Ask questions about this school. Answers use aggregated data and are subject to error.
👋Hi there! How can I help?
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 20% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 542 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 reasons for pursuing medicine, examples of leadership and teamwork, definitions of professionalism and success, future career aspirations, and personal experiences related to healthcare or ethics. Respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement during the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, where questions varied from ethical dilemmas to personal reflections on accomplishments and motivations for a medical career.
What would you do if you were in a situation where you accidentally committed yourself to being at two places at once? How would you handle it/ what would go into your thinking process?
blind interview - describe yourself and what you've been doing since your kast interview. ask them questions of what they want to hear, it helps a lot. also, prepare for this question before hand.
Why did you start as a History Major? Why did you transfer? Who has influenced you in your decision to pursue medicine? Do they have a lot of religious instruction at your school?
Students said most interesting question asked at Louisiana State University New Orleans School of Medicine discussed various topics such as misconceptions about themselves, patient care scenarios, personal motivations, career aspirations, leadership experiences, and reflections on their application. While the questions ranged in diversity, there were mentions of a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and potential nondisclosure agreements, indicating a structured and confidential interview process.
What is a misconception that people have about you?
Tell me a quality that you think a leader should possess. (he was really cool about it, and told me to make sure I picked one that I could relate to myself so that he would have some good material for presenting me to the committee)
Based on what you learned from your own medical experience (as a long-term patient, post-surgery) what would you do differently from what your own physicians did in terms of care after you were discharged?
Students said most difficult question asked at Louisiana State University New Orleans School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including professionalism, reasons for choosing medicine over other healthcare careers, personal weaknesses, defining success, and dealing with conflicts. While some mentioned specific ethical questions and experiences, others highlighted standard interview questions such as leadership examples and career motivations, with a few instances of challenging questions related to past academic performance and personal growth.
None really...I felt pretty well prepared for the questions they threw at me. Be prepared to ask them a question at the end. The interviewers seemed eager and excited to answer my questions.
Give examples of Leadership (except after I gave a good example, the interviewer said, ''What else'' and after I gave a 2nd example the interviewer said, ''Anything else'' - so basically have multiple examples prepared.)
No difficult questions. They did not give me hard time at all, but this was not everyone's experience. Some people looked like they had been put through the ringer.
I was asked about a paper I wrote my sophomore year of college that was in a confidential recommendation. I didnt know that my professor even included that.
Why medicine? I prepared an answer for this, but when time came I kinda fumbled my words a bit. I would suggest practicing the answer to this question out loud.
right after the question "what accomplishment are you most proud of", i was asked "what thing/event in your life are you least proud of?"
Summarize in 2 or 3 sentences what I should present to the entire committee on your behalf. This was difficult for me because I have trained myself to elaborate on what I think are my assets, credentials, etc. It can be surprisingly difficult to succinctly characterize oneself as a candidate who is better qualified than the other (very qualified) applicants in the office. In giving my response I was told twice "Too long!" So, be prepared. Even if you're not asked, it's a good exercise.
Two:
Based on what you know about what it takes to be a good physician, what do you still need to work on?
What will you do for a career if med-school just isn't going to happen for you, ever?
What was your greatest accomplishment? Also was asked to "Give me examples that show me that you understand communication between doctors and patients"
In my one closed file interview I was asked to describe myself starting with Kindergarten. The interviewer also asked my how I would handle being married and being in medical school.
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 3 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for their medical school interviews by reviewing their application materials, practicing common interview questions, conducting mock interviews, and utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) feedback. They also focused on being conversational, preparing STAR format responses, and staying informed about current healthcare issues to feel more confident and relaxed during the interview process.
Read the website, reviewed my primary and secondary application
I read SDN and prepped a ton of possible answers. I tried to weave the most common themes I noticed here (handling stress, strengths/ weakness, why doc, why LSU, leadership, professionalism, teamwork) into my answers themselves since these are all obviously priorities that the admissions committee wants to learn about you so if you offer it to them without them asking, it's even better. This helped the interview be more conversational and less like "ok and for my next question, why do you want to be a doctor?" and more flowly like expanding on your previous responses/ passions.
A game changer that made me so much more confident was reading about STAR interviewing and preparing 5-10 examples/ stories that might come up in that format (situation, task, action, result) for a range of questions like "name a time you failed/ had a disagreement/ worked in a team / were a leader/ worked with someone different from yourself" etc. Having the stories prepared and organized in my head was soooo nice because I wasn't panicking to think of an example of something and then realizing halfway through my response that the story I picked sucked.
ALOT of soul-searching, SDN, looked up commonly asked Med School Interview Questions, read up on current issues in Healthcare, made an outline of important things to bring up during the interview, read the school's catalogue, spoke with med students, mock interview the night before
I reviewed my aamcas, secondary, and stage 2 questionaire. Don't bother trying to read every copy of newsweek, because they do not ask you the ''cureent events'' type questions.
I've been on several other interviews (with one acceptance), so I went based on previous experience. I also reviewed my AMCAS and secondary application.
