UCSF Dental Requirements, Class Profile & Interview 2026

Q: Is the UCSF interview closed file?

UCSF doesn't use the term, but its interview page says “To ensure a fair and holistic evaluation, interviewers do not have access to your written application.” So neither your faculty interviewer nor your student interviewer will have read your AADSAS application, personal statement or supplemental answers. Be ready to introduce yourself and tell your own stories, with specific examples, from the first question.

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

Both: the faculty interview is on Zoom, and you can take the student interview on Zoom or in person on campus. The in-person option adds a campus tour and lunch with student club leaders; both student options include the 30-minute writing exercise. UCSF encourages public transit for in-person interviews and doesn't provide housing for interviewees. A public forum's invite tracker lists UCSF's method as “Both” for 2025–26 and 2026–27.

Q: What is the UCSF writing exercise?

UCSF's interview page lists “a 30-minute writing exercise” in both student-interview options, virtual and in person. It doesn't publish the prompt or say how the exercise is used. In a public applicant forum's UCSF threads for the last three cycles, the only mention is one 2024–25 applicant's question about “the writing portions.” Practice writing a clear, organized answer to an open question within 30 minutes, and follow the instructions in your invitation.

Q: When does UCSF interview, and when are decisions made?

UCSF's undated international coursework page says “interviews are held October through January,” but a public forum's invite tracker, compiled by a volunteer from applicants' reports, lists first interviews on 18 September in both 2025 and 2026, after first invitations on 11 September 2025 and 14 September 2026. UCSF says “Admissions offers are made between December and March in accordance with an agreement among dental schools.” On the forum, applicants reported acceptances by phone or text on 13 December 2024 and 15 December 2025.

Q: Does UCSF prefer California residents?

No, and UCSF says so directly. Asked “Do you give preference to California residents?”, its DDS FAQ answers: “No, we do not give preference to California residents.” Its Class of 2029 was 71% from California, 26% out of state and 3% international, and UCSF doesn't explain the mix. Its technical standards say its mission as “a California public institution” is “to educate the dental workforce for the State of California, understanding students may choose to practice in other locations,” and its 2027–2028 financial aid guide adds $12,245 a year in supplemental tuition for non-residents.

Q: What GPA and DAT do I need for UCSF dental school?

There is no minimum: “The School of Dentistry has removed minimum requirements for GPA and DAT scores.” UCSF's Class of 2029 averaged a 3.78 cumulative GPA (range 3.11–4.00) and 3.72 in science (range 2.87–4.00), with DAT averages of 23.1 Academic Average and 23.2 Total Science on the old 1–30 scale. Since March 2025 the ADA reports every DAT score to AADSAS on a 200–600 scale; on the ADA's concordance table an old Academic Average of 23 is about 470, a conversion of a single score, not a UCSF figure. UCSF's DDS pages publish no acceptance rate.

Q: What are UCSF's supplemental questions?

UCSF has no separate secondary: its questions are in the UCSF section of ADEA AADSAS. For 2026–27 there were two, “What is important to you in selecting a dental school? How will you make your decision about which school to attend?” and “Why do you want to join the UCSF community? Please state briefly how you will contribute to the UCSF School of Dentistry.” (1,500 characters each), plus an optional 5,000-character space for “anything additional that you believe is relevant to your application for admission.” Your interviewers won't have read your answers.

UCSF DDS requirements from UCSF's own pages: prerequisites, the Class of 2029's DAT and GPA, no California preference, and its two one-on-one interviews.

UCSF interviews about 200 applicants a year in two one-on-one interviews, with a faculty member on Zoom and a current student on Zoom or in person, plus a 30-minute writing exercise, and its interviewers don't see your written application. Here is what UCSF publishes, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> UCSF DDS Requirements and Class Profile The UCSF School of Dentistry in San Francisco was founded in 1881, and it says its DDS program "is part of one of the nation's leading health-science centers." The DDS is a four-year pathway; UCSF also runs a three-year International Dentist Pathway (IDP) that "joins the DDS curriculum in the second year." You apply through ADEA AADSAS, answer UCSF's supplemental questions in the UCSF section of that application (there is no separate secondary), and pay a non-refundable $75 UCSF fee. This cycle's deadline, October 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, has passed. Two things UCSF states

plainly are worth knowing first. UCSF does not prefer California residents. Asked "Do you give preference to California residents?", UCSF's DDS FAQ answers: "No, we do not give preference to California residents." For California residency rules it points to the UCSF Registrar's website. Its Class of 2029 was 71% in state (California), 26% out of state and 3% international, and UCSF doesn't explain the mix. Two other UCSF lines are worth knowing if you live elsewhere. Its technical standards say, "As a California public institution, our mission is to educate the dental workforce for the State of California, understanding students may choose to practice in other locations." And its 2027–2028 financial aid guide, which estimates first-year tuition and fees at $66,893 (tentative), adds: "Non-residents have additional annual supplemental tuition of $12,245." The second: UCSF has no GPA or DAT minimum. Its admissions policies say "The School

of Dentistry has removed minimum requirements for GPA and DAT scores," that its Admissions Committee "employs holistic review," and that "All applicants who submit a complete application will be fully evaluated for admission." UCSF points applicants to its class profile "to get a sense of the profile of successful applicants." This is what it reports: Class of 2029 profile Figure. Class of 2029 (UCSF's class profile). Undergraduate GPA, cumulative. 3.78 average (range 3.11–4.00). Undergraduate GPA, cumulative science. 3.72 average (range 2.87–4.00). DAT Academic Average. 23.1 average (range 18–28), on the old 1–30 scale. DAT Total Science. 23.2 average (range 18–30), on the old 1–30 scale. Geographic background. 71% in state (California), 26% out of state, 3% international. From historically underrepresented groups. 37% (the DDS page's Class of 2029 panel). UCSF publishes the ranges as well as the averages: the class included cumulative

