Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 13% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
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
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's background, family, motivations for pursuing medicine, interests outside academics, and specific experiences that influenced their decision. While various questions are asked, some respondents experienced an MMI format where interviewers focused on individualized questions, indicating a nondisclosure agreement may have been in place during the interview process.
Group: Tell me about your family; greatest accomplishment (non-medical); what you do to relax; go back in time, what'd you change or do differently; one thing/trait your friends would change about you; career you'd pursue if medicine were not an option.
You do a one on one interview and then a group interview. The group interviewers dont have your mcat or gpa, only your amcas essay and some basic demographic information. Each interviewer asks each interviewee a question(you will be asked in different orders though)...and for me none of us got the same question, all specific to us.
(Group) Tell me about yourself
(Individual) Stuff about my AMCAS essay
- both interviewers only see your essays..nothing else on AMCAS...well not at the time of the interview
expect to be asked about your essay...especially how your experiences affected your choice to enter medical field, what it taught you about medicine, etc
Students said the most interesting question asked at Emory University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including challenges for the next generation of physicians, showcasing Earth to aliens for preservation, beliefs held and changed, sentimental items, future goals, and community building with diverse patients. The interviews featured a mix of personal, hypothetical, and ethical questions, with some focusing on healthcare impact, book preferences, cultural perspectives, and reflections on personal statements.
What do you see being a challenge for the next generation of physicians?
If aliens came to Earth and you could only take them to one place to show them why they should spare the Earth from destruction, where would you take them?
In our group interview, each of us mentioned the importance of contributing to the community, so one of our interviewers asked us how we planned to build a sense of community with patients who did not share our background (racial/ethnic/socioeconomic/geographic).
If a thoracic surgeon visited his patients prior to surgery and read from his bible to try and "save" them in case any troubles arose how would you respond?"
One year, unlimited money, what would you do? I loved this question because it allowed me to talk about an interest of mine that I haven't been able to pursue.
Give an example of something science/medicine can't undo. (Basically, I had questions pulled from my PS. I had to explain/defend sentences or themes in my PS, so read yours before you go!)
If you were an ER doctor, and you had a prison inmate (convicted of rape and murder) come in by an ambulance for a serious condition, how would you treat the prisoner?
see the post directly above (it's me again... i forgot to say some things :)... We also had a one-on-one interview in addition to the group panel (see questions below)
Nothing really. Emory is my undergrad institution so one of the interviewers in the panel interview asked to explan why the other applicants should go to Emory.
How do you plan to take care of your emotional/personal needs during medical school and medical practice with such strenuous demands? (during individual interview)
do you think you're gonna have this same idealism once you get into the thick of practice? esp. in light of all the changes in medicine that make it a big pain
If a lifesaving medicine were available for a patient with an otherwise terminal cancer, and they refused treatment on religious grounds, what would you do?
Do you think physicians have the ability to measure the human soul? (It was a question related to my statement... don't worry, probably nobody else will get this one)
If there were an old, established family practice physician you joined in rural Georgia whose medical techniques were 20 years behind the times, how would you address the problem?
Students said most difficult question asked at Emory University School of Medicine discussed various personal and ethical scenarios, including questions about impactful experiences, family influence, healthcare challenges, and decision-making in medical practice. The interview format may have been an MMI based on responses mentioning nondisclosure agreements, with a range of questions focusing on values, motivations, and problem-solving skills in the medical field.
If aliens came to Earth and you could only take them to one place to show them why they should spare the Earth from destruction, where would you take them?
Why is your undergraduate institution not selling you better in your committee letter? (wasn't prepared for this, as I had no idea what was in the committee letter)
Explain your most impactful shadowing experience. How long was it? What did you like/dislike? ... Why do you think I asked you about your shadowing experience? What information will it provide to the admission committee?
Where are you from, where did you attend high school, describe your family and what they do, why you want to be a doctor, and why you think that Emory would be a good fit for you? (all one question in the group interview)
Person X is dying and in a lot of pain. You give him morphine but too much will kill him. What do you do? You've exhausted all your options. The patient is still in pain and wants you to end his life. What do you do? This was a group interview question and one of the hardest questions I've answered this year
How does and emergency doctor build a trusting relationship with patients? This was a fair question because I talked about the importance of the doctor-patient relationship in my AMCAS personal statement.
What makes you unique?...my two pre-thought out responses were both taken by the two kids who answered before me in my group interview (guess I'm not so unique after all).
Was there one striking moment in particular when you knew you wanted to be a doctor? (I had thought of one experience, but not one particular instance)
A question about my opinion on the health care system (group interview), the only reason it was difficult is because the two other applicants (and it seemed like the interviewers) had a different opinion than me.
(in response to my previous answer) If you aren't a compassionate person now at age 22, what makes you think you will develop that trait in the near future? (This sucked)
In your personal statement, you talk about "giving of yourself" as an important part of a medical career. Do you think that this could ever be a negative thing?
Why do you think there are so many patients at Grady that are on gurneys in the halls of the ER? (the question refered to something in my personal statement)
In the group interview, I had to pretend to be George Bush and convince the admissions officer (portrayed by another group member) to pick me for med school over Bill Clinton (portrayed by the 3rd group member).
None really, very free-flowing questions steming from our admissions essays in the group interviw; the one-on-one was extremelly relaxed and conversational.
(This was a question given to another interviewee) Since you dad was a Physician, what are some of the things he did that you'll follow, and what are some of the things you'll change?
Nothing too difficult. People get stressed about the panel format, but it's really not that bad. They direct questions to you individually, rather than throwing them out for the whole group (which is what I thought they did), so you don't have to worry about striking that happy medium between being assertive and not being dominating.
(during the group interview): I had to act like Bill Clinton and convince another interviewee to accept me over George W. Bush (portrayed by another student) into medical school.
First they asked about certain experiences on my AMCAS, then they asked what I learned about myself from those experiences. In the group interview, they were big on asking each of us what we learned about ourselves.
see above. also, can you give me an example of a role model in your life who is a good leader? what qualities in him/her do you respect most that would be useful in a good physician?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 3 people.
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.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a in a group interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had a closed file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
No responses
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, reading through the school's website, utilizing SDN interview feedback, and researching current healthcare issues. They also emphasized the importance of being genuine, relaxed, and well-rested on the day of the interview.
Reviewed questions on SDN; reviewed school website; researched all interviewers in advance of interview (was provided with a schedule 3 days before the interview)
I researched the school extensively and really knew why Emory was a top chocie for me. I also looked through SDN interview feedback questinos and prepared answers for many of them.
Looked over SDN's Interview feedback section, read EUSM's website, tried to think of any and all weaknesses in my application in order to anticipate tough questions, thought about answers to all typical questions (tell me about yourself; why medicine? etc.). I did not script answers because I wanted to be as natural as possible during my interviews. However, I did make a list of the things I wanted to convey about myself for the various questions I expected them to ask.
Researched healthcare reform, read the Emory website, printed out and read hundreds of questions from SDN, spoke with about 30 M1s prior to my interview, and looked over my primary and secondary applications.
I read "Understanding Health Policy," reviewed my AMCAS application (the interviewers only have access to your personal statement), and answered the interview questions in the book "Essays that will get you into Medical School."
Read up on health policy and news, gathered information from the school's website, prepared information with the help of AMCAS/secondary, slept well the night before.
(Group Interview was 3 on 3...2 faculty members and the student who toured us. Then there's also the 1 on 1 interview.)
Read SDN, AMCAS, Emory website
Brought sneakers (THEY REALLY MEAN IT AND THEY COME IN HANDY)
Reviewed Amcas and secondary the night before, reviewed sdn interview feedback the night before, very briefly researched school's website...thats it...pretty much winged the interview.
I was actually very lucky. On the interview day the group is split in two. Half go on a tour for the first hafl of the day and interview in the afternoon, the other half does the opposite. I went on my tour first and had the chance to learn all about the school, what it has to offer, and ask all of my questions. This prepared me very well for how I formulated my responses and how I geared my experiences toward the goals of emory medical school. The night before I read my AMCAS and secondary and did a lot of research on the different programs at emory, their research, and different educational opportunities.
I go to Emory for undergrad, so I'm pretty familiar with the med school. looked at this website, read over personal statement (make sure you know this!), studentdoctor.
Read Emory website, book about healthcare, this website -note that the AM tour is led by a student who will later be an interviewer in the group interview
Read AMCAS app and secondary app. It's sort of closed file: They have your essays, but not your grades or extra-curriculars. So be able to explaine anything you wrote in your essays.
Reread the essays I wrote for all of the schools' secondaries, specific features of the school's location that attract me...Be ready to explain why this school is particularly desirable.
Read everything on the Emory website, reviewed my AMCAS personal statement, reviewed current events (although they didn't ask me anything about current events).
There is no way to prepare for the panel interview. Just be yourself, relax, breathe, and answer the questions with tact and brevity. As for the one-on-one interview, this was relaxed and conversational -- know your essays, etc. and read through the Emory website.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness of the faculty, staff, and students at Emory, as well as the relaxed and welcoming interview environment. The top highlights included the beautiful campus and facilities, the extensive clinical opportunities at Grady Hospital, the new curriculum, and the enthusiastic support from the admissions staff. Positive feedback was also given on the location, support for research opportunities, and the overall sense of community and camaraderie at Emory.
The friendliness of the faculty and staff. How relaxed the interviews were. How organized and "put together" the interview was. The thoroughness of the programs and activities offered to get involved.
The school itself is super nice, the new hospital looks really cool, and Grady Memorial is definitely a wild place to learn and you'd see a lot. The tour was super cool, we got to see a good portion of Grady, including the ED and we even foamed into the NICU which was kind of awkward but worth it to see all the cute babies. Everyone is super nice, and the interview is relatively laid back. They provide refreshments and cookies throughout the day, and lunch was delicious.
The whole day was impressive - everybody was very friendly and they put a lot of effort into ensuring you were comfortable and relaxed for the interview. The students were friendly, and the tour (although extensive) reeally provided me with a great impression.
The school was beautiful and it was in a great area. I liked that it was on the same campus as the undergrads so there was a lot to do. We got a great tour of the hospital and after the interview day you are left with a great perspective of how the rotations will be like.
All of the students seemed very laid-back and happy, and they all raved about Emory. Pass/fail grading. Exams given on Friday. The new curriculum is very unique and the students seem to like it a lot. Beautiful, new medical school building. Students are exposed to a wide range of patients.
