Farmington, CT
Dental Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 21% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.7
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 400 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.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (73%)
Negatively (17%)
No change (10%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (34%)
Good (45%)
Average (13%)
Poor (4%)
Bad (3%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally provided positive feedback about UCONN's curriculum, facilities, faculty, and opportunities for specialization, but some expressed concerns about interviewers' attitudes and the demanding nature of the program. Suggestions included being well-prepared for the interview, remaining confident in responses, and being honest about weaknesses in the application.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Seems like a great school for those who are set on specializing!
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My interview was horrible! The interviewer blamed me for something in my application that was clearly there error. I still sent a thank you and an apology and no one responded. UCONN definitely going a few spaces down on my list. Doing this process is hard enough there’s no need to be rude.
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Great school
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Students seemed to love it there.
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Seems like a really great program. Love the way the curriculum is set up, especially as someone who is interested in OMFS (lines up well with the CBSE). I probably got a couple bad egg interviewers but it does leave a sour taste in your mouth regardless. I just hope those faculty members don't represent the majority of faculty at UCONN. I can't imagine they'd be great student mentors....
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
33 Minutes Average
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Number:
2 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
69% One-on-One
31% Group Interview
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File Type:
98% Open-File
2% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
UConn-COMP interviews are an average of 33 minutes, with an average of 2 interviews. 69% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 2% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around the motivation to pursue dentistry, experiences in shadowing and research, academic performance, future goals in dentistry, and preparation for standardized tests like the DAT. Some respondents mentioned being asked about specific dental procedures, their choice of dentistry over other health fields, and where they see themselves professionally in the future. Additionally, references to MMI format and nondisclosure agreements suggest that some interviews were structured in an MMI format with restrictions on discussing specific questions.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Which other schools did you apply to? (In which they made me LIST them after I tried to dodge it)
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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What's my least favorite part of shadowing?
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What was an example of adversity that you faced and how did you overcome it
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Why dentistry? What specialty are you interested in?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting questions asked at University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine discussed a range of topics including career aspirations, shadowing experiences, future practice plans, personal hobbies, academic background, ethical dilemmas in dentistry, and views on the healthcare system. The interviews may have been in an MMI format as multiple respondents mentioned nondisclosure agreements, but the questions primarily focused on personal experiences, professional goals, and opinions related to dentistry and healthcare.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What is one bad thing your friends would say about you, and one good thing? They emphasized FRIENDS, not parents/faculty.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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Explain the difference in technique between the multiple dentists you shadowed
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How would you contrast what you saw or anything that you learned about the different practices that informed how you might run a practice in the future?
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What was your favorite procedure that you shadowed?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing common questions on SDN, practicing responses, and seeking feedback from current students or alumni. They also researched the school's website, read over their application materials, and engaged in mock interviews to feel more confident and prepared.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Questions on SDN, practiced with ChatGPT.
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Looked through all the questions on SDN and practiced every single one of them for like 2 days straight.
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Looked over application
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Looked at SDN
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SDN
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including why they applied to multiple schools, details about shadowing experiences, ethical scenarios, and their views on dentistry. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) due to the diverse questions asked, and some respondents mentioned experiencing a good cop/bad cop routine, potentially indicating a nondisclosure agreement in place.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What's one thing on your application that you want to tell us that we haven't mentioned/asked about?
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What other schools did you apply to? Then proceeded to ask me to list them
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If we could only know one thing about you, what would it be
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Experience playing on a college sports team, what skills did you develop and value you see in your training and career?
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Why not [my undergrad school's dental school]?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the friendly and supportive environment, small class sizes, pass/fail grading system, high specialization rates, rigorous curriculum, faculty-student interactions, state-of-the-art facilities, integration with medical students, and the emphasis on clinical experience. They also appreciated the emphasis on competency, the location, the reputation, the immersive learning experiences, the focus on research and volunteer opportunities, and the affordability of the program.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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One of the interviewers was super sweet and conversational, the other one was chill.
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You have a talk with Dr. P at the beginning of the day and she is the sweetest. Plus chatting with the dental students later in the night is a great way to finish off the interview day because it's so chill.
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Discipline-based learning, pass/fail, amount of free time among students
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They were super sweet
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Small class size, technology, student vibe
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were commonly unimpressed by the lack of warmth and professionalism during interviews, feeling unengaged and unenthusiastic about the school. They also noted concerns about outdated facilities, the stress level of students, and the emphasis on board scores rather than a more comprehensive view of the program. Suggestions included improving interview experiences, updating facilities, and showcasing a more holistic view of the school beyond academic achievements.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Not very personable interview.
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The interview was great - I don't have any bad things to say about the faculty or interview. It was super chill and conversational. However, I did not like the orientation. To be completely honest, the culture at UConn seems so intense, reflective of their intense curriculum. The admissions lady cold calls you throughout the 2-hour-long presentation, so you have to be listening and attentive to make sure you answer well if you get called. I personally like a more chill interview/orientation vibe because I feel like the point of an orientation is to understand what the school is like, not to be quizzed throughout. Like, I get they want to make us involved throughout the orientation online, but I didn't like that. Be prepared for that and make sure you watch the videos and have questions prepared.
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Be aware that Dr. P will cold call you in the orientation presentation about random things.
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Nothing, just wished my interview was in person so i could tour the school
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Nothing
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the conversational and relaxed nature of the interview, as well as the potential for good cop/bad cop scenarios. Suggestions included being prepared for stand-offish interviewers, timing of virtual interviews, and the lengthy orientation session. It was also noted that in-state residency can be claimed after the first year, and to be aware of the remote location and lack of nearby amenities.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I wish I had known how intense the culture seems and how much UConn is specifically aimed towards people who want to specialize. If you want to be a general dentist, it does not seem like the right school for you. Yes, you might be saving some money at UConn, but in the long run, you are not saving money if you want to practice general dentistry because you then have to pay for another year to do a GPR or AEGD which will offset whatever you saved.
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Some interviewers play good cop/bad cop but they just want to know how you handle criticism
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N/A
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Wish I had been more prepared for stand-offish interviewers.
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Nothing
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
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.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested re-evaluating interviewers, considering in-person interviews for facility viewings, providing digital information packages, and improving transportation guidance, while also commending the office's organization and helpfulness.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Make the orientation less intense
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Re-evaluate who your interviewers are. Not sure if my interviewers were just tired from a long day of talking to candidates but maybe break up the interview times so its easier on them and they aren't tired or bitter. Also, go back to in-person interviews, that way candidates can see the facilities.
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They send a package of information. That could have been digital.
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They did a great job making the day well organized and informative.
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Nothing
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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BDL
73% interviewees used BDL (BDL), with 7% using LGA (LGA) and 7% using Hartford International Airport (Hartford International Airport) and 7% using Bradley International Airport (Bradley International Airport) and 7% using United airway (United airway).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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36% Airplane
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52% Automobile
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8% Train or Subway
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4% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Hilton (average ranking 10/10), with some staying at Hilton Garden Inn (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Hilton
10/10
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Hilton Garden Inn
10/10
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Farmington Suites
10/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (14%)
Faculty member (18%)
Other (4%)
Student (65%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (92%)
Neutral (8%)
All Responses
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