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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 31% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 646 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 personal attributes not on the application, preparedness for medical school, interest in specific specialties, contributions to the institution, alignment with the school's mission, and experiences related to medicine or healthcare. Additionally, respondents mentioned questions about stress management, academic background, reasons for pursuing medicine, and familiarity with the school's mission, with some interviews conducted in an MMI format possibly involving a nondisclosure agreement.
What should I tell the ADCOM about you that isn't anywhere else in your application?
What three words would your friends use to describe you. How would you descirbe yourself? Would you use those same descriptions? If not, which ones would you use?
The questions were very canned...one interviewed went down the list, and literally filled in the answers as I spoke...at some points I even slowed down so it could record my response accurately.
Students said most interesting question asked at Meharry Medical College School of Medicine discussed various topics ranging from personal attributes like leadership qualities and future aspirations, to ethical dilemmas such as working with individuals you don't like and patient care scenarios. While some responses indicated a mix of standard interview questions, a subset of respondents mentioned being asked about their understanding of Meharry's history or mission, suggesting a blend of traditional and school-specific inquiries.
Nothing was really out of the ordinary - they just assked the normal stuff. About research, volunteering, shadowing, other hobbies. The interview was more just a conversation - they weren't grilling me with questions and stuff.
''Let me give you a theoretical question. You have a patient with an ileostomy who has been educated on how to care for it and sent home....'' (I have medical background so it wasn't like this came out of nowhere)
Are you married? Followed by, 'Will you be married before you get here?' and 'Do you plan to have children?'(Wasn't very happy about this set of questions but apparently everyone who interviewed with this person - male and female, got that set of questions)
If you could hear what your patients were saying about you in your waiting room, what do you think you will hear them say? (Basically, what kind of doctor are you planning to be for your patients.)
An only child has leukemia and the best possible match for a donor is a sibling. The parent's tell you they have decided to try to have another child. What is your reaction and how would you advise them?
If Meharry were a zoo and we were only accepting rare animals, and you really wanted to be a part of our zoo, what type of animal would you be and why?
What do you want to be when you grow up? This was asked by a Ph.D., and she was offended if you said doctor because she is a doctor too, luckly I said phsycian.
What would you say to a patient that refused your care? What if they were HIV+? What do you think about a school admitting students that do not chose to carry on the school's mission later in their career? How can we be confident in you that you will carry on Meharry's mission?
Students said most difficult question asked at Meharry Medical College School of Medicine discussed the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, with varied scenarios involving ethics, personal attributes, and healthcare challenges. Respondents also mentioned being asked about their preparation for medical school, academic challenges, healthcare reform, and personal experiences, with some facing questions related to nondisclosure agreements or unexpected current events discussions.
Is there anything else I would like to say? Found this specific question difficult because I had just answered about ten questions in detail and really didn't have anything else to say so I just came up with something and reiterated what had been stated.
How have we gotten to this point in our country that we so badly need health care reform? What has been the doctor's role in our downward spiraling health care situation?
Is there anything else you want me as your interviewer to know about you that is not represented in your AMCAS application? (asked about three times in succession!!)
There weren't any really hard questions. The usual, why pick you out of all others, how would your friend's describe you, why be a doctor, why meharry?
What do you think about ____ (insert current events here)? I was caught off guard about the event because it had nothing do with medicine and health care at all, however, I think it was a good way to get to know who I am outside of academia.
What was the most difficult challenge I have faced, and how did it deal with it? It wasn't difficult, but it was a little hard for me to eloquently answer the question.
Following the question of what I could bring to the student body one interviewer asked what the Meharry student body would bring to me that other student bodies wouldn't. This was something I was just caught off gaurd by but wasn't too difficult.
If you had a subordinate, and you two disagreed on things, and you know you are 100% right, how would you handle the situation? (and he kept asking details of my answer and switching the scenario around--That's what made it hard!)
What are some things in your live that you wish you could change and how would you change them knowing what you know now? (Kind of hard for me, because most of the things that I would want to change were very personal issues)
What do you think the best way is to follow the school mission and prepare people to be motivated to pass thier classes. (the interviewer had just compared the 11 average of Vanderbilt's MCAT to Meharry's 8 average due to allowing underprivileged students in, and he based he arguement on the fact that he had students fail cause they didn't not put forth the effort also shown by their poor MCAT scores)
Based on my grades and MCAT scores, if the Admissions Committee doubted my ability to handle medical school, what would I say to convince them otherwise?
Who was the Noble Laureate winner last year and in what area? (this was the last question asked and it made me feel like that was going to be his last impression)
Can you tell me about the Krebs cycle? What is the helminth (worm) found in Nigeria that travels down to your leg? Tell me about malaria? (I was asked this because of my Master's coursework)
The third interview came in and the first thing she said was, "Tell me about yourself." Be very prepared for that. Also, don't go on a huge discourse, try to stay focused, coherent!
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 average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had 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?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by engaging in mock interviews, reviewing their AMCAS and secondary applications, studying the school's mission and history, and utilizing resources such as SDN and interview books. They also focused on practicing their responses, understanding healthcare issues, and ensuring they were familiar with the school's website and mission statement.
By reviewing & answering questions from SDN's Interview Feedback, reading SDN articles on interviewing, talking with current Meharry students, recent interviewees, and other medical students about their interview process, also reviewing my application.
I read the school's mission. I reviewed obvious questions (why medicine, why be a doctor, why meharry). Other than that, I practiced my weakest area...how I spoke. I am soft spoken and knew it would count against me if I didn't sound confident in what I was saying. I didn't bother memorizing answers because there was no telling what I would be asked aside from the obvious questions. I did read over my personal statement to be sure I did not deviate from what was mentioned in the personal statement. Also, I checked over my AMCAS application and thought of responses for anything that could be viewed in a negative light. I read my secondary application for Meharry.
Read about the school on website, read past reviews of interviews on SDN, read books about medical school interviews and prepped with questions that I thought would be asked.
I read feedback on SDN, went over the mission statement of the school on website, and I'm an employee, so I just focused on what I already knew about the school
MSAR, Interview Feedback, "Interviewing for Dummies," Friends helped me PRACTICE! And I took a book totally unrelated to any of this for relaxation.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere at the school, with many describing a strong sense of community and a family-like environment among students, faculty, and staff. The dedication to serving underserved populations, the supportive and nurturing environment, the emphasis on research opportunities, and the high level of enthusiasm from interviewers and students were also highlighted as positive aspects. Suggestions included further promoting diversity, enhancing resources, and maintaining the supportive and close-knit community feel.
The interviewers were very nice and personable. They remembered my hobbies and facts that I shared earlier.
Almost everything!! Loved how much of a family atmosphere the school had. Seems like a really close-knit community. Loved how dedicated they are to serving the underserved. The library is also pretty beautiful! Wouldn't mind spending daysss there in the future. Board pass rate is also very impressive!! Around 95% I think. Lunch with the students was pretty informative and amazing as well.
-supportive and nurturing environment
-Meharry just received a huge grant from the NIH
-trying to get more students involved in research both on campus and off
-partnership with Vanderbilt
-efficient and welcoming communication with admissions office (very impressive for an HBCU-I know horrible stereotype but so true)
One of the faculty gave a quite riveting history of the school, complete with "virtual" tour (it snowed so we didn't go outside. Instead he told us about all the buildings and their locations as if we had been walking out there.).
The friendliness of everyone on campus. From the students to the professors to the locals, there is a very friendly and helpful aura at the school. Also, you can tell that the students and workers are genuinely happy at the school, and that gives you a really positive vibe. Finally, I learned a lot of really interesting history about the school from the tour guide.
Family-oriented environment, very close knit, a lot of work with the community and the sense that the faculty and staff actually care about YOU as an individual.
