University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
San Antonio, TX
Osteopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
Faith-Based
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 43% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.5
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 110 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
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 revolve around personal experiences, alignment with the school's values, healthcare policy opinions, ethical scenarios, and patient care examples. Additionally, respondents mentioned facing MMI style questions, indicating a format that may involve mini cases and confidentiality scenarios, potentially subject to nondisclosure agreements.
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Tell me about yourself.
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San Antonio has a significant Hispanic population, do you have any experience with caring for this type of patient population, if so tell me more?
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How do the values and mission of UIW align with your personal goals and ambitions?
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"Do you think healthcare should be made free to US citizens? How would you do this?"
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Why UIWSOM?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine discussed scenarios like creating a new country's constitution during a Group MMI activity. Questions also centered around healthcare accessibility, personal experiences with smoking family members, communication challenges, and explaining application changes. These responses indicate the interview format may have been an MMI, potentially subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
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For the Group MMI activity, we were instructed to work with our team towards starting a new country and making a new constitution for this country.
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Should healthcare be free? Why or why not?
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Have you ever had a family member that smokes cigarettes?
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Give instructions to your partner to draw what you see, but don't say the name of what the object is.
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Free responce to explain any changes or discrepancies in your application.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine discussed ethical implications of casino funding healthcare, discrepancies in GPA/ECs related to acceptance, and coping with trauma, stress, and discrimination both in personal experiences and medical education.
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Discussing the ethical implications of a casino funding healthcare
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Discuss discrepancies in GPA/ECs (but when I entered the room, the interviewer elaborated that it was a question of why I should be accepted among other applicants????)
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Trauma, stress, and discrimination are part of life experiences. Please explain how you have coped with these types of situations and how you plan to continue these methods through your medical education.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
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?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as online sources, books by Dr. Gray and Dr. Katta, YouTube videos, and practicing with mock interviews. They also emphasized the importance of researching the school's values and mission, as well as reviewing sample MMI questions to be better prepared.
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SDN, YouTube videos, Dr. Gray's Medical School Interview book, Dr. Katta's Interview Book, Mock Interviews with friends, mentoring from physicians
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Wrote out my answers to the most commonly asked interview questions.
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I worked with my physician mentors and friends who had experience with MMIs before to run through 3 mock interviews.
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Answer sample questions found online. Researching the school, specifically the values and mission.
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Dr. Gray's interview book, youtube videos and MMI book by BEMO
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the welcoming and friendly faculty and students, the innovative curriculum, and the well-organized interview process. They also highlighted the campus facilities, emphasis on mental health, and the supportive environment that encourages student success.
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Faculty is really welcoming! I think touring the school gave me a better idea of what it's like being a student here and I realized I can see myself attending here even though when I first began applying I didn't think I'd like the school nearly this much. I really like the culture and collaborative values the school has.
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This school is very friendly to non-traditional applicants. The San Antonio area is really nice, warm weather, adequate study space. The anatomy lab and OMM lab are also great facilities too. The teaching faculty are diverse as well as the student body.
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The answers to questions about the school from the admission staff.
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I'll be honest, I was wary going into this interview. The stats aren't great on paper, their timeline for applications was strict and aggressive, and they were one of the only places to demand an in-person interview. I thought it was going to be a bunk experience. However, after seeing the place in person, I get why they took this approach- the place was phenomenal. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and the area of San Antonio isn't the best suburb, but the interior of the campus? Second to none. One of the most cutting-edge programs I saw, major history behind the campus location, and an incredibly impressive cirriculum that tailors itself to the success of individual students and their goals for specialization, rather than a blanketed "one-size-fits-all-primary-care-enthusiasts" plan that most DO schools I've seen employ. We had something crazy like 10 MMIs and a group interviewer, and each and every single interviewer was friendly, provided feedback, was enthusiastic, and down-to-Earth. Every student I interacted with - even outside of the student leaders - absolutely loved the school and the administration. I was pleasantly surprised and moved this campus from a "safety school application" to a serious consideration after touring and interviewing.
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How sweet the admissions/director/dean were.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about restrictions on expressing negative opinions during Q&A sessions, lack of support for students pursuing competitive specialties, insufficient resources on campus, large interview groups hindering interactions, mandatory lectures, and the school's perceived riskiness compared to established institutions. Suggestions included fostering a more open environment for feedback, enhancing support for competitive specialties, improving campus resources, and addressing concerns about the school's perceived riskiness.
