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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 28% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 301 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 include inquiries about long-term goals, ethical dilemmas, motivations for pursuing medicine, personal values, and reactions to stressful situations. Additionally, respondents mentioned questions related to specific experiences, such as dealing with ethical decisions, clinical volunteer work, and personal influences on their career choice. Some respondents noted being asked about their views on specific topics like ethics in medicine and their commitment to certain behaviors while in medical school.
If you knew right now that you were going to get into medical school and didn't have to be concerned with it during this season, what would be occupying your thoughts/time/excitement instead?
If you can agree with me that a transaction takes place when you go to a doctor (your insurance or your cash pays the doc for his service), then what is the product that a doctor provides in one word?
My first interviewer asked me about my wife. We are newlyweds, and he said that many times newlyweds end up divorced because of the rigors of med school. He asked me how I would deal with that. I thought it was a little forward for him to ask that, but answered frankly because I figured Loma Linda was just trying to push me to see how I'd react to stress.
Students said most interesting question asked at Loma Linda University School of Medicine discussed various personal qualities, ethical dilemmas, faith-related topics, and scenarios involving patient care. The interviews encompassed a wide range of questions covering family background, personal beliefs, coping strategies, ethical decision-making, and unique life experiences, reflecting the rigorous and holistic nature of the selection process at LLU, potentially in an MMI format with a nondisclosure agreement in place for respondents.
Pretend I'm talking to your best friend, what are the two qualities they would most likely say about you
You have an alcoholic student. He has gone through rehab, and seems to be doing well. He goes on spring break, starts to drink again, and assaults an officer. How would you argue for (or against) him?
Suppose you come to work one day and you discover that there is a big blackout in your workplace and they barricaded the doors and you left all your work-related materials inside, what will you do? How will you spend your day?
How would I deal with perhaps feeling "left out" or "like an outsider" since many of the students that end up there somehow may know each other from undergrad
The most interesting question they asked me (and here I reveal a bit of arrogance) was an entreaty to discuss my religious conversion from an atheist evolutionist to a Christian creationist. Both interviewers seemed very excited by this. I am a recent convert to Seventh-day Adventism, and I think part of the excitement was over seeing a fellow believer come to the faith and part was trying to figure out if I was faking it to make my application look good or if I was sincere. We discussed the information that brought me to the faith in detail, especially in my first interview, and that seemed to satisfy both interviewers.
I metioned that I enjoyed reading Harry Potter, my interviwer then asked how would you reconcile some of Harry Potter's themes with Christian values? How would you handle explaining these themes to a Christian child?
The first interviewer asked me all the typical questions...why a doctor, why here, why you. But the second interviewer asked me about my denominational affiliation and how it differed from SDA, about my temperament type and how it affected my plans as a doctor, about my family, about ethical issues and how I would deal with them, etc.
I was asked a battery of ethics questions, from what I thought about stem cell research, abortion, end of life practices, to what I would do if my patient had pancreatic cancer, the prognosis was pretty bad, and the patient wanted to stop treatment because of the pain it would cause to his family?
How will you handle the shift from undergraduate school to medical school? What characteristics do you posess that would allow you to make the tsansition smoothly.
Students said most difficult question asked at Loma Linda University School of Medicine discussed various topics such as ethical dilemmas, personal impact, diversity, and future goals. Responses indicate a mix of traditional interview questions alongside scenarios related to faith, conflict resolution, and patient interactions, with an emphasis on ethical decision-making.
Step outside of yourself for a moment and tell me a common misperception about yourself? Don't defend yourself
None - they truly are not out to get you and will make it a comfortable casual conversation. Was two of the kindest interview experiences I have had. One interviewer started out incredibly humble saying "with your grades it should be you interviewing me"
One interviewer reviewed my classes on my AMCAS application beforehand and asked me details about class titles that sounded interesting to him. A couple of the classes he mentioned, I forgot details about what I studied in the class.
Say you have a patient who declared that they haven't smoked in the past couple of weeks but when you puff in the apparatus, it shows a high level of carbon monoxide, how will you treat/advise that patient?
The most difficult question was honestly the one about what I learned of medicine from my Cutco job. At first I thought maybe the honest answer was "Nothing," but then I thought about it and realized I did do a lot of communicating with people as part of a sale-oriented job, and I discussed this angle. My interviewer seemed satisfied with that answer. I should note I did NOT try to bloviate or stretch the importance of this job out of proportion; I think they were looking to see if I could think on my toes, not lie through my teeth or distort the truth.
