UTHSC Dental School Interview (Tennessee): DDS 2026-27

Q: What is the UTHSC dental school interview format?

UTHSC's FAQ says “Applicants are only interviewed once,” and answers “Who will interview me?” with “Usually three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee.” Its admissions page describes “A personal interview at the College of Dentistry, by invitation of the Admissions Committee,” which “will include a tour of the school, the receipt of information about financial aid, and the opportunity to talk with faculty and students.” UTHSC wants “a two-way conversation” and says “It is not intended to be a stressful situation.” Its pages don't say whether the interviewers meet you together or one at a time, how long the interview lasts, whether they will have read your application, or what is asked.

Q: Is the UTHSC dental interview virtual or in person?

UTHSC's admissions page and its 2026–2027 bulletin describe an interview “at the College of Dentistry,” with a tour of the school, and none of the UTHSC pages we read mentions a virtual interview. The forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports, lists UTHSC's 2026–27 interviews as both in person and virtual and its 2025–26 interviews as in person; one 2025–26 applicant reported an in-person interview on 20 October 2025. Go by your invitation, and ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu if it's unclear.

Q: Does UTHSC use the MMI?

None of UTHSC's DDS pages or the DDS page of its 2026–2027 bulletin mentions an MMI or stations. UTHSC says “Applicants are only interviewed once,” usually by “three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee,” and says it wants “a two-way conversation.” No post in a public applicant forum's 2025–26 or 2026–27 UTHSC threads described an MMI; one 2025–26 applicant reported “lots of team-oriented/ leadership questions” in theirs. Prepare for one interview, usually with three faculty members and the committee chair.

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

Yes, but “Residents of Tennessee are given preference for admission. Residents of Arkansas will be considered based on the Arkansas Health Education Grant guidelines.” UTHSC says “Approximately 7 percent of our class is made up of applicants from all other states,” and that state of residency is generally determined by your permanent address on the day you submitted AADSAS. Admission is restricted to US citizens and permanent residents at the time of application. UTHSC's estimated 2026–2027 cost of attendance for a first-year DDS student is $143,418 out of state, against $100,886 in state.

Q: When is the UTHSC DDS application deadline?

September 30, and for 2026–27 it has passed: “All application materials must be submitted, and all DAT tests taken by this date.” Pre-professional evaluations can follow through AADSAS but must arrive by November 30. The application period is June 1 through September 30, and UTHSC says interviews begin “usually in early July” and that slots “are often taken by early September,” so for a future cycle apply as early in June as you can. Acceptances begin December 15, 2026, ADEA's notification date for this cycle and the date in UTHSC's 2026–2027 bulletin (its FAQ's older line says not before December 1).

Q: How many shadowing hours does UTHSC require?

UTHSC's admissions page says “Shadowing a dentist in a general dental office is requested of applicants. No less than fifty hours of shadowing in a general dental practice is acceptable.” Its committee also “expects applicants to have been exposed to the delivery of dental care as properly licensed participants (dental assistant or dental hygienist, for example) or as observers.” Plan on at least 50 hours in a general dental practice, and be ready to talk about what you saw.

UTHSC (Tennessee) DDS guide from its own pages: one interview, usually with three faculty and the committee chair, at the college; Sept 30 deadline (passed).

UTHSC interviews DDS applicants by invitation, only once each, at the College of Dentistry, usually with three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee, alongside a tour and financial aid information. Here is what UTHSC publishes, where its pages disagree, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> UTHSC DDS Requirements and Class Size The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Dentistry was founded in Nashville in 1878 and moved to Memphis in 1911, and it calls itself "Tennessee’s only public dental school and one of the oldest in the nation." Its DDS runs four years. The first two are mainly the biomedical sciences, students are introduced to their clinical groups in the spring semester of the second year, and the last two years are mostly clinical, in the college's clinic on campus and at off-site clinical sites across Tennessee. UTHSC admits one DDS class a year, beginning in

July, with enrollment "presently limited to a maximum of 130 students" according to its 2026–2027 bulletin. You apply through AADSAS only, and this cycle's deadline, September 30, 2026, has passed. The UTHSC pages we read publish no class profile: no average GPA or DAT for an entering class, and no count of applicants, interviews or offers. This is what they do publish: Measure. What UTHSC says. Class size. Enrollment limited to “a maximum of 130 students” (its 2026–2027 bulletin). From other states. “Approximately 7 percent of our class is made up of applicants from all other states”. Minimum GPA. 2.75, “expected in all required subjects attempted and in cumulative course work”. Competitive GPA. GPAs are “generally competitive at 3.5 or higher”; aim for “well above a 3.00”. DAT. On its admissions page, an Academic Average of 400 or better (200–600 scale) “will be considered competitive”; its bulletin and FAQ give old-scale figures

