Newark, NJ
Dental Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 23% 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
8.1
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 417 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 low 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 (86%)
Negatively (11%)
No change (3%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (49%)
Good (41%)
Average (9%)
Poor (1%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process at UMDNJ to be relaxed, conversational, and informative, with interviewers emphasizing a good fit rather than trying to trick candidates. Feedback highlighted the welcoming environment, friendly faculty and students, strong clinical training, and emphasis on the importance of asking questions and being yourself during the interview.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Bad area but great school
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The interview occurs first so it makes the rest of the day a lot easier to pay attention for the presentations.
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It was my first interview, so I was so nervous. No need! Everyone was super nice.
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The whole interview was more of a conversation.
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I get really bad stomach pains when I'm nervous, and BOY was I nervous. There is no need to be nervous. When I got there, it was all the interviewees sitting in a conference room eating breakfast and talking with 4th year dental students. It was incredibly relaxed, and everyone was so nice and eager to help you out. Around 9am, the interviewers (usually professors) come and call your name while everyone talks and waits to be called. I went with the professor to a large room with some tables, and we just sat down and talked for around 30 mins. He even let me keep drinking my tea since I had just gotten it when he called me. Basically, just relax, it's not bad at all. There was no set list of questions he was reading from, he apparently wrote some comments from my application and used them as talking points. Make sure to address any strong points of yours if they don't ask you directly. There were a lot of opportunities where we could have ended the interview if I didn't start talking about something else. Chiiiiill, you're going to do great!
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
30 Minutes Average
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Number:
1.1 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
99% One-on-One
1% Group Interview
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File Type:
99% Open-File
1% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
0% Virtual
100% In-Person
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Interview Location (for In-Person):
100% At the School
0% Other Location
NJDS-COMP interviews are an average of 30 minutes, with an average of 1.1 interviews. 99% of interviews are one-on-one, 100% are in-person, and 1% are closed-file. Of the in-person interviews, 100% are held at the school.
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, their interest in the specific school like Rutgers or UMDNJ, qualities of a good dentist, study habits, academic stress management, and their background such as shadowing experiences or extracurricular activities. Some respondents mentioned being asked about their DAT scores, interest in dentistry over medicine, and reasons for choosing dentistry as a career path.
Additionally, several responses indicated that the interviews were in an MMI format, with questions on personal background, motivations for dentistry, study habits, extracurricular activities, and reasons for choosing the particular school. Respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement during these interviews as well.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tell me about urself and why you came to choose dentistry, but he cut me off and didn't let me finish
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Tell me about yourself.
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3 Important qualities of a dentist and how they apply to me
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Asked about my art portfolio and my website. (I provided the link on my AADSAS application)
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Why dentistry?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine discussed a variety of topics related to their backgrounds, experiences, and motivations, with a mix of basic questions such as why they chose dentistry, specific questions about hobbies or travel experiences, and some personal connections like discussing family members or past jobs. It appears that the interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on responses, which could explain the range of questions asked and the limited disclosure due to potential nondisclosure agreements.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What is one thing that made you interested in something else?
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Started off with, why don't u ask me something
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What was your favorite place that you have traveled to? (Noticed this theme from my letter of recommendation)
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Most of the questions were about specific things on your application
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Very basic questions
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN), mock interviews, reading their applications, and researching the school's website. They also practiced answers to common questions and focused on articulating their motivations for pursuing dentistry and attending the specific school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Sdn, Youtube videos, mock interviews
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SDN, other similar websites
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Sdn
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SDN and sample questions
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Read SDN interview feedback
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including past experiences shaping their current selves, reasons for choosing dentistry over medicine, explaining low grades or DAT scores, and justifying choices in academic performance and extracurricular activities. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format or nondisclosure agreements, implying a structured interview process with standardized questions and potential confidentiality constraints.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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He just kept like cutting off my answer. he barely asked me any questions it was very conversational but idk how I did.
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How has your past experience shaped you today?
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Which class changed my world view
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Asked me what other schools I interviewed at and how many schools
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No difficult questions
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming staff, faculty, and students at the school. They found the facilities to be new, up-to-date, and aesthetically pleasing, with a strong emphasis on clinical education, research opportunities, and community outreach. The interview experiences were highlighted as positive, described as conversational, relaxed, and informative, contributing to an overall positive impression of the school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Staff, faculty, and students were very nice and friendly. Interview experience was great.
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Inside facilities are very new and up to date
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My interviewer was very kind and made me feel comfortable. He really just wanted to have a conversation to get to know me as a person. I was extremely impressed that he took the time to go to my website and look at my art portfolio. Very positive impression overall.
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The staff was just so lively and welcoming, they really emphasized how much of a family they are at Rutgers. My interview experience was great. It felt so much like a conversation I would have with one of my friends rather than an intense interview like I had imagined it would be.
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Everyone at the school, from checking in, to the interviewers, were nice and friendly.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the school's location in Newark, citing safety concerns and a lack of appealing surroundings. Additionally, concerns were raised about the older facilities, unenthusiastic interviewers, and the behavior of some current students, which left a negative impact on the overall experience. Suggestions included addressing safety issues, improving facilities, enhancing the interview process, and fostering a more positive and inclusive student culture.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Presentation was weird. they kept emphasizing like comparing them to other schools in terms of money, criticizing pass/fail schools. kind of weird vibes. idk.
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The surrounding area is not the safest place.
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In Newark
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N/A
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The pre-clinic lab is a little dated, but still gives you all the tools necessary to succeed.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would be very relaxed and stress-free, and that there was no need to be nervous or over-prepare. Suggestions included arriving early to secure speaking time with current students, being aware of parking challenges, and taking note of the laid-back nature of the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Do not stress about the interview. Be yourself and don't be nervous!
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Everything was pretty straightforward
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Very relaxed
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That the interview would have literally been the most relaxed experience
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Not to stress about the interview, it's very relaxed and stress-free
🤝 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 suggest offering scholarships, improving organization and cleanliness during interviews, serving lunch instead of breakfast, providing water at meals, and conducting tours before interviews for better engagement and information.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Offer scholarships
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End of the tour left us all like "Wait so do we get to leave now?"
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Great job so far, keep up the great work.
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You are doing great! Thank you for putting the interview first and including a detailed financial aid session in the tour.
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Instead of breakfast provide lunch.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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EWR
40% interviewees used EWR (EWR), with 20% using PHL (PHL) and 20% using Newark (Newark) and 20% using and LGA (LAX).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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10% Airplane
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74% Automobile
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15% Train or Subway
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2% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Hampton Inn (average ranking 10/10), with some staying at marriott (average rating 9/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Hampton Inn
10/10
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marriott
9/10
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Windham Newark Airport
9/10
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 Faculty member
Admissions staff (26%)
Faculty member (55%)
Other (1%)
Student (19%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (92%)
Neutral (8%)
All Responses
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