How to Nail the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor School of Dentistry Interview

So, you’ve been invited to interview at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Now comes the part that can feel a little harder to prepare for: Michigan’s Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).

The school does not publish every detail of its MMI structure, including the exact number of questions or timing for each response. That means your best preparation is not memorizing a question bank. It is learning how to organize your thinking, communicate clearly, and connect your experiences to different prompts.

This guide covers Michigan's current interview format, what to research before your interview, common questions and scenarios to practice, MMI answer frameworks, and mistakes to avoid.

University of Michigan Dental Interview at a Glance

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is located in Ann Arbor and offers a four-year DDS program. Applicants apply through ADEA AADSAS and must complete an interview to remain under consideration for admission.

Here are the key details for the current admissions cycle:

• School: University of Michigan School of Dentistry
• Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
• Application service: ADEA AADSAS
• Interview requirement: Required for further admission consideration
• Interview format: Virtual Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
• Interview period: September through January
• Approximate number interviewed: About 300 candidates per application cycle
• MMI structure: A series of timed questions or scenarios
• Reviewers: Admissions Committee members, faculty, students, and staff
• Campus option: Optional Visit Day for interviewing candidates
• Schedule and instructions: Your official interview invitation provides your date, schedule, platform, and other instructions

Follow the details in your interview invitation instead of relying on an older applicant's experience.

The school's DDS application page states that the application opens May 14 and closes October 15. All required application materials must arrive before the deadline.

The University of Michigan Dental Interview Format

Michigan keeps the basic MMI structure straightforward. The required DDS interview takes place virtually and uses a series of timed questions and scenarios. What you need to prepare for is the variety. You may have to explain a decision, work through an ethical situation, discuss an experience, or respond to a professional scenario, all while keeping your thinking clear and organized.

How the Virtual MMI Works

A Multiple Mini Interview is different from sitting down for one long conversation with an interviewer. You work through separate prompts, giving you a new situation to consider at each stage.

You may be asked to:

• Explain why you want to practice dentistry
• Discuss an important experience
• Work through an ethical problem
• Respond to a patient or colleague
• Consider multiple sides of a decision
• Discuss an issue affecting dentists or patients
• Explain how you would handle a professional situation

The exact mechanics can vary. Some MMIs give you time to read a prompt before you respond, while others present the question when the session begins.

Michigan does not publicly provide enough detail to assume which format you will encounter. So, follow the instructions in your interview invitation.

And don't worry about making every answer sound polished. In an MMI, your reasoning matters as much as the final answer. Make the issue clear, consider who is affected, explain your decision, and show what you would do next.

Who May Review Your Responses?

Michigan states that interviewers or reviewers may include:

• Admissions Committee members
• Faculty
• Current students
• School staff

You may speak with a faculty member in one part of the interview and another member of the university community in another. Address each person with the same level of respect. Do not change your tone because one reviewer appears more informal.

Listen carefully, answer the question you received, and avoid trying to guess what the reviewer wants to hear.

Is the Interview Open File or Closed File?

This is one detail Michigan does not publicly specify. The School of Dentistry says DDS applicants are reviewed holistically using all components of their application, but it does not state whether individual MMI reviewers see your full application before or during the interview.

So, don't build your preparation around an assumed open-file or closed-file format. Know your application well. Answer each prompt as if you need to provide the context yourself. Review your AADSAS application, personal statement, supplemental responses, activities, shadowing, research, and academic record before your interview.

If a question connects to something in your application, don't rely on the reviewer having read it. Briefly explain the experience, your role in it, and what you learned. Then answer the question directly.

How an MMI Differs From a Traditional Interview

A traditional interview often gives you more time with the same interviewer. The conversation may begin with “Tell me about yourself” and move into questions based on your application. Follow-up questions can build on earlier answers.

An MMI divides the evaluation into timed questions or prompts. Each prompt may test a separate skill. A weak response to one prompt does not have to shape the rest of your interview. Reset before the next prompt and focus on the new task.

You can still prepare personal stories as you would for a traditional interview. The difference is that you need to adapt them to the prompt rather than deliver a memorized speech.

Virtual Interview Versus Optional Visit Day

Don't confuse the optional Visit Day with your Michigan dental interview. The required DDS interview takes place virtually, while Visit Day allows interviewing candidates to experience the school and Ann Arbor in person.

If you attend, use the opportunity to learn more about the program and experience the school and Ann Arbor in person. Follow the agenda and instructions Michigan provides for the Visit Day. It can also give you a better sense of whether Michigan feels like a place where you would want to spend the next four years.

