Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University Interview Feedback Summary
Nutley, NJ
Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 33% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.0
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 80 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (71%)
Negatively (21%)
No change (7%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (33%)
Good (53%)
Average (13%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the program impressive, with some mixed views on the interview structure and questions. Many appreciated the passion of presenters and the stress-free, conversational interview experience, though some suggested improvements for scheduling and format clarity.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Program seems great and not everyone shares my interview experience so I may have gotten unlucky
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There is not reason to have 2 separate parts of the interview on different days. People have jobs. Other schools provide a PowerPoint of information about the school before interview day, and then people can ask clarification questions during the q and a sessions if they desire. We don't have to sit through pre-recorded presentations for 4 hours.
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I only got asked about 4 questions; two of which where about activities on my primary and one was a clarification about my community college. None of the random questions like "what are your values".
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Enjoy the process
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Comparable to UT Austin Dell, but in NJ, and potentially greater clinical and networking connections
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
30 Minutes Average
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Number:
1.2 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
100% One-on-One
0% Group Interview
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File Type:
100% Open-File
0% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
HMSOM-COMP interviews are an average of 30 minutes, with an average of 1.2 interviews. 100% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 0% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's conflict resolution skills, experiences giving bad news, values, motivations for pursuing medicine and attending a specific medical school, as well as general questions about themselves and their past actions. Some respondents mentioned being asked about their interest in Hackensack specifically, which may indicate a focus on the school's unique attributes or applicant fit.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What should I tell the admissions committee about you?
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Name a time you encountered a conflict in school/ workplace and what did you do?
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Tell me about yourself
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What was a time where you had to give someone bad news and how did you prepare?
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Why HMSOM?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University discussed various topics including the reasons for their specialty interest, differences in care among specialties, experiences delivering bad news, challenges in medicine, demonstration of personal qualities, and impactful patient interactions, with some responses suggesting scenarios related to being a scribe.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Why the specialty I am interested in?
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Do you think doctors in different specialties provide different qualities of care?
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What was a time where you had to give someone bad news and how did you prepare?
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What is a challenge facing medicine?
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What is your favorite quality, and tell me an example of when you exemplified it?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by thoroughly researching the school's website and reviewing their application materials. Many also practiced common interview questions, some using resources like the PreMed Playbook and watching interviews with school deans to prepare effectively.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Read the website, reviewed general interview questions.
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SDN, review app
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Watch youtube interviews with the Deans
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Reviewed application materials and information about the school, mock interviews
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Google general interview questions and know school
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University discussed topics such as self-reflection for the admissions committee, challenges faced in teamwork, reasons for choosing the school, and ideas for bringing innovation to the new program.
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What is one thing you would like me to tell the admissions committee about you.
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What was a time where you struggled in a team setting and what did you do?
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Why this school?
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What innovativeness can you bring to this school since it is a new program?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the conversational and engaging nature of the interviewers, as well as the friendly and passionate demeanor of the faculty and staff. They appreciated the organized and welcoming environment, indicating that these positive experiences left a lasting impression on them.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Very conversational and passionate interviewer/comittee.
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The interviewer was very friendly, honest, and down to earth.
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It seems like the flipped classroom approach is what tires the students out the most, not the shortened breaks
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Interview was very conversation and they were eager to answer any questions
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Great new school, definitely will become more of a big name as it gains recognition
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed dissatisfaction with interview experiences characterized by a lack of engagement, feeling like a sales pitch, and unenthusiastic current students. Suggestions include improving interview formats to be more conversational, authentic, and informative, ensuring interviewers can answer questions, and enhancing student engagement during admissions events. Additionally, concerns were raised about the curriculum pace, lack of diversity, and program focus.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The interview was more of an interrogation than a conversation.
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The fact that I need to be on zoom on 4 separate occasions.
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The 4 hour long, required, cameras-on, non interactive sales pitch during admissions day. I left with a very bad taste in my mouth. It felt like we were being pitched a business investment rather than being given information about a medical school. Also the current students seemed miserable and didn't even try to hide it. Which is a shame because I toured the school later and the current student had nothing but good things to say.
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Interviewer was 5 minutes late to log on
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The interviewer was not a part of the school and was not able to answer my questions
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would involve sitting on camera for long periods, focus on behavioral/narrative questions, be chill and conversational, the location of the building, and how relaxed the interviews would be.
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You have to sit on camera for 4 hours and pretend to listen.
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That it would be mostly behavioral/narrative building questions
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Would be very chill and conversational
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Where the building is located
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How lax the interviews would be
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
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 moderately responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest condensing the interview process into a single day and incorporating more interactive Q&A sessions and virtual tours led by students, while minimizing sales pitches from the Vice Dean.
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Please condense the interview into one day. More interactive q and a and virtual tours by students and less sales pitching by the Vice Dean.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Extended Stay America Meadowlands-Rutherford (average ranking 4/10). (Top 1 displayed)
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Extended Stay America Meadowlands-Rutherford
4/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Other or at another housing option.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (29%)
Faculty member (43%)
Other (14%)
Student (14%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (86%)
Neutral (14%)
All Responses
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