(below). Coursework. 97 semester hours, including the required courses below. Acceptance rate. Not published, and the pages we read give no counts to compute one. The DAT benchmarks are where UTHSC's own sources differ most. Its admissions page uses the 200–600 scale the DAT moved to on 1 March 2025; its 2026–2027 bulletin and its FAQ still use the old 1–30 scale: Where. What it says. Scale. Admissions page. “An applicant with a DAT Academic Average score of 400 points or better will be considered competitive and may be asked for an interview”. 200–600. 2026–2027 bulletin. “An applicant with a DAT score of 140 points or better will be considered for an interview” (a total of eight scores, out of “a maximum of 240 possible points”), and “Scores that are generally competitive are an Academic Average of 19 (or better) and no scores of 17 or below”. Old 1–30. FAQ. “While there is no minimum score, competitive applicants have a total score

in the 150+ range with no scores lower than 17 in any section”. Old 1–30. Converting UTHSC's old-scale targets, and which to aim for. Since 1 March 2025 the ADA reports every DAT score to AADSAS on the 200–600 scale, older attempts converted, and UTHSC says a 2-digit score "will still be accepted and converted to the new scoring model in the AADSAS application." The ADA's concordance table converts an old Academic Average of 19 to about 410 on the new scale. It converts an old 18, the lowest score that isn't "17 or below," to about 390 in Biology and Perceptual Ability, 400 in the Survey of Natural Sciences, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Quantitative Reasoning, and 360 in Reading Comprehension. Those are the ADA's conversions, not targets UTHSC publishes, and a total score, like the bulletin's 140 or the FAQ's "150+," can't be converted: the ADA's table converts each score separately and gives none for a total. The admissions

page's 400 and the bulletin's 19 (410, by the ADA's table) differ, so plan on the stricter reading: an Academic Average of 410 or better, with every section at or above the ADA's conversion of an old 18. Ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu how UTHSC applies its bulletin's figures this cycle. In state or out of state? UTHSC's admissions page says "Residents of Tennessee are given preference for admission. Residents of Arkansas will be considered based on the Arkansas Health Education Grant guidelines." It adds that "State of residency is generally determined by the applicant’s permanent address on the day your AADSAS application was submitted," and that "Approximately 7 percent of our class is made up of applicants from all other states." UTHSC's pages don't explain the Arkansas grant guidelines; if you live in Arkansas, ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu how they apply to you. Among its awards to current students, UTHSC's bulletin lists a Delta

Dental of Arkansas Scholarship for three Arkansas students. US citizens and permanent residents only. "Admission is restricted to citizens or permanent residents of the United States at the time of application," and UTHSC doesn't accept Canadian DAT scores. Out-of-state students pay more: UTHSC's estimated 2026–2027 cost of attendance for a first-year DDS student is $100,886 in state and $143,418 out of state, which includes an out-of-state tuition surcharge of $42,532. Both totals include tuition and fees (with $4,615 in health insurance), dental kits and living costs, and UTHSC's cost sheet says "Tuition and fees listed below are ESTIMATES only." The pages we read give no costs yet for the class that starts in 2027. Prerequisite coursework Course. Semester hours. English composition. 6. General biology, lecture and lab. 8. General chemistry, lecture and lab. 8. Organic chemistry, lecture and lab. 8. Physics, lecture and lab. 8.

Biochemistry, lecture. 3. At least one upper-division biology course: histology, microbiology (lecture and lab) or comparative anatomy (human anatomy may substitute if taken with a lab and worth 4 semester hours). Histology 3 on its admissions page and 4 in its bulletin (take 4, or confirm with dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu); microbiology 4; comparative anatomy 4. Grades and timing: every prerequisite with "a grade of C or above no later than May 31 of the year they are entering the program" (May 31, 2027, this cycle). "Applicants must indicate that they have taken or will take all pre-required courses on their application." A grade below C in a required course must be repeated, and both grades count; GPAs are calculated in AADSAS and "include all attempts at coursework (not grade forgiveness)." 97 semester hours, and usually a degree: UTHSC's admissions page gives 97 as the "Total number of hours taken to be considered for admission," and

its FAQ says "An individual may enter our program after successful completion of 97 semester hours." UTHSC words the bachelor's degree three ways: its FAQ says it "is strongly recommended"; its admissions page says a degree in any major "is preferred; however, it is possible for a well-qualified student to be accepted without one. This is not common and requires approval by our office in advance of application"; and its bulletin says "All accepted students are expected to arrive on campus with a bachelor’s degree or higher," with exceptions that "must be initiated by the candidate." Plan to finish a degree before you start, and if you won't, ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu before you apply. Where you take them: "Completing the prerequisite courses at an accredited four-year college or university is strongly encouraged. Community college coursework is accepted but not recommended for the prerequisites." Prerequisites from US institutions

must come from a school accredited by one of the seven accreditors UTHSC lists. AP and CLEP credit counts if your undergraduate institution acknowledges and awards it, and AP courses must be on a transcript (the bulletin adds that the awarding institution must be accredited by one of those accreditors and provide official documentation). Where you have the choice, "The Admissions Committee encourages all students to choose a grade if possible–especially for prerequisites." A full load: UTHSC's FAQ notes that "The first semester of dental school is over 30 credit hours," recommends "a full academic load (at least 15-16 credit hours) per semester" and suggests "a minimum of 3-4 science courses each term." Suggested courses: upper-division biology related to growth and development, such as comparative anatomy, physiology, embryology and histology. "Courses in Psychology/Human Behavior are very helpful when dealing with dental patients and

