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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 16% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 700 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
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 scenarios about patient care decisions, experiences with diversity, community service involvement, handling adversity, personal motivations for choosing dentistry over medicine, managing stress, and long-term career goals. While some responses referenced MMI or nondisclosure agreements, the focus was on exploring the candidate's background, values, ethical reasoning, and preparedness for dental school.
What would you do if you had a patient who came in with an infected abscess and refused to get an x-ray?
We talked about some of the things on my personal statement. And she mostly complimented my resume. They just want to know that you have been exposed to working with lots of people before.
If you had a troundtrip ticket (open-ended) and in this fantasy world, everything was paid for, where in the world would you go, who would youtake with you and why would you go there?
If your plans coming out of dental school fell through, how will you handle it and what would to you do seeing how you have a huge debt to pay back and you're on your own?
Students said the most interesting questions asked at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including hometown influences on diversity understanding, long-term goals, influential public figures, pressing issues in dentistry, favorite volunteer experiences, and handling stressful situations. While some responses indicated a conversational approach with personal tangents, others mentioned specific questions about extracurricular activities, ethical considerations, and scenarios involving patient interactions, stress management, and dealing with group dynamics.
Teach me one thing in 1 minute, it can be about anything.
talked a lot about my hometown since my interviewer lived there for a while. Talked about specific details from my personal statement. It was very conversational and fluid.
Not really a question, but when he would consistently reference details about my personal statement and application. We would go off on small tangents talking about the points that he brought up.
Have you ever faced any type of discrimination?
None were really difficult, they just want to talk to you to make sure you are personable and not some weirdo or anything. Everything they talk about has to do with you and your application, nothing out of the ordinary or out of nowhere.
my Q's were generic, however, the other candidates I spoke w/ had more challenging ones. ex. what would you do in anatomy class, if one person in your group never prepared and kept giving the wrong answers, w/ no regard to the fact that the group grade was marked down for it?
The interviewer (4th year student) had a sheet of questions to ask...but she didn't "ask" questions...it flowed very well...she merely would bring something up and we would talk about it:
1) talked about my research
2) talked about my volunteer experience
3) why dentistry, my different experiences w/ dentistry
4) how I deal with stress
5) public speaking
-this was the stuff I remember her getting from her paper...I could give everything we talked about but I think it was just stuff that came up in conversation...I asked a lot about her and the school to get her talking as much as possible...maybe that will help...
I was asked what I would do in a number of stressful situations, one of which related to dentistry and group work and seemed like a good way of testing my character. I felt that these people were truly concerned with finding exactly who in the room would make a good dentist and that was what I liked most about the school. It was very no-nonsense, yet at the same time, the people were down to earth and the facilities were out of this world!
info:
your in a group in anatomy lab. At the end of the lab the instructor comes by and picks one group member to answer one question. If he gets it right you all get it right, if he gets it wrong you all get it wrong. A member of your group gets it wrong two weeks in a row which means that you get a zero for two days in a row. What do you do.
There was not one interesting question. I think they were all pretty much what I had expected. Now I applied one month before the deadline. I still got an interview, and have been accepted. So it is possible to apply late and be accepted!
Say a train was speeding towards a fork in the track. One side of the fork was an alternate route and has not been functional in 10yrs. A boy is playing on that side. The other side of the fork is functional and has fifteen people on the track. You only have time to let one group know that a train is coming. Who would you try to save?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including personal achievements, weaknesses, handling conflict, and reasons for choosing dentistry over medicine. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on respondents mentioning a conversational tone and nondisclosure of grades during the process.
How do you handle conflict? It really wasn't THAT difficult, but I had an answer prepared describing conflict not related to school and he specifically asked about it from a school perspective. It caught me the most off guard.
Nothing really, it was very conversational. We just went over stuff in my application. (but he qualified at the beginning that he wouldn't be asking me anything about my grades or things like that) we mostly talked about work & volunteer experience; why I want to be a dentist; standard stuff
What excites you about dentistry? (… odd way of asking why dentistry… I was momentarily thrown off…)
I wasn't asked this question but one of the other guys was asked by a faculty member "what the role of a dentist is in society"....not difficult but I don't think I saw this one in the other feedback sections....
None were really difficult. If you don't have a good answer as to why you're going into dentistry, now would be a good time to figure one out- or that would be the toughest question.
Thanks to this forum, I was totally prepared for every question, that's why I'm hoping by posting up my experience here I can help someone else the way I was saved by it :)
none, maybe the common and expected question "Why dentistry" due to the various ways one could theoretically respond to the question. Basically there weren't any difficult or unexpected questions.
in the dental profession, there will alwasy be those 'angry patients'. how will you handle a case when someone who seems to be quite unreasonable criticizes your outrageous prices and sub-par work?
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 utilizing resources such as SDN, mock interviews, reviewing school materials, and practicing common interview questions. They also focused on researching the school, reviewing their application materials, and seeking advice from current students or alumni.
Practiced some of the questions from here just talking to my friends about my answers and writing down things from presentation day that I specifically wanted to elaborate on.
