Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 24% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
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 average.
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 the applicant's motivations for pursuing medicine and osteopathic medicine specifically, experiences that influenced their career choice, their strengths and weaknesses, how they handle stress, and their thoughts on ethical situations in healthcare. Some respondents mentioned being asked a series of questions in the MMI format, potentially subject to a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked during the interview.
What do you envision yourself doing within medicine and how does it relate to becoming a DO?
"I don't know if they told you, but this interview is closed file so we know nothing about you. We're here to get a feel for you as a person. So tell me about yourself?"
How would you relate your academic career to literature? Do you think health care is a right and where does the problem lie with the US health care system?
A female patient complaining of abdominal pain has been subjected to X-Ray tests to rule out appendicitis. Later tests show that she is 4 weeks pregnant, how would you handle this situation?
Students said most interesting question asked at Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal strengths and weaknesses, stress management techniques, and future aspirations. While some mentioned specific ethical scenarios and personal experiences, others were asked about stress relief methods, recent books read, and their perspectives on various healthcare and societal issues.
What is a volunteer experience you have had the greatest impact on/are most proud of?
You have a patient that comes in and is bleeding a lot. She has had a miscarriage, and you tell her she needs a blood transfusion. She refuses because she is a Jehovah's witness. What do you do?
Two ethical questions about how to choose an organ transplant recipient from three equal candidates with slightly different life situations, as well as a follow up one about medical marijuana.
None...all were really general. Most of the questions allowed me to direct the interview towards the things that I wanted them to know. This is the advantage of a closed file interview.
"So, you are from New York originally, why not go to NYCOM?" This was Ironic because I have an interview at NYCOM. I am sure its coincidence but, I wonder if schools know where you are interviewing.
What do you want people say about you after you dead? (They told me I gave the best answer for that question) That's it about there are no right or wrong answers. LOL.
It turned out good for me! ;-)
A patient comes in with a rare condition. They are very educated about the disease, but it is not something you are particularly familiar with. What do you do?
What about the those patients in the inner city, don't you think they deserve adequate health care services as well and not only the rural communities?
Why would you want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane? (I skydive). So I told them they obviously hadn't seen our plane, and having a parachute was a good idea. Broke the ice and had an awesome interview.
None. They were all more of follow up questions to the conversational tone of the interview. This is about as laid back of a med. school interview as you will see anywhere. Period.
An ethical question regarding withdrawing an elderly patient from the venilator. The question involved her mental status and the wishes of the family in regards to what decision I deemed appropriate.
Fast forward 10 years and you are working in a very respected fellowship. A patient needs a new procedure that has a high success rate. But a senior member of the staff tells you that you need to treat the patient with older methods. These have very low success rates. What do you do?
An ethical question regarding a pregnant woman who had been mistakenly given a CT scan without being given a pregnancy test beforehand. I was given the scenario and then asked how I would handle it.
Questions were pretty standard - Why do you want to be a doctor? Why DO? etc.
The most interesting questions were: How do you relieve stress? What was the last book you read?
I didnt have any real interesting ones.. just straight forward- some were kind of long though, like ''your parents are MDs, as is your uncle in Africa and several other relatives, you've thought about nursing and allopathic medicine, what made you decide on osteopathic medicine''....I was just waiting for the actual question.
You find out one of your patients are terminally ill and after telling the family they plead with you to not tell the patient because they won't be able to handle the news, what would you do?
A female patient complaining of abdominal pain has been subjected to X-Ray tests to rule out appendicitis. Later tests show that she is 4 weeks pregnant, how would you handle this situation?
Fastforward your career. You are out of med school and residency working in a practice. One of the senior partners has been coming in lately with alcohol on his breath, showing up late, missing surgeries, etc. He is asking you to cover for him, what would you do?
Ethical question about a female patient complaining of abdominal pain who had a CT scan performed by another doctor. When you arrived you performed a pregnancy test and the female was pregnant. What do you do?
As you go in for your shift in the ER, a patient is present which was seen by the physician before you. He diagnosed her with Appendicitis because of the pain in her lower abdomen area. She is now having her CT Scan. You go in and ask the staff for a pregnancy test. The test comes out to be positive. As the patient comes back from the CT Scan, you have to tell her about the damage the CT Scan could have caused to her baby. How would you proceed.
An ethical question about a child needing a kidney transplant and her father, who was on death row, wanting to donate his only kidney. What would you do?
A senario about taking over PTs in the ER. One lady had RLQ pain and the interviewer wanted me to tell them I would talk to the PT and let her know what was going on.
Students said most difficult question asked at Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed various topics such as future aspirations, ethical dilemmas, personal weaknesses, and motivations for pursuing medicine. While no specific format was mentioned, some responses hinted at an MMI structure with nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the questions asked, including scenarios involving patient care decisions and ethical challenges.
You have a patient that comes in and is bleeding a lot. She has had a miscarriage, and you tell her she needs a blood transfusion. She refuses because she is a Jehovah's witness. What do you do?
Ethics question about taking over an old doc's rural practice and dealing with his patients making claims about his methods of treatment that may or may not be legitimate
None really, but I stumbled the most on one that asked me to define leadership as well as the one that asked me to give examples of when I saw the doctors I shadowed act as mentors. I just wasn't expecting them, which made them slightly more difficult.
It is more of a conversation. Nothing was remarkably hard, but if I had to choose one it would be why lincoln memorial university, because you want to make sure you emphasize how passionate you are abotu the school.
The NYCOM question came out of nowhere. But I was able to deflect it....I don't want to go back to NY, I haven't lived there in 10 years, no desire to go back unless I have to..."don't send me back to New York Please!!!!!!!" I told him that and he said they will try not to...which was a good sign for me.
Well none of them were too difficult. I guess the question "Why Osteopathy?" was the most difficult because it was the first question I was asked, so it took me a second to get going.
If you had a patient with cancer who had a few months left to live and was suffering with pain would you give morphine even though it lowers respiration rates?
