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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 24% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 445 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
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 motivations for pursuing medicine, overcoming challenges, views on healthcare issues, stress management, personal attributes, ethical scenarios, and specific experiences related to medicine or volunteer work. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format, which may include questions about multiple scenarios and potential nondisclosure agreements regarding interview content.
An ethical question all basically summed up in, "What will you do as a physician if the advice/treatment plan you give to a patient is not accepted or implemented?" That is, if you were to tell him to stop drinking and smoking, get more exercise, etc., and next time you see him he hasn't done any of it. How do you respond?
Do you know the origin of your hometown's name? (The interviewer had grown up in the same area that I was from, so we talked a little bit about common experiences and places that we knew. There seemed to be a heavy emphasis on making sure that I was connected to TN)
USMLE practice question. If you get one of these questions (multiple choice question with about 8 answers), you won't know how to answer it, so just stay calm and talk about how you are reasoning though it. The interviewer just wants to see how you think through a practice question.
Interview 1: Began with discussion of family history and TN. Jumped into the science, disease questions (see above). What about the immigrants, followed with a little politics, and discussions of the necessity of having a second language. At the end, the interviewer turned and said "I've really enjoyed spending this hour with you and getting to know you. I hope to see you here next Fall." That seemed very kind after the 30 minute science grilling. So, I must have done alright.
(I had two seperate interviews)
Give me a brief overview of yourself. What do you think of the war in Iraq? Women in the military? The job of the President? Do you believe in Euthanisia? Should it be legalized? Would you give a letal dose to a terminally ill patient? How will you pay for school?
Students said most interesting question asked at East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including problem-solving scenarios, personal values, health inequities, ethical dilemmas, and future goals. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the variety of questions mentioned, and respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement due to the specific nature of some inquiries.
Tell me about a time that you had to verbally solve a problem with someone.
Is there anything on your record you'd like to explain prior to me looking at your file?
What role do you think doctors have in the community? Do we as doctors have other obligations?
A lot of ethical questions - what if patient was not compliant? what if your referring physician rejected your patient? what if your colleague physician stopped sending patients to you? etc... (at the end this interviewer asked me series of questions which took about 30 min total)
Would you do some hiking in the mountains in this area if you attended this school? (A follow-up to what I had previously said about enjoying outdoor activities.)
Lets imagine you are an ill patient at your current point in life, and at the same time you are a doctor (back from the future). Would you let the doctor you treat the ill patient you?
My interviewer pulled out a question from a past step one exam and asked me to tell him the answer. It was multiple choice, but there were 10 choices so I crashed and burned. I felt such pressure that I had to read the question several times to comprehend it, but I still didn't know half of the vocabulary. The guy couldn't let it go, though. I struggled over that stupid question for 10 minutes.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
If a patient needed a test, but he was unable to pay for it and his insurance company would not cover the cost of the test, what would you do?
Both interviews were just open conversations where the interviewers tried to learn if you could hold a conversation and look for your motivation to be a physician
For me, none were really bizarre or interesting. Then again, I like to talk so I'm used to "interesting" questions, so maybe I didn't notice. :)
Case: An 88 year old Catholic woman is bleading to death. She is not conscious enough to make decisions. Her power of attorney is her daughter who is a Jehovah's witness. The pateient needs a blood transfusion. What she is aked about a blood transfusion, she says that the doctor should consult her daughter. The daughter says that she doesn't want her mother to go to hell. What would you do since the Catholic belief does not prohibit blood transfusions?
Students said most difficult question asked at East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine discussed various topics such as concerns about medical school, patient care scenarios, decision-making, physician fears, specialty selection, and personal challenges. Additionally, respondents mentioned questions related to healthcare reform, application weaknesses, ethical observations, and healthcare system comparisons, with some interviews resembling a conversation format, while others involved challenging medical knowledge inquiries.
I don't remember exactly how it was asked, but he asked me a question about what I thought was the biggest challenge that medicine was facing with the whole medical reform legislation...not that difficult of a question, but it was the most difficult of the ones that I was asked.
First interviewer went rather inquisitorial in insisting that I prove that I was not "suthern" stereotype based on only my state of residence as the rational for this view.
none really. One of my interviewers asked me what the hardest thing I had to overcome was and those kinds of things are a little personal, so I didn't answer it.
None were really difficult...it was more of a conversation with both of my interviewers, so I guess it would be ''Tell me about some current medical issues you have read about''
Tell me the number one thing that is wrong with healthcare in the United States, and why? Really not a hard question, but there are many issues with our healthcare so I had a hard time choosing one thing to discuss.
