UT San Antonio Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

UT San Antonio DDS guide from its pages and TMDSAS: a faculty member and a 3rd- or 4th-year student interview you, Aug–Jan; Oct 1 deadline; Dec 15 offers.

UT San Antonio interviews from August to January, inviting applicants by email two to three weeks ahead: a faculty member and a third- or fourth-year student conduct the interview, and the day includes lunch with enrolled students. You apply only through TMDSAS. Here is what the school and TMDSAS publish, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> UT San Antonio DDS Requirements and Class Profile UT San Antonio School of Dentistry, in full The University of Texas at San Antonio School of Dentistry, is the name the school uses now; some of its older pages, and some outside lists, still say UT Health San Antonio. The Texas legislature created the school in 1969, its first class entered in 1970, and its catalog places it "in the heart of the South Texas Medical Center," in northwest San Antonio. Its DDS is a full-time, four-year program of 175 credit hours. The school admits about 100 students to each entering class (its FAQ

says "up to 100"), and the Class of 2030 began on July 20, 2026. You apply through TMDSAS , the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service, whether or not you live in Texas. The admissions page says "For Texas and non-Texas residents, a central application center processes dental school applications to all medical and dental schools of The University of Texas System," and the 2026-27 catalog says "All applicants must apply through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service." ADEA's list of dental schools marks UT San Antonio as one that doesn't participate in AADSAS. Applications are accepted between May 1 and October 1 of the year before you start, so for 2027 entry the deadline was October 1, 2026, and it has passed. The school's news office published this profile of the class that started this summer: Figure. Class of 2030 (started July 20, 2026). Applications. 1,489. Invited to interview. 318. Enrolled. 100.

Texas residents / from out of state. 94 / 6. Average GPA. 3.85 overall, 3.80 science. Average DAT score. 461, on the 200–600 scale (older scores converted by the school). Undergraduate institutions. 33. Ages at the time of application. 20 to 34. Which DAT scale is 461 on?. The 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025. The school's news story says "The American Dental Association moved the DAT to a 200 to 600 scale in 2025. Scores earned under the previous two-digit scale were converted to the new scale for this average." It doesn't say which DAT score it averaged (the Academic Average or another) or give an old-scale equivalent, and we don't convert any. The DDS program page also shows quick facts that name no class or date: an overall GPA of 3.69 and DAT scores of 20.9 for the Academic Average and 20.9 for Perceptual Ability. Those DAT figures are on the old 1–30 scale. UT San Antonio publishes counts, not an acceptance rate,

and we don't compute one. UT San Antonio publishes "Minimum Admission Standards for Pre-Doctoral DDS Program": GPA: a BCPM GPA (biology, chemistry, physics and math) of at least 2.8. The table lists no separate minimum for your overall GPA. DAT: an Academic Average of at least 390, which the school labels "(3-digit scale)": the 200–600 scale. It gives no old-scale equivalent, and we don't convert one. Coursework: at least 90 hours of course credit, and a C or higher in every required course. Clinical observation and community service, with no minimum hours for either. "There is not a minimum number of hours of dental shadowing required for admission. However, the admissions committee values evidence of depth and breadth of shadowing and other means of clinical observation." For service, it "values dental-related, health-related, and interpersonal-type activities." Letters: "3 Letters of Recommendation or HPE packet" (TMDSAS's rules for

dental applicants offer "One Health Professions Committee Letter or Packet" in place of individual letters). In state or out of state? "Preference is given to legal residents of Texas. Only outstanding nonresidents will be considered or accepted." The Class of 2030 had 94 Texas residents and 6 students from outside the state, from Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana and North Carolina. The school says "Texas residency for the purpose of admissions is determined by TMDSAS," and TMDSAS says that to be confirmed as a Texas resident for 2027 entry, you need to have established and maintained Texas residency in the 12 months before its October 2026 deadline. Residency also changes the cost. For students who began in July 2026, the school's 2026–2027 first-year cost of attendance was $95,811 for residents and $107,691 for non-residents, with tuition of $37,980 and $49,860, and its sheet says tuition rates "are based on the semester of

entry and will remain the same as you advance each year through your program of study." Not a US citizen or permanent resident?. UT San Antonio says "U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents of the U.S. will be considered for admission," and TMDSAS lists UT San Antonio School 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." If your status is different, ask dsadmissions@uthscsa.edu before you apply. Internationally trained dentists: see the end of this guide. Prerequisite coursework Course. Semester hours. Quarter hours. Biological sciences. 14 (12 lecture, 2 formal lab). 21 (18 lecture, 3 lab). General chemistry, with labs. 8 (6 lecture, 2 lab). 12 (9 lecture, 3 lab). Organic chemistry, with labs. 8 (6 lecture, 2 lab). 12 (9 lecture, 3 lab). Biochemistry, on top of the 14 hours of biology. 3. 5. Physics, with labs. 8 (6 lecture, 2

