NEOMED Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

NEOMED’s Bitonte College of Dentistry, the only public dental school in Northeast Ohio, marries a mission-driven ethos with an innovative training model. Founded in 2023 to address the state’s shortage of dental providers, it emphasizes serving underserved rural and urban communities themalaysianreserve.com thekeelph.com. Applicants invited for interviews encounter a multiple mini-interview (MMI) format focused on ethical scenarios and situational judgment studentdoctor.net, reflecting the school’s holistic selection approach. The D.D.S. program features a community-embedded curriculum: students spend the first two years training on campus (in clinics and simulation labs) and the final two years treating patients under supervision at external partner sites in high-need areas thekeelph.com. NEOMED instills core values of leadership, excellence, advocacy, diversity, equity and respect adea.org, seeking well-rounded candidates with backgrounds in community service, research, and hands-on dental exposure forums.studentdoctor.net. By understanding the college’s unique mission, interview structure, academic framework and relevant oral health issues – and keeping abreast of the 2025-2026 application timeline – candidates can prepare effectively for the Bitonte College of Dentistry interview process.

NEOMED’s interview is conducted in a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format. Key details about the interview process include:

• Format: Multiple mini-interviews consisting of several short, scenario-based stations that assess applicants’ problem-solving, ethical reasoning, and communication skills studentdoctor.net. This structured approach allows interviewers to evaluate a range of competencies through different scenarios.
• Setting: Interviews in the 2024–25 cycle were conducted virtually via an online platform forums.studentdoctor.net. The college also hosted optional on-campus visits during the admissions season, including presentations and campus tours for interested applicants forums.studentdoctor.net.
• Stress Level: Candidates reported the interview experience to be of moderate stress (about 5 out of 10) studentdoctor.net. The MMI’s structured yet conversational stations can be challenging but are designed not to be overly adversarial, helping interviewees feel at ease while discussing various scenarios.
• Post-Interview Acceptance: Official acceptance rates for the first cycle are unreported. However, NEOMED filled 52 seats after multiple interview rounds extending into late winter forums.studentdoctor.net, implying a substantial fraction of those interviewed received offers. (For context, NEOMED’s M.D. program historically admits roughly ~22% of interviewees forums.studentdoctor.net—dental percentages may differ, but mission fit and strong interview performance are clearly important.)

The Bitonte College of Dentistry was established to advance NEOMED’s mission of improving health in Ohio by addressing critical oral health needs adea.org. NEOMED’s leadership has emphasized that the dental college will train practitioners to serve both rural and urban communities facing dentist shortages adea.org themalaysianreserve.com. This community-focused mission aligns with the university’s core values of advocacy, service, diversity and excellence. Indeed, NEOMED explicitly values leadership, excellence, advocacy, diversity, equity and respect adea.org, and these principles are woven into the dental program’s culture – from the collaborative, interprofessional training environment to the expectation that graduates will help reduce disparities in oral healthcare.

The Bitonte College of Dentistry at NEOMED is a newly accredited D.D.S. program (initial CODA accreditation in August 2024) and the first public dental college in Northeast Ohio themalaysianreserve.com. It enrolled its inaugural class in Fall 2025, welcoming 52 students (32 of whom are Ohio residents) globenewswire.com. Named after a generous $10 million donation from the Bitonte Family Foundation, the college was founded in 2023 with a vision to produce dentists who will serve Ohio’s underserved areas. As one of only three dental schools in the state (and the second public one), Bitonte College fills a crucial regional gap, aiming to keep more dental graduates in-state to practice where needs are greatest globenewswire.com.

NEOMED’s program is distinctive for its distributive, community-engaged training model. During the first two years, students learn the fundamentals on NEOMED’s Rootstown campus – including working in newly built preclinical labs and a clinic outfitted with operatories to train for treating special-needs adults and children forums.studentdoctor.net. In the third and fourth years, students rotate through external clinical sites (e.g. community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers) across the region, where they treat patients under faculty supervision forums.studentdoctor.net. More than 40 partner sites have been secured to provide these real-world experiences. The curriculum also integrates interprofessional education: dental students take certain courses alongside medicine and pharmacy students, fostering teamwork across disciplines (for example, dental students participate in head and neck anatomy dissections, contributing a perspective unique from their medical/pharmacy peers) forums.studentdoctor.net. In terms of technology and academics, the college emphasizes modern, general dentistry practice – blending traditional techniques with digital dentistry (such as using an electronic health record system and 3D printing for restorations) forums.studentdoctor.net. As a public institution, NEOMED has indicated it will strive to keep tuition and costs reasonable (initial tuition is estimated around $55,000/year, with efforts to provide financial resources to students) forums.studentdoctor.net. Small class sizes (around 50) and an interprofessional campus environment mean students can form close mentor relationships and engage in research or community outreach projects as the program grows.

