Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 31% of interviews, indicating it is moderately 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 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 reasons for choosing the school, discussing family background and hobbies, experiences as an international student, ethical scenarios like handling medical mistakes, traits of a good doctor, and reflections on personal strengths and weaknesses. Some interviews were conducted in Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with questions on nondisclosure topics, while other questions focused on academic preparation, motivations for medicine, and adaptability to island life for international schools.
How was your transition as an international student in the US
Are you applying to other medical schools? MD schools? How about DO schools? Any other Caribbean schools? Is this your first interview? If not, which school did you have an interview with?
Ethics: If you discovered a patient has a terminal disease, would you postpone telling them or downplay the seriousness of the disease in an effort to bolster the patient's spirits?
Ethics: If you, as a doctor, made a mistake in treating a patient, but that mistake has been corrected and will NOT negatively impact the patient, would you notify the patient of that mistake?
Ethical questions: You're a med student doing rounds at the hospital and another student comes in and you can smell alcohol on their breath... You are a doctor and when seeing one of your patients he/she asks you on a date... What are the issues that come to mind when considering how to respond to these situations?
It was a game of 50 questions. I felt like I was getting drilled on all my life experiences-good and bad, my qualifications, and my reasons for choosing the school.
I volunteered information about why medicine, my experiences, my determination and passion to become a doctor, what specialty I'm interested in, etc. therefore the interviewer didn't have many questions for me...I answered them before he had the chance!
Why did you drop (BLANK) class?
(Make sure to answer well and before they do, specify what you did to replace that class; i.e. you retook the same course or one similar to it)
Do your transcripts reflect you? How was the MCAT? How did you prepare for the MCAT? Which class did you struggle with most? Which class was most academically challenging for you? Do you feel your pre-med background has prepared your for med school?
What is one thing you want the ad com to know about you? What are your strengths/weaknesses? What has been your greatest accomplishment (academic or non-academic)? What is your clinical experience?
How about we talk about your personal essay. (yeah that was the question, there was an extremely long pause before realizing she wasn't going to expand or ask specifics)
What do you like about Dominica? Why Ross? Why didn't you chose an American school - Be honest for this question as the interviewer knows that most of them go to Ross just because they have a bad gpa or a bad mcat and not because they want to stay on an island. I told him that I did bad on my verbal section in my MCAT and I think he was happy with my honest answer. I tried to explain a little on why I did bad on my verbal!
How was your undergraduate experience? Tell me about your experience with the MCAT. Tell me about your research. Why did you choose your school to study your undergrad?
What was your MCAT experience? (I said disastrous but doesn't represent my true scientific capabilities, since I have patents at Caltech and near 800K in NIH and private grants,...)
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? tell me more about your research? what would you do if you do not get into medical school? How many patents do you have?
Why do you want to be a doctor? Why do you want to go to Ross? Tell me abour MCAT experience? Tell me about your cinical/volunteer/extracurricular experiences?
why medicine? any volunteer experience? research experience? why did you take so many classes? name one characteristic that describes you? what do your parents think about my career choice? she asked about me growing up in Africa and how that impacted my life.
How did you prepare for the mcat? What about healthcare do you not like? What are your strengths and weaknesses? (but not worded that straightforwardly)
What qualities should you look for in a physician? Why do you want to become a physician? ... but it was not worded that straightforwardly. It actually threw me off a bit and made me nervous.
Students said most interesting question asked at Ross University School of Medicine discussed a variety of topics including ethical dilemmas in medicine, personal motivations for pursuing medicine, family attitudes towards medical education, and scenarios testing adaptability and decision-making skills. The interviews featured a mix of typical questions and some focusing on ethical reasoning, personal experiences, and future career aspirations, with a few candidates mentioning a standardized list of questions possibly indicative of an MMI format and nondisclosure agreements.
What does your family think about pursuing medicine in the Caribbean
The ethics scenarios because it was more about my opinion and much more revealing about my character (not something that can really be prepped for). They say "there are no right or wrong answers," but they are looking for logical, well-thought out responses.
Pretend you are an attending physician at a hospital and you administered the wrong medication to one of your patients, how would you handle the situation?
Nothing really interesting. The interviewer had a standardized list of questions to ask. Why Medicine, Why Ross U, medical experience, volunteer activities, research experience, strengths/weakness, leadership experience. All the goldies
All the questions were expected..
'' What would you like to do after 10 years? '' To my answer, the interview also pointed out sarcastically that ''Do I not want to help the underserved'' and he said that everybody says that and he doubts all those people who say that. So, dont say that you want to help the underserved unless, you do not have anything else to say.
She asked me that why would I go to medical school, since I have a very career as Director of R & D for major cancer center in the US? My answer was simple; I want to reach to my full potential and be able to become a neurosurgeon.
Do you feel that you've given me an accurate representation of who you are as a person? Do you feel that you've told me enough about yourself to make a recommendation to the admissions committee? Or would you like to add something? [Towards the end of the interview, obviously]
With regards to adaptability to the culture & life in the caribbean, give an example of a new situation where you had to adapt and how you were able to overcome the circumstances.
For this question, I gave a very non-traditional response, I had already discussed how I had visited India, and Pakistan and had familiarity with poverty and differences in culture, etc. But for this particular question, I answered by saying, the situation I encountered where I had to adapt was
It is important both as a prospective student and physician to be adaptable. Are you adaptable? Give me an example from your experience that illustrates this.
I understand there's a high level of competition at the University of Southern California. Can you explain that to me? Share with me one experience that reflects the competitiveness.
Questions were routing...to get to know you, not to jolt you; e.g.,when did you decide to become a doctor, what specialty would you choose, what was your favorite clinical experience?
Honestly, this is about as basic an interview as you're going to get. The interviewer literally had a prepared sheet of set questions that she just rattled off. No real curve balls here. The only questions that really couldn't be answered off your file and required a bit of thinking I listed in the "3 questions" section.
