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US Dentistry · 2027 Entry

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) Dental School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Downers Grove, IL, United StatesEstablished 2009Interviews October–FebruaryDecisions Rolling admissions

Photo: Mbatmwu · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Overview

About Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD)

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois, located in Downers Grove in the Chicago suburbs, offers a DMD program within MWU's multidisciplinary health sciences campus. Founded in 2009, the program benefits from co-location with MWU's osteopathic medical school, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, and other health programs, providing integrated interprofessional dental education. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and the oral-systemic health connection.

What makes it different

Midwestern University Downers Grove is a dedicated health sciences university with programs in medicine (DO), pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, physical therapy, and dental medicine on one campus. This creates an unusually rich interprofessional education environment — dental students regularly interact with MWU medical and pharmacy students in shared modules and case discussions. The suburban Chicago location provides access to a large and diverse urban patient population.

Course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year DMD curriculum with integrated biomedical and clinical sciences. Interprofessional education modules shared with other MWU health programs. Clinical training at MWU's on-campus dental clinic, with patient care beginning in Year 2.

Research strengths

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) has notable research strength in Oral-systemic disease links, Implantology, Biomaterials, Community oral health, Digital dentistry.

Interview

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) interviews via Traditional one-on-one faculty interview. Midwestern University Illinois Dental interview day typically includes a single one-on-one faculty session of approximately 30–45 minutes, combined with a campus tour and an overview of MWU's health sciences campus. The interview probes motivation for dentistry, manual dexterity background, oral-systemic health awareness, ADA ethics scenarios, and interprofessional health perspectives — the shared MWU campus with medical, pharmacy, optometry, and podiatry students is a genuine program theme. Questions may also touch on the suburban Chicago healthcare market and community oral health.

Intake

Approximately 140 students per year.

At a glance

Founded in 2009, based in Downers Grove, IL. Programmes offered: General Dentistry, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and DAT required. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. No in-state preference (private institution). Dental shadowing, strong academic record, and letters of recommendation from a licensed dentist expected.
GPA median
3.56 overall / 3.50 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
6.5%
Class size
141
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Dental experience, interprofessional awareness, academic achievement, patient-centered values.
Notes
Estimates from ADEA AADSAS data and public class profiles; hedged. DAT AA median approximately 19–21. Private institution — no in-state preference.
Specialities offered
General Dentistry, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Interview

How Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional one-on-one faculty interview
Interview window
October–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions
Post-interview chances
Approximately 30–40% post-interview (estimated).
Tutor insight
MWU Dental's interprofessional campus is its most distinctive feature — emphasize genuine interest in collaborating with medical, pharmacy, and optometry students. Demonstrate awareness of the oral-systemic link and how it positions dentistry within a broader patient care team. As a private school, MWU has no geographic preference, making it accessible for out-of-state applicants with a strong profile.
Practice

Practise for your Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank485 dentistry questions inside

Interview questions matched to Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD)

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

MediumMMI · PanelQ1

Conflict of Interest: Dental Product Endorsement and Industry Relationships

The dental industry — including dental materials companies, equipment manufacturers, and pharmaceutical firms — maintains active relationships with dental professionals through continuing education sponsorship, product samples, speaking honoraria, and research funding. The ADA Code requires dentists to make treatment recommendations based on patient benefit, not on personal financial relationships with industry. As a future dental professional, how do you think about managing potential conflicts of interest with industry, and what transparency obligations do you have toward patients?

Likely follow-up · A company whose composite resin you frequently use offers to pay you $2,000 to present a 30-minute case report at a regional dental conference showcasing your success with their product. What do you do?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
HardMMI · PanelQ2

Role Play: Breaking Bad News -- A Suspicious Oral Lesion

Role-play station: During a routine exam you find a firm, non-healing ulcer on the lateral border of a 58-year-old patient's tongue that has been present for over three weeks. You are concerned it could be oral cancer and you need to refer for biopsy. An actor will play the patient, who has come in expecting a simple cleaning. Demonstrate how you would share this finding and explain the next steps.

Likely follow-up · How would you use a structured framework such as SPIKES to deliver this news?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
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FAQ

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) — frequently asked questions

Apply to Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) with confidence

We've helped students turn their DAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine Illinois (DMD) and other US dentistry schools.