Applicants generally found the interview experience at the University of Arizona to be positive and relaxed, appreciating the friendly and conversational nature of the interviewers. Many noted the emphasis on fit with the school's culture and the importance of being genuine and prepared to engage in conversations during the interviews. Some mentioned specific details about the interview process, facilities, and opportunities offered by the school.
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Overall, my answers weren't perfect but I really enjoyed interviewing here. The interviewers were all very kind and conversational, I never felt like I was speaking into the void.
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I was overall impressed by the school. Tucson is not for everyone, and I think they look for a specific fit (which is why a lot of OOS get interview waitlisted). They are integrating a new research program into their curriculum. Also, their distinction tracts prepare you to be competitive for residency applications.
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Overall, I was very impressed by the students here and their brand new facilities. I'd be happy to go here.
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This seems like a great school and a wonderful campus. They take their student's success very seriously.
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Great interview experience! It is what you make of it!
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Great school, enjoyed the MMI but was slightly more stressful than one-on-one
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There is nothing you can do to specifically prepare for this interview because it's in the MMI format. you can practice thinking on your feet by reviewing practice questions to familiarize yourself with the process.
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Loved this school
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I liked the school very much. Yes, its public, but with that comes a lot of resources. Also, it could be cheaper than a private school, if you're able to get AZ residency.
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Impressed by the MMI process and the student body (and the food), felt that the structure of the interview day could have been a little more productive.
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Don't stress; be yourself!
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This place has quite a particular curriculum and the location is unique in some ways. if ever there were a 'fit' school, UofA is it. You will know if this is your place.
good luck everyone!
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Good school, good people, maybe small facilities.
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I liked it!
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Each campus has advantages and disadvantages but I think both would be a great place to go to medical school. Out of the nine schools that I've interviewed at, the U of A was surprisingly in my top two choices
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This is interview 1 of 2. I will enter the 2nd one separately.
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This was a great interview. This was my second interview because I only interviewed in Phoenix. She seemed really interested and excited to get to know me. Great conversation.
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I had a fabulous experience. Very committed and personal school- felt like they care about creating wonderful doctors. If you are into a huge well-known research school this is not for you, but if you are want to personally know your teachers as mentors- this is a GREAT school!
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Still undecided on whether Phoenix or Tucson campus is best for me.
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Both Phx and Tucson are incredible programs!!! My interview at Tucson was a bit more stressful but still had a great day there as well. Good luck everyone!!!
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I have a pretty low MCAT, but the interviewer didn't seem too bothered by it. He seemed to want to get to know me as a person, so the interview was very conversational and it was nice. It seems like such good school, but the location and campus are really the only down sides for me. We were also told that they are interviewing about 550 students and have received over 1200 or 1500 apps so far (can't remember which one). I'm not sure if these numbers are for the Phx campus alone, or both Phx and Tucson campuses.
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Everyone was really nice. No stressful questions were asked. They just wanted to know who I was and why I was interested in their school.
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Love UA undergrad, from what I hear the med school is back on the rise after a couple rough years due to new dean (who is currently out and there is a newer dean). Location may be boring for some, lot of outdoor activities if you're into that; great campus feel and good weather.
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I am thankful that I got into another school, just heard today, so that I do not have to attend this school. If you happen to not be so lucky, it is okay as all will be doctors at the other side. You will just have to grin and take it for four years if you go here to the U of A med school.
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This feedback is regarding the Phoenix campus.
Also, I just want to say that if you have to stay at a hotel, I highly recommend The Clarendon. It's modern, there's a rooftop bar, restaurant, and pool. Great staff. Wonderful pillows. I got upgraded to a suite, and had a drink with the owner. Great experience!
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This was the Tucson interview. I love how short and easy it is.
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This is for the PHOENIX campus.
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This is for the TUCSON campus. The interview was very casual - really a free flow discussion. Up to you if you want to steer it in a direction that will favor you! So take advantage of this situation if the interviewer allows it.
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Great school, great program (Phoenix campus). It is obvious that the curriculum has been tailored to the students and that alot of thought/research/effort was put into making it a great medical school. Seems like a very well-rounded education experience. A little hesitant regarding the space limitations and that the program is only 2 years old.
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I love this school (Tucson campus). The best aspect was seeing the students interact and hearing from them at the lunch hour and campus tour. They all have so much enthusiasm for the program and truly love every bit of it. The adjacent teaching hospital is also a big plus for me.