I have had sort of an odd life so pretty much all my questions centered are going to be pretty specific to my file -- if you know who you are - you'll do fine. Don't lie, don't make excuses... Just be honest - they are really nice.
What undergraduate class, that you have taken, do you think would be the most helpful to someone entering a medical career, regardless of the grade you earned?
If I had a cloned "brother" 4 years my junior and he was entering college as I was exiting college what piece of advice would I attempt to give him?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Ross University School of Medicine discussed various topics such as gaining trust in healthcare, ethical scenarios, reasons for pursuing medicine, and challenges faced in the field. While students reported a mix of standard interview questions and ethical inquiries, the responses indicated a range of personal, academic, and future-focused queries, with some mentioning a focus on grades and test scores.
How would you go about gaining the trust of a person who doesn’t trust the healthcare system.
No unexpected questions. But all the interviewers asks to explain a C. I never got a C in my life, so he told me that I was making his job difficult. So, make sure that if you have a C, you can explain it.
ummm...i don't know. The interviewer was nice and laid back, and none of the questions were hard. I did get nervous and was stuck to me seat in the end because my interview was only 30 minutes! ARGH!
Why was your MCAT Experience? (Obviously I did not do well and did not think that MCAT represents my capabilities in science, since I have more than 20 publications and near 800K in NIH and private grant funding as well as 3 patents)
1.Give an exmaple of your adaptability.
2. How have your study habits changed since being your masters program?
3.Has working full time affected your studies?
I told him that I enjoy various genres of music. He was into classic rock and began asking questions about that. No I wasn't ready for that one but handled it well.
I understand that in the Asian communities there are cultural beliefs that undermine conventional medicine practices. Let's say you had a patient with terminal illness, but the family wishes you not to tell him/her. What would you do and how would you go by doing it? Would you tell the patient or keep quiet and respect the family's wishes?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
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 reviewing their application materials, conducting mock interviews, researching the school and program, and utilizing resources such as SDN, ValueMD, and the Ross website. They also focused on practicing common interview questions, discussing their motivations for attending medical school, and familiarizing themselves with the school's history and mission.
Researched the school and programs, created a general and Ross-specific interview question list, answered all of the questions on my list to generate ideas, did a virtual mock interview.
Read interview feedbacks here, read recent Ross SDN posts, skimmed through Ross' website, watched their official YouTube videos, read all their official advertising emails, reviewed my resume and application essay
Student Doctor Network, Ross website & FAQ, bounced questions off of friends, read "The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success", attended multiple seminars and was very familiar with the school, re-read application and personal statement for possible surprise topics.
Reviewed: SDN, Value MD, Ross website, AACOMAS application, Facebook, Resume, Wrote out Qs for myself and Qs I wanted to ask Ross, Friends asked me Qs, attended a Ross info session and spoke to a current Ross student. Had a 1/2 cup of coffee! =D
I surfed google and got the questions from there and I did actually try to answer all of those questions before the interview. SDN also helped me a lot.
Ross Open House in Chicago, Website, Island Med Student.com, Wrote down questions/answers, Reviewed my research data, I have had experience from interviewing for jobs with medical universities in the Chicago area.
SDN interview feedback. I made a list of all the questions that were asked that the other students mentioned on this website, and then went through them one by one, and answered them, typed up the answers in bullet point format, and then had my husband interview every morning during breakfast. He would ask me questions randomly from the list. I also used the list that I had created for the questions from the feed back from SGU, but they were different questions. Pretty much the questions I prepared for were the questions I was asked. SDN rocks! Thanks all for providing your feedback!!
Mock interview. Read interview book. Researched island information as well as school information. Researched current medical events. Familarized myself with my application.
I looked at other responses on studentdcotor.net and I practiced with my family. I also went over my application and made it my goal to let my interviewer know information they did not currently know about me.
Student-Doctor Network forum, gathered lists of interview questions of the net, skimmed a book on managed care, reviewed my application, practiced with a friend.
Read posts on this forum and had a list of potential questions I found in another site, which were all useless for Ross interviews. No ethics or hypothetical situations.
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the interviewers and staff, the professionalism and organization of the admissions process, the informative and thorough nature of the interviews, and the focus on making candidates feel comfortable and valued. Suggestions included providing more information about the school's curriculum, facilities, and residency placements, as well as maintaining open communication throughout the application process.
My interviewer was extremely friendly and made everything feel more like a conversation than an interview. My interviewer presented new information and addressed all of my questions and concerns thoroughly.
My interviewer. She was very welcoming and treated me like a valued person. She introduced the three interview parts (medical ethics scenarios, personal experiences, Q&A) to me at the very beginning of the interview so I felt less nervous and less uncertain. Some scenario questions were challenging, and she allowed me some time to think when I requested. At the end of our interview, she informed me that it'd take about 4 weeks before I hear back from them, and she explained to me about the next application stages following the interview. She was very experienced, informative and warm.
Friendliness of interviewer - openness in terms of wanting only students who can succeed to attend and suggesting for students who have US acceptances to stay in the US.
The warmth of the interviewer and Admissions office. They were very nice, and I felt they valued me as a candidate and respected my hard work to pursue my dream.
The friendliness of the staff and interviewer, the happiness of the students coming in and out of the office, how nice the building was (Miami location)
Everyone was so friendly... even the secretary who laughed when I told her I was lost in the 7000 Bldg. and laughed yet again when I was leaving and pulled the door instead of pushing...maybe that's what got me accepted :)
The interviewer seemed to know my file very well, he asked very specific questions, which was nice. He also knew a lot about the school and about the island, and was happy to answer my questions.
