values. Temple's program description explicitly states the school "places high weight on ethical and professional conduct and evidence for desire to learn and innovate." The faculty interview is open file — the faculty member has reviewed your application before the session. Based on applicant feedback, the interview is described as relatively conversational, with questions drawn from the standard dental school interview canon
(why dentistry, why Temple, professional challenges, ethical scenarios) rather than highly technical clinical questions. Stage 2: Bench Test Following the faculty interview, applicants eligible for the 24-month program complete a bench test — a practical clinical skills assessment conducted by faculty evaluating pre-clinical and clinical technique. The bench test focuses on the procedural competencies expected of a student entering the junior (third) year of dental school — primarily restorative and prosthodontic skills. Temple's program page specifies the bench test assesses your "methods, skills, and artistic ability" as well as your "interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and English-language communication ability" during the exercise. Faculty evaluators are not only watching what your hands produce — they are observing how you approach the task, how you reason through clinical decisions, and how you communicate under evaluation
conditions. Insider Tip. Temple's preference for applicants who "match the standards for competency expected from students moving into the junior year" sets a specific technical bar. The bench test is not a general clinical skills check — it is calibrated to third-year predoctoral standards. If your clinical practice has emphasized restorative and prosthodontic work, your bench test preparation has a natural advantage. Stage 3: OSCE Exam After the bench test, applicants complete an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) — a structured clinical assessment using standardized scenarios and stations. OSCEs are used in medical and dental education to evaluate clinical competency in a controlled, reproducible format. The OSCE at Temple likely assesses clinical reasoning, patient communication, diagnosis and treatment planning, and potentially ethical decision-making in clinical scenarios. Unlike the bench test (which evaluates
hands-on technical skill), the OSCE evaluates your ability to think and communicate through clinical situations rather than physically perform them. This is an evaluation component that distinguishes Temple from every other CAAPID program. Stage 4: CASPer Exam Temple also requires applicants to complete a CASPer assessment (through Acuity Insights at takecasper.com) as part of eligibility for the two-year program. CASPer is an online situational judgment test that evaluates non-cognitive attributes: empathy, professionalism, communication, ethics, collaboration, and resilience through video-based and text-based scenarios. CASPer cannot be studied for in the traditional sense, but the format can absolutely be practiced. Applicants who have never encountered it before their Temple evaluation are at a disadvantage compared to those who have completed practice sessions through Acuity Insights' free official materials. Managing Your
Evaluation Day. Temple's interview questions are described by applicants as straightforward — "why dentistry," "why Temple," ethical scenarios. The challenge is not the questions themselves but staying sharp across four components in one day. Managing your energy and mental focus across a faculty interview, bench test, OSCE, and CASPer sequentially is itself a preparation task. Plan your day with that in mind. Practice Temple Kornberg Interview Questions with AI. Simulate faculty interview questions with instant feedback on ethical reasoning, clinical judgment, and answer structure.. Start Practicing Free →. What Temple Kornberg Looks For Advanced clinical competency. Temple's preference language is explicit: applicants who match the standards for competency expected of students entering the junior year. Two years of post-graduation clinical experience is the stated minimum preference. Applicants who have practiced extensively —
particularly in restorative and prosthodontic procedures — are positioned most competitively for the 24-month program. Ethical and professional conduct. Temple states this explicitly as a high-weight evaluative criterion. The faculty interview, CASPer, and OSCE all probe this dimension from different angles. Applicants who demonstrate principled, patient-centered professional judgment across all four evaluation components will consistently outperform those who only demonstrate technical clinical skill. Desire to learn and innovate. Temple frames this as a core admission criterion alongside ethics. The curriculum specifically prepares students to study US practice models, laws, codes of ethics, and practice management — an unusual emphasis among CAAPID programs. Applicants who show intellectual curiosity about the US dental system, not just a desire to receive a credential, align with what Temple is building. US private practice
