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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 26% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 240 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about personal characteristics, ethical dilemmas, reasons for pursuing medicine, strengths and weaknesses, future goals in medicine, academic performance, study habits, interests and hobbies, and decision-making processes. Some respondents also mentioned questions related to Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) format, involving scenarios like prioritizing patients and discussing ethical principles, which may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
What was a mistake you made and how did you learn from it?
Ethics Questions:
"Your in the E.R. and you have two patients who are dieing. One patient had assaulted a child, spent his time in jail and was now out on parole. The other patient was a fine upstanding citizen. Both had an equal chance of survival if you treat them...but you only have time to save one, which one do you save and why."
"Do you think that medicine is a privledge or a right. Why?"
"Someone once said, that there would be no need for rules if men could maintain their integrity. What does this mean?" - it was something like this..
"What is the most important Human Right to you..and why?"
Tell me about yourself...
Why do you want to be a doctor?
Why did you attend "x" university?
What is one of your strengths as is relevant to medicine?
What is a weakness you have, and how are you coping with it or trying to improve on it?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Do you have any questions for me?
What would you like me to tell the admissions committee about you?
What is an ethical dilemma you have faced, and how did you deal with it?
What do you think about your academic performance?
Tell me about your research...
Why MD/PhD?
What do your parents do?
What is one big decision you've made that you are happy about?
What is one big decision you've made that you regret?
How do you plan on approaching your medical school studies?
Why did you choose the MHA over the MPH degree? How do you plan to use this degree? (There was a whole line of questioning from all interviewers about my graduate training.)
What is your ACT score/MCAT score? I scored not so well on my standardized test so I think they wanted to see how I do on tests in general. I should have mentioned my GRE now that I think about it. I did pretty good on that one, too bad that one doesn't count!
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal values in healthcare, and hypothetical scenarios like being trapped in a blizzard. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) due to the variety of questions, and respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement based on the diverse nature of the inquiries.
What would you say to a person who says: "I would like to know my father's condition, please tell me before you tell him. I don't think he can handle any bad news."
How have your community service experiences impacted your personal development? (The question doesn't sound terribly interesting, but I enjoyed answering it...:) )
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including ethical dilemmas, personal values, integrity, and scenarios involving teamwork and patient care. Many responses referenced an MMI format or nondisclosure agreements, indicating a diverse set of challenging questions were posed, such as choosing between being a ball or a glove, handling ethical dilemmas, and reflecting on personal weaknesses and achievements.
"What cell type do you take most for granted?"
- This one caught me off guard...I said skin because it seems to take care of itself pretty well...(lame ..i know).
You are on a team with 8 other students going in to see an AIDS patient. Your attending is not present and one student refuses to go in. How do you respond?
How would you make sure a patient understood their diagnosis. I answered and he said what if they still didn't understand. I answered again and he said what if they still didn't understand again. This went back and forth until I ran out of ideas. I found out that he was wanting me to include that I would make the patient repeat back to me what I was saying which personally I don't think I would ever do... but that's what he wanted.
I was asked about my life during my pre-high school years. He asked what I did after school, and I told him that me and my little brother liked to be adventurers and played in the woods all afternoon. So, he asked "what did you learn from the woods?" WTF? I didn't know how to respond.
I was also asked which people did I find the most difficult to work with.
If there were only 1 spot left, and you and another personal with identical credentials were competing for the spot, What would you want me to say to advocate you?
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 3 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their AMCAS application, reading this website for common questions, and practicing mock interviews. Many also utilized resources like SDN forums, consulted with current medical students, and stayed informed on current health issues to feel more confident and ready for their interviews.
SDN, mock interview, making lists of practice questions
Researched possible interview questions at studentdoctor.net. Talked to other applicants that had already interviewed. Thought through responses for likely questions.
read sdn, talked to other people that have interviewed, looked at website, looked at kaplan book for interview q's, drafted possible responses to common q's, conversed with my mom about answers
I read the Princeton review on medical schools, which was very helpful and had lots of questions, read my AMCAS application over to refresh my memory, and read on current medical events and issues.
Applicants were consistently impressed by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere at the school, where everyone from staff to faculty to students made them feel comfortable and at ease. They appreciated the low-stress interviews, engaging conversations, and the enthusiasm of interviewers and tour guides, as well as the impressive facilities and hands-on clinical experiences offered.
Everyone was extremely nice and made you feel comfortable and like you belonged. It was really just conversations.
Everyone does a great job at keeping the stress low. Interviewers seemed excited about having the oppertunity to talk with you. M4 tour guides were awesome. Both were knowledgable and answered questions honestly.