GPAs from 3.11 and science GPAs from 2.87. It hasn't posted figures for the Class of 2030, which began in the 2026 academic year. Other UCSF pages give undated averages: its How to Apply page puts the entering class's DAT averages at "approximately 23 in both Academic Average and Total Science," and its FAQ says "The average GPA for incoming students is 3.6" and that the average DAT is "around 22 in both" sections. Go by the dated Class of 2029 figures. Which DAT scale are 23.1 and 23.2 on?. The old 1–30 scale. Every DAT figure on the UCSF pages we read is on it: 23.1 and 23.2 for the Class of 2029, "approximately 23" and "around 22" elsewhere. The ADA replaced that scale with a 200–600 scale on 1 March 2025, and it now reports every DAT score to AADSAS on the new scale, converting older attempts. So your scores reach UCSF as three-digit numbers, while the UCSF pages we read give no three-digit average. To compare, the ADA's concordance

table converts an old Academic Average of 23 to about 470 and an old 22 to about 460; for the Survey of Natural Sciences (the section UCSF's figures call Total Science), an old 23 converts to about 480 and an old 22 to about 460. Those are the ADA's conversions of a single score, not figures UCSF publishes, and we don't convert UCSF's averages themselves. On the acceptance rate you will find quoted elsewhere. The UCSF DDS pages we read publish no acceptance rate, entering class size or applicant count, so we don't compute a rate. The only admissions ratio on the UCSF pages we read is "1 in 18 applicants admitted," in a school fact sheet whose every page is stamped "All figures as of 2019" and which doesn't say which programs it covers. A September 2026 UCSF news story counts ninety students at this year's White Coat Ceremony, but that is the DDS Class of 2030 and the International Dentist Pathway's Class of 2029 together, not a DDS

class size. Prerequisite coursework UCSF lists quarter units first. Both are given below as UCSF gives them, with the letters its prerequisites page uses. Requirement. Quarter units. Semester units. What UCSF specifies. a. English. 8. 6. Two courses in English composition; ESL, scientific, professional, technical and creative writing classes don't count. b. Inorganic (general) chemistry. 12. 8. A minimum of three quarters or two semesters, with laboratory. c. Organic chemistry. 8. 4. A minimum of two quarters or one semester, with laboratory. d. Biochemistry. 4. 3. Must be taken at a four-year institution (no lab named). e. Physics. 12. 8. A minimum of three quarters or two semesters, with laboratory. f. Biological sciences. 12. 8. One year of general biology or zoology with laboratory, designed for science majors; vertebrate zoology strongly recommended; anatomy, botany or elementary courses of a descriptive nature don't count. g.

Psychology. 4. 3. General psychology. h. Social sciences, humanities or foreign language. 16. 11. In addition to English (a) and psychology (g). i. Electives. 63. 42. To reach the total; recommended: embryology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, genetics, statistics. Total college coursework. 139. 93. Minimum, excluding repeats and nontransferable courses. Grades: "A minimum grade of C– is required in prerequisites “a–g”" (English, the sciences and psychology), and the FAQ adds, "You must retake any prerequisite in which you earned below a C–." The FAQ words the rule as "all prerequisite courses," so earn a C– or better in every one. Where: units must come from an accredited U.S. or English-speaking Canadian institution; at least 43 quarter (29 semester) units from a four-year institution, and up to 96 quarter (64 semester) units may come from a community college. When: "All prerequisite courses must be completed by Sept 1 of your

matriculation year" (September 1, 2027, this cycle). The admissions policies say they "need not be completed at the time of application," but the prerequisites page says they "should be completed before taking the DAT and submitting an application," and the catalog recommends the same. The FAQ advises having most of the science courses done before the DAT. AP and IB: "Coursework is preferred, but AP exams may partially fulfill prerequisites." A 3–5 on AP General Chemistry, Biology or Physics B earns 8 quarter units, with one 4-unit course with lab still required; a 4 or 5 on AP English Language or Literature covers the whole English requirement, and a 3–5 on AP Psychology covers psychology. IB Higher Level scores of 5, 6 or 7 earn 8 quarter units, with a lab course still required in chemistry, biology and physics. Online and pass/fail: online courses are accepted "if taken during or after the start of the pandemic" from an accredited

