Stratford, NJ
Osteopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 16% 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 low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's motivations for pursuing medicine, their understanding of osteopathic philosophy, experiences with leadership, strengths and weaknesses, and their specific interest in the interviewing institution. Many responses also mentioned questions related to personal background, research experiences, extracurricular activities, and future career goals in medicine. Some respondents indicated that their interviews were in the MMI format, which may have involved questions under nondisclosure agreements.
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How has your prior experience with (X) prepared you to become a better physician?
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Tell me about your self?
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What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?
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Why DO?
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Why Rowan-Virtua SOM?
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Tell me a little bit about yourself (my interview was closed file).
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Why osteopathic Medicine
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Why Rowan/South Jersey?
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Why do you want to be a doctor?
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Why Osteopathic medicine?
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Why Rowan SOM and what do you hope to bring to this school?
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asked about experiences
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have you ever advocated for someone
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why doctor/ why Rowan
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Qualities/Characteristics that a doctor should possess
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Tell me a little about yourself
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why DO
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Asked more about the research I was doing
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Imagine we are in an elevator going from floor 50 to 0, tell me about yourself
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What is your biggest weakness?
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What will you do if you are not accepted?
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Why medicine?
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Do you feel your MCAT scores reflect you?
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How would your closest friends describe in 4-5 adjectives?
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Why do you want to be a physician?
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How do you feel about the importance of cultural competance?
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What would your BFF say your greatest strength is?
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What would your nemesis say your greatest weakness is?
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Why Rowan?
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If you had a magic wand what is one thing you would change in healthcare?
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Why did you take class X your freshman year?
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Tell me about yourself and what brought you here today.
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What would your good friend say is your strength and weakness?
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What's the last book you've read?
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What specialty do you want to practice?
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tell me about yourself.
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What do you want us to tell the committee about you when we meet?
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"Why do you want to attend RowanSOM?"
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Mostly involved my file and specific questions out of there, i.e. getting to know me as an applicant and why I participated in the extra-curricula I did.
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They asked about several things out of my application and why I'd be a good fit.
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Tell me about yourself
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They asked me specific questions about my extracurriculars
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What do you want me to tell the admission committee about you?
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One of your letter writers made a comment about you that we'd like you to clarify.
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Where do you see yourself 10 years after graduating from medical school?
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Why New Jersey?
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Explain your science GPA on your junior year.
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What kind of doctor do you want to be?
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Why UMDNJ?
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Can you talk about any medical emergencies you responded to as a firefighter?
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Why do you want to attend this school?
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Why do you want to become a physician?
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Why do you want to come to this school?
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What should i highlight about you to the admissions committee?
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One thing on your application you would change?
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Why UMDNJ-SOM?
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What are your leadership skills?
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Why NJ? i am from NY
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Tell me about a time when you had a leadership role.
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
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tell me about your bilingual experiences
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why umdnj
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Describe any leadership positions you've had
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I have thirty seconds to introduce you to the ad com, what should I tell them?
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What is a leadership role that you have had?
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What is osteopathy?
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What do you know about osteopathic medicine?
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What do you know about our school?
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What other schools have you applied to?
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Is there anything else you want me to know about you?
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tell me a reason why we shouldnt let you into this school?
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what are you doing in Jersey ( Im from Cali)
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Tell us of a time when you were in a leadership position?
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What was your previous exposure to osteopathic medicine?
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What would you do if you couldn't be a doctor?
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Explain leadership roles you have had
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Tell us about your research.
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Talk about a leadership position you've had. The interview didn't really have questions. It was mainly a conversation that was directed by my responses.
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Have you been in any kind of leadership role?
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Why do you want to apply to UMDNJ SOM?
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After a while, all of the applications start looking the same. When I go in front of the admissions committee to represent you, what do you want me to tell them that will make you stand out amongst the others?
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What about osteopathic medicine interests you?
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Why didn't you apply last year? If you don't get in this year what are you going to do. What if you apply 5 more times and you don't get in- then what?
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Did you apply to other DO schools? Which ones?
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Tell me about "x" activity, a few of those
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What's osteopathy?
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How are you a leader?
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Why Osteopahtic?
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Leadership roles?
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when did you show initiative?
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Why osteopathic school?
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Tell me about your family in Taiwan.
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Why do you want to become a doctor?
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Asked me mini-questions about my file (MCAT, where I live, courses I took) "I'm getting this impression, is this correct?" I believe he wanted the short yes/no style, more of a confirmation than an actual detailed response
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Explain some leadership roles you've had
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Tell me about Osteopathic Medicine
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Describe this "program" (a specific academic class I attended outside of school) and how it interested you.
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Which of your activities did you find to be the most meaningful?
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Why did you choose osteopathic medicine?
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How do you know about osteopathic medicine?/ Have you shadowed?
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Tell me about the research you've done.
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Tell us about any leadership positions you've had?
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Tell me about your research experience.
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How does service-learning relate to your internship?
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What can you tell me about osteopathic medicine, i.e., its history, tenets, etc?
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What sort of leadership experience do you have?
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How do you spend your free time?
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What do you want me to tell the Admissions committee about you?
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Asked about research.
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I don't remember the others (I misspoke and got kind of frazzled half way through. One of the interviewers was a Psychiatrist and keep staring at me.)
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Why Doc, DO, etc.?
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Describe yourself in three words.
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What other schools you applied to?
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Why Family Medicine?
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The rest of the questions were really specific to my application - about classes I've taken, study abroad, my research, etc.
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Tell me about your MCAT score.
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What do you like to do for fun?
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Why D.O.?
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Describe a time where you had to play a leadership role.
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Tell me about your research.
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What or how would you desribe osteopathic medicine.
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Why didn't you apply for the DO/PhD program?
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why a DO
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Why do you think you have good communication skills
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why do you wanna be a doc
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Where was my undergrad school located? why doctor? Name the tenets of osteopathy? How am i good at interacting? Medical disparities ive seen? What else can i tell them about myself? What would i do if i dont get in?...i hate that question does that mean they dont like me??
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Are there any extracurricular activities that you would like the committee to know about, especially any leadership roles that you participated in?
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What was the very first thing that sparked your interest in medicine?
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(Since I'm from CA)...So what brings you out to New Jersey?
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Name some leadership experiences you've had.
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Where do you want to practice?
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Describe a leadership experience you've had.
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How do you feel about your MCAT score?
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Did you ever shadow a D.O. and was it different from your M.D. shadowing? (I'm pretty sure they want AT LEAST one letter from a D.O. if you want to get in.)
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First question asked: So where are you from and what do you do?
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How did you like going to (your college)?
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What area/specialty are you interested in?
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What are your strengths?
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What would you do if you did not get in?
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Why medicine? Why DO?
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I have a box for leadership, help me fill that box in for you?
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Why wedicine? (Why Osteopathic medicine?)
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did you apply to other schools?
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What do you like to do in your spare time?
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Why did you choose to apply to UMDNJ-SOM?
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Why this school?
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Again, I was just asked to decide what the interviewer should ask me, so it was backwards that way.
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Are you re-applying this year?
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What have you done to improve yourself as an applicant?
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Why do you want to attend UMDNJ?
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Tell us about your leadership experience?
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Tell us what you know about osteopathic medicine and why do you want to come to our school?
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What would you do if you do not get accepted into medical school?
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Tell me about your research
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What would you want me to tell the admissions committee about you?
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Explain your verbal MCAT score.
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How do you think your research will help heart failure?
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Questions about my activities/experiences.
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What are your strengths that you can bring to UMDNJ? Where do you see yourself in 5-7 years (location)?
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Why do you want to go to medical school? Why osteopathic medicine? Are you interested in a specialty?
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Name 3 qualities about yourself.
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What kind of leadership experience do you have?
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What will you do if you do not get in this application cycle? What would be different about your application if you are sitting in this same seat a year from now?
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What do you do for fun?
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What is one thing or aspect about yourself you would like us to share with the admissions committee?
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How did you first learn about osteopathic medicine and why are you interested in it?
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Where else did you apply? interview at? get accepted? What's your first choice?
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Explain your understanding of OMM
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Why do you want to be an osteopathic physician
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how has lindenwold changed (I mentioned I had grown up there)
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why not business
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What do you do in your spare time
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Why do you want to become a physcian
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What leadership qualities you have? What you do for fun?
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What positive qualities do you have that would make you a good physcian?
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Why doctor? Why osteopathic doctor? Have you shadowed a DO?
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specific Q's on my research
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what one thing would you like me to convey to the adcom about you?
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Why osteopathy?
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Tell me about OMT?
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Tell me about your research?
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Why DO? Why UMDNJ?
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Questions about my specific research
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Basically conversation.
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Tell us something that you want the committee to know about you that we don't already know.
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What do you do for fun.
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How did you choose to attend Boston College?
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How did you learn about osteopathic medicine? Was there a particular experience that inspired you?
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What leadership roles have you taken?
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A question referencing my personal statement.
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Have you shadowed a DO? Ever seen manipulation performed?
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What other schools have you applied to/interviewed?
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Did I shadow A DO?
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Have I ever seen OMT practiced (something along that line?)
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Question about my graduate program
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Tell me about your reseach? What did you learn from it?
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What specifically do you want us to stress to the committee on your behalf?
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What was your hardest class in college? And why that class?
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can't remember -- it was more conversational and not really a formal question and answer thing.
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What do I think about insurance companies?
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Describe your leadership and volunteer experiences.
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What are you doing differntly in school to improve your grades?
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What are you positive charecteristics?
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What would you do if not accepted to med school?
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Explain a time in your life when you feel you have taken a leadership role?
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Tell us about your experience working in the operating room.
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Why do you want to be an osteopathic physician?
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If you had a crystal ball and could see into the future, where could you see yourself in 10 years?
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Since we are such a small class (~95), what can you bring to your entering class?
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Why medicine? Why UMDNJ? Is there anything else you'd like us to highlight when we present you to the admissions committee?
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What have you been doing since you graduated?
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What kind of relationship did you have with the patients that you have worked with?
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Why medicine? Why osteopathic?
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If you do not get into medical school this cycle, what do you plan on doing?
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What do you feel you could bring to the school and what are 3 major qualities you pocess?
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What negative quality would you consider yourself to have?
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Talk about three things that are not specifically mentioned in your application that you want us to know.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years.
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have you shadowed a D.O.?
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how do you explain you low MCAT score?
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why did you take so long to complete your secondary application?
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Have you shadowed a DO? (I actually have not and was accepted, so this question won't make or break your application.)
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How did you discover osteopathic medicine?
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Why did you decide to take a year off after graduating from college? Was it because you weren't sure about becoming a physician?
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Please explain your research.
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What healthcare experience do you have?
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Why osteopathy? Why a doctor?
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how would you handle moving from california to new jersey, especially with the drastic changes in the weather?
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Explain the osteopathic philosophy.
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Explain why I took the MCAT 3 times.
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Why this school since it is so far from Texas.
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describe 3 characteristics that would help make you a good physician
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esplain what you are currently doing
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if you applied to medical school again next year, what would you do to strengthen your application?
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Talk about background. What I do if I did not gain admission?
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A whole bunch of other questions... We covered everything from undergrad and graduate school experiences, research, outside interests, healthcare, osteopathy, etc
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How do you want me to present you to the admissions committee?
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How long have you known that you've wanted to go into medicine? What has been the biggest challenge getting here?
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Tell me about a leadership experience you have had.
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What do you do in your spare time?
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What do you know about osteopathic medicine and OMT?
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Tell me about this extracurricular activity
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What do you know about osteopathy?
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WHat questions do you have?
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describe your extracurricular activities/volunteer work during college
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what other schools did you apply to/get interviewed at?
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what would you do if you didn't make it into medical school?
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Do you have any questions for us? (This seems like an important question for them because it extends the interview. The moment I had no more questions to ask them, the interview was over.)
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Was the doctor you shadowed a D.O.? (I answered with a regretable 'no')
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They asked me about a grade, what I do for fun, and and other questions about myself and things that I do or did. Nothing about health care insurance, socialized medicine, or ethical issues.
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What I would do if I wasn't a doctor
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What the club that I am the president of does?
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How did you first hear about Osteopathis Medicine?
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Tell me about the weight loss support group you started and other work you have done with obesity?
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Tell me about your difficulties during your fist 2 years of college?
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What course did you like the least in undergrad?
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can you give your personal understanding of what a DO is and our philosophy?
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tell us about your service experience
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what interests do you have in particular medical fields? Would yoube interested in practicing in an underserved community?
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clinical exp
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why late application
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why osteopathic
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Explain some weak points in your application.
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Tell us about your research experience
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what three traits do you possess that you think are important in a physician
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What are some hobbies?
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Name 3 of your strongest assests to become a good doctor?
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Why osteopathic medicine, Why UMDNJ-SOM?
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Working in a lab, why leave now for medical school?
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Did you apply to allopathic schools? Which ones?
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Were you accepted at any medical schools, DO or MD?
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Why UMDNJ-SOM? Would you come here if you were accepted?
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Tell us about your leadership positions/tell us about a situation in which you had to show a lot of self-motivation and initiative.
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What three qualities do you have that would make you a good doctor?
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Why did you apply to allopathic and osteopathic schools?
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How was your trip?
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What do you know about the osteopathic phylosophy?
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Why do you want to become a physician, and why specifically an osteopathic physician?
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Background info about myself.
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I had to discuss volunteer and reseach experiences from my file.
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What were the details of your research?
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Where else did you interview or get accepted?
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Why do you want to be a DO?
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Have you ever held a leadership position?
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If you aren't accepted this year what will you do?
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What difference do you see between M.D.s and D.O.s in the field?
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Explain this 'shady academic area' in your undergraduate record.
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What type of medicine are you interested in?
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What happened on the MCAT?
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What would I do if I didn't get in this year?
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Why Osteopathic Medicine and what did I know about it?
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Hobbies? Are you a Giants fan?
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Tell me your story about the MCAT's.