-Admissions folks were very friendly and extremely professional
-Interviews were relaxed and low stress
-Interviewers were genuinely interested in me and my story
-The students who gave us the tour were enthusiastic and pleased to be at the school
-New physiology research building is one of the nicest facilities in the country
-The interviewers offered advice for achieving my goals.
-Dr. Case wasn't offended when I asked why UMC wasn't listed among US News' top 50 medical schools.
-We viewed the simulation lab, checked the vitals of a manikin, and I intubated a manikin.
-They gave us lunch.
-We were given alarm clocks with the UMC logo.
-Admissions staff escort you to each interview to make sure you don't get lost.
Everyone was very nice and enthusiastic. The staff and faculty went out of their way to calm everyone down, and the schedule cards they handed out made the process easier.
The Admissions Secretaries and the members of the Admissions Committee that I met with were incredibly nice. The interviews were very laid back and relaxed; the interviewers didn't attempt to interrogate me or make me feel nervous.
The interviewers are great...it was not nearly as stressful as I anticipated. They were nice and genuine. They were also encouraging but honest. Also, the secretaries in the front office are great. They make you feel at ease before the interviewing process begins.
Dr. Case and his staff goes out of their way to ensure that you are as relaxed as possible during the interview process. A new hospital is all but completed for the medical school. Progressive involvement of student government and student body with administration. USMLE step 2 scores are a full standard deviation above the national mean.
Everyone was very friendly. The secretary put me at ease when I first walked in the door. The interviewers were fun to talk with. They're building a brand new hospital. The student tour guide was really fun and friendly. She showed us where all the good cafeterias and coffee stands were! Overall, every student I met looked like they were having a good time.
faculty and students were all really nice and seemed happy about the school, new lecture hall and building is really nice, small class size, really affordable, lots of restaurants in jackson and very low cost of living, systems based first year curriculum (new!)
Everyone was friendly. I also had heard so much bad comments about the facilities and Dr.Case. I found this to be untrue. The student union is nice and they have a lot of construction going on.
UMC sees alot of everything. Very strong clinical program. MS2's get free Qbank to prepare for the USMLE. The classes are alot more geared towards prep for USMLE and clinical years. Alot more hands-on work with patients in MS2.
I was pleasantly surprised, honestly. They are building a brand new hospital, which should be done soon. 3rd and 4th years get tons of hands-on experience. The students appear to have a genuine rapport--not a whole lot of cutthroat competitiveness. Also, despite the fact that UMC isn't really highly ranked, its students match at some pretty impressive places.
How friendly and close everyone is to each other, probably because the faculty-student ratio is small (30 per class).
The school may also be getting more residency programs in the future.
Our tour was given by a resident, who was very nice, and had a dry sense of humor. He had attended UMC and liked it so much that he wanted to stay for residency. Dr. Case was very welcoming and gave a very good overview for the entire day.
Attitude of the physicians, students. Also great that it is the only teaching hospital in the state - for this reason, gets a good amount of funding for facilities.
I came away with a far better impression of UMC than I had walked in with. Everyone is super-friendly, the clinical experiences during 3rd and 4th years are far more hands-on than you will find at most schools.
The new Assistant Dean of Admissions, Steven Case. If you have any serious questions about the medical school, ask him. Do not ask your M4 or your interviewers. He's only been in his position for 3 years, and he's making great strides to improve the school. He put up the web page (yes, MS only recently got a web site). He's published more pamphlets. Yes, MS only had a measly one page, 2-toned brochure before. And he can give you tangible answers on why MS might be a good education, in particular the direct interaction that M3s get with patients.
Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. I had thought of UMC as kind of a safety school that i would attend if I had to, but now I realize that I would be so happy there. The office staff is so friendly and helpful, as are all the interviewers.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of enthusiasm during campus tours, outdated facilities, poor parking options, limited diversity, and unengaging interviewers. Suggestions included enhancing campus tours, updating facilities, improving parking arrangements, increasing diversity, and ensuring interviewers focus more on the applicants.
There isn't typically enough time alloted for the tour. However, interview in the morning - and you may be able to get one of your M4's to hang around for longer than the alloted time. :)
The school is not in the best part of town. There also seemed to be some miscommunication between the medical and graduate schools, but it was their first time for both schools to interview students, so I can understand a little bit.
