MUSD Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Marquette University School of Dentistry, the only dental school in Wisconsin, is a mission-driven institution emphasizing excellence in dental education, clinical care, research, and leadership in service to others marquette.edu. The program features a comprehensive curriculum and unique community-based training, requiring students to rotate through urban and rural clinics to treat underserved populations across the state bulletin.marquette.edu. This approach reflects Marquette’s Jesuit values and commitment to addressing public oral health needs, preparing graduates with strong clinical skills and a service-oriented outlook.

Applicants invited to interview at Marquette can expect a friendly and conversational experience in an open-file format studentdoctor.net forums.studentdoctor.net. The interview process typically involves one-on-one discussions with multiple interviewers (historically around four in a rotation), allowing candidates to showcase both their academic achievements and personal qualities forums.studentdoctor.net. Marquette’s admissions philosophy is holistic, valuing not only scholastic performance but also an applicant’s values, motivation, and experiences in leadership and service marquette.edu marquette.edu. Past interview questions have spanned from motivations (such as “Why Marquette?” and “Why dentistry?”) studentdoctor.net to ethical scenarios and current dental policy issues studentdoctor.net blackstonetutors.com. The admissions timeline follows a typical cycle: early application in summer, interviews in the fall for in-state and out-of-state candidates, and initial acceptance offers released in early December marquette.edu marquette.edu.

Marquette’s interview format is usually a series of one-on-one interviews in succession, rather than a single panel. In recent years, candidates have rotated among multiple interviewers (approximately four), each for a brief session, which creates a structured but personable experience forums.studentdoctor.net. This can feel similar to a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) style, though the content tends to be conversational and often based on the applicant’s background (interviewers have access to the applicant’s file) forums.studentdoctor.net forums.studentdoctor.net. Most respondents describe the atmosphere as very relaxed and low-stress, with interviewers aiming to get to know the candidate beyond scores forums.studentdoctor.net forums.studentdoctor.net.

The interviews are open-file, meaning the interviewers are familiar with the applicant’s application and may ask specific questions about experiences or academics studentdoctor.net. Interviews have typically been conducted in a face-to-face format, and during the pandemic the school shifted to virtual interviews – a format that might continue or revert to in-person depending on current policies blackstonetutors.com. Each interview day generally includes other components such as a tour of the dental school facilities, an opportunity to meet current students (often via a student panel), and an overview of financial aid and program details forums.studentdoctor.net. With around 100 seats in each incoming class, a significant fraction of interviewed candidates ultimately receive offers of admission, making the post-interview acceptance rate much higher than the overall applicant acceptance rate.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution, and the School of Dentistry embodies this heritage through its mission and values. The school explicitly strives for excellence in dental education, patient care, research, and leadership, all in a manner consistent with Marquette’s mission of service to others marquette.edu. In practice, this means the school places a strong emphasis on ethical practice, community service, and forming “men and women for others” in the dental profession. Students and faculty are encouraged to pursue the highest standards of professionalism while maintaining a spirit of compassion and service.

A clear example of these values is the school’s long-standing commitment to caring for underserved populations. Marquette has integrated community service into its curriculum, requiring students to provide care in community clinics across Wisconsin as part of their training bulletin.marquette.edu. This aligns with the Jesuit value of service and responds to the needs of the state’s population. The school’s mission-driven approach also emphasizes developing leadership in its graduates and fostering an environment where values like integrity, respect, and social responsibility are paramount. Understanding Marquette’s mission and values is crucial for interviewees, as it offers context for the program’s expectations and priorities.

Marquette’s D.D.S. program is notable for several distinctive features and facts that prospective students should know. It is the only dental school in Wisconsin marquette.edu, which positions it as a key provider of dental education and oral health services for the state. Each incoming class consists of approximately 100 students, intentionally balanced with about 50 Wisconsin residents and 50 out-of-state students marquette.edu. This mix reflects the school’s commitment both to educating dentists who will serve the local community and to bringing in diverse perspectives from across the country.

