Philadelphia, PA
Dental Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 27% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.5
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 150 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?
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 (93%)
No change (7%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (61%)
Good (21%)
Average (14%)
Poor (4%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview experience to be a mix of positive and negative aspects, with some feeling underwhelmed by the interviewer's engagement while others appreciated the informal nature of the process. They emphasized the importance of understanding Temple's values and how they align with their own goals, and highlighted the school's positive attributes such as clinical exposure and the supportive admissions team.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Great interview very conversational and didn't feel rushed
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It was kind of underwhelming, the interviewer was not engaging and seemed a little stressed, it was not conversational at all i felt like this led me to ramble away, i'm hoping the in person visit goes a lot better
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Overall, a good experience if you've practiced.
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The interview is very short and informal, but still prepare for it if you get anxious about interviews.
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When preparing, understand what Temple is about and talk about how you fit into this picture, and how it will relate to your future as a dentist.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
11 Minutes Average
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Number:
1 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
96% One-on-One
4% Group Interview
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File Type:
82% Open-File
18% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
TEMPLE-DENT-COMP interviews are an average of 11 minutes, with an average of 1 interviews. 96% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 18% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include scenarios about conflicts with authority figures, experiences in shadowing that influenced career choices, motivations for pursuing dentistry, reasons for choosing a specific school, and questions about leadership experiences. Additionally, responses indicate that some interviews were in an MMI format, where applicants may have been asked to discuss personal experiences but were subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What are the top three traits of a dentist and which one do you need to improve on?
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Talk about a time you had a disagreement with an authority figure
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In your shadowing experience, what was one "aha" moment or experience with a patient that convinced you to pursue dentistry?
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Tell about a skill you learned during shadowing
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Tell me about a conflict with an authority figure.
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry discussed a scenario where a patient refuses a proposed treatment plan. Other common questions included describing personal attributes, dental experiences, and addressing misconceptions. It appears that the interview format may have been an MMI, as some responses mentioned nondisclosure agreements regarding specific questions asked.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What is something you don’t look forward to doing everyday in dentistry?
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Describe temple dental in 5 words
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Imagine you're a dentist with a new patient. You've done a full comprehensive exam and X-rays, you've come up with a treatment plan for the patient and presented it, but the patient refuses it. What do you do?
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Describe temple in 5 words or less
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What procedures have you observed or assisted with?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by researching common questions on platforms like SDN, Reddit, and YouTube, as well as reviewing their own applications and seeking insights from current students. Some emphasized the importance of showing their personality and being authentic in their responses.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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SDN and asking dental students
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SDN, reddit
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I read articles and watched YouTube videos for general interview advice and the types of questions to prepare for. I looked up the SDN profile for Temple interview questions (the "use five words to explain why you applied to Temple" question did come up).
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SDN
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SND questions
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry discussed various topics such as weaknesses in their application, significant past learnings, unexpected experiences in procedures, conflicts with authority figures, and self-improvement efforts. These questions indicate a focus on personal reflection, ethics, and self-awareness during the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What would you do if someone had been calling your office, who you had never seen previously, in pain from getting their wisdom teeth extracted by someone else?
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What's the weakest part of your application
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What is something you learned/were taught in the past that was significant for you, and how have you improved upon it?
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The hypothetical question
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Pick one procedure that you saw and what you learned/ didn't expect from it?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the welcoming and friendly nature of interviewers, the conversational and relaxed atmosphere during the interviews, the modern facilities and approachable staff at the dental school, the high level of clinical exposure, and the strong sense of community among students and faculty. Additionally, the reputation of the school for providing a busy and high-quality clinical experience at a low cost was highlighted as a positive aspect.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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How kind the people were, very nice and positive
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The interviewer acknowledged the difficulty of the overall application process and the interviewing in particular for applicants.
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The interviewer was extremely kind and made me feel welcomed and comfortable
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It was casual.
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Friendly alumni interviewer
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed frustration over rushed interviews with limited time for questions, lack of enthusiasm from interviewers, and concerns over construction/renovations affecting the facilities. Suggestions included allowing more time for questions, improving interviewer engagement, and providing updates on construction progress.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Late by 15 minutes
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They were late, obviously rushing through questions to get to the next person
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I didn't have a chance to ask any questions. However, I understand that this is a very short time slot, and the interview said I would have a chance to ask more questions during my in-person visit day.
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Not enough time to ask all the questions. They also did not ask the basic tell me about yourself and why dentistry question.
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The interviewer didn't seem enthusiastic.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Most applicants wished they had known ahead of time that the interview process was more relaxed and laid-back than they anticipated, with an emphasis on showcasing their personality. Additionally, they mentioned wanting more information or guidance on specific aspects of the interview, such as the types of questions asked or the presence of alumni interviewers.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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N/a
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There weren't many temple specific questions like why temple or what about temple made you apply
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It was an alumni interview, rather than someone from admissions. I asked about the program and they didn't have much to say about it because they graduated 20+ years ago.
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Nothing
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They will give every interviewee a “quiz” with two ethical multiple choice questions at the beginning of the day.
🤝 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 generally found the admissions office to be friendly, stress-free, and well-organized. Some applicants suggested providing more specific feedback timelines or serving food during the admissions process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing great job (:
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Nothing
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Nothing really! I wish they could be a little bit more specific on when we will hear feedback but they are as honest as possible with explaining how many more seats they need to fill and what the timeline of hearing back looks like due to having every single member on the admissions committee weigh in on someone's acceptance.
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None-- really enjoyed them. They are unorthodox, but extremely friendly and provide a stress free day.
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Serve food
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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PHL
63% interviewees used PHL (PHL), with 13% using Philadelphia International (Philadelphia International) and 13% using Phili (Phili) and 13% using PHI (PHI).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by airplane to the interview.
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63% Airplane
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25% Automobile
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13% Train or Subway
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0% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Conwell Inn (average ranking 10/10), with some staying at Homewood Suites - Hilton (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Conwell Inn
10/10
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Homewood Suites - Hilton
10/10
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Marriott--Residence Inn
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 Other or at another housing option.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel
Admissions staff (44%)
Faculty member (19%)
Other (6%)
Student (31%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (100%)
All Responses
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