Hempstead, NY
Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 31% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
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 reasons for choosing the school, experiences dealing with challenges or ethical dilemmas, motivations for pursuing medicine, academic performance explanations, and future career goals. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, possibly involving nondisclosure agreements, as some responses referenced 'MMI' or 'Multiple Mini Interview'.
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Describe a time where you were trying to do the right thing but came out seeming like a bad guy.
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Why Hofstra? Why do you want to live here? ("I thought everyone from California wanted to stay in California")
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Why medicine?
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Why I would want to leave my home state for Long Island
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Tell me about XYZ (AMCAS activities).
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell discussed a range of topics, including personal experiences, ethical dilemmas, future plans, and self-reflection. Some responses hinted at an MMI format and possible nondisclosure agreements due to references to multiple mini interviews and sensitive questions about integrity and personal values.
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Specific experiences--tell me about that?
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Why do you think you'd attend Hofstra if you got in?
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Worst day of your life?
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I see you've done so many ECs, so then, who is the real you? What's your mission/passion in life?
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where do you see yourself in 10 years?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell discussed ethical scenarios in an MMI format, including decision-making under pressure and teamwork challenges. Some responses hinted at a nondisclosure agreement due to mentions of nondisclosure or non-disclosure regarding specific questions, while others highlighted inquiries about leadership experiences, project justifications, academic performance, personal integrity, and the impact of religious studies on patient care.
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The ethical MMI questions
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Tell me about a time where you had difficulty working with others. How did you handle it?
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Tell me about a time when you demonstrated your ability to make a decision in a high pressure situation while acting as a leader.
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Why do you think your project is worthwhile?
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Thoughts on healthcare system today.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 30 - 40 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
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.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 0-1 hour traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used LaGuardia (LGA)
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LaGuardia
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LGA
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JFK
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Home or at home.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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Viana Hotel and Spa
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Marriott
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Long Island Marriott
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Long Island Marriot
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Hilton
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as average
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
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 researching the school extensively through resources like SDN and the school's website, practicing with mock interviews, reviewing their application thoroughly, and preparing answers for common interview questions. Additionally, some applicants engaged in mock MMIs, pre-answered standard questions, and sought advice from current students or alumni to better understand the school's curriculum and philosophy.
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Looked up practice MMI questions, SDN, Reddit
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Mock MMI, reviewing application, reading Hofstra website
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Sdn, mock interviews, etc.
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Read SDN page and school website
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I read over my application more than a few times and really made sure that I could speak at great length about anything an interviewer could ask me about. Additionally, I researched the school quite extensively, read the student manual, and spent an hour chatting with an MS4 over the phone.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the innovative curriculum, early clinical exposure, and modern facilities at the school. They also highlighted the responsive and passionate faculty, the supportive administration, and the overall positive atmosphere of the institution.
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The school is very receptive to feedback
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The passion about the unique curriculum. The amount of clinical exposure. The Step 1 performance. The responsiveness of the administration to student feedback. The diversity of the patients because serves Queens.
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Curriculum and school culture blew me away without a doubt. Ended up really seeing myself there
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The facilities were really nice -- the anatomy lab especially was modern and high-tech!
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Everyone I met at Hofstra, from faculty to students, truly loved the school. The curriculum is modern, impressive, and well thought out. You get clinical exposure starting week 1, and (what I love best) much of your learning is self-guided and in teams. Look up the PEARLS curriculum, and you can't but help be impressed. The ratio of faculty to students is ~5:1. That's a top tier ratio, and this school is looking to be an academic & clinical powerhouse in the next 10 years. They are a rising school, and, from the students that I met that they have recruited, they clearly are on the rise. On a final note, their student lounge was on point... and only students (and not faculty) have access, so it's a truly safe space to just hang.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of feedback and assessments, the distance to amenities and clinical locations, the unstructured curriculum, inappropriate interview behavior, limited nightlife options, the newness of the school impacting student experience, and the need for a car. Suggestions included improving feedback mechanisms, providing more structure in the curriculum, addressing interview conduct, enhancing extracurricular activities, and considering the impact of location on student experience.
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The location (!!). Students described not always feeling like they knew how well they are doing in courses and wish there was more feedback (there are very few assessments). The way that everything is a drive away. The sense that the school wasn't very motivated by a social mission/serving the underserved (staffs uses terms like "illegal immigrants" instead of "undocumented," ect) which was surprising because they brag about learning from the diverse population of Queens.
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Nothing at all
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The lack of structure of the curriculum (no textbooks, students need to find their own resources for classes, etc)
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The students mentioned that the neighborhood is kind of a dead zone for nightlife. That being said, you're a half hour away from the beach. I would trade a day at the beach for a hundred nights in a club.
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They seemed to do GOod cop/bad cop and one interviewer was extremely aggressive
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known about the early MMI timing, the potential for curveball questions during the interview, the importance of arriving well in advance, and the varying interview styles. Suggestions included being prepared for a good cop, bad cop dynamic, being aware of potential time extensions, bringing a book, knowing about a bus trip to the simulation center, and having information on the curriculum, interviewers, and weather forecast.
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The MMI is right in the beginning which was very nice
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Expect curveball questions where you have to give examples of how you struggle on a team, etc.
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I wish the the special video they should us during the interview was available on their youtube channel. It made me tear up. It was fantastically done.
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Show up at least 30 minutes prior to the listed "arrive time." that's actually the start time.
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Bring a book.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally expressed positive experiences with Hofstra, highlighting the unique curriculum and supportive environment for student success. Some concerns were raised about the location and uncertainty about the school being new, but overall, there was enthusiasm about joining the program and contributing to the innovative curriculum.
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I really liked the idea of the school (clinical experience, unique curriculum, normal-seeming students) but was very disappointed by the location
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Super positive experience here. Hofstra definitely seems like a school invested to their students' success and their curriculum approach is definitely very unqiue!
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I would be ecstatic if I went to Hofstra next year. Can't say enough positive things about the curriculum and the students.
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A great school, i left much more impressed than i was when i started.
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Absolutely loved Hofstra. Very excited about their curriculum and the students seem very happy.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should provide more information about student programs and prioritize transparency in communication, particularly in terms of timelines and feedback. Some applicants also highlighted the importance of timely responses and a positive interview experience.
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I wish I could have learned more about student programs. I think they spent a lot of time diving into the minutia of the curriculum but I wanted to learn more about what it was like to live in the area and student happiness. I was disappointed by the sense that the school was not very interested in the mission of serving the underserved/social justice ("we aren't here to solve the primary care crisis")
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Don't imply that we can email and you want to be as open as possible about the process and where we are ranked and then give vague responses when we email you. Don't do the good cop/bad cop interview
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None really, everyone was great!
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Don't give the illusion that most people will hear back in March when the reality is that accepted people will hear before then and only waitlist and rejected applicants will hear back in March (true, that is the majority, but applicants were told that not getting an immediate acceptance didn't mean no acceptance at all, which wasn't the case).
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Don't keep us waiting so long post interview. Interview day was great.
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