Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 15% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average 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 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 encompass a range of topics such as personal interests, research experiences, handling criticism and conflicts, ethical dilemmas in healthcare, future goals, and reasons for pursuing medicine. While some interviews were structured in the MMI format with nondisclosure agreements, the majority focused on assessing applicants' problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and motivations for entering the medical field.
Describe an instance when you had to ask for an extension on a project or assignment for whatever reason. What happened and how did you ask your professors for the extension?
describe your research. An MD asked me this, so I asked if he/she wanted me to describe it briefly. So I described it in 2 sentences using very basic terminology.
where did you grow up and how did that environment affect you? (I had grown up in an ultra-competitive environment and the interviewer was very interested in it, probing a lot, as CCLCM is as least competitive as it can get)
How do you learn? Do you like lectures? Would you do well in a group-learning environment? What do you think would be the hardest for you to adjust to in a no-lecture teaching style?
Explain your research (a good half of each interview dealt with my research) --> At what stage in a research project would you envision yourself participating as a physician-researcher?
Questions on recent articles about the infamous McDonals in the Cleveland Clinic and also about a recent NYTimes article about academia & business... SO GLAD that I read them!
random questions about how i work with groups, how i deal with authority, etc etc. although i was asked many questions (back -to-back hour long interviews), it was mainly standard stuff. not really intense or challenging at any point.
Students said most interesting questions asked at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University discussed a wide range of topics, including personal experiences, ethical dilemmas, future goals, and reasons for pursuing medicine. Some responses hinted at an MMI format, with mentions of nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted questions about feedback, research funding, emotional maturity, and personal backgrounds.
If a student isn't working well with you and you give them feedback but they still do not change, what would you do? (with the background that CCLCM is huge on giving and receiving feedback in lieu of tests and grades)
Since cardiovascular disease leads to more deaths in this country than the next several causes combined, why is so little research funding devoted to it?
What religion are you/What is your background? (But he only asked me this b/c he thought I looked Egyptian Coptic and they have a big following in Cleveland, which is unique to the city). The interviews in general were very conversational and laid back - totally low stress.
none really... mostly just questions about why I want to go into medicine, why I like research, my learning style, what my future goals and interests are, etc
If you were a CEO of this hospital, how would you go about deciding which is better for the institution, electronic medical histories or traditional audio-recorded histories?
i can't remember exactly, but it had to do with music (i'm a cellist). it wasn't some fuddy questions about "why do you like playing?" it led to an interesting conversation.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University discussed a wide range of topics, including research-related inquiries, teamwork scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and future career plans. Some respondents mentioned scenarios involving non-contributing team members, managing personal life as a physician, and detailed questions about healthcare systems, while others highlighted specific questions about their research projects. Additionally, references to MMI format, nondisclosure agreements, and the importance of being prepared for discussions on research and teamwork situations were noted by some participants.
research related questions that were specific to the timeline of experiments
Describe a time when you had to look at things from another cultural or socioeconomic perspective (he clarified "any time you had to see things from a different lens" since he thought this was a curve-ball question).
Very relaxed interview (I've had many before this one). Be VERY comfortable and prepared to talk about what research you have done for one faculty interview. AND be prepared to talk about your interest in CCLCM in particular. Also, critically review any teamwork situations you have experienced (good and bad).
How to fix the healthcare system? In great detail (like to how administer, etc.)- I kept getting grilled about it and really didn't know how to answer well...
What will you do if a member of your group does not contribute?
Seems easy enough but I think my interviewer wanted a specific answer so he kept grilling me till he got it
You said you want a family, so how do you plan on managing your personal life as a physician? and How would you deal with an alpha-male group member who thought he was always right and wouldnt stop talking? (the learning there is mostly in small groups)
something to the effect of "what qualities of the U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems would you combine to design a more effective system than the ones currently in place?" (yikes!)
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?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by thoroughly reviewing their application materials, research, and the school's curriculum. Many also utilized resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN), mock interviews, and speaking with current students to prepare well and ensure they were knowledgeable and confident during the interview.
Read the interview q's on this feedback forum, wrote them all down, and had someone ask me them. Also, I read all of the info on CCLCM I could get off of their website. Re-read my AMCAS application, my secondary essays, and my research paper. BTW, they asked all of the same questions that other ppl already listed on this forum.