U.S. or English-speaking Canadian institution, and pass/fail grades for courses taken during the COVID-19 pandemic ("graded coursework preferred when available"). Recency and load: UCSF encourages applying "within five years of completing their science prerequisites," recommends "a full academic load (15–16 credit hours per semester)" with "at least two to three science courses each term," and highly recommends biology courses such as microbiology and human anatomy; physiology, embryology and histology are "Other useful courses." Degree and major: a bachelor's degree isn't required: "Approximately 98% of those accepted to UCSF have earned a bachelor's degree before matriculation." Any major works, though UCSF recommends extra upper-division science for non-science majors. One wrinkle: the FAQ's definition of "Provisional Admit" lists "the receipt of your final transcript with degree posted," so if you won't hold a degree, ask admissions

how that applies to you. Three letters, through AADSAS, by October 1: from a college science professor; a dentist, adviser, researcher or mentor; and one from an individual of your choice. A composite letter from a pre-professional health advisory committee may replace the three. The FAQ adds, "The strongest letters come from recommenders who know you well." Shadowing and research: "No minimum is required, but we recommend at least 100 hours" of dental volunteering or shadowing, and "No, research experience is not required." Technical standards and disclosure: admitted students affirm that they can meet UCSF's technical standards "with or without accommodations," and candidates must disclose "any felony offense(s), misdemeanor offense(s), and institutional action(s)," including expunged and diverted offenses. Everyone offered provisional admission completes a criminal background check "prior to final admissions decisions." Coursework

abroad: for coursework from colleges outside the U.S. and English-speaking Canada that doesn't appear on a U.S. or English-speaking Canadian transcript, UCSF asks for a WES or ECE course-by-course evaluation; if you are invited to interview, you must also have official transcripts from all international institutions sent directly to UCSF before your interview date. UCSF financial aid "is available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents." The DAT, as UCSF words it U.S. DAT only, no minimum score. Asked whether Canadian DAT scores are acceptable, UCSF answers "No. All applicants must take the U.S. DAT." The minimum was removed along with the GPA minimum. Take it by September 1. UCSF's recommended timeline is to take the DAT "no later than September 1" so your scores arrive by the October 1 deadline: applications without DAT scores by then "will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed." Sit it after the core sciences. "You

should complete courses in biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry before taking the exam." Attempts are visible. "The ADA allows up to three attempts," and "Your most recent scores are considered, but all prior attempts are visible during the review process." No waiting for a retake. UCSF won't hold your application for new scores: "If your application includes valid DAT scores, it will enter review using your current scores." How old can your DAT be? UCSF's pages word it two ways. The How to Apply page says "Test scores are valid for two years. For the 2027 admission cycle, scores must be dated no earlier than January 1, 2024," and the 2026–2027 catalog gives the same date for "the 2026-2027 admission cycle." The FAQ says "DAT scores are valid for two years from the start of the admissions cycle." January 1, 2024 is more than two years before this cycle opened, so the two readings differ for a test taken in the first months

of 2024 (our arithmetic). Plan on the stricter one, a score no more than two years old when the cycle you apply in opens, and if yours is older, confirm with admissions.ucsfdental@ucsf.edu before relying on it. CASPer, Kira or an MMI?. None appears on the UCSF DDS pages we read: its DDS page and FAQ, How to Apply, prerequisites, admissions policies, technical standards, class profile, interview candidates and international coursework pages, and the DDS page of its 2026–2027 catalog. What UCSF does ask for is AADSAS with its supplemental questions, transcripts, the DAT, three letters and the $75 fee, and, if you are invited, two interviews and a 30-minute writing exercise. UCSF's admissions email is admissions.ucsfdental@ucsf.edu. Its FAQ says the Office of Admissions & Outreach "does not provide application status updates via email or over the phone," and that the school "does not offer individual counseling" to prospective students:

check your status in AADSAS, and take general advice to a pre-health advisor. The UCSF Interview: What the School Says UCSF's FAQ says "Interviews are by invitation only and are required for admission," that "an interview invitation does not guarantee acceptance," and that "Approximately 200 applicants are interviewed each year." Its catalog lists "participation in one or more interviews" among what the Admissions Committee considers. The detail is on its DDS Interview Candidates page, which is undated and names no cycle, so where your invitation says something different, follow the invitation. Two one-on-one interviews: a faculty member and a current student Two interviews, both required. "You will complete two interviews—one with faculty and one with a current student—which are evaluated by members of the Admissions Committee." And: "You must complete both interviews—faculty and student—to advance in the review process. Missing either

interview indicates withdrawal of interest, and your application will be removed from consideration." A faculty member, on Zoom. "You'll participate in a one-on-one Zoom interview with a faculty member on a date and time you select. Please refer to your email invitation for instructions on choosing your slot." A current student, on Zoom or in person. The virtual option is "A one-on-one Zoom interview and a 30-minute writing exercise, offered on select dates." The in-person option is "A one-on-one interview with a current student, plus an on-campus experience that includes a campus tour, a 30-minute writing exercise, and lunch with student club leaders." The same four competencies, from both. "Each interviewer assesses four key competencies": motivation; self-awareness; problem-solving and critical thinking; and collaboration, teamwork, and leadership. UCSF doesn't say how long either interview lasts or what is asked. Because both

interviews are required and both interviewers assess the same four competencies, prepare for the student interview as seriously as for the faculty one. Your interviewers won't have read your application "To ensure a fair and holistic evaluation, interviewers do not have access to your written application." UCSF doesn't use the term, but this is what is usually called a closed-file interview: nothing you wrote in AADSAS, your personal statement or your supplemental answers will be in front of the faculty member or the student. The stories you want them to hear have to come from you. Prepare a short introduction that stands on its own, and for each of the four competencies, one specific example you can tell in a minute or two. The 30-minute writing exercise Both student-interview options include "a 30-minute writing exercise." UCSF doesn't publish the prompt, say what the exercise is used for, or say how it is evaluated. In a public