lab). 12 (9 lecture, 3 lab). College English. 6. 9. Statistics. 3. 5. Hours and degree: at least 90 semester hours (134 quarter hours) at a regionally accredited US or Canadian college or university, and "Graduate courses do not satisfy the 90 hour requirement OR the required coursework." "Baccalaureate degrees are highly desirable," though "exceptionally mature students without a degree, who have outstanding academic records, superior performance on the respective admissions test and highly desirable personal qualifications may be considered for admission." The school strongly recommends at least 30 semester hours at a four-year college or university. Grades and course types: a C or better in each required course, and "Courses taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit will not count towards meeting the requirement." Courses for non-science majors or health career majors, such as nursing, pharmacy or allied health sciences, don't count: "All

required coursework must be applicable toward a traditional science degree." Of general chemistry, the page says: "Should include familiarity with analytic and volumetric techniques. Inorganic courses include general chemistry, physical chemistry and quantitative analysis." Biochemistry can't count toward the 14 hours of biology. Where and how: every required course at a regionally accredited US or Canadian school; foreign coursework doesn't count, "even if transfer credit has been given for them by a U.S. or Canadian school." AP and IB credit count only if the school granting it lists the specific courses and units on an official transcript ("Lump sum credit is not accepted"). "Applicants are strongly recommended to take all science prerequisite coursework in person," and online courses must come from universities accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves. English and

statistics: "Any course accredited by the English department that fulfills a general education English requirement of a baccalaureate degree will be accepted"; remedial, developmental and English as a Second Language courses aren't. Statistics "should be taught in a math or statistics department," though the school may consider courses from other departments "with appropriate documentation from faculty." Beyond the minimum: "Applicants are best served to take additional upper-level course work so they are better prepared for the academic rigors of dental school." To become a competitive applicant, the FAQ suggests upper-level electives "such as microbiology & virology, human anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, pathology and endocrinology." The DAT: required. The school recommends taking it "in the spring or summer prior to applying," says "The applicant's latest exam scores will be taken into consideration," accepts

Canadian DAT scores and doesn't accept unofficial ones. TMDSAS's rules for dental applicants this cycle: "The DAT must be taken within the last five years," no DAT taken before 2022 is considered, and you must take it for the first time before December 2026. You instruct the ADA to send your scores to TMDSAS; TMDSAS says scores released to any of the four Texas dental schools reach it automatically, 36 hours after you request the release. The school's application tips say "Retake the DAT as needed, if you think you can do better." Letters, through TMDSAS: the school asks for three letters of recommendation or a committee packet, and TMDSAS's rules for dental applicants 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. The school's timeline gives October 15 as the "Deadline for submission of Letters

of Recommendation." Essential functions: "All dental students at UT San Antonio School of Dentistry must perform certain essential functions in order to successfully complete the curriculum," among them "adequate stamina to manipulate dental equipment appropriately and to perform in class, clinic and laboratory settings during long hours." Transfers: "We are currently not accepting any transfer students." Prerequisites done by spring? The website and the catalog differ. UT San Antonio's admissions page says "All required course work must be completed before OR by the time of enrollment into the dental school." Its 2026-27 catalog says "Applicants are required to complete courses by the end of the spring semester before entering the School of Dentistry, and with a grade no lower than C." The catalog's is the stricter reading: finish every required course by the end of spring 2027, and confirm with dsadmissions@uthscsa.edu. The catalog

also lists topics your statistics course "must" cover: inferential and descriptive statistics, multivariate methods, hypothesis testing, linear models and regression. And while TMDSAS's policies page says "Graduate courses may only be used to satisfy the Statistics requirement," the school says graduate courses don't satisfy the required coursework, so take statistics as an undergraduate. For English, the catalog accepts "Any course that fulfills a general education English requirement of a baccalaureate degree" and adds "Reading or writing intensive courses taught in the Humanities may also be considered," while the admissions page asks for a course "accredited by the English department": take an English-department course. December 1: take the DAT, or have the score at TMDSAS?. The school's FAQ says "the score must be received by TMDSAS no later than December 1 of the application cycle." The timeline on the same page calls December 1

the "Deadline for taking DAT of the application year," and TMDSAS itself says "The DAT must be taken for the first time before December of the application year." Go by the stricter reading: have your score reach TMDSAS by December 1, 2026, which means testing well before it. TMDSAS adds that dental schools begin making offers in December, so a late DAT delays any consideration until your scores are released. Confirm with dsadmissions@uthscsa.edu. CASPer, Kira or a secondary application?. UT San Antonio's DDS pages and the DDS page of its 2026-27 catalog don't mention CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira or any similar assessment, and its FAQ says "We do not require any supplemental fees or applications." TMDSAS's list of schools that require CASPer names no dental school. It does list the Long School of Medicine at UT San Antonio, which is the university's medical school, not its School of Dentistry. TMDSAS's list of dental schools that

