重口味SM

U of T's Faculty of Dentistry aims to make admissions process 'the most positive experience possible'

a group of students seated in chairs in  a dentistry classroom surround dean Daniel Haas
Wearing a lab coat, Daniel Haas, the dean of U of T's Faculty of Dentistry, meets with prospective candidates during this year's admission interviews while current students in green scrubs look on (photo by Jim Lai)

In an effort to improve the experience of prospective students, the 重口味SM鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry is taking steps to make its competitive annual admissions process a fun and friendly affair.

For the past three admissions cycles, the faculty has made changes to the format of its admissions interview weekend to make it as welcoming and inclusive as possible for candidates and their families.

Of course, some nerves are to be expected 鈥 only about 180 applicants are invited to interview each winter and, of those, just 96 students will be selected for admission into U of T鈥檚 first-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) class.

鈥淔or me, the most stressful part of dental school was getting in,鈥 says fourth-year DDS student Greg Pigeon, a student ambassador who volunteered for this year鈥檚 admissions weekend. 

But while the admissions process is necessarily rigorous, it can also be warm, says Jim Lai, the faculty鈥檚 vice-dean, education.

For Lai, who also instituted changes to the interview format for the faculty鈥檚 admissions, setting the right tone for the day is crucial.

鈥淲e want to ensure that all the candidates who walk out of their interview had the most positive experience possible,鈥 Lai says. 鈥淲e really want to reinforce how great our school is.鈥 

There were more than 80 students and a number of faculty and staff who volunteered for the most recent admissions interview weekend, held Feb. 8 and 9. The volunteers greeted candidates and their families, answered questions and took the candidates to meet Samantha Freeman-Attwood, registrar and manager in the faculty鈥檚 Office of Student Services, just prior to their interviews.

鈥淲e are working to make our faculty more responsive to the needs of students,鈥 says Daniel Haas, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. 鈥淏eing present for the students, being there for them from day one, is an important part of that overall approach.鈥

But the welcome mat 鈥 which also involves refreshments and a student activities fair prior to the interview 鈥 doesn鈥檛 roll up once the interview is over. Afterward, DDS students take small groups on a tour of the faculty, allowing candidates to picture what their daily lives might be like.

The last stop on the tour is Clinic 1, one of the faculty鈥檚 largest patient clinics. There, candidates are greeted by the dean, who is joined by a handful of students.

鈥淚 tell the candidates that they are free to ask anything about the DDS program or about the profession that they are about to enter,鈥 says Haas, adding, 鈥淚 truly enjoy my experience during admissions weekend.鈥

Pigeon says most candidates want to know what dental school is like and how to navigate the degree鈥檚 demands. Having upper-year students there to share their experiences is helpful, says Pigeon. But it鈥檚 the dean鈥檚 presence that adds weight to the day.

鈥淵ou have direct access to the dean. You could ask him anything. I think, from the candidates鈥 perspective, it was a pretty neat opportunity,鈥 Pigeon says.

By making the dean available, the school also wants to send prospective candidates another message: Every candidate is valued. 

鈥淭his is their first impression,鈥 says Lai. 鈥淲e鈥檝e definitely created a much more open atmosphere and caring environment. We鈥檙e happy with what we鈥檝e done, but we鈥檙e always looking at ways to improve.鈥

Recalling his experience on interview day, Pigeon agrees that efforts to make the process more enjoyable are working. 鈥淧eople are still tired and worn out. It鈥檚 still a long day,鈥 he says. 鈥淏ut I think the changes make the experience more enjoyable. The candidates felt really welcomed.鈥

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