University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why dentistry?

Why University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry?

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 specifically attracted you to UAB School of Dentistry's community-based dental education model?

How should Alabama address the fact that over half of its dental school graduates leave the state due to low reimbursement rates?

What clinical experiences have you had?

What ethical considerations should guide Alabama's decision to potentially allow mid-level dental providers in areas where traditional dentist coverage is impossible to maintain?

What are you reading right now?

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

How does UAB's emphasis on 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.

Should Alabama implement the More for Your Smile campaign's proposed requirement that 85% of dental insurance premiums go directly toward patient treatments?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

How should Alabama address the ethical implications of having a year-long waiting list at Children's Hospital for pediatric dental care while rural areas lack adequate providers?

What aspects of UAB's integrated curriculum combining basic sciences with clinical practice appeal to you?

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?

How should Alabama address the disparity where urban counties have twice the dentist-to-population ratio compared to rural counties?

How would you contribute to UAB School of Dentistry's mission of improving oral health in Alabama?

Given Alabama's disproportionate burden of uncompensated dental care in rural areas, how should the profession balance business sustainability with ethical obligations to serve underserved populations?

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 UAB's early clinical exposure starting in the first year?

Should Alabama implement Georgia's rural dental tax credit model to incentivize private donations to underserved dental practices?

What was your most challenging experience?

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

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

How does UAB's location in Birmingham's medical district benefit your dental education goals?

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.

What role should the state play in addressing Alabama's dental workforce shortage given that many students choose to practice in neighboring states with higher reimbursement rates?

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

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

What draws you to UAB's focus on evidence-based dentistry and research opportunities?

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?

Given that Alabama has the lowest dentist per capita ratio in the country and only 20% of UAB dental graduates practice in rural areas, what role should financial incentives play in addressing the state's rural dental crisis?

How would you take advantage of UAB's partnerships with local community health centers?

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

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 aspects of UAB's interprofessional education approach with medicine and nursing students interest you?

Should Alabama require dental schools to implement rural rotation requirements given that graduating dentists face over $300,000 in debt and gravitate toward metropolitan areas?

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

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

How would your friends describe you?

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

How does UAB School of Dentistry's commitment to diversity and inclusion align with your values?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

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

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

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

What attracted you specifically to UAB School of Dentistry's competency-based curriculum?

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?

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

How does UAB's emphasis on community service and outreach align with your career goals?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

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 do you know about UAB's extensive clinical experience opportunities starting in the first year?

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

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?

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

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

How would you take advantage of UAB's location within a major academic medical center?

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

What negative feedback have you received?

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

What aspects of UAB's commitment to serving underserved populations resonate with you?

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

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

What do you think about stem cell research?

How does UAB's integration of dental and medical education appeal to your learning style?

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 is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

What does “success” look like to you?

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

What do you know about UAB's research opportunities in oral health disparities?

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?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

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

How would living and studying in Birmingham support your personal and professional development?

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.

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

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 interests you about UAB's patient-centered approach to dental education?

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

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

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

How do you handle stress?

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

How would you contribute to UAB's mission of improving oral health in Alabama and the Southeast?

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

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

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

What are your strengths?

Can compassion be taught?

What do you think makes our program unique?

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

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

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

What are your weaknesses?

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

How do you relate to our mission?

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

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

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

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

What are University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry's values?

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

What community service activities have you done?

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 do for fun?

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?

Why do you want to go to school in Birmingham?

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?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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?

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

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 do you think are important qualities for a dentist?

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

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?

Who is your role model?

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 is your biggest regret?

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

What makes you special?

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 is your biggest fear?

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

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?