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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 22% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 310 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 inquiring about the applicant's motivation for pursuing medicine, their understanding of osteopathic medicine or the difference between DO and MD, their coping mechanisms for stress, their leadership experiences, and their views on healthcare challenges. Responses also indicated the prevalence of Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with 8 rooms and potential nondisclosure agreements due to the structured nature of the interviews.
Tell me about yourself.
How did you decide on medicine and MSUCOM?
What will your husband and family do when you come here?(I like how she said, "when" not, "if". :) )
I was asked several questions. The most significant are as follows:
What one thing have you done in life that has had the most social significance or impact?
Other than questions listed above...How do you handle stress? Are there student organizations here that you would like to join as an outlet to your stress?
Describe your study habits. Say you had just attended a lecture and had to prepare for an exam on the material. How do you study? Do/can you study well in a group? Are you aware that most people have to change study habits when they matriculate to med school?
How would you deal with this situation (no right or wrong answer): suppose one of your patients came to you and asked you to put his/her life to an end, regardless of whether the patient had a terminal illness or not.
Students said most interesting question asked at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal motivations for pursuing medicine, hypothetical scenarios involving patient care, and opinions on healthcare-related issues. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as some responses alluded to nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted unique questions such as choosing between patients for a transplant or addressing social issues in healthcare.
What is the most unfair thing that has happened to you?
If you were on a deserted island and could bring 3 people with you (living or dead) who would they be and why? Also...what 3 would you absolutely not bring with you and why?
Michigan State's COM motto is "The Science of Medicine, The Art of Caring, The Power of Touch", what do each of these statements mean to you?
If an elderly person had a stroke and could not feed herself, and the family did not care whether she stayed at the nursing home or went to the hospital for tests and left the decision up to you, what would you do?
You are an ER doc. deciding between two patients that need a liver. You only have one liver. One is young but a recovering drug addict and the other is an old professor. How would you decide?
If a patient of yours was struggling with the debate of signing a DNR, what would you do, and how would you convince that family member of the best decision.
A situation regarding an 18 year old longtime patient with the desire to abort a pregnancy...how would I handle it and how does my background mold my decision
If, during one of your first clinical experiences, you went to a clinic and saw that the waiting room was full of African Americans, what would you think? (PS I'm a white female.)
Given a situation in which your spouse could not take your residency years commitment ("it was his b-day, and you have delayed going out for the last three days, and as you are about to step out of the door, your pager goes off once again"... he is usually understanding - but this time he sais "enough is enough"..) What do you do?
I am going to ask you a 3 part question: What is an ethical dilema facing physicians today? What is your stance on it? And how did you come to that answer?
An ethical question was: Suppose you attended a guest lecture by a homosexual male. After the lecture a group of your friends were standing outside the auditorium basically mocking the lecturer because of his sexual orientation. What would you say, if anything, to this group of your peers? (No right or wrong answer)
Two patients need a transplant: One a middle-aged professor, the other a twenty-something former drug addict. Given your choice, all legality and rules aside, who would you want to give the organ to and why?
What would I do if my significant other was understanding until my residency, when for the third night in a row I got paged as soon as we were about to leave, and he got extremely upset about the time commitment.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including challenges in osteopathic medicine, personal adversity, ethical dilemmas, and the differences between DOs and MDs. Some responses mentioned MMI format and nondisclosure agreements, indicating a structured interview process with confidentiality requirements.
biggest challenge faced in osteopathic medicine today
Day went from 11:15am-3:00pm. Met with financial advisor, had tour given by 2nd yr, had lunch, learned about curriculum, and learned about housing options. Wear business casual.
Based on one person that I said I would not bring with me to the island...asked if I would ever confront that person and to role play the situation of me confronting them. This lasted 20 minutes.
What do think is an issue you will have to face as a DO in a practice? (very general quesiton, hard to think of how to answer. I didn't choose an ethical answer, though my interviewer said I could do that too)
An 85 year old male has CHF and any attempts to save him will be futile at best. Do you use your resources to try to save him, or are your resources better used on someone younger?
If she did sign the DNR, and the patient died, how would you go about consoling the family members. He was very impressed by my answer hear of hugging the patient in addition to concoling the patient. He wanted me to stress physical contact which I thought was what any doctor would do.
I'm going to ask you a three-part question: 1. Name an ethical dilemma that is facing physicians today 2. Describe your stance on it 3. Explain how you arrived at that stance.
What do you expect to be the biggest transition for you from undergraduate work to medical school? (this question isn't necessarily difficult, it's just that you ASSUME the interview would understand that the coursework is tedious and the level of anxiety is high)
Imagine you had two patients; one older, pillar of the community, the other younger, irresponsible and abused his health. They both have the same illness and will perish without treatment. There is only enough resources to treat one of them. Who would you treat and why did you come to that decision?
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had a closed file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing with mock interviews, researching the school and osteopathic medicine, and reading interview feedback on platforms like SDN. Many also mentioned reading the school's website, discussing with current students or physicians, and staying updated on medical topics.
