University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Interview Feedback Summary
San Francisco, CA
Dental Schools | Private Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 8% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
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
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about experiences with ethical dilemmas, overcoming struggles, the meaning of humanism, the role of ethics in dentistry, and personal motivations for pursuing dentistry. Some respondents mentioned being subject to an MMI format where questions were tailored to their personal background and qualities, with an emphasis on conversational and relaxed interactions that delved into various aspects of their lives and experiences.
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have you ever seen or been a part of an ethical dilemma
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What are some pros and cons of attending UoP ?
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Explain a time you struggled in school and how did you overcome it?
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Why UOP?
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What does humanism mean to you?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry discussed a wide range of topics, including karaoke songs, admiration for others, non-dentistry summer jobs' impact, patient retention strategies, ethical dilemmas, and future plans. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, with some respondents mentioning a nondisclosure agreement, while others were asked about their motivations for choosing dentistry, handling cheating scenarios, and their preparedness for dental school through various experiences.
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Whats your go to karaoke song? (I was in karaoke club in college)
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Who is someone you admire and why?
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Tell me something not in your file?
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Why did you choose dentistry?
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I saw you worked a lot of different summer/part-time jobs, how do you think these prepared you for dental school? (None were dentistry-related)
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry discussed various topics such as future aspirations, ethical considerations in dentistry, reasons for choosing dentistry over medicine, and how they handle challenging situations with patients. The interviews seemed conversational with questions about personal qualities, leadership experiences, and perceptions of the dental program, indicating a holistic approach to assessing candidates. Some responses hinted at an MMI format, with references to nondisclosure agreements in place during the interview process.
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Nothing difficult everything was just conversational and would ask questions about things on your application
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What specialties do we have? How many students are in a ds class?
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
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How do ethics play a role in dentistry?
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"Why do you think I think this is important?" Regarding an extracurricular on my application.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
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.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, reading the school's website, and utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for interview feedback and practice questions. Many also engaged in mock interviews with friends, alumni, or current students, emphasizing the importance of being themselves and staying relaxed during the interview.
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SDN
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SDN and their website
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SDN and reading my application
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Watching similar videos and mirror practicing and trying to be relax and myself
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Practice questions.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the warm and welcoming atmosphere at the school, with many highlighting the sense of community and 'family' mentality among students, faculty, and staff. They appreciated the personal and transparent approach during the interview process, the beautiful campus and facilities, as well as the emphasis on hands-on clinical experience and the humanistic educational approach.
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The conversationalness, instead of like an interrogation
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everyone was so nice and welcoming and very transparent about how you did on the interview
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Everyone is so nice! They talked like I was already admitted.
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Their campus was beautiful and their sim lab was amazing too, great to socialize.
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Family mentality
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were primarily concerned about the high cost of tuition and living expenses, lack of economic diversity among students, rushed interview experiences, and the intense curriculum. Suggestions included improving the interview process, addressing the high costs associated with the program, and providing more information on financial aid options.
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nothing
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The student interviewer told me they have an on campus botanist for the flowers in the building, UOP is definitely an expensive private school and it's students are not economically diverse (lots of designer brands being worn etc).
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Price
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Nothing especial
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The location that my interviewer was at for the virtual interview.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and welcoming nature of the interview at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. Many emphasized the importance of being themselves, asking questions, and not stressing too much, while also highlighting unique aspects such as the school's supportive alumni network and the focus on convincing applicants to choose their school rather than the other way around.
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How laid back the interviewers are
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That they give so much time to ask questions. I had a lot of questions, but I wish I had even more.
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The area around UOP can be dangerous, so stay close to the school
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How long the interview is
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I was relatively prepared as I searched the school online and went over the curriculum and their mission and vision; so nothing much left to know
What are your general comments?
Overall, applicants provided positive feedback about the relaxed and informative interview experience at the University of the Pacific. They appreciated the friendly atmosphere, emphasis on getting to know the school, and the opportunities to interact with faculty and students. Many also highlighted the expensive tuition and the school's focus on producing excellent clinicians.
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No need to stress and overthink for this interview!
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Great school and I definitely felt the "family-like" vibes from my interviewers
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This school has a beautiful building and the students were very kind and hardworking. It is also a very expensive school.
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Be prepared, dress properly, appear on time, look and act professionally and more importantly, be your self and expressive.
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I really enjoyed the atmosphere and effort that UOP put into virtual interviews.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally expressed satisfaction with the admissions office, praising the friendliness and organization of the staff. They appreciated the personalized attention, smooth interview process, and overall positive experience.
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None :)
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nothing. everyone was amazing
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I loved the Dr. Fa's talk on interview day.
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Nothing, they were great!
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Keep doing what you're doing, no complaints.
📍 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.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 2-3 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 less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
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JFK
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OAK
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SFO
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San Fran
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Southwest
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly mentioned hotel among the responses is **Queen Anne**.
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Grand Hyatt
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Hampton inn
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Marina Inn
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Miyako Best Western Inn
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N/A
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 are your comments on where you stayed?
Orange Village Hostel
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I recommend Orange Village Hostel it is cheap, close by the school and very nice for a hostel with clean rooms and breakfast included
All Responses
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