Ask questions about this school. Answers use aggregated data and are subject to error.
👋Hi there! How can I help?
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 31% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 441 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's motivation for pursuing medicine, handling academic challenges, family background, problem-solving skills, opinions on healthcare issues, and their fit with the school's mission and curriculum. Some respondents mentioned being asked about Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) format, suggesting potential nondisclosure agreements regarding specific questions asked during the interview process.
Students said the most interesting questions asked at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including qualities of a physician, ethical dilemmas in patient care, learning strategies, personal stories for committee remembrance, and societal issues like medical malpractice and pharmaceutical costs. The interview format may have been an MMI, as some responses indicated a non-disclosure agreement, while other questions touched on personal experiences, future aspirations, and opinions on healthcare and societal issues.
Everything in you application aside, we interview hundreds of applicants for 72 slots. Give me something, a story, a piece of information, that I can remember you by when we go to the committee.
Let's say that later in life a physician (not from SIU, of course) comes out of a hospital room, angrily says to you, ''Well, you really screwed up back there,'' and walks away without further explanation. What would you do?
My interviewer presented me with a situation that happened earlier in the day during her rounds at the hospital. She asked how, as a physician, I would deal with a nurse demanding me to sign a consent form to give an obese man in the ICU an IV drip.
The 'tell me about yourself''. it wasnt general, he literally asked how/why my parents emigrated to the US, their occupations, where I was born, what each of my siblings do, and my full academic history.
Students said most difficult question asked at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including healthcare challenges, ethical dilemmas, personal integrity, and future goals. While some faced inquiries about controversial issues or hypothetical scenarios, others encountered more personal questions about their backgrounds, character flaws, or views on medical education.
What is something SIU is lacking in and how would you strengthen it?
Not necessarily a question but the fact that I was grilled so much for coming from my hometown. My AdCom interviewer behaved like he doubted my sincere interest in becoming a physician in the area and I was really offended.
What would you do if you were a surgeon, and you had a patient who was severely injured. You know with surgery, you have a 10% chance of saving the patient. Do you offer the surgery to the family, or do you withhold the information?
No difficult questions, just a few open-ended ones...like ''So, tell me about yourself, something I haven't read in your application,'' or ''Why do you want to be a physician,'' and ''Why SIU.''
Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing with mock interviews, reading interview feedback on Student Doctor Network (SDN), and researching the school's website and curriculum. Additionally, they focused on common interview questions, their personal statements, and engaging in self-reflection to ensure they were well-prepared for the interview.
Prayed, reviewed SDN page, went through application.
I had done several practice interviews before my last interview in October but did not do any before this interview. I also read Newsweek and the New York Times.
SDN, AMCAS application, SIU website, researched my interviewers (you will know who they are weeks ahead of time) and PBL, talked to some students from the school
Read online CVs of both my interviewers, since I knew in advance who they'd be. Came to SDN and printed off all the questions in the SIU section: had my wife aske me these questions.
Also, I have 2 friends already at SIU SOM, and they've been tremendously informative.
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, the emphasis on problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum, early patient contact, and the strong sense of community among students and faculty. Suggestions included enhancing the visibility of financial aid options, providing more information on the specific clinical experiences available, and improving communication on the school's unique features such as the small class sizes and faculty support.
The interest each interviewer had in me the applicant. It really was a conversation and they would ask follow-up questions based on the stories you would tell on how you got to the current position you are.
The faculty, staff, and medical students are extraordinarily friendly and open. The students seem to embrace and speak favorably about the PBL curriculum. New clinical skills facilities are under construction now. The school is technologically modern. Aside from Texas schools, the tuition is unbeatable.
Everyone was SO friendly! There was a little mix-up with my schedule but Alicia took care of it right away, and my first interviewer walked me to my next one. The students also seemed pretty happy.
The people. Everyone is there for the right reason. Additionally, the curriculum seems very self-directed and non-competitive. I really enjoyed the experience.
Problem-Based Learning Curriculum and group rooms
Standardized Patients and practice clinic area
Quick responses from all school representatives with questions.
Everything flowed very smoothly, and everyone I met was very helpful and excited about SIU. The problem-based learning curriculum, once explained, sounded very exciting!