SDN...you will find all the possible questions on this forum....Mark put together a 175 page book of information about tufts...pretty much all you need to know is in their...but I would readd through it and write down a few questions to ask him...he loves to answer questions and give all the information possible...
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the interviewers, faculty, and students. They appreciated the conversational interview style, the detailed presentations, and the facilities, with many mentioning the new vertical expansion, simulation labs, and state-of-the-art equipment. Additionally, the emphasis on student support, the commitment to transparency, and the positive atmosphere of the school were commonly noted as strong points.
How conversational the interview was and how nice the interviewer was. She gave a lot of feedback when I was answering questions to reassure me that I was doing good, which eased a lot of my nerves.
Presentation day. It gave a lot of information and I was very pleased with it. The interview was very respectful and my interviewer made me feel very comfortable to speak.
It seems that the school carefully selected who conducted my interview. The professor had things in common with me and shared interests. This facilitated a very conversational and enjoyable interview.
Faculty was so amazing, it really is an unbelievable school. The faculty was so nice and really just promoting the school, student wellness and a ton of community outreach. very diverse school and the students were all telling us to go there cause they are SO happy. The city is also beautiful.
The facilities (brand new labs, equipment, five new floors), the students, the faculty, the fact that they change the school based around suggestions and needs of the students, the resources available. They care!
The school's visible dedication to honesty. They told us the exact selection process and the exact numbers of acceptances sent out. They also stressed that if you have anything bad in your background check it will only hurt you if you hide it from them (as long as it's explained obviously).
Mark is a very knowledgeable and sincere guy who created the handbook and cares about the school and the students. The new simulation lab is awesome. The admin. seem very open to suggestion and student friendly in terms of curriculum.
Everything...The amount of info presented, the areas they themselves mentioned needed improvement and what steps they were taking to improve, the location, new facility....etc
Mark Gonthier, my faculty and D4 interviewers made me feel really comfortable at the school. I knew that if I decided with Tufts I'd be respected as a peer and student doctor and not just a student. The floors from the vertical expansion are amazing!
It really felt like they were trying to sell the school to me. At many of my other interviews it felt like they were really sacrificing by letting us come to their school and pay tuition. The facilities were great and you could really care that Mark Gonthier is there to help the students and improve the school better
The handbook is the BIBLE of information! Dean Gonthier was amazing and very genuine. The staff and students were very friendly. The facilities are BEAUTIFUL - vertical expansion - really awesome planning
The admissions staff was really nice and knew everything there was to know about Tufts. They were very proud of their school. The new floors are amazing! You will come out of Tufts as a very good general dentist.
I made a great connection with my interviewer, Dr. David Shin. The students and staff still came out to interview us even though the campus was closed due to a blizzard. The facilities are nice and I think the students get a lot of practice in various procedures before graduation. The preclinical education is very medically based, and even includes hospital rotations in hematology and ENT. I felt like the staff really cared about the students and would advise them and take care of them. The students were very diverse, but all of the ones I met were awesome in their own way. Some were more serious and academic, and others more fun-loving, but everyone seemed to have thrived at Tufts. The clinics were really nice and airy (not windowless dungeons like I've seen in other places). The research done by dental students is really diverse and interesting, and Tufts in general seemed like an intellectually alive place.
Very up to date facilities. Great central location in the city.
The presentation answered every single question I had and then some.
The new addition being built will be great for incoming classes.
Awesome location. Aggressive growth plans. They tried to get students where we were from to come by during the day. The thorough question and answer session.
the Dean of Admission's presentation (I felt like he laid everything about the school on the table - it was very informative, not just about tufts but about the dental field as a whole), research opportunities, vertical expansion = very update facilities
The school is beautiful. The inside is gorgeous. Instead of a letter stating that you have an interview and a map of the city, there was a very thick and detailed handbook about Tuft's program. There's no BS. All the statistics are laid out in front of you. It is very detailed in the coursework load, financial aid, guide around Boston and anything else you need to know about the school. Five additional floors will be added by December. So by Jan 2010, students will be able to use the facilities. Mark is awesome, answers every question you have.
Everything, the admissions presentation was very thorough. It made me feel like they were not hiding anything and really wanted applicants to make an educated decision. They went over each persons application individually with them.
The up-to-date facility, friendly students, supportive faculty, challenging curriculum, high student-satisfaction rate, impressive board scores. Concerning Boston, the location (tons of shops, restaurants, bars, parks), alternative means for transportation (T, buses, walking), and diversity impressed me.
Everything: the information session given by Mark was great, they tell you everything about the school. They're doing a new expansion that'll greatly increase the number of seats for all of the programs, both predoc and postgrad. This is good news for everyone.
Their 4-year practice management curriculum and 3-year medicine curriculum.
The whole school. Seems like they really help students as much as they can. Students seemed very happy. Great faculty. Beautifull city with diverse cultures.
the students were very humble along with being so enthusiastic about their school. i felt a lot of school pride, but not in an obnoxious way. the location (downtown boston) and facilities were also great.