Ever look in the mirror and not like a certain aspect of yourself? (Not physically, but emotionally/mentally, etc.) Why do you not like that particular attribute about yourself and how did you go about changing it?
Interviewer commented on my being honest when I said that I had consumed alcohol in the last year...I was really worried and not exactly sure how to respond to that. None of the other ones were extremely remarkable.
None of the questions were hard. The interview flowed like a conversation, so one answer would lead into the next question. There weren't any real surprises. The interviewers aren't out to get you.
None were truly difficult. I was asked how I would change the E.R., if it was up to me, since I've volunteered there as well as various questions on the current state of medicine.
None were truly difficult. I was asked how I would change the E.R., if it was up to me, since I've volunteered thereas well as various questions on the current state of medicine.
Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by engaging in mock interviews, reviewing questions on SDN, reading the school's website and application materials, practicing answers to common questions, and seeking advice from current students or professionals in the field. Many also emphasized the importance of researching the institution's values and incorporating personal experiences into their responses to convey their genuine interest in the program.
Read through sdn interview feedback, toured the campus and learned as much as I could about Loma Linda, practiced my approach to questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "Why do you want to be a doctor" (both were asked), prayed and asked those around me to pray for me!
I studied my AMCAS app, I reread my secondary, I read all the questions that are on the SDN about LLU, I asked friends questions, I made a huge list of questions and asked the ones I still had remaining when I got to the interview. Turns out I totally over prepared because the interviews were both just hanging out and getting to know you type interviews. It honestly felt like I was just hanging out with old friends.
Read SDN, researched their websites, talked to current med students there, thought friendly thoughts while I was waiting for my interviewers. If you focus on thinking nice thoughts you will come across as a nice person!
Reviewed questions on studentdoctor.net; got interview feedback from the students who were in my program the previous year; got interview advice from close friends and family; prepared 3-4 themes that I wanted the interviewers to know about me and that the interview answers would highlight.
Honestly? By reading the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I had several different students at Loma Linda tell me that was the #1 best thing to do to prepare for the interview. I started out doing it because I heard it as a recommendation, but ended up sticking with it because of the incredible sense of calm that came over me as I read the gospel, especially while reading Luke's gospel (the story of the Good Samaritan is in Luke, so be sure to read that one if nothing else since Loma Linda's foudning principle is making man whole, based on the parable of the Good Samaritan and Jesus' ministry on earth).
I didn't read any "How to" books. The only answer I rehearsed at all was the standard: Why do you want to be a doctor? And humorously that was never asked. Which isn't to say they won't ask you it; I am a bit of a non-traditional applicant, so I suspect I got a bit of a non-traditional interview. But for you other non-trads out there, I was not given a cold shoulder. Quite the contrary, both of my interviewers seemed very interested to talk with me.
SDN, re-read my application, 2ndary and their school website. Mock interviews, practice questions and a good night's rest helped too. The night before, I came to the campus to locate the Office of Admissions which was a smart idea.
Read a TON of ethics books. Made sure I was confident about the major issues. Reviewed HMO, PPO, private vs. public hospitals, the closing of Southern California emergency rooms, abortion, # of uninsured Americans, Good Samaritan Laws, just to name a few.
I went online and looked up some basics about the Adventist church, and made sure to go through the entire website. I also prepared some questions that I specifically wanted to know about the community of Loma Linda, and I think those went over well.
Read "How to get into Medical School" by Brown, wrote down responses to popular questions and looked at informational publications by the University.
This website, LLU website, several e-mail conversations with current LLU med students, Adventist website, several bioethics books - although no ethics questions were asked.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness, kindness, and genuine interest shown by the interviewers and staff at Loma Linda University. They appreciated the thoroughness of the interviewers in reviewing their applications, the welcoming atmosphere on campus, and the emphasis on whole-person care and faith integration. Suggestions for improvement were minimal, with most feedback highlighting the positive experiences and interactions during the interview process.
both my interviewers were so kind and personable. I had a lot of fun talking with them and they were very curious and interested in me and my life. It was clear they read my application thoroughly and cared about the questions they asked.
How thoroughly the interviewers had read my application beforehand. Especially for my first interviewer, everything he asked was asking me to expand on different parts of my application, so I was talking about things I was familiar with and passionate about. Both interviewers really just wanted to get to know me better as an individual and were very receptive to the questions I asked about them and Loma Linda.