require a secondary application names only Texas A&M. Besides your TMDSAS application and coursework, what UT San Antonio asks for is the DAT, letters and, if you are invited, an interview. The admissions page asks you to review its information and TMDSAS's, then write to dsadmissions@uthscsa.edu with any questions. "We do not have advisors," its FAQ adds: for questions about prerequisites, it sends you to TMDSAS or to your undergraduate university's pre-health advisor. The UT San Antonio Interview: What the School Says The FAQ on the DDS admissions page describes the interview in a few lines: Required, by email invitation. "Is an interview required? Yes! Applicants who are invited for an interview will be notified via email." Interviews "are granted on a competitive basis and begin in August." Two to three weeks' notice. "If you are invited to interview, you will be notified two to three weeks before the interview date. You will be

required to confirm your attendance as instructed in the invitation letter." A faculty member and a student. "Who will interview me? A faculty member and a third-or fourth-year student conducts the interview." The page doesn't say whether they interview you together or separately, how long the interview lasts, or whether they have read your application. More than the interview. "As part of the interview day, you will have an opportunity to obtain information about our program, financial aid and meet with enrolled students over lunch." August to January. The school's timeline says "August - School begins interviewing applications" and "January - School concludes interviewing applicants": August 2026 to January 2027, this cycle. Its news office wrote on September 25, 2026, that "Interviews for the next class are already underway." The FAQ adds that your application "will be under review through the end of January." What it counts for.

Applicants are "considered on a competitive basis, with attention given to undergraduate and graduate grade point averages, DAT scores, evaluations by preprofessional advisors or professors, extramural achievements, and the personal interview." Applicants who are granted an interview "then compete for a place in the first-year class": "The Admissions Selection Subcommittee, consisting of six faculty members, reviews and evaluates each applicant," and the criteria it may weigh include the "personal interview conducted by members of the Admissions Committee and additional trained volunteers" and "verbal communication skills-as demonstrated in a personal interview." In person or virtual? The school doesn't say. None of UT San Antonio's DDS pages says whether the interview is in person or virtual. The FAQ's interview day includes lunch with enrolled students, and an older Interview Tips page, which still uses the name UT Health San Antonio,

advises dressing comfortably because "It can be warm in South Texas, even in what would be the dead of winter in other parts of the United States." Neither says where the interview takes place. A public forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports, lists the school's interviews as in person in both recent cycles (see below). Go by your invitation, and ask dsadmissions@uthscsa.edu if it's unclear. That Interview Tips page is undated and general (it speaks of "dental school, medical school, or your specific program"), and it says its content "was modified from the American Students Dental Association website." It doesn't describe UT San Antonio's interview, but its advice is worth following: "It is likely that the interviewer will ask questions based on your submitted materials, so review them beforehand. Remember what you wrote." Be ready to say why you are pursuing dentistry "in two to three minutes," know

why this school is the right place for you ("You may need to do some heavy research to feel confident in this answer"), "Know a few key issues in your field," dress "in business professional attire," and "Ask your own questions. Your interview should confirm which school is right for you." The page also lists potential interview questions; three of them are among the practice questions below. Two related programs have interviews of their own, and neither is the one described above. The Dental Early Acceptance Program (3+4), "for students straight out of high school," interviews in March and April, with the Director of Admissions and a member of the Admissions Selection Subcommittee. And for the DDS/PhD, which you mark on your TMDSAS application, TMDSAS says the combined program "will require an additional interview," adding that "While the schools try to complete both interviews on the same day, it may be necessary to schedule the

graduate school interview on the day before or after your dental school interview." 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." It asks you to dress "in attire that is appropriate for a professional school interview," to keep your phone silenced or put away, and to attend alone, in person or online; for a virtual interview, to keep your camera on in "a private, quiet space free of distractions." 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 come from a public applicant forum and its invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports, not from UT San Antonio or TMDSAS: This cycle (2026–27): the tracker, last updated 25 September 2026, lists the school's first invitations on 22 July and a first interview date of 10 August, in person. In the forum's thread for this cycle, one applicant asked on 27 September 2026, "Has anyone interviewed here? If so could you offer some advice/insight into it?" As of 7 October 2026, no one had answered, and no invitation had been reported there. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker, last updated 22 October 2025, listed first invitations on 18 July 2025 and a first interview date of 11 August 2025, in person. In that cycle's thread, one applicant posted on 29 December 2025, "I was

accepted on decision day," without saying which day that was. Both first interview dates fall in August, the month the school says its interviews begin. None of the five posts in the two threads describes the interview itself: in person or virtual, how many interviewers, how long, or what was asked. Practice Your UT San Antonio Answers Out Loud. UT San Antonio's interview is conducted by a faculty member and a third- or fourth-year student, and an older tips page on its site, adapted from ASDA content, advises reviewing your submitted materials beforehand. Practice telling your story and answering motivation, behavioral and ethical questions out loud, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. UT San Antonio's 2026–27 Timeline, Through TMDSAS UT San Antonio's admissions page gives its own "TMDSAS Timeline," by month. Together with TMDSAS's dental dates for Entry Year 2027, the class that starts in