The friendliness of the staff. The students were very informative. They answered all of our questions for an hour and were very helpful in giving the reasons why they chose Meharry over other schools. There were 6 students (2 M1s, 3 M2s, 1 M3) so there were many different perspectives to take in.
The strong support-system at Meharry. Less competitive and more concerned about the success of ALL students. Also the emphasis on research on health disparities.
clincal exposure in the 1st year, focus on community, research centers, religous roots, warm family atmosphere, pathology museum (you have to go over to the medical college by yourself after the interview to see this),
I was impressed by how well MeHarry students perform on the USMLE. I also appreciate their mentoring program and effort to help their students stay in medical school.
The aura I received was that of a family oriented environment. Also the schools strives to reach out to the underserved populations throughout the Tennessee area
Nashville is a great city... lots of things to do there. Meharry is right in downtown too so its very close to everything. The school is older, but the facilities are nice.. it has two hospitals right on campus so you dont have to drive to a clinical. The faculty is very nice, and the students seem very tight knit.
They were definitely a family friendly environment. It is nice to be around so many of my black people that are motivated like I am. The Womens Health Studies section is incredible.
the students were serious and maintained a well balanced lifestyle. the faculty were aware of student needs and showed me practical ways in which the school provides
support for students.
There were 3 interviews and one was open-file, the other was closed-file, and in the other the interviewer knew only my bio, essay and volunteering experience. I thought this was a good method because it eliminates biases.
I like the family atmosphere, and the students we met were really nice and open to our questions. The staff was nice and I could see that they really went the extra mile to help their students succeed. I liked the alliance that Meharry has with Vanderbilt. I feel like that fosters some diversity. Meharry has a BIG SISTER/BIG BROTHER program for freshman where they are paired up with current med students.
The attitudes of everyone we met and overall atmosphere. Everyone was so enthusiastic and helpful - from the admissions director to interviewers. The students were really friendly and you could tell had a great camaradarie.
The students on campus were so nice and caring. When they saw me dressed up, they came up to me and gave me tips for the interviews and then wished me good luck.
The friendliness of the students, faculty, and staff really makes one feel at home. The first and second year students embraced us and allowed us to sit in on their classes, and gave a Q&A sessio.
The cohesiveness of the student body and the faculty. I was also a big fan of how open and friendly the students were. They were more than willing to answer questions and talk about their experiences. The faculty seemed more like concerned parents than professors.
They were very friendly! I never felt uncomfortable, students and faculty cared about getting to know you as an applicant. The students seemed very happy with their choice, and willing to share about their experiences.
The students and how happy they were about the institution. They seemed very cohesive and happy with their school. The weather was really nice that day so that added to the ambience as well.
The students and faculty are genuinely nice. People took time out of their day just to stop and talk to you and tell you about the school. It's a very welcoming and open atmosphere.
we had lunch with the second year students who seemed so genuinely happy to be there that i wanted to join them because ultimately it is important to be at a school you love. and the boys were beautiful
Everyone is guenuinely friendly...from staff to students. The hospital truly serves the underserved. The students were relaxed, happy, and passionate about being at Meharry.
The environment was very very friendly. Students, staff, hospital employees, a UPS delivery man, just about everyone that saw me in the suit wished me good luck. It is very much a reality that Meharry is a family like environment. Also, I like the fact that you begin shadowing a physician and interacting with patients your first year. The new alliance with Vanderbilt University also opens up a host of new opportunities for Meharry Medical Students.
Enthusiasm of students for school, Meharry's overall committment to serving their communities, and also, the fact that Meharry has both a 4-year and 5-year MD program. They are really willing to go the extra mile and take risks for students. IThis is very impressive, and really conveys to me that Meharry is devoted to helping is students succeed. I really love this school!!!
The warmth and genuine care of the students and faculty. The mission of the school to serve the community and socio-economiclly disadvantaged peoples. WI-FI!
the best part of the day was actually talking with my interviewers...they were so welcoming and laid back and in both there were not a lot of structured questions, just a conversation...and at financial aide this was the first institution that gave scholarship (not loans) to economically disadvantaged individuals based on your parents income
The friendliness of the students and faculty, and how dedicated they are to primary care. We did meet with some second year students to ask them some questions.
Everyone is SO nice. From what I read on interview feedback I expected the school to be in shambles...but it was fine -not all high tech, but definately sufficient. I like the family feel.
The genuine care and concern for students by administration. The fact that the students were very helpful and honest. That they really do give back to the surrounding community. There are several hospitals close by and that they have an alliance with Vanderbilt's medical school. That those interviewing with me were from very impressive schools.
The interview was pretty relaxed. The interviewers were nice and conversational. I liked the new organ based learning system that incorporates more small groups and problem based learning.
How nice the people are at Meharry and in Nashville. These guys stop to say hi to interviewees. They make you feel at home.
Their lecture rooms are quite high-tech, with power-point presentations e.t.c Everyone has a laptop to take notes quicker.
I was very impressed by the friendliness of EVERYONE at the school. It seemed like a very non-threatening environment to study medicine in. Also, the students seemed to have lives outside of school, which is extremely important to me. Also, the campus is small which is a good thing in my opinion.
facilities are very nice unlike some others have stated. Library has alot of study room and new comps w/ high speed internet. School, Hospital and dorms are all within walking distance and hardly any traffic where the school is located :)
The Meharry "family"...The atmosphere is very nurturing. Once you're in they will do anything in their power to keep you and see you succeed. I think meharry being a HBC is definitely an advantage.
The fact that they really hold to their mission of serving the underserved. Everyone was really friendly; the interviewers were made to feel like we were family, as is the entire school one big family.
Everybody was so nice. It was so easy to pick up a conversation as students stop to say hello and talk to you about their experience. Even faculty members stopped by to greet you and wish you luck!
I was really impressed with the make up of the school. The class this year is very diverse. People are from really good undergrad schools like Emory, stanford, upenn cornell, columbia, UCLA, UC Berkley. You can tell by the class questions that poeple are on top of things. There are several Phd students, lots of poeple with masters
The students were really attentive. They really engaged in their classes.
I also really like the Meharry-Vanderbilt alliance. It seems to be really moving the school to a higher level.
The family like environment. Everyone helped each other out and seemed very concerned for their peers. You have the freedom to do whatever you'd like..for ex: start an organization or some major event for the med students.
The administration was really friendly and there was a strong family atmosphere. The students were really friendly and were willing to talk about anything.
The students were very helpful and seem to be pleased with their experiences thus far. The campus seemed to be very nice and quiet, although they did have a block party in the afternoon. In all, it seemed like a close-knit family atmosphere.
The students were really so friendly and geniunely wanted to know about me. The professors that I saw when I was just walking around actually introduced themselves and welcomed me. Such an encouraging environment.
All of the students seemed really happy. There is a good academic support system. And the teachers seem to really be involved with the students. Also, there were is a huge focus on helping the underserved, which is really cool. Even Nashville was a lot nicer than I expected. I overall liked the community feeling of the school.
How close-knit and friendly _all_ the students/faculty/everyone I met was. Students were willing to talk to us and be helpful, even though it was during their finals. The fellow interviewees were really cool also, and all of us pretty much spent the day in a small group.
The Meharry Towers are very nice. 20% of the students have advanced degrees and the class is very diverse.The students were very friendly and supportive of one another.
Applicants commonly expressed negative feedback regarding the disorganization of the interview day, lack of campus tours or insufficient tours, outdated facilities, unengaging or unwelcoming interactions with current students, minimal information provided about the school's curriculum or match list, and concerns about the school's financial resources and academic performance. Suggestions included improving organization, enhancing campus tours, updating facilities, fostering more positive student interactions, providing more detailed information about academic aspects, and addressing concerns about financial stability and academic outcomes.
