Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 22% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the qualities of a good doctor, experiences of prioritizing others, handling unprofessional situations, decision-making under ethical dilemmas, motivations for pursuing medicine, and reflections on personal and clinical experiences. Some respondents mentioned a structured MMI format with behavioral-based questions, while others highlighted detailed discussions on their applications, volunteer work, and ethical scenarios, indicating potential nondisclosure agreements during the interview process.
Talk about a time when you had to put someone before yourself.
What would you do if you had a patient diagnosed with cancer that clearly was invasive; and his wife and son asked you not to tell the patient the truth of his diagnosis - what would you do?
I met with 2 interviewers - the first was primarily concerned with reviewing my file (academics, extracurriculars, clinical experiences), while the second asked a series of personality and ethical questions. Both were very relaxed and conversational.
Lots of personal questions regarding my application, clinical and research experience. They knew my application better than any other school that I've been to! They really want to know how you think and study to determine if you will be a good fit for the school!
There weren't really any questions per se, just an honest conversation about my background and what the school has to offer. My interviewer did a lot of the talking.
I was paired with a suregeon who was from the area where I am from. He asked me if I knew a specific hospital. Then he proceded to describe his time there.
A few ethics questions, including:
What would you do if you saw a nurse about to give a patient the wrong med?
What would you do if your attending physician was about to mistakenly release someone (i.e. commit malpractice)?
What would you do if you saw a fellow student cheat on a test?
What does it mean to be a leader, how have you demonstrated those qualities, and tell me about an example of a doctor you know who is a leader and why?
Students said most interesting question asked at Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine discussed a range of behavioral scenarios including handling differing views, managing overwhelm, ethical dilemmas like patient nondisclosure, personal weaknesses, and the value of honesty in medicine. The interview format appears to be MMI with situational-behavioral questions, and respondents noted a conversational tone with an opportunity to showcase personality and discuss diverse topics beyond typical application-related inquiries.
Talk about a time when someone had different views from your own and how you handled it.
The previous question - about a patient with cancer, and his wife and son requesting you not tell the patient the truth about his diagnosis - what would you do?
After the listed questions, the interview opened it up for me to ask as many questions as I wanted. No questions were asked about my app - I think they just want to get to know your personality.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal attributes, ethical dilemmas, academic challenges, and future goals. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as some responses indicated nondisclosure or non-disclosure agreements, with questions focusing on scenarios, ethical considerations, and self-reflection.
Tell me about a meaningful medical experience you had while shadowing? What would you have done if you were the doctor? Could you have done things better?
How are you planning on paying for medical school? How do you feel about the financial burden you will have after medical school? How do you plan on paying this back?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by re-reading their application materials, researching the school's website, practicing with friends or on their own, and utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for interview feedback and sample questions. They also focused on reviewing common interview questions, staying updated on healthcare news, and cultivating mindfulness and self-confidence to alleviate anxiety.
Read about school, reread application, mock interview, researched sample questions, talked to myself in the car, told myself I am a perfectly good applicant and not to worry!
I asked others who had previously interviewed what questions they were asked, I reviewed the school website on more than one occasion, and I read articles on problem based learning vs. didactic teaching.
Followed the schools progress in the news, read everything on the website,and searched for threads on SDN about why UMiami students decided to study here when it was a regional campus.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the small class size, personalized attention from faculty, engaging curriculum with a focus on interactive learning and clinical exposure, state-of-the-art simulation centers, and the friendly and supportive community atmosphere at the school. They also appreciated the opportunities for hands-on experience, the innovative curriculum structure, and the high level of faculty involvement and commitment to student success.
The curriculum and the thought that went into it, and the admissions faculty who were incredibly fun and caring.
The community atmosphere I encountered throughout the day. Every session I attended, every person I met - I was greeted with the same warmth and friendliness. The community based emphasis was conveyed in every aspect - it truly was impressive.
I like that they are committed to keeping a small class size (64). You can tell that all the students get a lot of personal attention and that student involvement is a very important part of their curriculum. All the students have their own personal desk in the medical building and their is a lot of collaboration not only between the medical students but also with other graduate school departments.
