Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 22% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
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.
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
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around personal motivations for pursuing medicine, future career goals, experiences in healthcare, understanding of rural medicine, ability to handle challenges as a physician, study habits, and reasons for choosing a specific school. Some respondents mentioned questions related to Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) format, application specifics, and nondisclosure agreements.
In light of the fact that you've been out of an academic setting for several years, how have you kept yourself informed of the current climate in medicine?
What do you read?
Did not like the answer that I read suspense novels. Guess I should have said I read JAMA journals all day. Cant have a real life outside medicine I guess.
What do you know about PBL? Do you think you would do good in this type of learning environment? Why? How do you study, will PBL work with your methods?
I am from Atlanta, so they asked me what types of small town experiences I have had. This was mostly to make sure I had a good idea of how small towns operate.
You get to write down one question that you want the interviewer to ask you (obviously write down something that you feel passionately about and have a great answer for).
Students said most interesting question asked at Mercer University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including rural health outcomes, personal goals in 10 years, musical instrument preferences, handling difficult patient scenarios, and reasons for choosing the institution over others. While there were various unique questions, the interview format may have included MMI as some responses hinted at a nondisclosure agreement due to the nature of the questions asked.
As a future physician, what are 3 things that you would like to change or improve when it comes to rural health outcomes?
What kinds of adventures have you been on in your life? (In reference to a statement I had made about my parents supporting me through all my adventures.)
None were out of the ordinary, mostly talking about my self. Very conversational. Examples:
Tell me about your school?
Why do you want to be a physician?
What will you do if you don't get in this year?
Pick a current event and talk about it in your owns words. (I picked the tsunamis and got asked which ocean and which countries were affected! Luckily I knew!!)
One of my interviewers asked how I would participate if I was in a group discussion to solve a problem. Once I answered he then asked me to give him a specific example in which I applied my answer to the previous question in real life. Kinda caught me off guard with the specific example.
One of my interviews led into a few questions about "study habits and methods." It was an opportunity to provide insight about test prep and self discipline.
The interviewer told me that the LCME uses four words to describe/evaluate qualities that med students should have -- he made me guess what those 4 words were.
Students said most difficult question asked at Mercer University School of Medicine discussed scenarios like breaking bad news to patients, ethical dilemmas, and personal motivations for pursuing medicine. While some responses indicated a conversational interview style, others highlighted challenging ethical scenarios and questions related to commitment, altruism, and problem-solving in healthcare, with no specific mention of MMI format or nondisclosure agreements.
What do you think success will look like as physician?
If you were a physician, how would you handle the following scenario: After determining a patient has X disease, and only 3 months to live, the family asks you not to tell the patient. What do you do?
What do you do for fun, for yourself? (I don't, I have a wife, 2 kids, work 72 hrs a week, go to school, and sleep. I have fun with my kids-I don't have time to go have fun by myself-so this was hard to answer for me.
So then what are you going to do when your pediatric patients grow up? (It was strange - Like a challenge, but confusing, because it didn't seem like a problem to me...)
If I told you that you needed to go back to school and take additional science courses and reapply next year, how would that make you feel and what would you do?
Is there something on your application that you want to point out that we have not yet covered? (makes you think--Oh my gosh! What did they not like?--but they are really just taking the extra time out to make sure you have gotten a chance to talk about everything you wanted)
Suppose you are an OB/GYN and have a pt who finally got pregnant after years of trying. During the pre-natal care, you discover that she runs a 50:50 chance of dying is she has the baby. She opts for an abortion...what do you do?
Again nothing extremely hard but this one caught me off guard a little too. "It's the night before your Bio. chem exam and you've not studied at all. How are you going to study the night before to be prepared the best you possibly can"?
One interview pounded me with all kinds of questions about serving on a city council in a small town, or how to get physicians into those counties that don't have any physicians yet. I feel I did well answering them, even though many of the questions I had never even thought about before.
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by practicing commonly asked questions, reading school websites and materials, reviewing their applications, and seeking advice from resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) and mock interviews. Many also focused on understanding the school's mission and curriculum, as well as reflecting on their personal motivations for pursuing a career in medicine.
