Applicants commonly shared feedback about the positive aspects of the school's interview experience, facilities, and curriculum, while also expressing concerns about the interview process, lack of diversity, and perceived contradictions in the school's training approach. Suggestions included improving interview formats to better assess applicants and addressing concerns about program substance and implementation of stated emphases.
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This school came off to me as one that doesn't prioritize learning, more so focused on mental health. Which is fine, but you would think you want your dental students to know what they are doing when it comes to class and clincals.
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I like how they said your grades, DAT, shadowing don't matter now. We want to get to know you. At the interview, they asked me all about my grades and DAT lol
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It was a truly great interview experience and caused me to be even more passionate about the school.
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None
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Good school, great location, never been to arizona before this, definitely want to go there if i get off wait-list.
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Definitely research the school and ask unique questions about their program. They didn't ask me WHY I chose that specific school, so I brought it up myself.
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There's not much to this school. I really wish I could say something more positive. Really.
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Overall an amazing experience, honesly the tuition is the only downside, however I feel like this school provides amazing education and what attracts me the most is the amount of experience you get there!
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Honesty just have fun and relax. The questions they give you are very straightforward and if you have prepared/practicing typical interview questions before you should be fine. Some people complained that there interviewers didn't show any emotion, but I was able to get them to smile and laugh which made me feel pretty good!
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A very long interview process, but is definitely worth it to see the school and meet some great people.
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Happy people, D1/D2's were super friendly and helpful, and the clinics are amazing.
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There is a 5 min group presentation where first, they observe your group discussing how to present a generic, dental-related topic for 15 min, and then you present. they test you with a peg board.
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School seemed totally great!
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It's a very good school that I would not mind attending.
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First, it kind of sucks that people are putting fake questions to freak people out on this forum. I think if you are trying to sabotage people then you are really not in this for the right reasons. At least in my interview, there were no geographic questions, political, etc. They were really just trying to get to know me as a person and what my true intentions for going to dental school were. For all you pre-dents out there, understand that this isn't a profession you can just do for the money and I think if you are really doing this to help people and make a difference, then, show them that side of you and you will get in. Be honest and true to who you are. Sorry if this sounds sappy but its the truth.
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I hope I get in even though it is costly to study there
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I thought the school was great, it really impressed me and I would love to go there.
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Don't worry about the PEG test or group activity. They are more stress relievers than anything else. By the time the interview came I felt relaxed.
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Practice peg test get used to diff. size of washers and pins.
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The interview was much more relaxed than I had anticipated.
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Peg test, group presentation, interview, tour
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-group project/presentation
-manual dexterity tests with the evaluators breathing down your neck
-1 D-student and 2 faculty:1 applicant interview
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I really like this school.
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It was my first interview at a dental school which made me feel extra nervous. I felt like I didn't do that well but I guess good enough to recieve a letter saying that they will continue to consider me for their 2013 class. By the way, IF you think during the interviewing process that you are not doing well, just forget about it and turn things around. I think I allowed myself to get hung up on mistakes, which kept me from doing better.
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I won't post specific questions asked of me, but I will say that if I were in your shoes, I would not bother studying geography, political, or current event questions :). For my interview at least, they seemed to be more interested in getting to know me and why I was interested in ASDOH and dentistry and public health. There were 2 dental faculty members asking the questions, and a D2 student who sat in on the interview and listened. They do still have a group activity and the manual dexterity exercise, but niether is the sort of thing that you can prepare for. Just relax and go with the flow, and everything should be ok. There are people taking notes during everything, so I think they just want to see how you work under pressure and how you work within a group.
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Kinda scary, but I got over it...
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Pretty nervous during the interview, this other guy got sick while he was interviewing he was so nervous. But the school is awesome and all the students seemed to love it!
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I loved the school, the area, and the staff. The school is pricey thats it only down fall. i like the feel of the campus and there diffrent take on dentistry.
