Temple Kornberg Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry is a renowned dental program known for its extensive clinical training, strong community focus, and heritage of innovation. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect in the interview process, from the format and style of interviews to the school’s mission-driven values and unique program features. It also covers key non-academic qualities Temple looks for in applicants, relevant dental policy issues in the local and national context, common themes from past interview questions, and important timelines for the 2025–2026 application cycle. By understanding these aspects, you can better appreciate how to present yourself and engage during the interview in a way that aligns with Temple’s expectations and culture.

Temple Kornberg conducts a traditional interview format rather than an MMI. Most interviews are one-on-one conversations (not panel) and are open-file, meaning the interviewer has access to your application studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. The interview day typically includes a tour of the dental school, an opportunity to meet current students, and informational sessions on financial aid and housing temple.edu. The tone of the interview is often described as relaxed and conversational, with interviewers – sometimes faculty or alumni – creating a friendly atmosphere studentdoctor.net. You should still maintain professionalism, but expect a conversational style where you discuss your background and motivations.

Temple’s interviews serve as a chance for the Admissions Committee to get to know you beyond your scores. According to the school, the interview allows evaluators to gauge your motivation, problem-solving approach, and communication skills temple.edu. Notably, Temple extends a relatively large number of acceptance offers relative to interviews – in one recent cycle, around 60% of interviewed applicants eventually received an acceptance forums.studentdoctor.net. In other words, earning an interview is a strong positive indicator (though not a guarantee) of eventual admission. Understanding the open-file format is important for preparation: since interviewers have read your file, be ready to discuss anything you’ve included in your application.

Temple’s mission and ethos emphasize broad access, compassionate care, and community service. The official mission statement highlights that the school “promotes health and wellness through the comprehensive education of general and specialty dentists from all backgrounds… providing compassionate, comprehensive, patient-centered, evidence-based and outcome-driven oral health care… and serving the community” dentistry.temple.edu. In practice, this means Temple is deeply committed to training dentists who will care for diverse and underserved populations with empathy and scientific rigor. The school’s vision also speaks to producing progressive healthcare practitioners and public health advocates for the future dentistry.temple.edu. These values of interprofessional collaboration, research, life-long learning, and social responsibility are woven into the program’s culture.

For interview preparation, it’s useful to appreciate Temple’s core values so you can reflect them in your discussions. The emphasis on community outreach and service suggests that your volunteer experiences and desire to help others will resonate. The focus on evidence-based, patient-centered care means that discussing any research experience or understanding of dental science can reinforce your fit with Temple’s philosophy. Above all, showing an alignment with Temple’s humanistic approach – for instance, a genuine respect for treating patients with compassion and dignity – can help demonstrate that you understand the school’s mission (without explicitly stating it back to the interviewer).

Temple Kornberg is one of the nation’s oldest dental schools, founded in 1863 and noted as the second-oldest dental school in the U.S. temple.edu. With over 150 years of history, it has been at the forefront of dental education and innovation – the school proudly notes involvement in milestones from the invention of the first dental chair to modern digital dentistry technologies temple.edu. The Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program enrolls approximately 140 students per class temple.edu and is widely respected for its strong clinical training. Temple prides itself on being one of the most well-rounded clinical programs, aiming to graduate dentists who are competent to practice immediately after graduation temple.edu.

A defining feature of Temple’s program is its exceptional clinical experience. Located in North Philadelphia, the school serves an economically and ethnically diverse urban population with significant dental needs temple.edu. This translates into extensive hands-on training: on average, Temple students collectively perform close to 119,000 patient procedures each year, often providing care at free or reduced cost to around 22,000 patients annually dentistry.temple.edu. Few dental schools offer such a high patient volume. Students gain proficiency in a wide range of procedures – from routine dentistry to complex extractions – and learn to treat underserved and special-needs patients as part of Temple’s community care mission temple.edu. By the time they graduate, Temple students have amassed substantial real-world clinical experience, helping them feel “practice-ready.”