There were no difficult questions, well, except for one:
What if you do not get in this year? What do you do?
This was difficult because my only option was to committ suicide, just kidding, but I had never thought about that.
If you were a personal advisor to President Bush, what one thing would you suggest that he propose to the Congress to help problems with the healthcare field?
Tell me what you know about Mad Cow disease, HIV, and rickets?
In case you are curious, rickets is a disease, especially of children, caused by a deficiency in vitamin D that makes the bones become soft and prone to bending and structural change. He wanted to know if I knew that Mad Cow disease was caused by an abnormal transmissible protein (prion) and was related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. In asking about HIV, he wanted me to know HIV was a retrovirus and wanted me to explain its process of infection and how it spreads as well as suggest some ideas on how to combat it (what sort of drugs to use and what mechanisms those drugs had). My answers were less than acceptable. I asked a lot of questions and was honest when I didn’t know the answer. He acknowledged when I got an answer correct. It was very much a science interview for about half of the hour I was in his office. To note, he was extremely kind and I think he was honestly curious what extent of knowledge I had. He wasn’t trying to be mean. He may have wanted to check for honesty, ability to acknowledge you just don’t know, and to see how flustered you would when put on the spot. I must say, I was broadsided, but I felt that I was able to hold my own and even learn a few things during the process. You better believe I will not forget anything I learned in that 30 minute barrage.
Every year we are bombarded with hundreds of applications for awesome students who want to go to medical school here. Unfortunately, the state only gives us funding for an entering class of 60. Based on your AMCAS, grades, and MCAT score, the admissions committee has recognized you as a competitive candidate for a spot at our school. As your interviewer, my job is to be a liaison between you and the admissions committee to give them more information about you. So let's start with you telling me what is NOT on your AMCAS or secondary that sets you apart from the hundreds of other competitive cadidates we are currently considering.
What do you think of the situation in Iraq? Do you think women should be in the military? What do you think of people arguing about the way the troops are stationed? Is that traitorous? (BTW I'm a guy)
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one 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.
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 practicing with mock interviews, reading feedback on Student Doctor Network (SDN), researching the school's website, and reviewing their application materials. Many also engaged in mock interviews, read up on medical ethics or current health topics, and sought advice from current medical students or recent interviewees to better prepare for the interview.
Mock interviews, reading posts on sdn, read books on medical ethics, had done a lot of secondaries (which required a lot of introspection) so everything was very straightforward
Read the school's website several times, paying special attention to specific programs and aspects of the curriculum that differ from other schools. Read over common interview questions and practiced talking points.
Read SDN interview feedback and practiced questions. Printed out all kinds of material from the Quillen website. Made a word page of questions that I wanted answered.
I didn't specifically prepare for this interview. I had been to several interviews before this and just had some frameworks for answers that I was going to use.
Relax, slept good, and wore my best-looking ensemble because if you look good (even if it is your personal opinion) you will generally feel good. That and I looked foward to getting drunk after the interview (just kidding).
Read SDN feedbacks, studied the schools website, MISSION STATEMENT, and i picked up a lot from the students on the tour. Basically i repeated everything the students said to us during the tour!
Read SDN, read the website, reread my AMCAS, secondary app, and my personal statement. All the interviewers have is your personal statement, so make sure you can talk about it.
I overkilled big time...I went over the questions posted on this site and every other question I could find. I have known for some time that I wanted to go here so I knew alot about the school going in.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the welcoming and genuine atmosphere at the school, emphasizing the strong sense of community and support from both faculty and students. Many noted the beautiful campus and facilities, the friendly and approachable staff, and the relaxed and low-stress interview experience as highlights of their visit. Suggestions were minimal, with only minor mentions of areas for improvement such as more transparency in the admissions process and potentially expanding the facilities.
The staff appears like they really care about the students. It seems like a small school but a lot of attention is given to the relationships between medical students and staff.
The interviewers made me feel welcome and comfortable. I actually had the best time interviewing and getting to know them and more about Quillen. It was very conversational and relaxed.
The strong sense of community and support of students by faculty, administration and other students. Campus is on beautiful, well kept federal grounds. There are many resources to help you succeed.
The overall atmosphere was great, the students seemed genuinely happy and low stressed. Every one I got the chance to talk to was so nice and welcoming.
Everyone was so amazing and warm. I really felt welcome and like I belonged. The students all seemed very happy, and we ran into a bunch of students finishing up a presentation on the rural primary care track, and they ran over to give a mini presentation on it for those of us who were interested, even though they had somewhere else to be. There is a small class size, and they are very transparent about their admissions process.
