Texas A&M Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

Texas A&M DDS guide from its pages and TMDSAS: a required Admissions Committee interview, selection from July, a free secondary. Oct 1 deadline passed.

Texas A&M requires an interview with its Admissions Committee, by invitation, and uses it to evaluate noncognitive factors; selection for interviews begins in July. You apply through TMDSAS and complete a free secondary application. Here is what the college and TMDSAS publish, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> Texas A&M DDS Requirements and Class Profile Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, in Dallas, was founded in 1905 as State Dental College and carried the Baylor name for much of its history. Its merger with The Texas A&M University System took effect in September 1996, and in 2013 it became a college within Texas A&M University. The DDS runs four years, including three summer sessions, and starts in the fall ("Begins in August"). You apply through TMDSAS , the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service: Texas A&M says "All applicants must apply through the TMDSAS," its pages describe no AADSAS

route, and every applicant also submits its own secondary application. Its window runs from May 1 to October 1 of the year before you start, so for a fall 2027 start the deadline was October 1, 2026, and it has passed. Its admissions page reports these figures for its 2026 entering dental class: Figure. 2026 entering dental class. Applications. 1,463. Seats in the class. 106. DAT Academic Average. 22 (old 1–30 scale; the page names no scale). Average science GPA. 3.84. Average overall GPA. 3.87. Which DAT scale is 22 on?. The old 1–30 scale. The DAT moved to a 200–600 scale on 1 March 2025, and 22 can't be a score on that one. Texas A&M's admissions page names no scale for it, gives no new-scale equivalent and doesn't say how it averaged tests taken before and after the change, and we don't convert it. The pages we read give no minimum GPA or DAT score: the catalog asks for a GPA "as high as possible" and says "admission is

competitive." The college publishes applications and seats, not offers, so no acceptance rate can be worked out from its pages, and we don't compute one. Its news office says each dental class "is capped at 106 students." In state or out of state? Texas A&M's application page says "Strong preference is given to legal residents of Texas. Under Texas law, no more than 10% of the entering dental class can be made up of non-Texas residents." The same page adds that "Preference is given to residents of Texas and the surrounding states which do not have a college of dentistry," and the catalog says the same, but neither names those states. The college's news stories of April and September 2026 put it this way: "Ninety percent of the students accepted must come from Texas, Spence said" (Dr. Alicia Spence directs its Office of Recruitment and Admissions). A May 2025 story, written for last cycle, said the college "reserves a few spots each year

for Arkansas and New Mexico residents because those states don’t have state-supported dental schools; private dental schools open soon in both states"; the 2026 stories don't repeat it. Go by the stricter reading: if you live outside Texas, in Arkansas or New Mexico too, expect no preference, and ask admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu whether your state counts. Texas A&M says "Texas residency, for the purpose of admissions, is determined by TMDSAS," and TMDSAS says that for a fall 2027 start you need to have established and maintained Texas residency in the 12 months before its October 2026 deadline. Not a US citizen or permanent resident?. TMDSAS's residency page lists Texas A&M University College of Dentistry among the schools that "will only review and consider for admissions applicants who are U.S. citizens or legal Permanent Residents of the U.S." The DDS admission table in Texas A&M's catalog has an "International Requirements" row (at

least 90 semester credit hours "from a fully accredited college or university in the U.S. or its territories," degree preferred). Go by the stricter reading, TMDSAS's: US citizens and permanent residents only, and confirm with admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu before you apply. Internationally trained dentists: see the end of this guide. Prerequisite coursework Course. Semester hours. Biology, including anatomy with lab (4), physiology (3) and microbiology (3), in courses for science majors. 18 (minimum 15 hours of lecture and 3 of formal laboratory). General chemistry. 8. Organic chemistry. 8. Physics. 8. Biochemistry. 3. English. 6. Statistics, from a math or statistics department. 3. Hours and degree: at least 90 semester hours (134 quarter hours) "from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution; however, most students complete a degree before beginning the program." The catalog says a degree is "Not required but current competitive level

dictates BA or BS from accredited college or university prior to matriculation." Undergraduate courses only: "All prerequisite courses must be completed at the undergraduate level. Graduate courses do not satisfy the 90-hour requirement or the required coursework." Foreign coursework doesn't count toward the prerequisites, "even if transfer credit has been given for them by a US or Canadian school." Courses designed for non-science majors or health-career majors, such as nursing, pharmacy or allied health, don't count, and every required course "must be applicable toward a traditional science degree." Grades and format: a C or better in every required course, and "Courses taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit will not count towards meeting the requirement." AP credit counts only if the school granting it lists the specific courses and units on an official transcript ("Lump sum credit is not accepted"). "The Admissions Committee encourages

applicants to plan to complete most if not all science coursework in-person in a regular classroom setting." To check that a course is an approved science-major course, Texas A&M points you to TMDSAS's Prescribed Course Listing by university. Anatomy and physiology: separate courses or the combined A&P 1 and A&P 2 for science majors, with both labs, meet the requirement, but Texas A&M says students who take the individual courses (3000 level or higher) "will be better prepared and therefore more competitive as an applicant." In progress when you apply: "Applicants may apply while completing their prerequisite courses. However, no prerequisite courses should be planned for Summer Session 2 of the year of entry, as this conflicts with the program start date." Beyond the minimum: histology, neuroscience, cellular and molecular biology, immunology and biochemistry II "are suggested to strengthen the student's science background." No major

