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University of California Irvine School of Medicine

Irvine, CA

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 27% of interviews, indicating it is moderately 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 candidate's motivations for pursuing medicine, their interest in the specific institution, experiences in research and clinical work, future career aspirations, challenges they expect to face in medical school, and their ability to balance personal and professional responsibilities. Responses also indicate a significant focus on personal narratives, ethical dilemmas, community involvement, and the candidate's understanding of healthcare issues. Some respondents mentioned participating in an MMI format interview that may have included questions under a nondisclosure agreement.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at University of California Irvine School of Medicine discussed various topics such as patient interactions, support systems, challenges in EMR, cultural values in medicine, and future career goals. The interviews were conversational with some faculty interviewers asking standard questions, while others delved into personal experiences and motivations for pursuing medicine.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at University of California Irvine School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal challenges as a physician, future trends in healthcare, and decisions between schools. Several responses mentioned an MMI format and possible nondisclosure agreements, while questions about career choices, research, and ethical dilemmas were common themes among the interview questions.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.

How many people interviewed you?

Most respondents were interviewed by 2 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 2-3 hours 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.

Where did you stay?

Most respondents stayed either With students at the school or with students at the school.

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 the interview by reading resources such as SDN, the school's website, and interview feedback, practicing with mock interviews, reviewing their application materials, and getting a good night's sleep. Many emphasized the importance of reflecting on personal experiences, staying relaxed, and being familiar with common interview questions and healthcare issues.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the staff and students at the school, as well as the relaxed and supportive atmosphere. The positive interactions with faculty, the beautiful campus, the high-quality facilities, the emphasis on student well-being, the sense of community among students, and the opportunities for hands-on learning were also commonly highlighted as positive aspects of the school.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions of the distance between the medical center and the school, the outdated facilities, the lack of early clinical exposure, the suburban location, and the disconnect between students in different years. Suggestions include improving facilities, integrating pre-clinical and clinical experiences, enhancing early clinical exposure, and fostering a more cohesive student community.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants commonly expressed that they wished they had known ahead of time how relaxed and low-stress the interview day at UC Irvine would be. They recommended attending pre-interview events to calm nerves, being prepared for informal student interviews, and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere to make the most of the experience.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview day at UCI SOM to be relaxed and enjoyable, with positive interactions with staff, students, and faculty members. Many appreciated the conversational and low-stress nature of the interviews, the friendly atmosphere, and the emphasis on getting to know the applicants as individuals. Some mentioned concerns about facilities, curriculum changes, or certain interview experiences, but overall, UCI was praised for its location, student body, and the welcoming environment.
  • UCI SOM's interview day was very relaxed and everyone was very nice.
  • Impressed with the school, the student body seems really wonderful, but concerned I may have gotten the wrong impression regarding how the school handled the pandemic, also was told iPads were given to each student but that is not true.
  • Was an amazing experience.
  • UCI is a very solid institution! The 1-on-1 interviews were as expected, but this year they started adding in an 8-min station called the "structured interview." It was actually really fun and tried to evaluate how well you could communicate with others. Non-stressful questions. :)
  • Didn't love the curriculum, but I loved the location/students/in-state tuition.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Overall, applicants suggested that the admissions office should improve communication by sending interview invites via email and providing important information directly rather than relying on the applicant website. Additionally, there were recommendations to consider the organization of interview days to ensure smaller groups and a more polished experience for applicants.