PBL seems great; lots of hands-on learning starting in first year; everyone was very friendly; tour guide (M2) and other students seemed very happy there; cool student lounge
I like the medical education building. The students I met were good-spirited and seemed to be enjoying their experience. I like the idea of PBL, but some areas are still a little hazy to me.
The study-groups seemed REALLY great. I've heard wonderful things about their problem based learning curriculum from former graduates and I was not let down based on what I saw during our tour. Each group get their own ''group-study-room'' and because students are NOT ranked, there is a team atmosphere among students.
The small class sizes and the faculty. Students seemed happy and the professors I met were very welcoming. I could see myself doing well here.
Both of my interviewers were very kind and the interviews themselves were relaxed and more conversational than I expected. They seemed to want to get to know me and were interested in what I was saying, which I liked.
The director of admissions told us about a study correlating MCAT scores to step 1 of USMLE. The study found that the MCAT is usually a great predictor of step 1 scores, except for at SIU where there are consistently students who had scored lower on the MCAT but above average on step 1. That problem-based-learning must really be something great if the students have that much improvement!
Just about everything...the people were unbelievably nice (Barb Jones, the Student Affairs assistant in Carbondale, was probably the most helpful person I've encountered in this whole process), the students were very happy and the small group learning style seems to promote a strong sense of camaraderie...
Very little in-class time. A lot of hands-on clinical experiences and patient contact within weeks of starting the program. College is central to the town's healtcare setup. Everyone was highly courteous and geneorus with their time. Did not feel rushed. Interviewers were very open and candidly discussed the negative points of the university. The entire campus is wireless, all lectures are available online, and printouts are free!!
everyone was really friendly, students seemed genuinely happy with the school and the curriculum, big emphasis on humanistic medicine, early early early clinical experience, NO SCUT WORK! :)
How enthusiastic and friendly the students and staff were, how relaxed the atmosphere was, how focused they are on providing early and thorough clinical experiences
the intervewers seemed very interested in what i had to say and the prospect of me attending the school. also, the atmosphere seemed very relaxing and personal.
The tour guide was really friendly and positive about the school. She was able to really sell the benefits of case-based learning and the school's locales. Also, the school seems to try to pair you with an interviewer in the area(s) of medicine you are interested.
I was originally somewhat concerned about the very strong emphasis on PBL, but after seeing the facilities and how they ensured training was not haphazard (through excellent organization of course subject matter) I feel I would get a better education than at some of the schools still following a relatively traditional lecture format. Also, they really value student input on program format utilizing it to improve.
friendly atmosphere, small classrooms, multiple campuses (carbondale, springfield), option to travel 4th year & research grant money to travel during first summer, all books needed are in the library = very low bok costs
One of my interviewers showed me SIU's latest Step 2 results, which were well above the national average. I really liked the situational-type questions that one of my interviewers asked. They were thought-provoking and, I think, really helped him better understand my problem solving process and skills--and helped him gauge my ethical/moral compass.
Both of my interviewers (one was on the admissions committee) made comments along the lines of "I've been in your chair, so I'm here to make it easy for you and try to help you get into medical school". So even though some of the questions were tough, there wasn't an adversarial feeling to them.
small class size, low stress/ family-like enviroment, PBL sound like a great learning method (especially for part 2 of the new USMLE), low cost, exposure to patients from the first week
The hospital, Memorial Medical Center, has very new facilities. The people I passed in the hallways were very nice - both students, staff, and a few patients.
Throughout the process of applying to Med. School, SIU has been the most "human," approachable, courteous, prompt, and professional school I've dealt with, when compared to UIC and IU
The students LOVE it there. I didn't know much about the Problem Based Learning (PBL), but the way the students talked about it, I was really impressed.
Everyone was VERY friendly and helpful. I'm from Springfield and I really like it in the town. CHEAP compared to other med schools. ALL PBL with very few lectures.
I was able to meet and have lunch with a couple of minority students, who also further introduced me to their fellow classmates. I was able to hear about the program first hand.
PBL! Their PBL seemed to make the students very happy with thier education. They also commented on how benificial early (first year (day)) patient exposure has been.