The school itself is beautiful
The research facilities at GATech are impressive
The staff and faculty were all friendly
The interview ambience was definitely laid back
Everything: the admissions staff, the deans, my interviewers, my fellow group interviewees, the current students, the campus, the facilities, the curriculum, Atlanta.
beauty of the campus, admissions staff knew my name as soon as I walked in and they knew my resume too!, students seemed low-stress and genuinely praised their school, tests on friday vs. monday or tuesday, sim lab
Everyone was very friendly. The students seemed genuinely happy to be there. The dean was very enthusiastic and the admissions staff was incredibly nice.
The new med school building is immaculate. PBL class that I sat in on was very dynamic. All the students I met were really enthusiastic and loved the school.
the new curriculum!!!! it's AWESOME!
GRADY!! ATLANTA!! the diversity of the patient population and student body. the school's location in foresty area with running trails but close to atlanta. really easy to get an MPH and you're encouraged to do research. the new building is gorgeous. this school is awesome!
Everything! I've been at Emory forever and was not really considering the school as a viable option because I want to move away for a while. My interview day (the longest but most enjoyable of all six so far) had me convinced that I NEED to go to Emory for medical school. Everything was great! The new building is gorgeous and there is a great variety of hospitals for gaining hands-on experience. The school also has great partnerships, especially for those of us interested in public health and global opportunities.
I loved the group interview. I got along very, very well with the other 2 interviewees in my group, and having them around gave me more confidence. I liked how one of the interviewers was the student who gave us our tour of Grady, so I already felt comfortable around him, as well.
I loved how friendly the students were. Every time anyone walked by and noticed a suit (ie interviewee), they stopped to answer questions and tell you how much they loved the school. The incredible building, amazing curriculum, GRADY!
The new medical school building is breathtakingly gorgeous. The turtles in the admissions office are adorable. The tour was long but really comprehensive and pleasant. The students all seemed very happy and would wander over on their own to talk to us. I also really enjoyed my box lunch there :)
The location, the extremely positive attitude of the admissions staff and students, the level of support current students expressed for the school and their classmates, curriculum setup, the variety of hospitals for rotational experience, unbelievable facilities. The M4 who gave my tour was incredibly candid and helpful.
atlanta is a fun city, make sure you go out while you're there! there are a ton of opportunities to meet other grad students, so you don't have to end up marrying another doctor or having only med school friends - something super important to me! the campus is pretty, and the facilities are great. there are a ton of places to work out and nice places to run and do other outside fun. my student host was super nice. they offer a lot of financial aid available. basically the whole day was a positive experience.
The students absolutely love being at Emory. The new facilities will be great. The new curriculum is in the works. I loved everything about the school.
everyone was awesome. Erica and Dr. Schwartz were really cool. the student tour guide was awesome too! very passionate about the school, and very cute (look for the indian guy, i can't remember his name)
The facilities are really nice. The whole interview day was very organized, and the students and admissions staff were friendly. The new curriculum was impressive as well.
The few med students we talked to at lunch seemed pretty enthusiastic and also relaxed. They are a good-looking class, but it was weird that they said they LIKE studying late every week!?!
The new medical school building is absolutely gorgeous. The admissions staff (especially Erica and Dr. Schwartz) are so incredibly enthusiastic and helpful. Grady is absolutely huge, I can't even imagine the clinical opportunities available there.
How happy everyone was. The students seemed like they genuinely cared, were outgoing, and just very lively. Also the staff was so friendly. And the new building is very pretty. It seemed like a great place overall.
Beautiful new building for med school, great students who made an effort to welcome us and answer questions, admissions directors made the day as stress free as possible, new curriculum seems well put together and the first year students were very positive about it.
How well prepared they were for the interview day. They were very well organized, and had everything down to the T. The tour was extremely informative, and gave a great picture of what Emory Med is all about - it's a great way for prospects to know that they will fit into the school.
You meet a bunch of great students, extensive hosptial tour (can be tiring), Erica is hilarious, New medical building is going to be amazing. Beautiful campus. New curriculum should be interesting. Emory did the best job of exposing me to all aspects of the school: faculty, studens, facilities, hospitals of any school I interviewed at.
the facilities- a new building for 2007, the students-- so friendly and seem to love the school, my one-on-one interviewer, the info session,the weather!, the flexibility of the new med school curriculum, the admissions office people, the variety of hospitals to learn at, the new anatomy labs sound amazing, and Atlanta!
The students are fantastic, probably the highlight of the school. The student tour guide and interviewer was very enthusiastic and made all of us really want to come to Emory. Grady would be an awesome place to learn!
Everything. I can't get over how nice the students were, and I got the sense that Emory really cares about it's students. The presentation was actually pretty good, and the admissions staff is great! Grady Hospital was huge and seemed like a great place to learn. Students seemed very cooperative and happy to be there. The campus is beautful. There are just great opportunities here.
The Emory campus is AMAZING! It's a very beautiful campus with a lot of amenities and everyone seemed extremely nice. Also the info sessions were not only actually informative (unlike many of the other interviews I've been on), they were extremely entertaining.
My host was amazing! She had so much to offer in advice about the school. The Grady cafeteria was actually decent, and all the admissions people were super nice.
Almost everything. The students seem very happy and balanced. The facilities, definitely, and the (numerous) teaching hospitals are top-notch. A diversity of hospitals - public, private, different patient bases and specialties.
Happy students, positive remarks from a friend (MS1) about ABCDF grading, new facilities for Class of 2011, energetic Dean of Admissions, Grady Hospital (huge variety of cases, it's in a rough area of Atlanta).
Students seemed SO nice and laidback. Definitely a bright bunch but not a bunch of gunners. Erica Black, the admissions lady, is SUPER nice! She helped sell the school to me. There's going to be a brand new med school building and new curriculum (18 month basic sciences, 6 month break, 2 years of clinical studies).
The facilities are AMAZING. They are BRAND NEW and awesome. The undergrad and medical school are on the same campus, so the gym, libraries, study spaces, etc. are state of the art! There is a brand new curriculum that sounds pretty cool.
The atmosphere of the students; the admissions staff making you feel welcome and as if you are family; the new building that is currently being constructed.
the students are awesome. also, the new building should be great when it is finished later this year. the tour was really long but it was a good intro to emory. the tour guide was really nice and really was enthusiastic about the school.
The STUDENTS!! all of them were so happy, relaxed, and friendly, they knew all of their classmates! It seemed that emory would be a really supportive environment. You do rotations in several local hospitals, where you have a large role in caring for patients. That even though they have grades you arn't in competition with eachother. The facilities are really nice.
The availability of resources (hospitals, research, athletics, etc.) and the collaborative environment with the students. And Erica (you know you're reading) --Chris P.S. Let me in, it's cold outside.
Both Grady and Univ. Hospital -- they're very different, and both great. The new building they're building should be great as well. The people could not have been any nicer and more friendly
the staff and students at emory are incredibly nice and genuine. the facilities are pretty good (they'r ebuilding some million dollar center for teaching too). lots of clinical experience - will learn a lot from working in grady.
The admissions staff is top notch. Erica is mad cool and Dr. Schwartz is very friendly. Cool student rec center. Cool students. Students see a TON of cases at Grady. Good reputation. Hotlanta.
Everything. Seems like a no-nonsense school with the strongest M3-M4 clinical experience of any school I know of or applied to. The students were incredibly friendly, not just the young ones but also the older ones. The M1's we met had a joint-exam coming up and were still coming to hang out and talk to the peons :).
The first-year students all seemed to be very enthusiastic; the administration was fun, down to earth and put all of us at ease; the Emory campus is gorgeous
Strength of the clinical training; Grady Memorial Hospital (enormous public facility serving indigent populations); Egleston Children's Hospital (beautiful tertiary care center); first- and second-year students were eager to talk to us, despite ongoing final exams; terrific athletic facilities and performing arts center with grand piano practice rooms
The students are just amazing. They have to be the most friendly, down to earth people. They're certainly smart, but they just have an air of being nice. And you get to see like half of the first year class during the day -- they're very friendly and come and visit all day.
The school is so beautiful...the facilities are top notch, the students are laidback, the gym is nice and its just an overall nice place to go to school for 4 years...can't beat the weather neither
The student body. Everyone seems incredibly comfortable with each other. It seems like they all have an incredible balance between studying and their lives outside of medical school.
The happiness and friendliness of the students, and the supportiveness of the admissions staff and faculty. They new all the students and applicants names, and interacted very informally with the students. Loved the atmosphere and student body, facilities were okay, Grady hospital is an amazing hotbed of clinical experience, and emory university hospital is just a real nice swanky hospital.
Everyone was amazing. They were really enthusiastic and seemed to be really happy that we were there. All the students came by between classes to talk to us, and no one had anything bad to say.
EVERYTHING: Beautiful campus and facilities, great community feel, genuine personal attention and concern from the staff, interviewers and students, long tour but we saw a lot. I thought Emory was fantastic and it's definitely one of my top choices.
Grady really is a phenomenal place for clinical training. Also, the small group PBL sessions seemed really interesting. Erica Black and Dr. Schwartz seriously create a great interview experience.
The school is really beautiful and the facilities are new and state of the art. The students seemed really laid back (my interview day was actually the day of the first year's joint exam but they all still came out to talk to us and say hello. they were all in pajama's but seemed pretty relaxed considering they were in the middle of an 8-hour exam!) Also, something really important to me, the medical school is fully integrated into the rest of the undergraduate and graduate campus. so you don't have to see brainy med students all day you can drift into a generalized academic community.
Nice area of Atlanta, medical school is near undergrad campus, CDC is right next to school which is good for public health types, good clinical experiences at diverse group of hospitals, nice weather.
grady hospital was very impressive, the students were extremely friendly and interesting people, i liked the other applicants, the admissions staff were very kind & fun, the atmosphere was collegial, atlanta seems great, there is good access to student life and sports facilities, there are other health-related schools there (public health, nursing, dental)
Everything. Emory has it all, and the relaxing atmosphere of the interview day was a big bonus. Erica Black is definitely one of the coolest Directors of Admissions you will ever meet.
Grady hospital! The school just has great resources to enter research (whether or not you want to make a career of it), all of the students stopped by to answer any questions we had, the staff and faculty were extremely friendly and caring, Atlanta is a great city.
The biggest impression I got was how happy all the students all seemed. Everyone had nothing but positive things to say about their experience at Emory, and by the end of the day you really feel you would be happy there. Erica, the Assistant Director of Admissions, was amazingly friendly and helpful, providing cookies and coke to everyone there. She made sure you felt comfortable during the whole experience, and really did make the day "almost fun." Erica was also kind enough to bring out a space heater upon request.
The students at Emory were fabulous, so friendly, and they stopped by the area that we waited to chat throughout the day. the staff and the dean were also great. everyone i met was very positive and outgoing and genuinely wanted to convince you that emory was the place to be. I liked atlanta a lot too. it has more of a suburban feel than i had expected - rather than an overwhelming big city feel. they have amazing resources there too in terms of the CDC, Grady, and the american cancer society etc. emory also has a lot of money and they have a fair amount of scholarships.
