Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 21% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.
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 "Tell me about yourself," "Why medicine," "Tell me about your research," "Why this specific medical school," and "Describe your experiences and background." Some respondents mentioned being asked personal questions and hypothetical scenarios, indicating a potential MMI format with nondisclosure agreements in place.
Tell me about these two classes you failed (a ridiculously stupid question, given the classes were Tae Kwan Do and Ballroom dance), and what implications they hold for your committment?
pretty much, the interviewers have already made notes of your amcas application so they will direct questions about your activities. describe your research.
Have you had any actual experience with doctors? (I've had 3 different volunteer jobs, and I work in a clinical setting.. this is all on my AMCAS application)
How many schools have you applied to, how many interviews have you been to, how many have you been accepted to and what schools were they? (he jotted them all down right in front of me)
Have you read any books recently? (At which point I blanked and couldn't remember any book I'd read...) What is your favorite book? How many times have you read it?
Students said most interesting question asked at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai discussed a wide range of topics, including experiences in Scouting, favorite research projects, childhood memories, and aspirations in medicine. The interviews varied from straightforward to conversational, with no standout questions mentioned, suggesting a diverse set of inquiries tailored to individual applications.
What do you think about girls joining Boy Scouts (when discussing my experiences in Scouting)
none, just basicly why mssm and tell me about certain things in my application. With both interviews I tried to turn engage conservation more than a questions and answer session
nothing all that unusual....i had two interviewers. the first one asked me things like where i saw myself in ten years, what i wanted to specialize in and why, how i came to my decision of medicine and why not research (i have a lot of research background). the second one asked me about my extracurriculars and my time abroad etc.
Have you considered doing any bench research instead of clinical research once in medical school. (I have been working in clinical research for 5 years.)
None of the questions were particularly interesting or particularly difficult. Both of the interviewers had read my application very thoroughly, and they mostly asked questions about my research and extracurricular activities (nothing picky).
I seriously choked on my interview. I didn't read over my amcas app as carefully as i should have. he asked me specific activites that i was involved in, but didn't refer to the activities my name...so i gave him confused looks, to both our embarassment.
Nothing... I don't think either one of my interviewers actually asked me a question. They just made comments like... so, New York? So, Medicine? Why Medicine? They weren't even complete questions. They just kind of stared at me and waited for me to talk about anything I felt like. It was not stressful at all, but it was strange.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai discussed a wide range of topics, including personal beliefs, challenges faced, career aspirations, and ethical dilemmas. While the responses varied, some interviewees mentioned being asked about research dissemination, emotional encounters with patients, reasons for choosing medicine, and handling ethical scenarios. It's worth noting that the interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as some responses referenced non-disclosure agreements regarding specific questions asked.
How will you use your research in sports psychology in the future?
One interviewer asked about my public health diabetes prevention (through lifestyle changes & health education) research study, and asked me how it's supposed to be realistically disseminated because our study seems too costly. It was hard to argue back...
People around the area consider themselves unhealthy for the most part even with a very advanced medical facility close by, why? (think of not just physical health)
The first question, mainly because it was so inane. She actually retracted once she realized how silly it sounded (I had sprained my ankle in Tae Kwan Do, and the Ballroom class I had failed was one that I had taken twice previously, and didn't care enough to show up to the final)
Why aren't you involved in any LGBT events? (Not at all ill-intentioned; I had written in my secondary that I am gay and my interviewer was just wondering more about it.)
Weaknesses--not an unexpected question, but when I gave my answer (needing to be more assertive) and how I'd improved it, the interviewer misconstrued what I was saying to mean that I thought doctors should dictate orders to patients, so I had to back up and clarify. Ugh.
explain a grade (some interviewers may really sit with your application and go through it in detail with you there - just understand that that's how he/she interviews, and you just have to stay "perky")
how would u compare life in new york with saudi arabia (where i mentioned i'd lived a while)? this would have been an easy question except that the interviewer kept interrupting me and didn't give me a chance to finish
"i hate research. can't stand it. explain your thesis research to me in layman's terms. no wait, don't use any words longer than 10 characters."
How would you deal with the frustration of a patient who didn't follow your instructions (in terms of taking care of himself) and then ended up in the emergency room?
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?
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing with friends, reading the school's website, and looking at interview feedback on platforms like SDN. Suggestions included reviewing current events, practicing answering common questions, and discussing the program with current students to gain insight into the school's culture.
Read all SDN questions for MSSM, read school website, reread honors thesis, read most current research in the field I am currently working in. All of this was overkill!
Read over the school's website, read over this website, reviewed my AMCAS and secondary application, reviewed notes from my research, and tried to think of answers to commonly asked questions.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and enthusiastic student body, the quality of facilities and housing, the emphasis on a non-competitive and collaborative environment, the school's location in New York City, and the opportunities available for clinical experiences and research. Common feedback included the affordability and quality of student housing, the supportive and welcoming atmosphere, and the genuine happiness expressed by students at the school.
Extremely affordable rent for Manhattan in student housing. Emphasis on advocacy and fostering environment of change-makers. Everyone was very friendly and supportive.
Literally everything. The student body is very chill, the hospital is huge and impressive, the interviewers read my file in depth and asked specific questions, the housing is cheap and very nice, the area is safe but also close enough to East Harlem so you get a wide variety of patients at Mount Sinai and the affiliates.
Quality of the facilities and research. Students seem very happy here and laid-back. Pass/fail preclinical curriculum. Non-competitive, collaborative environment.
Candidness of Dr. Richard Muller, Dean of Medical Education. Friendliness of student body. New affiliation with Continuum Health Partners expanding clinical opportunities. Responsiveness of the administration to student feedback.
Students were gushing about their school all day, seemed pretty obsessed with it; great location; great facilities; great programs; cheap dorms right across the street
Friendly students, really kind (and funny) faculty members and interviewers who tried to make us feel as comfortable as possible, good sense of community.
Location is good, student housing is heavily subsized and right across the street, which is great. Even though its a relatively highly ranked school, it isn't only research focused. They have a lot of programs emphasizing clinical skills.
school and hospital is BEAUTIFUL. Gorgeous facilities, absolutely enthusiastic happy students, encouragement of outside interests, pass/fail curriculum with open lengths of times to take exams. The student housing seems like the best out of any other NYC schools...amazing and cheap.
The students seemed really happy. The location is bangin! And student rent is cheap $550 cause everyone lives in the dorms. The campus is vertical and all really close together! Library was just redone. Anatomy lab has great view. Students have access to a really nice gym. Students also have access to NYU libraries.
The location - right next to central park, but not in a hectic area like times square
Students - uber chill. May not be future leaders in medicine, but they're the kind of kids I want to go to school with.
Apartments - ~$500/month for gorgeous apartments on the Upper East side. Pinch me, I must be dreaming
Anatomy Lab - great view
The friendliness of the students and staff. How laid back all of the students seemed and how happy they were to be there. The student housing is also exceptional, and the teaching space is being renovated to be top-notch.