Having my parents ask me questions
Answering questions by myself
I read various articles about potential interview questions. I also asked one of my recommenders to perform a mock interview with me. This was definitely a huge help because he cultivated a very realistic interview environment, and he gave me feedback on my responses.
SDN, AMCAS and secondary app, healthreform.gov, pre-med advisors, outside sources (students, current physicians, and students who have interviewed in the past couple of years)
Read SDN, school's history, mission, grading system, style of teaching, etc. I also made sure i knew every detail of my ps and secondary essays. Lastly, i read up on all the health care aspect of the upcoming election (that never came up though)
Secondary, AMCAS, school website, spoke with faculty, and previous interviews helped me prepare. Came down the night before and got to the interview early to get familiar with the area.
First of all, this was my second interview at this school, so that helped me a LOT in preparation. But besides that, just read up on the school and any news concerning it. Also, I made sure I thought of good questions to ask the interviewers the night BEFORE the interview, not while I was sitting there on the spot. I wanted to make sure I asked questions that showed I was not only interested in going to medical school, but I was interested in going THERE.
Student doctor network, Mercer website, 2006-2007 medical school bulletin, internet med school questions, rural health statistics, spoke with 1st year student
Read over my AMCAS and secondary statements. I've interviewed at Mercer twice and have both times been shocked by how well the interviewers prepare. One interviewer last year actually quoted from my personal statement.
Reviewed Mercer's mission statement, looked at this website, reviewed my application, studied a few sample questions, and talked with my pre-medical advisory committee.
Read over the school's web sit and mission statement. I spent some time learning how the PBL curriculum worked. Read past experiences from this website.
Read over the information sent to me by Mercer, review Mercer's Mission Statement, familiarized myself with PBL/Mercer curriculum/teaching methods, review AMCAS application.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the staff, faculty, and students at the school, creating a welcoming and supportive environment. They also highlighted the small class sizes, problem-based learning curriculum, and the close-knit community at the school as positive aspects that stood out during their interactions and experiences.
Everyone was friendly, and the faculty made sure to give us pep talks before we went into our actual interview. They created a very relaxed environment in such a high stakes situation.
All of the faculty was very nice and laid back. The students seemed to actually enjoy their time and all of the staff and students at the interview day seemed very normal and relateable.
Everyone at the school is like a family. The students and the professors have a wonderful relationship, and it's very inviting. The student tour guides were very funny and made me feel at home.
Both interviewers were extremely nice. Also, they recalled many things from both of my primary and secondary. It was nice to know all of the hard work put into the apps was worth it.
The BMP curriculum. I went into the interview with a negative-leaning opinion of it and came out with a largely positive view of it and with a strong desire to want to attend the school. Also, the M2's who gave the tour were extremely friendly and helpful.
Both of my interviewers were very collegial in their approach to the interview and made me feel as though we were having a conversation rather than an interrogation.
It was more of a conversation about my file and my life, my goals, etc. I actually had a nice conversation with both of my interviewers. The 4th year were open and nice, happy to give advice, etc. Everyone on campus was really welcoming and happy to have us.
How long the interviews were and how nice everbody was. Very layed back interviews. The students that toured us around were really cool guys and gave us alot of info.
The enthusiasm of the students was contagious. They really seemed to enjoy Mercer, its program, their success within the program, the supportive faculty, and the independent study style.
The students were REALLY passionate about Mercer and the curriculum. They looked at everything positively, but still answered our questions very honestly. Small class size, so all the students know each other and their profs fairly well. Also, they showed us a real cadaver. It was awesome.
The environment is very low stress. Everyone is nice and really seems to enjoy the school. The students made me believe that thay love what they are doing.
Friendliness of the staff and students, the facilities and hospital were very nice, the classrooms stood out as unique compared to large lecture halls I've seen, and the genuine happiness of the students there. They seemed to be a community there...all smiles.
The students seem very happy and content here.
Small class sizes, access to faculty and just the team spirit amongst students
They have a Problem based learning curriculum for 1st two yrs and either ul love it or be scared to attempt it because its heavily dependent on the student to learn materials which is a habit any physician should have anyway plus ive been to schools with a more traditional lecture format and students have told me they dont attend lectures cos they learn better studying alone or with groups
The hospital
Interviews were so relaxed that it actually threw me off guard. But still be prepared for them. All the students seemed happy to be there as well. I also liked that the school is by Mercer University instead of being isolated. The university has a great food court in one building, so you have more areas to hang out or study if you want.