Fast forward 10 years and you are working in a very respected fellowship. A patient needs a new procedure that has a high success rate. But a senior member of the staff tells you that you need to treat the patient with older methods. These have very low success rates. What do you do?
What would you do if you had a patient (specifically a resident from the nursing home that you volunteer at) that was begining you to give him more and more morphine because he was in so much pain.
If I were to say based on your science GPA of 2.87 and your senior science GPA of 2.0 (PUZZLING to me since my sci gpa is >3.0 and I didn't take any science classes my sr year!!) that you couldn't handle the load in medical school, what would you say? Is is ok to correct an interviewer??!
You mentioned studying in groups in your essays please talk more about this... I never mentioned studying in groups before so this question confused me at first.
A female patient complaining of abdominal pain has been subjected to X-Ray tests to rule out appendicitis. Later tests show that this patient is 4 weeks pregnant, how would you handle this situation?
You took the MCAT two times. You had a 6 point jump. Many students would like your score and the six point jump what did you do different the second time around?
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 a closed 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 utilizing Student Doctor Network (SDN) for interview feedback and questions, practicing mock interviews, and reviewing their application materials. Many also researched the school's website and practiced answering common interview questions to ensure they were well-prepared and confident during the interview.
SDN, recording myself doing practice questions, mock virtual interview
I researched the school as much as I could online, I was hoping to hear more about the school on the tour, so I could get a feel for the community and campus and have some questions for the interviewers, but the interviews came first. I also looked here on this thread at previously asked questions, and reviewed my application.
I did some research on the school to find out about current events and characteristics of the school that attracted me to applying there in the first place.
I soul-searched mostly. I made sure I knew my strengths and weaknesses, why DO, etc. More than anything, I boosted my confidence and reminded myself that it was closed file!
SDN, materials from career center, and counselor. School Website. The most stress you will get from the interview is the stress you bring. Otherwise they are very amiable and not out to catch you stumbling. The interview was low stress.
student doctor, practice with my friend who is in medschool who is interviewing medstudents as well, pizza oasis, considerable time discussing with my boss who is interviews applicants for medschool, pray about it
Read the interview feed back on SDN. Re-read my primary and secondary apps. Went to the student/pre-med pizza night. Pizza and beer always calms the nerves.
Read SDN, met at Oasis with med students (Definitely, DEFINITELY do this!!). That was about it, I remembered everything from my app/statements. I honestly didn't prepare much.
SDN Interview Feedback (helped alot), read over my personal statement and secondary essays, and practiced mock questions. Be prepared to answer "Why DO?" (almost all my fellow interviewees were asked this question).
SDN interview feedback, talked to my dad who is a manager of engineering, talked to my new boss who is a manager of Physical Therapy, got advice from friends and family, and read through my essays.
SDN Forums and interview feedback plus reference from peers, classroom material, mentors, advisors etc. Brushed up on current issues in health care and medical ethics and lit.
I read SDN but a majority of what is posted in the DCOM discussion/hype thread is unsubstantiated. There's a lot of exaggeration, which is fine and of course excitement is contagious. However, based on what I was told and documentation sent directly to me from the DCOM Director of Admissions, a majority of what the current students are posting, such as number of apps received and average GPA/MCATs of those invited, is inconsistent at best and is grossly inaccurate.
Read website, AACOM app, secondary app, interview feedback questions, mock interview with PreMed advisor, mock interview with friends, etc. All of which did NOT prepare me for the ''pressure tactics.''
Studentdoctor.net, mock interview with my school's career center, read over AACOMAS application, secondary application, went to the pizza dinner the night before-- sooo much fun! (i met the 7 other students who interviewed the next day- as well as two current students who answered all our questions)
I read feedback from studentdoctor.net, practiced with family, and thought about my attributes and what has made me the person I am today. I also was prepared to answer why I want to be a doctor.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the staff, faculty, and students at the school. They also highlighted the state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technology, and the school's emphasis on student feedback and support. Some applicants also mentioned the comprehensive curriculum and the school's commitment to providing a positive and collaborative learning environment.
Student support resources are well developed and the school seems to take student feedback seriously. The medical students we spoke to were able to name specific examples of them providing feedback and changes being made. Also, the curriculum seems to be well thought out and comprehensive.
Everyone affiliated with the school seemed very welcoming and like a family. We were also able to meet the dean of the medical school, adcom, professors, students, and other faculty and staff.
The interview day was very organized and informative. All faculty and staff were extremely helpful and offered person contact info in case anyone had any questions.
The students were very personable, and we were given a lot of paper material as well as heard from a lot of speakers to get a good idea of what it would be like to attend the school. We also were given a voucher for the museum. We met a lot of professors and current students. The interview environment and interviewers themselves were friendly.
The campus was beautiful, and the tight-knit community was impressive and desirable. The people on campus were extremely friendly, and the swipe access to the anatomy lab was nice.
The campus was gorgeous, the facilities are brand new, the current students were friendly and the staff was amazing. I also went out for coffee after the interview and the people in town were all very friendly.
WOW, I don't even know where to start. Everyone was so friendly! It seemed that the school really wanted to find students that fit within a certain mold, students who would eventually become caring, empathetic doctors. The student body seems like a tight-knit family.
The admissions staff is incredible. They do everything they can to help you in every possible way. Also, it's not really common to receive acceptance via a phone call, especially 72 hours after your interview.
The interviewers were very nice. Take advantage of the pizza night! The students were wonderful and very helpful! The school is nice and new. No dress code or attendance policy which is good.
1. AWESOME facilities/very high-tech 2. amazing faculty/ very friendly students 3. i like the curriculum and way they do testing 4. bob the tourguide is awesome
Almost everything honestly. The newness of it all, the technology, the lack of a cut throat competitive attitude among students, and the fact that the faculty and staff seem to genuinely care about the students
Everything. I can't believe how nice and welcoming the people are at this school. The students go out of their way to come talk to you, wish you well, and offer words of advice. The staff and faculty is over the top. Facilities are warm and inviting for long nights of studying. The mountains are GORGEOUS.