Take Note: Meeting other applicants in person does not turn Visit Day into a group interview. The evaluated portion of your admissions process follows the interview format outlined in your invitation. Follow Michigan's instructions for both activities, and don't treat Visit Day as another interview you need to perform in.

What Does the Admissions Committee Look for?

Michigan does not publish a complete MMI scoring rubric. What it does make clear is that DDS applicants are reviewed holistically, with the admissions process considering all components of the application.

That means your interview is considered alongside the rest of your application. Michigan's virtual MMI uses timed questions and scenarios on a variety of topics, allowing reviewers to hear how you respond to the situations presented to you.

Motivation for Dentistry

“Why dentistry?” is not really a question about whether you like science or want to help people. Those answers could apply to dozens of healthcare careers. Your answer should show why you chose dentistry and how your experiences have shaped your understanding of the profession.

Start with something you have actually experienced. That could be dental shadowing, work in a clinic, research, community service, or an interaction with a patient. Don't just name the experience. Explain what you noticed, what surprised you, and how it shaped your decision to pursue dentistry.

You might explore:

• The role of prevention in oral health
• The connection between technical care and patient trust
• The combination of science, communication, and hands-on work
• The long-term relationships dentists can build with patients
• How oral health affects a person's comfort, confidence, and daily life
• The responsibilities of joining or eventually managing a dental practice

One experience can spark your interest, but your answer should show that you kept exploring the profession afterward. A single shadowing session rarely tells you what practicing dentistry is actually like.

Read: Everything You Need to Know About Dental School

Communication Skills

Dentists explain procedures, discuss risks, respond to fear, and talk with patients who may have limited health knowledge. Dental students also work with classmates, faculty, clinic staff, and patients from different backgrounds.

You can show communication skills when you:

• Answer the question before adding background
• Listen without interrupting
• Use plain language
• Ask for clarification when needed
• Recognize another person’s concern
• Explain your decision without dismissing another view
• Admit when you do not know something

Speaking confidently does not mean speaking without pause. A short pause can help you organize a clearer response.

Ethical and Professional Judgment

An ethical prompt may not have one perfect answer. Reviewers may care more about how you identify the problem and compare possible actions.

Your response should account for:

• Patient safety
• Patient autonomy
• Informed consent
• Privacy
• Academic honesty
• Professional boundaries
• Fairness
• Scope of training
• School or clinic policy
• The need for supervision

Do not invent rules. If a situation depends on a policy, law, or clinical standard you do not know, state that you would consult the proper supervisor or written policy.

Teamwork and Leadership

Dental education involves shared labs, group assignments, clinical teams, and patient care. Your examples should show how you communicate when people disagree or divide responsibility.

Leadership does not require an official title. You may have shown leadership when you identified a problem, organized a response, supported a teammate, or accepted responsibility for a poor result.

Avoid saying that you completed all the work because others could not be trusted. That answer may show effort, but it can also suggest that you did not address the team problem.

Self-Awareness and Response to Feedback

Most applicants can describe their strengths. Strong candidates can also explain a weakness, mistake, or difficult result without blaming someone else.

Choose an example that lets you discuss:

• What happened
• Your role in the result
• The feedback you received
• What you changed
• How your later behavior improved

Do not select a false weakness such as “I work too hard.” Choose a real area of growth that does not raise an unresolved concern about honesty, safety, or respect for others.

Service and Health Disparities

Michigan states that applicants who show commitment to addressing health disparities and caring for underserved communities are desirable. You should be ready to discuss service without making broad claims about saving a community.

Name the population, need, or barrier you encountered. Explain what you learned from the people you served. If your work had limits, acknowledge them.

Barriers to oral care may include:

• Cost
• Insurance coverage
• Transportation
• Geographic distance
• Limited provider availability
• Disability access
• Language differences
• Fear or prior negative experiences
• Limited access to preventive care

A careful answer links your service record to a realistic view of how dentists, clinics, schools, and public programs can improve access.

Academic and Clinical Readiness

You are not expected to enter dental school ready to perform procedures independently. You should understand that training requires sustained study, technical practice, feedback, and care around patients.

You may discuss clinical experience, laboratory work, art, music, sewing, repair work, cooking, model building, or another activity that develops coordination and patience. Focus on what the activity taught you rather than listing hobbies.

If you discuss patient exposure, describe your role accurately. Do not imply that you performed procedures outside your training or authority.

University of Michigan Dental Interview Questions to Practice

Michigan does not publish a current question bank. The prompts below cover common MMI areas, topics relevant to Michigan's DDS program, and broader issues in dental education. Use them to practice flexible thinking, not to predict exact questions.

