University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry MMI Practice Questions

How does USC Ostrow's emphasis on innovation and technology in dentistry align with your career goals?

California eliminated adult dental benefits from Medi-Cal in 2009, causing 4,500 job losses and over half a billion dollars in economic activity to disappear according to the American Dental Association. Should dentists have a professional obligation to advocate publicly against similar cuts when they are proposed?

Tell me about yourself.

Why dentistry?

Why University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry?

You are a dentist. A patient comes in for a routine cleaning and you notice signs of severe teeth grinding and jaw tension. When you gently ask about stress, they break down crying and reveal they're in an abusive relationship. They're terrified and beg you not to document anything 'in case their partner requests my records—they control everything and check my phone and emails.' They explain that any evidence of them seeking help could escalate the danger. You want to help them, but you also have professional obligations regarding documentation and mandatory reporting in certain situations. The patient is a competent adult making a specific request. What would you do? What factors would you consider?

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

Is it ethical for dental practices to charge different rates for the same procedures based on whether patients have access to California's expanded Medi-Cal dental coverage?

What do you think about stem cell research?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

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

If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be and why?

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

You discover a popular local business (a major employer and your organization's biggest donor) is illegally dumping chemicals likely causing elevated cancer rates. You have preliminary but not conclusive data. Going public might cause panic and lawsuits that destroy your organization's funding (affecting 500 families). Waiting for conclusive evidence (2-3 years) means more exposure. What do you do?

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

Tell me about a time you experienced a team conflict and how you resolved it.

What draws you to USC Ostrow's commitment to serving underserved populations through community outreach programs?

What is your biggest fear?

Some dental practices heavily market cosmetic procedures like veneers and whitening to patients who may not need them, using before-and-after photos and financing options to encourage uptake. Is it ethically problematic to market cosmetic dental procedures aggressively to patients who may have more pressing health needs? What ethical principles are at stake? Discuss your opinion with the interviewer.

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

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?

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

How does USC Ostrow's emphasis on innovation and technology in dentistry align with your career goals?

How does studying dentistry in Los Angeles fit with your personal and professional aspirations?

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 would be the worst superpower to have?

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

What are your strengths?

What aspects of USC Ostrow's community outreach programs resonate with your 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?

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

You can eliminate one color from existence. Which one and why?

You are a dentist working in a long-term care facility. An elderly patient with dementia refuses an extraction, but their daughter with power of attorney insists it's necessary. What would you do?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

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

Should lifestyle choices (smoking, obesity, non-compliance) affect priority for organ transplants?

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

How do you see yourself taking advantage of USC Ostrow's location in Los Angeles for your dental education?

How would you explain the internet to someone from the 1800s?

You accidentally see a text on your roommate's phone suggesting they're cheating on their long-term partner, who is also your friend. What, if anything, do you do?

What are University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry's values?

Should California dental practices be required to provide care during wildfire emergencies even when air quality reaches hazardous levels?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

Tell me about a time you changed your mind after learning new information.

You are a dentist. A patient's insurance denies coverage for a procedure they need, claiming it's 'cosmetic' when you know it's medically necessary. The appeals process takes months and the patient's condition is worsening. What do you do?

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?

You are a dental student. An undocumented patient needs emergency dental care for an abscess. They're terrified to seek care because they fear being reported. The infection is serious. What do you do?

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

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

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?

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

Given California's new continuing education requirements that include diversity, equity, and inclusion topics as core CE for dentists, is it appropriate for licensing boards to mandate specific social or political perspectives as part of professional education?

Healthcare students learn procedures on real patients. Is this ethical, given that students are less skilled?

You discover a classmate is using AI to generate their reflective essays about patient interactions—essays meant to develop empathy and self-awareness. The AI-generated reflections are actually better written and more insightful than most students' authentic ones. They're getting top marks and genuinely learning from reading what the AI produces. What do you do?

Tell me about a time you failed.

What would you do if a patient's family requests you not tell the patient about their diagnosis?

How do you relate to our mission?

A government report suggests reducing hospital electricity usage by lowering air conditioning levels, switching to biodegradable single-use instruments, and restricting high-energy medical imaging for non-urgent cases. Officials claim this is necessary to meet carbon neutrality goals. Critics warn that such policies could endanger patient safety and comfort. Critically examine this policy's reasoning. How should public health balance environmental responsibility and patient care?

A hospital press release promotes its new "AI-assisted triage system," which ranks patients by predicted survival rate to maximize efficiency. The administration reports shorter wait times and fewer administrative errors. However, some staff have noticed that patients from minority backgrounds are systematically ranked lower, potentially due to bias in the training data. Hospital leadership insists that "the algorithm is objective" and that "efficiency is our ethical duty." Critically analyze this justification. What ethical concerns and reasoning flaws might you identify?