Everything - the students were very laid back yet extremely intelligent, the facilities were excellent, and everyone there felt like they all contributed to the overall personality of the school. There was no stress at all, and their curriculum seems fantastic. Use pass/fail but not the honors/high pass/pass/fail system that schools try to use to fake out the students into believing the system is not a,b,c, etc.
The people are all really friendly and down-to-earth. The interviews were very conversational. The residence halls were amazing (gorgeous suites on upper east side for $550, including internet).
The students seemed enthusiastic. They all loved their experience there, and seem to be having a good time even with all the work. Hospital is really nice, and many opportunities seem to be available for the students. Interviews were chill and they're looking for reasons to accept you rather than reject you. The student housing is really nice and cheap for NYC. Quick access to rest of the city (the 6 stops right next to the school). Really nice location. Excellent match list. P/F grading, non-PBL centered curriculum, and NYC rules!
Amazing faculty, strong research. But, most of all, people seemed genuinely happy. And, in the end, I think going to a medical school that not only offers an exceptional educational exprience, but has happy medical students is what this is all about. Nuff said.
That the school really takes care of its students: decent housing at a decent price, free dental services, free passes to the really nice YMCA, active recreational office, etc.
Because the dean of admissions had prior committments,
the dean of medical education spoke to us, and he was very
interesting. Also, the housing is pretty nice.
Everyone was incredibly friendly. They allowed random students to come to the waiting room to chat with us and everyone had positive things to say about MSSM. There was no 'meet only one or two students' perspective.
the friendliness of the students and interviewers! Sinai seems to have a very chill environment. Plus, it's got a great location in NYC (you can see Central Park from their anatomy lab!! what more could you ask for?)
The students are so happy. Beyond all the talk, MSSM really does seem to care about the WHOLE applicant. The Dean who presented the slide show seemed really nice and funny.
Human Simulator Lab, patient simulation center (Morchand), down-to-earthness and transparency of students and administration, cheap housing in Upper East Side, location straddling Spanish Harlem
simulator lab a leader among med schools; student housing; Global Health program; Health Policy department; student happiness; student-run clinics; standardized patient program
Location, location, location. What a difference compared to Eintstein! It seemed like a really nice place to go to school. Dorms were nice, although I don't think that I'm interested in living in a dorm.
The Morechand Center and the human simulator were really cool! It seemed that they would complement the curriculum really well. Also, the students were very excited to be going to school at MSSM. Also, the director of admissions was very nice, comforting and knowledgable. She gave the first med school powerpoint presentation I've seen that wasn't completely useles. All in all, it was a great interview day.
The students were very enthusiastic and kept telling us we should attend the school (even though they had just taken an exam and should have been pretty tired)
The facilities are some of the best I've seen, the location is excellent, housing is amazing and cheap for Manhattan, the students seems genuinely happy there.
All, I mean ALL students were very happy with MSSM. They all seemed very enthusiastic. My host student was really nice. Central Park is accross the street. There are a lot of opportunities at the school.
The cafeteria is the best so far.
PASS/FAIL for first two years.
Everything about the school!!! The students were so enthusiastic--they adored their school and showed us that in so many ways, the resources were phenomenal, the way they learn is just right up my alley, housing is great, hospital is gorgeous, everyone is just so nice!
The enthusiasm for the current medical students was unmatched by students at any other interviews I have had so far. They don't just like the program, they LOVE the school/program/city.
pretty much everything. the three major things i didnt like were:
1) pretty much no problem-based learning
2) sinai hospital is private (im very interested in public hospitals)....they have a lot of public affiliates, but their main hosp is private
3) their md/mph program is crammed into four years. this might be good for some people, but im concerned that it will diminish the quality of both degrees (you have to cut your clinical electives to take mph courses)
Students seemed earnestly happy at this school. The environment was very laid back and the interviews seemed to be geared towards really getting to know me, rather than intimidating me or asking me to defend my life.
Interviewers were very nice. Their apartments are nice for NYC housing. Looks like a good clinical experience. P/F first two years. NY is great although not in the best part of NY.
The location--I'd never been to NYC before, and I liked it a lot; the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students; the sense of community; the international opportunities
i liked the students a lot at mount sinai. a very cordial and communcal atmosphere, starting with my very friendly student host. i think the students are happier at mt sinai than at any other NYC school...mount sinai seems liek a fun place to spend 4 years.
The students seemed really nice and enthusiastic, a true pass/fail grading system, clinical opportunities, diversity of patient population, New York City, MPH program, international opportunities, all faculty and interviewers were extremely friendly and supportive, central park, proximity to subway stop
EVERYTHING!! This school is my first choice. I thoroughly loved the housing (best housing in terms of price and quality that I've seen yet from NY schools I've interviewed at), integrated curriculum, pass/fail grading, students all are very happy and geniunely express that they are not overly worked and stressed out. The school shows excellent residency placements while giving their students room to have a life outside of schoolwork to become their own people. I stayed with a student host, who was very nice and accomodating. The admissions officers really know your application and know who you are when you get there for the interview. I had a great time speaking with both of my interviewers and both gave me room to show myself rather than suffocating me with their ideas and thoughts. I finished my interviews feeling as though I really got to show MSSM who I am. The area is great. I personally am looking for a lively, vibrant environment to spend my Medical School years and MSSM is perfect for such an atmosphere.
Nice facilities, caring administration. Nice apartments compared to other NYC schools, although I hear the married student housing is less than stellar.
Everything. The dorms, schools, hospitals and students are amazing. I love the whole atmosphere of the school. Financial aid is really good if your parents don't make alot of money.if you need to fly out later in the day you ca skip luch ad tour right after 12PM.
Lots of early clinical exposure, community service and opportunities for research. Also, the students really love Sinai and seem to have found a balance between life and school. The students were also very proud of their school. While waiting in the cafeteria I was approached by a random 2nd year who asked if I was interviewing. When I told him I was he very enthusiastically told me how much he loved Sinai and was so happy that he decided to attend.
the curriculum, the housing, the administration is very put together and really cares about the students, the location, it's a really really impressive school
The Guggenheim Pavilion is beautiful, the students are very friendly and happy, the dorms are fairly inexpensive and seem livable. I was worried about the neighborhood since I know the school is on the border of East Harlem, but the students say that they feel safe and the area really didn't seem too bad.
How laid back and open the students are. My interviewers were great and matched my personality almost perfectly.They really stress diversity and community service serioulsly. Its not just talk. The location is great also, directly between York St (which is very first class) and spanish harlem.
location, location, location. I love NYC, and to be able to live in the Upper East Side is an awesome opportunity. The human stimulator and the intibation stimulator was great.
the school is great. the presentations were fantastic and down to earth and really helpful. the surrounding area is great and its in NYC. OVerall, the school made you feel wanted! they do an excellent job of catering to students needs.
Sinai's financial aid, the location, the diversity, the friendliness of staff and students, the number of organizations, the fact that you can start whatever interest group you want and they'll give you funding for it, whatever you are interested in researching just ask and they'll find you a faculty member, the views from the school and hospital, the student recreation office and all they have to offer... what can I say-- it is an excellent school in NYC.
Beautiful hospital because of the super rich who live to the south of the place, but still get lots of good cases because Spanish Harlem is just to the north.