How friendly and encouraging everyone I met at the school was, including the students. They make you feel like they truly want to accept everyone and they really calm you down if you are nervous.
It seemed that the students I met had a genuine relationship with one another. I didn't detect any superiority complexes. Basically, they liked and helped each other.
The friendliness of the students and how willing people were to answer your questions. Also the intimate environment of the campus and the closeness among the students.
It was extremely laid back. The small class size and the PBL curriculum is great. The faculty has an open door policy that really is an open door policy. I know it's cliche, but it's like a big family.
EVER SINGLE PERSON is down to earth and very willing to help. I had a break before one of my interviews and students actually came up to me to give me advice about my interviewers.
everything! Everyone was incredibly friendly, and they took the time to listen to what you had to say. The students are really positive about their school and the PBL curriculum seems like it would be a great fit for my way of learning.
The friendliness of everyone, the interviewers, admissions staff, dean, etc. My first interviewer actually took me on a side tour to meet a couple of his students.
The students were really cool. They appeared to have created a family type relationship amongst their peers. A great way to approach med school considering a medical education is so challenging. The library staff seemed like they would go way out of their way to help you if you need them. The faculty did a good job of calming any jitters we had going into this.
The friendliness of the staff, faculty, and students. The curriculum. The HOSPITAL was excellent. They sold me on PBL. The small class size. Their teaching methodology. Their clinical experience.
the admissions staff is super friendly. the class size at mercer is very small (app. 56) and with the pbl curriculum, you work in even smaller groups (between 6-8)
The sincere friendliness of the faculty and staff and their desire to help the students learn and progress through the program, the happiness of the students, the time students have available for recreational interests, the resources available to help students in the PBL curriculum, the size of the Medical school buliding on the inside (it looks small from the outside - but man its huge inside when you start hoofing it around in there).
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about inconsistent interview experiences, including feeling grilled or discouraged by interviewers, lack of clarity on the interview format, and disorganized scheduling. Many noted underwhelming facilities and technology, limited campus resources, and unfavorable impressions of the school's locations. Suggestions included improving interviewer training, providing more transparent communication about schedules, enhancing facilities, and offering more comprehensive campus tours.
The student ambassador session should have been short. It was an hour but 45 minutes would have been better. It was in a group and several students in the group didn't ask questions so other folks were required to fill in the silence.
It felt like I was being grilled rather than getting to know them and them getting to know me. I also had a hard time understanding my interviewer which made things difficult.
Some students had an interview in the morning and one in the afternoon while others had both in the morning. While I understand it was because of available staff knowing beforehand would have been nice to know.
Both interviewers seemed to have social interaction issues (so much so that student tour guides apologized on their behalf without prompting), Savannah "campus" is much less a campus and more a couple of rooms at a hospital, value for the money seemed incredibly lacking, very cagey when asked about success of PBL
The facilities, though new (they've recently moved into a new building in Savannah) feel a bit disconnected. The individual study/classrooms are nice though. The Dean also said they are hoping to start construction on a new med school building in the next 4 years.
The only negative experience I had was with the cafeteria at lunch time! I was given a voucher for a specific amount and the cashier gave me a hard time for purchasing something that was LESS than the amount of my voucher.
The facilities were unremarkable. For such a high tuition, I thought they would have more technology and nicer facilities. The library was unimpressive. We never saw the anatomy lab.
The hospital is separate from campus, cadaver lab not til late first year, and you switch small groups every 6 weeks so studying partners have to change.
At lunch, the 3rd and 4th years write an evaluation on you later. I was a little annoyed when I first found out about it on SDN, but it's not a big deal. I tried to use it to my advantage and still felt I could open up to them. Additionally, there isn't a cafeteria, but students just seem to eat out or at home. And as I mentioned, you could always walk right over to the university and grab something.
The medical school itself was slightly small but wasnt a big deal, still nice. Interviews were in various locations downtown, but everyone gave great directions and only took about five minutes to get there.