The campus was beautiful. Everyone I spoke to was very nice and seemed to genuinely enjoy being there. While being interviewed, I could really tell they cared about getting to know me.
The entire day! I know everyone says it but I was so nervous going in; everyone really tries to make you feel at home. The staff and students around campus and the hospital could not have been more friendly!
The entire experience was incredibly positive. Their facilities are very impressive. The town has really blossomed from where it was before. Last time I was there, there wasn't a whole lot to it, but it has developed A LOT in a very short amount of time. There are lots of good places to live near campus. The area geographically is beautiful, in the mountains, and very close to some skiing resorts. Mr. Doug Taylor is a very good sponsor and advertiser of the school, and the admissions committee is very nice. Overall, I really love this school and can't wait to get there.
During our tour, we had an opportunity to communicate with current medical students. I was very much impressed by how open and friendly everyone was to us and to each other. Moreover, the facilities we looked at seemed to be nearly brand new, with lots of new construction going on all around - which was surprising in this economy.
My interviewers were very personable. The conversations were easy. I approached them with a good attitude and treated them just like I was meeting someone new.
beautiful campus and nice facilities, active student participation on all med school committees including admissions, plans for future study center, low-stress and happy students
The admissions office tells you first thing when you arrive that they try to make it a very low stress day, and it is! Everyone was very friendly. A MS1 was walking into the building when I was, and he offered to show me to where I needed to go.
The campus-- the facilities are really beautiful, they have a brand spanking new children's hospital, and the area is gorgeous. The students we interacted with were extremely personable as was Doug Taylor, the admissions guy who spoke to us at the beginning.
The friendly, tight-knit community. Quillen is definitely not a cutthroat school, and would be a wonderful place to learn and study medicine. Definitely a place conducive for success in medical school.
Building & environments were really nice. A lot of affiliated hospitals were pretty nice and new. Students giving us tours were really nice. (Funny story - while we're touring with 4th yrs we were locked inside of New NICU unit... We all survived at the end haha)
The friendliness of everyone I met there. I had 3rd and 4th year students introduce themselves to me in lunch line and all over campus. People are genuinely interested in helping their classmates succeed. The area is beautiful and full of outdoor activities.
The campus was beautiful. Everyone in the admissions office is very friendly. They explain the selection process in great detail including when the admissions committee will be meeting again to make final selections.
The interviewers were so laid back. The assistant dean of admissions was VERY nice and friendly. The interviewers hadn't looked at anything besides my personal statement, so it was a very open and relaxed interview.
Facilities are great, the campus is quite pretty, everyone helps and likes each other, they put gunners in their place, really like the rural preceptorship.
The location is beautiful, the buildings and technology are up to date, the patient simulators are impressive, and I liked how tight the whole medical school community was.
The campus, students, curriculum, were all superb - much better than I had anticipated. The city of Johnson City seemed large enough to have things to do on weekends, and was located in the most beautiful area.
the faculty/students were VERY friendly -- what an amazing interview experience. mr. taylor was down-to-earth and welcoming. the student interview was almost fun - students have lots of pull in the acceptance process.
The location is absolutely stunning, the students are really at an advantage due to the 1:1 faculty:student ratio, and they have more up-to-date technology that the majority of schools I have applied to.
On the tour, we visited the cadaver lab where all the first years were studying for an upcoming anatomy test. Despite being stressed, they were all so happy and having fun at what they were doing. Everyone loved their school, and they were all dying for us to ask questions. Also, the campus is gorgeous. And if you like the outdoors, this is definitely the school to be at. If you visit, you'll probably want to go here.
Everything. the school, the curriculum, the location, the students. most of all the facilities. you will not find a better facility that I know of. beats the 'other' tennessee school hands down. one-to-one class ratio, hospital was top-notch... could go on-and-on.
The students and faculty all seemed to like each other and to be happy to be attending school at ETSU. The facilities were new and the scenery was beautiful.
The people of the school are very nice and always willing to help. The 1:1 faculty student ratio is a big deal. The patient simulator they have is also really awesome
the new facilities, the students (everyone seemed really nice and i got the impression that the 60 person class really is very collegial), the location (I am from this area and wouldnt mind staying here)
Almost everything, the reputation of the school, the facilities were incredible, the clinicals seemed to be amazing, the scenery is second to none. I was especially impressed by "Phil" (sometimes called "Phillis"). They (3 professors) took the time to give us a full 25 minute presentation on this super upgraded version of "Harvey." We were told that students can reserve a full hour any time you want with a professor and Phil starting after January of your first year. They hope to procure two more "Phil"s in the next couple of years.