The faculty, staff, and students were all very happy and friendly. Seems like a great social community designed to really support each other in achieving success and really preparing you to practice right from graduation.
The clinical focus of the school, the informative packet you receive at the interview which lists the Board Scores and other statistical analysis dating back to the 1990's
wonderful facilities, students seemed happy there; tour guide Adam was very friendly & enthusiastic; Dean Mark Gonthier really reflected a very thorough focus on the students' experience there
The facilities appeared quite good, the proximity to downtown Boston, students seemed happy with their school, and faculty is genuine in addressing current faults in the school and fixing them.
The facilities are nice and the student body was also. The school seemed to give the students a lot of clinical experience and experience in private practice.
location of school (conviniently right downtown); diversity of student body. Students seemed very happy.
Everything looked new.
EVERYTHING IS SUBWAY ACCESSABLE, Thank goodness.
the simulation labs were amazing. top of the line and much more impressive than those that i saw at my other interviews which were in georgia, florida, california, and texas.
The facilities were amazing! They looked absolutey new, gorgeous! Their sim lab was state of the art. I also liked the fact, that there were windows all over the place, so you didn't feel closed in.
The entire visit was well planned and scheduled to the last detail. The tour was extensive, and they gave presentations in order to inform us about everything they could about their school and programs. I felt that they really cared that we were fully informed so that we could compare them to the other schools to which we are applying. They had unique interest in each individual's questions while we (11 interviewees) were there. Their facilities are top notch, their professors and assistants are accessible, the students seemed to really love the school.
The facilities were better than all the other dental schools I've been to (2 of which were Ivy League). I also liked that there is one lab only for denture simulation (where you work on a mannequin) and another lab that is used for "wax-ups" and "carve-downs". Usually these two different labs are combined into one room but not at Tufts. Secondly, the interview is so amazing that other schools should mirror the interview at Tufts. They truly make you feel welcome and they thank you so many times for your interest in their dental school...none of the other dental schools even came close to this. During the interview you will get all of your answers and then some...they give you so much information that you will definitely know by the end of the day if you wish to go there.
they don't try to hide anything... lots of information on anything you could think of... lots of question and answer time. Great facilities with access to public transit. The students I spoke with loved the school and said they had plenty of time to hang out with friends/spouses.
That they actually make an effort to prep you for entering general practice right away (few schools do), GREAT facilities, simulation lab, difficult curriculum but with a high payoff in preparation
I was very impressed with everything about this school. The city is awesome, the facilities are awesome, and the faculty and staff were very willing to help, professional, and just very nice. As nice as they were the entire time, they also seemed genuinely concerned about how good their candidates would be at practicing dentistry. This showed in the interview and made me excited about going here.
I really liked the school and hope to get in there. Boston is a great city. The sim lab is fairly new. Everything was just really nice and the people are very friendly.
The facility was beautiful. It's all relatively new, especially the sim lab. The number of people in the clinics-very full! Everything was so bright. And I liked that an externship is required.
the building is awesome! The sim lab is great and so are the clinics. It's the best set up i've seen and i've been to five schools. The building is right downtown and is very beautiful.
Almost everything is in one building. The classrooms were clean and well organized. They offer a good amount of help in order to achieve the highest possible score on the National Boards
how Tufts try everything in their power to look after their students even upon graduation, the sim/pre-clinical labs, the implementation of paperless patient files, and of course, the sense of a solid support system from the faculty/staff provided to their students
The facilities, the dean went through the curriculum with us explaining why they made certain things the way they are in order to help the students learn.
diversity within the student body, facilities, admission staff/faculty seemed very friendly, asso. dean was very clear and honest about the program during his presentation.
Facilities are nice (although a bit small), faculty and admissions staff seemed to know the students well, interview was very very casual and laid back.
I was impressed by how much everyone seemed to really enjoy the city and the school. My interview was really fun actually because the professor that interviewed was light-hearted, dynamic, very personable and seemed to have an underlying solid sense of humor. Finally, I was also impressed with the dean's candid honesty and thoughtfulness during his presentation.
Good facilities, a generally well-rounded school with something for everybody (i.e. they don't emphasize research but all of the resources are there if you want them). The assoc. dean of admissions was a great help.
The facilities, the location (china town and Boston in general - a 5 min walk to the ocean). The admissions staff, faculty and students went out of their way to make you feel welcome and comfortable. The food and free Tufts University toothbrushes they gave us were a nice touch too!
the way the staff and students really tried to encourage students to come to the school. there was a genuine sense of enthusiasm everywhere. the entire student body seemed to really enjoy their decision to attend tufts
The facilities are really nice, the curriculum is great, a nice focus on practice management, the externship, the location, and talking to the students
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the strict time constraints during interviews, disorganization in the interview process, lack of conversational tone, high cost of attendance, large class size impacting individual attention, and the school's location and environment. Suggestions included offering more flexibility in interview lengths, improving organization during interview days, enhancing campus atmosphere to be more welcoming, and addressing concerns about the school's cost and location.