The housing, the students seemed really enthusiastic and the administration seems very responsive to the students. The Assistant Director for Admissions knew my application extremely well and organized a meeting with the Chief of Plastic Surgery while I was waiting in between interviews.
Friendly admissions staff, associate director of admissions knew everyone's background pretty well, interviewees were from various backgrounds, nice dorms.
the facilities are really nice, the students all seemed happy to be there, they have awesome guest lecturers, the neighborhood. the presentations by the different offices were really helpful. and their dorms are awesome
It was a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. It is a nice part of Manhattan. The curriculum is well balanced and integrated. The professors were knowledgable and the students were engaged.
the location is awesome, in upper east side manhattan, right next to central park. the curriculum is somewhat integrated, and they have lots of opportunities for people to explore their interests early on. the interview day is not pushy-they know the school isn't for everyone, but they have a really good program. the students have a lot of free time during the week. their apt-style dorms are huge, much bigger than i expected for new york city, and they're right across the street.
The surrounding area is easy to get to and very nice. Its a good mix of underpriveleged and overpriveleged people. Their facilities and buildings are all really beautiful.
low stress environment. only pass fail grades for first two years. NYC. students were open and friendly as were the interviewers. inexpensive housing in the upper east side right across from school. a PHD interviewed me. got a different perspective on the school.
Willingness of students to spend a lot of time talking with us about the school, and answering all of our questions in depth. Neighborhood, number of opportunities for volunteering with community groups.
They really seem like they take care of all the little details to make the students happy (great place to live, windows in anatomy labs, dedicated faculty).
Students were very happy. The atmosphere was very low stress. Everyone I met seemed very involved with the local community and was intent on making a difference. The anatomy lab was pretty cool. Tunnels were sweet too.
The school's locations rocks. A mix of affluent and indigent patients. The pre clinical curriculum seemed very relaxed. Great clinical opportunities at sinai and elmhurst. Students seemed very friendly. Best housing of any NYC school
The students are very laid back, and the new curriculum is showing very impressive results in the boards. It's a school that focuses on the care aspect of medicine. I can appreciate that
Both interviewers were friendly, and seemed to really just want to get to know me. The students seemed happy with their school, though it may have been because they just finished their last final before the holiday vacation. The housing was really nice, especially compared with the others schools I've seen. Since there is so much waiting time, there's not much to do besides talk to the other interviewees--everyone was really friendly...almost like there was a sense of camaraderie!
the students seemed GENUINELY happy there--not like at other schools where you can tell they are faking it. The location is terrific, and the housing is awesome. It's ridiculously cheap to live there, and the apartments are pretty nice. They give you lots of free time, at least in the first year, so students have a life, and they have a lot of resources to help you have a life for cheap. You can see Central Park and downtown from their labs, which was kind of cool.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of preparation and engagement from interviewers, unimpressive facilities, disorganization during the interview day, negative interactions with students or faculty members, and a perceived bias towards Ivy League applicants. Suggestions included improving interviewer training, enhancing facility conditions, increasing organization during interview days, fostering a more welcoming environment, and addressing any biases in the admissions process.
In the student Q&A they said the financial aid office is very difficult to work with.
Neither one of my interviewers seemed to have read my app ahead of time. One of them was skimming through my amcas as I talked and asked me random questions that just reflected how poorly they have prepared
The school seems aware that they are losing highly competitive applicants to better-known schools in part due to lack of financial aid, but they don't have a plan to address this. No, that isn't easy, but they have lots of other plans going on.
one interviewer was texting and inattentive, but she must have been busy with her other work. other than that everyone was warm and welcoming and the tour was thorough
None of the students were studying in the middle of a weekday (they were playing pool/watching TV/etc) and many of them walked into class late as if this was the norm.
I didn't like the students I met. The few that talked to us or gave us a tour guide were strange. I'm always hesitant to say I didn't like the students though because you only meet half a dozen, which is a small sample size of the 100+ at any med school. Also the lunch was rushed, we had like 5 minutes to eat because we were falling behind schedule in our 1.5 hour tour. They should have given us more time to eat and shorten the tour.
The professors who interviewed me were both unfriendly, unnecessarily aggressive, and one asked me odd personal questions. The students who we met were ditzy, unfriendly, and generally unimpressive. I had a miserable time with my student host, who refused to give me a blanket/pillow/sheets or a towel, made me sleep on a couch that was not long enough for me to fit on (though her bed was vacant because she spent the night with her boyfriend), and who seemed to care more about theater auditions than medicine. The suite mates gave me just as negative an impression of the school.
Curriculum - Not a huge fan of the curriculum. It's very traditional, lecture based system, with the usual divisions of organ based physiology in the first year and then pathophys in the second year.
Financials - this isn't a biggie, but the school has been through some financial troubles in the past
The tour was not as comprehensive as it should have been so I felt like I didn't get a good look at the hospital. I got a good look at the lecture halls, etc, but we only saw basically the entrance of one floor of the hospital. Our tour guide (he usually didn't do tours but all second years had a mandatory meeting that day or something like that) was practical but kind of discouraging. It's really nice when I don't always see med students who are always like ''This is the best school EVER'' since I think it seems kind of generic and fake...but this tour guide was a little over the top with his negative comments.
One of the med students who came by to talk to us said ''If you don't get in, don't worry, because medical school is totally boring and not fun.'' That was sad to hear! Also, one of my interviews was way under the 30 minute time slot and the interviewer kept cutting me off, as if he wanted to get it over with quickly.
That 5/6 interviews were on the same day! That we had 1 group interview with a student guide which was evaluative. That half of my interviewers showed extreme doubt about the usefullness of MD/PhDs in general, and didn't seem to buy the school's own bottom line of ''translational research'' which was repeated incessently by the program coordinators.
The tour was a bit abbreviated because it was the one day of
the week when the guides have class in the afternoon. The
lecture halls are pretty dark and dreary.
one of my interviewers was an a-hole, area is fine but not great, 3 year students seemed sort of disappointed in housing options and in some of her rotations in NJ (??? )
The building is a bit drab and there are literally NO KNOBs on doors. You get a door by the break in color! This only negatively impressed me to a minimal extent. It was a bit hilarious even!
It was raining (not pouring but not sprinkling either) and instead of taking the tunnel our rude tour guide took us outside instead, getting all of us interviewees and our not cheap suits wet. That really annoyed me because we were approaching the building that would have taken us to the tunnels but then our tour guide just cavalierly decided it didn't matter and without asking any of us started walking outside. Grrr...Luckily, our other tour guides were nice.
Though the 12th floor is apparently being renovated, right now it appears a little shoddy. The anatomy lab looks like it could get crowded and the lecture room looks like it could get pretty cramped after a 2 hour lecture.
this is really minor--felt like lunch was rushed but that was only because my tour guide wanted to give us a very complete tour of the facilities/housing so the tour ran a little over.
The location is good for diversity of patients and eye opening, but not a lot to do in that area.
There isn't much of a campus feeling, but it's NYC.
School does not have a bookstore and library seems to be be unimpressive.
The school offers great apartments, but the hallway was dirty and everything smelled of dirty.