The interview was very laid back and the admissions staff was friendly and inviting. They stressed over and over that we could ask honest questions to the student tour guides about their good and bad experiences and it would in no way get back to the admissions committee or affect our interview process. Also, they gave us the option of a third interview if we felt that one of the interviews did not go well- i.e. had a personality conflict with the interviewer or felt like you made a bad impression. Even though I had no intentions of using this "out", it was still comforting to know that if one of my interviews went sour, that I wasn't doomed completely. The new adademic building for 1st and 2nd year students is amazing! Very impressive lab facilities and classroom technology.
ETSU was not one of my top picks...till I went there. The people are great, the facilities are great, and Johnson City is a beautiful town with lots of outdoor activites.
I was impressed with the home town feeling and the idea they they really were looking for those that fit in. The students were very friendly and when we went into gross while a class was in session they took the time to talk to us and so did the professors. Also as we toured the hospital the 3rd student was very open and honest with the school. Gave a great image of the level of education done there.
The students are awesome! The small class size really gives the class a great sense of comradery. Everyone just wants you to be the best you can be! I love the rural aspect of their medicine, too.
The staff was amazingly amicable. I felt as if I really belong ed there, more so than at any other interviews I have attended. Also, I saw a number of people at the school that I knew.
The school is brand-new, the facilities are state-of-the art, and the cafeteria food was actually good. Also the 1st years are happy and really are excited to be there.
Everyone that I met was very nice. The class sizes there are small so everyone knows everyone else in their class and there is very little competition among classmates. Everyone seems to care about everyone else, including the professors and administrators.
The interviews were EXTREMELY relaxed. They really just want to know if you are a good fit for their school. They already know you can do the work if you got an interview.
The entire day was wonderful- all of it. They have a brand new 60-million dollar building and a brand new 16-million dollar athletic center. The staff, students and interviewers were all warm and professional.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the virtual interview format, limited clinical research opportunities, closed-file interviews, the rural location of the school, and the emphasis on primary care. Suggestions include providing more information on out-of-state tuition, addressing disorganization in interviews, increasing exposure to diverse medical scenarios, and enhancing the social scene for students.
Nothing! If I were an OOS student, however, the OOS tuition would be a major drawback. M3 is about $100,000 with expenses according to their information.
See difficult question. Said interviewer seemed to almost automatically stereotyped me as a redneck/hick based on only my location of residence. Seems rather low-brow.
The school seems to be much less developed than many other schools. The departments seem to have fewer staff and fewer opportunities to gain experience. The population out there is very homogeneous. They're behind in their use of technology for the curriculum and inside the hospital.
The hospital isn't as busy as I might have liked, and the RPCT students are frequently separated from the rest of the class since they have to travel a lot more.
Not very OOS friendly - didn't talk much about how OOS paid for school ($200 grand in the hole), didn't talk about how they adjusted to the school and area. Not a HUGE deal, though.
I spilled pizza sauce on my crisp white shirt during lunch time, that was my own fault but darn it, that incident still negatively impressed me. Here is a tip: take your jacket off during lunch so if something like that happen you can use your jacket to hide it. Also, don't eat something messy like pizza for lunch.
Not much research going on there. While I could have been very happy there as a medical student, I really wanted to pursue a combined degree program and decided it wasn't for me.
My first interviewer was a second year student 2 years older than myself. It was much harder to talk to him. Also, he was totally stone-faced. I tried to joke with him and couldn't get him to smile once.
My second interviewer told me if he was paying for his daughter's college tuition, he would choose her major, regardless of her opinion. (He doesn't think she'll get much money with her current career path.) Fortunately, she had a scholarship. He then informed me that the best thing for her would be if she married a rich man. I guess I didn't hide my disgust well because I didn't get in.
NOTHING, everything was great, the hotel service, the malls, the secretaries, but the food at the hospital cafeteria was not good at all, but i can cook so that wont be a problem.
One of my interviewers was a second year med student. I didn't feel he was very qualified to know if I'd succeed as a physician or not, especially since he seemed intent on showing off how much more than me he knew. He also had not read any of the preparatory material, which I took to mean that he really wasn't that dedicated to his job as an interviewer.