The interviewer asked off-handed and irrelevant questions to someone who is applying to dental school. I was disappointed and unexpectedly stressed out during this interview. My other interviews were so much more chill than this one.
Because all interviews are virtual due to COVID, there was no leeway in the length of the interview. The email we received said 30-45 minutes, but they closed our Zoom room exactly 30 minutes in. Both I and the two interviewers had more to discuss and were cut short.
The interview as a whole gave me a very negative impression of the school. The students seemed UNHAPPY. Everybody was quiet, keeping to themselves, not joking around or anything when we walked around the school on the tour. It seemed like an uptight and "cold" environment. This is the vibe I got both times I visited the dental school.
The structure of the interview was also bad. There was no breakfast, not even coffee, and for the small lunch they provide, an interviewer pulls you before you even had the chance to take a bite of the sandwich or talk to the students that are at lunch with you. The presentations were very long, I would rather have spent more time talking to the students than listening to the presentation about their new public health program.
The class size is a little bigger than I would like (its the second biggest class after NYU in the nation) but they assured us that it doesn't feel as big as it is. (It seems like this is feasible)
The students didn't seem to match to the best post-grad programs, which worried me. The class size is on the larger side, so there would be less individual attention. The part of Boston Tufts is in (Chinatown) is kind of dirty and not my favorite place.
The interview was done by a student in a random corner of the school while standing up - we pay a lot to go to these interviews... couldn't they have found a room with some chairs?
The Q and A was really, really, long.
The outer appearance, which is understandable, because it is undergoing construction.
During lunch, when I was about to take a bite of my sandwich, my interviewer came up to me to take me to her office to get interviewed... and I was starving.
Also, the school tour guide should have been a student.
Nothing really. Vertical expansion project might be something to contend with over the next 2 years, but they are taking every foreseeable measure to make the transitions and temporary conditions as non-impacting on their students and patients as possible.
Very large class size; the school being located in downtown Boston, not in a campus environment; there is going to be construction over the next few years causing disruption.
The number of students vs. the number of seats avaliable (160 students for only 80 chairs). But they solved this problem well by spliting the class into two where one group learns Book material in a class setting while the other group steps into the lab to work the simulations.
All of the information sessions and tours were given by non-science, non-health admissions staff, many of whom were new and didn't really know much about Tufts or dentistry. We had to wait until lunch to meet any students or faculty. Also, because they work the students so hard to go right into practice, they are in class MUCH more and seemed MUCH more stressed out than most other students I've met. None seemed to be having fun. And, of course, it's $75,000 a year with only tiny merit scholarships!
The school is right in the middle of China Town and I hate Chinese food. Other than that the school is great but it is VERY expensive but I knew that going in.
Cost of living in Boston and tuition (~>$60k)..the elevators were strange.. we had to take two elevators to go from the 7th to the 9th floor.. don't ask me why but we thought it was funny
The program is expenssive, also they tell you "you did great & very impressive during the interview, 85% of getting in if being selected to the interview, and the ineterview is critical", but then not accepted because my academic has to be more competitive, then I say: why waiting my time and money if I did not meet their academic requirements. They have to be more competitive at the selection process and be more compassionate because that is what Dentistry is all about at the end.
I am really not trying to be negative, however I lost respect for the school at the interview. When we were served lunch, all the dental students came in and were each handed a file. Instead of us being able to talk to the students, they were frantically reading our files and personal statements (gpas and dats excluded). We were then taken by a student and had a very casual conversation. He didn't ask anything about me and when I tried to answer a question like I was at an interview, he seemed disinterested. I just lose respect for a school that does not use the interview time to really get to know their applicants. No need to prepare for this interview.
places to eat at the school is limited and doesn't look appetizing. (For example, I recall seeing on the tour an oversized closet-sized room that supposedly feeds 500 people over the course of the day).
Although my interview was very relaxed, the interviewer kept badgering me about my answer to the train question, as if there were a right or wrong answer. Rather strange...
The cost of the education (already knew it was one of the highest tuitions), the lower than the national average placement into specialty programs, 11' x 12' dormrooms
Location - in a bad area (there are a couple "adult" shops littered around the school). Also, some of the students said "We hate it here, but you're going to hate dental school no matter where you go."
The cost of the school (even though I had already done research and had guessed accurately, but I guess that I had hoped that tuition would have been miraculously cut in half) also the cost of living in the Boston (though it isn't significantly higher than where I am now)
I didn't get to really see all of the facilities (ie labs and floors), I was brought to most of the levels but there wasn't too much shown but two classrooms and clinics.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the number and type of questions in the interview, the importance of being prepared with knowledge on recent advancements in the field, the relaxed nature of the interview, the necessity to be concise due to strict timing, and specific logistical details like the school's location and interview process. They also emphasized the need to relax, ask questions, and be themselves during the interview process.
How many questions I would be asked. I literally had like 20 questions.
That I should know what technological advances have been introduced into practices over the past 10 years and how dentistry has changed in general over the past 10-15 years. I wish I would've known these things.
