Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 22% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
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 revolved around topics such as personal experiences with patients, motivations for pursuing medicine and choosing a specific school, family background influence, opinions on healthcare reform, and ethical scenarios. Many respondents mentioned questions related to their application, strengths and weaknesses, future goals in medicine, and hypothetical medical scenarios, indicating a broad range of inquiries typically encountered during medical school interviews. Some responses referenced an MMI format and potential nondisclosure agreements, suggesting a structured interview process with a focus on situational judgment and confidentiality.
BOTH INTERVIEWERS ASKED ME THESE QUESTIONS: "Tell me about a patient that impacted you the most?" "Why medicine?" "Why FSU?" "Tell me about your family?"
Where do you want to begin? (I used this as an opporutnity to provide a general discussion of who I was and how I got into medicine and what I've done to prepare for that). This allowed us to build off of that the rest of the interview.
Why FSU?
This was a very big question, both interviewers asked this same question. Make sure you look at their website for their mission statement and additional info. They are very big into primary care and geriatric, so make sure you mention it.
What would you do if one of your clients (I was working as a counselor for young pregnant women giving up their babies for adoption) decided that they would rather have an abortion? Would you tell her your opinion? Don't you think that would sway her to do what you thought was right and not necessarily what she wanted? etc, etc, etc...
16 y/o female comes to your clinic and asks you for an abortion, what do you do? (after answering) what do you do if her parents already know? (same question others who have posted here were asked before)
Students said most interesting question asked at Florida State University College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including ethical dilemmas in healthcare, societal influences on the obesity epidemic, personal attributes of an ideal physician, and potential scenarios in medical practice. The interviews encompassed various areas such as healthcare policy, personal experiences, and hypothetical situations, with some respondents indicating exposure to ethical questions, suggesting a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with possible nondisclosure agreements in place.
Asked me what schools i interviewed at and had been accepted to? They also asked about another Florida school and if they interviewed me.
"What would you do for a career if there were no doctors?"
"How do you think you'll handle being surrounded by people less mature than you?"
Tell me about your family? Where are you from? What are your good and bad habits as a friend? etc... A lot of questions where from the AMCAS, so study it well and you will ace it. One questions was about my MCAT score (my wasnt so high) but I was prepare for it.
In all the questions were not hard at all, I didn't get any ethical questions or healthcare field questions. But one of the other person being interview later told me that he was asked a lot of ethical questions. So be ready for the subject, do research on it (I used Wiki) on ethical issues and healthcare in the US just in case.
Are you very religious?. Let's say a girl comes into your office pregnant and thinks that abortion is her only option what would you do? What would friends say about you?
The interviewers aren't there to grill you. They genuinely want to learn more about you as a person rather than simply another applicant. The interview sessions each lasted 35-40 min. Practically all the questions come from your app. Some questions included what I would do if I were in peds and my patient's mother wanted to take her child off the recommended medication. Just answer honestly, openly, and most importantly, remain CALM. When you freak out and clutch the chair they will feel nervous and uncomfortable
Has there ever been a time when you were misjudged?, Who inspired you to pursue medicine and why?, How do you problem solve? (this one threw me off guard, I didn't know exactly how to answer it...)
Recently, some counties in the state of Florida rejected a 1% increase in sales tax that would have gone to insuring the uninsured. Why do you suppose this bill was rejected?
Why do I think the bill that was being voted on in some Florida counties for adding 1% sales tax to go towards funding health insurance for uninsured individuals in those counties was voted down?
Hypothetically, if all medical schools closed what field would you go into? If after a surgery your patient did not follow your prescribed post-op plan and complications arose how would you approach it?
16 y/o female comes to your clinic and asks you for an abortion, what do you do? (after answering) what do you do if her parents already know? (same question others who have posted here were asked before)
If a 17 yr old girl came to you and wanted an abortion, what would you do? Long answer short..i basically told her I would not be comfortable performing the abortion but I would still make sure that the patient is well taken care of by another physician. But then the interviewer asked me, What if you were the ONLY physician on staff at the time within 2 hours?
Honestly, it was just like a conversation and I don't really remember any questions . . . especially since the interviewer didn't know anything about me and didn't seem to want to
Tell me about a time where you helped someone? (I had trouble thinking of a specific example that was noteworthy though I have helped many people throughout my life)
Seeing so many kids in those conditions (kids that had just gone through chemo); how did you managed to not get affected by the child's condition and managed to volunteer there?
Pick a controversy in medicine and imagine that you are faced with a patient dealing with it. Describe the situation and explain how you would handle it.
Students said most difficult question asked at Florida State University College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including ethical dilemmas in healthcare, personal weaknesses, controversial issues like abortion, and future healthcare system improvements. Some respondents mentioned encountering an MMI format with questions about balancing emotions in patient care, personal achievements and disappointments, and assessing healthcare systems in different countries, possibly under a nondisclosure agreement.
Tell me about interesting cases that you saw as a volunteer? This was tough because I volunteer at an ER and a Cancer center so I had to think on the fly and pick a random case that I remember.
Do you have any questions? (They'd already answered all of them very thoroughly, so I explained that and then led into a discussion about the regional campuses).
If you were a doctor and a 16 year old girl came into your office pregnant and scared to tell her parents, thinking they would discipline her. She believes her only option is abortion. What do you do?
Again, by the time you get to interviews they know your app backwards and forwards. Many questions centered on your personal life. How I dealt with stress, how my family has supported/raised me, etc. Both were really interested in my practice vision; where I saw myself in 10 or so years. Nothing was difficult. Although, I did hear of a female applicant getting into a heated discussion concerning abortion. All in all, they want to get to know you more, so don't be timid and shy.
I see that you love working with children and have an interest in pediatrics... so why medicine as opposed to teaching? (They also drilled me A LOT about my personal application and specifics about patients I worked with, etc.)
Choose one medically or otherwise health care related issue that you have read about and discussed with other people, and tell me what you think about it and how it could be solved. (Difficult because of how vague it was worded)
What is your take on the different health care systems in the UK or Canada versus the US? Do you think there should be changes in the US healthcare system?
You are a family physician and a man comes in with his wife who is obviously demented. He tells you he can't take care of her anymore, he's too old and doesn't know what to do. You live in a state where physician assisted suicides are legal. What do you do?
You are an extremely competitive person (college athlete / infantry officer), and yet you are drawn to this school because it is a more relaxed environment; how do you think you will be able to adjust?
Not really any difficult questions, but one question that I didn't really prepare for was: what was one of the most traumatic life experiences, and what was one of the most inspiring moment of your life?
I also got the dosage question like someone else on SDN. It's not hard..just have to know the convertion of pounds to kilograms.
If a mother brings in a 42 pound child and the dosage of a given drug is 3.3mg/kg and a kilogram is about 2.2pounds, how much of the drug would you prescribe.
Have you ever been in a heated argument with your research mentor? If so, explain the situation in detail and how did you handle it? Also, would you handle it the same now?
