Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 23% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
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 inquiries about the candidate's motivation for pursuing dentistry, experiences with shadowing, research involvement, strengths and weaknesses, handling stress, community service, and future goals in dentistry. Some respondents mentioned being asked about their interest in VCU specifically, their preferences in dental schools, and why they chose dentistry over medicine, with a focus on ethical considerations and the ability to balance academic demands with personal life. Additionally, a subset of respondents may have participated in an MMI format and could have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement based on references to 'MMI' or 'Multiple Mini Interview'.
We have a large and very diverse patient population. What experience do you have working with people of different viewpoints and backgrounds than yours?
Tell me about your astronomy research (from high school). I was asked very particular questions about this research...like how many years ago did the star explode?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry discussed a wide range of topics, including personal experiences, manual dexterity skills, future goals, and ethical dilemmas. These interviews seemed to focus more on engaging in conversations rather than traditional question-and-answer sessions, covering areas like professional interests, challenges faced, and community involvement.
If you could have dinner with someone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
asked me about my experience with photoshop and graphics design programs. was just a personal intrest of the professor. luckily i am know quite a bit about that stuff.
I was not really asked any specific questions. We mostly had a conversation with one another in which various topics arose, such as amalgam restorations, laser dentistry, DentSim advantages and disadvantages, etc. It was very enjoyable and informative.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry discussed a variety of topics, including challenges in dentistry, future goals, personal strengths and weaknesses, unique qualities, and experiences with diverse populations. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format, indicating potential non-disclosure agreements, while others highlighted questions related to military service and specific academic choices.
What do you think will be the hardest part of dental school?
We have a large and very diverse patient population. What experience do you have working with people of different viewpoints and backgrounds than yours?
they didn't really ask me any traditional interview questions, only natural conversation stuff. The students at lunch were the ones asking the akward questions-so be prepared.
The interviewers did most of the talking, they only asked two questions which were no-brainers, one asked what I will do if don't get in, the other asked why did you get a C in organic. That was really the only two questions asked.
tell me about yourself? (only reason why it was difficult is that there was a weird pause after...i was like...hmm should i say more...or less? you have to just read the situation.
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their personal statement and application, practicing common interview questions, utilizing resources like SDN and the school's website, and conducting mock interviews with friends or advisors. They emphasized the importance of being genuine, calm, and confident during the interview rather than memorizing answers.
I read my personal statement many times, reflected on my past experiences, did several mock interviews, and thought about potential questions to prepare for (but did not memorize answers).
Reviewed application, personal statement, common interview questions, notes from past dental experiences. Studied VCU Dentistry website in depth. Listened to Master of Puppets.
Applicants were positively impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, including the supportive student body, kind faculty, and caring administration. They also appreciated the hands-on clinical experiences, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative technology offered, as well as the emphasis on early clinical exposure and the sense of community among students and faculty.
The administration made sure to make the day as low-stress as possible.
Instructors and students were very kind when passing by in the hallways.
The operators were state-of-the-art, and we were shown all of the new innovations that the school has to offer.
The amount of clinical exposure was very unique to learn about.
How welcoming and friendly everyone was. Also, the new building that should be completed around 2020-2021 (I interviewed in 2019). They will be replacing the dent sim lab with digital dentistry as well, which is becoming the standard in modern dentistry. I’m glad they are welcoming positive changes that will ultimately help students when they practice in the real world.
Laid-back from the start. We had a normal conversation that just happened to involve a few of the common questions asked in dental school interviews. This interview experience was much better than many other schools who just happen to read from a list of questions and rate your answers - they truly seemed to care and were interested in what I had to say.
Instead of showing us the clinics, they let us experience them. So instead of seeing the specialty clinics, we shadowed in them. We also got to drill on a tooth on the dentsim. It was awesome!
The admissions staff does everything possible to make you feel relaxed about the interviews and to inform you about the school. You even get a chance to go into the clinic and work with D4 dental students!
The faculty were amazing, very friendly, took lots of time to answer all my questions. Students were very happy. Early clinical experience of students. Wonderful externship and community volunteer opportunities.