The apartments/bldg would be amazing if they were clean.
Very few lectures are recorded and posted online.
One of my tour guides was a little over the top and a bit annoying. The dorms, while nice, weren't really that impressive. Although, the price is right. Some of the facilities just seem a bit downtrodden. I don't like how Sinai's not part of a University - seems like it's missing something I just can't put my finger on.
Well, as a graduate of a lowly public university, I was a little put off that everyone else in my interview group and many of the MSSM students who came by to talk to us were all from big-name schools--Cornell, Stanford, Columbia, etc. But at least one of the student tour guides was from a state U, so it doesn't seem to be a pre-req of getting in. Oh, the high cost of living in NYC is of course a negative, coming from a substantially less expensive city, but I already knew about that.
One of the student tour guides seemed fairly arrogant. For the most part the students were phenomenal, so I won't let that affect my opinion of the school. Also, the third and forth years are graded.
the interview and the tour.. Tour was disorganized. Such a waste of time. The interviewer was very aggressive and a little bit rude. Really turned me off to the school.
The fact that to most students live in subsidized apartments. The housing was really cheap, close to the school, and attractive...but I'm not sure I can go back to having roommates again after living on my own for several years
the fact that interviewers did not display a whole lot of emotion (poker face kind of deal) i started to feel like I was boring them with my answers, but it turns out that's what they did to everyone. However, They were very polite, fair and direct, and never tried to trick me in any way.
When the assistant admissions director told us that last year they accepted someone 3 days before school started, so the wait could be that long, but don't give up hope.
Mt. Sinai seemed to really stress how they are "different" from other NY schools, but nothing really stood out to me. Some of the Admission staff who were supposed to spend time with interviewers seemed very rushed-- did not make the time for students. I also was disappointed that no one addressed the financial issues Mt. Sinai is having. I have been at other schools with similar situations who are very up front. They state the problem, how it is being addressed, and how it will/will not affect med students. Nothing was said at Mt. Sinai, and questions about it aren't really appropriate from an interviewer. I would have appreciated some initiative and forwardness from the admins. on such an issue.
The whole day seemed a bit disorganized. I also did not like either of my interviewers. Neither of them asked any challenging questions, and both were very drab.
That the dorms are all 4 or 6 people suits and its unlikely that i will be able to afford a normal 1 bedroom or studio apartment in midtown. The tour was a little toooo long, dang! My day started at 8:30 and didnt end until 3:30.
One (student, I beleive) interviewer seemed to be very concerned why my research has not been published. Constant comparison to NYU by students was a bit too much.
The main dorm, Aron hall, is next to the train tracks. So it is a bit noisy. The hallways are also unkept and smelly. However, the apartment style housing is decent overall.
lot of waiting around between interviews and before the tour and lunch. i had my 2 interviews back to back at 9, was done by 10:30, and had to wait until 1pm for lunch.
As others have mentioned, for some reason, they schedule the financial aid session when some are still having their interviews. I missed half of the session die to mine.
the administration was not too 'attentive' during the interview day...for long periods of time, we were left to sit and talk amongst ourselves in a small room.
Students weren't as outwardly friendly as at some other schools... we didn't meet anyone besides the tour guides and two students who dropped in to mooch coffee and bagels. On the other hand, they'd just taken a physio exam.
The facilities were not as nice as I expected. The classrooms looked pretty run down. Budget contraints are a little bit disturbing... students were griping about the paperless curriculum.
My second interviewer didn't seem too thrilled to be with me. In fact at the end of the interview he said, "Thank you. I'm sure you'll get into other schools". What does that mean?
Several thing. First of all, they made us wait FOREVER. We arrived at 8:15, had a quick talk from the dean. Then we had two 20-30 minute interviews at some time between 9 and 12... so for two hours, you had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do. Then, from 12 - 1, NO ONE had ANYTHING to do... we all just waited. At 1, we finally had our lunch and tour. We were absolutely starving by this point. The food was pretty good, though. The tour was absolutely the most poorly conducted tour I have ever had. They didn't have any idea what they were doing. They just talked to each other the whole time. The tour guide confessed that the school was called "Camp Sinai" because they never did any work. IN fact, they told me that even if they had an exam on a monday, they would go out over the weekend before... that seemed a little strange to me. They really didn't sound like they did any work at all. The school didn't seem that bad, but the interview day was horriblely boring.
I don't know how to describe it: this indeterminate happiness of the students. They all say it's great and more laid back than anywhere else yet they all do well on the boards and go off to good places. Also, the location isn't the most happening part of the city, although you're right next to the park.
They have pass-fail grading, so your whole residency match depends on how you do your third year. I personally prefer honors-pass-fail so that the first two years aren't totally meaningless for your future.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the lack of emphasis on specific questions during interviews, the relaxed atmosphere, the need for comfortable shoes due to extensive walking, the early arrival time, and the financial aid presentation. They also mentioned the importance of being prepared to summarize their candidacy briefly and to inquire about their parents' financial contribution.
That nearly everyone interviewing at this school attended an Ivy league/super prestigious school for undergrad.
Don't get there early. I got there 30 minutes early and there were no admissions faculty in the office. Also the room that it's in starts with a 13 which means it's on the 13th floor, and there are 3 different sets of elevators to take you to different floors. Also it is in the hospital so everyone has somewhere to be, so try not to get in anyones way on the way there.
How super duper relaxed the interviews would be. They are not out trying to get you. No ethical or healthcare reform questions whatsoever. It's basically about you.
That I would be asked to summarize my candidacy in a few words for the admissions committee by one interviewer; I should have prepared better for that question.
The schedule of the day. It goes like this... You arrive at 8AM, have some pastries and drinks. Then the dean comes in and talks to you for an hour, answering any questions about the school and telling some stories. Right after you have two interviews, each 30 minutes, and they're in the admissions office so you don't have to walk far. After that is financial aid (this school admits they don't have as much money as other schools), followed by lunch and a tour. You're done by 2pm
make sure and check in with the administrative asst's before you leave for the day. student tourguide told us we could ''take off'', so I did, and turned out that I missed a short wrap up session. co-interviewee told me later. probably not a big deal, but bad form anyway.
There are two seperate tours. There will be a financial aid presentation. The assistant dean of admissions is young, funny and good looking. The buildings seem a bit hard to navigate. The living situation is the best of all 4 medical schools in Manhatten!
That my student interviewer would ask me a couple ethics questions...no other interview feedback mentioned something like that so i went in just expecting a conversation and didn't really have my ethics ''game face'' on...but it was pretty good regardless *I hope*
I don't really wish that I had known this ahead of time, but I'll use this spot to talk about Aron Hall. In terms of housing, I don't think that it gets much better than Aron Hall. Its pretty spacious (for Manhattan) and really cheap (again, for Manhattan). Also, its only 2 blocks from the med. school.
That the school was pretty much in spanish harlem and not upper east side.
Doesn't matter much, but I didn't know.
If you are staying with a student bring sheets and a pillow, be ready for the couch and the noise from the train.
I do recommend staying with a student, but just for experience.