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about disinterested interviewers, disorganization in scheduling and facilities, outdated campuses, small towns, lack of engagement during tours, and concerns about the program structure such as spending the first year in Carbondale. Suggestions included improving interviewer preparedness, enhancing campus facilities, providing more engaging tours, and addressing the challenges of transitioning between campuses.
I interviewed with a female internist for one of my interviews. She seemed very disinterested and like she did not care one bit of what I had to say from the very beginning. She asked me questions that were not relevant to my desire to pursue a career as a physician or to me as an individual. Not very friendly and was a very awkward experience. Hope you guys don't get her for an interviewer.
I almost got hit by three different cars while visiting Springfield. The school itself was great. I've heard Carbondale can be somewhat dull. I'm not sure how I feel about the aggressive populace of Springfield.
I don't like that the first year is in Carbondale and the next three in Springfield. I would prefer to do all four in Springfield, but that doesn't seem to be something the school is even considering.
There may be up to 8 people to a cadavre (sp) and 4 at a time disecting. Seems like it'd be too many cooks in the kitchen for that.
ALSO-- make sure you cut off your first interview after about 30-35 mins, because mine went from 9am-9:55, which didn't give me nearly enough time to get to my car, drive to the next interview, find a space in the parking garage, and then find the interview room, especially because once I made it to the building of my 2nd interview, I was told by the information desk that the room didn't exist! Uggg-- I was really late and I think that SIU admissions should do a better job of coordinating the transport/directions/timing.
Nothing...but again I'm somewhat biased because I grew up in Carbondale and so had done a lot of research about the school and am very familiar with both campuses.
Not much to do around campus. Downtown Sprinfield is growing but is far from offering the urban experiences of even a medium sized town in the midwest.
The disorganization of the day. The admissions staff was very helpful and kind while I was there for the financial aid session and tour, but I was on my own to find my interviewers and their offices.
My second interviewer hadn't read my file. I wish I had known this in the beginning of the interview and adjusted my responses accordingly. Also, my first interviewer was pretty reserved, and it was hard to tell if she was excited about interviewing, medicine, me, or anything!
The second interviewer didn't know I was coming. He hadn't looked over my application info and only spent about 25 minutes with me before leaving for surgery; he asked a lot of questions that I had already answered in my applications.
I just can't shake the feeling that SIU is a wee bit "po-dunky"--and Springfield is certainly nothing to write home about. Also, the student who gave the tour kept making disparaging remarks about other schools and how "they just throw you into the deep end--while at SIU, the faculty really cares". Of course, on further questioning, it turned out that her opinion was formed by talking with ONE college classmate who was having a bad experience at ONE other med school. Not exactly a broad platform on which to form her opinion. It almost felt like she had been indoctrinated into the whole "PBL" thing--and was trying to convert us too.
my first interviewer was fifteen minutes late, and she didn't even give me extra time in the end. The schedule was poorly put together, I had nothing to do for two hours and then in the afternoon, there was no time alloted for lunch.
The actual instructional facilities are rather outdated. Although the technology is there (computers and stuff), the research labs and buildings need renovating.
Absolutely nothing. At the end of my visit, Dr. Z said "Well, maybe we'll talk with you later." Obviously, i wanted to hear "See you in August."
Springfield. Lack of organization. I did not meet any of the other interviewees until the financial talk at 11 am. The school expects you to figure out how to get to where you need to go on your own.
I interviewed in Springfield and there was no orientation meeting. I just went to my first interview, which was in the doctor's office. The first interviewer was a plastic surgeon who really didn't prepare questions for me, I basically talked to fill the dead air.
My first interviewer, however, had obviously not prepared for my visit, and the questions asked were extremely vague and lame. "Did you like taking the MCAT?" "How do you feel about your undergraduate college?"
An office staff member (unknowledgable, not to mention) gave the tour - that was a letdown. My second interviewer really seemed to want to pursue the possibilities for me if I did not get into medical school - this was discouraging.
I did not get to talk to any students due to scheduling reasons and one of my interviewers didn't seem very interestd in talking to me and neither had much interaction with students.
first year at carbondale (as i've since found out, the housing there pretty much sucks. a lot of it is old and run down. undergrads seem to get the best first cause med students find out so late.)
