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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.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 864 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools involve topics like discussing experiences from the application, reasons for pursuing medicine, personal interests, future goals, and suitability for the program. Some applicants mentioned an MMI format, where interview content may be confidential due to nondisclosure agreements.
There weren't any real questions it was more of a conversation about who I am why I want to go to medical schoo, why I applied to the physician shortage area program and whatnot
he didnt want to ask me any questions. he just told me that i had the floor to speak about whatever I wanted, keeping in mind this was a medical school interview. he also chose not to look at my file beforehand nor during my interview. i basically just had to talk about myself for 30 minutes while he took notes and made a few comments here and there.
My interviewer was very challenging, but he made the interview interesting. He had my AMCAS and asked me about absolutely everything on it. I mean EVERYTHING.
Do you have girlfriend? What does your family think about your decision to pursue medicine? Faculty interviewer had some questions very specific to my personal statement (he knew it quite well) and to some of my ECs, however he said he purposefully didn't look at my grades/MCATs.
Sorry i know this is no help. But i really don't think i was asked many direct questions. I talked, he talked, we kind of just chatted -- I of course tried to get in their why i want to be a doc, why jefferson, etc.
Students said most interesting question asked at Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College discussed a wide range of topics, including personal hobbies, future aspirations, family support, and ethical dilemmas in healthcare. The interview format appeared to be a mix of conversational discussions and standard application-related inquiries, with some faculty interviews being more confrontational or focused on the applicant's personal statement.
If you were given unlimited money for one day, what would you do with it and why?
"Was your undergraduate school cutthroat during your time there? I worked there a long time ago and the administration had to talk to the student body about reducing that." LOL I don't think this was a make or break question, they were just interested. Again, very conversational interview.
In conversation I had mentioned staying with family friends in an affluent area outside of Philadelphia so he tried to test my inclination to live in a suburban, affluent area vs rural area by asking me if I saw myself living in a place like that or not.
''Here is a scenario. Say its 20 years from now, year 2028, what woould you be doing, where would you be geographically, what would you be doing for fun, who would your friends be?''
The student interview was mostly just getting to know each other and them seeing if they'd like you to be a classmate. The faculty interview was really low-key and conversational. We basically just talked about my undergrad school, sports, and philly.
My interviewer basically started off the interview with ''Tell me about yourself'' (she sida that although interviews were open file, she prefers to just glance at the app and have the student talk) so there weren't many direct questions, just a true conversation.
We had a fantastic dicussion about the Iraqi War..he saw from my AMCAS that my brother went to West Poing and inquired whether or not he had been deployed.
it wasnt a q&a type thing. all conversation about my application and my life. she read through my amcas page by page and we just sort of talked about my experiences and i added in other things where i could. i dont think she ever actually asked me any questions.
Near the end of the interview, my interviewer asked me, "Okay, we have about five minutes left. I will soon be telling the Admissions Committee about you. What do you want me to tell them?"
some questions about my research and it became a complete different conversation. the doctor i was talking to was reading my file at the same time so we had some moments when he would read and i would just sit there: it did not feel like an interview at all.
The faculty member (combined MD, PhD, MBA degrees) started up a conversation before she even sat down in her chair and we went from there for over an hour.
My faculty interview was very conversational, but the conversation was directed by questions about my personal statement. It was mainly a discussion of things that I wrote about and how I felt about them.
Not really a question, but at one point, my interviewer told me "Your research ends up being more important than your grades. No one will look at your grades when you are 30, but your publications will follow you forever....kind of like Herpes". It was hilarious and put me at ease. Like I said, VERY LOW STRESS!!!
My interviewer, juding by the patients in his office, a successful clinician, was extremely professional yet engaging and interesting. More of a conversation than an "interview"
none-my faculty interviewer spent the majority of the time selling the school to me. The few questions that were asked were directly related to what we were discussing at the time and were mostly general questions.
The entire interview was interesting. My faculty interviewer was awesome. He really seemed interested in me and my application. We had a wonderful conversation.
Students said most difficult question asked at Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College discussed a wide range of topics, including personal attributes, career goals, academic challenges, ethical dilemmas, and healthcare policies. While some respondents found the interview conversational and casual, others were asked to elaborate on specific experiences, justify academic discrepancies, or explain their motivations for pursuing medicine, with a few questions challenging their decision-making and problem-solving skills.
No difficult questions at all. I just elaborated more on the activities I did
None, it was very conversational and comfortable. My faculty interviewer asked me about health care which could throw some people off but it was very standard.
Explaining some downfalls in my application. The questions were fair and not altogether surprising, but make sure you have an eloquent and honest way of addressing your shortcomings.
Upon learning that I was a neuroscience major in undergrad, my interviewer asked me about the direct molecular precursor to the damage caused by Alzheimer's disease.
I don't want you leaving the interview thinking 'Crap, I forgot to tell him this or that.' So, for the second half of the interview, I want you to tell me anything and everything you want me to know.
There was no individual or outstanding question, he would just listen to me talk about one of my extra-curricular activities and if something sounded interesting, (say, why I only played a sport for 2 years in college instead of 4?) he would ask about that.
I don't think that there were any difficult ones. My faculty interview pretty much just flipped through my AMCAS and asked about things that were in it. He kept asking me if I had any questions, so I guess it was tough to keep coming up with questions to ask.
it sounds like you may be more into public health and policy than getting an MD
(not really a difficult question for me to answer b/c i can easily convey that this is not the case, but the interviewer was challenging me a bit)
Why didn't you apply to osteopathic school? Do you think you'd make a good doctor? No one in your family is a doctor, why do you want to be one? You didn't do very well in O-chem, what makes you think you'll be able to get through medical school? (these were all at once, in a row)
Tell me what your parents think of their health care. We had been speaking about health care services and cost shifting, but this was a little difficult to answer as I have not had really in depth discussions with the folks about their insurance. The question was asked in conversation though and was not a big deal.
What did you think of last night's election results? Not knowing his views, I tried to avoid givig a direct answer, but eventaully admitted I was Pro-Kerry. He was Pro-Bush. Go figure. But it was ok, because it ended up leading to an interesting convo about Tort Reform. I think he just wanted to see if I follow current events and can articulate my views.
nothing that difficult, MD interviewer was great, very conversational, wanted to get to know me, the PhD interviews went well too, also not very stressful, had me describe my research and why MD/PhD, the usual
if i would attend XXX school... i didnt know how to respond, because i didnt want interviewer to think that i would attend some other school... also, my grades are not even close to good enough for an interviewer, but my interviewer was too old to realize what kind of scores are need to get into XXX school... and didnt want to criticize myself in the process by saying i'm not good enough...
Not really a question but interviewer commented on how even if the 43 million uninsured in the country were insured, they wouldn't seek medical attention. I of course argued this.
Nothing that I felt unprepared to discuss. Primarily tried to determine if I knew how exacting medicine was ... and basic questions about my experiences.
none really. It was a great experience. I loved the school and my interviewer was very low stress which was great b/c i felt as though i really got to communicate all the things I wanted him to know about me.
Where does Jefferson rank on your list of medical schools tht you are applying to? This was rather awkward because Jefferson was not my top choice, but I answered honestly.
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 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?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by researching the school, reviewing their application materials, and practicing common interview questions, often with the help of resources like SDN (Student Doctor Network). Many also engaged in mock interviews with peers, read the school's website thoroughly, and stayed up-to-date on current healthcare issues as part of their preparation.
The survey summaries on SDN were really useful, especially the sample interview questions. Just read through them and write some notes for each question that you find challenging.
By reading through information on Jeff online (google search, school website, SDN), thoroughly reviewing my app one last time, spending a few evenings prior reading through articles on health reform, editorials from medical journals, etc. so these topics were fresh on my mind if they came up.
SDN, AMCAS app review, the interview is at the end, so the whole day gave me a good idea about the school, so I felt prepared with enough Jefferson info from the day.
Read SDN, talked to my student host. I think it's generally a good idea to stay with a host the night before an interview. She gave me a more well-rounded view of the pros and cons of the school.
Read the brochure and talked to a few people I knew who attended the school, prepared a few questions that I wanted to have answered, prepared for common questions they would ask
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness, enthusiasm, and passion of both students and faculty at the school. The student-led interview day, emphasis on work-life balance, strong sense of community, comprehensive clinical training, and the school's location in the heart of Philadelphia were commonly highlighted as positive aspects. Suggestions for improvement were minimal, with most feedback focusing on the welcoming atmosphere, student happiness, and the school's emphasis on individual well-being and personal development.
How friendly everyone was. I really enjoyed the speakers and their obvious passion for medicine and the school.
It was extremely stress-free. Both the student and faculty interviews were so conversational. My faculty interviewer and I talked a good deal about a shared hobby and other aspects about my application that sounded interesting to him.
My faculty interviewer was so kind and asked me if there was anything else we didn't discuss that I would like to highlight for the admissions committee.
Students seemed very happy to be there (also seemed like they partied a lot for med students), students seemed happy with the match list and residency preparation, admin seemed like they take students' comments seriously
Completely student run interview day, everyone seemed to absolutely love the school and the positivity was clear even over Zoom. They put in a lot of effort to still have us get to know the school despite it being online.