is required, but "the majority of successful applicants have majored in the Biological or Biomedical Sciences." In April 2026 Dr. Spence told the college's news office, "Make sure you have a good science foundation, which is 30 hours to 40 hours of science credits." The DAT: required. Texas A&M says to take it "in the spring or summer prior to applying," and "A 60-day waiting period is required before re-testing." TMDSAS's dental rules for this cycle: "The DAT must be taken within the last five years," a DAT taken before 2022 isn't considered, and you must take it for the first time before December 2026. Release your scores through the ADA to at least one of the dental schools you apply to; scores released to any of the four Texas dental schools go to TMDSAS automatically. Shadowing a general dentist: "Observation in the office of a general dentist is required." The application page calls shadowing with a general dentist "a required

component of the application." The pages we read set no minimum number of hours. Letters, through TMDSAS: the catalog asks for a "Letter of recommendation (LOR) from practicing dentist and health professional advisor or committee, should include two science professors." TMDSAS's dental rules call for three letters or evaluation forms, one of them from a dentist, or one health professions committee letter or packet that includes a dentist's letter, plus one optional extra letter. TMDSAS asks for letters by October 15. What else the catalog lists: "also interview; comprehensive biographical sketch; observation of a general dentist; and community service experiences." Transcripts and the fee: the catalog lists official transcripts of all your college work; for a TMDSAS application, "Only send transcripts when requested by TMDSAS," and TMDSAS requests them from dental applicants who have been accepted. TMDSAS charges a flat $235 for one to

four schools, by credit card only, with no fee waivers. (Texas A&M's application page still says "As of Spring 2026, the application fee is a non-refundable, flat fee of $230.00"; TMDSAS's payment page and the college's own 2026 news stories say $235. Plan on $235, the higher figure and TMDSAS's own, and confirm with TMDSAS or admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu.) Essential functions: "The student must be able to meet or perform the following essential functions with or without accommodation," among them "sufficient dexterity to manipulate dental equipment appropriately and to perform in class, clinic and laboratory settings for extended periods of time." Texas A&M's course rules and TMDSAS's general list differ. TMDSAS's policies page says "Graduate courses may only be used to satisfy the Statistics requirement," while Texas A&M says all prerequisites "must be completed at the undergraduate level." TMDSAS's general dental course plan lists

14 semester hours of biology and labs with general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics; Texas A&M's own list asks for 18 hours of biology and names labs only for biology and anatomy. TMDSAS itself says "Each participating school determines its own course requirements for admission." Go by the stricter reading: statistics as an undergraduate course, 18 hours of biology, and labs with your chemistry and physics. Confirm with admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu. CASPer or Kira? Not on its pages, but a secondary application is required. Texas A&M's DDS admissions pages, its admissions FAQ and its catalog's DDS admission pages don't mention CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira or any similar assessment. TMDSAS's list of schools that require CASPer has medical and veterinary sections and names no dental school; the Texas A&M school on it is the College of Veterinary Medicine, not the College of Dentistry. What Texas A&M does add is its secondary

application: "All applicants will receive an emailed invitation to complete the required Secondary Application once their TMDSAS Application has been received by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions." It charges no fee for it, and "The application for admission is not complete until the secondary application is submitted." TMDSAS says secondary applications "should be completed as soon as you submit your TMDSAS application." The pages we read give no separate deadline for it. Texas A&M's Office of Recruitment and Admissions is at admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu or (214) 828-8231, at 3302 Gaston Avenue, AEB Room 100, Dallas. TMDSAS asks that questions about the secondary application go to the school, not to TMDSAS. The Texas A&M Interview: What the College Says Texas A&M's 2026–2027 catalog gives the interview a short section of its own, "Required Interview," and its application page repeats most of it: Required, and by invitation. "An

interview is required. The applicant may be asked to come for an interview with the Admissions Committee." The application page says "The applicant may be invited for an interview with the Admissions Committee," and "Although an official interview is not granted to all applicants, the College of Dentistry gladly provides complete information and counseling for all prospective students." With the Admissions Committee, scheduled by the admissions office. "Interviews are scheduled by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions." The pages we read don't say how many people interview you, who on the committee they are, how long it lasts or whether they have read your application. What it is for. "The interview with the Admissions Committee gives the opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors." Separately, the catalog says "Consideration of any factors that may have impacted academic or personal history is important in interview

selection and final acceptance decisions." Academics come first. "The quality of academic achievement is the first point of consideration. The grade point average (GPA) and the Dental Admission Test (DAT) are the primary factors used in this evaluation." Selection starts in July. "Selection for interviews begins in July, and this requires a transmitted complete application." The catalog adds that TMDSAS "will not transmit incomplete applications" and may take up to 6 weeks to process yours. The pages we read give no end month for interviews. In a story dated September 3, 2026, the college's news office wrote: "Interviews began earlier this month." Accommodations. The essential functions page says an applicant "may disclose during the admissions or interview process a disability for which they desire accommodation"; the college may then ask for documentation for Disability Resources, and the applicant "will be considered based upon the