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We did a group activity that was timed involving ranking survival items individually, then amongst our group as a team. Dexterity test was timed placement of small burr sized rods in holes on a peg board, which was hard when you are nervous and sweaty palms. After that the interview part was short with 2 administrators who were nice, and somewhat formal. I felt like they did want to get to know me as well as they could, but they didn't do much to calm my nerves. I tend to talk a lot when I'm nervous, so I think I rambled a bit on some of my questions. I enjoyed the current events questions because they are easy answers that are correct or not and I'm good at current events. The tour was alright. The student was a D2 that seems a little tired and burnt out. He was not negative though, just looked tired. The last year you spend about 50% of your clinical time in satellite public health clinics, working like any practicing dentist does. The D4 students complete their requirement VERY early, or at least seemed to have the opportunity to do so. This format seems like it will really prepare you well clinically for going into practice right after D school. Only ortho as a specialty allows for more experience in these other areas, although they will be building a hospital on the campus and probably including some other specialty programs as a result of this, so it may change.
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Excellent school.
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I enjoyed the experience, and came away with a more positive impression of ASDOH than I expected I would. It was relaxed, informative and friendly.
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Manual dexterity test, group activity, and then a very impersonal panel interview.
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I was very impressed and I hope I get accepted. The school is amazing!
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The interview was fine-the religious aspect was a drag.
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It was a great interview experience. I hope I get in!
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Good school, great facilities, wonderful staff, but working out the kinks in the program still and seems like an awful place to live.
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Nice new facilities. The clinical building looks like it will be great when it is done in a month or so. I would attend this school in a heartbeat!
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See above
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Great school!! aspiration of No.1 dental school soon
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Very focused and somewhat unneccessilarily intense.
I really felt rushed through the interview itself (20min, PERIOD). Considering I've flown, hoteled, and taxied my way there, missed school, work and study time and paid for it all out of pocket, the guys could have spent a little more than 20min with us; especially since we're starting at 7:45am and there was less than 10 people interviewing. $1/4 million is a lot of money to give a school for just 20 minutes work.
I left with questions unanswered.
I left with a feeling that the school's program is still largely experimental but doing its best to take the best things (read newest) from all the schools around the country and integrate them into a new and even possibly improved dental education model.
They tried a little too hard to sell us superficially on the relation to the AT Stills ostiopathic school which is thier parent organization (corporate owner/backer). It was almost as if they felt they needed to justify themselves. However, deeper probing revealed that the stated/implied osteopathic "holistic" approch is mostly hot-air since they have to get accreditted like eveyone else and teach to the same boards like everyone else.
Though every previous indication was that they emphasize volunteering and community service/outreach (as oppossed to research for example), this did not come up during the interview and was perhaps to my detriment for not mentioning it more proactively.
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Very impressive school
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It was planned very good, read the news! and watch CNN
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30 minute ethical essay, 30 minute interview, helicopter-crash scenario, very fun!
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It was very good. Very well organized day. Dean is so friendly and the school is superb!
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Just a good time all around... I liked it a lot. I wish they were just a few years older, otherwise it'd be an easy decision to come here.
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Good experience overall. Nice school and doing well for a new program. I think it will be great in a couple of years.
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The interview was low-stress and well organized. The small, new school environment intimidated some applicants but some thought it was ideal. The lab and clinic has state of the art equipment superior to that of other clinics. Know your current events!
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School is very idealistic. Arrogance based on "cutting edge" technology and the fact they are here to produce "oral health" providers (???). Not for me, but maybe it will be for you...
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I don't know how they expect to prepare you to become a dentist. This program needs a lot of work. The atmosphere seemed a little too relaxed with no drive to preform. One of the students made the comment that you suceed because it is so easy.
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A pleasant day overall. The group interaction workshop took a little time to get used to but it worked out OK. My interviewers were very friendly and personable. At first I thought the social science type questions were some sort of joke, but I could see their purpose and I personally found them to be kind of fun. After I left the interview I personally felt very impressed with the school. It was a very, very well organized day.
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Quick tour followed by a talk and Q&A with the dean. Next you go through a group activity and then have your interview and writing sample. You can take advantage of your free time and tour the facility.
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Overall I liked the school. Their method of teaching is in line with what boards will be expecting of students (case base studies). The faculty seemed concerned and very cognoscente of the caliber of students they want. I, for one, would like to attend the AZ school.
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I was impressed with the school. I think it will be a great program, and I like that everything is new.