Adaptability to online platform, benefits of a completely student-run interview day, closeness of the match between my interests and those of the faculty interviewer chosen to talk to me
ALL of the students seemed to genuinely love Jeff and have an INCREDIBLE work/life balance. Every single person said that they have a life outside of school and go out on the weekends or do whatever it is that they like. Honestly, if nothing else, the mindset that everyone has about balance could convince me to go here. YOU GET THE WEEK BEFORE EXAMS OFF!!!
The school is very tightknit. I loved that the interview day was student-run because it made me feel very welcomed and integrated with the students. This was absolutely my favorite interview out of the seven interviews I attended.
Everything. Everyone I met was so laid back and the interview day is student run so it was very relaxed. Talking with my student interviewer felt like talking to my best friend. My faculty interviewer was really kind and put me at ease. One of the best things about it is that you are guided EVERYWHERE-- you never have to use a map to find anything because a student walks you everywhere. This is also great because you get the chance to meet a bunch of students. Everyone is super open to talking with you and gives you their email so you can contact them with any questions. By far my favorite school.
Everyone at SKMC truly loves the school and the surrounding area is great. The new curriculum is more patient-based and integrated with working in small groups despite the large class size.
The very welcoming environment impressed me the most, from the students hosting the interview-day events to the friendliness of the faculty. We broke into small groups for the tours, which made walking through corridors and in elevators much easier. Good times were had, probably by all.
Everything. Great location, students were happy, faculty was happy, security guards were happy, EVERYONE was happy! I was lost on my way to my interviewer's office and a random staff member, without my prompting, came to help me--again, EVERYONE is happy here. A light breakfast was available--not all schools do this anymore so it was great. Lunch was super delicious, cookies and coffee/tea were a nice touch. Students were honest about the strengths and weaknesses of the school and their experience. Everyone seems extremely loyal to the school though, students, faculty, and administrators. Also, this school tried to sell itself. Some schools don't even have the dean show up or think you should know the caliber of their school so they don't even try. Jefferson is already a great school but they made it clear that this process really is a two way street, they want you coming out of the day feeling like they courted you. Honestly, this was a fantastic interview day.
The people here are awesome. It felt like they were legitimately trying to sell the school and wanted us to want to come there, which is a feeling I didn't get from most other places so far. I guess Jeff is a bit more selective in who they grant interviews to so they really stressed that the biggest hurdle was getting an invite and spent the rest of the day impressing us, whether it was at lunch (best lunch so far), with hosting, or with putting us in a super nice conference room to start the day.
The camaraderie, almost a feeling of family, among students, who all seemed incredibly interesting, down-to-earth and incredibly friendly and proud of their school. The aura of professionalism, history and tradition that permeated everything. The fact that the school seems to really emphasize the well-being and of the students (exams on Fridays so students can relax on weekends, no curve so as to minimize competition, H/P/F grading), a huge amount of resources available for students to pursue their interests and receive guidance (JEFFHope, research opportunities, CWIC, informal mentoring programs, etc.). An emphasis on driving home clinical skills in students with frequent practice starting from the first year so skills like placing central lines etc. are rock-solid at the end of the four years. A sense of pride and purpose in educating future physicians.
the interview day was run by students who were really energetic and enthusiastic. I liked that we were able to meet a lot of students at the cookie hour at the end of the day.
The location, the cooperative atmosphere, the happy students, great clinical training, nice facilities, recorded lectures, friendliness of EVERYONE, Dr. Callahan and Dr. Brooks know your application without looking at it, etc.
A lot of stuff. The school has a lot of trust in the students - the interview day is entirely student led..... The big class size seems like it works, contrary to what everyone at smaller schools wants you to believe. Like they said, how many close friends are you really going to have anyways? You're not going to be friends with the other 254 students at Jefferson. You're also not going to be friends with the other 59 students at Mayo. Learning is lecture and small group based, so you're not missing out on anything..... I liked the block schedule. Focusing on one topic with exams every other week or so would benefit me..... Hmm, what else? Some of the buildings are older, but there are new facilities also. The Hamilton building holds the 2nd year lecture room, and is also where many students spend their time studying..... The school holds community service in high regard. If you want to work with underserved patients, you probably won't find a better school. The school is affiliated with 21 hospitals in the Tri-State area. That gives you the opportunity to work with many different patient populations..... Finally, the admissions office is great, and encourages you to take advantage of their open door policy post-interview. I've found that most schools are very against additional information being added, or you showing your interest post-interview. Jefferson is the exact opposite.
The friendliness of the students and staff, the students genuinely seemed relaxed and fun. Lots of ways to relax between the city options and what the school provides. The sim labs are very neat. School's commitment to community service. Great board and residency results.
The student body; the entire interview day is run by students. You are able to meet a lot of students, and they are all happy to be there and answer any questions. It's obvious they really like the school. The friendliness of the staff. The mentality of the school in general. The interview day is set up as a time for you to learn about the school. There is zero stress, the interviews are awesome with the only goal to get to know you as a person, and my faculty interview knew my application impressively well. More students come out to meet the interviewees than any other school I've been to so far.
my interviewer shared many interests with me--I felt the school had taken time to match me well with an interviewer. I liked how involved Jefferson's students were with the interview day. I've never seen so many medical students at an interview day.
The students are very friendly and seem very happy to be there. The faculty were very nice and seem to care about you as an individual. Other students were willing to move all of the way out to Philly from the west and were happy with that choice. JeffHOPE- a student run clinic with lots of opportunity for hands-on learning.
How compassionate everyone at Jefferson was. They really care about their students/interviewees. The entire experience was extremely low stress and it was great to interact with both faculty, students and other interviewees.
The interviews were very conversational and so laid back. I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone was friendly and wanted to help us as much as they could
My interviewers were both extremely nice, and the students running the orientation at the beginning were very funny, which made me feel much more comfortable.
The students are so happy and such a family. I really believe them when they say there is little competition. Also, they have a new building opening in 2 weeks that seems like it will have great facilities. Also, they served the best lunch!
The faculty I met were enthusiastic and friendly. The dean of admissions was so personable and really made me feel like she was glad I was at the interview--in fact, I felt this way the whole day, that while I was lucky to have an interview, they were glad I was an applicant---made me feel welcome! All the students were very down to earth and genuine, and they all seemed to truly love the school.
Everything. The students were amazing. They bent over backwards to make sure you had a stress free interview day and had all your questions answered. They genuinely love their school. Kids were always smiling and saying hi when we were on our tour. There's construction on a new building that will be ready in November 2007. Jefferson has the most graduates of any medical school so you'll have plenty of networking opportunities.
The students were incredibly enthusiastic and seemed very happy at Jeff. They all seemed very supportive of each other and involved in clubs/activities. Also, center city is a fantastic place! Lots of things to do, and the activities office has discounted tickets to shows, plays, sports events.
Everyone was extremely friendly and enthusiastic about the school, especially the med students. Interviews weren't stressful at all (I went for a walk through the surrounding area with my student interviewer). The location's awesome: plenty of good restaurants, music venues, even several open-air markets that sell organic foods and italian deli meats.
The area is not that bad of a location. The T station is a few minutes walk from campus (including commuter rail, subway and buses), nice building, great hospital, and lots of cute local restaurants.
Faculty, students were very friendly. The traditional program seems terrific. Location is great. Atmosphere is also great: non-competitive, students take care of each other.
Jeff Pride! everything was about Jeff, i was wondering if the doctors said ''i need this, jeff stat!'' there are tons of opportunities for early clinical exposure, international rotations and lots of hospitals to rotate at, the faculty seemed very approachable
Students love the school. As a health professions school, the medical school is the main focus and thus all the students (even though the class size is 255) get a lot of personal attention
This is a medical school that is very much in touch with the human side of medicine. Jefferson is very big on the art of medicine vs. the science of medicine.
The atmosphere of the whole place was very welcoming. Students were great, faculty was enthusiastic and everyone was so sincere that it really made me want to be a part of the college.
The history of the school was actually interesting. If I remember correctly they have the most alumni of any school. The campus is relatively confined even though it is in the city. The research program seems exceptional.
The location is great - I love Philadelphia, especially Center City. The students seemed friendly and personable, and the first year lecture hall is really nice.
They try to make the interview day as stress-free as possible. The students seem to love the school. I was hosted by a student and we hit it off right away.
The importance placed on diversity (in metro area, students, and patients) and community outreach. Great introduction to the school's history (past and present) by Dr. Christian.
Everyone talks about the students at Jefferson and it's true, you really can feel the energy there and it's exciting. The school is in such a great part of Philly...few blocks away from the darn Liberty Bell, etc. The interview day was well organized and I liked that the Admissions Director, Dr. Callahan (she's awesome), took the time to talk with students one-on-one at the post-interview wrap-up.
All the students seemed very happy. The neighborhood is also very nice -- right in Center City Philly, close to everything! There is also guaranteed housing.
The city is phenomenal! The people were really really nice (in and out of the school). Lectures are posted in mp3 and they are working to get them videotaped as well. You can walk to a lot of places, and the public transportation system is simply amazing. The administration (despite comments I've seen somewhere else) is very welcoming towards the students. Some schools tell you "don't call us, we'll call you", at Jeff they encouraged us to keep contacting them.
The Dean and Director of Admissions are so warm and interested in the students. The Director, Grace Hershman, even gave me driving directions at the end of the day.