The clinic and how soon students were able to have clinical experience. The staff/student relationship was amazing. Also, all the students seemed to love the school and get along, which made you want to be part of the atmosphere.
THE FACULTY!!! they were very warm and inviting and pretty much told me that I was a shoe in for the school, so that gave me a lot of confidence during my interview. I have a variety of dental experiences so I think that helped.
also i love the area of short pump to live in - very suburban, and not too far away.
Everyone is SOOOO friendly and supportive... the 4th years had just been notified of acceptances to specialty programs and walking through the halls they were randomly calling out to each other and congratulating their classmates on getting in! Also, admit rates to specializations are REALLY high compared to other schools. Students' clinical skills are superb by 3rd year and DentSim labs are very new and clean.
The students absolutely love VCU. The facilities are brand new (the building itself is old, but there is a new one scheduled to open summer of 2009). And there seems to be plenty of opportunities for clinical work, starting in the second year.
Everything. I really enjoyed the students and the staff especially. Everyone seemed really interested in helping and answering questions. The facilities are great, the location is great, overall I really liked it.
They prepare their students to take the boards after the first year. Good facilities. All the students semed to really enjoy the school and were happy with the education they were recieving.
The sense of community between everybody there. The students all seemed to know each other. The faculty seemed genuinely interested in getting to know everybody. I didn't get the vibe that anybody would be stepping all over each other to make the grade. Good facilities, very nice clinic.
The faculty seemed really good, very concerned about the students. The students seemed to be very happy and glad to be there. I also liked Richmond a lot more then I thought I was going to. Very nice town, and the people there were nice. They are phasing in a lot of improvements to their facillities over the next 4 to 5 years. Appartments are more reasonably priced then I was led to believe by other people who had interviewed there.
I was impressed with the clinic, the faculty, and the students. The clinic was very large and each student was working on his/her own patients. The faculty all seemed nice. They treat the students as equals-in-training not as money trees. The students all seemed to be happy and focused.
Great clinical program. The students and faculty were all easy to talk to, and they seemed to have a great relationship with each other. Love the city.
The faculty! All of the faculty were SO NICE and helpful. You can tell that the faculty really want to teach. The students were very nice and were happy to answer any questions. The two female fourth year students that gave us the tour were really cute too. Okay fine, all is fair... I guess the guy was okay too, if you're into that sort of thing.
Applicants were commonly unimpressed negatively by factors such as the length of the interview day, lack of financial aid information, safety concerns in the city, outdated facilities, unfriendly staff and students, lack of responsiveness from the admissions office, and disorganization during the interview process. Suggestions included addressing financial aid concerns, improving campus facilities, enhancing communication with applicants, and ensuring a smoother and more organized interview experience.
Very long interview day. I was on campus for 8 hours,
They did not discuss financial aid in great detail at my interview day.
I got lost at one point on the way back from my interview, a sign or directions would have been nice.
The two day interview process was unnecessary, one would have sufficed. Also, they put the financial aid PowerPoint online and did not touch on finance at all in person. Instead, a presentation was given on the cultural and clinical aspects of the school. I left with no concrete answer of how much tuition really was.
The general area around campus...but shortpump which is not too far away is really nice. I should mention that this is only the second time that I have been to Richmond, so I am sure that there are nicer areas. People who live in the city seem to love it.
Perhaps the only thing negatively to comment on is the area a little outside of the MCV campus; I am not from an urban background, so it was a little jarring to get around for me.
Boards didnt seem to be a tremendous factor for students nor the school. Students dont seem to need to do much in order to just pass
Also, though it worked out in my favor, I was the only black and only female applicant interviewing that day, with 5 other night males. I mean it was no biggie, I can hold my ground quite well, but just something thing i made an extra mental note about
One particular interviewer asked questions about so called ''weaknesses'' in my application that I thought, at most, were a stretch...such as ''It seems like in most of your activities you do not interact with others. Care to explain?'' I teach, am the president of my dental club, and do a lot of volunteer work, so I found that question a little offensive.
THE STUDENTS!! some were very socially akward, others were big headed, and even others were shoo-ing me away while I was in the clinic because they were trying to complete their projects and didn't want to be bothered with advertising their school. if someone came to me interested in my school, I would be more than happy to talk to them - i was shocked to say the least.
