WVU Dental School Interview: DDS 2026-27

WVU School of Dentistry DDS guide from its own pages: the interview its apply page describes (undated), the Nov 1, 2026 deadline and where its pages differ.

WVU's apply page, undated on this point, says it interviews selected applicants, generally in the fall, virtually or in person: a group introduction, a tour, time with dental students, a brief writing exercise, a Q&A session and a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members. Here is what WVU publishes, where its pages disagree, what applicants report, and how to prepare. return ( <> WVU DDS Requirements and Class Profile The West Virginia University School of Dentistry is in Morgantown, in the WVU Health Sciences Center. Its DDS page calls it "The state's only dental school," and its admissions office page says the office receives more than a thousand applicants for 48 DDS openings each year. You apply through AADSAS, due November 1, 2026 on WVU's apply page, and WVU's catalog adds that the committee "invites selected applicants to submit a secondary (WVU Graduate) application." WVU publishes a one-page class

profile. This is what it reports for the Class of 2030, the class that began in 2026 (our arithmetic: a four-year program counted back from 2030): Figure. Class of 2030 (WVU's facts sheet, updated 8/19/26). Enrolled. 48 (31 West Virginia residents, 65%; 17 non-residents, 35%). Applicants. 1,309 (70 resident, 5%; 1,239 non-resident, 95%). GPA (averages). 3.83 overall, 3.80 science. DAT (averages). Academic 450, Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) 440, on the 200–600 scale. Dental shadowing and volunteer hours (averages). 170 hours of dental shadowing, 275 hours of volunteering. Home country of enrollees. United States 46, Kuwait 2. Academic degrees held (counts). Biology 21; Exercise Science 7; Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Studies 3 each; Dental Hygiene, Nutrition and Dietetics and Physiology 2 each; Biochemistry, Human Biology, Immunology, Kinesiology and Psychology 1 each. Which DAT scale are 450 and 440 on?. WVU's

facts sheet doesn't name the scale, but three-digit scores are on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since 1 March 2025. They are averages for the Class of 2030, not minimums, and WVU gives no old-scale equivalents for them, so we give none. WVU lists no Total Science or Reading Comprehension average, and no acceptance rate: it publishes counts and its own percentages of applicants and enrollees by residency, and we don't compute a rate. In state or out of state? WVU's catalog says "Due to a large number of applications and limited class size, qualified West Virginia residents receive priority consideration, and outstanding nonresident applicants are also considered." It adds that the WVU Office of Admission determines residency under Higher Education Policy Commission rules. In the Class of 2030, 70 of the 1,309 applicants were residents and 31 of the 48 enrollees were. The pages we read state no visa rule and no English test such as

the TOEFL, but WVU's technical standards say "The enrollee must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in spoken and written English with all members of the health care team." Non-residents: WVU's pages disagree on the numbers. The catalog says nonresident applicants "generally have earned" a GPA above 3.75 (it prints a greater-than sign) "and DAT scores of 19 or above." WVU's older FAQ says non-resident applicants "should generally have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or above and an average score on the Academic and PAT sections of the DAT of at least 17," and adds, "However, these are not absolute minimums and all persons having a strong interest in the West Virginia University School of Dentistry are encouraged to apply." Neither page names a scale or, for the catalog, a section, and 19 and 17 can only be old 1–30 scale figures. On the ADA's concordance table (Table 1), an old 19 is 410 in the Academic Average, Survey

of Natural Sciences and Perceptual Ability, 420 in Quantitative Reasoning and 370 in Reading Comprehension, and an old 17 is 370 in the Academic Average and 360 in Perceptual Ability (the ADA's conversions, not WVU's). Plan on the catalog's higher figures, but remember that both describe what non-residents generally have, not a cutoff: the older FAQ says the Admissions Committee has no “cut-off” points or specific required grade-point averages. To confirm, email dentaladmit@hsc.wvu.edu. Prerequisite coursework Course. Hours (as WVU lists them). English Composition & Rhetoric. 6. Biology or Zoology, with lab. 8. General or Inorganic Chemistry, with lab. 8. Organic Chemistry, with lab. 8. Physics, with lab. 8. Anatomy (Comparative or Human). 3. Biochemistry. 3. Total (the catalog's own total). 44. College coursework: WVU requires "a minimum of three years of college coursework in a U.S. or Canadian college or university," with

documentation at the time of application "certifying completion of a minimum of 90 semester credit hours." Up to 64 semester credit hours from community colleges count toward that minimum, and AP credit is accepted for the English requirement. The older FAQ says the Committee "strongly recommends that candidate work toward receiving a degree at the baccalaureate level." Grades and online courses: "A letter grade must be documented for all required courses completed through in-person, online or hybrid learning platforms." Science courses taken Pass/Fail or Satisfactory "will not be accepted," while non-science prerequisites taken Pass/Fail "will not be evaluated negatively." The catalog says "Online courses are accepted toward the prerequisite courses." When prerequisites must be done: "All prerequisite coursework must be completed before June 1 prior to the semester of enrollment in the DDS program" (June 1, 2027 for a fall 2027 start:

