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Saint Louis University School of Medicine

St. Louis, MO

Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 39% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Most respondents felt positively about their interview.

What was the stress level of the interview?

Most respondents rated their interview as 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 revolve around personal experiences, motivations for pursuing medicine, strengths and weaknesses, family background, volunteer and research experiences, as well as questions about specific activities mentioned in the application. Some interviews were structured as Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) with questions focused on ethics, challenges faced, and qualities of a good doctor, potentially under a nondisclosure agreement.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at Saint Louis University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, with common themes including patient interactions, personal experiences, motivations for medicine, and challenges faced. While some mentioned specific questions related to their backgrounds or applications, there was no clear pattern indicating a consistent unique question.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at Saint Louis University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including specific research inquiries, ethical dilemmas in an MMI style, challenges faced, and personal reflections. Some respondents mentioned being drilled on their experiences and questioned about their motivations and future goals, while others highlighted the conversational and laid-back nature of the interview process.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 minutes.

How many people interviewed you?

Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.

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 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.

What was your primary mode of travel?

Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

Most respondents spent between $301 and $400.

Where did you stay?

Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

How would you rate the hotel?

Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

Would you recommend the hotel?

Most respondents would recommend their hotel.

What is your ranking of this school's location?

Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.

How did you prepare for the interview?

Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing mock interviews, and utilizing resources like SDN and the school's website. Many also sought advice from mentors, current students, and healthcare professionals to gain insights and prepare for common interview questions.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the staff, faculty, and students at the school. They also appreciated the emphasis on student wellness, the supportive and low-stress environment, the focus on faculty mentorship and guidance, the innovative facilities like the simulation lab, and the sense of community at the institution. Suggestions were made to continue emphasizing these positive aspects during the admissions process.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lengthy interview process, outdated facilities, lack of diverse research opportunities, limited clinical experiences, the demeanor of interviewers, and the surrounding neighborhood of St. Louis. Suggestions included improving the structure of interviews, updating facilities, enhancing research opportunities, providing more clinical experiences, and addressing safety concerns in the vicinity of the school.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Many applicants wished they had known about the conversational and low-stress nature of the interviews, the amount of downtime between activities, the need for comfortable shoes due to walking and stairs on the tour, and the importance of being prepared but also relaxed during the process. Additionally, some applicants highlighted the lack of specific information about the interview format and the school's location, as well as the varying experiences with interviewers and the diverse range of activities throughout the day.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview experience at the school to be relaxed and conversational, with friendly interviewers who focused on getting to know them. Some expressed concerns about the facilities or the location of the school, while others were impressed by the supportive atmosphere and student community. Suggestions included providing more structured presentations, better organization of interview day schedules, and ensuring clarity on financial aid information.
  • Such a chill, fun interview day. The admissions officers seemed genuinely excited to tell us about the school, and there were many opportunities to get all of your questions answered. Seems like a great place to be.
  • Pretty solid program. Might not be the best fit for people interested in research
  • "MD interview day" signage around the campus would have been helpful in navigating to the building where interviews were being held.
  • I was overall not impressed with the day or my interview.
  • The facilities are a little dated, overall the students seemed to like SLU however I didn't talk to any that chose it over another school. Students either did a program in undergrad at SLU that allowed them to get in early decision, or they applied to many schools but only got into SLU. My interviewer was reading my primary application while talking to me and her questions seemed to be geared towards figuring out if I remembered what I wrote on my app.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should better coordinate interview times with presentations, provide clearer directions for interview locations in advance, offer more detailed information during presentations, and consider offering more personalized or interactive interview experiences. They also mentioned the importance of providing feedback to rejected applicants and improving overall communication and organization throughout the admissions process.