Went over my primary application, practiced answering questions with someone else
AACOMAS submitted 3rd week in August. Complete 3rd week in September. Received secondary 1st week of October. Complete with LoRs Nov 10. Accepted Nov 22.
Reviewed my application (specially the personal statement), reviewed the history and philosophy about osteopathic medicine, reviewed the school's website and read a lot of SDN feedback about interviews held at this school
talked with physicians, MSU website, open house last spring, talked with current students, read about osteopathy, student doctor network (read all entries), re-read my application
Read interview feedback, talked to previous people who had been interviewed, asked my parents and friends to describe my best (and worst) qualities. Read "Critical Condition" a recent book on the problems in our healthcare system.
Read MSU-COM's printed materials, asked current MSU-COM students about their interviews, read through the previously asked questions on this website (although I sure didn't need to!)
Visited this website, MSUCOM website, relaxed, got to the school a little early, skimmed the local newspaper, reveiwed articles about osteopathic medicine.
Read MSUCOM website, looked over secondary in depth, and researched Osteopathic medicine in detail, making sure I understood what the profession was all about.
Read this website, read the school's website, and spoke with a retired prof from the school. Plus I have had a few other interviews, which really helps- the first one was the toughest!
Went to other interviews before this one! As long as you know yourself you should never have to prepare for an interview, except for having a few thoughtful questions about the program and why the school is a good match for you.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed with the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, where staff, faculty, and students were described as supportive and enthusiastic. They appreciated the emphasis on a nurturing environment, team work, and the pass/fail system, which created a low-stress and collaborative learning environment.
It was very conversational and very low-stress! It seemed to me like they truly wanted to get to know you as a person rather than your academic history
Staff were extremely friendly. MMI interviewers were great and were there to support you throughout the process. It felt as if they wanted you to succeed, that they were cheering for you to do your very best
It was a small group of people and all of my questions were answered. They have a very strong curriculum, although I don't know how I feel about the summer session of intense anatomy...starting 1 1/2 months before everyone else and essentially have class year round to lighten the course load!
The range of opportunities available to students (course and rotation electives, international opportunities, academic support, etc), the tour guide was very well-informed
The emphasize on medical school education as team work. Gunners are not appreciated group study encouraged. pass/fail system. no record of ranking. classes with allo students. hugh campus
Students and faculty LOVE MSUCOM. it seems like a very nurturing and friendly environment, and they make med school as easy as possible (which still aint easy). Strong, friendly, close student community, with study support for ALL types of learners (lecture notetaking service, group study arrangements, helpful faculty, online lecture videos).
East lansing is a nice, laid back town UNLESS you like a crazy nightlife, then it can be found as well.
my interviewer was one of the best. he was so nice and friendly. he was an MD, who made me feel at ease and seemed like a wonderful professor and mentor to have at MSUCOM
Everyone was nice, the students were very helpful who had lunch with us, and the facilities weren't as bad as I thought they'd be, after hearing about how old they are.
The interview day did NOT impress me...however, I found this out another day (Open House)...nice histo lab where everything is on computer, very friendly students who seemed very willing to work together and help each other out.
That they don't make you sit through four hours of propaganda about the school, they are very personal, Kathie Schafer is a jewel and makes everyone feel very comfortable.
The student run manual medicine clinic, the emphasis on OMM all semesters and clinical experience in the first year. I didn't get to stay for the tour and lunch so I missed out on student comments and a look at the facilities.
The students were super friendly. After a large lecture got out, a ton of students popped their heads in the office where we were sitting to say "hello" and "good luck." The atmosphere at MSU is very chill compared to other schools.
The students there also described being taught "how to be compassionate." For instance, on day one, the students last year learned how to give a good handshake.
I don't know if I was impressed- I was more surprised. Everyone at the school is super nice. The students are practically running around and hugging each other (no joke). The admissions staff introduced themselves and chatted with me while I waited for my interview (I had an afternoon interview- after the lunch and tour). MSUCOM is definitely a close-knit school. The atmosphere felt a little bit too much like high school though......
Also, MSUCOM is ranked #4 in primary care by US news.
The school is ranked #4 among all medical schools for primary care. This was the thing that impressed me most. Also, that the D.O. students are not backstabbing and ultra-competetive.
I didn't really do anything beside interview because of the crappy roads and snow storm. I arrived at 9:15am and was outta there by 10:45am. Financial aide rep wasn't there and I did not choose to have tour/lunch. Anyways, I didn't see much of the school. Facilities are a little run down, but I think the reputation speaks for itself.
the reputation, and the students.......everywhere we went there were students that were willing to answer questions, and their students seemed so happy...it was awesome....
The school does have a strong osteopathic mission, and students really get a lot of clinical contact early. The admissions counselors who met with us at the interview were extremely nice and forthcoming.
