Behavioral Dental School Mock Interview

Practice 30 Behavioral Dental School interview questions covering patient scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and teamwork experiences.

Question 12 of 30

Talk about a time you thrived in a competitive environment. How did you handle it, and how will you bring this same mindset to dental school?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Example Answer
How to Answer
Community Answers

Christine Pasqueretta

Christine Pasqueretta is a human resource and recruitment professional with experience creating, developing, implementing, leading, and measuring HR impact initiatives.

A question like this will be asked for two distinct reasons. First and foremost, some dental schools are highly competitive to get into because the demand among prospective students is so high. Training can also be highly competitive in the pursuit of achieving accolades down the road. The interviewers want to determine if you function well in a competitive environment.

Christine Pasqueretta

Christine Pasqueretta is a human resource and recruitment professional with experience creating, developing, implementing, leading, and measuring HR impact initiatives.

"Throughout my youth and into my teenage years, I participated in the highly competitive world of figure skating. I learned from a young age that making it to state and national competitions took dedication to the craft and a focused mindset. I also prided myself on my sportsmanship along the way by cheering for my competition and encouraging them. I learned how to handle the wins with grace and the losses with class. These are all lessons that I've brought with me on my journey through college and now into dental school."

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.

Tell the interviewers about a specific time you faced a competitive situation. Be sure to explain how you react in the face of competition. Discuss the actions you took to ensure healthy competition and include details of the stand-out results you generated. The goal of your answer is to show the interviewers that you can rise to a challenge and that you are excited to push yourself to be the best student possible in your time with their program. You should also highlight your desire to maintain healthy competition by cheering others on along the way.

Interview Coach

Jaymie

A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.

Typically responds within 24 hours.

0 - Character Count

Previous Question Next Question

30Behavioral Dental School Interview Questions & Answers

Behavioral Dental School

1.When have you shown passion in your work or anything else you did in life?

Behavioral Dental School

2.Talk about any business experience you have. Why do you feel this is important on your journey to becoming a dentist?

Behavioral Dental School

3.Give an example of a time your manual dexterity helped you in a tight situation. Why do you think this is important as a dental student?

Behavioral Dental School

4.Talk about a role you've held where attention to detail was necessary. What did you learn in this role that you can bring to dental school?

Behavioral Dental School

5.Have you ever had to communicate difficult or bad news to someone? How did you handle this situation?

Behavioral Dental School

6.Talk about a time when you successfully educated someone on a complex topic. How did you ensure the information was understood?

Behavioral Dental School

7.Talk about a time you felt like you could have communicated better. What did you learn from that situation?

Behavioral Dental School

8.Talk about a time you had to work with a new technology. What did you do to gain proficiency as quickly as possible?

Behavioral Dental School

9.Tell me about a time you worked with a person who did things very differently than you. How did you collaborate effectively with them?

Behavioral Dental School

10.Talk about a time when you had to learn something new within a short deadline. How will this experience help you in dental school?

Behavioral Dental School

11.When have you had to make a split second decision? How do you react under unexpected pressure?

Behavioral Dental School

12.Talk about a time you thrived in a competitive environment. How did you handle it, and how will you bring this same mindset to dental school?

Behavioral Dental School

13.What would you say is the riskiest decision you have made in your educational path so far?

Behavioral Dental School

14.Talk about a time you had to adapt to major change. How did you cope, and why do you think being adaptable is important as a dental student?

Behavioral Dental School

15.Talk about a time you used good judgement and logic to solve a problem.

Behavioral Dental School

16.Have you ever had to work with an angry person on the job? How did you successfully manage the situation?

Behavioral Dental School

17.Talk about a time you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. What critical steps did you take in this situation?

Behavioral Dental School

18.Tell me about a time you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How did you work in harmony with them?

Behavioral Dental School

19.Tell me about a time you displayed excellent leadership qualities in your work. Why are these qualities important for a future dentist?