I was questioned about my grades for nearly 10-15 minutes
I just wish I was able to see more of the inside of the campus buildings, like the cafeteria, etc. The lack of institutional aid and the average student debt is also pretttyyy scary. The longer class days may not be for me as well....
-lack of campus tour (due to weather)
-no extensive discussion of curriculum (both basic sciences and clinical)
-match list results from previous years?
We were told that they only had our essays but not numbers, but I was close enough to the papers the interviewer had to see that it was the AMCAS and nothing was blocked out.
One interviewer thought he was all that and let me know it by the looks he gave me. Finanical Aid lady was unprofessional, we didn't get to look at lecture halls.
The school year is a little longer than most schools. Their facilities are also a little older but with that said, the currents students did discuss the new president's efforts to gain financing that will go towards rejuvinating the schools appearance and providing the current technological upgrades that incoming students will benefit from.
the admissions team didnt really sell the school to me. ive been to interviews where the adcom is reall good about putting up the positives about the school, but meharry didnt really seem to care.
The student interview session! They were extremely standoffish, and not very welcoming at all. They did answer questions pretty well, but never smiled, never made eye contact, and seemed to have some weird clique and hazing-type rituals going on...yuck.
The demeanor of the medical school students during the panel interview. Many of the students were not welcoming at all. Otherwise, I had a very positive experience.
The whole day was a little disorganized. There was no tour, we were told just to find the location of our interview, and then hang out until lunch... This can be good if you are outgoing... but if you arent you might have alot of time on your hands alone.
Disorganized. Two or more of the interviewers called in sick, and the director of admissions had to fill in and I know one doctor who had no idea what was coming was nabbed to do interviews as he was going down the hall. This concerned me. I thought it might affect the evaluations.
The medical student lunch was not well organized. It would have been better if the medical students broke up into small groups to interacted more with persepecitve students.
1) Fall semseter starts in June. 2) Class attendance is mandatory. 3) Tutoring is mandatory. 4) Classes last all day (8am-5pm). 5) Overall staff seems too ''maternalistic'' and doesn't seem to put trust in students' academic ability 6) It was surprising that the school claims to be focused on the underserved communities, but there is a lack of public health research.
Not much.. I had heard the facilities were a bit old, which was true but also once inside the buildings were nice - I think they have been doing a lot of remodeling.
We has too much free time during the day. I had two whole hours to kill. Thank goodness I'm a go-getter. I ventured out to the hospital on campus and found a med school student to talk to. They should have organized the day better in order to keep our interest. Also, I'm not too sure if I would feel comfortable living in the South...again. It's really a different world down there.
Two things: the tour, and the some of the students I met at lunch. The tour guide was the sweetest man, but we didn't get to walk through the affiliated hospital or go inside any of the buildings. We literally took a brief walk around the block. The students at lunch weren't very receptive and gave really short, uninformative answers to interviewees. I didn't take them as representatives of the rest of the school, because I've met several great students there before.
Getting directions to the school. Its on 21st avenue. I went to check out the school the day before my interview. 21ST Av gets cut in half so that part of it heads towards downtown while the other goes to the medical school. I drove around in circles for more than an hour in the rain trying to find the school.
The the campus is a tad run down. No spectacular modern structure on the medical campus. The main hospital is about ten stories high and is a state supported institution. It is by no means old, but it isn't brand new.
The college has been around over 130 years and does not receive state funding. Therefore, the buildings are somewhat run down. Mainly just the classroom building. The clinical building was rather nice as well as the library.
Very unorganized! The greeter told us to take itneraries and pass around, but actually, they had names on the top. So, we all were running around meeting the wrong interviewers!
During the lunch with students we were encouraged to ask questions, but were evaluated. There were 5 students, and about 12 of us interviewing. We were eating lunch, and asking questions, but they were writing things down about us at the same time. I prefer a situation where students are there to answer your questions, not to impact your admission.
Facilities are super old and the staff just seemed sort of unorganized. Second interviewer started off by asking me what my MCAT scores were. I didn't mind, but just seemed kinda out of place, it being closed file and all.
We had to find our way to each interview with minimal instructions from the admissions staff. Basically, we were given a map and told to find our way. Some students were unlucky to have back to back interviews in different buildings. Not only is this confusing, but it is stressful when you arrive at an interview a late because you couldn't find your way. Also, the campus tour was cancelled due to rain. The tour guide didn't even attempt to modify the tour...so no tour!
Well, the facilities could use improvement. Additionally, classes typically begin at 8 a.m.. When other interviewees and I visited some of the early classes, literally most students were either asleep or checking their email on laptops. And finally, the lunch given to interviewees isn't very good. However, these are all very minor points, and they don't affect my overall positive impression of Meharry.
meharry is not a school that "woos" you....the students did not go out of their way to talk to you, you were given a schedule and a map and from then, you were on your own to find your interview location/financial aide/ housing...so you pretty much showed meharry to yourself...the lunch was straight out of grade school (a homemade sandwhich, chips, apple and cookie)....the only time a felt welcomed during the entire day was by my interviewers
The down time was absolutely ridiculous. I don't think that I should have to give myself a tour of the campus. There needed to be more structure to the day.
The sophmores were out for the day and the freshman had tests, so I did get to ask them many questions. The campus is pretty small and we did not get to see the hospital facilities they had. We got a rough tour to know everything is at. They are working on having access to Vanderbilt's gym and the library.
I would have liked to have been given a tour of the facilities. Also, there was too much free time where there was nothing for me to do or see. I also would have liked a student host.
The freshmen and sophomore years ALL classes are taught in one dreary room. The thought of staying in the same room 8-3 is a bit daunting. The school was slighty run down but nothing too bad truthfully, I was pleased that the facilities were not extravagent it seemed that tuition was going not to buildings and fancy things but into education and really fulfilling the mission statement.
Not necessarily negative but quite intimidating was the fact that I was interview by a legend at the school, a man for who was head of the admissions committee for 27 years and whom a building on the campus is named for.
Too much down time during the day. My interviewer was almost an hour late. Another interviewer was complaining about the students' poor performance in Physiology. Also, the low first-time pass rate on Step 1 (~76%), but now all Meharry students take Kaplan during the summer b/f the boards.
The low % of USMLE Step I pass rates for the past year (they are working on that though; they hired Kaplan to come and prepare their students at no charge, which I think is amazing)
Like most poeple will say, the tour is somewhat abbreviated. We didn't get to see much of the facility's interior. We walked around outside and she sort of pointed to buildings. I still couldn't tell you where the library or computer lab is.
One interviewer suggesting that I was rambling, when in fact, she was late for my interview and kept cutting my responses short because she was short for time.
Nothing really made a negative impression...other than my interviewer reading the questions from a typed page of questions and writing every word that I said...a little annoying, but nothing negative
The lunch was tiny.
At the beginning, they tried to act that the lunch with the students was going to be informal, then they turned it in to an interview. The school does not have a lot of financial resources and the facilities look sort of worn down.
It is not that ethnically diverse mostly african americans. Does not receive support and funding from the state which it should because it is providing doctors that will most likely serve underserved areas and minorities. They are really bitter about that!
The school is a fairly old one and it was sort of showing its age. The hospital was also a bit run down as well. The most negative aspects for me was the fact the interviews were spead all over the campus with little to no direction other than a very brief walk of the campus to help you find them. There was no financial aid presentation.
That the campus is confusing. I actually was lost for my third interview, and no one, including people that worked in the hospital, could tell me where internal medicine was. And the people I talked to in Admissions were not helpful to a lost interviewee. But Dr. Mosley and his wife were the exception, they made sure we knew where to go, and had their cell number.