The students were friendly and the town was great; it's not too expensive but has everything you'd want or need. Tuition is a good deal if you're in-state. Pass/fail grading system could be a good thing to relieve stress. Good secondary app.
The faculty and students were incredibly friendly, tuition is very reasonable for in state students and living expenses are not bad. It is a very laid back environment, and the students are very satisfied with their education. It is a P/F system which hopefully fosters more stress on actually learning rather than competing for a #1 spot. The school focuses a lot of attention on OMM which I am actually interested in. Also MSUCOM was rated #4 in primary care, has excellent board scores and the residents are regarded very highly. I will most likely attending MSUCOM, they took only 2 weeks to determine admission status.
The interviewer was very friendly and had told me that he appreciated my maturity level (I thought this was funny since I am the most immature person I know). He was laready offering me a position to shadow him and to work with him as soon as his clinic opened up in the fall and handed me his business card. He told me that he was really looking forward to working with me. I have no idea why he was impressed with me, especially since he did most of the talking and rambled. I merely listened attentively.
The students are really great and love the school. Also, the faculty appear to be pretty engaged in the students. They also have a great student-run course notes service that seems to be really helpful.
The people, including students and staff, were SO friendly! It was a very comfortable atmosphere, warm attitudes, and it looks like a great place to study medicine.
The admissions staff was so kind and encouraging. The interviewer was also incredibly nice. I appreciated the length of the interview because it allowed enough time for me to calm down and feel more laid back by the end.
The campus is beautiful. The students are extremely nice and more than willing to help each other out. It's a very friendly environment, and a nice moderate-sized campus city.
The interview was very conversational. He genuinely wanted to know more about me and he was familiar with the area that I am from in Illinois. The campus is gorgeous; it is THE college town.
I stayed with a student while I was there (school provides this as a servce to propective students) and learnt a lot about MSU through that brief relationship.
The location. The campus is beautiful and very nice. The twon is also. It's a perfect size college town, with many different things to do to help take away the stress of school, such as athletics, concerts, theater, stores, etc. A student that I spoke with was also impressive. He had only good things to say about the school and the education he was getting, though he said some students tend to goof off sometimes, but I am sure that is true anywhere.
Finding out that the school operates on a pass/fail system and does not give out grades. This seems to create a more comfortable setting with less competition between students.
Everyone there was SO friendly. I couldn't get over how nice everyone was. Students, staff and those I interviewed with were all great. I loved it. I also loved the OMM lab...it looks like a lot of fun.
Attitude of the students towards the program and the faculty - ability for the faculty to provide sound reason for choosing the osteopathic program over the allopathic program at MSU
It was a nice campus and I like the fact that it's a whole university instead of just the osteopathic school. You take classes with the allopathic students there.
Applicants were most commonly unimpressed negatively by the older and run-down facilities, lack of engagement or enthusiasm from interviewers and tour guides, high out-of-state tuition costs, unstructured interview days, and limited exposure to important facilities. Suggestions included improving interviewer and staff attitudes, providing more engaging and informative tours, addressing facility maintenance issues, and better managing tuition costs and scheduling.
A condescending and impatient interviewer who tried to rush me through the question list and talk down when I needed time to think about an answer, which left a very unpleasant impression. The whole experience sucked!!!
The admission person ended by looking at me and another girl saying, ''MSUCOM is a great school, but it's not worth it if you're out of state.'' (I'm an out-of-stater!)
the VERY old facilities; the fact that everything is shared with the M.D. school; the standard interview questions that did not challange me whatsoever
Somewhat disappointed that it was close to finals week so most students weren't around anymore. No student housing within reasonable walking distance to med campus and starting orientation at the end of June are the only downfalls I can think of.
MSU is a HUGE college town. I've never seen so many undergrads in one place! The med school is a bit away from this, though, so the loud/partying isn't a problem we were told.
the facilities were not so great; the school is HUGE; not everybody at the admissions office was friendly, especially one person who was really, really rude and almost made me cry
A lot! The interview day was VERY unstructured and they did not provide any additional information (except for fin aid) about the COM. Nothing about life in Lansing or information on the school. There was a short tour, but we did not see the lecture hall, histo lab, anatomy lab, or other labs. There was also 2 hours between the tour and fin aid until my interview and they did not plan any activity for me to do. And, seeing that I was the only one who was left before my interview, I was bored sitting in the room by myself! The student said the anatomy lab cadavers were old (the school keeps them longer than they should) and the anatomy lab was very crowded with both COM and CHM students.
They don't have any kind of presentation on the school or the curriculum. Its basically an informal meeting with Kathie Schafer in the admissions office after everyone is done with their interviews, Q and A session. After interviewing at DMU where they really sell the school, it came as a surprise. But I had done a lot of research on the school on my own, and have friends there, so I didn't feel like I was not getting enough info (although other people might have felt that way). MSU's reputation speaks for itself, at any rate.
The school is old. Very old.
No medical library!
Morning classes as a first year are held in a separate (and fairly far away) building then afternoon classes.