The facilities were amazing; Jefferson has many buildings with rich architectural designs which if you appreciate that form of artistic beauty is simply amazing. The labs were also really up-to-date and the people seemed very friendly and welcoming which was surprising to me considering that the campus is actually in the heart of center city Philadelphia.
how everyone is soooo nice. it's kinda crazy how nice everyone is. the school is in the middle of the city so everything is in walking distance. housing is available on campus and the cheap train to the airport.
curriculum seems good even though it's traditional block system (not my favorite type), resources are great (mp3 audio of lectures posted online, syllabus with notes said to be good, etc.), the students seemed very positive, and student support seems great
the students all seemed pretty into the school, and the admissions committee definitely has an amazingly well put-together presentation (takes a whole day)
EVERYTHING. Excellent school ,bright students, great facitilies and location. Located in the center of the city, Jeff is a great place to go to school. They also have school apartments right on campus. 97% pass rate on step 1 and students say step 2 is a breeze for Jeff students.
The students were great. Administration also strikes me as trying desperately to move forward from their embarassing old-white-boy-old-school past. Students sit on every single committee.
Really friendly, charming, engaging students! They were super accommodating, all cheerful (despite having a final exam in three days), and very proud of Jefferson. Beautiful main hospital. Helpful, down-to-earth deans and faculty.
i was surprised how friendly the other applicants were. i liked the presentations and my interview was great. i go to school in philly, so i already love the city.
I was pleasantly surprised with my experience at Jefferson. It's an incredibly welcoming & warm community, and I was very impressed with the Dean and Assistant Deans that came out to meet us (Grace Hershman & Dr. Callahan). I felt that the school genuinely cared for its students and the students all seemed exceptionally nice and relatively happy. Their facilities aren't the newest but i don't think this matters so much. The school is located in the most optimal spot in town - right in the middle of center city. The apts are buildings over from the main lecture hall, but other affordable choices are available. Most of all, it seems as though Philadelphia offers great clinical experiences and Jefferson in particular is known to generate awesome clinicians. I also had a good time with my interviewer. He was very sweet, attentive, and thorough. He explained the entire selection process to me before I left.
Everyone (faculty, staff, and students) is genuinely friendly. They seem to love their school, and it shows. The school is in a good area of Philadelphia, and there is no shortage of distractions around. Also, I was impressed by how well the faculty interviewer seemed to know my file. That really helped put me at ease, and allowed for a very smooth conversation.
Jefferson's campus is integrated into the city and within walking distance to places of interest, the student housing is right next to the academic buildings
EVERYTHING! Faculty, students, admissions officers, even the other interviewees were all incredibly nice and friendly. The students are so NORMAL (not huge dorks, not stuck up, not ultra competitive). The location near center city is safe, clean, and beautiful. Overall I just had a very strong impression I would be happy there.
the school pride of jefferson, matching me with an interviewer who shared my interests, the student interviewer and faculty intervewer were really great.
It sounds cliche, but really everyone was so nice! Dr. Callahan impressed me in particular; she seems to care a lot about her students. All of the students I met were very interested in sharing their impressions and experiences with me. My faculty interview was great -- an interesting conversation about the field of medicine and Philly without any stressful questions whatsoever.
How friendly and approachable everyone was, both students and faculty. People seem to like being there. Philadelphia is awesome, I would love to live there.
Everything. They have a receiving line of current medical students who shake your hand as you enter the board room. That really impressed me. Everyone seemed so happy and nice. The director of admissions stated that most students who make it to the interview have a good chance of being accepted or at least waitlisted. They don't commonly reject people outright post-interview. The facilities seem great and I would love to live in that neighborhood of philadelphia.
Jefferson is in a prime location - in the heart of Philly. So close to so many fun places to hang out, eat, shop, if you have the time to. Also Jefferson is very well known for their clinical program. They have lots of affiliated hospitals. Early clinical exposure. Student groups like Jeff HOPE are very active in serving the community.Jefferson is a very well-regarded institution in Philadelphia even though it's not as well known in the West Coast.
Incredible match list. Great programs related to several competative specialties. Location!! Center city Philadelphia: surrounded by great restaurants, concert halls, coffee shops, hospitals.
The school clearly gives a very good clinical education (people all around the city would say they loved the hospital), lots of community opportunities, the hospital is great, and Philadelphia is a pretty interesting city and the school is in an area of the city with lots of history
All the students there really seemed to love the school and the student's seemed to have free time to pursue other things. The school is affiliated with many hospitals, which allows for excellent clinical exposure. There are a lot of research opportunities available.
nice campus for being right in the middle of Philly, there is so much Jeff Pride by the Admiss office it can be too sugary, has student housing, they have been around forever but are still building a massive brand new research building, and they already have a beautiful 10+ story research tower
How nice everyone was! the students seemed really laid back and relaxed, even though they have a repuation for being competative(maybe they kept those people hidden). AND THE LUNCH IS GOOD!! I don't know why all these people complain about the sad lunch, I thought it was great.
The hospital was really nice, and that you can do your rotations in many different hospitals in the area.
I really love the location of the school. It is in a nice part of town. I also enjoyed talking to the first year med student during the student interview because she told me all about her experiences at Jeffereson.
the size of the class (250), because since it's so big there are many opportunities to do activities/clubs outside of class. also, lots of community service opportunities that are not only encouraged but implied.
The interview day was set up to relax the applicants. There were so many speeches/tours/information sessions and lunch that by the time the interview rolled around at 2pm, I was very relaxed and outgoing with my interviewer. Also, everyone seemed to have a really possitive opinion of Jeff, the clinical facilities were impressive and their clinical reputation is impeccable
Faculty interviewer, Dr. Studdiford, he was amazing. The student coordinators,who basically run the interview day, are pretty amazing...yet not impressed with themselves.
The students seem to like eachother and are able to go out and have a good time. The night before my interview, a group of students took me out for "Quizzo" at Fergie's and later to McGillan's for several pitchers. It was a lot fun, although I was a bit groggy in the AM.
The students were very nice and friendly. The ones I met all seemed to like it there and did not really have anything negative to say about the school. They seemed happy, had time to hang out and have fun too.
how close a family Jefferson seemed to be even though it was a large school - People really seemed to both know and like each other. Dean Hershman had the uncanny ability to know just about everything abotu everyone who was interviewing that day. I felt like she was really looking at all of as people not just another round of applicants.
It was a really relaxed place. And it seemed like the faculty really took their time to get to know the students. Dean Hershman (sp?) has an uncanny memory for faces and names.
The positive attitude of the students and the recent changes to the curriculum and the grading system. My interviewer helped explain the on-going process. He was fantastic. I have to admit to re-evaluating Jefferson to the top of my list.
Applicants were often concerned about the large class sizes, limited campus facilities, rushed tours, lack of diversity, and some unenthusiastic student interviewers. Suggestions included providing more detailed tours, addressing the issue of class size, enhancing campus facilities, and ensuring diversity and engagement in student interactions.
In-person only interviews make it hard to schedule around school/work.
The only negative I perceived was that the library (and potentially more of the spaces on campus?) are shared with OT/pharm/nursing etc students....this could just be me, but I liked at other schools that there was space for only med students and no one else. Also, class size is one of the biggest (275)
There was a language barrier between me and my interview, so sometimes I didn't understand what she was asking, and other times I felt like she didn't completely understand what I was saying.
My faculty interviewer had a thick accent that made communication difficult. At times I felt like she wasn't fully understanding the ideas that I was expressing in my answers.
My interviewer seemed a bit skeptical about my academics. My student interviewer was sleep deprived and wouldn't make eye contact, which was a bit awkward. They talked a lot about diversity, but I didn't see much during the interview day.
The morning introduction to Jefferson could be a little bit long, but that'll just prepare you for the interviews after that. The interview booklet was also from last year. But all this was easily overlooked by the rest of the day's events and enthusiasm.
While the day was very tightly planned, in a good way (many other schools have you sitting around in a conference room for hours), I would have appreciated more opportunities for a bathroom break. Also, while not particularly negative, more time for the tour would have been nice as it is always great to see facilities, hospitals, etc.
Our tour was a bit rushed, the guide seemed a bit concerned that we would run out of time, and she was only a first year student, so she didn't seem to quite have a handle on things yet. It wasn't a huge negative, though.
Not much at all, especially compared to other schools I have interviewed at. The only small complaint I had was that the students who led our campus tour didn't keep a close eye on the time and I found myself a few minutes late to my interview, which my interviewer commented on.
Not a basic science focused school at all, student interviewer had taken some time off while in school (not sure whether this was school related or otherwise)
One new building - the rest were drab and cramped. The hospital also felt cramped, although the atrium was cool. No innovation in the curriculum, and large class size makes for huge lectures.
There was a lot of construction going on around Jefferson. We didn't get to see the anatomy lab or go to the hospital on the tour. The Jefferson Legacy presentation was very drawn out and cut into other, more relevant presentations. My student host was boring and pretty impersonal.
Wish that the interview group had been able to be smaller--with only one interview day per week, the interview group is 30 people. Student interviewer was not very enthusiastic.
The tour guide was nice, but he seemed like he was in a daze. We spent a lot of time standing in non-descript hallways while he talked, possibly because it was snowing and he didn't want to walk us around outside too much. I felt like I didn't get to see the school's facilities at all, really. The guide said that we weren't allowed to see the anatomy lab. We got to peek inside a lecture hall and a small-group room, and we made a quick run through the ER, and we stood on the library's bottom floor.. but that was all that we got to see.
The lunch was great, but it was so rushed that I didn't get to eat more than a few bites before it was time to leave for the tour.