Everyone I met throughout the day was so friendly! Beautiful facilities. There's a new hospital that's going to be completed soon. Also the campus is so beautiful with snow-capped mountains in the background. Obviously focused on whole-person care. My student interviewer, a MS4, described a great culture at the school and even at the hospital where she did her rotations.
I really liked that they paired me up with people that had a lot in common with me because it made the interview really enjoyable and like you were one really great first dates. The first interviewer was from near where I lived and had 3 kids that had gone to my school and then the second one was a 4th year med student who had also gone to my school and was engaged to someone I knew so I really felt comfortable in both interviews. Also, both interviewers were SO NICE. They felt like old friends by the end and both stayed over an hour to talk. I really enjoyed my interviews.
The location was very nice! They stressed how supportive the faculty are to the students. Most schools seem to say this, but I actually believe it to be true.
The new Centennial complex is incredible. Fabulous lecture halls, anatomy facilities, and study rooms. Additionally, the interviewers were laid-back and genial. They don't shy away from tough questions, but they're not at all high-pressure or intimidating.
My interviewer praying with me. That is the #1 most gracious, hospitable thing any interviewer can do for their interviewee on the day of the interview. More than food, water, shelter, or good will offerings, the comfort and peace of mind brought to me by the fact that my interviewer was a human being who shared with me a common belief was what made my day at Loma Linda excellent.
Dr. Church, if you ever read this, you were outstanding to me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
The interest of the interviewers in my life and experiences. The relationship between students and professors seem tight knit. A lot of clubs and groups.
The students and the admissions staff were very welcoming. Everyone had positive things to say about the school. There is a strong emphasis on ''whole-person'' care. Loma Linda scores the highest in California on their Clinical Evaluation standardized exam. The supportiveness of the faculty.
Everyone was so friendly, even the medical center staff. I was also walking around outside taking a self guided tour and multiple people stopped just to say hi.
The kindness of the admissions staff, the tour guides and all the people on campus. Also, I had to interview at the VA hospital and they had a van just for me and walked me out to get it so I would not get lost; very hospitible and welcoming.
The interviewers were EXTREMLY, EXTREMELY non-threatening and just wanted to get to know a little bit more about me. We got to see the cadaver lab (very cool) and the simulation lab. Also the hospitals are some of the best in the state. Overall, the Christian atmosphere lends a kind, relaxed atmosphere.
students there seemed to really enjoy their time. they were big fans of their school, which says a lot. school is known for accepting below average scoring students and graduating above average scoring students.
The people were absolutely wonderful. They were so helpful and the organizer lady knew my name when I got there. Also, my first interviewer's only job was to counsel students who were falling behind...they really wanted you to succeed.
The professors/faculty/staff/students treated the interviewees as though we were already a part of the school and did their best to put us at ease. The other interviewees were also very friendly and as soon as we walked in, Lenoa Edwards in Admissions already knew our names and we were warmly greeted.
The medical center is impressive. I took a particular interest in the artwork inside. Also, everyone I encountered (faculty, doctors, students) were very welcoming which eased the stress a bit. Everything about LLUSM was delightful.
The campus is amazing. It is very small and intimate, which I love. Out of all of my interviews, it is the only campus on which I felt comfortable and ready to spend the next four years. Lenoa Edwards is waaaay cool and so very nice. It's also nice to have the medical center right on campus. Plus, it's SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!!!!!
Loma Linda is a close knit community, even for students like myself who aren't Adventist. This fact was mentioned in my interview and it is pretty true. The professors here are extremely motivated to help their students learn, much more so than almost all the profs at UCSB. In addition, this school is great for anyone who wants to go into the mission field. The school will even pay for up to half of the expenses encountered if we want to go on summer missions in Adventist Hospitals abroad.
Everyone (deans, medical students, interviewees) was extremely friendly and got along well. The Loma Linda Medical Center is a fascinating teaching hospital that will prepare students during their clinical rotations. The emphasis for faculty on teaching along with the school's reputation for educating great clinicians puts me at ease about receiving a great education.
Lenoa Edwards is delightful. She knew my name right off the bat without having seen me for more than a minute. The students are extremely happy, LLU's students are among the best clinically trained students in the state of CA (which says a TON), The dean is amazing and takes time out of his busy day to spend at least an hour with us. Also, they hold a memorial service for the families of the cadavers after anatomy lab is finished. I just found that amazing as well!! The religion aspect was perfect. Like the entry above mine said, it is just to emphasize the "making man whole" motto that the schol professes. There are plenty of places to live right near the school and they have on-campus housing available.