2027, it runs: When. What happens. Whose rule. May 1, 2026. The TMDSAS application became available (8 a.m. CST), and the school's application period opened. TMDSAS; UT San Antonio. May 15, 2026. TMDSAS submission opened (8 a.m. CST). TMDSAS. August 2026. “School begins interviewing applications”; invitations come by email two to three weeks before each interview date. UT San Antonio. October 1, 2026 (passed). Deadline for submitting applications, every section complete and paid for; TMDSAS “does not grant deadline extensions under any circumstances”. UT San Antonio; TMDSAS. October 15, 2026. The school's “Deadline for submission of Letters of Recommendation”; TMDSAS says letters “should be uploaded or post-marked by this date”. UT San Antonio; TMDSAS. December 1, 2026. The DAT: the school's FAQ says your score “must be received by TMDSAS” by this date (see above). UT San Antonio; TMDSAS. December 15, 2026. First offers of admission,

sent electronically and followed by a formal letter by mail; TMDSAS: “Dental schools begin extending offers of acceptance”. UT San Antonio; TMDSAS. January 2027. “Additional acceptances will be made on a rolling basis in January”; the school “concludes interviewing applicants”. UT San Antonio. April 15, 2027. “Dental schools can no longer make offers to applicants holding another seat”. TMDSAS. By the end of spring 2027. Every required course complete, with a C or better (the catalog's rule; the website says by enrollment). UT San Antonio's catalog. 2027. Classes begin (date not published; the Class of 2030's first day was July 20, 2026). UT San Antonio. October 1 or November 1?. An older page on the school's site, a program list titled "Find your fit," still gives the DDS deadline as "November 1." The DDS program page lists "Oct 01" as the "Application Deadline," the admissions page's timeline says "October 1 - Deadline for submitting

applications (TMDSAS Deadline)," and TMDSAS's calendar for this cycle gives October 1 and says it "does not grant deadline extensions under any circumstances." October 1 is the date that counts, and for 2026–27 it has passed. Planning for a later cycle? Confirm the date with dsadmissions@uthscsa.edu and TMDSAS. 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." The pre-match offers TMDSAS describes are made by medical schools. Neither its dental calendar nor UT San Antonio's timeline has a match or ranking date: first offers go out on December 15. If you're accepted, you pay a non-refundable $100 enrollment deposit to secure your place, and the catalog says "An offer of

admission will not be final until the completion of the criminal background check(s) with results is deemed favorable." Information on the background check arrives through the Accepted Applicant Portal. The page for accepted students asks you to send final official transcripts, with all your grades and your posted degree, only once they have been recorded; TMDSAS, for its part, requests transcripts from dental applicants who have been accepted. The school has no on-campus student housing. The pages we read give no waitlist process or 2027 start date. What UT San Antonio Looks For "Admission to the School of Dentistry at UT San Antonio is highly competitive," the admissions page says, and successful applicants "show evidence of consistently performing well academically and having extracurricular interests and achievements." It then lists what it weighs, in two stages. Applicants "are reviewed and granted interviews based on consideration

of" eight factors: DAT section scores, "especially the science scores for Biology, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry sections"; course loads, upper-division science, the college you attended and your timeframe; your academic and personal background, including your parents' education; "Socioeconomic situation and barriers to achievement"; work, campus and community involvement; "Geographic issues, including South Texas and home in rural or underserved area"; your letters; and "Personal essay in application and evidence of commitment to dentistry." Applicants granted an interview then compete for a place, and the six-faculty Admissions Selection Subcommittee's evaluation may draw on a longer list of criteria, "not listed in any preference." These are the items you can speak to in the interview: Commitment to dentistry, and what you know of it: "knowledge of, and preparation to enter, the profession of dentistry gained through observing or

volunteering in a dental practice," "prior experience in providing health care-related services" and "'volunteer' activities in health care-related areas." The committee "values evidence of depth and breadth of shadowing," so be ready to say what you saw in more than one setting. Where you will serve: "commitment/desire to serve in a medically underserved region of the state following graduation [written personal statement, or at interview]," and a "hometown or county of residence that has been designated a medically underserved and/or health professions shortage area, with particular emphasis on South Texas." If it is true of you, say where you want to practice and why; don't promise more than you mean. Your goals: "applicant's future goals [written personal statement or at interview]." The bracket names the interview, so have a clear, honest answer that matches your essays. Background and obstacles: "educational attainment of the

