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US Dentistry · 2027 Entry

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry

2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry is a US DDS program in Kansas City, MO that takes 2027-entry applications through ADEA AADSAS. Its published class profile lists a median GPA of 3.65, a 8.5% acceptance rate and a class of 108. The school holds a traditional interview: September 2026–February 2027.

Location
Kansas City, MO, United States
Established
1881
Interviews (2027 entry)
September 2026–February 2027
Decisions (2027 entry)
Rolling admissions
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University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) — UMKC School of Pharmacy

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Full guide

How to get into University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) 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 University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) interview

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

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Overview

About University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)

The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry is one of the oldest dental schools in the Midwest, founded in 1881. It is Missouri's public dental school, training dentists who serve Kansas City and the broader region.

UMKC is well known for its 6-year direct-entry BA/MD (in the School of Medicine); the School of Dentistry itself offers a standard 4-year DDS — one of the very few such programs in the US.

What makes University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) different

Applications via ADEA AADSAS. The UMKC DDS is a standard 4-year program (a completed bachelor's degree or 90+ college credits is required). Note: UMKC's well-known 6-year direct-entry program is the BA/MD in the School of Medicine — there is no direct-from-high-school BS/DDS in dentistry. Missouri residents benefit from strong in-state preference as a public university.

The Kansas City location provides access to a large and diverse Midwestern patient population.

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year DDS curriculum. (UMKC has no direct-from-high-school BS/DDS; its famous 6-year direct-entry program is the BA/MD in the School of Medicine.) Clinical training begins Year 2; the large UMKC dental clinic serves the Kansas City metropolitan area including uninsured and underinsured patients. Strong community dental health component.

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) research strengths

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) is strong in these research areas:

  • Oral biology
  • Dental materials
  • Periodontal disease
  • Oral oncology
  • Community oral health

How the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) interview runs

Format: Traditional one-on-one or panel interview with faculty

UMKC School of Dentistry does not describe the interview format, length or setting on its main DDS pages. Interviewers assess motivation for dentistry, communication skills, and awareness of UMKC's standard 4-year DDS program. The day is conversational; applicants are also evaluated on professional demeanour during informal student interactions.

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) intake

Approximately 100–115 students per year (traditional + accelerated pathway combined).

Where University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) is

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry was founded in 1881 and is based in Kansas City, MO.

Programmes offered:

  • General Dentistry
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Orthodontics
  • Periodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
Practise

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Entry requirements

What you need to apply to University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) at a glance

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry Dentistry — 2027 entry at a glance
GPA (median)3.65
Acceptance rate8.5%
Class size108
In-state matriculants60%
Interview formatTraditional interview
IntakeApproximately 100–115 students per year (traditional + accelerated pathway combined)
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry Dentistry admissions profile — 2027 entry
Admission overviewBachelor's degree and DAT required for traditional entry. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Missouri residents have a significant advantage (public university in-state mission). Strong academic record and dental experience expected.
GPA median3.65 overall / 3.60 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate8.5%
Class size108
In-state preferenceStrong — primarily in-state
In-state matriculants60%
CASPerNot required
Holistic review emphasisMissouri residency, DAT, GPA, dental experience, communication skills.
NotesGPA medians hedged. DAT Academic Average median approximately 20–22 (hedged). Strong in-state preference as Missouri public school. Estimates from public AAMC FACTS / AACOMAS / ADEA AADSAS / class-profile; verify current cycle. DAT figure sourced 2026-09-12 from https://dentistry.umkc.edu/academics/dds/dds-admissions-requirements.html (ADA 200-600 scale).
Specialities offeredGeneral Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Pediatric Dentistry

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from University of Missouri-Kansas City 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.

Interview

How University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) interviews applicants

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry Dentistry interview — 2027 entry
FormatTraditional one-on-one or panel interview with faculty
Interview window (2027 entry)September 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)Rolling admissions
Post-interview chancesApproximately 30–45% post-interview (estimated).
Tutor insight
Missouri residents have a significant advantage at UMKC — it is the state's public dental school. If you are an out-of-state applicant, have a strong reason for wanting to train in Kansas City and be prepared to articulate it. The 6-year BS/DDS pathway is a separate program for high school applicants; traditional DDS applicants should not conflate the two tracks in interviews.
Practice

Practise for your University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank485 dentistry questions inside

Interview questions matched to University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)

Two questions from our US bank that match University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)’s panel format. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

EasyMMI · PanelQ1

Evidence of Your Manual Dexterity

Dentistry demands a high level of manual dexterity working in a confined, mirrored field for hours at a time. Tell us about an activity outside of academics that has developed your fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and explain how you know you would be suited to the technical, hands-on side of clinical dentistry.

Likely follow-up · How would you respond if a faculty member told you your preclinical wax-up or crown prep was below standard?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
HardMMI · PanelQ2

Dental Deserts and Practice Obligations

HRSA designates many rural counties and tribal lands as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), meaning the ratio of dentists to population falls far below the recommended threshold. Meanwhile, urban high-income neighborhoods often have an oversupply of dental practices. This geographic maldistribution means that residents of HPSAs may travel hours for routine dental care or forgo it entirely.

As a dental student and future practitioner, how should you think about where you practice and what obligations — if any — you have to address geographic dental deserts?

Likely follow-up · Beyond NHSC loan-repayment incentives, what factors might motivate or deter a new dentist from serving in a rural or tribal community?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)Free dentistry interview question bank for University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) applicants →
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DAT & Admissions

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Interview preparation

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Personal statement help

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Sources

Where University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS)'s figures come from

Compiled from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry's published admissions material and checked for internal consistency. Not independently re-checked against the school's own website for 2027 entry — confirm the figures with the school before you rely on them.

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) — official course page →Entry requirements, interview format and deadlines published by the school itself. The primary source for everything on this page.
FAQ

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) — frequently asked questions

Bachelor's degree and DAT required for traditional entry. Applications via ADEA AADSAS. Missouri residents have a significant advantage (public university in-state mission). Strong academic record and dental experience expected.

Apply to University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) with confidence

We've helped students turn their DAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry (DDS) and other US dentistry schools.

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