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This school may be for some but it is not for me. I enjoyed some aspects of the school but the majority of the procedures and highlights were sketchy. I wouldn't go here if I got in.
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This school interview was tuff, but it is because they only want a very high caliber of student to attend. It was very informative and very impressive.
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I drove for 12 hours so that I could compete against applicants who knew specific questions that were going to be asked and who had a general idea of the other questions that were going to be asked. The school is so concerned about helping the underserved. What about being ethical and fair to applicants and taking 5 minutes to change questions for every interview so that some applicants aren't put at a huge disadvantage for not knowing about SDN.
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I honestly enjoyed my experience as much as a person could under those circumstances. It is hard not to be nervous to some extent. The other students that were being interviewed were all so nice, which helped make the experience positive. I am also glad that I had the chance to talk with several of the current students who were able to answer all of my questions.
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Nice facilities and technology. Stability of school doesn't concern me. This school was not for me. It's too homogenous and religious and politically conservative for my tastes. I also like schoosl with more of an urban feel. This school looked like it was in the middle of nowhere.
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I was skeptical before I went to my interview because of some of the comments I read on SDN and the school being so new. When I got there, everything changed. The weather was definitely a plus (60 degrees, considering my home town was in the negatives). The people in Mesa were so friendly. The traffic was amazing compared to what I am used to. The school blew my mind. Everything and everyone was sooo nice. Arizona was in my top five but now it is for sure my number one choice!
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I love ASDOH and sunny Mesa, AZ. I was accepted and ASDOH is definitely where I am going. Who wouldn't want to go to a brand new school with the best technology and where the administration and students are extremely happy and enjoy what they are doing!!!!!!!!!
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I've already paid my deposit and can't wait to attend.
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Good interview experience. The weather was gorgeous (75 degrees for mid January!!) and I had a great time. This school went from #4 on my list to #1.
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To be brief, I was extremely unimpressed with the dean (or whatever he was) who hosted the interview. He seemed more concerned with his posture/physique than with any of the applicants - with the exception of a few of the prettier females.
Dr Physique, errr, Simonsen came off as being pompous and smug, and extremely pretentious. He boasted of how they have only accepted 30 or so students, and how unlike the average school that has to accept 3 students to fill a spot, Arizona has to accept 1.5
He then followed that comment by stating that of the 30 they accepted, only 9 had sent deposits.
One would think that Dr Fake-bake would know that you accept the most competitive applicants during the first round with the hopes of filling your class with the best. However, he eloquently explained how last year they wished they had room to accept applicants later in the year. Is he saying he wishes he could've replaced those students he accepted with other, better, applicants? How does the current class feel about that?
Just my two cents...
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Excellent, I felt at HOME there and definately will go there when accepted. People I interviewed with were chill, faculty were nice, facilities were great, and the weather was perfect.
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Arizona is lovely. Don't ask anything about why you should choose them over another school, sparks will fly. They get offended over every little question. They are the best because they said so. They don't give tenure to any teacher, and will only hire for a couple of weeks at a time. I feel sorry for any instructor that has to kiss ass to the students just so he can be invited back to work. The students run the show, if an instructor is too "hard" he doesn't get to come back. The students loved talking about this. I personally respect people who have decided to forgo a higher income and teach. The dean was really great, but that guy from Oslo, geez, what a cold stick.
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ASDOH was a unique experience. Having been accepted to a number of schools (Louisville, Iowa, Nebraska, UOP) just before my interview, I felt none of the pre-interview jitters I felt elsewhere (that was nice)...
In short, I was skeptical when I came here, and in short, when accepted I will be here. Many friends, family, dentists question my decision (having been accepted to some of the best programs in the country) but I have done extensive research and am sure that this is where I want to be.
About the only thing that I can say is I took the opportunity to discuss ALL of my concerns with Dr. Dillenberg (the Dean), and after having done-so I realized two things; one, there is a massive amount of misinformation about ASDOH, and two, this is as good of an opportunity to learn dentistry in the nation.