Practiced reciting my answers out-loud, especially explaining my research in a clear manner, practiced in front of the mirror (to work on getting rid of my nervous mannerisms), also worked out responses to a lot of commonly asked questions. Basically it's a process of knowing yourself well and being able to articulate that clearly.
went over my research VERY thoroughly, read cclcm's brochure and website, went over application, contacted admissions a few times beforehand to ask questions (hey, there weren't any existing students to ask at that point!)
Applicants were consistently impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities, innovative curriculum including problem-based learning, enthusiastic faculty and students, strong emphasis on research, and the supportive and welcoming environment at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Many highlighted the exceptional facilities, unique curriculum, and the overall positive and collaborative atmosphere as key factors contributing to their positive impressions of the program.
How laid back the day was, and I absolutely loved touring Cleveland Clinic. Ups the game. I also actually really enjoyed my interviews, especially the ones with the faculty. Interviews are nerve-wracking but the interview room is small (so it felt cozy despite the white walls and modern furniture). The group activity was also fun (mock PBL session).
facilities, impressiveness of the clinic staff as well as the CCLCM faculty/staff, longitudinal curriculum, friendliness of students, full tuition + laptop, anatomy set-up
The faculty interview made up for the strange students on my day! They were nice, took interest, were open to questions. Just made me feel much better in general. As for another interviewer's comment: I, for one,do not care if the deans come and go, as long as when they are there they are a advocate for the school. (Which they are at CC!) And the faculty and staff were so hospitable and kind that I don't know what happened with the medical student!
Incredible facilities at Cleveland Clinic. Students seem very happy. Staff and other interviewees were nice. Free access to all local medical conferences.
The Cleveland Clinic has a ton of money. Their buildings are new and swanky, each student gets a tablet laptop, free printing/photocopying at the school, wifi everywhere, etc. The hospital is HUGE and very impressive. The students were all obviously really smart and very happy - I only heard good things from them. Everyone in Cleveland is really nice, and the cost of living is cheap. You can get a 1 bedroom apartment for less than $600.
The facilities are top of the line. The students have endless opportunities and all faculty (which are volunteers) really want the students to succeed.
The place is amazing. I was literally shocked at how modern and beautiful the entire hospital and medical school is. The labs are fantastic as well. Very cush place with tons of money. Curriculum requires very self-motivated, physician-scientist type of students. Research focused. Very unorthodox style of learning, very unorthodox style of evaluating students. Very sweet. This hospital is something to see.
Small class size, beautiful facilities, enthusiastic and highly qualified professors- how excited everyone seemed to be about the new program, the awesome research opportunities and the incredible financial aid.
The facilities are extremely nice. They work (perhaps a little too) hard to try to wow you with the technology the students get to use. The faculty seem to love having the students around and are really welcoming.
Every person I met was enthusiastic, kind, and very giving of their time. This school stands out dramatically in the fact that they value interviewees highly and are respectful of how much effort we have put to get to this point. The interactions that should have caused stress were conducted in an intentional effort to put interviewees at ease.
Facilities are unbelievable! Cleveland clinic is such a strong hospital. Go through ~300 surguries/day they said! The cirriculum is very unique and seemed very responsive to the inangural class
Facilities are unbelievable! Cleveland clinic is such a strong hospital. Go through ~300 surguries/day they said! The cirriculum is very unique and seemed very responsive to the inaugural class
facilities, the more-professional-than-academic feel of the place, the caliber and magnitude of research and ground-breaking patient care that goes on there!, the really unique teaching methods and curricular aspects, etc
Nearly everything. The curriculum, the students, my fellow interviewees, the faculty-student relationships. They had the cleanest, most amazing research facilities I have seen after 8 years of doing research.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the location of the school in Cleveland, the newness of the program without a graduating class or board exam history, and the small class size. Suggestions included improving transparency about the curriculum, addressing the negative aspects of Cleveland, and reassuring applicants about the program's effectiveness in residency matching.
There isn't much that was negative. I guess I thought the program provides a full ride but they provide full tuition, and you take care of living expenses. However, I did learn that 5 out of 32 matriculates gets the Dean's scholarship which is an additional scholarship that covers living expenses, so those 5 students do get a full ride.
the city leaves much to be desired, weather, small class size, "vagueness" of evaluations (not getting a grade, even P/NP, is pretty scary and weird if you think about it)
The student interviewer kept pushing me to say bad things about fellow interviewers (or perhaps myself?). She kept remarking that they don't want "boring people", or people who "just get good grades", and do not know how to have fun -- in a almost pointed manner. Additionally, I know we are young and we all curse from time to time but I can not believe she cursed in front of me after pointing out "professionalism is lacking" several time during our time together. As another interviewer on my day also mentioned, the ego was so thick you could slice it and make a sandwich out of it.