The curriculum at Marquette is comprehensive and hands-on. From the first year onward, students get exposure to clinical settings – for example, first- and second-year students participate in a group practice model, assisting upperclassmen and providing basic care as part of their early training bulletin.marquette.edu. By the third and fourth years, students are treating their own patients under faculty supervision in this group practice system, which simulates a private practice environment. Additionally, Marquette has a robust community dentistry component: students are required to complete rotations at external sites, such as community clinics in Milwaukee, Appleton, and Eau Claire, where they provide dental care to underserved populations bulletin.marquette.edu. These rotations not only enrich student clinical experience but also underscore the school’s service mission.

Beyond clinical training, Marquette offers opportunities in research and specialization. The School of Dentistry hosts graduate specialty programs in areas like orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and dental biomaterials marquette.edu, meaning DDS students learn in an environment that includes advanced specialists and research activity. Students interested in research or academic dentistry can find mentors among faculty and potentially get involved in projects, aligning with the school’s emphasis on advancing the profession through discovery. These program characteristics – from the state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinics on campus to the outreach rotations and specialty exposure – provide rich material for discussion during an interview.

These unique program features also provide great talking points for questions you might ask your interviewers. Inquiring about specific aspects of Marquette’s program shows that you have done your homework and are genuinely interested in what the school offers. For example, an applicant might ask questions along the lines of:

• “How does the group practice model at Marquette enhance student learning, and how early do students begin clinical experiences through this model?”
• “I see that Marquette students rotate at community clinics like the Appleton and Eau Claire sites. How do those rotations influence the student experience and benefit underserved communities?”
• “Given Marquette’s emphasis on service and its Jesuit mission, what kind of volunteer or outreach opportunities (beyond the required rotations) can students get involved in during the program?”
• “What research opportunities are available for DDS students, and how can students work with faculty or specialty residents on research projects if they’re interested?”
• “Marquette offers specialty programs in fields like orthodontics and endodontics – in what ways do predoctoral students interact with or learn from these specialty programs?”

Dental policy and healthcare issues form an important backdrop for Marquette’s program, and awareness of these can inform both interview discussions and one’s understanding of the school’s role in the community. At the school level, Marquette’s focus on community dentistry aligns with public policy efforts to improve access to oral health care in Wisconsin. Being the state’s only dental school, Marquette is closely involved in addressing regional dentist shortages and improving care for underserved populations. For instance, the state government has invested in initiatives that intersect with Marquette’s mission – including funding community dental clinics and supporting programs to incentivize new dentists to practice in high-need areas.

• State-Level (Wisconsin): Wisconsin faces significant dental workforce shortages, with around 160 areas designated as lacking adequate dental care apnews.com. In early 2024, Wisconsin enacted legislation to expand dental care access, which included authorizing a new mid-level provider (dental therapists) to practice in underserved areas apnews.com. The legislative package also provided funding to dental training programs and created scholarships for Marquette dental students who commit to working in underserved communities after graduation apnews.com. These steps reflect policy recognition of Marquette’s key role in producing dentists for the region, and an applicant might be aware of them when discussing why community care is important.
• National: Across the United States, access to dental care and oral health disparities are major policy concerns. Many states have recently expanded their Medicaid programs to include dental benefits for adults, acknowledging the impact of poor oral health on overall health apnews.com. There is an ongoing national conversation about how to integrate dental care into broader healthcare (for example, debates on including dental coverage in Medicare, or initiatives to increase preventive care). Additionally, topics like the opioid crisis (and dentists’ role in responsible prescribing), water fluoridation, and the adoption of new dental technologies or licensure exams can be relevant. While specific questions on these might not always come up, Marquette’s interviews have been known to touch on current issues such as access to care, so having an informed perspective on such topics is beneficial blackstonetutors.com.

