Howard University College of Dentistry
Washington, DC
Dental Schools | Private Non-Profit
HBCU
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around the reasons for choosing the specific school (e.g., "Why Howard?" or "Why dentistry at Howard?"), personal qualities and experiences related to dentistry (e.g., "What leadership roles have you had?" or "How do you handle stress?"), and scenarios that assess problem-solving skills and ethical decision-making. Many respondents mentioned questions about diversity, stress management, academic performance, and future career goals, indicating a comprehensive evaluation process that may align with an MMI format where confidentiality agreements could be in place.
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What is the mission of Howard and how does this relate to you?
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Why Dentistry?
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Why Howard?
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How does the schools mission relate to your personal mission
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Why dentistry
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Howard University College of Dentistry discussed a wide range of topics from personal challenges to diversity and ethics. While the questions varied, there were references to MMI format, indicating a structured interview approach, and some respondents mentioned non-disclosure agreements, implying a confidentiality requirement for certain questions.
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Describe the endocrine system.
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If dentistry didn’t exist what would you do
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3 Words to describe you and how do those relate to Dentistry
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nothing they were pretty standard questions
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Describe a time you faced discrimination (if you have). How did you handle this?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Howard University College of Dentistry discussed various topics such as describing the color purple to a blind person, personal attributes like spontaneity versus sticking to a schedule, contributions to the class, future career goals, and reasons for pursuing dentistry. While some respondents mentioned MMI questions and nondisclosure agreements, the majority faced challenging inquiries related to personal experiences, academic performance, community service, and ethical scenarios during their interviews.
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How would you describe the color purple to a blind person?
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Three words people describe you
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Are you more spontaneous or do you stick to a schedule?
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what do you think you can contribute to the class?
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What do you think dental school will be like?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 0-1 hour traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
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Ronald Regan
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Reagan National Airport
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Reagan
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DSW
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DCA
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Friends or family or with friends or family.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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The Fairfax at Embassy Row
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Sheraton
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Red Roof Inn
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Raddison
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Marriot
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
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Virtual
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for their interview by utilizing resources such as SDN, mock interviews, and the school's website to practice answering questions, researching the program, and gaining insights into the interview process. Many also mentioned the importance of practicing responses with friends, seeking feedback from current students or professionals, and incorporating prayer or relaxation techniques to stay calm and focused during the interview.
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Sdn
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SDN, YouTube videos,
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Mock Interview
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SDN interview feedback, Facebook DAT Bootcamp Study Group
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SDN and mock interviews
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the warm, family-oriented atmosphere at the school, noting the friendliness and enthusiasm of the faculty, staff, and students. They appreciated feeling welcomed and valued, and many highlighted the sense of community and support among the school members. Additionally, the modern facilities, diverse student body, and the school's commitment to helping underserved communities were also positively noted.
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The family orientation of the school.
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The culture
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How welcoming and family oriented the faculty was.
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The warmth of the students and faculty. All of them had such enthusiasm and love for their school and they were very helpful and honest when answering questions. I also loved the family feel; everyone spoke as you passed them in the hallways. It was very warm and welcoming.
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The pride that the current students have for the school, the program, and the people. Students said that school definitely prepares you for Boards.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the outdated facilities, including older equipment and a need for renovations. Additionally, negative impressions were formed due to the school's location and surroundings, the disorganized interview process, and the lack of provided meals during the visit. Suggestions included improving facilities, enhancing organization during tours and interviews, and addressing the challenges of the surrounding area to create a more positive experience for prospective students.
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Some of the questions in the interview caught me off guard.
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My interview seemed rushed. I had more questions to ask the interviewers but j was sent back to the main room
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N/A
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Nothing!
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I would have to say the facilities as they are older. Howard is the fifth oldest dental school in the United States so I was not expecting state-of-the-art equipment, but coming from interviews at newer and more high-tech dental schools, it can cause a negative impression. However they are making improvements and updating facilities so it was better than I had thought from the negative hear-say and more up-to-date than some practices I have shadowed at thus the older facilities are not a problem. Another thing that impacted me in a negative way was a conversation with my tour guide and an alumni. My tour guide made it clear that going to Howard would be extremely hard but not in a challenging way, but in a demoralizing, breaking you down kind of way. An alumni also commented on how difficult and demoralizing going to Howard was which gave Howard a bad impression. However I was able to speak with more students whom assured me that although it is difficult, it is not soul-crushing and demoralizing and is very do-able if you work hard. Howard might want to have more positive people come in and speak to prospective students next time as their disgruntled students give them an unfairly bad image.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known about the specific interview format, such as the variety of questions asked and the presence of an essay component. They also highlighted the importance of being prepared for the day, including details like parking, timing, and potential stress levels during the interview process.
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The variety of ways they would ask questions.
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That there would be so many people interviewing. Our session had 33 people interviewing and we didn't leave until 5pm.
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N/A
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That we would asked to draw certain surfaces of a specific tooth rather than write an essay like other applicants have done in the past.
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Nothing really, I was prepared for the day.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally provided positive feedback about their experiences at Howard University College of Dentistry, highlighting the welcoming environment, diverse community, and supportive faculty. They emphasized the importance of being oneself during the interview, preparing for questions related to personal motivations and experiences, and showcasing personality to stand out among applicants.
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Overall good I could’ve done better
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Overall, I believe Howard is a fine institution. I do think that there should be adequate resources in regard to updated technology, but overall a great experience and really conversational interview process.
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I had a great experience at Howard. While Howard's facilities are not as shiny and new as some other schools, this does not mean that Howard isn't fully equipped to provide an amazing dental education. Please keep this in mind!
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Howard was such a pleasant experience and very relaxed. You can tell they have more of an old school way of teaching in that they believe in letter grades and really challenging their students to think and problem solve but they are invested.
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You have to write a short essay at some point during the day. The questions vary but are not hard to answer, I do not think they critique them heavily. Some examples were "What is your favorite food and why?", "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?", "What is your greatest weakness?".
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office improve communication by answering phones promptly, responding to emails in a timely manner, and keeping applicants informed. They also recommended offering online payment options for application fees and secondary fees, and ensuring that staff members maintain a friendly and approachable demeanor when interacting with prospective students.
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NA
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N/A
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Improve on communication with current students, future students, and prospective students. No one ever answers the phone and e-mails get responses 1-3 weeks later and that is IF you get a response. No one keeps anyone up-to-date on anything. Everyone excluding the admissions office has been completely awesome though.
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Answer the phones, it goes to voicemail 90% of the time
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Have the application fee be payable online or as a check.
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