It was going to rain on interview day. Bring an umbrella. Also, the Tufts medical center entrance is NOT the dental school entrance. The Entrance to the dental school is on the corner of Kneeland and Washington FACING KNEELAND ST.
After reading SDN, I was expecting a very relaxed interview, and mine was pretty stressful, but they can't all be easy! It was nice to have a student and professional point of view when asking questions in the interview. (2 interviewers - 1 faculty member, 1 student)
The length of the presentation took the whole time so make sure you fly out of boston at like 6pm so you have enough time to get around and handle anything you may need to get done.
Also, eat some breakfast before hand. Lunch is around 12ish, so if you get up early and get ready and what not and dont eat, you will probably have a growling stomach come lunch.
Eat fairly quick, the students and faculty take you out during lunch. Mine was closer to the end of lunch though.
that I would actually be there for the whole time (until 3pm). a lot of schools tell you "oh the interview is until 2 or 1" but then you're finished by noon. tufts wasn't like this.
that the presentation would be quite long.
if you havent fulfilled one of their prereqs, they won't let u slide (even though on the phone when I asked they said "its fine")
as your eating lunch in the board room, you will be taken out for a quick interview. you can come back and finish lunch.
the board room is your home plate. you start here, hear presentations, eat lunch etc. You leave the room only for the tour and interview.
you'll be eating lunch and some student can come take you away for a quick interview. you come back to finish lunch. So talk nice and smile at everyone!
Not to be so nervous. Also, don't bring so much cash. I got from the airport to the dental school in fifteen minutes and spent only two dollars using the T train!
your interviewer might be a 4th year student. i thought the student i had met was escorting me to my faculty interview, but then realized the interview had already begun and it was with him!
that we'd have to introduce ourselves to the group (it was my very very first interview) you sit a big round table in a board room, after some welcoming remarks, they have you introduce you, where you're from and something unique about you.
Not to be so anal about what to wear and how to look professional. There were girls wearing outfits that were so unprofessional, but the school doesn't look at that as much as what the person's assets are.
don't underestimate the cold especially if you are from the south!
Also, the actual interview was extremely casual and informal...nothing to worry about at all.
I had previously read that all of the interviewers were 4th year students, while an unlucky one would have a faculty plus a 4th year...but atleast for my interview, I would say 3 or 4 of the students were interviewed by a faculty (out of 10 interviewees)...
I didn't have a good idea of what kinds of questions would be good to ask to gain more information about the school. However, while I was there, the Dean gave us a presentation on different things to ask and to look for while we were visiting the other dental schools we were applying to so that we could make the best decision. It was very informative.
nothing...just make sure you have all of your prereq courses completed and that you have sent the school verified completion of those courses...otherwise it is a waste of time, money, and effort to attend the interview.
Boston is a fantastic city! Yes, it is cold but nothing you'll die from. The subway system is excellent and takes you all over the city. I stayed out by the airport and rode the subway to the interview and out exploring. No problems.
That you really don't have time to eat lunch. They give you lunch while you are suppose to talk to dental students and then they call you for the actual interview. I was too nervous to eat anyways!
Just relax, enjoy the Tour, and also keep in mind that the interview is really casual. Just make sure you let them know that Tufts is the place that you really want to go and you will be fine
how extremely laid back the interview really was. The interview was said to be closed file, but my interviewer looked at my file during interview. It's that laid back.
You only have 30 days after you hear back from them (as early as December 1) to let them know if you want to go to the school. This can conflict with other later interviews at other schools.
I discovered that what we were doing in our interviews and what the admissions office was doing in their presentations and tours was very very similar in nature. Everyone was trying to sell themselves to the other side, we were trying to convince the admissions people that we were worthy of being accepted and they were trying to sell the school to us. It's kind of an interesting dynamic when you look at it that way and it also greatly reduced my stress level when I realized what was occurring.
Applicants generally found the Tufts interview process to be positive and well-organized, with a friendly and conversational approach. They appreciated the relaxed atmosphere, the opportunity to engage with faculty and students, and the emphasis on personal interactions rather than formal questioning. Some mentioned concerns about the cost of attendance and the lack of campus tours or interactions with current students during the interview day.
I think I got a bad interviewer because the majority of these reviews say the interview was super chill. Otherwise, I loved the presentation day that you are required to go to before the interview! Everyone was so nice and it was very casual :)
Everyone involved in the presentation day and formal interview was extremely friendly and made it a comfortable experience. Additionally, I feel they did a very good job translating the presentation day over to a virtual format due to COVID. Still educational and allowed for great discussion with dental students. The only downside was not seeing the campus.
The interview was 2-on-1 with a faculty member and a fourth year dental student. Very casual, they tried to keep it very conversational versus just question-answer.
So happy with my interview day, they made things stress free and wanted everyone happy. I loved everything about it. Great program, faculty, students and facility. Also, they had a spot for luggage!
This is a really great looking school. The state of the art facilities represent an advancement in the field of dentistry and how Tufts is keeping up. They value the input of the students and this is something that is great because it means that they all have a voice.