the year is ours). The page allows for courses still to come after you apply: "An admission decision cannot be made until an applicant has completed or is enrolled in prerequisite coursework following application." An applicant with incomplete prerequisites "may be classified as a ‘hold’ status," and the committee will not decide on admission "until all coursework is completed or in progress." Recommended courses: the apply page lists cellular and molecular biology, physiology, microbiology, embryology/developmental biology, genetics and psychology under "Recommended." The catalog calls them "strongly recommended" and suggests humanities and social science courses for "a well-rounded intellectual background." The DAT: WVU asks you to "submit official scores by November 1 of the year prior to expected enrollment" (November 1, 2026, this cycle). Scores are "only valid for three years from the test date," and "The DAT can be taken up to

three times and all score reports are released to the school." You can submit AADSAS without a score, but "the WVU Admissions Committee will not review an application without a DAT score." The page doesn't say how official scores reach WVU, or to which date the three years are counted. Letters, through AADSAS: "The committee recommends letters be submitted within two weeks of application," and "Applicants will not be invited to interview without successful submission of letters of recommendation." If your college has a pre-health professions committee or comprehensive recommendation, WVU asks you to have it submitted directly to AADSAS. Without one, it asks for "two letters written by science professors who have taught and graded the applicant" and "two letters of the applicant’s choice" from "science or non-science professors, advisers, mentors, dentists or other individuals who can recommend the applicant." Shadowing: "While there is

no specific minimum shadowing hour requirement, successful candidates typically observe at least 100 hours in various dental environments." Applicants "must complete shadowing experiences in clinical dental settings, including private offices, community health clinics and service missions," and "In-person shadowing is preferred. Virtual shadowing experiences will be considered on a case-by-case basis." The Class of 2030 averaged 170 hours, an average and not a bar. The same section lists, without explaining the list, "Participation in pre-dental organizations," "Community Service," "Manual dexterity," "Life experiences," "Research" and "Other (leadership, military service, etc.)." Technical standards: admitted students are told to "Review the Technical Standards Policy." The standards (revised 11/14/17) cover observation, communication, motor, intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities, and behavioral and social

attributes, and say "Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that should be assessed during the admissions and education processes." After an offer: a criminal background investigation "prior to final acceptance, to be paid by applicant," and immunization documentation "by June 1 prior to enrollment start date." WVU's older FAQ disagrees with its current pages. WVU's FAQ answers 44 questions about dental school admission, but its address sits in the Bachelor of Science (dental hygiene) section (dentistry.wvu.edu/students/bachelor-of-science/frequently-asked-questions/). It is old: its DAT example reads "DAT in September 2013," and the school's own sitemap lists its last modification as August 23, 2019. It says "DAT scores are valid for 5 years," where the apply page says "only valid for three years from the test date" and the catalog "up to three years after

the test date." It describes first offers as "beginning Dec. 1," where the catalog says "mid-December" and ADEA's 2026–27 notification date is December 15, 2026. For letters, where the apply page asks for "two letters written by science professors who have taught and graded the applicant" and two of your choice, the FAQ says that if your major is biology, chemistry or physics, "a recommendation should be obtained from each of the sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics)," and otherwise "two recommendations from instructors in your major field and one from the sciences (biology, chemistry, or physics)." Four letters can meet both: if you major in one of those sciences, professors of biology, chemistry and physics who taught and graded you, plus one more; otherwise, two science professors who taught and graded you (one in biology, chemistry or physics) and two instructors in your major. Ask if your letter writers don't fit. The FAQ also

says "No, the WVU SOD will not defer admissions to the D.D.S. program," a question the current pages don't address. Plan on the current readings: three years for the DAT (the stricter rule) and December 15, 2026 (ADEA's date) for first offers, and confirm with dentaladmit@hsc.wvu.edu. If your DAT is more than about two years old, ask whether it will still be valid. CASPer or Kira?. None of the WVU pages we read mentions CASPer, Acuity Insights, Kira, a multiple mini interview or any similar assessment, so they don't say whether one is required. What they do ask for includes AADSAS, with your coursework, official DAT scores and letters, a secondary (WVU Graduate) application for selected applicants and, if you are invited, an interview. To confirm a rule where WVU's pages disagree, email dentaladmit@hsc.wvu.edu or call the Office of Dental Admissions, Recruitment and Access at 304-293-6646. The WVU Interview: What the School Says By

