VCU Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

VCU DDS guide from its own pages: a 30-minute interview with two faculty at the school, a wax tooth carving, and the Dec 1 deadline (FAQ and Bulletin: Jan 1).

VCU interviews at the school from mid-September through February; its interview-day page lists a 30-minute interview with two faculty members, on a day that also includes a wax tooth carving, a tour and lunch with current students. Here is what VCU publishes, where its pages disagree, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> VCU DDS Requirements and Class Profile Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, in Richmond, calls itself the only dental school in Virginia and says it has served as the commonwealth's only dental school for more than 130 years; it was founded in 1893. Its DDS is a competency-based four-year program, and "The academic year begins in July and extends through June." You apply through AADSAS, and VCU's FAQ says it "does not require a supplemental application." Its application page says a complete application includes an $85 non-refundable fee, a verified AADSAS application, an official DAT

score and your letters. VCU's admissions pages print no year next to their dates; the years in this guide are ours, for a class starting in summer 2027. This is what VCU publishes about who applies and who enrolls: Figure. What VCU publishes. Where. Applications. Approximately 2,200–2,500 a year to the DDS. DDS FAQ. Class size. “The maximum class size is 95 students, with 60 seats for Virginia residents and 35 seats for non-residents”. DDS FAQ. Class of 2030. 96 students, welcomed in August 2026. VCU news story, August 3, 2026. Average GPA. 3.7 overall and 3.6 science (“Incoming students”). DDS FAQ. Average DAT. Academic Average 430–440, on the 200–600 scale. DDS FAQ and requirements page. Class of 2030 experience. Averages of 215 dental shadowing hours, 287 community service hours and 335 research hours; 50% with research experience. VCU news story, August 3, 2026. Minimum GPA or DAT. None: “There is no GPA minimum requirement” and

“There are no DAT minimum score requirements”. Requirements page. Which DAT scale is 430–440 on?. The 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025: 430 and 440 are three-digit scores. VCU's requirements page says "admitted candidates have a DAT Academic Average score of 430-440," and its FAQ says the Academic Average of incoming students "has consistently been 430-440 over the past several years." VCU doesn't name the scale, gives no old-scale equivalent, and doesn't say how it expressed the scores of classes that tested before the change. We don't convert any. Why this guide gives no acceptance rate. VCU publishes how many people apply, "approximately 2,200 - 2,500 applications" a year, and its class size, but not how many offers it makes, so no acceptance rate can be worked out from its pages, and we don't compute one. A 2021 story on VCU's news site said that of "about 2,000 applications" a year, "300-350 are invited" to an

interview day; those figures are from 2021. In state or out of state? VCU "gives admissions preference to state residents," and its 2026–27 Bulletin says "Virginia state residents." Its FAQ divides the class into "60 seats for Virginia residents and 35 seats for non-residents." VCU's news stories describe its two newest classes differently: the Class of 2029 "includes 95 students, 65 from Virginia and 30 from out of state," and "There are 96 students in the Class of 2030," from Virginia, other states and countries including Canada and Kuwait. VCU doesn't explain the differences from its FAQ. International students can apply to the DDS: "VCU School of Dentistry accepts international students into both our DDS and IDP program," and its Global Education Office supports students through the visa process. VCU's estimated cost of attendance for the first year (D1) in 2026–2027, the year now under way, is $128,150 in state and $168,582 out of

state, including tuition and mandatory fees of $54,443 and $93,239. It hasn't published 2027–28 figures. Prerequisite coursework Course. Semester hours. Quarter hours. General biology, lab and lecture. 8. 12. General chemistry, lab and lecture. 8. 12. Organic chemistry, lab and lecture. 8. 12. College or university level physics, lab and lecture. 8. 12. Biochemistry. 3. 4 or 5. Math/Stats. 3. 4 or 5. English. 3. 4 or 5. At least 90 semester hours when you apply. "A minimum of 90 semester credit hours (or 145 quarter credit hours) from a United States or Canadian accredited institution is required by the date of application." You may spend at most two years (60 semester hours) at an accredited community college, followed by at least two years (60 semester hours) at an accredited four-year institution. An offer is "contingent upon successful completion of a qualifying bachelor's degree, including completion of all courses indicated on

your AADSAS application." Grades and timing: every required course needs a C or better, and VCU says "We cannot accept prerequisites that are graded pass/fail without a letter grade" (its requirements page makes an exception for spring and summer 2020). "Generally, we expect most prerequisite courses completed at the time of application with at most one or two planned between applying and the date of matriculation." VCU prefers prerequisites completed no more than five years before you apply, and other courses no more than 10. AP and IB credit: accepted "as long as they appear on your official college transcript"; the FAQ adds that courses "will be evaluated on a case by case basis." Strongly recommended: 300/3000-level and above biology courses, behavioral science courses and "Courses involving the use of psychomotor skills." The Bulletin's list adds microbiology or bacteriology, animal physiology, human anatomy, immunology, histology,