applicant forum's UCSF threads for the last three cycles, the only mention is one 2024–25 applicant's question, posted on 2 November 2024: "what writing structure would guys suggest for the writing portions?" No one in the thread described the prompt. Practice writing a clear, organized answer to an open question within 30 minutes, and follow the instructions in your invitation. Interview day: on Zoom, or on campus You choose your slots. The faculty interview is at "a date and time you select," following the instructions in your email invitation, and the virtual student option is "offered on select dates." UCSF doesn't say whether the two fall on the same day. One 2025–26 applicant reported an in-person student interview on 20 October and a Zoom interview on 23 October. In person. The on-campus option adds "a campus tour, a 30-minute writing exercise, and lunch with student club leaders." UCSF encourages you "to take public transit when

possible" and points to the UCSF Transportation and UCSF Parking websites; its page doesn't name the campus. "No, housing is not provided for interviewees." Virtual slots can run out. On 1 October 2025 one applicant posted: "There are no available spots left for the virtual interview option and I cannot make the in-person option." Book as soon as your invitation arrives, and if no option works, ask admissions.ucsfdental@ucsf.edu. October through January, or September?. UCSF's undated international coursework page, which tells invited applicants to send official transcripts from any international institution "prior to the interview date," adds "(interviews are held October through January)." The forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports, lists UCSF's first interviews on 18 September in both of the last two cycles. Don't wait for October: answer your invitation and book your slots as soon as it arrives.

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 UCSF's words: This cycle (2026–27): the tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, lists UCSF's first invitations on 14 September and first interviews on 18 September with faculty and 28 September with a student, with the method given as "Both" (in person and virtual). As of 8 October 2026, the forum's UCSF thread for this cycle held only its opening post. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker listed first invitations on 11 September 2025 and first interviews on 18 and 25 September, "Both." That day the volunteer who compiles the tracker posted in the UCSF thread, "UCSF sent out interviews today," and "There are 2 required interviews. First interview is virtual with faculty, second interview can be an in-person or virtual student interview." One out-of-state applicant, invited by email

on 6 October, listed an in-person student interview on 20 October and a Zoom interview on 23 October. Another poster wrote on 5 November that UCSF "sent a few more invites yesterday," and one applicant posted on 15 December 2025: "Accepted via phone at 8:58 am PST!" 2024–25: applicants reported invitations from 9 September to 7 November 2024; the two applicants invited on 7 November both listed "Virtual." On 13 December 2024 one wrote, "Accepted! 8am through text (missed the call)." No post in these threads describes the questions or how long the interviews last. What UCSF doesn't publish. How long either interview lasts, what is asked, the writing exercise's prompt and how it is used, whether your two interviews fall on the same day, which campus hosts in-person interviews, when invitations go out, and how soon decisions follow an interview. UCSF says only that "Admissions offers are made between December and March in accordance with

an agreement among dental schools." Because your interviewers won't have read your application, be ready to tell your own story, with examples, from the first question. Practice Your UCSF Answers Out Loud. UCSF's two one-on-one interviews, with a faculty member on Zoom and a current student, assess motivation, self-awareness, problem-solving and critical thinking, and collaboration, teamwork and leadership, and your interviewers won't have read your application. Practice telling your story out loud, as you would on a video call, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. UCSF's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline When. What UCSF says. May 9 and June 1, 2026. AADSAS opened for entering information on May 9 and for submission on June 1 (its FAQ: available “mid-May” and submitted “in early June”). First Wednesday of each month, 1:30–2:45 p.m. Pacific. Campus tours, booked through UCSF's online calendar. By

September 1, 2026. Take the DAT (UCSF's recommended timeline), so your scores reach it by the deadline. October 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern. AADSAS deadline; transcripts, letters and DAT scores due at AADSAS by the same date. “Late applications will not be considered.” This date has passed.. About 4–6 weeks after you submit. UCSF typically receives your AADSAS application and confirms receipt by email. October 2026 through January 2027. Interviews, by invitation (its undated international coursework page); the forum's invite tracker, compiled from applicants' reports, lists first interviews on September 18 in 2025 and 2026. December 10, 2026. Financial aid priority deadline for entering dental students (its 2027–2028 aid guide). December 2026 to March 2027. “Admissions offers are made between December and March in accordance with an agreement among dental schools”. On a provisional offer. A non-refundable $1,000 deposit, a criminal

background check before final decisions, and your affirmation of the technical standards. End of May 2027. UCSF expects to finalize the 2027–2028 student budget. By September 1, 2027. All prerequisite courses completed, “prior to arriving on campus for orientation”. Fall 2027. Classes begin (the catalog's plan of study opens with a fall quarter; UCSF prints no start date). UCSF's pages print most of these dates without years; the years are ours, for the class that would start in 2027 (the aid guide's December 10, 2026 and May 2027 are UCSF's own). The pages we read give one deadline and an offer window; they don't say whether UCSF reviews applications on a rolling basis. Planning for the 2027–28 cycle? Read the How to Apply page again when that cycle opens: its DAT date rule names this cycle, and UCSF granted this cycle's fee waivers "on a first-come, first-served basis" and says all of them have been awarded. After an offer: what last

cycle's admits were asked to do. UCSF's FAQ says a "Provisional Admit" depends on maintaining your GPA, your deposit, your final transcript and other documents, and the $1,000 deposit is non-refundable and "required upon notice of provisional admission." Its page for last cycle's admits, the Class of 2030, also asked them to begin a background check "within 15 days of the date on your Provisional Admit Letter," sign a Technical Standards Agreement, and start collecting extracted teeth, because "many procedures require real teeth, and UCSF cannot supply the number needed for training." Follow what your own offer says. Another route: UCSF's post-baccalaureate program. UCSF's Interprofessional Health Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program is an 11-month program (August to June) for "both first-time and re-applicants," with "admission limited to about five participants each year." Participants who finish "with a GPA of 3.5 or higher" earn