Campus and facilities were small, particularly the library. and there didn't seem to be too many computers around. However, Meharry students do have access to the med school library at Vanderbilt not to far away. Campus housing is tough to get but it's cheap, as is off-campus housing--you still will need a car to get around.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the specific interview format, multiple interviews back-to-back, relaxed atmosphere, and the importance of preparing questions for interviewers. They also mentioned the need to be familiar with Meharry's mission, to wear comfortable attire, and to be aware of the school's unique history and curriculum structure.
the research questions/ current events in medicine through me off
Really laid-back day. When you interview this late (2/12/10), you are only really consisdered for the wait-list becuase the class is full...but of course, you still have a chance of getting in.
Dress for the weather. You will be standing outside for awhile during the tour, so bring gloves or a coat if it's cold and dress comfortably. I know a lot of the girls wished they wore flats. Also, you will be sitting in a room with other applicants bc the interviews are in different shifts, so bring a snack/bottle of water bc you'll get hungry. Finally, try to have a handful of questions to ask the interviewer. One girl's interviewer kept asking her if she had any more questions after she had already asked 7!
I wish I wouldn've kept my cool more. I wish I wouldn't have been so annoyed with one interviewer. He was so jerky and I might have let it show for a second or two. Tried to recover quickly when he laughed out loud at me and sneared at a few of the questions I had for him.
The campus tour was very informative, but didn't really entail much (i.e., we didn't even have time to actually walk through the building that classes are held in). You have to make your own time/arrangements for a more in depth tour, or to sit in on a class, etc.
Ann Epps Center, where intv is held, isn't readily apparent/visible. Just ask someone walking around and save yourself time and frustration (especially, if you take a taxi that day).
That we would eat lunch with about 12 med students, all in their white coats. It was intimidating at first, but then they made us fell at ease. They nicely answered any questions we had about Meharry and their experience there.
Faculty interviews were back-to-back. Literally got up from one and walked across the hall to the other and started over. Lunch was very laid back, and we were done exactly at the time they told us we would be.
If you stay at the Millenium Maxwell House, don't forget to call the hotel to get the shuttle to pick you up at the Airport - it doesn't make regular rounds. Nashville is small - if you are used to big city living this might be a little culture shock :)
Not that it would affect my decision to attend Meharry or not, since I think it is a great school, but the 2005 school year begins in late June not August. They like to get started right away!
the opening speaker informed us that 9 out of 10 people who interview get put on a waitlist spot (until march 15 when all schools have to reveal acceptances to one another)...he said meharry was playing "the game" just like we were playing "the game"
You will need a car while attending medical school because the bus is unreliable, the shops/restaurants and off campus housing are not within walking distance.
I discovered how compettitive medical school is and how much of a commitment of your life it takes to get through it. Relationships,jobs, and hobbies are all secondary.
That this interview was a waste of time and money.
The interviewers were uninspiring. Both interviewers were late in starting the interview and basically ripped thorugh the process with 100% lack of interest. One interviewer indirectly told me that I was 'too good' for Meharry and I would be accepted anyway...before we began the interview! The second interviewer told me the same thing and mentioned "this process is not necessary as I am too smart for this institution." Well, goo luck to all Meharry students: I hope they are not as dumb as the interviewers potray them to be.
Tuition had gone up but it's still cheaper than most schools. The interviewees are scheduled with the same interviewees back-to-back (giving less than 30 mins/interview--I went over during both faculty interviews)
Meharry was found by a group of white men because of an act of charity which occurred recently after Mr. Meharry wagon broke down and a group of free slaves where took him in, fed him, and fix his salt wagon. He vowed to repay them...$30,000 and the Methodist church and the state of Tennessee decided that freed slaves needed a medical center to address their needs. Meharry is seemly strong in their curriculum. 8-5 days and subject boards are rigorously administered.
that the school, despite what it says about diversity, is still very much a black med school. took a look at one of the classes and the freshman class was at least 90% black
That interviews were spread throughout the day and there was no seriously organized tour. I around 4 hours of dead time to go on a self tour of the campus or just sit. We had access to walk around but could NOT go see the gross lab.
Tuition is increasing by 15% next year; to stay on campus, you should reserve a spot "yesterday"; the acceptance range list is approximately all 500 interviewees. I'm not really hurt that I didn't find out this information before hand, but I'm glad they told us. Better late than never, I guess.
I had a late interview, so I pretty well expected that I would be interviewing for a waitlist position, which did not bother me in the least since I really want to go there and wanted to give myself any shot possible of getting in. However, there were some other applicants who were quite upset at not knowing that they were interviewing for a wait list spot. They wished that they had been told this beforehand. I can see their point. Plane tickets are not cheap and some of us had to miss class to interview.
I wish I knew that I would not fit in in a school that is a traditionally black school, but its still medical school and a good education had be obtained here.
That the weather was so cold in TN. How many interviews I would have that day. It wasn't until that morning that I realized I had two faculty interviews, and it wasn't until lunch that I realized that the students were also evaluating us.
The avg MCAT for first years at Meharry is ~8 (in each sxn). However, Meharry students, in the past five years, have scored well above the national avg on parts I, II of the boards. Also, for the past couple years, the top score in the nation on USMLE step I, II has come from a Meharry student......EAT YOUR HEART OUT JOHNS HOPKINS, HARVARD, STANFORD, and the rest of you pompous schools.
Applicants generally found Meharry to be a welcoming and mission-driven institution that values fit and personal qualities over numbers or prestigious extracurricular activities. The interview process was described as stress-free and conversational, with a focus on getting to know the individual. Some feedback included suggestions for a more structured tour, clearer directions, and addressing concerns about outdated facilities. Applicants appreciated the emphasis on serving underserved communities and the supportive, family-like atmosphere at Meharry.
This school is small but very mission driven. Know their mission
Great school that focuses immensely on fit and less on numbers or prestigious EC's. Just be yourself and demonstrate that you want to be a part of a historic program and have a desire to serve especially underserved communities.
Overall good experience and got good vibes from the students that its a place that cares and is a family. They really want to see their students succeed.
You don't really get to see much during the campus tour. I would recommend making some time afterward to wander around on your own to see lecture halls, library, etc.
I was told to arrive on campus at 10am for an afternoon interview session. Brief introduction followed by financial aid presentation and audio tour with Dr. Atwater. We were supposed to go on a campus tour but the weather was awful. Dr Atwater is a very dynamic speaker and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him discuss the history of the college. Lunch with medical students and then interviews were scheduled in 30 minute blocks from 1-2:30. The day was done by 3pm.
I had 1 interview; was supposed to be for 30 minutes. It ran over a bit. I believe the lunch with medical students was good though I think they do evaluate the interviewees. Following lunch, the admissions manager definitely pulled them into a room (don't know what that's about).
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Meharry. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did but I was impressed by the environment. Meharry seems like they are trying to get students that really believe in their mission statement. I really appreciate how all research on campus is conducted to fulfill their dedication towards serving minority populations.
Don't stress! The interviewer was the least bit intimidating, and it felt more like a conversation with a respected elder in a grocery store more than an interview for med school. Try to be really thorough when you answer your interviewer's questions. It seemed like my answers gauged what she was going to ask next. Be very familiar with the school's mission. The student luncheon was very informal, and they didn't sit and take notes about us. The student center is not visible from Meharry street. You have to turn into the parking lot, and you'll see it from there.
Enjoy the day it was a great experience. I would so excited to attend. My day was unique however in the sense that it was a really bad snow storm the day before so my day got cut short and there was no tour. But they were really accommodating to people and their travel plans. I loved the school!
Seemed like a nice place. Some of the attending students "interview" you during a lunch you have with them without you knowing it. I only found out later. Students seemed to like each other, but said some equipment was outdated. They weren't entirely enthusiastic, maybe they were tired of studying. . .