courses in business will help the student prepare for private practice." Your major is your choice. The DAT: required, and the FAQ says "The DAT must have been taken before an application is made to AADSAS" (the application page asks for "all DAT tests taken" by September 30). Scores "are valid for a period of five (5) years," and Canadian DAT scores aren't accepted. On attempts, UTHSC's pages differ: its FAQ says "The maximum is three (3) attempts," and its bulletin also says three, while its admissions page says four "before needing a letter from a dental college to retake." Plan on three, and confirm with dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu. Letters, through AADSAS only: UTHSC's admissions page and FAQ say it prefers either one committee letter and one from another source, or two letters from science professors and one from another source. Another source can be another faculty member, an employer, a club's faculty sponsor, a volunteer

supervisor or, on the admissions page, a dentist you shadowed. You may submit up to four, and "Letters from members of the applicant’s family is discouraged" (sic). The bulletin says letters "are not mandatory," but UTHSC weighs a pre-professional evaluation and letters in selection, so send one of the preferred sets, and if you can't, ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu what to send instead. Shadowing: "Shadowing a dentist in a general dental office is requested of applicants. No less than fifty hours of shadowing in a general dental practice is acceptable." The committee "also expects applicants to have been exposed to the delivery of dental care as properly licensed participants (dental assistant or dental hygienist, for example) or as observers." Community outreach: "involvement in any form of community outreach is appreciated. Any activity that allows direct interaction with the people in need is preferred." UTHSC's examples include

soup kitchens, meals on wheels delivery, food box distribution and running errands for the home bound. Technical standards: UTHSC's technical standards say "Applicants verify in writing that they are able to meet these technical and performance standards with or without accommodation" and include manual dexterity and the ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English. Once accepted: an approved criminal background check before you matriculate, a laptop that meets UTHSC's specifications, and the dental kits, surgical loupes, books and supplies every DDS student must buy. Online prerequisites: UTHSC's pages disagree. Its FAQ says "On-line courses for prerequisites are not accepted," and its 2026–2027 bulletin says "Correspondence/ online courses are not accepted for required coursework." Its admissions page is softer: "All science prerequisites should be taken in face-to-face instruction format unless your institution

only offers it in an online format," in which case you need "a letter from the Registrar or an Academic Counselor" (it accepts courses moved online for COVID-19 in 2020 and the spring and summer of 2021 without one). Take every prerequisite face to face, and if a course was only offered online, confirm with dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu before you count on it. CASPer or Kira?. UTHSC's DDS admissions pages, its DDS FAQ and the DDS page of its 2026–2027 bulletin don't mention CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira or any similar assessment. What they ask for is AADSAS, the DAT, your coursework, letters or a pre-professional evaluation and, if you are invited, the interview. To confirm a rule, UTHSC's DDS application page lists dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu for College of Dentistry Admissions, and UTHSC's university-wide Apply page lists dadmits@uthsc.edu and 901.448.6268 for the College of Dentistry Office of Admissions (its admissions page gives the

same number for questions about prerequisite courses). Send everything through AADSAS: "Do not submit any materials (transcripts, DAT scores, letters of recommendation) directly to the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry unless specifically requested to do so." UTHSC says "in matters of admission, the admissions office communicates only with the applicant," and that it "cannot respond to unsolicited inquiries as to admission probability, the number of positions that are unfilled or other status updates." The UTHSC Interview: What the College Says Required, by invitation, and only once. "Interviews are by invitation to applicants being considered for admission. An interview is required for admission, however, the interview does not guarantee that an applicant will be offered a seat in the class." And: "Applicants are only interviewed once." Usually three faculty members and the committee chair. UTHSC's FAQ answers "Who will

interview me?" with "Usually three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee." It doesn't say whether they meet you together or one at a time, how long the interview lasts, or whether they will have read your application. At the College of Dentistry, with a tour. "A personal interview at the College of Dentistry, by invitation of the Admissions Committee, is necessary prior to acceptance. The interview will include a tour of the school, the receipt of information about financial aid, and the opportunity to talk with faculty and students." A two-way conversation. "You are encouraged to bring questions to your interview. We want this to be a two-way conversation. It is not intended to be a stressful situation." What to wear. "Professional or business attire is appropriate. You must remember that this is a professional environment and you should dress accordingly." Invitations, July to February, in writing. UTHSC's timeline

lists "July to February: Notification of interviews. Applicants granted an interview are notified in writing (based on GPA, PGPA & DAT)." It doesn't define PGPA. Interviews "begin as soon as applications are received by the Admissions Committee — usually in early July," and "all available interview slots for the year are often taken by early September." What it counts for. "During the interview, the committee looks for evidence of such personal qualities as integrity, motivation, and maturity." UTHSC's FAQ lists "the personal interview" among the bases for selection, and its bulletin lists "performance during the interview" among what the Admissions Committee reviews. In person or virtual? UTHSC says “at the College of Dentistry”. UTHSC's admissions page and 2026–2027 bulletin describe an interview "at the College of Dentistry," with a tour of the school, and none of the UTHSC pages we read mentions a virtual interview or a video

platform. The forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports, lists UTHSC's 2026–27 interviews as "Both" (in person and virtual) and its 2025–26 interviews as in person. Go by your invitation, and ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu if it's unclear. What applicants report These come from a public applicant forum and the invite tracker that a forum volunteer compiles there from applicants' reports, not from UTHSC: This cycle (2026–27): the tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, lists UTHSC's first invitations on 4 August and a first interview on 14 August, with the method listed as "Both" (in person and virtual). As of 8 October 2026, the forum's UTHSC thread for this cycle held only its opening post, and no invitation had been reported there. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker, last updated 22 October 2025, listed first invitations on 29 August 2025 and a first interview on 20 October, in person. In the forum's