That it take almost an hour from midtown by subway to get to the school -- made for an early but long morning before I even arrived. The student hosting would have had me couch-surfing (not ideal), but the school actually has a hotel-style residence right across the street. If I had researched that, I would have stayed there and saved the commute.
they have the best housing of any school ive been to yet. definitely the best of all the nyc schools. beautiful 4 or 6 person apts (with 2 and 3 bathrooms respectively) that are guaranteed for all four years. some are two floors and even have their own terraces. two blocks from central park. and only $550/month! (which for you non-new yorkers is super super cheap for that neighborhood)
If you're traveling alone, stay with a student host. This wasn't an option for me, as I didn't think anyone would want to put up me and my partner, but hotels in NYC are spendy and it seemed like all the students were super friendly and would be good resources.
I wish I had been better prepared. One of my interviewers took me into this HOT room with a fan in the corner, it was facing the wall. He sat me directly across from him and bum rushed me with questions. It was a pretty intimidating environment for the interview. I felt like I was being interrogated in a Caribbean prison. I have to add that the other interview was very nice.
how well i was gonna get along with the med students.. i would have taken more time off to hang out. Also how you leave without any idea of how you did. it could have gone either way, but i'm happy that I went regardless since the experience was very pleasant and the people were incredible.
That its 6 people per suite in their guarenteed 4 year housing, and that the train runs above ground right outside their windows. Although the suites are very nice and really affordable for the space you get, being in NYC, and being so close to campus - literally across the street.
Lots of walking, ladies. There are two distinct tours (school and hospital) that take place after your interview, so I would suggest bringing a pair of comfortable shoes to walk around in.
Just how wonderful Sinai's financial aid endowment is- wow. That you have the opportunity to explore pretty much whatever you want, all you have to do ask.
Dont listen to what the others say about 'down time' or waiting around. There was hardly any waiting around, and if you got hungry they had food. Yes by the end we were all exhausted, but thats because they had a lot to show us!
If you take the subway there, walk to Madison before walking to 100th street. There is a train track that prevents you from crossing from Lex to Mad above 97th street.
1)Mount Sinai actually gives decent $$ aid packages. And that at 'only' ~49,000/yr total it's one of the most reasonably priced NYC private medical educations you can get. 2)MSSM is the only school in NYC to have a patient simulation lab. All the other NYC schools send their students to MSSM to use it.
That the day was going to be poorly organized--there was LOTS of waiting around. Make sure you eat a big breakfast--all of the interviewees were starving before lunch was even close! Also, the interviews are strictly held to 30 minutes--the interviewers kept watching the clock, and my second interview, which started 10 minutes late, was cut off after 20 minutes by a phone call telling the interviewer that time was up!
They want you to be there at 8:15, but the interviews don't start until about 10, so you have lots of free time. Either bring something to do or go observe a class.
Applicants generally provided feedback about Mount Sinai's interview process, emphasizing the overall friendliness of the staff and students, relaxed interview atmosphere, and positive impressions of the school's community and facilities. Some applicants noted a mix of experiences with interviewers, ranging from laid-back and conversational to more confrontational or disorganized interactions.
Sinai should drop the elitism attitude. They need to also fire misogynistic men who question whether or not a student can handle the time commitment due to their gender. I do not recommend this school based on the toxic admissions committee.
All in all, Mount Sinai seemed like a friendly, student-oriented place with a dizzying array of things to do and focus on, and a good place to train in New York.
Day was low stress but exhausting
Interview day started early (8:00) with a talk by some guy (I forget who) who answered questions, there were interviews from 9-11 (I had two 30 min interviews with physicians), students came to the room to chat in between interviews, financial aide presentation by Dale and then tour+lunch after until about 2:30 or so
I was really impressed by the school, but it was a long day. Was tiring to hear students go on and on about how great the school was after 6 hours of hearing it already!
Staying with student host was very convenient
great school, great impression, everyones positive and friendly, facilities are great, interview went generally well, really just looking to get more detail about your application file
I thought I would like this school a lot coming in, but I guess the disorganized interview day and weird students rubbed me the wrong way. I'm sure I would still enjoy the school a lot given its location and opportunities, but sometimes the interview day can skew your perception, like it did for me. Hopefully I'll get to take a second look and then have a better idea.
I'm surprised that a school with such a strong reputation gave such a negative impression. Perhaps it was just an unfortunate coincidence that all of the unengaged and unkind students at Mount Sinai were involved with admissions on the day of my visit.
AMAZING! Interviewed at several top/prestigious schools, and there's really only one school I would choose over Sinai. Loved the student body - extremely down to Earth, dorms are $530 a month on the Upper East Side - insannnnnnnne!!! Loved the community feel, in that they are really the keystone of East Harlem, unlike other med schools, which sometimes seem to feel separated from the community they serve. Also great for research - it pretty much has it all, and I loved it!
Great school. Introductory meeting with the dean gave great insight into the school; the Dean was very approachable and friendly. Interviews were conversational and relaxed. No difficult questions. Met many students throughout the day in the interview lounge who answered questions about clinical training and student life. Overall, great interview day.
Lovely school with a wonderful sense of community. If you want to go to school in NYC, and want a top tier education, without more gunnerish elements (which you may or may not find at Cornell and Columbia)
Excellent - the interviewers were laid back, and at no point made me feel uncomfortable. They were just trying to get a sense of who I am, and we talked about somer random stuff having nothing to do with medicine (bowling, cornell, etc.)
Presentation by Admissions senior administration, a welcome, interviews and between interviews med students come in and talk with us candidly, fin aid presentation, lunch and tours.
great!
This was my first interview and it has been my best interview experience so far. The people and my hosts were so friendly and genuine. The hosting arrangement was great and the day didn't drag on unnecessarily. We started with the usual introduction of school, fin aid talk, interview, and tour.
I was really excited about this program, but the interview experience was a little disappointing. I was offended to be put down because I couldn't afford to attend an expensive Ivy League. Most of the other students who applied were from wealthy families and attended schools full of like-minded students. I tried to spin my state university experience as intellectual diversity, but it may not have worked!
This was my first interview and I came away with a really positive feeling-not that I think I'll get in-just that everyone, interviewers included, made things really comfortable, and pleasant.
short breakfast and info session in the morning. then 2, 30 minute interviews (open file). then a lunch and tour of the school and hospitals. loved everything about it. hope they let me in!
For the actual interviews, we were brought into room by interviewer, clarified parts of AMCAS app (mostly activities), asked why you're interested in Mount Sinai. Low stress.
Rest of the day was typical of an interview experience. We had a powerpoint presentation, met a bunch of current students, we chatted with the deans, toured the school with students, had lunch, yadda yadda.
It was great the school is really student friendly. After each lecture students rate professor --- great, and school is really community service oriented like myself
I just liked the students and the school. I read a lot of complaints about how the day drags and how inefficiently they organized the day but mine was fine. Intro session was at 8:10, my first interview at 9:30, second at 10:30, financial aid at 11:30, and lunch and tour at 12. I was home by 2 and perfectly happy with the schedule.