That the new PBL is untested, ie. would like to see the Step 1 scores from a couple of classes first. But I think the PBL is the right direction, even if it needs a little tuning.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would be relaxed and conversational rather than stressful, the importance of understanding the Problem Based Learning (PBL) system used by the school, and the need for thorough preparation for questions related to academics and scores. They also highlighted the challenge of navigating the campus and recommended bringing quarters for parking.
I wish I had a better answer for how I heard about the school. I answered honestly (MSAR->State School->PBL=excited), but I could have sworn I saw a little disappointment with my answer. He seemed excited about all my other answers.
The map they send with your interview packet is on a really small scale, which I didn't realize. Because of my carelessness, I thought that the buildings were mainly within walking distance, so I parked at the main building and put 5 hours worth of quarters in the meter. Turns out, I was only going to be at that building for 15 mins... waste of money. Be sure you have your own form of transportation to get you to and from the interviews. Mine (and those of the other applicant) were both in outlaying buildings.
Not to stress out too much. It was my first med school interview so I over-prepared but it wasn't nearly as intimidating/difficult as I thought it would be. No weird moral/ethical questions or strange medical questions.
Acceptances are given out in three batches. The higher your score is on the AWPA list, the better chance that you will get accepted. They never offer more acceptances at one time than their max class size. So last year, to get a class of 72 they extended a total of 155 acceptances throughout application season, which is about half of those who interviewed.
Take quarters with you for parking. They have metered parking for visitors! Pavments were not deiced, so if your thinking of wearing high heels (ladies) forget it! Good cheap lunch is avaliable in the hospital (under $1.50 for a slice of pizza).
Hilton Springfield is probably the best hotel in the area, and at $129, it's not much more expensive than the others (comes w/ breakfast for 2 people).
That the interviewers would not have my MCAT scores or GPA. They asked some questions about how I did that I might have worded differently knowing this.
A previous reviewer commented on SIU's goofy "Accept when place available" (AWPA) system. If you're on this list, you get a letter stating just that. The only trouble is that last year, I found out that SIU had such a strong applicant pool that they didn't even get to the lower-ranked applicants on the AWPA list. As a result, what should have been a straightforward "accept" turned into a "reject". Not cool.
So if you get the "AWPA" letter, you're encouraged to write back immediately expressing your unbridled joy at getting a tentative "maybe" and how SIU is your ultimate dream school--and this is somehow supposed to get you on SIU's "nice list". Can you sense the sarcasm? Good. How this ultimately helps your chances--and how it's in ANY way fair--is truly beyond me. Why would anyone want to jump at the first school if they are still interviewing and weighing their potential options? Unclear!!
The admissions's office did not help you find the rooms or parking. Get there atleast 30-60 minutes early, becuase the its hard to find parking, the buildings and the rooms.
I'm glad I did a little research about the PBL system. The only questions that could throw you during the interview relate to the PBL system and how you would fit in.
There aren't many choices for lunch. The med student who gave us a tour said no one really eats in the hospital cafeteria b/c it's not healthy and there aren't other places to eat close to the campus.
Applicants generally found the interviews at SIU to be relaxed and conversational, with positive interactions with interviewers and students. Some noted the disorganization of the interview day, while others highlighted the school's close-knit community and unique features like problem-based learning.
Overall a good experience. Medical students just passing by would sit down and talk with us and allow us to ask them questions. I don't believe they were affiliated with the admissions department at all.
Springfield is not great; food was good and everyone was super friendly; the school is trying to update and it shows; some interviews can be far away from each other, so you may have to drive/shuttle/walk.
This seems like a great environment to attend medical school. The students seemed very happy. People would randomly smile at me (noticing that I was interviewing). A couple of MIII's approached me and talked to me about their classes. The school population is really warm and tight-knit.
One interviewer is an Admissions Committee member and that interview is open file. The other is a faculty member and it's mostly closed file. Other than my negative experience with the first interviewer, everyone else was incredibly kind and really did their best to sell SIU's positive points. PBL sounds really impressive and the med students seem really happy. Also, Homestyle Inn & Suites is incredibly close to the school and decently priced if you're looking for a motel to stay at.
