SUNY - Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine
Stony Brook, NY
Dental Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 11% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low 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 were about the applicant's interests, experiences, motivations for pursuing dentistry, handling patient scenarios, adapting to the school environment, future goals, and questions about the applicant's background, research, and extracurricular activities. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, with some respondents mentioning nondisclosure agreements, emphasizing the significance of ethical considerations and professionalism during the interview process.
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As a dentist, you need to put on a "face" depending on who you are talking to (a child, an adult, the elderly, the poor, etc), tell me how you would do that effectively.
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What do you like to do for fun?
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Why dentistry?
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What do you do outside of school?
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What got you interested in dentistry?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at SUNY - Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including hypothetical scenarios about healthcare changes, personal hobbies, in-depth queries related to personal statements, and even questions about touring Italy on a motorcycle. The interviews were comprehensive, covering areas such as career motivations, family background, hands-on skills like root canals, and future aspirations, with some interviews conducted in an MMI format and possibly under nondisclosure agreements.
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Let's say you just got into dental school, oral care just became a part of the medicare program, and dentists now make $20,000, what would you do?
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Tell me about your hobbies?
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Did your mentor (pointed to my app) want you to go to this school (a very well-known dental school at the west coast that my mentor holds a teaching position) ? - I just answered, my mentor did not say anything about where I should go, but he did tell me no matter where I go, just study hard, ask good questions, and have common sense.
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A very well thought out question relating to my personal statement. I was surprised how in depth they went.
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How do I tour Italy with a motorcycle? (I am from there)
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at SUNY - Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine discussed a range of topics from teamwork scenarios to personal attributes. While some faced inquiries about their unique qualities and handling criticism, others were asked about future goals and challenges in dentistry. It's worth noting that some responses suggested a conversational interview style, while a few hinted at the mention of Stony Brook's MMI format and the possibility of a nondisclosure agreement.
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Since the class size is quite small, tell me how you would work as a team player at stony brook.
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N/A
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Nothing difficult really.
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Everything was conversational — nothing too difficult.
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What would you do if you did not get accepted to any dental school?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.
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 Faculty member
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 2-3 hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile 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 John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
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LGA
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JFK
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ISP
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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holiday inn express
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Three Villages
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Holiday Inn Express - Stony Brook
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Hilton Stony Brook
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Hampton Inn, Brookhaven
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?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by extensively reviewing the school's website, Student Doctor Network (SDN), and their application materials. Additionally, many candidates practiced answering common interview questions, conducted mock interviews, and sought advice from current dental students or professionals to enhance their preparedness for the interview.
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sdn, prepared common interview questions
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Went through website and read over SDN
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Jotting down notes of key points you want to address
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Reviewed all SDN questions and went over my application many times prior to the interview.
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Reviewed my application, studied the school and conducted a few mock interviews
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, the small class size, modern and advanced facilities, individual attention from faculty, and the close-knit community. They appreciated the emphasis on clinical experience, the opportunities for hands-on learning, and the supportive relationships between students and faculty. Some mentioned the beautiful clinic areas, the thoroughness of the interview process, and the overall positive vibe of the school.
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everyone was so SO nice there. they just opened the new center for implants and digital technology and its ahhhhmazing.
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Facilities and improvements, how nice everyone was
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The staff and close knit environment
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1. My interviewer prepared a paper of questions based on my previous experiences and asked almost every one of them. They really studied your application and made sure you are a holistic applicant. 2. The amount of patients visiting on the day on my interview. They have a very great patient pool. 3. Friendly students and even more friendly faculties. They were so down to earth and were genuinely interested in you.
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Friendly faculty, medical school curriculum, no rankings, small class size, selective courses, personalized curriculum. This school is a hidden gem!
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the location being in a suburban area far from the city, limited social life, elitist attitudes among staff and students, lack of diversity, small class size, and negative interview experiences. Suggestions included improving interviewer engagement, offering more out-of-state seats, providing clearer communication about acceptance rates, and enhancing social and enrichment opportunities for students.
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the school isnt the prettiest. a lot of grey
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Interview was after lunch
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Nothing at all.
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You definitely need a car to get around, but parking is affordable.
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One of the interviewer kept talking and barely gave me the chance to talk.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the laid-back and relaxed nature of the interviews, the potential for distractions during the interview process, and the importance of allowing ample time for travel to the school's location. It was also noted that being prepared with thoughtful questions and managing interview responses concisely were valuable insights shared by applicants.
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You're going to be grilled during the interview.
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that everyone is so sweet... the students actually help each other and it isn't as cut throat as it is made out to seem.
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N/A
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How down-to-earth and relaxed the interview would be.
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nothing
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally shared positive feedback about Stony Brook's dental school, highlighting its great clinical training, top-notch facilities, and welcoming atmosphere. Some mentioned the relaxed nature of the interviews, while others appreciated the conversational approach taken by interviewers.
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go seawolves ;)
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It’s hard and you’ve heard this before - BE YOURSELF
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Stony Brook is a GREAT dental school. Their clinical training program is top-notch. It was such an honor to be invited to their interview.
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I absolutely loved my time at Stony Brook. Don’t stress the interview, it’s relaxed. The school is top notch. You won’t find another school like this, especially within its price tag.
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This school gets a 0/10 on the diversity scale. I wouldn't feel comfortable attending here simply because of where I'm from. I feel like I'd get depressed. Some of the faculty members have an air of elitism, but from what I've seen it wasn't really reflected in the students.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office continue their great work with friendliness, efficiency, and informative support throughout the admissions process. They also recommend considering scheduling adjustments to accommodate transportation challenges, ensuring a smoother experience for interviewees.
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n/a
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Keep being super friendly... its such a sense of relief!!! Shout out to Ms. Patricia Berry = the sweetest lady you will ever meet!!!
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Keep doing great work!
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Keep doing the great job!
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Keep up the great work.
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