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Tulane University School of Medicine

New Orleans, LA

Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 22% 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 type of doctor the candidate aspires to be, their extracurricular experiences, leadership and community service involvement, working with diverse cultures, stress-relief activities, and the impact they want to have on medicine. Some responses indicated an MMI format with questions about nondisclosure, while others focused on personal attributes, interests, motivations for medicine, and specific experiences related to community service, clinical work, and academic background.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at Tulane University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics from personal experiences and motivations to hypothetical scenarios. While the interviews were mainly conversational, some questions delved into specific experiences, like discussing cultural background, hobbies, and volunteer work, with a few interviewees mentioning tangential or random questions.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at Tulane University School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal attributes, motivations for medicine, school-specific inquiries, and scenario-based questions. While some encountered challenging inquiries about their decision-making processes or specific experiences, others highlighted the conversational and non-stressful nature of their interviews, with a focus on getting to know the applicants. Some respondents mentioned encountering an MMI format, suggesting a structured approach to the interview process with potential nondisclosure agreements in place.
🤝 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 3 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 a closed 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 $201 and $300.

What airport did you fly into?

Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

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?

✅ 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?

Many applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their primary and secondary applications, researching the school thoroughly, practicing with mock interviews, and reading interview feedback on platforms like SDN. Another common strategy was to outline and practice responses to common questions using the STAR method, as well as staying informed about healthcare issues and ethical topics.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and laid-back culture at Tulane, with students and faculty emphasizing a strong sense of community and support for each other. The school's focus on work-life balance, early clinical experiences, innovative programs like MD/MPH, and the positive impact on the community post-Katrina were major highlights for applicants. Additionally, the enthusiasm, happiness, and genuine love for the school expressed by students and faculty made a lasting positive impression on applicants.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of preparation or engagement from interviewers, outdated or spread-out facilities, disorganization during the interview day, the elitist attitude or lack of diversity among students and faculty, safety and disrepair of the surrounding area, and the high cost of attendance. Suggestions included better interviewer training, facility upgrades, improved organization during interview days, fostering a more inclusive and diverse environment, enhancing safety measures, and addressing cost concerns transparently during the application process.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants wished they had known ahead of time that the interview day at Tulane Medical School is laid back, friendly, and conversational, with no need to stress or over-prepare. They also mentioned aspects like the city's weather, the importance of comfortable shoes, the diversity of the student body, and the availability of the MD/MPH program in four years as key points to be aware of.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview experience at Tulane to be very positive and laid-back, with a focus on getting to know the applicant as a person rather than testing their academic knowledge. The school's emphasis on community service, friendly students and faculty, and the unique culture of New Orleans were highlighted as major selling points. Some applicants mentioned minor issues with interviewers or facilities, but these did not detract significantly from the overall positive experience.
  • Tulane is a very fun and laid back culture in a fun and laid back city, so make sure that shines through in your interview. They already know you have the academics and experience to succeed in med school, so rather than making it about seeming "impressive," try to instead seem kind/ sociable/ empathetic/ like a good team player who wishes well for others.
  • I absolutely love this program and the school. I felt like I really resonated with their mission statement. Heads up, they are a very community-service oriented school!
  • Very laid back interview, I really enjoyed speaking with the students and faculty and had overall a good time!!
  • So much of the interview day seemed to be getting a "vibe" of each applicant rather than trying to grill them or put them under pressure. I felt like the program really tries to avoid admitting gunners and wants to make sure you'd be pleasant to have around as a fellow student.
  • The SP portion is really easy, dont stress and you will be fine

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggest improving the virtual tour length, providing more detailed information in scenarios, enhancing communication and responsiveness, making the secondary application more user-friendly, and increasing transparency in the admissions process. Some applicants also recommend streamlining processes, offering more flexibility in interview dates, and ensuring faculty interviewers are well-prepared.