Very organized (erica black does a great job!). Grady is a great place to learn. Small class size (112) fosters closeness and cooperation. Amazing athletic/recreation center.
The school is unbelievable nice, even nicer than I expected. In fact, its the nicest campus I've ever been to. Grady is huge and anyone can be treated there whether they have insurance or not (I saw a prisoner walking down the hall like a penguin in his handcuffs and shackles). Can be automatically accepted to MPH if you want to do that, and its a great place to go for public health.
Variety of clinical resources for medical education, friendliness of *everyone*, the fact that Emory was kind of in Atlanta but still had tons of greenry
The students and staff seem incredible. The first year students had a really important exam that monday - their "joint." But they still come to see us during their break and also after the exam. I would have thought that the students would have been out of there, but they still made us feel comfortable and even offered to drive us to the Marta station (The subway/train). Very friendly. The hospitals avail for clinical practice are quite diverse, as well.
Faculty, Staff, and Student Enthusiasm - also Erica Black the Admissions coordinator is awesome. She goes out of her way to make you feel at home/relaxed.
I had FUN! It was a long day, but you learn a ton about the school and hospitals, and you get lots of time to speak with current students and fellow interviewees, which I think is the best part of interviews. Med students took every chance they got between classes to come speak to us and answer questions, and Erica Black--the admissions co-director who practically single-handedly steers the whole day--is easily the most amiable and outgoing admissions person I've met at any of my interviews (Emory was my first interview, and I say this in retrospect after 5 other interviews). She made things much less stressful and bounced around talking to us, making sure everything was going well.
The extensive tour of the fascilities and the hospitals. We got to see the ER and even babies in the nursery. Also, the administration knew both the first and last name of all students that I saw them greeting that day!!!
the undergrad campus is not far from the med school and med students get to enjoy all the cool stuff the undergrads enjoy... like the gym, library, a new computer/technology center
My student host was fantastic! She made me dinner and breakfast, gave me her bed to sleep in and stayed up talking to me about Emory and Atlanta. The other med students seemed just as nice and helpful, although they had a big exam day. They were very honest with their answers. Elena Black was great too! She is so incredibly enthusiastic about the school and very friendly. Also, I enjoyed meeting the other applicants. They are definitely people I would want to go to school with.
Students were taking their big exams, and they were still SUPER NICE....the previous postings about the competitivness seems like a very big misconception. I think there would be less competition at Emory than at a place where a percentage of students pass because at Emory standards are already set. Everyone can get an A!
Everyone was really friendly and helpful. Interviews were relatively stress free. Dr. Eley and Erica Black are awesome! People in Atlanta are very friendly.
The students - all very friendly and willing to answer any questions. They didn't seem at all competitive, and were willing to work together. Also, I really liked the facilities and Grady was impressive. The admissions staff was very welcoming - they made every effort to make you feel comfortable.
Grady is HUGE and is a level 1 trauma (which is awesome!). The school is one of the nicest I've seen. The students were all very focus, semi-competitive, but overall nice personality. There is a notes service so you can have a transcript of all the lectures.
Every student I talked to was friendly, seemed like they all liked Emory. Traditional curriculum has fewer lecture hours than most. Faculty is top-notch. Grady is a great place to train. Facilities are nice. Lots of research opportunities.
I had a really great time at Emory. The students, faculty, and admissions staff were awesome, and I even had a great time getting to know my fellow applicants. The facilities, campus, and teaching hospitals were really great as well. I really felt welcomed, and everyone was willing to answer questions at any time; they made sure you had all the information you needed about Emory. Everyone was open and honest about their experiences at Emory too. The curriculum and class structure appears to fit my learning style also and what I am looking for in a medical school.
I was generally impressed by the tour of the Emory Hospital and the Grady Hospital. The admissions staff were friendly and the interviews were very low-key. I think Emory would be a great place to study medicine.
Everything...this school really tries to make a positive impression...they seem to be honestly interested in you. Don't be discouraged by the ABC grading and "joint" testing system. There is no curve and the joint seems to really prepare people for the boards...something like 30% of their students get 99%....the CDC and ACS
First and second year students were already on break but still took time to come and talk with us, everyone seemed very comfortable there and supportive. The dean of admissions is a really nice guy
pretty much everything, seems like there is a building for just about everything, lots of money, students seem close with administration/faculty, admissions people are very nice, one was contagiously enthusiastic and she even sang us a Coke cheer. most impressed by how students and faculty seemed genuinely nice. other applicants seemed like people i'd want to go to school with. two of my interviewers were associate Deans and both of them had carefully read all of our essays. lots of top specialists, you can get good hands on experience and see lots of stuff at Grady Memorial, then they have the other end of the spectrum with Emory Univ. Hospital. my student tour guide was very helpful.
The number and extent of hospitals, the students, the people. Emory is in an amazing location---by CDC, Grady Hospital, and numerous other opportunities.
Everything--the students, the faculty, GRADY HOSPITAL, Atlanta, right next door to CDC. Someone told me he chose Emory b/c they choose people who won't only be great drs. but will also be leaders in medicine, this is hands-down true.
The School EXTREMELY support MD/MPH. Very flexible MPH program with 50% tuition of that year paid for by the school. New and nice buildings with CDC and American Cancer Society nearby.
Extensive clinical facilities. Working at Grady (the public hospital in downtown Atlanta) gives great clinical skills; Emory students score really well on Step 2 and match really well. The campus is beautiful, and the students seemed nice.
The grady hospital is great. You can get lots of hands on experience there. Also having the undergrad campus near by is great since you can use their facilities also such as the rec and the new comp labs. 30% of Emory med students score in the top 2% on the boards!
the Emory campus is beautiful - they spend the Coke money on lots of neat toys and modern architecture; Erica, the admissions director, is wonderfully enthusiastic and helpful; ability to get an MD/MPH
Everything is ridiculously new and the school is so well funded and in a REALLY nice area of town. Grady is fantastic, and seems like a great place to learn. One of the nicest admissions staffs I have encountered.
Excellent clinical opportunities. Grady is great, plus you can also rotate through Emory University Hospital. Beautiful undergraduate campus, which is attached to the medical campus. Friendliness of the admissions people, particularly the assistant director of admissions. Great tour guide, who had a lot to say about Emory and Grady in particular.
nearly everything. extremely laid back campus, beautiful area, opportunity for broad clinical exposure at grady. their friendliness was amazing: everyone was on a first-name basis. of all schools i've interviewed at, i really feel that emory made the most successful effort to put their best foot forward; moreover, it was obvious that they take a serious interest in the happiness and overall well-being of their medical students.
I like Atlanta, the school is nice, and the facilities are pretty nice. Students were having a test that day, but they seemed like a very nice, outgoing group.
I went to emory undergrad, so I knew everything I wanted to know going in. The clinical experience at Grady is awesome, the campus is beautiful and all undergrad and grad facilities are joined. New med school classrooms are on the way in the next few years, and the school has mad research dollars and a great public health program. Damn near every worthwhile health advocacy group (CDC, Carter Center, American Cancer Society, etc) is stationed in Atlanta. They slam the boards and have an impressive matchlist. Atlanta is a great town for young people. and the indoor climbing wall at the gym rox :) The graduate community is awesome and throws lots of mixers between all the schools. I heard rumors of Emory financial problems before which I just have to laugh at. The school has some serious deep pockets and the campus has literally doubled in size the last 5 years.
The school is really fantastic, with great facilities and several affiliated hospitals or research clinics. The national headquarters for the CDC and the American Cancer Society are also a block away from the medical school. First, second, third, and fourth year students came by all day to meet us and answer any questions we had, and it was obvious that they all really love Emory; they also seem really well-rounded, no eggheadedness or pomposity. The curriculum seems like a healthy balance between traditional methods and problem-based learning. The interviews themselves were very low-key and focused mainly on my personal interests and background, not at all on academics. The admissions staff stressed that receiving an invitation to interview means they already want you, so the interviews are just a chance to get to know you better and strut their stuff for you. The whole day was actually pretty enjoyable.
The students are really happy. Even though it was exam week, they took the time to chill with us. The med school is on the undergraduate campus, so the students have full access to the gym, student center, freshman girls. Also, Emory recently (I think) built a grad student apartment complex with an olympic pool, gym, tennis courts, and fully wired apartments.
The students, faculty, and administrators were all fantastic people. The group interview is nothing to be worried about. It was a great opportunity get to know the other applicants.
the students were really nice and friendly and loved Emory, despite the grades, it didn't seem competitive, the campus is gorgeous, Atlanta is awesome, my interviewers were really nice, they are very receptive to students' suggestions and opinions
The admissions staff and medical school faculty were some of the warmest, friendliest people I have met. Also, the school is beautiful and they seem to have a lot of money for non-need-based scholarships and aid.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the length of the interview day, the necessity of having a car, outdated facilities, lack of enthusiasm from some students and interviewers, traffic in Atlanta, the stress of exams and grading system, and the distance between the hospitals. Suggestions included improving organization, shortening the day, enhancing the facilities, increasing student engagement, and addressing transportation challenges.
The length. This was by far the longest interview day I've been on. In my head, I kept asking, "Can we go home now?" No, but, seriously.
The same student who takes you on your tour is the one who interviews you in the group interview, so you definitely feel like you have to remain vigilantly professional while on your tour which is ironic because Emory has the most thorough tour out of any school I've been to. Speaking of which, the tour was so long, as was the interview day in general.
Mailing acceptance letters by snail mail is annoying and unnecessary. They could also send an e-mail so you don't have to anxiously check your mail for 2 weeks straight every month.
They said they had pass/fail but some of the students said they implement a curve that a certain number of students have to fail. They don't record lectures, instead there's a student run system of getting the audio and notes which you have to pay for. Also, the tour didn't focus very much on the facilities for the pre-clinical years, instead it was heavily focused on the hospitals. and the students all seemed to commute to campus which isn't something I'm particularly excited about.
Medical school is very expensive, and Emory is no exception. Also, Atlanta's public transportation system is less than satisfying (that said, Emory runs a number of free shuttles for its students to get to popular locations).
I felt like the group interview was a waste of my time. I don't think anyone can convey any useful information in a 30 minutes interview w/ 3 interviewers and 3 interviewees. I would have much preferred another one on one interview.
The hospitals are a little spread out, but (little known fact), there are shuttles from the university to every one of them. One student was a little off-putting but he has nothing to do with the interview day.
1) You need a car to get around Atlanta. 2) One of the interviewers was somewhat inappropriate to one of the kids in my interview group who mentioned his favorite historical character was Aaron Burr.