Histology is on computers - you never touch a microscope!
Almost all first, and most second year classes, are held with the MD students. (That could be good or bad)
We only got a tour of one building, which is okay... except the students giving the tour told us half of our classes will be in the mystery building (ten minutes away) they didn't show us. If I do end up going to MSU, I'll have to find that building.
Also, doesn't MSU have a medical library? I would think so! I don't know... they showed us a room in Fee Hall and called it the 'library.' One of the students giving the tour said she usually studies in the Law library. I simply was not impressed with the campus.
The overall feeling I had there. The staff/students were kind but seemed bored and didn't seem to get along with each other. I didn't get to see the anatomy department/cadaver lab or some of the other facilities outside of the one main hallway, and it gave me the impression that the school had something to hide. This was reinforced by the way my questions were handled - instead of answering my questions, I kept hearing about an old ranking of MSU in US News and World Report. I got the feeling that the DO program at MSU gets along because of their asociation with the undergraduate program and university in general.
I am already biased against Lansing (Go Blue!), however getting that out of the way, I've lived there before and the city does not offer me that much. I was not impressed by the facilities, they seemed fairly old. The tour guides were very uninformative, and we were unable to access the "high-security" OMM and anatomy labs which was unfortunate. I also did not appreciate being asked to which schools I have previously applied/interviewed and whether I was accepted, how I would choose what school to attend etc. I was nervous that my personal views on such touchy subjects such as abortion would alter my interviewers opinion of me either way-however I think he truly just wanted to know more about me.
Too many things. Again, it may just have been the dayI visited the school. I heard too many positive comments on MSUCOM that I think this may have just been a fluke visit.
1) TUITION for out of state residents is exorbitantly high!!! (65k a year)
2) Studendt ambassadors verbally attacked me. I really didn't appreciate this and had done nothing to warrant such a response.
3) School locks up all of their classrooms that I didn't get to see the labs (OMM or anatomy).
4) Building is pretty run down.
5) I waited for 3 hours because my interviewer was 2 hours late! I didn't leave until after 5 p.m., and I had arrived at the school at 9 a.m. The other interviewees all had left by 1 p.m. I sat by myself in the waiting room. Three hours waiting is extremely long, and I refused to stree myself out by staring at an ethics book or my application so I took a 1 hour nap in the comfortable reclining chairs. By the way, since I was unimpressed with the school, I really didn't care what they thought of me at this point and if they rejected me. Being unporfessional and sleeping in the waiting room obviously didn't affect my admissions into the school since I was accepted into the program even though I am an out of state applicant.
6) The students had a chip on their shoulder since they thought they were in the best school.
7) MD and DO students have lecture together the first year which means that the class sizes are extremely large, I can only imagine that this makes learning a little difficult.
8) Rotations are raffled off and you can only do them in the same hospital somewhere in Michigan for the last two years. You are stuck in the same EXACT hospital for tow years. If you're single like me, you're oretty much screwed over in this process. People who are married and/or have kids have priority over those that are single. In essence, it's not really a raffle. If you're single, just expect to get the last hospital that no one wants.
The administrative staff were not as friendly as I would expect, but it was really not a big deal. The building is a bit outdated adn definitly has the feel of a converted dorm. The out-of-state tuition is scary, but I knew that before going to the interview.
The tuition, I am out-of-state. Also the school goes into the summers (thus year-round)...and this essentially means you pay for 5 years of school versus 4 years.
Found out that the school was year round and tutions with living expenses comes to about 68,000/year. Also, you're two years of rotations are done at one hospital. with electives that you can take somewhere else.
My interviewer was not very friendly. She was late for the interview, she didn't introduce herself or offer any sort of greeting, just started firing off questions right away. She was not even a health professional.
The cost; out of state students should expect to pay about $62,000 a year. Also, the student who took us on the tour didn't show us much and she certainly didn't sell the school.
I wasn't too impressed with the parking arrangements. The lot was full and I ended up having to park illegally. On top of that, I got yelled at by a lady who was attempting to get out of the parking entrance because she decided she did not want to park there. This aggravated me, I moved my vehicle and then proceeded to drive onto oncoming traffic. This was all BEFORE my interview.
The cold, abrasive attitude of the front desk woman in the admissions office, the fact that no one was scheduled to give our tour so they just found three random students, the unprofessional attitude of the students giving the tour, and the fact that the students spent most of their time talking about how to get out of going to class.
Admissions staff, particularly the front desk admissions officer. On the phone I knew she had kind a alittle attitude to her, but when I met her I was very unimpressed, if the schools frontman is uninviting it makes you wonder about the school. Also, I been to a few other interviews and MSU did a horrible job of making you feel wanted and getting you information on the school. and of course I can't forget to mention the poor conditions of the facility. PS I went to MSU for undergrad.
The admissions staff, in part. One of the woman working there was absolutely the nicest and most helpful of any admissions member I have met. The other person I spoke with, however, was extremely negative.