applicant's family," "socioeconomic history (educationally and/or economically disadvantaged)" and "success in overcoming adverse personal, family, or 'life' conditions/ experiences." If they apply to you, tell that story plainly and spend most of it on what you did. Work alongside school: "employment history, especially as it occurred simultaneously with undergraduate academic preparation," and "prior military service with training and experience in a health care related area." If you worked through college, make it part of your answer. Leadership and service: "positions of leadership held," "public/community service 'volunteer'-related activities," "extracurricular activities" and "awards and honors of distinction for humanitarian service." The school's news office says its admissions selection committee "weighs academic performance alongside service, leadership and sustained commitment to the profession." Communication, in any

language: "verbal communication skills-as demonstrated in a personal interview," "bilingual language ability" and "awards and honors for public speaking." If you speak Spanish or another language, say how you have used it with people. Research: "research accomplishments" are on the list too. If you have them, be ready to explain your project in plain words. The essential functions add what every student must be able to do: "effectively communicate with patients, peers, staff and faculty," "demonstrate respect and understanding of emotional, social and cultural issues," show "the capacity for sustained function under stress and to respond appropriately to unpredictable circumstances," and "demonstrate high ethical standards and professional behavior when interacting with patients, fellow students, faculty, staff and the public." In the third year, the catalog says, professionalism is evaluated through the Patient Management course, and

students found deficient in professionalism, who consequently fail the course, "cannot progress to the senior year." Each of these makes a good behavioral question. The best Why UT San Antonio material is in South Texas. UT San Antonio's mission is "To improve oral health through excellence in education, research, patient care, and community engagement." Its first two years integrate basic and clinical sciences in three tracks, Human Health and Disease, Foundations of Restorative Dentistry and Introduction to Patient Care, starting with the head and neck in year one, with "Earlier hand skills development/earlier clinical experiences" and an earlier move to clinic, as second-year didactic and preclinical work ends in mid-March. DDS students provide comprehensive care at its Center for Oral Health Care & Research, which has 200 operatories in its predoctoral clinics, with patient care coordinated by difficulty among dental students,

residents and faculty, and the catalog counts more than 2,000 hours of patient care learning experiences. Its Dental Education Outreach Network trains students at affiliated sites in South Texas, "primarily located in Dental Health Profession Shortage Areas in Texas," where they meet "Spanish-speaking patients in a variety of settings and locations." Seniors spend three weeks on a South Texas rotation in Brownsville, Harlingen, Laredo or San Antonio, juniors and seniors treat homeless and underserved patients at the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic at Haven for Hope, and the school says its outreach serves more than 36,000 underserved individuals a year. Students can take a Dental Spanish selective conducted by dental students, and the school lists the 2024 opening of the Dr. Phil & Karen Hunke Special Care Clinic, for patients with cognitive and physical disabilities. Every incoming student is paired with a second-year peer mentor

and connected with a faculty mentor, and three members of the Class of 2030 are in the DDS/PhD, which takes at least seven years. Connect one of these to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve. Three of the practice questions below, on where you see yourself in 10 years, your hand-eye coordination and a class you withdrew from, are the school's: they come word for word from the "Potential Interview Questions" on its older Interview Tips page, which says its content "was modified from the American Students Dental Association website." The rest are ours, built on these criteria. UT San Antonio doesn't say its interviewers ask any of them. Internationally trained dentist? UT San Antonio's International Dentist Education Program "offers qualified graduates of foreign dental schools the opportunity to earn the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at UT San Antonio," separate from the four-year DDS this guide covers; see our UT San

Antonio IDEP guide . ); }; export default UTSanAntonioDentalSchoolInterview; ut-san-antonio-dental-school-interview UT San Antonio School of Dentistry UT San Antonio UT San Antonio Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Who Interviews You TMDSAS & Requirements UT San Antonio Dental School DDS 2026-27 UT San Antonio DDS guide from its pages and a faculty member and a 3rd- or 4th-year student interview you Aug–Jan; Oct 1 deadline; Dec 15 offers. UT San Antonio dental school interview UT San Antonio School of Dentistry interview UT San Antonio DDS interview UTHSCSA dental school interview UT Health San Antonio dental school interview UT San Antonio dental school requirements TMDSAS dental school interview 2026-10-07 2026-10-07 Domestic Program Interview with a faculty member and a third- or fourth-year student (setting not published) UT San Antonio interviews from August to January inviting applicants by email two to three weeks a faculty

member and a third- or fourth-year student conduct the interview and the day includes lunch with enrolled students. You apply only through TMDSAS. Here is what the school and TMDSAS publish what applicants report and how to prepare. Its FAQ says “A faculty member and a third-or fourth-year student conducts the interview ” and its timeline runs interviews from August to January; every applicant Texan or not applies through TMDSAS. Degree DDS (four years full time) San Antonio Texas Application TMDSAS only for Texas and non-Texas residents; ADEA lists the school as not in AADSAS Interview Format Conducted by a faculty member and a third- or fourth-year student Interview Setting Not stated (the day includes lunch with enrolled students; a forum s invite tracker compiled by a volunteer from applicants reports lists in person) Interviews August to January; email invitations two to three weeks ahead Deadline October 1 2026 through TMDSAS