"an automatic UCSF School of Dentistry interview," though "Completion of the program does not guarantee admission to UCSF or any other dental school." Among its requirements, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a bachelor's degree and all dental school prerequisites, have around 100 dental shadowing hours, and be "economically, educationally, or environmentally disadvantaged, or demonstrate a commitment to serving underserved communities." Its 2026 application window ran from February 1 to March 31, 2026. UCSF's Supplemental Questions UCSF has no separate secondary application: "applicants should complete the supplemental questions under the UCSF school section of the ADEA AADSAS application." Its How to Apply page lists them for 2026–27 as "biographical statement questions" that "allow us to learn more about you as an individual." Two questions, then an optional one: 1,500 characters: "What is important to you in

selecting a dental school? How will you make your decision about which school to attend?" 1,500 characters: "Why do you want to join the UCSF community? Please state briefly how you will contribute to the UCSF School of Dentistry." Optional, 5,000 characters: "Please use this space to tell us anything additional that you believe is relevant to your application for admission." For this cycle they were due with AADSAS by October 1, 2026. UCSF doesn't say how it reads them, so this is our advice for the next cycle: answer the first question honestly, with criteria you actually use; in the second, give specific reasons tied to what UCSF offers and one concrete way you would contribute; and use the optional space only for something the rest of your application doesn't cover, such as context for a grade or a gap. Your interviewers won't see these answers. UCSF says its "interviewers do not have access to your written application," so neither

the faculty member nor the student will have read your supplemental answers. If a story in them matters, be ready to tell it again, out loud. What UCSF Looks For UCSF's catalog says its Admissions Committee "takes a holistic approach," considering "academic background; motivation for a dental career; potential for future success in the program and dentistry as indicated by past achievements and present commitments; and participation in one or more interviews." Its admissions policies add that the committee "thoroughly evaluates a candidate's academic preparedness, community engagement, and fit for the institution and profession of dentistry." For the interview itself, the four competencies each interviewer assesses are the best checklist. UCSF doesn't define them; here is what its other pages say about related qualities, and about two more themes: Motivation: the catalog names "motivation for a dental career" among what the committee

weighs, and the DDS page says UCSF will consider "your motivation for a dental career." Know why dentistry, in one specific story, and how you tested it: UCSF recommends at least 100 hours of dental volunteering or shadowing. Self-awareness: UCSF's technical standards ask candidates to "demonstrate high emotional intelligence (i.e. self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills)" and to "accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes." Have an example of feedback you acted on, and of a mistake and what changed after it. Problem-solving and critical thinking: the catalog says all UCSF dental graduates "deserve mastery in procedural and clinical skills coupled with laser-focused critical thinking." Practice talking through a problem out loud: what you know, what you would weigh, what you would do and why. Collaboration, teamwork, and leadership: UCSF

seeks people with "the willingness to undertake leadership roles in academia, in dentistry, and beyond," and its technical standards ask candidates to "contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments." Pick a time you led or held a team together, and say what changed because of you. Community and cultural diversity: "We seek learners who will return to their communities with the clinical, intellectual, and interpersonal skills expected of a health professional," with "the enhanced sensitivities, broad understanding, open-minded attitudes, and appreciation of cultural diversity to ensure equitable distribution of high-quality dental health care to all members of our society." The technical standards ask for a medical history taken "in a culturally competent manner." Ethics: "Students must be of the highest ethical and moral behavior," and UCSF can rescind an offer if a background check reveals "unprofessional conduct

inconsistent with the PRIDE values," which its dean describes as "professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence." Holistic review, in the dean's words (2023). In a 2023 post, UCSF's dean, Michael Reddy, wrote that its holistic admissions process "is based on three things, each weighed equally: metrics, experiences and attributes." "Experiences are what an applicant has done outside the classroom," and "Attributes are the personal qualities that make us all different." Describing a student who was the first in his family to go to professional school, he wrote: "That is a distance traveled. It should be part of the equation." Know your own distance traveled, and be ready to tell it plainly. The best Why UCSF material is in its programs and its patients. UCSF's research page lists cross-campus work on "stem cells, oral/head and neck cancer, health disparities, and craniofacial biology," and its Dental Student Research