Super friendly, Since the school is new the materials, curriculum, facilities are brand new and the professors have been hand picked from around the country.
The facilities are unbelievable. The faculty seemed to be extremely helpful and personable. The students seemed to really love the school. The students answered any and all questions honestly. The personnel in the admissions office is wonderful! Bob is the perfect person to give the tour! He is so kind and helpful!
The students are VERY positive and love their school. That says something. The technology is great. I like how they try to make things simple for us as students. They also are wonderful people. There is no cut throat atmosphere...how can one be a good doctor in a cut throat atmosphere? I would love to go here. Also, the student faculty relationship seems awesome. Love the simplicity of the school.
Pretty much everything. I really liked how friendly everyone was. I love the location and the fact that they have a decent High School on the LMU campus (yes, I have a kid that's in High School) eek! ;-)
The faculty and staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Bob is an awesome tour guide! The school is enormous and has the newest technological advances around. The pizza at Oasis is a great way to sort of de-stress prior to your interview day. The med-students were very friendly and genuinely seemed to like the school.
How high tech the school is and how clean. Also the faculty and staff appears cohesive and happy there....there's seems to be no gap between administration, basic sciences, and clinical sciences.....Bob is the most gracious hosts I've ever meet.....This school has the best customer service.....no wonder all their students are perfectly happy with them
Being in the mountains was amazing. The Appalachians are absolutely stunning and I can't imagine how they look in warmer weather.
The students and faculty were really excited about the school and it's potential in the future.
Very technologically advanced.
Everything about this school. They may be new, but they have things together. The building is up to date in terms of technology. All of the students are thrilled with the school.
The school founder's vision and implementation of that vision. DCOM pursues excellence in every staff and equipment decision made. Definitely the most technologically advanced school I've seen or heard of yet.
The school is absolutely stellar in its technology, faculty, curriculum, clinical opportunities! This is a school that is truly working for the students and is doing whatever it takes to make it the very best it can be!
The nice new facilities and admission staff were extremely helpful. The pizza night was really cool way of getting to know other applicant and students.
The STUDENTS for sure, the facilities (I had no idea they had the simulators before the tour...), the responsiveness of the faculty, the experience of the faculty, the genuine and sincere attitude of all the people there, etc, etc.
Everyone was very enthusiastic about the school and they are putting a genuine effort into making the school the best it can be. I think LMU-DCOM will easily become one of the top DO schools in a couple of years.
The facilities are really top notch. I think all med schools will be modelled on DCOM in the future. Everyone was very friendly, but still professional. The faculty seem very renowned.
Although it's a new school, the faculty and staff seem fully committed to making the curriculum, clinical rotations, and your overall experience the best it can be.
The campus is gorgeous-breathtaking! The technology is absolutely top-notch-ive never seen any place as advanced technologically. Everyone is EXTREMELY friendly there- especially Paul Carney (director of admissions)
The facilities and location were awesome. The staff and faculty were possibly the most friendly people in the world. Only an hour or so from Knoxville which is a pretty cool place. The technology was top of the line.
The facilities are absolutely amazing. I cant say enough about the quality of everything there. It really blew all of my expectations out of the water. I would love to go there. I also really like the med school dorms that are an old hotel that was renovated and completely furnished. Top notch.
The school was awesome. Everything is very high-tech. The students are all excited to be there (at least the ones I met) and they are all willing to help and give advice.
The beautiful new building and advanced technology. I was really impressed that nobody takes handwritten notes - everyone uses the tablet PC for taking notes. There are plasma TVs in every room and the simulation labs for clinical practice look like a real hospital setting with an OR and check-up rooms.
The school really allows for student feedback in all areas of their education. The OPP/OMM/OTM lab was awesome. There are large flat screens in each room throughout the building. The school is moving mountains to help the students.
Although we couldn't go in the new building, based on the plans, it will be state of the art. The interview was on a holiday and I'm sure most of the faculty and staff wanted to get home with their families, but they never rushed through information and were more than willing to answer questions. Before going to the interview, DCOM wasn't one of my top choices, but now it's one of my favorites!
The technology of the new building is going to be amazing. The all star faculty hired. The ORGANIZATION of the school, especially for being a new program. The enthusiasm of the school by the community.
The school will probably be one of the best in a few years. Great resources and the most update facility. Also I love the south and the mountains were a plus.
The faculty and staff were so enthusiastic and welcoming. They really made the day relaxed and comfortable. Also, for a brand new school, the staff and faculty are ORGANIZED!
I was very, very impressed with how the faculty and staff have seemingly thought of every detail as they build this school. I can't stress enough how impressive the organization and enthusiasm of everyone involved with the school really is...and even permeates to the community (the enthusiasm about the school).
The enthusiam and knowledge of the faculty/administration who I met with. They seem genuinly excited about DCOM and the applicants they will chose to fill the first year class.
The campus is beautiful, but most of all everyone that works there is so into the school, and so excited about it. It really impresses me when the faculty and staff love it so much. Low cost of living in a gorgeous area.
How nice and enthusiastic everybody was, including the faculty. While LMU may be in a rural area, it is actually very beautiful. I loved the architecture of the buildings within the university which was a brick, southern type of style. I loved all the outdoor activities that the area offers and the fact that there is no crime (the police force is all of 1 person). I was impressed by how tech the school will be and how much technology that the faculty/university is incorporating into it.
Although the building is under construction, the presenation given showed that it would be state of the art with a lot of modern technology. They also realized that they had to plan for accomodations for their students (as the town is small), and are buiding medical student housing (one-two bedroom apartments). If you wish you can stay there.
The plans for the new facility were first class. The faculty were enthusiastic and passionate about the school. The med school has great financial backing and they are committed to a hi-tech program.