I was also not impressed with the facilities. Fee Hall, where the school is at, is falling apart. The basement was leaking when I was there, and it smelled like sewage. The paint is peeling off the walls. The leture room was nice, with a nice mural outside, but other parts of the building were not in great shape.
Finally, the retired prof I spoke with did not have flattering things to say about the school. The things this professor told me which really stuck was "if you are looking for a school which is moving forward and advancing with medical education, look at places other than MSU."
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews, the lack of dissection in anatomy classes, the year-round curriculum, the high cost of attendance, and the limited options for rotations. They also mentioned concerns about the campus condition, parking situations, and the need to call ahead for parking instructions.
I did know this before I visited, but not before I scheduled the visit...they only interview you if they have questions/concerns about your application. I was already accepted when I visited so the pressure was off!
No map or parking instructions were sent, so I had to investigate and figure it out before coming. Just call ahead and ask about where you can park and about getting reimbursed.
how hard the school really is, students said there were exams every two to three days and that it was hard to fly back home to visit family because you always had to study for an exam or quiz; it's an all-year round school, so no summer breaks =(
I wish I had known that the school requires a commitment to the school within 1 month of acceptance, as opposed to many others who allow commitment in April or May
Planing a new location in MI near Troy. The COM wants to increase their enrollment, and plans to do so starting this year, but admitted that they do not have a lecture hall big enough for the increase in the number of students and the CHM students. All rotations are done in MI and they encourage students to stay in MI to practice.
The fact that though they do have their basic science classes with the M.D. students, all of their second year(systems) courses are just with other D.O. students.
1. The cadavers are already pre-cut. Students just examine them. Apparently this is beneficial because the students will be spending less time in Gross Anatomy lab... they told us to trust them that this was a goog thing. I don't think I will learn any less by simply examining and not dissecting- I just feel I'm missing out on an important med school experience.
2. I learned this 2 weeks after the interview day: MSUCOM has filled up most of their class in December. Currently students are just being interviewed for the alternate list... as new applicants are added to the waitlist, your rank can and does change. The remaining seats will eventually be filled by people on the alterante list.
That the cadavers are already dissected for 1st year students. The current students say this is a good thing because you see many different bodies, but I think the experience of cutting the body and seeing the layers of tissue is better.
That, starting in January, MSU is interviewing for waitlist spots. This is how it works......since the class was filled in December, they now are either interviewing you to place you on the waitlist or no waitlist.......
I was upset by this as it is still January and they are already filling their alternate list......I'm a MIchigan resident too......so I think it is crap that 5 other schools have already accepted me from out of state, and my own state school waitlisted me but whatever......
Be prepared to have either a 15 min interview, or in my case over two hours. I did not know I'd need to befriend a student to help "infiltrate" the "high security" OMM and anatomy labs. On a serious note, I recognized MSUCOM's sincere desire to enlist students that appreciate osteopathic medicine, and desire a first rate education.
Nothing, but for those who don't already know, there are two things that are important to know about MSUCOM: 1)They don't do disection in anatomy at MSUCOM - the faculty disects the cadavers beforehand. 2)Everybody goes out to one of their SCS hospitals for most of their clerkships. There is a map on the MSUCOM website.
That there was only one interviewer. (I knew before arriving for the interview, but not until getting the interview invitation. Its always been 2 interviews in the past.)
The students do not perform cadaver disections during the first year themselves (and they like that), but could take an elective later on if they wish to disect.
That non-health professionals also conduct interviews. Everyone I had talked to and all the reviews I read said that the interviewers were extremely friendly, but I ended up with a very rude one....so be prepared for both.
The REAL cost. I knew it was expensive, but I thought they were including a whole year's tuition. It turns out they were leaving out summer tuition. The school is year-round.
The admissions committee meets every Wednesday. If you call in the afternoon on the Wednesday following your interview, they can usually get you your results.
That DO and MD students share in some lectures. (I brought this up to somebody at the school and asked where all the money goes- TWO medical students paying tuition for one lecture hall, one professor, so on, and yet Fee Hall was still in bad shpae. She had no answer.) I am not sure if shared lectures is a very good thing or a bad thing. As future medical professionals, all physicians should have experience learning together. On the other hand, there is a difference between DOs and MDs, and that difference is the reason I applied to DO schools exclusively. Should that difference be celebrated or blurred? It gave me something to think about.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at MSUCOM to be positive and stress-free, with interviewers being welcoming and engaging in conversations rather than formal questioning. Many appreciated the sense of community and the supportive atmosphere at the school, while some expressed concerns about the high out-of-state tuition and the older facilities.
Great interview setup. Liked that it was closed file and that I had to think on the spot. Really impressed myself with my answers.
It was a low key day because I didn't do an interview. It began with a talk with financial aid which is depressing if you're from out of state...I'd be in debt by $332,000 by the end of my time there! Then you go on a tour and have lunch, followed by a talk with the assistant dean and someone from admissions who answer any and all of your questions!