UTHSC thread, one out-of-state applicant from Arkansas, notified by email on 5 September, listed an "In-person 10/20 (also earliest)" interview. On 21 October 2025, the same applicant called it the "Most relaxed interview ever" and wrote, "I couldn't tell if they tailored my interview based on my application (lots of team-oriented/ leadership questions) or were just seeing if I was a team player." Another applicant posted on 29 October 2025: "I just interviewed there 10/27. I got invited on 10/20 and the soonest available was a full week ahead! The interview was super chill and they do a good job at making you feel comfortable." A third applicant posted on 30 October that they had received an invitation. The trackers' first interview dates, 20 October 2025 and 14 August 2026, are later than the "usually in early July" start UTHSC gives. None of the posts in the two threads says how many interviewers there were, how long the interview

lasted, or whether the interviewers had read the application. What UTHSC doesn't publish. How long the interview lasts, whether the faculty members and the Chair meet you together or one at a time, whether they have read your application, what is asked, and the interview dates. UTHSC does say what the committee looks for in the interview, integrity, motivation and maturity, and that it wants a two-way conversation. Reread your whole AADSAS application before the day, be ready to talk about any part of it, and bring your own questions. Practice Your UTHSC Answers Out Loud. UTHSC interviews applicants only once, usually with three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee, and wants a two-way conversation. Practice answering motivation, leadership, teamwork and ethical questions out loud, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. UTHSC's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline When. What UTHSC

says. June 1 – September 30, 2026. The application period, through AADSAS only; “It is strongly advised to apply as early as convenient”. Usually early July 2026. Interviews “begin as soon as applications are received by the Admissions Committee”. July 2026 to February 2027. Notification of interviews, in writing (“based on GPA, PGPA & DAT”). Often by early September 2026. “all available interview slots for the year are often taken”. September 30, 2026 (passed). Deadline: “All application materials must be submitted, and all DAT tests taken by this date”. November 30, 2026. Pre-professional evaluations, which may follow the deadline through AADSAS, must be received (by AADSAS, its application page says; by the Admissions Office, its bulletin says). December 15, 2026. Admissions Committee decisions; notification of acceptance begins and continues on a rolling basis until the first day of school (its bulletin). December 2026 to January

2027. Alternate lists established, “used when space in the class becomes available”. December 2026 to March 2027. Unsuccessful applicants notified in writing. End of February 2027. Financial aid priority deadline: submit the FAFSA. May 31, 2027. Every prerequisite completed with a C or above. July 2027. Classes begin (its bulletin: one class a year, “beginning in July”). UTHSC's timeline gives months, not years; the years above are ours, for a class that starts in 2027. On the start date, its bulletin's curriculum summary says students "matriculate in early July (the first business day after observation of the July 4th holiday)," while the same bulletin's curriculum schedule says "Students begin the academic year the first week of August (18-week Fall term). Second-year, third-year and fourth-year students begin the academic year the first week of July (22-week Fall term)." Plan for early July, the earlier of the two, confirm the date

with dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu, and follow the dates UTHSC sends you. Applicants are notified of acceptance in writing, and "Each applicant is a potential for acceptance unless they have been informed specifically, in writing, that they are not." The UTHSC pages we read give no deposit amount and don't say how the alternate list is ordered. December 1 or December 15?. UTHSC's FAQ says that by agreement among dental schools, "acceptances will not be issued before December 1 of the year preceding the year of anticipated entry." Its 2026–2027 bulletin gives December 15 for the start of acceptances, and ADEA's AADSAS page, which UTHSC's timeline links, calls December 15, 2026 the "2026–27 dental school acceptance notification date" for this cycle. Go by December 15, and confirm with dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu. September 30 has passed: what that means. UTHSC's deadline covered "All application materials" and every DAT attempt, and ADEA says

AADSAS "will not send your application to a school if it is received by ADEA AADSAS after the school's deadline." If you applied, your pre-professional evaluation can still arrive through AADSAS by November 30, and invitations can come until February. If you are planning for a later cycle, apply in June: UTHSC says interviews usually begin in early July and slots "are often taken by early September." What UTHSC Looks For UTHSC says it "reviews applicants using a holistic approach," and that its Admissions Committee "is seeking applicants who demonstrate the academic ability to successfully complete the DDS program, who show compassion and concern for others, and who possess the responsibilities and integrity of a healthcare professional." In the interview, "the committee looks for evidence of such personal qualities as integrity, motivation, and maturity." Its review factors and technical standards fill in the rest, and each can anchor

an interview answer: Integrity, motivation and maturity: the three qualities UTHSC names for the interview. Have a specific story for each: a time you did the right thing when it cost you something, what keeps you pursuing dentistry, and a setback you owned and learned from. Exploring dentistry: UTHSC looks for "Demonstrated exploration of the profession of dentistry," and it requests shadowing in a general dental office: "No less than fifty hours of shadowing in a general dental practice is acceptable." Be ready to describe what you saw a general dentist do, and what it taught you. Community service, face to face: "Improving the health of the underserved population is an important piece of the College of Dentistry’s mission," and "Any activity that allows direct interaction with the people in need is preferred." UTHSC says such activities show you can get out of your comfort zone and interact with people from all cultures. Bring one