Personal Background and Motivation

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why do you want to practice dentistry?
3. When did you decide that dentistry was the right career for you?
4. Which experience confirmed your interest in the profession?
5. What did you learn from shadowing dentists?
6. Why did you choose dentistry over another healthcare field?
7. What part of dental practice interests you most?
8. How has your background shaped the doctor you hope to become?
9. What does patient-centered care mean to you?
10. What misconception about dentistry changed after you gained direct exposure?
11. Which part of your application best represents you?
12. What would you add to your application if you submitted it today?

When preparing your answer, connect an experience with a lesson. A story has little value if you do not explain what it taught you.

Why Michigan and Program Fit

1. Why do you want to attend the University of Michigan School of Dentistry?
2. Why do you want to study in Ann Arbor?
3. Which part of the DDS curriculum fits your goals?
4. How would you use the Pathways Program?
5. How would you contribute to the school community?
6. Which research areas interest you?
7. What have you heard about Michigan, and how did you check the information?
8. Which university resources would you use?
9. How does the school’s culture fit the way you learn?
10. What would you want to learn during a campus visit?
11. How could Michigan prepare you to work with different patient groups?
12. What would you bring to conversations with classmates?

Your response should not rely on ranking or reputation. Choose two or three features that connect with your work, interests, or goals.

Behavioral Questions

1. Tell me about a time you showed leadership.
2. Describe a disagreement with a classmate or coworker.
3. Tell me about a time you received difficult feedback.
4. Describe a mistake and how you handled it.
5. Tell me about a goal that took longer than expected.
6. How do you manage several deadlines in the same week?
7. Describe a time you supported another person.
8. What role do you usually take on a team?
9. Tell me about a decision you made with limited information.
10. Describe a time your first plan did not work.
11. Tell me about a time you had to ask for help.
12. Describe a situation that changed your view of a community.

Choose examples where you took a clear action. An imperfect outcome can still support a strong answer if you show honest reflection and later improvement.

Ethical and Professional Scenarios

1. A classmate asks you to complete part of a graded assignment. What do you do?
2. You suspect another student has falsified information. How do you respond?
3. You notice a possible error in a patient record. What is your next step?
4. A patient refuses recommended treatment because of cost. How would you respond?
5. A patient asks you not to share important health information with the supervising dentist. What do you say?
6. A supervisor gives an instruction that you believe could harm a patient. What would you do?
7. You are asked to complete a task you have not been trained to perform. How do you respond?
8. A classmate speaks disrespectfully about a patient. What action would you take?
9. Two patients need a limited resource at the same time. How would you approach the decision?
10. You realize that you made a mistake during patient care. What do you do next?
11. A patient rejects treatment after hearing the risks. How should the dental team respond?
12. You hear private patient information discussed in a public area. How would you address it?

Avoid moving straight from suspicion to punishment. Gather facts when possible, protect patients, follow policy, and involve the proper person.

Communication and Patient-Care Scenarios

1. How would you speak with an anxious patient?
2. How would you explain a procedure in plain language?
3. A patient is angry about treatment received elsewhere. How would you respond?
4. How would you work with a qualified interpreter?
5. A patient misunderstands the risks of treatment. What would you do?
6. How would you respond when a patient repeatedly interrupts you?
7. A patient asks a question you cannot answer. What would you say?
8. How would you discuss care when cost is the patient’s main concern?
9. How would you earn trust during a short appointment?
10. How would you respond to a person whose beliefs differ from your own?

Start with listening. Clarify the concern before explaining. If the issue exceeds your role as a dental student, involve a supervisor or qualified professional.

Current Issues in Dentistry

You may also be asked to discuss dental news or current issues affecting the profession. Useful subjects include:

• Access to oral healthcare
• Rural provider shortages
• The cost of treatment
• Dental insurance limits
• Preventive care
• Artificial intelligence in clinical settings
• Digital imaging and patient privacy
• Antibiotic stewardship
• Misinformation about dental treatment
• Workforce distribution
• Care for aging patients
• Services for patients with disabilities

Review recent information from government agencies, professional associations, universities, and peer-reviewed research. Do not repeat a headline if you cannot explain the issue or discuss more than one side.

How to Build Strong MMI Answers

Use a Four-Part Method for Personal Questions

For personal and motivation questions, use this structure:

1. Give a direct answer.
2. Describe one relevant experience.
3. Explain what you learned.
4. Connect that lesson to dentistry or dental school.

For example, a weak answer might state that you like science and helping people. A stronger answer would explain how a shadowing experience showed you the relationship between clinical skill, patient education, and long-term oral health.

Your “why dentistry” answer does not need a dramatic origin story. A decision built across several experiences can be persuasive when you show how each experience tested your interest.