The interviewer was very familiar with my file. Seemed to have been well prepared for the interview, unlike some of the postings of some other students who complained that the interviewer was not ready and seemed not to have read their files. Also it did not seem like a recruiting business to me, unlike few of the postings here. He told me their acceptance rate was 60%. He left me unsure of if I was going to be accepted. Another aspect that impressed me was that it took them 3 weeks to get back to me about their decision, unlike other schools that take months to get back to u.
Staff was friendly. Had a conversation with each person I met on staff. Answered my questions to the best of their ability. Followed up with a request I made at the interview. Gave me some info to take home.
The NJ office was very organized, The process was stress free. Ross tries to make sure your application is complete (unlike other medical schools who might leave you hanging on the vine, as long as they get their fee).
how relaxed the interviewer made me feel during and even after the interview..in fact he told me that he will recommend me for admission to the committee
The interviewer was very humble. I never realized when 50 mins flew away. It was just like a normal conversation and he started by asking me what my parents did. His name was Kevin. Kevin hates late comers, so if u have him, be sure to be there on time!!
The front desk receptionist was also very good.
The question and answer session assigned with the 4th year med student was really helpful. I liked how I was able to ask the 4th year all the questions I had and get a straight answer. Very informative and insightful.
The encouragement the interviewer gave in trying to make it a friendly-type conversation. The graduate students we spoke with were very honest in terms of what to expect on the Island of Dominica. The faculty seems aware that most of us would not have applied if we had options in the US. They presented their school in a fair and positive light. In general, everybody was very nice and friendly.
Level of interest they expressed in who I am, what I have done, what do I want to do with my life and why do I want to become a physician/neurosurgeon.
everything about the school! the technologies they have for the students! the curriculium, dedication, Awesome school!! Recognized in all 50 states!! Awesome residencies, they get their students ready for USMLE!!!
The interviewer was extremely nice and easy going. She actually made the interview fun, and we had a couple laughs during the interview. It was like talking to a friend, just a little more formal.
The interviewer although he wasn't a previous student, or a professor or a doctor, they were very relaxed, fun, and inviting. Although they are very very professional, and are a real advertising school, they genuinely want to help you, and give you the best opportunity out there, AND the interviewers have an earnest desire to get you IN. They aren't testing you for
I was impressed with how informative, helpful, and enthusiastic the medical student was who answered questions and gave us the tour. I also appreciated the hospitality and non-threatening nature of the admissions staff.
Although the interview was held at a regional location and everyone states that it is quite informal .. It is actually pretty professional. The interviewer didn't make it seem like a "conversation" as people mentioned. Although it was not super tense, and was comfortable- it was still more than a regular conversation. The interviewer also makes it a point to let you know island life is not the finest.
The school has up-to-date technology. But I feel that is all it has. It's a factory for pumping out M.D.'s. They don't care about YOU and your future in medicine, they care about filling their class!
The staff and the interviewer were all very nice and helpful. The school seems to rival US med schools and they have a significant amount of US hospital affiliations.
The positive attitude of the admissions staff - their warmth, sincerity, professionalism, and appreciation of the importance of compassion, dedication, and drive in their students.
The depth of knowledge of the admissions staffer who conducted my interview. Her husband is a Ross grad, and she even lived with him on the island while he was going through school. She's been affiliated with Ross since...11 plus years. Not to mention, she was incredibly laid back, casual, and welcoming. Also, there really were no "sales tactics" either...although there was a push to get people who applied for the September class (like myself) to switch to May instead.
is fine as long as you take some upper division courses for the non-community coll
I was presented with advantages and disadvantages I may face if I attent this school. There was no “sales†attitude
The interviewer, which was a Dean, was friendly and laid back. Also, the tour with the students was nice because they didn't lie on how it really is in the island, the bad and the good. Mostly bad.
The campus has state of the art facilities, only 16 months are spent on the Island of Dominica, the 5th semester is spent in Miami, FL in a course called "Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine." Following this, 48 weeks consist of core clerkships designated at various hospitals throughout the country. The next 33 weeks are of electives and can be scheduled at any teaching hospital throughout the country. All clerkships must be done at teaching hospitals. The campus also has 3 patient simulators and wireless access. The USMLE Step I pass rate is 88% for first-time takers.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about unprofessional conduct during interviews, lack of organization, small hospital facilities, unimpressive videos, and perceived disinterest from interviewers. Suggestions included improving interviewer preparation, providing more relevant information during interviews, and highlighting academic achievements and unique learning opportunities at the school.
While I was thinking hard on one of the medical ethics scenario questions, there was someone next door talking loudly, and obviously, the wall between us had zero noise absorption effect so I heard him word-for-word clearly and my thoughts were disrupted, which made me super anxious.
The mediator lied to me. She told me that you can only get into a US med school if you have these stats: MCAT>33, GPA > 3.8. That was a bit dramatic there killer!
my interviewer appeared to be not much older than myself and had little to no medical or science background, which was expected after reading some of the other feedbacks but she clearly didn't review my application and got the feeling she wasn't even listening during the actual interview making the whole process very awkward.
Interviewer was late 10-15mins; attrition rate is very high! 15-20% !!
Prof to student ratio is 1:17 !!
Also interviewer did not satisfactorily answer my questions about their clinical program which seems to be having problems?
Nothing. Well, except that the interviewer said that a lot of students bring food with them, because the island doesn't have many US brands and its expensive.
that a non-md was interviewing me. it felt a little too informal, guy answered the cell phone during the interview, smelled like cigarettes,
told me the video I was about to watch was boring
I could tell that the number of applicants are increasing by the year...so it seemed to be like they have become carefree or almost careless...the admissions officer that interviews is just a medium through which the admissions committee knows you...plus you can tell off the bat that the person has interviewed so many people...that has almost become a boring routine for him...my interviewer definitely made me feel this way
Larkin hospital where some of the family practice rotations are done. The hopsital was very small. The ICU only had three beds. On the other hand, it might be nice to start out in a small place before doing rotations in a larger area.