Temple also offers state-of-the-art facilities and comprehensive programs. The school has invested in modern digital dentistry labs and technology, and its clinical facilities include more than 290 dental operatories across its main clinic and satellite locations dentistry.temple.edu dentistry.temple.edu. Students are trained using contemporary techniques like CAD/CAM and cone-beam imaging, alongside traditional methods bulletin.temple.edu bulletin.temple.edu. In addition to the DMD, Kornberg hosts advanced specialty programs (in fields such as Endodontics, Orthodontics, Oral Surgery, etc.), which means DMD students learn in an environment with graduate residents and specialists available. The curriculum integrates practice management and ethics into the training, reflecting the school’s intent to produce graduates who not only excel clinically but also understand the business and professionalism of dental practice bulletin.temple.edu. Temple’s status as a research-intensive university (it achieved Carnegie R1 designation for high research activity) provides opportunities for students interested in research or academic dentistry dentistry.temple.edu, though participation is optional. Overall, the program is rigorous, hands-on, and community-oriented, aligning with Temple’s motto of improving health in its community through dentistry.

Potential Questions to Ask at the Interview

• Community Outreach: How can students get involved in community service or treating underserved populations during the program? (Temple’s clinic provides free or discounted care to about 22,000 patients annually dentistry.temple.edu, reflecting a strong community focus.)
• Clinical Experience: Temple students perform a very high volume of procedures each year. What support systems or mentorship does the school provide to help students manage such a heavy clinical workload while maintaining quality and learning? (Nearly 119,000 procedures are done yearly by students, offering unparalleled experience dentistry.temple.edu.)
• Technology Integration: How are new dental technologies and techniques incorporated into the curriculum and clinic experience at Temple? (The school boasts modern digital dentistry labs and advanced imaging facilities dentistry.temple.edu, so it’s useful to learn how students train with these tools.)
• Interprofessional Collaboration: In what ways do dental students collaborate with other healthcare programs at Temple or learn about integrating oral health into overall health care? (Temple’s program is rooted in the idea that oral health is part of primary healthcare temple.edu, suggesting opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.)
• Research Opportunities: Are there opportunities for DMD students to participate in research or scholarly projects? (Temple is an R1 research university dentistry.temple.edu, and while the focus is on clinical training, students interested in research might be able to engage in faculty projects or summer research programs.)

Being aware of current policy issues in dentistry can help you stand out in the interview, as it shows you understand the broader context in which Temple operates. Locally and regionally, access to dental care is a major theme. Temple’s clinic sees many patients who lack regular care, which ties into the fact that Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program provides only limited dental coverage for adults witf.org. Since 2011, adult Medicaid in PA has been restricted to basic services (with advanced treatments like root canals covered only in special cases) witf.org. This policy led to fewer dentists accepting Medicaid and more unmet dental needs witf.org, directly impacting communities like North Philadelphia. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have been pushing to restore or expand adult Medicaid dental benefits witf.org, recognizing that poor oral health drives up medical costs and harms overall health. Given Temple’s commitment to serving the underserved, you might discuss or be aware of how policy decisions – like Medicaid coverage or community dental programs – affect the school’s patient population and the role of dental providers.

On a national level, improving access and integrating oral health into healthcare are big policy topics. For example, many states have recently expanded Medicaid to include adult dental benefits apnews.com, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of oral health. Some states are also introducing mid-level dental providers (dental therapists) to address workforce shortages – e.g., in 2024, Wisconsin authorized dental therapist licenses to help provide basic care in underserved areas apnews.com. Another national discussion is the push to include dental care in general health coverage: there have been efforts to add routine dental benefits to Medicare for seniors axios.com, and the Biden administration proposed allowing states to treat adult dental care as an “essential health benefit” under ACA insurance plans axios.com. While comprehensive Medicare dental coverage is still not in place, Medicare has taken small steps like adding some limited dental benefits for medically-related procedures axios.com. Being conversant with these issues – how oral health intersects with public policy, insurance, and public health – can be useful in an interview. It shows that you are thinking about the future of dentistry and challenges like health disparities. Temple’s focus on community and public health means they will appreciate candidates who are mindful of topics such as healthcare access, prevention initiatives (for example, Philadelphia’s own sugary drink tax aimed at reducing dental caries), and the role of dentists in advocacy.

