Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 34% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as high 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 motivation for pursuing medicine, important extracurricular experiences, future goals, teamwork skills, awards received, public health knowledge, and personal growth from extracurricular activities. Additionally, some respondents may have experienced an MMI format with a nondisclosure agreement in place during their interviews.
What are your three most important extracurricular experiences?
Students said the most interesting question asked at San Juan Bautista School of Medicine discussed a hypothetical patient scenario involving choosing between patients of different ages for organ transplants, with additional twists such as drug addiction and HIV status. Other notable questions included exploring the major reason behind obesity and chronic diseases, and how to communicate the effectiveness of medical prescriptions to a patient convinced of alternative remedies. These questions suggest a focus on ethical dilemmas, patient care considerations, and communication skills during the interviews.
Hypothetical patient scenario: 3 patients needing a heart (15, 35, and 85 years old), 2 hearts. Who do you save and why?
Twist after first answer: 15 year old is a drug addict. How does that change your answer and why?
Twist after second answer: 35 year old is HIV+. How does that change your answer and why?
Students said most difficult question asked at San Juan Bautista School of Medicine discussed the challenge of convincing interviewers about unique qualities that set them apart from other candidates, along with addressing concerns about language proficiency, particularly in Spanish.
Why should we choose you over other candidates? (They were wanting to see how you sell yourself, for what makes you different to other applicants, what makes you unique, all in a confident but not arrogant way.)
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by practicing MMI scenarios, researching common medical school interview questions, seeking feedback from students or online forums, using resources like SDN, conducting mock interviews, and reviewing school-specific information. Some also engaged in language learning and sought guidance from various sources like websites, newspapers, and advisors.
Contacted some people who attended this school and asked for input and feedback. I also did a basic online search of the most common medical school interview questions and was able to anticipate and prepare for every question they asked, except the hypothetical scenario.
Applicants were positively impressed by the well-structured interview process, the modern and high-tech facilities despite the humble exterior, the supportive and friendly admissions staff, the close proximity to the hospital, the small class size fostering a sense of community among students, and the genuine enthusiasm for medicine displayed by current students.
The interview (MMI format) was very well structured and it was followed by a tour led by two medical students.
From the outside it looks like a very humble building, but once you get to tour the facilities it is as hi-tech and up-to-date as other medical school I've seen.
Admissions and Students and faculty are really nice.
School is connected right next the hospital.
Class size is small, 60 students per class. med students said they really feel like a family.
Many applicants were unimpressed by the outdated facilities and limited resources at the school, particularly in comparison to larger universities. Some applicants also noted the lack of a 24-hour library and the busy urban traffic around the campus as negative aspects that may impact the overall student experience. Suggestions included updating facilities, expanding resources, and providing better transportation options for students.
The library is not open 24 hours, but they have study rooms that you can use instead. Also, traffic was busy coming in and leaving the school, but remember that it's an urban area, so plan ahead and give yourself enough time.
School facilities are basically ancient compared to other schools. And it is just a med school, meaning it's not attached to a big university. But that could also be a positive thing.
Applicants commonly wished they had known about the need to pay for parking in the hospital visitors parking area, as well as the unreliability of navigation apps on the island. Suggestions included getting a GPS if possible, having phone numbers on hand, and being prepared to call for directions when lost.
You have to pay for parking since you park in the hospital visitors parking area.
That google maps and my iphone would fail me in getting around the island. Get a GPS if you can afford it, otherwise have phone #s on hand and be prepared to call people when you are lost. On the plus side, I saw parts of the island I wasn't planning on seeing lol
Applicants generally expressed positive impressions of the school environment and student-faculty relationships, while also noting concerns about group interview formats and emphasizing the importance of being authentic and proficient in Spanish for medical studies.
I was very impressed with the school overall. The students seem to enjoy the small school environment and seem close to the faculty.
Be yourself!!! If you really love medicine that is the only way of showing it. Also, your Spanish has to be pretty good. They informed me that most classes are in Spanish
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office prioritize MCAT scores over GPA, provide more comprehensive and interactive campus tours, and improve responsiveness to email inquiries.