I am already accepted so I didn't need to interview....Overall, I was very impressed. The range of active student organizations and electives is very impressive. before I visited I knew that I liked the school, but my visit really confirmed my interest. This is definitely one of my top choices.
Started at 11:15, which was awesome. Met with a financial aid advisor for 1 hr, toured with a med student and had lunch in the student cafeteria, met with the Associate Dean for 1 hour, and then with the Student Services director for about an hour and a half. Very relaxed, helpful and nice faculty/students.
the interview was completely stress-free and my interviewer was awesome; however, i don't feel as though the school is on the leading edge of technology compared to other schools...i got accepted, but hopefully i won't have to go there
I recieved a letter offering me admission without an interview due to the "completeness of my application and the quality of my achievements."
I had visited the school on multiple occasions and spoke with various people at the institution. Good luck to anyone who interviews at MSUCOM.
The people were all great, I felt completely at home there. I totally fit into the atmosphere of the school. They emphasized how they chose their students based on community service and that, due to that, the whole class was very enthusiastic about helping each other and just being a team. There is no competitive atmosphere whatsoever, as all the classes are pass/fail. This is the school I want to go to!
The entire day was very personalized and stress free. I met with financial aid, went on the tour, had lunch, met with Dr.Falls, and then had my interview. Everyone I met was very friendly and excited for me to be there. The interview was very conversational. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'm proud to say I already got accepted.
The interview went very well. Not stressful at all. The interviewer made me feel comfortable, making it more like a conversation, rather than an interview. The students are real friendly and you get results fairly quickly about acceptance. I'm proud to say I got accepted this past week.
Not bad. The people that I met were all really nice. Waiting for an hour in the waiting room before my interview was no fun though. The interviewer was really nice though. I just wish that he had asked more straight forward quesitons since that is what I had prepared for.
The day was the least stress free a day could possibly get. The tour students were so nice the prospective students were so nice, the interviewer was so nice and so on. It was relaxed and stress free.
the day was great! overall, my experience was not stressful, and everyone was willing to answer all question I had about their school. as for my interview, it was interesting and my interviewer was thought provocking, and it flowed like a conversation.
It was a very relaxed, free-flowing interview. The interviewer asked me a few questions about my passion for DO and if there were doctors in my family. He then noted a few of my activities and moved from there. When the interview ended I didn't realize I had been interviewed.
Overall, it was a very positive experience for me. My interview was more of a conversation than a structured interview. Everyone involved was helpful. I was never really asked a question that was extremely difficult or controversial. They were honest with their information and in their discussions.
my interviewer was amazing. she was so friendly and made me instantly feel comfortable. she runs the medical spanish program, so once I told her I spoke spanish we really hit it off. about half way through she told me she was going to stop asking questions, so that I could ask her some.
It was as good as an interview can possibly get. Informal type - just a discussion of some current topics and and a few personal questions. Lady who interviewed me was extremely nice.
Fantastic! My interviewer clearly had a few ideas of what an MSUCOM student should be able to bring to the table and worked to find out if I fit her criteria. She was enthusiastic about my concerns and questions. This was the best interview I've had since high school. The interview was very laid-back and informal.
I arrived the night before and stayed at the Clarion. When I woke up I ate breakfast and spent about 10 minutes reviewing what I had written in my applications. I then went to my interview, had a group discussion about financial aid and then toured the building. I left directly after lunch. They notify you within two weeks of your acceptance.
My interview was long (90 minutes) but the interviewer and I had a lot in common and discussed many things outside of the typical interview. I started the conversation by commenting on a painting hanging in the office. That helped establish common ground and a more comfortable environment.
i LOVED my interviewer. he was really nice and humble. even though he asked me a lot of tough questions, he asked it in such a way that i didn't feel intimidated or nervous. my interview could have went on longer than an hour and a half, but i was the last interviewee for the day, and i wanted to go already
I had a great interview experience at MSUCOM. I waited for just 10 minutes in a little "waiting area" with other students who had their interview today as well. Then when I went to my interviewer's office, he immediately started making easy conversation and I felt a little calmer as the time went on. He smoothly transitioned into asking "real" questions related to the interview. I noticed he had a paper with some handwritten bullet points that referred to my personal statement and I figured out that he was interested in hearing about those points in particular. So, instead of waiting for him to ask me questions, I would answer one question he asked and include 2 or 3 of the bullet points that I could read in my response. This way, the interview felt more like a conversation than a questions and answer experience. At the end he asked what did I want to know about MSUCOM, and I took that as my chance to ask all the questions I had about the school, the program, etc... and we spent about 15 minutes talking about my concerns. Then we had a talk with the financial aid person for about 30 minutes which was informative, but she talked really fast and assumed that we already knew everything about subsidized and unsubsidized loans etc... Then we went on a tour of Fee Hall with 2 M1 and we had lunch. That was a great opportunity to ask tons of questions about the classes, professors, textbooks, etc... I asked everything I had questions on to the students because they were very opened to questioning and they were honest too. Then we were done but I had met another M1 student the day before at a coffee shop, and I was able to know other buildings in the school where the lectures are held for example, and where the exams take place and that was really cool. I wish they would show you the Anatomy Lab during the tour and some of the other buildings in addition to Fee Hall.