None really. The difficult thing is that you will be TOTALLY distracted when you see them strumming through your file at the interview. I literally could see some of my letters of recommendation, scores, etc... It's a little intimidating
What do you say about people who can afford health insurance but decide not to? Do you think they should be forced to? What other volunteer experiences have you had (we had already discussed all of them so i had nothing left to add)
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 an open 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?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their primary and secondary applications, reading SDN interview feedback, conducting mock interviews, studying the school's website, and staying informed about current healthcare topics. Many also practiced answering common medical interview questions, familiarized themselves with ethical issues, and sought guidance from resources like Dr. Gray's interview book and AMA's Virtual Mentor on Medical Ethics.
Looked over primary and secondary many times over, looked at SDN questions, mock interview w a family member to get a feel for how I would answer the questions, and looked over material regarding the school itself.
Uses SDN and created a general outline of what I wanted to say and then practiced it so I felt comfortable. Bought a medical school interview book but only read a little of it to get a gist of how to phrase my answers.
mock interview, SDN Interview Feedback, came up with answers/stories for questions I came across, AMA's Virtual Mentor on Medical Ethics, read up on healthcare reform, asked friends and family for some insight about my strengths/weaknesses, SDN Interview Secrets, reviewed my primary and secondary apps, read the school website
SDN, Primary/Secondary, I went to the COM website, read up on healthcare and wiki'd Biomedical Ethics just to make sure I knew SOMETHING about any topic.
SDN, Read primary and secondary (interviews are open file... specific questions are asked related to your application), Read mission statement (and contemplate how your past experiences support their mission), Take some time and think about ethical issues that might arise in you might encounter in life/school/career and how you would handle them
My primary & secondary applications. They ask you alot about your application throughout the interview, they will go through every detail (grades, activities, mcats)you gave them in your application. I also read up on the school- they place a heavy emphasis on their mission.
Read SDN, practiced in a mirror. The biggest advice I could give is not to be nervous, which is pretty difficult considering the circumstances. You've got to remember that these PhD's, deans, profs, MD's, etc. are people too. Be yourself, be confident, and let them know why you're there.
Read SDN--helped a lot!!, read my AMCAS and secondary questions, did a mock interview with a friend, and prepared my views on ethical questions like abortion, euthanasia, withdrawal, etc.
I read this website, went over FSU COM's website, wrote down a couple questions to ask the interviewer in case they wanted me to ask them questions, and I reread my AMCAS application.
Reread my AMCAS and secondary application, purchased and read a book about getting into medical school that had interview-type questions in it. Read the latest news and current events.
FSU website ( they don't give a lot of history to the school so check this out), SDN (all the extra questions in my interviews were exactly like the questions I saw here-I think they have a standard list of questions), AMCAS app (this is important because both interviewers simply went through my AMCAS and asked me questions about it), and secondary app ( I don't know if they even use this, but it's good to know what you wrote anyway)
Browsed through FSU's College of Medicine website, looked up some websites with interview tips for medical schools, and looked through the StudentDoctor. NEt website
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere created by both students and faculty, the state-of-the-art facilities, and the strong focus on student well-being and success. Many highlighted the personalized and tailored approach to interviews, the emphasis on patient care, the school's commitment to student feedback and continuous improvement, and the innovative use of technology in the curriculum as standout factors that left a positive impression.
My interviewers gave feedback at the end to reassure me of how my interview went. They were knowledgeable about the school and the community. The Dean of the COM answered all the questions we asked in our dean's session.
How relaxed and comfortable the interviewers made you feel. They specifically told me to just relax and lets just talk. You also get greeted at the door first thing by 1st and 2nd year students that help you get relaxed and ask them questions about the school or interview.
I really liked both of my interviewers. I particularly liked my second interviewer. He's a real inspiration and a sweetie pie. I also liked how they really do try to look at the whole application and don't concentrate on numbers.
The environment/atmosphere. They worked to keep the tension away, and to provide you with an overall good experience. Also, the facilities here are almost NEW!!!! Lots of technology, videos of lectures online, student learning centers, etc.
Very beautiful medical school! Very technologically forward. Integrated curriculum. The students seemed very down-to-earth and friendly. Very happy students and faculty.
really beautiful- gorgeous brick buildings in cold December. very sweet down to earth medical students showed us around and made the tour fun! really amazing clinical training..
The facilities are amazing. The dean took time to meet with us and have a Q&A. Both the students and faculty are all extremely excited about FSU COM.
The hi-tech facilities, the student body's enthusiasm, the campus, the curriculum. They have lots of videotaping, lots of mannequins. Only 6 people per body.
The school looks brand new and very nice. It incorporate a lot of technology in the classroom, tablet laptop, PDA and SIMs so you can practice on. The medical students seems happy even though they got a big test coming up. FSU has a positive environment feel to them, the staff are friendly. Plus I was told their new dean is very student friendly.
High-techness of the school, the open and friendly environment. The school is beautiful. It's really new so they are trying to make the advances that older schools can't.
Non-competitive atmosphere; new facilities; respect given to students by every staff member and faculty; the cheerfulness and good humor of the student guides
The friendliness and helpfulness of the students and the staff, the new equipment, having a prestigious professor for Anatomy, importance on clinical opportunities.
The facilities were incredible. I have spent 3 years at FSU for undergrad, on campus everyday walking through the med school all the time and never knew how amazing the facility actually was.
The brand new facilities, the sim people, the friendly students, staff, and teachers/doctors, the laid-back quality of the school and interview, the student groups and break rooms
Amazing facilities, students truly love the school, high tech- each student gets a tablet pc and pda w/tuition, Student learning communities, professors focused on teaching students, and last year a 100% USMLE step one acceptance rate.
The facilities were beautiful and they were very technologically advanced. The staff, administration and students were very welcoming, encouraging and helpful.
I was impressed with the amount of opportunities to work in the community. FSU allows students to spend the majority of their time out of a hospital and in clinics.
The facilities are amazing. They are really tech savy. Practically any medically related textbook and reference book can be accessed online. Everyone seemed really excited about being there. The interviews were really intimate. There were only 6 people interviewing including myself. What really stood out to me was the fact that they were very interested in me as a person. I didn't feel (like some schools) that I was taking up there time, or that I was one in a huge pile of names. They really went out of their way to make you feel welcome and at home. I had the afternoon interview schedule (11-4). We ate lunch, talked with students, etc. and then toured the campus for two hours. There were facilities accessible 24-7 to students where you could shower, study, cook dinner, etc. The CLC (clinical learning center) was also very impressive. They tailor your education in such a way that all of your tests are structured similar to the boards; i.e. when you take pharm, micro, path, you take tests which include subject matter from each area. Same way the boards are set up, same way you'll be expected to practice. We then toured the anatomy lab; something some schools don't allow. No cadavers, although we did see a few brains and human skeletons. I like the fact that everything is in one location; you don't have to run all over Tallahasse to get to your next class.
Excellent, brand new facilities. The tablet laptop and PDA you receive at orientation are a nice plus. Also, from what I understood, the professors are all full-time faculty and do not practice in addition to teaching. It is nice to have instructors that are 100% dedicated to your education.