The small PBL rooms were absolutely disgusting. I know people spend alot of time there but I couldn't. The interviewers did not look at my file at all so the interviews were very impersonable.
The Yr-2 students who toured us around the basic science campus seemed a little disinterested, but the Yr-4 students who toured us around the hospital were great. Also, my second interviewer was changed at the last minute due to an emergency and so I felt like the replacement didn't really have a chance to read through my file. Also, she had a meeting to go to twenty minutes after I arrived for the interview so it was very rushed.
Not the most modern facilities. Also, during Clinical years, some students have to go to Savannah as opposed to staying in Macon. I was told that most students volunteer to go, but occasionally a lotery makes the decision.
I wish we could have spent more time touring the hospital. However, we did get to spend a good bit of time with the fourth year students. (Try and ask LOTS of questions, you'll learn a lot of interesting information.)
The location was boring with not a lot to do. They didn't show us the cadaver labs. They made us take a 1 hour personality test that was really annoying.
Not really any negative aspects. This medical school is smaller than most. For me that is a plus because I come from a smaller undergrad and I enjoy close relationships between faculty and student.
Both of my interviewers (but especially the second one) seemed rather confrontational, even hostile at times. Instead of the "getting to know you" vibe I got at all of my other interviews, it seemed like these two were more interested in calling me and/or proving me wrong on every response I made. I knew it would be bad when the first question I was asked was why my "science" recomedations came from Chemistry and not Biology professors.
Nothing really. I live here in Macon so anything that might have negatively impressed me would have done so a long time ago and I just don't remember it.
you were on your own for transportation to get to the lunch site. it wasn't too hard to find, but it is a little stressful during interview day to be driving in unfamiliar territory. and who wants to feel like you can't follow simple driving directions?
Applicants commonly wished they had known more details about the interview format, the focus on volunteer work, and the relaxed nature of the interview. They also mentioned the importance of being prepared with a fun fact, knowing the school's mission, and being aware of potential evaluation points during lunch interactions.
I didn't exactly understand how the interview would be conducted. The real interview took place after about an hour long welcome and introduction. This happened in a break out room with two interviewers. The breakout room is only open for 45 minutes.
Not much - it was very relaxed and well organized. I was surprised to learn that, though the average grades/scores of incoming students may be a bit lower than other schools, their board scores are well above average - shows that the curriculum seems to be very effective!
I looked on this website, so I was pretty well prepared. I think the most important thing is that the 4th years are reviewing you, too, and you will have to drive to the hospital and back, sometimes even for your first or second interview.
As far as the process of the interview goes, they were very good about detailing it to us. But, in regards to my interview, I'd say I wish I knew that they were going to pick out certain weaknesses in my application (including something from a letter) and asked me what I thought about each thing.
If you go to the Savannah campus then make sure you bring a cell phone and the phone number they give you in the email. You will need this to call the secretary to let you in the door.
One interviewer seemed interested in my volunteer work and leadership experience. I've heard from other interviewees that volunteer work is focused on.
Well, this sort of applies. In my first interview, I wasn't told that the little lunch with the 4th year students is most DEFINITELY part of your interview. I mean to the point where these random students you think you are just eating with are actually writing evaluations of you after lunch. They didn't tell us that my 1st time and I sat there like an idiot chatting with another applicant. This wasn't because I am anti-social, I was just relaxed thinking the interview was over! This year though, they made sure to remind us of that before our interviews began for the day, so that helped a LOT. I made sure to be as friendly and talkative as possible, and ask a lot of questions to the students.
Nothing. With the preparation that I have done for the interview, I had no surprises. I still had questions, but nothing that I wish I had known ahead of time. Some people finished before lunch, interviewing at 10 and 11. Others had an interview after lunch.
1st off if you want to get into Mercer you need to atleast appear to be interseted in rual medicine...do your home work on what the probs. facing rural medicine are!
Also there are good and bad parts of macon...when I was driving to the interview all I saw was the crappy part but now I know macon has a none ghetto side as well.
They focus on volunteer work much more than research. Beware Bruce Innes, he's not nice to most people. If you are unlucky to be most people, he'll try to make your interview miserable.