EDIT 11/01/09: I have some distance between my interview and now to post. OK, so although I wasn't so bothered by it, I think several of my co-interviewees were put-off by the tours of the laboratories. Since this was before the interviews, I know many people couldn't relax and were a little fidgety. On the other hand, I am sure it is a logistical nightmare to get tours of a couple labs for every group that comes through. In addition, the tours are not necessarily in areas of interest to the interviewees, so I think they try and keep the lab tours basic. So I both appreciate what the adcom is doing, but at the same time understand why some were put-off by it.
Cleveland didn't seem like the nicest city to live in, though to be fair I spent very little time there. It's definitely not a big enough problem to keep me from going if I get accepted.
everyone said that the interviews would be really laid back, but i found one of mine to be quite the opposite. it wasn't a conversation at all - my interviewer was asking me typical questions that had little relation to each other (what's your greatest strength, greatest weakness, best accomplishment, greatest failure, etc. etc.)
Literally, the ONLY drawback is that Cleveland kind of sucks. Its kind of cold and snows a lot, but all of the buildings are connected with walkways so thats not too bad. You never even have to go outside. Basically, Cleveland as a city is pretty run down, but they do have cool places to hang out, its just not like DC or NY.
It is still a young school, and they're still working the kinks out. But the students say the administrators are very open to suggestions because of it.
The fact that they'd never graduated a class or had anyone take the boards makes me very nervous. They tried to reassure us, but really what can they say? Also, I'm not sure that having the entire currciulum be P/F will be good when it comes time for residency matching. It might be better if they did like Mayo, making the pre-clinical years P/F and the clinical ones H/P/F
No track record. Students are expected to attend every single class. I felt like students were telling me what I wanted to hear more than at other schools.
Possibly how new the program was because it seemed to be still trying to figure out kinks in the system. But the administration seems very responsive and reasonable! Also associated with Case and the Clinic so should be no problem with residency.
The 2 hours of walking. The first is a tour of the research facility (which I didn't mind). The second tour was of the clinical facilites...interesting, but I don't feel that I gained much from the experience.
cleveland is no crown jewel... but, that small negative was dwarfed by the overwhelming positives this school had to offer. (i went to school in chicago for 4 years, so the weather would not be enough to deter me)
Many applicants wished they had known ahead of time about the long, tiring interview day with little breaks, the emphasis on asking questions, the need for comfortable shoes due to extensive walking during tours, and the importance of understanding the unique aspects of the program such as the lack of traditional grades and the separate nature of the program from CWRU. Additionally, applicants noted the significance of being prepared to discuss controversial research topics, the need for a car due to limited public transportation and safety concerns in the surrounding neighborhoods, and the recommendation to stay at the Intercontinental hotel for a more comfortable experience.
My experience may be different from others since we get different faculty. But I wasn't asked about my research in depth as I expected. The faculty were MD and did not seem to understand or care for the nitty gritty details. They asked about it but it didn't feel like they cared for asking follow-up questions that really focused on the science.
very long interview day. 7:30-4ish. However, you are pretty well-fed. The tour was also right before lunch and the interviews, so I was both anxious and hungry and tired. They took us to see biomedical imaging stuff which I had no interest in so I had to feign interest (as an interviewee, you KNOW you're worried about every little thing you do being conveyed to the adcom)
STAY AT THE EITHER INTERCONTINENTAL, THEY BOTH ARE AWESOME (not the guesthouse, I can't recommend that, don't know anything about it). But remember, they nickel and dime you for parking and you should get into the habit of tipping the valet, etc. (for the younger folks out there), so even though it is a nice rate, plan your expenses accordingly.
You have to have a car. Public transportation isnt that great, plus the neighborhoods around the school aren't safe so you can't walk. Also, while Cleveland is kind of run down and very brown, grey, and flat, about 30 minutes east there are a ton of state parks and its very green/hilly. Apparently, the city itself is the start of the midwest plains.
Had the chance to speak with some of the students. They noted that the program really did not emphasize medical school level biochemistry as much as it should.
Come with tons of questions because the day is jam-packed with information on the school and at the end of day the interviewers ask if you have any questions for them. Also you meet a lot of people on admissions board, so they to be on top of things during the whole interview!