The students were very friendly and all were eager to tell about their experiences at FSU. The facilities are all brand new and the entire college is very technologically up to date. I also liked the patient interaction you get in the clinical learning center. The fact that the students really get to know the faculty was a plus side too.
The enthusiasm of the students and the awesome facilities really impressed me. Also my two interviewers were extremely nice and made me very comfortable.
How commited to faculty is to the students, and the students to eachother. The students dont really compete with eachother to see who has the best grade, they dont mind sharing notes when somebody needs them. Great facilities, tons of places to study, and the Learning Communities were awesome.
The positivity and enthusiasm of the students, and the dedication that the faculty and staff had to the mission of producing physicians who would be good clinicians and who work well in teams. Also, the study areas are AWESOME!!!
Facilities are GORGEOUS, students were a great mix of people, and several made a point of emphasizing the chose FSU over much more prestigious schools because of the fact that the professors are there to teach, and you are ensured time with doctors not residents during the 3rd & 4th year rotations.
The facilities were beautiful because they are brand new. You also get a laptop and pda (well, technically you're probably paying for it through tuition). Lunch was really good.
The genuine warmth and friendliness of the entire student body and staff. The facilities were above and beyond expectations. You have to see it for yourself to understand.
Every faculty member I met seemed incredibly nice, interesting, intelligent, and down-to-earth-- I was highly impressed! The medical school building is beautiful and technology-forward. The students were friendly, knowledgeable, and seemed happy. The lunch was tasty. The match and board scores are impressive for such a new program.
The facilities are amazing and state-of-the-art. I did a lot of research ahead of time on the school, but was still impressed by the building, especially the famous CLC. My interviewers were great and seemed to genuinely want to get to know me as a person. I could tell they had taken time to really peruse my app and come up with questions specifically for me. It was so laid-back and relaxing that I wasn't stressed out at all.
everything! The staff was very welcoming, students very jovial, and everything is targeted towards the students success, they are very technologically advance with 95% of the library on your free computer,team based learning, very easy going environment, a huge effort to make u comfortable and stress free, great lunch
The facilities are amazing and are brand new. They are continuing to grow, brining in patient simulators for the bottom floor of the building next to the CLCs. Students were extremely happy to be there and numerous ones commented that it is a less stressful environemtn than other state medical schools. I was able to sit in on a class after my interview and was impressed by the integration of the computers they give you for free with the lecture (gives you the option to either print it out or to take notes on the power point slides provided by lecturers prior to lecture).
New facilities! Their new auditorium looks more like a performance hall. They are the only MD school built after the internet came into use so the school is structured around wireless and paperless learning.
EVERYONE was so friendly, and you can tell that the students REALLY do enjoy med school at FSU. The school is very high tech. Very nice facilities, especially the LC and the CLC's.
The building is brand new and it looks great. The students all had fantastic personalities and did a very good job selling their school. I could tell that they really enjoyed going there. Also, they did a great job giving me tons of information about the school. The interviewers themselves were pleasant and gave me plenty of opportunities to show who I was as a person. They seemed generally interested in what my personality is like.
high-tech focus (they give you laptops adn PDAs of you are accepted), friendly students, upfront and courteous administrators, polite interviewers (see "summarize your experience"), progressive teaching
The school is very new, so all of their resources are state-of-the-art. They are the first medical school to be built since the advent of the internet, so their entire curriculum is very internet-based.
The facilities were new and nice looking and catered to the students. The staff that showed us around was really nice and seemed to really care about the students.
The school was absolutely amazing. It really knocked me off my feet because I wasnt expecting the school to impress me so much. The facilities are outstanding and brand new. There are special student quarters for groups of students to gather and study with lockers and kitchens.
The students I talked with seemed happy and the way the school integrates technology is amazing. I can't think of any other school that gives you a laptop and a PDA. Integrating technology with everyday clinical decision making is the way of the future and FSU understands this. Despite the school's young age, I think anyone coming out of FSU will have a great medical education and be well prepared to practice clinical medicine.
Everything. The building is amazing. The tuition is very low, and it includes a laptop & PDA which are pretty highly integrated in the curriculum. The learning communites are fantastic, and really foster a great study environment. The clinical learning center is great. The faculty are genuinely concerned with your well-being and your education, it is apparant that they love what they do. The students are very happy. Clinical experience from the very beginning - not just standardized patients.
the brand new facilities were worth the wait, they are very impressive. They effectively integrate laptops and PDAs into the curriculum and give one of each to every student. The new Learning centers where you study are really cool, too.
I was positively impressed by how much the school is dedicated to helping their students, and how happy the students are. Most of all, I love their student learning center and their clinical learning community, which is very high tech. And I also like how they reach their admission decision quickly- in less than a week.
The students were so nice. The facility is awesome. They have "Learning Communities" which are basically apartments for a small group of students. This really would make the long hours studying more comfortable!
The school is beautiful, the students and staff were very enthusiastic and the program is very student focused. I feel they would bend over backwards to help their students.
Everyone seemed hell bent on making it as stress free as possible, including the students. Everyone was really nice, and boy do they sell themselves well.
The new building and friendly attitude. They straight up told us at the beginning that they weren't here to trick us or make us nervous... they just wanted to get a feel for who we are. They also have an optional medical Spanish course, which I thought was a great idea.
They have a brand new school that they are moving into next month. The school is also very student oriented. I know students at several other colleges and I can not say that I have seen anything like the community attitude at FSU. I also was notified of my acceptance three business days later.
The buzz of excitement about their new building and the newness of the school in general. The whole atmosphere was full of as much anticiapation as I have about med school.
The facilities are amazing!! They will have a new building with three floors. I think they're called LCL's learning community something. Anyways, a class is divided up into these communities. For example, the current freshman are divided into two communities and have two rooms. Each room has four rooms that are equipped with 2 dry erase boards, a computer, a projecter, a huge desk and nice chairs! The main room has a shower, almost a living room type area, fridge, and lockers! They planned very well for their students are very equipped and technologically advanced!
Next, they're open minded! If you're interested in missionary trips internationally, and want to organize fellow classmates to join you, the will support and help you for the mission. -they currently have international trips over spring break.
The free laptop, pda, and wireless internet given to each student is also a plus!!!
How friendly all the students there were. I would recommend everyone stay with a student host, not only because it can help prepare you for the interview to talk with students beforehand, but also so you can see the FSU nightlife. The small class size is very appealing.
Despite its criticism, I was very impressed by FSU's new medical program. They have hired great faculty and teachers who will make it a great school. It's a new school, but they don't have new teachers. The people there seem very experienced and are excited about pioneering "the perfect medical school." Becuase they were able to start from scratch, they have integrated modern technology into just about everything- each student is given a laptop and PDA, and they use them for many classes (everywhere is "wireless"). They have small but good facilities, and when all the construction is competed next year, it's going to be really nice.
The students were motivated and welcoming, and the interviews were really easy.