I was told by an admissions counselor that if you apply early decision (which I did both years) the committee will not re-evaluate your application if new, better MCAT scores come in.
They tell you the personality test is not used in their decision but it really is so take it seriously. Also some of the med students that give you tours write evaluations so don't let your guard down.
The interviews are low stress if you are lucky to get nice interviewers. This was my first interview so I thought they would grill me about the weak points on my app.
That the store my new suit was bought from forgot to remove the "anti-theft ink device." A little engineering and my hotel door jam took care of that problem.
they also give you a personality test. my interviewer told me it is not a factor in the admissions process, but they may use it in the future for research purposes. it just caught me off guard and was a little surprising to have to answer 200 questions rating things like "people like me,"
"i cheat at solitaire," and "i usually like to work alone." Also, the first time their board meets is not until January, which was sort of disappointing, just because it adds to the waiting game.
Also, you are given a sheet of paper to give to your interviewer with a sample question to get you started. So, know what you want to sell about yourself.
I wish I would've known that the interviews were going to be as relaxing as they were. Really guys, don't stress out over this one. You'll regret it later.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at MUSM to be low-stress and informative, with positive interactions with faculty, staff, and students. However, there were mixed feelings about specific interviewers, with some feeling uncomfortable or under pressure, while others had conversational and comfortable interviews. Overall, the school received praise for its laid-back environment, supportive staff, and emphasis on fit with their curriculum and mission.
I was happy with how my interview day went. However, I did seem to get interviewers that were a tad bit newer to MUSM. They tended to just ask questions, opposed to what I heard about it feeling like a conversation. Throughout the interview, we all seemed to get a more comfortable, so everything still went fine.
Most people seemed to have a good experience, but I was unhappy with my interviewer and how things unfolded. I did not perform well, and I usually perform under pressure, but the specific interviewer I had was blunt and made me uneasy.
I was overall impressed with the Interview Day at MUSM. They provided such a laidback environment that even if you went into the interview full of nervousness, you wouldn't leave that way!
My experience here was very poor. If it were my only option for medical school, I may have viewed it more positively. Considering it wasn't, between the lack of a real campus, horrendous interviewers, and lack of value for money, this clearly was not the place for me.
I left my interview experience even more excited about Mercer than before! Everything about my experience was positive, and I left knowing that it is where I want to complete my medical education.
Overall impressions were great. I was told that one of my interviewers had a history of grilling their interviewees, however I did not feel that way at all as both my interviewers were extremely nice and I thought I had two good interviews.
Overall, I was impressed by the interview. It was low stress and VERY informative. They give you every opportunity to have your questions answered. I really would have liked to see more of the hospital. We ate in the cafeteria, but it would have been nice to take a tour.
I think this was a perfect example of how important the interview process is for both the student and the school. So much of the application process is abstract, and an interview really makes things tangible and realistic. The interviewee truly gets to see if this is where he/she wants to study medicine.
The staff was very nice and willing to help with anything. They all kept saying to be nice to everyone, including custodians, because word gets around!
The interviewers will be looking at your application before hand so make sure you read over it again. The process is very casual and expect to just chat some. They will definitely ask you about staying in GA. Also, when you go out to lunch with the student(s) make sure you realize that it is an interview and they will be writing a review about you.
It's difficult to pin point specific questions asked during the interview because they are formulated based on the info that you submit (AMCAS, secondary, LOR). I tried to put in a few of the general ones that were asked, but make sure to thoroughly review all of your submitted materials to see where questions will come from. Definitely know about the PBL curriculum.
Be able to carry on a random conversation for one hour. Also, make sure you know how to get from the Medical School to the Hospital quickly and efficiently. I had one interview at the school and one at the hospital.
Overall, Excellent. Don't stay at the Marriott that is recommended, it is too far from the school. Stay as close as possible because a lot of interviews take place at the hospital and not the med school.