readiness. Temple's clinical environment simulates real-life private practice following ADA guidelines. The program emphasizes practice management alongside clinical training. Applicants who can articulate why this model appeals to them — and who have thought about what practicing in a US private practice context means — will communicate program fit more clearly than those focused only on clinical training. Humanistic patient-centered care. Kornberg's founding principle, maintained since 1863, is educating dentists equipped to provide excellent oral healthcare to all — including disadvantaged community members and special-needs patients. The curriculum takes a humanistic approach that integrates oral health into primary healthcare. Applicants who can connect their background to patient-centered, equity-oriented care are speaking directly to the school's values. Practice Temple Mission-Fit Questions. Get instant AI feedback on ethical
conduct, clinical reasoning, and humanistic care questions tailored to Kornberg's values.. Start Practicing Free →. Expert Preparation Tips 1. Understand the two-program structure before your application The 24-month and 36-month programs have different eligibility requirements and different evaluation pathways. If you are applying specifically for the 24-month program — which requires the full four-component evaluation — confirm that you meet the clinical experience threshold (2+ years post-graduation or CODA-accredited residency) and that your ECE evaluation shows a minimum GPA of 3.0 with at least 120 credits. Applicants who arrive at the evaluation without meeting the 24-month program's clinical experience preference risk being directed toward the 36-month track. 2. Prepare your bench test hands specifically for junior-year competency standards Temple's bench test is calibrated to the competency level expected of a third-year dental
student entering the predoctoral program. This is a specific bar — not a general clinical assessment. Review US preclinical standards for crown preparation (taper, reduction depth, margin placement, finish line quality) and operative cavity preparation. If you have access to a simulation lab or typodont setup, practice these procedures under timed conditions before your Temple visit. 3. Treat CASPer as a distinct preparation task Most applicants — particularly those who have never encountered CASPer in an application context — underestimate how cognitively demanding it is to produce organized, empathetic, professional responses to ethical scenarios under a strict time limit. Complete all free official practice questions through Acuity Insights before your Temple evaluation. Practice writing clear responses in under five minutes. The format rewards structured thinking, not length or verbal sophistication. 4. Confirm OSCE format details
directly with Temple admissions The OSCE is the least well-documented component of Temple's evaluation from publicly available information. Contact the admissions office when you receive your invitation to understand: how many stations, what clinical domains are covered, what format the stations take (standardized patient, written scenario, clinical model), and how much time is allocated per station. Arriving without this information puts you at an avoidable disadvantage. 5. Research Temple's founding mission and articulate why it resonates Kornberg was established in 1863 with an explicit commitment to providing excellent oral healthcare to all — including disadvantaged community members and special-needs patients. This is not decorative history — it is the values foundation the admissions committee uses to evaluate applicants. Before your interview, think through how your clinical background connects to humanistic, equity-oriented
dental care. A specific patient experience where your approach embodied these values will land far better than a generic statement about caring for all patients. 6. Plan Philadelphia travel and arrive with buffer time The Temple Health Sciences Campus is at 3223 North Broad Street, Philadelphia. Philadelphia traffic, particularly along Broad Street and near the medical campus, can be variable. Arriving unhurried for a four-component evaluation day is not optional — rushing to an evaluation that includes both a bench test and an OSCE creates unnecessary cognitive load. Book accommodation near the campus the night before. Ready to Practice?. Our AI interview coach lets you practice Temple Kornberg's faculty interview questions — ethical scenarios, clinical judgment, and motivational answers — with instant feedback on structure and delivery.. Try a Free Mock Interview →. ); }; export default TempleKornbergDentalAdvancedStanding;
temple-kornberg-dental-advanced-standing-interview Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry Temple Kornberg Dental Advanced Standing Prep Guide 2026 Temple Kornberg Dental Advanced Standing Interview Prepare for Temple Kornberg s advanced standing interview. Four-component faculty interview bench test OSCE and CASPer. Full prep guide 2026. Temple Kornberg dental advanced standing interview Temple dental CAAPID Temple Kornberg international dentist Temple dental interview Kornberg advanced standing OSCE Temple CASPer dental 2026-03-28 2026-03-28 International Program Interview → Bench Test → OSCE → CASPer Complete prep guide for Temple Kornberg s four-component faculty interview bench test OSCE and CASPer. Interview Format Four- Faculty Interview → Bench Test → OSCE → CASPer Interview Setting In-person at Kornberg Philadelphia Program Options 24-month (2-year) or 36-month (3-year) Degree Awarded Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.)