The fact that they take anatomy over the summer before (takes a lot of the pressure off during the year), the medical students seemed really happy, the fact that they give you an answer within a week (I got in!), the fact that they give free laptops and palm pilots to med students, the clinical learning center, small class sizes
The students all seemed friendly and group-oriented. The clinical simulation facility had some impressive technology. Overall they had cutting-edge resources because it is all new. The faculty also seemed dedicated and friendly.
Applicants were generally concerned about the lack of a teaching hospital, having to move to different locations for third and fourth years, the emphasis on primary care over other specialties, and the disorganization of the interview process. Suggestions included improving communication with interviewers, providing more information on clinical rotations, and addressing concerns about facilities and curriculum structure.
Honestly, they referenced "other Florida schools" quite a bit. Still, I understand that they are trying to differentiate themselves and ensure applicants know that they have a specific mission, distinct from that of any other school in the country.
My second interviewer didn't know anything about my application and paused in the middle of the interview to read about me. Though our conversation was really great (since he really just wanted to get to know me as a person) I felt that it was odd for him to do that
the unprofessional behavior of our student guides, the de-emphasis and utter disdain for research, the un-preparedness of one of my interviewers regarding my record
The schools focus on producing primary care's. I like rural medicine/practices, which is also a part of their mission, but I'm not entirely sure if that is focused on as much as producing PCP's.
i am NOT a fan of using the same laptop as everyone else- it sounds HORRIBLE and crashes. I like my own laptop:( i also dont know if there are alot places to study in the area- everything seems so crowded cuz there are so many colleges around.
The information session was a little unstructured for my taste, with no info about financial aid. No clear leadership, just a lot of coming and going from random people. Tallahassee apparently has a lot of crime, and friends tell me you shouldn't walk around alone at night, even on campus.
One of my interviewers asked me an inappropriate question, but that should be in the process of getting sorted out.
the 3rd and 4th years "aren't for me." Though they seem effective. Also, they told us in the interview that they would let us know (verbally by phone) the next week what the outcome was, however, they didn't let us know until October 15th (written).
That there is no teaching hospital and you generally only spend your first 2 years in Tallahassee. After that, you are assigned to a regional campus to do your clinicals at for the next 2 years.
I do a great deal of my studying in libraries, and I was very unimpressed with the one at the med school... however, I'm sure med school students also have access to the main FSU library. I was also disappointed in the lack of a teaching hospital nearby.
The lack of a teaching hospital is a big one. I dont really mind that the rotations are in a different city, but the fact that you have to take your clinicals skills test in Tallahassee, sucks. You have to travel every couple of weeks back to Tallahassee.
Lack of third and fourth year students to talk to, lectures are mandatory and they are not videotaped and posted - only the notes are, the having to move for your final two years, and the lack of hospitals for clinical experience in the first two years - although you are matched up with a physician in the community for a semester in your first and second years.
Nothing really! The school is closer to central campus than I expected, they have a huge connection to technology, they are the most recently built school so they are MAJORLY hooked up and wireless. All of the money that would have gone into building an academic hospital has instead been poured into the students and the faculty so they don't have to spend their time finding grants to pay their salary and instead be what they should be -- teachers.
Nothing much; the second years were having a test so they weren't able to do the tour. It was a little chaotic because they were trying to find someone else to do it (they settled on first years who were nice).
I don't particularly care for the Tallahassee area, probably because I'm biased and from its rival school. But overall, the city doesn't intrigue me like other cities I've visited.
Only slightly negatively impressed by how some of the students appeared to be at the school and not be as focused as I would want future classmates to be (although I believe you see this everywhere, it was more apparent at this school).
The library is really small...but that's because 95% of the library books are available on the students' laptops. There are not any labs at FSU except the anatomy lab. No teaching hospital...
The lack of a teaching hospital is definitely a minus. You have to travel to other hospitals to gain access to needed resources. Also, the fact that you have to leave after 2 years and go somewhere else in the state to work at a hospital.
While I got a great sense of what the first 2 years will be like, I didn't get a good understanding of the last 2 years. Since the third & fourth years are all off campus, and many scattered about the state, there is no one there to speak from personal experience, rather just faculty & staff talking about the programs.
The school is still relatively new and the class size will be increasing over the next three or so years. They still have yet to obtain final and permanent accredidation.
They are in a tough situation at the moment because they have never had a 4th year class; they can't talk about residency placements or even much about the rotations (although they don't seem to be at all worried about not getting residencies).
They are still very new (which of course they can't help), my second inteviewer hadn't looked over my app yet which i thought was unprofessional, the construction was annoying, i had a hard time finding where they told us to park
Many applicants wished they had known ahead of time that their interviews would be very relaxed and conversational, with an emphasis on asking questions. They also highlighted the importance of preparing questions for interviewers, being aware of the school's emphasis on primary care, and being mindful of parking logistics.
You NEED to have a list of questions to ask your interviewers, the Dean, and the medical students. This interview is mostly the interviewees asking questions, so make sure you're prepared to do so
How easy it all would be. I thought I'd be grilled pretty badly about research and shadowing deficiencies, as I had no research and only one ongoing shadowing experience (albeit multiple doctors). These were merely touched on, and my explanations of why were sufficient.
Just how laidback the interviews would be. That the information sessions would not be so informative, that there wouldn't be anything about financial aid.
how relaxed the interview was going to be, maybe thought of some more questions to ask the interviewers as they talked the majority of the hour each, they were great
That a 5 hours drive from where I lived to FSU was so boring.
They start school very early June 1 and my interview was so late, which doesn't allow me any vacation time.
That Call St. splits in half! To get to the COM, take Tennessee, turn left on Stadium and the COM is on your left. My dad drove me, so I didn't have to worry about parking.
(1) Go to the bathroom before you report to the library -- you may not get another chance. (2) That the interviews would be a full hour each and that there would be no break in between them.
That I didn't need to be so nervous and uptight about the process. Everyone was very laid back and the interviews were more like conversations rather than a typical interview. Very personal approach. If you just relax and be yourself you'll do fine.
I had my doubts about the program since it is so new but everything seems to be working out really well and the school is really invested into its students,
I wish I had actually trusted all the feedback on sdn. The interviewers are really nice, they dont try to put you in the spot they really just want to get to know you.
The interviews contain no ethical or medical issue questions of any kind. I spent a lot of time stressing out and reading current medical issues for interview prep.
The 2 main bombs FSU COM drops on you during the interview day are 1) MS1 Orientation is in LATE MAY- they cover anatomy over the summer. 2) Selection of location for the clinical years is done by lottery, with married people and parents having the only preferences. Everyone wants Orlando.
How amazing FSUCOM really is. Too few people respect the school, simply because it is new and "untested". But the first graduating class had pretty decent residencies, and step one scores have been above the average.
I heard from another interviewee that he got a really great rate at a hotel right across the street from the medical school on Tenn. St. -$50 a night for 2 people.
The interviewers have the choice of reading your file ahead of time or not. Both of my choose not to, so that threw me off a little. (They read it after they interview you if they don't before)
The whole idea of working with a "proceptor". During your schooling you are paired with a proceptor, a physician in the community whose office you go to work and learn in. I had to kinda pick up the term as students spoke.
