HPU WSDM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

High Point University’s Workman School of Dental Medicine (HPU WSDM) is a new dental program with an innovative approach to education and admissions. This guide covers key aspects of the interview process – including the interview format, the school’s mission and values, program highlights, relevant policy issues, non-academic selection criteria, competency frameworks, themes from past interviews, and the 2025-2026 application timeline – synthesizing information to help candidates prepare effectively highpoint.edu highpoint.edu.

HPU WSDM’s interview process blends multiple one-on-one interviews with group activities and hands-on simulations, reflecting the program’s emphasis on holistic candidate evaluation highpoint.edu. The school’s mission centers on its CARE curriculum, aiming to develop dentists who are not only skilled Clinicians but also Advocates, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs in the oral health field highpoint.edu usadentalreport.com. The program’s distinctive features – from cutting-edge training facilities and a state-wide clinical network to a novel admissions process that even forgoes the DAT – align with broader trends in dental education and address regional needs in North Carolina testhighpoint.edu usadentalreport.com. By understanding these elements and the personal qualities HPU seeks (such as leadership, community service, and innovation), applicants can better appreciate how to present their fit and engage meaningfully during interviews highpoint.edu studentdoctor.net.

The HPU WSDM interview is conducted in person and is designed as a half-day immersive experience rather than a traditional single-panel Q&A highpoint.edu. Candidates participate in approximately 3.5 hours of activities, including three separate 10-minute one-on-one interviews with different faculty members, a dental procedure simulation using advanced haptic technology, a collaborative “flipped classroom” exercise, and a tour of the dental school facilities highpoint.edu. This hybrid format resembles a multi-mini interview (MMI) structure combined with team-based and hands-on elements, creating a low-stress, conversational atmosphere where interviewers can observe interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Notably, interviews at HPU WSDM are closed-file, meaning interviewers have minimal prior information about the applicant, which helps ensure a fair evaluation based solely on the interview performance studentdoctor.net. The school does not offer virtual interviews – all interviews are on-campus – because they want candidates to fully experience the simulators, campus environment, and group exercises firsthand highpoint.edu.

Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis, with sessions typically scheduled about once per month during the cycle highpoint.edu highpoint.edu. After each interview day, the admissions team meets to discuss each candidate and can issue decisions promptly, rather than waiting for a standard date highpoint.edu. This rolling process means an applicant could receive an acceptance offer as early as a couple of weeks after interviewing, starting from August of the application cycle highpoint.edu. While official post-interview acceptance statistics are not published, the program’s class size (60 seats) and practice of filling spots as interviews progress suggest that a significant proportion of interviewees who meet the program’s criteria will be offered admission highpoint.edu. In short, being invited to interview at HPU WSDM is a strong indication of interest, and candidates should be prepared for an interactive assessment format that examines both individual qualities and how they work in group settings.

HPU WSDM’s mission is centered on reimagining dental education to produce future-ready oral health leaders. As the only private dental school in North Carolina (and one of just three dental schools in the state), it was founded with a vision to address critical healthcare needs in the region while challenging traditional dental training models usadentalreport.com. The school received a transformative $32 million gift from the Workman Foundation (associated with Heartland Dental), underlining its commitment to innovation and industry partnership in dental education usadentalreport.com. At the heart of the mission is the CARE philosophy – developing graduates who will serve as Clinicians providing excellent patient care, Advocates for community oral health, Researchers advancing dental science, and Entrepreneurs leading practice innovation usadentalreport.com. This comprehensive approach demonstrates that HPU values not only clinical excellence but also leadership, service, and creativity in its students.

The school’s values emphasize adaptability, holistic care, and community impact. The curriculum is intentionally integrated with broader healthcare, reflecting an understanding that oral health is part of overall health highpoint.edu. HPU WSDM prides itself on being “patient-centric” – as the dean notes, they put those who need care at the center of everything they do highpoint.edu – and on fostering a culture of support and mentorship among faculty and students highpoint.edu. There is a strong focus on training students to be future leaders: beyond learning the technical sciences, students are taught the importance of interpersonal communication, ethical practice, team leadership, and community engagement testhighpoint.edu. For interview preparation, this means candidates should appreciate and understand the school’s broad vision. Knowing that HPU WSDM seeks to graduate dentists who will lead in their communities and innovate in the profession can help applicants convey their own alignment with these values during interview conversations.