story about a person you served. Leadership: UTHSC's review factors include "A range of extracurricular activities, especially those demanding a significant leadership role," and its FAQ names "leadership experience" among the bases for selection. Pick a role in which you were responsible for an outcome, and say what changed because of you. Balancing a full load: UTHSC looks for "Full academic loads" and a "Demonstrated ability to balance full academic schedules with extracurricular involvement and/or employment (i.e., effective and efficient management of time)" among its review factors. Have an example of a demanding term and how you managed it. Critical thinking and problem solving: it looks for "Evidence of critical thinking and problem solving ability (e.g., performance in courses requiring this skill, such as laboratory segments or formal logic or research experiences)," and its technical standards ask for "the ability to manage

data, solve problems, and make rational decisions regarding patient care in a timely manner." Practice talking through a scenario out loud: the options, what you would weigh, and why you would choose one. Teamwork under pressure: its technical standards say candidates "must be able to: adapt to changing conditions, cope with stress, delegate responsibilities, meet deadlines and possess effective time management skills in order to function as part of a dental health care team." Bring a team story in which you adjusted to a change or shared the work. Empathy and judgment: applicants "must possess the following general qualities: critical thinking, sound judgment, emotional stability and maturity, empathy, physical and mental stamina." Have an example of noticing how someone else felt and responding to it. Hand skills: UTHSC's FAQ says "Courses or hobbies that develop fine motor skills such as drawing, sewing, or playing a musical

instrument are also beneficial," and its technical standards require "manual dexterity, including full functioning wrists, hands, fingers, and arms." Be ready to describe one activity concretely. UTHSC's own interview advice. Bring questions: "You are encouraged to bring questions to your interview. We want this to be a two-way conversation." Don't treat it as an ordeal: "It is not intended to be a stressful situation." And dress for it: "Professional or business attire is appropriate." Because UTHSC expects you to have been exposed to dental care, have your shadowing or clinical work ready to talk about in detail. The best Why UTHSC material is in its clinics and its reach across Tennessee. UTHSC's last two DDS years are mostly clinical, in its clinic on campus and at off-site clinical sites across Tennessee, and in a fourth-year course, Community Based Dental Education, students "provide dental care to various populations in the

extramural rotation sites and understand the alternative methods of dental care delivery." In the third year, its Patient-Centered Dentistry course gives students "the opportunity to practice interpersonal skills with standardized patients." Its Delta Dental of Tennessee Building, opened in 2023, holds the Special Needs Clinic, new clinical simulators and a simulation lab. The college's mission is "transforming lives and oral health through community engagement, educational excellence, developing professionals, patient care, research, and research discovery," and its strategic plan's vision is "To take care of people." Its student clinics treat patients at fees "typically approximately 50% of private practice fees" with "a phased treatment approach" that addresses foundational oral health first. Students can compete for summer research fellowships (a maximum stipend of $2,500) and present at the annual Hinman Student Research Symposium.

Well-qualified students can pursue a DDS/PhD with UTHSC's College of Graduate Health Sciences, if both colleges admit them, over "six to eight or more years." 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. UTHSC doesn't publish its interview questions on the pages we read. Internationally trained dentist? UTHSC's 2026–2027 bulletin describes an advanced standing route into the second year for graduates of foreign dental schools, marked "Not currently taking applications for this program"; compare other programs in our CAAPID program finder . ); }; export default TennesseeDentalSchoolInterview; tennessee-dental-school-interview University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry UTHSC UTHSC Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Faculty Interview DAT Targets & Requirements UTHSC Dental School Interview (Tennessee): DDS 2026-27 UTHSC

(Tennessee) DDS guide from its own one interview usually with three faculty and the committee chair at the college; Sept 30 deadline (passed). UTHSC dental school interview University of Tennessee dental school interview University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry interview Tennessee dental school interview UTHSC DDS interview UTHSC DDS requirements UTHSC dental school DAT University of Tennessee College of Dentistry requirements 2026-10-08 2026-10-08 Domestic Program One interview at the College of Dentistry usually with three faculty members and the Admissions Committee chair UTHSC interviews DDS applicants by invitation only once each at the College of Dentistry usually with three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee alongside a tour and financial aid information. Here is what UTHSC publishes where its pages disagree what applicants report and how to prepare. Asked “Who will interview me?”

