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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 27% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 272 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (94%)
Negatively (2%)
No change (4%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (32%)
Good (45%)
Average (21%)
Bad (2%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally expressed positive impressions of the school, its staff, and the interview experience, highlighting the friendly atmosphere, faculty commitment, and community-oriented approach. Some feedback mentioned the need for quicker interview processes, technical improvements, and more organized scheduling, but overall, applicants were enthusiastic about the school and its potential for producing excellent doctors.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Overall, it was a good day and I liked learning about the school. I just wish it didn't take as long as it did.
The students I talked to seemed genuinely happy there, there is a somewhat business casual dress code but not incredibly strict, the students mentioned a lot that the faculty change things around since they are a new school and are trying to get everything to function well but hear the students out, the cadaver lab is 6 to a table
ARCOM seems to have their stuff together. Strong faculty and administration appears to care, albeit there is some of that Southern-style swagger that can be off-putting to those of us not from the area. Even with that attitude, they were quite kind and generous with their time. I would be happy to spend four-years or longer here. Fort Smith is fantastic in my opinion. Enough to do but not too much to be overwhelming.
I don't think ARCOM had a good backup for technical difficulties. They mentioned multiple people had issues with Microsoft team and instead of being able to use Zoom or Skype my interview time was cut short and I couldn't even see my interviewers face to face. They were very nice but that aspect was extremely frustrating when I was forced to stay home because of COVID.
I highly recommend accepting an interview here! Stay at the Home2Suites because they will shuttle you everywhere for free (Uber/Lyft are not really a thing and very expensive if a driver is available). I also recommend eating a big breakfast, as no breakfast was served and lunch was gross.
This was THE MOST laid back interview ever. They just wanted to get to know me and why I wanted to go to ARCOM. I actually ENJOYED my time talking to the interviewers.
This is a wonderful school with a great staff. The small hometown feel will help students who look for a more "one on one" setting with their professors. The staff are always available and will go out of their way to help you succeed. The levels of kindness and respect are unparalleled and will ensure a learning environment where anyone can excel and reach their goals.
It was a beautiful school with a very kind staff. Since the school was so new I was concerned and this was made worse by the fact that the interview felt disorganized.
ARCOM-COMP interviews are an average of 31 minutes, with an average of 2.3 interviews. 80% of interviews are one-on-one, 69% are in-person, and 95% are closed-file. Of the in-person interviews, 100% are held at the school.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about influences, personal background, alignment with school mission, concerns about medical school, leadership experience, ethical dilemmas like cheating, study habits, clinical experience, and motivation for pursuing medicine, particularly osteopathic medicine. Some respondents mentioned questions related to the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, indicating a structured interview style possibly involving a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Students said most interesting questions asked at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed various topics such as reasons for choosing osteopathic medicine, gap year activities, handling ethical dilemmas like cheating, community service involvement, personal hobbies, leadership experiences, and coping mechanisms for stress. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, as some responses indicated a closed-file setting and potential non-disclosure agreements, with a focus on getting to know the applicants on a deeper level through diverse situational inquiries.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
How have you served your community that you grew up in and what do you want to do in the future to continue serving them (I discussed wanting to give back to my community as they have given to me)?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as SDN, mock interviews, researching the school and surrounding area, reviewing their application materials, and practicing common interview questions. They also sought advice from current students, spoke with friends who had previously interviewed at the school, and made sure to understand the school's mission and values.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
I researched the most commonly asked questions, visited every part of their website, looked into the school's history, formulated questions to ask the interviewer, spoke to a student that attends the school, and wrote down points that I wanted to make sure I discussed during the interview.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal strengths and weaknesses, ethical dilemmas like handling cheating, facing failures, and cultural competency. Some respondents mentioned MMI or Multiple Mini Interview format, indicating a structured interview with potentially non-disclosure agreements in place.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
What was something worth highlighting from your application and something not worth highlighting.
What's the last book you read? (I had difficulty with this because I don't really read for pleasure, so they let me answer with a documentary instead).