Great interview, no problems. Interviewer had read my personal statement and asked questions. Being in the medical field, discussions were focused around the hospital settings and how to improve patient care.
Overall it was a good experience at MSU, I was only there 3 hours but it was just enough to see Fee Hall, have lunch and ask Qs to students and interview.
When I arrived at the school we waited in the office to be lead to our interview. There were 6 of us (I think). I was the last one to return to the office by over 20 minutes. Then Kathie, the admissions director, talked with us, and next financial aid. Then students came in and took us on a tour, where basically all we saw was the OMM lab. My advice would be to attend an open house, you get to see a bit more. I have also attended the doctor patient relations class with one of my friends, which was helpful. They don't really show you much, and quite honestly if I didn't know this was such a great osteopathic school, I don't think I would have been impressed what so ever. As I said before, my interview was super intense... and I was asked questions that were not posted on this site, and were about as opposite as I have heard from current students at MSUCOM. I was anxious as hell for about a week and a half, but I was accepted last Friday.
My interview experience was very good. The interviewer was very informal and the interview was relaxed: more like a conversation than an interview. My interview lasted about 1hr 45min because we really became engrossed in the conversations and issues of the discussion.
The school also tries to pick its class by the end of December, so interviews after that are usually for the alternate list. The admissions committee meets every Wednesday, so you can usually find out if you are admitted fairly quickly (my interview was on a Wed. and I was accepted a week later)
The interview was very stressful because of the person who I interviewed with. I am pretty sure that she was not allowed to ask me about past and present relationships, but she spent a lot of time on this subject. I think that it might have been more of a stress interview, because although the interview was not positive (or at least not as positive as others I have been on), I was accepted a week later :)
overall, positive. It was very personalized. The tour was good, they showed me pretty much everything in Fee Hall and surrounding area. I didn't get to go in the Gross Anatomy lab because of some regulations.
They do a very good job of making you feel at home, my interviewer was very laid back and interested in getting to know me, it was very conversational. The students all seem very happy there, and a few of them even went out of their way to come in and answer questions from us.
It was the most laidback interview I have had. It you get Dr. Gorbis (one of the OMM instructors), you are very lucky. This man is very kind and gentle in the interview. In fact, it was so stress free, I had to wonder "whats the catch?" But there was no catch, I was accepted a few days later.
The interviewer made me feel very comfortable yet did ask some challenging questions. Everyone was so laid back in the office and administrators came to chat with us while we waited. Seemed to be a very liberal environment.
A great experience, a great school. It does have a slightly older building, but the students seem to love it there and they had nothing but great things to say about the faculty
I was interviewed by an MD, which was a little distressing. I had to watch my wording a bit - For instance, saying you want to look at patients as "more than just signs and symptoms" may be a little insulting to an MD...
However, don't be nervous if you are interviewed by an MD. I already was accepted, so I know that an MD's opinion is weighted equally with any DO's opinion.
Of course I came down with a terrible cold the day before the interview, but my interviewer was very understanding with all my sniffling. He wasn't really looking for any answers, just trying to see my thoughts on the profession. It was pretty laid back and he had a lot to tell me.
It was a piece of cake---I was nervous for the "ethical" or philosophical questions, but I ended up not having a single such question! Make sure that you formulate questions to ask your interviewer---that is mainly what we talked about, since his main question was "do you have any questions to ask me?" That was about the extent of difficulty of my interview (ie very easy!).
Easy, easy, easy. The day was stress free. The admissions staff truly is really nice. Nothing to worry about at all. Had a tour, lunch, interview... in that order. My interview only lasted about thirty minutes and not the hour I expected (this is normal according to the admission's office). I got interviewed by a pHD so he didn't ask me any questions about why medicine, why DO, or what do you think about healthcare. He asked me straight forward questions like did you do research or do have teaching experience. He wrote down notes from my responses and at the end of the interview, he told me he had more than enough info to represent me to the committee. This is why I think the interview was shorter than usual.
My interviewer was so nice- he was casually dressed (sweats and sneakers)... this put me at ease. Also, I could be wrong about this since I can't remember who told me... but I heard the interviewer does not have your academic record (so no questions regarding your mcat score or grade in certain class). But the interviewer does have your secondary application, personal statement, etc.
The interview itself was by far the best experience I have had (i've had 2 others) I was totally relaxed and she actually appreciated my "butt-wiping" jobs unlike other schools. She said I would be an asset to the school and profession! I felt very positive when I left the interview, but being January, I was put on the alternate list.
It was great...>I enjoyed the atmosphere up there.....Very short day, you should be done by 12:30........If you get Dr. Mohr as your interviewer you are set...he is a great guy....