Read SDN, read over the website, talked to current students there and to friends who already interviewed, read over application, prepared a portfolio, prepared some questions to ask them
went over the questions on this website and talked to my parents and friends about possible answers. i avoided anything that could possibly stress me out the night before and the day of the interview. i relaxed and went out to dinner.
SDN, lots of Google searches for lists of generic medical school interview questions, advice. I re-read my personal statement and made certain that I knew important dates and the chronology of work and volunteer positions. I wrote out answers to all questions I thought likely to be asked. My best preparation came from writing out and practicing the details of my biography, which is essentially what the blind interview consists of. Be able to summarize yourself in 15-20 minutes, highlighting education, important events throughout your life, development of goals and how you were able to achieve them (or not.) List one or two of your major accomplishments, one or two of your shortcomings and how you were able to recover from them, how you were ablew to turn a negative into a positive. I found it important to know what I wanted to say in outline form only. The interviewer doesn't want a canned or overly rehearsed answer...make your answers and your stories seem conversant. This is especially good advice, I think, at LSU-NO, where the interviews are more informal and conversation-like.
Read this site (found it very helpful); talked to first, second, and fourth year students that i know at the school about their interview experiences and overall experiences at the school so far; self-reflection; read the newspaper; review AMCAS! (I got tripped up remembering my MCAT scores)
considered how to approach standard interview questions, reviewed my research, looked over my AMCAS application, thought about questions to ask the interviewer about LSU
I read over my application and talked to friends who had interviewed there in previous years. I also got my wife to ask me difficult interview questions, but I was asked none of those during my interviews.
a lot of introspection, talking with friends who also applied and interviewed for medical school (and some who didn't), and i read the interview feedback on this website.
I looked at SDN,AMCAS application, LSU website, thought of all the possible questions an interviewer could ask and prepared the topics that I would discuss if asked those questions. I think that this is a smart move because I was asked every single question that I prepared for. Make sure that you go over your AMCAS application thoroughly because they can ask the tiniest details.
Reviewed my application, drove to the school to scout out where I would need to be beforehand, read the school catalog, reviewed possible interview questions from various sources
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the genuine interest and friendliness of the interviewers, faculty, and students at LSU. The state-of-the-art facilities, emphasis on community and camaraderie, and unique features like simulation labs and patient dummies left a lasting positive impression on applicants. Suggestions included continuing to highlight these strengths and maintaining the welcoming and supportive atmosphere that sets LSU apart.
Each interviewer seemed genuinely interested in me
I connected so well with my first interviewer! He was so nice and genuinely loved LSU. He raved about the closed-knit community and that he works with many of his peers from med school, which is something you don't get at other schools where people tend to disperse after med school. He even said Dean McLaren interviewed him for med school 20 years ago and now he is interviewing new students, so overall very cool. Also, the students before our interviews were very kind and helped put us at ease.
The interviewers were so kind and I genuinely enjoyed our conversations. I also appreciate the dean going over FAFSA and housing info in the beginning of the interview day
Just about everything. LSU's facilities are nearly brand new and top notch. All the students seemed very happy and satisfied with their choice to attend LSU. The extensive tour was the best I had at any medical school, and gave me a very good insight to the day to day life at the school. I interviewed with 5 other people and the intimate nature of the interview was a nice change from the large groups I was a part of at other schools. New Orleans is a unique city that is a wonderful place to live. Brand new teaching hospital on the horizon.
The students were positive about the school and seemed happy to be there; staff and faculty is friendly, and facilities are state of the art. The simulation lab is really nice!
The simulation facility was amazing. The view from the lunch room was fantastic. The people were very inviting and willing to answer questions. It felt like everyone was friends.
The facilities they have are AMAZING! I was thoroughly shell shocked. At first I did not think LSU was going to be in my top choices of schools but after the tour and being there its definitely shot to the top. Also EVERYONE is nice, even the construction workers and janitors. Everyone was genuinely caring and kind. Also gave me a free hat as a souvenier
They were really nice and acted more like they were trying to impress us than the other way around. Dr. Eubanks did a great job of completely explaining the whole interview process and making sure we knew exactly what was going on.
the facilities and the people...The learning center is amazing and people are very friendly and helpful. The campus is very safe, and there are elevated walkways between buildings.
The school as a whole is very good at providing you the educatio to become a great clinician. Research is there just not as enhanced. The simulator is awesome and LSU has the nicest place for med student to study. Great school.
The facility is constantly being updated, and the clinical skills lab for L1 and L2's was great. The tour and lunch with the medical students was not only low-stress but really fun. Dr. Eubanks gave a really informative talk that really reassured any doubts that anyone may have about studying medicine in New Orleans post-Katrina that was very open and honest.
A lot of the facilities are brand new post katrina. The learning center is amazing. Also, 1st and 2nd year students have a clinical skills lab course where they get hands on experience with things such as sterile technique, measuring blood pressure, CPR, intubation, and emergency assessment. Also, the students are very friendly and more than welcome to answer any questions you may have.