invitation. "Selected applicants will be invited for an interview." The catalog says "West Virginia resident applicants are usually offered an interview, although the admissions committee may elect not to interview unrealistic applicants. Selected non-resident applicants are invited to interview depending on their qualifications." And "Applicants will not be invited to interview without successful submission of letters of recommendation." In the fall, virtually or in person. "Interviews generally take place in the fall of each year and are offered both virtually and in person." That sentence on the apply page is undated (the school's sitemap lists the page's last modification as April 30, 2026), it gives no months, and WVU doesn't say how it decides who interviews virtually and who in person. The older FAQ says "Interviews usually begin in September of each year." What the interview process includes. "As part of the interview process,

individuals will participate in a group introduction, take a tour of the school, meet with dental students, complete a brief writing exercise, participate in an interactive Q&A session and complete a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members." The page doesn't say how long each part lasts, in what order they come, or how the tour works for those interviewed virtually. Who interviews you. "Members of the Admissions Committee, aided by the Office of Dental Admissions, Recruitment and Access, participate in this effort." The personal interview is with "two or more Admissions Committee members." The older FAQ says the committee "is made up of faculty from various disciplines within the School of Dentistry as well as dental students and alumni," but the apply page doesn't say which members interview you, whether you meet them together or one after another, or whether they have read your application. Second Look events.

"Over the course of the admissions cycle, the Office of Dental Admissions, Recruitment and Access will host several Second Look events in which interviewed candidates who are interviewed virtually can visit WVU in person." Each consists of "a school tour led by student ambassadors, a Q&A with dental faculty and a tour of the Center for Dental Innovation," and "Candidates who interviewed in person will also be able to attend should they desire to see the school again." WVU doesn't say when the events are or whether attending is evaluated. What it counts for. The catalog says admission is "contingent upon" a list that includes "a personal interview." The older FAQ names five parameters that are “carefully considered”: academic achievement, DAT scores, recommendations, "Dental Shadowing and Life, career and volunteer experiences" and "Personal Interview." WVU doesn't say how much the interview weighs. The older FAQ describes the interview

day a little differently. The older FAQ (last modified in 2019, per the school's sitemap) says invited applicants "participate in a group introduction" and "have a personal interview with two or more admissions committee members," and adds that "an onsite writing exercise and voluntary manual dexterity assessment are part of the interview schedule." The current apply page lists a "brief writing exercise" and no manual dexterity assessment. Don't assume either way, and ask dentaladmit@hsc.wvu.edu. The FAQ also points to an "Applicant Data Monitored by Interviewing Team (ADMIT) form" for "additional interview information," but its link returned WVU's page-not-found error when we checked on October 9, 2026, so we can't say what the form holds. 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 WVU's words: This cycle (2026–27): the

forum's invite tracker (compiled by a volunteer from applicants' reports), last updated 25 September 2026, lists WVU's first invitations on 19 August, a first interview date of 11 September, and in person. The forum's WVU thread for this cycle holds four posts as of 9 October 2026, and one reports an invitation. On 19 August 2026, one out-of-state applicant who wrote "Application submitted: June 5" listed "Notification date: 8/19" by email, "Method of interview: In-person" and "No secondary application completed." Asked for the "Earliest date of interview available?", they replied on 20 August: "September 11." Last cycle (2025–26): the tracker, last updated 22 October 2025, listed WVU's first invitations on 16 July 2025 and a first interview date of 12 September, in person. The forum's thread for that cycle holds six posts and none reports an interview date or setting, so nothing there corroborates the tracker's cells. On 22 July 2025,

one applicant asked whether anyone had received "the supplemental application," saying they had an email "about a month ago saying that my application is in the preliminary review but did not hear anything else"; on 16 October the same applicant, who had "applied in june," asked again. On 22 October another applicant wrote "I got an invite, the secondary application wasn't much extra work," without saying whether the invite was to the secondary application or to an interview. On 30 January 2026 a third asked "Any news on post-dec interviews?", with no reply in the thread. The tracker lists WVU as in person in both cycles, and WVU says it offers both settings, so follow your invitation. None of the posts in either thread describes the interview itself (how many interviewers, how long, what was asked) or mentions an MMI, CASPer or Kira. Our 2026–27 interview tracker sets WVU's reported dates beside those of every other US and Puerto Rico

school on the forum's tracker. What WVU doesn't publish. How long the interview lasts; which Admissions Committee members you meet, and whether together or one after another; whether they have read your application; what is asked; the writing exercise's prompt, length and time limit; how a virtual interview is run and on what platform; the months of the interviews; when invitations go out; whether the Second Look matters; whether a manual dexterity assessment is part of this cycle's interview; and the secondary application's fee, deadline and place in the order. Because the pages we read are silent on open or closed file, prepare an introduction that stands on its own and tell your story the same way every time. A separate route: early admission. WVU also runs early admission programs with Shepherd University, Slippery Rock University, West Liberty University and West Virginia State University, each limited to a maximum of two students