The woman (Lenoa Edwards) in charge of the interview program knew our names! The medical center is incredible, the students seemed happy, and lots of opportunities for missions or research work. Comfortable environment.
I talked to at least 6 students and everyone LOVED the school. They only had good things to say and they really were encouraging about how great it was, even with all the hard work. When students who are not involved in the interviewing process tell you such positive things about the school, then you know that they aren't just putting on a show. We had a tour of the hospital and I really liked the "feel" of the hospital too.
The kindness of the administration and faculty. Everyone was so warm and inviting. They really made you feel welcome. They gave a nice lunch, and the students were really nice too.
The faculty seemed really nice and down to earth. They focus on holistic health.. the campus seemed nice, although the community didn't. Most of the students at the med school pass the boards and do well.
The school's reputation in California of producing the best student clinicians. The location is 45 min from LA, 1 hour from Malibu and Venice Beaches, Big Bear Ski resort is 45 min from Campus. It's not like I'll have the time to do all that anyway. The town of Loma Linda itself has a great sense of community.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the outdated facilities, disorganization during interviews, heavy religious emphasis, perceived favoritism, and strict conservative atmosphere. Suggestions included improving facility maintenance, enhancing interview scheduling and organization, balancing religious discussion, and promoting inclusivity.
The student interviewer I had was having some technical difficulties with his headphones and I wasn't able to hear him for a few minutes but he figured it out in the end.
Interviewers acknowledged that there is a range of staff and students who consider themselves Christian but do not live out their faiths. I appreciated their honesty but it reminded me that going to a Christian medical school will not automatically make me a great Christian physician. It still requires great personal commitment and conviction.
You could tell that the people running the events before the interviews were judging everything you said. All the interviewees had a chance to introduce ourselves to room, and the staff was taking notes on your introduction.
They are making a change in the curriculum, so not sure I want to be a guinea pig for that. I was one of the only people there during the interview day that wasn't SDA. Not really a problem, but a little worried about how cliquey it might be. Does not seem like there are many basic research opportunities, but there are apparently some good clinical research opportunities. I tried to get a student host well ahead of my interview date, and could not get one arranged, so I had to book a hotel room at the last minute.
The process of getting the interviews was rough. I didn't know until a few days before when my interview was and by then the plane tickets were super expensive since I live far away. That was really frustrating. Also, they spelled my name wrong when they went to email me about my interview (even though they had emailed me many times before) so I didn't get a confirmation email until the day before the interview so that was stressful.
Even though my interviews flanked the lunch hour (because of the interview schedule change), I was not given a lunch voucher and spent time going off-campus to find lunch.
I did not like the question about my marital integrity. I felt it was inappropriate, and I even got the impression that my interviewer thought so too, but that he was obligated to ask it. In the future, Loma Linda could certainly find a nicer way of stating the question and getting the same information. In my mind there is a fine line between stressing a candidate to see how they perform and stomping on toes until they break.
That being said, I *was* forced to stop and think by that caliber of a question, and my answer was straight from the heart.
The campus itself isn't all that great. The medical center is nice, but the classes and stuff are nothing to write home about. And our tour seemed kind of rushed, but then again, we were running late.
My parents are both doctors and the interviewers were really wanted to make sure that my intentions to become a doctor were not overly influenced by my parents. It was not necessarily a negative experience, but it was difficult to say again and again in different ways that my motivation for going to med school was purely my own.
I was treated very badly during my interview. The woman who was conducting my interview tried really hard to make me feel and look stupid. Some of the questions she asked me were absurd...no medical school candidate should have to answer those types of questions. She would begin a lot of the questions with: "I know you probably don't know much about this..." It was a very very very uncomfortable experience. And she made me late for my second interview with the medical student. But it's all good, I got in anyway! I interviewed December 2nd and I just found out on Jan. 25th...so be prepared to wait a little while for their decision.
My interview was really disorganized because I didn't have an interview scheduled on an interview day. The prof who was supposed to interview me apparently forgot, and they had to call her at home to get her to come to the school and interview me. Thankfully she was really nice to me after that and the interview went well. Also, they didn't have anyone to show me any part of the campus and I had to walk around with a tiny map and try to figure out what buildings I would be having class in.
The assumption that you can just tell highly stressed candidates how to get to their first appointment at a totally new location and they should be able to get there without difficulty.
