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US Dentistry · 2027 Entry

PNWU School of Dental Medicine

2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine is a US DMD program in Yakima, WA that takes 2027-entry applications through ADEA AADSAS. Its published class profile lists a median GPA of 3.50, a 9.0% acceptance rate and a class of 36. The school holds a traditional interview: October 2026–February 2027.

Location
Yakima, WA, United States
Established
2024
Interviews (2027 entry)
October 2026–February 2027
Decisions (2027 entry)
Rolling admissions
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Photo: Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA · CC BY 2.0 · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0 · Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Full guide

How to get into PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) dentistry

Step-by-step: entry requirements, DAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.

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Interview guide

Prepare for the PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) interview

Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.

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Overview

About PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD)

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine (PNWU), located in Yakima, Washington, is a new private dental school that received CODA initial accreditation in August 2024 and enrolled its inaugural class of 36 DMD students in fall 2025. It has a distinctive mission to train dentists for rural and underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest.

Yakima is a predominantly Latino agricultural community with significant oral health disparities. PNWU emphasizes cultural competence, rural health, and commitment to serving the underserved.

What makes PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) different

Applications via ADEA AADSAS. PNWU Dental's location in Yakima Valley — one of the most orally underserved agricultural regions in the US — provides unparalleled training in rural and Hispanic community oral health. Spanish-language ability is a genuine differentiator.

The school is brand new — CODA-accredited in August 2024 with its first class of 36 enrolled in fall 2025 — and is building a strong mission-driven culture.

PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year DMD curriculum with community-based clinical training. Clinical rotations in Yakima Valley community health centers, rural health clinics, and agricultural community dental practices. Strong emphasis on bilingual (English-Spanish) patient communication and culturally competent care.

PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) research strengths

PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) is strong in these research areas:

  • Rural oral health disparities
  • Hispanic and agricultural worker oral health
  • Community dental care access
  • Oral-systemic links
  • Dental workforce pipeline

How the PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) interview runs

Format: In-person interview day at the Yakima campus (presentations, campus and clinic tours, lunch with students) ending with an interview with the admissions committee

PNWU School of Dental Medicine holds an all-day, in-person interview day at its Yakima, Washington campus, with presentations, campus and clinic tours, and lunch with current students; the day ends with an interview with the admissions committee. A Kira Talent assessment may come before the interview.

Interviewers assess motivation for dentistry, commitment to rural and underserved Pacific Northwest communities, manual dexterity awareness, ethical reasoning, and ADA professionalism. The school's rural and agricultural community health mission is central to interviews — candidates should demonstrate awareness of oral health disparities in the Yakima Valley and Pacific Northwest agricultural communities.

PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) intake

Inaugural class of 36 students (fall 2025); cohort size may grow in future years.

Where PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) is

Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine was founded in 2024 and is based in Yakima, WA.

Programmes offered:

  • Rural Dentistry
  • Community Dentistry
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • General Dentistry
  • Oral Health Equity
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Entry requirements

What you need to apply to PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD)

PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) at a glance

Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine Dentistry — 2027 entry at a glance
GPA (median)3.50
Acceptance rate9.0%
Class size36
In-state preferenceNo stated in-state preference
Interview formatTraditional interview
IntakeInaugural class of 36 students (fall 2025)
Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine Dentistry admissions profile — 2027 entry
Admission overviewBachelor's degree required (the DAT is NOT required for PNWU dental). Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Private school — no in-state preference. Spanish-language proficiency valued given patient population. Commitment to rural and underserved dental care strongly expected.
GPA median3.50 overall / 3.44 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate9.0%
Class size36
In-state preferenceNone
CASPerNot required
Holistic review emphasisRural and underserved mission alignment, dental experience, Spanish-language ability, manual dexterity.
NotesEstimates from school data and ADEA AADSAS; verify current cycle. DAT Academic Average median approximately 18–21 (hedged). New program — data is limited; verify directly. Checked 2026-09-12: this school publishes no class DAT average, so none is quoted. Interview format checked 2026-10-07 against https://www.pnwu.edu/academics/school-of-dental-medicine/how-to-apply/the-interview/.
Specialities offeredRural Dentistry, Community Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, General Dentistry, Oral Health Equity

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine's published admissions data. Class profiles are republished each year — confirm which entering class these numbers describe before you rely on them.

Interview

How PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) interviews applicants

Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine Dentistry interview — 2027 entry
FormatIn-person interview day at the Yakima campus (presentations, campus and clinic tours, lunch with students) ending with an interview with the admissions committee
Interview window (2027 entry)October 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)Rolling admissions
Post-interview chancesApproximately 35–50% post-interview (estimated; newer program).
Tutor insight
PNWU interviews are deeply mission-driven — if you cannot demonstrate genuine commitment to rural and underserved dental care, this is not the right fit. Spanish-language skills are valued. Research Yakima Valley oral health disparities and PNWU's community partnerships before your interview. As a newer program, demonstrating adaptability and commitment to building something new is valued.
Practice

Practise for your PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank485 dentistry questions inside

Interview questions matched to PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD)

Two questions from our US bank that match PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD)’s panel format. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

MediumMMI · PanelQ1

Industry Gifts and Conflicts of Interest

A sales representative from a dental implant company offers your practice a generous arrangement: free continuing-education trips, branded equipment, and a per-case bonus for every implant of their brand you place, regardless of whether a competing system might suit certain patients better. The dentist mentoring you sees no problem because the implants are 'perfectly good.'

What conflict of interest does this create, and how should a dentist handle relationships with industry?

Likely follow-up · Why is a per-case financial incentive different from simply preferring a product you trust?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
MediumMMI · PanelQ2

Dental Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy changes oral health: higher progesterone and estrogen levels increase susceptibility to gingivitis, nausea and reflux can erode enamel, and pregnancy epulis affects roughly 0.5–5% of pregnant women. Yet many patients are told by their obstetricians to avoid dental care in the first trimester, and some dentists are reluctant to treat them.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Dental Association jointly recommend that preventive and necessary dental care is safe throughout pregnancy. A 22-year-old in her second trimester presents with moderate gingivitis and two cavities needing restoration. How would you approach her care?

Likely follow-up · She worries that dental X-rays will harm her baby and asks you to treat her without radiographs. How do you reach a shared decision?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD)Free dentistry interview question bank for PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) applicants →
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DAT & Admissions

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Interview preparation

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Sources

Where PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD)'s figures come from

Checked against Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine'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.

PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) — official course page →Entry requirements, interview format and deadlines published by the school itself. The primary source for everything on this page.
FAQ

PNWU School of Dental Medicine (DMD) — frequently asked questions

Bachelor's degree required (the DAT is NOT required for PNWU dental). Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Private school — no in-state preference. Spanish-language proficiency valued given patient population. Commitment to rural and underserved dental care strongly expected.

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