I truely had this vision of UMC being this grand place of medicine and research but once I got there, walked a mile to the medical school I was completely disappointed. I can truely say it is nothing more than Shoemaker part II. The facilites were rundown and there seems to have been no effort into modernizing. The faculty that I interviewed with were rude and egotistical and most of all Dr. Case was just a complete "ASSHOLE." When we meet back in the early Fall everything was "great" and "wonderfull" but the interview day it was like meeting Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde.
My second interviewer didn't show up. They sent me to another member of the committee, who announced that he had forgotten all of his interview questions because he had done his last interview the week before. He had to cancel a lunch appointment, had never seen my file, and was the type who wanted to memorize your file. We spent most of the interview talking about things that he already had on my AMCAS app.
The campus could be much prettier. The facilities could be much nicer. The student body more diverse (in the lunch room, I saw, oh, one asian girl. nothing else. maybe they're hidden.). The social outlets more abundant. The hospital reasonably attractive. And the M4 could be more knowledgable.
Nothing. The facilities are great, they are in the process of expainding, and the hospitals all seem really nice and well run. A very positive experience.
Applicants commonly wished they had known to not be overly stressed, as the interview process at UMC was described as welcoming and laid back. They also recommended wearing comfortable shoes, being prepared to ask questions, and not overthinking the process.
There is no reason to be stressed about the interview process at UMC. They are very welcoming and provide for a relaxed atmosphere so they can really learn about YOU.
That one of my interviwers has a somber personality and rarely shows any emotion on his face. I thought he just didn't like me until I talked with those that know him well!!
How completely uncompetitive UMC is on a national level to other medical schools, and that if you have any desire to enter a competive residency or even leave the state of MS for residency, you have a snow balls chance in Hell of getting it.
I didn't know that Doctor Case was going to interview me for thirty minutes IMMEDIATELY after I arrived, so it seemed a little fast, adding to my unease. However, after this it got much better.
how to get to the admissions office...it is not anywhere near the registrar or the library...but a nice lady at the registrar's office walked me right over, so everything worked out fine
The interviewers had the option of not reading the file, and neither of mine did. Dr. Case, however, knew mine very well, and grilled me for everything he didn't like (every B, etc.), but he also commended everything that was positive.
They are building a new addition to their hospital complex. Once this building is complete, all of the UMC hospitals (except the VA) will be 10 years old or younger.
UMC is a great place. Don't count it out as just a safety school because it is a good school. It does very well in residency matches because of the clinical experiences students gain; this is very important. I cannot say enough good about this school.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at UMC to be positive and relaxed, with interviewers focusing on getting to know them rather than grilling them. They appreciated the conversational nature of the interviews and the friendly atmosphere created by both interviewers and staff.
Its about as relaxed an interview as you'll get. Although its impossible, try not to stress about it. Think of it like a series of conversations, not a life-or-death interview process.
You either have a morning or afternoon interview. If you're there in the morning, you have 4 time slots, 3 of which have individual interviews and one of which you use to get fingerprinted and have a picture made. Then, you meet up with the whole (morning and afternoon) group for lunch. The morning group is done after lunch, and the afternoon group has their time slots after lunch.
Think about a few things that you want to tell your interviewers no matter what they ask you. Be sure to get your important points across explaining why you should be selected to attend UMC.
I applied for the MD/PhD program, so here is brief overview of the interview day.
8:45 - Arrived in the admissions office and received a schedule for the day
9:00 - First interview (with researcher)
9:30 - Second interview (with physician)
10:00 - Third interview (with Dr. Case, the Dean of Admissions)
10:30 - Fingerprint and picture session
11:00 - Group exit interview with Dr. Case, during which he gave us an overview of the admissions committee deliberations, and informed us when we would hear a decision from them
11:30 - Lunch and campus tour with two fourth-year medical students
12:45 - The MD-only applicants left, while I went on to more interviews for the PhD portion
1:00 - Meeting with three current MD/PhD students
1:30 - Interview with researcher
2:00 - Interview with physician
2:30 - Exit meeting with Dean of Graduate School
*Please note: I interviewed for MD/Ph.D. program*
-Arrived at 8:00 for breakfast with MD/Ph.D. minority student
-8:45 went to Dr. Case's office for interview schedule
-9:00 first interview
-9:30 second interview
-10:00 Fingerpringing and photo
10:30 third interview (with Dr. Case)
11:00 Group exit interview (with Dr. Case)
*3 other students rotate in each spot (interviews and fingerprinting until all have been to 3 interviews and have been fingerprinted)
-11:30 lunch and campus tour with M3s, those who rotated with you and the four afternoon interviewees
-12:00 Simulation Lab see manikins, etc
-1:00 interview with Ph.D faculty
-1:45 question session with MD/Ph.D students
Overall, a great experience, but not what I expected. I thought the interviewers were going to grill me on medical ethics and current events, but I barely got any questions concerning those topics. All of the interviewers were really nice and laid-back; all asked about my family, which was nice. They said they are gearing the questions a little differently this year, focusing on more relaxed questions in order to really get to know the applicants. Overall, a painless experience.