(passed) Offers First offers December 15 2026; more on a rolling basis from January Minimums BCPM GPA 2.8; DAT Academic Average 390 (3-digit 200–600 scale); 90 credit hours CASPer / Kira Not on UT San Antonio s DDS pages; TMDSAS names no dental school for CASPer Secondary Application “We do not require any supplemental fees or applications.” Class of 2030 100 enrolled from 1 489 applications; 318 invited to interview; started July 20 2026 GPA / DAT Class of 3.85 overall 3.80 science GPA; average DAT 461 (200–600 scale older scores converted section not named) Residency Texas residents preferred; “Only outstanding nonresidents are considered”; 94 of 100 in the Class of 2030 Citizenship US citizens and permanent residents requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What UT San Antonio Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline UT San Antonio

s Timeline Through TMDSAS 2 what-ut-san-antonio-looks-for What UT San Antonio 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. Three of these practice questions (on where you see yourself in 10 years your hand-eye coordination and a class you withdrew from) are the school s word for word from the “Potential Interview Questions” on its older Interview Tips page which says its content “was modified from the American Students Dental Association website.” The rest this one included are ours built on what UT San Antonio weighs; the school doesn t say its interviewers ask any of them. The same page says “It is likely that the interviewer will ask questions based on your submitted materials so review them beforehand. Remember what you wrote.” Build a

90-second answer that fits your TMDSAS who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and why UT San Antonio is the next step. Why dentistry? The Interview Tips page says to be ready “to clearly and confidently share why you are pursuing this profession in two to three minutes ” and the admissions page weighs “Personal essay in application and evidence of commitment to dentistry.” Anchor your answer in something specific you saw while observing or volunteering in a dental practice and make sure it matches your TMDSAS personal statement. Why UT San Antonio? The tips page warns “You may need to do some heavy research to feel confident in this answer.” Use what the school says about community-based training at sites in South Texas a three-week South Texas rotation for seniors care for homeless patients at Haven for Hope earlier hand skills development in the first two years and a Dental Spanish selective. Connect one of them to how

you want to learn or whom you want to serve; being close to home is not enough on its own. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? This question is on the school s Interview Tips list and the admissions page weighs “applicant s future goals written personal statement or at interview ” and a “commitment/desire to serve in a medically underserved region of the state following graduation.” Give a specific honest picture of where and how you want to practice and keep it consistent with your essays. Behavioral How would you rate your level of hand-eye coordination? This one is on the school s Interview Tips list. Its curriculum features “Earlier hand skills development/earlier clinical experiences ” and its essential functions require “adequate stamina to manipulate dental equipment appropriately.” Give an honest rating then back it with one concrete activity that demanded precision and how you got better at it. We noticed you withdrew from a

class why? This question is on the school s Interview Tips list and the school grants interviews partly on “Course loads upper division science preparation university/college attended and timeframe” and on “extenuating circumstances affecting academic qualifications.” If something in your record needs explaining give a short honest account of what happened what you did about it and what your grades show since; don t make excuses. Tell me about a time you worked while carrying a full course load. The Admissions Selection Subcommittee may weigh “employment history especially as it occurred simultaneously with undergraduate academic preparation.” Say what you carried how you planned your weeks what it cost you and what it taught you about working under pressure; the school s essential functions call for “sustained function under stress.” Describe a leadership role and what you accomplished in it. The criteria include “positions of

leadership held ” and the school s news office says its admissions selection committee “weighs academic performance alongside service leadership and sustained commitment to the profession.” Pick a time you took responsibility for an outcome not just a title and say what changed because of you. Ethical / Scenario A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? UT San Antonio says its outreach serves “more than 36 000 underserved individuals annually ” and its students treat homeless and underserved patients at the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic at Haven for Hope. 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 patient who speaks only Spanish doesn t follow your explanation of a treatment. What do you do? The school weighs “bilingual

language ability ” its outreach sites bring students “Spanish-speaking patients ” and its essential functions ask students to “effectively communicate with patients.” Check what the patient understood use a qualified interpreter if you aren t fluent explain in plain words and go ahead only once the patient understands and agrees. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? The school s core values include integrity and professionalism and its essential functions require students to “demonstrate high ethical standards and professional behavior when interacting with patients fellow students faculty staff and the public.” Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients trust you. A patient becomes upset partway through a procedure and wants to stop. How do you handle it? The essential functions ask students “to respond appropriately to unpredictable

circumstances” and to show “respect and understanding of emotional social and cultural issues.” Pause and listen find out what is wrong explain the options and what stopping would mean respect the patient s decision and bring in your supervising faculty. Know your TMDSAS application cold UT San Antonio s older Interview Tips page says “It is likely that the interviewer will ask questions based on your submitted materials so review them beforehand. Remember what you wrote.” TMDSAS adds that “Essays CANNOT be changed after submitting under any circumstances.” Reread your personal statement your Personal Characteristics essay and your activities before the day so what you say matches what you wrote. Watch your email and confirm Invitations come by email “two to three weeks before the interview date ” and the school says “You will be required to confirm your attendance as instructed in the invitation letter.” TMDSAS says “Applicants must