genetics and embryology, and says biology courses "should emphasize zoology rather than botany." The DAT: required, and VCU recommends taking it "the year before the intended matriculation year." Scores "can NOT be more than three years old," and VCU accepts applications without a DAT score "but will not review those applications until an official DAT score is received"; unofficial scores aren't reviewed. The Bulletin says that if you test more than once, "the best set of scores is used as the official result." VCU accepts the Canadian DAT and no longer requires its "manual dexterity" section. Its application page lists a "VCU DAT deadline" of November 1 (see the timeline). Letters: one committee letter or packet, or three letters, "at least two of which must be from life-science professors and one from a dentist practicing in the United States or Canada who knows the candidate's professional abilities through direct observation through

shadowing or volunteer work." Letters beyond the four AADSAS accepts "can be emailed directly from the letter writer to denadmit@vcu.edu." VCU sets no upper limit, but "the number should not be excessive," and "Letters from people who do not know the candidate personally are discouraged." Shadowing: "we strongly encourage a total of 100-150 hours of general practice shadowing in addition to any specialty practice shadowing prior to submitting your application." The Class of 2030 averaged 215 dental shadowing hours. Technical standards: VCU's technical standards cover "motor, sensory/observation, communication, cognitive, behavioral, and ethics/professionalism." They "are not requirements of admission into the programs," but its requirements page says students must meet them "In order to successfully complete the dental curriculum at VCU," and that applicants "may be required to prove their proficiency in American English via

standardized tests and interviews." Background check: required of admitted students before they enroll. VCU says it "will not be a component of the application, interview, or selection process," and that a conviction "will not necessarily result in a denial of admission." DAT attempts: VCU's pages disagree. VCU's requirements page says candidates can retake the DAT with at least 60 days between tests, but "they can attempt the test only three times." Its FAQ quotes what it calls the ADA's retest policy: 60 days between attempts, a maximum of four in any 12-month period, permission required after three or more attempts, and one retest a year after the fifth. Plan on the stricter reading, no more than three attempts at least 60 days apart, and confirm with denadmit@vcu.edu. 90 hours by when, and is a C- enough? VCU's site and its Bulletin differ. VCU's requirements page wants 90 semester hours "by the date of application"; its 2026–27

Bulletin says 90 hours are "required to matriculate." The site asks for "a grade of C or better" in all required courses; the Bulletin says "a minimum grade of C-." The site makes your offer contingent on "a qualifying bachelor's degree"; the Bulletin adds "if applicable" and says it is "common" for VCU to seek candidates on track for one. Go by the stricter reading: 90 hours done when you apply, a C or better in every required course, and a bachelor's degree before you start. Confirm with denadmit@vcu.edu. CASPer or Kira?. VCU's DDS admissions pages and the DDS page of its 2026–27 Bulletin don't mention CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira, an MMI or any similar assessment. What they do ask for is AADSAS, an official DAT score, your letters, the $85 fee and, if you are invited, the interview, which is "mandatory for acceptance." The interview day also gives you the opportunity to carve a tooth out of wax; VCU doesn't call the carving an

assessment or say whether it is evaluated (see below). To confirm a rule where VCU's pages disagree, email denadmit@vcu.edu or call (804) 828-9196. VCU's advising appointments are for future applicants: "Active applicants are not permitted to schedule an advising appointment." Its advising page, last updated in October 2023, says "Appointments are currently virtual via Zoom." Its events page offers in-person tours of the school "On select Friday afternoons." The VCU Interview: What the School Says By invitation, and required. "From the pool of applicants, competitive candidates are selected to interview by invitation only. An interview is mandatory for acceptance; however, an interview does not guarantee that a candidate will be offered a position in the class." VCU reviews your application once AADSAS sends it, and then decides "whether or not an interview will be granted." Mid-September through February. "The VCU School of Dentistry

interview process begins mid-September and runs through the following February. There is a break for the holidays from the second week of December until the first week in January." Its application page lists February as the "End of VCU interview cycle." This cycle, that means mid-September 2026 to February 2027. A day at the school. "Interview days typically begin around 8:45 a.m. and conclude around 3:15 p.m.," with a light breakfast and lunch. VCU's interview-day page gives directions, parking ($17 a day at the 8th Street Parking Deck) and hotels, and its selection page says selected students are "invited to the school." No VCU DDS page we read mentions a virtual interview. A 30-minute interview with two faculty members. The interview-day page lists "Participate in a 30 minute interview (2 faculty and 1 candidate)." It doesn't say whether your interviewers will have read your application, or what they ask. The rest of the day. You