Honestly, I'm from a small town, so the fact that the school is in the heart of Philly is really disconcerting for me. I know that most others view this as a positive thing, but I find it intimidating.
My student interviewer was pulled out of class today because they were a student interviewer short. So it was her first time but everything turned out fine because it was my first interview too.
The talks at the beginning were a little too long and after awhile, I just wanted them to shut up and give us the tour.
And my student "interviewer" that is really just supposed to have a conversation with you and answer your questions was SOO boring, like talking to a dead fish.
This school was my first choice before and after I visited. I will be attending in the fall, but I'm a little worried about its lack of diversity. It's not very diverse for a school in the center of Philadelphia and I wonder if they're making a true effort to change this.
The fact that they are not that much into research (not that I'm a research guru but I'd like to have good opportunities to explore the field and get some experience). As my interviewer put it, getting into research is a matter of persistence, and being at the right place at the right time...Hummm. I'm excited about the new building but it's going to take 2 years to complete.
Suffice it to say that I wouldn't want to be classmates with some of the people that I interviewed with. I was told before that you should look closely at the people that you interview with because that is likely how your class will be. You could take that with a grain of salt but I felt that many people I interviewed with were either really immature or really full of themselves and found every opportunity to remind you that they were from an Ivy League institution. I really think that's pathetic!
the school seems kinda small and i wasnt that impressed by the facilities. they are going to build a new academic building but it wont be finished for another two years.
We barely saw anything on the tour, not even the libary. It may have been because the tour guides were first years who didn't really know their way around too well themselves yet. Also, they tout Jeff HOPE, but according to the students you can barely participate because it is so popular with such a large student body. The lecture hall was nice, but the back was all desks filling in the space where there weren't enough built-in table seats.
The tour was not very informative. We didn't see the lecture halls or the clinical skills lab. They just pointed to building and said "and in here we have . . ."
I was actually disappointed by my visit ( I was sick so maybe I was not in the right mood). Jefferson was one of my favorites I thought but I found the facilities old and most students I interacted with would say that they are not going to class. My student interviewer is always skipping class and did not seem to be very happy there as well.
Nothing. My faculty interviewer was fantastic, personable and seemed interested in my attending the school. Really impressed with everything about the day, the school, and the students. Jefferson is definitely my first choice.
Jefferson isn't the most involved with research & it tends to have a more traditional outlook. Also, the student interviewers do have weight in the selection process & this can be helpful or hurtful. I thought that my first year student interviewer was a bit distracted & unenthusiastic about being an interviewer. More than this though, I feel as though that maybe a first year student who has yet to finish one semester can accurately represent Jefferson.
The number of interview day attendees can be daunting... especially when it's your first interview (as it was mine). Kindly ignore those who say, "This is my 6th interview." Also, the tour was not particularly helpful. You basically get a quick glimpse of the outside of buildings. Any improvement in the tour would greatly enhance the interview day.
Being couped up in a boardroom around a large table with the many other applicants. This environment wasn't incredibly conducive to speaking with multiple other interviewees.
Hmm....ummm....nothing? The gym was kind of small and located in a dark dingy basement.....but I doubt I will be picking a medical school based on their gym, so it really doesn't even matter.
The class size is enormous: 220. Its somewhat balanced by the fact that you do a lot of your work in small groups, though. Also, my faculty interviewer was very nice, but ended the interview very abruptly after I had asked him a question. It was a bit odd.
The tour could use some improvement. Went through Alumni Hall, some MS1 or 2 lab room, that was about it.
Also, the Financial Aid presentation was 10 min max, wished I could have heard a little more.
Short student interview. I couldn't really say much in twenty minutes. But otherwise the day started at 11 which is nice since I flew in from California.
It's a long way from home. Alot of people interviewed on my day; although I hear Jeff doesn't interview you unless they're serious, there were so many interviewees that day.
The cold, the price of housing, the size of the class, my student interviewer seemed like he's rather be doing something else, there weren't that many minorities being interviewed that day.
I'm not a big fan of Philadelphia; the students seemed a little pretentious and condescending; our tour consisted of mostly looking at the outside of buildings and the hospital cafeteria.
Most students seem to avoid going to class like the plague--I'm not sure if this speaks to the quality of instruction they receive. The facilities are definitely old.
you interveiw with a lot of people, I was in a group of MD/PhD people of 13 for only 10 acceptances, and then we all met up with the MD only applicants, there were about 40 of them
school has too many students, lunch was horrendous - regret not writing that on feedback survey, student interviewer - she didnt know what the heck she was doing, and felt like i carried the whole conversation alone!
the school seemed very concerned with reputation/alumni/ school history, which, coming from the west coast is pretty foreign and seems sort of snobbish to me. also, the curriculum is not very progressive.
My student tour guide was not very good (A gum snapping, platform heel, ditsy type who showed us the pool and told us she did not go to class - though I'm sure you would even find people like this at Harvard. Kind of annoys me that she will share the MD degree with me someday. But hey, that's just one guy's opinion)
Though the students are friendly, they have a reputation for being the hardest working and most boring students in Philly. It seemed true. Furthermore, the escalators in some of the buildings are all broken!
Facilities weren't the pretties. I heard that a lot of changes have been made in the last few years. One student said it used to be run by "old white guys" but he said it has changed. The current 4th year students said its completely a different school now for the 1st and 2nd years.
The living situation and costs in Center City Philadelphia, their schizophrenic curriculum which seems like it gives students no free time, no intergrated curriculum first year, half-hearted PBL effort.
Their cirriculum is in disarray as they struggle to make changes that keep them in step with other medical schools. For example, they just changed from number grades to the honors/pass/fail system.
Applicants commonly shared that they wished they had known how relaxed and conversational the interviews would be, emphasizing the importance of being oneself and engaging in genuine conversations. Many also noted the large number of interviewees, the chill atmosphere of the day, the need to relax and be prepared to talk about themselves, and the minor details about attire or logistics for the day.
How relaxing the interviews were and how important it is to just be yourself.
It is truly a chill interview. The student interview is closed file, and the faculty interview is open file. The student interview is to check if you will fit in with the class, if you are a team player, and if you have interests outside of medicine. The faculty interview is where they check if you can handle the academic rigor, if you truly have a passion for medicine, etc.
The tour takes you outside so be prepared. It was a bit rainy during ours and it didn't make a huge difference, but having an umbrella would have been nice.
The best way to go about this interview is to not worry about having the "right" prepared answers, but to be yourself and be able to talk about why you are a good fit for Jefferson.
Given the feedback, I knew this was going to be a stress free day so I would just pass on that this is truly the case. Know yourself, know your application, be ready to just be pleasant and get to know everyone.
I wish I had known that the 20 minute interview with the student was going to be so conversational. I would have prepped a few more student-specific questions for them to answer.
This is a very large school. For a class of 270, they interview about 800 people. If you receive an interview here, you have a fair opportunity of being admitted.
The parking prices listed on their website are OLD. I picked out an $11 lot and it ended up being $20. There is an early bird special lot for $10 on Walnut St. near the Scott building.
guys, check out the medical frat houses they have a few blocks away. they're really nice, some have full bars and pool tables, and they range from 150 to 250 a month in rent for a pretty large room.
Strong emphasis on reaching the underpriveledged and focus on producing good clinicians. They interview 30 people at on the same day - once a week! Class size for 2006 is 255 (I have mixed feelings on this).
The lunch is SKIMPY. You get to a room filled with four tables that are already set. They have a half of a chicken salad wrap and then a little scoop of potato salad. The presentation is nice and they have a table of potato chips and cookies, but overall, very skimpy. And I sat at the table that eventually turned into all the MD/PhD applicants, so it was especially boring, but thankfully, they only allowed like 20 minutes for lunch.
How to pronounce my interviewer's name! I found out that some of the other interviewees didn't realize their student interview was being evaluated because it seemed so informal.
Nothing major but I really was surprised to find that Jefferson really has a "campus" despite its location and that when you are in the buildings you feel very far removed from the hustle and the bustle of center city.
All the questions are very conversational-closed file.. He even asked me what school I went to in the beginning. I think he knows they can accept the 4.0s of the world if they want to, but he just wants to see if you're normal.
My undergrad advisor had written a letter of recommendation and wrote something about my mother's struggle with alcoholism (I had a rough freshman year). The interviewer brought it up, which really caught me off guard! I just said, "She's doing all right," and he changed the subject (thank goodness).
There's definitely 40 students per interview day and the day is quite long. As of yet, it was definitely the most draining interview day for myself. Go prepared to be alert. But the day does start at 11AM so you can sleep in a little.
Apparently Jefferson does its biggest round of cuts before the interviews. If you are interview, you have almost a 50% chance of getting accepted. Basically, as long as you don't really screw up and say something completely unintelligent or offensive, you have a good shot at getting in.
Jefferson invites about 40 people to an interview day. It's not a problem, but this was my first interview, and it was kind of a shock to see so many people there. Also, the lunch is rather small so eat a good breakfast before you go.
How casual the student interview is. The students literally come straight from class and just chat with you for a few minutes. Its hardly an interview.
Jefferson is the only school in Philadelphia right next door to it's teaching hospital. Jefferson has a MD/MPH program set up with Johns Hopkins. I hear Jefferson likes to accept students for whom it was #1. Although it wasn't my #1 pick until after the interview, I wish I'd known how great it was before.