There was some confusion with the interviews, because one
interviewer cancelled at the last minute so schedules were
switched around. Both the interviewers and the students were
very laid-back and friendly.
really laid back, everyone was very nice. big emphasis on students coming by and talking to us. everyone seemed to like the school. interviewers were faculty, and they did not interrogate at all, just friendly conversation with no curve ball questions. great facilities, great location, cheap and great housing.
I did not know what to expect from Sinai and came away simply amazed. Everyone, the students, interviewers, admissions staff, is incredibly warm and helpful. The students who came in during the day had a lot of interesting things to say and did not give off a sense of pretense as I noticed at other interviews. The 2 3rd-year students who had lunch with us and gave us the tour of the hospital/clinic/simulation room were really engaging and honest. The anatomy lab is incredible and the simulation and standard patient rooms were equally impressive. There's a strong sense of community and cooperation at Sinai, which helps when in a huge city.
I had a good time. During the gap between my two 30-minute interviews a flood of first year students came in to ask questions. They all seemed to get along well, as if Mt. Sinai fosters a community among its students.
I went into this interview pretty excited and was a little dissapointed. I had two interviews, one with a man who had to be over 90 and talked so slowly i almost couldnt tell if he was done with his question or just pausing to catch his breath. The older man was at least nice. My second interviewer was condescending and rude. He would ask a question, I would answer it. He would give me a puzzled look and in an annoyned tone say ''let me rephrase'' and then ask the exact same thing. He grilled me about why a particular drug was used on a certain disorder on a study i worked on, he wanted drug mechanism, which thank god i had studied randomly before the interview and knew. He seemed impressed after that and ended the interview.
It was an incredible experience. For everyone in my interview group was chatting and had interesting experiences to share. They were definitely the types of students I wanted to go to school with.
The day started with an introduction by the assistant dean. She gave us folders and outlined the day for us. Then we were given a presentation of Mount Sinai by Dr. Rows (sp?). It was extremely informative and highlighted all the positive aspects of MSSM. Next were the interviews. Unfortunately they stick to a tight schedule of 30 minutes each so be sure to say what you have to say! I really really really wished that they were longer because I had so much more to say about myself and the school but they had to stop the interview because they interview back to back. In between your interviews you be in the waiting room where random medical students will come in and chat with us. All of them seemed pretty content with the school. The financial aid presentation came next after the 2 hour time period alloted for interviews. Unfortunately the dean of financial aid was away on my interview date so we got a hand out instead. The tour was conducted by two second years and we got to see everything. The anatomy lab is by far the best of all the schools I've seen. It's large and has an INCREDIBLE VIEW! Simply amazing! Really makes you want to hang around the lab more often! The lecture halls are a bit drabby and the school is horrible at controlling a stable temperature throughout the building. The apartments are extremely nice also. We got to see the duplex apartments. HOLY COW! They also have an amazing view and the balconies connect so it seems to bring students together. The hallways of that building though...not so nice. Lunch was ok, wraps again like almost every other school but I couldn't be bothered to care because everything about the school wowed me so. The second tour was the 'clinical' one. Our tour guide was a no show but luckily a really nice third year came in and volunteered herself even though all she wanted to do was just wanted to say hi to us. We saw parts of the hospital and the simulator patients that they have. We also went to see the Morchand center.
They day went really well. All the staff and interviewers seemed incredibly happy and my interviewers seemed to love teaching. It's hard to find negative things about the school, probably that the neighborhood shuts down around 10pm according to the medical students. Oh well, there's always downtown!
There was a brief intro then a thirty minute orientation. Then the two interviews are scheduled from 9:30-11:30am with any downtime you experience spent in talking to the med students who come by the admissions office periodically throughout the morning. The interviews were open-file and very relaxed, focusing more on me than on my app. My interviewers could not have been nicer :) Then there's a financial aid session, lunch and two tours. Overall, it was a pretty pleasant experience and the fact that we got done early was just the cherry on the top!
Two 30-minute interviews with faculty. The faculty present you to the admissions committee and are there to advocate on your behalf. Anything you tell them that you want the committee to know will get across. Keep that in mind, they are there to help you in the process. Be ready to describe lots of previous experience. You should have a solid reason for wanting to attend Sinai.
I was very impressed with the school, the hospital, and all the people. I did not expect much going there, but I came away with a new enthusiasm for Mount Sinai.
It was a pretty great day...not too long..the fin. aid presentation was really boring..although the guy expected it and he was pretty nice about us kind of fading out a little there.
In the morning the dean comes in and asks you to introduce yourself. They put a lot of emphasis on extracurriculars (in some ways it felt like attending a private preparatory high school). Then you have two open file interviews with faculty (sometimes students interview) half an hour each. Then you've got tours and such from 11 until 2 or 3pm.
The day begins a little early at 8:30 am. But don't worry, after the interviews there is a financial aid presentation... I usually take that time to hit the snooze. The tour was well organazed
At the start of the program, Kelli Bailey introduces herself and welcomes each applicant one by one. She is well acquainted with everyone's file and asks you to say more about something in particular when introducing yourself.
Everyone was really warm from the start and made us all feel comfortable. The interview group size was about 10, which was a nice number to get to know the other interviewees and still have a lot of people to talk to.
One of my two interviews and most of the other applicants interviews that day were really laid back and straight forward. One of mine was sort of strange and he liked to ask a lot of philosophical questions and argue with you, but in the end it was still a ncie conversation...he just likes to be different.
Great interview, low stress.
Got in, presentation from admissions office, presentation from Dean about school.
Interview rooms are tiny little closet like spaces. You sit around and wait for interviewer to come get you. In the mean time A LOT of students came by to say hi and talk about the school.
Then we were taken to lunch, could eat anything we wanted in cafeteria.
Had lunch with studnets in a very nice student lounge.
Went for a tour of school and hospital with second years.
Went for tour of clinical facilities with fourth years.
It was great to see the perspective of students from both beginning and end of med school.
First they talked to us a bit about the school and the curriculum, and then ina span of two hours we all had our two interviews of 1/2 hour each. The interviews were very relaxed and absolutely nothing to worry about. While we waited in between interviews students came in and went on and on about how great Mt sinai is. Then we had lunch (we could get anythign we wanted from teh cafeteria!), and a tour of the school and dorms. Finally we had a tour of highlights in the hospital. Let's just say that even though coming in I was not expecting much after what I saw today I am goign to Mt Sinai if they let me in, despite the expense!
I was blown away by the enthusiasm of the students that stopped by to talk to us while we waited for our interviews. All seemed extremely happy with the program, with their fellow students, with the camaraderie, and of course with NYC. I felt very relaxed and both interviewers strove to make me feel comfortable. Interviews were not scary, they were just about getting to know me. As a non-traditional applicant, this may have been more stressful for me than for your basic straight-out-of-college interviewee. The tour was a bit haphazard, and it was unclear if we needed to stay until the end. Overall I was impressed and excited about the school. They seem to have a ton of opportunities to volunteer, do research, get hands-on learning early on.
Overall, a very positive experience. It really solidified all the feelings I had about Mount Sinai to begin with. I really liked the fact that people seemed happy here and were willing to volunteer their time to talk about their experiences. I felt more like a person than an applicant, for a change.