published admissions criteria required of all applicants." In person or virtual? Texas A&M doesn't say. The catalog says applicants "may be asked to come for an interview," but none of Texas A&M's DDS pages says whether the interview is in person or virtual, how long it lasts, how many interviewers you meet, whether they have read your file, or what is asked. The forum's invite tracker lists Texas A&M's interviews as in person in both recent cycles (see below): applicant reports, not the college's words. Go by your invitation, and ask admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu if anything in it is unclear. Other Texas A&M interviews this guide doesn't cover. Some Texas A&M programs have interviews of their own, and none of them is the DDS interview. TMDSAS says applying to the DDS/PhD "will require an additional interview," sometimes on the day before or after your dental school interview; the catalog says you must be accepted into the DDS first and

then apply separately to the PhD program. The Post-Baccalaureate Program's committee will "select applicants to interview and admit into the program" (see the timeline below). Transfer applicants from ADA-accredited dental schools whose records are acceptable "will be asked to report for an interview with the Admissions Committee and an evaluation by the appropriate department chairmen of the school." The summer pre-dental programs interview their own applicants online or by phone. TMDSAS's rules cover the interview too. "Applicants must respond promptly to all invitations for an interview," and if you can't attend, "The cancellation should be undertaken by telephone with the school, followed by an email"; a short-notice cancellation "is considered unprofessional." Its Code of Professionalism for Applicants, which its member schools "acknowledge and embrace," says applicants "are considered to be under evaluation throughout the entire

interview day, including breaks between interviews or sessions." For a virtual interview it asks you to keep your camera on and to be "in a private, quiet space free of distractions"; in person or online, it expects you to attend alone, dressed "in attire that is appropriate for a professional school interview." It also rules out "sharing, soliciting, or disseminating restricted information about interview formats, questions, or internal evaluation criteria," so don't go looking for leaked questions. 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 Texas A&M's or TMDSAS's words: This cycle (2026–27): the forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports (last updated 25 September 2026), lists Texas A&M's first invitations on 15 July and a first interview date of 12 August, in person. As of 7 October

2026, the forum's Texas A&M thread for this cycle held its opening post and one question, posted on 27 September, asking whether anyone had interviewed there; no one had answered, and no one there had reported an invitation. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker (last updated 22 October 2025) listed first invitations on 17 July 2025 and a first interview date of 13 August 2025, in person. In the forum's Texas A&M thread, one applicant, asked on 17 October 2025 about interview invites, answered on 20 October: "Yes got one the first week of August for September." Another posted on 11 January 2026: "Got my offer of acceptance on decision day! Interview was on Oct. 15th." On 15 December 2025, one applicant posted "Accepted at 4:20 AM CST by email!" On 16 December, another asked whether anyone had "received a waitlist email this morning," and the applicant who had been invited in August replied on 5 January 2026, "I got the email too on the

16th." The tracker's two first interview dates, 13 August 2025 and 12 August 2026, and the 15 October 2025 interview were all Wednesdays (our check of the calendar). Texas A&M doesn't say on which days it interviews. None of the 21 posts in the forum's two Texas A&M threads describes the interview itself: in person or virtual, how many interviewers, how long, or what was asked. What Texas A&M doesn't publish. How its interview runs: one conversation or several, which committee members, for how long, whether your interviewers have read your application, what is asked, and when the season ends. It does say what the interview is for, "evaluation of noncognitive factors," and that factors that affected your academic or personal history matter in "interview selection and final acceptance decisions." Reread your TMDSAS essays and your secondary application before the day, and be ready to talk about your path, your service and the general

dentist you observed. Practice Your Texas A&M Answers Out Loud. Texas A&M interviews by invitation with its Admissions Committee, uses the interview to evaluate noncognitive factors and doesn't publish its format. Practice telling your story, explaining your path and talking through ethical questions out loud, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. Texas A&M's 2026–27 Timeline, Through TMDSAS Texas A&M's own pages give the May 1 to October 1 window and say selection for interviews begins in July. The rest of the calendar comes from TMDSAS's dental dates for Entry Year 2027, the class that starts in fall 2027, which the college's news office calls the dental Class of 2031, and from the college's own pages and calendar: When. What happens. Whose rule. May 1, 2026. The TMDSAS application became available (8 a.m. CST); Texas A&M's “Earliest date”. TMDSAS; Texas A&M's application page. May 15, 2026.