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What do you know about osteopathic medicine? Why DO over MD?
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what other schools are you applying to?
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Describe leadership position.
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What will I do if not accepted to medical school? Where else have I applied?
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Why DO? Ever shadowed DO?
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Name 3 things that would make you a good doctor
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Tell me more about your research and how did you end up doing chemistry research if you are a psychology major?
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What is osteopathic medicine?
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do you think OM is very different from allopathic medicine? y or y not?
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general conversation about some of my courses with unusual names (Social History of Medicine, Special topics and Issues in Healthcare, etc)
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What is OMM?- this isn't a trick question, don't go memorizing all the techniques or anything, just know the purpose of it and how its used
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Tell us about yourself.
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What are your strengths? weaknesses?
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If you had to choose between the school that you were admitted to and UMDNJ-SOM, which would you pick and why?
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When did you decide that you wanted to become a doctor
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How long did it take you to get here and did you find it okay?
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If accepted to MD and DO where would you go? Why?
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What three things would make you a good doctor?
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Asked me about specific research experiences and community service.
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Is this your first interview? What other school did you apply to? (Be honest, they understand you may be applying to MD schools)
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What do you know about DO? What do you know about manipulation?
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Have you had an opportunity to shadow a doctor
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What are your other hobbies or interests
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What do you know about osteopathy
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Several questions pertaining to my application.
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What will you do if you don't get into med school?
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Each interviewer asked what I did in two separate volunteer experiences.
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Was this the only interview you came into town for and have you had other interviews yet?
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Why DO and why UMDNJ? If you weren't accepted this year, what would you do? What other schools did you apply too?
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How do you feel right now?
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Tell me about yourself?
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Why do you want to be an Osteopathic Physician?
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Why osteopathic medicine? Why UMDNJ-SOM? What other schools did you apply to? What specialty would you like to practice? What are your hobbies? What did you NOT like about your undergrad? Tell me about your research. Tell me about your EMT work. Tell me about your shadowing experiences.
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What was your favorite and least favorite class in undergrad?
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Why DO? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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3 characteristics of a good Doc
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What do you do in your spare time? Hobbies? What area of med do you see yourself in? Did you apply to both DO and MD (Be honest about this one!)
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Why UMDNJ? Why DO?
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Do you have a felony?
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How many kids do you have?
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Did you apply to your state Osteo med. school?
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How is the florida weather? good to go to the pool?
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Will you have your bachelor soon?
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What do you know about the history and philosophy of Osteopathic medicine?
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What experience(s) have led you to chose a career as an Osteopathic physician?
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How were you introduced to osteopathy?
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Tell me about osteopathic medicine.
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Tell me about your clinical experience.
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What do you think about the current situation in Iraq?
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Why D.O.?
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Why osteopathic medicine?
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What do you know about osteopathic medicine? Tell me why you would like to be an osteopathic physician.
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What interests you about UMDNJ?
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How did you hear about osteopathic medicine?
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If you receive offers of acceptance from UMDNJ SOM and [school X], how will you decide between them?
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Why do you want to be a DO?
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What will you do if you don't get in this year?
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Why did you decide to got to grad school at (my school)? Do you feel more prepared now for medical school?
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Why osteopathic medicine? What do you know about osteopathic medicine? Have you applied to any allopathic schools? Have you ever shadowed a doctor?
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What experience with shadowing?
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Why did you apply to this school and osteopathic medicine?
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other basics questions that stemmed from conversation
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what do you outside of school?
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why do as opposed to another school or program?
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Do you know any D.O.s?
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What do you know about the Osteopathic profession?
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Tell me about.....(on application).
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What was the most challenging course you took at school?
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Describe osteopathic medicine.
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What were your research projects on?
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What were your research experiences?
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Why do you prefer a DO program over an MD program?
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What do you like about Osteopathy?
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What will you do if you aren't accepted anywhere this application cycle?
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Is there anything else you want to say? (SAY ANYTHING. IF YOU CAN JUGGLE FLAME THROWERS, SAY THAT! IT IS YOUR ONE CHANCE TO SHINE BEFORE THE NEXT PERSON IS CALLED IN!)
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What other DO schools did you apply to?
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What three leadership roles did you have in college/graduate school?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including cultural competence, changing aspects of healthcare, personal motivations for pursuing medicine, and favorite recipes. The interview format appeared to be standard, with some respondents mentioning familiarity with their application material as a key preparation point.
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Who's your favorite musician? (music listed as a prior experience)
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Asked me a very specific question about my application so know your full application!
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Nothing really, just typical interview questions.
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What does cultural competence mean to you and how would you apply it to your future patients?
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If there is one thing in Healthcare that you'd wish you could change, what would that be?
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If you had a magic wand what is one thing you would change in healthcare?
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What is your favorite recipe?
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Imagine we are in an elevator going from floor 100 to 0, tell me about yourself.
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Something about my app
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In 2 minutes tell me why you deserve to go to RowanSOM and what I should report back to the Admissions Committee
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What is the importance of having cultural competency?
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Why did you go to X country for an abroad program?
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Where do you see yourself working in 10 years?
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What do you want me to tell the admission committee about you?
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Why do you think it is important to be a well-informed physician?
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All the questions seemed pretty generic. Just be very familiar with everything in your application.
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What career would you pursue if you couldn't become a physician?
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Why should I pick you out of all the other people sitting in the waiting room?
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they were all pretty standard.
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is your name italian?
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No interesting questions. It was a pretty boring interview
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So, you did judo, what was that like?
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Nothing real interesting, lots of comments about my application, especially my PS. He didnt really ask questions about it. Kinda just commented on it.
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What would you do if you couldn't be a doctor?
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I have 30 secs to present you to the committee. What would you have me say to them?
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So, there's a boxing match coming up. Mayweather or Pacquiao? haha
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Asked to elaborate on certain sentences/paragraphs of my personal statement
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What are your hobbies?
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pretty standard
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Most interesting part was when we were talking about remuneration options for doctors in the current environment.
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Very straightforward
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None.
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Why didn't you apply to medical school straight from college?
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Not a single question was unexpected. Interview was mostly conversational.
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What do you want me to tell the Admissions committee about you?
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What was a stressful time and how did you cope?
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Describe yourself encountering a problem while in a leadership role and how you've dealt with it.
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Have you ever done any public speaking?
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none
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??
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If you can give me one quality to describe yourself, what would it be?
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Knowing that you need to do well in your postbac premed classes, why did you decide to go and take them at Duke?
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You mentioned your parents were influential in your decision to pursue medicine, how so?
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What has my experience been with medical disparities in the ER at Cooper University Hospital?
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I wouldn't say any of the questions were interesting. However, what was interesting was the very first thing he said, which was ''I am not here to intimidate you. I am here to get to know you so that I can be an advocate of yours to the committee.'' The interview had a very casual atmosphere.
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Nothing was tooo interesting that I was ''wow, you're asking me that?''
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Are you happy with your MCAT score?
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Do you want to specialize?
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Nothing interesting
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All questions were either very standard or from stuff in my application file.
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Tell me about your thesis (my undergrad psyc. thesis).
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None were interesting questions
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Tell me about one of your leadership experiences and how it has impacted you.
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nothing; i was only asked why osteopathic medicine; i felt like i was the one asking questions
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What should I ask you?
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Do you have any hobbies?
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Tell us about your leadership experience
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What would you ask an interviewee if you were an interviewer?
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nothing
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they were all pretty standard questions
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Nothing too interesting.
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what would you tell someone who is contemplating going into medical school but intends to be involved only in the business aspects of medicine?
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What do you do in your spare time
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Tell me about your research?
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Pretty basic questions...questions about my application, etc
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None really.
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What was your least favorite subject in school?
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Nothing out of the ordinary
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What do I think of a national healthcare program (I think I was asked this since I am getting a degree in Healthcare management.)
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What specifically do you want us to stress to the committee on your behalf?
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What I thought about insurance companies (work for one).
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Nothing interesting or difficult. My interviewer just covered the basics.
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What schools did you apply to? Only because I wonder if it has any weight on your acceptance.
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Explain why you believe you would make a good osteopathic physician?
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Name two things about yourself that are not mentioned in your application.
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Nothing really interesting.
-
What would you like us to tell the committee on your behalf?
-
What type of food do you like to cook?
-
Nothing really.
-
none really... it was kept pretty standard...
-
Nothing really, it was all pretty standard fare.
-
None of the questions were really that interesting. The interview was more like a conversation.
-
how would i adjust to life in new jersey?
-
What did I learn from my graduate school experience that would prepare me for medical school.
-
The interviewers asked me about my research, which I was happy to talk about!
-
How do you want me to portray you to the admissions committee?
-
They asked for some info about my undergrad institution (since I am from out of state and they'd never heard of my school).
-
All of the questions about myself and my extracurricular activities.
-
describe your term abroad - from that experience what do you think is the best type of health care system?
-
no questions really just a chat that pertained to various aspects of who i am
-
there were mostly standard questions
-
Explain a grade that wasn't bad, but definitely stuck out on my application.
-
Tell me about the weight loss support group you started?
-
Tell us about your research.
-
why late application
-
Since I was transferring from another program, they asked, "how do we know you will not just leave us too?"
-
Why did you apply so late?
-
Working in a research lab this year, why leave now?
-
Nothing very interesting. I was asked to describe my research, which most people seem to find pretty interesting because it was ecology-based.
-
If you were not trying to become a physician what else would you want to do?
-
If I had to choose between one school and UMDNJ-SOM which one I would and why
-
How does someone get suspended from volunteer work (I wasn't the one who was suspended keep in mind)?
-
Nothing out of the ordinary.
-
My position on the Medical Malpractice Issue.
-
There wasn't really any interesting or difficult questions. Just your basic med school interview questions. Totally low-stress! If this is your first interview, then this is definitely the place to be!!!
-
what do you know or what experiences have you had with osteopathic medicine?
-
Nothing truly out of the ordinary.
-
As a psychology major, why did you end up doing chemistry research?
-
Not really any- like everyoneone else said, they just ask mundane stuff, but be ready to speak up and interject with your opinions, especially if you know a lot about a topic
-
There weren't any overly surprising questions. Everything was pretty much standard.
-
What do you do in your spare time?
-
Nothing very interesting.
-
Was it a specific event or gradual decision that led you to decide to be a doctor?
-
How do you define underserved communities
-
Nothing in particular.
-
None. All questions were bland with no real fore-thought necesary in answering. I will list virtually all the questions they asked in the interview questions section.
-
Why do you want to be an Osteopathic Physician?
-
What if you had to choose between an MD school and UMDNJ-SOM? Between another DO school and UMDNJ-SOM?
-
nothing interesting, all pretty standard questions...very laid back and conversational
-
pretty run of the mill questions
-
This was the best and most relaxing experience!! Dont be nervous at all! No hard questions... Why DO? Did you apply to both MD and DO? Why UMDNJ?
-
How is florida weather?
-
Why didn't you apply to an allopathic school?
-
the facility is great. I love the hospitality of the staffs and studdents. I think will go there. It's a great school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
What are the people like in California?
-
Do you feel that there is a distinct difference between allopathic and osteopathic medicine?
-
If you were accepted to school "X" and our school which would you choose?
-
What role do you think a doctor plays in educating patients?
-
Tell me about your hobbies.
-
Nothing really too interesting was asked
-
Why do you want to be a doctor?
-
None of the questions were especially interesting or difficult. They were mainly of the expected kind, such as describing osteopathic medicine and my EC's.
-
How did graduate school better prepare you for our school's experience?
-
There were only simple questions. Nothing too advanced. In fact, all the prep work I did was a mute point.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including DEI, future goals, conflicts with patients, and personal strengths. While some responses mentioned standard questions, such as future aspirations and past experiences, there were no clear trends indicating a specific type of challenging question.
-
What does DEI mean to you? And how will you use your past experiences with DEI in the future as a physician?
-
What are you currently doing?
-
What is the weakest part of your application?
-
Tell me about a time you had to have a difficult conversation with someone
-
Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?
-
Name a situation where you had a conflict or difficult situation with a patient.
-
Nothin
-
Why did you take class X freshman year? - It was a BS elective lol.
-
Not a difficult question but, what is a challenge you've faced and how did it pan out?
-
What is one thing that you currently do that you will keep doing once you start practicing?
-
Define professionalism and tell me an example of when you were professional.
-
None!
-
Explaining the pro and cons of ACA and the republican stance on health care
-
There weren't any very difficult questions.
-
Why should I pick you out of all the other people sitting in the waiting room?
-
not questions but very controversial comments that were made by the interviewer
-
when you were shadowing did you notice a difference in how an md practices vs. a do...from my experience i didn't notice much difference but i felt stupid saying no...
-
why umdnj (i'm out of state)
-
I didn't think I had any difficult questions. it was very conversational.
-
I have thirty seconds to introduce you to the ad com, what should I tell them?
-
Why they shoudlnt let me into the school. I was kinda taken aback at that. Had practiced other questions but not this. I was flattered, nonetheless.
-
Tell us of a time when you were in a leadership position?
-
I have 30 secs to present you to the committee. What would you have me say to them?
-
I see that you have lived, went to school, and worked in areas where there is a high number of medically underserved. What do you think about the current health care reform debate and how do you think it will affect them?
-
Why this location
-
Why us?
-
if you had 15 moles of oxygen, how many electrons are present total in the valence shells? (j/k, all pretty standard)
-
None.
-
None, all were straightfoward and anticipated
-
Everything was expected.
-
None were too difficult.
-
None
-
None really
-
Have you shadowed an osteopathic physician (I hadn't)
-
A stone faced interviewer asked me a research question I wasn't prepared for. A downstream application of the research I was doing.
-
None were difficult.
-
What would you like the admission committee to know about you?
-
What happened with your MCAT score?
-
n/a
-
What other schools did you apply to?
-
same
-
If there was one thing I could change about UMDNJ, what would it be? (Not really a tough question, I just didn't know how to answer it really)
-
Nothing =)
-
None were really difficult; no questions were unexpected.
