Boston, MA
Dental Schools | Private Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 13% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
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 include inquiries about the applicant's motivation for pursuing dentistry, their background and experiences, their future career goals, and their ability to relate personal interests to the field of dentistry. The interviews may have been in an MMI format with specific questions tailored to the applicant's application, curriculum-related scenarios, and a focus on understanding the applicant's character and suitability for the profession. Some respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement due to the MMI format of the interview.
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Tell me about your self?
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Very specific to your own experiences, they read your application very thoroughly.
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Why dentistry? Very general questions to get a sense of who you are.
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What are 3 words your friends would use to describe you?
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What do you do for fun? Follow up: How does gardening relate to dentistry? (Be prepared to relate what you do for fun to dentistry)
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Harvard School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including hypothetical/ethical scenarios, personal attributes like leadership skills, and reasons for choosing dentistry over medicine. While some respondents mentioned an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements, many mentioned questions related to their application, personal statements, and their fit within the program's curriculum and student body.
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Asked hypothetical/ethical questions
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If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be? (both of my interviewers asked this)
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Do you have any enemies?
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Both interviewers asked in depth questions relating to my application. I was impressed with how thorough the entire interview was.
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All of the questions were pretty standard.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Harvard School of Dental Medicine discussed a variety of topics including personal uniqueness, future aspirations, balancing patient care with financial aspects, and overcoming academic challenges. Additionally, the interviews may have been in an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements in place based on responses mentioning 'MMI' or 'non-disclosure'.
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None
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What do you want me to tell the ad com?
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How should dentists balance monetary benefits and patient care?
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No single question was difficult. The interviews themselves were conversational.
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You have a very high dat score and GPA. You have a passion for research, have a wealth of diverse dental experiences, and have completed many community service projects, both locally and internationally. But we have plenty of applicants like you. Why are you different? What can you bring to HSDM that is unique?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 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 4-6 hours 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 between $101 and $200.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Logan International Airport (BOS)
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Logan International Airport
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Logan
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Boston
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BOS
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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don't remember
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Super 8 Motel-Watertown
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Marriot Courtyard
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Harrington Inn (it's a youth hostile in Brookline)
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Comfort inn
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?
No responses
✅ 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 the interview by reviewing SDN questions, conducting mock interviews, studying the school's website, and talking to current students. Many also emphasized being themselves during the interview and getting insights from previous candidates and alumni.
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SDN questions, regular interview questions
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sdn, talking to students
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SDN. Deep dive into their website (read the articles and student interviews)
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I was just myself.
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Research online
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and down-to-earth faculty, students, and staff at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. They appreciated the pass/fail curriculum, integration with the medical school, extensive research opportunities, and the collaborative and non-competitive atmosphere. Additionally, the location in Boston, the strong emphasis on preparation for specialty programs, and the abundance of resources available to students were highlighted as major positive factors.
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Very nice and personable faculty, with medical students for first year and a half
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The admissions team is incredibly helpful and kind. The students seem super happy and genuine.
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The financial aid presentation was pretty helpful. It gave you a better idea of what your financial situation will look like after graduating with loans
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Super personal interviewers. They really read up on me and made the interview day (even online) super special.
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The research opportunity and the Pass/Fail curriculum
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the outdated facilities, lack of clinical experience in the early years, arrogant attitudes among students, small class sizes, and the high cost without sufficient financial aid. Suggestions include improving facilities, providing more clinical exposure earlier in the program, addressing the school's reputation for producing poor clinicians, and offering more scholarships to alleviate financial burdens.
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None.
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Seemed a little pretentious
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Interviewer was disrespectful and didn't seem to be interested in being there.
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That students tend to live in the dorms during D1.
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Nothing. The interview and school itself was flawless.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants wished they had known more about the school's unique curriculum, the casual interview atmosphere, and the importance of researching the institution beforehand. They also highlighted the need to be prepared for specific aspects such as parking, the interview format, and the location of the entrance.
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They have an open Q and A with faculty and students for the first like 30 minutes, bring questions for faculty and more questions for interviewer (might be the same)
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None.
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Research is part of the cirriculum
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How small the interview group was.
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That you will get a ticket if you park outside of Vandy.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally praised the quality and reputation of Harvard School of Dental Medicine, highlighting the collaborative and conversational nature of the interviews. Some expressed concerns about the clinical experience, facilities, and perceived arrogance among staff and students, while others emphasized the unique curriculum and resources available at the school.
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Excellent school with excellent students. They are all very humble considering they come from such a great school like Harvard. They are upfront about Harvard not being a super "clinical" type school, but the students don't feel shorted by this.
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If you’re reading this, you probably landed an interview at Harvard. Congratulations! The interview day is nothing to worry about. They want to better understand who you are as a person, not how well you can spit out rehearsed interview answers. There are two 1 on 1 interviews, each for about an hour. It is very conversational, so just relax and answer honestly. Also, come ready with tons of questions to ask faculty/students. Good luck!
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It's an amazing school. In my eyes, the closest to perfect that you can get from a dental education. But I don't think I put my best foot forward during the interview. Maybe I was just nervous because I knew I only had one shot, and I really want to go to this school.
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I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised by the city, campus, students, and faculty. Really a top notch school that gives you a lot of options. I would never go to a school just for the name brand, but I think HSDM earns it from what I saw.
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Excellent school. Dental students do all coursework with med students first two years, plus take two additional classes. (harder than med school).
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally found the admissions office to be responsive and welcoming, but suggested avoiding scheduling interview days when the clinics are closed.
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Nothing, everyone was responsive and made me feel welcome.
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Try not to schedule interview days when the clinics are closed.
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