Fellowship gives students "early, mentored experience in research during their first two years." Its Community Dental Clinic, founded in 1993 by UCSF dental and medical students, is "a student-run organization" in which D1 to D3 students care for "uninsured and underserved patients of San Francisco," "completely free of charge." The catalog's DDS plan of study includes "Foundations of Scientific Inquiry" in the first year, interprofessional practice courses and a community clinics externship, and UCSF's student life page describes a six-week externship program with underserved communities in rural and urban locations. DDS-ASPIRE, launched in 2026 with 10 students from the Class of 2030, adds leadership, advocacy, public health and research training "integrated alongside the DDS curriculum." UCSF's September 2025 announcement says "this initial funding supports only a single cohort," and its program page asks anyone interested in "future

opportunities to participate" to contact admissions. There are also a DDS/PhD (7–8 years, for U.S. citizens and green card holders) and a DDS/MBA with the University of San Francisco. 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. UCSF does not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? UCSF's three-year International Dentist Pathway is a separate route that "joins the DDS curriculum in the second year"; see our UCSF IDP guide . ); }; export default UCSFDentalSchoolInterview; ucsf-dental-school-interview UCSF School of Dentistry UCSF UCSF Dental School Format Questions and Prep Guide 2026 UCSF Dental Requirements Class Profile & Interview 2026 UCSF DDS requirements from UCSF s own prerequisites the Class of 2029 s DAT and GPA no California preference and its two one-on-one interviews. UCSF dental school interview UCSF DDS

interview UCSF dental school requirements UCSF dental school prerequisites UCSF dental admissions UCSF DDS interview format UCSF dental school writing exercise UCSF closed-file interview UCSF supplemental questions 2026-03-28 2026-10-08 Domestic Program Two one-on-one interviews (faculty on Zoom; student on Zoom or in person) + a 30-minute writing exercise UCSF interviews about 200 applicants a year in two one-on-one interviews with a faculty member on Zoom and a current student on Zoom or in person plus a 30-minute writing exercise and its interviewers don t see your written application. Here is what UCSF publishes what applicants report and how to prepare. “You will complete two interviews—one with faculty and one with a current student ” each assessing the same four competencies and “interviewers do not have access to your written application.” Degree DDS (four years) San Francisco California Interview Format Two one-on-one a faculty

member on Zoom and a current student on Zoom or in person File Type Interviewers “do not have access to your written application” Writing Exercise 30 minutes with the student interview (either option); prompt not published Interviews October through January (its undated international coursework page); first interviews reported on September 18 in 2025 and 2026 (the forum s invite tracker) Competencies Assessed Motivation; self-awareness; problem-solving and critical thinking; collaboration teamwork and leadership Interviewed Approximately 200 applicants a year Deadline October 1 2026 59 p.m. Eastern (AADSAS; passed) UCSF Fee $75 non-refundable; supplemental questions are in AADSAS CASPer / Kira Not on the UCSF DDS pages we read GPA (Class of 2029) 3.78 cumulative (range 3.11–4.00); 3.72 science (range 2.87–4.00) DAT (Class of 2029) Academic Average 23.1 Total Science 23.2 on the old 1–30 scale Residency “No we do not give preference to

California residents” Decisions Offers between December and March Location Parnassus campus (707 Parnassus Avenue) San Francisco requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 class-profile Class of 2029 Profile 3 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 dat-policy The DAT as UCSF Words It 3 interview-format What UCSF Says About the Interview 2 two-interviews Two One-on-One Interviews 3 closed-file-challenge Interviewers Won t Have Read Your Application 3 writing-sample The 30-Minute Writing Exercise 3 interview-day Interview Day 3 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline UCSF s Admissions Timeline 2 supplemental-questions Supplemental Questions 2 what-ucsf-looks-for What UCSF 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 Motivation and Self-Awareness Tell me about yourself. UCSF does

not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on the four competencies its interview page says each interviewer assesses. UCSF s interviewers “do not have access to your written application ” so this answer has to stand on its who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and one thing you want them to remember. Keep it to about 90 seconds. Why dentistry? Motivation is the first competency UCSF lists and its catalog names “motivation for a dental career” among what the Admissions Committee weighs. Anchor your answer in one specific experience such as something you saw while shadowing (UCSF recommends at least 100 hours) and say what it confirmed for you. Tell me about a weakness you are working on. UCSF s technical standards ask candidates to “accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes.” Name a real weakness what you are doing about

it and the evidence that it is improving. Why UCSF? Use what UCSF says about its student-run Community Dental Clinic for uninsured and underserved patients of San Francisco its Dental Student Research Fellowship in the first two years DDS-ASPIRE or its aim of graduates who “return to their communities.” Connect one of them to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve; reputation or location alone is not a reason. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? UCSF wants graduates who help “ensure equitable distribution of high-quality dental health care to all members of our society.” 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. An anxious patient wants to stop partway through treatment. How do

you handle it? UCSF s technical standards ask candidates to “interpret non-verbal aspects of communication and establish therapeutic relationships with patients.” Stop and listen explain what has been done and what stopping now would mean agree on a signal to pause and involve your supervising dentist. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? UCSF says “Students must be of the highest ethical and moral behavior ” and integrity is one of the PRIDE values its dean describes. Walk through an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust your license. Is dental care a right or a privilege? UCSF s catalog asks for graduates with “open-minded attitudes” who help ensure good care “to all members of our society.” Take a position acknowledge the strongest point on the other side and connect your answer to what a dentist can actually do. Your reasoning matters