Everything! They have a new state-of-the-art OR for the residents and awesome simulators. Med students that gave the tour were excellent and engaging. It was a overall great experience.
The clinical skills lab and the the simulation lab are really great. The students really like the school and it showed. Also, you can get around the entire campus on this walkway, so you don't actually have to go down to the street.
great campus connected by covered walkways, top-notch clinical training, and the new, state-of-the-art Learning Center and Simulation Lab with mannequins that react like real humans
I honestly was not expecting the facilities to be as nice as they were. Due to the hurricane, everything is brand new. The anatomy labs are huge and they have at least 6 LCD big screens in each to assist with teaching. The lecture halls are also very nice.
how well the school has rebounded after the storm. the effusiveness of the students, faculty, staff. the emphasis of the school on WELL-ROUNDED individuals.
Everyone was so nice and friendly, lot of cute girls too.
Dr. Eubanks opened up the meeting with a 20 minute speech on how LSU is coming back stronger than ever and that our clinical experiences will be great, if not better, than before.
They had packets of information for each of us to take home and Dr. Eubanks reassured us that the school was doing well and that it would be back in New Orleans in July.
The morning orientation with Dr. McCluggage and student tour, were very comprehensive and packed with info.
The simulator and clinical skills facilities. The value
The enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and the staff. The Cohn Learning Center, plans for expansion of the learning center, ongoing and planned expansion of many parts of the LSUHSC campus.
The Student Learning Center; The simulation dummies; the students;the curriculum; the area; the facilities; I LOVE THIS SCHOOL; This is my number one choice; One of the interviewers was a fourth year medical student; he was real cool.
Student Learning Center, simulated patients, student tour guides, overall facilities, overall friendliness...lots.
Also, the AC meets Friday (3 days) and we should receive notification by next week. I'm a big fan of not waiting!
LSU is very clinically oriented in terms of their approach to educating their students. It was refreshing as most schools are either research oriented or keep their students in the classroom until late their 3rd or 4th years.
The unique culture at the school. There is a definite sense of camaraderie and pride among faculty and students. LSU knows its students are prepared to compete nation-wide.
Very new facilities, the dummy simulators, top ten med school by a recent med school examination they went through, good ciriuculum, top notch technology
Those "dummies" are amazing, very realistic. The training facilities are labs were very nice; everyone was really friendly and absolutely had water for us. :)
Just about everything. The facilities are top notch. The patient simulators are unrivaled. According to them, the clinical education is pretty much second to none, owing to the association with Charity hospital - med students are part of the health care team, not just learners.
the Student Learning Center, the emphasis on independent study (as opposed to classes extending all afternoon), the great opportunity for clinical exposure, student parking lot directly across street from main building
The curriculum has been totally revitalized and for the better. I was not impressed before I went, but left with a newfound respect and appreciation for the school.
Everyone was very nice and had a good sense of humor--the doctor who briefed us in the morning was wearing a WB cartoon tie. The facilities were very well maintained; but also, there are plans for additions and improvements. The new multi-million dollar student center was very impressive. Also, I have to say hats off to the student who showed us their dorm room for their interior design skills--it was most impressive. :)
the students and the school itself. the dean of admissions offered some pretty impressive statistics early on during the day, and from what i saw on the tour, they all seemed believable. the students that ran the tour were also really well informed, and they seemed happy enough, and that was an added plus.
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the informality of the orientation, lack of attention to their research, uncertainty about funding, the location in a rough neighborhood, outdated facilities like dorms and weight rooms, and a lack of organization in certain aspects of the interview process. Suggestions included improving the orientation structure, providing more information on research opportunities, addressing funding concerns, upgrading facilities, and enhancing the overall tour experience.
My second interviewer was nice, but it was a lot more choppy than the first person (more like her going down a list of questions to ask and less like a convo).
Nothing. Just relax and enjoy the experience. They're looking for applicants to be enthusiastic, honest, and well-rounded. Don't let your nerves get in the way!
Its still under construction. The area looked like the ghetto and the first few floors where scary but then once you got to the admissions floor and also the renovated floors as well as the academic building it was AMAZING! Like going to a corporate office. Also the exercise facility is amazing and FREE! If I did go there though I would have to get used to the heat and humidity which is something I can definitely handle! Oh another thing that they should change is putting all lectures on video. I know that most people worry about people not attending class but actually being able to re-hear the lecture is very helpful. If they changed that LSU would definitely jump to #1 for me.
The "blind" interviewer basically had me tell her everything that was in my file anyway...I didn't really care, but they shouldn't call it a blind interview if that's not really the case. A friend of mine interviewed on the same day and had a student interviewer ask her an inappropriate political question. I heard that Dr. Schwartz asked some odd questions but that he was nice.