Describe a situation where you made a mistake that affected others. What did you do?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

Teach me something.

Should gender-affirming care be available to minors? What factors should be considered?

You're managing a small rural health center during a severe flu outbreak. You have 10 doses of antiviral medication left, but 25 high-risk patients need it. Among those waiting: elderly nursing home residents, pregnant women, healthcare workers who are essential to keep the clinic running, children with asthma, and adults caring for disabled family members. How do you decide who receives the medication?

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

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

Medicare does not cover routine dental care, leaving many elderly Americans unable to afford necessary dental treatment. Some have proposed adding dental coverage to Medicare. Should Medicare include comprehensive dental coverage? Consider the implications for costs and health outcomes. Discuss with the interviewer.

You are the clinical director of a community dental outreach program. You can see 20 patients today but 50 are waiting, many who traveled hours. An organizer suggests serving those who arrived earliest, but you notice many with urgent needs arrived late because they had transportation difficulties. Some people in the front of the line clearly have routine needs while others further back appear to have painful infections or broken teeth. You also notice that the waiting crowd includes elderly individuals, parents with young children, and people who may have taken time off work to be here. What would you recommend? What factors would you consider?

During a public health crisis, when is it appropriate to mandate masks, lockdowns, or quarantines? Where should individual freedom end?

Dental insurance companies sometimes impose annual maximums, waiting periods, and limitations that restrict access to necessary care. Some have proposed regulating dental insurance more strictly to ensure adequate coverage. Should the federal government impose minimum coverage standards for dental insurance? Discuss with the interviewer.

What makes you special?

You are a dental student on rotation. You discover the practice owner is billing insurance for procedures not performed or performed by students. The practice is profitable and reporting it might affect your position. What do you do?

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

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

How would you contribute to USC Ostrow's diverse and collaborative learning environment?

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

With California allowing Registered Dental Assistants in Extended Functions to take radiographs for patients not previously seen by the dentist effective 2025, what are the ethical implications of this expanded scope when emergency appointments are needed but the supervising dentist is unavailable?

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

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

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

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

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

A viral blog post asserts that "organic diets cure cancer," citing several testimonials from individuals who claim remission after eliminating processed foods. The post criticizes oncologists for "profiting from chemotherapy" and argues that "pharmaceutical science ignores nature's cures." The author includes references to "a study" without citation, and dismisses contradictory data as "corporate propaganda." Evaluate the strength of the arguments presented. What logical or ethical issues arise in promoting such claims to vulnerable populations?

Dr. Sharma often prescribes vitamin supplements to patients complaining of low energy. She knows there is no clear evidence of deficiency, but believes "it can't hurt and might make them feel cared for." Consider the ethical issues raised by Dr. Sharma's actions. What professional obligations might conflict here?

You are a dentist in private practice. A patient needs $15,000 in dental work but can only afford $800 for extractions. Extractions solve immediate pain but cause long-term problems. What do you do?

You are a pediatric dentist. A child on Medicaid needs extensive dental work. Your practice has stopped accepting new Medicaid patients because reimbursement rates are too low to cover costs. The parent is desperate and this is the fifth practice that's turned them away. What would you do?

You're on a scholarship committee choosing between two equally qualified finalists: Candidate A overcame homelessness and foster care (first in family to attend university), Candidate B has a disability and spent years advocating for accessibility (worked three times harder than peers for same grades). You can only choose one. Another committee member reveals Candidate A's essay was heavily edited by a mentor, while B's is entirely their own work. Who do you choose?

What specifically attracts you to USC Ostrow's integrated curriculum that combines biomedical sciences with clinical practice from the first year?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

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?

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

What aspects of USC Ostrow's integrated clinical and didactic curriculum appeal to you?

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

Many children on Medicaid have difficulty finding dentists willing to accept them as patients due to low reimbursement rates. Dentists who do accept Medicaid often limit the number of Medicaid patients they see. Do dentists have an ethical obligation to accept Medicaid patients even when it's not financially viable? What are the limits of this obligation? Discuss your position with the interviewer.

You are a dentist. A patient with severe dental phobia has avoided dentists for 15 years and now has multiple infected teeth. They're having a panic attack in your chair. What do you do?

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

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a teammate, supervisor, or friend.

An economics think tank proposes legalizing the sale of kidneys to reduce transplant waiting lists. They argue that a regulated market would prevent black-market exploitation, compensate donors fairly, and save lives. Critics claim it would commodify the human body and exploit the poor. The report dismisses these objections as "emotional resistance to economic reality." Discuss the logical and ethical merits and weaknesses of this proposal.