Students insisted on how they did very few rotations at the main Emory hospital. That's a little sad. I mean, I know Emory has Grady, but not to be allowed in the main university hospital?
I think the conditions in Grady are pretty bad. While I would love to practice medicine there, the disparity between their inner city hospital (Grady) and the one servicing the upper class part of town (University Hospital) is ridiculous.
The tour was actually pretty short. We didn't have a chance to see a lot of the Emory campus. Also, the tour guide mentioned that you don't get many clinical opportunities outside of Grady and Emory Hospitals.
The first year students that never went to class. It seems as if Emory students skip out on class on a daily basis. If you're a hard studier, it may not be the place for you.
Very little. The school is instituting a new curriculum next year, but it sounds like an improvement and similar to many other schools' curriculums (UPenn, Tufts, etc.)
they have letter grades and the students dont seem to have much of a social life, a bit skeptical about being a guinea pig for a completely new curriculum
I didn't like that the medical students are all spread out. I think living together increases class cohesiveness. No summer after the first year, and school starts in July :(.
Not Much. Though my 3 0n 3 interview wasn't great. I was nervous and stumbled through my first question. Then was asked a combative question. I had kind of a sick feeling after that, like I had blown a great opportunity. Also I think the student environment is one of the most competitive.
Emory's curriculum is on the verge of changing and my class would be most likely straddling the sides of the change. Given Emory's strength with board scores and residency matches, I am honestly unconcerned about this, but I see how others could be troubled by it.
There is some major construction on the medical school buildings that won't be completed until 2007. I don't seem to understand the purpose of the group interview - while it's interesting to hear about other candidate's lives, you wind up doing that anyway from talking to everyone throughout the day.
the school is pretty far from the center of the city. i was expecting to be right in the middle of atlanta. in retrospect though, its probably better that the surrounding community is centered around emory - less distractions that way. everyone says you'll need a car if you go there, which may be a problem for me.
A,B,C... grading system. Need to take a shuttle to get to Grady (main teaching hospital), Grady seemed like a factory (good or bad for different people's tastes), panel interview was akward and I don't think it's a good way to look at candidates.
many of the labs & classrooms for the next few years will be borrowed from other programs and/or temporary because they are about to demolish & reconstruct a building, i wasn't sure how i felt about the extremely traditional curriculum (subjects taught separately, grades, little emphasis on pbl)
The school's first two years of curriculum is not yet up to date with other schools. But, this doesn't seem to affect their pass rates on the boards. The tour was really long.
Cost of living and tuition is high. I am not a big fun of the "old school" ABC grading interval - I think it makes students more competitive than cooperative.
I really liked it a lot. If I had to pick something, I would say that their curriculum did not really wow me. I don't have any major complaints about it, but it did not strike me as being particulaly unique/innovative.
The tour was pretty long. It seemed like they were just trying to have us kill time while the other half of the students were interviewing. Traffic in Atlanta is really bad.
The day was too long. They could have condensed it down a little bit. I'm a little apprehensive about their "joint" exams, but supposedly they prepare you better for the boards.
Nothing really. The day was pretty long, yet "almost fun". It's hard to find a pepsi one in coca cola country, and erica might not let you bring it in even if you found one (she is very nice though).
i've seen better lecture halls. i've seen worse too, but so much of the rest of the campus is immaculate, except those rooms. also, emory is a little behind in technology. i know of other schools that have lectures on streaming video, give students laptops and pda's, etc
Emory is a very traditional school in the sense that there is a strong separation between the two years of sciences and the two years of medicine. They are slowly starting to integrate more patient contact, but at this point students don't even begin learning how to interview patients until the second semester of their second year.
I felt that the interviewers were going through the formality of giving the interviews. They were very nice, though they were distracted at times, which bothered me obviously. Also the diversity of the student body was lacking.
The A-F grading system seems strenuous. Also, the Joints seem unnecessarily difficult. And it was a wet day - the interviewing day began very early (when it was still rather dark) and ended around 4:30, but since it was raining there wasn't much visibility, so I didn't really get a feel for the campus outside.
It was raining and cold all day. But the day before and after the interview day was sunny. Weird. The tuition is higher than I thought (average = 51,000 per year). Time to get a summer job. lol
the school is FULL OF IT. the interviewers were very DISINTERESTED in the students interviewing on the panel. they seemed arrogant and rude, and it shows that the relationship between faculty and students must be less than pleasant mostly. also, students who stopped by were not very impressed and happy at the school. They seemed tired and one even bragged about how he wasted his senior year of college ... The student who led the tour was aloof and full of himself. Made it seem a little bit anti-social and competitive overall.
Nothing really. Just had a couple hours to wait between lunch and my interviews in the afternoon, but Erica and current students kept us entertained while we waited.
Everything seemed rushed and a bit disorganized. Some of the people (at least my fellow applicants) reminded me of the pretentious pre-meds at my school.
Like the poster before me, I also felt that the admissions folk were actively recruiting the tokens amongst the candidates. I did not like the fact that our student tour guide was also our interviewer, and said person had already formed an impression of us by the time we actually interviewed, whereas the other interview group (the morning group) did not have this experience. Basically the group interview is crap... there's little to no group "interaction"... I felt like I wasn't being as candid as I am used to.
Their propoganda about the Woodruff Scholarships was incorrect... Coca-Cola did not provide the largest donation ever to an educational institution... that tax write-off belongs to Wal-Mart and its $300 million dollar donation to the University of Arkansas. So again, I sort of have to agree with the previous poster about Emory's unwarranted elitism. But hey, I will take their money if they offer it.
Emory seems to be very full of themselves. I got news for them; Emory Ain't all that. You would think the fith largest endowment for Universities, They would be ranked higher than they are.
The interviews were terrible. The faculty interviewer didn't appear to be paying attention to answers and was very distant. The group interview, while not stressful, was useless. The school didn't learn anything new about me over the two interviews nor seemed to want to learn anything further... they should have just read my application.
The group interviewers were NOT friendly. The format was very rigid, and the interviewees were asked questions as if they were there alone (one-to-one). It was an awkward, stressful, and competitive setting. Furthermore, the faculty did not respond to interviewees so it felt very stressful. The school definitely gave off an aura of trying to seem "competitive" and such.
students in the first and second year weren't exactly very impressed with the curriculum. almost all of them said that the best years were during the third and fourth when you really learn. "emory's strength is in the last two years" direct quote from tourguide
They did not care to impress me at at. Which I like. This school believes that it should be us to impress them not the other way around. I felt they were more honest (some times brutily) compare to Maryland where they are kissing your rear as soon as you get there. (i mean, do they just let anyone it?)
The curriculum for years 1 and 2 is pretty traditional and possibly too difficult. I know several students at Emory who barely made it through their first two years, not because it was too hard for them, but because the school packs so much stuff in that it becomes psychologically draining. The M1s and 2s that I talked to didn't do much to dispel that impression--they seemed sane, but only barely so. Also, I grew up in Atlanta right down the street from Emory so going there would be tough--I'm ready to move on. Also, to people considering the school: if you're going to be happy in Atlanta, you really need to have a car. There are things to do, but they are geographically really spread out.
the "traditionalism" of the school - they are very set in their ways and don't look to change any time soon. curriculum is traditional, as is the A-F grading; joint exams seem like they'd be very stressful; lack of ambulatory care education; students didn't strike me as terribly enthusiastic
The big downer about Emory is their pre clinical curriculum is pretty traditional. They dont have a ton of lecture time but they have block testing and straight letter grading, and I know my friends there are hyper stressed come exam time. You must have a car to live in Atlanta, no matter what anyone tells you.
how far Grady, their main teaching hospital was from the med school and other parts of campus; joint exams on top of rough traditional curriculum --> seems to create a stressful atmosphere
The idea of a group interview was horrifying and had me nervous for days, but it was actually not as bad as I had feared. The cost of tuition is pretty high, even higher than many Ivy League schools. Real estate in downtown Atlanta is also pretty steep.
the 3 hour tour of Grady and Emory University hospitals...we've all seen a hospital, they pretty much look the same. Also, the facilities were slightly outdated.
The rigidity of the some of the faculty and the traditional curriculum. The curriculum is heavily lecture based, letter-graded, and the exams are all compressed into a single day each month. Also, the students appeared to be tired and not particularly enthusiastic about the school.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and un-stressful nature of the interviews at Emory, the length of the interview day, the low-stress group interview format, the need for comfortable shoes for the extensive tour, and the importance of being well-prepared but also relaxed during the interviews. They also emphasized the significance of connecting with other applicants, the positive atmosphere at Emory, and the value of bringing snacks for the long day.
How relaxed and un-stressful the questions were. My mock interviewer(s) drilled me compared to Emory's walk in the park questions. If you're not long-winded and a goo coversationlist, you'll love these interviews.
It's a very long interview day, so be prepared for that. The group interview is two faculty and one med student vs three interviewees. It is very non-competitive and they basically just ask a question and go down the line and each person has a chance to answer.
How much the length of the day would affect me. I had interviews in the morning so by the time that I got to the tour in the afternoon, I was so tired/sleepy that I didn't really get to enjoy it as much as with other schools. Also, in the group interview if your answer's too long the interviewer will tell you to skip ahead and get to the point. Also, make sure to have something ready for the random fact about yourself that they do at the beginning of interview day.
My student host was late getting me to the interview because she under-estimated how long it would take to get to the school, park, and walk over to the admissions office.
When they say bring confortable shoes they're serious. The campus is HUGE and you get a comprehensive tour. Ladies bring flats or sneakers! Seriously no one will look at you funny.
they feed you a million times, so you do not need to eat anything beforehand or bring any food, even if you're a crazy eater like me! everyone is super nice and helpful, so don't worry about not being able to find anything or not knowing how to get back to the aiport or really anything... they totally take care of you!
i wish i knew about the awesome, almost completely funded mph program. i also wish i had asked my interviewer more questions, but i spent the entire day talking to med students and was pretty much solid on information.
Just how friendly and helpful everyone there is....If you interview there...Erica and Dr. Schwartz are so friendly and welcoming!! You really feel like they are glad you are there.
All your interviews are in the Admissions office which is great because you won't get lost! And there's a place to put your luggage/sneakers. The group interview is very relaxed.
How low stress the group interview is. All the questions focused on things in your personal statement or activities you mentioned in response to "Tell me about yourself."
that the people at emory and in atlanta aren't as southern as I was worried they would be - they are very progressive, non racist, non southern, etc. I WISH THAT I KNEW THE INTERVIEW WOULD BE NOT THAT BAD!!! it is not a scary group interview!!
That they seem to have problems with the CDC. I was very attracted to being involved with the CDC, but when I asked about it, it seemed as if there was some friction there.