These distinctive program features can also prompt thoughtful questions for your interviewers, for example:

• Could you tell me more about how the third- and fourth-year community rotations are structured, and what support students receive while training at external clinic sites?
• What opportunities do dental students have to collaborate with medical and pharmacy students during the course of the program, and how does that interprofessional learning benefit your graduates?
• How is the Bitonte College incorporating new dental technologies (such as digital dentistry or 3D printing) into the curriculum, and how do students get hands-on experience with these tools?
• What initiatives or support systems does NEOMED have to encourage graduates to practice in Ohio’s underserved areas, in line with the school’s mission?
• As a brand-new dental school, how are faculty and administrators incorporating student feedback or mentoring students to help shape the program’s development?

Given the school’s mission, several broader policy issues in oral health are particularly pertinent to NEOMED’s program. Being aware of these topics can help you demonstrate an informed perspective in the interview. Key issues include:

• Dental workforce shortages – Ohio faces a significant shortage of dentists, with 77 of 88 counties designated as dental Health Professional Shortage Areas themalaysianreserve.com. This shortage is most acute in rural and low-income communities, underlining why NEOMED emphasizes preparing dentists to serve in high-need areas.
• Access to care disparities – Limited access to preventive dental care has led to widespread oral health disparities. Many families resort to hospital emergency rooms for dental issues that could have been managed earlier by a dentist thekeelph.com. NEOMED’s model of embedding students in community clinics is a direct response to such gaps in care.
• Insurance and Medicaid policy – Nearly 27% of U.S. adults lack dental insurance, far higher than the uninsured rate for medical care time.com. Even among those with Medicaid dental benefits, low reimbursement rates mean few dentists participate, creating “dental deserts” time.com. NEOMED’s mission-driven approach aligns with efforts to extend care to those who otherwise might not be seen by a dentist.
• Preventive health measures – Public health policies like community water fluoridation have a big impact on oral health outcomes. Fluoridation is proven to reduce cavities and save on dental costs, yet some regions debate or even ban it time.com. A dentist trained at NEOMED is likely to discuss and promote evidence-based preventive measures amid such policy debates.
• Integration of oral health into primary care – Historically, dental care has been siloed from general healthcare (for instance, Medicare provides almost no dental coverage) time.com. There’s a national push to better integrate oral health with overall health. NEOMED’s interprofessional training – dental students working alongside other health professionals – reflects this trend and prepares graduates to collaborate in broader healthcare settings.

Beyond strong academics (GPAs and DAT scores), NEOMED evaluates dental applicants holistically. The admissions committee looks for evidence of the following qualities and experiences:

• Community service and volunteerism – Significant involvement in volunteer activities or community service (especially related to healthcare or underserved populations) is highly valued. NEOMED “encourages” active service in community or campus organizations forums.studentdoctor.net, aligning with its mission to produce service-minded dentists.
• Leadership experience – Demonstrated leadership roles in student organizations, jobs, or community projects can strengthen an application. The university explicitly values leadership adea.org, and the dental program seeks those who can collaborate and eventually take charge as the leaders of oral healthcare teams.
• Dental exposure – Hands-on exposure to dentistry is expected. NEOMED requires or strongly recommends at least ~40 hours of shadowing or dental work experience prior to application forums.studentdoctor.net. Documented time observing or assisting dentists shows that an applicant understands the profession and has confirmed their interest in clinical practice.
• Research experience – While not mandatory, undergraduate or post-grad research experience is viewed positively. NEOMED notes that it values applicants who have engaged in scientific inquiry or research forums.studentdoctor.net, as this background indicates curiosity, critical thinking, and familiarity with evidence-based practice.
• Mission fit – A demonstrated commitment to serving others, such as volunteering in free clinics, working with disadvantaged groups, or plans to practice in underserved areas, can set applicants apart. NEOMED’s admissions advisors have noted that alignment with the school’s mission of improving access to care will benefit candidates forums.studentdoctor.net.