Richmond... I was not impressed with the lack of public transportation options (definitely need a car if you live there), and the "downtown" area is almost completely deserted and cab drivers advised against walking anywhere. Students remarked that VCU is very much a commuter school and barely anyone lives on campus.
If I had to come up with something, I would say the only thing would be the fact that they are not yet using digital x-rays. But I hear that this will be changing very soon. I honestly cannot think of anything bad at all
not much...if anything just how competitive other students can be. just relax and make friends with the other interviewers...they may be your classmates!
The parking situation was pretty bad, everyone seemed to complain about that (although the interviewees were able to park in the hospital lot). A few things seemed disorganized throughout the day. There was down time when there shouldn't have been. Also seemed like there was a bit too much paperwork going around.
There seems to be a general lack of faculty. The faculty they have are great but they definitely need more. The weather also stinks! I guess it is gray a lot. It rained the whole time I was there.
facilities a bit cramped. The staff was pretty disorganized with the whole day but they had just gone through hurricane Isabel so some didn't even have power or water at their homes. Hard to say what was disorganized due to the hurricane and what was disorganized due to lack of preparation on their part.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and non-stressful nature of the interviews, the need to research the interviewers, and the specifics of the activities during the day. Additionally, suggestions included bringing a water bottle, wearing comfortable shoes, and not stressing about the essay portion.
there is an essay portion. its really relaxed and you get a prompt on an ethical dilemma. I filled up about 3/4 of a page, but more space is provided if necessary
the essay isn't a big deal, and the interviews are completely non-stressful. the most stressful part is the lunch with the 4th year students, I felt like I was under a microscope being constantly judged (I however, did NOT get the same impression from the faculty). i had a lot of questions i wanted to ask the students but i didn't feel comfortable asking them because i knew they were part of my admissions process-bad idea on the part of the university. on the good side, they were my only interview that allowed us to go into the clinic and spend time there...which was a unique touch - it was unfortunate that the students were not very receptive to it.
There is nothing to do in Richmond; I brought a family member with me who by 10am had been driven around the entire city on the "Richmond Bus Tour" and had nothing else to do coz everyone kept saying that it was too dangerous to walk around Richmond alone! Also, other students going on interviews at the med school were taking the shuttle in the morning; don't get off at the same stop with them (like I did) or you'll have to walk a couple blocks over to the dental school!
That it was alot more enjoyable than I expected. It wasn't very stressfull. Oh, that and you have to write a short essay on the spot about some ethical topic.
There is no break. My dad was getting some test results back the same day and I wanted to call to see if he was ok but had no time to. Everything was ok :)
i knew there was an essay...about honor code and how you would handle a friend whom you caught cheating. i wish i did not stress the interview as much as i did...they make it really comfortable.
Dr. Healy is a very nice and proper man, but very hard to read. Half of the time during my interview I was sure if it was going good bad or if I should just shut up and stop making a fool of myself. But over all when it was over I felt it had gone well.
I wish I would have known the reputations of the interviewers. I had heard VCU's interviews were all chill, so I didn't think I would get anyone like Dr. Bui. It would have helped having that information, but that's about it.
That I should have relaxed more before the interview. It really wasn't that stressful. It was stressful enough to keep you on your toes but not enough to make you sweat.
That, although they told us to be there at 7:30, they wouldnt start interviewing until 8:30 and I would sit around an office doing nothing for half of my interview
Applicants generally praised the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, highlighting the strong sense of community among students and staff. They appreciated the clinical focus of the program, the organized interview process, and the opportunities to interact with current students and faculty. Some suggestions included improvements in organization, communication, and ensuring a consistent interview experience for all applicants.
Great school and cutting technology. All the students seemed very happy. Dean was awesome and they went all out for the interview (goodie bags, 2 meals)
I love this school, its culture, and it's history. Other than a few minor things that I thought could have been improved, the day was smoother than I had expected, and I am beyond excited to attend VCU!
The school is older and the facilities are definitely not as nice as other schools. They are building a new facility that will open in spring of 2021, which is nice.