No interviews are NO stress, but these are definitely lower stress interviews. Everybody's friendly, and make sure you feel at home. The two one-on-one interviews are very conversational and you rarely get off the wall difficult questions.
The interviews were more of an open discussion than a set list of questions. You will have one with a medical student (open file) and one with a faculty member (closed file). Be prepared for some down time between interviews depending on your schedule; I had an hour to waste and it was raining outside.
Interviews were very low in stress, and it really just felt like I was having conversations with the two interviewers; one interview is open-file and the other is closed file
Some things I like about SIU are as follows:
-the small class size
-minimal lecture hall hours
-the preceptorship that allows students to work with local doctors
-the atmosphere at the school because all of the staff and students seemed to know each other by name
The first interview is with a member of the admissions committee. They have an open file interview with you. The second interview is with a faculty member who is not on the admissions committee. They only have basic biographical information and your secondary essays. That interview is more open-ended.
All-in-all, pretty stress free interviews, though certainly NOT stress free travel between interviews. The last thing you want to be worrying about during your med school interview day is finding the right building/room or a parking space. I think the interviewers should be given firm time limitations so that we interviewees can make it to the next interview/meeting on-time.
I had a really great tour-guide who was willing to take her time to elaborate on her experience in Carbondale and in Springfield about topics ranging from housing to board scores to assesments to research options.
Certainly not an interview-day-set-up that people should get nervous about.
Day started at 10am with an intro/Q and A session. Financial Aid session at 11am, student tour at noon. First interview at 1pm, second interview at 2:30pm.
awesome. i loved it. i had one interview with a faculty member on the admission committee that was open file, and the second with a psychiatrist that was closed file. everyone was very down-to-earth (read: normal) and i left with a very positive impression of the school
Definitely a positive day. Totally chill, got to talk to some second years while waiting and they were very friendly and willing to talk to me. Very nice school.
There were 4 interviewers this day. We arrived to a 30-40 minute Q&A session. The group was broken up and sent to their interviews(different interviewers for everyone). They usually schedule you to interview with two faculty members throughout the day. One person is open file and sits on the committee, the other is closed file and they may not be on the committee. In between the interviews there is an option financial aid session and student guided tour.
The first interview involved more general, open ended questions (I think this one might have been closed-file, but I'm not sure). The second interview was more geared to finding out about what my specific experiences meant to me (he brought up things from AMCAS and my secondary). Definitely prepare using the SDN feedback questions...a lot of those came up. I interviewed in Carbondale so I got a tour of the main academic building that the M1s use, Lindegren Hall, during the lunch break. Barb took me up to where a few M1s were studying so I got to ask them a few questions and afterwards I had a few minutes with Linda Herrold, the Dean of Student Affairs. No surprises, very relaxed.
Very relaxed, comfortable; interviewers were friendly and personable; I almost went over an hour in both my interviews because our conversations became so open and friendly.
It was a nice interview. I was quite nervous before the interview, but the interviewer was so cooperative and it made me feel so relax during the interview.
Overall, I came away with a much better impression of SIU. It seemed like a pretty strong school and the students seem to be really happy with it. Also, the PBL doesn't seem as scary now (they have lectures too, but they are supplementary). The cheap tuition is pulling at towards it right now.
The interviews were very relaxed and they just wanted to get to know more about what my experiences meant to me. They were extremely well organized and had a very nice financial aid session that was one on one, just like the two interviews. It's a great school and their residents' board scores are up there with the best. They are 100% in-state and competition is tough to get in. Your first year will be in Carbondale and the next three years will be in just the three or four buildings that make up the entire campus in Springfield!!! There is no vibrant community surrounding the campus, so married students may find it hard to do anything worthwhile around town. Springfield is all about the med school and some state legislature buildings!
Overall, I didn't expect much going into the interview, but afterwards I actually became really enthusiastic about the school. It seems like a great place to learn and PBL doesn't seem as scary anymore.
This was my first interview experience so I was a little nervous. However, my interviewers put me completely at ease. The med. student who gave the tour was very enthusiastic about the school. Everyone was VERY nice and the faculty know all of the students.