NEOMED’s dental curriculum is structured around established competency frameworks to ensure graduates meet the standards of the profession. Two major frameworks shape the program:

• Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Competencies: As a newly accredited program, Bitonte College of Dentistry adheres to CODA’s core competencies for new dentists. These include critical thinking and problem-solving in patient care dentalpracticeready.uthscsa.edu, effective interpersonal communication and management of a diverse patient population dentalpracticeready.uthscsa.edu, understanding ethical and legal responsibilities in dental practice management dentalpracticeready.uthscsa.edu, and the ability to function as the leader of a dental care team dentalpracticeready.uthscsa.edu. The curriculum and assessments are designed to cultivate competence across these domains by graduation.
• Interprofessional Education (IPE) Competencies: NEOMED’s interprofessional environment means dental students also develop skills to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals. The program aligns with the Interprofessional Education Collaborative competencies by having dental students learn alongside medicine and pharmacy peers, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and an understanding of each profession’s role in patient care forums.studentdoctor.net. This ensures graduates are prepared to integrate oral health within broader healthcare systems and coordinate care as part of multidisciplinary teams.

Because NEOMED uses an MMI format, many interview questions are framed as scenarios rather than traditional one-on-one queries. Early feedback from candidates indicates that interview stations have featured ethical dilemmas, situational judgment scenarios, and personal behavioral questions studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. For example, one station might present a moral or ethical decision-making problem, while another might ask an applicant to reflect on a past experience (such as a leadership challenge or teamwork conflict) and how they handled it. These questions are designed to evaluate attributes like integrity, empathy, communication, and problem-solving – qualities that align with the school’s competency goals – rather than just academic knowledge. In general, being prepared to think on your feet and discuss your values or decision-making process is key for this MMI-style interview.

The application and interview cycle for the 2025-26 entering class will follow a standard dental school timeline. Important milestones include:

• ADEA AADSAS Opening: Early May 2025 – The ADEA AADSAS (centralized dental school application) portal opens in the first week of May medicalaid.org. Applicants can begin working on their applications at this time (though submissions can only be made in June).
• Primary Application Submission: Summer 2025 – Students should aim to submit the AADSAS application in June or early summer. NEOMED operates on rolling admissions medicalaid.org, meaning applications are reviewed as they come in; submitting early maximizes the chance of earlier interview consideration. Secondary application requirements (if any) and fees will be communicated by the school after AADSAS submission.
• Interview Invitations: Fall 2025 – Interview invites are expected to be sent out starting in late summer or early fall. In the inaugural cycle, NEOMED’s first interview invitations went out in October for November interviews forums.studentdoctor.net. With the program now on a typical schedule, interviews will likely be conducted throughout the fall and winter of 2025, possibly into early 2026 for later rounds forums.studentdoctor.net.
• Admissions Decisions: December 15, 2025 – The first admissions offers will be released on or shortly after Dec 15, 2025 (the earliest date dental schools nationally may notify acceptees) forums.studentdoctor.net. NEOMED will notify accepted students and continue to offer acceptances on a rolling basis through the winter and spring as seats remain available. Applicants typically have a deadline to respond with their decision and deposit.
• Application Deadline: Late 2025 (anticipated) – NEOMED’s final AADSAS application deadline for the 2025–26 cycle was not yet listed at the time of writing. Many dental schools set deadlines around December 1 or January 1 medicalaid.org. It’s safest to check NEOMED’s official admissions webpage for the exact deadline and submit well before that date. Procrastinating until the deadline is discouraged, since interviews and acceptances may be nearly complete by then.

In summary, NEOMED’s Bitonte College of Dentistry offers an innovative, mission-focused dental education geared toward improving oral health access in Ohio themalaysianreserve.com. Successful preparation for its interview involves understanding the college’s MMI format and being aware of how your own experiences reflect the school’s values of service, leadership and excellence. By familiarizing yourself with the program’s unique features, the policy context of oral healthcare, and the timeline of the admissions process, you can approach the interview with confidence and demonstrate a strong fit with NEOMED’s vision.