That the group interview would be so low-key. Also, you should really really talk and get to know the other applicants. You learn a lot from them and it makes the group interview a hell of a lot easier because you already know the people you are interviewing with.
30 minutes goes by a lot faster than you would expect. In fact, I only had about 20 minutes for my individual interview, and you probably only speak about 15 in your group interview. Know what you want to say, and know how to get to the point very quickly because you don't get a chance to ramble and eventually touch on the things that are important - you'll just run out of time. I didn't get to talk about an important part of my life because I ran out of time and wasn't as organized as I could have been.
that emory would shoot to near the top of my list of places I want to go and would have been better prepared... and that it would rain all day and a lot of the tour is outside.
REALLY wear comfortable shoes for the walking tour; the Emory people are really laid-back and could care less how you look when you're walking around the campus and downtown medical center. You will have some free time and will also be expected to talk about yourself, so think about what you'd like the panel to know about you before you go in. Really no need to be nervous, the people there are extremely nice and strive to make the day fun and stress-free.
there were many a pleasant surprise during my visit to emory but nothing i felt i needed to know before. i fell in love with the hospitals there. grady seems absolutely amazing, and for a county hospital it is so refreshing to know that you can be confident in the clinical care that is being received there and the dedication of its physicians. this is really inspiring, coming from la, where going to la county can almost mean a death sentence.
I had no idea how beautiful the campus was. I wish I had known that the people there were very laid back--this would have eased my nerves the night before.
I didn't fall victim to this, but try not to bring non-Coke products to the school. They don't have any shame in bringing up the fact that the school is supported by Coke money.
how amazing the Emory med school is. i wasn't really expecting much for some reason because it's a "southern" school. but i think Emory might be my first choice now!
The panel/group interview is not as bad as people made it out to be. It was low stress but maybe it's just because I got a chance to "bond" with the co-applicants in my group during the tour (before the interview) and that cleared the competition in the air.
How short the interviews would be. The one-on-one is about 25-30 minutes and the group interview is also about 30 minutes. I felt like I didn't have enough time for the interviewers to get to know me, especially in the group interview. We each only answered 2 questions.
on the day of my interview, the M1 students were taking their big all-encompassing exam, so I was unable to sit in on a class. however, they didn't seem ridiculously stressed, which postively impressed me. The group interview was not stressful at all!
Emory admits over half the class from in-state.
The MD/MPH program takes an additional year.
The individual interview is sort of meaningless, since that person has no vote on the committee.
nice school, a little concieted, but so am I and I think it would be a good match. Anyone going there, keep it "real". They don't like fake pippy-ness.
The panel interview is totally relaxed. I was freaking out because I thought it would be competitive, but it wasn't. Don't spend time worrying about it :)
There are not a lot of Californians either interviewing or attending Emory. Only 1 attending in this year's class. Emory is a very "white" campus, a sharp contrast to California.
I didn't realize how diverse the clinical opportunities are (3 childrens hospitals, geriatric center, private/community hospitals, VA, etc.) Also, a lot of the facts posted on this site are incorrect!
interviewers have only read your personal statement and have not seen the rest of your file; you either interview in the morning and tour in the afternoon or vice-versa, it seems that you could make up an excuse why you need to do one or the other if you want. Also, it is possible you could find out that you are interviewing only a few minutes in advance.
Definitely take the MARTA to the airport--it is about $2.00 and only takes half an hour. You don't have to worry about rush hour traffic, and the MARTA drops you off right at baggage check in.
It's a long long day with a lot of walking. You're divided into two groups, one tours in the morning and interviews in the afternoon and the other vice versa. Bring a snack if you get hungry easily. And the panel interview really isn't bad at all. All the interviewers have read your personal statement, but not the rest of your application.
Group interviews have the potential to be very stressful!! Don't be disappointed if you feel it went poorly -- nearly all of the interviewees agreed that it was one of the most difficult interview situations they had been in throughout the application process.
Applicants generally found the Emory interview day to be well-organized, with friendly staff and students creating a positive atmosphere. The group interview was often described as more relaxed than expected, and the extensive tour, including Grady Hospital, left a strong impression on many applicants. Some mentioned the long day, the importance of wearing comfortable shoes, and the diverse opportunities offered by the school.
Aside from the length, this was the most pleasant interview day I've ever had. The day was so long, I had to go out and get a drink afterwards. Otherwise, it left me a great impression.
When they say bring tennis shoes for the tour, they're not joking or testing you. You can really do it. The tour is super long, so definitely make sure you have comfortable shoes on for it.
Amazing school. I went here for undergrad, and the undergrad administration left a very bad taste in my mouth. Before the interview day, I hadn't really considered their medical school seriously. The interview day provided a total 180. The Medical School administration is kind, responsive, and very friendly. The students were interesting, smart, and very sociable. The school itself is beautiful, and the rotation sites are miles beyond any other school I've interviewed at. I am absolutely awe-struck by how good the school is, and will certainly be attending if accepted.
My interview was very stressful and I don't think it went well. My one-on-one interviewer was an MD who grilled me with some tough questions. The 30-minute group interview was very short - since there were 3 of us, it was essentially a 10-minute interview, and I didn't feel like they got to know me very well. The group interviewers seemed to make up their mind right away that they liked one of the interviewees best and directed most of their questions at him for the entire interview.
My day at Emory was great. The admissions staff and interviewers did their best to make the day as pleasant as possible, and the current students went out of their way to make us feel welcome on campus.
The student tour guids (you spend like 2 hours with them on your long tour) are also one of the panel members on the group interview. Maybe made it harder to ask questions.
There is a 30 min panel interview as well as a 30 min individual interview. Both are very laid back, so there's no need to stress. The panel one in particular flies by since there are 3 interviewees, so essentially it's 10 minutes per person. The day was long, and the tour was EXTENSIVE, so bring comfortable shoes. Overall it's a great school, and the new curriculum sounds awesome.
Dress in comfortable shoes & relax. Interview day is lengthy but the admissions staff is very accommodating -- they do everything to put you at ease and make it as enjoyable as possible. Grady is an excellent resource as a teaching hospital. Talk to students when they come by the office throughout the day for some interesting perspective. Don't sweat the panel interview style -- can lend itself to awkwardness but isn't something to dread at all. One-on-one was a casual conversation.
One interview is one-on-one and the other is a group interview (3 interviewees, 3 interviewers). Don't be stressed about the group interview because questions are directed to individuals. It's a laid-back day so enjoy it!
I was very impressed with Emory, and this somewhat surprised me. The interviewees had done amazing things, many had been out of school for a few months, and the majority had international experience. The majority were also friendly and noncompetitive. The school seems like a wonderful place for people who want to focus in global health and earn an MD/MPH. I think Emory will help you reach your goals, especially if you want to do something somewhat nontraditional. Their curriculum seems well-suited for people who like to think outside the box and create their own path. In addition, the school itself is gorgeous!!
It was a long day (I was so tired by lunch time and had interviews afterward). The group interview wasn't really that big a deal, no more or less stressful than one-on-one. Each interview was about half an hour, and all they had access to beforehand was each interviewee's personal statement.
Emory is amazing, and I think I fell in love with the school after my visit. The thought they put into their new curriculum and their beautiful facilities, as well as the way the faculty and admissions staff treat the students, really shows how much they care about the students and their well-being.
Dr. Schwartz gave a great presentation on the school and was very entertaining. Erica Black (admissions) was helpful throughout the day and will answer lots of off-the-cuff questions you might have. Be sure to take advantage of the M1s and M2s that visit... they can tell you what they think of the student experience.
it is a LONG day, but very thorough and fun! i love interviewing, though, so fun might only be my personal opinion. ;) they give you tons of food, and everyone is super, super nice! you have a panel interview and an individual faculty interview. the panel is still one-on-one questions, no group questions. the faculty interview is short and sweet. BE SURE to bring tennis shoes cause the tour is BY FAR the longest tour you will ever go on. everyone else will wear tennis shoes, and you will hate yourself if you don't do it, too. this was one of the best planned interview days i've had so far. emory is actually now my second choice (which is really good cause this is out of over 7 schools). definitely do not pass up this interview!
I stayed with a student host. She was awesome, I highly recommend the program. In the morning the group was split in half. I did my interviews right away and that was great so I didn't have to stress for the rest of the day and I wasn't tired during the interview. We got a talk and short presentation from one of the Deans, he is really funny and the admissions coordinator is awesome. Everyone makes you feel comfy, just relax. I had a one-on-one interview first and it was very general, tell me about yourself, your family, why medicine, why emory type questions. The second was a three-on-three and it was easy, but had more specific questions. I thought the three on three was easier because the questions were specific to your experience so you weren't competing with the other applicants like I imagined. After the interview we got lunch at Grady, they paid for it and got a tour. Tour was ok, by that time my mind was already made up that I loved the place so it wasn't that important to me.
The admissions staff was really nice. Ms. Erica Black even helped me find my way to the airport. The student that I stayed with was real chill.
(I know she reads SDN too)
The interview atmosphere was very relaxed. The interviewers and admissions officers emphasize a laid-back environment so that they can really get to know you. Emory has some of the nicest facilities I have seen. The interview was more of a conversation than an interrogation. The tour shows you every aspect of the school: Grady Hospital, the medical school building, the campus. Definitely more fun than I expected.
as everyone else said it's very relaxed, i didn't find that there was too much downtime. it was just enough, and there were always current students around to talk to. and plenty of water/coke/cookies to keep you happy :)
i really did enjoy emory. emory's an awesome school. the group interview really isn't too bad. it can be intimidating, but it's sort of fun having other students their with you!
Facilities were marvelous. Building was brand new. Group interview was not too bad, they didn't try to get us to compete against one another. One on one interview had a lot of healthcare questions.
I came in the morning at 7:30am. We sort of chatted and snacked for about 15 minutes. We went to a quick presentation held by Erica and Dr. Schwartz. Afterwords, I had my individual interview followed by my 3 on 3 group interview. I dropped into a M1 lecture for a few minutes and then came back for lunch. The interview essentially took up the entire afternoon. Expect a fair amount of downtime in between tasks.
It was a great experience! Emory went from being a school that I had little interest in to one of my top choices. I would LOVE it if I got in, but I'm afraid I had a few awkward moments with the interviewers. It was my first one so I was a little nervous.
2 interviews. One group (3 on 3) and one individual. Both are very low stress and relaxed. The whole day is actually enjoyable and you learn a ton about the school.
Such a fun day. Erica said at the beginning that the day would be almost fun and she wasn't lying. The day was awesome. Interviewers were fabulous. The staff was awesome. The professors were amazing. You'll love it!