Use STAR-R for Behavioral Questions

STAR-R stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result, and Reflection.

• Situation: Give the background needed to understand the event.
• Task: State your responsibility.
• Action: Explain what you did.
• Result: Describe what happened.
• Reflection: State what you learned and how you use that lesson now.

Spend most of your time on the action and reflection. A long setup can leave too little time for the parts that show your judgment.

Use “I” when discussing your own contribution. You can credit the team while still making your role clear.

Use a Seven-Step Method for Ethical Questions

An ethical response can follow these steps:

1. Identify the main conflict.
2. Name the people affected.
3. State what information is missing.
4. Identify the duties or principles involved.
5. Compare realistic options.
6. Choose an action and explain it.
7. Describe any follow-up, documentation, or escalation.

Suppose a classmate appears to have violated a rule. You should not ignore the concern, but you also should not assume intent without facts. Your answer can address patient or academic safety, direct communication when appropriate, school policy, and referral to the right authority.

Use a Patient-Focused Method for Communication Scenarios

For patient scenarios, work through this sequence:

1. Listen without interrupting.
2. Acknowledge the concern.
3. Ask questions to clarify the issue.
4. Check what the patient already understands.
5. Explain the available choices in plain language.
6. Respect the patient’s decision within clinical and safety limits.
7. Ask a supervisor or qualified resource for help when needed.

Do not promise a result you cannot control. You can show empathy while remaining honest about limits.

How to Handle Follow-Up Questions

A reviewer may challenge your reasoning or ask you to explain a missing point. Do not assume that a difficult follow-up means your first answer failed. The interviewer may want to see whether you can revise your view after receiving new information.

If the interviewer asked something unclear, request clarification. If new facts change your decision, say so and explain why. Changing your answer after learning something relevant can show good judgment.

Read: Preparing for Your Dental School Interview: Proven Tips for Success

How to Answer “Why the University of Michigan School of Dentistry?”

Your answer should connect Michigan’s current program with your past experiences and future goals. It should not sound like a list copied from the school website.

Research the Current DDS Program

Start with official University of Michigan sources. Review:

• The four-year DDS curriculum
• The Pathways Program
• Clinical education
• Research opportunities
• Community activities
• Student organizations
• Academic support
• The optional Visit Day

The Pathways Program gives students room to explore professional interests within oral healthcare. Current paths include oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatrics, prosthodontics, public health, research, and impact projects.

Do not mention a path only because it sounds impressive. Explain why it connects with something you have already studied, observed, or done.

Use a Three-Part Michigan-Fit Answer

Build your answer around three parts:

1. Identify a current Michigan feature.
2. Connect it to your experience or goal.
3. Explain how you would take part or contribute.

For example, if research shaped your college experience, identify a Michigan research area connected with your interests. Explain the question you want to study and how research training could affect your approach to patient care.

If community service is central to your application, connect your work with Michigan’s interest in health disparities. Focus on what you learned from the community and how the experience shaped your view of access to care.

Avoid Generic School-Fit Claims

If you name a faculty member, read the person’s current university profile and recent work. Focus on the subject rather than claiming that you will join a project before you have spoken with the school.

Common University of Michigan Interview Mistakes

Preparing for the Wrong Format

Don't practice for a traditional interview and assume you'll be ready. Michigan uses a virtual MMI for DDS applicants, so you'll need to respond to separate, timed questions and scenarios. Practice giving focused answers without relying on a long back-and-forth with one interviewer.

Treating Old Applicant Reports as the Rule

Applicant forums can give you a feel for what others experienced, but they are not Michigan's current instructions. An interview report from a previous cycle is a data point. When an older experience conflicts with your invitation or Michigan's current admissions information, follow the school.

Memorizing Full Scripts

A polished script can fall apart as soon as the question changes. Instead of memorizing sentences, prepare a bank of experiences, examples, and ideas you can adapt to different prompts.

Giving a Generic Michigan Answer

Saying Michigan is prestigious, highly ranked, or a great dental school doesn't tell the interviewer why you belong there. Research the program beyond its reputation. Connect specific Michigan opportunities, values, or areas of focus to your own interests and goals.

Treating an Ethical Question Like It Has One Obvious Answer

Ethical prompts often involve competing interests. A strong response doesn't rush to defend one side and ignore the other. Consider patient safety, autonomy, fairness, professional responsibilities, relevant policies, and any facts you still need before deciding what to do.

Jumping Straight to Punishment

Figure out what actually happened. Protect patients and uphold academic or professional standards, but distinguish an honest mistake from deliberate misconduct and consider a response that fits the situation.