One of my interviewers kept calling me by the wrong name, and it appeared to me that she didn't read very much of my file. Also, when I told her I'd already been accepted to another school, she instantly replied, ''Oh, you DON'T want to go there!'' I didn't like the way that she immediately discounted the other schools.
they weren't as warm, welcoming, or friendly as other schools. they didn't try to get to know you by name. the interviewers were great, but the other ''stuff'' (informational sessions and tour) weren't as friendly. we didn't interview with dr. eubanks or dr. mccluggage as were told either. also, (this is dumb, but) the seats were really dusty in the waiting area, where we spent a lot of time; it was really gross to be all dressed up and have to wipe off a seat with your hand (and it turned gray!) before sitting down. also, there was a ton of construction going on (which is good, but), and all you could hear was hammering the whole time (the interviewers weren't pleased with that either).
One of my interviewers was a little too focused on my husband! Right out the gate he asked about him, and his ties to Lousiana, and how moving to LA would affect him. Then he came out and said that I needed to find a school with a lot of diversity, because I would not be happy otherwise because I wouldn't fit in. That kind of threw me off so when I asked about the diversity at LSU NO, he said that I would fit in at LSU NO, but other schools I wouldn't. In his words - you could try to fool yourself and tell yourself that you will be happy, but you won't be happy there because you wouldn't fit it.- That kind of turned me off to the school. Afterwards he said he looked forward to seeing me, and meeting my husband- again, a little too focused on my husband and not enough on me!
The other interviewers rocked, and totally were trying to recruit me, but that one really made me think about if I wanted to come to school here.
Nothing really, Dr. Eubanks did a very good job selling the school, and there are many new rooms and new things. (it seems as though the hurricane in its own way may have made the school better)
Apartments are ugly and the work-out facility is lacking. Although, we toured the new dorms, which look nice, and there is supposed to be a new work-out facility being built.
One of the interviewers had an accent and he kept interrupting me when I was talking to ask questions. The students forgot about their duty to tour and we were eating lunch by ourselves for a few minutes; our tour was rushed because we were waiting for students to come.
Dorms looked miserable, as did "exercise" facilities (although a new center is apparently nearly complete).
The location in the city is bad and I'm not a fan of NO in general (conversely, the opportunity to train at Charity is tough to deny).
The students definately talked about partying way too much; I like to have a good time, but I began to wonder how they were passing class. Also 165 class size (kinda big).
The dorms were not impressive to say there is a one-year wait because the demand is so high. But, they do have plans for new dorms. There was consturction going on in the cafeteria which made is near impossible to hear even the person sitting next to you talking.
Nothing--However, they may want to invest in upgrading the medical school's website both aesthetically and content wise. They have a really great program and it seems a shame not to have a website to match.
There is alot of construction around the area, making it difficult to park and drive around the school. But, that can't be helped and the improvements will be great.
NO bathroom or water breaks unless you specifically asked. I highly advise that you take a bottle of water. Thanks to the other respondant who advised that. My mouth stayed dry even though I took my water bottle and refilled it often.
Applicants commonly wished they had known to relax more, prepare specific examples, and manage their time effectively during the interview day. They also highlighted the low-stress nature of the interviews and the importance of being themselves, wearing comfortable shoes, and not overthinking the process.
Prep lots examples of "times you showed ___ characteristic" since this will cover most of your interview if you do it well. Also, the interview was very strictly 20 minutes per person (a timer counts down and camera turns off, so very strict). 20 mins is a lot faster than you think so don't panic if you feel like you didn't get to everything. Prepare a list of top 5 things you NEED your interviewer to take away from your conversation that you weave into your answers so that you manage your time well and don't leave feeling like they didn't get to know something important about you.
I wished I would have known that their classes are huge. The usual class size is around 180. I would worry about becoming just another number, in a class that size.
Make sure to have reviewed your AMCAS thoroughly. (Particularly, you'll want to know how many post-bacc/grad hours you have/will have completed before matriculation.) But again, don't ''study'' these numbers to the point of making yourself anxious.
the school is looking for people who are capable of coping with adversity and who foster diversity. one of my interviewers was specifically looking for students who will help rebuild new orleans.
I discovered that this interview was so laid back and easy. I was stressing the night before. DON'T STRESS JUST BE YOURSELF AND YOU'LL BE FINE! I promise.
My blind interviewer did not do a good job of helping the conversation along. I had heard about the blind interview where you are asked to begin telling him/her about yourself, but didn't prepare for a one sided conversation, where I wasn't asked follow up questions or for more details.
That Tulane and LSU-NO students both do their third and fourth years in Charity, and that I shouldn't have sent Tulane my 95 dollars. I could've spent that on Bourbon.
I talked to other students first before I went to the interview and they told me that they do not give bathroom or water breaks. NOT TRUE!! Just ask for anything! The people are extremely nice! Don't be alarmed when you arrive because they stick you in a very small room with other students. Just relax and have fun!
First thing when you arrive, you are placed in a small closed room with other interviewees. There are many interviewers present so the process rolls along quickly in the afternoon. In other words, you will have 3 different people interviewing you and the person sitting next to you will have 3 other people interviewing him/her. Also, the process is completely random.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at LSU to be relaxed, conversational, and low-stress, with interviewers focusing on getting to know them as individuals. They appreciated the friendly and welcoming atmosphere, along with the informative orientation and tour provided by the school.