Come with tons of questions because the day is jam-packed with information on the school and at the end of day the interviewers ask if you have any questions for them. Also you meet a lot of people on admissions board, so you should try impress most of the time!
i think i just had a lot of things clarified, such as in curricular aspects and how the evaluations and advising systems would work. since it was a brand new school, not all of the details were clear on the website.
No grades, self-asessment. Almost all learning is in PBL format. Also, you can get your master's degree along with your MD just by taking a couple extra classes.
Applicants provided feedback praising the program, interview process, and facilities, with many expressing a strong desire to attend if accepted. They appreciated the relaxed and conversational interview style, comprehensive tours, supportive faculty, and emphasis on research. Some concerns were raised about the student body's attitude and the program's stability due to changes in leadership.
Absolutely wonderful interview day. Really relaxed. I'm lucky that I had this as my first interview in the cycle. Relax and tell them how amazing you are!
This school's interviews are way beyond anything at any other school. There are two faculty and one student interview, and a group discussion where your interactions are evaluated. There were a large number of ethical questions, personality questions, and more interest in scientific research than other schools. Be prepared.
It felt very hurtful to have a student basically spend 30 minutes telling me "we don't like boring people ..so if you are boring - you will NOT fit in". She just met us and already had a very superior attitude. In perspective, dear medical student -- you are only 4 years ahead of us, any human with empathy can grasp that we are scared, nervous, just spent money and time off from college to travel, and we came to interview with hopes that we can be a good fit for your school. If nothing more, be kind to your guests, no matter who they may be, we were after all invited.
To write about CCF and CCLCM is just a practice in writing superlatives. I feel like I'd fit in, the research is exciting and the culture is second-to-none for the phyician investigator in training.
2 faculty and 1 student interview. Student is the first and only 30 mins. It is closed file for the student interviewer. He knows only your name, your school, and maybe where you grew up. That's it. One faculty interviewer will focus on your research.
2 interviews- both really laid back and conversational, one talked to me alot about reaserch and Clevelnad, other talked primarily about my experiencesgrowing up and why medicine/research ets. Overall I think that both went well, hopefully will find out good news soon!
Comfortable interviews, good in-depth tours of facilities. Very receptive admissions staff, faculty and students. Definitely very professionally organized and executed.
Both my interviewers started out very formally, but it quickly transitioned into easy conversation. I can see where a person who was very nervous might have found it intimidating. My advice is just to be confident and be yourself.
Didn't think I would fit into the program much before the interview, but was very impressed by everything I saw. CCLCM is now definitely one of my top choices.
My host brought me to admissions at 7:30. Breakfast and coffee were served. Dean Fishleder gave us an overview of the program, including details of the curriculum, and gave us a tour of the school. Then we had a financial aid talk with Elizabeth Myers. Next was a one-hour tour of the research building, with two twenty-minute visits with two lab PIs, and then an hour-long tour of the hospital, given by a student. Wear comfy shoes!!! I wore clogs the whole time and just put on dress shoes for the interviews, and I am SO glad I did. After the tours we had lunch with students, then two faculty interviews. Next was a 40-minute demonstration of the web portal, and finally a wrap-up session. Whole day, 7:45-4:30. The interview group was 6 people, which was apparently a large group for them.
The experience was educational and some of my fears about the program were quelled seeing how confident both the faculty & students were in the curriculum. The tours were a bit too long though. The interviews were also after the tours so that gave you enough time to learn about the program and ask good questions
It was my first interview, and I felt like the whole thing went very well. It was very laid back, everyone was really nice. The students there were all really smart. Some were more ''gunners'' than others, but there were definately some very cool, laid-back students (I'm a beer and wings kinda gal). Oh, and b/c the classes are in a clinical building, you have to dress professionally, even just to go to class or the library (slacks, collared shirt, etc.
You really learn a lot about the program. The tours are very thorough and give you a good idea what it would be like to go to school there. The faculty are very interested and supportive of the students.
The whole day was packed, with three tours (hospital, medical school, and research areas), financial aid info, curricular info, a lunch, and an internet session. The interviews themselves were comfortable, more like conversations than the others I've been to. I was tired by the end of the day.
I was extremely impressed with the school, although it seems like you either love it or hate it. If you want a more traditional style of learning, check out Case Western instead.