The Workman School of Dental Medicine offers a four-year DMD program that enrolled its inaugural class in fall 2024 usadentalreport.com. Each class comprises 60 students, with no distinction between in-state and out-of-state spots since it’s a private institution highpoint.edu. HPU WSDM is notable for being North Carolina’s first private dental school, complementing the state’s two public dental programs. The new Workman Hall facility (opening in 2025) spans 77,500 square feet and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology usadentalreport.com. Notably, it will house the world’s largest haptics-based dental simulation lab, where students can practice procedures on virtual teeth that mimic the feel of real dental tissue testhighpoint.edu. The building also includes advanced digital dentistry production labs (for CAD/CAM and 3D printing), standardized patient simulation spaces, and fully functional dental clinics, reflecting a heavy investment in advanced training infrastructure testhighpoint.edu testhighpoint.edu.

One unique aspect of HPU WSDM is its HPU Health network of dental clinics. Instead of relying solely on an on-campus student clinic, HPU has acquired and opened dental practices across the state (in the Triad and Triangle regions) where students will train under supervision testhighpoint.edu. This model provides students with real-world clinical experience in authentic community settings, treating diverse patients and learning practice management in a way that traditional school clinics may not offer. The integration of these experiences underscores the program’s focus on community care and entrepreneurial practice – students gain insight into managing and innovating in dental offices as part of their education testhighpoint.edu.

HPU WSDM has also pioneered a non-traditional admissions process to make dental education more accessible and holistic. The school does not use the common ADEA AADSAS application; instead, it has its own application portal which is fee-free for all candidates (the only cost to applicants is the third-party Acuity Insights assessments) highpoint.edu. Importantly, no Dental Admission Test (DAT) is required – in fact, the application doesn’t even have a field to report DAT scores highpoint.edu. There are also no strict course prerequisites beyond completion of any bachelor’s degree (science majors are not mandatory, though a minimum 3.0 GPA is required) highpoint.edu highpoint.edu. Instead of traditional metrics, every applicant must complete Casper and Duet (situational judgment and values alignment tests) as part of their application, reflecting HPU’s belief that qualities like ethics, empathy, and interpersonal skills are crucial for future dentists usadentalreport.com. The program does not accept letters of recommendation either, as the admissions team found they had minimal impact on decisions, further indicating the school’s confidence in its own evaluation methods highpoint.edu.

These facts highlight HPU WSDM’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity. For an applicant, being aware of such details not only helps in understanding what makes the program unique but also provides excellent talking points or questions for the interview. For example, candidates might ask about how the CARE curriculum is implemented day-to-day, how students rotate through the HPU Health clinics across the state, or how the school’s use of technology (like the haptic simulators and EPIC electronic health record system) enhances learning. Showing genuine curiosity about these features – the very things that set HPU apart – can demonstrate to interviewers that you have done your homework and are truly interested in what the program offers.

HPU WSDM was established in the context of specific regional and national oral health challenges, and being conversant with these policy-related topics can enrich an interview conversation. One major issue is the shortage of dentists and oral healthcare access in North Carolina. The state has one of the lowest dentist-to-population ratios in the U.S., with over half of NC counties having fewer than 4 dentists per 10,000 people, and several rural counties having no dentist at all usadentalreport.com. As the newest dental school in North Carolina, HPU’s mission implicitly addresses this gap by training more dentists and encouraging graduates to serve in underserved areas. An applicant who is aware of these disparities could discuss the importance of improving access to care – a theme the interviewers may raise, given the school’s advocate role and community focus.

Another relevant topic is the evolving integration of oral health with overall healthcare. HPU WSDM is among the first dental programs to fully integrate a medical health records system (EPIC) and to frame its curriculum around the oral-systemic health connection highpoint.edu. This aligns with broader healthcare trends emphasizing interprofessional collaboration and the recognition that dentists play a crucial role in detecting and managing systemic diseases. Discussing how dentistry fits into the wider healthcare system, or how preventive dental care can alleviate broader health costs, could resonate well in an interview setting at HPU.