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I live about 5 miles from the school and was applying to dental school this year. I went to check out the school before applying and was very disappointed. Only 1 floor for dentistry? They send you out to do dentistry for clinical practice? Many dentists in the area are upset about the new dental school and for good reason. East Mesa where the dental school is located is saturated with dental offices. The school explains there is a need in the area but definitely not in the area where the school is built. There are parts of Arizona that need dentists but the dental school built itself in an area where dental offices are almost on every corner. There curriculum seems very experimental. I decided not to apply because I did not want to be a Guinea Pig. Overall I was not impressed. I am just glad I was able to save my money.
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Arizona was one of my "safety schools", but I think it will be harder to get in there than I had thought. If I do get in it will give me something to seriously think about.
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I really enjoyed myself, and Arizona is now my second choice of schools. The area is more rural than I'm used to, but it is still very close to a huge city, and the city the school is in has nearly 1 million people all around it. I think it would be a nice change of pace to study somewhere where there isn't much traffic and where you can rest in the sunshine.
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I was so dissapointed. The interview was a complete disaster. This wasn't by my account, but by the account of the ridiculous format. I left there wondering if they even knew who I was and what I was about. I was extremely dissapointed in the campus and the student body that I met. They didn't go out of their way to make us feel comfortable. They only talked among themselves. That was basically 4 hours I will never get back!
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I am glad I have other options right now. I really felt it wasn't worth a trip to Arizona
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Luckily I live here in Mesa, otherwise I may have felt like I wasted money on the trip. After being highly impressed with UoP and BU, my experience here was almost a let down. I still think this school is in my top two or at least three choices. The interview was more like an interview where they asked me some questions, but it wasn't too stressful.
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The facilities are nice, the philosophy/mission/staff are amazing. The interview was a big disappointment, though. Zero questions about ME and MY FILE, which was frustrating. You will see what I mean.
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I wasnt going to go to the interview, but found a cheap flight. I whish I would have saved my money. Although the school sparkels, there seemed to be a lack of knowledge on how to use the technology. It seemed that the only thing they are selling are how nice their school is. I didnt really hear anything about how they were going to produce competetent dintal prfessionals. I did hear how great the deans of UoP and Lousiville were.
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It appears that some of the previous posters didn't pay much attention in their interviews. It was OBVIOUS that Arizona is NOT being trained on air equipment. One of the highlights was the ELECTRIC drill demonstration--and the drill is portable making it easy to take it ANYWHERE.
All in all it was a good interview and I had an enjoyable time. I was impressed with the staff and their kindness, as well as the building. It would have been nice to see some clinic space, but I guess that is happening soon enough.
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The dean spoke about the underserved areas in AZ and else where. But the students are trained with air driven hand pieces, digital xrays, and paperless records. But do you think that these dental camps in the rural areas or indian reservations will have the latest technology? Or is this type of training more geared towards the high end private practice? This is blatant contradiction at its worse.
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Every school that I interviewed at had a selling point which they emphasised to distinguish them from other schools. The only thing that AZ had going for it is the new building, state of the art equipment. It seemed like the program lacked substance. If you took all the materials away, all that would be left is a disorganized program that does not know how to conduct itself. They kept stressing public health, that the school was built on a needs bases, but asked how they were implementing these emphasis in the curriculum and there would a long winded answer (or lack of) that ultimately came back to "But look at our Kavo chairs"
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Overall experience is avarage. School is not as wonderful as I expected to be. Lack of diversity is something I am not used to.
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The admissions staff is very kind and I really think that this young school has potential. The technology and simulation lab are amazing and the curriculum is structured well. Overall I felt that the interview had a lot of group activities and only a short time of one on one with an admissions staff. I felt like they didn’t get to know me well for this reason. The one on one interview was non-conversational and was more question/answer. This was kind of nerve racking. All students being interviewed get asked the same questions. The school only has first year students currently but they all seemed happy there. Overall I was impressed with this school but I think they could change the interview format to get to know each applicant better.
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Arizona is a one of a kind dental school. Don't overlook it because it's new.
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Overall, I felt comfortable the whole time and was accepted on the spot. That made me feel even better. *_~
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Amazing facilities, amazing staff, and a truly innovative curriculum.
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Amazing facilities, amazing staff, and a truly innovative curriculum. I've never had the deans of a school be so personable. This was my last interview experience, but it was also the best.