more than which side you take. Collaboration Teamwork and Leadership Tell me about a time you worked through a disagreement on a team. Collaboration and teamwork are part of UCSF s fourth competency and its technical standards ask candidates to “contribute to collaborative constructive learning environments.” Keep the setup short show how you listened and what you did and say what the team achieved. Describe a leadership role and what you accomplished in it. UCSF seeks people with “the willingness to undertake leadership roles in academia in dentistry and beyond.” 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 involvement. What did it teach you? UCSF s admissions policies say its committee evaluates “community engagement ” and its students run a free Community Dental Clinic. Describe one experience in whom you served what you did and how it shaped the

dentist you want to be. What would you add to your class? UCSF s dean wrote that “Attributes are the personal qualities that make us all different ” and its catalog encourages “applicants from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and identities.” Name one real thing such as a language a background or an experience and say how classmates or patients would benefit. Prepare for two interviews not one UCSF says “You must complete both interviews—faculty and student—to advance in the review process ” and each interviewer assesses the same four competencies. Book both slots as soon as your invitation arrives (on 1 October 2025 one applicant reported “no available spots left for the virtual interview option”) and prepare for the student interview as seriously as for the faculty one. Tell your story as if they haven t read it because they haven t UCSF s “interviewers do not have access to your written application.” Prepare a short

introduction that stands on its own and one specific example for each motivation self-awareness problem-solving and critical thinking and collaboration teamwork and leadership. Practice writing for 30 minutes Both student-interview options include “a 30-minute writing exercise ” and UCSF doesn t publish the prompt. Practice answering an open question in writing within 30 a clear point a specific example and a short conclusion. Set up your Zoom room or plan your trip The faculty interview is on test your camera light and sound and practice answering out loud in that setup. If you choose the in-person student option UCSF encourages public transit and points to its Transportation and Parking websites and it provides no housing for interviewees. Know what makes UCSF different from its own pages Read about its Community Dental Clinic its Dental Student Research Fellowship DDS-ASPIRE and its research areas before the interview. Have one

specific reason UCSF fits how you want to learn and one question you would genuinely like a faculty member or a current student to answer. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS a four-year program; Parnassus campus San Francisco Application ADEA AADSAS with UCSF s supplemental questions in its UCSF section; no separate secondary application Deadline October 1 2026 59 p.m. Eastern with transcripts letters and DAT scores at AADSAS (passed); “Late applications will not be considered” UCSF fee $75 non-refundable paid online (no checks); all 2026–27 fee waivers have been awarded Interview Required by two one-on-one interviews a faculty member on Zoom and a current student on Zoom or in person evaluated by members of the Admissions Committee; interviewers don t see your written application Writing exercise 30 minutes part of either student-interview option Interview window October through January (its undated international coursework page);

the forum s invite tracker reports first interviews on September 18 in 2025 and 2026 Interviewed Approximately 200 applicants a year GPA Class of 2029 3.78 cumulative (range 3.11–4.00) 3.72 science (range 2.87–4.00) DAT Class of 2029 Academic Average 23.1 (range 18–28) Total Science 23.2 (range 18–30) on the old 1–30 scale Minimum GPA or DAT “The School of Dentistry has removed minimum requirements for GPA and DAT scores” Acceptance rate Not published; UCSF s DDS pages give no class size or applicant count Residency “No we do not give preference to California residents”; the Class of 2029 was 71% from California; non-residents pay $12 245 a year in supplemental tuition (2027–28 estimate) Prerequisites 139 quarter (93 semester) units including English composition inorganic and organic chemistry physics and biology with labs biochemistry psychology and 16 quarter units of social sciences humanities or a foreign language; C– or better;

completed by September 1 2027 DAT U.S. DAT only by September 1 (recommended); for this cycle dated no earlier than January 1 2024 (its valid two years from the start of the cycle) Letters Three through AADSAS (a college science professor; a dentist adviser researcher or mentor; one of your choice) or one composite committee letter Shadowing and research No minimum shadowing at least 100 hours recommended; research not required Bachelor s degree Not required; approximately 98% of those accepted have one by matriculation CASPer / Kira Not on the UCSF DDS admissions pages we read or its catalog s DDS page Decisions Offers between December and March; a $1 000 non-refundable deposit on provisional admission Programs DDS; DDS/PhD; DDS/MBA with the University of San Francisco; DDS-ASPIRE (its first cohort is 10 students from the Class of 2030) Contact admissions.ucsfdental@ucsf.edu (no application status updates by email or phone) What UCSF

asks for (prerequisites can still be in progress when you apply) Prerequisites a–g with a C– or better (its FAQ says every prerequisite) 139 quarter or 93 semester units in all finished by September 1 2027; UCSF recommends finishing them before the DAT and applying The U.S. DAT ideally by September 1 of the year you apply after biology general chemistry and organic chemistry Three letters through AADSAS or one composite committee letter At least 100 hours of dental volunteering or shadowing (recommended not a minimum) Apply (AADSAS with UCSF s questions in its section and the $75 UCSF fee) Answer UCSF s two supplemental questions (1 500 characters each) and if you need it the optional one (5 000 characters) Pay the $75 UCSF fee online; checks are not accepted Have everything at AADSAS by October 1 at 59 p.m. Eastern (passed for 2026–27) Check your status in UCSF gives no application status updates by email or phone If you are invited