-
What are the Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine? Along with 1000 other questions about osteopathy and OMT.
-
Nothing I felt was difficult
-
All questions were either very standard or from stuff in my application file.
-
Nothing
-
what are your 2 weaknesses
-
What other schools did you apply to? (the question itself isn't hard, but trying to decide whether or not to name all of the schools was...)
-
nothing; see above
-
What should I ask you? It became my choice about what to bring up about my application/myself that I thought might be useful to discuss.
-
Have you ever had any leadership responsabilities?
-
Explain your verbal MCAT score.
-
Why didn't you apply to medical school right out of undergrad?
-
Explain leadership positions and what you learned from them.
-
Explain your view of OMM
-
what is the asset level of the bank you worked at 2 years ago? what is the interest rate on the savings acct at the bank you worked at?
-
Why Oestopathic Medicine
-
if I was your advocate to the admissions committee, what one thing would you like me to tell them about you?
-
Talk about any weaknesses
-
What I did for fun?
-
None. All standard
-
No difficult questions.
-
Did you expect to do better on the MCAT?
-
Honestly, I was not asked a difficult question.
-
None really. It was all specific to me and all basic
-
Nothing really
-
What are you doing differntly in school to improve your grades? First 3 semesters of school were abysmal.
-
What do you think of Hurricane Wilma bearing down on Florida? This question really caught me off-guard, I was not sure how to respond to it.
-
Very basic, nothing difficult.
-
Give me an example in which you feel you displayed the most compassion in your life.
-
Talk about three things that are not specifically mentioned in your application that you want us to know. I found the question difficult because I didn't know if they wanted me to talk about my other activities or to describe myself.
-
did you apply to M.D. schools... why?
-
Nothing too challenging; just standard stuff like "How did you learn about Osteopathic medicine?" and "What will you do if you don't get in anywhere this year," and "What are you doing now?"
-
Why do you want to be an osteopath?
-
what would i offer umdnj-som?
-
nothing difficult
-
if you got into both an MD and DO program, which would you choose?
-
To reflect on any academic difficulties and why.
-
Given your background as a public policy major, what are your feelings on the current healthcare situation in our country?
-
What schools did you apply to? Why, since you want to be a DO, did you apply to allopathic schools too?
-
Nothing should be difficult unless your unfamiliar with your application
-
why umdnj (if not nj resident)?
-
there were no overly difficult questions - it's the same type of questions you get at other schools
-
What would I do if I wasn't going to be a doctor?
-
Tell me about the family difficulties you had during your first 2 years of college?
-
Honestly, the whole interview was a conversation and it is hard to even remember what questions were asked.
-
none, very squared away to the point questions.
-
why late application
-
Explain some weak point in your file.
-
Why did you apply so late?
-
What other school, if you were accepted to, would make your decision to come here difficult?
-
Why do you want to become a DO instead of an MD?
-
What would you do if you weren't accepted into medical school this year? The most difficult, because if you're paranoid like me, you read this question as: you're not getting in here. Hard to swallow because I want to go here.
-
Why is your MCAT score so low?
-
what were the details of my research?
-
What differences do you see between D.O.s and M.D.s in the field?
-
Please explain an area of academic difficulty in my undergraduate career.
-
What is the story with the withdrawals on my transcript.
-
Are you a Giants fan? I didn't know how to take that one, so I said I didn't really follow football, which was good b/c he didn't like the Giants!!
-
none of the questions were really difficult
-
About a period of deprssion I had.
-
I see you applied to MD programs as well. If you were to be accepted into both, what would you do
-
To explain an EMS experience
-
I was asked about a few withdrawals that I had early on in my college career.
-
Questions were not difficult
-
All questions were pretty standard. Not too hard really.
-
Why are you making a career switch now (10+ years later)
-
You have an extensive history of research experiences, which was your favorite and why?
-
Explain your MCAT scores?
-
nothing difficult...the interviewer was just trying to get to know me better
-
there wasnt anything particularyl difficult about this interview
-
What are the 3 most important characteristics of a doc?
-
Why UMDNJ
-
Why do you not have a DO recommendation letter?
-
None........all were to be expected
-
None of the questions were extremely difficult.
-
None really, every question was sort of expected!!!
-
Why UMDNJ?
-
Do you feel that there is a distinct difference between allopathic and osteopathic medicine?
-
none, all were inviting questions
-
Where have you interviewed? "School X" Oh, if you were accepted to both of these schools, where would you go?
-
Nothing really difficult was asked.
-
Why do you want to be a DO?
-
How do you find that DOs are better physicians than MDs? And in what way?
-
All questions were pretty easy to answer.
🤝 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 0-1 hour traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
-
phl
-
Philadelphia international airport
-
Philadelphia
-
PHI
-
JFK
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either at a hotel or {{value2}}.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
-
motel 6
-
Wyndham
-
Wingate
-
Windham
-
Sleep Inn
-
Rodeway Inn
-
Radisson in Trevose
-
Inn in Hoorvees
-
I live about 5 mins away
-
Howard Johnsons Inn
-
Howard Johnson in Bellmawr
-
Holiday Inn-Runnemede
-
Holiday Inn- Runnemede
-
Holiday Inn -Runnemede
-
Hampton Inn, Voorhies
-
Hampton Inn Vorhees
-
Hampton Inn Cherry Hill
-
Hampton Inn
-
Days Inn Cherry HIll
-
Days Inn (Cherry Hill, NJ)
-
Club Quarters in downtown Philly
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as average
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?
-
I didn't stay at a hotel
✅ 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, practicing with mock interviews, reading feedback on SDN, researching the school's website, and studying osteopathic medicine principles. Some also read books on medical admissions, engaged in prayer, and sought advice from current students or medical professionals.
-
SDN questions, rehearsing answers to a camera, and reviewing secondary one time.
-
SDN interview prep and other interviews at other schools.
-
I went through most of the school's website, taking note of unique things (teaching modalities, history, mission statement, etc.). I also went through ALL of the interview questions posted here on SDN, writing out answers for the most commonly mentioned questions and difficult questions. For the less-often mentioned questions, I just made sure that I'd have something in mind to talk about during the interview in order to wing it. Lastly, I reviewed my AACOMAS application (activities, essays) and secondary essays.
-
SDN, reviewed my AACOMAS application and all my secondary essays, mock interview with family
-
SDN, prepped with family and friends who are in medical school (both Rowan and non-Rowan students)
-
mock interview, SDN
-
SDN, mock interview, interview help from my university
-
Interview prep book from Ryan Gray
-
SDN
-
SDM, practice answering typical interview Q&As
-
mock interviewed myself, SDN, researching their website
-
Practice with friends and family
-
SDN, personal statement, resume
-
Read the website
-
Knew all about my application. Read: "A Brief Guide to Osteopathic Medicine, For Students, By Students"
-
1 mock interview, one real interview, researching the program on the school's website.
-
I just went over my application, and recalled the important aspects of each of my activities.
-
SDN, read over my application
-
Mock interview, researching the school and its programs
-
This forum, school website, reviewed application
-
read this site, reviewed my application, looked over the school site, & read up on osteopathic medicine in general.
-
Read SDN, Read up on their website
-
Reviewed statements, understood osteopathic medicine
-
SDN questions, reviewed application and secondary.
-
Reviewed my application, checked SDN, reaffirmed why I wanted this school and DO
-
SDN feedback, interview books, talked to other students
-
Read about the school and osteopathic medicine. Thought about what I wanted to know about the school.
-
Read SDN, call up friends in med school, read over my file, read school website
-
Read cnn.com and nytimes.com to catch up on health care reform, read interview feedback on sdn, spoke to people who have went on an interview here, read my application thoroughly, read the school website.
-
reviewed my application at length
-
I looked on SDN, asked people that interviewed there.
-
School website
-
prayer to God, read SDN interview feedback, read school's website, research about osteopathic medicine (tenets, founder, etc.), read tons of medical articles and op-eds (many hours), prepare questions to ask
-
Read SDN, talked to first years about interviews, read tenets of osteopathic medicine, understand osteopathic medicine
-
Read SDN forums. Read "The DOs: Osteopathic Medicine in America" by Norman Gevitz. Read Obama's health care and science/health-related policies. Read about OMM extensively. Read recent happenings in the science/health field. Read about UMDNJ-SOM and its good points. Thought about who I was. Thought about what I genuinely wanted to know about UMDNJ-SOM from the interviewer.
-
Read AACOMAS, read sdn interview feedback, asked friends about their interview experiences, read umdnj som website
-
read primary and secondary application. mock interview. read sdn posts.
-
Read over primary, looked up questions on SDN
-
Read SDN, review school website, mock interviews
-
SDN, their website
-
UMDNJ website, read over application, SDN, stayed up to date on current news, etc., read a few books over the summer.
-
SDN, interview feedback, school website, read over my application
-
school website, SDN
-
Read up on osteopathic medicine, UMDNJ SOM website
-
SDN, looked over UMDNJ's website
-
SDN, AACOMAS app, UMDNJ-SOM secondary, american mednews site, UMDNJ student handbook, DO websites
-
Read SDN, Mock Interview, Prep with friends, review application.
-
sdn, accom app, essays, read up on osteopathic med
-
I checked out questions on SDN and the web.
-
Read up on osteopathy, looked at past interview Q's on SDN, looked over application and secondary essay
-
SDN, reviewed primary and secondary applications; practiced answering questions on own
-
SDN, School website, AACOM website
-
this site, primary, secondary, standard questions
-
mock interview, read sdn, read over my application
-
SDN Interview feedback.
-
Read SDN feedback, read over the schools materials to be familiar with the school.
-
sdn, review application
-
Went over my AACOMAS, read over feedback from other SDNers, researched the school's website.
-
SDN, reading about osteopathic medicine, asking others who have already interviewed
-
SDN Interview feedback, tried the website, but not much is there.
-
Reviewed basic interview questions, history on the school and prayed(the most important factor for me).
-
SDN, School's website, AOA website, AACOM website, studentdoc.com, mock interviews
-
SDN and school website
-
SDN, look over primary and secondary app., mock interview, look over school website
-
SDN, UMDNJ website, Osteopathic medical school website
-
SDN, school's website, sample questions
-
SDN, AACOMAS, Secondary Essay, UMDNJ-SOM website
-
AACOMAS, UMDNJ website and secondary, some osteopathic websites, SDN
-
SDN; look over application; interveiw websites
-
Didn't
-
Visited School, Read information on-line, reaseared affiliated hospital
-
SDN, AACOMAS, school website
-
UMDNJ website, SDN interview feedback, looked over past research, AACOMAS materials and Gevitz's book "The DOs"
-
SDN (feedback helped alot), school website, reviewed application
-
SDN, school website, my app.
-
SDN and reviewed UMDNJ's website. I have been to UMDNJ and have kept in contact with one of the admission's people.
-
Researched the school's website, read reviews on SDN website, read over my application, talked with one of my friends who is a current student at the school.
-
Mock interviews, website, application
-
SDN, UMDNJ website
-
SDN, review my applications (suppl & AACOMAS), & sleep
-
Read the school's website and searched sdn.
-
SDN, the school website, and researched the practice of osteopathic medicine
-
read SDN, looked over my application, and checked interview feedback.
-
Read SDN, looked at the school's website, and talked to friends who had already interviewed there.
-
Read this site and the school's website
-
Read SDN, wrote my answers to certain questions to refine them and read through my application.
-
sdn, read statements
-
UMDNJ.edu and SDN
-
I read over the school's website and handbook. I looked at this website and my application.
-
SDN... mock interview w/ friends
-
Read interview feedback, SDN forums, websites, read books/websites about DO issues.
-
I didn't, I believe in just being myself.
-
sdn, umdnj website, kept up to date with current events and medical issues
-
this website, mock interviews, read school website, prayer
-
UMDNJ SOM website, spoke with students, and studentdoctor.net
-
Read this website, reviewed application, reviewed school website, mock interviews with Fiance'.
-
Read interview feedback on SDN, checked out the school's website, reread my application and secondary application essay
-
Reread my applications (primary and secondary), SDN, UMNDJ's website, AACOM website about osteopathic medicine.
-
SND, looked over application
-
reread application, this website
-
SDN, reviewed primary and secondary, school website
-
SDN, mock interview
-
Thought about why I wanted to go to their school, be a D.O., be a doctor, my strengths/weaknesses, read over application/personal statements, though about issues facing medicine today, and tried to be relaxed and myself
-
Looked at school's website, Interview Feedback, meditation
-
SDN, "The D.O.'s" by Gevitz, re-read application
-
SDN, read over app and essays
-
Go over the primary and secondary applications, do on-line research about the campus, do mock interview with a career counselor and read SDN
-
This website, reread my credentials, and researched about osteopathic medicine.
-
SDN,school material and website
-
read over my app and the posts on SDN
-
Re-read my application
-
SDN, read school website, went over applications/essays
-
Primary application, SDN's webpage, osteopathic history, and the schools web page.
-
Read the school's website, read some background info.
-
student doctor, school website
-
Read over application,information brochures from the school, and the school's website.
-
talked to students, UMDNJ-SOM website, SDN, AACOM website
-
Prayer
-
SDN, read up on the history of osteopathic medicine (a definite must! After all, you need to know something about the profession before you go!), practiced interviewing with family, talked about interviews with my best friend who is currently a first-year at med school. Just make sure you know your DO facts!!!
-
read this site, their website, looked over my application
-
Read over my application materials, practiced questions, looked at SDN website
-
SDN, other practice questions
-
this website, school website and reviewed my application
-
looked at UMDNJ website, SDN, spoke with students from the school
-
-SDN interview feedback -School's web site -Read information I had received after previously attending an open house
-
school website, studentdoctor.net
-
Looked over their website, my AACOM application and my UMDNJ Supplementary application
-
reviewed AACOM Website, SDN Website, UMDNJ Website
-
Read SDN, school's website
-
Read up on the history of Osteopathic medicine via the KCOM website. Wrote down questions I was interested in asking.
