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Ohio State University College of Medicine

Columbus, OH

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 18% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Most respondents felt positively about their interview.

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.

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 the applicant's motivation for pursuing medicine, their path to medicine, experiences with critical feedback and reflection, leadership experiences, ethical dilemmas, strengths and weaknesses, and their understanding of healthcare challenges. Additionally, questions related to specific scenarios like patient interactions, ethical decisions, and reactions to critical situations are frequently discussed. Some responses indicated an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements possibly in place.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at Ohio State University College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal growth, ethical dilemmas, service orientation, and family dynamics. While there were no stand-out unique questions, the interview format seemed traditional with a focus on understanding the applicant's experiences, values, and motivations for pursuing medicine.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at Ohio State University College of Medicine discussed various personal and ethical scenarios, including handling ethical dilemmas, reflecting on weaknesses, discussing challenges in medicine, and justifying experiences on their application. The interview format might have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the diversity of questions, with some respondents possibly under nondisclosure agreements due to specific question details mentioned.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.

How many people interviewed you?

Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.

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.
📍 On-Site Experience

Who was the tour given by?

Tours were most commonly given by a Student

How did the tour guide seem?

Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.

How do you rank the facilities?

Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.

What is your in-state status?

Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.

What were your total hours spent traveling?

Most respondents spent 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.

What was your primary mode of travel?

Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

Most respondents spent less than $100.

Where did you stay?

Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

How would you rate the hotel?

Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

Would you recommend the hotel?

Most respondents would recommend their hotel.

What is your ranking of this school's location?

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?

Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by researching the school, reading questions on Student Doctor Network (SDN), reviewing their application materials, doing mock interviews, and practicing answering general interview questions. Many also focused on knowing their application well, preparing for typical questions like "why medicine," and discussing ethical and current healthcare issues during their preparation.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and staff at the school. They also highlighted the state-of-the-art facilities, emphasis on community and support, as well as the innovative curriculum options available.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants commonly expressed concerns about disinterested interviewers, lack of individual attention due to large class size, overemphasis on rankings, inadequate interview organization, and unenthusiastic students. Suggestions included improving interviewer engagement, providing more structured Q&A sessions, and enhancing the overall enthusiasm of the student body to create a more positive impression.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants wished they had known ahead of time about the format and expectations of the interviews, the importance of preparing brief answers, and the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews. Suggestions included adjusting camera angles for virtual interviews, preparing for a full-on interview, and being aware of potential rudeness from interviewers. Applicants also recommended bringing comfortable shoes for tours, preparing questions about the school, and being aware of the high out-of-state tuition costs and Ohio residency benefits.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview experience at Ohio State University to be positive, with interviewers making them feel comfortable and engaged in conversations. Many applicants were impressed by the school's facilities, student enthusiasm, and focus on student well-being, although some expressed concerns about the emphasis on rankings and the stress of the interview process.
  • This school wasn't really on my radar until the interview. I wasn't excited about this school at first, but now it is easily in my top choices. Overall, It is a great interview experience.
  • Overall thought it would be more conversational but got "grilled" since both interviews went down a list of questions but I made it conversational due to the nature of my responses. A lot of follow-up so didn't feel like an interrogation at least. Both were very nice and my advice is to be real and don't give them answers they're looking for. This will help you come off more genuine and you will make a better impression.
  • It's a great program. There is lots of research happening at OSU, across the Basic Sciences to the Clinical Sciences. The placement of their med students in every year's match is also great for those interested in competitive specialties. A big turn-off for me about OSU was that for OOS students, it can be hard to qualify for in-state tuition through applying for Ohio residence after the 1st year, so if you're not an Ohio resident you're likely gonna get charged out-of-state tuition for at least the first year. OOS med students mention having to share excel budget spreadsheets specifically designed to document their expenses the way the office of the registrar wants to see it to qualify for in-state tuition, and their SGA is working on reducing the hurdles to qualifying for in-state tuition.
  • great experience overall, the interviewers made me feel comfortable and I didn’t feel anxious at any point
  • Great interview. Felt really wanted.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggested improvements such as consolidating application websites, providing clearer communication, offering more information on student organizations and programs, improving the interview process with earlier start times and better name tags, and allowing for more time during tours. They also appreciated the efficiency of the admissions office and some of the perks provided.