There were two one-on-one interviews. Everyone was really nice and seemed to be more concerned with getting to know you as a person as opposed to as a student.
Lunch with the medical students was probably the most informative part of the day. You get a lot of great feedback and honest answers to your questions.
I'd suggest staying at the Millenium Maxwell Hotel, the one that they recommend. Shuttle service is really great, will take you to and from Meharry and to and from the airport.
Overall, the experience was truly wonderful. The interviews were laid back, the students were friendly. Everyone is really proud of Meharry and its efforts. You feel a sense of pride in each person you meet.
Interviewers only had my personal statement and activities list from AMCAS. No grades or test scores. I loved this school and would be fortunate to have the opportunity to obtain my MD from here.
The day started at 8am. We had a presentation followed by 2 back to back 30min interviews. They asked very standard questions. There was a financial aid presentation and discussion about the curriculum. The tour was given and lunch with students. There was a group of students with afternoon interviews. I felt like there was something missing from this interview day that failed to draw me to the school or convince me to want to attend. The Maxwell house hotel was nice and the shuttle was convenient
Overall, I like Meharry's approach to education, albeit a bit overbearing. The familial atmosphere and super support system is a real plus for anyone needing it or wanting to take advantage of it. Hopefully all of the students aren't as unpleasant as the group we met!
This isn't about the school, but there's no place for comments in travel. I took the metro bus to and from the interview, and it was really nice. I would definitely reccommend it. For a day pass, it's only $4.80, and you can easily figure out which busses to take by going to www.nashvillemta.org.
Friendly, great vibe,
by the way the third interview is a group interview where you ask a panel of students your questions, and they write notes by your name. By the time you get to this portion, you have already been asked ''do you have any other questions?'' maybe 8 times
The day started off with meeting the other interviewies, then a couple presentations, lunch with the 1st and 2nd year students, then my two back to back interviews. Unfortunately the bad weather impeded the tour, however we saw the gross anatomy lab. Overall everyone I met was really friendly, and the interviewers were not intimidating.
Wonderful... The school is great. I wasnt expecting much and It blew me away. The interviewers were very friendly. The first interview I had engaged me in a conversation so it really wasnt even question/answer... so I liked that. The second interviewer was a little more question/answer but.... he was very friendly and seemed to care about what I had to say.
There were only seven of us. Some had morning interviews and some, like me, arrived at ten for afternoon interviews. I thought the afternoon interviewers had a slight advantage b/c they got to do the tour and meet a lot of people and ask questions (and hear questions be asked by the other interviewees) well before the interview. This exposure to the school and faculty beforehand helps during the interview, in my view. At ten we had an introductory sessions given by Dr. Mosely, Director of Admissions. Then a woman gave a presentation on financial aid, which did ease my mind a bit. Then the tour, given by a Mr. Atwood. We got to see the gross anatomy lab where three students had a cadaver out and were working. Then a lunch and interview sessions with students. There were four students. We asked them questions and they answered the questions while one of them simultaneously put notes about us down on a paper. After this, the afternoon interviews. Three of us were interviewing in the afternoon. Two of the interviewers didn't show. There was scrambling to come up with interviewers, calling people, and one doctor was grabbed as he came into the Anne Epps Center for an unrelated meeting. I ended up interviewing with the director of admissions, and my second faculty interview was with a surgeon. They were low stress. The one that had the potential to be more stressful was the interview with the surgeon, because he had a very reserved, serious demeanor. However, this ended up being a very enjoyable interview because of our common interests.
It was nice, no stress, interviews went very well, med. students really didn't talk much during the lunch. Better directions should have been given on how to get to the building from the parking deck. Over all, the interview was great though. Meharry offers a lot of research opp. and they are doing great things, following their mission.
I was in the afternoon group so arrived some time before 10AM, there was fruit, danishes, and juice/water available, day started with presentation on Meharry's history, financial aid, tour, lunch with med students, and finally the INTERVIEW.
Very nice, enjoyable experience, even though it was my first med school interview, the faculty was very welcoming and nice; if you have an interview at Meharry, don't even stress about it!
The interview experience was good. There were three interviews each 30 mins each. The 30 mins goes by really fast, especially since the interviews are set up to be stress free. I did have one really bad interview with an interviewer who really didn't care about anything positive in my application. I am sure she wanted to test my patience, but I would not go to the interviews not expecting at least one curve ball of a stressful interviewer.
Honestly, I can not say that i could have had a better experience. Seeing how it was my first interview, I still loved it. The faculty and staff were very friendly and the students were cool and funny and cute! I had a blast. The environment was laid back and non-stressful. I could easily see myself there come June.
My interview was very organized and well planned. The interviewers were kind, polite, smiled, and were easy to converse with. They really seemed interested in getting to know me and learning about my motivation for applying to med school. The lunch with the students actually provided the most insight and I believe the close connection they had with each other was very unique to Meharry.
Overall a positive experience. Starts with breakfast in the morning, followed by a quick brief with admissions explaining the interview process, your three interviews, presentations from financial aid and a Q&A with a faculty member on USMLE scores, class set up etc, lunch with students, questionaire and departure.
The day went according to schedule from 8am-1pm. We had some presentations, the interviews, and the tour in the morning. In the afternoon we had lunch with the students, which allowed to ask questions about the student life. There was a cold front, so it was freezing, especially during the tour. I recommend that you check the weather before going.
I had a great time at Meharry. Everyone was very friendly and nice. One of the faculty interviewers told me that with the smaller class size, they really watch out for their students. The students were also very nice and laid-back. It is not a competitive atmosphere, but more that everyone should do well. Like in other feedback, the community feeling was definitely there and great. Oh, also for us, lunch was good! They also had breakfast food setup for the morning group and we got to snack between sessions which was nice.
Overall, I had a positive experience. My interviewers (Dr. Burnett and Dr. Shockley) were so supportive and geniune. I recommend that anyone have those 2. They made me feel at home.
The interviews were pretty laid back, and fellow interviewees were friendly. Arrived at 8, went through three interviews, financial aid presentation, tour, lunch with students, and then I was done by 1.
Meharry is a great school. Speaking with one of the interviewers, I think Meharry students are at a real advantage because of how diverse the patients that they will see are. I really enjoyed the interview day- it was very relaxed and everyone was very nice.
My first interview was laid back, but a bit unprofessional. He mentioned the interview performance of another applicant I knew at my undergraduate institution and asked me if I was married. My second interview was interesting. He basically pounded me with questions and when I gave my response debated with me on my opinion.
INCREDIBLE! Everyone was completely amazing and very friendly. The Meharry family made me feels right at home (aside: i'm a white jew). The school has a rich history and I hope I become part of their family.
My first interviewer showed up 20 minutes late to my interview, so that threw me off. But my second interviewer was so kind and considerate, he did not mind that I showed up five minutes late and was enthusiastic about the interview.
First interviewer did not ask many questions at all. He did not review my file. Asked GPA/MCAT and than talked a little about the cirriculum. A nice professor though.
My second interviewer simply blew me away. Not only did he review my file beforehand, he mentioned that he "shed a few tears" while reading my essays. He was what every interviewee wants. He was caring and knew enough about me to hold a nice conversation. He described his role in the school and his background which was very considerate as this helped add substance to our conversation. I walked away feeling this person cared about me as an applicant and truly wanted for me to attend Meharry. Wow!
The tour was led by a faculty member who gave a wonderful narration of the school's history and of the campus. It was like I was listening to someone doing a voiceover on National Geographic or The Learning Channel. It was a good tour. Just wished the sights were a bit more modern.