-
(Not to sound preachy, but I found that praying was the most important aspect of my preparation process because it allowed me to appreciate that being invited to an interview is truly a blessing that should not be taken for granted) I also reviewed the following: School Website, Primary and Secondary Application Essay, Undergraduate Transcript, and worked with a close friend as well as my parents to tackle as many questions as possible
-
SDN, reviewed applications, Gevitz book
-
read website, read over application, personal statement, reviewed managed care issues (not needed!), reviewed DO history
-
I read the website and looked at the information online
-
this site, UMDNJ site, Geitz book, info on web--- didnt need to do any of it though (unless you know nothing about osteopathic medicine)
-
UMDNJ website
-
NYCOM website
-
Reviewed my application information / essays and SDN
-
I read D.O.'s in America, shadowed two D.O.'s, and read interview feedback.
-
Reviewed their website, SDN's interview feedback!!!!! I had already read the Gevitz's book
-
read over the materials sent to the school, prepared answers to commonly asked questions
-
this site, read the day's New York Times & CNN health sections, reviewed my AMCAS app and personal statements, and (although I'm embarrassed to admit it even anonymously) made a big list of questions I thought could be asked and made sure I had answers to them. Mostly for naught; I was definitely not grilled on anything.
-
I looked on this site, reviewed my own applications, and looked at UMDNJ website. I also read about osteopathic medicine philosophy on the internet.
-
On-line, books regarding medical school admissions
-
reading other interviews, articles, class, summer program's hints
-
Read SDN Interview Feedback, Read about the school, Reread my AACOMAS App.
-
Read over my application, went over current health issues.
-
Read this website, looked over the school's website, looked over my transcripts
-
School web site, this site, talked to a friend who goes to the school.
-
Not at all-if you don't know about Osteopathic methods/practice you should know
-
Read school's website, my application and this site.
-
I read "DO: Osotepathic Medicine in America" by Gevitz, read health articles on NYTIMES.COM, read up on HMOs, osteopathic medicine, shadowed a DO...and didn't use any of it.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were positively impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, including the low-stress, conversational interviews and the supportive, family-like environment created by both students and staff. The positive interactions, the facilities, and the focus on student well-being were commonly highlighted as key factors that left a strong impression on applicants.
-
Interviewer was so relaxed and stress levels were low. Did not feel like I was under judgement.
-
Interviewer and Admissions Team member were very personable and made the conversation very comfortable.
-
I loved interviewing at this school - before the interview started, my interviewer let me know that I'm a strong applicant and that this 'interview' was really just a way for the school to get to know me a bit more. This put me at ease, as did the interview questions, as they were pretty open-ended and not 'gotcha' questions.
-
The welcoming attitude of the interviewer.
-
How friendly everyone was, they made my first interview experience feel very stress free
-
My interviewer was amazing and everyone was friendly. I absolutely loved the school.
-
The new curriculum has a one pass system with research and volunteering as part of the curriculum.
-
The faculty
-
Student tour
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The people
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The friendliness of the students and how happy they were
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The interviewers were very friendly and helpful. The admissions team is amazing and really made the day great.
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The friendliness of the staff and the students, many of their clinics and opportunities for the students
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Interviewer's attitude
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Nice students who went out of their way to welcome me to the school.
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The students seemed very happy, the administration seemed flexible and concerned with the students. Very diverse school, great location...it's a great place to be.
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very laid back.
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How friendly the students were.
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The friendly atmosphere
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The admission people... April was amazing. Students were very helpful
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how friendly and helpful everyone was. also, a very relaxed environment & they provided a good lunch. the admissions staff is very attentive.
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the students really love the school, even students who had nothing to do with admissions were so happy and nice and totally loved the school
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The students seemed to really love the school. The people in the admissions office was nice. Got to see a cadaver up close and personal during the tour.
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Low stress conversational interview, friendly admissions staff
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the conversational style of the interview - very low stress
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how nice everyone was. THe students seemed to love the school, and the faculty seemed supportive. It really did feel like a family.
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Facilities are very nice and new. Classrooms are fine, Simulated Patient areas are pretty cool, OMM room is big with lots of good tables, anatomy lab is VERY well ventilated and sophisticated. Food is decent and not too expensive. Faculty and administration seem really friendly and take a big role in student life.
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Campus and facilities
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The facilities were much better than I expected. Also, clinical education and preparation seems to be strong.
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The facility, easy going staff and students.
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the friendliness of all the staff members and the second year students taking us around for a tour. the facility was really nice. kennedy hospital is right across the street. small class size. awesome school !! ACCEPT ME!!
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Everything. i absolutely LOVE this school. They have a gym onsite and absolutely every kind of academic facility you could possibly need. Plus, they have Kennedy Hospital, which is one of the best hospitals in south jersey.
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the facilities, the enthusiasm of the students
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Everyone was so nice and positive. They were so inviting, the first years were great and the environment is great. I really really loved this school.
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Extremely laid back interview. No stress at all. TUrkey sub was pretty good at cafeteria as well...
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nice people
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Laid back; not rigidly structured. very much like a conversation. Already had tour of campus so none of the other pieces were new.
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Very welcoming students. Healthy atmosphere. Noncompetitive nature among the students. Students seemed knowledgeable and intelligent. Superior facilities (e.g. design, classrooms, labs, resources). I really do like the buildings in general. Teachers/doctors and additional help are readily available. Small class size. The Problem-Based Learning Curriculum is very interesting. Nice campus, peaceful with everything one would ever need at/near the campus (e.g. hospital, doctors, advice). Heard that they are improving the traditional curriculum for next year.
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Everything. I really like this school. The best thing was how supportive everyone is of each other. Very good learning environment.
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School facilities, students are friendly and happy to be there.
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Campus facilities are excellent - perhaps the best I've seen yet (and that includes DMU). The folks in the admissions office were very nice, and they even managed to find a medical student who was willing to give me what was essentially a personal tour of the campus. The school really is a mere 10 minutes away from downtown Philadelphia, and Philadelphia looked like a pretty neat city.
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Happy students, friendly school environment, affiliated with own hospital
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Friendly environment, nice campus
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The school was good (facilities, ideals, students) but the admissions day was poor. I sat in on a pretty good Cardio lecturer.
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The school facilities are excellent, the atmosphere is sizzling with friendliness and I felt very comfortable when I was on premises. Admissions staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and the class size is pretty small. Students were very supportive and seemed to love the school. Hospital affiliations.
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The facilities! The building where all the main classes are held is really nice. The standardized patient labs and the OMM room are pretty sweet, too
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Tuition and the residency policy.
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I love this school. Everyone seemed very happy and was extremely nice. The school is very clean. There are 4 students per cadaver and the cadaver is not shared with other classes. The class size is small (108 students).
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The facilities looked fairly new, and everyone I came into contact with was really friendly. The students and addmissions personel really strived to make their interviewies comfortable and relaxed.
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the facilities, the staff, the students
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The campus is gorgeous. The faculty is amazing. I was really impressed and I liked it alot
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the students are super nice and honest; they truly make you feel welcome and part of their med school family
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Everyone there smiles and is happy, even the students. They are all very nice. The campus is big and clean. There is an affiliated hospital in walking distance from the main campus. They have two dedicated residency programs with 25 slots each year and they favor their own students; emergency medicine and surgery residencies.
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The size of the classes are about 100 people. The rotations for 3rd year is all in NJ (either North or South) and 4th year rotations can even be international (plus national). Plus, everyone was SOO nice!
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The friendliness of the staff and students. Everyone was really welcoming and emphasized not being nervous.
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Small student #, very friendly students, friendly staff, affiliated hospitals, incorporated into the UMDNJ system, very diverse popuulation, 4:1 students to cadaver ratio, many nearby DO schools come to UMDNJ Hospitals for rotations, low tuition
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building, students, small school
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I liked the campus, they have a gym available to students, nice facilities, enthusiastic staff and students. They streamline all their lectures so you don't have to go to class if you don't want to :D
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Student attitude, friendliness of everyone there, atmosphere of teamwork and community.
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Great campus, small but beautiful. The people there are all great, extremely friendly and helpful.
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four students to one cadaver max
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The facilities are GREAT. They just built a new OMM lab and they extended the anatomy lab.
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enthusiastic med school students especially the tour guide who was very helpful and able to answer all questions; anatomy lab; admissions office staff
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Hospital & Dr's Pavillion on site.
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The facility was spotless including the anatomy lab. The administration and the students were very polite.
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I have always liked the school. The interviewers told me that if there was something that you wanted to study that was not available at the school, they would find a way to provide it. The school has a 98% pass rate on the boards.
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The school facility was really nice and brand new. There are also a lot of on going research which are funded by NIH. There is also hospital right next to the school. They have students going into all different types of residency programs besides primary care.
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The students and admissions staff were very nice. The overall school is very good.
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The facilities are nice, small. but they seem to accomodate the school's size.
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The small class size, the closeness of the professors/deans with the students, how nice everyone was.
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Friendliness of faculty, students, that it was a strong program..high success rates on Boards and Matching for Residencies
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facilities are great, students are friendly, admissions office staff is friendly, in-state tuition, able to do rotations on campus
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The staff seems very friendly
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how organized the institution was - pamphlets, brochures
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Friendlyness of students
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small class size, everybody was so friendly
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very diverse student body (#1 in most women and minorities at DO school), friendly students (so many of them stopped by to either just say HI or answer Q's while we were waiting for the tour), whole campus is wireless, 4 students per cadaver
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Faculty, students, family like atmosphere
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I liked the small classes and the large faculty. The building was beautiful and every single person I met was so friendly.
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Everyone is really friendly, very close community. Great scores on their boards. Also, most every student at the school switches to NJ residents and only has to pay in-state tuition.
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Everyone is extremely friendly - this includes the interviewers, students, staff in the admissions office, and even my fellow interviewees. The facilities are brand new - seeing the gross anatomy lab was very cool.
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The small tight knit community
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The family environment of the school.
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The low-key and non-existing stress level they emphasize for the interview. They go out of their way to make sure you are that way.
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Students were really happy to be there, and there seemed to be a lot of student collaboration. The class is small and seemed really tight. Overall, the facilities were nice, and they have both a hospital and a medical clinic right on campus with lots of shadowing opportunities for M1s. They only have four people to a cadaver, which is the smallest student to cadaver ratio I've come across.
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The students were very enthusiastic, the facilites and academics are excellent, and the class size is incredibly small. This school is by far the best DO school in the nation. It's going to be a difficult decision deciding between UMDNJ and the allopathic schools I have been accepted at.
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friendly students and the ESPECIALLY friendly staff. Impressed to see that the school is diverse.
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The facilities are all up to date and very nice. The school is right outside of Philly and in a good town.
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The nice facilities, the staff, the happy students and it is so close to Philly!
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Small class size (95), friendliness of faculty and student body, location of school, facilities
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All the enthusiasm and friendliness from the students.
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The incredibly small class size matched by the 2:1 Faculty to Student ratio. The clinicals can be done on campus without leaving, and the match list is second to none.
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We had lunch with the first years and they told us all about their experiences. They really loved the school and seemed very down to earth. I was also impressed that the school only interviews a very small fraction of the applicants (I interviewed with three other students and there will only be one more interview session this week). The admissions office meets once a month (September 19) to review applications, so I will be able to know my status within one week. I really enjoyed my experience and would love to attend this school next fall.
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atmosphere of the school is very friendly... made me feel comfortable...
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The biggest thing was how tight the students were. Everyone was so connected to each other that it was almost tangible. Definitely a very happy student body. The facilities, while small (which makes sense for the small class sizes), were excellent too. Definitely on par with some of the big name allopathic schools.
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Everything, but especially how outgoing and happy the students were. Everyone seemed very happy to be at the school.
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student tour guides were first year students. they were both really nice and friendly. they emphasized the friendliness and cooperation of everybody in the class, and how a small class size is so beneficial in terms of getting more personal attention from professors. the student tour guide also said that the tuition can easily be chagned to in-state tuition for out-of state students, and that tests are not tricky but are rather very straightforward.
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Everyone seemed so happy to be attending the school. No student had anything negative to say. While waiting to be interviewed one student came and spoke with me on her way to prepare for an exam and stayed there to keep me calm. The dean came and personally introduced himself to me and already knew my name when he came in the waiting room. All students spoke extremly highly of him, pointing out that he takes an extreme interest in getting to know all of the students. The other students I interviewed with seemed so down to earth! The whole process was quick and to the point. There was no extended waiting around time. Everything was very punctual.
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the students. they seemed happy at the school.
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The people (students, staff, etc) were really pleasant. The facilities are fairly new.
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Pretty much everything. The school is beautiful and the atmosphere is very friendly and conducive to learning medicine. The students seem very happy to be there and really try to sell the school, which I think is a good sign. My interviewer was extremely down-to-earth and I felt very comfortable talking to her.
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The small, tight-knit community. There is more cameraderie than competition among students. Several times during the tour students would just come up and start a conversation with us and tell us about the school. There are alot of opportunities to get involved and to explore many specialties within medicine.
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Beautiful campus with hospital, freindly students, preceptor program, begin some clinical work first year.
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the students were so eager to talk about the school, everyone was friendly and helpful
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comraderie of students, cost of tuition and the fact that the school goes out of its way to help you get instate from year one, small class size, good clinical experience.
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The main building has is very nice. The addmissions staff and the students I met were extremely nice and helpful. Apparently their stats are very good and the cost of the school is relatively low. The biochem proffesor who interviewed me had a great sense of humor. The patient clinic is also very nice.
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The interview was not at all stressful and it was actually my easier than what I thought and what I prepared myself for (and I was reallly nervous about the interview). There was only four of us being interview that day so we had a lot of time to talk to each other while one of us was being interviewed. Then we saw a video, took a tour, had lunch/asked student tour guides questions, and went home at 2 pm for a 10 am interview.
