When have you had to make a split second decision? How do you react under unexpected pressure?
While your experience in the classroom up to this point may have mentally prepared you for life as a dentist, your time in dental school will expose you to the pressure-packed situations that come with being a dentist. For the first time, you will be responsible for the direct care of patients, and your interviewing team needs to be assured that you are confident and comfortable in your ability to work under pressure.
"I thrive in high-pressure situations and appreciate that these situations will now become real as I enter dental school. My level-headed thinking and calm demeanor allow me to react well in high-pressure situations. Before my undergraduate studies, I worked for one year as an ER Tech. I quickly learned that no two days are the same when providing care to patients, and you have to be prepared for any situation. On what I thought was a routine Sunday morning shift, we were suddenly overloaded with many critically injured patients from a bus accident. While the nursing staff performed, one patient began showing signs of shock, and I made the quick decision to get an IV started. The other staff was busy, so I knew getting a head start could make a big difference for this patient. I was later praised for my quick actions that day."
Answer this question by telling the interviewers about a specific time you had to make a split-second decision and made the right choice, despite being under unexpected pressure. Outline the situation, describe the last-minute decision you were required to make, and explain how you came to your final decision. Be sure to tell the interviewers that you made a well-calculated decision despite being under pressure. Give as much detail as you can regarding how you weighed the pros and cons of the decision. If your final decision made a measurable impact, be sure to discuss the results you generated.