TMDSAS submission opened (8 a.m. CST). TMDSAS. July 2026. “Selection for interviews begins in July, and this requires a transmitted complete application”. Texas A&M's catalog. By late August 2026. “The Office of Recruitment and Admissions strongly advises that you submit your application by no later than late August”. Texas A&M's catalog. October 1, 2026 (passed). Submission deadline for the dental programs, every section complete and paid for; “TMDSAS does not grant deadline extensions under any circumstances”. TMDSAS; Texas A&M's pages. October 15, 2026. Letters of evaluation “should be uploaded or post-marked by this date”; after it, accepting them is up to each school. TMDSAS. Before December 2026. Take the DAT for the first time; TMDSAS asks you to list planned test dates through December 1, 2026. TMDSAS. December 15, 2026. “Dental schools begin extending offers of acceptance”. TMDSAS; the college's news office. February 5, 2027.

Post-Baccalaureate Program applications due, with all supporting documents. Texas A&M's Post-Baccalaureate Program page. Each spring semester. “Visits to the campus are offered during the spring semester” (the catalog: tours “can be arranged during spring months”). Texas A&M's application page and catalog. March 19, 2027. Post-Baccalaureate Program applicants notified of their status by this date. Texas A&M's Post-Baccalaureate Program page. April 15, 2027. “Dental schools can no longer make offers to applicants holding another seat”. TMDSAS. August 4–5, 2027. Orientation for D1 students, “ATTENDANCE MANDATORY”; the White Coat Ceremony follows on August 6. Texas A&M's approved 2026–2027 academic calendar. The forum's tracker puts Texas A&M's first invitations in mid-July and its first interviews in mid-August in both recent cycles: applicant reports, not the college's words. The college's news office wrote on September 3, 2026 that

"more than 1,200 have applied so far for the next class," citing Janet Pledger, a senior administrative coordinator in student affairs. TMDSAS warns that "Some schools will not extend an interview offer until all letters of evaluation and test scores have been received," and its dental FAQ, a page that still shows 2021–22 dates, says "Typically, interviews for dental schools take place from August to January" and that it is up to each school "whether or not they notify you if you have not been selected for an interview." No match for dental applicants. If you know the medical side of TMDSAS, don't carry its rules over. TMDSAS's Match is for medical applicants: "Only Texas resident medical applicants who have been interviewed by at least one TMDSAS school by the School Rank Preference Deadline will participate in the TMDSAS Match." Its dental calendar has no match or ranking date: dental schools begin extending offers on December 15,

2026, and from April 15, 2027, "Dental schools can no longer make offers to applicants holding another seat." Its dental FAQ (the page with 2021–22 dates) says applicants with offers from more than one dental school must choose one and withdraw from the others "in accordance with the terms of the acceptance (generally this should be within a two week period)." Go by this cycle's calendar and the terms of your offer. The Texas A&M pages we read give no deposit or waitlist process. A second route in: the Post-Baccalaureate Program. Texas A&M's Post-Baccalaureate Program is for applicants who have already applied to its DDS: "A Texas A&M College of Dentistry application must be on file." It takes 16 participants for a summer at the college from May 17, 2027, an academic year of 30 hours of courses at The University of Texas at Dallas, and a second summer, and "Participants who successfully complete the PBP will be admitted to Texas A&M

College of Dentistry." Completing it successfully means meeting the program's own targets, among them a DAT Academic Average of at least 400 on the new 200–600 scale, taken during the program, and a GPA of 3.40 or higher in its UTD courses. Among its rules: you must be "a legal resident of Texas (i.e. U.S. citizen or permanent resident - No Exceptions)," lack no more than one prerequisite, have a bachelor's degree by May 17, 2027, an overall GPA of at least 2.50 and a most recent DAT Academic Average of at least 350 on the new 200–600 scale (or 16 on the old 1–30 scale, the page's own pairing), be "a member of a dentally-underserved population and/or be considered academically or economically disadvantaged," and show strong potential for working with low-income populations or communities with limited access to dental care. Its committee will "select applicants to interview and admit into the program." Apply by February 5, 2027; you'll

hear by March 19. Each participant must secure funds for program-related costs; the page estimates school-related and living expenses for the fall and spring semesters at UTD at $39,000. Not invited, or planning to reapply? Texas A&M says it "gladly provides complete information and counseling for all prospective students." Its advice to re-applicants: "All re-applicants must be enrolled in coursework to be considered as a well-prepared candidate"; it recommends post-baccalaureate coursework in the biological sciences or a one-year master's degree in biomedical sciences; re-applicants should keep shadowing and volunteering during the cycle; and "Working in a dental office alone will not improve the applicant's preparedness." What Texas A&M Looks For Academics come first, and the interview evaluates "noncognitive factors." Beyond grades and the DAT, Texas A&M says "we highly value applicants who are active in community service,

organizational involvement, leadership experiences and who have completed shadowing experiences with a general dentist." It also performs "A comprehensive (whole-file review)" of each application, to reveal "characteristics critical to the practice of dentistry," "factors that indicate success in the dental curriculum that are not evident from academic history or standardized test performance, and potential for future contributions to the dental profession." Its list is the best checklist you have for the interview: Motivation: "Motivation to pursue a career in dentistry." Texas A&M asks applicants to "Evaluate and be able to articulate your skills, abilities, attitudes, etc. to determine if you are motivated to make the commitment required for a career in dentistry." Be ready to say why, in specific terms, and to match what your personal statement says. Time with a general dentist: "Observation or involvement in a dental office or