The day was very relaxed, almost too relaxed. Everyone was friendly, but I found it uneasy being the only person at the school interviewing that day. I had a lot of free time between my scheduled meetings/interviews, during which I sat in the physician's waiting room with patients as my file was read or the physician was with a patient.
The day was pretty standard. Financial aid presentation was somewhat helpful, student tour was average, both interviewers were very friendly and conversational. They were the first school to go in-dept on asking me questions about specific volunteer activities and what I gained from each.
My first interviewer genuinely wanted to get to know me and spent quite a bit of time answering my questions about PBL and the curriculum. It was very conversational about my application and questions and lasted about an hour. The second interviewer was trying to see how strong my interest in medicine was harsher style of questioning. This one was less conversational, just went through the questions and then I was done - lasted about 15 minutes.
It was a really good experience, minus the fact I had a lot of time to kill before my interviews because the fin aid session and tour each only took 15 minutes. My interviewers were really personable.
There was no organization. Nobody to greet you when you get there, nobody to show you where you are supposed to go, there was NO minority representation whatsoever!!! I had to drive to the location of the second interview because it was on the other side of town.
I had a great experience at SIU. My first interviewer was very nice, the interview was conversational and she really directed where she wanted me to go with my answers. My second interviewer asked me if I would object to us going to Starbucks and having the interview there. This interview was also very laid back and guided.
My interviews, I feel, were rushed.My first interviewer didn't seem too interested in me,the 2nd interview was during the MD's clinic hours so he was in a hurry.I left feeling they didn't really get to know me.
the first interview went well. The interviewer was an orthopedic surgeon and knowledgeable about the school, although the questions were standard and at one point i was sure he was extending the interview for the sole purpose of avoiding work. The fin. aid session was only slightly informative, but it at least seems SIU takes an active interest in making sure its students are afloat financially. The tour was short, but the enthusiastic tour guide did a good job of playing up the school as probably the best thing this side of the mississippi. the second interview was strangely like the first, except i was tired hungry (be sure to pack a lunch/ find a good place to eat).
I thought my first interviewer did a great job of making everything seem very positive at SIU. She really talked up PBL, the simulated patients, and the early clinical experience. I did not get a very good tour of the campus. I saw one of their tutor rooms, the library, and the medical museum.
The first interviewer was great! Such a neat person and very honest about some of the less impressive aspects of the school, as well as the positives. He put me at ease, and even looked into what schools would suit my boyfriend's needs if we were to relocate to Springfield for 3 years. I just mentioned his educational goals, and my interviewer started to research what was available during my interview! I was really impressed by this unexpected assistance.
The interviews and tour were great. There were 2 interviews: the first was with the student representative of the admissions committee and the second was with a faculty member. The first interviewer was very well-versed with my application file and asked some of the best and most appropriate questions I have come across yet in my interview experience. The second interviewer was very friendly and I feel that he helped me to learn a great deal about the school.
arrived at 10:30, interview at 11am (45 mins w/ admissions director. she asked a detailed list of questions) tour with 2nd year student at 12, break for 40 minutes. interview at 1:30 with faculty member. she asked informal questions about personality related items. lasted 30 minutes. went home.
My experience at SIU was kind of strange. My first interviewer wasn't even there and the school never bothered to call or email and tell me that. Instead they let me find out when I showed up at the guys door for the interview. Then, somewhat embarrased, they looked for someone else to interview me right there on the spot. The people looking for an interviewer didn't even know what I was supposed to be interviewing for (they asked a few minutes later). Eventually, they found a doctor to interview me and three minutes after the interview started, he said he had all the information he needed despite the fact that it was a completely closed interview. The rest of the day went much smoother and the second interview, which was an open interview went pretty well. I really enjoyed talking with my second interviewer. Overall, despite the lack or organization, I really enjoyed the SIU interview experience.