a year "through a competitive application and interview process." Those students later apply to the DDS through AADSAS, and the program pages say "An interview with the Dental Admissions Committee is required to verify that the candidate has fulfilled all DDS program admissions requirements." WVU doesn't say how any of these interviews relate to the DDS interview described above, and the programs' own rules, such as a 3.60 GPA, are not rules for the regular DDS. Practice Your WVU Answers Out Loud. WVU's apply page says it interviews selected applicants virtually or in person, with a brief writing exercise and a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members. Practice telling your story and answering motivation, service and ethical questions out loud, and get instant AI feedback on structure and clarity.. Start Practicing Free →. WVU's 2026–27 Admissions Timeline WVU's apply page numbers four steps: Qualifications,

AADSAS, Interview and Acceptance. The rows below follow that order rather than a strict calendar, because WVU gives the interview season only as "the fall," with no months. Of the dates on that page, only the November 1 application deadline names a year for this cycle (2026). Where a date below has no year on WVU's pages, the year is ours, for a fall 2027 start. When. What WVU says. Mid-May 2026. “The AADSAS application becomes available in mid-May each year.” (ADEA's 2026-27 dates, not WVU's: the application opened May 12, 2026, and June 2, 2026 was the first day to submit). As early as you can. “It is advantageous to submit the application as early as possible”; the catalog says the school “uses a rolling admission process”. After you submit AADSAS. The committee reviews applications and, per the catalog, “invites selected applicants to submit a secondary (WVU Graduate) application”; the apply page lists none, and neither page gives a

fee, a deadline or whether it comes before the interview invitation. Within two weeks of applying. “The committee recommends letters be submitted within two weeks of application”; no one is invited to interview without letters. November 1, 2026. AADSAS deadline; official DAT scores also due (“by November 1 of the year prior to expected enrollment”). Generally in the fall. Interviews, by invitation, “both virtually and in person”; no months published (the older FAQ: “usually begin in September”). Second Look events are hosted across the admissions cycle. Mid-December 2026. First offers: the catalog says WVU “begins admitting highly qualified individuals on mid-December”; the apply page says notifications follow “the national ADEA AADSAS notification deadline for each cycle,” which ADEA sets at December 15, 2026. June 1, 2027. Prerequisite coursework complete and immunization documentation due, each “prior to” enrollment (the year is

ours). Fall 2027. Classes begin (the date isn't on the pages we read; the catalog's heading for this cycle is “Admissions for 2027-2028”). First offers: three dates on WVU's pages. The apply page says "The Admissions Committee will begin notifying applicants of admission status in accordance with the national ADEA AADSAS notification deadline for each cycle." ADEA's 2026–27 date for dental school acceptance notification is December 15, 2026. The catalog says WVU "begins admitting highly qualified individuals on mid-December," and the older FAQ says "beginning Dec. 1." Plan on December 15, 2026, and confirm with dentaladmit@hsc.wvu.edu. No WVU page we read gives a deposit amount or a decision deadline. The older FAQ describes a waitlist: "The alternate list (waitlist) is comprised of a group of applicants who will be considered in the event of a vacancy in the class." The current pages we read don't describe a waitlist or say anything

about deferrals. What WVU Looks For WVU's catalog says its admissions committee "utilizes a holistic selection process that takes into account cognitive and non-cognitive attributes in accordance with defined admission criteria." The pages we read don't publish how the interview is scored. What they do publish are WVU's core values, its admissions committee's mission and its technical standards, and its older FAQ names the parameters it considers. Together with the rest of its pages, they make the best checklist for the interview: Accountability, communication, collaboration, excellence, integrity and service: WVU's six core values. Its About page says the school "seeks future oral healthcare professionals who hold themselves accountable, communicate well, are open to collaboration, aim for excellence, display integrity and demonstrate service-mindedness." Have an example ready for each. Character and compassion: the Dental Admissions

Committee "strives to admit highly qualified applicants who: (1) embody the necessary attributes of exemplary character and integrity to meet the challenge of becoming a competent dental professional and (2) will be dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate, high-quality oral healthcare to diverse patient populations in West Virginia, the nation, and beyond." Its admissions office page says its admissions committee "strives to admit highly qualified, professional and compassionate candidates who embrace honesty and integrity." Service and community engagement: WVU's home page says School of Dentistry students "must accumulate 100 hours or more of community engagement work prior to graduation," and its strategic compass (a PDF dated August 2023) sets out to "Improve the oral health of West Virginians – one patient at a time." The Class of 2030 averaged 275 volunteer hours, an average and not a bar. Have one specific service