They have thought of everything including adding a lot of new housing for incoming students. Also, Jody went through everyones file with them to make sure they were complete.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the school's rural and remote location, limited amenities and job opportunities in the area, small anatomy lab, lack of study spaces, and the perception of unapproachable faculty or interviewers. Suggestions included providing more structured interviews, enhancing student housing options, improving rotation sites, and offering more information about the school's developments and outcomes.
When they were talking about research, I asked a question and was responded to very rudely. I was the only person who asked a question in that category, and I believe it was due to the response I got.
The med students have to share space with other schools (nursing and PA), so we couldn't see all the facilities because they were in use. The school was much more expensive than I initially thought it would be based on the cursory info online.
The interviewers focused on questions which, even after the interview when there's no stress or pressure, I can't figure out if there was a right or wrong answer. I feel like the interview did not provide the admissions committee as accurate of a picture of me as I hoped they would have gotten; I feel like the interview did not really focus on my potential as a future physician or student. And for the questions about me, and not about my opinions, I wish there would have been at least some structure and less vagueness. I felt I was unable to discuss all the good things about me, and felt like the conversation tended to focus on my weaknesses (but perhaps this is their strategy- seeing how you react to stress and how you handle unideal situations!) Lastly, with regards to the actual campus, the SIM lab was small and didn't seem updated.
Seem to have poorly established rotation sites but they've steadily been improving on this (learned this from current students and physicians who've graduated from here)
The only thing (and it might be a dealbreaker for some like it was for me) is the location. It's physically beautiful, but culturally, there's not really much going on.
Housing, especially for married couples. There just aren't a lot of places to live, and certainly aren't a lot of places to eat. The pro is that there are no distractions; the bad news is as a medical student, you sometimes need distractions.
The anatomy lab was a little small compared to some of the other schools I applied to, but with the construction of the new building, the lab is supposed to be much bigger.
The area is very rural. Despite what they say about it being a "good place to study" or whatever, its in the middle of nowhere and that would make it hard for me to visit my family.
Of course adjusting to not having everything at my fingertips would be rough, but the lack of distraction might help. Also, study areas are somewhat limited.
Nothing. But, I could see how the location could be an issue for some. For me though, the location is great as I would rather live in a small town or rural area than a large city.
The fact that the very first question I was asked during my interview was if I went to the Oasis pizza party or not. Just seemed inappropriate since we were told several times that the party had no bearing on whether or not we get in.
Honestly, not much. I'd visited the school 2x before interviewing so I knew and loved a lot about the school. The lunch in the undergrad cafeteria was kind of bad, ha.
The remoteness of the location is advantageous for a busy student without much tolerance for distraction. When the time comes around to take a break, unless you like the outdoors a lot, there is just not much to do. At the same time, this remoteness does promote a very tight (close) student body.
location, and although the facilities were nice/new, they were very limited (for me). Everything is housed in one, medium-sized building. Also, I think there were only 4 (can't remember the exact number) cadavers for the entire class!
How it seemed like working so hard in undergraduate work outside of school (job, and volunteer work) was a downfall. I'm just motivated to achieve what I was not able to previously.
Anatomy lab was VERY small (eight tanks for the entire class). Plastic models were utilized for study and students mentioned that it was advantageous to have fewer cadavers for testing. The students would rotate through the 8 or so tanks somehow.
Location. I was prepared, so it was not a surprise.
Sort of felt like one of my interviewers was launching a personal attack with some questions, but as he walked me back, he told me he'd tried to see how I responded to pressure, and that I'd done well.
Nothing! Some people were complaining about the area, but I grew up in a small, southern city, so it wasn't that shocking to me. Everything you could possibly need is 1 hour away in Knoxville with regards to shopping, entertainment, etc.
Nothing really negatively impressed me. My only concern is that its a new school without an alumni network, and that the rotations haven't really been tested out yet.
Not necessarily a part of the interview but the email sent out said there would be a meeting a pizza place the night before with some current students. I went to this but no current students showed up.
The biggest thing was the small amount of housing available for the med school students, but more apartment buildings are being built that should be done by next August.
Nothing, I expected the area to be much more middle-of-nowhere-like. Although the area isn't exactly a bustling metropolis, there was a good amount of shopping, restaurants, and a movie theater. Dry county though.
The location was a huge negative. The admissions staff also created a false low stress environment. The stress was actually pretty high. They tricked you into thinking they were laid back, but they were actually fairly picky.
The staff seemed to pick ''favorites'' of the interviewees during the lunch at the cafeteria, which I thought was inappropriate and discouraging probably to the other applicants.
Very small town. Grade school and I believe highschool on same campus. Not to happy eatting lunch with 11 yr olds. Dry county due to ultra religous area.
Just that I would not be able to do the National Health Service Corps scholarship through LMU since they are still on provisional accreditation with AOA COCA
Not much. At first the area did, but then it kind of grows on you. There's tons of outdoor stuff to do and there's a national state park right next to you. It's good for me because I like nature. And there's LOTS of nature around you. Oh, the bad part was that the location is so far from the airport.
The plan for Gross Anat. is for 7-9 students per cadavor, with 2 doing the cutting and them showing the others. The 2 people rotate for each session but..
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would be relaxed, with little stress and a focus on getting to know the individual rather than academic qualifications. Many also desired more information on the interview schedule, campus facilities, and the surrounding area to better prepare their questions and expectations.
How many people they were interviewing that day. There was around 50 different candidates on the zoom meeting that all got split into breakout interviews
Everyone said how easy the interview was but I actually thought it was somewhat difficult. I didn't think I did well at all, although I did get accepted.
I wish I had known the schedule, like knowing that the interview was first thing in the morning. I also wish I had studied the school more beforehand, because without seeing the campus I was unable to ask my questions to the interviewers.
That there was a good chance that my interview would be really short (and that there would be two interviewers at the same time). At the time, I thought the fact that my interview was so short was a bad thing, but it turned out not to be.