The school was founded in the early 1900s so some of the facilities and labs looked rather old. This may have been compounded by the fact that my current school has a completely new science building. The age didn't seem to matter to current students.
The fact that they make you walk like 15 minutes to your interviewer's office. They give you a map and just tell you to go to this far building and you just walk up this big hill. You might get sweaty.
I didn't like the community. It's hot and humid.. The school seemed to focus alot on SDA and so it seems that if you're not, then you would have a hard time. you would have to conform to all their traditions.. expect no meat, chicken, pepper, and packaged (fake??)cheese!!!!
The med student that interviewed me seemed concerned that I wouldn't fit in with the school because I am non-SDA, even though I am not concerned about that.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews were low-stress, the importance of being themselves and avoiding over-rehearsed answers, the relaxed and easy-going nature of the process, and the potential inclusion of ethics questions. Additionally, some applicants mentioned the desire to know their interviewers in advance and the surprise at the diversity of students at the institution.
That this interview is genuinely very low-stress and the interviews are so kind and genuine.
If doing Zoom interviews, you can log in ahead of the start time and see your interviewer's name. I was able to Google them quickly in the ~5 minutes I was in the waiting room which helped calm my nerves a little.
That no one on the admissions staff would be interviewing me. I was interviewed by a third year medical student and a physician at the hospital. My interviewers told me that they would send a letter to the admissions committee that detailed the interview and their thoughts of me, but that they would not be involved beyond that point.
Doing the morning session would have been better because you do your interview first and get that out of the way. I was the later group and so we had a full day of activities and by the time I got to my interviews I was pretty tired
That over-rehearsing answers is NOT the way to prepare for an interview. People always say to "be yourself", but you gotta understand what that means. Be honest and speak your mind, even if it may not be what YOU think the interviewer wants to hear. These people can spot canned answers and insincerity a mile off.
Nothing. I think the interview went the best it could possibly have gone. Occasionally I get a twinge of "well, maybe if I had known who my interviewers were in advance..." but then I realize I would have just spent time talking about THEM, when the point of the interview is to talk about YOURSELF. As such, I would have done myself a disservice had I known who was interviewing me in advance. I'm glad things went as they did.
that there's a possibility that they will pull out my old application file the first time I applied....that shadowing matters, and that I should not be afraid to take my stand on issues just because they conflict with mine.
That Loma Linda is next door to the freeway jungle. I hate L.A.-ish stuff, and being right by the 10 and 210 freeways, etc. kind of sucks... of course most medical schools are in big-city areas, so I better get used to it.
It was my first interview, so I think I OVER-prepared...They didn't make a big deal about SDA at all, except that they didn't serve meat at lunch. I didn't have to worry nearly as much about not being SDA as I did.
That they truly are not out to get you. Some people had suggested that since it was open file, they may be drilling you on weaknesses your application may have showed, but that wasn't the case. A physician had told me they want to see if you can speak eloquently, be able to form educated opinions and have two eyes, a nose and a mouth.
That I didn't have to leave so early to get there. And that the people who called and confirmed their interviews right away got to interview at better times and with better people (my interview was very late in the afternoon).
One thing that comes to mind is that the students here aren't all Adventist, and I thought that they mostly were going to be. I think I'm one of around 20 or so non-adventists in our class. Oh, also Adventists aren't all vegeterians and lots of them drink coffee so don't make any ignorant comments.
Who my interviewers were. Most schools give you that information about a week before the interview which gives you an oportunity to 'get to know' the people you will be talking to ahead of time.
I wish I had known that during the interview they bring everyone that is being interviewed into a room together with the deans of the school and everyone has to introduce themselves and say something interesting about themselves.
I came into the interview thinking that most of the students interviewing would be from Seventh-day Adventist undergraduate institutions. They had a lot of individuals who were from several secular well respected universities. Also, they really didn't shove the religion issue at all. They do make it clear that it is a Christian institution, but they do not shove it down your throat.
I was interviewing for the DDS program. Before the interview they make you write an essay. The topic was "What are your methods of handling discouragement and depression?" Weird topic. hm..
Applicants generally found the interview experience at LLU to be positive and welcoming, with interviewers showing genuine interest and creating a conversational atmosphere. Many emphasized the importance of being prepared for questions related to faith due to the school's strong Christian identity and highlighted the friendly and accommodating nature of the staff and interviewers.
This interview made me want to go to LLU even more and was very encouraging.
