University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry
Birmingham, AL
Dental Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 17% 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 include queries about group dynamics, conflict resolution, personal interests, study habits, leadership qualities, handling failure, future goals, reasons for choosing the profession or specific school, and personal attributes. Some responses hint at an MMI format and potential nondisclosure agreements, suggesting a structured interview process with a focus on ethical considerations and communication skills.
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How do you decompress?
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Tell about a conflict you had in a group and how was it resolved.
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What role do you play in a group?
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How do you study?
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What do you like to do in you free time?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry discussed a wide range of topics, from personal qualities to future aspirations, with a mix of traditional and unconventional questions. While some respondents mentioned standard inquiries like career goals and personal traits, others faced unique scenarios such as discussing favorite desserts, role models, and ways to handle unexpected situations. It's worth noting that the interview format may have been MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on responses referencing nondisclosure agreements, suggesting a structured and diverse questioning approach.
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Why do you not like about yourself? (This was asked after I explained some Ds I got and why I had a low score on a DAT section)
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Qualities of someone that gets under your skin
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Who is your role model other than your family member?
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Some of the other interviewees had this question (I did not): Would you say we live in a perfect world?
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Whats your favorite national park
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry discussed various personal and situational inquiries. Common themes included questions about school preferences without disclosing names, experiences working with others, coping with stress, and future goals. Some responses hinted at an MMI format with a nondisclosure agreement in place regarding specific questions asked.
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n/a
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What do you deplore in a person?
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All were very general and personable. I know people had difficulty with "What are your top 3 schools?" I was fortunate not to have that question.
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"What are your top 3 schools?" "Where else did you apply?" -- Do not answer with actual school names!
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Tell me about a situation where you had difficulty working with others.
🤝 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 5 or more people.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a in a group interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by 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 Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
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birmingham
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Birmingham Shuttleworth
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Other or at another housing option.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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sheraton
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double tree
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Townplace Suites Marriott in Homewood
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Doubletree
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Best Western Plus Birmingham Inn & Suites
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as average
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?
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They serve breakfast!
✅ 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?
Many applicants prepared for their interviews by using resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN), conducting mock interviews, and researching common interview questions. They also emphasized the importance of articulating their motivations for pursuing dentistry and familiarizing themselves with the specific program they were interviewing for.
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I wrote down basic questions all schools usually ask, especially the SDN ones and put key words or ideas I would want to talk about. Then did mock interviews with others.
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Help from current dental students and mock interviews
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through SDN
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SDN
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Made a list of common questions and notes on what I would want to say
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the students, faculty, and staff at the dental school, as well as the high-quality facilities and strong clinical preparation offered. Many highlighted the positive experiences during interviews, tours, and interactions with the school community, emphasizing a supportive and encouraging environment that helped alleviate nerves and create a sense of belonging.
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I really liked that the dental students showed you around the school and answered any questions you had.
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The students they bring in to help with giving tours.
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The tour and presentation
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the strength of the program and preparedness of students for the real world
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The presentations were given by the dean of admissions on UABSOD as well as the student tour. Everyone was extremely nice and welcoming. Almost all of my nerves went away. A very nice facility as well.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions related to the interviewers' demeanor, lack of warmth or interest, concerns about parking availability, older facilities, and the absence of amenities like a dining center or cafeteria. Suggestions included arriving early for parking, being prepared to remember interviewers' names, and being aware of the potential challenges with the interview process and facilities.
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N/A
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Nothing
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Asking about other dental school choices
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Some interviewers were cold and quiet, didn't really care to know me, and also just wanted to see if you were smart or not.
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Seems to be extremely focused on maintaining "excellence" and choosing candidates within this profile
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews, the importance of being oneself and engaging the interviewers, the variety of questions asked, and the need to not be nervous. Additionally, applicants suggested arriving early, not stressing too much, and being prepared with thoughtful questions.
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SDN is spot on. Outside of questions specific to my app, every question was on SDN.
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It was very conversational and casual for me, and they change the amount of people who interview you. Also when you sit in the room, you're not called in. You have to knock on the door when it's your time.
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N/A
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There are multiple interviewers but they are all nice.
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It would be this relaxed. Also, it is good if you can make them laugh. Of course, don't just go in to be a comedian but it is really nice if you can be yourself and have a good and enjoyable time with the interviewers. They really are there just to get to know what type of person you are.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally provided positive feedback about the school, the interview process, and the friendly atmosphere. Some mentioned specific aspects they appreciated, such as the number of clinical procedures, the faculty's friendliness, and the conversational tone of the interview, while a few pointed out areas for improvement, like making the interview experience more comfortable and less stressful.
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Overall a great school!
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well done
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A lot of people talked about UAB's "southern charm" in their interviews, but it felt like an interrogation. One of the interviews had choppy awkward pauses in between questions. Honestly seemed like they wanted to get through the questions as fast as possible. UAB was my top choice until I had that bad interview experience.
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Overall, the interview wasn't extremely bad but it did feel a bit hostile in some ways. I wish the interviewers would have made it a more comfortable experience.
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I liked how they gave the number of clinical procedures you need to graduate.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally appreciate the admissions office and its staff but suggest that faculty members be more genuine in interactions. Overall, the majority of feedback is positive with no major areas of improvement identified.
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NA
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Nothing. Great place
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Too many faculty members are fake nice. Be genuine...
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Nothing, they've been great.
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Great work!
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