How much I would hate the location. Also there are plenty of hotels/motels/bed and breakfasts to stay in besides the Holiday Inn. The discount for the HI is $65 a night but you have to call in advance bc they don't have too many rooms available at that price.
I was accepted and am attending this school over another very old, well established DO school.... wasnt expecting to like the school but was blown away when I visited!
Harrogate is rural... there is only 1 hotel and a few restaurants and a rundown mall. Not exactly a happening place, but I guess you don't have to worry about distractions when you're studying.
I had a lot of contact with DCOM students and faculty prior to the interview. Many of the students are opened to questions and I would suggest looking them up. I felt very well prepared.
The hotel I stayed at had a really bad smell for some reason. I even noticed the smell on my interview clothes after I left the hotel. Hopefully I'm the only one that could smell it on my clothes. Anyway, the hotel was ok, but the smell would be enough for me not to recommend it.
We did not have time to ask questions after the interview. You need to ask your questions before the interview.
Last questions was: We are running out of time, so Is there anything else you want us to know?
Not to be so nervous. It was my first interview and I was super nervous. Just try to be calm and be yourself. I was fortunate to be accepted and I am glad that my nerves didnt blow it for me.
That the town I was staying in was pronounced "Tazwell" even though it's spelled "Tazewell". Apparently that was the giveaway that I was from out of town.
That it's not going to be too cold so I didn't had to carry too much luggage....that the speed limit is between 25-55 miles per hour in a very clear road.
I did not know that anatomy was taught via prosection / dissection combination and not just dissection. I don't know the impact of this method, but I wasn't prepared to ask better questions about it.
To account for the interview day running long. Had to catch a flight in Louisville at 6:30 and only made it on time by driving 90mph x 3 hrs. I DID save a bunch of money by flying in there instead of TYS in Knoxville, but perhaps should've flown home TYS.
that the school is actually very diverse youngest student is about 22 oldest is 49. Contrary to other things written on this web site there are people of ''color'' at this school
I had read this on SDN and it's true: Verizon Wireless does not work in Middlesboro, KY, where my hotel was (Holiday Inn Express). However, it does work on the TN side.
How low-key it would be and the fact that they see the interview as a way to get to know you personally. Once they've extended you an interview you've already passed all the statistical requirements and they know academically you could suceed, now its all about personality... so be yourself and dont worry- itll go great!
The location is shocking. Prepare to be floored. Mountains surround you on all sides. It is like a trip back in time and you feel secluded from modernity and reality.
Everything you could possibly want to know about the school or the area, they tell you. Everyone is so polite and nice, even the townspeople not associated with the school.
That they have purchased the former Ramada hotel and are renovating it into brand new 1 and 2 room apartments for the medical students ($500 & $850/month respectively with everything included... sorry no pets)
That there would be a clinic built on campus in the near future as well as a new fitness center. Not sure I care about knowing it ahead of time, but it was awesome to learn while I was there. I also couldn't have imagined how much I would love the setting of the school. I love that area, but even my imagination had not done it justice.
Wish I had known others' plans for travel, as car-pooling from airport would have been ideal. Also, there were several other interviews being conducted that day (13 total). The company was good, but if you're not expecting that, could be a little intimidating.
The school is more than 1.5 hours from the Knoxville airport which kinda sucks. They really want you to stay in that area throughout school and into your career.
It's not an easy trip to the school. The directions they give are good, but plan on a good 1.5 hour drive from Knoxville. There's A LOT of fog--it was a little scary driving into town with almost no visibility.
If you flew into the next closest airport, other than Knoxville, tickets would have been about a hundred dollars cheaper, so check on that. Also, look in the forums to see who else is interviewing with you that day. Ya'll could split the rental car. I wish I had done that because we had 3 of us pretty much just following each other to and from the airport and the school. Could have saved money there and also had some company for the drive.
I wished I would have believed more the other interview feedback on this school then I could have relaxed more before hand. Everything that everyone says about the staff at this school being so nice is so true!
I wish I knew that it was two interviewers in the same room to one applicant. But it was okay b/c although they had some set questions, they made it conversational.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at LMU to be relaxed, conversational, and pleasant, with enthusiastic faculty and staff. The rural setting was noted, with some applicants expressing concerns about the location, while others appreciated the focus on community and individualized attention. Many applicants highlighted the welcoming atmosphere, the emphasis on teaching, and the high-tech facilities as positive aspects of the school.
Very relaxed and laid back interview! It was over zoom and began at 8:30am EST. There were several 10 minute presentation but various faculty regarding the curriculum, student life, financial aid, clinical rotation sites, etc. The interview was a one-on-one session with one faculty member. When it came time for interviews, each participant was put in a break out room. Those not yet interviewing stayed in the main room where two current students, one from each campus, held a Q&A session. After the interview, you were free to exit the zoom but you could stay for more Q&A if you wanted.
It's a good interview day (really long though). The students all seem really happy and the administration is very involed. I still have doubts about certain things (like their schools and rotation sites) but they were willing to discuss all of that.
This campus is definitely unique; it's a small-community-feel, but actually one of the largest classes offered for medical school. The area is extremely rural, and they focus a lot on that area of medicine. At the end of the day, I feel like my interview did not reflect me well as a potential medical student/professional, but the campus was nice. Lastly, something I thought was a little different was that at LMU-DCOM, you do not receive your white coat until your second year.
It was a fun interview day. Very low key, no need to stress. I would even argue there's no need to prepare, as long as you know why you're there (which you should obviously). My advice is don't be stressed, don't worry about preparation and actually go out and enjoy the surrounding area and campus day before your interview. I barely prepared and feel that I crushed the interview. Good luck!
Dont be intimidated by the rural setting! If you've lived in metropolitan areas your whole life, look at it is a way to learn about a new population and lifestyle. Also Knoxville isn't far if you do find yourself craving the city life.