We didn't really get an orientation of the hospital where the clinical rotations occur. Instead we just went to the cafeteria, (where they bought us lunch + point). They bring in a student who is currently doing his/her rotations in Miami in the hospital across the street from the Ross U offices, and she tells you Everything you need to know about living out there, about crime, about flying down there, about clothes, money, books, education, teacher-student relationship, everything.
I think the video they show ( ~ 15 min) is unnecessary. The same material on the video is available on their website and information sessions! they should include something you can ONLY see at the interview so its NEW information.
The life in Dominica, according to our student guide, is not necessarily peachy. The locals may or may not be glad you're there, and your housing might suck :) Don't abandon your dream of becoming a doctor because of this, but don't expect to be totally impressed.
Truthfully nothing. The opportunity to go to the Miami site allowed me to make a much clearer decision regarding my position on the school should I be accepted.
When I asked an admissions staff member questions about the school he seemed a bit evasive. ie: i asked about the passing grade and he told me it was a C but I looked it up and it says B. If you fail one class you have to repeat the entire semester.
I don't think Ross gives itself enough credit, occaisionally referring to itself as a second chance school for some of it students. Now, that may be the case at times or the general public's perception, but why play into the stigma? It has a tendency to scare off someone like myself, who is still in the running at several U.S. schools and instead looking at Ross for the unique challenges and culture it offers. They should've pushed more the truly one-ofa-kind learning the can give you that you can't get in the states. Also, I don't like the fact they have a HUGE entering class of 300 plus in September.
They unnecessarily undermine themselves by advertising the commodities too much while not stressing enough their results such as USMLE pass rates or first choice residency success rates, all of which are very good.
There were other students that day and if you were the first to arrive, you were the first to be interviewed. They made the others wait to watch the video, which for some, over and over again. Some waited 2 hours before being taken to another room to be interviewed.
The class size is huge (~310) for those matriculating in september, the attrition rate is 16% (though according to many other sources, it is higher), and the USMLE Step I pass rate is 92% overall (including first, second, third-time takers, etc.); mind you, this does not take into account the number of people that failed out before even getting to Step I.
they showed a intro video first before initial information was given- i think it would have been more effective to have a personal intro before the video
Applicants commonly expressed the wish to have known more about the interview setting, duration, and the interviewers' backgrounds, as well as logistical details like finding the location and potential pitfalls like incorrect GPS directions. Many also emphasized the importance of staying calm, being well-prepared yet relaxed, and not stressing unnecessarily before the interview.
I wish I had known how comfortable and welcoming my interviewer would make me feel. It definitely would've helped me get some extra sleep.
That they are going to grill me with those medical ethics scenario questions. The average GPA is 3.2 and the average 2015 MCAT score is 495 (for accepted students I guess).
That if you use google maps for the Miami location... it takes you to the wrong place!!! Triple check the map! It is located at the corner of SW 62nd Avenue (not Street) and SW 70th Street, and you park in a garage (bring your stub inside for validation)! It took me to a residential area, I ended up being late but called to let them know... they were super nice about it though and we all laughed it off! :) Stay calm in these situations, my interviewer actually said he was impressed with how well I handled that stressful situation!
That the interviewer wasn't an actual prof from ross. She was very young just seemed like someone they hired randomly. She was smart and composed but I couldn't really relate to her--she was very distant.
To not freak out the night before. I visited the office's location the night before to make sure that I'd get there on time in the morning. Well, it's a really nice building in a beautiful location, and suddenly, because of that, I felt really unprepared that night and had a minor freak out.
My interviewer was not an average staff member who can't answer some questions as some people claimed on SDN. On the contrary, he's a professor who lived in the island for several years!
If your interview is in North Brunswick,NJ, the Ross office is INSIDE the DeVry bldg. Also, my interviewer was not on the ad com. Her responsibility was to meet me, review my ap with me, ask me Qs and write a report to the ad com in Dominica.
I did not watch a video on the school like I had read in other reviews. I waited for 10 minutes for my interviewer, verbalized my application and essay, and 45 minutes later it was all over.
the fact that i was hyping myself up for nothing...the interview was very laid back and she made me feel like i was just having a conversation with a friend.
The fact that you can't really ride a bike or have your own means of transportation unless it is a car on the island...my interviewer told me that the roads are filled w/ ditches and the driving over there is chaotic...he said that unless i get a car, i should rely on the transportation that the university provides
That the interviewers were not faculty at Ross. Though they had visited the Island and seemed knowledgeable about the workings of the school, they really couldn't give much information as to how the classes are.
I had studied about this institution ahead (I have done that with my US interviews too); however, I discounted Caribbean Medical schools like Ross and I was wrong. There is truly no difference and no one cares where you get your MD from as long as you show competency in treating patients.
That the Hilton hotel was much closer to the building than the Hampton Inn. I would have rather paid $20 more for one night and be closer to the building.
i didnt get to prepare much for the interview itself. had all the questions but tried to wing it. that and feeling nervous didnt really work out for me.
At the end of the interview, she will ask you if there is anything else you would like to add, at this point be prepared to leave a lasting impression.
Differences b/w SGU & Ross. I didn't know them, and they asked me that question when they asked what other schools I've applied to. Also, there will be other students there who will be interviewed separately individually, while everyone else waits in a meeting room, watching a movie about Ross U. Knowing a little about how the day is going to pan out is nice to know.
Well now that I look back on the experience, I would have to say that when they invite you back for an interview, you have stepped over a huge barrier already. Just be yourself, RELAX and preparing beforehand definitely helps to get thoughts stirring in your mind.
nothing, SDN does a good job on giving a heads up . One thing - the location can be in nowhere nowhere land, so MAKE sure to eat before going *early* to the appointment. the early part, shouldnt' cover the eating part..b/c u probably won't find anything.
The possibility of being offered a spot in MERP(the Ross equiv to most bridge programs). If you do well in this semester, they will grant you admission for next semester med school class.