Interviews are held on campus, but I had to travel pretty far in the city, so I wish I would have had a better general understanding of the city and directions beforehand.
Jefferson's focus is producing clinicians. Although their research department is outstanding, their main focus is producing clinical doctors rather than researchers. I also learned how few Md/PhD spots there were for next year's class (only 5 out of 229 spots).
student interviewer didnt ask anything about my app... i filled up the 30 min asking her questions, which she answered in a one or two word answer... wouldve prepared many more questions if i had known...
That many of their faculty interviewers are busy practicing physicians, and that my interview would be delayed an hour because my interviewere was busy. This through me off a bit, and also made me nervous about catching my flight home. Also I couldn't go to the post interview wrap-up : (
the student interview is VERY short (mine was only about 10 minutes) and if you get an inexperienced interviewer like me (it was his first time), you may have to direct the interview all by yourself.
I stayed w/a student host and it was great! I even got to go to a Phillies game. It's a great way to meet the students and get to know the school better.
The large group of interviewee was rather intimidating. Jefferson is affiliated with 18 hospitals for clinical rotations!! Used to rank #1 as a "comprehensive medical school" back in the 90's, not sure what that means though
The Vice Dean of the medical school, Dr. Callahan, welcome's all applicants.and..the Director of Admissions for the medical school, Grace Hershman, is available during the day at the post interview wrap-up. You can just go up and talk to her. Amazing!!Did not experience this at any other interview I attended to date (10)
During lunch several admissions officials come in to talk to while we were eating. I had taken my suit coat off to eat and was worried I looked a little too casual. I didn't think the admissions reps were going to come while we were eating.
The school is downtown, lots of cars everywhere. Not bad, just different. The housing for students is kinda pricey, but you are right there next to the school. They were on probation a while ago. Not very many students attend class.
There is only food at the very beginning and the very end of the day... so make sure you take full advantage, cause growling tummies during the interview is no good.
None -- I would recommend using the Train system if you need to get around -- it's cheap, efficient, conveinent to just about everything including the med school... it makes life easier getting to the airport, for instance
Applicants generally found the interview day at Jefferson to be relaxed and low-stress, with a strong emphasis on showcasing the school's community and student life. They appreciated the opportunity to engage in conversations rather than formal interviews, with both student and faculty interviewers. Many highlighted the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the school, while some mentioned a few areas for improvement such as the length of the day and the quality of the lunch provided.
Come prepared with a lot of questions to ask the student interviewer and the faculty interviewer!
Honestly, I have interviews at schools that are "ranked higher" than Jeff, but the student's attitudes + work/life balance + the exam schedule thing very well could convince me to go here.
I loved the school. Everyone was happy and well-rounded. Lots of opportunities to get involved in the community, student-run clinics and research. Location!!
The student interviews seem pretty relaxed overall. The difficulty and style of faculty interviews really depends on your specific interviewer, and after speaking with other interviewees, the questions seemed to vary quite significantly.
While the facilities, information sessions, admissions staff and current students all blew me awaypositively, I was very disappointed with my interview experience. At the end of the day I felt like I didn't really have an opportunity to showcase my ability to communicate to my faculty interviewer due to language barrier that existed between us.
Unlike many others, my interview day actually left me with a negative impression from the school. It's a great school, with a great reputation, but it's not for me.
Enjoy the interview and show off your passion/enthusiasm. You don't have to let it be a traditional interview, where the interviewer asks you a question and you provide a response. Gauge your interviewer to see how structured he or she wants the interview, but if you can, let it flow like a conversation would. Asks some questions midway through and express how your experiences/thoughts tie in to the interviewer's response. That really helped me spend less time worrying about looking good, and more time feeling good.
Fabulous school. Everyone was helpful, honesty, and available. Jefferson really seems to know what it is doing and the opportunities for whatever you want are out there.
This is by far one of the best school I've interviewed at. The people really make it feel like a family. They have a really cool intramural sports league and powder-puff football tournaments (!). Seems like a great place to spend the next four years (fingers crossed!)
Great school, laid back interviews and a fun overall experience. Just come to this interview calm and ready to talk about yourself as a person and you'll do fine. Getting to the interview is a huuuuge cut and they accept like 60-65% of the interviewees.
Jefferson only interviews 800 out of about 10,000 applicants. With a class size of 255, you stand a pretty good chance of getting in if you get an interview..... Dr. Brooks is amazing when it comes to knowing her interviewees. If you interview here, you'll see what I'm saying..... There are two interviews, one student and one faculty. Both should be very laid back. There is 30 minutes allotted for the student and 60 for the faculty. My faculty interview actually lasted only about 10 minutes. But she seemed excessively busy, so I definitely understood..... Oh, and I was surprised not to see this here before I went, but they have one of the best lunches you will get. By far the best I've had. Salad, rolls, pasta, chicken, vegetables, and more. Great balance and not just a cold sandwich, chips and a cookie.
Overall I am attracted to the city, the people, and the ec's, not attracted to the facilities of the school, or the curriculum, although I do think the clinical training would be very strong.
Both interviews were very relaxed, I enjoyed meeting both the student and faculty interviewers.
There are two interviews. The first is a current student and is closed-file. This was so relaxed I kept forgetting it was a real interview and had to remind myself to remain professional. The second is with a faculty member and is open-file, but no less relaxed than the student interview. Overall, it was a fun day and both my conversations with my interviewers were enjoyable.
This school places lots of emphasis on friendliness and community. It is a thoughfully organized interview day with almost no interviewee downtime from 10am to 4pm.
My interviews were very relaxed. I found as the interviews progressed that the little bit of stress was gone and I was more so enjoying the conversations with my interviewers about medicine/hobbies/etc.
Great! Loved it. Got a little bit of a shock when the interviewer said he applied, hated it back in the day when he went to med school, but now likes it. Definately and conversation about my life, my interviewer's life, and general stuff!
Really blew away my expectations. The facilities are really nice, the students really like the school and the entire day really focused on selling Jeff to us!
I had a great time. We had two interviews: one with a student and one with a faculty member. Both of my interviewers were very relaxed and just wanted to get to know me. They were constantly asking me whether I had any questions for them. It was a lot like they were selling the school and not putting me (or my grades or test scores) under intense scrutiny. Great experience-very casual.
It was organized pretty well. It was also a large group (about 25) but we were separated for interviews and tours. Both my interviews went well and no intimidating questions were asked. The students in charge led the large group meetings so well that most of us were able to relax. One of my best interview days.
Jefferson is in a really pretty part of the city. I recommend walking around and taking a look if you get a chance. This wasn't a stressful day at all, but the presentations at the beginning are VERY long and I felt that a lot of it was unnecessary. The interview group was big, probably around 30. The tour left me wondering what Jefferson's labs/study areas are like, because we didn't get to see them. Still, it was a pretty fun day. Student interview was 30 minutes and very casual. Faculty interview was 60 minutes and also pretty laid back.
My interview experience at Jefferson was wonderful. I had a great time at the school, loved the people I had the chance to meet, and had a great interview. It's my first choice.
I really enjoyed my time at Jeff. It was on my high priority list since I want to go to school in Philly. Its a little pricey, but the school is really good. The interview I found to be pretty low stress, and my interviewer even hinted I might get some scholarship money, although I'm not expecting too much
Really nice interview day. Starts at 10AM which is nice. Also, be prepared: the first 2 hours, you spend siting in the board room while different people talk (dean and director of admissions, dean of diversity affairs, financial aid, students). It was interesting and entertaining at times but it is a long time. Afterwards there is a 1/2 hour student interview--very relaxed, we just went and sat outside and chatted. It does count as a part of your interview but they are really just trying to get to know you and decide if they could picture you as one of your classmates. Lunch was great except that the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate. Afterwards, we were broken into groups for a tour. Then faculty interviews (I think most were 30 minutes b/c each interviewer conducted two). Then wrap-up/cookie break/chance to talk to the dean/network.
Excellent. In the end, I had to decide between my state school (which is cheaper), and Jeff---but my interview experience so impressed me that I have decided to go to jeff.
At first, I was concerned because the interviewer struck me as a potentially uptight individual. But he turned out to be kind, soft spoken, and said some very interesting things. We really had a candid, interesting conversation rather than an interview.
I interviewed with Dr. Zager who was the nicest little lady. It was more of a conversation than an interview. My student interviewer was really helpful and laid back. The interview was basically just me asking him questions.
The day started with an information session given by students, and also staff who came in to present different topics (financial aid, office of multicultural affairs). We then met one-on-one with a first year student before lunch. After lunch, we were broken up into small groups and given tours by a student. Interviews followed. My interviewer was very laid back and we basically just talked about my background, family, school, work and volunteer experience, etc. Then there was an afternoon social hour where we could schmooze a little more with admissions faculty.
My time there left me with the impression that it would be a great place to get a good clinical training, have a very high quality of life, as well as have a lot of opportunities both in and outside the classroom
This was actually a really nice interview. The people are really really nice and the students are uber excited about their school and about medicine in general. I thought it was really cool that some of the M2's stayed at the end to answer questions even though they had a review session for an exam in progress. The interview is really low key. They are genuinely there to see what type of student you are and if you're a fit in their school. You can't really prepare for this type of interview but to be yourself so you're not a nervous wreck.
The day is somewhat long but informative about the school. Lunch was provdied. It started with an orientation, admissions people speaking, financial aid and students presenting what Jeff had to offer. The interview was a really low key. The student interview was very casual. It was a great chance to just ask questions about the school. We just talked and walked outside. My faculty interview was great. He already knew stuff about my file and didn't refer to it during the interview. It was more like a conversation than Q and A. Overall a great impression.