Admissions staff is great. The new building that's under construction looks really nice. If there was better housing, I would rank this school much higher.
The school is wonderful and the people there all seemed very nice. Make sure you ask lots of questions! Drive around the area, especially Middlesboro since you will have to go there for most of your shopping.
The faculty and staff were amazing. The students were awesome and fun to hang around. They try to help you out as much as they can. The campus is very small but very pretty.
It was a wonderful, informative, laid-back day - definitely nothing to stress out about. If you're able to talk to other people about yourself, you should do fine.
The interviews are laid back, and if you made it to interview stage they liked your application for some reason. So just take it easy, remember why you want to go to their school and show them that. Don't put added stress on yourself!
Super laid back interview style. The interviews are in the morning so you don't stress over them all day. Get through them and relax while you tour the campus.
The interview was really relaxed and stress free. Bob (the tour guide) was just great. He not only gave us a wonderful tour but was a pleasure to talk with. I had the pleasure of being able to speak with him after all of the other applicants were dropped off, and he is just a wonderfully nice and helpful person.
I am a nontrad and would much prefer to live in a small town; so I just loved the area and will go to DCOM if accepted. However, I could see the location being an issue for some students, as there really is not much around the school.
But, if you don't feel the lack of city life will bother you then I would highly recommend at least visiting the school.
On a side note--the interviews are actually only 30 minutes. Mine just ran a tad long.
After a week I got the call from Dr. Stowers that I got accepted, and this is where I am going. I am very excited.
if you get an interview, go because there are a lot of info you do not find it on their website or SDN (international rotation sites, future hospital building, own laptop, how faculty works together with students, many faculty include previous deans in other schools (eX:rocky vista), school has a lot of money,due to lot of money great opportunities for students,open to your ideas if you want to do something they help you do it, Kaplan course before the Boards,mission trips, REM, and many more).
It might be rural, but cheap to live here,great view, and no traffic.
Great experience.
I believe this school has a great future, and it easily could be among the most popular schools in a couple of years.
Bob the tour guide lived up to his SDN reputation. He says he's only been in the area since 2003 or so but he knew everything about the area, and every student we encountered, he knew by name. Thanks for the Pinnacle tour, Bob - I know you'll read this eventually.
School and facutly are really friendly. Agenda: Welcome session around 9am. Then Financial Aid session around 915am. Then Basic sciences curriculum overview. the clinical curriculum overview. Then Interviews started around 10:00am. Building tour around 11:30am. Then Lunch and Tour of campus.
It was a great day. They had two interviewers per interview and each panel interviewed three people. After the interview, we were all discussing it and we pretty much all had different questions. Some were asked only about stuff from their file others of us were only asked personality type questions. Either way, we all were made to feel very comfortable and it was a great day.
I really like DCOM and feel like I will fit right in. The faculty and current students are welcoming, and happy to answer questions. If you are yourself, you should have an easy time of the interview, and be accepted quickly.
Gosh, I had an amazing time at DCOM. I'm absolutely in love. Go in, be yourself and don't worry about impressing anyone. They want to turn you from a bunch of numbers and letters on paper into a real person. Do that. :)
I really like this school's mission, faculty, and facilities. I really hope I get in. My advice for anyone about to interview is to be honest and upfront about what you want. The interviewers will guide the interview to uncover your desires anyway, so you might as well tell them first. Guess I should comment here that in general interviews are scheduled for 30 minutes, but that I interviewed for about 60 minutes due to the cancellation of another applicant. I hope I didn't talk their ears off too much.
A great school, but the location is not for everybody. The curriculum is a great balance of integrated and subject-based. The facilities are the best I could imagine for a clinically-focused school. Everybody I met was very excited to be there and very happy with their choice of schools.
After seeing and experiencing DCOM at my interview, this school has become my top choice! The location is about as rural as it comes, but the mountainous setting, top notch facility and extremely enthusiastic and dedicated faculty and students have sold me on this school. Also, you should go to Oasis for pizza with the students the night before your interview. It was very relaxed, very helpful and Dr. Stowers (Dean of the medical school) stopped by to say hello, which was very cool!
Ranked the BEST amongst all the other schools. LMU spared no expense to get great faculty from other Medical Schools as well as making sure that their students are well taken care of.
DCOM was my first interview and I was really impressed at the time, because of the excellent facilities. After seeing other schools, I really feel like it will be a good school in the future, but they have a lot of growing to do.
I was pretty nervous for the interview because it was my first one, but all of the staff and faculty are really friendly, and for the most part the interview itself is pretty low-stress.
Overall great. Liked the med school, the people, and the opportunities they are lining up. Good lunch, too! I liked it that they gave us a tour of the on-campus housing also instead of just talking about it. The tablets they provide are great (I have friends at other schools that use them). I really hope I get accepted. I can see myself doing well there.
Overall, it was very laid back and welcoming. My interviewers were very nice and I could tell that they just wanted to get to know me, not grill me about my GPA, MCAT or EC's. The school is amazing . . . everything is brand new and state of the art.
i honestly did not feel that it was a ''relaxed'' interview. the one interviewer started the interview out negatively by implying that i was involved in ''too many'' extracurriculars during college. it did not feel like a conversation as my other interviews have felt; it seemed as though i was speaking to a brick wall. they gave no facial or verbal feedback and rarely asked any follow-up questions. obviously, this made the interview even more stressful. also, know i am not alone. i talked with 2 of the other interviewees that day as we toured the campus and they told me they also had a negative interview experience.
It really was an enjoyable day. You have nothing to be nervous about at all. Everyone is very friendly. I stayed at the holiday inn express, and the school sent a shuttle to pick up all the intervewees staying there, they also dropped us back off after the interview. The day starts out with an admissions presentation, then you learn about the cirriculum, rotations and financial aid. You then go in for your interview, have a building and grounds tour, eat lunch and go home. It was very laid back.
