What will you do if you're not admitted anywhere this cycle?

Resilience and commitment. Also a gentle stress test — some applicants visibly deflate.

How to structure your answer

1Answer without flinching
2Concrete plan
3What it says about your commitment

Have an actual plan: strengthen a specific weakness, gain clinical hours, retake the DAT
Don't get defensive or treat the question as an insult
Make clear you'd reapply, and say why

A strong answer

What lands

I’d continue working at the lab, while I make my dental school application stronger. I have a list of 10 dentists in the area, who I plan to visit and ask if they would allow me to shadow. I would study for the DAT with a different preparation tool, and plan to retake the DAT in the fall. And I’ll apply to dental schools even earlier in the year next time. I’m determined to be a dentist, and I’ll do what it takes to get there.

A plan with named steps — the shadowing list, a different DAT prep, an earlier application — and no flinching at the question.

A weak answer

What most people say

That would be really disappointing, but I'd take some time to figure out what went wrong and then reapply. I'm committed to this. It's what I've been working toward for years and I honestly don't have a plan B. I'd do whatever it takes to come back as a stronger applicant next cycle.

Whatever it takes isn't a plan, and no plan B isn't resilience.

The trap

⚠'I haven't thought about that.' It reads as either arrogance or avoidance. Committees like applicants who can face a hard scenario calmly — that's the same skill as facing a complication chairside.

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.

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