School Founded 1863 — second-oldest dental school in the US TOEFL Minimum 100 iBT / 5.5 new scale — hard minimum TOEFL Validity No more than 2 years old INBDE/NBDE Required — official or notarized copy at interview ECE Evaluation ECE only (WES not accepted) — min 3.0 GPA 120 credits Letters of Evaluation dean of dental college + science professor or dental professional (within 1 year) Clinical Experience 2+ years post-graduation preferred Supplemental Application Emailed by school — fee submitted when requested Curriculum Emphasis US private practice simulation practice management US laws and codes of ethics Contact David Dams Director of Admissions · david.dams@temple.edu · 215-707-3304 interview-format Evaluation Format in Detail 2 two-program-structure The Two-Program Structure 3 faculty-interview Stage Faculty Interview 3 bench-test Stage Bench Test 3 osce Stage OSCE Exam 3 casper Stage CASPer Exam 3 what-temple-looks-for What
Temple Kornberg Looks For 2 sample-questions Sample Interview Questions 2 preparation-tips Expert Preparation Tips 2 admissions-stats Admissions Statistics 2 prep-checklist Prep Checklist 2 faq FAQ 2 applicant-reviews Applicant Reviews 2 Faculty Interview — Motivational / Background Tell me about yourself and your dental career. 90-second arc — your international training your post-graduation clinical experience (be specific about volume procedures and setting) your decision to pursue US licensure and why Temple Kornberg is the right vehicle. Temple s preference for clinically experienced applicants means your clinical depth belongs early and prominently in this narrative. Why Temple Kornberg specifically? Reference concrete program features — not generic prestige. Temple-specific the second-oldest dental school in the US and its founding commitment to care for underserved communities the private practice simulation curriculum model the
practice management and US laws/ethics focus the Health Sciences Campus in Philadelphia and the two-program structure that recognizes different levels of clinical readiness. Why do you want to practice dentistry in the United States? Ground it in a specific clinical goal or a real experience. For Temple s curriculum emphasis on private practice management and US practice models an answer that addresses what you want to learn about running a US dental practice — not just treating patients — resonates more specifically than generic aspiration. What does it mean to you to practice patient-centered humanistic dentistry? This question maps directly to Kornberg s foundational philosophy. Don t define it abstractly — ground it in a specific patient encounter where your approach to care went beyond the clinical procedure. A patient with financial barriers dental anxiety special needs or a community health context are all relevant territory for
Temple s values. Faculty Interview — Behavioral Describe a complex clinical case you managed and the decision-making process involved. Temple s bench test and OSCE evaluate clinical competency directly — the faculty interview s clinical questions are about reasoning not hands. Walk through a real the presenting condition your differential what made it complex the treatment decisions you made and why. Faculty Interview — Ethical / Situational Tell me about a time you had to adapt your approach for a patient who was particularly challenging to treat. Choose a specific patient — complex behavior significant dental anxiety communication barriers or a clinical situation requiring modified technique. Walk through what you observed how you adapted and what the outcome was. Temple s humanistic philosophy makes this a direct values-alignment question. What would you do if a patient refused a treatment you believed was clinically necessary?
