University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences College of Dentistry Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why dentistry?

Why University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences College of Dentistry?

What challenges do you anticipate in dental school?

What would you do for a patient from a remote community with extensive preventable dental disease?

What aspects of Winnipeg's multicultural community make it an appealing place for you to study dentistry?

What role should traditional or indigenous healing practices play in modern healthcare systems?

What clinical experiences have you had?

Should Manitoba establish separate dental regulatory standards for practitioners serving northern Indigenous communities given the unique access challenges

What are you reading right now?

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

How does the University of Manitoba's problem-based learning approach match your preferred learning methods?

How would you counsel a patient who cannot afford necessary dental work not covered by provincial health insurance?

Tell me about your research.

Do dentists have an ethical obligation to advocate for patients when treatment delays or access issues occur due to limitations in Canada's private dental care system?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

How should Manitoba balance the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan's standardized fee structure with provincial dental program rates that may be higher

What motivated you to choose the University of Manitoba over other Canadian dental schools?

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?

Is it ethically acceptable for dentists to recommend that patients seek care at dental schools or community clinics when private treatment is unaffordable?

How would you engage with the University of Manitoba's research opportunities in oral health sciences?

What measures should Manitoba take to ensure dental professionals in rural and northern regions maintain professional competency standards comparable to urban colleagues

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 attracted you specifically to the University of Manitoba's dental program over other Canadian dental schools?

What are dentists' ethical obligations when patients request treatments not covered by their private insurance or provincial dental programs?

What was your most challenging experience?

Should Manitoba require dental insurance plans to provide coverage parity between urban and rural practice settings

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

How does the University of Manitoba's integrated curriculum approach align with your learning preferences?

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 it ethically problematic for dentists to work in multiple private practices or both public health clinics and private practice simultaneously?

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

How should Manitoba address the ethical implications of differential access to preventive dental care between communities with fluoridated water supplies and those without

What aspects of the University of Manitoba dental program's emphasis on community service and Indigenous health resonate with you?

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 are dentists' ethical obligations when they believe financial constraints on patients force suboptimal treatment decisions?

How would you contribute to the collaborative learning environment at the University of Manitoba College of Dentistry?

Should Canada include basic dental care in its universal healthcare system with adequate public funding?

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 do you know about the University of Manitoba's dental clinic operations and patient care model?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

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

Should there be regulations on dentists' ability to balance privately-paying patients with those covered by provincial or public programs?

How would your friends describe you?

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

How does living and studying in Winnipeg fit with your personal and professional goals?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

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

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Should Canada expand private dental insurance options or create a public-private hybrid dental care system?

What interests you about the University of Manitoba's research opportunities in oral health?

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

How would you engage with the University of Manitoba's focus on serving Manitoba's diverse population?

Should dental school enrollment in Canada be substantially increased to address dentist shortages?

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 understand about the University of Manitoba dental program's clinical training structure?

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

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 provincial dental coverage guidelines (where they exist) be reformed to consider patient choice more heavily in coverage decisions?

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

Why is the University of Manitoba College of Dentistry the right fit for your dental education?

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.

What do you think about stem cell research?

What negative feedback have you received?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

What aspects of the University of Manitoba's competency-based curriculum appeal to your learning style?

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.

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

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

How would you fix the healthcare system?

How does the University of Manitoba's emphasis on Indigenous health and reconciliation align with your values?

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

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

What does “success” look like to you?

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

What draws you specifically to the University of Manitoba's integrated clinical and didactic approach in Years 3 and 4?

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?

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

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

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

How would you contribute to the University of Manitoba's commitment to serving rural and underserved communities?

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

How willl you contribute to the diversity of our school?

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

What interests you about the University of Manitoba's focus on interprofessional education within the Faculty of Health Sciences?

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.

Can compassion be taught?

How do you handle stress?

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

How do you feel about potentially practicing dentistry in Manitoba's diverse rural communities?

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?

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

What are your strengths?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

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?

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

What are your weaknesses?

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

How do you relate to our mission?

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

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

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?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

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?

What are University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences College of Dentistry's values?

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 community service activities have you done?

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?

What do you do for fun?

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?

Why do you want to go to school in Winnipeg?

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?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

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?

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

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 do you think are important qualities for a dentist?

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

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

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?

Who is your role model?

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

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?