Nova Southeastern Dental School Mock Interview

Practice 40 NSU dental school interview questions covering clinical reasoning, patient care philosophy, and ethical scenarios.

Question 24 of 40

How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

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Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

Given the often stressful academic and clinical workload of the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, your interviewers know that most students experience setbacks in their work over the four years of the program. They also know that everyone handles the stress and disappointment of these setbacks differently, and they want to hear how you handle setbacks in your work.

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing and can be very disheartening, especially when involving a project that I have put a lot of time and effort into. I understand that setbacks happen to everyone - despite their level of expertise or years of experience. If I experience a major setback, I will take a few moments to debrief internally, get some fresh air if possible, or discuss what I could have done differently with a mentor. Then, I move on. Rather than dwell on my mistakes, I choose to learn from them."

Ryan Brunner

Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.

While attending dental school, your grades can determine your future career's success. Tell the interviewers how you typically cope with setbacks to let them know that you can handle any that you face at Nova Southeastern University. Focus your answer on your ability to stay positive, take accountability, and learn from any mistakes you may make.

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Jaymie

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40Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine Interview Questions & Answers

Discovery

1.At Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, we want students with a true passion for dentistry. What appeals to you most about working in the field of dentistry?

General

2.It is important that Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine exercises great discernment when choosing applicants. What is your plan if you are not accepted into our school of dentistry this year?

General

3.In your opinion, what is the most concerning topic facing the dental industry today?

General

4.Dental school is expensive. Have you made a solid financial plan for tuition costs at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine and beyond?

Educational

5.Tell us about your overall academic performance during your undergraduate program. Where did you excel, and where could you improve?

Discovery

6.Why should we accept you over another dentistry student with the same qualifications?

Discovery

7.What do you feel is the single most important quality a dentist should possess?

General

8.At Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, we believe in the continual development of our students, both professionally and personally. What is your self-development plan?

Educational

9.Talk to us about your current GPA.

Direct

10.What questions do you have for us about Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine?

Direct

11.What do you know about Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine?

General

12.Tell us about an area of weakness that you would like to improve while attending Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine.

Direct

13.What research did you conduct on our school before choosing to apply to Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine?

Discovery

14.Tell us something that we would not know about you from reading your CV.

Behavioral

15.What achievement are you most proud of so far on your path to dental school?

General

16.What are you reading right now?

Experience

17.Talk to us about your experience handling blood and saliva. You will be subject to difficult scenarios in your role as a dentist. How do you feel about this?

Direct

18.What other dental schools have you applied to, and where does Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine rank?

General

19.Which dentistry-related newspapers, journals, or publications do you read to stay in touch with new dental discoveries and current events?

General

20.How does your family feel about you attending dental school? Do they support your decision?

Behavioral

21.How do you respond to feedback and criticism? Describe a situation where your work was criticized. What was your immediate reaction?

General

22.Who in your life mentors or inspires you?

Direct

23.How well do you think you have performed in this interview today?

Behavioral

24.How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

General

25.Many dentists have an area of specialty in which they work. What area of dentistry interests you most?

Experience

26.Have you ever had significant dental work? Tell me about your experience as a patient. What made it memorable?

General

27.Do you have aspirations to own your own practice in the future? What appeals to you about business ownership?

General

28.There is a high suicide rate among dentists. How do you feel about this fact, and how do you plan to remain grounded during your career?

Direct

29.What was your DAT score? Were you happy with it?

General

30.Are you aware of cases of medical malpractice in dentistry? How will you cope if you are faced with such a situation?

Direct

31.How do you plan to cope with the immense workload and expectations of attending dental school?

Operational

32.Walk us through your approach to studying for exams.

Behavioral

33.When you encounter academic difficulty, how do you react?

General

34.Is there a specific population you would like to assist as a dentist?

General

35.How do you think COVID-19 and other pandemics of the past have impacted the dentistry profession?

Discovery

36.Why are you choosing dentistry as a career over other medical professions?

General

37.Talk about the last dentistry-related article you read. What did you learn?

General

38.Do you possess the manual dexterity required to be a skilled dentist? How do you plan to boost this dexterity during your dental training?

Discovery

39.When you become a dentist, how will you work to improve the profession?

Communication

40.Talk about a time you felt like you could have communicated better during your undergraduate program. What did you learn from that situation that you will bring to your dental school training?