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We did not get to see the hospital on the tour. Lunch was a brown bag lunch and there was only 1 vegetarian bag available. About 7 other students were on the tour/information session. Every student is supposed to have 2 interviews, either with a MS4, PhD, or MD (from the community or faculty).
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The interviewers get to choose if they want open/closed file. Mine chose open. She did a lot of talking in the beginning about the new curriculum.She told me that I had done well in my application, but that doesn't guarantee anything, since there are so few spots.
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Tucson closed file.
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Very relaxed atmosphere. The interview was very comfortable. It included lunch and a tour.
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I love this school. Before the interview, I would have never thought I would even consider attending UA, but now I think this is where I will choose to go over most other schools I have applied to.
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This entry accounts for BOTH interviews...the on-campus and the community physician interview. My community interview was much more laid-back and relaxing. My interviewer and I shared some experiences / philosophies that made it very easy to draw examples and express ideas. Overall...I feel very good about my community interview. On the other hand; my on-campus interview began with the interviewer telling me that he had been in medicine for over 30 years...he has seen the best...and NOW he is seeing the worst. What a way to kick off an interview! He challenged me time and again (pretty much the topic of the entire interview) about my intentions and dedication to medicine (based upon the fact that I am a "returning-student", and have enjoyed other careers before coming to medicine). The GOOD news is that I handled the challenges well, and stepped-up to the plate in addressing his concerns effectively. PLUS, we were all forearned that some of us may be challenged, and most of those who MEET the challenge earn better recommendations than those who went unchallenged during their interview. Nonetheless...he openly questioned - because of my age (I'm in my mid 30's...not that old) - the probability that I would make a significant contribution to the field of medicine, compared to my younger contemporaries. I really do not know what to expect of his recommendation...if he touches on that point he could possibly come-off sounding age-biased. We'll see what happens. Getting accepted here would mean that I would not have to re-locate my wife and kids accross the country.
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I was very impressed with my state school, after interviewing it was my first choice and now that I am accepted I will definately attend here over other schools. The interview itself was very casual, closed file and a bit generic (he read questions off of a sheet and then wrote the responses down). Overall, everyone I met was very friendly and I enjoyed the day.
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Overall a great experience. The campus is very new and everyone is very friendly. There are plans for expansion of the campus with its own hospital (which of course will take 20 years), but it is all very exciting.
The day starts at 8:45am, with a 15min orientation. then from 9:00am-10:00am we get a overview of the curriculum, UA-phoenix works in a block schedule format. Faculty interviews are from 10:00-11:00am but, the curriculum overview went over by about 20min. Which wasn't a big deal because interview. normally only take 30min.
We then took a tour of the campus (really small since there is only 24 students), and had lunch with a current student.
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The Univerisity has great opportunities for rural and immigrant health care in Nogales and other areas around the state. The staff and community are really dedicated to underserved populations
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The interview went well. The whole day went well. It was very organized compared to Tucson, which really surprised me because it was so new.
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It was a positive experience. I liked that the day was kept short.
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I have reposted this from my posting under the UofA Tucson heading now that they have created a separate entry for Phoenix.
SDN still hasn't added the UofA Phoenix program on here, so this entry only addresses Phoenix. Day starts are 845 with check in. Their is a short presentation on the curriculum and future plans for the school. Top notch stuff. Half the group interviews at 1000, the other half at 1100. While one group interviews the other one gets a tour of the campus, then they switch. There is tons of space for research facilities and the facilities they do have are brand new. I felt like I was in an IKEA catalog too by the new decor everywhere. My interviewer was outstanding. The best that I have had in 8 interviews thus far. After the tour/interview you have lunch with the students. Since they are in their first year of the new program (and they are the first class at the Phoenix campus) they were pretty excited about anything. A common theme that came up was that they had ''faith'' in the faculty despite all the unkowns about the new program. I was very impressed with the visit. The PHX campus/program is top notch and will only get better as they flesh out their facilities and work through the growing pains.
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Very relaxed
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Pleasantly surprised by the great facilities, and the students seemed to be very happy
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It's a very low-key and relaxed day. An intro session about the curriculum and future changes, then a tour and interview (the order depends on the group you're in), followed by lunch with medical students, and that's it!