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Friendly student body and staff. New facilites
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Small class size and sense of community, students happy and down-to-earth, friendly people especially for NJ, 4 people to a cadaver, lots of professor/student interaction and cooperation, student involvement in administration and policy, low tuition and costs, an air of confidence throughout the school.
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small class size, noncompetitive atmosphere, high diversity, the dean picked me out and personally introduced himself.
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warm welcome
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Everyone was so nice and friendly.
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Research!
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student atmosphere and opportunities within school.
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People were friendly.
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There is definitely a real sense of community there. Everyone was so friendly and they all seemed happy to be there. They have a quiet confidence about themselves which I found very impressive - they don't even have student ambassadors - the tours are given by students who sign up wanting to give them. Overall a good choice.
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Campus, students, faculty(very professional), food, tuition, rent in the area, and how the school is structured.
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the atmosphere, the students were extremely nice and helpful, the school as a whole
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the facilites were up to date and they were expanding the school
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The quality of the facilities and they fact that they were up to date. The students were genuinely interested to be at the school, that was a huge plus.
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EVERTHING. I loved this school. Atmosphere, wonderful facilities, administration/faculty, students, curriculum, qualification for in state, ability to do research, rotations and Kennedy hospital system
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The entire facility and the friendliness of the staff and students.
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Everything!!! I love how my interviewers ( a DO and a third-year student) sold the school to me! The students loved the school and each class is pretty close! Well, it's kind of hard not to be with only 95 students!!! Definite family atmosphere. Loved it!!!
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definitely the students, they seemed really supportive of each other, especially second years helping out the first years, and they were just really friendly.
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The overall friendliness of students and faculty. The academic building is beautiful. I'm from NYC so the proximity to NYC and Philadelphia is wonderful.
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How friendly and supportive the environment was. While we were eating lunch, students just came up and sat with us and everywhere we went, students approached us to wish us good luck and ask if we were enjoying ourselves.
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THE PEOPLE ARE AWESOME- all the students realize what you're there for and they all wish you good luck in the halls- also, students just sort of stroll in and out of faculty offices and the faculty know all their names- everyone seems very at ease
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I was impressed that the school had a hospital on campus. Also, the students were super friendly and willing to answer any questions. The admissions staff that we met were also very amiable. The facilities were nice as well. It also seems like there are ample research opportunities available. The cafeteria food was rather good, compared to other schools that I have visited. Tuition cost is low! (^__^)
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Friendliness of students, faculty and staff, the diversity of the school, facilities, small class size (80-100)
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The students only had positive things to say about the school and their experiences there. The school is very nice and the class size is small.
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The students who gave the tour were not trained tour guides, but they knew the school very well and had a lot of positive things to say. Because it is a small school, the Dean of Admissions knows all the students and often chats with students informally.
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The people: faculty, students and staff. The two 1st year students who took us on the tour were really informative and helpful. A 4th year student stopped us to talk about the school. The Dean of Admissions spent time with us too.
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The students seemed very happy there, even though they were in the midst of studying for exams. The student who gave the tour was very thorough and clearly had a lot of pride in the school. School is very culturally diverse and near Philly.
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The diversity of the student body was amazing, with almost 50% of the class under-represented minorities. Most of the students seemed to enjoy the school and all of the faculty and employees I ran across were very friendly. The small class size leads to a greater number of students working together rather than competing with each other. There was a real sense of family there.
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The interviewer conveyed a need to sincerely want to get to know me and did everything to make me feel comfortable.
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everyone is friendly. it is really a nonthreatening environment. everyone wants to help each other. there is no ranking, so no one is too competitive.
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Everything about the school...the students are incredibly helpful and supportive...real family environment, not much competition among students...they make you feel like they are trying to attract you to choose their school, they are not trying to make you prove yourself to them
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I loved the students, they were great. We met a fourht years and she was still very happy there. I liked the big brother big sister program they have of matching first and second year students together.
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Everything!! The people (students, faculty, administrators, etc.) Close-knit family atmosphere. Tutition.
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Students were very friendly admin. was very family like.
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everything
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Great atmosphere ....... the students, faculty, and staff were very friendly and receptive
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The family atmoshpere was impressive. Everyone was so nice.
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The hospitality of everyone, the none competative nature of the student!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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they were friendly and relaxed
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Tons - enthusiastic students. research opportunities. nice, new facilities. alleged personal attention of faculty (I've also heard this about SOM from other sources). proximity to public transit.
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The fact that the student's giving the tour were so proud of their school, the facilities were also impressive. The school has a big enough facility for its student population. Also, the diversity within the student population at UMDNJ is great.
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Great facilities, happy students
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the program and facilities, admissions personnel is excellent
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The students are very friendly and helpful. My interviewer pointed out that students are often the first to help other students when they are having trouble.
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Students are so friendly, campus is in a nice area (not a city), low-stress interview, and interviewers were very friendly.
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The family atmosphere.
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The enthusiasm of the students and their love for the family-like atmosphere.
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Atmosphere of students and faculty, a close knit environment. Quick response time promised from interview (would know by Sept 20th!)
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Students seemed really happy and eager to help. Many students chose SOM over other "more competative" schools in part because of the noncompetative atmosphere.
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The fact that I was not stressed. How stressed can you be in 15 minutes? If you get an interview from UMDNJSOM, they want to make sure you are what you say you are. I get the feeling they know if they want you or not LONG before the interview offer comes in the mail.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly mentioned negative impressions related to the interview process, such as lack of engagement from interviewers, standard questions, and feeling rushed. Additionally, concerns about the campus location, facilities like the cafeteria and gym, and the interviewers' attitudes were frequently highlighted, with suggestions for improvements in these areas.
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Nothing, interview was a pleasant as it could be.
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Nothing.
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Absolutely nothing - the interviewer was extremely friendly so the interview felt more like a conversation between friends.
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None.
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Interviewer just asked standard questions and didn't engage in much conversation or get to know me beyond my application.
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The out of state tuition
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nothing
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Campus
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Difficulty parking
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The food lol
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That they should give a presentation about the school during the interview day.
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Admissions office doesn't seem to care if you choose their school or not.
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The caf is only open till 2:00pm!
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There are talks in the senate to break up umdnj schools. the osteopathic school could end up getting cut off from umdnj and affiliated with Rowan, which sucks. The research funding will go way down, and they will lose a lot of rotation sites.
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That I flew across the country for my interview and was asked very few questions.
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The interviewer who felt the need to discuss religion, prostitution and race.
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wish they had an 8-12 class schedule like a lot of other medical schools have moved to. also wish there was a more stuctured community service or 3rd/4th year abroad program.
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nothing!
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nothing really. Its a great school!
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Interview was slightly stressful. One doctor and one student. They kept shooting question after question, so it wasn't really a discussion. They also took notes while I responded, which was a bit nerve-wracking.
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Small cafeteria
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As everybody says, Stratford is not the most picturesque town. However, the people are very friendly.
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The town...but Philadelphia is near.
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Parking
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questions were not so probing
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None really. Maybe if it was a bit closer to Philadelphia, but it's still reasonably close anyway.
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Outside of school, there is not much to do in the immediate area, you have to go into Philly etc
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none
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The area around the campus isn't so nice; there are a good number of defunct businesses and a general "seedy" atmosphere. That said, it seems to improve in spots and doesn't feel especially unsafe or anything. Also, there were supposed to be two people interviewing me; the first was late and the second never showed. The sole interviewer was stern and didn't give me time to adequately answer his questions before ushering me on to the next ones.
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The Top Doc Cafe was a dive. The admissions day was very lax and the video they played wasn't very interesting the second time through.
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Traffic in the are can get heavy, but that is the case almost everywhere in NJ. Other than that, nothing.
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Being from the Jersey Shore, I have a huge distaste for South Jersey. But other than that, nothing really.
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Student interviewer. He kept interrupting and/or conflicting with the faculty interviewer, kept taking over the discussions. Definitely more obssessed with irrelevant detail. Faculty interviewer was actually very nice.
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Nothing really...;except that it was difficult to find a parking space.
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My interviewer was quite possibly the rudest individual i have ever met. She hardly looked at me, asked ridiculous questions that have nothing to do with me and refused to answer one of my questions...which by the way, I asked what she thought the school's strengths and weaknesses were. She shrugged he shoulders, said ''well i dont know'' in a mocking tone then proceeded to ask me to answer my own question.
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I was kind of upset that I couldn't start school tomorrow. Seriously though, I can't think of anything.
-
I wasn't very fond of the city.
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Nothing really. I just wish the class day wasn't so long(9-5).
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Cafetaria food needs major improvement, small school size (but proportional to number of students)
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curriculum seemed a bit behind the times (anatomy second semester, not synching classes to cover similar material at the same time, just beginning PBL in regular curric, 9-5 schedule instead of block)
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I thought the lecture room desks were rather small. Definitely not enough room for a laptop.
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1st year lecture hall is small and seats uncomfortable. Don't know if there are enough power outlets for everyone to use laptops.
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The area is ok, but that was expected.
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N/A
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classrooms - cannot imagine being comfortable all day sitting in those chairs with tiny desks and being crammed in the room with 100 other students
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Classrooms are very small, no windows, and you sit in chairs with arm desks. Yuck - all day??!
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The weather, it was cloudy and rainy.
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Nothing really.
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The interviewer was extremely rude to me.
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The
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The location is really suburban, which is only negative if, like me, you're used to a big city.
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nothing really
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location was ok but not great, small cafeteria, small classrooms with no windows
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The people conducting the interview
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interviewer grilled me about a bank i worked at quite some time ago. both interviewers also seemingly didn't care about evidence based medicine - one of the students who was interviewing me stated that she thought it was "hilarious" when a physician questioned her about the scientific evidence of OMM. Towards the end of the interview, they seemed too defensive of OMM.
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Small lunch room
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not much but the cafeteria is small
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Not crazy about the town, but I'd be communiting from Philly anyway...
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The area. It is very industrial and their lecture rooms are your typical hardchair with the desk on the side.
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The location isn't the greatest.
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The changes in curriculum for the fall are still uknown. Everyone speaks of these big changes but no one knows what they are exactly.
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Nothing. I love the experience
-
The classrooms were small, and the area is really suburban -- there's a car dealership right by the school.
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Some of the people I interviewed with were incredibly arrogant.
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straight-forward interview so no surprises and nothing negative.
-
The lack of a large OMT facility.
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It is a small town, although the school is not so small.
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Hitting so much traffice coming down to South Jersey. (I'm from Central Jersey)
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The first year students were taking their exams, so I was not able to sit in on a 1st year class. I did sit in on a second year cardiology class instead. The faculty member was extremely awesome and interesting because he talked about his personal experiences in the field instead of just lecturing the material.
-
the interview was supposed to be conducted by 2 people but i only had one faculty interviewing me... he seemed very arrogant and unfriendly...
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The classrooms still felt a little cramped, even knowing that the class size is only ~95 or so people.
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not as well-known or popular of a school. not ranked highly. it was difficult to find. i stopped at two gasoline stations for directions, and none of them ever heard of the school
-
The only thing that was slightly negative was the length of the interview. It seemed so short compared to all of the other interviewees. It was kind of as though they already had their minds made up whether or not I was a good fit for their school and were interviewing me just as a formality. Thankfully there minds were made up in a positive way. I recieved the congrats phone call the same day the interviewers said they were going to meet!
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the main physician who interviewed me. he was far more focused on figuring out if i would go to a DO school over an MD than actually finding out who i was.
-
The Dean of Admissions made a comment about some child prodigy's MCAT score being higher than anyone's in the room (waiting to be interviewed). Not sure how this was helpful to anyone!
-
Foul smell of one of the labs. I expected my interview to be more of a conversation (which is what many students on campus told me it would be like); however, my interviewers were very "as a matter of fact" and I felt like I was there to defend every little decision I'd ever made in my life. I certainly did not walk out of there with the feeling that they were there to bring out the best in me or get to know me.
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NOTHING!!
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gym and dining hall facilities were very small
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weak OMM
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nothing, it is a great school.
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Nothing, I got my acceptance 9/20, 6 days after my interview (the commitee meets once a month so its a different length of time for everyone) and I plan on going there next fall.
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Lunch wasn't great. I couldn't find a cup of coffee after lunch. The fitness center is unimpressive.
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Foul smell in histology lab, anatomy lab looked, smelled, and felt like a dungeon (on the other hand, anatomy is taken during the second half of the first year so the room wasn't really being used yet)
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wasn't very informative like other schools have been. Basically and in and out interview except a short tour with 1st years who have only been there one month and don't really know much about the school yet.
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I wish the gym was larger, and there doesn't seem to be alot to do around there but its ok because philly is not too far away.
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Not too much.
-
The interviewer had a frown on his face and didn't seem to like my answers. Dining hall was the size of my kitchem. There are 2 buildings for academic study. The hospital is really small. Location is horrible.
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This was the most stressful of all the interviews I had. It seemed like they asked about every weak point on my application. I hope it was tough love, because I really liked the school. Also, some of the questions seemed kind of standard-issue.
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The weather.
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-
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The faculty interviewer asked too many questions about what I thought osteopathic medicine was and the difference between D.O.s and M.D.s.
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Not a thing
-
Gym facilities. That's it. Could be larger.
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I can't say that I loved new jersey, but the school campus itself is really pretty and the facilities look brand-new.
-
Nothing really. The OMM lab is currently held in the multi purpose room, but starting with the upcoming class, there is a brand new OMM lab.
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We had the opportunity to sit in on a class, which was great. However, the first year classroom was small and I felt that it was too crowded, which made it uncomfortable for me. A student said that they are building a new classroom, but I am not sure if she was positive that it would be ready for Fall 2004.
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the OMM lab is not a lab- it's on their basketball court on a tarp for now, but they are building a new lab and it should be opening shortly
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Right now, they don't have an OMM lab and practice in some sort of multi-purpose room with an indoor track right above it. I think that they're building a new state-of-the-art OMM lab so that will probably be resolved. The histology lab has a strange smell to it that no other school that I've been to has. The gym was adequate, but it was rather small and you have to pay for it. The area seem as safe as I thought that it would be.
