Birmingham, AL
Dental Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Ask questions about this school. Answers use aggregated data and are subject to error.
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 17% 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 ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.6
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 232 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 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 inquiries about personal background, career motivation, handling failure, future goals, and opinions on healthcare policies. Some respondents mentioned questions related to specific experiences, preferences, and non-academic interests as well. Additionally, references to the MMI format and potential nondisclosure agreements suggest that some interviews may have been conducted in an MMI style with confidentiality requirements.
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How do you wind down?
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Tell us about yourself and what led you to dentistry.
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Describe your experience assisting.
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What role do you play in a group?
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Why would you want to go to UAB?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry discussed a variety of topics including qualities that get under one's skin, favorite national parks, and alternative career choices. The interview format may have been an MMI based on responses mentioning nondisclosure agreements, but typical questions included inquiries about leadership qualities, long-term goals, and personal preferences like favorite desserts.
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Is there a doctor in your practice you like working with least and why?
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None, most were standard.
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Which puzzle piece are you in our class and why?
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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
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry discussed various scenarios and personal reflections, including questions about working with underserved populations, difficulties working with others, leadership during crises, and personal qualities. Some respondents mentioned questions about school choices, shadowing hours, and stress management, while others highlighted the challenge of articulating responses effectively, such as in the question about deplored qualities in a person.
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n/a super conversational
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I felt like they were trying to trap me at one point. I go to a very small private school, and they googled the school in the middle of the interview. They brought up the student to faculty ratio, and started intensely questioning me on how I felt about small classes sizes (keep in mind their class size in dental school is NOT small)
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Why do you want to work with this specific group of underserved people when there are many more groups in need as well?
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n/a
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What do you deplore in a person?
✅ 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 5 or more people.
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 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.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing the Student Doctor Network (SDN) for resources and guidance, engaging in mock interviews with peers, and reviewing common interview questions and responses. They also emphasized the importance of researching the specific school, reflecting on personal motivations for pursuing dentistry, and practicing articulating their thoughts and experiences effectively.
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SDN + practiced out loud to myself
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Mock Interviews with my dental school admissions consultant.
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sdn.
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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
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the faculty, staff, and students at the school. They also praised the state-of-the-art facilities, the clinical preparation provided, and the emphasis on creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all individuals involved in the admissions process.
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The faculty, the facilities, the students, the town, everything was incredible
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The admissions presentation that took place before the interview.
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Everyone was so friendly.
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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.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about interview questions feeling like traps, cold interviewers, focus on excellence, parking issues, and lack of friendliness among students and faculty. Suggestions included improving interview experiences, enhancing campus facilities, addressing parking problems, and fostering a more welcoming environment for visitors.
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N/A
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The questions that felt like they were trying to trap me. I shared these questions with my consultant and he said it was inappropriate the things they asked me. I also was the ONLY person out of all ten people there who did not get the same interviewers.
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Nothing.
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Nothing
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Asking about other dental school choices
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would be more relaxed and conversational than expected, that being themselves and making the interviewers laugh was helpful, and that it was unnecessary to be overly nervous. Additionally, many emphasized the importance of arriving early, wearing appropriate attire, and refraining from mentioning specific schools or plans during the interview.
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N/A
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To be prepared to strongly defend myself on why I wasn't going to pharmacy school.
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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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There are multiple interviewers but they are all nice.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally praised the school's facilities, friendly atmosphere, and the opportunity to interact with current students. Some mentioned feeling uncomfortable during the interview process due to perceived hostility or awkward pauses, while others appreciated the conversational nature of the interviews and the school's focus on getting to know the applicants beyond their academic achievements.
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The interview significantly impacted my impression of the school.
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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.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally provided positive feedback on the admissions office's performance, with a few noting a desire for more genuine interactions from faculty members. Overall, the consensus was that the admissions office is doing a great job, but some applicants emphasized the importance of authenticity in their interactions.
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N/A
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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.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 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 Shuttlesworth
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Birmingham Shuttleworth
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birmingham
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Other or at another housing option.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly mentioned hotel among the responses is Doubletree.
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America's Best Inn and Suites
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Best Western Plus Birmingham Inn & Suites
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Doubletree
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Hilton right across from the school
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Townplace Suites Marriott in Homewood
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 are your comments on where you stayed?
Based on the responses provided, it is not clear where the users stayed. Therefore, the most comments on where they stayed is N/A.
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Great and close to the school
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They serve breakfast!
All Responses
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