What positively impressed me about the school (see below) was virtually annihilated by the way the interviews were handled. Perhaps there was a sudden shortage, but I wasn’t able to speak with one physician. I spoke first with a Ph.D. who seemed surprised that he was responsible for interviewing me. He then asked me the standard series of questions (why medicine, etc.). About 15 minutes later, he gets a cell phone call and showed me the door, not giving me a chance to ask questions (not that he could answer them). After a lousy lunch, a tour of the facility given by an M2 was the highlight of the day. I also got some good info on applying for loans. The second interviewer was a social worker who made a point of telling me I was "low priority" because I live in Chicago. Overall, I felt the entire day had been a scheduled waste of time, compliments of SIU.
The interviewers were very nice, not stressful at all. My first interviewer had a list of questions that he asked and we talked a little in between some of them. The second interviewer had questions as well, but he didn't really ask them. He pretty much said that he just wanted to talk instead of ask the questions. He was extremely easygoing, and joked around a little, which made the interview a lot less stressful.
All-in-all school seeemed very intimate, students seeemed to like it and one another, only bad thing was my second interviewer was confrontational, be ready for this.
Ehh--I'd go here if I didn't get accepted anywhere else. It's just not very diverse (I waited in the main lobby of the medical center and didn't see many non-Caucasian faces), and they're so gung-ho on getting folks from central and southern IL that it's sort of a turn-off (I live in Chicago--but I'm from a rural area in another state). I just think it's rather misguided to assume that rural folk are automatically going to return to their rural communities to practice.
I had two interviewers, the first interview was 15 min, the second was about 30 min. There was a tour of the school and a lecture on financial aid in between my interviews.
Bring something to read and eat, because you will have a little down time b/t interviews. This is a comprehensive but no-frills interview process. You will have to find your way to your interview rooms (unless you are lucky enough to have a student take you), there is no breakfast/lunch set up for you and you are pretty much on your own...but this all probably goes hand in hand with being a self directed learner, which they stress. The interviews are relaxed and stress free. Both of my interviews, one with a student and another with a faculty member who was also an alumni, were more of a casual conversation where they tried to get to know me on a more personal level. They did their best to put me at ease and make me feel comfortable. I stayed at the Best Inn, located 3 blocks from the school. You can go to orbitz and reserve a room for $32...it is not a high class hotel, but it definatley works if you don't want to spend a lot of money.
Overall, the interview day went well. My first interviewer asked questions that were all on my AMCAS app. That annoyed me a little. He asked about my high school, about my parents, and how I was raised. Also, he was very honest with how my application looks and how the committee would view it. He made suggestions for a plan B in case it comes to that. The second interviewer was really rushed and he didn't seem to care much what I said. In fact, his beeper went off in the middle of the interview, right when I was talking about a really sensitive issue, and he returned the call without letting me finish my answer. That sucked. The financial aid session was very informative - they talked about financial aid as it would apply to any school we would go to, not just SIU.
The first interview was more serious, but more general questions. He got really specific with the health care system, gene therapy, and kept testing how much i knew about SIU. I liked the fact that he asked about how i studied for the MCATS and he really tried to find out about how i work as a student. The second interview was very laid back and informal and he basically worked off of my application.
I was really surprised about both interviewing sessions, because they were more like conversations. I showed up 20 minutes early to my first interview, and he had me come in and we started the interview early. We ended up talking until the financial aid session for a total interview time of about 65 minutes. He was awesome and very friendly. The second interviewer was kind of boring. I was also sitting on the world's most uncomfortable and tall chair, so I was fidgeting the entire time. He didn't have a lot to say, so the interview was kind of boring and harder to do. It was still more conversational than question and answer of many interviews.
The interview was good. The school is a perfect fit for me. After the interview I received a letter that said my status is "Accept When Place Available". It's taken 3 phone calls to the admissions office at the SIU SOM to understand their complex applicant ranking system and acceptance schedule.
Here's what I understand (and I may be wrong):
In 2003 SIU SOM will accept 73 students.
First, on OCT 26 the admissions committee met to accept any applicant enrolled in SIU's special MedPrep program (where they train up their med students from toddler age to acceptance date), and/or any accepted but deferred students from the previous year (you know, they got accepted, but couldnt go for another year . . . yeah right!). This was a total of 3 people (70 more to go).