story and what it taught you. Dental exposure and motivation: successful candidates "typically observe at least 100 hours in various dental environments," and the older FAQ says "the total absence of any communication with the dental field makes motivation more difficult to assess." Working with your hands: "Manual dexterity" is on the apply page's list under the shadowing section, and the older FAQ mentions a "voluntary manual dexterity assessment." Have one hobby or activity that uses your hands ready to describe. A record that holds together: the catalog's coursework considerations include "Performance improvement/consistency" and "Course load," and the older FAQ says "Improvement shown by candidates over their career in undergraduate studies is also considered" and, of withdrawals on a transcript, "The applicant should be prepared to explain these withdrawals." If your record has a low point, be ready to say what changed and show

the evidence since. Professionalism and ethics: the student pledge on the committee's page commits students "to adhere to the high standards of the dental profession set forth in the American Dental Association Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct," and the catalog lists "Ethics" and "Professionalism" among the competencies a graduate must demonstrate. These describe students, not published interview criteria, but they show what the school values. The best Why WVU material is in its rural rotation and its community focus. WVU's DDS page says all students complete "a minimum of six weeks experiencing community-based dentistry while completing a clinical rotation at a rural West Virginia practice," that "Students treat their first patients as early as the Summer session of their second year," and that an "emphasis on interprofessional learning places dental students in collaboration with health professional students in

medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health." Its home page points to "more than 30 service projects." Its Center for Dental Innovation page says "Each fourth year dental student spends a two week rotation in the Dental Innovation Center," and its About page says "Small class size allows students one on one mentoring by faculty." Connect one of these to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve, and if you are not a West Virginia resident, say what draws you to the state. The practice questions below are ours, built on the criteria above. The WVU pages we read publish no interview questions. Internationally trained dentist? WVU's catalog says international dental graduates who wish to apply to the DDS "as a student in the first-year class should contact the School of Dentistry Office of Dental Admissions" for guidelines and requirements. This guide covers the regular DDS through AADSAS. ); }; export default

WVUDentalSchoolInterview; wvu-dental-school-interview West Virginia University School of Dentistry WVU WVU Dental School Interview (DDS) 2026- Format Deadline & Requirements WVU Dental School DDS 2026-27 WVU School of Dentistry DDS guide from its own the interview its apply page describes (undated) the Nov 1 2026 deadline and where its pages differ. WVU dental school interview West Virginia University School of Dentistry interview WVU DDS interview WVU dental school requirements WVU dental school deadline West Virginia dental school interview 2026-10-09 2026-10-09 Domestic Program Virtual or in-person; personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members (apply page undated) WVU s apply page undated on this point says it interviews selected applicants generally in the fall virtually or in a group introduction a tour time with dental students a brief writing exercise a Q&A session and a personal interview with two or more

Admissions Committee members. Here is what WVU publishes where its pages disagree what applicants report and how to prepare. WVU s apply page undated on this point says interviews “generally take place in the fall of each year and are offered both virtually and in person ” and include “a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members”; its catalog says “qualified West Virginia residents receive priority consideration.” Degree DDS (four years) Morgantown West Virginia Interview Setting Offered both virtually and in person (WVU s apply page undated on this point) Interview Format A group introduction a tour a meeting with dental students a brief writing exercise a Q&A session and a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members Interviews Generally in the fall; no months published Invitations By invitation; none without letters of recommendation submitted Second Look Events where candidates interviewed

virtually can visit WVU in person; those interviewed in person can attend too Deadline November 1 2026 (AADSAS); official DAT scores also due by November 1 Secondary Selected applicants are invited to submit a secondary (WVU Graduate) application per the catalog CASPer / Kira Not mentioned on the WVU pages we read Class Size 48 enrolled in the Class of 2030; 1 309 applicants GPA / DAT Class of 2030 3.83 overall and 3.80 science GPA; DAT Academic 450 Perceptual Ability 440 (200–600 scale) Shadowing No specific minimum; successful candidates typically observe at least 100 hours (Class of 2030 170) Residency The catalog says “qualified West Virginia residents receive priority consideration”; 17 of the Class of 2030 s 48 enrollees were non-residents First Offers Mid-December per the catalog; the apply page follows ADEA s notification date December 15 2026 requirements Requirements & Class Profile 2 prerequisites Prerequisite Coursework 3

interview-format What WVU Says About the Interview 2 what-applicants-report What Applicants Report 3 timeline WVU s Admissions Timeline 2 what-wvu-looks-for What WVU 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. The WVU pages we read publish no interview questions; these are our practice questions built on what WVU says it weighs. WVU doesn t say whether your interviewers have read your application so build a 90-second answer that stands on its who you are the experiences that led you to dentistry and why WVU is the next step. Why dentistry? WVU says “successful candidates typically observe at least 100 hours in various dental environments ” and its older FAQ says “the total absence of any communication with the dental field makes motivation more