It was a good interview experience; definitely have questions prepared if interviews run short
Takes a while to hear back, but overall most interviewers made me comfortable and the orientation/Q&A segment wasn't full of fluff. They tell you what you want to know and keep it pushing, which I appreciated.
LSU is a fantastic school, and you would receive a great education here. The students, faculty, and administration seem to be a happy bunch, and get along very well. For as large as the LSUHSC campus is, the environment seemed very collegial. New Orleans is a one of a kind place that is a truly great place to train to be a physician.
Overall, I left with a heightened excitement about the school. The anticipation of the day was WAY worse than the actual process. Be confident, dress professionally, be prepared, and just BE YOURSELF!
The whole day was very laid back. Everyone was very nice. After everyone had their first interview done, everyones stress level dropped and we relaxed.
It's really not a big deal. I know everyone else says it and it's hard to believe, but they are really just trying to make sure that you are a normal person who can have regular interactions with people. Everyone was really encouraging about the interviews the whole time, except my blind interviewer who didn't really show emotion until the very end of her interview, but she ended up being really nice also.
Each interview is scheduled for 40 minutes, but usually only lasts about 15-20 minutes. Don't stress out too much, because they are not really out to get you! I was very impressed with the school and would love to go there!
It went very well. I think not being nervous served me well. Ask questions, be yourself. It was pretty laid back and natural. Wear comfortable shoes of course. But this (for most women) does NOT MEAN 3 inch heels. It is OK to wear short heels.
They admissions staff, M.D.s, and Medical students are really nice and try to make the day as relaxed as possible. The orientation was so informative that I actually had no questions at the end. After the orientation the 2nd year medical students took us on a tour of the large facility (wear cozy shoes). The lunch was informal and a nice break. After lunch we saw the trauma center at University Hospital which was recently renovated and interesting. Soon we returned to the admissions office where we sat and waited for the interviews to begin. That was probably when I was the most nervous, but once the interviews started it was easy to settle down and besides waiting between the interviews everything went very quickly and smooth.
Interviewer's were very laid back and friendly. They seemed interested in getting to know you far beyond your grades/MCAT numbers. In fact, grades/MCAT were barely even mentioned at all 3 of my interviews. I had 3 in total: 1 closed file with a 4th year student, and 2 open file with faculty members (1 Ob-Gyn and 1 Emergency Medicine). Waiting outside the office for your name to be called did get kind of stressful but once your 1st interview starts you'll wonder why you were even stressed out to begin with. Great experience which exceeded my expectations on every level.
The morning started with getting to know the other hopeful candidates and then an hour of introduction with Dr. Eubanks. The medical student tour guides shows an eight minute video and then we went to the lecture halls, anatomy labs in which we saw a body, the simulation labs, residence hall, gym, ate lunch, visited University Hospital ER, and then back to the admissions office. We had about ten minutes to rest before having the interviews. All of them were really nice and tried to get to know me and really seemed to care about how I felt.
I interviewed with Dr. Eubanks, Dr. Adatto, Dr. McCluggage (in order). They were incredibly easy to talk to and made me feel very comfortable. I am so impressed with this school and the people who represent it. Each interview was fairly quick (10-20 min) or maybe it just felt that way since our conversations flowed so well. I highly recommend this institution. The post-Katrina facilities and plans are awesome. Overall, I was happy that they did not ask questions about current events and they seemed to be sincerely interested in wanting to learn about me as a person and a possible student.
My three interviews went very quickly. My total interview time was about 50 minutes, and I was the first to leave. However, they actually allot for forty minutes for each of the three interviews. They liked me so they were done with me quickly, and essentially told me that I would have spot. Therefore, do not be upset if your interview are really short, because that might be a good thing.
As far as the school goes, it is a really great school, and the facilities are up and running. If you are concerned about the condition of the school after katrina, do not be. Everything that was at LSU before Katrina, is there now (and then some). Also, contrary to popular myth, LSU does have a fully equipped hospital (University Hospital), eventhough Charity hospital is now defunct (it was rundown before the storm).
two of the interviews were open-file, and one was closed file. the day was a bit long, but overall it was fun and low-stress. faculty and students were nice (and hilarious at times) and really impressed me
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the experience. I've heard nothing but good things about the school and everyone I met at the interview gave me a great impression and seemed to really love being there.
Dr. Eubanks was great. He talked a lot but all the information he presented was necessary and answered most of my questions. Our tour guides were just as helpful. The interviews were not stressful at all. The questions that were asked were ones that we've answered multiple times.
This was a great experience! The school has come back better than ever after hurricane katrina and it is going to continue to move up. the interviewers were super nice and really really easy to talk to. most of the time we talked about the saints and scuba diving. when you interview, keep in mind that they pretty much already know the answers to the questions they are asking (its in your file), they just want to see how you interact with people so don't be shy or nervous and just be yourself.
