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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 19% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 538 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 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 average.
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 average.
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 inquiries about motivations for pursuing medicine, experiences in healthcare, future career goals, personal attributes, and opinions on healthcare challenges. While some responses referenced MMI format or nondisclosure agreements, the majority of questions focused on understanding candidates' backgrounds, clinical experiences, interests in specific specialties, and reasons for choosing medicine as a career path.
How do you think you can help with medical research.
One interviewer, while she could have looked at my file beforehand, chose not to. She just wanted to talk about what got me to the interview. My classes in college, activities, experiences etc. Very laid back.
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Massachusetts Medical School discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal qualities, and future aspirations, with a focus on scenarios related to medicine and healthcare. The interview format may have been MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the variety of questions and nondisclosure agreements mentioned by some respondents.
One of the interviewers gave me a senario of a young patient coming into the ED who needed surgery and many blood transfusions, however the parents refused the blood transfusions due to religious reasons and he asked me what I would do in the situation.
Do you think it is ethical for doctors to be overly optimistic during the consent process for an experimental therapy that may not help the patient? How would you handle the consent process of such a patient?
After working a long, hard 18 hour day and coming home exhausted, how could you be fulfilled by your career choice as a doctor? What will it give to you, not to other people? Whats in it for you?
Many people go into medicine because they want to be leaders. But now, doctors aren't usually the leader, it might be the HMO, or someone else; how do you feel about this?
Nothing incredibly ''interesting'' was asked. Actually, very few questions were asked. One of my interviewers asked about my minor in astrobiology and we talked about that for a good 10 minutes.
25% of applicants are so great they will get in no matter what. 25% of applicants will never make it. 50% fall in the grey zone somewhere in between. Why should we pick you out of that 50%?
My second interviewer questioned me at length about how I had changed from the beginning of college to now, and how I had become better equipped to deal with the workload and learning environment.
Discussing the role of physician as advocate vs. scientist and relating that to a previous job I had held. My first interview was very converstational and flowed well. The interviewer was attempting to get to know me not by just hearing my story. This discussion on "uncertainty" seemed very abstract but I thought was very intereresting
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Massachusetts Medical School discussed a wide range of topics, including personal attributes, healthcare challenges, ethical dilemmas, and motivations for pursuing medicine. The format of the interviews seemed to involve Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) based on the variety of questions and the emphasis on personal experiences and opinions, potentially subjecting respondents to nondisclosure agreements due to the confidentiality of the process.
Tell me about your self? After doing an MMI you want to say so much so say about yourself Because the rest of the stations are very topic heavy you don't get much of a chance to put in a plug for why you are good candidate. So to use those 6 mins to talk about yourself can be valuable but also very nerve wracking as you attempt to impress the interviewer and be memorable.
What do you think of evidence based medicine? He went on a tirade afterwards about how EBM is destroying the fabric of doctor to patient care and how the government is in his exam room.
What is Medicaid? It wasn't "difficult" in terms of giving the answer, because I just had to define it, but it was the very first question immediately after my interviewer introduced himself. Caught me slightly off guard b/c it was so direct, so I had to change mental gears for the rest of the interview.
What is the biggest challenge facing healthcare today? (n.b. this is not that unusual, or difficult anymore, but at the time, I was not prepared to answer it.
Many people want to become doctor so that they can make the decisions. But now, doctors are not always in charge because of HMOs, etc...What are your thoughts?
What about your parents' professions negatively affected your desire to enter those professions? (my dad is a professor and my mom directs a nursing home)
Nothing really difficult was asked. There was one question where the interviewer led me directly to the answer. He wanted to get my opinion on stem cell research, and a discussion about ethics and abortion ensued.
What exactly does fMRI measure? (I use it in my research but when I answered her she repeated the question - I think she wanted the physics principles answer which I was unable to provide.
What are your feelings regarding Medicare/Medicaid and how they have been affected by recent events? ***They only asked because I brought up the topic, don't expect something like this out of the blue***
How will you improve your application for next time in case you are rejected? (this is my second time applying and the interviewer agreed that my application is not lacking anything)
8-10 years from now, your wife who is pregnant with your second child asks you why you're doing your stupid research when you could make so much more money to support your family in a clinical practice. What do you say?
What is the difference in immigrant experience between a Latino immigrant and a second0-generation Irishman? (this wasn't difficult...I knew the answer...I just had to phrase it delicately so as to not offend the interviewer, who is Irish.)
Specific questions about a couple of the classes I had taken a number of years before which had interesting course titles. I would recommend reviewing your transcript and thinking about the classes you have taken, especially any that have names that stick out.