Like the previous posts have mentioned, the day seemed slightly disjointed. The group (about a dozen people) met in a conference room in the Basic Sciences Center, an introduction was given by an old gentleman who also was one of the deans, after this a very short financial aid session was presented. Interview times were scattered throughout the day and the campus. My first was at 9:30 and a second one at 1:30. Lunch was at noon in the hospital. Every other moment was essentially on your own, there really wasn't an area one could lounge in. You had the option of attending a class (which was a nice touch).
BTW, you have lunch with a group of 1st and 2nd year students and they actually interview you. They fill out short forms judging your motivations, interest, etc. It was like a third interview, but naturally a bit more causual.
Over all a great experience. The interviewers were really nice, both interviews felt more like informative conversations rather than Q&A interviews.
There is one interviewer, who is straight out mean. He looks into your background and will question you and attack you about things. He definately tries to break you down. He doesn't let you get a word in, always interupts, and won't shake your hand afterward. I met with him only because I recieved the wrong itinerary! When I got my correct itinerary, my ASSIGNED interviewers were so sweet. I loved them, especially coming back from such a rough interview! Just beware of the LRC Building, the beast will be awaiting you!!!!!
It was a very pleasant day. My interviews were both in the morning so after lunch I left to the hotel. The interviewers, students, and everyone else were very friendly and helpful
The experience was very relaxed. My first interviewer asked me only two questions, we basically just talked for 40 minutes. My second interview was the polar opposite. He asked me a lot of questions, and with great detail.
I had a good time and I enjoyed the school. I interviewed with 12 other students and they seemed to be pretty down to earth. The interview coordinator is the sweetest woman. She has been with the institution for 40+ years and really had a lot of good things to say about the institution. I wish I would have been able to see an actual class in progress.
The interview is really relaxed overall. It's a good opportunity for you to ask questions as well. The school is very committed to helping the underserved and the student body is very close knit. I really enjoyed myself and actually being able to be on campus and to interact with the students really endeared the school to me.
My first interview was pretty informal. My interviewer did not ask me any questions until 20 minutes into the interview, and that point she asked me where I went to undergrad. It seemed like she knew she should be following some form or template, but had left at home and was doing her best to wing it. My second interview was pretty straight forward.
Overall I enjoyed my visit to Meharry. I knew some things about the school and having the opportunity to interview their really helped me to decide if I could be there.
i had an overall exceptional time, from the start the dean made us aware that this school promoted a family mentality because they had all the interviewees introduce each other. the current medical students were beyond nice. the students in the hallways were giving me tips on questions that might be asked such as i was told to make sure that i know the mission statement, which i was not asked but still i was so appreciative. from them setting up my hotel,travel arrangements and lunch with the second year, i had the best possible experience.
It was freezing cold! The temperature was in the twenties in the evening. Meharry is a relatively old school. They were doing construction in the building I was interviewing in so the construction was kind of distracting. On of my interviewer was late AND cut my interview early when I still had things to say. The interview ended up being about 15 minutes so I'm not sure if he really knows enough info about me.
Arrive in the AM, short video of the history of the school. Introduce the person next to you. You meet some students that come in and talk to you. Take a tour of the campus, which doesn't take too long. Lunch with students. Interviews are in the AM and/or afternoon. Day can end short if done with interviews!
Overall my experience at Meharry was extremely positive. The interviewers for the most part were relaxed and simply wanted to get to know me as an individual. One of my interviews was actually extended because we were having a great conversation. Although the interview is "closed-file" be prepared to answer ANY questions about your grades/coursework/GPA/MCAT scores/SAT scores (yes...SAT scores)/ACT scores. I actually had to go through and list all of this info. in one of my interviews.
I had an awesome experience at Meharry. My first interviewer asked me all sorts of questions about my profile and took lots of notes, but never made me feel uncomfortable at all. My second interviewer and I had a discussion on medical ethics among other things, however once again I never felt like I was being grilled or put on the spot. My advice is just relax, be yourself, and know your AMCAS application inside and out.
The visit was very nice. The boxed lunches were fine, except that they had too many Diet Cokes. The tour was great - I learned alot of history (esp. Black history) while there. The students and faculty were very easy to talk to. The campus exuded a family-like atmosphere.
I was generally pleased with what Meharry had to offer ( I was not blown away by any one thing but it was definitely not a disappointment). My interviews were very relaxing. I felt that my interviewers were really concerned about getting to know that real me, and they tried to make the interview as comfortable for me as possible. The drawback for me was that we had to walk a bit to different buildings where the interviews were being held and for me that was difficult as they were back-to-back so I literally had to sprint across the campus to get to my other interview on time. One of the rooms to my interviewer's office was incorrectly listed so i had a really hard time finding her office and that increased my stress level a bit because I was beginning to get a bit anxious. But other than that everything was fine.
My day began with a brief introduction by Ms. Baity, who is one of the kindest women that I've ever met. Next, all interviewees were placed in pairs. Each had to provide the entire group with a mini-introduction of their partner. Afterwards, we watched a short film on Meharry. One the film ended, we received our interview assignments, and left for a campus tour. At the end of the tour, some interviewees went to their individual interviews, while the remaining interviewees took personal tours of the campus. Sometime later, we all reconvened for lunch with the medical students. The day ended on a very positive note.
I had three interviews. Two faculty interviews, and then a student interview. My entire interview experience was relaxing and overall, just wonderful. I really like Meharry, and would be honored to be accepted there. I'm sincerely praying for this to happen.
The Admissions staff, in addition to all of the students I met, were all great.
watched a video about history of school, was given a sheet of paper scheduling my interviews, and a map, left on my own to find interviewers and explore campus. room numbers were wrong on my sheet. 1.5 hours on my own in the morning. lunch was late. no representative of the school there until a half hour latter than supposed to be. question and answer session with second year medical students. went to financial aid. end of day.
the interview was straight forward. nothing out of the ordinary. it was quick. Though I was sick at the time of the interview, the faculty made me feel comfortable by showing me a place to rest and drinks.
Good experience...I enjoyed lunch with the students, all of whom were friendly, candid, and seemed to pleased with their decision to attend Meharry. I sat in on one course, and was impressed with the faculty.
Overall I was not really impressed... the day started with a talk, a video about meharry's vision, a photoshoot (headshots of everyone) and then as I mentioned before you were given a schedule and then you were on your own for the rest of the day besides the required sack lunch with some med students...bring a book or something to do to pass the time.
Overall it was not the best interview, but it definately wasn't the worst. It is a long day and by the time it is over you just think "I can't wait to get home." However, you get to spend a lot of free time exploring the campus
It was a laid back day. The faculty and the students are friendly and helpful. They are focused on primary care and not research so they will not have great facilities. They are a small school located in the ghetto area of Nashville. Nashville is all about country music- and if you dont like that and want more cosmopolitan place, then you may need to go somewhere else. We had many interviewees from California for some reason. Its not a bad school. I actually liked it. The good thing is that you hear back from them soon, unlike other schools. Its all about finding the best fit between the student and the school. I would not mind coming for med school here!
a very basic day, general introduction, 2 interviews, lunch with students, financial aid presentation, tour, a fun but long day, by the end of the day I liked Meharry more than I thought I would
I was very nervous being my first interview, but my interviewer made me feel so comfortable that it felt like I was more in a casual conversation then an interview.
I thought it went really well. Honestly, after reading such negative things in other posts regarding Meharry, I went in with a negative attitude. Considering I'm not a minority, I thought I'd be treated differently. However,that was not the case. Everyone was very kind. Meharry may not be the richest or most affluent school in the U.S. but take it from a person who has been around, they are a damn good school. They are starting to use problem based learning and the student body is small and (from my observation) very close knit. And from the student's own mouths, the people who don't do well there chose not to do well. The interviewers asked me questions about me and they wanted to know how I would positively add to the legacy of medicine. Other schools I've interviewd at haven't asked questions so profound. So, for all those who have dogged Meharry (including myself in the past), don't knock it until you try it.