I had a faculty interviewer first and then a student interviewer. I wish it was the other way around because the student interviewer made me feel much more relaxed but both were very nice and genuinely interested in getting to know me. I also found it very interesting to get to know them as well. Definitely make use of the time you get to ask them questions!
I was blown away by how beautiful everything was - the campus, the buildings, and the culture. It was a long but good interview day. Both my faculty interviewer and my student interviewer clearly took time to read in-depth about my application and I felt that I had good conversations about topics that I genuinely care about. They didn't just go down the list of all my activities that I had done. If you need to fly in, I recommend flying in to the Ontario Airport. I highly recommend staying at the Loma Linda Inn if you need to stay at a hotel. It's just a short walk from campus and they'll give you a discount if you say you are there for an interview.
This is a super faith-based school so you really have to know that that's something you want to be a part of if you are wanting to go here. That's super important. It's talked about a lot so make sure you want that to be a part of your education. If so, it's the school for you!
I have had six interviews and this was probably the most conversational. They have a very high acceptance to interview ration, so just be yourself, be kind, show humility.
Had a great interview - loved my interviewer. After the interview you have to do an essay portion. Keep in touch with the school while waiting for your status -- I was accepted and will be attending!
LLU is a great school for the atmosphere and patient-centered approach towards education, and it's especially great if you're an Adventist. To a non-Adventist it may seem a little small and stuffy and the academic facilities will probably be a step down from what you're used to, but the quality of education is still good. Also, they're working on improving the facilities drastically, especially with the opening of a new building featuring a full-floor medical simulation center.
Speak up your mind no matter what. They can see right through you. My boss interviews students all the time and he hates it when students give generic answers as well as yes or no.
My first interview was a very nice experience. The second one was not difficult but very long (one hour 45 minutes). He was a nice guy but he went way over time, asked tons of ethics questions to which I had pretty much the same answer for all. I missed the tour because the interviewer took so long, and most importantly, lunch with the medical students which is when one gets to ask the most important questions and the most insight about a school. I was excited about this school before but not so much anymore.
Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to the school. It is not for everyone, but as a Christian I had a very positive experience and could see myself attending LLU.
All things considered, the interview was very casual and low-stress with the exception of one or two questions.
I've given LLU a 10/10 on everything except enviromental friendliness in their interview materials. There is no N/A or "This is a cheesy question" options, and the default was a 1/10, so I didn't want to give that. But a 10/10 would have been materials printed on recycled planktonic detritus sustainably dredged from the sea of Japan and imported on solar-powered ocean barges. What a baloney category on which to rate an interview! The 5/10 is because Loma Linda's interview material was printed on paper, in a paper folder, with straight up black ink. Nothing ostentatiously fancy, no absurd amount of tuition money wasted on pointlessly green materials, just a standard format.
Met in a conference room with other students interviewing, toured simulation lab, toured campus, had lunch with all students and deans of school (I really enjoyed this part), and had two back to back interviews.
There were two interviews and both were very nice and accomodating. The first was with a professor and he prayed with me at the end to the interview and hte second was with a student that I got along with really well.
Arrive, meet the other candidates in your group. Go on one tour with a staff member to the simulation center, then go on a another tour with a medical student. Have lunch with both morning and afternoon interview candidates, then have two interviews (one with a faculty member and one with a medical student).
The interview was very relaxed, the professors just wanted to get to know me. They asked fairly simple questions, until the ethical questions. All they want to know is how you will respond, and that you can think, not what the correct answer is. The professors also tried to find common interests to see what really excited me.
I didn't come with a tour group since I work there. My first interviewer was late for approximately 20-25 minutes and I ended up chatting with his secretary. He looked bored and uninterested the whole time (basically had a closed appearance) so unconsciously I didn't feel like disclosing anything. He hurried me through my interview so I wouldn't be late for my second interview. I was still late. Fortunately for me, unfortunately for her, my next interviewer happened to be my boss' colleague which means indirectly my colleague as well and she had to hear me air plus/minus 25 years of my life. Whereas I talked too little in first interview I talked too much in the second one. After talking about collaborating in research with her I went back to work
I went on a non-tour day...so it was just me and just the interviews. Although they did give me a free meal ticket. The interviews themselves were really conversational, not high-stress. Both professors I met were VERY friendly and interested in getting to know me. I had friends give me a tour so I could see the campus.
The overall interview experience was positive. I was way too nervous for no reason. The interviewers were very conversational and laid back. No tough ethical questions either.