Awesome, the most low stress interview I have had so far. My interviewer was very familiar with my file and just asked me questions about my experiences.
I had a great day at Jefferson and just fell in love with the school. Expect the standard questions: why medicine, why Jefferson, why did you do this or that activity, etc.
after interviewing at jefferson, the school jumped to the top of my list over more reputable schools i have already been accepted to. i really can't stress enough how comfortable the environment is and how at home i felt.
Overall, Jefferson is a great college and definitely a place that I can see myself attending. The faculty, students and other workers were all very happy to be there.
See last comment. Overall, it went really well. Just know how you plan to answer the ''typical'' questions: why medicine, why physician, why specialty, tell me about yourself. I didn't have any curve balls.
Overall, it was great and stree-free. It was bascially a conversation more than question and answer. We talked a lot about my culture. He knew a lot of about Indian culture so it was easy to have a conversation about that for the entire time.
My interviewer was really laid back and we just chatted about my experiences for 40 minutes. It's great that Jefferson gets back to you so quickly about your application status.
Flight was terrible, sat on the tarmac for two hours and circled Philly for an hour before landing. The way back was even worse. The Jeff interview team was fine, all I missed was the large group lecture from the Director of Admissions. After a couple of talks at us (group of 20 or so) we had the very casual student interview, lunch, then a tour. The faculty interview was delayed because he was seeing patients, but he was a calm, friendly dude.
it was cool, some of the other interviewees were very friendly and i think ''Jeff'' student are like that too, they seem to like thier school. the interview day is run by students ( and they like dressed up too, at some other schools the students wore jeans?) its really nice that they let you know your status a week after and not string you along for 6-8 weeks (oh yes, you know i am talking about you SUNY)
The morning consists of a lot of presentations, but we were able to interact with the other applicants (approx 30) at times. The student interview was extremely casual; mine was held in a lounge near the library. Afterwards, we had a very nice sit-down lunch in the Faculty Club and then went on a tour of campus. My faculty interviewer was the director of a specific program I'm interested in, so the first part of the interview was pretty standard. He basically just asked me to elaborate on EVERYTHING in my application, and then the second half was more specific about my reasons for wanting to join the program. Overall, the interview went well, and at the end, they have a wrap-up session with refreshments and the opportunity to talk with Dr. Callahan.
Very positive, the students love the school and the faculty all had great things to say. Most students live within a couple blocks on the downtown Philly campus, so there is a community feel even though you're in the city. Interviewers were nice (one student and one faculty) and mostly just chatted and had an informal conversation. Dean of Admissions spends some time talking with the students and she is really nice and very helpful.
Overall it was good. I came out of my interview with a faculty member thinking that it went well, but the more I think about it the worse I think I did.
There are 2 separate interviews; 1 with a 1st year student, and 1 with a staff physician. The student interview was a breeze. The students literally came out of their class and called us out by name. The only reason I felt uncomfortable during this interview is because the student was so young in comparison to me...and I was worried about ageism-related discrimination. But this interview didn't even count for anything. It was merely a way of helping me have an outlet for asking questions and gathering information about Jefferson from someone who was a 1st year student. No pressure at all. The second interview was with a family practice doctor who works for Jefferson. He was nice but rather low-key. He even seemed like he was bored. He went through my entire academic transcript. Rather than question any of my grades, he wanted an explanation for why I attended 4 different schools before graduating. I didn't have any great explanation to give him, though. I just made mistakes, and it took me a while before I got it right. We talked for an hour, so at least I was able to carry on a conversation with him, even though he was rather taciturn. But I really doubt that I impressed him with what I had to say...I'm just not good at selling myself.
Very low stress, one student interview closed file which was more like a one on one Q&A and one faculty interview which was like a conversation between colleagues.
The conversation style of the interview threw me off a bit as it was not what I expected at all. It seemed like my interviewer did a LOT of the talking, and I just hope I was assertive enough to state my points.
Just like a lot of people have mentioned, it was a very relaxed day. The students who ran the whole day were 1st year volunteers. Just goes to show their dedication to the school. They don't play a role or have any influence on the admission committee and so they were free to express their honest opinions. This was very comforting and the fact that they all had a sense of humor was a big plus.
As for the interviews, they were really more like conversations. Jefferson takes pride in how their students get along with each other and that's what they look for - students who feel that jefferson can be their home for at least 4 years of medical school.
The day seemed long but it was arranged efficiently by the staff and provided a great feel of everything the school has to offer. I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the student Admissions Officers, who pretty much followed us throughout the day answering any and all questions we had. I wouldn't have minded seeing more on the tour but it's obvious that the school's location in the heart of Philly offers plenty, both academically and socially. My student interview was not what I expected it to be and kind of awkward at times. The interviewer was nothing but pleasant, but asked me questions that I feel should be reserved for faculty interviews (e.g. why medicine? why jeff? why a year off? etc.). But, I managed to ask the student interviewer some questions about student life at Jeff, which I thought was the main purpose of this short interview. I gained a lot more from my interactions with other students throughout the day, possibly because they were a year ahead of my interviewer. My faculty interview was short and sweet, and in no way uncomfortable or stressful. I was asked some basic questions as well as specific ones pertaining to my current job and application. The post-interview wrap up was a nice touch and gave us a chance to ask any questions we had left, hang out with the applicants to compare notes, and schmooze with the students and Assistant Dean. Overall, it was an excellent interview day experience.
The interview was very conversational and low key. I wasn't grilled, the interviewer seemed like he just wanted to find out who I was. The ADCOM is very friendly and approachable. The interviewer definatly studied my file beforehand and had specific questions in mind - know your application well.
Overall, I was impressed. The program seems great and all of the students I talked to were really happy to be there. The location is incredible - the school is right near great bars, shopping, restaurants, etc., and for being in the middle of a city, it seems relatively safe. I was a little turned off by the lack of diversity and the tiny lunch
Very positive. It was my first interview and I was really nervous until I realized how easy they made the process. My interviews went well. The first one was with a student and it was very chill. The second was with a faculty member and we connected right away.
This being my 18th interview I was attending I was pretty nonchalant and only went because I had already bought my train ticket and did not want to waste my money. So I was pretty surprised by how much I like the school. The interview day is all student run - literally student run. The only time faculty gets invovled is for financial aid, the interview, diversity speech and of course an introduction to the Dean of Admissions. This impresed me immensly! The admissions coordintors are fabullous, well organized, informed and approachable. They started the day off with an ice breaker which I thought was cheesy but by the time it came around to me I was into it and actually like the fact that they did that. Afer that the Dean comes in. She is personable, friendly and candid. I liked her. Then some diversity and finacial aid stuff (scary - there tutition will be well over $40,00 pretty soon). Then the student interviews - mine I did not like (see below). Lunch (not as great as other places.) Tour with a student they try to match you in groups with (they did not do such a great match for me) and my tour guide seemed to have and aversion to escalators and elevaaors. He made us use the stairs one too many times. I wonder if he realised we would like to go to our interview poised and ready and not breathless. Then the faculty interview (I liked my interviewer) Then a post interview wrap up with the dean and students which was very informal and I enjoyed alot.
One interview with a student and another with a faculty members. Both interviews were low stress and more like a conversation. The interview group was a bit large.
I was accepted a week after my interview and will definitely be attending JMC. They are incredibly efficient there compared to other schools where you wait and wait and then get waitlisted. Jefferson will generally let you know within 2 weeks.
I came to Jefferson with a little bit of negativity. I had already gotten into my state schools and had no real reason to go to Jefferson over them, but the whole day impressed me. I left with a positive feeling towards the school, its facilities and the city in general. The area is great, the best part of Philadelphia to be in, and it is low key, relaxed but with great urban offerings. My interviewer was really nice and very interested in me as a person. He did not act like he had to do this as a part of the whole job, he actually liked meeting me and telling me about Jefferson.
Though I liked the enthusiasm of the students, nothing really stuck out about Jefferson -- positively or negatively. Both the student and faculty interviews went well. My tour guide was nice, though a bit low-key. The tour didn't seem very organized; it should have been a longer part of the day, with shorter presentations.
Overall I had a great experience and I left with the feeling that THIS school was the one (I got my acceptance letter 2 weeks later :) ). The interview with the faculty was laidback (a little stressful in my opinion but nothing horrible). But all in all I loved the school and the city!
A really nice day. I appreciated that it didnt start until 11. It will always be a big group of applicants, since they only interview once a week, but I thought that was neat because I met a lot of people. I would recommend going to the post-interview wrap up because there are lots of students and adminstrators there to chat with.
My impression of the school prior to the interview was slightly negative, but I left with a very strong impression. It's now one of my top choices, which is shocking to me! I certainly didn't expect that. They give you a very detailed schedule before you go, and they stick to it. The day is fairly long (10-3:30-4ish), and your faculty interviews aren't until the afternoon (2 or 2:30). My student interviewer was nice, but I'm not sure what impression I left him with. The student interview was in an open area with tons of other people interviewing around us, but it worked out. My faculty interviewer was a really nice guy, and we had some stuff in common so that's mostly what we talked about. It was a discussion rather than an interview. The student interviewer hasn't seen your file yet, but the faculty interviewer has it. My interviewer hadn't looked at it, though, because he likes to get his first impression from talking to the person. At the end he looked at it, but just a glance. Overall it was very positive. Student and administrative presentations really characterized the school well, and I believe we received an adequate amount of information about it. Oh, and all students I asked said the large class size was usually good, with all kinds of people, but sometimes can be annoying (like with Jeff HOPE, see below).
the interview day went fine and was very informative (i really appreciated them for this actually....much better than other schools), but the school kind of sucked. my interview couldnt have been easier.