The interviews went very well. The people were very honest and straightforward about their program. They want to know what you think of their mission and how you can identify with it. Since it's closed file, you get to basically summarize your AMCAS file. This can seem like a waste of time but it's actually a good way to get comfortable and interview well.
We took pictures and watched a movie in the morning. I had two interviews in the mornings. We ate lunch with second year medical students and had a tour with a member of the admissions staff. We were finished by 1:30pm
This was my first interview so I was a bit nervous. There was a lunch with some of the second year med school students and I gained a lot of additional information about the school, curriculum, etc. My interviews took place in the morning so I had some free time to walk around campus after lunch.
It was an overall good experience.The only thing I see as a potential drawback is their low graduation and Step 1 pass rates...but I definately am impressed by their research in the health disparities field.
This was my first interview, so I don't have much to compare it with, but I really enjoyed myself. The student were nice, my interviewers were friendly and seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say.
Very pleasant experience overall.
I travelled all the way from Winnipeg to Nasville for the interview, but suprisingly I didn't feel stressed at all.
The admissions staff were very nice and put everyone at ease in the begining when we got there.
Each applicant had a different schedule depending on what time their particular interviews were supposed to be. Everyone had lunch at the same time with 3 first year and 1 second year med student. This gave each of us the opportunity to ask them unique questions, and get the answers from the student perspective. We got to know how life was like on Campus, what parts of the city to live in e.t.c
There was lot of time in between the interviews; this was useful for me because I could explore the college on my own, I didn't even get to see everything that sparked my interested.
My fellow interviewees were really nice people and this heightened the great experience. I got to meet people from all over the states and made some friends.
I'd definitely recommend Meharry to any prospective medical student. And hey, it is a HBC too.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit! They mad us feel very welcome. I worried that I was interviewing for a waitlist spot, but they spoke as if we had as good a chance as anyone else who interviewed. They broke the numbers down as far as how many apply, interview, and get in. I felt honored just to get an interview! I would go to this school, and be proud to say that I was a Meharry graduate. The students were intelligent, yet that typical competitive vibe that you encounter at the professional level was not there. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and talkative. Because it was the week after their Easter break, and people had finals that day, we only met with one med student and on former student who is currently a faculty member there. Other people said that the lunch with the students is an undercover interview, but because there was only one student, I don't know if she'll have a say or not.
It was very informal and personal. The student lunch and the conversation following was great. The students were awesome so caring and so close as a family. I was a little uneasy about my first interview. He asked only my gpa and mcat scores and if I had taken physiology and how I chose what med schools to apply to. It lasted 10 minutes only, I was afraid of the fact that he made up his mind off of just that. The second one was much more conversational and comfortable.
This was the least stressful interview I have ever had. The students were very helpful and very happy about their school. I also learned that once you are in you are guaranteed to graduate. As previously mentioned there was no tour of the school which I found to be odd since every school is eager to let pple. know something about there facilities. Students always find time to socialize outside school and they did not give the impression that they were stressed by the academics. Bring a book to read because if you are scheduled for an early interview and a late afternoon interview you will have plenty of down time.
Meharry is a great school, I had the time of my life while at my interview. The staff is great the students are great. All I can say is admit me and I will be there. I enjoyed this interview more than the others I have previously had.
The interview day was definitely low stress. It was great being at an HBC. My interviewers were pretty good, but one was kind of bitter about the students' low performance in some areas. During lunch, there is a question/answer session with some 2nd year students. You have to eat and talk at the same time so that was kind of difficult. Also, the students interview you after you finish eating. Bring a book to read or something to do because you may have a lot of down time during interviews.
First, we watched a video on the history and mission of Meharry (it has a rich heritage), then we were given a tour of the campus. The admissions director was out of the country, but we were given his cell phone number if we had additional questions. After the tour, we had to find our intervewers on our own (which I didn't like), but the interviews were very laid back and conversational. While waiting for interviews, we could sit in on a class, which was nice and different from my other interviews. At lunch, we ate with some 2nd years, who went around asking us if we have any questions, then interviewing us one on one. Overall, it was a great experience!
The day was kinda long and if your interviews aren't spread out correctly, you'll have a lot of unnecessary free time. I was very comfortable at this interview and handled my nerves better than at any other school. It's a good school, but they do stress that they are most willing to give the "under dog" a chance at a great medical education. Meharry will not make you a good student just because it's a medical school so just because it's a place you can get into with scores that may not be accepted elsewhere doesn't mean you're going to do well if you don't put in the effort. (you know what i mean)
I read a lot of negative reviews about this school. Granted it's an HBCU but I can't really compare it to other schools I've interviewed at. It's one thing to be an affordable HBCU but at the cost of a solid medical education? No way. Heck no. Thankfully, I have other places to go.
Don't get me wrong, this may be the school for you. My standards are beyond anything this school can dream of. Meharry looks good on paper but if you have a choice of med school to go to, please think twice. If you already have an acceptance, try to save your $500.00 for another interview. This school didn't seem to really care and I am really really pissed off. By the way, the tour sucked because the reverend had to tell the story of every wall, pillar, nook and cranny of the school...whatever
The day is split into three parts, morning interviews, lunch and afternoon interviews. Two faculty interviews and a student interview during lunch. The people were so welcoming that I didn't feel stressed during my interviews at all. I found out if you just carry a conversation with the interviewer it doesn't give them much time to grill you on particulars. I was impressed that two of my interviewers gave me feedback on my interview and the student even gave me advice for the next interview. I could definitely tell they wanted their interviewees to have the best opportunities while at Meharry.
My first interview was very informal. It was in the professor’s office. We talked for a LONG time. He told me at the start of the interview that he wanted me to tell him everything about myself I wanted him to know and that he would ask me questions when he felt necessary. This worked out very well and I was able to give him a lot of detail about my experiences. We also talked some about his research. We talked for over an hour!
I was prepared for the lunch/interview with the students thanks to this site :) You eat lunch in a room with student and at first you can ask them all questions then you pair up with one student and he/she asks you some questions. At first, the group question and answer session was a bit awkward until we all warmed-up to each other. The students were very honest in their responses. I appreciated that.
My second interview was with dean-type person. He basically wanted me to tell him about myself too. During our interview, he told me about the advantages of going Meharry over another school I am interviewing at.
Overall, though Meharry is a VERY small school, the students can achieve big things. It appears that the support system at Meharry is really strong and all the resources for success are there. They have mini-practice boards and the student say that the professors are accessible outside of class. Every student and faculty member I met was extremely friendly and articulate.
I thought that the interview went really well and that the people there made you feel at home with them and secure. They also was very generous at pointing out there high points, some of which I was unfamiliar with, like one of the professors there is the only person alive to have ever seen smallpox in the wild, stuff like that. Really cool stuff like that
The day started with a five minute video and interview assignments. There are two- but actually three- interviews. There is an interview in the morning, one-on-one with a faculty member, and another in the afternoon with a different faculty member. BUT, during lunch, you hang out with 3rd and 4th years who evaluate you afterwards, so really its like a third interview. That part was a little awkward because at most schools, the students you talk to are just there to help answer questions and to help you relax, but these students go back and report to the admissions committee. Other than that you are on your own for the day and left to wander aimlessly. Its not as bad as it sounds because all of the interviewees are in the same boat, so just stick together.
I felt iffy about the whole interview visit. The people were nice, but the interview day seemed a bit unorganized.
Nashville seemed like a nice place and it is an inexpensive city to live in.