FAU is by far the most organized school that I've had the pleasure of interviewing at. The responsiveness, speed, and enthusiasm is clear in everything they do. I was blown away at the interview day. The interview day is set up like a second-look event. They take you to see the Boca Raton Hospital and the Simulation Center! Get ready to be impressed. :)
Everything! Students are some of the happiest and friendliest that I've seen. One told us about her pregnancy; the faculty threw her a baby shower and the schools substituted neurology for psychiatry so that timing would work out. Another just got back from Greece with her family - she skipped a few cardiology courses to do it. The school obviously cares about students, and very strong student-faculty relationship (lots of formal and informal mentoring).
Curriculum is great - lots of hands-on work early on. Simulation lab and facilities are high tech and new. Students have "nerderies," office-like rooms where they have their own computers/desks. Students work directly with faculty at rotations and are given tons of responsibility - you're set up to succeed in residency.
PBL groups are small (1 faculty + 8 students) and everything is very interactive. Good opportunities for international programs.
the faculty is tremendously engaged and cares a lot about the program and the students. there is a lot of emphasis on clinical exposure and the program allows you a lot of hands-on opportunities that you probably wouldn't get elsewhere. i also like the innovative curriculum.
Small class size means lots of individualized attention. PBL is a huge part of the curriculum and the whole thing seems set up to make you think like a doctor, not just memorize. The simulation center was the best I've seen.
The Simulation Center. Every School has Harvey mannequin, but UMMSM @ FAU has tons of these and other simulations "dolls". They are all about the simulatin center. They painstakingly paint the mannequins when necessary. If you are studying radiation exposure, they will paint on the burns etc. The simulation center was a highlight.
The brand new campus (in fact, I think they're still remodeling) and the simulation lab. And every student gets their own cubicle-style desk in the medical school. The whole foods nearby has the cutest green wheely-carts. and the beach is really close! Faculty members seem to really care about the students and are always available.
I absolutely loved the school! The people were fantastic. The school itself is wonderful. The curriculum is very innovative and gives direct patient interaction early. They showed stats that kids do better on the Step 1 USMLE Boards than the kids in the Miami campus.
Absolutely beautiful facilities...And, a new teaching hospital is currently being constructed to be completed in 2011-2012. But, the community hospital is also state-of-the-art.
It was a very impressive place. Everyone that we interacted with were really great people. The facilities are all brand new. I did not feel like I was being watched every second as I felt I was at other schools. These people were very genuine.
(1) New sun-lit building
(2) Small class size and confirmation of its advantages
(3) Explanation of the special curriculum
(4) Tour of Boca Raton Community hospital
(5) Friendliness and positive testimonials of the students
(6) Small group of interviewees, easy to interact
The small size of the school allows for an incredibly small student-prof ratio, all of the facilities are brand new with this amazing simulation center. Students also get to become really involved with doc's at the hospitals early on. The current students also all seemed so happy to be there!
The new buildings, small classes, new equipment, relaxed atmosphere, and opportunity to work with doctors (lack of competition from upper-classmen or residents).
The students have a lot of different opportunities in the community since they're the only medical students in the West Palm area. The school has a really nice simulation center, which you can start using as a second year. Everyone was really friendly. Also, I liked how each student had their own little cubicle with computer. The new curriculum sounds interesting (more PBL)
The friendliness of the students and faculty...the small class size (only 32 students), the nerderies, the simulation lab, the beautiful location/campus.
Incredible learning environment! Only 32 students in each class and excellent access to professors. Facilities were also state of the art, and everyone at the hospital was very friendly.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of diversity in patient population and the emphasis on primary care, making it challenging for those interested in specializing. Additionally, the high cost of living, limited opportunities for dual degrees, and the distance of hospitals from campus were frequently mentioned as negative aspects that could be improved.
The students who spoke to us during lunch didn't seem to care much about answering our questions.