Applicants should also be aware of the debate and trends in dental education policy that HPU is actively engaging in. For instance, HPU WSDM’s decision to eliminate the DAT requirement and not use AADSAS reflects a national conversation about reducing barriers and biases in graduate health professions admissions usadentalreport.com. By lowering financial and testing hurdles, the school aims to attract a diverse range of candidates, aligning with a policy push for holistic admissions and diversity in the healthcare workforce. Additionally, HPU’s strong ties with a large dental support organization (Heartland Dental) highlight the influence of corporate dentistry and practice management in modern dental care. This could invite discussion on the benefits and challenges of corporate-affiliated practice, an issue in dental policy and ethics (e.g., ensuring patient care remains the priority). Lastly, the cost of dental education and student debt are national concerns – HPU’s tuition is relatively high (about $85k-$89k/year) highpoint.edu, so the program offers substantial scholarships (especially those tied to the CARE roles) and even promises free continuing education for life to its graduates as added value highpoint.edu highpoint.edu. A savvy candidate might touch on solutions for improving affordability or the importance of such investments in education during their interview. Being knowledgeable about these policy and industry topics demonstrates to interviewers that an applicant has a mature understanding of the context in which HPU WSDM operates and the issues future dentists will face.

HPU WSDM takes a holistic approach in evaluating applicants, placing substantial weight on personal attributes and experiences beyond academics. According to the admissions team, they are looking for "motivated, adaptive, and eager" future dentists who show passion for dentistry, a commitment to serving their communities, curiosity for learning, and a desire to lead innovative practice environments highpoint.edu. In practice, this means that while academic ability (e.g. GPA) is considered, it is not the sole deciding factor highpoint.edu. The school explicitly does not require a specific number of shadowing hours or particular undergraduate majors, signaling that a wide variety of backgrounds are welcome – what matters is what you’ve learned from your experiences and how you demonstrate your readiness.

Key non-academic qualities prized by HPU include leadership, service, research/innovation, and teamwork. The composition of each incoming class is intentionally diverse: some accepted students have outstanding academic records, others stand out for leadership or entrepreneurial ventures, and others for extensive community service highpoint.edu. The admissions criteria reflect the CARE philosophy; for example, significant volunteer work or community involvement underscores the “Advocate” role, research experience or intellectual curiosity ties into the “Researcher” role, and leadership in organizations or entrepreneurial initiatives matches the “Entrepreneur” role. In fact, the school has created C.A.R.E. Scholarships to reward admitted students who embody these roles and align with the mission highpoint.edu. Additionally, the Casper assessment required by HPU is specifically aimed at evaluating professionalism, ethics, empathy, and communication – all non-cognitive skills that the school highly values usadentalreport.com. Even letters of recommendation have been removed from the process to avoid over-reliance on others’ perspectives, focusing instead on the applicant’s own demonstrated attributes highpoint.edu.

For interview preparation, applicants should be ready to highlight and discuss these non-academic aspects of their background. HPU WSDM wants to see authentic examples of how you have exhibited leadership (e.g. leading a project or team), service (volunteering or helping underserved groups), teamwork (collaborating effectively with others), resilience and adaptability (overcoming challenges), and initiative or innovation (perhaps through research, creating a new program, or entrepreneurial efforts). It’s clear that demonstrating a genuine commitment to helping others and a drive to grow and innovate in the field will resonate with HPU’s selection criteria. Understanding what the school looks for can help you frame your experiences and qualities during the interview in a way that aligns with HPU WSDM’s holistic definition of an ideal candidate.

HPU WSDM has built its program around the “CARE” competency framework, which stands for Clinician, Advocate, Researcher, Entrepreneur. These four roles capture the broad skill set and mindset the school aims to instill in its graduates. As Clinicians, students are trained to provide excellent, evidence-based patient care. As Advocates, they learn to address oral health disparities and engage in community outreach to improve access to care usadentalreport.com. In the Researcher capacity, students are encouraged to be curious and contribute to advancing dental science and technology, reflecting HPU’s emphasis on innovation (for example, by leveraging its high-tech simulation lab or participating in research on digital dentistry). And as Entrepreneurs, learners gain insight into practice management and are inspired to develop new models of dental practice or business innovations that can enhance healthcare delivery usadentalreport.com.

