How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
No responses
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
No responses
How did you prepare for the interview?
Temple has 5 standard questions that they ask all interviewees. If you look at the previous SDN entries--you can figure out what they are. Question #6 is up to the interviewer--it could be about your hobbies, books you've read, professionalism, & ethics.
What impressed you positively?
I did the math--there is a 3.25:1 ratio of students to teachers. Extremely relaxed & chilled admin & professors--they made us feel welcome. A positve energy flowed from everyone. Students were energetic, happy, focused, and positive. National Boards passing rate--92% on first try. 100% passing rate on NERB. Board exams are given in sections as coursework is completed & fresh in mind. Able to obtain license early by taking NERB earlier.
What impressed you negatively?
The surrounding area (2 blocks east & west of Broad St.) is a very economically depressed area, but comming from taking classes in Rutgers Newark & having been to the worst parts of Camden & Trenton (NJ), Harlem (NYC), and areas surrounding the major NYC hospitals, this area is not as bad as people claim it to be. But be careful. Student parking lots are right across the street the school & is monitored by armed security guards. Temple Med school, pharmacy school, & health sciences school are within the area. There are 3 churches in the immediate vicinity & I heard that the poor don't bother the students b/c they know that we have no money. It is in this kind of area that you will gain a wealth of clinical experience from the sheer number of people needing extensive restoration/care--144,000 cases served per year--at 125 students per class--you do the math. All students live either in Center City or 20 min away in a greener suburban area--nobody lives in the immediate area of the school. Security escorts are available if you have to leave after 5PM.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Do not stay at the Comfort Inn at Penn's Landing!!!! The noise from the highways leading to the bridge made for a poor night of sleep before my interview.
What are your general comments?
Arrival at dental school--got lost on 3rd floor--need better signs to direct us to the admissions office. Handed in pre-interview summary. Presentation by Brian Hahn--was made to feel welcome and relaxed. Tour of school--319 operatories, beautiful and well-lit preclinical labs with all equipment nearby. Students are happy & appear to get along well. Lunch was at the pharmacy school nearby--students were awesome & answered all of my questions. Groups were broken into groups of 3 & sent in to interviewed with faculty member. He got us to relax by claiming that he was going to ask us some "boring" questions & we rotated the order in which we answered the questions, so no one was always first or last. Was given interviewer's philosophy regarding having an extensive science background as a lead into understanding the more complicated technical applications (ie.tissue implantation). Was also given the interviewer's methodology for giving 3 treatment plans to each patient--the Datsun, the Ford, & the Bentley. Brian closed with summary on school safety, financial aid, & where most students live. Good luck!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