"will have the opportunity to" tour the school, "Eat lunch with current dental students," learn about the curriculum and the financial aid process, and "Carve a tooth out of wax." VCU doesn't say whether the carving is evaluated. Bring your hand skills, if you like. "Feel free to bring samples of any psychomotor activities with you to the interview. These may include, but are not limited to, paintings, small carvings, or short videos of yourself playing a musical instrument." What the interview is for. VCU's 2026–27 Bulletin says "The interview process is standardized and designed to determine motivation, knowledge of and interest in the dental profession and to afford the applicant an opportunity to provide additional information pertaining to his/her application." It lists "results of personal interviews with members of the committee" among the bases for acceptance, with your pre-dental education, DAT scores, recommendations and

experiences in dentistry. The Honor System starts that day. "You will be held to the VCU Honor System beginning with your interview date until you receive your final status and through the entire program if you are accepted." One interview or a series? VCU's pages differ. The interview-day page, last updated in August 2025, describes one 30-minute interview with "2 faculty and 1 candidate." VCU's selection page, last updated in June 2025, says "Selected students are invited to the school for a series of personal interviews with faculty and student members of the Admissions Committee," and the 2026–27 Bulletin also speaks of "personal interviews with members of the committee." Prepare for the 30-minute interview with two faculty members, be ready for more than one conversation, including with students, and go by your invitation; denadmit@vcu.edu can confirm. A November 2021 story on VCU's news site describes that year's final fall

interview day, held in person, it says, at a time when "many dental schools are still conducting interviews virtually." Applicants came for "a mix of orientation and interviews," and "broke out into groups and rotated through admissions interviews and several activities designed to help them relax as well as get a sense of their future education and profession, from carving teeth out of wax to participating in a guided exercise focused on understanding the unique nature of how people perceive the world." Lunch came with "a panel of current students," followed by a tour of the clinics. The story said that of "about 2,000 applications" a year, "300-350 are invited to take part in one of several Interview Days during the fall and spring semesters." For 2026–27, go by the current interview-day page. 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 VCU's words: This cycle (2026–27): the forum's invite tracker, which a volunteer compiles from applicants' reports (last updated 25 September 2026), lists VCU's first invitations on 11 August and a first interview date of 11 September, in person. As of 7 October 2026, the forum's VCU thread for this cycle held only its opening post, and no invitation had been reported there. Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker listed first invitations on 11 August 2025 and a first interview date of 12 September 2025, in person. In the forum's VCU thread, one out-of-state applicant whose application was complete on 18 June posted on 15 August 2025 that they had been notified by email on 11 August of an interview "In person, September 12." In November 2025, one in-state applicant who had applied in July posted that they hadn't heard anything. Another wrote that they had been told VCU "were done with pre-december a few weeks ago and

have one more post-december interview left," and a third wrote "they do 6 interviews a year, 5 pre dec, 1 post dec." On 18 January 2026, the in-state applicant posted: "Received interview invite for Feb 6th, this is the last interview session for the cycle." On 17 December 2025, one applicant posted "I got accepted on the 15th." On 19 February 2026, the same in-state applicant, who said they interviewed in February, posted "Waitlisted today, interviewed in Feb," and on 13 April 2026 that a "D.5 acceptance" had been sent to them. VCU's pages we read don't use the term "D.5." The tracker's two first interview dates, and the 6 February 2026 session that applicant was invited to, all fell on Fridays. VCU doesn't say on which days it interviews. Only one applicant in the thread described the setting ("In person"). None described the interview itself: how many interviewers, how long, the wax carving, or what was asked. What VCU doesn't

publish. Whether your interviewers have read your application, what they ask, whether student members of the Admissions Committee interview you this cycle, whether the wax carving counts, the dates of its interview days, and how soon decisions follow an interview. It does say the interview is "standardized" and designed to gauge your motivation and your knowledge of and interest in dentistry, and to give you a chance to add to your application. Reread your whole AADSAS application before the day, and bring one update you want the committee to hear. Practice Your VCU Answers Out Loud. VCU's interview-day page lists a 30-minute interview with two faculty members, on a day at the school that also includes a wax tooth carving. Practice answering motivation, behavioral and ethical questions out loud, as you would for two interviewers, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. VCU's 2026–27 Admissions