The CARE framework is not just a slogan – it is woven into the curriculum and experiences. Coursework and training modules are designed to develop competencies in each domain. For instance, the curriculum includes traditional clinical science training (for the Clinician role) but also courses or experiences in public health dentistry and policy (Advocate role), research methods and evidence-based dentistry (Researcher role), and practice management and leadership (Entrepreneur role) highpoint.edu testhighpoint.edu. HPU’s use of modern tools like haptic simulators, virtual reality, and AI in teaching is part of ensuring students are proficient with cutting-edge technology (a competency related to being both a strong clinician and an innovator) highpoint.edu. The program’s integrated use of the EPIC health record system and interprofessional learning opportunities with other health programs on campus aim to produce graduates who are comfortable working in team-based care settings and understand the full scope of patient wellness highpoint.edu. Additionally, HPU has “life skills” training sessions to build students’ situational awareness, adaptability, empathy, and teamwork skills – these are all competencies that mirror real-world demands on healthcare providers highpoint.edu.

Being aware of HPU’s competency framework is useful for interview prep because it gives insight into how the program will measure success and what it expects from its students. Interviewers may probe your experiences in light of these roles (for example, asking about a time you served your community, to gauge your Advocate qualities, or inquiring about an independent project to see your Entrepreneurial drive). When discussing your background, you can subtly highlight instances where you have been a clinician (perhaps through patient-care experiences or shadowing), an advocate (volunteering or leadership in a service context), a researcher (academic inquiry or curiosity, even if not formal research), or an entrepreneur (innovative endeavors or solving problems creatively). Showing that you understand and share the program’s vision for a well-rounded dental professional – one who can wear multiple hats – will indicate that you are a strong fit for HPU WSDM’s educational philosophy.

While HPU WSDM’s interview format is unique, early reports from past interviewees suggest some common themes in the questions and tasks. Many candidates have encountered questions focusing on teamwork and collaboration. For example, one reported being asked, “What is your superpower when working with a team?”, which aimed to assess how the applicant contributes to group dynamics studentdoctor.net. This aligns with the program’s use of group activities in the interview – the school is keen on understanding an applicant’s interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with others. Expect that your ability to communicate, listen, and lead or cooperate in a team might be evaluated through both direct questions and the group exercise.

Another theme is self-reflection and fit with the program. Interviewers have asked questions like, “What makes you an ideal candidate for our school?”, prompting applicants to articulate their strengths and how they align with HPU’s mission studentdoctor.net. Such questions are an opportunity to connect your personal values or experiences with the school’s values (for instance, mentioning your passion for community service or interest in dental innovation in the context of HPU’s Advocate and Entrepreneur roles). More traditional questions likely also come up, such as “Tell me about yourself” or “Why dentistry?” – even if not reported explicitly, these are common in many dental interviews and would fit the conversational style HPU seems to favor. Additionally, given the holistic and ethical focus of the program, candidates might be given scenario questions or difficult dilemmas to discuss, allowing them to demonstrate empathy, integrity, and reasoning. The Casper test results already give the school some insight into an applicant’s ethical decision-making, so the interview may delve further into those areas, possibly through hypothetical situations or by asking about past experiences handling moral or professional challenges.

It’s also worth noting the inclusion of a procedural simulation and a flipped classroom exercise during the interview day highpoint.edu. These aren’t questions in the traditional sense, but they do reveal themes in what HPU values: adaptability, willingness to learn new skills, and the ability to engage with peers in problem-solving. For example, the simulation might test how you handle a new task under pressure (do you stay calm, ask for guidance, show enthusiasm?), and the classroom demo might assess your communication and critical thinking in a group learning scenario. When preparing, it’s useful to practice speaking about your teamwork experiences and thinking aloud through scenarios, as well as to be ready for hands-on or interactive components. Overall, the tone of HPU WSDM interviews is reported to be low-stress and conversational, focusing on getting to know the applicant as a whole person studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. Themes like interpersonal skills, self-awareness, and alignment with the school’s vision have been prominent, so reflecting on examples from your life that highlight these areas will help you confidently navigate the interview questions.