Right before lunch, the group was supposed to go on a tour of the nearby teaching hospital and the 3rd year student who met us there basically told us "a hospital is a hospital" and we went straight to the cafeteria. That stood out to me because everything up until that point had been very professional and I didn't perceive a tour of the hospital to be a waste of time. After all, if admitted, that would practically be my home for 3rd and 4th years.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time how relaxed and chill the interview process would be. Many emphasized the importance of being prepared to talk about themselves, being relaxed, and not stressing during the interview day. Other feedback included being ready for non-medical questions, the conversational nature of the interviews, and the need for comfortable shoes due to the amount of walking involved.
They tell you who your interviewers are at the start of the day with a little biography about them which was a really nice perk. Did not feel like I needed to go google search them in a bathroom stall lol
Nothing. Stop being neurotic, relax, show up and be you. This is literally a school that wants to get to know you. They won't put you in stressful situations to see how you respond. Be a decent human being and relax.
This is NOT a research institution. One of my interviewers got kind of defensive at my question, "What research opportunities are there at Quillen COM?" After the interview, he asked me "So is the lack of research at Quillen really going to deter you from coming here?" (obviously not, b/c why the fuck would I apply if I weren't interested???)
I had known that a community represenative interviewer was an option. However, I did not have questions prepared for her. It was difficult because I am from the area and had no questions about the community.
I apparently didn't take good directions to the school. What I had with me said the road it was on was Memorial (which my GPS didn't recognize), but it was really Ashe.
They do not interview many out-of-state applicants. If you get an interview, you are in great shape! Accept approximately 2/3 of out-of-staters they interview! Must be true...I got in! :)
etsu is in a very rural and very pretty part of tn. despite the rural feel, they have some great technology and are doing wonderful things with patient simulators.
That I would walk all over campus in 90 degree weather with a suit on right before my interviews. That hurt me. Once I start sweating, I don't stop. During my interviews, one of my interviewers even went as far as to call me untruthful, because I was sweating like a criminal under the light in one of those old detective movies.
How wonderful this school is! The people are amazing and I know I will get an excellent medical education if I attend. Also, there are plenty of students to choose areas besides primary care.
How cool the rural track education was. They have an admissions committee with 40+ people. They end up raking each in these in the committee after the entire application is complete including interview. Then they rank by a number. Then each month they mark a lower number and a higher number. The numbers above the cut off get in and the numbers below are rejected. Rest are put on hold. Most people are placed on hold. Then again its 60 spots and they interview 200.
I didn't realize that they only admit 60 students per year. When I first heard that I felt like I was wasting my time being there because I knew that they had already accepted at least 60 students. I was later relieved to find out that they actually send out over 100 acceptance letters, but many of those that are accepted decline to attend.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at the school to be welcoming, personal, and relaxed. They appreciated the focus on getting to know them as individuals and felt a strong sense of community and support from the faculty and staff.
this was my best experience at an interview yet! everyone is kind and warm and the interviewers want to know you! not just your stats
The (virtual) interviews with Quillen are designed solely to get to know each applicant personally. They interview very few people at once, so you don't feel rushed between interviews. The faculty and staff are warm individuals that made me feel very comfortable and excited to interview with them.
This interview day is carefully thought out by the admissions team with prospective students in mind. They want the applicant to get a clear idea of what the school's philosophies are. I was extremely nervous because Quillen is my top choice school but it was overall a great day. The longer I was on campus, the less nervous I felt.
Small school with a strong family vibe. Administration is very caring for their students and actively involved with their education. Students seem happy and low stressed for being in medical school. Clinical experience is up to par with any other program out there, match results speak to the success of the school.
My overall impression was the admissions committee is full of down-to-earth, caring people all the way around who make an extraordinary effort to make you feel appreciated in an authentic way.
If you like a small program that cares about their students, this is your school. If you questions whether you should go here or somewhere else, go to the somewhere else. I am about to finish the greatest academic year of my life at Quillen, and encourage you to come here if you get accepted. If you have any questions, my name is Cornelius...Google me and feel free to ask.
The interview day was relaxed and informative. The two interviews were stress free, in part because I did not work myself up about them, but also because the people conducting interviews were relaxed. I enjoyed my time at Quillen.
I encourage everyone who looks at this interview feedback to take the time to enter yours. It is important for future candidates to keep the feedback current. We are all in this together. If you withdraw information, take the time to deposit information.
this school seems to be perfect for someone who wants that small down to earth atmosphere, small class sizes, rural-ish areas are close, people are friendly, great technology at the school...out of all my interviews thus far i think this school tops them all...just that OOS tuition...i'd probably still go
Conversational and very friendly for my first interview, it was like talking to a kindly older relative. Second interviewer was a little more old school, but still very friendly and good sense of humor. Just for reference, I'm out of state and I got waitlisted, but I don't believe I will be attending due to acceptance at my first choice (Quillen was my #2).