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This interview made me even more excited about this school. Everyone seems to feel that the new curriculum is a great, if not perfect, change. The resources seem pretty good, and the students like it here, too. I really hope I get accepted.
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Phx interview was open file, and I was asked several directed questions. However, Tucson interview was completely closed file. Could be accepted to both campuses
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SDN still hasn't added the UofA Phoenix program on here, so this entry only addresses Phoenix.
Day starts are 845 with check in. Their is a short presentation on the curriculum and future plans for the school. Top notch stuff. Half the group interviews at 1000, the other half at 1100. While one group interviews the other one gets a tour of the campus, then they switch. There is tons of space for research facilities and the facilities they do have are brand new. I felt like I was in an IKEA catalog too by the new decor everywhere. My interviewer was outstanding. The best that I have had in 8 interviews thus far. After the tour/interview you have lunch with the students. Since they are in their first year of the new program (and they are the first class at the Phoenix campus) they were pretty excited about anything. A common theme that came up was that they had ''faith'' in the faculty despite all the unkowns about the new program. I was very impressed with the visit. The PHX campus/program is top notch and will only get better as they flesh out their facilities and work through the growing pains.
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Drove from Phoenix to Tucson. For some reason Tucson has most of the I-10 exits closed for the next few years. They couldn't just work on them one or two at a time, so they closed them all. Schedule yourself extra time to navigate the poor city planning. Showed up about 30 minutes early. There were about 10 of us in the interview group and we chatted. Received a brief overview of the day and the admissions process from Tanisha who was very friendly and helpful. Was escorted off to the interview. Interviewed (closed file) for about 45 minutes. Met with a couple of 1st year students and had lunch with them. It was actually very good. Got a short tour of the facilities. This was the only school that didn't let you see the anatomy lab...something about respect for the dead. Then we met with another admissions guy who talked more about the programs and fielded questions. Checked out at the admissions office and went home.
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Pretty Normal
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The interviews were fairly basic. The Tucson & community interviewers wanted to discuss my clinical experience, while the Phoenix interviewer only wanted to talk about my research experience. It's true what everyone says, a very laid back experience. No ethics/tricky questions like at other schools.
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Extended... three interviews spread out over several weeks and several hundred miles
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Started out with lunch with two medical students and the other interviewees. This provided valuable q&a time! Took a tour of the facilities, met with admissions for a quick info session and then went to our interviews.
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Good overall. There was a second interview with a community physician which they assign, and then a third interview at the new Phoenix campus. Both of these interviews are mandatory, one-on-one, and closed file. Low stress interviews!
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Pleasant. I learned a lot and really felt I represented myself well through the questions I was asked. Nothing caught me off guard, it was an overall enjoyable experience.
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It was very relaxed, and everyone was very excited to have us up there and interviewing. It looks like Phoenix has the potential to become a great campus.
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I wished that I had stayed home and slept.
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The interview was very, very relaxed. Everyone is friendly and informative. They also give you a lot of good information at the orientation session.
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The interviews were fine. But the actual future of next year's curriculum for the students left an uneasy feeling in my stomach.
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At the school I thought it was great how quick the day went and compact they made everything. They provided all the material needed for any questions you might have. My interview with the U of A Dr. was 30 minutes and conversational. My community interview was over an hour and was great, I like the opportunity the school provides to sit down with a practicing physician and ask questions. Overall, it was a very positive interviewing process.
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The entire process was very relaxed, the on campus interview doc was very friendly, told me what he thought of how I interviewed. The free lunch was nice, but I wasn't very hungry b/c I had an afternoon interview. After lunch they gave a tour, talked about their admissions process and the interviews followed.
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Both interview (faculty member and community physician) were very laid back. I was more nervous than I needed to be... both of them were just very conversational.
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Both the interview with the faculty memeber and the doctor in practice were very conversational and low-stress... just be yourself!
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This is a very laid back interview. I was scheduled for the morning interview. After checking in there is a short grace period before the orientation presentation to allow anyone running late to get there. The Orientation is about an hour long. You are presented with pertinent information about the admissions process, specifics about the adcom, information as to when we can expect notifications, data for last year's applicant pool, Information about specialty programs for student involvement, financial aid info, name and location of today's interviewer and notification about how to set up the interview with the community physician you are asigned to meet with in the coming weeks. Then you are directed or escorted to your interviewer. The individual interview can take between 30-50 minutes. Then you return for a light lunch with a M1 and a M2, followed by a tour of the facilities. Those in scheduled for the afternoon session initially have lunch, followed by the tour, followed by orientation presentation, concluded with the individual interview. All in all the day is about 3 hours long.