My interviewer was a basic science professor at Jeff. Since he hadn't read my file before I arrived he throughly asked me questions as he read through it all. He didn't seem very warm and I chalked it up as a bad interview but in the end but I got accepted 7 days later!
my interviewer was a nice old lady that challenged me to think critically about my experiences and positions on various issues relating to people and medicine and education
I felt a little intimidated at first because my interviewer really jumped into it without a lot of smiles or formalities, but I relaxed and felt like he eased up a bit as it went on.
Very enthusiastic crew. The day is run by students and everyone really seems to love the school. The Dean is very nice and enthusiastic. You definitely feel the "Jeff Pride."
All and all I was so relaxed during the interview day that I when it was over I couldn't believe that I had worried about it so much before. It started with an introduction to Jefferson and then a meeting with a financial representative. I then had a student interview, which was very relaxed and conversational. Lunch with a few students and admissions faculty followed and then we had a quick tour. My faculty interview was after that and I had to find where it was. (It helps to get a map of Jefferson before your interview day in case you realize that you don't known where your interview is.) The faculty interview was also conversational and other than a few obvious questions (e.g. Why Jeff? Why be a doctor?), my interviewer just asked questions relating to whatever we were talking about.
It was my first interview, and I have to give Jefferson props for teaching me so much about the school, both positive and negative. I had fun, and I feel pretty good about how I did. I can definitely see myself attending this school more than I did before the interview.
The whole day was a little rushed as we started late and a lot of people are interviewed at any given time, but that said it is still a wonderful place to attend medical school and all the students and staff were very friendly.
Everyone was very friendly. All the students love the school and the entire interview day was run by students. They are definitely normal here; one of the tour guides is a DJ at Egypt-a local club- in his free time! They do say that med school is equivalent to having the MCAT every 4 weeks though...
Very positive. Enjoyed the interviewer and the day. Presenters were very passionate. Didn't get much out of the tour and it was important to me to see the clinical skills lab since other schools I'm considering have really good ones.
I felt like I had made a friend rather than had an interview. The student who interviewed me also invited me to see his place after the interview day; nothing wrong with free beer.
day starts around 11:00 in a conference room w/ ~40 interviewees.. deans and students come and talk to everyone.. there are small sandwiches and snacks to eat but nothing big; very relaxed. go downstairs w/ a student for a quick student interview--this is basically a chance to see what the students are like and to ask questions.. go on a student tour w/ group of ~8 people.. then interview somewhere on campus around 2-2:30.. interview is conversational. then back for day wrap-up--they serve cookies and soda, and you can personally introduce yourself to the admissions director if you want--she's very nice.. overall, very easy interview experience
Everyone was so pleasant to be around. I liked the feeling of camraderie. And there's never a shortage of things to do in Philadelphia to get away from the books for a bit.
I had a positive interview experience at Jeff. My faculty interview was in the hospital with a doctor who graduated from my college. All we talked about was how I was like him and how much he loved going to our university. However, my student interview wasnt as great because all he wanted to know about was where i like to go drinking in philly. Overall, I had a good experience.
This was the most organized and friendly interview day that I have encounted. I was truly impressed with the involvement of the students and the Admissions Office staff. The Director, Grace Hershman, and Dr. Callahan, the Dean, were both so very down to earth and available. Students seem normal and not overly impressed with themselves like you see at other schools.
I thought my interviewer was great. He seemed genuinely interested in my experiences and dedicated to the school. He spent extra time explaining the selection process of Jefferson - something very helpful for us applicants who are left waiting for most of the year.
I was matched up with a doctor who works in my field of interest, which was cool and unexpected. The student interview was actually more stressful than the faculty one.
The day starts with all 20 - 30 applicants sitting in a boardroom, where you listen to several presentations on various topics. The day is student-led, which also helped put me at ease. They give you lunch, a student interview, and then a tour. The student interview is very low-stress. It is probably best used as a time for applicants to ask questions that you wouldn't ask a faculty interviewer. Don't expect a formal, guided interview from the students. As noted above, the tour was lacking. My next stop, the faculty interview, was a great experience. Again, as I noted above, my interviewer was very well prepared. The interview itself was mostly conversational in nature, and was very low stress. After the faculty interview, there is a post-interview wrap up session with soda and cookies. This is a good time to introduce yourself to Dr. Callahan.
I had a nice time at Jefferson. It seems to be a very good program where everyone gets along nicely. The gym could use some improvements. Philly is a nice city (especially if you like cheesesteaks!) and the cities population is pretty diverse ethnically and socioeconomically providing the type of medical experience I am hoping to have.
This was my first interview and Jefferson made a good start. The presenters were informative and enthusiastic. The student interview was casual and I spent most of my time asking her questions on the topics that interested me. It was a good opportunity to get an insider's perspective on the school. My faculty interviewer was friendly and seemed to know my file well - I was surprised at the detailed review of my AMCAS application.
Great day, great people, great school. Morning starts with the very excited happy students telling you a little about the school, and then two admissions committee members telling you why Jefferson is unique and great. There's a 20 min student interview where you just bacially get to ask questions about Jefferson. The faculty interview is a little more formal but still low stress -- much more of a conversation.
I got a phone call one week after the interview telling me I got accepted. Of course I didn't have my phone on so I heard the call on my voice mail two hours later. I think I listened to it three times I was so excited. I am thrilled to be into Jefferson!!!!
The day began around 11 with lunch and some brief introductions/talks by the student liasons to the Admissions Committee. Dr. Callahan and Grace Hershman each spoke for a bit about the opportunities available at Jefferson, curricula, etc. The student interview is very brief (ie about 10 minutes), and that is followed by a few more talks (life in Philly, etc.) and a tour. Many of the faculty interviews were off-campus, so be sure to ask your tour guide to point you in the right direction. One of the students liasons told me that the student and faculty interviews don't have a huge bearing on the final decision, so don't be too nervous. The day ended around 3 or 4 with a cookies and soda wrap-up, during which time you will have the opportunity to speak with a lot of students, as well as the admissions directors. Overall, it was a rather painless experience.
This is not an interview review. We are minority students at Jefferson, and we wanted to clarify the diversity situation at this school. We recently read a review stating that Jefferson seems to be a traditional "old-boys school", lacking underrepresented minority students. While the proportion of minority students may be less than average, there are a variety of active efforts, both from administration and student groups to address the situation. Minority students have a strong presence on campus, despite our lower numbers. In addition, many non-minority students are actively interested in minority issues in health and medicine. If you should have additional concerns/questions on matters of diversity at Jefferson, feel free to email us at [email protected].
The overall "Interview DAY" impressed me. I really love this school. The emphasis that they seem to place on producing clinicians, curriculum, big class size, location, everything. They really do seem to care about their students, especially Dr. Callahan and Grace Hershman.
My student interview was very laid back, in a lounge with others student interviews going on at the same time. It didn't even feel like and interview, just a friendly discussion. I actually started to feel that I was asking too many questions about the school and not really giving my interviewer a chance to speak (The student interview is closed file.).
My faculty interviewer was very condescending and criticized my whole application. I didn't even get to respond, because he would go onto something else. He then just started talking about things he didn't like about medicine in general, the school, etc. Didn't ask for my opinions, I just sat there. I felt like my interview was a waste of time BUT I was accepted. Strange as it may seem, my interview did not change my view on this school. I still love what Jefferson is about, what they have to offer and plan on attending. If you don't mind a big class (200+) and living in the heart of Philly, check this school out.
The interview day was really well organized and the admission coordinators (4 second year students) were really helpful. They have an informal reception/refreshments thing after, current med students drop by and you get to talk to them, Grace Hershman stopped by.
Overall, the interview experience was pretty good. The applicants seemed a little competitive. The lunch was not that great, and they only had soda as beverages. The student presentations were very good and informative. The student interview was extremely laid back and relaxed. The whole day dragged on a little too long.
The faculty interviewer was very talkative, cordial, and easy to relate to in conversation. She talked a lot about herself so it wasn't just a one-way dumping of information from me to her. She ended the interview with, "I hope to see you here next year!" That was very sweet of her to say. :)Also they tend to waitlist a lot of people- don't be discourages if this happens. Just write a letter of intent and most likely you will be accepted shortly afterwards. One third of their 230 person class matriculates off the waitlist. They said interviewees should hear back within 2-3 weeks of the interview. Rarely is anyone flat-out rejected after an interview.
very relaxed, my interviewer went through my essay and asked me to talk about the experiences there. I was a half hour late for my interview though - double check the time of your interview! There was a misprint on my schedule, but my interviewer was totally cool with it and talked to me for over an hour about topics as far ranging as carpentry and egyptian medicine.
Ultimatley, my interview was unusual in that most of my interview time was spent discussing Colorado (my home state) political issues, in particular gun control and concealed weapon permits. It was overall a good experience although I would of liked to spend a bit more time discussing why I want to be a doctor etc.