clinic," on top of the required observation of a general dentist. Have one or two moments from your shadowing that you can describe in detail. Service and leadership: "Involvement in community service" and "Leadership positions held in societies or organizations." The catalog tells applicants to "take advantage of opportunities for community service and develop people skills and empathy for others," and in September 2026 Dr. Spence told the college's news office, "Volunteering experiences, dental shadowing, and a strong record of leadership are also important." Your path and what shaped it: "Employment while attending college," "Preparation to attend and succeed in post-secondary education," "Applicant is first college attendee in his/her immediate family" and "History of extreme hardship." The catalog adds "the applicant’s ability to contribute to a highly qualified class, including their socioeconomic background, talents, life skills,

experiences, and special attributes" and the "effect of parents’ educational background on student's success." If your record needs context, have a short, honest account ready. Where you come from in Texas: "Region of Texas in which applicant resides. Ideally, all regions are represented by the student body," and "Residence in a Texas county designated as underserved by dental health professionals." In 2025 Dr. Spence told the news office that students "will go back to all these areas of Texas that need them." Know where you want to practice, and why. Communication and languages: "Communication capabilities including writing (as evidenced in personal statement) and conversational English proficiency," and "Multilingual capabilities." The essential functions ask students to "communicate effectively with patients," including to "explain alternative solutions." Practice explaining something technical in plain words. Summer programs and

letters: "Involvement in a summer pre-dental preparatory program" and "Letters of evaluation" are on the list too. Texas A&M runs its own Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Programs. Hand skills: Texas A&M advises applicants to "Participate in activities to improve manual dexterity" (the catalog adds "and critical thinking abilities"). Be ready to describe something you have made or fixed with your hands. Professionalism: the essential functions say students "must uphold the integrity of the dental profession by demonstrating competence, fairness, responsibility, and respect," and expect them to "complete their own lab work and exams" and to "be ethical and honest in all treatment decisions." They also ask for "mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients" and the ability "to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress." The Aggie Core Values. Texas A&M's core values are respect, excellence,

leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service, and its news office wrote of the Class of 2030's White Coat Ceremony, "The white coat represents core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service." Its values page describes integrity, in part, this way: "We honor and follow through on commitments and expectations, holding ourselves and others accountable for our actions, behaviors and outcomes." Have a story ready for at least two of the six. The best Why Texas A&M material is in its community clinics and its houses. Texas A&M's first-year curriculum integrates "Biomedical Sciences, Pre-clinical and Clinical Dentistry," and an Ethical Practice course appears in every year of the plan of study. Its students "engage in clinical rotations and volunteer-based experiences at affiliated community clinics," including the Dr. M.C. Cooper Dental Clinic in South Dallas, "a free clinic model in which

general dentistry services are provided at no charge to eligible patients," named after "Texas’ first Black dentist." Its community-based sealant program "places more than 3,500 dental sealants and serves over 2,500 children" a year, its students and faculty take part in the Texas Mission of Mercy, and in elective preceptorships third- and fourth-year students "complete their rotations in private practices and community clinics across Texas." Its Great Expectations program "divides the dental classes into academic houses" for mentoring and support. Student groups include the Hispanic Student Dental Association, the Student National Dental Association and the Student Professionalism & Ethics Association in Dentistry, and accepted students can apply separately to the integrated DDS/PhD. 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. Texas A&M does

not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? Texas A&M's transfer route is only for students who "have attended or be attending a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association," and the pages we read describe no DDS program for dentists trained abroad; compare the programs that admit them in our CAAPID program finder . ); }; export default TexasAMDentalSchoolInterview; texas-am-dental-school-interview Texas A&M University College of Dentistry Texas A&M Texas A&M Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- TMDSAS Interview & Requirements Texas A&M Dental School DDS 2026-27 Texas A&M DDS guide from its pages and a required Admissions Committee interview selection from July a free secondary. Oct 1 deadline passed. Texas A&M dental school interview Texas A&M College of Dentistry interview TAMU dental school interview Texas A&M DDS requirements Texas A&M dental school requirements Texas A&M dental secondary

application Texas A&M College of Dentistry admissions TMDSAS dental school interview 2026-10-07 2026-10-07 Domestic Program Interview with the Admissions Committee (format not published) Texas A&M requires an interview with its Admissions Committee by invitation and uses it to evaluate noncognitive factors; selection for interviews begins in July. You apply through TMDSAS and complete a free secondary application. Here is what the college and TMDSAS publish what applicants report and how to prepare. Texas A&M says “All applicants must apply through the TMDSAS” and also complete its secondary application and its catalog says “The interview with the Admissions Committee gives the opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors.” Degree DDS (four years including three summer sessions) Dallas Texas Application TMDSAS for all applicants plus Texas A&M s secondary application (no fee) Interview Required; by invitation with the Admissions