Very positive. Two interviews were open-file and one was closed-file. Some interviewers took 10 minutes and some took 40. All of them were easy to talk to and I felt like I was just having a conversation. The tour comes before the interviews so it really helps you relax and get to know the school better. Wear comfortable shoes!!!!
Overall I came away very impressed. I was not expecting to come here but now I am seriously considering it. New Orleans is a great place for a medical education.
1. Get there early.
2. Make sure to take the initiative and chat/make jokes with your fellow interviewees. There's NOTHING worse than a stuffy room of quiet, anxoius people. Start conversations, and everybody will feel better.
3. I'd suggest bringing a water (though the secretaries are happy to get you some as well), a pack of gum (for after lunch) and a breath spray (for when gum-chewing isn't advisable).
4. You'll watch a brief video, and then be spoken to by one of the Deans of Admissions. This is a good opportunity to ask questions.
5. Next, 2-3 first or second year students will take you on a fairly lengthy tour of the various facilities. Ask to see University Hospital if there's time. If it is a hot part of the year, undertand that you might get a little sweaty.
6. Lunchtime! Try not to spill on yourself!
7. Now, you'll return to the admissions office and wait for interviewers to pick you. Typically, you'll have 3 interviews (PhD's, MD's, and student interviewers). Two are open-file and one is ''blind''.
8. Shake hands, smile, state your case, thank them for their advocacy, and WRITE DOWN THEIR NAMES. It's advisable to send thank you notes ASAP.
9. And you're done!
It was very laid back. No one was looking to grill you in the interviews, they just seemed to want to get to know you. Everything from the people to the facilities made a good impression with me.
I wasn't too nervous becasue I had been on an interview before but i was surprised just how low key and relaxed it was. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful and wasn't there to make you feel nervous or anything. Also don't be scared of Dr. McCluggage. Ive heard some bad stories about him but he was so nice and cool. I got lucky and had 2 fourth year students who interviewed me so they were super nice and it was very much like a conversation with a friend.
Overall, it was very good. My first interview was with the dean, Dr. McCluggage. I met him the last time I interviewed there, and he remembered me and was very interested in hearing about the improvements I've made in my application. He seemed to take a real interest not only in what I have to offer LSU as a student, but he wanted to make sure that I knew what LSU has to offer me, in terms of a medical education. It was very relaxed and stress-free... if felt like more of a ''chat'' than an interview. So, the meeting with Dr. M. was GREAT! The last two interviewers were average. I think I did well overall, some things threw me off a bit. One was open file, but I don't think the lady really read anything about me. She kept calling me by the wrong name, and seemed to focus only on the fact that I've been out of school for a few years. Also, she would ask me a hypothetical question, and I'd be in the middle of giving an answer, and she'd interrupt me and change the rules or stipulations of the situation. That kind of threw me off. The third interview was closed-file. I got an opportunity to discuss my research and other medical experience. The main thing he focused on was leadership... ''What makes you a leader in your community, school, career field?'' Overall, aside from a couple of difficult questions thrown in there, I had a good experience.
it was terrific! i decided to add my interview experience after viewing all of the negative ratings on this site. i can't be sure, but i'm going to hazard a guess that those who are complaining wouldn't make it or have much of an impact in medicine. life isn't perfect; there will be adversity, and those who will succeed and survive are those who face the adversity with grace and tenacity. you might expect me to say that i hope the complainers won't be in my class, but i hope they are because maybe those of us who look at life as ''half full'' can help those who dwell on the ''half empty.''
it wasn't very friendly and inviting. they made it sound like they are doing great after the storm, but living nearby, i'm not convinced that it will be too great of an experience until a few years later- but im sure it will be a great place to attend med school later!
Overall it was pretty good-with the exception of my rouge interviewer. Everyone was very friendly, the interview group was small- only 5 people including myself. There was a lot of walking and we actually got stuck in an elevator before our interview while we were going on the tour. The students liked it, but they didn't really sell me on how great this school is as much as how other schools did. Overall I am not sure if I would want to go there
Awesome. I thought tulane was good the day before but LSU just blew me away. The financial aid talk at the beginning was very boring but necessary and informative. Dr. Eubanks came in and just talked about the school, the admissions process, and almost anything else. There were really no questions to ask later because he pretty much answered them all. The tour was nice, we got to see the new Wellness center and all the new things that have been built over the last year but the tour guides really didn't know where they were going much, but they were very laid back and easy to talk to. Don't worry about the interviews, my interviewers, at least, were very easy to talk to, and none of the questions were at all difficult. There were 5 of us interviewing and I was done for 3:00 (the paper says 4:30). Dont be scared if interviewing with Dr. Eubanks, very nice guy who just wants to get to know you. (I have heard some horror stories about Mgclugage though) It really was an awesome experience all around and LSU does seem to be back on its feet. Definitely my top choice so far.