I came into the interview not really expecting to like the school that much, but by the end of the interview day it was one of my top two or three choices. I was so impressed by the hospital's great reputation, the enthusiastic faculty, and the advisor system. I interviewed with two PhDs b/c my MD interviewer had to take care of an emergency. The first interview was really easygoing, just trying to get to know me with some general questions about my research. The second interview was more intense, but it really gave me an opportunity to sell myself and talk about why I would be a good fit.
I really enjoyed the institution. The faculty and staff are very supportive of the students. The facilities are state of the art and it is a very research intensive school. So don't apply unless you like research and I do!
Its got excellent potential... but the student body there really needs some mental help. They were so condescending toward Case Western students and kept claiming they knew things more in depth... I wanted to ask them for proof.. but Uh oh no BOARD SCORES YET.
I would recommend being thoroughly fluent in any research experience that appears in your application, because they'll ask you about it. Even it was a while ago, read up on it because they'll really grill you. When I responded to a question by saying, "I don't know if that has been studied yet," my interviewer said, "So propose a possible mechanism and how you could test it?" If you can answer those kinds of questions, then you'll shine.
LONG interview day including several tours and two full-hour interviews. An MD typically interviews you to evaluate your goals and motivations and how well you would "fit" into the school; a PhD typically asks to you explain your research and evaluates your understanding of it.
This was the most excellent interview experience I've had yet. I would reccommend you get plenty of rest the night before because it will be a long and intensely stimulating day.
I had a great experience. I previously reviewed this when there was no CCLCM category. In any case, there were a total of 3 tours: student, researcher and resident. There were also a couple of talks, etc. Dr. Hutzler and Mrs. Myers are so personable and great. The most interesting part of the day was the curriculum. It definitely is the star of the program.
This one felt a lot different than any other medical school interview I've been to. I think that comes with good reason - this place is a lot different than any other medical school. It's interesting that the students largely learn from one another and on an independent basis. The students said that, because it's a new program, there are still kinks being worked out. However, it sounds like everything should be running smoothly by next year. The only lingering questions I have about the place are: how are the students going to fair in residency placement and what paths are students going to choose in their 3-5 years?
It was great. The interview day was well organized and you were immediately made to feel welcome. AS someone said before, the dean sits down with all of us at the begining and brings up things he found interesting on our application. Sort of nerve-racking but fun. I'm glad the interviews were after lunch because by that time, I worked out all of my nervous energy with all that walking. My first interview was very research oriented, but very conversational, while the other mostly focused on personal stuff. THese interviews were not confrontational at all. Overall it was a very pleasant experience and I can only hope that my future interviews go just as well.
This is definitely one of the most amazing places out there to gain a medical eduation. At the same time, it's not for everyone. CCLCM is an ideal school for someone who wants to incorporate research into his/her medical career without going through the rigor of obtaining a PhD. I really like the idea that the school is aiming to produce a unique breed of physician researchers. Although there were not yet any current students, I did not question that this place will be greatly successful. I liked the fact that it is a new school - that creates lots of initiatives for students to start things up and to have a hand in the direction that the school will ultimately steer it's graduates. In any case, I did not end up getting in last year (made it as far as the hold list). I am, however, interviewing again this year, so I'm still holding out for an acceptance. I have no doubt that this school is a perfect fit for my interests. This is definitely one worth checking out.
5 interviewees. Assistant Dean greeted us. He went around the table and introduced each student, their research, etc. I was impressed with his knowledge of each of our files. Tours, curriculum presentations, lunch with students, financial aid presentations...standard interview. The school is absolutely amazing. It takes hands-on to an entirely new level and their first class is positively gushing with enthusiasm. I like the philosophy of students as "collegues" who wear long coats and see patients the first week. I got the impression from my host that they have one-on-one acess to even the most famous faculty members at the drop of a hat.
The CCLCM is amazing. The facilities are all great, the student:faculty ratio is opposite that of all other med schools, and the curriculum fits my learning style. If you're not sure if you want to spend 4 extra years earning a PhD but you're interested in research as part of your career, this is the perfect place.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants suggest increasing communication frequency, maintaining the tour regardless of weather conditions, improving the cafeteria food quality, screening medical students involved in interviews, and enhancing the overall impression of the program.
Absolutely keep the tour of Cleveland Clinic in the interview schedule regardless of the weather, since most of the tour is inside the hospital anyways. On my interview day we toured the clinic but there was talk beforehand of possibly skipping it because of rain. Seeing the clinic definitely added dimension to my impression of the program.