Philadelphia, PA
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 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 the applicant's motivation for pursuing dentistry, reasons for choosing the specific school, future goals in the field, and personal experiences related to dentistry or community service. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format with varied questions related to academics, extracurricular activities, and personal interests, indicating a structured interview process that may involve a nondisclosure agreement.
-
Do you have any question for me?
-
Tell me about a challenge?
-
what questions do you have for me
-
What questions do you have for me? (opened with this question)
-
Describe one overwhelming experience
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including experiences in college, immigration background, hobbies, and hypothetical scenarios. The interviews featured a mix of standard questions, discussions on personal interests, motivations for dentistry, and reflections on past experiences, with some variations in questions based on individual applications. Some respondents mentioned MMI format, potential nondisclosure agreements, and typical dental school interview questions.
-
What were your best and worst experiences in college?
-
Why did you immigrate to USA? What are your hobbies?
-
tell me about this class you took
-
All standard questions
-
N/A
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, with some mentioning standard questions about career choices and personal experiences. While the majority of responses indicated a relaxed and conversational interview experience, a few referenced technical questions, research projects, and inquiries into personal growth or career decisions, highlighting the diverse nature of the interview process.
-
What makes a community truly diverse?
-
All general questions, very relaxed.
-
what was an obstacle you experienced
-
Talk about a time when you felt extremely overwhelmed?
-
n/a
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.
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.
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 reading the school's website, reviewing their application materials, and utilizing the Student Doctor Network (SDN) for feedback and practice questions. Many also engaged in mock interviews with friends or family members to prepare for the actual interview experience.
-
Reading UPenn website, reading about other students' experiences
-
SDN feedback is really representative, read over my supplemental essays and application.
-
sdn interview feedback
-
Read over my application, researched the school on their website.
-
SDN, mock interviews
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, the state-of-the-art facilities, the high specialization rates, the integration of community service, the strong faculty-student interaction, and the campus's beautiful location in Philadelphia. Many mentioned the innovative curriculum, the abundance of research opportunities, and the unique programs offered by the school. Suggestions included enhancing the color-coding in the simulation lab and further highlighting the school's historical significance and strong academic reputation.
-
student organizations, nice people
-
The new renovations, the niceness in everyone.
-
the brand new clinics
-
It was a small group interviewing (only 8 people) so it felt a lot more intimate than other schools.
-
Facilities, students, faculty
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the high cost of tuition, outdated facilities, particularly in the basement where D1 and D2 students spend much of their time, and a sense of dissatisfaction with the school's focus on specialization over general practice. Suggestions for improvement included modernizing facilities, addressing safety concerns in the surrounding area, and enhancing the overall student experience to justify the high tuition costs.
-
nothing!
-
The extreme cost
-
nothing
-
nothing at all
-
N/a
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly expressed that they wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews at UPenn. They also highlighted the importance of being well-prepared, including taking notes during presentations, being attentive, and staying relaxed throughout the day.
-
If you have enough questions to ask, you can spend the whole interview asking them instead of answering questions from the interviewer.
-
The interviewers are so chill
-
how relaxed the interviews would be
-
How relaxed the whole day would be
-
To be relaxed totally.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview experience at UPenn to be relaxed and informative, with a mix of positive and critical comments about the school. Many appreciated the friendly atmosphere, informative presentations, and the emphasis on getting to know the applicants personally. Some concerns were raised about the high tuition costs, the school's focus on specialization, and the perceived emphasis on its Ivy League status.
-
There are two interviews, one open and one close. Both are 30 minutes long. One will be with a professor, another will be with a non professor. You will also meet with the admission director to go over application.
-
I liked how upfront they were about costs, knowing that their school is expensive.
-
Loved the school, definitely in my top 3
-
Awesome school.
-
It is a fantastic school with a great academic program. They really do a great job of selling it to you. The atmosphere is very comfortable and the students are very happy and comfortable. I loved it.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should communicate more via email, rather than relying on traditional mail, and also provide clearer instructions and directions for applicants. Additionally, some applicants suggest improvements to facilities and interactions during the interview process.
-
nothing
-
I thought they did a great job of communicating with applicants and making the day run smoothly. Everyone from admissions was very kind!
-
n/a
-
Keep up the good work
-
Save trees, use email
📍 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 out of state students.
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 more than $500.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
-
BWI
-
Delta
-
PHL
-
Phi
-
Philadelphia
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 that the users stayed in is the Sheraton University City.
-
Airport Mariott
-
Aloft Hotel Philadelphia Airport
-
Best Western Center City Hotel
-
Best western city center
-
Club Quaters
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?
No responses
All Responses
Success!
School has been added to your favorites.