The interviews were far more relaxed than I thought possible. ETSU does interviews closed file, but the interviewers get to read your AMCAS personal statment and supplemental application beforehand. One of my interviewers asked me a few questions from those, and the other hadn't read anything from them. In both interview, it seemed more like a friendly conversation than anything else.
The interview was great. The interviewers were very relaxed with me and treated the situation just as if they were trying to get to know me. I had a great time learning about them and their families and telling them about mine. I had a great day with a group of great people.
I'm from the area and had toured the school before, but it impressed me even more. It really is a great med school for any specialty you could want, but perfect if you're looking for primary care. My first interview was awkward, but the second interviewer was incredibly amiable and we got along well. I loved the school.
Outstanding. They have a new building where most of the first and second year courses take place. We toured the anatomy lab while the students were tearing apart the cadavors, which was totally awesome. All of the students were very happy, laid back, and didn't seem to be too many ''gunners.'' There are two hospitals on the campus (VA and regional). The food at the hospital is very good now. Great options for primary care and rural medicine, but really great program for anyone wanting to practice medicine.
Wonderful, relaxed day. The interviewers didn't really grill me so much as they wanted to get to know me as a person. While the interview is technically closed file, the interviewers do have access to your personal statement and secondary essays. The school seems to be a diamond in the rough, of sorts. You don't hear too much about it, but its really a fantastic place.
This was my first interview (beginning of September), so I didn't know what to expect. It was a great experience! My interviewers were really laid back. First one asked a lot of questions, but conversation was engaging and enjoyable, not an ambush. The second interviewer told me my personal statement was the best he'd read in a long time, and said he didn't need to kow any more and would recommend me for admission...that interview was maybe 10 minutes total if even that.
Well the interview started at 10am. You meet the students in the admissions office then you are escorted to a room where you talk to the assistant dean of admissions and financial aid. Then you tour the school and the JCMC with current med students. This is a time to ask anything you can think of. A really fun time. Then I had two interviews and my day was over by 4pm. It was a great day, I was actually sad to be leaving. I wold have stayed if I could have. For those of you that will be future prospective students, you're going to absolutely love the school. Good luck!!
I was very impressed with everything BUT the interviewers. Both of my interviewers were unprepared, neither seemed to know what they were supposed to ask me, and wanted to talk more about themselves and their lives more so than my experiences and why I chose to apply to their school. One told me I should apply to a higher ranked school (bc of my undergraduate background). I was not asked any questions that would have given them any indication of whether I would be a good doctor. Though it was supposed to be a 'get to know you' interview, the interviewers simply asked me if I had any questions for them and did not ask me any pertinent questions.
My first interviewer was tough on me. He gave me a lot of hard hitting questions. My second interviewer was very laid-back and made the interview more like an easy conversation.
ETSU was my first interview, but I'm sure it'll be my best. The campus was amazing. The students were very approachable and helpful. The interview was conversational, and not pointed. They were definitely interested in getting to know me the person, not running down a list of questions. ETSU probably became my first choice somewhere through the day.
Everyone at ETSU was very nice. The student that gave the tour were extremely willing to answer all of our questions. I had two interviews where the interviewers had only read my personal essay and secondary application and didn't know anything about my GPA or MCAT scores.
by far the best interview i had. go to see how interviews should be done. i had a student tell me that she was happy in medical school -- great to hear.
The interview was generally smooth. The first interviewer was more curious in my personality whereas the second interviewer asked me more academic questions. I did not get the impression that any of the interviewers were out to get me. However, I do suggest that that you are honest. If an interviewer asked you a question you don't know, tell them the truth, you will surely impress them with your humility and integrity.
All right...To begin with let me just say that I am not an embittered failure. While I did not get accepted to ETSU, I got accepted to a school ranked 80 spots ahead of Quillen, so trust me when I say...
I really found some of the comments I heard at Quillen disturbing. For a school whose mission statement includes "improvement of health care in Northeast Tennessee and the surrounding Appalachian Region" and "strengthen our cultural competence" my time there saw a lack of the later in relation to the former.
Let me just say I definitely am the stereotypical East Tennessean. My family has lived there for 225 years. The house I grew up in had the rusting cars out front and the infestations and ticks inside. One of my parents is a felon. I am what most people would call "white trash".