I had a great time at Mt Sinai and in NYC in general, and could seriously see myself at this school after the interview. They favor humanities majors and seem like a really progressive school which also has a great foundation in a well-established hospital, so it's a strong combination. The faculty seem to really know and care about students personally, which is very different from my undergrad institution. A lot of students stopped by while we were waiting between interviews just to say hello and answer questions, and all were enthusiastic about Mt Sinai and had few if any complaints. The interview day was pretty well organized, although the afternoon had a few hitches. The interviews were laid back and conversational, just trying to get to know you. Overall, a pretty low stress experience.
Overall the interview was amazing. It satrted off rather interestingly when the director of Admissions came in and pointed out interesting facts from each of the interviewees files. After that we went for a 30min powerpoint presentation of the school (virtual tour). Then an amazingly helpful 4th year came in and answered all of our questions, while each of us where waiting to be interviewed. After the interviews there was a financial aid presentation followed by lunch in the cafeteria and tour of living quarters and hospital.
The whole day was great, but I felt like I didnt click with my interviewers. It was much more "scheduled" than other interviews I went to that ran over. We stuck to the time limit. I liked both interviewers, it's just that something seemed lacking in our chemistry. Maybe I just feel that in retrospect because I didnt get in. I got waitlisted, but they waitlist everyone.
two pleasant interviewers. the student seemed a little nervous, and i felt like i almost had to run the interview. but she was nice. the faculty member was also chill.
Everything was great. The student housing was great, except for the stupid subway. All the students were enthusiastic about the school and 3rd and 4th years stopped in and answered questions while we were waiting for our interviewers. I really loved the school and the location.
Really one of my best. The day is not too long, and they keep the boring presentations to a minimum. Everyone is very laid back, and they make you feel so comfortabe and wanted. The interviews were pretty much just chatting, mostly about the details of your application.
the process went very well, my interviewers were two faculty members and I had a great time conversing with them, no really tough questions, they are just trying to get to know you better
I loved this school. I loved everything about it; the students, the atmosphere, the city...if I could just overcome the shared housing thing I'd have a perfect match
I believe that 30 minute interviews are too short, and you basically end up answering the same questions twice without really going into any detail.
Spend the night with a med student, they were of great help to me and helped me out throughout the whole process
I visited MSSM after interviewing at the other NYC schools that week. I liked it better than some, less than others. It seems like it would be a nice school to go to.
I love the whole process. The admissions staff was really nice and they provided you with breakfast if you come in early enough. I enjoyed the whole MSSM lovefest from Dean Barnett. I LOVE MSSM before I even got there!!!!!After that, you have two interviews. Luch followed which is exceptional and tour of the facilities which you can skip.
The students and staff are very open to questions about the school or their experiences, and we had numerous opportunities to ask. During interviews, we only have 30 minutes, most of which will be spent for the interviewer to get to know your application a little better. The most important question was probably why I want to attend MSSM, since at this point they can only put applicants on waitlists. Our host for the day was straightforward and says most of the class is filled at this point and about 30% of the entering class comes from waitlist. We were advised to send a letter of intent should we be placed on the waitlist. 2-4 weeks expected for a response. I realize that the financial aid information is as important now as it has ever been but the bottom line is that MSSM cost roughly 50k a year and you shouldn't expect much merit-based scholarships. We bought food from the hospital cafeteria and the tour followed. Library, lecture hall, human simulator, standardize patient rooms (where students assess actor-patients), and student apartments were the sights. The day ended at 2pm.
The day starts early with continental breakfast and an intro. from an Admissions Committee member. Immediately following are interviews. The whole group of prospectives interview within the same two hours (each interview is scheduled for about 30 min.). You wait in the lounge, the interviewer comes to get you, asks some generic questions, drops you back off to wait for the next one. Tour of the school/lunch with 1st years comes next. Then tour guides switch and a 4th year takes you around the hospital. All and all, this is a no stress day.
I have heard very good things about Mt. Sinai overall. The students seemed fairly happy, and did not seem over-worked AT ALL. They have plenty of time to chill. Both of my interviewers were boring and not very friendly. One of the doctors kept flipping through my file as I was talking and was obviously not paying attention to what I was saying. He only asked me three questions. I felt like after hearing all these great things about the school, I got a so-so impression overall. However the students seem happy and for the most part the facilities are nice (The lazy-boy chairs in the library are the best!!) There is also a neat exam simulation center where actors fake illnesses. Aside from the student facilities, the hospital is pretty cool. The location is ideal for diverse patients, and right next to Central Park. pass/fail is the best!
When I applied to MSSM (and when I showed up for my interview), I knew virtually nothing about the school. I applied because it is a decent school and I would like to live in New York. I was very impressed by what I saw during my interview day, and Mount Sinai is now one of my top choices. The interviews were very relaxed and non-stressful, more like conversations than interviews.
Overall, a very positive day. I left feeling good about the school and about my interviews. They stress that the interviews should be laid back so that your true personality can come out.
The dean who gave us the slide show was funny and really seemed honestly proud of Mount Sinai. But then again we're talking about New Yawkers. The student interviewer was so accomodating and nice. She told me that my application is beautiful and that my letters of recs were glowing. Phew. Always nice to hear even if it may be untrue. I really was impressed with the school and could picture myself there.
interwiews were both laid back. one was with a professor and the other was with a student. they both basically asked me to elaborate on certain extracurriculars and amcas information. no difficult or confrontational questions.
The day begins with an info session followed by an informal chat with the associate director of admissions. It is all very relaxed and friendly. This is followed by two interviews, usually both with faculty members although some may have 1 faculty and 1 4th year student. My first interviewer was a rather eccentric older doc and it was a little bit of a challenge to get into a rhythm with the conversation. It was actually more like he was interviewing me as a patient than a prospective student which may just be because that is what he is comfortable with. Basically, he just asked questions about my application- pretty standard stuff. My second interview was much better and we had a great conversation on preventive care and how physicians really must become more socially and politically active in order to effect change- an inspiring conversation and I was disappointed when our time was through. We were able to talk with some current students and if you had time between interviews you had the option to sit in on a second year lecture. There was a very informative financial aid session and then lunch and a tour with 2 second years followed by another tour with an admissions staff member. The anesthesia department was interviewing that day so we weren't able to see the SIM lab/diagnostic skills area, but they give you an open invitation to come back to see anything you missed if you happen to be in the area.
Very easy day of interviews - 4 all told. For me, two were with MDs and the other two were with PhDs. It seemed like one of the MDs was interviewing me more for just medical school than MD/PhD, but the other three were all typical MD/PhD interviews. There is a nice welcoming breakfast and goodbye happy hour. The lunch wasn't anything special but it was a good chance to meet with current students.