I really enjoyed the whole experience. The interviews were fun and interesting, the tour was well done and the simulation lab experience was very informative. Very good experience.
It was a nice campus, with a very warm atmosphere. Everyone there had a very good feel about them and the interview process was very well organized. I left with a better impression that I had had going in.
Great! It was on campus, so there was no travel involved. I had already had a junior interview, so I was familiar with the procedure. Dr. Niyradi is a wonderful gentleman.
I couldn't have asked for better interviews. The Christian atmosphere is very, very nice. I'm not SDA, but I am protestant and no one seems to have a problem with that. The Campus is not enourmous, which I like. Lenoa was amazingly organized and knew my name when I ran into her on the stairs. I have a very good chance of being accepted, and, if I am, It will be difficult to not attend Loma Linda!
I was on a non-interview day, so I had no tour, but I arrived a day early, and took a nice walking tour on my own, nice campus with amazing history. The day of I arrived about 45 minutes early, to get my packet, and make sure I knew how to get to the rooms. Both interviews were comfortable and it seemed as if they just wanted to get to know me, and clarify certain aspects of my application.
i opted for the afternoon interviews so we met at 10:30 in a conference room and received our packets from lenoa. after all of the morning interviewees came back to the room, the deans asked everyone to intro themselves with an interesting fact. they then give a short intro to the school and financial aid, then you're split into groups for the tour led by a student. lunch is provided afterwards (taco salad) and those with afternoon interviews go off to find them. my faculty interview was interesting because at the end he showed me exactly what she was putting down for me and emailed it off to the adcom in front of me! student interviewer was extremely nice and comfortable to talk with.
I got to campus 15 minutes early, but ended up being late to my interviews because I thought the office of admissions for the SOM was in a different building. Ms. Edwards gave me my packet and sent me on my way to Shryock. My first interviewer was very nice. He teaches anatomy and just wanted to know who I am and where I'm coming from. My second interview was upcampus and I was a little late to this one as well, but it was very short and brisk (I guess that's the best word for it). Both faculty members know the man I work for and so they didn't really expect me to have any questions about the school or religious aspects of it, but I had a really good discussion about Christianity with my first interviewer, which was an unusual experience for a medical school interview. I went back to the medical admissions office after my interviews, hoping to meet some other interviewees, but it wasn't an interview day (which I was unaware of), so I just went to work.
I grew up less than half an hour away, so it wasn't too unfamiliar to me. As soon as I parked, i realized i forgot my breath mints, which wasn't too big a loss. There were about 20 interviewees. The assistant dean knew everybody by name and even was able to recall specific details from the files. Lunch consisted of fritos and beans/cheese/guac. Easy on the beans if you have afternoon interviews. Interviewers (both at the VA hospital-accessed via shuttle) were very friendly, both SDA (which I am not). Intervews were very chill, got to know the interviewers pretty well, no big ethical questions.
A very pleasant day, like I said, everyone was great to me. Real friendly people there, seemed happy to have all of us there. I'm not an SDA, and it seemed to me like there were more than a few others there who were non-SDA's, but I didn't get asked a single question about spiritual issues anyways, and I'm a Christian, so I felt ready for any questions like that! The interviews were pretty relaxed, both just like nice long conversations, my second one even went half an hour over!
The interviews were all over the place, but they arranged a shuttle for me and told me how to get places. I still got lost (dang government hospitals!) but they were very understanding. Lunch was good, but the tour was not super informative. I had my student host take me around after my interviews and she showed me the "behind-the-scenes." Overall, I felt really good about it. It was a good first experience.
This was the medical school interview in which I felt the most comfortable, mainly because of how I was treated throughout the whole experience. At other schools' interviews, it seemed that the interviewers tried to make you sweat or even defend yourself, but at this interview, it was more like a conversation so they could simply learn more about you outside of your GPA and MCAT score.
LLUSM was beautiful and everyone was wonderful. Right when I walked in, Leona prepped me up and was very nice. I chatted with the receptionist while waiting for my 1st interviewer as I was half an hour early. After he had arrived, we had an hour interview that was very smooth and conversational. Although they ask you straightforward questions, it's not a drilling session. One question leads to the next. I arrived early to my 2nd interview as well. (Arriving early is one of my BIG recommendations in anything as it minimizes stress.) Luckily, I had another very amiable interviewer and I was free to take a tour of the school as there were no available guides that day. I left feeling excited and more anxious as I fell more in love with LLUSM that day.