The interviewers/students kept saying how laid back the interview was and for the most part it was but I got tripped up some of the questions. I think it was mostly my nerves though. This was my first interview.
It was my first interview ever, so I was EXTREMELY nervous before. But I recommend going to the pizza dinner the night before (RSVP just to make sure students will show up), and then dont be afraid to ask questions. The campus was absolutely breathtaking, Bob the shuttle driver is the nicest guy, everyone else is really friendly. I was impressed with everything- the anatomy labs, OPP labs,their willingness to help with financial aid etc... I really hope I am accepted because if so, I will probably go there! Best of luck to y'all!
I was very pleased with the school. If accepted I will probably cancel my other interviews. I love the technology and the fact that you get a laptop which you do everything on. My only complaint is the pizza thing.
I had a rough time getting down to the campus. The story is rediculously long and detailed so I won't get into that. After arriving at the campus all of negativity melted away. The interviewers were great and tried their best to make you feel comfortable. The interview is conversational and not a grilling. I thought the 2 on 1 interview style would be stressful, but it wasn't. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.
Laid back, just like everyone says. I really cant say enough how impressed I was by the faculty and the facilities. Just relax and be yourself and you should be fine.
The trip started out with some of the DCOM students meeting at a pizza place near the school. It was an informal, non-required part, but it was very helpful. If they're still doing that when you interview, you should definitely take part. Afterward I went back to the room to prepare. I was extremely nervous the day of the interview (it was my first and it is my top school choice), but like everyone has said all along, there was really no reason to be nervous. My interviewers were awesome. They really just wanted to get to know me better. The questions were straightforward and lead to a great conversation. Just relax, be yourself, and answer the questions honestly.
Overall, it was a relaxing experience. My interviewers were really nice and informative. Definitely ask them questions and show interest in the computer notetaking system! One of my interviewers showed me the website he was making for his class and explained what the notes available online would be like.
Overall the interview was great. I was impressed with the school, except for the anatomy lab. They are really doing their best to put out top of the line doctors. The school has top of the line everything. Debusk put a lot of money into his school to make it happen.
The day began with a number of presentations from different faculty members. After about an hour, interviews began, with two panels for 7 interviewees, so two people went at a time. We had a campus tour which included the apts. that are being renovated from a building that used to be a hotel, and skipped lunch because it was a holiday. Overall, a fairly stress-free day! The interviewers definitely wanted to put us at ease and make the experience as comforatble as possible.
Everyone was very polite from the first hello to saying goodbye. The staff is fantastic and the facility is going to be top notch. I was extremely excited about the school.
The interviewers created a false sense of security. They make you think it is laid back, but actually they are really picky. Be on guard for the interview. Be ready. I do not want to scare you because it is low key, but when it comes to judging you, they are like Simon Cowell on a bad day.
Out of all of my interviews this was the most impressive and amazingly its a brand new program. Overall, the experience was nothing but great. The admissions staff were all helpful, enthusiastic, organized, and supportive. I really liked all of the faculty I met that day. Definately a school to look into for future applicants.
Arrived early morning and listing to the same type of presentations most medicals go through ie. financial aid, years 1-4, rotations, and talking up school. They grabbed us one by one to go and interview with two interviewers. My interviewers were very negative, well actually only one was because the other one sat there and gave little to the interview. I felt like they already made a judgment before I even got there in which case they could have sent me a letter and save me money and time. After all this we were taking to eat lunch in the cafeteria which is also used by the grade schoolers since the area is so small they include the grade school on LMU campus. Then they took us on a tour of the campus and then up to a point in the mountains that overlooked the school and town. It was very beautiful.
My interview experience was amazing. This school is my first choice and was before I even came up here to interview. I have heard NOTHING but great things about this school and it was absolutely EVERYTHING I could possibly want out of a medical school! I would be thrilled to be accepted here and be a part of the first graduating class!
I arrived later in the night before the interview, I woke up and was really tired but the beautiful scenic view made me fresh. The interview was very enjoyable. The questions weren't very difficult. After this experience, I may choose this school over others.
Our interview day was shortened because it was the Friday before Christmas and the undergrads were already on break (thus, no lunch). For that reason, the day was pretty short and sweet. I was impressed that Dr. Stowers spent so much time with us, and I loved the fact that the faculty came in and chatted with us during ''waiting'' times. This was a truly unique experience that I loved as we got to further discuss the school with them and what their vision is for the school. The interview itself was very relaxed and conversational. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
They put all the interviewee's in the same room. Then, they gave us information about the school, curriculum, and showed us the layout of the school. They took us in individually for the interviews. It was very relaxed. The cadre talked with us casually while we were waiting for everyone to finish. We went on a tour of the campus (in a van) and then to the top of a mountain. Came back and said goodbye!
Informative talks from various faculty and staff, then interviews (30 mins each) Lots of opportunity to chat with folks, ask questions, and see campus and community. Very informative day.
After I drove into Harrogate I found my hotel in KY. Everyone smokes everywhere, which is amoung many culture shocks there are to experience. The new school building is the largest building and one of the only large buildings in the area which makes it easy to find. The staff was nice and informative and very exited about their new school. The interviews are a bit informal and it was a bit difficult to grasp what they wanted to know from you. I think that because there have been so many applicants because there is no secondary application fee the admissions staff is being very picky at this point. Eating lunch with the admission staff was nice. The area would be a huge culture shock to move to if you are not from that area. For that reason I am not putting this school high on my list.
It was a pleasant day. Everyone is very enthusiastic about the school. It appears that this will be an excellent school to be part of--though it is VERY rural (the school and Dollar General store are the downtown) and not that easy to reach. If it wasn't so hard to get to, I'd definitely put it towards the top of my list.
The overall experience was wonderful. My ratings are lower than the average, but this is simply because I do not believe in absolute perfection. Funny, because I strive for it. :) The local area of Harrogate is immensely beautiful. The building needs work. The faculty is very friendly. Jody, Dr. Stowers, Mr. Carney, and Dr. Kiick each had a genuine interest in making us feel extremely welcome.