MSUCOM is a very good school, if you are in-state. You only have one interview, w/ a faculty member, and it runs about 45 minutes. There are ~three people interviewing a day, so you do have a lot of attention on you. The tour is pretty quick, and half the rooms are locked so you can't even see them! I think this school is really geared towards Michigan residents. I ended up being accepted out-of-state, and the admissions counselor who called me to tell me I got in said, "I realize there is little chance that you are coming here since you are from out-of-state."
Be yourself, be moderate in answers, be reasonable and rational when explaining your view. The person you are talking to might be so nice, yet don't forget that he/she is there to mark your behaviors, so don't break the barriers.
As mentioned above, my overall interview experience was positive. The facilities are lacking as is the city of E.Lansing, however with the funding available I do think MSUCOM has done an incredible job training their students.
I was taken to a conference room, sat for five minutes, then interviewer came and asked me a few questions, then let me ask questions. She talked for 15 imnutes to ELABORATELY answer my questions. Almost seemed to get the impression that she was recruiting me! But you can never be too sure.
I loved every part of it. The student body seemed as if they were very close and everybody wants everyone else to succeed. East Lansing is a great city too!
Overall, this is an excellent school. I thought the admissions department was very nice (everyone was extremely helpful). The campus is huge though, something like 48,000 students on campus and two golf courses, so if you are looking for a smaller, family environment it may be difficult to find that here.
The school, staff and students were all nice. great school with a lot of school spirit. the east lansing area is a college town. The interview was laid back...no stress...very nice. It was more of a conversation. we ended up talking for about 1 hr 20 min. The school doesn't really take about its coursework. I had to probe the med students about that.
The interviewers do not have your academic record, so it's all about getting to know you and see what you're about. The interviewer I had was wonderful and we got to talk about different topics (like music lessons and Korea) at different points in the interview, which was super nice (not a constant focus on why-do-you-want-to-be-here, very directed, questions).
I was not terribly impressed by the interview itself. My interviewer asked me thought-provoking questions, but was very brisque and not very welcoming. Other than that, I still have an overall positive opinion of the school because the other people are just so incredibly friendly, and the campus is really a nice place.
I really though MSUCOM was a great school, but I don't think any school is worth $62,000 a year; especially when they're raising tuition 10% next year. The people were very nice and the campus was great.
The overall interview process was so stress free, it was amazing. My interviewer had a kind face and was very friendly and understanding. Her questions were thought provoking and were the kind that had no right or wrong answer.
In general I was turned off by everything buy my actual interview. All the other school I interview at I felt a sense of welcome and community that was definelty lacking at MSU. In addition, I was not impressed by the facilities, especially with the price of tution being so high.
MSU was a great undergrad. school. The campus is nice and the city/nightlife is great. However, the poor recruiting job done by the admissions staff turned me off from it. I have several friends who have gone through the program and are doing great, the reputation it good for a DO school. However, for being such a strong primary care school, they should think about working on the communication skills. The only reason I am still debating going there is because of the tuition. Not to give a sales pitch for another school but if you are interested in getting a personal touch to admissions, check out university of Health sciences, I've interviewed at 6 schools and it was the nicest. PS I got in at state
I think I got off on the wrong foot during my day at MSUCOM. I met one of the staff members of the admissions office, and the first thing she said to me was "Just to let you know, we don't regard your undergraduate school with as much prestige as other people around the country might." Wow- not sure what I did to deserve that. She went on to comment on my research experience and how animal surgery is "too academic" as an approach to medicine and that volunteer experience in a hospital setting is more important. I went on to learn that, in the past, almost everybody interviewed is accepted. I don't care for that system. I think the interview experience is an important part of selecting your student base, regardless of the length of the secondary application and how much information they think they can get from that. In the end, I did not come away with a good feeling from the interview. It was basically from my one encounter in the admissions office, but sometimes that is all it takes. This is not to say MSUCOM is not a good school, because I am sure that it is. It is just not a place for me. This is my fourth interview, and one thing I am learning is that the fit between your personality and the school is a key factor in the decision of where to attend. If accepted, I would not attend this school.
I had a great experience there. It is an awesome school. The best advice I can give you is to know why you want to be a doctor, and relate everything back to this idea using your healthcare experiences.
Great experience that was MUCH better than interviewing at the allopathic program (interviewed with a first year student there who had been in the program less than two months, whats the point of that?). Informative and low-stress day, enjoy!
They sound like they have a really great program. The bad side is that it goes year-round, but that way the course load is slightly less than at other schools. It sounds like there is a lot of student life, which is nice.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should improve the selection process for interviewers by choosing individuals who are genuinely interested and enthusiastic. They also recommend providing more detailed information such as pass rates, residency placement statistics, and destinations for out-of-state residencies to help applicants make informed decisions.
More take-home info. List of COMLEX/USMLE pass rates. Percentage of students who get their first choice residency. Where students go for out of state residencies.