Timeline When. What VCU says. Early June 2026. “Earliest date to submit AADSAS applications”. Mid-August to late September 2026. “ADEA Academic Update window #1”. September 1, 2026 (passed). Its FAQ: applicants are “greatly encouraged to apply by Sept, 1”; its Bulletin calls Sept. 1 “The priority deadline”; its application page says “The majority of applicants who are invited to interview complete their application before Sept. 1.”. Mid-September 2026 to February 2027. Interviews, with a holiday break “from the second week of December until the first week in January”. November 1, 2026. “VCU DAT deadline” (printed “Nov. 1*”; the asterisk has no footnote on the page). December 1, 2026. “VCU application submission deadline” (its FAQ and Bulletin say January 1; see below). Early December 2026 to early February 2027. “ADEA Academic Update window #2”. December 15, 2026. “Dental school acceptance notification date” (its Bulletin says the first

acceptances go out on Dec. 1; see below). Mid-February 2027. “Ending of the AADSAS Academic Update period”. February 2027. “End of VCU interview cycle”. Early spring 2027. The Bulletin: “subsequent acceptances are sent out in early spring”. By the deadline in your offer. An $800 non-refundable tuition deposit, your final official transcript (emailed by your registrar to denadmit@vcu.edu) and a satisfactory criminal background check. By late April 2027. Orientation details: “more information will be sent by late April”. Late July or early August 2027. “New student orientation is generally held in late July/early August”; the academic year begins in July. VCU prints no years beside these dates; the years are ours. Its FAQ says "Once the fall semester of senior year has been completed, applicants should complete an academic update through AADSAS," and "It is the applicant's responsibility to submit their spring semester final grades

directly to our school." VCU "DOES NOT update application statuses in ADEA WebAdmit": check its Applicant Status Portal instead. Its 2026–27 Bulletin says "Selection occurs on a rolling admissions basis, and once the class is complete an alternate list is created." If you reapply, you start over: "Data from the previous application is not carried over to the new application cycle." December 1 or January 1? VCU's pages disagree. VCU's application page, updated in August 2026, lists "Dec. 1" as the "VCU application submission deadline." Its FAQ says "applications must be submitted to AADSAS by Jan. 1," and its 2026–27 Bulletin says "The final deadline to submit applications to VCU through AADSAS is Jan. 1." Go by December 1, 2026, the stricter date. A complete application includes a verified AADSAS application, and the FAQ says "AADSAS processing takes four to eight weeks after your application, transcripts and payment are received," so

don't wait for the last weeks. Have your official DAT score in by November 1 too: VCU doesn't say whether its "VCU DAT deadline" is the test date or the date the score must arrive. Confirm with denadmit@vcu.edu. First offers: December 15 or December 1?. The application page gives "Dec. 15" as the "Dental school acceptance notification date"; the Bulletin says "The first acceptances are sent out on Dec. 1." VCU's accepted-students page says it "abides by the ADEA traffic guidelines when extending offers of admission and scholarships," and those guidelines tell schools to notify applicants of acceptance "no earlier than Dec. 15." On the forum, one applicant posted on 17 December 2025, "I got accepted on the 15th." $85 or $80, and a supplemental application or none?. The application page lists an "$85 non-refundable application fee": after VCU receives your application, it emails you instructions to access your VCU Application Status

portal and pay the fee. Its FAQ says "VCU School of Dentistry does not require a supplemental application." The 2026–27 Bulletin says "Qualified applicants are then requested to submit additional information, such as the VCU supplemental application," and gives the fee as $80. Plan on $85, watch your email after you apply, complete anything VCU asks for, and confirm with denadmit@vcu.edu. A second route, in the Bulletin's words. VCU's 2026–27 Bulletin says "Each year a certain number of students who are not accepted into the freshman class are invited to take selected courses with this class. Their performance in these courses plays a vital role in their being considered for the following year's admissions process." It doesn't name the program or say how students are chosen. Applicants on the forum call an offer one of them received in April a "D.5 acceptance"; VCU's pages we read don't use that term, so we can't say whether it is this

route. What VCU Looks For VCU evaluates candidates "Through a holistic application review process" and "by uniform criteria," and its selection page lists four: satisfactory academic performance and "acceptable Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores," evidence of psychomotor skills, a commitment to serve, and the potential to be a lifelong learner. Its technical standards say "Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interests, and motivations are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational processes." Each can anchor an interview answer: Hand skills: "There should be evidence of psychomotor skills to perform the necessary dexterity tasks that dentistry demands." VCU strongly recommends "Courses involving the use of psychomotor skills," and invites you to bring samples such as "paintings, small carvings, or short videos of yourself playing a musical instrument." Be ready to

describe one thing you made or played, and how you got better at it. Service with people: "Candidates must exhibit a commitment to serve and help others. This is evident by participating in service activities that involve interaction with others." The Class of 2030 averaged 287 community service hours. Choose a service story in which you worked directly with people, and say what it taught you. Curiosity: "Candidates should possess the potential of being a lifelong learner who exhibits intellectual curiosity." Have an example of something you learned because you wanted to, not because a course required it. Motivation and knowledge of dentistry: the Bulletin says the interview is "designed to determine motivation, knowledge of and interest in the dental profession," and lists "experiences in dentistry" among the bases for acceptance. VCU strongly encourages 100–150 hours of general practice shadowing; draw on what you saw. Communicating

