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Boston University School of Medicine

Boston, MA

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 23% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Most respondents felt positively about their interview.

What was the stress level of the interview?

How you think you did?

Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.

How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?

Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about ethical scenarios, personal journey into medicine, leadership experiences, specific activities or research projects, academic performance, motivations for pursuing medicine, challenges in healthcare, and reasons for choosing a particular institution. Many respondents mentioned being asked ethical dilemma questions, indicating an MMI format with potential nondisclosure agreements.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at Boston University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal motivations for medicine, and the impact of diverse backgrounds on medical practice. The interview format may have been MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the variety of questions, but respondents also noted standard questions alongside engaging conversations on topics like ethics, healthcare advocacy, and personal experiences.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at Boston University School of Medicine discussed various ethical dilemmas, research depth, and healthcare challenges, with some facing MMI format inquiries under nondisclosure agreements. Common themes included ethical decision-making scenarios, personal research exploration, and reflections on the healthcare system.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.

How many people interviewed you?

Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.

What was the style of the interview?

Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.

What type of interview was it?

Most respondents had an open file interview.

Was this interview in-person or virtual?

Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.

Where did the interview take place?

Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience

Who was the tour given by?

Tours were most commonly given by a Student

How did the tour guide seem?

Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.

How do you rank the facilities?

Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.

What is your in-state status?

Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.

What were your total hours spent traveling?

Most respondents spent 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.

What was your primary mode of travel?

Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

Most respondents spent less than $100.

Where did you stay?

Most respondents stayed either at a hotel or with friends or family.

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

How would you rate the hotel?

Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

Would you recommend the hotel?

Most respondents would recommend their hotel.

What is your ranking of this school's location?

Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions

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.

How did you prepare for the interview?

The most common feedback and suggestions shared by applicants on how they prepared for the interview include reviewing their application materials, practicing with mock interviews, studying the school's website, researching current healthcare issues, and rehearsing answers to common questions. Many also sought feedback from Student Doctor Network (SDN) and engaged in discussions with current students or alumni of the program.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were consistently impressed by the conversational and friendly nature of the interviews, the genuine passion and commitment of the faculty and students, the emphasis on community health and service, the diverse patient population at Boston Medical Center, the strong clinical training opportunities, the positive atmosphere on campus, and the enthusiasm of the Dean of Admissions. Suggestions for improvement included more focus on ethics and healthcare-related questions during interviews.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the high cost of attending BU School of Medicine, the expensive cost of living in Boston, and the dated facilities. Suggestions included providing more insight into the school's value for the high cost, improving the interview experience by ensuring better interviewer preparation and reducing the number of applicants interviewed in a day, and enhancing facilities and student experiences to align with the tuition fees.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time to be prepared for curveball questions, done more research on the interviewer, and brushed up on ethics. They also highlighted the importance of reading the interviewer's biography, being aware of the long interview day, and understanding the emphasis on ethical and healthcare questions, as well as the unique aspects of the school such as seeing dissected cadavers and the focus on urban healthcare. Additionally, applicants emphasized the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews, the need for early contact for student hosts, the high cost of living in Boston, and the lack of public transportation access to the campus.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally provided feedback on various aspects of the interview day at BU School of Medicine. Some found the experience positive, appreciating conversational and relaxed interviews, informative presentations, and interactions with students and faculty. Others expressed concerns about unstructured interviews, high cost, lack of enthusiasm from students, and interactions with interviewers or admissions staff. Suggestions included more structured interviews, consideration of cost, and ensuring positive interactions with staff and interviewers.
  • just know why dentistry, why BU, and if you don't know a question, take a second and then just answer it to the best of your ability. Do look over more questions than what is provided here since I got some that I was unprepared for. Also, it was conversational but he did still throw question after question to me.
  • Wonderful experience overall
  • LOVED! Felt like I let the interviewer know about me. No rush, and the interviewer was professional, kind, and receptive
  • Overall, not too sure how to feel. The first half was very research and ethics-based. The second half was more about volunteering and hobbies.
  • Casual and conversational w/ seamless Zoom interface. My interviewer was easygoing, welcoming, and knowledgable about BMC. The flow was unstructured but organic. No questions except 1 ethical dilemma were prepared by my interviewer. I wish that maybe there were questions prepared so I didn't have to guess on the points that interested my interviewer, but I think we connected well in conversation and I found our most relatable points that way. The dean is so generous, and the students at BU have given me the best vibes of all my interviews!

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should offer personal tours of school facilities during the student panel and provide prompt replies to applicants. They also recommend standardizing the interview process, improving interviewer interactions, and enhancing the overall applicant experience with small touches like better catering options and friendlier staff.