I'm always nervous at interviews, but this was the lowest stress one yet. But still be prepared for them. I had one interview on campus with an immunologist (PhD) and the other at the nearby hospital with a 4th year student on the committee. We were given a tour of both the medical school and some of the hospital. Mercer wants doctors who will practice in GA so keep that in mind. I thought I might get a strike against me because I haven't lived in GA my whole life, but there are other students there who haven't either. Not everyone is specializing in primary care either. One of the 4th year students planned on pursuing ophthalmology. Overall, it was a great experience and I'm waiting to hear back from the committee which should be meeting before Thanksgiving some time. Acceptances are given by phone calls and certified letters, which I think is so less stressful. Additionally, Mercer wants to know that you will fit into their entire PBL curriculum. Everyone has to adjust to it so don't worry about having some difficulty at first.
Mercer's interviews are probably the absolute least stressful interviews you will have. Everyone there is VERY nice and really makes you feel like you just belong there from the moment you walk through the door. It was a great day. I interviewed August 21st, and got the acceptance phone call September 5th =)
really great. the dean comes in to talk to you about general stuff and then the financial aid people come to talk to you. this was actualy a very informative finical aid talk so listen. then i had two interviews - one with a faculty member and one with a student. both were really laid back and non-stressful.
The interviewers truly wanted to know how (and if) I would fit into their school and its curriculum. To do well in the interview, you MUST read up on Mercer's PBL and curriculum. Look at the website and talk to students there if possible.
Knowing a lot about the curriculum, I had high expectations, yet the entire experience was still more than I expected.
I was lucky and had both interviews on campus. Some students had to travel from place to place. So, be prepared.
One interview lasted 45-50 minutes, and the other lasted 70 minutes. Having an interview go long can be good, but it might make you late for the next meeting. Everyone was understanding, and it didn't seem to count against me.
The interviewers DO have access to your file. However, some may choose NOT to look at it. Although both went extremely well, I thought the interview went better for the person that had a chance to review my file. So, be ready to start from scratch.
Mercer's overall campus (undergrad and grad ) is really nice. I like the rural location of Mercer. I especially like the accessibility of the faculty and the PBL approach leading.
I arrived at 8:00 a.m. I stayed on campus with a friend. In the morning, Dean Inniss gave interviewees a great background summary on Mercer. They mentioned the board pass rate and the boards scores as the highest in GA. The Financial Aid people came to talk about the debt that we will incur. After the introduction each student was given a file about their interviewers. Each interviewer had an opportunity to look an applicant's file before the interview. There were two interviewers, one in the morning and then perhaps one in the afternoon. My first interviewer was a 4th year med student, the second was with Dr. Sipple. Both my interviews were in the morning. The one difficult question I had was about how to fix the healthcare system in America.
After the interview, there was lunch at the MCCG. You must have a car to drive to the medical center. There was a tour of the MCCG and then lunch with a bunch of 4th years. One of them lacked any sort of compassion and repsect for his patients.
Parking is free and the lunch at the hospital is not bad. You are free to leave once your interviews are finished.
Met as a group in conference room. Had interviews in the morning and some had interviews after lunch. I had them both back to back so I got to leave after lunch.
It was great. Very laid back. You interview with one committee member and one non committee member and both of my interviews were in their offices. Neither one of them had looked at my file and interviewed me. Not numbers and all of that crap. They interviewed me. It was an excellent experience and I got accepted!!!
We began the day with a meeting with a Financial aid consultant and the dean of admissions. We were then given our interviewer names/locations and escorted to our first interview. We had lunch with the 4th year students and then finally went back to the school for our last interview.
We first met with the associate dean of admissions, followed by financial aid. We were then given the names of our interviewers and times of interviews, along with driving directions. Some interviewees were done by lunch, others had interviews after lunch. We were all done by 3PM. Lunch was provided at the hospital and we ate with 4th year med students who also gave us a brief tour.
The day started at 8:30AM with the dean of admissions. After discussing the school with us for a bried period financial aid came in to give us the bad news. After that we were shown around the facilities by second-year students and taken to our first interviews. Some of us had back-to-back interviews at 10 and 11 while others had interviews at 10 and 2. We had lunch with fourth year students at the hospital and returned for interviews after a short tour of the hospital.
I applied twice since I was rejected the first time. The interview with the committee member 1st cycle (Innes) was really awkward, but all of the other interviewers were really nice. Of course the 2nd time I interviewed I had spent the past few months mentoring students and working in a hospital.