respond promptly to all invitations for an interview ” and if you must cancel to call the school and then email. Prepare for a faculty member and a student The FAQ says “A faculty member and a third-or fourth-year student conducts the interview.” Be ready to talk with both of them and bring questions of your own about the program the clinics and student the Interview Tips page says “Your interview should confirm which school is right for you.” Treat the whole day lunch included as the interview The interview day includes information about the program and financial aid and lunch with enrolled students. The school doesn t say whether lunch is evaluated but 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.” Dress in business professional attire as the school s tips

page advises and keep your phone put away. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS full time four years (175 credit hours); San Antonio Texas Application TMDSAS only for Texas and non-Texas residents; applications accepted between May 1 and October 1 of the year before you start; ADEA lists the school as not participating in AADSAS Deadline October 1 2026 (passed); letters by October 15 2026 TMDSAS fee $235 a flat fee by credit card only; no fee waivers Secondary application “We do not require any supplemental fees or applications.” Interview Required; by email invitation two to three weeks ahead; conducted by a faculty member and a third- or fourth-year student; August to January; the day includes lunch with enrolled students; setting and length not published Offers First offers December 15 2026; additional acceptances on a rolling basis in January until the class is filled; $100 non-refundable deposit Minimums BCPM GPA 2.8; DAT Academic

Average 390 (3-digit 200–600 scale); 90 hours of course credit; C or higher in every required course Class of 2030 (started July 20 2026) 100 enrolled from 1 489 applications; 318 invited to interview; 94 Texas residents and 6 from out of state GPA Class of 2030 3.85 overall 3.80 science (averages) DAT Class of 2030 Average DAT score 461 on the 200–600 scale; the school converted older two-digit scores and doesn t name the section Acceptance rate Not published; the school publishes counts of applications interview invitations and enrollees Prerequisites Biological sciences 14 semester hours (2 of formal lab) general chemistry 8 organic chemistry 8 and physics 8 (each with labs) biochemistry 3 English 6 and statistics 3; C or better no pass/fail; done by the end of the spring before you start (catalog) or by enrollment (website) College hours At least 90 semester hours (134 quarter hours) at a regionally accredited US or Canadian school;

graduate courses don t count; at least 30 at a four-year school strongly recommended Shadowing and service No minimum hours; the committee values “depth and breadth” of shadowing and clinical observation Letters 3 letters of recommendation or a committee packet; TMDSAS asks dental applicants for one letter from a dentist DAT Score received by TMDSAS by December 1 2026; no DAT taken before 2022 (TMDSAS); latest scores considered; Canadian DAT accepted; no unofficial scores CASPer / Kira Not on the school s DDS pages; TMDSAS s CASPer list names no dental school Residency Texas residents preferred; “Only outstanding nonresidents are considered”; TMDSAS determines residency for admissions Citizenship US citizens and permanent residents Transfers Not accepted at present What to have in place Every required course with a C or better (no pass/fail) at a regionally accredited US or Canadian school finished by the end of the spring semester

before you start the catalog s stricter rule At least 90 semester hours (134 quarter hours); graduate courses don t count and the school strongly recommends at least 30 hours at a four-year college or university A BCPM GPA of at least 2.8 and a DAT Academic Average of at least 390 (3-digit 200–600 scale) from a DAT taken in 2022 or later Three letters or a committee packet through TMDSAS with one letter from a dentist Shadowing with depth and breadth and community service (the committee values “dental-related health-related and interpersonal-type activities”); the school sets no minimum hours for either Apply (TMDSAS s calendar; the 2026–27 deadline has passed) The TMDSAS application opens May 1 and accepts submissions from May 15 Submit every section with the $235 fee by October 1; TMDSAS grants no deadline extensions Have your letters in by October 15 Instruct the ADA to send your DAT scores to TMDSAS and have your score received by

December 1 Send transcripts only when TMDSAS asks for them If you are invited (interviews August to January) Watch your invitations come two to three weeks ahead and you must confirm your attendance as the invitation instructs Read the invitation for the setting and the school s pages don t publish them Reread your TMDSAS essays and activities Prepare a Why UT San Antonio answer an ethical dilemma to talk through and your own questions If you are accepted Pay the non-refundable $100 enrollment deposit to secure your place Complete the criminal background the offer isn t final until its results are “deemed favorable” Send final official transcripts once your grades and degree have been recorded Once you have decided withdraw from the other schools as TMDSAS requires Hard dates October 1 TMDSAS deadline (passed) October 15 letters December 1 DAT score received by TMDSAS December 15 first offers January more acceptances on a rolling basis;