(UCSF s undated October through January; first interviews reported on September 18 in 2025 and 2026) Book your faculty Zoom interview and choose a virtual or in-person student interview as soon as the invitation arrives If you attended any international institution have it send official transcripts directly to UCSF before your interview date Prepare an introduction that stands on its own and an example for each of the four your interviewers won t have read your application Practice a 30-minute written answer to an open question In plan to take public transit if you can; UCSF provides no housing for interviewees Hard dates (the years are ours where UCSF prints none) October 1 AADSAS deadline (passed) December 10 financial aid priority deadline for entering dental students December 2026 to March offers; a $1 000 non-refundable deposit on provisional admission September 1 all prerequisite courses completed What is the UCSF dental school

interview format? UCSF says “You will complete two interviews—one with faculty and one with a current student—which are evaluated by members of the Admissions Committee.” The faculty interview is “a one-on-one Zoom interview” at a date and time you select. The student interview is one-on-one too either on Zoom with “a 30-minute writing exercise” or in person with a campus tour the 30-minute writing exercise and lunch with student club leaders. Each interviewer assesses four motivation; self-awareness; problem-solving and critical thinking; and collaboration teamwork and leadership. You must complete both interviews to stay in consideration. UCSF doesn t say how long the interviews last or what is asked and the UCSF DDS pages we read describe no MMI panel CASPer or Kira. Is the UCSF interview closed file? UCSF doesn t use the term but its interview page says “To ensure a fair and holistic evaluation interviewers do not have access to

your written application.” So neither your faculty interviewer nor your student interviewer will have read your AADSAS application personal statement or supplemental answers. Be ready to introduce yourself and tell your own stories with specific examples from the first question. Is the UCSF dental interview virtual or in person? the faculty interview is on Zoom and you can take the student interview on Zoom or in person on campus. The in-person option adds a campus tour and lunch with student club leaders; both student options include the 30-minute writing exercise. UCSF encourages public transit for in-person interviews and doesn t provide housing for interviewees. A public forum s invite tracker lists UCSF s method as “Both” for 2025–26 and 2026–27. What is the UCSF writing exercise? UCSF s interview page lists “a 30-minute writing exercise” in both student-interview options virtual and in person. It doesn t publish the prompt or say

how the exercise is used. In a public applicant forum s UCSF threads for the last three cycles the only mention is one 2024–25 applicant s question about “the writing portions.” Practice writing a clear organized answer to an open question within 30 minutes and follow the instructions in your invitation. When does UCSF interview and when are decisions made? UCSF s undated international coursework page says “interviews are held October through January ” but a public forum s invite tracker compiled by a volunteer from applicants reports lists first interviews on 18 September in both 2025 and 2026 after first invitations on 11 September 2025 and 14 September 2026. UCSF says “Admissions offers are made between December and March in accordance with an agreement among dental schools.” On the forum applicants reported acceptances by phone or text on 13 December 2024 and 15 December 2025. Does UCSF prefer California residents? No and UCSF says

so directly. Asked “Do you give preference to California residents?” its DDS FAQ “No we do not give preference to California residents.” Its Class of 2029 was 71% from California 26% out of state and 3% international and UCSF doesn t explain the mix. Its technical standards say its mission as “a California public institution” is “to educate the dental workforce for the State of California understanding students may choose to practice in other locations ” and its 2027–2028 financial aid guide adds $12 245 a year in supplemental tuition for non-residents. What GPA and DAT do I need for UCSF dental school? There is no “The School of Dentistry has removed minimum requirements for GPA and DAT scores.” UCSF s Class of 2029 averaged a 3.78 cumulative GPA (range 3.11–4.00) and 3.72 in science (range 2.87–4.00) with DAT averages of 23.1 Academic Average and 23.2 Total Science on the old 1–30 scale. Since March 2025 the ADA reports every DAT

score to AADSAS on a 200–600 scale; on the ADA s concordance table an old Academic Average of 23 is about 470 a conversion of a single score not a UCSF figure. UCSF s DDS pages publish no acceptance rate. What are UCSF s supplemental questions? UCSF has no separate its questions are in the UCSF section of ADEA AADSAS. For 2026–27 there were two “What is important to you in selecting a dental school? How will you make your decision about which school to attend?” and “Why do you want to join the UCSF community? Please state briefly how you will contribute to the UCSF School of Dentistry.” (1 500 characters each) plus an optional 5 000-character space for “anything additional that you believe is relevant to your application for admission.” Your interviewers won t have read your answers. California Northstate Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In CNU s catalog describes an interview with an interview team of at least one Admissions

Committee member typically from August or September to March or April. CASPer is required. Domestic Program /schools/california-northstate-dental-school-interview OHSU Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Portland OHSU invites selected applicants to interview by teleconference with members of its admissions committee with invitations from September to March (dates “may vary”). Deadline January 1. Domestic Program /schools/ohsu-dental-school-interview Harvard Dental School Interview Prep Harvard describes up to two one-on-one interviews with an admissions committee member. Domestic Program /schools/harvard-dental-school-interview Penn Dental Medicine Interview Prep Penn Dental s DMD interview and how to prepare. Domestic Program /schools/penn-dental-school-interview Michigan Dental School Interview Prep The University of Michigan s DDS interview and how to prepare. Domestic Program /schools/michigan-dental-school-interview UCLA Dental

School Interview Prep UCLA s four-year a personal interview by invitation scheduled between July and January; AADSAS by December 1. Domestic Program /schools/ucla-dental-school-interview