difficult to assess.” Anchor your answer in something specific you saw while shadowing then say what it confirmed for you. Why West Virginia University? Use what WVU says about its DDS page calls it “The state s only dental school ” every student completes “a minimum of six weeks” in a rural West Virginia practice and School of Dentistry students “must accumulate 100 hours or more of community engagement work prior to graduation.” Its catalog says “qualified West Virginia residents receive priority consideration ” so if you are not a resident say what draws you to West Virginia and to this program. Connect one detail to how you want to learn and whom you want to serve; the location alone is not a reason. What draws you to caring for patients in rural or underserved communities? WVU s strategic compass (a PDF dated August 2023) sets out to “Expand access to care in rural communities” and to “Reduce the financial barriers that keep

patients from seeking care.” Pick one real experience with a patient or community in need say what you did and what you learned and connect it to what you would bring to a school whose students all complete a rural rotation. Behavioral Tell me about a time you worked with others to reach a goal. Collaboration is one of WVU s six core values and its About page says it seeks professionals who “are open to collaboration.” Keep the setup short show how you listened and what you did and say what the group achieved. Describe a time you explained something difficult so that someone could understand it. Communication is another of WVU s core values and its About page says it seeks professionals who “communicate well.” Choose a moment when you adjusted your words to your listener and say how you knew it landed. Tell me about a time you made a mistake and held yourself accountable. WVU s About page names professionals who “hold themselves

accountable” first among the qualities it seeks. Describe a real mistake what you did about it and what you changed without blaming anyone else. Tell me about a hobby or activity that uses your hands. “Manual dexterity” appears on WVU s apply page in the list under its shadowing section and its older FAQ mentions a “voluntary manual dexterity assessment” on the interview schedule. Describe one activity what you make or fix how you improved and what it taught you about precision and patience. Ethical / Scenario A patient can t afford the treatment you recommend. What do you do? WVU s strategic compass aims to “Reduce the financial barriers that keep patients from seeking care.” Acknowledge the patient without judgment explain the options in plain words consider phased treatment or community resources and never lower the standard of care. Show your reasoning; a question like this rarely has a single right answer. A patient whose life

experience differs from yours doesn t follow your instructions. How do you respond? WVU s catalog lists “Diversity Recognize varied life experiences that impact interpersonal communications conduct and patient care” among its competencies. Ask before you assume explain the plan in plain words and agree on steps the patient can actually follow. You see a classmate cheating on an exam. What do you do? WVU s student pledge commits students “to impart the virtues of integrity honesty fairness and compassion.” Describe an escalation path from a direct conversation to the proper channels and say why integrity matters when patients will trust your license. During a rotation in a private practice you are asked to perform a procedure you have not been trained to do. What do you do? Every WVU student completes a rural rotation of at least six weeks and its outreach page says the private practice dentists who host students or preceptors “help

students observe and evaluate daily relationships with patients staff laboratory technicians supply salespersons other health professionals and many more people in their communities.” Say that you would be honest about your limits put the patient s safety first and ask your supervisor for guidance. Send everything by November 1 and get your letters in early WVU s AADSAS deadline is November 1 2026 and official DAT scores are due by then its Admissions Committee “will not review an application without a DAT score.” The committee “recommends letters be submitted within two weeks of application ” and “Applicants will not be invited to interview without successful submission of letters of recommendation.” WVU also says “It is advantageous to submit the application as early as possible.” Prepare for every part of the interview virtual or in person WVU lists a group introduction a tour of the school time with dental students a brief writing

exercise an interactive Q&A session and a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members and says interviews are offered “both virtually and in person.” It doesn t publish the writing exercise s prompt length or time limit so practice writing a clear short answer about why dentistry then telling the same story aloud. Follow your invitation on the setting. Tell the same story to every committee member you meet WVU doesn t say whether your interviewers have read your application or whether you meet its “two or more Admissions Committee members” together or one after another. Build an introduction that stands on its own with specific examples of service dental exposure and working with your hands and tell your story the same way each time. Know why West Virginia whether or not you live here WVU s catalog says “qualified West Virginia residents receive priority consideration and outstanding nonresident applicants are also

considered ” and that residents “are usually offered an interview” while selected non-residents are invited “depending on their qualifications.” If you are not a resident be ready to explain what draws you to a school whose students complete a rural West Virginia rotation of “a minimum of six weeks” and “100 hours or more of community engagement work prior to graduation.” Requirement Detail Degree awarded DDS four years; Morgantown West Virginia Application AADSAS due November 1 2026; the catalog says the committee “invites selected applicants to submit a secondary (WVU Graduate) application” Interview By invitation; “offered both virtually and in person ” generally in the a group introduction a tour a meeting with dental students a brief writing exercise a Q&A session and a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members Second Look Several events over the cycle let candidates interviewed virtually visit WVU in person;