Committee What It Evaluates The catalog s “evaluation of noncognitive factors” Interview Setting Not published (a public forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists in person) Interviews Selection begins in July; no end month published Deadline October 1 2026 through TMDSAS (passed) Offers Dental schools begin extending offers December 15 2026 (TMDSAS); no match for dental applicants CASPer / Kira Not on Texas A&M s DDS pages; TMDSAS names no dental school for CASPer 2026 Entering Class 106 seats; 1 463 applications GPA / DAT GPA 3.87 overall 3.84 science; DAT Academic Average 22 on the old 1–30 scale (our the page names no scale); 2026 entering class Residency Strong preference for Texas residents; no more than 10% non-residents under Texas law Shadowing Observation of a general dentist required; no minimum hours published Citizenship Texas A&M considers only US citizens or legal permanent residents

requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What Texas A&M Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline Texas A&M s Timeline Through TMDSAS 2 what-texas-am-looks-for What Texas A&M 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. Texas A&M does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it weighs. Its pages don t say whether your interviewers will have read your application so build a 90-second answer that works either who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and why Texas A&M is the next step. Why dentistry? The first item on Texas A&M s whole-file review list is “Motivation to pursue a career in

dentistry.” It also asks applicants to “Evaluate and be able to articulate your skills abilities attitudes etc. to determine if you are motivated to make the commitment required for a career in dentistry.” Anchor your answer in something specific you saw while observing a general dentist which Texas A&M requires and make sure it fits your TMDSAS personal statement. Why Texas A&M? Use what the college says about founded in Dallas in 1905 as State Dental College; students who rotate through affiliated community clinics including the free Dr. M.C. Cooper Dental Clinic in South Dallas; a sealant program that serves over 2 500 children a year; and the Great Expectations academic houses. Connect one of them to how you want to learn or whom you want to serve; the name alone is not a reason. Where in Texas do you want to practice and whom do you want to serve? Texas A&M s whole-file review weighs the “Region of Texas in which applicant resides

” “Residence in a Texas county designated as underserved by dental health professionals” and “Multilingual capabilities.” Give a specific honest answer about where and whom and why; don t promise more than you mean. Behavioral Tell me about a challenge that affected your studies and what you did about it. Texas A&M says “Consideration of any factors that may have impacted academic or personal history is important in interview selection and final acceptance decisions.” Its whole-file review includes “History of extreme hardship” and “Employment while attending college.” Explain what happened briefly and honestly then spend most of your answer on what you did and what changed. Describe a leadership role and what you accomplished in it. Texas A&M s whole-file review weighs “Leadership positions held in societies or organizations ” and in September 2026 its director of recruitment and admissions told the college s news office that “a strong

record of leadership” matters too. Pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome not just a title and say what changed because of you. Tell me about your community service. What did it teach you? Texas A&M lists “Involvement in community service” in its whole-file review and its catalog tells applicants to “take advantage of opportunities for community service and develop people skills and empathy for others.” Pick one experience say what you did and whom it served and what it taught you about people. How have you developed your hand skills? Texas A&M advises applicants to “Participate in activities to improve manual dexterity ” and its essential functions call for “sufficient dexterity to manipulate dental equipment appropriately.” Describe one activity that demanded precision with your what you made or did and how you got better at it. Ethical / Scenario You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? Texas A&M s

essential functions say students “must uphold the integrity of the dental profession by demonstrating competence fairness responsibility and respect” and are expected to “complete their own lab work and exams.” Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust you. A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? Texas A&M s Dr. M.C. Cooper Dental Clinic provides general dentistry services “at no charge to eligible patients ” and its community outreach office “supports access to subsidized dental care” for clinic patients who can t afford or complete their care. Acknowledge the patient without judgment explore legitimate options such as phased treatment or a community clinic and never lower the standard of care. Show your reasoning; a question like this rarely has a single right answer. A nervous patient doesn t understand the treatment you re

recommending. How do you handle it? Texas A&M s essential functions ask students to “explain alternative solutions” to patients and to build “mature sensitive and effective relationships with patients.” Check what the patient understands explain the options in plain words answer their worries and go ahead only with their informed consent. You make a mistake that affects a patient. What do you do? Texas A&M expects students to “be ethical and honest in all treatment decisions ” and its Aggie Core Value of integrity includes “holding ourselves and others accountable for our actions behaviors and outcomes.” Say that you would tell your supervising faculty right away be honest with the patient put their care first and learn from it. Finish the secondary application as soon as its email arrives Texas A&M emails every applicant an invitation to its required secondary application once it has received the TMDSAS application. There is no fee and