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School's OMM lab, cafeteria and workout facilities
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They are currently renovating many of their buildings, so the space was quite cramped, but this should be resolved once the construction is complete.
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I suppose the campus is a bit compact but it's an actual campus and the buildings and facilities (cafeteria & etc) are nice.
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Very small campus with only five buildings and the libaray was very small. I spoke with one student who would have rather gone to Allopathic school and only went to UMDNJ because he wasn't taken off the waitlist at two of the other schools. However, I wouldn't base my decision on one begrudged students opinions.
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Nothing really worth mentioning
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nothing...very positive experience...by far my number one choice...i don't think there is a better osteopathic school out there...the affiliated hosptial system and graduate medical education opens all and any doors for you
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I didn't like that the schools seemed technilogically stagnant. there wasn't much internet capabilities, no wireless internet. I wasn't too impressed overall with the state of the campus either.
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Some of the rooms and facilities but UMDNJ is still my 1st choice!
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Nothing of any major significance
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I didn't like their gym.
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I did not see a gym
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nothing- they had a great facility, the staff was relaxed and friendly, the interviewers were professional; my visit was overwhelmingly positive
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not a whole lot of classroom or study space, and the library facilities are sparse.
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The fact that lectures are given in a classroom (in desks like that in undergrad) and not in a lecture hall, although the class size is big enough for the amount of students. Also, the cafeteria could be better (too much fried food).
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physical arrangement of the interview, sometimes - had to be careful you were ignoring one person or the other
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Everything was fine- except that difficult question. Didn't seem really fair.
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The lecture classrooms.
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Nothing at all!
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Students have to do their own scribes, many hours of required class time and students have to go to many hospitals to do required rotations.
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The interview was so short...I didn't know whether I made a good impression or blew the whole thing. I am happy to report I didn't............I GOT IN!!!
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews were laid-back and conversational, the staff were friendly, the process was low-stress, and that being genuine and relaxed in their responses was key to a successful interview. Additionally, some mentioned the importance of asking thoughtful questions, understanding the curriculum structure, and being aware of logistical details such as parking and tour arrangements.
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Interviewers here like what they do and are open to just learn about YOU.
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Not to stress out because their staff is very nice and make it a comfortable environment.
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How easy-going the interview would be - I definitely feel like I over-prepared, but it's better to be safe than sorry :)
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The interviewer is not there to trip you up.
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How bad traffic could be (don't be afraid to take tolls)
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That it will be cold and you should locate the building a day before because campus is tricky.
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More about the PBL curriculum
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The differences between the 2 learning tracks
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How laid back the day really is. Just relax, be genuine in your answers, and you will be fine! Also, make sure you ask questions!!
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How laid back the day was going to be!
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Usually at the end they ask you if you have any questions for them. Make sure you come up with a good question interesting question about the school that you can't answer just by looking at their website. Going by the advice of some on sdn, i decided to ask "what do you think I should work on if I dont get in?" Dont do this! She seemed a bit put off by the question since I had pretty high gpa and mcat was a couple of standard deviations above the school avg. She gave me a speech about how I should be more confident .Fortunately, she called me a couple of weeks after, and was pleased to tell me i got in. Good luck. If you have an interview at this school, and you are in state you have a very high chance of getting in. I honestly haven't heard of any in-staters who didn't atleast get in off the wait list after interviewing.
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That my interviewer will be bizarre and not focus on the reasons I want to pursue medicine
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that i would love it soooo much
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I was well aware of the process
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that it was going to be so laid back
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how relaxed the interview was
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The invitation letter said to meet in Suite 210, which is a little misleading. Just follow the signs that point to Admissions. The room is at the end of a hall with a big sign over the door.
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nothing
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The 20 minute interview felt short. That's normal.
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That the tour had to be pre-arranged. Read your interview letter carefully.
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the interview really IS as conversational as everyone says. my interviewer was awesome and really friendly. review the interview feedback here, brush up on some current events, review your application, and know yourself and your reasons for wanting to become a doctor and youll be fine.
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The clock in the interview room was running slow so I was interviewed around 30-45 mins late
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there is a tour at 12
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what the day's agenda would be
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The interview was surprisingly laid-back. Clearly, from the questions asked, I didn't nearly have to know what I actually did know beforehand.
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n/a
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none
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Not much. Bring good directions, as the streets around Philly are a maze.
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The interview is really low stress like everyone has posted
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The interviewers were kind of rough.
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That interview was going to be rather pleasant than stressful, unless of course you stress about it all week and then it definitely will be... well, stressful!
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That the interview really IS that laid-back. It really felt like more of a conversation.
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I wish I had known parking was going to be a problem. I drove around in circles for at least 20 minutes before a space became available. :(
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I wished I had contacted admissions earlier regarding a hotel closer to the school.
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That i was going to have a PhD interviewer with no personal skills
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Not sure.
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How the city is...I wouldn't call it rural, but there are no left-turn signal lights =( I hate waiting to turn left...
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About the all day class scheduling.
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Lunch after the interview is a $7.00 pass for the cafetaria (Staff is super friendly, but food is indigestible)
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students are in class all day instead of the 8-12 block scheduling that a lot of schools have
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nothing surprised me
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1st year lecture hall is small and seats uncomfortable. Don't know if there are enough power outlets for everyone to use laptops.
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That we wouldn't be provided with any handouts or much information about the school at all.
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If you have confidence and faith in yourself, you will always succeed.
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Not really that I wish I knew ahead of time, but they accept almost everyone they interview..about 80%
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that I would have to wait a long time for lunch/tour
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That the time given on your interview invite does not matter
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I'm expected to know minute details about a place I worked at many years ago.
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That they accept 80% of the people they interview (interview 250, accept 200, 100 enroll)
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They typically run around 40 or more minutes late. I had to use the bathroom so bad but I didn't want to get up in fear that I might not be there for my interview if they called me in.
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They accept a high percentage of applicants invited for an interview. Following an interview, it is rare that they reject an applicant - you are either accepted or placed on the waiting list.
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That they only interview 250 students and they accept 200 of them.
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I would need $3 just for the toll to go back to Philly to catch my flight back home.
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Taking PATCO is sort of a pain. You have to buy your tickets with cash and with coins only.
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Do not stay at the Rodeway Inn!!! It is a complete dive!!!
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when you make that first left off of laurel road don't go into the car dealership. lol. nothing really.
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That although out-of-staters are only 12% of the incomming class, that number is scewed, due to the fact that most students are made NJ residents after a license change. This is not as easy for NJ residents applying to non-NJ schools.
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I kept finding contradictory info about the number of out-of-state students the school accepted (ranging from 1%-15%). I found out that the school accepts closer to 15%, and that the admissions office helps those out-of-state students change their residency before school starts (hence the 1% that I found in the US News Graduate Guide). Some members of the faculty from the UMDNJ allopathic school teach courses for the osteopathic school.
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nothing really... i had researched this school before i went there...
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I kind of knew it already but didn't really believe it until now, but if you get invited for an interview they pretty much want to accept you. The interview is VERY low stress and just know why you want to attend the school and why you want to be a DO. If you don't give them any reason to reject you, they probably won't.
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nothing.
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ranking of the school is important to me
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That I was overly nervous for nothing. Everyone was extremly nice.
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Nothing. I was really prepared.
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The way they schedule their interviews. They only give one tour/lunch. It's at noon. If your interview is at 9am, you will sit around from 9:30 until 12 so I was glad my interview wasn't scheduled until 11.
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They tell you the exact date that the admissions committee will be meeting to review the applicants after interview. If you are accepted, you will receive a telephone call (an official letter will come later).
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The day is set up so that yo spend alot of time talking to the other interviewees.
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they are restructuring their curriculum - instead of separate "normal" curriculum and a problem-based curriculum, they are combining the two for the class of 2009.
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I wish I had known that I would be the last interviewee to go that day... sigh
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Some of the students told me that next year they are going to combine their class room and problem based learning program and take the best parts of both, which I really like.
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They are revamping the curriculum to incorporate the PBL and small group learning into the traditional curriculum and bring together the best of both systems. The students all mentioned how they wished it were that way now and that it would be a very positive change.
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double-degree programs committee meet once a month (second Friday)
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The town is so small and run-down. Southern NJ is not a place where I would choose to live, or to study medicine.
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See above
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the tuition is reasonable for a med school
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The school was much more competitive than I originally thought.
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The new building is finally finished and it is wonderful. No more OMM in the multipurpose room. A new clinical assessment area with digital standardized patient lab
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Nothing. I visited the school during an open house last year, so I was pretty familiar with everything.
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that the actual interview was really going to be that short. they really just seemed to want to get to know you.
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I wish I had known that everyone there was truly genuine and sincere. There also is a huge diversity in the class, with a large % being black or latino. Truly a wonderful experience.
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The area seem as safe as I thought that it would be. Also, I didn't know that they had an osteopathic hospital right on campus.
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Interviewers are there to basically be your "advocates" when your file is presented to the admissions committee. It is to your benefit to make the interview as conversational as possible. The better impression you give to the two people interviewing you, the better they will beable to advocate for your admissions into the school. Also know that if you are invited for an interview, you are more than half way there to being admitted. They take very seriously the candidates that they invite for interviews
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Parking is a little difficult.
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I didn't know too much about 'manipulation,' which the interviewer asked me about.
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How easy it is to establish NJ residency and thus qualify for in-state tuition.
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That they were going to ask so few questions. There are three child prodigies attending the school. Two twins and their brother started at 16 and 17 years old respectively.
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Preparing for an interview takes time. No matter what other may say, YOU MUST PREPARE and BE READY.
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Such a laid back interview.. no need for stress at all.. just them selling their school and having a conversation with you-- nothing more.
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I could have worn sandals
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On-site fitness facility was very limited and there is a fee to use them , however their is a local YMCA that students can use free of charge.
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I wish I would have known that the interview was going to be short.
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just relax for the interview
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more about the problem based curriculum; it sounds very interesting but it wasn't promoted very much. After the tour, I was interested in learning more about it.
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I was glad to find out that once you are accepted, you can change from an out of state residency into an in state residency and be charged around $18,000 instead of $25,000. The interview is not stressful at all. Trust me...this was my first interview and I loved how relaxed the interviewer was. We were just having a casual conversation (one that I hope got me in). Once interviewed, you have about a 60% chance of getting in.
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Time between end of early interview (9:20am) and tour. (12:00p)
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That it really
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Who the interviewers were going to be-it's easier to predict questions that way (oh well, no big deal).
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I wish I had known the interview was only 15 minutes. I would not have given up a day's pay
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview experience at UMDNJ-SOM to be relaxed, welcoming, and conversational, with interviewers aiming to understand the applicants as individuals. They appreciated the supportive atmosphere, friendly staff and students, and the emphasis on expressing passion for osteopathic medicine. Some mentioned the small class size, strong curriculum, and the fast response time for admissions decisions as positives.
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Be confident, know your story, and express your passion for medicine and how it relates to your past. Do these and you'll be fine.
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Very good school and even better staff.
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Know your application (AACOMAS and secondary essays) well and be prepared to answer the most common types of (osteopathic medical school) interview questions, like 'Why D.O.", "Why Rowan/South Jersey", etc. They apparently have a very high post-interview acceptance rate (~94%), so if you've made it this far, you're golden!
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As long as you view this interview seriously and prepare for it as other applicants here have recommended, it should be a positive experience.
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Great school, great general body, they are basically like a family and if you talk about that during your interview (ie why Rowan), you would stand out if don't already stand out. They didn't serve lunch and breakfast was just Coffee/tea and granola bars so try to eat before your interview.
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Great school!
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Loved it super laid back interview compared to other schools
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An amazing interview day, very lay back, friendly, and relax.
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I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!
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Great school and great staff!
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Its enjoyable.
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I loved the school and would attend in a heartbeat if accepted.
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Students seem very interested in doing well in their studies, but also are friendly with each other. Definitely got a work hard, play hard vibe from this campus.
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Relax, it's very laid back.
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It was a very laid-back interview process. Nothing to stress over at all, the people there are great. Just be open and friendly in return, and it's golden.
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campus was great, students are nice, admission people were amazing but interviewer was another story
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love
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Overall I thought the interview went well. The interview was open-file but I don't feel like the interviewer asked any probing questions or any questions that he couldn't have gotten out of my file.I don't know how well I did but I thought the school had nice facilities, friendly staff, and friendly students who honestly answered my questions. I thought it was weird that it was the only school that didn't give me any promotional materials( i.e. folder, papers, etc) at the interview. I guess they figured that we did our homework before coming to the interview. It was a really relaxed atmosphere and it wasn't stressful at all. I might be biased: this school's at the top of my list.
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Make sure your thoughts are organized. There is so much to say and such little time
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Overall great school. Faculty seem good and the administration is very friendly. Quality of education is good, and the students appear happy with the school. Facilities are modern and excellent. Hospital on campus is very convenient. Very informal tour was nice. Admissions office was extremely accommodating and friendly. Style of interview (one doctor and one student, kept shooting questions at me, taking notes while I talked) was a bit tough and I didn't go away feeling the best. Only lasted 10-15 min long. Hear back on the 3rd Friday of each month. Nice area around the school. Overall very positive experience.
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excellent school, and very helpful admissions office.
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Great school...wasn't too impressed on paper until I was physically there. Atmosphere is great, seems like everyone likes the study and learns a lot right from the start.
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i think all my interviewer really wanted to see was my passion and dedication to become an osteopathic physician. he didnt seem to care about what i said until i started spewing out all the reasons why i want to be a doctor and how long and hard ive worked to get where i am etc. at the end of my shpeel he said "excellent". show them you want it and (hopefully) it will pay off. keeping my fingers crossed!!!
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Absolutely amazing school. First choice!