What EXACTLY about one clinical experience I described on my AMCAS did I find so compelling? (be prepared to talk in a bit detail about what you have already said. no big deal, just be ready. as I said, the interviews were low stress.)
The above discussion was the most difficult. He wasn't mean or overbearing. It was just simply different. He was asking how I felt and would respond to situtations where I knew I was being directly lied to.
They really didn't ask anything difficult, but some of the other interviewees did have interviews with much high stress levels and all the typical questions asked.
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 2 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 such as SDN, reviewing their application materials, researching the school's website, practicing with mock interviews, and staying updated on healthcare issues. Suggestions include practicing ethical scenarios, developing a general template for answering questions, and focusing on providing pros and cons for each case scenario.
I looked up sample MMI questions and practiced answering them in a real situation setting by timing myself and only allowing two mins to prep for each question.
I read almost all their materials on their website, and I both read about and talked to people about healthcare. I skimmed my applications and re-read the book I wrote about in my secondary application.
Reviewed my application, spoke with current student, read through catalog and website, reviewed "typical" medical school questions, and viewed interview feedback
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming environment at the school, noting the enthusiasm of both students and staff, the supportive community feel, and the emphasis on creating a stress-free atmosphere. Additionally, applicants appreciated the new and impressive facilities, the affordability of the program, the early clinical opportunities, and the strong focus on collaboration and student well-being.
how beautiful the campus was and what an effort the school made in really making sure they were creating a supporting stress free (well as stress free as they can make it) environment for the students.
Everything. I loved this school, the enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and staff, the facilities (brand new anatomy lab, awesome sims, and kick-butt facilities overall), and the friendliness of everything at the school.
The emergency department is beautiful, as is most of the rest of the building. You get a tricked out computer upon matriculation. The students were so, so friendly. The curriculum is structured well now, but they're changing it to make it even better. It seems like they train you really well to become clinicians.
The whole day was very laid back and they did a great job presenting as non-stressful an environment as possible. Students that I met were friendly and approachable. Lots of useful information.
The cost ($8000 per year)! The students seem really happy and friendly. The facilities are certainly improving (e.g. brand new simulation lab). The associated hospital seems really happening.
The interviewers has spent time with my application and asked relevant and interested questions. The school is undergoing a tremendous amount of positive growth, and the students get to reap the rewards.
The student tour guides. They were incredibly friendly and down-to-earth, and cared about showing us why they love UMASS so much. They were the best tour guides I've had yet. I also liked that the hospital is directly connected to the med school, which means that your education can easily be applied directly to practice.
Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. An effort was clearly made to match my interviewers with my interests and as a result both interviews went very smoothly. Great facilities!
The students and faculty were all incredibly friendly and I had a great time there. I really liked the atmosphere, and it was completely stress-free. They have great opportunities to go study abroad, lots of community service options, and chances to go ride along with medics in helicopters or just go and read stories to children in the cancer ward. There just seemed to be something for everyone.
extremely friendly/helpful community, both involved in admissions and not (I ended up in the radiology dept looking for my 2nd interview, and an MD walked me (or tried to, she couldn't find it either) there). Very cohesive class, accesible faculty, school has everything you could want for a comprehensive and excellent education
I was positively impressed by several things at the school. The facilities are pretty good, but more importantly the students (and everyone) were very happy and friendly. The education is top-quality. The school has a great community feel, and there is a lot of respect between students and faculty members.
Students seemed happy. Interviewers spoke highly of the program and were not afraid to discuss the downsides too, ie, location, etc. Very honest, which I appreciated.
I really liked the students. Everyone seems so friendly and happy to be there. The resources available are also a plus. Also, the different programs they have as far as community service and study abroad are a huge asset.
students and faculty are very nice and relaxed. there is a feeling of community and learning seems to be a collaborative effort. the recently renovated parts of the facilities are beautiful.
The students are all really laid back and happy to be there, good sence of community. They enocourage you to have a life and personality. They integrate clinical teaching the second week of class. This place is a deal!
The students seem very happy and friendly--several wished me good luck in the hallways. The faculty also is incredibly committed to the students. Also, the tuition is a great deal.
how friendly and helpful everyone seemed particularly my interviewers. Also, Umass not only reaches out to the central Mass community but also to the international community. For those who really want to go abroad, I think the school is doing a great job at encouraging students to be more culturally aware. I was also impressed at how many faculty members had participated in health care outreach ops in developing nations.
The hospitals are busy with a large amount of patients. Even though the school is tops in primary care, they have excellent specialty opportunities & make sure that applicants know that.
