Situational Dental School Mock Interview
Master 30 situational dental school interview questions covering clinical scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and patient care.
Question 26 of 30
How would you handle a situation during dental school in which a faculty member rejected an idea you pitched?
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Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
It's difficult to be rejected in any way. As a dental student who is still learning, it can be especially difficult. Your interviewers know that the coming years will be a time of growth and learning for all of the future dentists in their program. They want to hear that you can take a potentially negative situation like this and turn it into a positive experience that will allow you to grow and learn.
Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse and former nursing instructor. She is also board certified in Psychiatric Nursing and Holistic Nursing Critical Care.
"I honestly wouldn't take it personally because I see dental school as a time to learn and grow into a true professional. I would go back and ask for feedback on my idea and be grateful for the feedback. If I still thought it was a great idea, I would review how I explained it, simplify and reorganize the information, and ask for another opportunity to present. I once heard that Walt Disney applied to 302 banks before he got the loan for Disney Land, so I try to remember that success doesn't always happen right away. I would want to know what I did right and what I could improve upon and then learn from the rejection."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
Explain to your interviewers that you will take the feedback from the faculty member and learn their perspective. Then, talk about your ability to process the new knowledge and explain how you will take that knowledge and move forward positively.
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