That I would spend $29.00 to park my car for less than 2 hours in Chicago! ouch!
Also, Ross does not just "take anyone with a pulse" they are a serious school and will kick you out if you don't do well in Dominica!
I wish I had know that the interview was going to be so informal, and not conducted by a physician. After a season of pressure interviews it was nice to have a "conversation."
Also, it is DOM-IN-IC-A, Dah-mun-ik-ahh, not domin-ica such as dominican republic
How totally laid back they were... And that I wasn't going to hit traffic driving there - I hung out in the parking lot for an hour cause I got there so quit.. I saw a bird with no head on the ground-- the head was no where to be seen I might add.... How odd.
Applicants commonly shared feedback that the interviews were generally relaxed and conversational, with interviewers showing interest in the applicants' experiences and goals. Suggestions included being prepared, honest, and confident, and emphasizing the importance of being oneself during the interview process.
I think the interview went well. I hope other schools have interviewers this friendly. RELAX AND BREATHE. You can do it!
My interviewer said the reconstruction after the hurricane Maria SHOULD be completed in January 2019. The reconstruction may be extended, but they are unsure as of now. She also said that the LMU students are not sharing the exact same facility with Ross students. A recent significant new improvement made for Ross students is that they have implemented an individualized counseling system for clinical rotations. The students in the past received no help and no guidance while they were doing rotations; now Ross assigns one counselor (or someone similar) for each student throughout the rotation.
The admissions staff are very nice, helpful, and overall I feel that they give pretty good advice. Obviously they are trying to sell their school, just like anywhere, but I definitely appreciate how honest they are about the process, risks, and advice for prospective students. I didn't feel I was being tricked into attending, but rather that this was simply a way to reach my goal when other methods have failed.
If you are coming from NY or going through the NYC area, please give yourself at least twice the regular travel time. I gave myself an extra hour to get there and barely made it in time even if it wasn't even rush hour. Also, the interviewer was very meticulous in looking at my resume and grades.
Overall a very laid back interview, felt slightly over dressed in a power suit. Interviewer took me in a 1/2 hour before my appt. which was nice. Also received an updated book on the school and its curriculum.
I got a call regarding my acceptance exactly 10 days after my interview, and you know you're doing well if the interview turns a bit into a conversation type format.
Overall the interview went well. I was surprised to see my interviewer had a list of questions to ask me. She wrote down as many notes as she could. Remember to be short and concise but don't be afraid to add detail. Focus on your unique aspects of your application. Don't forget to smile!
Interviewer was very formal and kept a straight face. She asked all the questions from her sheet: Why Ross, why medicine, adapting to 3rd world country, relationship with patients, clinical experiences, improvements to healthcare, preparation for medicine, strength/weaknesses, explain your marks, explain your MCATs, anyone family in medicine, any else you would like to tell the admissions committee. She was kind in asking follow up question if she felt that you should expand on a question.
Positive. The interviewer seemed to genuinely be interested in my application. Unlike US schools where they ask 'what makes you think you're good enough for our school?' Ross tried to make sure I'd be a good fit.
unsettling. felt the interviewer was so detached. all the questions were so general. felt she was so uninterested, if anyone from Ross comes across this, whether the interviewer is actually employed through your university or not, during the interview they are representing your institution and if she seems uninterested it can make the applicant feel Ross is uninterested. honestly afterwards felt like ''what was the point of that?'' but we'll see, was told it would be approx. 2 weeks to hear back.
I meet the interviewer at a hotel conference room, we talked while he asked me specific questions about my file..it was more of a dialog oppose to a mono log..the best part was how relax the interview was..
office was easy to find. arrived 10 min early receptionist was nice waited about 8 min. for interviewer. went to a classroom that was at the location for the interview then a brief movie about ross
I was interviewed at the irvine location - i waited in a small waiting room of a devry graduate division office. The interviewer was from the start friendly and easy to talk to. She showed me into a classroom, where i was interviewed. Questions were very general and expected thanks to sdn. After the interview, she answered some of my questions and showed me a video. I think she could tell from my answers that i was a little insecure about my grades but when she looked at my file she was reassuring and told me ''you didn't do that bad at all...just a few bumps on the road'' so that made me feel at ease for the rest of the interview.
it was very chill. the guy who interviewed me worked for ross admissions and had no clue what being a doctor was about. This was bad. I over-prepared for the interview but I think it was worth it. I was very confident and profession in the interview and I knew I nailed it about 5 min into the interview. I also became less interested in the school after the interview. I thought it was too unprofessional and they guy could not answer a lot og my questions and had a vibe that ross was not that great of a school. I heard good things about ross before going there and was bummed out that I thought the school was eh after the interview. my stats were 3.6 gpa and 22 mcat if you have similar stats.
I applied 9/20/2007
asked to interview 10/10/2007
interviewed 10/16/2007
accepted 10/24/2007
Took me about an hour to get to the main offices. Was greeted politely by the interviewer. Went over my app. and was asked several questions (about 45 or so minutes). Then, I watched an introductory video of the school. Really laid back.
stayed at a cousins house. Let me tell you that the New Jersey Turnpike in the morning is chaotic during rush hour. I left around 8 am and arrive at the office at 9:30, an hour and a half later (normally would have taken 40 min). Interview was at 10 am, i arrived at 9:30, my interviewer did notice this point (so dont be late!!), receptionist greeted me very nicely, looked through some brochures on the school, interviewer came out 10 min later, a casual chat, then came back few mintues later to start the interview. Lasted about hour, then saw a video on the school, with one other prospective student (although they mentioned there was supposed to be 10 other students that time). An admissions counselor came in and answered all our questions, lasted about another hour, then left. the whole thing i would say was about 2 hours long.