The interview itself was too brief, but the interaction with the staff throughout the day was nice. Everyone seemed to be genuinely excited about the program.
Like I said, everyone there is soooo enthusiastic. The faculty are some of the best around and they actually seem very excited to pass on their knowledge to the their first class. The new school will have all the newest and latest technology. I would recommend everyone to check this place out.
I was impressed by how professional and friendly the admissions staff was. The faculty really want the students to be happy and do well in thier classes. It was a great experience
I was a little apprehensive about the school given its newness and its rural setting, but the school just blew me away! Everyone was super nice, including the fellow interviewees. I was impressed by the faculty & their work experience, how excited they are about the school. The area has everything you could need (but not everything you might want). However Knoxville is a big city about an hour away that's got everything (big mall, Target, Starbucks, major restaurants). The history of the area is really interesting as well, and the city of Cumberland Gap is quite a throwback to another time. Lots of hiking trails, outdoor activities in the nat'l park which is great. The interview was really relaxed, they were really friendly and were glad to answer my questions about residency, accredidation, etc. Ad long as you prepare for the questions you see listed here, you'll do OK!
Beautiful setup of the school, great professors, and very friendly staff, very rural area, but 4 miles up the road is a Mall and Walmart. What else could you ask for?
First was a presentation about the school by various faculty. Then a financial aid presentation, interviews, lunch, and a little tour around town. Everyone is so welcoming.
We all had arrived by 8:45am and sat in a conference room. We heard from Dr. Leo and some other faculty about how the school was going to look, the curriculum, ect. The interviews were very laid back, I would even call them fun. It was basically like a quick chat about your life. Then we had lunch in the cafeteria, which was good. Then a quick tour around the Cumberland area. Then filled out a survey and that was it. We didn't get the financial aid presentation but that's alright. I am sure if we end up going to school there that they will be plenty helpful with any student aid questions we have.
First thing I noticed when I stepped out of the airport was how clean the air is! The drive from the airport to the school was longer than I expected it to be but luckly I got a triptix from AAA so I had no problems. I truly enjoyed the area which is so beautiful especially since when I went, the trees were turning. The interview itself went great. The other students and I had a great time and we all talked to each other throughout the day as if we had known each other for years. The faculty and admissions staff were so enthusiastic about the area and the school. The medical school itself is going to be amazing with its use of extensive technology. The faculty made a point to mention that they were trying to add any and all technology possible. Once complete, it will be one of the most state of the art facilities in the country. Once the interviews were complete the students and the faculty went to the cafeteria to eat lunch together which was great because it allowed you to get to know each other better. Overall, I loved the charm of the area and I know that it will become an excellent school.
We arrived before 9am. Everybody interviewing was introduced to a few faculty who went over the school's info, i.e. accreditation, the new building, curriculum, 3rd and 4th year rotations. After this we were called in one by one to interview with two faculty. The interview was held in a more conversational way which made it very comfortable! The day ended with a tour around campus, lunch at the cafe, and a tour around the Cumberland Gap area.
It was two Admission committee members checking stuff off on their clipboards, with an occasional hum and oh. One of the interviewers gave me a blank stare the entire time.
The day started at about 8:45AM in the LMU library. We were given a presentation by the assistan dean of admissions and then the dean talked to us. He seemed like a great guy. Following that we were given a presentation on the preclical curriculum. I liked that it was system's based as it helps teach the curriculum more effectively. They will also have patient actors and simulators to help teach the students to interact with patients. After that we were given a presentation on the 3rd and 4th year. They said most of the hospitals were within a 60 mile radius. In your fourth year you also have an option to go to other sites during your electives. After that the interviews started. We waited in the room and interacted with the other applicants until they called us for our interview. The interview was 30 minutes and it was 2 interviewers to one applicant. They had their set questions, but my interviewers made it conversational too. I got 2 ethical questions/ scenarios as well. They said that they were also going to take notes which was okay. Overall, my interviewers were very friendly and awesome. At around 12:00 we took a tour of the lmu campus and town in a van and then ate lunch. Then we did a survey of our experience at the interview. The day ended around 2PM
Very positive experience. The did a wonderful job of making sure everyone felt welcome. They went over the plans for the new building, it will be huge and has all the latest technology. Faculty interviewers were extremely nice and had obviously put effort into reading the files and preparing for the interview.
The environment was very relaxed with the administrative staff and potential students. The building isn't built yet but the plans look amazing. The questions were also somewhat expected since they didn't try to trick you.
It was wonderful. The staff really made us feel at ease about the accreditation process...no worries. It will hands-down be the highest-tech school in the country upon completion. The area is beautiful and quiet. It is perfect.
The school was fantastic and I was very impressed overall with the school and what they hope to accomplish. However I had a Horrific time getting from the airport to the hotel 150 buck cab ride....and then I had to beg for a ride to the interview... super duper stressfull... DONT RENT AVIS .......and call ahead and confirm everything twice and get names.........
This school rea;;y emphasizes OMM in the curriculum, which is a big plus. They are truly an osteopathic school that stands behind their philosphy. The interview was relaxed and I walked away feeling great!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally praised the admissions office for being responsive, friendly, and providing timely updates. Suggestions included offering more information about the program during online interviews, providing healthier meal options, and giving more details about the interview day schedule.
Turn around time on admissions decisions were super helpful, however giving out the LMU tumblers at the interviews is a little disheartening if the applicant doesn't receive an acceptance. Also, it would have been nice and helpful to have the interviews after the tours.
Keep doing what you're doing to keep the process as less stressful as possible! So far so good, one constructive thing I would have to say is I wish you would give more information about the interview day aside from just that one email. Other than that, it's perfect.
They were fantastic. They will work with you the best they can. They are very down-to-earth and understanding...certainly an anomaly in the medical school world.