The tour is also given by someone who is not a student, and the information she provides could not be more useless. I could have read this info on the website, and would have rather gotten some real feedback from a real student about the school on the tour. I feel like people generally love Tufts from their interview there and I don't know if it's based on comparison to other interviews the people have had, but from my experience I was very disappointed with the overall presentation of their school. It felt too structured, cold, and with not much contact with the students - other than the 4-5 minutes I had during lunch before getting interviewed. At all four of my other dental school interviews I had at least an hour to talk to the students and also the professors, but not at Tufts. Even on the tour, we sped walked by the clinics.
I really, really wanted to like this school but I just can't put my heart to it.
The school looks great and is of very high quality. The students look happy and are more than willing to help newcomers. Aside from the cost, I don't think anyone would regret attending Tufts. Also, the doubletree hotel is literally across the street from the school! You can get an interview discount and you wont have to worry about travel the morning of the interview. This is a huge help.
Found it funny to hear that the even classes (hopefully us 2014 follow through) are friendly where as the odd classes aren't. I was kinda of let down by the fact many of the people interviewing with me were so quiet and reserved. I don't know if it was their only interview and got nervous but it wasn't certainly the case for half of the interviewer.
Tufts is such a great school. The school really cares about answering any questions and providing all the information for students. It is now my top choice!
my interview went really well. the students in my interview group for the most part said that they did well too. basically once you get an interview, they pretty much like what they see on the application. They just want a face and personality to an application so be yourself and dont be nervous! The staff were very helpful as well. It really is an amazing school.
Boston traffic is a nightmare! Don't drive there unless you absolutely have to. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the school. Bring a small snack just in case you get really hungry (lunch is at 12pm).
I heard back from Tufts about two weeks after my interview, and I was accepted, but ultimately I'm declining my acceptance due to the issues I discussed in the "What impressed you negatively" section, though I was sad to do so because I really loved the people I met at Tufts and could see myself being really happy there. I got into my state school as well, so financially turning down Tufts seems like the smart decision to me. However, overall I think it was an awesome school.
The interviewers are random. Most students get interviewed by one 4th year student. I was interviewed by two faculty members. I guess you'll never know who is going to interview you.
your interview can be
with faculty
student+faculty
student only (what i had)
interview can be specific to your file so know your file well
you get a tooth brush +tooth paste =)
I could see myself living in Boston and attending Tufts the moment I got off the subway. The culture is amazing because of its diversity, the history is rich, the city is beautiful and green (3rd greenest city), and the food is delicious. I came during the coldest time of the year, but it really wasn't that bad! I just wore a pair of long johns underneath and I was good to go exploring the city. Everything was within walking distance and there were a ton of students walking around. City life without the hassle.
i've always heard great things about tufts and was first impressed with the great info they sent along with my interview invite. the actual interview day impressed me even more! everyone was really friendly and seemed to really have personality. it felt as though tufts was really everyone's top choice and they were really excited to be there. i loved the school and thought it had the perfect balance between clinical exposure and strong didactics.
You begin the day in a board room with other applicants, the admissions staff goes over stats and what you're chances are, they cover financial aid, and then a detailed presentation of the packet they provide you with and a chance to ask lots of questions, then a tour. Then during lunch in the room with current students they pull you away to your interview, the presentation is continued when everyone gets back. A very relaxed and nice interview.
The interview itself was somewhat frantic. Lunch was given then students/staff came in and took us away to our interviews. It just seemed like the school rushed through the interview itself.
very positive; everyone there was very friendly; a bunch of students dropped by at lunch (during which they slyly take you out for the individ interview one by one);
don't bother reading the other feedback - they all say the same thing - very friendly, low stress...
Very professional and very friendly. Make sure you eat lunch quickly, just after the interviewers (student and faculty) enter the conference room, they start taking interviewees out one by one.
Be yourself, but come prepared with pen and pad, and solid questions. Many applicants showed up without a pad and appeared very unprofessional, in addition to being poorly dressed- overall indication of bad composure. Figure out how to tie a tie and tuck your shirt in before the morning of the interview! Above all, throughout your entire interview experience remember: interviewers are more concerned with how you carry yourself then the actual content of your answers.
Long tour of the school with admisssions staff. Then financial aid talk. Then more specific questions adressed by admissions coordinator. Then lunch with other dental students and in the middle of the lunch you get taken out to do your interview (So get your food first and eat fast so you don't have a bite in your mouth when they call you. Also, I suggest eating fruit, so your breath doesn't stink.) Then back to the room to address more questions.
i love the fact that tufts is smack right in the middle of chinatown... everyone seems genuinely nice...tour, presentation, lunch, interview...the basic
with a 4th yr student. Very agreeable person. Qs were very typical. Very relaxed. They seem to have in mind who they want, but the interview rules out people who you only know inperson, should not be practicing medicine.
The interview was laid back and interesting. It was done by one faculty member and two students who all seemed to want to know more about me other than drill me. It was really good.