They are focus on primary care, however you do not have to specialize in it. You spend 2 years at FSU and transfer to either orlando, st. petes and somewhere else. The research thing scared me.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at FSU COM to be relaxed, welcoming, and conversational. Feedback included advice to be yourself, know your application well, and be prepared to discuss experiences related to the school's mission. The students and faculty were praised for their friendliness, the facilities were impressive, and the emphasis on primary care and underserved populations was noted as a distinguishing factor.
Excellent time during the interview. Just make sure to remain confident. If they asked you for an interview that means they really wanted you, so it is not the time to be nervous/anxious.
Overall, relax and have fun. I wish I knew that it was a very chill interview process. The interviewers really just want to get to know you and see if you would be a good fit for their school, so if you really want to go to their website and find things that you would relate to. Definitely explain how you would be a good mission fit in both or at least one of your interviews.
The school offered two different interview sessions, choosing the afternoon was beneficial because it gave me an opportunity to meet with my fellow applicants, tour the school, and led to some questions that I wanted to ask my interviewers.
Great place, great people. Easy school to fall in love with. Amazing facilities & grounds. The students are very thorough in their tours, I was quite impressed with the way the whole day went.
I really enjoyed my time here at this school. The medical students were super friendly (and attractive), and the faculty was great. My first interviewer was a little tough but funny so it was okay. My second interviewer was wonderful. Don't stress too much, guys, I stressed because it was my first but this is a really good place to interview first at.
FSU is a really great school! Its MCAT average may be the lowest among all the Florida schools, but the USMLE pass rates is equal to or higher than other FL schools. Tallahassee is not the nicest place to live, but most people will only be there for two years anyway.
It has a great investment in its students for primary care and boasts an innovative curriculum but really they try to make up for the sub-par quality of their students, at least the ones that I met. All one of them talked about was how she liked to party all the time and complained about how hard it is to wake up at 8AM. It gave me a really bad impression of the school.
There are just so many medical schools in Florida (i have no idea why!) that I really hope FSU makes a name for itself academically in the next few the years. Its going to be harder with UCF doing so well and with FIU having a similar mission... with that said FSU definately stands out as student centered and friendly!
I like FSU. I did my undergrad here and it has a sentimental value to me. However, I was still surprised by the level of structure to the FSU Medical School. The facilities are top-notch, the library is innovative, and the staff is pleasing and easy to chat with. There may not be much here for those looking to get into fields outside of primary care, however.
The school was REALLY impressive. The students were REALLY happy. Great tour, super laidback interview. There were TWO interviews, each about an hour long, each with ONE faculty member.
my last question was "i like to tell people pretend there Is a camera in here and you have 30 seconds to state your case, something along those lines.. while I was talking and he was writing..he said "good..good.." I dunno if that meant he was cutting me off or if my answer was good haha
This is a great school, I got accepted into FSUCOM without being place on the waitlist even though it was the very last day for interviews (May 1). My stats weren't that great, so that mean I did really well on my interview. My tips are to relax (FSU interview is kinna informal) prepare your answers ahead of time, BRING A WATER BOTTLE INTO THE INTERVIEWER ROOM you will definitely get dry-mouth from talking for 50 minutes and save some water for the second interview which will be another 50 minutes.
There are actually 2 interviews that last 45 minutes. You get a tour and lunch with a couple med students. I suggest the morning session - you have your interviews first, then lunch and a tour. The afternoon session has lunch and a tour with the morning interviewers before their own interviews.
It was a nice school and an easy interview. I don't know how I did because I get my results back next Weds, but it was fine. Know your primary and secondary... they just went through and asked me questions. Remember that you can direct your interview! I didn't get any ethics questions until I directed the conversation towards healthcare (hey, I studied for it so we might as well talk about it!) They asked me questions such as "why is it so important for doctors to be able to effectively communicate and have interests other than medicine?" "who is your best friend/why is she your best friend/what does she do for you/what are her good and bad traits." They talked to me about my music and volunteering and my shadowing (I've done a LOT so it was no big deal). We talked about my thesis. They asked what was my biggest obstacle, what you want them to tell the committee. They asked whether I will continue to do research, and indirectly asked "why medicine." The other interviewees were also happy with their interviews. The most important thing is to RELAX! Smile and be friendly and you'lll be fine.
This school is really big on their mission statement - focus on primary care or experience/desire to work with underserved populations - If you have ANY story about a patient that you can relate to the mission, tell it and tell it well. It will show them that you are observant, compassionate and ready to be a part of the class.
The location, facility, staff, and students are all very impressive. My first interviewer was really laid back and wonderful - did not feel like an interview, more of like a conversation. My second interviewer was still nice, but it felt like an interview. No ethical questions and both were really interested in my extra-curricular activities during college.
Know their mission and know why you wan't to live in Tallahassee. Be able to explain your passion for medicine and particularly serving an underserved community. Just be yourself, be honest, and show them that you care about this school and their mission.
Florida State is one of the newer schools in the country and has a beautiful new building that houses the facilities that students use during their first two years of medical education (classrooms, anatomy labs, common study rooms, medical staff offices). The students I met seemed genuinely happy to be there and enjoy their experience. They cited the noncompetitive atmosphere of the school and a camaraderie among the class as highlights. The staff impressed me positively... not only do they have a dedication to the school's stated mission, they are dedicated to the students. Unlike other schools, there is a lot of one-on-one interaction between faculty and students and learning often takes place in a small group environment. Lectures are mandatory. Third and fourth year clinical rotations take place in one of five satellite locations affiliated with the school. Students did not cite these satellite locations as cause for concern. The school is focused on teaching and producing physicians who are seeking to pursue a career as primary care physicians and practice with underserved populations (geriatrics, minorities, etc). The newness of the school and the smaller environment afford opportunities that are not available at larger schools, but also presents challenges with the lack of a teaching hospital and big name research. To prepare: interviews are open file. Read your primary and secondary and be prepared to answer questions specifically related to your experiences that you listed. Also, read and read the school's mission statement. This is something that is taken seriously here. Be prepared to tie in all of your experiences to the school's mission statement. That is really the only thing that was school specific that I could advise. Other than that, questions were fairly general... stuff that you should know for any interview. Knowledge of healthcare and issues currently facing the nation's healthcare system. Also, sit down with a parent/friend/peer and discuss ethical situations that could arise in your career as a physician. That covers it. Good luck.
I came away from the interview being positively impressed with the school, even though I thought I knew most of the things I could know about it. However, unlike what I have read from other SDNers, the interview did NOT feel like a conversation. It felt like an interview. I felt very neutral about the interview, thinking it had gone neither great nor poorly. But I got my acceptance letter a week and a half later. So, impressions aren't everything I guess.
It was very relaxed. We listened to the librarian and then a couple of students came to take us to our interviews. They led us to each interview, so I didn't have to worry about getting lost. We had a tour, lunch, and comments from members of administration.
The interviewers were really nice and down to earth. It was a very relaxed conversation because they just want to get to know you. Be honest and don't say the ''textbook answer''.