You are a dentist and practice owner. A private equity firm approaches you about buying your practice. They offer excellent money but mention they'll implement 'efficiency measures' and production quotas. You've heard from colleagues that their practices became focused on maximizing revenue over patient care after similar acquisitions. You're nearing retirement and this would secure your financial future, but you're concerned about your patients and staff. What would you do? What would you consider?

You discover a colleague has been embellishing their credentials—claiming degrees from prestigious schools when they actually graduated from less-known programs. They're exceptionally good at their job, patients love them, and outcomes are excellent. But they lied on their application. Do you report it? What if they came from poverty and believed (possibly correctly) they'd never get hired without prestigious credentials?

How would you take advantage of USC Ostrow's location in the heart of Los Angeles for your dental education?

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

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

A classmate you barely know asks to copy your homework, explaining they've been dealing with a family emergency and haven't had time to complete it. What do you do?

What community service activities have you done?

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

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

Who is your role model?

What is your biggest regret?

You’re volunteering at a community mental-health clinic. During a family dinner, your brother proudly mentions that he just hired a new employee named Rachel. You realize it’s a patient from your clinic who has a history of manic episodes that recently caused workplace disruptions. What do you do?

With new California regulations requiring infection control training for dental assistants to be completed prior to blood and saliva exposure rather than within one year of hire, what ethical obligations do dental practice owners have when they cannot immediately provide this training due to course availability issues?

What do you do for fun?

Describe a situation where you had to navigate cultural differences in a team or work environment.

Why do you want to go to school in Los Angeles?

What are your weaknesses?

In the US, dental insurance typically has annual maximums of $1,000-$2,000, which often doesn't cover necessary extensive treatment. Dentists must decide whether to spread treatment over multiple years to work within insurance limits, even when immediate comprehensive care would be better. Is it ethically acceptable to modify treatment plans based on insurance limitations rather than clinical need? Discuss with the interviewer.

What do you think are important qualities for a dentist?

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

What was your most challenging experience?

How might the transition to dental school affect you.

You are a dental student on clinical rotation. Your supervising dentist insists on recommending a crown, but you believe a filling would suffice. When you mention this, they say 'This is how we practice here.' What do you do?

You're leading a student health initiative when you discover that a fellow student leader has been embezzling small amounts of money from the organization's budget over several months (totaling about $2,000). When you confront them, they admit it but explain that their family was evicted and they needed money for food and supplies for their younger siblings. They're the first in their family to attend university and are working two jobs while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. They're devastated and ashamed, offer to pay it back over time, and beg you not to report it because it would mean expulsion and loss of their scholarship. Your organization's constitution requires reporting any financial irregularities to the dean. What do you do?

What will you do if you do not get into dental school?

In times of resource scarcity—such as limited ICU beds or transplant organs—some argue younger patients should be prioritized because they have more potential years of life. Others claim all lives should be valued equally, regardless of age. Discuss the ethical implications of using age as a factor in allocating scarce medical resources.

What is your favorite movie?

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

Private equity firms have been purchasing dental practices and implementing productivity metrics and treatment quotas for dentists. These metrics may incentivize over-treatment or create pressure to prioritize revenue over patient care. Is it ethically acceptable for dentists to work under these conditions? What are their ethical obligations to patients? Discuss with the interviewer.

Should gene editing technologies like CRISPR be used to enhance human traits (not just treat disease) in future generations?

A coworker asks you to clock them in when they'll be 30 minutes late, saying their supervisor is 'unreasonably strict' and they might get fired for being late again. What do you do?

What specific research opportunities at USC Ostrow align with your interests in advancing dental medicine?

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

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

How does USC Ostrow's interdisciplinary approach with other USC health science schools appeal to you?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

Emergency dental care for uninsured patients is extremely limited in the US. Hospital emergency departments provide pain management but rarely definitive dental treatment. When uninsured patients present with dental emergencies, do dentists have an ethical obligation to provide free treatment beyond stabilization? Discuss the ethical considerations with the interviewer.

Is it ethical for pharmaceutical companies to charge high prices for life-saving medications?

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

You are a dentist. A patient's dental insurance has a $1,500 annual maximum, but they need $6,000 in treatment. They're working three jobs and still can't afford the remaining $4,500. What do you do?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

How should California's dental community address the policy tension between expanding access to care through new RDA licensing pathways and maintaining quality standards?

How would you utilize USC Ostrow's strong alumni network and connections in Southern California?

What interests you about USC Ostrow's focus on evidence-based dentistry and translational research?

Describe a time you had to respect someone's autonomy even when you disagreed with their choice

You are graduating from dental school. You have two job offers: a high-end cosmetic practice with excellent pay, or a community health center serving underserved populations with lower pay but loan forgiveness. Your partner prefers the higher salary. How would you decide?

What would you do if someone in a group project falsified data?

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

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

How many rubber ducks would it take to fill this room?

How do you study?