We had a chance to sit in on a lecture and all of the students were talking, passing notes, eating, playing games on their laptops, and all in all not engaged in what was being said. They were all just there because attendance gets taken during lecture (something that I've never heard of at a med school).
Come with quesitons about the school b/c they all give you a lot of time to ask about the school
Not impressed at all. Would not go here if this was the only place I am accepted which is not...thank god. This is a good med school for students who anticipate to struggle during medical school because they will not kick you out even if you are failing and will do everything in their power to make you an MD. That is a good thing for some.
The interviews were easy, there was no formal campus tour--everyone was on their own to see the facilities (which doesn't take long because the campus has all of 5 rather small buildings). Eat breakfast because you get a sandwich, pop, cookie, chips, and an apple for lunch. Everyone in my group seemed to agree that they had one unfriendly interviewer and one very friendly and laid back interviewer.
no real tour, met with admissions ppl for 1st hr or so to just introduce ourselves, after that you were free to roam w/o any supervision... pretty boring considering no one is actually introducing anything to you so you are just getting lost everywhere
Meharry is in the middle of Nashville. We arrived at 8:30 and were all gathered in a room to talk about the admissions process and get our daily schedule. There we watched a video of Meharry and had a few MS1's come in to talk about their school. Interviews were completely spread throught the day and during the presentation students had to leave cause they had interviews slotted then. We then we led by an admission staff member on a walk by tour to where we might have interviews. This to me was not considered a tour of the campus. We did not see the gross lab, we did not see the library, we did not see cafeteria (if there was one), we just found where we were suppose to be next. I interviewed with a very nice woman and then I was on my own to find my way back. I did get lost but eventually found my way back to the main building. We HAD to be back to have lunch with students. This was suppose to be a time that the students but it turned into a question and answer session. We had a bag lunch with a fruit, sandwich, chips, and a soda. I try and eat healthly and they tried with an alternative veggie lunch but I was starving later that day. After the lunch we waited another hour and a half till our next interview. This person was very passionate about being motivated for medical school and he did most of the talking about how some students were not prepared for the work assigned to them and they should never have been admitted to the school. He was fairly nice but he was fustrated on how to get through to the students and blamed it on lowered standards. He also went though and told me I had points for or against admission based only on male/female, black/caucasian/minority, and residency (even though they are private). It made me feel less like a human and more like a object. That was the basic day, it was much different than other interviews I had been at as there was no serious structure. We were mostly on our own here where other schools ALWAYS had an admission member or a student with you. It seems like a great opportunity to help out severly underserved people at this school just don't expect to have the most up to date equipment or up to date maintance.
my overall interview experience was NOT good! Compared to other places I've been, Meharry was unorganized and there was not enough free time. Also both my interviewers seemed unexperienced in the interviewing process. Thumbs down.
Both interviews went very well. My first was very special in that the fire alarm went off about 15 minutes after we started. We continued the interview, though, as we walked down the stairs and briefly outside. At lunch we also talked with first year students. Due to the high number in my group, the student interviews were not one-on-one as I expected. Instead we went around the room and asked questions in a very orderly fashion. I left Nashville feeling very good about my interviews.
It was a really good day. I am not sure if the interviews are open file or closed file. One interviewer told me that they had not reviewed my file, but I kind of got the impression that she had access to it. Another interviewer was surprised by a comment that I made about my application and told me that when she was reviewing my stuff, that she did not have that piece of information. I am pretty certain that the student interviewer had a closed-file interview.
The day was probably the worst organized day that I have experienced at an interview. The tour sucked very badly because the admissions officer was not very enthusiastic. Its a small campus, and there is not much to see, but I felt that we could have seen more of certain areas, like the labs and the hospital, but we did not get to see it on the 3 minute tour of the campus. There is also a lot of dead time to kill. I had 2 hours to kill between my first interview and lunch. The interviews themselves are very laid back though, so don't worry at all about it...just relax and be yourself. The student interview during lunch was awkward and I really don't see how it was productive. Also, I don't think that I personally would fit in at the school. Kind of weird to say this about a school that has the most URM's in the nation, but I did not think the class is very diverse at all. If this ends up being the only school I get into, I would be happy and would do my best while there, but I would have wondered everyday how my life would be different if I was able to get into one of the many other schools I interviewed at. One more thing...ask very good and well thought out questions to your interviewers, not just the usual ones! (you know what I mean)
Meharry is a historic school, that focuses on the health of populations that cannot afford medical care. But it is like a non-profit, in that services are lacking funding.
I don't feel I left the school with a good idea of how my life would be as a medical student there.
My interviews were pretty spaced out, so I checked out a class in the morning, but get there early if you want to sneak out, all the students had grabbed the easy-escape seats.
My first interviewer gave me question after question, but it was worked into conversation. It wasn't that he was tryign to throw me off, but he did want to see how I responded to questions. The student interview was mostly off a check-list. The students seem to get along very well. And my third interviewer was able to take the info I gave him about my current interest in health care and ask me everything he could about it, it almost felt like a debate, but comfortable. Overall all three were comfortable, they all seemed interested in getting to know you as a person, as well as what you're capable of. The level 4 stress is that they ask more challenging questions than other schools I've seen.
Overall, I liked the school and the area of Nashville. However, it seemed like my last interviewer was out to get me by asking questions that pertained to his area of work but was not my interest. That was the only intimidating portion.
The students and faculty were very warm and welcoming. There seemed to be a lot of comradery within each class.
I really liked the visit and was most impressed by the people.
Laid back and friendly. No reason to stress about it, just know the basics and you'll be fine. Also, it doesn't hurt to know Meharry's mission: training primary care (ob/GYN, family practice, internal medicine, etc.) physicians to work in underserved areas and why you're interested in that.
Overall I had a positive vibe from the school and the med students that attended class (the majority). They all seemed happy to be there. My first interviewer was watching TV THROUGHOUT the interview which made it seem as though she was distracted or not interested in me as an applicant. Lunch was provided. While eating, you are also in a semi-interview by a panel of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year med students. It gives them an opportunity to get to know you AND for you to get to know them. My second interviewer was very attentive and was very interested in getting to know me. There is no research at this school.
I really liked Meharry. Since I got to stay on campus with some friends, I was able to meet a lot of people and they were very encouraging before, during, and after my interview. I had a very nice interview experience and I loved the atmosphere at Meharry.
I really loved Meharry, and I loved the students. They are all very dedicated to Meharry's mission. Just go prepared, and you'll be fine! Remember it's an INTERview, so you should learn about the school, students, and faculty, too.
The days leading up to my interview I was really nervous because this was my first one, but as soon as I set foot on campus I just felt peaceful and I knew the day would go fine. Everyone was very friendly and the interviewers really just want to conversate and get to know you.
The students seem to love Meharry. I think its a great learning environment...everyone is there to help you. Great student support services. The facilities where the med students take courses are rather small, but they get the job done. Also, Nashville General was not terribly impressive, but it too gets the job done. The students get excellent exposure to rural medicine and they learn how to serve your everyday avg Joe. I don't think this can be said for most other schools. Anyway, my first interview sucked. The guy discussed himself the whole time. The student interview was great. She presented me with an ethical scenario and wanted my opinions, then asked me traditional questions..why Meharry? Is Meharry your top choice? How are you prepared to serve the underrepresented populations? AND finally, my third interview, with a faculty member went very well. It was relaxed and we talked about everything from healthcare dilemmas to the recent sniper shootings.
it really isn't a stressful experience at all. i was really stressed coz it was my first interview. the people there are really nice. you get a schedule of how your day will be like.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should provide more detailed information about the interview process and improve communication through emails. They also recommended longer and more engaging tours and a more positive and organized approach during interactions with staff.
Please send emails breaking down the whole interview process for the students you decide to interview