The interview was enjoyable. The process is not too stressful. Be prepared to answer questions about your application. Also, I was asked several theoretical ethics questions, but there is no real way to prepare for those. Stay calm.
Like I've said previously, if you're approaching your interviews here from a defensive, I've got to prove myself, approach, then you've got it all wrong. Once you get to the interview level, you've essentially proved to them you've got the stats to make a great doc. They really want to know you. What you do in your spare time, your fav. movie, etc. They also want to see that you've had the experience to know what you're getting yourself into. If you've never shadowed or done any volunteer work in the medical field, you might have a hard time leaving them with the impression that your decision to go into medicine is a mature, well thought out plan. They want to know about the patients you've met, how they've impacted you, why you want to go into medicine, etc. Just saying you're smart and capable isn't enough. If you're professional, mature, and can demonstrate to them that you truly want to be a physician because that's your desire and purpose, then you will have no problem. Again, relax, be yourself, and answer honestly and sincerely; there's a reason why you've gotten this far.
The interview experience was not stressful at all even though it was my first interview. I was the afternoon group and we first went to the libary and had a short presentation there. Next was lunch with a couple of first and second year med students. after lunch we had the tour of the school. I then had my two interviews back to back. Both interviews went very well. It felt more like a conversation then an interview. I had only one ethics question but the interviewers just really want to get to know you better. After the interview we had a short presentation on financial aid and what next in the admission process. The last thing that you do is a small survey on your interview experience.
I liked that it was only half a day but I wish that we would have been able to talk to more students and that there was some kind of presentation about the program. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful, the interviews were laid back and they made you feel comfortable. Overall a good experience.
Two, one on one interviews back to back, lunch with 1st and 2nd year students followed by a tour of the school.
Pretty painless... except the tour guide didn't seem to understand that most of us had bladders.......
I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at FSU COM. All the students, faculty, and staff seemed genuinely interested in us and did all they could to make us feel welcome. I found the interview process to be laid back and non-intimidating. I especially enjoyed being able to talk with the medical students. There were also plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
It was my first interview and I really enjoyed it. The interviewers made me feel like I was having a conversation with them and not being grilled about my life.
in the afternoon session, we met for a short meeting, then lunch, then the tour, and finally the interviews.
I really enjoyed the student lounges and learning centers ( computers/pdas for everyone) and the team work atmosphere
My interview was great. Both of the interviewers were really nice, non of them really ask me any hard questions, I didnt get anything on ethics or current events. Most of my questions were really personal and academic. The students were really nice, willing to share their experiences with the school.
Very laid back. Everyone was extremely friendly and accomodating. I admit to applying to FSU as a ''back-up'' school, but after visiting, if I am accepted, I will be seriously considering their program. The interview day would have only been better if the second year student you gave us our tour hadn't gotten lost when attempting to take us to our interviewers, although I felt badly for him because he was a very nice person and seemed to be more stressed about being lost than we were :)
I had the morning sessions, so my interviews were the first thing. After the interviews, we had lunch with the students. They are a wealth of knowledge...ask them lots of questions! Then we took a tour of the facilities, and the day was over. It went very quickly.
The interview experience was conversational and there were 2 one-on-one 45 minute interviews. I was very nervous because it was my first interview, but immediately they make you feel relaxed.
Everyone that has posted regarding the FSU interview was telling the truth. Your interviewers aren't there to stress you out and try to make you as comfortable as possible. Almost to the point where I think if I had screwed up answering a question, they wouldn't even mention it just to keep it laid back and comfortable. So it's very hard to judge how well I did in an interview when it was virtually impossible to do poorly.
Very laid back, just know your entire application, and review the questions that people have written down here and you should be ready for anything they can ask you.
It was pretty laid back. The interviewers asked me a lot of ethical questions, some of which I wasn't really prepared to answer. I wouldn't go so far as to say it felt like a conversation, probably because there were so many tough questions.
It was my first interview, and it was a great one! They tell you in a week if you're accepted! I had a great time. The facilities are great, the food was good. You have to see to understand. And Tallahassee is BUEATIFUL!
Very good experience, allowed me to accurately depict myself and my desires to enter into the medical field. Conversational, well directed interviews. The questions were all asked in a manner that made it seem less like an interview and more as an introduction to one another.
The interview was relatively informal and usually around a small coffee table. The rooms have large windows with open light and the overall mood is very relaxed. Interviewers tend to conversate rather then interogate. Plenty of positive feedback to good answers. Overall, it is hard to feel like you had a bad interview under these comfortable circumstances.
I arrived about fifteen minutes early was given a parking permit and able to find close parking easily. I had been in the school before (I attended FSU for undergrad and had had several meetings inside before) so finding my way around was easy. We met in the library and then went directly to our interviews.
I was an early decision applicant so there was only one other applicant there with me at this time. We were taken to opposite sides of the college to meet with each of our interviewers and had two one on one interviews back to back. Both were 45 minutes long.
My guide, a first year student, told me all about my interviewers how their personalities were and what to expect. This helped my stress level a great deal, even though I knew from SDN I shouldn't be worried.
My first interview went very well, it wasn't as conversational as I expected but that was fine. My interviewer was a professor at the school (Phd). He asked me to do a lb to kg conversion to prescribe medicine to a child and then asked me how to make a two molar solution of something. I could tell he was really just trying to feel me out and see if I really knew all that I supposedly did on my application. He asked me several ethics questions knowing that I claimed to live by my faith and he never mentioned a word about the healthcare system. I don't know if it was an accident or not but when I left he shook my hand said that it was a pleasure speaking with me and said he would see me next year. :) That was encouraging.
My guide picked me up and took me to my next interview. This interview was with another instructor, this time an M.D. He seemed a little intimidating at first with a lot of questions about my time away from school and drilling me about various decisions I had made and when I had answered him sufficiently he lightened up and seemed to be genuinely enjoying our conversation. He also asked a lot of personal and ethical questions and made sure that I had thought my answers through to the end. And at that point he looked at me, grinned and said,
The school is very new and so are all the facilities. It does not seem like they have a ton of decent faculty on their staff, as the same few professors run a lot of the school's programs and conduct all the interviews. The research facilities are minimal, and it is clear that this is not their focus. Focus is overwhelmingly on primary care, and definitely on churning out as many doctors for the state of Florida, regardless of the quality of doctor generated, in order to address Florida's growing physician shortage.
The day was short, sweet, and pleasurable as far as med school interviews go. They did a great job matching me with my interviewers- one had attended my undergrad and the other was just a great guy. Both asked thought-provoking questions and I felt they covered good ground and brought out the best in me. This program is not BSing when they say that their faculty is dedicated to the students. Their interactions seemed warm and friendly.
Overall I think this school receives less love than the other FL schools due to its focus on creating community and primary care physicians. However, many of the students are interested in competitive specialties such as anesthesia and EM and they claimed that FSU helps them pursue these interests. I left the interview day with a very high opinion of this school and if accepted, would strongly consider attending.