Drove to Baton Rouge in the morning to interview. There were 4 of us total. Dr Eubanks spoke for about 15-20 minutes on the status of LSU. Had two one-on-one intervieww, then went home. The whole thing took about an hour. My only comment would be to never judge the actual time you spend interviewing as a measure of how well you did. My first interview was about 15 minutes long and I had a great time, but my second interview with Dr. Eubanks was like 5 minutes. I fumbled over some words b/c I was nervous. He got up to adjust his seat and I thought he was showing me to the door, so I stood up too! Then after an awkward moment of silence, I sat back down. The last part of the interiew he was telling me how great an applicant I was, but it's hard to tell how the committee will vote, and that if I had any plans if I didn't get in. I pretty much thought right there he was telling me to re-apply, but after about two months of waiting - I got my acceptance letter!
The first intervewer was a 4th year medical student. He was very interested in knowing you as a whole person. The second interviewer was a member of the selection committee, and was more directed towards reviewing the application itself and asking questions directly related to it.
Dr. Eubanks talked with us about the future of the school. It is going back to N. O.. THen I was interviewed by a fourth year medical student and a Dr. on the commitee.
I was the first one there so I got to talk to Ms. Yolanda Clay before hand and she was adorable and very positive about the school. McCluggage spoke with us about the school and its future and then we broke up and were interviewed by two other people.
Short introductory meeting, then tour, then lunch, then interviews that afternoon. Student interview with a first year who might have been as nervous as I was, interview with Dr. McCluggage (which should have been intimindating, but he was very down to earth and we hit it off great). Both were open-file. Last interview was closed-file with faculty and went great. Very nice people who just wanted to learn more about me and were not out to trip me up or keep me out of their school. They let me know that it was going well and that I was basically in.
Dr. McClugage spoke briefly as an introduction, financial aid speech, then lunch and tour with 2 students, then 3 interviews. My tour guides were fabulous and made me excited to be there even more than I already was. One of them knew a friend of mine thru class, so it was a nice ice-breaker, and the two of us got a long great! My 2 faculty were very nice and conversational in the interview. They were very curious about me and all I had done. In turn, they expected me to be curious about them and LSU. My closed interviewer was a retired orthopedist, and the interview felt very strained, a lot coming from him. He was very cut and dry, answer the questions. Overall, I was pleased with the interview but I do think I needed to have been more relaxed.
You have information session, financial and administrative in the morning. Followed by lunch and then a tour with two students. They show you alot and it was informative. Return to admissions office and wait as interviewers come get students one by one, you have three consecutive interviews, one blind and two openfile, in no particular order. They want to find out about why medicine, leadership, volunteer, strength and weaknesses. Nothing out of left field.
this was my second time interviewing at LSU-NO, and i felt much more confident this time around. i knew what to expect this time and was much more relaxed. it also helped that i knew someone in my group. not to mention, i had a great time with the people in my group. don't be shy, you'll have a much better time if you open up and talk to everyone. what helped me the most, was trying to summarize myself in 2-5 sentences. i wasn't asked this in my first time interviewing, but i was asked this time. it's a tough question to answer, so it helps if you're prepared. i just tried to relax and be confident in my responses. i felt really good about this interview. i even got a card from one of the doctors that interviewed me wishing me luck.
Excellent, the interviewers were very nice and truly interested in getting to know you and exposing you to the school's program. One of my interviews was open-file, the other was closed-file, and the last was closed-file, but the interviewer said that he knew a little about me. Each interview was between 15-20 minutes.
This was my second time to interview here, so I did feel like the mystery had been removed as far as how difficult or comfortable I expected the interviews to be. I have been on the tour of the Cohn Center many times now, but it still impresses me. The interviews this year went even better than I had hoped they would. I never once felt uncomfortable or intimidated or nervous...a credit to the doctors who conducted my interviews. After the day was finished I thought about my experience and was a little surprised that I actually really enjoyed all three of my interviews. Each doctor was genuinely interested in getting to know me better, wanted to know my opinion on some matters, and was very easy to open up to. It was truly a pleasant experience (really!)
Three interviews; Two open book; One blind; The staff was fun; we got to watch TV; Dr. Eubanks is nice; Lucked out and didn't get Dr. McClougage, he was out of town.
2 open-file, 1 blind interview. As noted with the other experiences, it was extremely comfortable and nonconfrontational. My undergrad grades were horrible and while everyone asked about them, it was not a focus.
I was inevitably nervous but the staff does everything they can to make you comfortable. The interviewers were complimentary and one stated he'd recommend me favorably.
Just go, be honest and be yourself.
Overall, it was good. The people I interviewed with (the other interviewees) were awesome and we ended up spending a good amount of time joking around with each other. It made the process much more relaxed and enjoyable. Additionally, the tour of the facilities is wonderful. Check out the DxR--you'll understand when you get there :).
Comfortable with all the interviewers, one was a fourth year student (blind interview) and the other two were MDs. Asked about family, volunteering, leadership, grades, and MCAT.
Overall it was positive. Dr. McCluggage is tough (everyone including the receptionists will tell you that), but nothing that should throw off someone who is well-prepared and has given a lot of thought to the career choice being made. He wants to see that you know yourself and understand the commitment you are preparing to take on.
