Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why dentistry?

Why Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine?

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 attracted you to Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine's commitment to serving underserved populations in rural communities?

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

What clinical experiences have you had?

Washington's Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program has been nationally recognized for success, achieving higher utilization rates than the national average for Medicaid enrollees, yet the dental hygienist shortage continues to limit preventive care access across the state. Should Washington create new licenses for dental assistants to perform basic preventive care, similar to the model used in tribal communities?

What are you reading right now?

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

How does Pacific Northwest University's emphasis on training dentists for rural practice 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.

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

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

Should Washington prioritize increasing Medicaid dental reimbursement rates to improve provider participation over expanding coverage to additional populations given current access limitations?

What aspects of the integrated curriculum at Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine appeal to you most?

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?

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

How would living and studying in Yakima, Washington impact your dental education experience?

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

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 do you know about Pacific Northwest University's focus on community-based dental education?

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

What was your most challenging experience?

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

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

How does Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine's mission to address oral health disparities resonate with your personal values?

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.

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

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

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

What interests you about the clinical training opportunities available through Pacific Northwest University's community partnerships?

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?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

How would you contribute to Pacific Northwest University's culture of serving diverse and underserved populations?

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

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 drew you to Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine over other dental programs?

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

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

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

How would your friends describe you?

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

How does Pacific Northwest University's small class size and personalized attention fit with your learning preferences?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

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

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

What is your greatest accomplishment?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

What specifically drew you to apply to Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine rather than other dental schools?

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?

What do you think about stem cell research?

How does PNWU's mission to serve underserved communities align with your career goals?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

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?

What aspects of PNWU's competency-based curriculum appeal to your learning style?

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

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?

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

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

How would you contribute to the collaborative learning environment that PNWU emphasizes?

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.

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

What negative feedback have you received?

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

What do you know about PNWU's focus on serving rural and underserved populations in the Pacific Northwest?

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.

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

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

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

How do you feel about living and studying in Yakima for four years?

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

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

What does “success” look like to you?

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

What interests you most about PNWU's integrated clinical experiences starting in the first year?

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?

Can compassion be taught?

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

How does PNWU's emphasis on primary care dentistry match your professional interests?

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

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

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

How willl you contribute to the diversity of our school?

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

What do you understand about PNWU's commitment to training dentists who will practice in underserved areas?

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

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

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

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 would you engage with PNWU's community outreach programs and service learning opportunities?

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

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

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

What are your strengths?

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?

What do you think makes our program unique?

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?

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

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?

What are your weaknesses?

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?

How do you relate to our mission?

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

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?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

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?

What are Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine's values?

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?

What community service activities have you done?

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

What do you do for fun?

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?

Why do you want to go to school in Yakima?

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

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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

What do you think are important qualities for a dentist?

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?