UTHSC answers “Usually three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee”; “Applicants are only interviewed once ” and UTHSC wants “a two-way conversation.” Degree DDS (four years) Memphis Tennessee Interview Format Interviewed once usually by three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee Interview Setting A personal interview “at the College of Dentistry ” with a tour financial aid information and time with faculty and students; the forum s 2026–27 tracker reports both in person and virtual Interviews Begin “usually in early July”; notification of interviews July to February in writing; slots “often taken by early September” Deadline September 30 of the year before you enroll (September 30 2026 for a 2027 passed) for all application materials and every DAT attempt; pre-professional evaluations by November 30 CASPer / Kira Not on UTHSC s DDS pages or the DDS page of its 2026–2027 bulletin Class Size A

maximum of 130 (its 2026–2027 bulletin) GPA 2.75 minimum expected; “generally competitive at 3.5 or higher” DAT Academic Average 400+ (200–600 scale) on its admissions page; its bulletin s old-scale 19 converts to 410 on the ADA s table Residency Tennessee residents preferred; Arkansas residents considered under the Arkansas Health Education Grant guidelines; about 7 percent of the class from all other states Citizenship US citizens or permanent residents only Shadowing Requested; “No less than fifty hours of shadowing in a general dental practice is acceptable” Acceptances From December 15 2026 (its bulletin and ADEA); its FAQ says not before December 1 requirements Requirements & Class Size 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What UTHSC Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline UTHSC s Admissions Timeline 2 what-uthsc-looks-for What UTHSC 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. UTHSC doesn t publish its interview questions on the pages we read; these are practice questions built on what it says it weighs. You will usually be interviewed by three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee and UTHSC doesn t say whether they will have read your application so build a 90-second answer that stands on its who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and why UTHSC is the next step. The committee looks for “integrity motivation and maturity”: let your story show them. Why dentistry? UTHSC s committee “expects applicants to have been exposed to the delivery of dental care as properly licensed participants (dental assistant or dental hygienist for example) or as observers ” and it requests

shadowing in a general dental office. Anchor your answer in something specific you saw a general dentist do then say what it confirmed for you; motivation is one of the three qualities UTHSC names for the interview. Why UTHSC? Use what UTHSC says about its the last two years mostly in its clinic on campus and at off-site clinical sites across Tennessee a fourth-year course of community-based care at extramural rotation sites practice with standardized patients in its Patient-Centered Dentistry course and the Special Needs Clinic in its Delta Dental of Tennessee Building opened in 2023. Its vision is “To take care of people.” Connect one of these to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve; residency or cost alone is not a reason. What questions do you have for us? UTHSC says “You are encouraged to bring questions to your interview. We want this to be a two-way conversation.” Prepare two or three questions its website doesn t

answer for example about its off-site clinical sites or its community-based rotations and ask them with genuine interest. Behavioral Describe a leadership role and what you accomplished in it. UTHSC looks for “A range of extracurricular activities especially those demanding a significant leadership role ” and its FAQ lists “leadership experience” among the bases for selection; one 2025–26 applicant reported “lots of team-oriented/ leadership questions” (an applicant s report not UTHSC s words). Pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome not just a title and say what changed because of you. Tell me about a time a team you were on had to adapt. UTHSC s technical standards ask candidates to “adapt to changing conditions cope with stress delegate responsibilities meet deadlines and possess effective time management skills in order to function as part of a dental health care team.” Keep the setup short show what you did and how you

shared the work and say what the team achieved. How have you balanced a full course load with work or activities? UTHSC looks for “Full academic loads” and a “Demonstrated ability to balance full academic schedules with extracurricular involvement and/or employment ” and its FAQ notes that “The first semester of dental school is over 30 credit hours.” Describe one demanding what you were carrying how you planned your time and what you would do differently. Tell me about your community service. What did it teach you? UTHSC says “Improving the health of the underserved population is an important piece of the College of Dentistry’s mission ” and “Any activity that allows direct interaction with the people in need is preferred.” Pick one experience in which you worked face to face with the people you served and say what it taught you about them and about yourself. Ethical / Scenario A patient in the student clinic asks you to pay for part

of their treatment. What do you do? UTHSC s student clinics page says “College policy prohibits students from paying for patient treatment. Patients should not ask student providers to cover treatment costs.” Show empathy explain kindly that you can t and point the patient to what the clinic offers such as its phased treatment approach and the financing options it lists with your supervising faculty member involved. Integrity is one of the three qualities UTHSC names for the interview. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? UTHSC s about page (dated May 2022) says its Honor Code exists so that “student academic affairs will be conducted under the highest standards of individual responsibility ” and that “Major responsibility for protection of the education process is assumed by UTHSC students who are directly responsible for the effective operation of the Honor Code.” Describe an escalation path from a direct

conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust your license. A classmate makes a treatment decision you disagree with in front of the patient. What do you do? UTHSC s professionalism standards say “Disagreement among faculty and/or students should be addressed in a private setting away from patient-care areas” and “Negative remarks should not be made in a patient’s presence and significant negative criticism should be given in a private setting.” Show that you would protect the patient s trust in the moment raise your concern privately afterward and involve the supervising faculty member if the patient s care is at stake. An anxious patient wants to stop partway through a procedure. How do you handle it? UTHSC asks applicants for “empathy” and “sound judgment ” and in its Patient-Centered Dentistry course students “practice interpersonal skills with standardized patients.” Show that you would pause

acknowledge the fear explain what remains in plain words agree on a signal to stop and involve your supervising faculty member before deciding how to proceed. Apply in interview slots go early UTHSC says interviews “begin as soon as applications are received by the Admissions Committee — usually in early July ” that “It is strongly advised to apply as early as convenient ” and that “all available interview slots for the year are often taken by early September ” although the application period runs to September 30. This cycle s deadline has passed; for a future cycle take the DAT first and submit AADSAS as early in June as you can. Prepare for several interviewers UTHSC says you will usually be interviewed by “three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee ” and only once. It doesn t say whether they meet you together or one at a time for how long or whether they will have read your application so practice answering