The interview itself went well, but Miami was HOT!Flying was a nightmare and so was the hotel. The hotel was very close to the interview office. I got there at 8:00am, and waited for 10 min. My interviewer was very nice and he joked a bit, it was very relaxing and I learned a lot from him. After the interview we watched a vedio, and a 5th semester student walked in to talk to us. He was very informative and honest about sharing good and bad experience he had with ROSS. He then took us to their hospital right across the street but we didn't see a lot of it. After that, we had lunch with all the interviewers and admission members. We talked a lot; it was fun.
For the Chicago office it's at 225 W. Washington in the DeVry Building. I arrived at Washington/Wells via the Brown Line ''EL†at 9:40am for a 10am appointment. I checked in on the West side door and walked to the East side entrance to let them know I was here. I waited for 10 minutes until my interviewer came down to get me. My questions where straightforward. I have a lot of experience so I did not want to ramble too much. I did here the phone ring in the middle of a question/answer; I presume it was another interviewee arriving, and the front desk paging my interviewer, so just ignore it. Also, when your interviewer jots down notes, I presume its not verbatim what I was saying, but that e.g. I was clearly answering question #2 without hesitation, with confidence and that I had thought about what my process entailed. Again, this is what I presume or would do if the roles where reversed. I was slightly nervous the night before, but was well relaxed after I first sat down in the office. If you need to extrapolate in an area, he/she will guide you for more detail. My advice: relax and believe in all your accomplishments.
Overall, I had a great experience! I felt everyone in the office was really kind, including my interviewer. I felt very comfortable and didn't feel any stress. The questions that I got are all the ones expected, no surprises. Here is the breakdown of the interview:
8:30-9:45 Interview
9:45-10:00 Video on Ross
10:00-11:30 Session w/4th year med
student (invcluded a tour)
11:30-12:15 Lunch w/interviewer & med
student (same from earlier)
It was not a good experience. AS soon as I walk in, the receptionist just wanted to snatch my coat away to hang it in closet. Interviewer just asked me to follow him, and started his Q's with out introducing himself. Very uncomfortable!!!
Know your transcript and MCAT scores well especially for those who think they are on the chopping when it comes to their grades and scores...have an honest explanation about why they aren't really great...trust me, i was honest in saying that biochem was really really hard for me...i said that i tried my best and apparently my best was a C and he took that as an answer...because they do ask why you got low grades in particular classes...also they look upon the fact that you retook a class and aced really really positively...so if you can do that to kind of void out the C's you have in your transcript...it would looked upon as a very good thing
I was very relaxed. The people were very nice. We were only 2 students to be interviewed. I went inot a room w my interviewer for 45-50 min. Then we saw a video, then talk to a current Ross student doing a rotation in Larkin Hosp, and then have lunch all of us (we-2 students, the 2 interviewers, Ross student, and the Dean).
The interview was very nice. I was nervous at the begining, but the interviewer was really nice and that helped me to relax. He wrote almost everything I said down. Which was a bit distracting, but I made myself focus on the questions he was asking. The whole day was short in general. There was a video presentation about Ross, in which former and current students spoke about thier experiences. The day ended with lunch with dean of admissions and the interviews. That was the most relaxing part and fun part.
First I thought Idid well but then I thought my be I did not as well as I thought because it took them give me an acceptance letter 3 months after interview.
It was a great interview! The interviewer was very interested in knowing about both the type of student I am as well as the type of person I am. And the Hotel I stayed at was wonderful! Free shuttle both to and from the interview location and airport.
awesome experience, it was my first interview! no stress at all. remained calm and answered all the questions in full. when i walked out of the room, i thought i had an excellent conversation with a stranger!! i explained myself well...awesome experience!!
I arrived a little early for my interview and was welcomed by the receptionist who offered me reading materials on Ross as well as Dominica. The general level of my interview was comfortable, though the order at which the questions were asked was rather random.
Starting from the beginning:
Since I'm in Atlanta, they called me down to Miami to visit them there, where they also have clinical rotations. They let me know about Best Western Hotel nearby (10 min walk, free shuttle to and from airport & interview site) which gives discounts to students for Ross (or wanna be students, too!) $79. I bought about $150 ticket round trip with AirTran ($59 one way sale), and then the $80 hotel, and then food for dinner & breakfast, added up to $20. They have breakfast there, but it's not free. They have a restaurant there and it's about $8-10 for a buffet breakfast. Lots of food, but go easy on the breakfast so you're not stuffed or sleepy. I got on the shuttle around 7:45 am after breakfast, and got to the interview site just about 5 min later. There may be other students in the van also, so get to know them and don't feel shy or intimated talking to them.
Once we got there, we got int he elevator and went straight to the penthouse. They don't tell you this, but we happened to meet a kid in the van who had attended the interview the day before and he was off to the airport. So you want to go straight up the penthouse (top floor) I think Floor 15 or something. Then, walk out and you'll see the Ross U sign, and the doors are really tough to open, so make sure you PUSH hard! Someone tried walking in late, but couldn't so ended up knocking on the door (he stood out a little)--just cause the doors are difficult to open.
Anywya, they say hi, and crack a few jokes, to make everyone feel comfortable. When I was there, there were 2 interviewers. Each interviewer took 1 student with him and walked off into a room (2 interviews going on in separate rooms at the same time) while the rest of us sat around in a meeting room and walked a little video on Ross. We talked and chatted and had fun. When one interview was over, that person came in and waited with us, while one of us went with the now free interviewer. This happened for a few hours. The interviews were not ... Timed. They just happened. some were longer than the other, depedning on how much you ahd to say and how much they asked.
They had specific questions, that they had to ask, but it was totally cool if you interrupted them, and asked them questions too about Ross. It was very discussion-like, except he threw in questions evry once in a while.
