Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 43% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
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 as average compared to 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 how experiences have prepared candidates for medical school, the role of a doctor in the community, managing stress in medical school, reasons for choosing osteopathic medicine, thoughts on telemedicine, ethical scenarios, and hypothetical situations like addressing vaccination concerns with patients. Additionally, some respondents mentioned being asked about their thoughts on creating projects involving the entire class or their preferences for practicing in specific regions based on unique population considerations. Some responses indicated the interview format may be an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) where questions are presented in various stations, and respondents might be subject to a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked.
Have you ever had second thoughts about pursuing medicine?
I can't really say this particular question because it is pertinent to me and it would give who I am to the school- All i could say is review your application, secondary, and optional exhibits and be prepared to answer any questions that is pertinent to you.
If you had to create a project that involved the entire class, and everyone had to participate in the project, how would you get your fellow students to participate?
What region of New Mexico do you feel best suited to live in for your clinical years, given the illegal immigrant population in Las Cruces, the homeless population in Albuquerque, or the native population on the reservation?
Students said most interesting question asked at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including reading preferences, US history knowledge, favorite poets, motivations for pursuing medicine, extracurricular activities, and preferences for clinical placement based on different community challenges. Some responses suggested a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and potential nondisclosure agreements due to limitations in sharing specific questions.
What region of New Mexico do you feel best suited to live in for your clinical years, given the illegal immigrant population in Las Cruces, the homeless population in Albuquerque, or the native population on the reservation?
Students said most difficult question asked at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a range of topics, including personal reflections on pursuing medicine, cultural awareness, handling challenging scenarios like dementia, and ethical considerations such as the rights surrounding insurance. Additionally, respondents mentioned encountering an MMI format with nondisclosure requirements, indicating a structured interview process with specific confidentiality expectations.
Have you ever had second thoughts about pursuing medicine?
What region of New Mexico do you feel best suited to live in for your clinical years, given the illegal immigrant population in Las Cruces, the homeless population in Albuquerque, or the native population on the reservation?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
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?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources like SDN, mock interviews, and online platforms to practice questions and learn more about the school. Some also focused on researching the school's history, mission, and specific aspects like tenets of osteopathic medicine to be well-prepared for potential questions.
I didn't. I looked up some general information about the school and the history of the area, but that was about it. I didn't have any of the tenets of Osteopathic Medicine memorized (although some people did get asked this question). I also made sure to be able to clearly explain to them if I didn't have an answer and what I could do to find the answer.
Applicants were positively impressed by the genuine interest and warm welcome shown by interviewers and admissions team, as well as the friendly and relaxed atmosphere during interactions. They appreciated the transparency about costs, resources, and support available at the school, along with the focus on student well-being and success.
Interviewers and admissions team had good energy and genuinely wanted to get to know the applicants. They also gave us a timeframe of when they were gonna get back to us.
Didn't know what to expect coming in as it's a somewhat newer school but they really do a good job of making you fall in love with the school. They are very honest and straight-forward with describing how much it costs to attend, why it's listed as a "for-profit", how it was founded, etc. Even as someone who wasn't an official student, they were already offering lots of resources on what to do to avoid as much debt as possible, what scholarships to apply to, what each faculty member can help you with and so on. There were lots of faculty in the virtual info. session (which is always very nice to see), and the faculty/medical students that were there were very professional, down-to-earth, and honest about every aspect of the school. I was talking to a current student in my session that was openly explaining something she didn't like about Burrell and it was very refreshing to hear compared to my other interviews, which always had students that looked depressed or annoyed to be there, or very awkward/constrictive about the information they shared. The other schools' interview/info. sessions I attended were filled with a "you're lucky to be here" vibe but Burrell does a good job of doing the opposite and making it seem like they're lucky to have you there. Overall, very organized and the time flew by. They seem like they genuinely do care about you as a future student and how you do at their school and I hope that this attitude carries on throughout the 4-years that you're there.
All of the students that came in and talked with us (>10), federal funding achieved, access to NMSU facilities (which are HUGE), solid gym, the town of Mesilla, close to Texas.
The facilities are brand spanking new. However, mostly, the students, faculty, and administration are extremely nice and welcoming! Average boards scores (from the inaugural class) was fine (in my book)
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about rushed interviews, high tuition costs, unenthusiastic student panels, lack of transparency, and difficulty in fully answering long and detailed questions during interviews. Suggestions include allowing more time for questions and answers, improving transparency about costs and program information, and ensuring interviews are conducted in a more comfortable and engaging manner.
Interview was really rushing me and cutting me off after 5-6 words each question. No time to clarify what the questions were.
Don't really have anything negative to say. If I were to be nit-picky I would say that the school does not hide the fact that it's expensive to get a medical degree (Tuition + living expenses). When they started dropping the numbers and going into detail, it kind of caught me off guard bc the other info. sessions I attended for other schools do a pretty quick gloss over the numbers to get into other parts of their presentation, sometimes even ignoring living costs and other aspects regarding cost. In the moment, it's a lot to handle all at once but I appreciated the honesty/bluntness of it afterwards.
There are no close apartments or stores that is within walking distance around BCOM itself. Having a car will be kind of useful (for convenience sake). However, I believe living there without a car is do-able. There is transportation provided by NMSU.
My interview felt very awkward. The interviewers asked very long, detailed questions, which became difficult to fully answer given their length and intricacy.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the conversational nature of the interview, the importance of being concise in responses, and the focus on ethical and hypothetical scenarios. Additionally, many applicants recommended being prepared for questions unrelated to the application or the school, and emphasized the school's strong student-centric focus and preference for candidates willing to stay in the area.
How conversational it was. Questions stemmed from responses.
Applicants generally provided positive feedback on the program structure, facilities, and interview experience. However, some noted concerns about specific interviewers' behavior and the variability in interview experiences.
Honestly thinking of withdrawing due to the negative interview experience
Interviewer would ask questions I would answer say the answer they were looking for then they would go “that’s not correct it’s…..” and repeat exactly what I just said
Overall, the building is very nice and the curriculum shows a lot of promise. My interview was awkward, but that will vary significantly depending on who the interviewers are.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should ensure interviewers listen attentively, ask relevant questions, and create a comfortable environment during interviews. Additionally, they appreciated follow-ups and emphasized the importance of making applicants feel welcome and at ease throughout the admissions process.
Have the faculty giving interviews really listen to the applicant, have them ask appropriate questions regarding the applicant. Don’t make it interrogation. Interviewer was lacking social cues