Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why dentistry?

Why Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University?

What challenges do you anticipate in dental school?

What would you do if a child on Medicaid needs care but reimbursement rates are too low?

What specific aspects of Dental College of Georgia's integrated curriculum attracted you to apply here?

The Georgia Board of Dentistry is currently restricting community outreach programs because faculty members need unrestricted licenses to supervise dental students doing health screenings, even though these are public health initiatives. This policy limits student training opportunities and reduces community access to preventive care. Should professional licensing requirements be modified to facilitate public health initiatives, even if it means allowing practitioners with restricted faculty licenses to supervise community screenings?

What clinical experiences have you had?

Georgia lawmakers are considering expanding the scope of dental assistants to include supragingival scaling and polishing through the creation of Oral Preventative Assistants (OPAs) who would be required to work in Health Provider Shortage Areas or rural areas for 5 years following certification. Critics argue this could compromise the standard of care, while supporters claim it could improve access in underserved areas. Do you believe Georgia should prioritize expanding access to basic dental services through mid-level providers, or maintain current scope of practice restrictions to ensure quality of care?

What are you reading right now?

If you could have dinner with anyone, who and why?

How does Dental College of Georgia's emphasis on community service and serving underserved populations align with your career goals?

How would you respond to a private equity buyout offer that could compromise patient care?

Tell me about your research.

Georgia recently expanded Medicaid dental benefits for adults over 21, but provider participation remains low due to reimbursement rates that are significantly lower than what care management organizations pay to dentists. Should dental professionals have an ethical obligation to accept some Medicaid patients regardless of reimbursement levels, or is this primarily a policy issue that the state must resolve through adequate funding?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

Should dental insurance companies be required to increase annual coverage maximums to better reflect actual treatment costs?

What draws you to the early clinical exposure that Dental College of Georgia provides starting in the first year?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

What was one personally touching volunteer experience you had?

What would you do if a patient can only afford extractions but needs more comprehensive treatment?

What specialty are you interested in?

The Georgia Board of Dentistry is considering allowing dental hygienists to use diode lasers under direct supervision of a licensed dentist, similar to policies in Texas. However, there is no standardized certification authority for laser training, raising questions about competency standards and patient safety. Is it appropriate to expand hygienist scope of practice when training standardization is incomplete?

How would you contribute to Dental College of Georgia's mission of improving oral health in Georgia and beyond?

Should there be stronger federal regulations limiting out-of-pocket costs for dental care?

Tell me about a time you failed.

Teach me something.

How do you work in groups?

What would you do if a patient in an abusive relationship asks you not to document anything?

What interests you most about the research opportunities available at Dental College of Georgia?

Mobile dental programs like Help a Child Smile provide school-based care to eliminate transportation barriers and reduce parental time off work, but some argue this fragments the traditional dental home model. Should Georgia prioritize expanding mobile dental services to improve access, even if it means children might not establish ongoing relationships with primary dental providers?

What was your most challenging experience?

Should the US invest more in rural dental healthcare infrastructure and provide incentives for dentist recruitment in underserved areas?

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

How do you feel about relocating to Augusta and becoming part of the local community?

How would you prioritize patients when demand exceeds capacity at a community clinic?

Tell me about a time you experienced a team conflict and how you resolved it.

Do dentists have an ethical obligation to inform patients about treatment costs before procedures, even when this might influence their treatment decisions?

How would you keep yourself up-to-date on dentistry education once you begin practicing?

Should there be federal regulations preventing dentists from owning or having financial interests in dental laboratories?

What aspects of Dental College of Georgia's competency-based education model appeal to your learning style?

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

Tell me about a time you changed your mind after learning new information.

What would you do if you discover your practice is billing insurance for procedures not performed?

What is one thing you want to highlight about your application?

Is it ethically acceptable for dentists to offer sliding scale fees to some patients while charging others full fees based on ability to pay?

How would you take advantage of the diverse patient population served at Dental College of Georgia's clinics?

Should Medicaid and Medicare expand coverage to include more comprehensive preventive and restorative dental services?

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a teammate, supervisor, or friend.

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

What is your worst habit?

What would you do when a patient with dementia refuses treatment but their power of attorney insists on it?

What do you know about Dental College of Georgia's partnership with the Medical College of Georgia and how might that benefit your education?

What are dentists' ethical obligations when uninsured or underinsured patients face significant barriers to accessing dental care?

Tell me about a time you had to advocate for someone who wasn’t being heard.

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

How would your friends describe you?

If your life were a movie, what would the theme?

Why is Dental College of Georgia a better fit for you than other dental schools you've considered?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

Tell me about a time when you were impacted by miscommunication.

What are dentists' ethical obligations when insurance reimbursement rates are insufficient to cover the actual cost of providing quality care?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

What aspects of Augusta University's interprofessional education model appeal to you?

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

What do you do if a colleague has a substance abuse problem?

How do you handle failure?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

What attracted you to the Dental College of Georgia's emphasis on community-based learning and service?

Do you think pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to advertise drugs to consumers?