My interviewer was Tom Hueller. Really awesome fun nice guy. He made me feel like he was tyring to get a good image of who I am, what my goals are, why I pursued medicine, etc. He even would re-iterate my answers so that he made sure he understood me correctly. If he was incorrect, then I corrected him. We had a ball, laughed, and cracked up the whole time. It was a lot of fun. If you have the personality.
Take it easy. Let yourself be professional but not toooo formal. Know your stuff be yourself. You'll meet others there who may seem -more- qualified than you, but try not to Be them. BE yourself. Just yourself.
Some other questions we covered:
-Strengths /Weaknesses?
-Do Grades show potential?
-What cultural exposure have you had?
-Give an example when you had to adapt to a situation and explain how you did it. (with regards to cultural adaptability in caribbean)
-Favorite non-science course taken
-Worst Science Course
-When did you know you wanted to be a doctor?
-Did you have a mentor in the medical field?
-Why Ross?
-Is there anything else you want to discuss, that will add to your application?
He had the file open right there in fron t of him, and he took notes the whole time, so don't be bothered by that. Don't even pay attention to it. Just make sure he gets a good idea of who you are.
After the interview, you all sit in the meeting room talking to the student performing her clerkships (or rotations) in Miami, and you can ask her all the personal questions you want. Really good way to get to know what it's really like down south.
She was very very informative, and really got me interested in going there!
Then you all meet up with the interviewers & the president Or something, and go to the hospital across the street for lunch. We ate lunch around 1-1.30 (maybe a little early..we were waiting for aquite some time for the interviewers to come downt ot he lobby), and then we just sat and talked about all kinds of non-medically related stuff.. just getting to know them all. It was a lot of fun!
I got there early and chatted with the people at the front desk. I was brought in to watch a video (I got a copy to bring home). Then my interviewer came in and we talked for almost an hour. The whole thing was very relaxed and enjoyable.
Overall, the questions asked were straight forward, none of the questions were tough, just general questions to get to know you better. The interviewers are friendly and help you keep the stress level down.
Lots of questions were asked, mostly dealing with grades, classes, MCAT, college life, and why I want to be a doctor. There were no surprises. The interviewer was really nice and gave really great feedback. This was the best interview I've had so far!
I arrived an hour early so I just sat in the office reading my magazine (I wasn't from the area and I thought rush hour traffic would be really bad). The interviewer made me feel really comfortable. The feedback on this forum prepared me very well for the interview - they were hardly any questions that I wasn't expecting. Just remember - relax and smile =)
I went 2-3 hours early, thinking I'd find a place to eat somewhere near by. NO! there was NOTHING except japanese food, which I might add, open their restraunts at 11am! so I ended up eating a bit from vending machines. I still was early for the interview. The staff in the office were very friendly and accomodating. Then came the interview, it was easy going, but formal. It didn't feel like a conversation, or chill meeting with a stranger. It was relaxed, the interviewer makes you comfortable to a certain level yet still maintains professional etiquette. Do not mistake the interview as a formality towards entering this school - there are people I know of with good scores who did not get accepted. Overall, this website helps the most- it has similiar questions and prepares you well on what to expect. I actually know a number of people who attend and attended Ross. It is a school that does prepare you well to practice medicine , there is a high attrition rate, and yes they do sometimes accept people with lower scores- but they are giving people a chance. The ones who prove themselves are the ones who make it to the end, and become great physicians. The rest, are in the crowd that fails out. Afterall, we do take the SAME licensure exam as u.s.a med students. The island life is near to a 3rd world country style. Living without luxuries is going to be a must. Adaptability will be tested. And thats my two cents!
It was laid back, we talked about hurricanes in that region for a while, and later about the world cup. There were some typical interview questions but the bulk of it was normal dialogue.
Overall, interviewer lacked a personality. She did not once look up from her notepad. She asked very boring questions and seemed disinterested. Not impressed by school, although my interview went well. I was overprepared.
I got there 10 minutes early but the receptionist didn't let the interviewer know right away. The interviewer thought I was running late when I had been waiting for nearly 25 minutes. Then I watched a tape for 10 minutes. Nothing new there if you've done your research. The interview itself was short. She basically asked me questions off a sheet and jotted down my response. She didn't ask me follow-up questions to any of my responses. Then I was given a chance to ask questions.
Great, the Miami staff under Dr. Clutter was great all the way from the receptionist to the fourth-year student. the student was very truthful and frank in answering questions about ROss.
The interview was actually enjoyable compared to others I have experienced. My interviewer ensured that the exchange was as stress-free as possible given the circumstances.
This was my first medical school interview ever and I was feeling quite nervous. The interview began a little late, but once it got started it was very comfortable and allowed me to demonstrate a lot about myself, my abilities and my desire to go to medical school.
I had an unusual experience than most applicants at Ross. I went to medical school in the united states but was kicked out for failing too many classes, so I applied at Ross. The interview was pretty good, basic questions but it did not seem "low-stress" or a "walk in the park" as others on here have claimed. The interviewer did try to sell their school, but at the same time it did not seem that they would just take me. I had to really prove that I wanted to be a doctor and that I could pass classes at Ross since I had been kicked out once before. Unlike most people I was a bit stressed and nervous and felt like I rambled a bit too much. While she was very friendly, there was nothing in her demeanor that said "you're in" or anything like that. Ross, believe it or not, does have standards, and they are trying to revamp their school's image and reputation.
Really enjoyable experience because everybody was so nice and welcoming. Interviewer was very easy to talk to, really seemed interested in what I had to say.
My overall experience was really good. I took a plane to the interview and then back again in the same day. So I was beat when I got home. The interview itself was really relaxed and after questions, I watched a video about Ross.
It turned out to be a relaxed interview. My interviewer cracked a few jokes. It was more of a conversation. It seemed that one question led to another, and everything flowed. I dont remember most of the questions properly, as it did not seem too much of a question-answer session.