Please see above. If your first interview is in the medical center, give yourself an extra few minutes to find the room...it can be difficult. If you don't know where you're supposed to be, just ask. Everyone is so nice there. I hope this helps!
The interviews are back-to-back so you have to make sure you have ample time to get to each one of them. Lenoa Edwards is wonderful and makes sure that all interviewees have the best experience. A talk by the dean and financial advisor was also given, followed by a tour and lunch.
The 4 hour orientation started off with the first 2 hours reserved for interviews. My first interview was with a medical student who was really cool. The second interview was with a doctor who gave me as much as advice as he asked me questions. The campus tour was fun, and the other interviewees were friendly. The day ended with lunch (vegetarian) and socialization.
After the first interview, which was with an anesthesiologist, I felt pretty confident. We talked about my social activities in college and church, the future of health care, and moral dilemmas I faced. My second interview was more difficult. It lasted the whole hour and we got into a discussion about stem cell research and how we may be able ethically to grow lines from the extra zygotes that are produced for in vitro fertilization and are destined for disposal.
As other people will tell you, it is awesome to get to a school and the Admissions Administrator (Lenoa) knowns your first and last name and is well acquanted with your application. My two interviews went quite well. My first was with an MD in pathology who asked logical and direct questions and went out of his way to make sure he understood me. My other interviewer, also an MD, is involved in evangelical work and he gave me a strong sense of the school's values and mission. He was direct about telling me he thought I was a strong candidate. I came back from California with a positive impression about Loma Linda and am very happy about the way things are done there.
Loma Linda is a wonderful place. Lenoa Edwards is a wonderful person, and Loma Linda's emphasis on treating the whole person is wonderful as well. You feel like you are joining a family when you are there and you do not have to be SDA to get this feeling. Many of the students I met were not SDA and they couldn't be happier. I wish LLU would get more credit with applicants, but from what I heard, the reputation across the US is strong enough to carry you into the most competitive of residencies. I just loved it there. One interviewer was faculty and the other was a student. A delicious lunch was served, and we got a financial aid talk as well. The only downside is the average student debt which, dare I say, is upwards of $158,000.
Compared to a previous experience, this one was great. I interviewed with two faculty for 45 min each. My first interviewer was a very gentle biochemist who recalled parts of my personal statement and 2' and asked me questions about them. My second interviewer was a neurologist who gave me the feeling she thought I was a good candidate - this was very reassuring! She was great! Contrary to what I had heard, their emphasis is more on educating physicians to care for the whole person (mental, spiritual, physical) than trying to push Adventist doctrine on med students. It was a very warm and supportive environment. The Dean took the time to meet and have lunch with us and the lunch was GREAT!
Interview was a positive experience, area was nice (although some of the surrounding cities have a bit of a bad rep). I would have liked to talk with some of the first and second year students.
I had alot of doubts about the medical school going into the interview, but coming out of it, I liked it even more. My interviewers were two very nice and friendly researchers, and I got really lucky with that because of my bacground in research, but I have heard of many other students who interviewed here and were asked and hassled so much about their religion and ethical issues that they could possibly face in the clinic.
The school seems like a great environment and my MD interviewer was awesome, but the student interviewer seemed to have some issues with non-SDA's. He wanted to REALLY make sure that I was not there for the wrong reasons.
Overall, I felt that Loma Linda University was great inverview experience. They really wanted to get to know me as a person and wanted to know my motivation and desire for the study of medicine. The students were very passionate about Loma Linda and why they had chosen to obtain their medical education there, despite being accepted to other respected institutions that also had cheaper tuitions.
Although I didn't go to the school itself, I got a good vibe from the interviewer. The interview was different from my previous ones; he asked several questions that I wasn't prepared for.
Don't be afraid of this school if you aren't a Seventh Day Adventist, they accept other faiths so don't believe the hype. There are guidelines that must be followed during attendance, no drinking, smoking, so familiarize yourself with the school's doctrine before applying. If you can't lead a drug/alcohol/tobacco free lifestyle then this school isn't for you.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest the admissions office to consider implementing more environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing paper usage by incorporating more digital communication methods. They also recommend providing feedback after rejections and ensuring interviews are conveniently located to avoid confusion and delays for applicants.
I would have liked an opportunity to have an exit interview after I was rejected. It's important for reapplicants to know what they need to improve on.
Less paper usage. Interview invite was through snail mail, and the confirmation came through snail mail also. When we arrived we all got folders with papers and some brochure. Interesting things, but still too much paper.