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Both interviewers (faculty member and community physician) were genuinely interested in learning why I want to be a doctor. They were not intimidating so it was easy to be myself. Just smile and be sure to ask questions about why they went into medicine and what they like the most about their profession (they like that).
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Both the on-site interview and community physician interview were relaxed. It's definitely a low-pressure situation, but that doesn't mean the interviewers don't take their job seriously. The first interview took 45 minutes, which is pretty typical. The orientation was brief but informative, as was the tour. The lunch was kind of unnecessary -- hardly anyone in the afternoon group even ate, so it was a waste of food!! The community interview, which you have to set up yourself, lasted 2 1/2 hours! I really lucked out to have such an awesome physician, but he went over EVERYthing. It was him talking most of the time, but that's a good thing. He was open and honest about the school and the profession, but he was also very encouraging. Overall I liked this process much better because there are no expectations of the student based on a primary application. It gives them a chance to really see how well you communicate, what experiences you've had and your motivation to become a doctor, which is what they are really after.
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Both my community physician interview and interview at the school were easy. The one at the school was so laid back and we ended up just having a conversation. My community physician interview was a little more formal, but no hard questions were asked.
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Laid back for the most part and very informative compared to others i have been to. they went in depth over admissions proceedures, financial aid, cirriculum, etc. it was good, and not too long of a day. no down time like other places.
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I got into medical school with a mediocre science GPA (3.5) and a lousy MCAT score (27). I can only imagine that my admittance was because of good life experiences, good recommendations, and good interviews. The KEY to good interviews is to be interested in your interviewers!! People love to answer questions and they love if you are curious about them, so show that you want to know about them and about the school, without sounding phony (i.e. if you're really not interested, don't bother asking)
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Prior to interview day, UofA had been my first choice, however after the tour and the interview I changed my mind. I was put off by the "hurry up and wait" mentality of the school. Students were overall friendly, but staff seems distiant. I was accepted, but turned it down. Think carefully before you take their acceptance.
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It was very laid back. This was my first interview, and I was sick with a fever. Still, I left feeling very confident in my experience. I actually made friends with the doctor who interviewed me at the school, and then my community interview went extremely well also. I was also impressed with the friendliness of the students, and liked that the school would actually count some medical volunteer activities as fourth year electives.
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A lot of people say that the UA interview is laidback and conducted by the friendliest staff. I am sure most of them are. MOST of them. I was unfortunetly interviewed by one who was not so nice. This man was bitter and distrusting. As I explained about why I wanted to go into medicine, the man stared me down, as if he was trying to pick out my littlest flaws. I did not get any reaction from him (neither a nod or a smile) as I finished my story. Throughout the interview, he seemed to believe that all of my achievements were simply things to say to impress the committee. He told me that getting into medical school is a game, and that people do things to make themselves look good in order to fool the committee into letting them in. "Sometimes, if they're good enough, we get fooled" he said. My reaction was a little bit of shock because the man was practically accusing me of wrongdoing. He then told me straight up, "We're not dumb." The interview continued as I struggled to defend myself. At one point, when I brought up the fact that physicians should love working with patients, he coldly replied "I hate patients." I knew at this point that I had no shot of getting in. There was no point in expressing compassion to a man that hates patients. Eventually, after a grueling 40 minutes, he ended the interview without asking if I had any questions. He walked out of his office and left me to find my way back, alone. I am sure that this doesn't happen to all applicants. After all, there are over 100 interviewers. I just happened to get the prick. How unlucky huh? I hope yours wont be as bad as mine.
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UofA has a two-step interview process: A hospital based interview and a community based interview. I did well on the hospital-based. Did make some mistakes (I digressed from the question), but overall the interviewer was helpful.
I rocked on the community-based interview. I clicked with the doctor and we talked about several research topics. He treated me more like a collegue, instead of a candidate.
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I had a great overall experience. My interviewer was late but he was really congenial and we started talking so much that we lost track of the time (it was supposed to be 30 mins). He even asked me to come by after the lunch and tour and see his clinic and told me to call whenever I'm in the area. I got along really well with him and his secretary, and they both tried to convince me to come here. It was my first interview so I was a bit nervous but everyone was so friendly and made me feel really comfortable. My community interview also went well, but not as well as this one. The doctor was very busy so a little distracted, but he was also very encouraging and warmed up after the first 15 minutes.