In any discussion of policy, it’s wise to relate it back to dentistry and patient care. Marquette’s own activities – such as sending students to community clinics – can be seen as a response to policy challenges like provider shortages and access gaps. Demonstrating an understanding of how broader healthcare issues impact dentistry (and vice versa) can show interviewers that you are a thoughtful, well-rounded candidate who is engaged with the future of the profession.

Marquette’s admissions process puts significant weight on factors beyond GPAs and DAT scores. According to the School of Dentistry, the admissions committee carefully selects students who are the “best fit” for the program by evaluating non-academic characteristics that demonstrate an applicant’s talents, values, and motivation marquette.edu. In practice, once academic thresholds are met, evaluators look closely at the whole individual. The Class Profile published by Marquette explicitly lists several sought-after attributes: an applicant’s orientation to the dental profession (e.g. understanding of and exposure to dentistry), motivation and values (why they want to be a dentist and what principles guide them), extracurricular background in leadership and service, and the impressions made during the personal interview marquette.edu. These criteria show that Marquette is looking for well-rounded, service-oriented, and driven students who align with its mission.

For example, evidence of leadership could come from holding offices in clubs or initiatives in one’s community, while service might be demonstrated through volunteering or mission trips – experiences like these would support an application to Marquette. A genuine passion for dentistry (perhaps shown by substantial shadowing hours or dental-related activities) and strong personal values are equally important. The inclusion of the “personal interview” as a selection factor marquette.edu also indicates that how you present yourself and communicate your fit for the school during the interview can significantly influence the admissions decision. In essence, Marquette’s selection process rewards candidates who not only excel academically but also embody the professionalism, compassion, and enthusiasm that the school values.

Marquette’s DDS program is structured around a comprehensive set of competencies that students must achieve by graduation. These competencies (which align with national accreditation standards) cover the full spectrum of knowledge and skills needed for independent practice. On the clinical side, students are trained to gather and evaluate scientific evidence to inform care, perform thorough patient examinations and diagnostics, and develop comprehensive treatment plans for a broad range of oral health issues marquette.edu. Marquette expects its graduates to be clinically competent in all major dental disciplines – from restorative dentistry and prosthodontics to periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery – ensuring that new dentists can address their patients’ needs holistically.

In addition to clinical and technical skills, Marquette’s competency framework places strong emphasis on professional and interpersonal skills. Students are taught to apply legal and ethical principles in all aspects of patient care and to prioritize a patient-centered, humanistic approach in their practice marquette.edu. Effective communication is highlighted, including the ability to work with diverse populations and patients with special needs, as well as to promote oral health within the community. The program also fosters competencies in practice management and leadership – for instance, understanding how to lead a dental team and manage a dental practice, and recognizing emerging trends in healthcare delivery marquette.edu. Finally, Marquette encourages lifelong learning: students learn to self-assess their skills and knowledge, an important competency for continuous improvement in their careers. Together, these frameworks give applicants a picture of the well-rounded dentist Marquette aims to train, and interview questions or discussions may sometimes probe an applicant’s awareness or readiness in these competency areas (for example, talking through an ethical scenario or teamwork experience).

Reflecting the holistic approach of the admissions process, the content of Marquette’s interview questions tends to be broad-ranging. Reports from previous interviewees indicate that a few common themes consistently arise. Motivation and “Why Marquette”: Candidates are almost always asked about their desire to pursue dentistry and why they are interested in Marquette in particular studentdoctor.net. Having a sincere, specific answer to “Why dentistry?” and “Why our school?” is crucial, as it allows the interviewers to gauge your commitment and fit.

Ethical and Scenario Questions: Interviewers frequently pose questions that assess an applicant’s ethical reasoning or problem-solving skills. For example, students have been asked to describe a time they faced a difficult decision or a situation where someone disagreed with them studentdoctor.net. Others mentioned scenarios involving patient care ethics or how they would handle particular challenges, which aligns with Marquette’s focus on integrity and good judgment. These questions aren’t meant to have one “right” answer, but rather to see how you think through dilemmas and uphold professional values.