Describe a situation where you made a mistake that affected others. What did you do?

If you were a fruit, which one would you be and why?

Where do you plan to practice?

What would you do if someone in a group project falsified data?

How does DCG's early clinical exposure starting in the first year align with your learning preferences?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex scientific concept to someone without a science background. How did you approach it?

What are your thoughts on the role of private vs. public healthcare?

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

How would you contribute to the Dental College of Georgia's mission of serving underserved populations in rural Georgia?

What would you do if a group member isn't doing their part?

Describe a situation where you had to navigate cultural differences in a team or work environment.

Should healthcare institutions implement mandatory unconscious bias training for all staff and students?

What negative feedback have you received?

Do you believe diversity is important in a healthcare setting? Why or why not?

What do you know about DCG's simulation-based learning facilities and how would you utilize them?

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

Describe a time when you identified an unfair policy or practice and took action to address it.

Should patients have the right to request a healthcare provider of a specific gender, race, or cultural background?

What ethical issues do you think will impact you as a dentist?

What role should technology and AI play in the future of healthcare?

How does living and studying in Augusta fit with your personal and professional goals?

What would you do if a patient's family requests you not tell the patient about their diagnosis?

Describe a time you had to respect someone's autonomy even when you disagreed with their choice

What do you think about stem cell research?

What does “success” look like to you?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

What interests you about the Dental College of Georgia's research opportunities and faculty mentorship programs?

What would you do if a coworker is taking credit for your work on a group project.

Tell me about a time when you recognized a personal limitation or weakness that was affecting your performance. What did you do about it?

Who should receive an organ transplant: a convicted felon or an uninsured mother?

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

What would you do if a team member isn’t contributing on a group project?

How would you engage with DCG's student organizations and community outreach programs?

Do you think it's ever ethical to lie to a patient?

Describe a moment when you connected with someone who was going through a difficult time.

What would you do if a colleague comes to work smelling of alcohol?

How willl you contribute to the diversity of our school?

As AI becomes better at diagnosis than human doctors, should we rely more on AI decision-making?

What do you know about the Dental College of Georgia's competency-based curriculum and integrated learning approach?

What would you do if a teenager confides they're being abused at home but begs you not to tell anyone?

Describe a situation where you had to maintain professionalism under difficult or frustrating circumstances.

Should people with unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., smokers, heavy drinkers) have reduced access to certain treatments?

How do you handle stress?

What would you do if your employer forced you to work over Thanksgiving weekend, interfering with your family plans?

How does DCG's focus on evidence-based dentistry and clinical excellence match your career aspirations?

Can compassion be taught?

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

What would you do if a colleague of yours made a mistake and doesn't want to tell the patient?

What are your strengths?

Should healthcare workers strike if working conditions are unsafe for them or their patients?

What do you think makes our program unique?

You're at a party and a friend insists on driving herself home, even though she has been drinking. What do you do?

Walk me through a period when you were overwhelmed with responsibilities. How did you use to get through it?

Should students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive preferential admission to health professions programs?

What are your weaknesses?

While volunteering at a community center, a family refuses to vaccinate their children due to religious beliefs. The father quietly tells you he disagrees but fears community backlash if he consents. What do you do?

How do you relate to our mission?

You’re working in a research lab when you discover that your supervisor has failed to report a conflict of interest—he’s consulting for the company funding the study. You depend on him for a strong reference for grad school. What do you do?

What was the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?

A colleague you respect makes a dismissive comment toward a patient from a marginalized background. You know confronting them could damage your working relationship. What do you do?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A grateful patient leaves a $100 gift card and a thank-you note at the front desk addressed specifically to you. What do you do?

What are Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University's values?

You’re walking out of a coffee shop when you notice someone drop their wallet. You pick it up and realize there’s a large amount of cash inside, but no ID. You also notice the person quickly leaving in a taxi before you can call out. What do you do?

What community service activities have you done?

Your roommate confides in you that they have been struggling with depression and occasionally use prescription medication that was not prescribed to them. They ask you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

What do you do for fun?

You’re catching a ride home from a friend who begins texting while driving. When you ask them to stop, they brush you off and say, “Relax, I do this all the time.” How do you respond?

Why do you want to go to school in Augusta?

A close friend in your study group admits they copied answers from another student on a recent exam but asks you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

You see a friend post misleading health information on social media that’s getting lots of attention. How do you handle it?

Tell me about a skill or knowledge area where you've shown significant improvement over time. What was your learning process?

You accidentally receive an email from your supervisor that contains private performance evaluations, including criticism of a close friend. Later that day, your friend mentions feeling anxious about whether management trusts them. What do you do?

What do you think are important qualities for a dentist?

A patient you've been working with for months asks you out on a date. How do you handle this?

What are three words people who know you would use to describe you?

Who is your role model?

What is your biggest regret?

What makes you special?

What is your biggest fear?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

What is your learning style?

How do you study?

How might the transition to dental school affect you.

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

What will you do if you do not get into dental school?