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Very relaxed and positive
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This was my first interview and really with U of A being my state school it is sort of my fall back school. I felt I could be happy there and come out competitive and with low debt when compared to other schools. However, the students said that the best thing about U of A was its laid back atmosphere and not the opportunities it provided. I want opportunities. My community physician interview was a waste because we only met for like 20 minutes and he talked the whole time.
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Most of the questions were usual, but the conversations were really lively. I lucked out with a great interviewer and we clicked right away. I got his business card and he invited me to visit him at the OR. This is my second time applying here. Previously, the faculty interviewer was friendly too. (My community physician interview back then wasn't quite as nice. We'll see how it goes this time.)
Bottom Line: Just be you and try your best to relax.
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All in all a good experience. Sounds like the school really supports the students and the students support each other. The CUP program sounds really interesting, and I like the opportunities available to travel abroad, you get to help people who really need it, and you get to travel which I love. Community physician interview went OK, not as good as the interview at UofA, but not horrible or anything.
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All in all a good experience. Sounds like the school really supports the students and the students support each other. The CUP program sounds really interisting, and I like the opportunities available to travel abroad, you get to help people who really need it, and you get to travel which I love. Community physician interview went OK, not as good as the interview at UofA, but not horrible or anything.
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Great school for a great price. Definitely a great option for Arizona residents.
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My interviewer was plesent enough yet quite direct.
Fine I guess, but I can't compare b/c it was my first interview.
Seeing the learning/teaching resources and talking with a current student who got his BS form Duke assured me that the school is able to provide an excellent educational opportunity to learn the medical sciences-especially at a state school price.
My comments: Just like for any kind of interview, if you try to stay informed, can relate well with people, know yourself, and really have something to say; then you'll be fine.
About my community Dr interview: It was very relaxed and conversational. No 'tough' questions, just one on one with someone who wants to talk about you, medicine, and their own experiences.
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Overall, it was not very intimiating, unlike many other medical schools. After the interview, i left with a positive outlook and a feeling that people there would genuinely cared about my well-been as a med student. Unlike other schools, the admissions process was clearly explained and not kept as a close-guarded secret. At no point did anyone make me feel like I was wasting their time. The interviewees were never in a rush and gave me ample time to answer. One interviewee even gave me some advice on med school should i attend next year.
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The community interview (not referenced above) was very low-key and enjoyable. Quite relaxing, actually.
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Both interviews went great (you have one at the school and one at a later date with a physician near you). Both interviewers were very laid back and made it a very comfortable experience. I will definately go there if I'm accepted. Very nice price tag.
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Very laid back interview. Very few, if any, ethical questions or questions about current issues in healthcare. I was asked a lot about my family. Make sure you can talk about the support system that you will have during medical school.
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Very positive and not stessful. It really helped me form an impression of what my years at U of A might be like.
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No worries...just be a little prepared just in case...My doc didn't have any questions prepared...so I was able to direct the interview wherever I wanted...and that made things really nice...
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Some did not like that the school was an 'add-on' to the hospital but I thought the whole atmosphere was very close knit. The interview itself was very casual and more like a conversation between two equals. The tour was interesting although I would have liked to go in the gross anatomy lab. They even showed us the refrigerators where the students store their lunches that the bring to school with them. It really gave you a feel for what it might be like to be a student there.
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The interview is very low stress. During the orientation session after the interview, the director of admissions has question and answer session that is very helpful. They say that the interviewer should be looked at as your advocate to the admissions committee.
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It was a nice experience. People were very friendly. Tour didn't really show that much, but it was nice to have that time to calm any jitters.
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The interview was pretty normal. Interviewer focused on why I wanted to be a physician, clinical experiences, extra-curricular experiences, etc. There were no surprises and no ethical questions.
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Great experience, don't sweat this one, both interviews were conversations where the interviewers just wanted to get to know who i am.
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Overall a good experience. Tour and orientation were informative and went by quickly.
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Very loss stress. No reason to worry about the interviews. the questions asked are straight forward and the interviewers really seem interested in getting to know the applicants. Just be yourslelf and thing will go well.
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No reason to stress over this. Ask the students questions to find out info about the school.