interviews end April 15 dental schools can no longer make offers to applicants holding another seat What is the UT San Antonio dental school interview format? UT San Antonio s DDS admissions page says “A faculty member and a third-or fourth-year student conducts the interview ” and “As part of the interview day you will have an opportunity to obtain information about our program financial aid and meet with enrolled students over lunch.” The interview is required by email invitation “two to three weeks before the interview date ” and interviews run from August when the school “begins interviewing ” to January. Its admissions criteria call it a “personal interview conducted by members of the Admissions Committee and additional trained volunteers.” The page doesn t say how long the interview lasts whether it is in person or virtual or what is asked. Is the UT San Antonio dental interview virtual or in person? UT San Antonio s DDS pages don

t say. The interview day includes lunch with enrolled students and an older Interview Tips page advises business professional attire and adds “Be comfortable though. It can be warm in South Texas ” but neither says where the interview takes place. A public forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists the school s interviews as in person in both recent cycles with first interview dates of 11 August 2025 and 10 August 2026. Those are applicant reports not the school s 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 UT San Antonio use the MMI? UT San Antonio s DDS pages describe no MMI multiple mini interviews or its FAQ says “A faculty member and a third-or fourth-year student conducts the interview.” They don t call it a panel or one-on-one either or say whether the

two interview you together. No post in the public forum s 2025–26 or 2026–27 UT San Antonio threads describes the format. The school doesn t say whether your interviewers will have read your application so prepare specific examples for the criteria it lists that you can explain from scratch. Do I apply to UT San Antonio through TMDSAS or AADSAS? TMDSAS the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service whether or not you are a Texas resident. The 2026-27 catalog says “All applicants must apply through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service ” the admissions page says that service processes applications “For Texas and non-Texas residents ” and ADEA lists the school among those that don t participate in AADSAS. Applications are accepted between May 1 and October 1 of the year before you for 2026–27 the deadline was October 1 2026 and it has passed. TMDSAS charges a flat $235 by credit card only and the school requires

no supplemental application or fee. Does UT San Antonio require CASPer or Kira? UT San Antonio s DDS pages and the DDS page of its 2026-27 catalog don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment and its FAQ says “We do not require any supplemental fees or applications.” TMDSAS s list of schools that require CASPer names no dental school. It does list the Long School of Medicine at UT San Antonio which is the university s medical school not its School of Dentistry. TMDSAS s list of dental schools that require a secondary application names only Texas A&M. What GPA and DAT do I need for UT San Antonio dental school? UT San Antonio s minimum admission standards are a BCPM GPA (biology chemistry physics and math) of 2.8 and a DAT Academic Average of 390 which it labels “(3-digit scale)”: the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since March 2025. Its Class of 2030 which started in July 2026 averaged a 3.85 overall GPA a 3.80

science GPA and a DAT score of 461 on the 200–600 scale; the school says scores from the old two-digit scale “were converted to the new scale for this average ” and it doesn t name the DAT section. The undated quick facts on its DDS page which name no class give an overall GPA of 3.69 and a DAT Academic Average of 20.9 a score on the old 1–30 scale. We don t convert between scales. Does UT San Antonio accept out-of-state applicants? Yes but “Preference is given to legal residents of Texas. Only outstanding nonresidents will be considered or accepted.” The Class of 2030 had 94 Texas residents and 6 students from outside the state. TMDSAS determines residency for admissions and the school says US citizens and permanent residents will be considered; TMDSAS lists UT San Antonio School of Dentistry among the schools that consider only US citizens or legal permanent residents. Costs differ for students who began in July 2026 the first-year

cost of attendance was $95 811 for Texas residents and $107 691 for non-residents. When does UT San Antonio send acceptances and is there a match? There is no match for dental TMDSAS s Match is for “Texas resident medical applicants.” UT San Antonio says “The first round of acceptance letters will be sent electronically and followed by a formal letter by mail on December 15 ” and if you interviewed but weren t accepted then “Additional acceptances will be made on a rolling basis in January” and “will continue until the class is filled.” TMDSAS s dental calendar says that from April 15 2027 “Dental schools can no longer make offers to applicants holding another seat.” Accepted students pay a non-refundable $100 enrollment deposit and an offer isn t final until a criminal background check is “deemed favorable.” In a public forum s 2025–26 thread one applicant posted on 29 December 2025 “I was accepted on decision day ” without saying

which day that was. UTHealth Houston Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Also a TMDSAS UTHealth Houston s required interview conducted by an Admissions Committee member or designee. Domestic Program /schools/uthealth-houston-dental-school-interview UNC Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) UNC s interviews by invitation between September and November which it plans to hold in person for 2026–27 and its admitted averages of a 3.72 GPA and a 460 DAT Academic Average (200–600 scale). Domestic Program /schools/unc-dental-school-interview Utah Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Utah s in-person-only interviews its required CASPer and its 380 DAT minimums (200–600 scale). Domestic Program /schools/utah-dental-school-interview