Overall, this was a very good experience. I was impressed with the people and think I would like going to med school here. The day was actually more fun than it was stressful.
It was completely laid back. The interviewers were not out to get you. They just wanted to get a feel for your personality. Just be real and you'll be fine.
The interview was very laid back. It didn't seem like an interview, but more like a conversation. I interviewed with three different members on the admissions committee, then met with Dr. Case to wrap it up. The six interviewees then went to lunch and then toured the school with two M4s.
There are three 1 on 1 interviews and then at the end Dr. Case describes to you about financial aid and how you will hear about your decision. All of the interviews discuss your strengths, weaknesses, and responsibilty level.
Very positive. The interviewers were great, not ''out to get you''. The M4s were willing to answer all of our questions. I got to know the people I interviewed with as well.
I enjoyed the interviews. The 2nd interviewer talked the whole time; I was wondering when I was going to get to speak :) Every question except my difficult one was on this website.
The entire process was so much easier than I expected. They really just want to get to know you and get a feel of what your personality is. They won't ask you the weird ball and glove questions and they don't care about how much you know about genetic engineering or HMOs. My best advice is to MAKE SURE YOU THINK OF GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK THEM!!!!!
It was wonderful. The people made me feel really comfortable. Their questions were only meant to get to know me, and not to challange me. Dr. Case was the only who reviewed my file prior to our meeting. After each interview I was actually disappointed that we didn't have more time to talk. I answered questions, asked questions, and they told me more about the university.
The overall experience was very good. The staff immediately put me at ease with pleasant conversation, until Dr. Case was ready to interview me. Dr. Case interviewed me open file, while the other two chose to do it closed file (its the interviewer's decision). One was the associate dean for student affairs, who was pleasant. We talked a lot about my wife and the pressures of medical school on spouses and support groups. The other was an ER physician that I connected well with, and spent a full 10 minutes talking about our tastes in music.
Interviews were fun and laid back. Make sure you have questions to ask about the school, etc., because Dr. Case will ask you for questions. They tell you they are not out to make you nervous. And medical school is medical school...you get the same education anywhere else. I wouldn't worry about trying to apply to other schools unless you are bent on going out of state because UMC seemed alright to me!
Positive. Interviewers were really interesting physicians that I wanted to talk to and learn about regardless. Both of my interviewers did everything possible to make me feel comfortable. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Dr. Case was very helpful. He immediately put me at ease--actually I liked talking to him more than my other interviewers. In general, the interview at UMC is more like a day spent talking with good friends than an interview. Just sit back, relax, be yourself and have fun with it.
I had a great time and felt really at ease with the interviewers. I felt like I connected with them on personal and professional levels. UMC is an under valued school that deserves more credit than it gets. The MS4 that gave the tour was terrific! She had nothing but positive things to say about UMC and she just returned from doing clinicals at 3 different universities. She delighted in telling us how UMC was doing so well in comparison to other schools and what the benefits of going there were. I told Dr. Case he needed to recruit her services again. She did a terrific job of giving us information about UMC even before we asked!
Solid experience. Dr. Case's secretaries immediately make you feel at home. Interviewers were all very personable. Any questions I had before the day were answered, and it's obvious that UMMC is underrated.
Overall the faculty and interviewers were very nice, and really tried to get to know you. Dr Case was very informative and personified what a great school UMC really is.
It was my first interview and I was really scared, but Dr. Case immediately put me at ease. One interviewer seemed out to get me, but the other one was very conversational. A very positive introduction to the art of interviewing.
I was really nervous to begin with but Dr.Case helped settle my nerves. He asked a bunch of questions that I had prepared for to a certain extent and I may have stumbled on one or two. The second interviewer was very nice and really wanted me to just talk about myself. The third interviewer spouted off question after question. It was intimidating but she was nice too. Overally, I'm not sure if I made myself stand out any more than the next person, although I'd like to think so. Good thing is, if you don't get in, you can set up an interview to go over what you need to do to be a better candidate for the next go around.
I thought it was a good experience. The interviews were very conversational, not stict question and answer. Dr. Case interviewed me in the first interview, the last interview he simply asked if I had any questions(make sure you have some questions to ask).