Applying to HPU WSDM requires keeping track of an independent timeline, since the school operates outside the traditional AADSAS cycle. For the 2025-2026 admissions cycle (entry in fall 2026), the HPU application opens on May 1, 2025 highpoint.edu. Candidates access the application via HPU’s portal (Slate) – there is no application fee, though you should register for the required Casper and Duet tests through Acuity Insights around this time. HPU uses rolling admissions, so it is highly recommended to submit your application early in the cycle (May through midsummer) to maximize your chances of securing an interview slot and scholarship consideration highpoint.edu. In fact, the admissions team notes that interview invitations for August start going out as early as June or July highpoint.edu. This means if you apply early (and have completed Casper by then), you could potentially get an interview invitation in the summer.

• May 2025: Application opens on May 1, 2025 (HPU WSDM does not use AADSAS) highpoint.edu. Begin Acuity Insights registration for Casper and Duet; first Casper test dates are typically in early May.
• Summer 2025: Aim to submit the application by June or July. Early submissions are encouraged, as interview invites begin mid-summer on a rolling basis highpoint.edu. Complete Casper (which takes ~2 weeks to score) and Duet by early fall to remain eligible for interviews highpoint.edu highpoint.edu.
• August 2025: First interview sessions start. HPU typically holds one interview day per month (e.g., August, September, etc.), with invitations sent out continuously. If you interview in August, admissions offers could be issued within weeks, since HPU can accept candidates right after each interview day highpoint.edu.
• Fall 2025: Interviews continue through fall (September, October, November) and possibly into January 2026, until the class is filled highpoint.edu. The last Casper test date HPU will accept is around November 13, 2025 (so you must take Casper by then) highpoint.edu. The application submission deadline is December 1, 2025 (11:59 PM Eastern) highpoint.edu.
• Dec 2025 – Mar 2026: As interviews wrap up, admissions offers continue on a rolling basis. The first 60 candidates to be offered and who accept will form the class (others may be placed on an active reserve list) highpoint.edu. Early in the cycle, admitted students are given up to 30 days to pay a $1,500 deposit to hold their seat highpoint.edu. Later in the cycle, this response window shortens (offers made after March 1 require a $500 deposit, and by summer very quick confirmations without deposit are needed) highpoint.edu.
• Summer 2026: Any remaining offers are finalized. The inaugural DMD class matriculated in August 2024, so the incoming Class of 2030 (for Fall 2026 entry) will likely start orientation in July/August 2026. By this time, those accepted will have completed all pre-enrollment requirements (final transcripts, immunizations, etc.) highpoint.edu highpoint.edu.

Throughout the cycle, remember that HPU WSDM communicates via email and their applicant portal. They advise checking spam/junk folders to ensure you don’t miss an interview invite or status update highpoint.edu. Because of the rolling nature of HPU’s process, it’s possible to have an acceptance in hand well before many other dental schools even send decisions – which is a great advantage if HPU is your top choice. Just be prepared for the timeline to move quickly: for example, interview invitations might come with relatively short notice before the interview date (as some candidates noted) forums.studentdoctor.net. By staying organized with these deadlines and being ready to act (for scheduling interviews or submitting deposits), you can navigate the 2025-2026 cycle smoothly and take full advantage of HPU’s early and responsive admissions process.

Preparing for an HPU Workman School of Dental Medicine interview involves more than just practicing answers – it’s about understanding what makes this new program unique and aligning your preparation with its values. We’ve reviewed how the interview day is structured and what it seeks to reveal about candidates, the school’s mission to cultivate a new kind of dentist, and the innovative features of the program ranging from curriculum to admissions highpoint.edu highpoint.edu. We also explored the broader context (like North Carolina’s oral health needs and changes in dental education) and the personal attributes HPU prioritizes in its holistic review usadentalreport.com highpoint.edu. By familiarizing yourself with these elements, you can approach your interview with confidence – ready to discuss your experiences in light of HPU WSDM’s mission, engage in meaningful conversations about dentistry’s future, and show that you are the kind of well-rounded, forward-thinking candidate this revolutionary program is seeking. Good luck with your interview and the application process!