Then, everybody else goes into 1 of 4 categories:
1. Accept when place available: accepted in batches of 20 in November, January, March. Each AWPA student is ranked within this group and applicants are accepted by rank.
2 & 3. They have two alternate categories below AWPA. I dont get it. Surely I'm wrong. But, the lady at the admissions ofc. said otherwise.
4. The "No Thanks" category is self explanatory.
Overall, the curricular design is very much based on self-directed learning. A good deal of technology is involved and used in both group and pbl. I liked the school (although there are definately few frills compared to other schools, but as one student said the positive of that is that you don't increase your debt to study somewhere "pretty" either), but was a little disappointed with one of my interviews. It was my first at the school...the guy showed up late and then only talked to me for 20 minutes. Nice guy, but seemed to have had me sized up based on my app. It was all positive, but a little different than any other interview I've experienced and somewhat frustrating.
Before the interview, I was only midly attracted to the school, but the people (students / faculty) made the whole thing look really appealing. If any of you are fortunate enough to interview with Dr. Quinn, relax and enjoy it, she's fantastic. My interview with her lasted half an hour longer than scheduled.
Financial aid meeting, student tour, and two interviews. It was a fun day, and being that it was halloween the atmosphere was very light-hearted. My first interview was with a PhD in immunology. He asked me questions about my application and we had a fun conversation. The second interview was with an MD. She was very nice as well, although we didn't get as much time to talk because she was in a hurry to go get her kids' costumes ready for Halloween!
Very good day. Both my interviewerws wanted to get to know me and were friendly, but still asked all the important questions. I had one PHD and one MD interviewer. Student tour was helpful and the student seem to love the curriculum.
The good was that it was not stressful in the least. The bad was that it wasn't very organized. It seemed like the first interviewer was not experienced in conducting interviews. The second lady (after asking me to tell her about myself) told me that it was closed file interview and half way through my answer told me it was actually an open file interview. In addition to that, I was the only prospective that day, and I didn't get to eat lunch or spend any real amount of time with current students which makes it hard to size a school up.
My first interview was closed file and I did not realize it until my second interviewer told me. The first interviewer had two pages front and back of questions to ask me with lots of ethics questions. She tried to make the interview conversational, but she kept going back to her list of questions. She also kept writing down things while I was talking which was a bit unnerving. The second interview was laid back and conversational.
The interviews were very laid back. The first doctor talked more about my application and motives while the second one just talked to me about med schools and Southern IL in general.
Again, a pretty run-of-the-mill set of interviews. Nothing political or difficult is involved, but they do try and stress YOUR reasons for joining the field of medicine. The two sessions felt much more like a couple of conversations rather than a list of questions. Don't lose sleep over these.
Overall, I was very impressed with the school. Everyone did an excellent job at making me feel at home and selling the school. PBL seems to be an effective way of learning and I was able to express how I felt I would be able to thrive in that type of cooperative environment. The key is to be yourself because they ask a million questions about YOU (they want to know YOU!)
The interviewers were nice and straightforward. The facility wasn't to-die-for, but meeting students and talking to them, plus seeing the hospitals, convinced me that SIU is a great school.
All the interview questions were based on my application. The student's happiness was incedible! that really made the difference for me. Overall, if the school was located closer to a city, I would go there in a heartbeat!
I had a really nice day visiting the school and with my interviewers. The 1st interview was more traditional and asked questions like: why medicine, would you want to practice in a rural setting, why not another profession in the medical field other than a doctor, what do you do to relax. The 2nd interview was more laid back and we just talked about having a family and practicing medicine and about ethical issues.
pretty much awesome interview. totally laid back. the one doc gave feedback on my chances. the office was great in letting you know timelines for acceptances. the small class (72 students) and pbl seem to make for good learning experiences. from what i've read, you don't spend time learning asinine things that you'll never need again because of pbl. i'm glad i was accepted here!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested using email/webex for virtual interviews instead of US mail and providing detailed directions to interview locations within different buildings. Additionally, there were positive comments on the warmth of the admissions office staff and a desire for improved logistics in navigating between interviews.
Discontinue using US mail for communication and purely email/webex for virtual interviews. Portal system is much easier to keep all application information in one spot. US mail adds extra time to process.