Behavioral Dental School

20.Talk about a time you were unable to meet a deadline. How did you react and what steps did you take to ensure this was communicated?

Behavioral Dental School

21.What was the most difficult decision you have had to make up to this point in your educational path?

Behavioral Dental School

22.Have you ever had to build a relationship with someone who intimidated you? How did you handle that situation?

Behavioral Dental School

23.Talk about a time you wish you had handled a workplace situation differently. Looking back, how would handle the situation now?

Behavioral Dental School

24.Can you talk about a time you made a good impression on a new customer or colleague. Why was it important to do so?

Behavioral Dental School

25.Tell me about a time you failed. How did you get back up again with a positive attitude?

Behavioral Dental School

26.Talk about a time you had to work under very close supervision. How did you handle this situation?

Behavioral Dental School

27.Talk about a time you had to work with little to no supervision. How did you handle that situation?

Behavioral Dental School

28.Tell us about a time you were dissatisfied with the quality or outcome of your work. What did you do to rectify the situation?

Behavioral Dental School

29.Describe a time you showed initiative at work. How will you bring this same attitude to dental school?

Behavioral Dental School

Behavioral Dental School Mock Interview

Talk about a time you thrived in a competitive environment. How did you handle it, and how will you bring this same mindset to dental school?

30Behavioral Dental School Interview Questions & Answers

1.When have you shown passion in your work or anything else you did in life?

2.Talk about any business experience you have. Why do you feel this is important on your journey to becoming a dentist?

3.Give an example of a time your manual dexterity helped you in a tight situation. Why do you think this is important as a dental student?

4.Talk about a role you've held where attention to detail was necessary. What did you learn in this role that you can bring to dental school?

5.Have you ever had to communicate difficult or bad news to someone? How did you handle this situation?

6.Talk about a time when you successfully educated someone on a complex topic. How did you ensure the information was understood?

7.Talk about a time you felt like you could have communicated better. What did you learn from that situation?

8.Talk about a time you had to work with a new technology. What did you do to gain proficiency as quickly as possible?

9.Tell me about a time you worked with a person who did things very differently than you. How did you collaborate effectively with them?

10.Talk about a time when you had to learn something new within a short deadline. How will this experience help you in dental school?

11.When have you had to make a split second decision? How do you react under unexpected pressure?

12.Talk about a time you thrived in a competitive environment. How did you handle it, and how will you bring this same mindset to dental school?

13.What would you say is the riskiest decision you have made in your educational path so far?

14.Talk about a time you had to adapt to major change. How did you cope, and why do you think being adaptable is important as a dental student?

15.Talk about a time you used good judgement and logic to solve a problem.

16.Have you ever had to work with an angry person on the job? How did you successfully manage the situation?

17.Talk about a time you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. What critical steps did you take in this situation?

18.Tell me about a time you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How did you work in harmony with them?

19.Tell me about a time you displayed excellent leadership qualities in your work. Why are these qualities important for a future dentist?

20.Talk about a time you were unable to meet a deadline. How did you react and what steps did you take to ensure this was communicated?

21.What was the most difficult decision you have had to make up to this point in your educational path?

22.Have you ever had to build a relationship with someone who intimidated you? How did you handle that situation?

23.Talk about a time you wish you had handled a workplace situation differently. Looking back, how would handle the situation now?

24.Can you talk about a time you made a good impression on a new customer or colleague. Why was it important to do so?

25.Tell me about a time you failed. How did you get back up again with a positive attitude?

26.Talk about a time you had to work under very close supervision. How did you handle this situation?

27.Talk about a time you had to work with little to no supervision. How did you handle that situation?

28.Tell us about a time you were dissatisfied with the quality or outcome of your work. What did you do to rectify the situation?

29.Describe a time you showed initiative at work. How will you bring this same attitude to dental school?

30.Which statement sounds more like you: 'I hate to lose' or 'I love to win'? Give an example of a time you proved this.