There is a three-on-three group interview and an individual interview, both about 30 minutes long. The group interview is not bad at all, in fact I liked it because I got to know more about the other interviewees. The individual interview was very relaxed and mostly focused on getting to know me. The tour of Grady was pretty long, but very valuable.
Amazing. I loved how they gave us such a thorough overview of both the school, curriculum, and hospitals. It really makes you sure that you can fit into the program...(or that you can't!)
Emory is a great school already and is on the rise I think. They have the most extensive interview day and they expose you to every part of the school. Most others I interviewed at just showed you the school's facilities but didn't really show you anything in their hospitals. Emory shows you not just stuff that is important for first and second year but also gives in-depth tours of 3rd and 4th year rotation hospitals.
i interviewed in the morning and then toured in the afternoon. if you can request this order, i would highly suggest it. it's much easier to be done with interviews!
great time, emory is an awesome school and i hope they will take me. please please please Erica, take me.
There is an individual interview and a panel interview with 2 other med students and 3 faculty members. The tour (which took us to Grady and Emory campus) was really long but it was great to be able to see everything.
Emory interviews in both a one-on-one basis and also a group interview. I thought the one-on-one interview went extremely well and the interviewer attemped to put me at ease. However, the group interview just seems to naturally be awkward, unlike the one-on-one interview the interviewers were somewhat colder and seemed to be there for their questions only. Each of the group interviewers merely asked all three applicants the same question right in a row. Don't worry if you think that you wished you said what the other applicants are currently saying or that they are using your "good answer," because everyone feels that way...just stay calm and confident. The interviewers only have access to your AMCAS personal statement so be sure to give it a look over once before going to interview.
Emory is revamping the curriculum (a lot of that is based on student’s feedback) so that more emphasis is placed on small group learning which is wonderful. The new building will also be finished in time for the incoming class. That said, Erica Black and Dr. Schwartz are absolutely amazing--- very friendly, respectful, helpful and just put you at ease--- they make all the difference.
Introductory session led by Dr. Ira Schwartz, dean of admissions, who set a great tone for the day. Very relaxed and friendly, made you feel good. The group is split up into 2 groups of 9, half of whom interview and half of whom go on a tour. The tour takes you to Grady and Emory Hospitals, which could not be more different. The food in Grady's cafeteria is really good - fried Southern food, mmm mmm, great for patients who just had a triple bypass. There are two interview sessions - a group three-on-three interview (one of whom is your student tour guide) and an individual interview with a faculty member. My individual interview was GREAT - not Q&A but a true conversation. The group interview was a bit awkward.
Day starts early at 7:45. Intro, then split up into morning and afternoon interview groups. One-on-one interview, very conversational (20 min). Three-on-three with more difficult questions, more interview-like (30 min, 10 apiece). Tour Grady hospital downtown. Very large, tour hits most of hot spots. Lunch there. All-in-all actually a little fun.
very long interview day but they keep you suprisingly busy, the tour is probably the most extensive ive been on, but required taking a 15 minute bus which was annoying but grady was a really amazing hospital, the tour guide knew a ton about the school but was a 4th year so was pretty far removed from the classes and such (not that it really mattered because they are going to be completely different from what we would have next year) Erica and Dr. Schwartz are great, so friendly and warm and really make you smile!
Stayed over night with an MS1 (highly recommended). Arrived at the school at 7:45am (allow plenty of time to park and walk over to the Administration building). Meeting with Erica, the Associate Director of Admissions (she's awesome). Meeting with the Dean of Admissions (equally awesome, gave out condoms in honor of World AIDS Day). 3-on-3 interview (two faculty, one MS3 or MS4, three applicants; 30 min; surprisingly relaxing and conversational). 1-on-1 interview (faculty member, 30 min). Lunch. Tour of Grady Hospital. Tour of Emory Hospital. Closing comments from Erica. Done around 4:30pm.
You are a part of a relatively small interview group, about 10-12. Everyone has a 1-on-1 interview with a faculty member that is open file and then there's a group interview (2 faculty, M4, and 3 applicants) that is closed file. During the group interview, they ask very generic questions (why medicine, why Emory, what do you do for fun, etc) and then they read your file after you leave the room. 1/2 the applicants will have morning tour and afternoon interviews and the other 1/2 will have a reverse schedule. One M4 takes you to Grady Hospital, where you have lunch and tour the facilities. This M4 will also be on the panel in the group interview.
I stayed with a M1 which was really helpful for the inside scoop. Your tour guide is one of your interviewers. The group interview is not as bad as it sounds. You get a lot of contact with M1 and M2 students throughout the day.
It was not as bad as I feared it to be, especially the group interview. Really laid back and I enjoyed listening to the experiences of my co-applicants. Dr. Schwartz and Erica are AWESOME!!! :)
The day is very well organized. There was a real atmosphere of kindness and cooperation, and everyone affiliated with Emory was entirely unpretentious.
It was pretty great overall. I am completely sold. I know it's been said before but Dr. Schwartz and Erica Black are almost too amazing for words. You arrive at the admissions office at 7.45am and your day is pretty much planned out from that moment until 4.30-5pm. We all have a mini introduction and then split up into two groups. There were 18 of us interviewing. I had the morning tour and afternoon interviews which was good since I really got a chance to look around and get a feel for the place. Turns out it's really a comfortable place for a school with such amazingly intelligent persons. You have lunch in Grady hospital (really good lunch, I think my whole group was pretty pleased with the choices offered). It was pretty much just a nice day..felt like vacation to me and I enjoyed meeting a whole bunch of nice ppl from all over the country. (The other applicants were really nice and not cocky or anything about their accomplishments...a pretty cool, humble group)
I had a great time. Emory is the perfect school for almost anybody. I would highly recommend choosing emory if you got in. i think they produce great docs.
Awesome. THe Emory students we interacted with were all very enthusiastic and supportive of us. You really felt like they wanted you to get in and go to Emory. Also, the new facilities will be great.
The group interview was formal, but very relaxed. they ask pointed questions so you don't get put against each other - there was never a point where i felt inadequate or under qualified because the questions only pertained to the answerer. (tell me about yourself... doesn't make you too nervous) actually, it was kinda fun getting to hear about your peer's experiences - at other interviews, you never get to hear about where others are in life. i enjoyed it actually, it was totally stress free.
I loved Emory, its definatly my top choice for the school's I've been to. The students are happy and very intellegent. Atlanta seems to be a great place to learn clinical medicine. The group interview was actually pretty cool, because you get to learn more about the really talented people you are there with. There was a little bit of, oh no this person is much cooler/more qualified than I am. Oh and the interview is kind of open file, they have acess to only your essay and where you went to school.
Show up at 8. Meet and greet for a while. Split into two groups. I interviewed in the morning. First interview was with a faculty member. Very dry. She asked me ethical questions and some about the state of health care. These are always tough situations for me because I don't like trying to pretend that I know anywhere near as much as a practicing doctor (but this is you gotta play the game, right?!) She also asked about my research. Then, feeling like I had done pretty well, I went to the 3 on 3. That's where I slipped a little. I garbled up my first answer, then fielded a very combative question. Also, the interviewers wer in love with this one guy in wy group and basically talked to him the whole time. The kid did have some interesting answers, but the situation just made me feel stupid. Afterwards we toured Grady. Basically, I love Emory and would love to go there. I'm only upset at myself for not having interviewed better.
This was my first interview, and I was extremely nervous (even though I currently go to undergrad at Emory College). Upon arriving at the interview, however, I was immediately put at ease by Erica and the rest of the admissions staff. In addition, the medical students were SO friendly (even though they were literally on their way to a joint exam that morning). Between their exams, they stopped by, grabbed some snacks, sat & chatted with all of the interviewees.
The one-on-one interview was cut-and-dry...not very deep, somewhat conversational. The group interview (3 interviewers, 3 interviewees) seems to be the crucial one and is actually laid back and enjoyable. It helps if the other 2 you're interviewing with are interesting individuals.
It was much more laid back than I expected. I was nervous about the group format, but it wasn't bad at all. The people were great and they really try to sell you on what a great place Emory is.
I really enjoyed my visit to Emory, and it is definitely high on my list of schools. I was a bit worried coming out of the visit though -- I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that a major curriculum overhaul will occur right in the middle of my time there.
I thought my one-on-one interview went well, and the doc who interviewed me was very nice and helpful.
I thought the group interview went very poorly. I had heard from a lot of people how low stress it was, but mine was very stressful. I almost felt like a joke was being played on me. I felt like the adcom said, "hey, let's put this one in a room with two RIDICULOUSLY more qualified applicants, let them talk a bunch about how ridiculously well qualified they are, and then see how inadequate we can make this one feel!"
Overall good day, but it starts early (see above). The tour (whether you go in the AM or PM) is mad long so be prepared. However, the long tour gives you a good feel for the school and it allows you to better decide if it's for you. The admissions staff was also great. Very few tools on the interview. All in all, you will leave Emory knowing whether or not it's for you.
The interviewers were fantastic. The group interview definitely was not as bad as I expected, but they do ask some questions to keep you on your toes - nothing difficult such as policy or ethics, but kind of asking about how you would handle a situation. I got the impression that they really want to know how well you think.
The interview experience was wonderful. They treated us great and set us at ease from the first moment. The panel interview was a little nerve wracking only because of the degree of capability of the other applicants.
I am glad that I got the afternoon interview because I got to meet with the two students I was interviewing with and one of our interviews (our tour guide). That made it much more comfortable. The second interview was really easy. 20 minutes long, all questions about you (famlily, hobbies, etc). Both interviewers only have your personal statement. The staff was very friendly, Dr. Schwartz is hilarious.
The interviews are relatively laid back. The panel interview isn't anything to worry about but is just a little awkward. The interviewers say they wan't it to be a discussion, but then direct questions at a specific person as opposed to making it a round-table forum. The tour was comprehensive, but long (get your sleep the night before). Overall, a very positive experience.
Two one-on-one 30-minute interviews (one of which dealt almost exclusively with a discussion of my college town), one three-on-three panel interview (which is not interactive, really; mostly you just need to listen attentively when the other two interviewees are speaking and try to give original answers)
Group interview was harder than individual interview. But the group interview wasnt a discussion like I expected - the interviewers ask the same questions to each of the interviewees and you dont actually talk to the other students, but I have heard that it can change depending on who your interviewers are. All questions were just personal; no ethical dilemmas, political questions, or insurance/medicare/medicaid questions
Emory is incredible. I really didn't expect to be blown away by how friendly everyone was. Erica, the admissions lady that greets and spends the day with you, is so cool. She really makes you feel comfortable, and the students are just as awesome. Dr. Schwartz is also pretty great. The group interview situation is a little intimidating, but it's actually pretty fun.