Setting up a student host was a little wierd, but worked. Lunch was a good time for the presentations; they had us seated around this big table like the knights of the roundtable. A great "medical meeting" atmosphere; I felt important to be there. Students were also happy to be there, interacting and studying with groups of friends. Everyone had so much respect and admiration for each other and treated me like I belonged there. The student interviewer really cared about what I had to say; I think it mattered.
I liked the fact that the day didn't start until 11. That made it easy for people flying in that morning. The food was not good. The tour was bad but that was only due to the frigid temperature. My faculty interviewer was a nice guy and I really liked the wrap-up. Having a chance to sit and chat with the students more informally was great. A lot of students showed up for it too.
The MD-PHD students had to get there earlier and stay there later for dinner. They took care of you as an MD-PHD student, which I liked. The student interview was really laid back. The med school interview was pretty low stress as well. My interviewer asked me mostly about my family and background. The PHD interviewers were okay too...they mainly asked about my research.
I arrived at the library and was amazed to see 30 other students interviewing that day. The lunch was ok and we were given a brief talk on Jeff Pride. Students picked us up for interviews which were very relaxed. We returned for more discussion on the curriculum and living in the Philly area. We were led in small groups on tours (I hope other people have better tour guides than I did). Then I had a little time before my faculty interview. My interview was over in the hospital. The interviewer was very nice and was very honest about his experience in the school.
The day is very low-key. The student interview is very short and is more about you asking them questions. The faculty interview follows the tour so that your guide can point out the building to which you have to go. After the faculty interview there is an informal wrap-up session with refreshments where you can introduce yourself to Grace Hershman, the admissions director, as well as talk with current students and your fellow interviewees.
The interview was a bit offputting because I was interviewed in the interviewer's apartment. But, once I got to his room the atmosphere was comforting and I felt at ease. The interviewer told me ahead of time that he does not look at the interviewee's file ahead of time, nor does he ask prescribed questions. Essentially he told me to talk and he interjected with questions sporadically.
The Dean of Students and Director of Admissions both came in and gave a speech about how great Jefferson is and about the school's history. Then each of the interviewees was paired off with a student for a closed-file interview, which was pretty laid-back. Next, they divided us into groups of 5 or 6 and sent us on a tour of the school with a student. After the tour, I had my faculty interview, which was really laid-back. I spoke with my interviewer for almost an hour and she seemed really interested in getting to know about me. Finally, there was an optional postinterview wrap-up, where we met in a room with cookies and drinks and got to talk with more students.
The student interview (closed-file) was very informal and lasted about 30 minutes, while the faculty interview was open-file and last a little more than an hour. My faculty interviewer was incredible--very friendly and relaxed, probably the nicest interviewer I've had.
began day very early, had description of MD/PhD program, tours of labs, then went to med school orientation, they beat you over the head with Jeff Pride and how they dislkie Penn, the med school interveiw went well, he was a family doc who was easy to talk to and was interested in what I said, then had interviews with scientists, this went well too, there is great research going on there, very progressive, and the PI's seem great to work for, hope I get in!!
There were two intervies, 1 with a student (that i heard doesn't count much) and one with a faulty member. Not many questions were asked. Mostly a nonintimating conversation about my interests in general- not necessarily medicaly related.
too many presentations, lunch tasted really bad - sandwiches had the worst stale bread i've ever tasted - and u wonder how bread can taste bad - it can!!! the school i think tries wayyyyyy to hard to sell themselves... it got really annoying after a while, listening to sooo many presentations about how great the school is... tour guide was wayyy too excited about school, seems almost fake
I had a very good experience, Jefferson is definatly one of my top choices. I wish they started the day a bit earlier though, it was a bit nerve-racking trying to leave afterwards but not being done until 4.
overall pretty low-key. the day starts late, at 11 am and i thought it was sort of annoying that you have to listen to all the presentations and do the tour before the interviews without even a bathroom break. also, the food for the lunch sucks so either eat a big breakfast or look forward to a good early dinner afterwards.
The interview is in the afternoon so in the morning you sit through a bunch of presentations and eat lunch. Then you have a student interview which is really easy and a tour of the campus. My itnerview was with an attending and took place in a doctor's office. He hadn't even reviewed my file but it was really easy.
The interviews were relaxed, and the student interview was basically to determine whether you're "socially competent", according to my student interviewer. This is one of those schools that care about students and has strong emphasis on clinical care rather than research. The only thing that holds me back is the old conservative feeling of Philadelphia.
Wow, do they interview in packs. I think they have one interview per week so about thirty of us were in attendance. The light lunch in the boardroom is packed and feels so formal. It definitely feels like the first of many such meetings with wrapped sandwiches and bags of lays potato chips we'll see in our careers. The day was loaded with impressive speeches by students and members of the faculty that really made me excited about the school. The tour left a little to be desired, but the interviews were both very relaxed. There were no real difficult questions. I liked Jeff a lot and I think I could be happy there. The price tag is a little rough though, but how can you beat its location in philly.
When I first got there we sat in a big conference room for lunch and numerous speakers which became dull. The student interview was not stressful and then comes the tour. I was fortunate to have an upbeat, energetic tour guide and really enjoyed my tour. The faculty interviewer and I had a good rapport so I rather enjoyed my interview, which was much more like a conversation than interview. Center City is a neat place to live and students & faculty are all friendly. Great interview experience.
The interview really had no formal questions, just an open discussion. I found it really hard to impress upon the interviewer why JMC should choose me.
I had a good time there, the students were nice. I stayed in a medical fraternity house and the rent is incredibly cheap to live there. The student interview is a little pointless, it lasted about 20 minutes since we were running late and we spent most of the time looking for a place to sit. The post interview wrap up is nothing exciting, they were supposed to have cookies, but I did not see anything. Good if you have questions, not really worthwhile if you dont have any, so its ok to miss.
I had two interviewers, one an experienced member of the adcom, and the other was a newbie who was learning how to conduct interviews. The second interviewer basically observed the whole time, saying very little. The Jefferson admissions office said that this situation was the exception to the rule, however- most interviews will be one on one. Overall, it was pretty low stress... i was asked stuff pretty much right off my application... i would suggest that people try to work in some stuff that doesnt show up on the app. though, just to add another dimension to your file. Also, come prepared with questions, my interviewer really seemed to want to help me get to know the school.
I had a great experience and hope they want me b/c i think it is a really good fit for what I want to do. If you are interviewing at Jeff don't be nervous just try to prepare what you really want to get across to yoru interviewer b/c you will probably have the chance.
My student interview was short and no big deal. I was nervous about my faculty interview, but it turned out to be great. My interviewer was friendly and seemed to like me.
the day was very formal - every moment was planned. There are a lot of students since they only interview one day a week. The students seemed stressed, not particularly interesting. Overall its a good school though.
The day was pretty relaxing. Jefferson only interviews once a week so there were about 25 of us interviewing on the same day. You have a student interviewer, which is really just an opportunity for you to ask them questions and then have a faculty interviewer at the end of the day. There is an optional session you can go to at the very end to ask any final questions. Both of my interviews were very stress-free.
A very relaxing experience -- I felt as if I was able to provide them with a good idea of what I was all about. The interviews were very low stress and were designed to give lots of opportunities for me to ask questions of them. Overall, I was very impressed with everything about the school (especially the students) with the exception of the facilities which just look old and well-used.
It was rather odd; she chastized me about my grades for awhile, and we went into excruciating detail about my experiences and volunteer work...and then suddenly in the middle she pulled out the evaluation form and started verbally going through it and telling me how I'd done on everything, culminating in grilling me about whether I'd come there if accepted and how it compared to the other places I'd interviewed (that sure came back to bite me). Definitely the only interview that had me sweating so far.
The day was extremely informative, but rather long. They do a very good job of "selling" their school to the prospective students. My interviewer was extremely nice, which made the experience very low stress. The interview was a little bizarre because she spent most of her time giving me tips on how I can sell myself in future interviews to my top choices of med schools. However, she was very persuasive and left me with a very positive view of Jefferson.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested providing more detailed information on interview day, enhancing the tour experience, and shortening the morning presentations to allow for more breaks and interactions. Some applicants also emphasized the importance of student involvement in the interview process and expressed a desire for more opportunities to interact with students and program heads.
Give more information on interview day. Tours were lackluster.
Breaking up the morning session with the tour would be nice. It was a long time to sit in one room and I felt I would have absorbed more had I had a chance to reset.
The school was pitched as having a lot of "students teaching students" and new diversity programs were given more attention over traditional medical education. The former left me worried I wouldn't have good instruction (how can all students be good teachers?) and the latter worried me that the school was too political and optics-conscious at the expense of substance.
Nothing! Dr.Brooks and Dr. Callahan are both extremely warm, approachable and helpful. All other staff I dealt with were polite, interested and helpful as well.
The student-run interview day was a hugely positive experience. As much as I trust the expertise of an Admissions Staff, I trust the opinions and anecdotes of actual students even more.
The entire interview day is student run. The school itself needs to coordinate the interview day, as I found it to be somewhat disorganized and was not able to hear about or see everything that I wanted to. There were 30 people on our interview day because the students only have one day per week that they can arrange and hold interview day. A group that size is simply too large for everyone to be able to ask questions.
Based on the responses provided, it seems that one user stayed at an AirBnB in Center City and another user stayed at a hotel with a negative comment about the parking garage. The most comments regarding where they stayed would be related to the hotel with the negative parking garage experience.