I applied for Dental international student program and I am from Inia.It was an overall pleasent experience. compared to all other interviews I attended the interview was well organised they make u feel really comfortable and they welcome u whole heartedly which I did not see in many other universities. The faculty are very nice and friendly. They call only few people for interview and accept 80% of them which is really good. They just dont waste money and time of lots of students for few positions like other universities. They will tell u results in 2 weeks which is really fast. I got an acceptance letter in 10 days. And the personal interview is soo relaxed that they just want you to know in person. So be yourself and be honest. Dont forget to eat breakfast before attend for interview bcoz they dont offer breakfast.
my interview was done by a 4th year student and was very laid back. the actual interview part was about 15 minutes or so. the next 30 minutes we talked about our personal lives and things such as what kind of cars we drove, if we were in a relationship, what our favorite movies were... pretty much casual talk.
They have a contact for LGBT students. I called and was given the info for a gay student before I showed up so I had a connection to the school before I showed up and that made the whole process much less intimidating. I knew what to expect.
I had my interview with a fourth year dental student. She was very nice, and the interview was more like a conversation than a formal interview. Just be yourself and relax.
I got there at 9am, we were greeted and given an overview of the admissions process, financial aid, etc. Then we were given a tour for about an hour around the whole building and hospital, ate lunch, interview, and then talked more about the curriculum.
I really liked the interview...it was my third and it seemed to be the best of the three so far...there was a post in the forums by someone (howui3) who gave a detailed synopsis of the entire day...I read his post before the interview and it was pretty much exact, even the fact that you feel like you're on the Apprentice when you're in the board room...my interview lasted about an hour, but I was the 2nd to last one done...I asked who was the first one done, and a guy's interview was 15 mintutes (with a faculty)..so you can expect anywhere from 15-60 minutes...relax and enjoy, this was an easy interview...
My interview was completely relaxed and was conducted by a fourth year dental student. He made me feel confortable immediately, and that gave me confidence. The interview was surprisingly short, and he had not read my entire application before the interview, but I believe the impression I left was a positive one.
refer to positve impressions.
If your one to get tired during a lecture drink coffee becuase they talk to you for awhile about the dental school towards the end of the day...can you believe someone was dozing off during this time while the Dean was speaking...this girl was nuts I tell ya!
Started with an introduction, discussion of financial aid, tour of the school, a quick intro of another faculty member, lunch, talked with students, and had interviews. Good experience.
I had a professor and a 4th year student interview me. The interview itself was very low-key, non-stressful. They had obviously read my file a few times because they knew a lot about me.
Group of fifteen, no breakfast (eat before), I had a four-year student do my interview by himself, others had a faculty member plus a student-in-training. Everything we did seemed very informative and productive. They tell you straight up that Tufts is hard and stressful so there are no suprises in school, but the graduating students seemed very confident about their training.
I really enjoyed the interview. We took a tour of the school, met with students for a catered lunch, had the interview, then we met with Mark to talk about curriculum. The students I talked with were very happy. One student had transferred from North Carolina and enjoyed Tufts more. I actually liked Tufts the best of all schools that I visited, the only downside is cost.
As for the interview itself? Mine was with a faculty member and a 4th year in training to do interviews. It was in a room with another faculty member doing work (they don't seem to have their own offices), so don't be freaked out if someone is "listening in." They were both very friendly and low-stress. They seemed to mostly know how you deal with stress, asked about my family (my dad went there), and asked where I got my inspiration from. It is given right after lunch. As for the school in general, it will DEFINITELY prepare you to be a dentist. On the bad side, that makes for very stressed students and lots of class time. No one could really answer "so how's the student dynamics? What do you guys do for fun?"...they all stared at me and said "we study". PROS: They have an excellent simulation lab, great clinics with semi-private cubicles, low loan default rate (i.e. Tufts dentists make $$$$), great opp's for externships, specialties. CONS: stressed, unhappy students, COST, large class (pro or con, depending), more class time than other schools, restrict curriculum to dentistry and have their own hospital rotations so that dental students purposely never meet med students
Since it was a combined BS/DMD program I feel like I was treated more as child and in a sense they went easier on me. My interviwer was Mr. Olson, and he was very coopertive and could see that I was very nevous and promted me to talk. However i did not get into the dental program although my stats were high SAT- 1420 and had alot of ECs, but overall it was a decent interview experience.
The facilities really impressed me. Students appeared very happy with the quality of education. School makes a genuine effort to respond to students' feedback.
School had obtained completed application in October. Received an e-mail in January telling me to feel free to send in application withdrawal letter. I don't like the way this school does business. It would be really considerate to let your applicants know if the dog ate my application, if you hate me & want me to go away instead of me calling the adcom & them stating "uhh.. our applications increased 30%."
Overall it was a great experience. The morning was filled with presentations on the curriculm and cost. Mark knows everything about the school and is a great person to talk to. My interviewer was awesome, it really was more of a conversation-it didn't feel like an interview at all. Then you get to talk to dental students and one went to undergrad where I am now so that was cool.