When the alumni that interviewed me walked over to introduce himself he was wearing a pair of those "hillbilly buck teeth" that you buy at a gag store and he asked me in his best Hee-Haw accent "So ya wan ta go ta medicall Skewl?" Let's just say when I opened my mouth and he saw I never had orthodontics and that I talked much like his fake Twang, he was immediately not impressed, nor was I.
I got the impression from my time there that this school was interested in training physicians who would look down at their patients instead of eye-to-eye. I definitely felt an air of superiority on campus. There is an elitist attitude there. If you are not about that, I do not recommend this school. If you are about sipping mint juleps and wearing the latest from Brooks Brothers on your father's yacht, by all means...you know where you can go.
This was such a great interview. I was very relaxed and both flowed like normal conversation. Actually, both of mine went over the hour time limit! Tennessee is my favorite place to be, so I am seriously considering attending. The personal attention given to students is second to none.
The folks at ETSU are great. Everyone seems to want you to be at home on their campus. The fourth year med student who took us around the hospital had some incredible things to say about the art of medicine, and if that is the typical physician produced by Quillen, the school is doing a great job at instilling confidence and a gracious attitude in its students.
The day starts with a meeting with Mr. Taylor and financial aid. You then take a tour of the first and second year facilities, have lunch, tour the hospital, take a break, two interviews, and you are done about 3:30. The day is very relaxed and comfortable; not stressful at all.
Two one-on-one interviews. student tours of anatomy labs (saw my first cadaver-- don't think this was 'supposed' to happen... very shocking)... Beautiful campus!
The interview with a student was not very fun for me, he and I just didn't jive well, I loved research, and he "didn't really like science" I felt very awkward talking to him as I felt we were polar opposites. The interview with the biochem professor went really well, he asked me questions from intro biology and chemistry (see below)
I interview with this one person, a biochemist at a nearby community college, and he was great. He and I were involved in a conservation, and I never felt the interview was one sided at all. My next interviewer was a resident, Dr. Buckner, and i was not sure about that interview. He said he had a cold and kept the interview short, and also since he was young, I did not keep a professional act. But it turned out well since i got in the school.
The interviewers had no prior access to any information other than my AMCAS essay, so it was up to me to inform them as to certain things I felt were important. I actually appreciated that, since it gave the interviewers the chance to actually get to know me rather than to pick over minutae in my application. Everyone at the school was very positive and although one of my interviewers was less than impressive, I felt the day went well.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, I will simply say that the other reports basically cover evernything you need to know. All the questions poesd to me were either in those reports or were specific to my application. Get good directions from the admissions office before you leave for the interview.
All in all, the school was great. The atmosphere was awesome and the people were very friendly. One of the interviews was alittle difficult, but overall I loved it.
My first interview was with a student. She was a bit stressed with a test coming up, so we didn't talk long. She was easy to talk to, even though we didn't have a ton in common. My second interview was with a faculty member. She and I hit it off and talked for the full allotted time. She asked more personal questions, and at first I was caught a bit off guard. She really wanted to know who I am, which I appreciated. I was concerned because I'm not a Tennessee resident, but they made sure I felt at home.
Overall, the interview was a great experience. We all met in a room with the assistant dean, and we were able to ask him questions. He was very nice and very informed. We then went on the student led tours, including the anatomy lab. I was impressed because all the students seemed happy and friendly, and were constantly showing us their dissections and being excited. I love seeing students loving what they are learning. The hospital is a bit small, but friendly and "home-like" feeling. And their ER is trauma 1, so they see a lot of action. Overall, the interviews themselves were fantastic. Both were closed file, and all they had was my AMCAS personal statement and my name. Neither of my interviewers read my personal statement, so they entered blind (which is good....no pre-concieved notions). My last interviewer talked to me for an extra 20 minutes, and we had to be interrupted to be told our time was up!! I thought that was a good sign. The interviews were more like conversations, and not really "questions". I was confident, and answered directly and honestly, and I'm quite positive I rocked the interviews!!
Overall, the experience was great. Everyone on staff seemed to be a real person, and I believe they really are trying to get the "whole person" instead of numbers. This is a school I would definitely love to attend.
Three other students and myself started the day by meeting with the admissions director and getting to ask questions. Then we were given a tour of the school by two first year students. Next we were carted to the hospital and ate lunch and then shown around the hospital by a fourth year student. Then it was time for interviews. After the interviews there was supposed to be some RPCT students there, but they were a no-show so the day was over. It went by really quickly.
started the day in the morning with the director of admissions. he was very nice and was willing to answer any questions that we had. then we got a tour of the facilties both at the medical school and at JCMC. we had lunch in the jcmc cafeteria. then we had two interviews in the afternoon with members of the admissions committee. i met with an ER physician and a local professor who teaches chemistry at milligan college.