with patients: VCU's technical standards ask students to "communicate in lay language so that patients and their families can understand the patient's conditions" and to "manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, congenial, personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them." Practice explaining something technical in plain words. Taking criticism and pressure: students "must be able to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior," "function effectively under stress" and "display flexibility." Have an example of feedback you acted on. Integrity: a student "must always act in the best interest of the patient and society even when there is a conflict with the student's personal self-interest," and VCU's Honor System applies from your interview date. Be ready to talk through an ethical dilemma out loud. Something new to add: the Bulletin says the interview is a chance "to

provide additional information pertaining to his/her application." Bring one update since you applied, such as a new experience, a course or a project. VCU's own advice for the day. Dress for "the professional nature of this interview": VCU's FAQ says "Men should wear suits or sport coats with ties and women should wear suits or dresses," and that "blue jeans, miniskirts, shorts, flip-flops and tennis shoes are not recommended." Wear "shoes you are comfortable walking in" for the tour. Come alone: "VCU is unable to accommodate guests during the interview day." Watch your email: "Candidates will receive further communication via email as their interview date approaches." And come with questions. Welcoming applicants in 2021, VCU's then interim dean told them: "Think of the questions you want to ask—you're interviewing us as much as we're interviewing you." The best Why VCU material is in its clinic and its reach across Virginia. VCU

calls itself the only dental school in Virginia, and says it "delivers more than 100,000 patient visits annually and is the largest provider of dental care to Virginians insured by Medicaid." It describes the school as "Clinic early, clinic ready," with "our robust fully specialized dental practice" at its heart, and says "We are at the forefront of digital dentistry technology." Every fourth-year student is enrolled in a clinical service-learning course with off-campus rotations at clinical sites across Virginia "for approximately 25 days"; students need a personal vehicle or other reliable transportation, and VCU provides lodging for sites more than 60 miles from the school. VCU and its students also partner with the Virginia Dental Association on Missions of Mercy projects, providing free dental care to "populations with unmet dental needs." Its curriculum includes courses in interpersonal skills with patients and in professionalism

and ethical decision-making, and a D.D.S.-Ph.D. route combines dentistry with doctoral study in oral health research. Its values are a "Culture of Care," CARE standing for "Compassion, Accessibility, Respect and Excellence," and it plans a new five-story building, "slated to break ground in 2027 and open its doors in late 2029." 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. VCU does not publish its interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? VCU's Bulletin describes a separate International Dentist Program that offers internationally trained dentists "an opportunity to enter the D.D.S. program in the second year"; see our VCU International Dentist Program guide . ); }; export default VCUDentalSchoolInterview; vcu-dental-school-interview Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry VCU VCU Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026-

Faculty Interview Wax Carving & Requirements VCU Dental School DDS 2026-27 VCU DDS guide from its own a 30-minute interview with two faculty at the school a wax tooth carving and the Dec 1 deadline (FAQ and Jan 1). VCU dental school interview Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry interview VCU DDS interview VCU dental school requirements VCU dental school wax carving VCU School of Dentistry DDS admissions 2026-10-07 2026-10-07 Domestic Program 30-minute interview with two faculty at the school VCU interviews at the school from mid-September through February; its interview-day page lists a 30-minute interview with two faculty members on a day that also includes a wax tooth carving a tour and lunch with current students. Here is what VCU publishes where its pages disagree what applicants report and how to prepare. VCU s interview-day page lists “a 30 minute interview (2 faculty and 1 candidate)” and the chance to “Carve a

tooth out of wax ” on a day that typically runs from about 45 a.m. to 15 p.m. Degree DDS (four years; the academic year begins in July) Richmond Virginia Interview Setting At the school (VCU s interview-day page gives directions parking and hotels) Interview Format Interview-day a 30-minute interview “2 faculty and 1 candidate”; selection “a series of personal interviews with faculty and student members of the Admissions Committee” Interview Day About 45 a.m. to 15 p.m.: a tour lunch with current students curriculum and financial aid sessions a wax tooth carving Interviews Mid-September 2026 through February 2027 with a holiday break Deadline December 1 2026 (application page); January 1 (FAQ and 2026–27 Bulletin) DAT Deadline November 1 2026 (“VCU DAT deadline”) Application Fee $85 (application page; the Bulletin says $80) Supplemental None per VCU s FAQ (the Bulletin mentions one) CASPer / Kira Not on VCU s DDS pages Class Size 96 in