We began the day in the library where we were greeted warmly by a library staff member (very cheerful and warm). Afterwards, we were joined by 3 medical students who were our guides for the day. They took us to our rooms and picked us up as well. Afterwards, we met with the dean some other staff, had a tour, and that was it. I ended up sitting in on a GI lecture which was a little dull (but then again, i also had no clue as to waht they were talking about, but the lecture hall was nice!).
Both my interviewers were incredibly congenial. They really wanted to get to know me. My first one went through each of my experiences listed on my AMCAS and asked me to talk about them more, which was great for me to be able to flush those out more. My second interview was really conversational and I felt like I was just talking with someone. There was no pressure that I had to have the right answer. I felt comfortable and they made me feel like a guest, not like someone that THEY wanted to see if they liked ME.
It was conversational and stress free. Know your AAMCAS stuff though because it can be thouroughly focused on. Be prepared to talk about anything and everything from grades to family.
I really enjoyed my visit. Upon arriving, they had assigned one medical They were really helpful in finding the interview rooms and helping to make us feel more comfortable. After the 2 interviews everyone met up to have lunch and ask questions. Then the medical students gave us a tour of the CLC. It was really amazing, very high-tech, and so advanced.
Stayed with a friend who is a first year student prior to the interview and ate dinner with four students the night before. Students are devoted to ensuring that the group as a whole succceeds, rather than just looking out for themselves which is a real positive. I interviewed with the early group and the interviews went well. Interviews were conversations and my whole application was discussed. They do a good job of reading up on you before hand, both of the interviewers had sticky notes coming out of my packet with questions they were going to ask. Ate lunch after both interviews with first and second year students who were very open about their experiences and willing to discuss what they liked and did not like about the school. Tour was after lunch and lead by Dr. Eveland, which was interesting as he was not supposed to be conducting this tour (a second year was). Took us around facilities and they were immaculate. After tour my official day was over. I then sat in on a physiology lecture.
Overall, I was very happy with this interview and the school. It is great to know that they will give you a response in about 2 weeks (even if it is waitlisting). Despite the fact that its a relatively new school, the faculty all have extensive history at other schools and in the medical field. It was very relaxed and conversational. Just be yourself.
Awesome experience overall. I started my day at 9 am. Half the ppl come at 9, and the others come at 11. I was glad to get my interviews done in the morning though, because at 11, you go to lunch and meet all the ppl that have not had their interviews yet...everyone is kinda nervous and asking the med school students about their specific interviewers...that would have made me more nervous.. But anyways, both interviewers were realllly nice people. They made me feel very comfortable. They were both very conversational. I wrote down as many questions as I could remember from the "convos" that I had. I hope they help you all prepare for your interviews! Good Luck to you all!! Here are the questions i remember:
1. 63 yrs old patient wants to withdraw from life support...she can communicate thru eye blinks. Her family agrees. You are her doctor. What do you do?
2. B/c of your faith, would anything cause you any discomfort/problem as a doctor?
3. Would you consider going to D.O school?
4. Tell me about your family.
5. what are your strengths and weaknesses
6. Most memorable volunteer experience
7. Most interesting paitent experience
8. What kind of place would you like to work in: small town, big city, etc.
9. Tell me about your research.
10. What field of medicine are you interested in?
11. Why FSU?
12. What do you think is the most pressing concern in healthcare?
Basically, know your amcas application well. One of my interviwers focused greatly on my application and asked a lot of questions revolving around my personal statement, while the other interviewer was just literally making conversation.
I hope all this was helpful for you guys. I interviewed on Jan 27th, so I should find out by tomorrow or wednesday. Please pray for me!
I got there around 11 AM and had lunch with fellow interviewees and some med students, who were extremely friendly and talkative. They told us all about their experience with the school and what they liked about it. Then I met with 2 different interviewers for about 45 minutes each. They basically pulled out my file and asked me about everything in it. Then they asked me some general questions like "what should I tell the committee about you?" It was very informal and made me feel like they were just trying to get to know my personality.
Wow. I was very impressed by FSU's school. The interviews were great! Trust me, I've been thorugh bad interviews, so this was a welcome change. The day was short (8-2), to-the-point (other schools ramble about information you don't care about until after you're accepted), and laid-back. Interviewers were professional and courteous. Example: During one interview, the interviewer's phone rang; instead of cutting me off or pretending I don't exist/matter, the person said, "I'll call him back later." (Other schools are not as considerate.) I had morning interviews, so I was "done" by lunch. (I recommend requesting morning interviews, by the way.) The med students made the day. They had a great sense of humor and showed that they work and care about each other. Added bonus: you find out the school's decision by two weeks of your interview (someone will call or e-mail one way or the other). FSU's med school is very new, so many don't give it respect. To a certain degree, it is unproven (first class graduated 2005) and so there is still much left to be seen about the school (i.e. is the education provided producing quality doctors). Nonetheless, from what I saw, it looked like and excellent institution that IS ready to compete. Great staff, students, and facilities.
I interviewed the 20th and I will not be receiving an answer for two weeks but I thought it was only fair to post a comment now because I didn't want the outcome to affect my overall opinion. The student were very happy (I could tell they were not faking it) They would answer any question you had without vaseline and I liked that (sorry for the image) and in conclussion everything you read in the rest of the posts here at SDN
The facilities are AMAZING, and during the first part of the day I was very impressed with all of the faculty and medical students I met. However, one of my interviews was quite bad. The interviewer had not read ANY of my application; in fact, I was stunned as I watched them casually peruse my application (and insult my choice of a major) and all of my letters of recommendation and actually stop the interview to check e-mail and talk to an assistant. I did not feel that the interviewer even really cared that I was there vying for a spot in the medical school class. It was as if I was inconveniencing them . . . which didn’t really impress me and make me want to attend FSU even though the students seemed happy and the facilities were amazing.
This was my first interview, and it was a great first interview to have. The faculty was very nice, and the students came and ate lunch with us, even though they had exams that day. I think that once FSU COM has been around for a few years, it will move to the forefront of medical schools, because of its adaptability. The interviews were very conversational. I didn't feel pressured at all to answer with the "correct" answer on anything I was asked.
Overall, it was a very laid-back interview. The day starts with an informal/small-talk meeting in library with med students, then you go to a quick meeting, followed by a tour. Next, you eat lunch with another group of med students and then its time for interviews. Everyone has 2 interviews, and then a meeting where you are told whether or not you have to be interviewed by a third person.
Overall, a enlightening day. This was my first med school interview and it was a great one to get started on. Everyone was very friendly and the atmosphere of the college is wonderful.
Great. Both interviewers (one was faculty the other was a physician in private-practice) asked really good questions that weren't too difficult. Pretty stress-free.
I felt completely comfortable. The staff was very nice and just wanted to make you feel 100% at home. I managed to stay stressfree for the interview process.
It was really laid back; so laid back that I resisted the notion to put my feet up in the table and untie my tie. But seriously it was so laid back the first interview we just had an hour long conversation about healthcare (not cause he asked me but I wanted to talk about it) and at the end he just asked me about my volunteer experience. The second interviewer tried to do everything possible to be accomodating. Really nice person who was curious about my volunteer and teaching experience.