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I wish the students were allowed to be more open about what they think are cons for the school. Faculty were in the room during the Q&A and the current students weren't allowed to be too critical.
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Mandatory lectures, their match isn't great, they seem adversarial to those who are seeking to be top of the class and wish to pursue competitive specialties. they don't have the resources or opportunities available to help people who want to seek competitive specialties other than connecting with dermatologists or orthopedic surgeons the school knows which isn't that much help.
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Someone interviewers were much better than others.
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The medical campus is very nice, but could have more resources on site (fitness center and dining options are at the main campus).
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The curriculum
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known the interview duration and to bring notes for presentations, were surprised by the relaxed nature of the interview, and recommended not stressing about preparation. Some mentioned the inclusion of traditional interview questions during the MMI and the need for professional dress, while others noted the school's strong community support and the availability of food after the MMI.
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I wish I knew that the interview was about 30 minutes. I wish I brought something to take notes on during the presentations they give.
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They offer food after the MMI.
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Nothing
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How well- respected there school already is in there community. For a new school, it is really impressive that they are already getting such great support and feedback from the local medical community.
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The interview is very relaxed. Do not stress yourself off by trying to prepare for it. Know the general workings of MMI and certain aspects of the school itself.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview process at UIWSOM to be welcoming, conversational, and well-organized, with a focus on mission fit rather than academic stats. They appreciated the friendliness of interviewers, the faculty, and the admissions office, but some expressed concerns about campus rumors and the school's location.
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The interview was overall chill! I believe they try to pair you with someone with shared interests based on your application and they emphasize how the interview is to figure out your mission fit at UIWSOM - not test you on your stats or academic ability. Your interview questions seem to also depend on your interviewer because I can tell the questions mine asked were oriented based on what she teaches as a faculty member. I'm not sure if my interview was actually closed or open app but I treated it like a closed application.
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Interviewer was extremely friendly and responsive. Overall positive experience.
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The interview was well organized and the admissions office was gracious to offer us food and some time to talk to the faculty and med students over dinner. They are really invested into the applicants they selected for interview.
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It was a long but very smooth process. Everyone was very nice.
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I was nervous for the interview beforehand, because it was MMI format, but it actually ended up being an enjoyable experience. Each station felt more conversational than the standard MMI's usually do. Overall a good interview experience. I only wish I could have visited the campus, but the interviews were virtual due to Covid-19.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested providing a packet of information to take home from presentations, making the interview day more eco-friendly with clear schedules, offering more opportunities to connect with current students, and ensuring ample seating in the reception area during events. Overall, applicants appreciated the professionalism and friendliness of the admissions office.
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If a packet of information could be provided with the same material from the presentations to take home, it would be nice! Or something to take notes with during the presentations as needed.
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Make the interview day more eco-friendly, give a clear schedule of events to occur (intro lecture, MMI time, dinner, etc.)
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I love the opportunity to connect with current students via Zoom chats. I appreciate that several of these opportunities are available.
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Have more seating in the reception area if there is going to be that large of a group and you're also serving refreshments - makes it hard to have a drink and a plate of snacks if you're standing.
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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 4-6 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.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
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SAT
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San Antonio
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San Antonio International
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San Antonio International 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 mentioned hotel among the responses is Hyatt Place San Antonio Airport/Quarry Market.
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Courtyard by Marriott Riverwalk
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Hampton
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Holiday Inn Express
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Hyatt Place San Antonio Airport/Quarry Market
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La Quinta Inn San Antonio Brooks City Base
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?
Based on the responses provided by the users, the most commented place where they stayed is likely a hotel near the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio.
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It was decent hotel to stay at, a reasonably-priced hotel with free parking compared to the higher cost hotels near the city center.
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If you can swing it, stay on the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio for a weekend. Touristy, but worth the visit.
All Responses
| Application Cycle ▿ | Impression | Performance | Interview Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Positively 🙂 | Good | In Person |
| 2023-24 | Positively 🙂 | Good | In Person |
| 2023-24 | Negatively ☹️ | Great | In Person |
| 2021-22 | Positively 🙂 | Good | Virtual |
| 2021-22 | Positively 🙂 | Great | In Person |
| 2020-21 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2019-20 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2019-20 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2019-20 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2018-19 | Positively 🙂 | Poor | N/A |
| 2018-19 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2018-19 | No change 😐 | Good | N/A |
| 2018-19 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2018-19 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2017-18 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2017-18 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2017-18 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2017-18 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2017-18 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
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