Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
West Lafayette, IN
Veterinary Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 26% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
⭐ 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 include inquiries about experiences with diversity, research projects, handling difficult situations, study habits adjustments, ethical dilemmas in veterinary care, future career goals, personal attributes, and opinions on academic integrity and animal welfare. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, as respondents faced a variety of scenario-based questions, and some respondents may have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement due to the nature of the questions asked.
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Tell us about some research you are aware of that is prevalent today. (I discussed research I did my senior project on about grain-free diets in dogs causing heart disease)
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There is much diversity amongst us in today's society. Tell us a time where you have experienced diversity in the workplace. (It was along those lines)
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What is one time where you had to face a difficult situation and admit that you were wrong? How did you end up resolving the issue?
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"We are a very diverse campus. How will you contribute to our diversity?"
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"What do you like to do for fun?"
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a scenario where a long-term client requests euthanasia for a troublesome puppy. Other common interview questions focused on ethical dilemmas in veterinary care, diversity, personal attributes for being a good veterinarian, opinions on animal welfare, and the impact of current issues on the profession. The variety of questions suggests a comprehensive evaluation process, while the absence of specific MMI or non-disclosure references indicates a more traditional interview format.
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"Say I am your client, we have known each other for 20 years. I have brought you many animals. What if I came to you saying that I have this 3 month old puppy and its chewing on everything and pooping inside and I ask you to euthanize it? What would you do?"
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What is the biggest issue facing veterinary medicine today?
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What would you do if you had a parvo dog brought to you, and the owners didn't have the funds to pay for treatments?
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Describe a time when you had to deal with an issue relating to diversity. (My interviewer was the director of Office of Diversity Initiatives, so this was probably unique to her).
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If we were going to come over for dinner what would you cook for us?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a range of topics including ethics in veterinary care, handling stress in vet school, conflict resolution within a team, critical thinking skills application, and reasons for pursuing a DVM in research. Additionally, there were references to MMI format, nondisclosure agreements, and questions about animal rights versus animal welfare, indicating a structured interview process focusing on ethical scenarios and personal values.
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"How do you feel about the debt that students have and the low salaries they make? Many people say that we are making a group of elitist. How do you feel about this?"
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What was a time you had to improve on a relationship that didn't start off the best?
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What would you do if you were in a research project and you didn't think the animals were receiving the proper level of analgesic care?
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Vet school can be very demanding, overwhelming, and stressful. How do you plan on dealing with all the stress?
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What will I remember you by?
🤝 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.
No responses
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 7+ 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 between $401 and $500.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
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chicago
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Pittsburgh to O'hare
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Indianpolis International (IND)
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Indiannapolis
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Indianapolis, IN
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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red roof inn
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University Plaza
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Univeristy Plaza
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Union Club Hotel
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TownePlace Suites by Marriott
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?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing questions on websites like SDN, practicing mock interviews with peers, and revisiting their personal statements and VMCAS applications. Some also researched the school's program and discussed potential answers with friends or colleagues to ensure they were well-prepared and confident during the interview process.
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Looked at this website. Did a mock interview with my animal and veterinary science department. Worked with another friend who had a different interview and talked about how we would answer questions
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Practiced questions found on here and other sites
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Review other peoples' questions on this site. Review my VMCAS and my personal statement. Breathe deeply, and try to be myself, relaxed and natural.
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reading the SDN interview feedback
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Looked at previous interview questions and thought about possible answers.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Purdue, describing it as a true "family" environment. They appreciated the organized interview day with various activities and opportunities to interact with students and faculty, as well as the focus on mental health and student success.
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The people and the school itself. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. I really enjoyed the dinner and getting to know and talking to students.
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The Purdue "family" is real. Small Class size. Most diverse veterinary school. They have a councilor and really care about students mental health.
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Continued description of "family environment"
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The culture of the campus. Everyone there loves the school and is proud to be a part of it. They preach it is a family, and it truly is. The entire day was full of opportunities to learn about the school and what it's like as a vet student. Even got to attend some classes - which were impressive in themselves. Like that they focus on success in business as well as success as a DVM.
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The organization of the interview day was outstanding. They had different seminars to attend throughout the day so there wasn't much down time. The students and faculty were super friendly and welcoming and I could tell they truly love Purdue. I even got the opportunity to attend one of the 1st year ANI classes (problem based learning) and the students were very inviting and treated me like one of their own. I also thought it was great that Dean Reed was mingling with interviewees throughout the day and genuinely seemed interested in each and every applicant. The banquet they held at the end of the day was also much nicer than expected with great food and further faculty/student involvement.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the long and tiring interview day, lack of organization in scheduling interview times, outdated facilities, limited activities for interviewees, and unenthusiastic or overworked students. Suggestions included providing interview times in advance, improving the tour experience, and offering more engaging activities during the day-long process to enhance the overall experience for applicants.
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The day was so long....they did a student panel multiple times during the day so people ran out of questions and I kept hearing the same thing over and over again
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The length of the day is tiring!
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The teaching hospitals (small and large) were a bit outdated, but still very functional. I wouldn't say this was necessarily a negative though.
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Nothing!
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Nothing, I loved it!
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the lengthy and unpredictable nature of the interview day, the importance of arriving early to participate in all morning events, and to bring snacks and water due to the long duration of the day. Additionally, some applicants mentioned wanting more information about the schedule, attire for specific events, and the open file nature of the interview.
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Go to the entire thing. If you have an afternoon interview still go in the morning. You get to meet people and other interviewees. Bring snacks and water.
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The events in the morning are different than the afternoon ones so come early even if you have an afternoon interview
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The day is VERY long... 14 hours! So I'm glad I wore flats instead of heels. I wish I would have eaten a bigger breakfast beforehand because they do have some small danishes and donut holes, but it's limited. That being said, there is a cafe in the vet school with inexpensive sandwiches and wraps so you won't starve.
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What was the recommended attire for the banquet.
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Nothing for me, just a heads-up even though you have a checkin time that may be in the afternoon look at the days itinerary! There is a lot of stuff going on for you to do and it all really helps getting to know the school
What are your general comments?
Applicants provided feedback ranging from positive experiences with friendly staff and a welcoming environment to suggestions to over prepare for the interview. Many mentioned the importance of being relaxed, engaging in conversations, and participating in activities offered during the visit, while a few noted concerns about interview intensity and facilities.
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Very relaxed environment they were straight faced but I got them to laugh. They ask a LOT of questions so be prepared. As long as you prepare it is very easy!
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I was really impressed by Purdue. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and the admissions staff were so organized. Everyone continuously talked about the "family" atmosphere at Purdue, and with such a small class size, I truly think they mean it. It seems like everyone gets along very well and is there to support each other in any way possible.
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School is great and everyone is super nice. They will try to answer every question that you have and if they don't know it they will find someone that does. All the students are very open about their experiences.
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Great school, great experience and I really hope I get in!
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I loved it
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested improvements such as providing advance notice of interview times, having a more detailed and accessible schedule online, and increasing staffing during peak check-in times to reduce wait times.
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Just contact them. they are extremely friendly and willing to help students
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Nothing everything was wonderful
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None, my experience that day was outstanding and I really hope I get in!
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Put the entire days schedule online. I was told to checkin at noon, and saw there was stuff I would have enjoyed going to at 10am I had missed already.
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Notify us of interview time before hand
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