those interviewed in person can attend too Who is interviewed No invitation without letters; West Virginia residents “are usually offered an interview”; selected non-residents are invited “depending on their qualifications” Class size 48 enrolled in the Class of 2030; WVU s admissions office page refers to 48 DDS openings each year Applicants and enrollees Class of 2030 1 309 applicants (70 resident 5%; 1 239 non-resident 95%); 48 enrolled (31 West Virginia residents 65%; 17 non-residents 35%) GPA Class of 2030 3.83 overall 3.80 science DAT Class of 2030 Academic 450 Perceptual Ability 440 on the 200–600 scale Acceptance rate Not published; WVU gives counts of applicants and enrollees by residency not a rate Minimum GPA or DAT None stated on the current pages we read; the older FAQ says the committee has no “cut-off” points or specific required grade-point averages Non-resident guidance non-residents “generally have earned” a GPA above

3.75 and “DAT scores of 19 or above” (an old 1–30 scale figure with no section 410 in the Academic Average and in Perceptual Ability on the ADA s Table 1); older 3.5 or above and “at least 17” on the Academic and PAT sections (old 370 and 360 on Table 1) “not absolute minimums”. The conversions are the ADA s not WVU s DAT Required; the committee will not review an application without a score; official scores by November 1 2026; valid for three years from the test date (the older FAQ says five); up to three attempts Coursework At least three years of college (90 semester credit hours) at a US or Canadian college or university; up to 64 semester credit hours from community colleges count toward that minimum Prerequisites English composition & rhetoric 6 hours; biology or zoology with lab 8; general or inorganic chemistry with lab 8; organic chemistry with lab 8; physics with lab 8; anatomy 3; biochemistry 3 (44 in all); letter grades;

complete before June 1 prior to enrollment Letters Through a pre-health professions committee or comprehensive recommendation if your college has one; otherwise two from science professors who taught and graded you and two of your choice Shadowing There is “no specific minimum shadowing hour requirement”; successful candidates “typically observe at least 100 hours”; in-person shadowing is preferred CASPer / Kira Not mentioned on the WVU pages we read Residency The catalog says “qualified West Virginia residents receive priority consideration”; 17 non-residents were among the 48 enrollees in the Class of 2030 First offers Mid-December per the catalog; the apply page follows ADEA s notification date December 15 2026 (the older FAQ says December 1) After an offer A criminal background investigation at the applicant s expense and immunization documentation by June 1 prior to enrollment; review of the technical standards Tuition 2026–27 per

term WVU s pages its dentistry page lists $15 696 for residents and $35 892 for non-residents (program fees $9 450 and $19 233); WVU Health s page lists $15 417 and $34 803; neither says how many terms are billed. Plan on the higher figures and confirm with dentaladmit@hsc.wvu.edu Qualifications (WVU s step 1) At least three years of college coursework and 90 semester credit hours documented at the time of application at a US or Canadian college or university The seven prerequisite courses (44 hours) with letter grades and labs where WVU lists them; any still in progress must be finished before June 1 prior to enrollment and an applicant with courses outstanding may be put on “hold” Official DAT scores in by November 1 2026; WVU says scores are valid for three years from the test date and doesn t say to which date it counts them (its older FAQ says five; plan on three). AADSAS doesn t require a score to submit but the committee won t

review an application without one Letters through a pre-health professions committee or comprehensive recommendation if your college has one otherwise two from science professors who taught and graded you and two of your choice Shadowing in diverse dental settings (WVU states no minimum; successful candidates typically observe at least 100 hours) community service and the other experiences its apply page lists AADSAS (WVU s step 2) Submit AADSAS early and by November 1 WVU says it is “advantageous” to apply as early as possible Get your letters in within two weeks of applying as WVU s committee it invites no one to interview without them If WVU invites you to submit a secondary (WVU Graduate) application complete it; the pages we read state no fee deadline or place in the order relative to an interview invitation Interview (WVU s step 3; generally the fall) Watch for an invitation (WVU doesn t say how it is sent) and follow it on

virtual or in person Prepare for a group introduction a tour a meeting with dental students a brief writing exercise an interactive Q&A session and a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members Prepare a Why WVU answer a service story an example of working with your hands and an ethical scenario to talk through If you interview virtually watch for WVU s Second Look events; its office “will contact applicants about this opportunity” Acceptance (WVU s step 4) and dates November 1 AADSAS deadline and official DAT scores Mid-December first offers per the catalog; ADEA s notification date is December 15 2026 After an a criminal background investigation at your expense before final acceptance June 1 prerequisite coursework complete and immunization documentation due (the year is ours for a fall 2027 start) What is the WVU dental school interview format? WVU s apply page says “Selected applicants will be invited for an

