Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 26% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
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
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the areaโs cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
๐ฌ Interview Questions โผ
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, often accompanied by a nondisclosure agreement. Questions typically cover ethical scenarios, critical thinking, motivations for pursuing medicine, personal experiences in the field, and self-reflection on career choices. Common prompts include "Why medicine?", "Tell me about yourself", and inquiries about motivations and experiences that led to a career in medicine.
My interviewer had not read my file, but asked me many questions that he could have read out of my file... "Did you do research? Tell me about it."... "Have you volunteered? Tell me about it." .....
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix discussed was related to the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, with some mentioning signing a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) that restricted them from disclosing specific questions. Common themes included inquiries about changing the healthcare system, self-introduction, and in-depth questioning related to the applicant's research background.
Interviewer was working with research that was similar to mine and basically just asked a bunch of questions to see if I knew what I was talking about.
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix discussed included a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with a nondisclosure agreement in place. Common questions mentioned were about healthcare system problems, the direction of healthcare, potential overuse of innovations, personal motivations for pursuing medicine, and reasons for being chosen over other candidates.
What are the biggest problems in our healthcare system today? Where do you think healthcare should go? If you believe in competition and innovation, don't you think it's true that new innovations can be overused (ex. MRI's)?
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 5 or more people.
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.
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.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by practicing MMI scenarios, reviewing their applications, reading up on medical ethics, and staying informed about current healthcare issues. They emphasized the importance of being genuine, knowing their personal experiences well, and understanding their stance on healthcare topics.
In-person MMI practice, used ChatGPT for practice questions, reread my entire application.
I honestly did not do much, I went into the interview knowing that I needed to be myself, so I did my best to represent myself genuinely. I did look over some ethics topics, but don't feel that any sort of practice for questions would have prepared me as well as the understanding that the best I can do is be genuine. The preparation really is your life experience, and how that shapes you and your view of medicine, because you are able to share and demonstrate those things through the MMI.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the supportive and student-centric atmosphere of the school, as well as the positive interactions with faculty, staff, and current students. The new facilities, emphasis on student well-being, and personalized approach during interviews were highlighted as particularly impressive aspects that stood out to applicants.
I was impressed with the campus, current students, and how the interviews were conducted. It went very smoothly and I was pleasantly surprised with how conversational they were for the most part.
Student-centric and new facilities. Interviewers were very nice and tried to put us at ease. Admissions and current students were great and answered all our questions.
The campus is beautiful. Also the tight-knit aspect of the small class was really appealing, which was surprising since I typically prefer larger class sizes and came from a larger undergraduate school (5000+ in my class). Overall the school gave off a really positive, nurturing environment with a lot of supportive staff and peers. Based on the new administration, new accreditation, and the (quickly) increasing average MCAT score each year, this school appears to be one to watch.
The dedication that administration and staff in general clearly have to their students. It was an incredibly student-focused atmosphere, and we were told on multiple occasions that we should understand how lucky they were to have us all here, rather than us being lucky to be there (even though I still felt very privileged to attend the interview).
The people seemed really happy, with a small tight-knit class. Because the school is new, all the faculty really seems receptive to suggestions and aims to please. Brand new facilities too.
facilities, students/staff seemed very happy and friendly, staff seems very dedicated to the students and making the school great, curriculum, p/f grading, location/climate. Even just looking at their website and the media (photos/videos of match days and white coat ceremonies) you can tell this is a very special place where the staff/admin/students make it an enjoyable atmosphere to attend medical school. acceptance phone call and personalized acceptance letters!
The atmosphere was really warm and inviting. The faculty seem very responsive to students. The students seem happy to be there. The campus in downtown Phoenix is pretty cool- It's located in a very old building that used to be a high school (don't worry- it has been renovated on the inside). The medical campus is completely separate from the large UA and ASU campuses.
The faculty and students were very relaxed and the school just seemed way more laid back than the others that I interviewed at. The new curriculum and clinical rotations at the mayo clinic were very impressive. The brand new TGEN research facility is incredible. Even the other interviewers at other schools that I applied to were very excited about this campus. They all seem to think this new phoenix campus is the next big up and coming research hub.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of discussion on financial aid, the absence of certain amenities like a gym or food options on campus, as well as issues related to interview logistics and facilities like study spaces. Suggestions include improving transparency on financial aid, enhancing campus amenities, and refining interview processes to ensure a more productive and welcoming experience for applicants.
Nothing really. I don't know how well my personality type is suited for going to school in the city, but that is something I know I could adapt to, and could definitely see myself attending this school.
Not a big deal but if i remember correctly, there was no food vendor/cafeteria/lunch place in the new building. I'd probably pack lunch no matter where I go to save money anyway, but it would be nice to have an eatery/coffee/grab-n-go place in the building as well if you are spending all your time there.
My interview was scheduled for an hour long block. My interviewer was 20 minutes late, and then we had to walk to another building, so I felt I only had about half of the time that the other applicants had that day. Also, my interview was closed file; I was disappointed because my interviewer asked me many questions he could have just easily read from my file. I didn't feel it was as productive as it could have been, and I was only interviewed once, by only one person.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interview process included closed file interviews, the MMI was relaxed and easygoing, and that the day could be long but not as stressful as anticipated. They also wished they had known about the full breakfast provided and to just relax and be themselves during the MMI.
VERY long interview day - 745am until after 4pm. MMI portion was not as stressful as I thought it would be once it was all said and done...though I might be biased from the acceptance :)
Applicants generally expressed positive feedback about the school, mentioning aspects such as a great interview experience, impressive faculty and facilities, and a welcoming environment. Some noted the school's newness and evolving nature, along with logistical considerations such as distance to clinics.
Great school. I'm in-state, so biased a bit. New facilities and everyone was wonderful. They even gave us snacks to take with on our way out. MMI had water, but nothing to snack on.
Although this is a brand new school, I think it is a really great program. The administration spent two years researching medical schools across the nation, asking them what they would do over again if they had the chance, before creating their own curriculum. They are highly responsive to student needs, and the students seem to love the program. Also, for information, the school is not affiliated with any specific hospital, so students move around throughout the valley and have the opportunity to experience many different clinics/hospitals. However, some of the students were driving 35 miles each way to visit their clinic every week.
Loved the school and loved phoenix. I was very surprised to say that this is one of my top two choices out of the nine schools I interviewed at. I hope I get in!!!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested providing more frequent updates on application status, discussing financial aid options, shortening presentations, and increasing time for campus tours during the admissions process. Some applicants also appreciated the efforts of the admissions office and suggested maintaining the current practices.
I think that some updates on application status throughout admissions season would be nice.