Almost everything else, maybe I came into the day with high expectations but I was much less impressed with what the school and the students considered their selling points than they were. Everything seemed pretty standard especially the sim lab.
Facilities where messy. But it is very clear that the students USE all of the study rooms and work together, and that they have decent food options on campus.
They have very little love for non-residents. It is extremely expensive and as of now, they have no scholarship funds for non residents. They don't seem to be making an effort to get qualified non-residents to this school.
Somewhat primary care focused, so students who plan on specializing have to plan a little extra. Patients population is less diverse than most metro centers (though you can do some rotations at Jackson if you want to).
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews consist solely of behavioral questions, the interview day starts before 10 am without a specified arrival time, and the school offers a low-stress interview experience with breakfast provided. Additionally, some applicants desired more information about the curriculum changes, the regional campus setup, and tips for handling the Florida humidity.
I am not from Florida, I was expecting humidity, but I did not really know how to handle it. Ladies, research how to handle your hair and makeup in humidity. And everyone give yourself extra time to arrive and cool off inside before you have to enter the room with everyone else.
To prepare more for the close of my career question. I've waited so long to get to this place, I simply assumed my career would end when I take my last breath.
I wish I had known more about the simulation center. That the patient population is so old (avg age = 7). Granted it is Boca Raton, but I still thought I would get a more diverse clinical experience. I wish I knoew more about how the University of Miami worked with FAU and what the "regional" campus really means.
How long it would take me to drive from Miami to Boca...I got there an hour and a half early! But it was better than sitting in Miami morning rush hour.
I did not realize that I might get interview offers from both schools on consecutive days. I had to change my flight plans, but it was still cheaper than buying two tickets.
Applicants generally expressed positive feedback about the school, mentioning the impressive presentations, welcoming environment, focus on clinical skills, and the engaging interview process. Suggestions include reducing costs for non-residents and potentially increasing class size to accommodate more students.
I didn't know what to expect and I was really impressed by the presentations and everyone we met.
I could not more highly recommend this school. Problem based medicine is the best way to learn, and most effective way to train as a physician. The curriculum, in combination with the small community setting, made for an experience that was exceptional.
The whole interview day is very relaxed and conversational. Everyone I met there was very friendly and genuinely concerned with giving us as much information as possible to help us figure out if the school is a right fit.
Generally, it seems like a nice inviting program. If they could bring the cost down for non-residents it would be high on most peoples list.
It seemed to me that my interviewer was trying to sell the school to me rather than me having to prove to him that I really wanted to got there.
This is an outstanding school. It is new and the Class of 2015 will be its Charter Class but I think it's name and reputation will be quite prominent in the near future of medical education.
I am proud to matriculate at FAU as a member of the inaugural class! I chose to matriculate here over more established schools because I believe that FAU is organized very well and will provide educational and clinical experience that are thorough, well-planned, and very enjoyable!
everyone there is very welcoming and it seems like it would be a great place to be if this is the type of program you're looking for, but it's certainly not for everyone. the interview day is very laid back, no one is looking to trip you up.
My most laid back interview. Started with breakfast in the conference room with a student, followed by a short video intro to UM's Regional Campus at FAU, an info session about the school and its curriculum by Markowitz and Servoss, the interview, then tours of the campus, the sim lab, the hospital (Bethesda).
The interviewer spent more time talking than I did. He was so welcoming and cheerful that it almost seemed that I was already pre-selected for this school and that they really wanted me to come. I guess it's because Miami accepts a huge percentage of the people that they interview. It was a very positive and self-esteem building experience because I felt so welcome there.
The interview day is very low key and informative. There were only 4 interviewees there the day I went. This school really struck me as a particularly close-knit, family style environment. I like the focus on clinical skills that they seem to do a phenomenal job of teaching here.
This school is totally different from the main campus. Different emphasis, very different curriculum. Lots and lots of PBL. Lots of clinical time in the first two years.