My first interview was with a student (which counts as much as a faculty interview) and it was very low-key. My second interview was less relaxed, but still relatively low-key.
both interviews were really really relaxed. i wish they'd been longer. i learned as much about my interviewers as they did about me, it was really conversational. both made a real effort to tell me about the school as much as they could, they really sold it to me. they'd also read my file and knew it inside out
Mt. Sinai is an impressive school. They make the effort, it seems, to accomodate the students. There are numerous opportunities to get excellent clinical exposure, and the faculty are warm and intelligent. They also have a good financial aid package. Mt. Sinai is definitely one of my top considerations now.
my first interview with the student went pretty well, very laid back. my second interviewer started by asking me, so what do you think the purpose of this interview is? i told him, to select people who would be happy at mt. sinai. he said actually, all interterviewees are acceptable, but the purpose of the interview is find out what's wrong with people, their flaws, signs of "emotional instability." so he asked me what was wrong with me, and i gave him an answer to the "what are your weaknesses" question which he wasn't satisfied with. he proceeded to keep asking me because he said, "oh, you're not being very helpful." although that part was kind of stressful, i really appreciated his honesty throughout the interview. it was very clear that he knew the interview game, had heard all the standard answers. before we shook hands as we were leaving, he commented, lemme see your hands, yeah they're cold (to see how nervous i was);). overall though, liked his personality and i love the school, i hope after that somewhat stressful interview he got a good impression of me.
The morning started off with a talk from the Dean of Admissions and it was very good because he was very honest with us and gave us a pretty informative powerpoint presentation. Then we sat in the waiting area and people got called in for interviews (the rooms are tiny). Both interviews were very laid back and the interviewers asked pretty typical questions. After that, lunch, tour of facilities which are pretty much on 2 floors of the building, and the dorm. The tour guide and others seemed to compare themselves to NYU a lot. I don't know if there is some competition between them...
i was definitely one of those ppl who walked out of the interview thinking, "wow, what a waste of time that completely sucked. i think my ears are still burning." as it turns out, i must have completely misread the experience, because i was accepted 9 days later. i interviewed with 2 surgeons. the first completely scorched me. i was still reeling from the shock of it when i went in for my 2nd interview. the second surgeon, however, seem to really like me. at the end of the interview he actually asked me, "do you really want to come here?" when i nodded, he said, "good. great. i'll see what i can do." the thing is, as bad as i felt my first interview went, i am still fairly certain that i was accepted 'because' of the interview and not 'despite' it. the reason i think this is because i turned my 2nd app in july or early august, and didn't interview until march. even with the late interview (i was told the class had filled by 3/15, 2 days before my interview), i got accepted before some of my friends did who interviewed back in october. so, i guess what i'm trying to say is that interviews DO count, and hard interviews possibly better illuminate your character as an applicant than an easy, generic interview.
both of the interviewers were very laidback and friendly, but one was more confrontational. he asked me to clarify certain 'troubling' areas of my resume. overall, both were very nice.
My interviewers were really friendly, open, and thoughtful. My application was very well examined, and I was asked about trends in my record. (one of my interviewers did so more than I have experienced at any other school). This interviewer also followed up most questions that I answered with more detailed inquiries about my answer (which I thought was a good thing, but be prepared!)
It was an informal day. There were only 6 of us interviewed by 5-6 faculty in what was supposed to be 30 minute shifts. However, many of us ended up talking much longer than that. While you're not being interviewed you just hang out in a room and periodically different people drop in to talk informally about topics like financial aid. What I liked best about Mount Sinai is that it's really a high-powered institution with an amazing breadth of talent and faculty committment, and yet it's still a remarkably laid back place. The administration truly values student input and there are so many support systems that make it a very nuturing 4 year experience. Definitely my top choice.
All in all it wasnt bad. I was most impressed with how the school tries to make an effort to improve the quality of healthcare delivery to the local population. The clinical exposure seems very strong too - the school has a number of affiliated hospitals and I believe in on of them all the patients come through the ER. One of my interviewers was disturbingly candid with me about the state of medicine so much so that it made me wonder what I was getting in to. His advice though was very sound and is something I will definately use regardless of whether or not I go to MSSM. He said no matter what, during your first year, find a mentor, someone who you can trust and relate to and who will call it exactly how it is. Cardiology might sound like fun, but see how cardiologists live and ask yourself if you can live with that lifestyle.
I really enjoyed myself. My student host was cool, and the school's emphasis on community medicine I really enjoyed. This seemed to be the most student friendly school i interviewed at :)
The location is the best of all the schools in NYC. It's situated such that it's on the border of the low and high SES populations, which will guarantee that you will be exposed to a diversity of patients AND medical cases. Furthermore it helps that you're literally right across teh street from Central Park and a few blocks down from some of the most famous museums in teh world. Great school! I hope I get in!
Overall it went OK. The school was still on winter break so there weren't very many students around and we couldn't sit in on classes, but our tour guide was helpful at answering our questions.
Overall very relaxed and conversational interviews, decent lunch, and nice tour. We were asked to arrive at 8:45am. The dean spoke to the group for a few minutes, but he was done by 9am, and no one had an interview until 10am. Everyone had two 30 minute interviews scheduled some time between 10am and 12:30pm. Each of the interviewers interviewed several of the applicants. There was a financial aid session around 11:30am, when some people had their interviews, but papers where given out that had all the info on them. Our lunch and tour were scheduled for 1pm, and we were supposed to be done with our whole day by 2pm, but we got off to a late start, so we didn't finish till around 2:30. Since we were all so starved, we started by getting lunch at the school (hospital?) cafeteria and eating it in the student lounge. The tour was one of the better ones I've been on, and basically showed us everything except the hospital.
2 interviewers, first seemed with an ob/gyn seemed to go better than the second with a urologist. Expect to hear the *exact* same questions both times so try to act spontaneous when you hear yourself echoing your same comments just a few minutes earlier.
The interviews weren't too bad, but I've had better. The school itself is awesome-I loved it. New York City rocks, and they seem to give you all the benefits of the city without the drawbacks.
It was weird. Probably one of the weirdest ones I had. The first interviewer gave me an old-fashioned hazing, which are not supposed to exist anymore. For example...he said he was not in his best spirits that day (great, thanks!); when I said maybe it was the weather (it was snowing) he said "why don't you wait until you're a doctor before you tell me what's wrong with me". Great, thanks. Interestingly, we broke the ice later on and joked a lot and he said he liked me. The second interviewer was like talking to a piece of cement. Just stared at you. Strange.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should improve communication and transparency regarding admissions decisions, be more welcoming and responsive, and provide clearer directions for navigating the admissions process and interview day. Additionally, some applicants appreciated the friendly and responsive admissions staff, while others recommended minor improvements such as offering MSSM pens instead of pencils and using an online interview scheduler.
The way they operate with admissions/waitlist decisions is very confusing. When I inquired about when I would hear about more admissions decisions/waitlist status, the office was very rude and in the end just stopped responding to emails. They basically refused to answer my questions. Thankfully a very friendly student during the interview day had provided her email and she was of great help.
Maybe give more detailed directions to get to the admissions office, such as go to the thirteenth floor and turn right at the T intersection once you exit the elevator
I didn't like the beginning talk. I would have liked something more structured rather than what are questions, what should we talk about in regards to Mt. Sinai
Hotel Wales which is becoming a condo in January 2020, book it while you can because it's cheap and if you stay with a student you may have to sleep on a couch