The tight knit family atmosphere between the students is a major pull factor of this school. Though I have to note that one student said, when I mentioned how close everyone seemed, that “we aren’t all that close”. I concluded that for the most part, everyone seems to get along well, but there are some students sprinkled in there who think different.
What you will be asked is subjective to your interviewer and what gathers attention. Be sure to use STAR method to answer well the questions you will be given. Be unique, calm, and honest with what you have to say. Train and prepare at home with friends, ensure to sound articulate in your interview for a positive impression.
Make sure you drive to the school the night before it is in a difficult location. Also give yourself lots and lots and lots of extra time because I was actually late because traffic was so heavy
the adcom is very friendly and they emphasize that the students are a family. I interviewed around halloween, and the school was having a competition between the clinics to see which group had the best decorations. it was nice to be in a such a relaxed atmosphere
The school boasts a great success rate for their students being admitted into speciality programs across the country, and is your traditional dental school regarding the curriculum. The DentSim is a huge plus, as first-year students use this technology right from the start during their first week and provides real-time feedback on their handwork with drills so that they can improve their skills exponentially by the time they have their first patient in their second year. The buildings are very nice, and perhaps my favorite aspect is the low stress, family environment that everyone exudes. They take pride in the fact that all students support and motivate one another, and Dr. Healy is a fantastic admissions dean. Virginia Residents, don't take this school lightly; even if you consider VCU your "back-up" school, it has several impressive things to offer.
Interviews first thing are infinitely better than at the end of a long day. There were two, separate one-on-one interviews. By the second one I had gotten all the nervousness out of my system and as a result I felt like I could really be myself and left feeling confident. The school has a brand new dental building opening Fall 09. There were two tours, one by Dr. Healy and one by a 4th year student. You get to shadow a student in the clinic for 45min. This was a great opportunity to ask questions of students, faculty, and patients.
Dr. Healy is a cool guy. The students really seem to like the school. Students receive awesome clinical experience by participating in the "MOM" projects.
Left the school with a warm welcoming feeling from friendly faculty and staff. Very important IMO in selecting school for next 4 yrs. Also the new building and new tech is a step ahead of many other schools.
Overall, a very well organized interview schedule. Dr. Healy provided more than enough information for each step of the application process and a great financial aid lecture. Everyone seems to be very encouraging like we will all get in.
GREAT PLACE!! VCU is doing a lot to change their currc. as well as the phyiscal building. Clinics and preclincs are beautiful. med school is close by, all around, just an awesome school
it was an unnecessarily long process. We basically ''shadowed'' graduate students for an hour and a half. One of my interviews was a ''grilling'' interview whereas my other was more relaxed. I think it depends who you get. It's a nice school, but I did not walk away from the interview feeling very confident about getting in.
Amazing...I lost my heart to VCU dental school. The whole day was very well organized and everyone was friendly and respectful. The students that did the tour were hilarious and answered questions thorougly.
i found out i got in here, but chose to go to maryland because of the negative impression i got from the students here. i feel like students tell a lot more about the school than the faculty (even though i absolutely loved the dean and my interviewers...they were amazing!!). i wanted to be at a place where students are happy and had good social skills not just good grades.
7:30 AM meet with head of admissions and go over your day;
8:00 Interview #1;
8:30 Interview #2;
9-11:30 Essay/Tour/Observe&Assist in the clinic with the D3-D4 dental students;
11:30 Financial meeting;
12ish: Lunch w/ dental students;
1ish: wrap up w/ head of admissions;
Extremely laid back; everyone on the admissions staff is super nice, warm, welcoming. Started with half-hour welcome by admissions coordinator, then 2 interviews back to back (though they said sometimes they switch the schedule around a bit) with no interrogation whatsoever... they really want to get a sense of who you are as a person and your character. I have plenty of C's on my transcript and came in totally prepped to defend/explain each one, and they were never even brought up in either interview. Then a short essay, shadowing in the clinics, lunch and tour with 4th year students (also laid back but keep in mind they will report back to the committee what you say!), final words/Q&A with Dr. Healy (NICEST GUY EVER!). They're a very strong clinical school and clearly proud of it!