It was a nice day from the start, we were given an overview of the day, including the process of admissions. During the interviews, they did not nit pick my application for weaknesses like i had anticipated.
I went into the interview with a very relaxed attitude, and it made the entire experience run smoothly. I had three women interviewers who I got along with really well. I was laughing and joking with everyone. They told me I was doing very well with my interview, so that made it even better. They were all about the positive feedback. This interview could not have gone better, and they certainly made me feel comfortable like it was just another conversation. This is such a low stress experience.
I began the day very anxious and nervous. Dr. Eubanks came and spoke with us and we went on a tour with two of the looniest second years around. I believe one even said he does stand-up comedy around town. Afterwards, we meet with our interviewers when they called us up. When you complete your third interview you are free to go.
The day began very positively; financial aid presentation and orientation were very informative, followed by Dr. Eubanks "Welcome to the School; We are awesome" speech. Lunch with the third year students was great; they were extremely concerned that we were comfortable (the ham sandwiches were quite delicious). They showed us everything, including the covered walkways (very convient) and the skills lab and learning center. They emphasized teamwork among the students: the note taking service, sharing old notes, and study groups. Whatever you may have heard, it is NOT a competitive environment; it's actually very cooperative.
I interviewed with Dr. McCluggage, Dr. Eubanks, and a physiologist. They were all very, very positive and encouraging; I was only nervous with McCluggage, as that was my first interview of the day. They all asked "Why Medicine?" and "Where do you see yourself in ten years?"
LSU put on a heck of a show. Everyone - students, professors, secretaries, janitors - was friendly. The interviewers seemed genuinely interested in getting to know the applicants beyond what they knew from the AMCAS. The morning was spent on a tour of the campus, then the afternoon was for interviews. It was very relaxed and informal. The admissions staff even provided diet cokes for us while waiting between interviews. Two interviews - one with a prof. and one with a 4th year student - were open-file and they had clearly read the file. The third interview was completely blind. The interviewer was a prof. who had only a blank sheet. He even had to ask my name.
The interviews were very easy and comfortable. They were just conversational, and the interviewers seemed like they were very interested in getting to know me.
I really enjoyed my experience @ LSU-NO. I think it would be a fabulous place to train, not only because of the new curriculum and rare opportunity to use patient simulators, etc., but also the school is very welcoming to its medical students. I think I'd be very happy there.
My experience went well. The entire day was as enjoyable as an interview can be I suppose. There were three interviews: two open file and one blind. The interviewers were really easy to talk to I believe. It was my first interview and I believe it went well.
I had two good interviews and one that I thought completely flopped. Dr. Eubanks was great, he gave me alot of positive feedback. Dr. Baier asked me some really tough questions, and I think that I really stammered through a few of them. I do not expect to get into this school, due mainly to that interview. Most of the other questions were pretty standard fare, stuff like "Why to you want to be a doctor?" and "Tell me about yourself."
Over all, LSU New Orleans has a wonderful program. Many of the questions in the interview were geared toward how would one would handle the lifestyle of a being a medical student and a doctor. In addition, the hospitals that LSU New Orleans uses are both charity with 98-99% of patients seen being indigent. Thus, one can see that LSU New Orleans' interests truly lie in the students and patients--which is more than I can say for other medical schools and hospitals whose interests I sometimes question.
overall, i would have to say that the experience was a good one. the people that i met were all really friendly and stressed that we had already stood out enough to receive an interview; all that remained was getting to know us. the interviewers seemed just as interested in letting me get to know them, which i thought was a nice change from some of my other interviews. none of the interviewers appeared tough, but mccluggage (the dean of admissions) was tough, according to some of the other applicants, but i didn't think he was that bad. the interview moved lsu from the middle of my list to the top, and i will be there this fall.
My interview experience was very pleasant. I was extremely nervous because it was my first interview but the admissions officers were so friendly and helpful. It was relaxed and very informal. They just want to get tot know you on a morepersonal level. Be confident when you walk in and be yourself.
They had water available. They were aware that students were upset about the water situation but they explained that there was a cooler right there and no one asked for it. They made it very clear that we were to help ourselves.
A great experience. I was more nervous than I should have been. All three interviews were different. The first was blind, the second was open and was a 4th year med student, the last was open but the interviewer had obviously not read my file beforehand.
Two interviews were open-file, and one was close-file. One of my interviewers who was supposed to be open-file, though, had not read my file and spent most of the interview asking me to defend some of the choices I had made, which I wasn't prepared for.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest making the application process more tech-savvy and organized, with specific feedback on improving communication, directions, and interview experiences. They also recommend providing more updates on application status, ensuring clear instructions, and potentially reducing the length of interview days.
make the application tech savy and more organized. It's the 21st century and we are emailing pics of our SS card?
Post directional signs up around the area. Due to the construction, it was fairly difficult to localize the actual office from the garage. Otherwise, do not change a thing!