I was promptly picked up from MIA by the hotel shuttle. The hotel was much nicer than I had anticipated, and the room was great. I was one of the first interviewees to arrive, and so we made small talk until the rest (8 total) showed up. The two interviewers introduced themselves, and then chose two candidates to speak with one-on-one. The rest of us went into a large office room to watch a Ross video, which was the same video that one gets during an information seminar. After the video, I got up and stopped the DVD as I didn't think anyone else wished to watch it ad nauseam. There was a book on Dominica as well as a small photo book of campus life, and the rest of chatted lightly until one of the interviewers came in to speak with us. The interview was open file, in a small room, with just the interviewer and interviewee. Nearly all of the questions were ones I'd prepared for (thanks to this forum). There are questions about specific things in one's application. The interviewer was very friendly, but (I think) intentionally avoided all eye contact after he had asked me a question, busying himself with leafing through my application. I was not prepared for this, and it added a sort of akwardness to the experience until I got the hang of it. Afterwards, I returned to the room with the others where a 5th semester student was answering questions. He was very friendly, approachable, and sought to sugarcoat nothing regarding the competitiveness present in the school and the huge percentage of matriculants that actually make it to Miami (45% or so). We took a brief tour of the hospital located across the street. It was small, but not unreasonably so. We finished with a lunch in the hospital cafeteria where all the applicants and some of the administration joined us. Overall, a very good experience. Ross is a serious school, and does fairly well with presenting the negatives and unique challenges that a student will face.
The interview was great. However! Unlike all the comments I've read regarding the interview and such easy questions asked...I unfortunately had very difficult questions (case scenarios!) and a very long interview! Nonetheless, I was able to go through it and my interviewer was open-minded to my thoughts, as if he wanted to know more about my experiences and opinions. Go in there answering with your own thoughts, don't have preconceptions of someone eles'e thoughts or a memorized list of answers. Be yourself, be honest, be relaxed, and you'll do perfectly fine. All in all, being my very first medical school interview, I had a great experience and feel like I can take on more medical school interviews~
Real good, they treat this interview as a chance to meet you - not just make you recite you application. Also, they understand the stress of these interviews and make you feel at home. This is a GREAT chance to help make up your mind about IMSchools and Dominica in particular.
We watched a video for ~10mins, asked any questions I had on it...followed by general questions on why I want to become a doc and so on...very easy going interview. This was held in Chicago (downtown).
The interview was an open conversation between myself and the interviewer. He looked over my file and asked general question like, "Tell be about your work experience." He was also very willing to converse regarding my questions about the school. The conversation was light hearted and involved moments of laughter. It was NOT serious and formal, for the most part.
very relaxed and laid back. I think everyone on this sight has mentioned the stress free atmosphere. After introductions I was asked about 20 questions, then I asked the interviewer questions, then watched a short video about the school.
The person who interviewed me was very pleasant and kept the interview relaxed. The questions were very basic and straightforward. I would highly recommend going through other interview feedback questions from this site. I was so prepared because they ask alot of the same questions. The interview was short (30 min) and went by so quickly. There's really no need to stress. Just be open minded about living on the island. They want to make sure you have realistic expectations and that you are really motivated to be a Dr.
This admissions staff were friendly, in general, but the interviewer that I got appeared a bit critical and had a dull personality, making the interview process a bit uncomfortable.
I felt as if they were trying to sell the school a little to much, but overall, it was very laid-back and stress free.
I just found out last Wed. that I got accepted & start in May!
Interview was one-on-one in a office in New Jersey with a member of the admissions staff. The questions were rather basic and the interview was followed by a 15 minute video and then more questions
I was the first one to arrive at this regional locations. But I met the interviewer right away and we engaged in a pleasant conversation for the whole time. Its hard to believe how fast the time past by.
It was a relaxing atmosphere.Instead of an actual interview, it seemed more like a conversation between two people trying to get to know each other well. Overall it was great
It was a casual conversation with a delightful admissions staff member. I was taken to a room to watch a recent video of the school, which was fantastic considering that I could not visit the campus. I was seen earlier than my scheduled time, and was treated like an individual rather than a widget produced in an interview mill.
My interview was in LA. My interviewer was very friendly, to the point about Ross, and very knowledgable. The interview room was on the 25th floor with a beautiful view, and it was like talking to a friend. Just BE YOURSELF and relax.
Positive overall. It was nice to find a school that is willing to address you as a person and not simply computerized numbers (although they obviously look at that stuff).
Again, very basic here. I got there quite early, and sat out in the lobby. Since the candidate before me was watching a movie on the school, the interviewer sat out in the lobby with me and made casual conversation. This only made things that much easier and laid back. The candidate after also showed up during this time and we then went in and watched the movie together after the first candidate left. We then asked any questions we had after the movie, the other candidate was excused, and we jumped right into my personal interview. Just a very pleasant experience, from start to finish.
Really laid back. I interviewed before Christmas- they leet us know that they would tell us something in a month or so.. I was called not even a week later to say I got in...
The interview is very conversational. Do not worry about it all. There are no "difficult" questions per-se; the interviewer just wants to get to know you as an applicant, and most importantly, as a human being.
Extremely helpful. I got the impression of complete disclosure- which is rare in my medical school experience. They laid out their school- the positives and potential negatives and gave me a honest appraisal of my credentials. A pleasant experience.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should improve communication by utilizing emails over phones, provide timely updates on application statuses, and ensure a smoother process for updating application checklists. Additionally, applicants appreciate a holistic approach in admissions decisions and friendly interactions with staff, but request more engaging content and consistency in interview scheduling.
Communicate with emails and not through phones. Inform the applicants about their application status timely (for the double-checking purpose), and not simply wait passively for the already-submitted-but-not-yet-noticed application material(s).
There has to be a better process of updating students application checklist. I submitted and resubmitted most items several times before my online status was updated. I may never have been invited to an interview, had I not consistently called Ross to find who was responsible for my application materials.