You start off at 7:30 in a meeting with Sharon, the nicest woman you could ever meet. She goes over the basics of the program and the interview process. Then you meet the Dean of Admissions, Dr. Healy, and then you are assigned your interviewers. After the interviews (2 in a row, 30 min. each), you write a brief essay. Then you learn about financial aid from a woman who knows so much about finances it makes your head spin. Then you get to watch some students at work (I shadowed an endo resident for an hour). Then lunch and a tour with some 4th year students. Then a final briefing and you're done by 2:30. The whole time they really try to make you feel at home and like you are definitely going to get accepted (let's hope that wasn't a ploy!).
My interviews were probably different than most because the dean knew me and had already talked to the interviewers about me. There were six of us interviewing that day and both the dean and his assistant seemed to talk to me moreso than the others, I would think they were probably a little uncofortable with that, but hopefully it was good for me.
1. 7:30-8:00 Intro, 8:00-8:30 Essay, 8:30-9:10 Interview 1, 9:10-9:35 interview 2, 9:35-10 Financial Aid talk. 10-11:30 assisting students in the clinic. 11:30-2 Lunch and tour 2-2:30 closing. It was a nice time. Very well organized. I was impressed.
I love Richmond. I think there will be a good patient base, which would provide for good clinical experience. The staff and faculty made me feel welcome and the students who took us on a tour were very friendly (they were a third, more relaxed interview).
I really enjoyed it and its always nice when the school gives you lunch, added bonus. Just so you know if they don't tell the students who give you the tour are also evaluating you.
Great interview experience. The students and faculty were all great. You will definitely learn a lot just by visiting. It was a very positive experience overall, but a bit long (7:30 am to 2:30 pm). I'm walking away knowing quite a bit about the school, the students, and the faculty. It wasn't an interrogation the in any sense (except for a little bit of the Dr. Bui interview), everyone just seemed to want to get to know about the applicants. They stressed clinical a lot more than research, although research opportunities are definitely available and are highly recommended for those wishing to specialize (about 50-60% of students are accepted into specialization programs, according to Dr. Bui). Great school, thumbs up!
Laid back, just like everyone has been telling me all along. Two 30 minute interviews, shadowed some D2 students in lab, assisted a D3 in the clinic, lunch with three D4 students (this counts as the student interview), and financial aid presentation. There is nothing to be nervous about. Just be yourself!
Laid back, just getting to know you and why you are at VCU and why dentistry/ Also there is an on site essay and 2 facutly interviews + student interview over lunch.
Overall it was a positive experience. However, I felt the interviewers did not ask the hard hitting questions to really get to know me. If you want them to know something about you, don't wait to be asked, but rather tell them.
VCU just underwent a change of office for administration. They are very unorganized and waste a lot of your time. I was there from 7:30 to 2:00 and literally spent half of that time sitting in an office without any communication with staff. I had three half hour interviews, two with staff and one with a student. I wrote an essay and had a tour. That was it. NO presentation on the school, no financial aid discussion, no question answer period. Overall it was a horrible interview. I dont think that is a reflection on the school because the students seemed happy, but it for sure didnt help my want to go to VCU.
Orientation at 7:30am, 1st faculty interview at 8am, another one right after at 8:30am. Essay at 9, off to the clinics to watch the 4th years work on patients, lunch at 12pm with the 4th year students, tour, financial aid talk (the woman that gives the talk wasn't there, so we got the Cliff"s Notes version of it), and out by 2:15pm. I thought VCU was a great school. The building itself is pretty old, but they have brand spankin' new clinics that look awesome! The faculty were amazing, and all of the students we talked to were very friendly. This was the first school I interviewed at, so I don't have much of a comparison. VCU has always been my #1 choice. This was a VERY low stress interview.
The interview was very organized. Hurricane Isabel kept us from observing the patient clinics in action, but my tour a couple weeks earlier fulfilled that. I was impressed with the rennovation currently underway, as well as their objectives for the future. The student who gave the tour was very nice and helpful. The faculty are very supportive of their students--this was observed during the tour and on passing. I truly enjoyed my interview experience!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should improve parking information accuracy and cost transparency, ensure timely communication, provide a personalized interview experience, and balance the focus on research with a more relaxed approach to questions and interactions.