Dean and finacial aid rep spoke with the group (7 of us in my group); Quick tour and Q&A with 2nd yr students; Had one hour of free time; Had first interview; Lunch with 4th year students at hospital; Had last interview; I LEFT HAPPY
You arrive and meet with the Dean of Admissions and the Head of Financial Aid for about one hour. The you recieve a brief tour of the basic science campus before attending your first interview. Some people had back to back interviews at 10 and 11, but others did not. At noon you go to the hospital and eat lunch with fourth year students and get the chance to ask them questions (they are also evaluating you, but they are so friendly that you don't even notice).
My experience has been very positive both years. You will gather in the actual room the admission committee sits in to make decisions. The admissions councelor will give a talk about the school and the process. She gives you the names of your two interviewers and tells which is the committe member and which is the non-committee member. Then, Financial Aid comes in to give the really bad news. Finally, second year students come in to "candidly" answer questions (though I don't know how candid they really are). They give a short tour of the school and then guide you to your first interview. At least one interview will be at the school. The interview is one-on-one and lasts up to an hour. The second interview may be at the school. Both of mine were downtown at the hospital where clerkships take place. The drive is short, however, and everyone being interviewed winds up there for lunch. After interviews, you eat (free) lunch with third year students. The cafeteria is good enough to chose Mercer right off! Then, you are given a tour of the hospital. Finally, you return to the school for one of those cheesy personality tests.
Just be sure to answer questions about PBL and you have own the mission statement. The interviewer basically is there to see whether you will fit into Mercer's mission of serving rural GA and being in primary care!
This interview was nothing like I expected. It was very laid back (as they say). Everything went great! I just received my acceptance letter yesterday!! I am very excited about attending such a great school.
I just wanted to clear this up. Another student and I took our personality test earlier than the other students because of scheduling issues. We specificly asked if it would be used to determine admission and she assured us it would not. When we met with the fourth year students they all warned us to take the personality test seriously because it is actually used in determining admission. We informed them that we were told otherwise and they assured us that the tests are in fact used to determine if you are the right type of person for Mercer. So the advice I gave was legitimate whether it is ethical or not.
First off, I must mention that I was told specifically that the personality test is NOT considered in regards to your acceptance. The previous poster says otherwise. It seems pretty unethical if Mercer were to outright lie about this, and in MUSM's defence, I am 99% sure that this is NOT the case. If it was the case, how did this person really know? I don't get it. Further, the fourth year students that took us on a short tour of the hospital, told us (the pre-meds) to relax and ask us anything because you are NOT being evaluated. I for one believe this to be the case. Anyway, overall it was a good experience. Just relax, get plenty of sleep the night before, and be yourself.
Once you get there you wait with the other interviewees in the lobby. Make sure you are friendly and talk with the others because you are being watched. Then you meet in the conference room with the dean and discuss Mercer and its mission. Financial Aid comes in for about five seconds and gives you forms. Next the second year students answer any questions, give you a tour, and escort you to your first interview. After that we took the personality test. Once completed we carpooled to the hospital and spent two hours there eating lunch and touring with the fourth year students. After this break we were escorted to our last interview.
Very easy going- first meet with dean of admissions, meet with 2nd year students, interview, lunch with students, interview, go home. One of my interviewers really got going on some strange questions, but I know that I did fine. Just answer all questions very honestly and remember there are tons of "right" answers. Sometimes I think they just like to see you squirm a bit and see how you react.
The experience was great. I went in a little nervous but within the first thirty minutes of arriving and meeting the faculty I was as calm as could be. My fellow interviewees were really cool too. The interviewers were relaxed and mostly just trying to get to know you...I did not feel like they tried to corner me any. The hospital was really cool...They just rebuilt their ER and it looked top notch. Like I said all and all the experience was great. I found out today that I was not accepted but that's cool...It's not the end of my medical road. I still had a blast visiting Mercer and I encourage everyone to just relax and have fun. If you get it you get it and if not then try again. If your making it to the interview stage then you've made it to far to turn back now. Good luck to everyone!!
