Can you see yourself living here for four years? What would that actually look like day to day?
Retention risk. Schools genuinely worry about students who are miserable in the city and disengage or transfer.
How to structure your answer
- 1Yes, concretely
- 2What you know about living here
- 3What your daily life would look like
- 4What you'd look forward to
- Show you've looked into practical life: neighborhoods, rent, transit, commute, weather, cost of living
- Name something you'd actually enjoy here — a scene, an outdoors thing, a food culture, a community
- Describe a realistic weekday and weekend
- Acknowledge an adjustment honestly if it's a big change
A strong answer
What lands
Yes, and I spent a decent amount of time thinking about it. I spent a Saturday looking at apartment rental listings online and there's a neighborhood about twenty minutes north of campus where a one-bedroom runs roughly what I pay now, on a bus line, so I wouldn't need a car to get to school here. Weekdays would be class, then the climbing gym by the river three nights a week. I already found it. The honest adjustment is January. I’ve only lived in warm places, so I will have to get used to the snow.
Rent, transit, a routine and a gym already found, plus one honest adjustment.
A weak answer
What most people say
Yes, definitely. I've heard great things about the area and I'm pretty adaptable, I've been happy everywhere I've lived so far. Honestly, if I get into dental school I think I'd be happy anywhere. I'd be so focused on my studies that I don't think the location would matter all that much to me either way.
"Happy anywhere" tells them she hasn't pictured four years of her actual life.
The trap
⚠Answering about the school when they asked about the city. And empty enthusiasm — 'I'd love it anywhere' tells them you haven't thought about the four years of your actual life this decision commits.
Reading it isn't the same as saying it.
Most people can explain a good answer and still fall apart saying one out loud. Admitted asks you all 100 questions in a faculty voice, records you, and scores your pace and filler words.
Try one interview freeGet the guideMore fit questions
- Why did you apply to our school?Fit
- What will you contribute to our class?Fit
- If we admitted you, what would you want to get involved in here?Fit
- What other schools are you considering? If we accepted you today, would you come?Fit
- What concerns do you have about dental school?Fit
- Is there anything we haven't asked that you'd want us to know?Fit