“The application for admission is not complete until the secondary application is submitted.” TMDSAS says secondary applications “should be completed as soon as you submit your TMDSAS application.” Be ready to explain your path not just your numbers Texas A&M names GPA and the DAT “the primary factors” in judging academic achievement and says “The interview with the Admissions Committee gives the opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors.” Factors that affected your academic or personal history matter in “interview selection and final acceptance decisions ” so reread your TMDSAS essays and secondary and have a short honest account of anything in your record that needs context. Know TMDSAS s rules for interview day TMDSAS s Code of Professionalism which its member schools “acknowledge and embrace ” says applicants “are considered to be under evaluation throughout the entire interview day including breaks between interviews or

sessions.” Respond to your invitation promptly dress for a professional school interview attend alone and if you must cancel call the school then email. Go in ready to talk about general dentistry Texas A&M says “Observation in the office of a general dentist is required ” and its whole-file review weighs “Observation or involvement in a dental office or clinic.” Be ready to describe specific moments from your what the dentist did how patients responded and what it taught you about the work. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years including three summer sessions; fall start (in August); Dallas Texas Application TMDSAS for all applicants between May 1 and October 1 of the year before you start; Texas A&M s secondary application emailed once your TMDSAS application arrives with no fee Deadline October 1 2026 (passed); letters of evaluation by October 15 2026 (TMDSAS) TMDSAS fee $235 a flat fee by credit card only with no fee

waivers (TMDSAS); Texas A&M s application page still says $230; plan on $235 Interview Required; by invitation with the Admissions Committee scheduled by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions; selection for interviews begins in July; setting length and format not published What the interview is for The catalog s “evaluation of noncognitive factors”; factors that affected your academic or personal history count in interview selection 2026 entering class 106 seats; 1 463 applications GPA 2026 entering class 3.87 average overall 3.84 average science DAT 2026 entering class Academic Average 22 on the old 1–30 scale (the page names no scale) Acceptance rate Not published; Texas A&M publishes applications and seats not offers Minimum GPA or DAT None on the pages we read; the catalog asks for a GPA “as high as possible” and says “admission is competitive” DAT Required; take it in the spring or summer before you apply with a 60-day wait

before a retake; taken in 2022 or later and for the first time before December 2026 Prerequisites Biology 18 semester hours (minimum 15 lecture and 3 formal lab including anatomy with lab physiology and microbiology) general chemistry 8 organic chemistry 8 physics 8 biochemistry 3 English 6 statistics 3; undergraduate courses for science majors C or better no pass/fail; TMDSAS s general dental plan adds labs with general chemistry organic chemistry and take them and confirm with admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu College hours At least 90 semester hours (134 quarter hours); a bachelor s degree recommended Shadowing Observation in a general dentist s office required; no minimum hours published Letters Through TMDSAS. Texas A&M s catalog asks for letters “from practicing dentist and health professional advisor or committee should include two science professors”; three letters one from a dentist or a committee letter or packet with a dentist s

letter CASPer / Kira Not on Texas A&M s DDS pages; TMDSAS s CASPer list names no dental school Residency Strong preference for Texas residents; under Texas law no more than 10% of the entering class can be non-Texas residents; TMDSAS decides residency Citizenship TMDSAS lists Texas A&M among schools that consider only US citizens or legal permanent residents while Texas A&M s catalog has an “International Requirements” row in its DDS admission table. Go by TMDSAS s rule and confirm with admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu Offers Dental schools begin extending offers December 15 2026; from April 15 2027 they can no longer make offers to applicants holding another seat (TMDSAS) Orientation D1 orientation August 4–5 2027 attendance mandatory (approved 2026–2027 academic calendar) Post-Baccalaureate Program For DDS applicants who qualify; applications due February 5 2027; participants who successfully complete it which includes meeting its own

DAT and GPA targets are admitted What to have in place Every prerequisite at the undergraduate level in courses for science majors with a C or better (no pass/fail) and none planned for Summer Session 2 of 2027 At least 90 semester hours (134 quarter hours); a bachelor s degree is recommended A DAT taken in 2022 or later ideally in the spring or summer before you apply with 60 days between attempts Observation in a general dentist s office plus community service and leadership Letters through TMDSAS including one from a practicing dentist Apply (TMDSAS s calendar; the 2026–27 deadline has passed) The TMDSAS application opens May 1 and accepts submissions from May 15; Texas A&M strongly advises submitting by late August Submit every section with the $235 fee by October 1 Complete Texas A&M s secondary application when its email arrives; there is no fee Have your letters uploaded or post-marked by October 15 Release your DAT scores

through the ADA to at least one of the dental schools you apply to TMDSAS warns that “Some schools will not extend an interview offer until all letters of evaluation and test scores have been received” If you are invited Respond promptly and if you must cancel call the school and then email Read the invitation for the date setting and Texas A&M doesn t publish them Reread your TMDSAS essays and your secondary application Prepare a Why Texas A&M answer an ethical dilemma to talk through and your own questions Hard dates October 1 TMDSAS deadline (passed) October 15 letters of evaluation December 1 the last planned DAT date TMDSAS asks you to list December 15 dental schools begin extending offers February 5 Post-Baccalaureate Program applications due April 15 dental schools can no longer make offers to applicants holding another seat August 4–5 D1 orientation (attendance mandatory) What is the Texas A&M dental school interview format?