the Class of 2030 (VCU news story August 2026); its FAQ gives a maximum of 95 (60 Virginia 35 non-resident seats) GPA / DAT Averages 3.7 overall 3.6 science; DAT Academic Average 430–440 (200–600 scale) Offers December 15 (application page; the Bulletin says December 1) Residency Admissions preference to state residents requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3 interview-format What VCU Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline VCU s Admissions Timeline 2 what-vcu-looks-for What VCU 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. VCU does not publish its interview questions; these are practice questions built on what it says it looks for. VCU s pages don t say whether

your interviewers will have read your application so build a 90-second answer that works either who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and why VCU is the next step. Its Bulletin says the interview is a chance “to provide additional information pertaining to his/her application ” so end with something your application doesn t already say. Why dentistry? VCU s Bulletin says its interview is “designed to determine motivation knowledge of and interest in the dental profession.” Anchor your answer in something specific you saw or did in a dental setting then say what it confirmed for you about the work. Why VCU? Use what VCU says about the only dental school in Virginia more than 100 000 patient visits a year a “robust fully specialized dental practice” at the heart of the school digital dentistry and fourth-year service-learning rotations at clinical sites across Virginia for approximately 25 days. Connect one of them to how

you want to learn or whom you want to serve; the location alone is not a reason. What did you learn from shadowing? VCU strongly encourages “a total of 100-150 hours of general practice shadowing in addition to any specialty practice shadowing ” and its Class of 2030 averaged 215 dental shadowing hours. Name one thing you saw a dentist do with a patient and what it taught you about the profession. Behavioral How have you developed your hand skills? VCU s selection page says “There should be evidence of psychomotor skills to perform the necessary dexterity tasks that dentistry demands ” and its interview-day page invites you to bring “paintings small carvings or short videos of yourself playing a musical instrument.” Describe one activity that demanded what you made or did how long you have done it and how you got better. Tell me about your community service. What did it teach you? VCU says “Candidates must exhibit a commitment to serve

and help others. This is evident by participating in service activities that involve interaction with others.” Pick an experience in which you worked directly with people say what you did and what it changed in how you see the people you served. Tell me about a time you received criticism. What did you do with it? VCU s technical standards say a student “must be able to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior.” Show that you listened without defending yourself changed something specific and what improved as a result. Tell me about something you learned on your own because you were curious. VCU looks for “the potential of being a lifelong learner who exhibits intellectual curiosity.” Choose something you pursued beyond any requirement explain what drew you to it and say how you keep learning about it. Ethical / Scenario A patient is anxious and upset before treatment. How do you handle it? VCU s technical

standards ask students to “manage apprehensive patients with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful congenial personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them.” Show that you would acknowledge the fear explain each step in plain words agree on a signal to pause and involve your supervising dentist if the patient wants to stop. A patient doesn t understand the treatment you are recommending. What do you do? VCU s technical standards ask students to “communicate in lay language so that patients and their families can understand the patient s conditions.” Check what the patient understands explain the options in plain words answer their worries and go ahead only with their informed agreement. A patient needs treatment they cannot afford. What do you do? VCU says it is “the largest provider of dental care to Virginians insured by Medicaid ” and its CARE values define Accessibility as “We place the needs of patients first

engaging all peoples in service-learning and outreach to promote optimal social and health opportunity.” 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. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? VCU holds you to its Honor System “beginning with your interview date ” and its technical standards ask students to “act with impeccable integrity in their interactions with 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 your license. Treat December 1 as the deadline and November 1 for the DAT VCU s application page lists “Dec. 1” as the “VCU application submission deadline” and “Nov. 1*” as the “VCU DAT deadline”; its FAQ and 2026–27

Bulletin say January 1. Go by December 1 2026 have your official DAT score in by November 1 and remember that a complete application includes a verified AADSAS application which VCU s FAQ says takes four to eight weeks to process. Prepare for two faculty interviewers in 30 minutes VCU s interview-day page lists “a 30 minute interview (2 faculty and 1 candidate) ” while its selection page describes “a series of personal interviews with faculty and student members of the Admissions Committee.” Practice answering two people at once keep your answers short enough that both can ask their questions and be ready for more than one conversation. Show your hands not just your grades VCU looks for “evidence of psychomotor skills ” and its interview day gives you the opportunity to “Carve a tooth out of wax.” VCU doesn t say whether the carving is evaluated but it invites you to bring “samples of any psychomotor activities ” such as paintings small

carvings or short videos of yourself playing an instrument. Bring one if you have it and be ready to talk about it. Plan a full day at the school Interview days “typically begin around 45 a.m. and conclude around 15 p.m.” Parking at the 8th Street Parking Deck is $17 a day the airport is 15 minutes away and VCU can t accommodate guests. Dress professionally with “shoes you are comfortable walking in” for the tour and remember that the VCU Honor System applies from your interview date. Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS a competency-based four-year program; the academic year runs July through June; Richmond Virginia Application AADSAS; “Dec. 1” is the “VCU application submission deadline” on the application page while its FAQ and the 2026–27 Bulletin say January 1; no supplemental application per its FAQ (the Bulletin mentions one) Application fee $85 non-refundable paid through VCU s Application Status portal after VCU emails you