Temple takes a holistic approach in evaluating applicants, meaning that in addition to GPA and DAT scores, they consider a wide range of non-academic factors temple.edu. The admissions committee assigns importance to your life experiences, personal attributes, and achievements beyond the classroom. In fact, Temple’s supplemental application specifically invites applicants to share “information about life experiences, such as civil or military service, post-baccalaureate or master’s experiences, and previous clinical and humanistic experiences” temple.edu. This gives a clue as to what Temple values. Broadly, some key non-academic criteria and qualities include:

• Community Service & Compassion: Demonstrated commitment to serving others, especially through volunteering or community initiatives, aligns with Temple’s community-oriented mission. Extensive service or humanitarian experiences show that you have a heart for helping the underserved, which is central to Temple’s values.
• Clinical Exposure: Experiences like shadowing dentists, working as a dental assistant, or participating in dental outreach programs indicate that you’ve taken initiative to understand the profession. Temple wants to see that you are making an informed decision and have a genuine passion for dentistry (not to mention, you’ll likely have stories from these experiences to discuss).
• Research & Academic Curiosity: Engagement in research or other scholarly activities (for instance, completing a master’s program or significant undergraduate research) can bolster your application, especially given Temple’s evidence-based educational approach. While research is not a requirement, having it demonstrates intellectual curiosity and perseverance. (Temple directly asks about post-baccalaureate or graduate education in its supplemental application temple.edu.)
• Leadership & Teamwork: Any leadership roles or teamwork-intensive experiences (such as leading a student club, being part of a sports team, or working in collaborative projects) are valuable. These show that you can work well with others, communicate effectively, and potentially take initiative – all skills useful in dental school and practice. Temple’s vision of producing “innovative leaders” in healthcare dentistry.temple.edu underscores the value of leadership potential in applicants.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Strong people skills are essential for a dentist. The interview itself is partly a test of your communication skills temple.edu, but your application can also reflect this through activities that involve teamwork, patient interaction, or community engagement. Cultural competency and the ability to connect with diverse groups are important, given Temple’s diverse patient population. Letters of recommendation often speak to these personal qualities as well.
• Manual Dexterity & Artistic Talent: Dentistry is hands-on and technique-sensitive, so having hobbies or activities that demonstrate good hand-eye coordination or fine motor skills (like playing a musical instrument, painting, knitting, etc.) can be a plus. Temple’s program notes that its graduates have outstanding manual dexterity and clinical skills bulletin.temple.edu, so the school, like most dental programs, appreciates candidates who bring some innate or developed talent in working with their hands.

Overall, Temple seeks well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically but also show the personal qualities of a caring, resilient, and motivated healthcare professional. When preparing for your interview, think about how you can highlight these aspects of your background. The stories or examples you share (whether it’s a leadership experience, a volunteer project, or a challenge you overcame) will help illustrate these non-academic strengths in a concrete way.

Dental education is guided by various competency frameworks that outline the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors a dentist should have. Temple’s program is closely aligned with these expected competencies. For example, by graduation Temple expects students to demonstrate proficiency across clinical, technical, and professional domains. The school explicitly states that its graduates have the “highest levels of skills, with outstanding manual dexterity, diagnostic and clinical skills, and a sound understanding of the science and business aspects of dental practice.” bulletin.temple.edu. This highlights competencies in practical hand skills, clinical reasoning, scientific knowledge, and even practice management. Likewise, Temple’s program emphasizes ethical practice and compassionate patient care (reflecting competencies in professionalism and communication), which tie back to its mission of patient-centered, humanistic care.

Temple also publishes Technical Standards for admission and graduation that mirror these competency expectations. These standards describe the essential abilities required in realms such as cognitive ability, motor skills, sensory perception, communication, and behavioral/social attributes dentistry.temple.edu dentistry.temple.edu. In essence, a Temple dental student must be able to acquire scientific and clinical knowledge, perform clinical procedures with dexterity, observe and evaluate patients, communicate effectively, and display professional behaviors. These criteria align with national dental education competencies (such as those endorsed by the American Dental Education Association) which cover patient care, professionalism, communication, critical thinking, and health promotion. As you prepare for interviews, understanding that Temple trains its students to meet these comprehensive competencies can help you frame your answers: you want to convey that you are capable of developing into a dentist who is technically skilled, ethical, and able to engage in lifelong learning.

