2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
Indiana University School of Dentistry is a US DDS program in Indianapolis, IN that takes 2027-entry applications through ADEA AADSAS. Its published class profile lists a median GPA of 3.74, a 19.0% acceptance rate and a class of 104. The school holds a traditional interview: October 2026–February 2027.
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Step-by-step: entry requirements, DAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.
Open the guide →Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.
Read the guide →Indiana University School of Dentistry sits on the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis. It is the only dental school in Indiana, and one of the largest in the United States. It was founded in 1879. IUSD trains about 104 to 106 DDS students a year, with a strong emphasis on clinical competence, community oral health, and postgraduate specialty training.
Patient volume is high, at over 200,000 visits a year, which gives students broad clinical exposure. Sharing a campus with IU School of Medicine creates interprofessional health education opportunities.
IUSD is the only dental school in Indiana and has one of the largest dental school clinical volumes in the United States, with over 200,000 patient visits per year. The school offers DDS, advanced education, and research programs, and its comprehensive specialty programs across orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and pediatric dentistry make it a genuine academic dental center.
IUSD also operates community dental clinics across Indiana.
Integrated curriculum. 4-year DDS curriculum with integrated biomedical sciences and early clinical exposure. High patient volume from Year 2 at IUSD's Indianapolis clinic. Community rotation sites across Indiana in Years 3–4. Advanced specialty programs available for post-DDS residents.
Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS) is strong in these research areas:
Format: Traditional one-on-one faculty interview
After a full review that includes a Kira video assessment, IUSD invites a select group of applicants to its in-person interviews, held on two Saturdays in the 2026–27 cycle (October 3 and November 14, 2026); the school does not describe the interview format.
As the only dental school in Indiana, IUSD interviewers probe applicants' connection to the state and commitment to addressing Indiana's oral health needs. Questions cover manual dexterity experience, oral-systemic health, ADA ethics scenarios, understanding of Indiana's dental access challenges in rural and urban underserved communities, and career goals.
Approximately 104–106 students per year.
Indiana University School of Dentistry was founded in 1879 and is based in Indianapolis, IN.
Programmes offered:
These are real recordings of the interviewers you would meet, from a panel of 19 photoreal faces. Speak your answers out loud, get pressed with follow-ups, and receive rubric-scored feedback about two minutes after you finish, with a replay of your answers.
Try the AI interviewer| GPA (median) | 3.74 |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 19.0% |
| Class size | 104 |
| In-state matriculants | 82% |
| Interview format | Traditional interview |
| Intake | Approximately 104–106 students per year |
| Admission overview | Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Strong Indiana resident preference as the sole state public dental school. Dental shadowing, letters of recommendation from a licensed dentist, and community service expected. DAT and GPA are competitive factors. |
|---|---|
| GPA median | 3.74 overall / 3.68 science (BCPM) |
| Acceptance rate | 19.0% |
| Class size | 104 |
| In-state preference | Strong — primarily in-state |
| In-state matriculants | 82% |
| CASPer | Not required |
| Holistic review emphasis | Indiana residency, dental experience, academic achievement, community health commitment. |
| Notes | Estimates from ADEA AADSAS data and public class profiles; hedged. DAT AA median approximately 20–22. Only dental school in Indiana — strong in-state preference. DAT figure sourced 2026-09-12 from https://dentistry.iu.edu/academics/how-to-apply/doctor-dental-surgery/index.html (ADA 200-600 scale). |
| Specialities offered | Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Periodontics, Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry |
MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from Indiana University School of Dentistry's published admissions data. Class profiles are republished each year — confirm which entering class these numbers describe before you rely on them.
| Format | Traditional one-on-one faculty interview |
|---|---|
| Interview window (2027 entry) | October 2026–February 2027 |
| Decision date (2027 entry) | Rolling admissions; Indiana resident preference |
| Post-interview chances | Approximately 35–50% post-interview for Indiana residents (estimated). |
IUSD's clinical volume is genuinely extraordinary — emphasize your commitment to building clinical skills through high patient contact. Indiana residency is a significant advantage as the only dental school in the state. The IUSD-IU Medicine co-location is a real interprofessional education asset — show interest in the oral-systemic health curriculum integration. Out-of-state applicants should demonstrate a specific and genuine reason for choosing IUSD.
Two questions from our US bank that match Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS)’s panel format. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Dentistry is often described as where fine motor skill meets science and patient care. Tell us about an activity involving precise hand work and how it shaped your motivation to become a dentist, rather than simply being a hobby you enjoy.
Likely follow-up · What did this activity teach you about your own tolerance for repetition, precision, and the frustration of getting something almost-but-not-quite right?
A dentist constantly chooses between restorative biomaterials, for example dental amalgam versus resin composite. Setting aside cost for a moment, explain the material science and biological trade-offs a dentist weighs when selecting a restorative material, and discuss how you would think about an evolving evidence base, such as the discussions around amalgam and mercury.
Likely follow-up · Resin composites bond to tooth structure while amalgam relies largely on mechanical retention. Why does that distinction matter clinically and biologically?
We've helped students into Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS) and other US dentistry schools — get tailored support for each stage of the application.
Plan your DAT prep and AADSAS application strategy for Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS).
Learn morePractise the Traditional interview format with students who interviewed at Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS).
Learn moreGet your personal statement reviewed by successful applicants.
Learn moreChecked against Indiana University School of Dentistry's own website on 15 August 2026: our record for the school was reconciled with what it publishes there. For most US schools that is class size and interview format only, so MCAT, GPA and acceptance-rate figures remain unconfirmed.
We've helped students turn their DAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from Indiana University School of Dentistry (DDS) and other US dentistry schools.
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