Wonderful-I initially thought it was an ok school but after talking to Dr. Case and the M4 guide I realized it is a great school whose students are very well prepared.
I transferred from another school, and Im alot happier here. I like the students and the teachers and I feel that over here I have the tools and resources to pursue whatever residency I want and I dont have to worry about being in 200K debt when I graduate.
If Mississippi is where you want to do residency or practice medicine UMC is the choice for you. Other than that, UMC provides a marginal education which seems to be only slighty better (in terms of USMLE scores) than most progrms in the Caribbean. If you can get around state residence in any other school or have the money and MCAT/GPA for a private school, go there.
It was overall, very good. My interviewers were very kind and seemed to know exactly what they were doing. It helped me to ask a few questions about the people who were interviewing me when I received their names. This led to an easily flowing conversation.
First I met with Dr. Case, who briefed me on what would happen during the day. He also asked a bunch of interview questions; even though it wasn't classified as an interview, it felt like one. Then I had another interview that lasted around 30 minutes. Next was lunch and tour with a fourth-year medical student. He knew everything about the school, so the tour was good for information that Dr. Case doesn't give. After that, there was yet another interview that lasted about 30 minutes as well. This interview was the hardest for me, because I was tired and started to get nervous again. They tell you before you interview what your interviewers' positions are, so that was a little helpful. However, they failed to mention that my third interview was with an ethics professor. Prep ethics questions! The interviews were rather informal, and I felt at ease the whole time. The questions were pretty standard, too. I didn't get any of those bat/ball questions or get grilled on my grades at all. I actually had fun.
Overall, a really good experience. I did not feel that I had to defend myself or that I was under intense scrutinization. Go in with confidence, know who you are and what you can bring to the medical field.
The whole experience was very unprofessional. Rather than preparing another interviewer, they dumped me on someone totally unprepared, after having all morning to check and make sure the interviewers were accounted for. Nobody bothered to apologize, even when I came back this year for interviews.
Much better than last year's (see 1/??/03). Enjoyed talking with the interviewers, and the M4 was very helpful. Was impressed by the efforts to use laptops for more efficient learning and note-taking in the classrooms.
Really, everything is pretty laidback. I promise. :) If any of the questions they asked me seem weird, don't worry...they came out of a fairly natural flow of conversation. No one is going to try to trip you up or scare you. They really just want to get to know you. Plus, they feed you lunch and pay for your parking, which doesn't hurt. They are all about selling their school, so just sit back and enjoy. :) Interviews are open-file, but the interviewer can choose to look at your file before or after they interview you. I had one of each type.
Over all, my experience was much improved from the previous year. I realized that everyone is competing for a few slots so I had to go into the interview with a positive attitude, stay focused, and organize what I had to say.
I was exhausted after the day's events! Each student meets with Dr. Case twice and with two other interviewers (usually an M.D. and a Ph.D.). My M.D. interviewer was very nice, and she answered my questions very openly. The Ph.D. interviewer was harder to read, but he warmed up toward the end and really asked creative questions.
Overall, a very positive experience. Very relaxed atmosphere; students seem to get a lot of hands-on experience and are quickly thrown into the mix after the first two years.
This was a great experience--Dr. Case is a great ambassador for the school, I had wonderful interviewers who were very personable and did everything they could to find out more about me, rather than grilling me. The staff is so so nice...it seems like a great place to be!
Overall, a pleasant experience. The Admissions staff seems very pleasant and easy going.
As the previous posting says, you have two interviewers and Dr. Case. He meets with you for 30 minutes to give you and intro. Then you have your one hour interviews with people on the admission's staff. At some point, you meet with an M4 to have lunch. That's not too exciting, so maybe you should eat a big breakfast. At the end, you have a one hour re-cap wtih Dr. Case. That's when he wants all your questions.
UMC runs interviews of three students at a time. Each student arrives approximately 1 hour apart. You start with the Associate Dean for Admissions. He gives you a little intro, your schedule, and tells you how the interviews are used by the admissions committee. He is also your first interviewer. You then have two faculty interviewers who are members of the admissions committe. They can be either closed or open file--I had one of each. At 11:00, all three students gather and are taken to lunch by an M4 who then gives a tour and answers literally any question you can come up with. You end the day back in the Associate Dean's offices for another little Q&A. Interviewers were very laid back and seemed very interested in getting to know who the applicant is. All in all a pleasant experience.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants overwhelmingly praised the admissions office for their friendliness, professionalism, and helpfulness, encouraging them to continue their great work without making any specific suggestions for improvement.