Overall, a great day. It was nice, because it started at 11:30, which gave me time to go to their medical library and prepare more. Food was great, all the students were very nice, down to earth. The two interviewers were very nice docs, also laid back and down to earth.
The day starts off at 11AM with a meet and greet with Dr. Eveland. Dr. Eveland is a real nice guy and he gives you a great overview of where the school is now and where it's going. After that, you have lunch with a couple second year medical students followed by a tour. When I was there, the CLC was locked and we didn't get to see it but the rest of the school was impressive. Both of my interviewers were great and I learned a lot about the school. Dr. Van Durme was great and told me how FSU is integrating evidence-based medicine into the curriculum.
It is a very nice, stress-free day. There are no long, boring powerpoint presentations. The days starts at 11am, where you get introduced with a few people. Afterwards, lunch is served. Food was good except that I didn't like having to cut chicken off the bone while worrying that I was going to flick a piece of it at myself. You eat lunch with a couple students, who are very honest. They then take you for a tour, and then you wind up at your interview locations. Both interviews were very laid back - I honestly felt as if I were talking with friends or colleagues. Bother interviewers were sincere and honest, as well as interested in what I had to say.
Everyone was very friendly, and there were many students around to talk to and ask questions of about the school. They're honest too, because they will tell you the bad parts and the good parts of the school.
The interview was pretty laid back. The whole day seemed shorter than some of my other interviews. Everyone was very nice, including the two doctors who interviewed me. Overall it was a good experience.
My interview experience was very wonderful. I was so relax during the interview process that it was almost hard to believe how nice the faculty and students really are, even though I had previously read from this website that they are very nice. Also, to make everything even more wonderful, I was told about my admission in less than a week. I look forward to attending such a wonderful school.
Interviews are always stressful no matter what, especially when you have two within a short period of time, but all the students were really nice. They tell you the real stuff, so talk to them a lot. They even give you tips about your interviewers before the interview. You will probably be surprized at how much you like the school, I was. Even the other applicants seemed cool. I think they like more personable people than the typical premed kid. I liked the school a lot and was accepted the week following my interview.
Overall, the interview was very laid back. My interviewers were very nice. Ask a lot of questions- The staff and the students were very welcoming and the students will be very honest about what they think.
The day starts with meeting current students and asking them about their experiences. Then you'll meet the Dean of Admissions and the rest of the staff. There was no presentation as I've seen in other interviews. Instead, the Dean talked to us for about ten minutes and then let us go to lunch. After eating, you'll go to your interviews which last about an hour each. You'll spend any breaks you may have in the student lounge, visiting with the admissions staff and taking a VERY short tour of the facilities (when I interviewed, the new building had opened only the week before. Our tour guide did not know her way around the new school).
P.S. If you get Dr. Skilling, be prepared to talk about health care in America. Whatever position you take, he will argue against it. He's not being rude; he just wants to make sure that you've thought through your answers.
My interview experience was very positive. I learned some areas that I needed to improve in. I also got some positive feedback from one of the interviewers.
This was the most fun interview I've had so far. I actually enjoyed my time there and everyone including the students and faculty made us feel at ease. My interviews went smoothly and I really had a nice time talking with my interviewers. I did not feel threatened, on the contrary they made me feel comfortable and they wanted to know more anout me. I liked the fact that the interview was open file because I could tell the interviewers had taken the time to review my file since they already knew quite a bit about me. I got a decision in 5 days and I am looking forward to attending FSU in the future.
It was a really low stress interview and everyone was really friendly. Everything was really nice and new. If you are immediately accepted you find out by the following Wednesday, so I only had to wait four days! That was sooo nice.
The experience as a whole was fantastic, and I would defiantely accept an interview offer again if I had to do it all over. Its very easy, just be yourself... I did and I got in!
All in all this school really impressed me (aside from the food they served at lunch). The faculty seemed to really care about the students that were there. I also felt like the interviews were set up so that the students had a sense of genuine interest from the interviewers.
The interview was very good. The first woman I interviewed with was really easy to talk to and the interview was very conversational. The second interview was a little bit more stressful and more like a traditional interview. It was scheduled to be an hour long but he finished after about 30 minutes which made me nervous, but he was the same for everyone.
I totally didn't like the guy that interviewed me. He NEVER smiled; he occasionally smirked. I couldn't really tell if he was pleased with my answers or if he was just really stern. I had another interview with a lady, she was very cool!! Very easy to talk with and just a great person. It was very conversational, yet she did ask me questions.
The students want to genuinely help you do well and do everything in their power to calm you down. The interviewers also try to relax you and just want to know you
When you arrive you are able to speak with medical students and ask questions before they take all of you to get started. The students love the technological advantages they are afforded and say that they are like a close nit family there. The dean spoke with us and gave us a rundown on the short history of the schools medical program and the direction it was heading in the future. Then we had lunch during which time we were able to chat amung our selves and to speak more with medical students. Following lunch we had our interviews which are two separate one hour interviews. Mine were back to back so I was interviewing for two hours. My first interview with Dr. Epstein was low stress and he practically wrote a book about the answers to the questions I was giving him. Mostly it was just tell me about your self up to this point and he interjected with some questions now and then. You could tell he was supposed to ask me a few specific questions because he was trying to remember what to ask and I was asked some of the same things in both interviews. My second interview with Dr. Skilling was not as conversational and relaxed. He started by telling me he did not look at my file because he likes to start with a clean slate not knowing anything about you. It was not high stress but I was possed ethical questions and joted things down when I answered. Other than the ethical questions both interviewers were fair and nice. The entire experience was a good one and it is encouraging to see how much the students enjoy going there and they are all very laid back.
I was impressed with the curriculum, the class, the people. Didn't really meet the professors. Once the new medical building is complete, the school will be perfect.
Overall, it was relaxing and conversational. I was surprisingly impressed by the school. I came in with the attitude that it was my backup school. I even enjoyed both interviews and felt very confident with the students and the atmosphere. THe students seems to love it there.
All in all, the interview went well. The medical students were really helpful. They went out of their way to accomodate me. They all seemed like one big happy family. (Very Brady Bunch like) There is a great emphasis on team work and community instead of cut throat competition. Lots of new technology and new smelling classrooms kind of like a new car. Also, they give scholarship for tuition and housing. Bling Bling. $$$ This is a plus. If you are accepted, you receive a call within a few days. Although, this school does have a stigma because it is "new" and has not even undergone the match process, I think that in a few years it will be at an equal level with the other three florida med schools.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest improved communication, more updates through the application portal, and a more visible presence from the admissions office. Some also mention the need for better time management during interviews and providing clearer directions to the college campus.
Try to use the timer feature in the Zoom rooms so both the interviewer and interviewee know how long it is taking. Additionally, the ADCOM team is very kind. However, whoever is managing the SDN account, although I know this is not your intention--please understand that the tone of your posts can come across as hostile or defensive at times.
None. The office was incredible with their communication, and coordination. They kept the mood light hearted, and did their best to keep you from being uneasy.