ETSU has been my "dream school" every since I knew I wanted to go into medicine. The small class size, the locations in the gorgeous mountains, the access to rural clinical sites, the reputation of the school (consistently in the top 5 in the nation in rural medicine). So much about the school is enticing. They are a close group of students with a family friendly atmosphere. There is just so much
The staff seem very committed to their students. The students are laid back and friendly. The morning was a slide show, and tour. then lunch in the tiny hospital cafeteria, which was the most unpleasant part of the experience. There were two interviews, in which they only had your personal statement. One interviewer suggested we go outside and enjoy the nice day. This was a great experince.
I was shocked at the fact that I did not have ETSU as my top choice and after the interview day it jumped to number one. I felt at home at this school and I really hope I do get accepted. My interviewers were really nice and I ended up talking past the one hour mark both times. I had a great time no matter what. Doug Taylor is completely awesome and is more than happy to answer all the questions that you may have. He will even go out of his way to get you something that you may want. (He found chocolate for one of the other interviewers cause she was nervious..thats cool) I found that they have a strong sense to help you out the best and there is a family atmosphere. Great school but it is mainly for primary care and there is no real "big city" anywhere close. Then again its not in a ultra rural setting either. If you like close knit groups and smaller classes this may be the place for you. If you like big cities, big classes, and you don't like the mountains you may want to look elsewhere.
A really great day. Everyone was extremely nice and very helpful. I was interviewed by a 2nd year resident at ETSU and a community member. The admissions committee is made up of 44 people, which include medical students, faculty, and community members. It was not stressful and parking was very easy.
I fell in love with the school, but I had my doubts since I was out of state and didn't have 13'a or above on all sections of the MCAT. I felt like I really belonged at this school.
Everyone was extremely nice. I arrived on campus and met the other 5 students who were interviewing that day, and the head of admissions sat us down and we discussed the interview day and the school in general for about an hour. We then were led on our tour of the general science building by two first year students. The tour was laid back and informal, we were able to view a significant portion of the building. The gross anatomy lab was not nearly as bad as I was expecting, the smell was not overpowering. Our tour continued with the Johnson City Medical Center. We got a brief tour of the hospital from a third year student and were treated to lunch at the hospital's cafeteria. After lunch the interviews began. Both interviews were laid back and informal, both were geared more toward getting to know me the person, as opposed to me the AMCAS ID number. Overall it was a great experience and I would love to spend my time in med school at Quillen.
The interview went really well. One was difficult and seemed to focus on my actual knowledge of the human body and the molecular processes of various diseases. I still felt good about the overall experience and generally felt at ease. The second interview went really well and I was completly relaxed. I loved the school and the overall atmospehere. THey consider it a family.
There were six of us there to be interviewed. First we all met with the admissions director, then we met with the assistant financial aid director. We were then given a tour of the new facilities by two first year medical students. We then had lunch and were given a tour of the hospital by a fourth year medical student. We then met with our interviewers. We each had two one-on-one interviews. The interviewers were from many different walks of life. Some were fourth year medical students, some were professors at the medical school, and some were community members. One of the community members giving interviews that day was a chemistry professor at a small, nearby college. The other was a Christmas tree farmer. All interviewer opinions count equally toward your evaluation, no matter who they are.
Excellent interview day. Everyone there was cool as can be. Do not get suckered into the rural tract program. While it doesn't cost any extra it's just not worth it.
I interviewed with a professor and also a medical student and the med students opinion of me counted just as much as the professors. The facilities are new and the people are very nice. Something that really helped is that before we were interviewed, we were allowed to ask questions about the entire admissions process at ETSU. They are very honest and will answer any questions you might have.
The interview lasted "all day". We met at 8:45 AM and were oriented as to the day's events. We sat in on a class, met with financial aid, took two tours (one of the school, complete with cadaver exposure, the second tour was with one of the teaching hospitals), ate lunch with students, then interviewed individually. The day was over around 4 PM.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
The most common feedback and suggestions for the admissions office include: a desire for more in-person interactions, such as interviews and meetings with faculty; requests for more notice for interviews to accommodate work schedules; and overall positive feedback on the friendly and accommodating staff.
More interaction with faculty would be appreciated. Not a deal breaker, but would love to have met more than 2 professors during a 0930-1600 interview day.
