University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
Davis, CA
Veterinary Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 7% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
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 area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include scenarios related to ethical dilemmas in veterinary medicine, inquiries about long-term career goals, and questions about specific medical procedures or protocols. Responses indicate a mix of ethical questions, inquiries about future aspirations, and scenarios related to veterinary practice, with some respondents possibly participating in an MMI format under a nondisclosure agreement.
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Cannot disclose
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Pick a disease and explain how the concept of One Health would apply. (I was intent to pursue public health).
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Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
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What back up plan do you have for if you were kicked in the knee by a horse and could no longer practice equine medicine?
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Specific diseases Food safety Veterinarians look for in a slaughterhouse
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including defending animal research, ethical dilemmas in veterinary practice, favorite movies, and handling difficult clients. Many responses referenced MMI format, suggesting a nondisclosure agreement may have been in place, while other questions focused on specific experiences, career goals, and ethical scenarios in veterinary medicine.
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Cannot disclose
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What type of clients were the most difficult for you to work with at the emergency hospital?
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How would you defend the use of animals in research to PETA advocates?
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Tell us about an interesting medical case you assisted on, and the prognosis.
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What did I do last Sunday.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult questions asked at University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas such as justifying veterinary care costs, using primates in research, and handling euthanasia requests. Additionally, some respondents mentioned questions about lifelong learning, drug administration experience, and dealing with industry values, with hints of an MMI format and possible nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the questions.
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Cannot disclose
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How do you justify people spending exuberant amounts of money of veterinary care for their pets when many third world countries lack basic human healthcare?
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Ethics of using primates in research vs. other animals
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Scenario: your largest client has you out at the farm and his wife asks you to euthanize a Rhodesian ridgeback puppy that was born without a ridge. What do you say? (This was my only ethical question)
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Tell us about a recent event that will show us you are a lifelong learner.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 3 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 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.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources like SDN, mock interviews, and reading sample questions. They also reviewed their application materials, researched current issues in their field, and practiced answering questions out loud to prepare for their interviews.
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SDN, watching videos, mock interviews
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Reading about med school MMIs, strategies for answering MMI questions, answering mock interview questions
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SDN
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SDN prep, read Bernard E. Rollin's "An Introduction to Veterinary Medical Ethics", looked up interview questions online, found Medial School MMI questions online and used them as guidance, etc
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Went to interview workshop. Studied current issues in public health. Reviewed my research/personal statement.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the interviewers, faculty, and staff. They appreciated the low-stress atmosphere, tailored questions, and the genuine interest shown in getting to know them as individuals. Additionally, the new and impressive facilities, along with the welcoming campus environment, left a positive impression on many applicants.
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Some questions seemed very tailored to my experiences and application.
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The variety of questions asked
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Professionalism
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All the interviewers and faculty were very positive, supporting, encouraging, and warm. They all understood the confusing and new nature of the MMI and kept saying "there are no right answers", which made it a LOT less stressful. I was very impressed with how down-to-earth the faculty was and weren't trying to be intimidating at all. They really seemed to listen to and respect the interviewees/applicants.
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The interviews had some challenging questions, but all were fair. I feel like the interviewers really took the time to get to know me as a person.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants frequently expressed disappointment with the lack of enthusiasm and warmth from current students and tour guides, as well as limited interaction and information provided during the tours. Suggestions included improving student engagement, offering more comprehensive tours, and enhancing communication and welcoming efforts to create a more inviting environment for prospective students.
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Some questions were very out there.
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Tour - the facilities look very outdated
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Stress and stigma
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I was actually a little disappointed with the other applicants and the current veterinary students, as well as how limited the tour was (didn't get to see a lot of the school). It was probably because of the environment and that we're all competing for a position at the school, but some of the other applicants seemed very competitive and not that supporting. The current veterinary students also did not go out of their way to welcome and talk to the applicants, which was very surprising to me because my undergraduate experience was very different. I was also disappointed with how neutral the students giving the tour were. They weren't super enthusiastic, focused, or warm towards the applicants. Yes, they were polite but there's more to that.
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nothing.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time to approach each interview as unique and not to expect specific questions. They also suggested being prepared to discuss career goals and ambitions, staying calm, and being aware of the relaxed and friendly nature of the interview process.
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Go into each interview as if the last one did not happen.
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That none of the questions are things you could really expect them to ask
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That we had to take pictures. I don't exactly like having my picture taken...
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I was told to pause before answering questions and wait before answering. I wish I had listened to this advice more...there were times where I definitely felt like I rambled. Don't feel like you have to fill all the space in the interview. Also, if you have less straightforward career goals such as public health or research make sure you have a concrete plan of how your DVM complements these goals and what steps you will need to get there.
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Questions were more ethics-specific than general "getting to know you" (i.e. I was never asked "tell me about yourself" in general terms.)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process to be quick and enjoyable, appreciating the conversational style of questioning and the friendly demeanor of the interviewers. Some suggested being prepared to discuss personal experiences and interests, while others highlighted the importance of being relaxed and authentic during the interview.
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The interview passed by very quickly, and I liked the MMI format. Don’t be afraid to take a moment to gather your thoughts.
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I wish the confidentiality didn't extend to family as well because sometimes I like to talk about my experience at the interview because talking to my family helps ease my nerves afterwards (and the majority of the interview experience was the questions) especially in terms of like "how I should've responded", etc.
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I wasn't asked anything about topics I had zero experience with (i.e. cows) - they really tailor questions to candidates' backgrounds, so the best thing you can do is avoid stressing!
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I'm really grateful to my interview mentor for showing me around and answering my questions. I definitely recommend that you take Davis up on that opportunity.
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Interview was great. We even laughed and talked about meat recipes. I know I missed a few technical questions but I feel like as long as you are easy to talk with and show them youre a real human/not an academic drone, that you should be fine through the interview.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest improving tour guide training and enthusiasm, ensuring prompt and helpful responses to emails, providing clearer directions for waste disposal, eliminating MMI, increasing communication and updates throughout the admissions process, and improving accessibility for scheduling interviews. They also recommend more transparency, timely notifications, and improved availability in responding to inquiries.
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Train your tour guide better so they seem more enthusiastic!
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Actually take the time to read people's questions they send you in emails. Replying with a link to your website that they clearly state they have looked at is terrible customer service. I haven't once emailed the admissions office and had a helpful response.
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Perhaps have compost bins especially for the lunch/food. Clearer directions for the bins - the difference between recycling and the bottles/cans was very confusing.
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no MMI!
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NONE
📍 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.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
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 Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
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OAK
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SFO
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SMF
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Sacramento
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Sacramento Airport
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly stayed hotel among the responses is "Best Western".
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Aggie Inn
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Best Western
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Best Western Davis
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Dixon Super 8
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Econolodge
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 are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
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