Overall, I really enjoyed the day at UMMSOM's regional campus. It was well organized and interviews were given by professors/MDs. Everyone was very nice and the atmosphere was relaxed. We toured the facilities including a really cool simulation center and the labs/lecture halls/etc and took a trip to the Boca Raton Community Hospital. I highly recommend that future docs should check it out!
We were introduced to the school. We then had an interview early and got that out of the way. Then, there was tours and lunch. It was a pretty painless day and I was very impressed with the school.
The interviewer only asked a couple of actual questions, and we had a conversation afterward. However, he didn't leave me room to talk! Very laid back. I can only hope he got enthusiasm and dedication out of my little chance to respond.
It was a good experience. Everyone I met was supportive and since I was interviewing with 4 other interviewees whom I met the day before, I got to interact with them more.
Breakfast with students, the interview was earlier in the day which was nice, and then we got a tour of the school, simulation center, and one of the hospitals. We actually got to watch a cardiac catheterization procedure at the hospital!
It was very laid back. I got into the city the night before and stayed with a student host. In the morning, I got to the school, we went through a few presentions and then had the interview. Afterwards, everyone went on a tour of the city.
My experience was very positive. First we were greeted by med students. They were really helpful, answered a lot of questions, and they even gave us little bios about the people who were interviewing us. Then we had a short presentation, followed by interviews. Then we went on a tour of the school, the simulation center, and then to the hospital for lunch...ORDER THE MILKSHAKES--THEY'RE AWESOME. We had a short tour of the hospital and finished the day back at the school with closing remarks from one of the faculty. We had a small group interviewing, so it was a very meaningful experience.
I showed up in the morning and talked to some med students before some presentations. Afterwards, the faculty member assigned to me took me to their office for the interview. Later, we had student led tours of the campus and we saw the simulation labs. Afterwards we ate lunch at Boca Raton's Community Hospital and looked at some of their new toys there. The day ended with a brief talk about the application.
It was relaxed and not very stressful.
My interviewer was very nice and made an effort to welcome me. A few times she asked me questions that she meant as hypothetical situation but had not mentioned beforehand - I had actually experienced both situations she described - so she had to rephrase those questions, but I guess I gave her the answers she was looking for.
Overall a very positive experience. I knew before going that this was my first choice, but the experience motivated me even further. The simulation building blew me away. There was a simulation of a street, emergency suite (2 beds) and individual dolls controlled by software that could be used for various scenarios. The dolls had a pulse!
In the morning we had coffee/donuts and a few students talked with us. Then there was a presentation. Then interviews. Then the tour. The tour guide was really enthusiastic, as were many of the students we encountered. We got to sit in on a class for a few minutes, and then went to the anatomy lab. The anatomy lab was nice, and since the class size is so small, there are only 2 students per cadaver. Then we went to the simulation center, which was really cool. We had lunch at Boca Raton Community Hospital with a couple of 2nd years, and then we took a tour. Then we went back, had a final talk, and filled out evaluations. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with the school.
We had a small group interview of 6 students from a variety of schools. Started out with a nice breakfast and a chat was some med students, followed by a presentation about UM and FAU by Dr. Markowitz and Dr. Rose (both very friendly). Then a presentation about the new curriculum. Had the interviews, followed by a tour of the school (very nice and new...I loved the nerdieries, the anatomy lab..etc). Then we went to the simulation lab which was absoultely amazing! Followed by lunch and a short tour of Boca Raton Community Hospital. We ended with closing remarks and a short evaluation. The day started at 9ish and lasted until 2:30ish.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should consider offering longer campus tours, provide more transparency about scholarship eligibility for non-residents, and improve the comfort of interviewees by using clips or magnets instead of name tag pins. Overall, they appreciated the warm welcome during the interview process and commended the impressive curriculum and program offerings.
It would be nice to have a longer tour if possible, since the campus is so big.
It would be nice if there was an effort to entice non-residents to come to the school. To tack on and extra 30K per year and then to offer no scholarships for non-residents makes it seem like the school doesn't really care to get qualified non-residents into the program. It would also be nice if the website specified that the charter scholarships were only for residents. I was really let down when I discovered I was not eligible.