Overstating Your Clinical Experience

Don't make an observation sound like hands-on clinical work. Be precise about what you actually did, what you were allowed to do, and what you learned. Credibility matters more than making your experience sound impressive.

Repeating Your Personal Statement

The interview is not the time to recite your application back to the interviewer. Your personal statement may already explain your path to dentistry. Use the conversation to add context, reflection, or an example that shows another side of your experience.

Spending Too Long on the Setup

Timed responses leave little room for a long backstory. Give the interviewer enough context to understand the situation, then get to your actions, reasoning, and takeaway. If your first minute is all setup, you may run out of time before answering the actual question.

Mixing Up the DDS and ITDP Processes

The standard four-year DDS program and Michigan's Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP) have separate admissions processes. ITDP requirements and assessments should not be treated as part of the regular DDS interview unless Michigan specifically tells you otherwise.

Final University of Michigan Dental Interview Checklist

Before your Michigan dental interview, make sure you can check these off:

• Know your application: Review your AADSAS application, personal statement, supplemental answers, activities, and key experiences.
• Know your “why”: Be ready to explain why dentistry and why Michigan using specific experiences and program details.
• Know the format: Understand that the DDS interview is a virtual MMI and follow the instructions in your interview invitation.
• Practice under pressure: Run through timed ethical, behavioral, communication, and situational prompts without memorizing scripts.
• Have examples ready: Choose several experiences you can adapt to different questions.
• Research Michigan: Know the DDS program, Pathways Program, and other areas that connect to your interests. If you attend an optional Visit Day, use the opportunity to learn from other interviewees, current students, and admissions staff.
• Prepare your questions: Have a few thoughtful questions ready for students, faculty, or staff. Ask about the student orientation, curriculum, or day-to-day interview experience if those topics come up.
• Check your setup: Confirm the date and time zone, test your camera and microphone, and prepare a quiet, professional space. You do not need to be in the same room as other interviewees for the virtual MMI.
• Know the distinction: If you are an international dentist, make sure you are following the requirements for the ITDP rather than assuming the standard DDS process applies.
• Reset between prompts: If one answer doesn't go as planned, leave it behind and focus on the next one.

Most importantly, don't spend your final hours trying to predict every question Michigan might ask. Know your story, understand the program, and practice responding thoughtfully when the prompt changes.

Prepare for Michigan With Expert Interview Support

Preparing for Michigan’s MMI takes more than working through sample questions. You need to practice responding under time pressure, communicate your reasoning clearly, and tailor your answers to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Leland’s dental school admissions coaches can help you run a mock MMI, practice Michigan-specific questions, and get personalized feedback on your answers. You can also join live streams and Live Programs for additional guidance and interview preparation.

Explore dental school admissions coaches and find support that fits your goals and schedule.

Read these next:

• Should You Become a Dentist? The Pros and Cons of Being a Dentist
• The Complete Guide to the Dental School Application
• Dental School Interview Questions: Common Topics & Sample Answers (2026 Guide)
• Dental School Interview Outfit: What to Wear to Make a Great Impression
• Essential Questions to Ask Dental Schools

FAQs

What interview format does the University of Michigan School of Dentistry use?

• The University of Michigan uses a virtual Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) for regular DDS applicants. The MMI includes a series of timed questions or scenarios. Reviewers may include Admissions Committee members, faculty, students, and staff. Your interview invitation provides scheduling instructions and further details.

How many candidates does Michigan interview for the DDS program?

• Michigan states that approximately 300 candidates participate in its virtual interview process during each application cycle. Candidates are invited to interview by personal invitation, and the interview is required for further admission consideration.

When does Michigan conduct dental school interviews?

• Michigan conducts DDS interviews from September through January. Your interview invitation provides scheduling instructions and further details, including a detailed agenda.

How many MMI questions or scenarios does Michigan use?

• Michigan does not publicly disclose the exact number of MMI questions or scenarios or the time allotted to each response. Follow the format and instructions provided in your interview invitation instead of assuming the structure matches another dental school or an older candidate report.

Is the Michigan dental interview open file or closed file?

• Michigan does not publicly state how much application information each reviewer receives. Review your full application, but give enough context for each response to make sense without the reviewer knowing your personal statement or activity descriptions.

Who conducts the University of Michigan dental interview?

• Michigan states that interviewers and reviewers may include Admissions Committee members, faculty, students, and staff. You may interact with more than one type of reviewer during the interview process.

Is the Michigan dental interview virtual?

• Yes. Michigan currently conducts its required DDS interview virtually. The school also offers an optional Visit Day for interviewing candidates, but Visit Day is separate from the required MMI.