Patient autonomy is the ADA ethical foundation. Ensure genuinely informed refusal — the patient understands consequences and alternatives. Document clearly. Maintain the relationship. At Temple where care for disadvantaged and special-needs patients is an institutional value frame your answer around ensuring that financial or other barriers are also addressed. Describe a professional experience where you showed evidence of wanting to learn and innovate. Temple specifically lists desire to learn and innovate as a high-weight criterion. Choose a real experience where you sought out new knowledge adopted a new technique attended a CE course that changed your practice or approached a clinical challenge creatively. Connect it to why you re drawn to learning within the US dental system. You observe a senior colleague performing a procedure that doesn t follow standard infection control protocols. What do you do? Patient safety is
non-negotiable. Address the colleague directly and privately after the session — respectfully but clearly. If the situation poses immediate patient risk intervene during the procedure. If it continues escalate to a supervisor. Document your actions. A patient reveals they cannot afford the follow-up care you ve prescribed. How do you respond? Temple s founding commitment to care for disadvantaged community members makes this particularly relevant. Walk acknowledge the situation with empathy explore options (payment plans community resources phased treatment referral to subsidized care) provide clear documentation and maintain the therapeutic relationship. What would you do if you realized mid-procedure that completing the treatment is beyond your current competency level? Patient safety first — stop stabilize be transparent with the patient and refer appropriately. This is not a failure — it is professionalism. At Temple where faculty
are closely involved in clinical supervision frame your answer around using the supervisory structure available to you. CASPer & OSCE Preparation How should I prepare for the CASPer and OSCE components? For practice with Acuity Insights free official sample questions. Each scenario has an ethical or interpersonal tension — identify the core tension consider all stakeholders respond with empathy and professional integrity. For the review clinical scenarios across common dental domains — diagnosis treatment planning patient communication and ethical decision-making. Confirm OSCE format details with Temple admissions before your visit. Understand the two-program structure before your application The 24-month and 36-month programs have different eligibility requirements and evaluation pathways. Confirm you meet the 24-month program s clinical experience threshold (2+ years post-graduation or CODA-accredited residency) and that your ECE
shows minimum 3.0 GPA with 120 credits. Prepare your bench test for junior-year competency standards Temple s bench test is calibrated to the competency level expected of a third-year dental student. Review US preclinical standards for crown preparation and operative cavity preparation. Practice with a typodont under timed conditions. Treat CASPer as a distinct preparation task Complete all free official practice questions through Acuity Insights before your evaluation. Practice writing clear responses in under five minutes. The format rewards structured thinking not length or verbal sophistication. Confirm OSCE format details directly with admissions Contact the admissions office when you receive your invitation to how many stations what clinical domains are covered what format the stations take and how much time is allocated per station. Research Temple s founding mission Kornberg was established in 1863 with an explicit commitment to
providing excellent oral healthcare to all — including disadvantaged community members and special-needs patients. Connect your clinical background to humanistic equity-oriented dental care. Plan Philadelphia travel and arrive with buffer time The Temple Health Sciences Campus is at 3223 North Broad Street Philadelphia. Book accommodation near the campus the night before and arrive unhurried for your four-component evaluation day. Metric Detail School founded 1863 — second-oldest dental school in the US Program options 24-month (2-year) and 36-month (3-year) Evaluation components (2-year) Faculty interview → Bench test + OSCE + CASPer TOEFL minimum 100 iBT (old scale) / 5.5 (new scale) — hard minimum TOEFL validity No more than 2 years old INBDE/NBDE Required — official or notarized copy requested at interview ECE evaluation ECE only — WES not accepted. Min 3.0 GPA min 120 credits Letters of evaluation dean of dental college + science
professor or dental professional (within 1 year) Supplemental application Emailed by school — fee submitted when requested Clinical experience preference 2+ years post-graduation OR CODA-accredited residency/postgraduate program Curriculum emphasis US private practice simulation practice management US laws codes of ethics Mission focus Humanistic patient-centered care including disadvantaged and special-needs patients Campus location Philadelphia Health Sciences Campus North Broad Street Admissions contact David Dams · david.dams@temple.edu · 215-707-3304 Admissions coordinator kornbergadmissions@temple.edu · 800-441-4363 Degree awarded Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) Before applying Confirm you meet the 24-month program s clinical experience preference (2+ years post-graduation or CODA residency) Verify ECE evaluation shows minimum 3.0 GPA and minimum 120 credits Confirm TOEFL score is at or above 100 iBT / 5.5 new scale and no more