Past applicants have reported that Temple’s interview questions cover a mix of personal, ethical, and motivation-based topics. You should be ready to discuss why you chose dentistry and why Temple in particular – it’s common to be asked what draws you to Temple’s program or Philadelphia. Interviewers also frequently ask about your strengths and weaknesses, which helps them gauge your self-awareness and maturity. Moreover, expect to talk about your experiences: for instance, you might be asked about what you learned from a shadowing experience, a challenging course, or a volunteering stint. Questions about ethical scenarios or personal challenges can come up as well. For example, one commonly cited question is “Tell me about a time you had a conflict with an authority figure and how you handled it.” studentdoctor.net This probes your professionalism and problem-solving in difficult situations. Overall, the themes tend to be standard – getting to know you, understanding your path to dentistry, and seeing how you think through situations – rather than obscure technical questions.

The key is that Temple’s interview is typically more of a conversation than an interrogation. Students often describe it as friendly and low-stress studentdoctor.net. Interviewers want to put you at ease and learn about you as a person. Therefore, many questions will invite you to share stories or reflections from your life (e.g., “Tell me about yourself,” or “What accomplishment are you proud of?”). Be prepared with a variety of anecdotes that highlight different facets of you – your empathy, your leadership, your resilience, etc. While you should definitely practice articulating answers to common questions, try not to sound too rehearsed. Given the conversational style, it’s important to listen actively and engage with your interviewer. They may pick up on something interesting in your answer and ask a follow-up question, turning the Q&A into a dialogue. Stay relaxed, be honest, and let your passion for dentistry and alignment with Temple’s values come through naturally in the conversation.

The application process for Temple (and all U.S. dental schools) follows a yearly cycle. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the ADEA AADSAS (American Association of Dental Schools Application Service) application opens on May 14, 2025 help.liaisonedu.com. Applicants can begin submitting their applications in early June (for 2025, submissions opened June 3). Temple operates on rolling admissions, so it is advantageous to submit your primary application early in the cycle, ideally in the summer. Temple’s application deadline is January 15, 2026 temple.edu (this is the latest date by which your AADSAS must be completed and verified). Note that your Temple supplemental application fee must be received by around January 20, 2026 temple.edu if you apply late. However, waiting until the deadline is not recommended, as interview slots may be largely filled by then. In summary: aim to apply early (June or July 2025) to maximize your chances, but no later than the fall, because Temple will start reviewing and inviting applicants on a rolling basis well before the final deadline.

Interviews at Temple typically begin by late summer or early fall (August/September) and continue through the winter. The admissions committee extends interview invitations in batches, including some even after the first round of offers goes out in December forums.studentdoctor.net. December 15, 2025 is the pivotal date for this cycle – it’s the first day U.S. dental schools (including Temple) will notify applicants of acceptance decisions temple.edu. If you interview before mid-December, you will likely hear on Dec 15 whether you’ve been accepted, denied, or waitlisted. Temple then continues to make offers on a rolling basis to fill any remaining spots or to replace declined offers. Interviews may still be held in the early part of 2026 for waitlist or late applicants, although by late spring the class is usually full. If you are accepted to Temple, you will be required to submit a nonrefundable deposit to hold your seat (the specific amount and deadline will be provided in the acceptance letter). Temple does not offer deferrals for admission temple.edu – meaning you must enroll in the year you are accepted or reapply in the future if you decide not to matriculate. Classes for the new DMD cohort typically begin in August. Keeping track of these dates is important so you can plan your application timing and be prepared for each stage of the process.

Preparing for an interview at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry involves more than just practicing generic answers – it’s about understanding the school and demonstrating that you are a great match for what it stands for. In this guide, we summarized how Temple’s interview works (one-on-one, open-file, and conversational), the key values and mission driving the school, and the distinctive aspects of its program like extensive clinical experience and community service. We also touched on the broader dental policy environment that shapes the context in which Temple operates, the qualities beyond academics that Temple looks for in applicants, and the typical topics that tend to come up in interview questions. Finally, we reviewed the timeline for the current application cycle so you know what to expect time-wise. By internalizing these points, you’ll be equipped to enter your interview with confidence – ready to engage in a thoughtful conversation about your journey to dentistry, your fit with Temple’s program, and the contributions you hope to make both to the school and the dental profession. Good luck, and remember to be yourself throughout the process!