Do you think government funded healthcare is a right for all Americans? If a program like this was put in place, how would it effect the medical community?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the staff, faculty, and students at the school. They also appreciated the state-of-the-art facilities, commitment to community service, and the personalized attention they received during the interview process. Some suggestions for improvement included enhancing the organization of the interview day and providing more details on the curriculum.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
New facilities, everyone was so genuine, great service opportunities including international relations, Ft. Smith and ARCOM community is rapidly growing.
The facilities (especially the student housing options) and their growth plans in terms of increasing the class size and expanding the school's real estate footprint with more student housing, facilities, and research facility.
Both people in my interview were very friendly. Multiple times, my interviewers asked me follow up questions that simply were looking for more details on something I had said in a very conversational manner. It was very low stress overall. everyone there felt very sincere.
The incredibly welcoming and friendly staff. The southern hospitality vibe rings through out the school. I was also impressed by the cutting edge building and sheer attention to detail to help create the most refined learning environment possible for the students. They are developing the entire 220-acre property to cater to the students that will be attending the school.
Amazingly friendly and enthusiastic staff. More so than any of the other 4 schools I interviewed at. Staff greeted you at the door, knew your name, seemed incredibly genuine and relaxed.
They make you feel so welcome here from the second you get there. You can tell they do everything they can to help their students succeed. The building is also beautiful!
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lengthy presentations and interview day, high professor turnover rate, lack of student activities, limited nearby affordable shopping options, and being required to travel for interviews. Suggestions included improving engagement for virtual guests, providing more information on historical data, addressing technical difficulties promptly, and ensuring interviewer preparedness. It was also recommended to offer more campus visits, enhance campus safety, and establish a more established track record for the school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
We encountered some technical difficulties, but I wouldn't necessarily say that impressed me negatively. In this day and age, it is pretty well guaranteed you may encounter some type of tech problem. It delayed the day a little, but I was not impressed negatively about it because they were flexible with the situation and things still flowed smoothly.
Most applicants wished they had known ahead of time that the interview process would involve two people, that the interviews would be immediate upon arriving on campus, and that they should not stress as the interviewers are there to help. Suggestions included practicing interview skills, being prepared for unexpected writing prompts, and learning more about financial aid options.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
That I was unable to connect to the Microsoft team and that because that wasn't working I had to do a phone interview and the interviewers couldn't even see me
That I could have submitted a letter on intent as well as a list of updated activities before the admissions committee had gathered for their meeting to accept or deny applicants.
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally praised the admissions office for being personable, accommodating, and transparent, suggesting that they continue their strong work. Some feedback included providing refreshments, updating websites for user-friendliness, allowing for more student interaction, and incorporating more breaks during the admissions process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
None they did a really great job and were very personable!
I wish they had a suitable back up in case of technical difficulties. I feel like I didn't get the chance that others got because they risked going in person.
Provide a light breakfast (coffee, juice, bagels, yogurt, etc.) and a more simple lunch option. Temperature was uncomfortably cold. Conducting interviews in a room large enough to be further than 6 feet from interviewers would allow masks to come off (it was hard to hear/ talk with masks on and so close to each other in a tiny office). Presentations and tour were helpful!
During the interview day we were constantly asked after every presentation how the presentation could be improved. Though feedback is useful it made it seem like they did not know what they were doing.
15% interviewees used Fort Smith (Fort Smith), with 15% using Fort Smith Regional Airport (Fort Smith Regional Airport) and 15% using XNA (XNA) and 8% using Fort Smith regional (Fort Smith regional) and 8% using Ft.Smith Regional (Ft.Smith Regional) and 8% using Fort Smith Regional (Fort Smith Regional) and 8% using Dallas to Fort Smith (Dallas to Fort Smith) and 8% using Fort smith (Fort smith) and 8% using N/A (N/A) and 8% using FSR (FSR).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
✈️
37% Airplane
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50% Automobile
🚆
3% Train or Subway
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11% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Hampton Inn (average ranking 8.3/10), with some staying at Home 2 Suites (average rating 9.5/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Hampton Inn
8.3/10
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Home 2 Suites
9.5/10
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Home2
9/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel
Admissions staff (46%)
Faculty member (12%)
Other (12%)
Student (29%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