Very very long day, but well worth it. The only interview day where I actually felt like I got to know what the school was all about. Definately bring an extra pair of shoes for walking.
Got to the health science center about 10 minutes early, mingled and had cookies/drinks. Then an orientation session with the very entertaining admissions staff. We split up into two groups and mine went on the tour first: around parts of the medical campus, the general campus, and then downtown to Grady Hospital. Lunch in Grady cafeteria, then an individual interview with a faculty member and a group interview with two other applicants, the same 4th year who was the tour guide, and two faculty members. Then you can sit in on classes (I went to a whole PBL session which was great).
The morning consisted of a tour followed by lunch at Grady. In the afternoon, I had a group interview followed by an individual interview. I sat in on PBL sessions in between my interviews.
the inteview day starts at the admissions office. you're given name tags and a viewbook and have a few minutes to sit and meet the other interviewees. then you are broken up into two groups, one of which goes on a tour first and interviews in the afternoon. the other does the reverse. just like everyone says, the tour is long. you eat lunch in the middle; you're given $6 at grady cafeteria, which doesn't go a long way if you get bottled drinks. make sure you have a buck or two handy. throughout the day you're constantly going back to the admissions office where you are picked up for both your group and one-on-one interviews. the group interview is really fun but a tip: be sure to hold your confidence even if you're grouped with a super-star overachiever like i was. the third person in my group totally got psyched out and stopped trying to sell himself. i hope he got in but i'm not sure. overall its a really really fun day. i found out i was accepted 11 days later and i have a feeling that's where i'll be next year. after the interview, emory became my first choice. i hope you all love it as much as i did!
Panel interview was akward. Three faculty sit opposite three students. One question was asked and each person had to answer it when called upon. There were some individual specific questions too. You don't interact with the other interviewees at all though. It feels like an interogation. School is in nice area. It is a nice school but too spread out and don't like grading system.
i liked emory a lot and had positive impressions of almost everyone i met there. the teaching hospital looks fabulous. it was a well-organized and fairly fun interview day, though long. the group interview was fine--not a cause for worry. it's actually fairly interesting to learn about your fellow applicants. if i get in, i will have to think hard about whether i want to go to a school with such a traditional curriculum.
I loved my experience at Emory. I know Grady is an amazing place for clinicals, and was impressed with everything Emory has to offer. Erica Black is amazing, she definitely takes away any initial nervousness you have at the beginning of the day.
Emory is an incredible place. Really, the place does an incredible job of selling itself, not just because they have to, but because they can. It's a great community. Emory will be rigorous, I imagine. but i think i will be prepared if i do get in and go!
Overall very positive interview experience. I was very impressed with the interview and I hope to get an acceptance. I would love to go to school at such a beautiful place.
Overall a very good interview experience. Be prepared for a long day and wear comfortable shoes. The group interview is not that bad - just be yourself.
Day started early, and went rather late, so be prepared for a long day. In the morning there were two interviews, a group interview with 2 other applicants in front of 2 faculty members and 1 student. There was a combination of general questions (talk about family, why emory) directed to all 3 of us, as well as directed questions taken directly from personal statements. For both interviews, the personal statements were available to read, however my one on one interview, the interviewer had not read over my statement. In between the interviews and afterwards there is some down time outside the admissions office, and there were always current students around to answer questions. Following the interviews there is a short tour of Emory's campus, hten a shuttle ride to Grady hospital where lunch is provided. After the tour of the hospital, you return to campus and the day is over.
I had a great day at Emory. The group interview was not as scary as I had made it in my head. It was not competitive at all, and it was easy to just pretend that the other interviewees were not there and jsut answer the questions normally. I was very impressed by the student body - everyone i met was very friendly and open. the staff and dean were fabulous also.
first interview was one on one, there was a group interview with 2 faculty and a student and three interviewees. It wasn't stressful and no student is really asked the same question.
The day is long, but very organized. The interview group is fairly small, only 18-20 or so. There are two interviews, with one being a one on one, the other a panel interview with 3 on 3. The panel interview was a little awkward for me because it was the first time I had ever experienced that. Also, it was harder to open up my personal side in front of other interviewees. You either have your interviews in the morning or afternoon, with the LONG tours comprising the other half. You are shuttled to Grady Memorial Hospital, where you have lunch. Grady is an incredible place to do your clinical training. Overall, I had a great time at Emory. By the way, the campus is absolutely beautiful and actually has that college feel.
Emory is a great school. The campus is beautiful. It is sort of in a suburban area but is only a few minutes away from downtown Atlanta, so you don't have to deal with the hustle and bustle of a big city yet you are close to where there is something to do. The interviews are both relaxed. Duiring the group interview we each got asked 2 of the same questions (tell me about yourself/why med/when decide med and what kind of group activities would you engage in with your classmates) and 2 questions directed to us individually (the seem to try to draw questions from your application, they clearly did for the other two interviewees).
there are two interviews, one 3 on 3 and a 1 on 1. the tour really is long, but that's good because you really get a feel for the facilities. we did a good tour of grady, including the cafeteria (for lunch), student call lounge, film rooms (for x-rays), er, wards, nicu and emory hospital. plus all the campus facilities (tour started around 9:30 and ended around 12:30, including lunch). there was some down time between interivews and a lot of m1s stopped by to scarf down the cookies and popcorn (thanks erica). that was good b/c you got more chances to ask questions about the day to day student life. we also sat in on a pbl session, which was really interesting (and how does that cause chest pain?.... and how does that cause chest pain?...). in all, you really get a chance to learn a lot, but don't forget that you're there to sell them on you as much as they are to sell you on emory! in the end, however, you have to experience grady. imho, that's what makes emory. if you don't want to spend time there, emory might not be for you. also, it's open file but i don't think the interviewers have your mcat, gpa, etc. i think they just have your essay. after the interview, i think they review the rest of your folder, incl lor's and maybe grades/mcat etc.
Started very early (7:45), orientation session, then tour of Grady, lunch, and two interviews in the afternoon. They pack you full of sugar in the afternoon :)
I had a great time at Emory. I think its a fantastic school with really benefits tremendously from its very laid back staff, faculty and students population. Hospital system is also a big plus - lots of different clinical experiences
Amazing...even though I attend Emory and already know a lot about the school, I definitely was not bored at all during the interview day and am seriously considering staying in ATL.
I highly recommend staying with a student. It's free, they almost always provide a bed, you can get a firsthand account of the school, and they take you to the interview in the morning so you don't have to worry about finding it. I like Emory, but it's not my first choice. More about the interviews: you have a one on one interview that lasts for about 20 minutes. Then you have a three on three interview that lasts for about 40 minutes. Neither were stressful.
I forgot to say that our med student tour guide (Nicholas Cost) was very cool. He was down-to-earth, non-intimidating, very easy to talk to and well informed. Also the faculty (well, my interviewers) were friendly (contrary to numerous stories about Emory profs.), and even though they asked some questions that required thought, the air was friendly and non-stressful. Oh, and Erica Black (the interview program coordinator) is one of the liveliest people I know... it was cool to have her around even though I didn't get to talk extensively with her.
I enjoyed it, the campus is beautiful and the experience at grady is one of a kind. Don't let the sketchy downtown area of the hospital disappoint you though, it's not that bad.
Hope that you get your interviews in the morning because the tour is very, very long. I first had my one-on-one interview, a break, then my panel interview. During the break I got to know the other applicants who were in the same panel group so I didn't feel uncomfortable/anxious during the interview. Afterwards, we went on a 3 hour long tour. 1 hour of it is being transported on the shuttle. Though it was long, it was also very thorough, and I feel like I got a good sense of what the school and hospitals are like. I think working at Grady would provide incredible clinical experiences.
It was great. The group interview was very laid back and I think it gave the interviewers a great opportunity to look at us individually but also as a team. I was glad to have the other applicants there; it was actually very comforting. The students, faculty, and staff are all really nice people. Erica Black, the organizer of the whole day, is one of the happiest people you'll every see. She's super energetic, and she LOVES Emory! It was nice to see the sense of pride from everyone, not just the students.
I think it was a great experience. I was the only International student in the group and people were curious to know more about my country. The panel interview was intimidating at first but after the first 10 mins, I relaxed and started speaking freely.
I have to admit that I wasn't looking forward to my day at Emory because of some things I had read on SDN and heard. But this negative reputation of cut-throat competition and intensive research focus in my experience proved to be untrue. The panel interview was actually fun - we had great interviewers on our panel, and my other two interviewees were amazing - kinda humbling. I recommend staying with a student host. I stayed with a couple of first year students but they had a joint on Monday so they were basically doing all-nighters for four days to prepare. We did go to dinner, though which was fun.
The one-on-one interview was very brief, only 15 minutes, but mine went over to 20 because my guy came from the same state I did. Contary to some previous people, my tour guide was pretty nice and tried to answer all our questions. The group interviewers were all very nice and seemed to care about what I said. One of them reminded me of my friend's mom, so I wasn't THAT nervous.
I don't like to post much on interviews, but I felt it was my duty to respond after reading a few of the negative posts. The day is long, but I felt at ease and very relaxed the entire time. Erica Black and Dr. Eley are wonderful, the students are the happiest I've seen yet. i come from a large state school that is not considered an academic powerhouse, and I was worried that some people would act like snobs. It was the complete opposite. I even got some phone numbers from some of the first year people who wanted to answer more questions if I had any. Unlike the above poster, I found the panelists in the group interview to be extremely engaged and very interested in us. They asked interesting questions and I enjoyed both interviews very much. I encourage anyone with an upcoming interview to stay with a student host. Mine told me everything I needed to know, showed me how to get to the building, where to park, etc. Emory did not seem competitive like some people seem to think. Overall it was a great experience and Emory is definitely my number one choice.
interview day was very long. it began with interviews in the morning, one group and one individual. and then a very lengthy tour and lunch at the hospital. along the way, students approached us and answered any questions we had. the tour was given by our student interviewer, ,which was a bit wierd. the day was definitely too long, but the group interview was not bad, it was more like an individual interview with a few extra people in the room. no big deal.
We were greeted by the admissions office in the morning, had a powerpoint presentation, and a personal welcome from Dr. Eley. Then we split into two groups (morning and afternoon interviews), and my group toured Grady, Emory hospital, and the campus first with a student tour guide. I had a one-on-one interview with a doctor before my group interview. Both interviews were partially open-file. The group interview consisted of three applicants and the interviewers were two doctors and the student tour guide from the morning. Overall, I had an amazing time at Emory, and the day was actually fun. I was very impressed with everything I saw and experienced, and Emory is now my top choice.
Emory spoils their students, that was pretty obvious, but something about them was lacking... it's hard to describe... maybe "plasticized" would be a good word to describe the general atmosphere...
