At our university, we seek students with a true passion for dentistry. What appeals to you most about working in the dentistry field?
Your core passion will keep you going on the toughest days at school. For the interviewers of the dental program to understand how to motivate you, they need to know what fires you up and will drive you to succeed in their program!
"There are several factors that drive my passion for a career in dentistry. If I had to pinpoint one main driver, I would say that creating amazing smiles every day is the most significant for me. Everyone deserves a smile they are proud of."
It is okay to share a personal story when answering this question. Perhaps you can discuss what initiated your interest in attending dental school. Whatever drives you, make the interviewers feel your passion as they consider you for their program.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
What appeals to me most about dentistry is the interpersonal relationship between the dentist and patients. I like that dentistry contributes to a patient's overall health and their aesthetic/physical appearance.
Rachelle's Feedback
This is a good start! Breaking this down even further, is there a specific reason why you chose dentistry? For instance, this response could apply to other practices such as plastic surgery, dermatology, etc.
Anonymous Answer
I love the dental field because a huge portion of it helps people look their best. I witnessed my sister's confidence increase greatly when she got her braces off, and I know the mental impact that a person's self-image can have on them. I'm also a very hands-on person who enjoys the artistic and surgical aspects of the career.
Rachelle's Feedback
It seems you have many excellent reasons to love the field of dentistry! The story about your sister, and how the transformation impacted her, is a good touch.
Anonymous Answer
The most appealing factor of dentistry is the ability to transform someone's smile through my skills and knowledge. I went through orthodontic treatment, and I know a great smile can help someone be more confident and comfortable to talk to other people. Being a dentist, I can create amazing smiles every day and change people's lives.
Rachelle's Feedback
It sounds like you have some terrific reasons to pursue a career in dentistry. This brief example of your own experiences is a nice personal touch that will allow the interviewer to get to know you better while showing that you have a personal attachment to the wonderful change you can make as a dental professional.
Anonymous Answer
The most appealing aspect of the dentistry field to me is the ability to restore people's chewing function, and pain-free smiles, and to have the chance to advocate for patients, especially those who struggled to get access to dental care. From assisting people around me with dental and medical appointments, I developed the desire to reach out to the underserved to improve oral health and access to dental care in my community as a future dentist.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! It's wonderful that you want to help people. Can you talk more about how you developed this passion and why it matters so much to you?
Unlock all 40 Dental School questions
Master the MMI stations and panel questions that determine dental school acceptance.
Get Started