Texas A&M doesn t publish it. Its 2026–2027 catalog says “An interview is required. The applicant may be asked to come for an interview with the Admissions Committee ” that “Interviews are scheduled by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions ” and that “The interview with the Admissions Committee gives the opportunity for evaluation of noncognitive factors.” Selection for interviews begins in July. None of its DDS pages says whether the interview is in person or virtual how long it lasts how many people interview you or what is asked. A public forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists Texas A&M s interviews as in person in 2025–26 and 2026–27; go by your invitation. Is the Texas A&M dental interview virtual or in person? Texas A&M s pages don t say. Its catalog says applicants “may be asked to come for an interview with the Admissions Committee ” without naming a setting. A public forum s invite

tracker lists Texas A&M s interviews as in person in both recent cycles with first interview dates of 13 August 2025 and 12 August applicant reports not the college s words. Go by your invitation. If it is virtual TMDSAS s Code of Professionalism asks you to keep your camera on to be “in a private quiet space free of distractions” and to attend alone. Does Texas A&M use the MMI? Texas A&M s pages describe no MMI multiple mini interviews or they describe “an interview with the Admissions Committee” that evaluates “noncognitive factors.” They don t call it one-on-one or a panel either or say how many interviewers you will meet. No post in a public forum s 2025–26 or 2026–27 Texas A&M threads describes the format and TMDSAS s Code of Professionalism bars applicants from sharing “restricted information about interview formats questions or internal evaluation criteria.” Prepare to talk about your whole application your path and the general

dentist you observed. Do I apply to Texas A&M through TMDSAS or AADSAS? TMDSAS the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service. Texas A&M s application page says “All applicants must apply through the TMDSAS ” and its pages describe no AADSAS route. Applications run from May 1 to October 1 of the year before you start so the 2026–27 deadline October 1 2026 has passed. TMDSAS charges a flat $235 for one to four Texas dental schools by credit card only (Texas A&M s application page still says $230). Every applicant also completes Texas A&M s secondary application emailed once your TMDSAS application arrives with no fee. TMDSAS s Match is for medical applicants dental schools begin extending offers on December 15 2026. Does Texas A&M require a secondary application CASPer or Kira? A secondary application yes; CASPer and Kira aren t on its pages. Texas A&M says “All applicants will receive an emailed invitation to complete the

required Secondary Application once their TMDSAS Application has been received by the Office of Recruitment and Admissions ” charges no fee for it and says “The application for admission is not complete until the secondary application is submitted.” Its DDS admissions pages its admissions FAQ and its catalog s DDS admission pages don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or a similar assessment and TMDSAS s list of schools that require CASPer names no dental school (the Texas A&M school on it is the College of Veterinary Medicine). What GPA and DAT do I need for Texas A&M dental school? The pages we read give no minimum GPA or DAT score; the catalog asks for a GPA “as high as possible” and says “admission is competitive.” Texas A&M s admissions page reports a 3.87 average overall GPA a 3.84 average science GPA and a DAT Academic Average of 22 for its 2026 entering dental class alongside 1 463 applications and 106 seats. The 22 is on the

old 1–30 the page names no scale and the DAT has used a 200–600 scale since March 2025. Texas A&M gives no conversion and we don t make one. It publishes no acceptance rate. Does Texas A&M accept out-of-state applicants? Within limits. Texas A&M says “Strong preference is given to legal residents of Texas. Under Texas law no more than 10% of the entering dental class can be made up of non-Texas residents ” and “Preference is given to residents of Texas and the surrounding states which do not have a college of dentistry ” without naming those states; a May 2025 story by its news office written for last cycle named Arkansas and New Mexico and its 2026 stories don t. Go by the stricter if you live outside Texas in Arkansas or New Mexico too expect no preference and ask admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu whether your state counts. Texas A&M says residency for admission “is determined by TMDSAS ” and TMDSAS lists Texas A&M among the schools that

“will only review and consider for admissions applicants who are U.S. citizens or legal Permanent Residents of the U.S.” Ask admissions-dentistry@tamu.edu if your status is different. How many shadowing hours does Texas A&M require? The pages we read set no minimum number of hours but shadowing a general dentist is “Observation in the office of a general dentist is required ” and the application page calls shadowing with a general dentist “a required component of the application.” The whole-file review also weighs “Observation or involvement in a dental office or clinic ” and one of your TMDSAS letters must come from a dentist. In September 2026 Texas A&M s director of recruitment and admissions told the college s news office “Volunteering experiences dental shadowing and a strong record of leadership are also important.” OU (Oklahoma) Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Oklahoma OU conducts interviews September–November and

publishes no format; it lists a minimum DAT of 16 in each section on the old 1–30 scale with 200–600 equivalents. Its September 30 deadline has passed. Domestic Program /schools/oklahoma-dental-school-interview UTHealth Houston Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Also in UTHealth Houston requires an interview before a final decision conducted by an Admissions Committee member or designee and scored by the interviewing committee member. Domestic Program /schools/uthealth-houston-dental-school-interview Ohio State Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Another school that doesn t publish its interview Ohio State interviews by invitation in October and November and communicates offers on or after December 15. Domestic Program /schools/ohio-state-dental-school-interview UNC Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Also an Admissions Committee UNC s catalog says selected applicants are invited “to the school for a series of personal interviews with

our Admissions Committee ” and UNC plans in-person interviews for 2026–27 between September and November. Domestic Program /schools/unc-dental-school-interview