interview” and that “As part of the interview process individuals will participate in a group introduction take a tour of the school meet with dental students complete a brief writing exercise participate in an interactive Q&A session and complete a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members.” It doesn t say how long the interview lasts which committee members you meet whether your interviewers have read your application or what is asked. WVU s older FAQ also lists a “voluntary manual dexterity assessment” on the interview schedule which the current apply page doesn t. Is the WVU dental interview virtual or in person? Both are offered. WVU s apply page says “Interviews generally take place in the fall of each year and are offered both virtually and in person.” That sentence is undated and WVU doesn t say how it decides which you get. A public applicant forum s invite tracker which a volunteer compiles from

applicants reports lists WVU s interviews as in person for 2025–26 and 2026–27 and the one applicant who posted a 2026–27 invitation in the forum s WVU thread listed “Method of In-person.” Candidates interviewed virtually can visit WVU in person at a Second Look event. Follow your invitation. Does WVU use the MMI? No WVU page we read describes an MMI. Its apply page describes “a personal interview with two or more Admissions Committee members ” alongside a group introduction a tour a meeting with dental students a brief writing exercise and an interactive Q&A session. None of the pages we read mentions stations or a multiple mini interview and no post in a public applicant forum s 2025–26 or 2026–27 WVU threads describes one. Prepare for a personal interview. Does WVU require CASPer or Kira? None of the WVU pages we read mentions CASPer Acuity Insights Kira or any similar assessment so they don t say whether one is required. What they

do ask for includes AADSAS with your coursework official DAT scores and letters a secondary (WVU Graduate) application for selected applicants and if you are invited an interview. If you re unsure write to dentaladmit@hsc.wvu.edu. What GPA and DAT do I need for WVU dental school? The WVU pages we read state no minimum GPA or DAT. For the Class of 2030 it reports averages of 3.83 overall and 3.80 science GPA and DAT averages of 450 Academic and 440 Perceptual Ability which are three-digit scores on the 200–600 scale the DAT has used since March 2025; WVU gives no old-scale equivalents. Its catalog says nonresident applicants “generally have earned” a GPA above 3.75 “and DAT scores of 19 or above” (an old 1–30 scale figure with no section 410 in the Academic Average and in Perceptual Ability on the ADA s concordance table). Its older FAQ says 3.5 or above and “at least 17” on the Academic and PAT sections (old 370 and 360 on the same

table) and “not absolute minimums.” The conversions are the ADA s not WVU s. Plan on the catalog s higher figures. Does WVU accept out-of-state applicants? Yes. WVU s catalog says “qualified West Virginia residents receive priority consideration and outstanding nonresident applicants are also considered.” For the Class of 2030 WVU reports 1 239 non-resident applicants (95%) and 70 resident applicants (5%) and 17 non-residents (35%) among the 48 enrolled with 31 West Virginia residents (65%). The catalog says residents “are usually offered an interview” and selected non-residents are invited “depending on their qualifications.” The pages we read state no visa rule and no English test such as the TOEFL; WVU s technical standards say “The enrollee must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in spoken and written English with all members of the health care team.” When is the WVU DDS application deadline? November 1 2026 for the

AADSAS application and WVU asks you to “submit official scores by November 1 of the year prior to expected enrollment.” AADSAS becomes available in mid-May and WVU says “It is advantageous to submit the application as early as possible.” For first offers the catalog says WVU “begins admitting highly qualified individuals on mid-December ” and its apply page follows ADEA s notification date December 15 2026; an older FAQ says December 1. Plan on December 15. How many shadowing hours does WVU require? WVU states “no specific minimum shadowing hour requirement ” and says “successful candidates typically observe at least 100 hours in various dental environments.” It also says applicants “must complete shadowing experiences in clinical dental settings including private offices community health clinics and service missions ” that “In-person shadowing is preferred ” and that virtual shadowing “will be considered on a case-by-case basis.” The

Class of 2030 averaged 170 hours of dental shadowing an average and not a bar. Pitt Dental School Interview Guide (DMD) In Pitt s required interview is personal interviews with faculty members plus presentations by department chairs and directors mostly in the fall and on selected Mondays; AADSAS deadline October 31 2026. Domestic Program /schools/pittsburgh-dental-school-interview Maryland Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In a virtual interview you self-schedule from an emailed invitation mid-September to late February and a December 15 2026 deadline. Domestic Program /schools/maryland-dental-school-interview VCU Dental School Interview Guide (DDS) In Richmond VCU s interview day at the school with a 30-minute interview (“2 faculty and 1 candidate”) per its interview-day page and a wax tooth carving. Domestic Program /schools/vcu-dental-school-interview