If it were not for the group interview, Emory would have given me a better impression. It showed the competitive nature of student life there. The faculty interviewers were NOT friendly at all, and it was not converstional or relaxed (unnecessary for them to act that way). Also, some facilities (classrooms) were outdated and need to be renovated. The curriculum should also become more innovative... Overall, though, it is a lovely campus.
I was pleasantly surprised by Emory. The whole day was very well organized. We were able to sit in on classes. There were plentiful opportunities to chat with the current med students. We toured the med school, the undergrad campus, AND two hopitals (Grady and Emory).
It's a good school in a nice location. The facilities are pretty nice since the school has zillions of dollars. The panel interview is no sweat. It's more like 3 one-on-one interviews or answering the same type of quesitons in front of other people. If you don't like speaking in front of other people, then you might have a problem, but the interviewers are very friendly. The Asst Dir of Admissions, Erica Black is hot! (To me anyway!)
Great school that is really trying to improve itself...the day was very organized, students are great and Erica Black, the coordinator, is really great
Overall, I really liked Emory. The faculty and students all seem to be friends and support each other. The facilities are amazing as well as other things Atlanta has to offer (CDC and American Cancer Society..)
we went inside the neonatal ICU and saw tiny, tiny babies! group interview is NOT bad at all, at least with the interviewers I got...but I did hear stories about other interviewers. i was surprised by how casual and nice they were, when i expected a rigid, kind of elitist thing. come with questions because everyone wants to answer them.
Great school! I had a great time, except for the group/panel interview. This part was not necessarily stressful, but it was difficult to gauge how long was an adequate time to talk, etc.
Panel interview of 3 applicants with 3 admin, one of whom is your tour guide during the day. Then one-on-one interview. Having the interviews later was actually a bonus b/c I had chatted with the tour guide and met my fellow interviewees so the panel was super relaxed. We were asked the same questions as each other, unlike other responses have indictated.
I had a postitive experience. Except for the scolding, everyone was effusive, welcoming...You are offered Coke products at every turn (Note: When asked who Dr. Woodruff is, remember that he donated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Coke stock to the school. You will be asked who he is by the admissions coordinator.)
The facilities were excpeptional. I really enjoyed the medical students and the faculty and staff. The tour was pretty long, but it gave me a good idea of what it would be like to be an Emory Medical student. Overall, it was a really good experience.
This school really impressed me with the amount of opportunities available to intern at CDC, and work in a universal access hospital (Grady takes any patients, even foreigners). Coca Cola's money is evident in all the new and nice buildings. After the interview, Emory moved to the top of my list.
This was the best interview experience I've had. We met lots of students, saw classes, and got a great tour of the hospitals and beautiful Emory campus. Everyone is really friendly. It is evident the faculty and staff really care about the students. I like how the curriculum combines lectures, small groups, and pbl. They really listen to student feedback. The facilities are quite new (the medical school is on the main campus) and the students seem really happy. It is okay to bring sneakers for the tour. I recommend it.
I was a little bit negatively influenced by the fact that except for the interviews the staff seemed to focus on the undergraduate campus as a reason to come to Emory.
I was really impressed by Emory. It back one of my top choices after visiting there. After the long tour, I had my individual interview for about 30 mins. And then had the panel interview for about 45 mins. The panel is not stressful at all, actually I like the panel interview better than my individual interview. It was much easier than NWU panel interview.
Brief review of the format: there's one 3-on-3 group interview and one 1-on-1 interview. Both are "semi-open" file - they see your writings, but not your numbers. The interview day runs about 7:30 to 4, so eat breakfast and be ready for a fair amount of walking. Much of the panel interivew involved all 3 of us answering the same question, so although we weren't directly competing against each other in that sense, the committee could have compared us if they wanted to.
despite having a group interview, it is really chill. there is also a 30 min, one on one interview. the med student who tours you is on the admissions committee and one of the group interviewers. atlanta is a great city and emory has so many opportunities for students. take the marta tram to campus, it's only $1.75. if you stay with a medical student, ask exactly what accommodations they have... it may be better to stay in a hotel.
The group interview was actually my favorite interview experience. It's not as stressful as 1 on 1 since there are 3 people and while others speak you can just chill and enjoy yourself. The attention is diffused among 3 applicants. During the group interview, remember they want to see how you interact in a group setting, so maintain eye contact with each speaker and respond with body language appropriately. Don't just zone out until it's your turn to speak. It's a really long day - 7:45 to 5 pm, so in that respect it was stressful. Also they interview like 18 applicants every day so it's a large group.
Fantastic school, great resources, people are really nice (from the deans to the professors to the admissions to the students). If you interview there, you will love it.
Great experience. The school really tries its best to impress. Emory became one of my top three choices after the interview, when it may have been no. 5 or 6 before that.
had two interviews: panel interview (3 interviewers and 3 interviewees), and a one-on-one. during the other half of the day, we toured the campus and grady.
The interviews were very low stress. The panel interview was kinda silly cause their was little group interaction, but it still wasnt stressful at all. The day is LONG, and seriously, bring a change of shoes, cause the tour will take you through parts emory's main rolling hill campus and to Grady Memorial, which is a montrosity of a healthcare complex. You really have to make sure you'd want to work in an indigent patient base to go there, cause Grady is a huge part of the medical education at Emory.
I was in the afternoon interview group, so we took the tour in the morning. After lunch, a faculty member came to get me for my individual interview, which lasted about twenty minutes and was entirely stress-free. No hardball questions, just friendly conversation, and he had seen my personal statement, my undergrad institution, and my GPA. After that, I went upstairs for the group interview with two other interviewees, who I already knew from the morning tour. The interview was conducted by two faculty members and the student who had given the tour, who I had also talked to a lot before lunch. The interviewers had seen only our personal statements and colleges, but not our grades or credentials. The questions were aimed at only one person at a time, so I never felt like I was competing to get a word in, and most of the questions were not repeated for the other candidates, so I didn't have to worry about their answers being better than mine. It really wasn't all that scary.
I was fairly negative about Emory going in but was impressed afterwards, mostly by the enthousiasm of the current students. They all love Emory. Also, the facilities are nice and you can tell it is a wealthy private school.
Emory was great. I was very impressed by how happy and social the med students are. The admissions staff is very nice and goes out of their way to make sure you are having a good day. The group interview is not bad, it's just different. Hearing other students' rehearsed and dramatic answers made me hope that I don't sound as fake. I left my interview wanting to go to Emory
There are two interviews, both are semo-open so they have only seen your personal statement. The first interview is group, 3 applicants, 3 interviewers. The second interview is one on one. All the questions I received were related to my personal statement, or to something I said during the interview. I got no ethical or health care questions, though apparently some people did. Overall, it was very relaxing and not intimidating at all. Everyone makes you feel very welcome.
The group interview was not bad. I was dreading it, but they did not ask anything too personal, and it was pleasant to hear the responses of the other applicants. Atlanta is a nice place.
The interview experience was really nice overall except the panel can be somewhat awkward--not necessarially hard. The tour shows you everything possible and I feel like they were just trying to fill in time.
It was a great interview experience. Emory is beautiful, and the students all raved about the school. The only drawbacks are the grading and public transportation in Atlanta.
I was very impressed. Campus is gorgeous, right with the undergraduate stuff so we have convenient access to all of their wonderful facilities. Everybody went very out of their way to be friendly. I met (and had lengthy conversations with) over 30 first years, so I got a complete picture of what the school was like. The group interview was odd, I expected that we would interact with the other candidates being interviewed, but it was just like a one-on-one, but with more people staring at you talk. Not bad, over all. The one-on-one was rather odd for me. I asked the doc interviewing me one question, and he took up 15 of the 20 minutes I was in there talking to me so I didn't get to say much.
there is one one-on-one interview and one panel interview. my panel interview was weird, like they had one question and asked each one of us. the three of us didn't really interact any. it was like a one-on-one interview in front of other people. overall, though, a pretty laid-back day. they take you on a long comprehensive tour of grady hospital, which i enjoyed. it was a good day, a good school, and atlanta seems like a good place to live. the curriculum is a little too traditional for me, though.
My one-on-one interview was great, but I thought the group interview which is 3 students and 3 faculty was pointless. It doesn't seem like a good system. The tour was great, but a little long.
I had a great time at Emory, the admissions staff and students do a great job of making interviewees feel welcome. The first years were taking a "joint" on the day I interviewed, which is like taking all your finals on the same day, but they still came up and chatted with us and answered questions. The panel interview is great cause you get to interact with more faculty as well as get to know the other interviewees. It is not competitive at all and they say they want to see how you act in a group. The one on one interview is enjoyable too.
The Emory campus is gorgeous, they seem to have tons of money, brand-new research buildings, etc...but the teaching facilities at the medschool are awful, and the curriculum is still a little bit more traditional than one might like. The tour is really, really, really long, and involves taking a shuttle to downtown Atlanta and Grady Memorial Hospital. The hospital is interesting, but not nearly as interesting as they give them time for on the tour; our tour guide was really stretching to show us different things. The group interview is stressful - they basically go around and ask the same interview/dilemma/personal questions to each of you in turn, and let you each answer - the extra pairs of eyes watching you answer make it more difficult. If only they had nicer lecture facilities, more PBL, and more patient-interaction opportunities in the 1st and 2nd year....
I thought the group interview was really fun. Everyone is really friendly, so relax. I can't remember specific questions, but everything was simple since all they have is your AMCAS essay.
The group interview was not as bad as I expected. It was really like an individual interview, but with other people around--we didn't really have to interact with the other applicants much. They have your personal statement, and most of the questions came from there. Then we had an individual interview, which was really relaxed, and they also only have your personal statement
The students and faculty were all very nice and concerned with putting you at ease. The panel interview is a little stressful just b/c it's a new experience, but it wasn't bad at all. It was just like an individual interview in front of other people.
I thought the interview day was excellent and very comprehensive. They walked us through Grady Hospital (an amazing public hospital) and also through the Emory campus. The admissions staff, medical faculty, and med students were all available to answer questions. This was one of the most organized, all-around positive interview experiences I had this past year.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested providing more diverse and healthy food options, improving communication about acceptance decisions and financial aid, and ensuring a smooth interview day experience with clear directions and timely updates. Some also appreciated the friendly admissions staff and suggested earlier start times for the interview day.
Ask students which lunch they would prefer - chicken/roast beef/veggie - before they arrive. I was last in the lunch line and I got stuck with a no-protein vegetarian sandwich.
Be quicker about letting people know whether or not they've been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected. Also the financial aid they want you to complete before they let you know whether you've been accepted or not on collegeboard.com costs $25!