(the Bulletin says $80) Interview By invitation and mandatory for acceptance; at the school mid-September through February with a holiday break; “a 30 minute interview (2 faculty and 1 candidate)” on the interview-day page while its selection page describes “a series of personal interviews with faculty and student members of the Admissions Committee” Interview day About 45 a.m. to 15 p.m.: a tour lunch with current dental students curriculum and financial aid sessions and a wax tooth carving Class size 96 in the Class of 2030 (VCU news story August 2026); its FAQ gives a maximum of 95 with 60 seats for Virginia residents and 35 for non-residents Applications Approximately 2 200–2 500 a year GPA Average 3.7 overall and 3.6 science for incoming students; no minimum DAT Academic Average 430–440 for admitted candidates on the 200–600 scale; no minimum; scores no more than three years old; “VCU DAT deadline” November 1; Canadian DAT accepted

Acceptance rate Not published as a rate; VCU publishes applications and class size not offers Prerequisites General biology general chemistry organic chemistry and physics 8 semester hours each with lab and lecture; biochemistry math/statistics and English 3 each; C or better (the Bulletin says C-); no pass/fail prerequisites except courses taken in spring or summer 2020 Credit hours At least 90 semester (145 quarter) hours from a US or Canadian accredited institution by the date of application (the Bulletin says to matriculate) Bachelor s degree Offers are contingent on completing a qualifying bachelor s degree (the Bulletin adds “if applicable”) Letters One committee letter or packet or three two from life-science professors and one from a dentist practicing in the US or Canada; extra letters can be emailed by the writer to denadmit@vcu.edu Shadowing 100–150 hours of general practice shadowing strongly encouraged before you apply plus

any specialty shadowing; the Class of 2030 averaged 215 hours CASPer / Kira Not on VCU s DDS admissions pages or the Bulletin s DDS page Residency Admissions preference to state residents; estimated 2026–2027 first-year cost of attendance $128 150 in state and $168 582 out of state Offers December 15 on the application page (the Bulletin says December 1); $800 non-refundable tuition deposit Background check Required after an offer before you enroll; not part of the application interview or selection process What to have in place At least 90 semester hours from a US or Canadian accredited institution by the time you apply with most prerequisites done and at most one or two planned A C or better in every required course no pass/fail prerequisites and a qualifying bachelor s degree before you start An official DAT score no more than three years old; to be safe plan on no more than three attempts at least 60 days apart 100–150 hours of

general practice shadowing which VCU strongly encourages plus any specialty shadowing One committee letter or packet or three two from life-science professors and one from a dentist practicing in the US or Canada who knows you through shadowing or volunteer work Service activities that involve interaction with others and evidence of your hand skills Apply (VCU s the DAT by November 1 the application by December 1) Submit AADSAS as early as you “The majority of applicants who are invited to interview complete their application before Sept. 1” Have your official DAT score in by November 1 2026 the “VCU DAT deadline” Submit by December 1 2026 the stricter of VCU s published deadlines allowing time for AADSAS verification Pay the $85 fee through VCU s Application Status portal when VCU emails you and complete anything else it asks for Check your status in VCU s Applicant Status Portal not ADEA WebAdmit and complete an academic update

through AADSAS once your fall semester of senior year is done If you are invited (interviews mid-September through February) Watch your VCU sends further communication as your interview date approaches Plan travel and parking for a day from about 45 a.m. to 15 p.m. and come without guests Prepare for a 30-minute interview with two faculty members and for more than one conversation Bring a sample of a psychomotor activity if you have one and expect to carve a tooth out of wax Prepare a Why VCU answer an update since you applied and your own questions Hard dates November 1 VCU DAT deadline December 1 VCU application submission deadline (its FAQ and Bulletin say January 1) December 15 dental school acceptance notification date (the Bulletin says December 1) February end of VCU s interview cycle Late July or early August new student orientation generally What is the VCU dental school interview format? VCU s interview-day page lists “a 30

minute interview (2 faculty and 1 candidate)” on a day that typically runs from about 45 a.m. to 15 p.m. and also includes a tour lunch with current dental students sessions on the curriculum and financial aid and the chance to “Carve a tooth out of wax.” Its selection page describes “a series of personal interviews with faculty and student members of the Admissions Committee ” so be ready for more than one conversation. The 2026–27 Bulletin calls the interview process “standardized” and says it is designed “to determine motivation knowledge of and interest in the dental profession.” VCU doesn t say whether interviewers have read your application or what they ask. Is the VCU dental interview in person or virtual? VCU s pages describe it at the school. Its interview-day page gives directions parking and hotels and lists what you will do “During your time at the school ” and its selection page says selected students are “invited to the