follow-up questions from different angles and know your whole application well enough to tell its story yourself. Make it a two-way conversation UTHSC says “You are encouraged to bring questions to your interview. We want this to be a two-way conversation. It is not intended to be a stressful situation.” Bring specific questions about its clinics its off-site sites across Tennessee or its community-based rotations and dress for “Professional or business attire is appropriate.” Send everything through AADSAS and nothing else UTHSC says “Do not submit any materials (transcripts DAT scores letters of recommendation) directly to the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry unless specifically requested to do so ” and “The Admissions Committee does not consider any outside material sent directly to the college.” It also “cannot respond to unsolicited inquiries as to admission probability the number of positions that are unfilled or other

status updates ” and in matters of admission it communicates only with the applicant. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years; one class a year beginning in July; Memphis Tennessee Application AADSAS only; application period June 1 to September 30; this cycle s deadline September 30 2026 has passed (all application materials submitted and all DAT tests taken); pre-professional evaluations by November 30 Interview Required by invitation once; usually three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee; at the College of Dentistry with a tour financial aid information and time with faculty and students Interview invitations July to February in writing (“based on GPA PGPA & DAT”); interviews usually begin in early July and slots are often taken by early September Class size A maximum of 130 students (2026–2027 bulletin) Class profile Not no average GPA or DAT and no counts of applicants interviews or offers on the

pages we read Acceptance rate Not published GPA 2.75 minimum expected in required subjects and cumulative coursework; “generally competitive at 3.5 or higher” DAT target Academic Average 400 or better “will be considered competitive” (admissions page 200–600 scale); an Academic Average of 19 or better and no scores of 17 or below (2026–2027 bulletin old 1–30 scale; the ADA s table converts 19 to 410) DAT rules Taken before you submit AADSAS (its FAQ) and by September 30; valid five years; no Canadian DAT; three attempts (FAQ and bulletin) or four before needing a letter (admissions page) Prerequisites English composition 6 semester hours; general biology general chemistry organic chemistry and physics 8 each with labs; biochemistry 3; one upper-division biology course (histology microbiology or comparative anatomy); C or above by May 31 of the year you enter Total hours 97 semester hours Bachelor s degree “strongly recommended” (FAQ)

“preferred” (admissions page) expected on arrival (bulletin); entering without one is “not common” and needs approval in advance of application Online coursework Not accepted for prerequisites (FAQ and bulletin); its admissions page allows an online-only course with a letter from the registrar or an academic counselor Letters Through AADSAS only; a committee letter plus one from another source or two science professors plus one from another source; up to four; the bulletin says “not mandatory” Shadowing Requested; “No less than fifty hours of shadowing in a general dental practice is acceptable” CASPer / Kira Not on UTHSC s DDS pages or the DDS page of its 2026–2027 bulletin Residency Tennessee residents preferred; Arkansas residents considered under the Arkansas Health Education Grant guidelines; “Approximately 7 percent” of the class from all other states Citizenship US citizens or permanent residents at the time of application Cost

first year (2026–27) Estimated $100 886 in state and $143 418 out of state; UTHSC calls the figures estimates Decisions Acceptances from December 15 2026 on a rolling basis (bulletin; ADEA s notification date); alternate lists December to January; unsuccessful applicants notified December to March Coursework the DAT and experience (each item has its own deadline) Every prerequisite with a C or above by May 31 of the year you enter (2027 for this cycle; the year is ours) taken face to face; you list taken and planned courses on your application At least 97 semester hours and ideally a bachelor s degree before you start (if you won t have one ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu in advance of applying) The DAT taken before you submit aim for an Academic Average of 410 or better on the 200–600 scale (the ADA s conversion of the bulletin s old-scale 19) with every section at or above the ADA s conversion of an old 18; plan on no more than three

attempts At least 50 hours of shadowing in a general dental practice and exposure to dental care as an observer or a licensed participant Community outreach in direct contact with people in need and leadership in your activities Apply (AADSAS only) Submit AADSAS as early in June as you UTHSC says interview slots are often taken by early September Send letters through AADSAS a committee letter plus one from another source or two science professors plus one from another source Send nothing directly to the College of Dentistry unless it asks For 2026–27 the September 30 2026 deadline has passed; pre-professional evaluations can still reach AADSAS until November 30 If you are invited (notification of interviews July to February) Watch for a written invitation and expect a tour financial aid information and time with faculty and students Prepare for one interview usually with three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee

Have stories ready that show integrity motivation and maturity plus leadership and teamwork Bring your own questions and wear professional or business attire Hard dates (UTHSC s timeline gives no years; the years are ours for a 2027 start) September 30 application deadline (passed) November 30 pre-professional evaluations received December 15 acceptances begin on a rolling basis End of February FAFSA priority deadline May 31 prerequisites complete July classes begin (UTHSC says “beginning in July”; the year is ours) What is the UTHSC dental school interview format? UTHSC s FAQ says “Applicants are only interviewed once ” and answers “Who will interview me?” with “Usually three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee.” Its admissions page describes “A personal interview at the College of Dentistry by invitation of the Admissions Committee ” which “will include a tour of the school the receipt of information about

financial aid and the opportunity to talk with faculty and students.” UTHSC wants “a two-way conversation” and says “It is not intended to be a stressful situation.” Its pages don t say whether the interviewers meet you together or one at a time how long the interview lasts whether they will have read your application or what is asked. Is the UTHSC dental interview virtual or in person? UTHSC s admissions page and its 2026–2027 bulletin describe an interview “at the College of Dentistry ” with a tour of the school and none of the UTHSC pages we read mentions a virtual interview. The forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists UTHSC s 2026–27 interviews as both in person and virtual and its 2025–26 interviews as in person; one 2025–26 applicant reported an in-person interview on 20 October 2025. Go by your invitation and ask dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu if it s unclear. Does UTHSC use the MMI? None of

UTHSC s DDS pages or the DDS page of its 2026–2027 bulletin mentions an MMI or stations. UTHSC says “Applicants are only interviewed once ” usually by “three faculty members and the Chair of the Admissions Committee ” and says it wants “a two-way conversation.” No post in a public applicant forum s 2025–26 or 2026–27 UTHSC threads described an MMI; one 2025–26 applicant reported “lots of team-oriented/ leadership questions” in theirs. Prepare for one interview usually with three faculty members and the committee chair. Does UTHSC require CASPer or Kira for dental school? UTHSC s DDS admissions pages its DDS FAQ and the DDS page of its 2026–2027 bulletin don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment. What they ask for is AADSAS the DAT your coursework letters or a pre-professional evaluation and if you are invited the interview. What GPA and DAT do I need for UTHSC dental school? UTHSC expects “A minimum grade point

average of 2.75” in required subjects and cumulative coursework and says GPAs are “generally competitive at 3.5 or higher.” For the DAT its admissions page says “An applicant with a DAT Academic Average score of 400 points or better will be considered competitive and may be asked for an interview ” on the 200–600 scale. Its 2026–2027 bulletin still on the old 1–30 scale calls “an Academic Average of 19 (or better) and no scores of 17 or below” generally competitive; the ADA s concordance table converts an old Academic Average of 19 to about 410. That is the ADA s conversion not a UTHSC plan on the stricter reading 410 or better and confirm with dentaladmissions@uthsc.edu. UTHSC publishes no class averages on the pages we read. Does UTHSC accept out-of-state applicants? Yes but “Residents of Tennessee are given preference for admission. Residents of Arkansas will be considered based on the Arkansas Health Education Grant guidelines.”

UTHSC says “Approximately 7 percent of our class is made up of applicants from all other states ” and that state of residency is generally determined by your permanent address on the day you submitted AADSAS. Admission is restricted to US citizens and permanent residents at the time of application. UTHSC s estimated 2026–2027 cost of attendance for a first-year DDS student is $143 418 out of state against $100 886 in state. When is the UTHSC DDS application deadline? September 30 and for 2026–27 it has “All application materials must be submitted and all DAT tests taken by this date.” Pre-professional evaluations can follow through AADSAS but must arrive by November 30. The application period is June 1 through September 30 and UTHSC says interviews begin “usually in early July” and that slots “are often taken by early September ” so for a future cycle apply as early in June as you can. Acceptances begin December 15 2026 ADEA s

notification date for this cycle and the date in UTHSC s 2026–2027 bulletin (its FAQ s older line says not before December 1). How many shadowing hours does UTHSC require? UTHSC s admissions page says “Shadowing a dentist in a general dental office is requested of applicants. No less than fifty hours of shadowing in a general dental practice is acceptable.” Its committee also “expects applicants to have been exposed to the delivery of dental care as properly licensed participants (dental assistant or dental hygienist for example) or as observers.” Plan on at least 50 hours in a general dental practice and be ready to talk about what you saw. UMMC (Mississippi) Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Jackson UMMC s pages say its interview session includes multiple mini-interviews with members of its Admissions Committee; setting and schedule are not published. Domestic Program /schools/mississippi-dental-school-interview LSU Dental School

Interview Guide (DDS) In New LSU requires an interview and publishes no format; interview day includes a timed 35-minute chalk carving scored 0–10. Its September 1 deadline has passed. Domestic Program /schools/lsu-dental-school-interview UAB Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Birmingham an interview with the Admissions Committee by invitation held virtually at least early in the cycle. AADSAS by October 31 2026. Domestic Program /schools/uab-dental-school-interview Meharry Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In two interviews with Meharry faculty dental alumni or Nashville dentists; review begins August 1 and runs until the class is filled. AADSAS deadline December 15. Domestic Program /schools/meharry-dental-school-interview Kentucky Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) Next door in UKCD s panel interview “a traditional interview in conversation style ” with Admissions Committee members faculty staff and students. Domestic Program

/schools/kentucky-dental-school-interview Louisville Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) Also in Louisville s typically one or two one-on-one interviews of about 20–30 minutes each late August to February; Casper required of all applicants. Domestic Program /schools/louisville-dental-school-interview Dental College of Georgia Interview Guide (DMD) Next door in DCG s on-campus interviews by invitation conducted by faculty alumni and professional staff from mid-August to early December. Domestic Program /schools/augusta-dental-school-interview