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Even though the interviewer was laid back, I was still really nervous since it was my first interview. And only being asked one question didn't help my nerves.
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I really liked this school alot. It is my first choice and I hope I get in! The interview was laid back, conversation style. Everyone was great from the April, to the interviewers to the tour guides. They answered every question and did not hesitate to make me feel warm and welcome. I loved it here.
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I was accepted on 09/18/09. The purpose of me writing this is to give glory to God first and to give back to SDN second. God heard my prayers and answered. He deserves all the glory and praise. For the personable, social, and not easily intimidated, a mock interview is not necessary. For those prone to stuttering and / or cannot convey thoughts into speech, practice. Prepare like a gunner but be laid back during the interview. Give an impression you know the field without intimidating the interviewers. If they dodge your questions, move onto another topic. A firm handshake is necessary. Good-looks help too, so tidy up. If you are brave enough, dress to impress but stand out. I personally styled a tan-grey suit, so I was easy to spot among all the other interviewees in black. If you want to see my very unorthodox background go to http://www.mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=18524. The following link is helpful for applying to and interviewing at medical schools: http://upalumni.org/medschool/medschool-advice.html.
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UMDNJ-SOM is awesome.
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This school seems like an amazing place to get a medical education. I really hope I get accepted.
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interview was very relaxed.
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Great campus, great facilities, and nice students...I hope I get in.
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Great Admissions Office
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So that you know, the story on tuition is that if you are out of state, you will pay out of state tuition for one year, then in state for the last 3. This is new for the 2013 class.
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If you can, schedule your interview as close to the 3rd Friday of every month as you can, because that is when committee meets, and the days after the interview were some of the longest days I've had. The wait was killing me!
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The day was pretty fun. We started off in the admissions off (filled with lots of really nice people) and watched a video that had UMDNJ students in it and what they've done (ie gone on the Price is Right, Regis, Wheel of Fortune, etc). We then went on a tour of the facilities, saw the classrooms, talked to a few students, and had lunch at the cafeteria. We then waited for our interviews, which were really laid back and more of just a conversation. They really just wanted to get to know me. The Adcom meets on the third Friday of every month, so a week after the interview I got the call from Paula Watkins and was accepted! Will hopefully be attending next fall.
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School's very nice - a lot of things are new. Everyone looked happy there, and also discovered a few prodigy students (teenage medical students) about whom we were shown a video earlier in the day. Definitely very friendly, amiable environment. Only annoying part was how student interviewer kept interrupting the faculty member.
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I was interviewed by 2 people. One was a student. After the interview I observed a class for an hour. Once all the other interviews were completed, a tour of the school was given by students. After the tour we ate lunch in the cafeteria.
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I arrived in the admissions office where we watched a video about previous UMDNJ students. That was followed by a tour, lunch, and finally my interview which was more like a conversation. The interviewer really tried to make you comfortable from the get go.
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It was great! I went in not really knowing what to expect, and I was very impressed. The students and staff were warm and excited about their institution.
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My interviewer was nice. The staff was nice. It was a positive experience. They want to just get to know you so relax and be yourself.
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So the day in general was nice, the school itself is great and i would be happy to attend there, but i was so disgusted at how rude my interviewer was. She even asked a question where i truly wasnt sure of an answer so i said that i didnt know and asked her to elaborate a little more so that i could understand her better and nothing...she insisted on repeating herself without helping a little to try to make me look like a jackass. Apparently she missed the part in my file that said i was from NJ too and that i dont flounder easily.
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It was very casual and I felt very comfortable. It was a very good experience for me. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. Don't sweat it.
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It was VERY laid-back and relaxing. Almost not an interview at all! Just some nice conversation. =)
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The interview is rather relaxed. I had an afternoon interview so I had lunch and the tour first. The tour guide was a first year student that was extremely nice and helpful. Even though we never got to truly tour the school, that was fine with me since I had been to the school before. Instead, we had a long conversation over lunch, which provided a lot of insight into the school and medical school as a whole. Afterwards we sat in on a portion of lecture, and then finally returned to the admissions office and waited for our turn to be interviewed, while watching tv. The interview itself wasn't stressful. All the questions were standard and straight forward. He didn't try to trick me or ask any hard questions. Overall, a good experience.
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UMDNJ-SOM seems to want students sincerely interested in the osteopathic philosophy and OMT (I was asked about 6 questions regarding the philosophy). They want to focus on producing family medicine or other primary care doctors for the state of New Jersey's underserved. Be prepared to be asked about Osteopathic Medicine and your current work. I was not even asked a single question about my research experiences or leadership positions. Just show them that you really want to be a D.O. and not an M.D. and you will be fine. Overall, a good experience.
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The interview was very, very laid back. He walked in and said, ''we're just here to talk. this is very casual.'' that put me at ease. he asked me a few questions, but it was really up to me to elaborate and let him know about me. the interview was very short. i could have left at 10:30, but i opted to stay for the tour and lunch. the guide, a student, was very enthused and happy to be there. he answered all questions. after the tour we had lunch. i got the chicken salad wrap (nothing else looked very appealing). we sat down and just chatted. the guide was asking me about the HBCU experience. i was happy that i got to speak to a lot of the minority students there. they seemed to like it and were very active on campus. their SNMA chapter just won chapter of the year.
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It was nice and short. I had a tour of the campus, lunch with student/dean, and then my interview.
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We had a tour first, then waited in a room and chatted with med students and each other. Finally a low stress interview, and it was done.
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It is extremely stress free and easy going. I was stressing a little bit at first, but they put you at ease quickly and its a breeze. DO NOT STRESS, just be yourself and its fine.. cliche, but true!
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The interview was very laid-back. One of my interviewers is an MIV and the other one is an associate professor for the university. It is open file and you need to make sure that you know everything that is written in your application because you will be asked about it.
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The tour and free luch were nice. However, the wait for the interview was long especially since they were running one hour behind schedule. This did not help my situation any because I had a six hour drive after the interview.
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interview itself was very relaxing. admissions staff was very friendly and made me feel at ease from the moment i walked in. this is a great school with friendly and personable professors and med students who have many great things to say about their school. it's always nice to see students and teaching staff who are happy and take great pride in their school.
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Very laid back. We really weren't given very much in terms of information on how the day would go, no handouts or talks about financial aid, no real structure to the day besides showing up to the admissions office and waiting for a tour, being brought back to sit and wait for an interview. Kind of strange. But nice enough!
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It was memorable and pleasant. I arrived 45 minutes before my interview. The interviewer called my name and escorted me to the interview room. Afterwards, the Dean greeted us and gave us a history of the program and the surrounding area. Then we went on a tour. The day concluded with lunch.
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It was a very relaxed atmosphere. We watched TV while waiting for the interview and the tour.
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The interview was pretty short. Everyone arrived like 30 minutes before their scheduled time. We all waited in the lounge which has a TV and some packaged breakfast snacks. The interviewer would call us in when they were ready for us. After the interview there was a tour given by two second year students at noon. All the rooms seems to be in one building except I think the OMM lab, which was in another building next door.
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The school is very nice and the admissions staff and students were enthusiastic. The person intervieing me was extremely rude and not personable. He wasn't even a doctor (had his phd) and asked me the same questions over and over even if I had already answered them. Told me I was wrong on some of my answers (pretty sure they weren't wrong because they were opinion based). It was also hard to understand him because he had an accent. The interview ruined the school for me.
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The interviews were close to on time, the interviewers were very nice, as were all of the admissions staff. I was able to attend a lecture and talk to a few students because I had an early interview, but that was not the case for the later interviews. After the interviews were over at noon we went on a tour and spoke to the student tour guide and a member of admissions. They help you to get NJ residency to save $10,000 on tuition from $33,000 to $23,000, very nice of them I think. It was around 2PM that we finished, and no luch was provided.
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I arrived at 12pm for the lunch and tour. Two first-year students showed us around the campus. The interviewees waited in a room with cable TV. The administrative staff is very friendly, and the academic dean came by to meet us. The interview itself was short, mostly standard questions were asked.
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My interviewers (two of them) told me they were there to represent me in the committee meeting so not to be nervous they were there to help. I was able to relax then and really be myself.
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Overall a good experience. Enjoyed chatting with fellow interviewees. I had an early interview so there was a lot of waiting around. Interviewers tried to make me feel comfortable, but I didn't think they really tried to get to know me. Impressed by the school overall.
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The interviewers did not seem to enthused. They asked about 2 questions and turned the time over to me to ask questions. The tour was ok. I was not very impressed.
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I think my interview experience was an exception to the norm - it may have been that my interviewer (a PhD and not a DO) was just quirky. I felt like I was slammed for being a business major in that they kept pressing about why I wanted to be a doctor after I had fully explained myself.
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It was low stress and a positive atmosphere
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The interview was very laid-back. The interviewers and everybody else was very friendly. The questions were all typical interview questions. No ethical questions. Use SDN to prepare and you would have no problems.
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Interview was laidback conversational style. Interviewers were friendly, a faculty and a 4th year. They did their best to make me feel comfortable. Overall good experience for an interview.
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It was calm, not stressful, everyone was so kind..definitely nothing to worry about...and I found out 7 days later that I got in so that was great...
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I was extremely calm at my interview. I had already been accepted and deposited at PCOM, but I had been waiting to hear from UMDNJ. During my interview I wasn't sure how I did and they asked if I had applied to other schools and I told them about PCOM. I thought perhaps that this would hurt me in the end. But I wanted to be honest. I am going to have a very hard time deciding where I will ultimately go.
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Overall, I had a great experience. My interview was scheduled for 10:00 am, so I arrived around 9:30 am. The interviewers were running late, so I didn't actually interview until 10:30 am. The wait wasn't too bad though - they give you a folder with information about the school in it, so I read that over. The interview was very laid-back and conversational. It was one physician and one fourth year medical student. Both were very nice. They really only asked about myself and about my experience working in the ER. At noon, the six of us who had interviewed in the morning were taken on a tour of the school followed by lunch with our tour guides.
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I arrived about 30 mins before my scheduled interview time and was taken into a room and had a photo taken. The other people interviewing were in the room and others continued to arrive. We watched some TV and waited for them to call us one by one. I interviewed with one 4th year student and one DO. It was a very laid back environment. After all the interviews were complete, a woman from admissions spoke to us regarding the school. We were then treated to lunch in the cafe and taken on a tour of the facilities.
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I had the last interview of the day, so there was a long wait before my interview, which made me overly nervous. However, once the interview started I was quickly put at ease. The interview was not long because I didn’t ask a lot of question, since I’ve been to the school before and have had many of my question previously answered. This is not a school that you need to stress over the interview. As much as you want to go there, they want you there.
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My interview was for 10:30am but they were running late so I wasn't seen until 30 or so minutes later. They came out periodically into the lounge, where about 5 students sat waiting for their interview or the tour to start,to tell us they were running late and to relax (relaxation was the key they emphasize the most). We saw a movie about the school involving some of their students while we chatted and waited for our turn to be interview. My interview itself was basic. I was even complimented on my accomplishments--I was taken aback since no other school's interviewers did that. Once the last person was interviewed, we went for the tour which was led by first year students--very helful and happy to be at the school. then we had lunch.
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If you sign up for the tour and lunch, you're supposed to arrive around 11:30. A woman greeted me, took my picture and made a copy of proof of citizenship (passport or birth certificate). All the interviewees (there weren't many of us, maybe three to five people) hung out in a room and heard a quick presentation from the dean about why UMDNJ. Then we went on a quick tour of the academic building. We had lunch in the cafeteria, and then went back to the interviewee room and waited for our individual interviews. While waiting, they showed us a cheesy video about UMDNJ students doing things like being on game shows. The interview itself was very laid back and quick. I wasn't asked any ethical or policy questions or any tough questions about my history.
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It was really positive. After a very relaxed interview, I was pretty much accepted on the spot.
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Low stress, this is a goal of their admissions process. Simple questions. The interviewers do not offer much emotional repsonse to figure out how you are doing. Don't take this as a negative. Know your application and be able to explain anything negative. Be prepared to discuss it in further detail even after the interview goes into a different direction. This is a great school.
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I was the first interview to go in the morning which was good because I did not have to wait around all day. I had two interviewers, one a doctor and the other a fourth year medical student. Both of them were very nice and made the interview comfortable. They let you express yourself because they ask very open-ended questions, but be careful because they ask you many questions based on your answers, and it is easy to back yourself in a hole as I did.
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I had a nice experience. The people are very warm, welcoming and proud. The students I met around (informally)spoke very highly of the school. I got in, too!!!
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VERY laid back.. very basic questions. Essentially "how do you want us to present you to the admissions committee?"
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I arrived near 11:30am for a 1 pm interview. At 12pm a lunch/tour/meet with admissions deal goes on. The interviews are spaced out with half hours inbetween, and there are only 3-4 students there on a particular day. The interview was 1 on 2, usually a faculty member and a 3rd or fourth year. Interview lasts like 20 min, and then you can go home. No full day experience that drags on like other schools.
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I really enjoyed the overall experience. It was my first interview, so I was obviously nervous and a little flustered in the beginning. I loved the supportive atmosphere. Good luck everyone!
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overall, positive experience...
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Excellent; one of the best interview days I went on. It was fairly short, which I liked - a lot of schools do a full day which really isn't that necessary. My interview was in the afternoon, so I went through their tour first at noon. At around 11:45 or so they showed a video featuring some of their students: very entertaining stuff. Then Paula Slade comes and talks about the school - she's an awesome lady and really represents the school well. In fact the entire staff is extremely well organized and very professional - only one other school I've interviewed at had a staff as good as SOM's I think. The tour guides were excellent as well, very honest, very confident about their school, and obviously very satisfied with their education there. The school is just full of this relaxed confidence. Then we had lunch and waited for our interviews. Oh, if anyone is wondering about their matchlist, take a look at their yearbooks in the waiting room - each student's page will state where they matched.
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Very good. The interviews are pretty casual, and the facilities are amazing!