school.” No VCU DDS page we read mentions a virtual interview. A public forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from applicants reports lists VCU as in person in 2025–26 and 2026–27 and one 2025–26 applicant reported “In person September 12.” Go by your invitation. Does VCU use the MMI? VCU s DDS pages and the DDS page of its Bulletin don t mention an MMI multiple mini interviews or interview stations. They describe a 30-minute interview with two faculty members (its selection “a series of personal interviews”) and a wax tooth carving during the day. A 2021 story on VCU s news site described applicants rotating “through admissions interviews and several activities ” but no VCU page we read calls them stations and no post in a public forum s 2025–26 or 2026–27 VCU threads describes an MMI. What is the wax carving on VCU s interview day? VCU s interview-day page lists “Carve a tooth out of wax” among the things you will have the

opportunity to do alongside the tour lunch with current students and the 30-minute interview. VCU doesn t say whether the carving is evaluated. A 2021 story on VCU s news site described carving teeth out of wax among “several activities designed to help them relax as well as get a sense of their future education and profession.” VCU s selection page does ask for “evidence of psychomotor skills ” and you may bring samples of psychomotor activities such as paintings or small carvings to the interview. Does VCU require CASPer or Kira for dental school? VCU s DDS admissions pages and the DDS page of its 2026–27 Bulletin don t mention CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment. What they ask for is AADSAS an official DAT score one committee letter or three letters the $85 fee and if you are invited the interview which is “mandatory for acceptance.” The interview day also includes the opportunity to carve a tooth out of wax which

VCU doesn t call an assessment. VCU s FAQ says it doesn t require a supplemental application though the Bulletin mentions one. What GPA and DAT do I need for VCU dental school? VCU has no minimum GPA or DAT score. Its FAQ says incoming students average a 3.7 overall and 3.6 science GPA and that “The Academic Average of incoming students at VCU School of Dentistry has consistently been 430-440 over the past several years ” which is on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since March 2025. VCU gives no old-scale equivalent and we don t convert one. Your DAT can be no more than three years old and VCU won t review your application until an official score arrives. When is the VCU DDS application deadline for 2026–27? VCU s pages disagree. Its application page lists “Dec. 1” as the “VCU application submission deadline” and “Nov. 1*” as the “VCU DAT deadline.” Its FAQ says “applications must be submitted to AADSAS by Jan. 1 ” and its 2026–27

Bulletin calls January 1 the final deadline. Go by December 1 2026 with your official DAT score in by November 1 and confirm with denadmit@vcu.edu. Earlier is VCU says “The majority of applicants who are invited to interview complete their application before Sept. 1.” Does VCU accept out-of-state applicants? Yes but VCU “gives admissions preference to state residents.” Its FAQ says “The maximum class size is 95 students with 60 seats for Virginia residents and 35 seats for non-residents ” and its news story on the Class of 2029 counted 65 students from Virginia and 30 from out of state. Its August 2026 story on the Class of 2030 counts 96 students from Virginia other states and countries including Canada and Kuwait. VCU accepts international students into the DDS. Its estimated 2026–2027 first-year cost of attendance is $128 150 in state and $168 582 out of state. Howard Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Washington D.C.: Howard s

older DDS page describes a 25–30-minute panel interview and a second interview with the Director of Admissions; its two official sites give different dates. Domestic Program /schools/howard-dental-school-interview High Point Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In High Point North an in-person interview day with three 10-minute one-on-one faculty interviews. Kira is required before any interview offer and HPU s own application is due November 1 2026. Domestic Program /schools/high-point-dental-school-interview Kentucky Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In UKCD s panel interview “a traditional interview in conversation style ” with Admissions Committee members faculty staff and students. Domestic Program /schools/kentucky-dental-school-interview MUSC Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Charleston South MUSC s virtual interview day with two 30-minute interviews with faculty members (its undated FAQ) and a December 15 deadline.

Domestic Program /schools/musc-dental-school-interview UNC Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Next door in North UNC Adams four-year DDS with interviews by invitation September to November which UNC plans to hold in person for 2026–27. Domestic Program /schools/unc-dental-school-interview Maryland Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) Up the road in a virtual self-scheduled DDS interview from mid-September to late February and a December 15 deadline. Domestic Program /schools/maryland-dental-school-interview Penn Dental School Interview Guide Also in the Mid- Penn Dental s DMD interview and how to prepare. Domestic Program /schools/penn-dental-school-interview