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University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Birmingham, AL

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 19% 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 average 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 the applicant's motivations for pursuing medicine, their experiences in healthcare, strengths and weaknesses, past achievements, and their views on the doctor-patient relationship. Additionally, many interviews follow a conversational format and focus on the activities and experiences listed on the applicant's application. Some responses mentioned a specific focus on MMI format, while others explored a wide range of questions tailored to the individual applicant's background and interests.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine discussed various topics such as career motivations, experiences with underserved groups, and personal characteristics. The interview format may have been an MMI based on responses mentioning nondisclosure, but the questions primarily focused on personal insights, career choices, and problem-solving scenarios.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine discussed a range of topics including ethical dilemmas, personal resilience, insights on the doctor-patient relationship, and views on healthcare reform. While there were no specific mentions of MMI or nondisclosure agreements, the questions varied from scenarios about patient interactions to inquiries about personal experiences and opinions on healthcare policies.
🤝 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 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 0-1 hour traveling to the interview.

What was your primary mode of travel?

Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.

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

Most respondents spent less than $100.

What airport did you fly into?

Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)

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?

Applicants commonly prepared for their interviews by reviewing their primary and secondary applications, practicing with mock interviews, utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN), and researching the school's website. Many applicants also focused on preparing answers to common questions and staying updated on current healthcare issues to feel more confident during the interview.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the school, including the faculty, staff, and students. They also appreciated the emphasis on student feedback, the customizable curriculum, extensive research opportunities, and the high-quality facilities and hospitals associated with the program.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants were commonly negatively impressed by factors such as outdated facilities, lack of information on Step scores, unenthusiastic tour guides, long interview days, lack of diversity, competitive grading systems, and disorganization during tours. Suggestions included improving facilities, providing more detailed information, ensuring enthusiastic and informative tours, and addressing concerns about diversity and competitiveness.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants commonly wished they had known more about the relaxed and low-stress nature of the interviews at UAB, the importance of bringing a pen, the need to familiarize themselves with the campus and parking ahead of time, and the requirement to select a campus for clinical rotations soon after the interview. Some also mentioned the number of other interviewees present, the emphasis on GPAs and MCAT scores in the admissions process, and the availability of resources and information provided by the school.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview experience at UAB to be laid-back and conversational, with interviewers being friendly and interested in getting to know them personally. Many appreciated the welcoming atmosphere, the interaction with faculty and students, and the balanced mix of personal and structured components throughout the day.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggested selecting more enthusiastic student tour guides, providing more detailed information on resources and outcomes, improving communication by allowing direct email to interviewers, expediting decision notifications, and enhancing the depth of the medical campus tour experience.