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2 interviewers: one was a 4th year student and the other was a faculty member (Ph.D.) the Ph.D. faculty member did not seem very nice at first, but i think that was just her style. towards the end of the interview, she smiled a couple of times and put me at ease. the student interviewer was really nice and friendly.
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I had a wonderful experience! I will be attending this school in the fall. This was the most relaxing of any interview I had. The interviewers asked specific and to the point questions of me to pinpoint both my strengths and weaknesses to accurately present me to the admissions committee. For me the location was good because it is in a small town, which fits me best because Im from a small Texas town. But what is good is that its only an hour away from Atlantic City and 20 minutes from Philly. I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a school with an extremly supportive environment.
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the day itself was ok. i found the people were really nice and open. but the school itself was unimpressive both in facilities and location. specifically, i was unhappy with the interview. i feel that the doctor interviewing me was obsessed with the DO-MD rivalry and could not get past that.
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Very positive; laidback. I was accepted!
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The day was very low stress and I felt really welcome. I felt like my interviewer, staff, dean, and students were trying to impress me even more than I was trying to impress them. The interview really gives you every opportunity to make sure they know what you want them to know. The vibe I got was very positive.
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Overall, the students and school were pretty impressive. The thing that stands out is the family-like atmosphere. I can't stress enough how happy the students appeared to be. The thing that negatively impressed me was my actual interview. There were two interviewers (one professor and one MSIII) who didn't seem to be as friendly as what other students had portrayed them to be. I expected more reactions than simply a head nod or an "ok"; I rarely got a smile from either of them. I left the interview thinking that they hated me. However, I must not have done so bad since I received that infamous phone call the day after the admissions committee said they were meeting. I'm still giving this school some serious thought because I would hate to base my choice solely upon the interviewers because the school and the students were top-notch.
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Interview was great they really took the time to get to know me as an applicant. All of the questions were relevant and straight foward. One interviewer is a D.O the other is a medical student. They create a very conversational environment.
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recommended hotel was easy to find and very close to the school. i was nervous simply because this was my first med school interview but there were no tricky questions. everything was straightforward and the tour was given by volunteer med students. it was nice to know when the admissions committee meets and we were told when to expect to hear an answer. however, when i walked into the interview room, it seemed that one of the interviewers was reading my personal statement at that moment so i'm not sure if they had looked over any of my application before the actual interview. tip - assume they haven't so you want to make sure you say what you want them to know about you before the interview is over.
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my first interview...overall it was very nice to students liked each other it was plain to see and i feel like i could learn to be a physician here.
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I arrived there around 9:30, and waited a good deal of time while others were being interviewed. During that time I chatted with other prospective students, watched a video about some teenage med students who attend UMDNJ, and then went to lunch. (It might be interesting to note that there are different proffesor interviewing in the morning than in the afternoon.) I felt incredibly nervous going into the interview, though once it started, I found it to be very low stress. The questions asked were very standard, very easy questions to answer. The proffesor who interviewed me had a great personality and even began to crack a few jokes halfway through the interview. The interview lasted only 20-25 minutes. When I left the interview, I had no clue how I did. I was informed that admissions meets at specific dates and that thier next review date was October 18th. That was almost a month away! After an entire month of stressing out I finally received the infamous telephone call and was accepted. WOO HOO! In conclusion, I'll be in the UMDNJ-SOM class of 2009. Good luck to everyone.
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So easy and relaxed. They asked me about a grade, what I do for fun, what I would do if I wasn't a doctor, and about the club that I am the president of, and other questions about myself and things that I do or did. It was very much a conversation, but it is the responsibility of the person being interview to make it that way. When they ask a question make sure you elaborate on what you mean and try to stem that answer into another topic about why you love their school or why they should accept you. Just be careful not to sound to arrogant.
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I was nervous going into it, but that vanished immediately. They really gave me the opportunity to present myself the way I wanted to.
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I arrived early and well rested, their hotel arrangement and recommendation, Hampton Inn, was excellent. There were only 4 interviewees that day and we arrived at scattered times throughout the morning giving the small class individualized attention feeling right from the start. The tour was great and the students seemed happy and had nothing but praise to sing about their school and classmates. The interviewers were one physician and one MS3, they were both extremely nice and explained how they wanted to portray me to the committee in the best light possible and that they were my advocates.
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very nice
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The day started at 10 am, dean’s speech, photo taken, tour, lunch and interview started at 1pm.
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It was really laid back. We got there and the assitant dean gave a speech. We went on a tour given by students. We ate lunch, and watched a video presentation. Students are called according to their interview time. It was really nice and not too much pressure at all
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It was interesting. My interviewer was a German PhD with a thick accent. Besides that he was interesting and receptive.
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Overall I really liked the school! It was my first choice going in and I left feeling it was still my first choice. The student faculty atmosphere was its bigging selling point for me. It is a pretty small school but I think that lends well to the type of medical school it is trying to be. It seems that the staff is genuinely committed to educating good physicians and bring medicine to how it should be!
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Interview was short, one professor and one 4th year student. I got an acceptance letter in 3 days. I declined it simply because I didn't like the location of the school AND the fact that the school is so SMALL (95 students in the class). Kennedy system is too small plus they don't have residency programs for the speciality I was looking for. I know that NYCOM is a much better school (I was accepted there as well) simply because of the location and the clinical affliations of NYCOM. Their students consistently get the best specialties and are not limited to just primary care/family practice as most DO schools as UMDNJ-SOM.
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They were very nice and we had a good talk about different things that I was involved in at college. They covered the good and the not-so-good in my application; this was the only school that asked so much about the not-so-good, which left me feeling a little on edge by the end of the interview.
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I was very pleased with the interview, and the whole institution; however, they really grilled me druing the interview. This was my third interview and it was definately was the toughest, yet everyperson tells me that theirs was very "lax". I feel, however, that it was apropriate considering who I am. At this point I will have to say that this is my number one choice.
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It was very low stress. My conversations with the current students put me at ease and I felt really comfortable going to the interview.
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The interview was pretty relaxed and went well except that the faculty interviewer kept pressing me to see whether or not I was truly interested in osteopathic medicine. I did not mind that he asked questions about that topic but he asked three different questions that were all very similar but related to the same topic.
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I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!!! DO or MD doesn't matter. Hands down this is a phenomenal place to get an education and I believe it is the place for me.
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The experience was great. This is the school that I want to attend. I felt so comfortable there as though I belong already. It is a great school.
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This was my first interview ever, so I was really nervous, but it was better that I had expected it to be! I actually was laughing most of the time during my interview! ( a lot of jokes were cracked!) The girl waiting for her interview said she heard me laughing down the hall! Whoops!! I totally felt at home here and the students are really great and very friendly. The class size is great too, allowing more opportunities for individualized help. I left the school with a great feeling, and I had an even greater feeling when I was accepted a week and a half later!!! There response time is really fast. NJSOM is a awesome school with a great campus in a good area of South Jersey! I think this is the place where I will be for my next four years!
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for me, the interview experience was great because my interviewer and I got into a discussion about some books I had written a paper on, and it ended up being just a nice conversation. Also, the students who gave the tour were really thoughtful, one of them even offered to have us stay and sit in on one of his classes. Overall it was a completly non-stressful experience.
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It was very good. The interviewers really want to know about you as a person to supplement anything they do not know on your application. It was very relaxed and seemingly more conversational than a question and answer session. Some questions also sprang from things said in the interview. However, I was extremely nervous because I realized this is a school where I really want to gain my education.
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Everything was great! The interviewer was laid back and made sure I knew he wasn't trying to intimidate me, he just wanted to get to know me.
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I thought it was great- everyone was so nice, including the interviewer- they are your advocate to the committee- so try to be as assertive as possible so they get to know you and remember you- any unusual (but relevant) experiences are a plus, the admissions director called me the day the committee met to let me know i got accepted, and to explain everything in my admissions packet
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I was very happy with my visit to UMDNJ-SOM. It seems that they have a very solid program with a supportive atmosphere.
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It was a positive experience. All of the admissions staff is very friendly and helpful. I interviewed with a third year student and the head of the emergency medicine department at UMDNJ-SOM. The interview was very short,and relaxed
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My interviewer was very nice. There was supposed to be a student there as well, but exams were coming so it was just me and a doctor. He really tried to make it more like a conversation.
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The interviewer was formal but not intimidating. This was a great first interview. The purpose of the interview is to find out more about you (ie: explanations for poor grades or low mcat scores) so that the interviewer can be your advocate during the Admissions Committee meeting.
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I really liked the school's curriculum and people, for ex. the diversity of students. The school is very human: the Admissions Office called me on 10/20 (the day the Admissions Committee met) to tell me that I'd been accepted. (I don't know what - if any - other schools do that.) The academic calendar has "exam block" weeks (similar to finals periods in college) so you can focus on studying and taking tests.
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I was interviewed by a doctor and a med student, and they made it very clear that they were not trying to intimidate me; rather, they emphasized that they were my advocates, so that was nice.
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I really liked the small class size and parts of south Jersey are really nice. I would advise driving (~20min) to Atsion just SW of the campus down RT.30 and viewing the natural area and lake with cabins. Both of my interviewers (one DO and one MS III) were very friendly and just wanted to get to know me. Once you are given an interview you have about a 30% chance of acceptance. Most people are either accepted or placed on a waiting list after their interview. You would really have to screw the interview up to receive a rejection letter right after the interview. Because our interviews were in the morning, the student tour guide had ample time to show us around campus and was extremely thorough.
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Here's what you need to know, DON'T BE TOO MODEST ABOUT YOURSELF!!! If you've done something great in your life then take the time to mention it and don't wait until the right time presents itself because you might just not get that opportunity. This is the only time you have to leave an impression and you need to stand out. When appropriate, be sure to also ask your interviewer questions about how they feel about a certain topic because it can take the pressure of you and allow the interview to feel more like a conversation.
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very laidback. relax. they just want to get to know you and know that UMDNJ-SOM is your first choice.
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AWESOME EXPERIENCE! It was my first interview, but it couldn't have went any better. Very laid back and comfortable.
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I thought it was an ok school, but I was not thoroughly impressed.
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Absolutely wonderful day and wonderful experience!! UMDNJ is by far my top choice! Great interview.
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I got accepted Yahooooo Praise God!
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Great. Best interview I had had. Open file we talked about each other.
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Overall a great experience. The faculty and staff have a very positive and welcoming attitude which allows for a relaxed experience. The key thing is to be yourself and know why you want to attend their program.
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I really liked this school. This was my first interview and the interviewers really put me at ease.
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It's a great school. I think I will attend it next fall for I just got acepted today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Overall, very positive. I really liked the school- they were professional, courteous, friendly, relaxed, and real. they had a great program and facility too.
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NOT a stress interview; interviewers just seemed to be trying to assess my personality, interests, and reason for interest in medicine.
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My interview started 40 minutes late so I started to get nervous. The interviewer came out and apologized and we went to the "room." I sat at one end of a table and he sat at the other end. He put me at ease and he asked me the questions that you will read shortly. I felt that I controlled the interview, although he had his specific questions that he was going to ask. He was interested in some of my extra-curricular activities and in where I went to undergrad so that took up some time. Next, all of the interviewees watched a video, talked with the director of admissions, and then took the tour.
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very relaxed and welcoming
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Interviewers were really nice- just make sure you don't get caught by that "first-choice" question.
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Great school, students really seem to like it there, everyone willing to help out in any way possible.
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The interview was really laid back. It started out with a tour, and then lunch. The campus did seem very nice and modern, and the students were really friendly. If you want to go to a school with an intimate atmosphere, you should consider UMD SOA.
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Very friendly and laid back. My interviewers were a DO and a third year student, and they both tried their best to put me at ease. I was a pretty nervous wreck though, considering it was my first interview ever.
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Great interview process and the admissions staff is top notch. The facilities and program are way ahead of other schools.
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I had the interview, then lunch and a tour. The interview was pretty low stress. There were two interviwers, one was a student, and the other was a professor. I think that they basically wanted to get to know me. They spent much of the interview telling me about the school.
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Overall, a good experience. It is a SMALL school, so if you need a crowd,; it's not for you. If you need to be IN the city, it's not for you. But, if you like a close knit group, practically one-on-one instruction, and people sincere about making you a DO when your acceptance letter comes; it's for you. Every school has its issues, but this school is small enough to where you won't get lost if you have an issue.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest improvements such as implementing online payment options, enhancing communication through follow-up emails, providing more detailed information during interviews, and increasing organization and efficiency in the admissions process. They also appreciate the friendliness and helpfulness of the admissions staff and value clear communication throughout the application process.
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N/A
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Please keep up the good work.
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Follow through on followup emails after interviews.
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Real creamer for coffee
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Add online payment of deposit fee and a tab about the steps of what to do after an acceptance
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They were great!
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Do an information session with the interview, so that the school feels more informative and welcoming.
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make the secondary application be online instead of mailed in!
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Have more than one interviewer for 6 six students
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Paula and April are great! Everyone was very friendly and helpful.
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keep up the good work
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NONE THEY WERE GREAT. Paula is a wonderfully nice woman.
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Very friendly to calls and quick to respond to emails.
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Try to be more on schedule, i was interviewed much later than my assigned time. Also have 3rd years as tour guides instead of just 1st or 2nd years.
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Electronic application and status.
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A "secondary application complete" email would be nice to have, but considering the high speed of the school in the application process, it's not as important.
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Doing a great job. Maybe develop an online status check system, however it is as easy to call you guys up.
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They were extremely nice!
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Give more details about what to expect on interview day (ie. the daily game plan: interview, lunch,
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Definitely keep Paula and April forever. They're the best!
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No suggestions for the admissions office. I was honestly very impressed with my entire experience.
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It would be nice if the admissions office made more of an effort to organize actual tours for their
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More organized. The video was cute but we sat and watched it a couple times through.
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parking pass for the day?
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There's a lot of down time spent sitting in the admissions office. I would structure the day to have
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