than 2 years old Confirm INBDE or NBDE Parts I & II passed After application submission Wait for supplemental application and fee request email from Temple — do not submit fee to CAAPID Confirm two letters submitted through CAAPID (dean of dental college + professor/dental professional within 1 year) Once interview invitation received Contact admissions to confirm OSCE format bench test materials and day-of logistics Begin bench test typodont practice — calibrate to US junior-year competency standards Complete all free official CASPer practice scenarios through Acuity Insights Practice structured OSCE-style responses to clinical scenarios across dental domains Prepare faculty interview answers for all question categories in this guide Complete 3–5 full mock faculty interview sessions with feedback on content and delivery Timed bench test practice session — simulate evaluation conditions Timed CASPer scenario practice — written responses
in under 5 minutes each Book Philadelphia accommodation near Temple Health Sciences Campus Confirm day-of schedule with admissions — know the order and timing of each component Day of evaluation Arrive early — build generous travel buffer for North Philadelphia traffic Professional attire throughout — including during bench test and OSCE Manage energy across four each is evaluated independently Know your application well — faculty interview is open file Bring any requested documentation (TOEFL copy NBDE/INBDE notarized copy) What is the Temple Kornberg advanced standing interview format? Temple Kornberg s evaluation for the 24-month Advanced Standing Program consists of four a faculty interview conducted by the search committee followed by a bench test (clinical skills assessment) an OSCE exam and a CASPer situational judgment assessment. All four components are completed as part of the interview visit to the Philadelphia campus. Does
Temple Kornberg offer two different program tracks for international dentists? Yes. Temple offers a 24-month program (entering at the junior/third-year level) and a 36-month program (entering at an earlier level). The full four-component evaluation is required for the 24-month program. Applicants waitlisted for the 24-month program are eligible for the 36-month program if seats are available. What is Temple s TOEFL minimum for the advanced standing program? A score of 100 on the iBT (old scale) or 5.5 on the new scale is required. The TOEFL must be no more than two years old. A copy of your TOEFL scores will be requested by Kornberg if you are invited to interview. Does Temple Kornberg accept WES credential evaluations? No. Kornberg only accepts ECE course-by-course evaluations submitted to ADEA CAAPID. WES evaluations are not accepted. Your ECE evaluation must show completion of a minimum of 120 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.0. What
is the CASPer exam at Temple Kornberg? CASPer is an online situational judgment assessment through Acuity Insights (takecasper.com) that evaluates non-cognitive attributes including empathy professionalism ethics and communication. Temple requires CASPer as part of eligibility for the two-year program. Practice with Acuity Insights free official sample questions before your evaluation. What does the OSCE involve at Temple Kornberg? The OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is a structured clinical assessment that evaluates clinical reasoning patient communication and situational judgment through standardized scenarios. Confirm current OSCE format details directly with Temple admissions when you receive your interview invitation. What clinical experience does Temple prefer for the 24-month program? Temple gives preference to applicants with advanced clinical experience who match the competency standards expected of students
entering the junior year of dental school. A minimum of two years of clinical experience post-graduation is preferred or graduation from a CODA-accredited residency or postgraduate program. How old is the Kornberg School of Dentistry? Temple Kornberg was established in 1863 making it the second-oldest dental school in the United States. Its founding commitment to providing excellent oral healthcare to all — including disadvantaged community members and special-needs patients — remains central to its admissions values and curriculum philosophy. Advanced standing applicant Temple Kornberg 2024 The four-component structure caught me off guard when I first saw it. But on the day itself each component felt distinct — the faculty interview was a real conversation the bench test was about my hands the OSCE was about my thinking. Preparing them as separate things was the right approach. Advanced standing student Temple Kornberg 2025 cohort
Temple s interview questions were exactly what I expected from SDN — why dentistry why Temple ethical scenarios. The challenge was not the questions themselves but staying sharp across four components in one day. I wish I had eaten a better breakfast. UCSF Dental Advanced Standing Interview Prep The most selective CAAPID program at 2.3% acceptance — supplemental questions bench test and equity mission prep guide. International Program /schools/ucsf-dental-advanced-standing-interview Harvard Dental School Interview Prep Two-round PBL-focused interview supplemental questionnaire and open-file conversational format prep guide for HSDM. Domestic Program /schools/harvard-dental-school-interview