The morning discussion on curriculum and financial aid was informative. The curriculum discussion was a presentation as well as a Q & A session. The interview itself was very relaxed. The questions were pertinent to understanding why you want to become a dentist, as well as how you would cope in dental school/practice. I was nervous because that's the type of person that I am, but in retrospect, it wel very smoothly. I almost wished they hadn't covered so much in the preliminary discussion, so I would have some more questions in the interview! The tour afterward was great. I wished it had been longer so I could have seen more of the day-to-day activity.
The whole experience was awesome! I met with seven or eight other candidates in a board room and we were given information about financial aid, curriculum, housing, etc. We went on a tour and then had lunch. Since I knew that we were going to be pulled out one by one during lunch, I had a small sandwich. The interview was given by a 4th year student and it was really laid back. I ended up asking my interviewer more questions about the school--overall it was conversational. Afterwards, we went back to the board room and listened to some more specifics about the school.
This school is awesome. It has a major clinical empahsis and I love that. they have a great clinic and really turn you into a competant clnician when you graduate. The faculty members are great and the school has a good curr. The students there who just took the NB part one averaged 89.1 which places them sixth in the nation...so the curriculum works well. The students love the school and the city. Boston is awesome and would be so much fun to live in. This was also the most professional interview set-up I've seen. Mark gives the best presentation of a school i've ever seen. They said that they interview 25% of the applicants and then they accept 75% of the interviewees.
It was my first interview, but it is one of the most memorable events for me. I got accepted. The interview was cool.It was more like a conversation. I wasn't asked any technical or academic questions. Study your CV,SOP,be confident and honest. It works.
It was held by a fourth year student. It took place after i had the chance to meet other dental students and ask them for advice. The interview is taking place only to help you. Stress will only make your situation harder. Just see it as a friendly conversation and your chance to show them who you are and why you chose Tufts.
I arrived there a day before my interview, because I had no idea where the interview would be held, being that I have not been to Boston. We drove to the place like three times to make sure that we knew exactly how to get there without getting lost, since we were staying outside the city (less expensive). The whole day was pretty laid back. I have it a stress level of 5 because I didn't know what to expect, so I feared the worst. The interview came as soon as I had finished eating, so there was not ime to brush my teeth. The interviewer was super funny nand nice, but very professional in asking me "interview" type questions.
It was actually fun and informative at the same time. Interviewer reassured me that the experience was not meant to be stressful at all. Everyone else interviewed in my group had the general consensus that everyone was extremely nice and not intimidating at all.
Very straight forward interview. My interviewer just wanted me to clarify some information I put down on my personal statement. We only spent about 10 mins on my porfolio and Q&A for the rest of the time.
Tufts seems like a really good school to go to if one doesn't mind the expensive tuition of a private school and living expenses of residing in Boston.
it was fun, i learnt a lot more about the program and the profession. the students i met were really nice and fed me with +feedback about the school. the admission staff is very pleasant.
overall it was a positive experience, i was well informed about what the school has to offer and the interview was extremely casual. She basically asked like two interview ?'s and then we talked about how we are both from NYC the rest of the time. I think they try to pair you with someone who has something in common with you so you can somehow relate so just try and find that out and you are golden.
The interview was only so-so. I had really wanted to go to Tufts for dental school, but the interviw-day was just not that much fun. The peopled seemed nice enough, but I just got the sense that the particular students we talked to weren't having a good time. Also, the interview itself seemed very mundane and sterile. The interviewer had a list of questions and just went through them. It was different from my other interviews because the Tufts interview was very NON-conversational. There were awkward periods of silence and it just seemed as if my interviewer didn't really like my answers or care about what I was saying. My other interviews at other schools were much more laid back, fun, and conversational.
I had a great time with my interviewer, he was such a nice man and made me feel really comfortable durring the interview. He let me know that I was doing a great job answering my questions. The interview felt like a conversation. My adivce to anyone interviewing would be to just relax..and if you have been granted an interview, you've passed the hard part and they just want to know that you are a person with emotions and that you are not a psychological defect to cause harm to patients.
I had on interview at UOP before visiting Tufts, and I think that Tufts simulation lab seems a bit cramped. I didn't get to see all of the school, but I think because we also stepped into the medical center we didn't have enough time. I found the faculty and students to be nice. Although I didn't feel much of a connection to the school. Overall I think that Tufts is a decent school and they do put much effort into helping their students do well.
Tufts is a good school with a lot of resources; it doesn't have anything really above and beyond unique about it, but I certainly wouldn't mind going there (if I don't get into a cheaper state school, that is).
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should improve organization, provide more detailed information in advance, offer more student-led activities and tours, and ensure better communication and responsiveness throughout the admissions process. They also recommended allowing for more time for interviews, reducing unnecessary downtime, and addressing logistical concerns such as parking and directions.
Too much down time, and need more student involvement during the whole day. For example, allow students who can demonstrate student life to give the school tour rather than people from admissions who can give you just "basic" facts.
Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel
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 less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Logan International Airport (BOS) is the most commonly entered airport information among the responses provided.