Personal Attributes and Self-Reflection: Many interviewees report getting questions about their personal background, such as “What is your greatest weakness?” or “Who is your hero and why?” studentdoctor.net. These invite you to reflect on your character, growth, and influences. Marquette’s interviewers often refer to information in your application for these questions – for instance, asking for details about an extracurricular activity, a research project, or a hobby you mentioned. The aim is to understand you as a whole person and how you’ve developed qualities like resilience, teamwork, or empathy.

Future Plans and Awareness of the Profession: It’s not uncommon for questions to touch on where you see your dental career going. You might be asked if you plan to specialize, or what you hope to accomplish in dentistry in 5–10 years studentdoctor.net. Additionally, as noted, some interviews include a discussion of current issues in dentistry – for example, one reported question was, “What does access to dental care mean to you?” blackstonetutors.com. This kind of question gauges your awareness of broader healthcare topics and whether you’ve thought about dentistry’s role in society. While the specific questions vary from one interview to another, understanding these recurring themes can help you anticipate the general areas that might be explored. Be prepared to speak to your passion for dentistry, your personal journey and values, how you handle ethical decisions, and your perspective on the field’s challenges and opportunities.

The admissions timeline for Marquette School of Dentistry follows the traditional dental school application cycle. Below are key dates and milestones for the 2025–2026 cycle (for the class entering in Fall 2026):

• June 2025: The ADEA AADSAS application opens for Fall 2026 entry. Applicants are encouraged to apply early – the admissions committee begins reviewing applications as soon as they arrive marquette.edu. Marquette recommends having all materials (AADSAS application, DAT scores, letters, and fees) submitted by around September 1 for optimal consideration marquette.edu.
• Summer–Early Fall 2025: Applications are screened and evaluated on a rolling basis during July and August. Interview invitations are sent out starting in the fall to selected applicants marquette.edu.
• October 2025: Interview sessions begin. Typically, Marquette schedules out-of-state (non-Wisconsin resident) applicant interviews during October marquette.edu.
• November 2025: Interviews continue, focusing on in-state (Wisconsin resident) applicants during November marquette.edu.
• Early December 2025: Initial offers of admission are extended to strong candidates. Marquette participates in the common dental school acceptance date in early December (traditionally around December 1st); this is when the first round of acceptances is released marquette.edu.
• January–February 2026: If needed, additional interview dates may be held in the winter months to fill any remaining spots or to consider waitlisted candidates marquette.edu. Not every cycle requires January/February interviews, but Marquette has used them when the class isn’t yet full after the first round.
• Spring 2026: An alternate list (waitlist) remains active after the initial offers. As accepted students withdraw or decline offers, Marquette may extend admissions offers to candidates on the waitlist through the spring and up until the class matriculates marquette.edu. All final admissions decisions are typically completed by early summer before the incoming class starts.

Throughout this process, communication is key. Interview invitations are sent via email (with AADSAS status updates), and acceptance offers come with a deadline by which applicants must respond and submit a deposit (Marquette requires a $1,000 non-refundable deposit to hold a seat upon acceptance) marquette.edu. Keeping track of these dates ensures you don’t miss any opportunities – applying early, being ready for an October/November interview, and responding promptly to any offer will all help your application cycle go smoothly.

In summary, successful preparation for a Marquette School of Dentistry interview involves understanding the school’s unique identity and expectations. Marquette’s mission of service and excellence underpins everything from its interview format to its curriculum, so applicants should be mindful of how their own experiences and goals align with those values. Knowing the interview format (open-file, conversational, with multiple one-on-one interactions) and being aware of the non-academic qualities Marquette looks for will help you present yourself authentically. By familiarizing yourself with the program’s features and current dental policy issues, you can engage in thoughtful discussions that demonstrate your fit for Marquette. This guide has provided an overview of these elements – from mission and program highlights to common interview themes and timelines – to help you approach the 2025–2026 admissions cycle with confidence.