All in all, I was very surprised. Going in, I didn't expect too much but leaving, it turns out that I would be very very happy attending school here. The students were speaking highly of the education they were receiving. It's a tight niche class and the prof's knows everyone by their first name. Basically, I was going in looking for gold and I came away with a diamond!
When the interview day was complete, I was sold on this school. This was my first med-school interview so i didn't have any idea what to expect. Since then I've interviewed a couple of times and I've been comparing everything to Mercer. The admission's staff and faculty were wonderful. Mercer has some very distinct attributes such as class size and curriculum. This is certainly "my kind of med-school."
Relax guys! I know that you'll be nervous beforehand, but once you get inside you'll see how great the faculty treats their visitors. Both of my interviews were mostly conversational. We talked about current events, football, and a little about me too!
Interviews were the most stressful part for me. Some interviewers there do a wonderful job, but some are very confrontational and increase stress levels dramatically. Overall, I found the students, staff, and atmosphere very impressive.
Hard to say...the people in the admissions office are WONDERFUL, and I really admired how close the students seem to be both as a student body and with the faculty. But I was really discouraged by both of my interviewers who really seemed to make it apparent that they were doing me a favor by taking time out of their schedules to interview me. (One even made me sit across from her in her office and wait - in silence - while she finished checking her e-mail!)
First interview went well even though I was drilled with question after question about very specific details of my future life. This was odd because so much of my future is still very vague. I mean, how can I say if I will be in a group practice or not? Or how large my practice will be? My second interview was incredible. We just sat and talked and I got to present myself the way I wanted to in a conversational atmosphere. It couldn't have gone better. Luckily my second interview was with my adcom member. Things must have worked well because I got a waitlist letter this last Saturday (3-29-03) and my acceptance letter on Thursday (4-3-03)!! Mercer, here I come.
The interview day was very organized and I didn't feel bored or rushed at any point. Students were awesome, very helpful, and they answered all questions candidly. Admissions staff was extremely helpful. My first interview was with an admissions committee member and it went pretty smoothly. The second interview was tough! It took a while before he relaxed a little and started talking. At other interviews, I could always tell if things went bad or good, but at Mercer it was tough to gauge what they thought of me.
The staff is very friendly, which is comforting and relaxing. They also let you know information about your interviewer beforehand, which is nice. Altogether, the day went smoothly and stress-free.
Awesome! I loved the it! Its a small class of 56 students, and the curriculum is Problem Based Learning. This creates a very collegial environment where the students work together to help each other achieve success in medschool. The students were very happy and outgoing. The PBL curriculum causes them to have to work more diligently than students at a traditional curriculum school (TONS of reading), but it pays off with high board pass rates and high board scores. Also the students begin clinical experiences within the first week and continue this throughout the curriculum - generating very competent students when they begin their 3rd and 4th year rotations. The students do have ample time (with time management skills of course) to have a life outside of medicine, thanks to not having lectures (the students are in tutorial sessions on MWF 9-12, and lab either Tues or Thurs afternoons). Definently a great school for students looking for a high quality program with a warm and collegial environment. ALSO - students are not forced into primary care. Many of the 4th year students that I spoke with were going for specialties (Ortho, Dermatology, ENT, Radiology, Rad-Onc., Anesthesiology, as well as Int. Med. at top programs to be followed up with a Fellowship).
Overall, the Mercer interview experience was very laid-back. The students, professors, and office faculty did everything in their power to make sure you had a relaxing day. Surprisingly, my stress level decreased as the day went on. After a morning interview session, we took a tour with 4th year students and then had lunch with current 3rd and 4th years. These students all seemed very happy, and this was a great opportunity for questions. After lunch, we had a second interview and then filled out a psychological survey. Applicants were then free to leave. I was offered an acceptance approximately three weeks after my interview.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office provide more detailed explanations of the admissions process, including committee meeting times and decision-making procedures, while also emphasizing friendliness and clear communication throughout the interview and financial aid processes.
The admissions office has been great so far! Can't wait to get to know them better.
Try to explain the admissions process of the school in more detail, if possible. Such as committee meeting times, how decisions are made, etc. Thank you for being so friendly!
Especially at the Savannah campus, put your best faces forward especially with interviews. My entire interview process was awkward, and that came from the demeanor of the interviewers themselves.