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

A team project wins an award. You and a peer did equal work, but only you were mentioned in the press release. Your supervisor congratulates you publicly. Correcting the record may jeopardize your relationship with them. What do you do?

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

Tell me about a time when you recognized a personal limitation or weakness that was affecting your performance. What did you do about it?

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

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?

If you had to be a piece of furniture in a hospital, what would you be?

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

Corporate ownership of dental practices has expanded rapidly in the US, with concerns about prioritizing profit over patient care. Some have proposed regulations limiting corporate ownership or requiring transparency about ownership structures. Should there be restrictions on corporate ownership of dental practices? Discuss with the interviewer.

New California law AB 1048 prohibits dental waiting periods for large group plans effective January 2025. Given that this may increase costs for insurance companies, how should dental practices respond if insurers reduce provider reimbursement rates to offset these mandated coverage improvements?

What would you do if a group member isn't doing their part?

Indigenous communities often have distrust of mainstream healthcare. How should the healthcare system address historical harms and build trust?

Should childhood vaccinations be mandatory for school attendance, or should parents have the right to refuse?

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 draws you specifically to USC Ostrow's mission of improving oral health through education, research, and community service?

If animals could talk, which species would be the rudest?

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

You are a pediatric dentist. A child needs fillings but is extremely anxious and uncooperative. The frustrated parent demands you 'just hold them down and get it done.' What do you do?

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?

Describe a time when you identified an unfair policy or practice and took action to address it.

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

What do you do if a colleague has a substance abuse problem?

What interests you about USC Ostrow's research opportunities and how would you get involved?

A 16-year-old you recognize as your neighbor's daughter requests emergency contraception at your clinic. She's terrified and begs you not to tell her strict religious parents. She mentions her boyfriend is 19 (potential statutory rape). When you discuss reporting requirements, she threatens self-harm if anyone finds out. What are your competing obligations? What do you do first? What if she insists the relationship is consensual?

If you were a soup, what kind would you be?

Should California mandate that all dental practices accepting Medi-Cal patients also provide community outreach services in underserved areas?

How does USC Ostrow's early clinical exposure in the first year match your preferred learning style?

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

What specific features of USC Ostrow's facilities and clinical training opportunities excite you most?

Convince me that a potato is the most important invention in human history.

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

What is your learning style?

How would you contribute to the diverse and collaborative learning environment at USC Ostrow?

How do you handle stress?

Can compassion be taught?

What aspects of USC Ostrow's mission to advance oral health through education, research, and service resonate most with you?

You're working at an organization when you discover that your mentor—someone who has been instrumental in your development, advocated for you repeatedly, and is genuinely kind—has been quietly discriminating against certain job applicants based on protected characteristics. They're subtle about it (finding 'legitimate' reasons to reject candidates), but the pattern is clear. When you carefully raise concerns, they become defensive and hurt, saying you've misunderstood and that they've 'always supported diversity.' You have documented evidence, but reporting it would likely end their career and damage your own reputation by association. They're also dealing with a family crisis and are in a fragile state. However, their behavior is harming people and perpetuating inequality. What's your responsibility here?

Medicaid dental reimbursement rates are often so low that many dentists cannot afford to accept Medicaid patients. This creates access barriers for low-income individuals. Should the federal government mandate higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental services? Discuss this policy with the interviewer.

You overhear colleagues spreading a harmful rumor about a co-worker’s personal life. You consider reporting it, but one of the people gossiping is close to your manager. The targeted colleague is unaware but already seems isolated. How do you handle this, knowing it could affect your standing in the team?

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

Tell me about your lowest grade.

A friend owes you $200 from three months ago and keeps avoiding the topic. Now they're posting on social media about an expensive concert they just attended. How do you address this?

California's Office of Health Care Affordability has capped healthcare spending growth at 3.5% in 2025, with enforcement beginning in 2026. Given that the California Hospital Association proposed a 6.3% target citing inflation and the new minimum wage law for healthcare workers, how should dentists balance their commitment to accessible care with the financial pressures of operating under strict cost controls?

If you were a fruit, which one would you be and why?

Many rare diseases affect too few people for pharmaceutical companies to profitably develop treatments. Should governments mandate research into rare diseases, redirect funding from common diseases, or accept that resources must be allocated where they help the most people?

If you could add one law to the laws of physics, what would it be?

You are a dental resident. A patient asks you to prescribe antibiotics for a toothache without coming in for an exam because they can't afford the appointment. What do you do?

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

Some states allow dental therapists to practice in underserved areas, performing basic procedures under dentist supervision. Dental associations have opposed expanding this model nationally. Should the US expand the use of dental therapists to improve access to care? Discuss the implications of this policy with the interviewer.

What would you do if a coworker is taking credit for your work on a group project.

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?