My first interview was very enthusiastic and had a good grasp of my folder and seemed interested in learning more about me. The cost is also very reasonable.
enthusiasm of students, faculty, and staff, resources devoted to students, the way students are treated as colleagues by faculty. knowing how the Mass. gov't usually runs, I expected bureaucracy and general incompetence, but the school seems exceptionally well-run, not just for Mass. but compared to everywhere else.
Ease of interviewers and administrators, intelligence of current students, Dean Paraskos' talk, academic opportunities (international medicine, LifeFlight), research facilities, cost of living in Worcester
The students, faculty and staff were all so friendly and nice. I met a couple of first years in the bathroom and they were like, we love it here and don't be nervous for the interview at all, it's very low stress. They wished me good luck :).
Friendliness and happiness of everyone I met. Faculty seems very dedicated to students. Prepares great doctors. Has very diverse group of students. Access to diverse patient population. Liberal, open minded atmosphere. Aspirations (with development to back it up) of improving the research center
the enthusiasm and passion that everyone had for this school and the school's "family", the numerous opportunities that they give you to incorporate your interests into the field
The new research building and the HUGE amount of funding that the school is drawing from NIH grants and pumping into research. They've really built up what appears to be a solid program with a strong committment.
The students were clearly very happy to be here and the learning environment seemed cooperative as opposed to competitive. I got the impression that the faculty are very available to students and that there are a lot of informal learning opportunities availabe. The students also seemed to have a good balance of studying and having fun.
How helpful and friendly the interviewers were. The day was very organized, every minute was accounted for (so much so that I had to hussle just to get a bathroom break!)
how happy and enthusiastic the students were. also my off-campus interview was in a really nice hospital, and the second interview was with a prof and was great.
I saw the library before it was renovated and all I can say is "wow", it looks great now. Great facilities all around, in terms of both learning resources and "down time" resources.
How nice and accessible everyone was. Students seemed happy. Impressive match list. Interesting anatomy museum. Library looked like a great place to study. Lots of non-traditional students.
The applicant pool is wildly competitive. The facilities are nice and the new building is gorgeous. There are many opportunities to get involved in community service, international medicine, and research.
The friendly, positive students and the very strong feeling of community with students and professors. There is a massive amount of expansion and renovation going on with the buildings. Students with off-site interviews were transported with a limo.
the environment seemed really supportive- both students and faculty seemed to embrace the idea of collaborative learning. also the value, you can get a great education for a great price
The student facilitites. The lounge is very nice. The library is great and the first year classroom was cozy, comfortable and I could see myself there every day for a year.
How enthusiastic and relatively unstressed the students were, and how cohesive their class seemed. Overall, a really friendly place and supportive environment with lots of opportunties for basic science research as well as public service-type work.
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the lack of organization and rushed schedule during the interview day, as well as concerns about the location in Worcester. Some specific feedback included difficulties navigating the campus, the unimpressive facilities, lack of diversity, and the isolated feel of the area. Suggestions included improving the organization of interviews, providing more time for interactions with interviewers, enhancing campus facilities, and addressing concerns about the location's appeal.
Some interviewers asked me about things I had already answered
Huge focus on primary care...I felt like my options would be very limited going there. Most of the third and fourth year rotations are at small clinics all around western and central mass and in NH. You have to drive to far out locations frequently in those years.
The super early interview (before tour or anything else); and the complete oddness of the first interview. No questions asked, and the guy said don't worry about this, I'm not on the committee.
You shouldn't have to navigate your own way around the hospital/school to find your interviewers. They should have someone from admissions show you where to go cuz that place is really confusing.
Location, worcester pretty much sucks.
One of the interviewer made me wait outside because he was late and then grilled me for the entire time. He pulled out my file and went over everything and questioned everything. Then he asked me why are there incompetent doctors and suggested I might be one of them if I don't quit my job and volunteer/shadow doctors full time. He only has a PhD by the way.
My disorganized schedule...my first interview happened 20 minutes after I was told to arrive and then the second one happened way later after orientation and the tour were over...
I found one of my interviewers to be a bit less engaging (would look at notes while I was talking, didn't offer much of a response to my responses), but that is simply a difference in style and to be expected.
The campus is not very pretty. Maybe it was because it was cold and rainy on the day and there is a lot of construction. Also, Worcester is a tough area. And my second interview only lasted 15 mins instead of 30.
location (worcester), other interviewees were years older than me( only a couple were still college seniors, others have been in industry for 3+ years) which is good but I wish i could also hang out with people my age
Hard to navigate around the building to find my interviewers' offices, but at least the secretary gave an ''emergency'' number to call her in case we got lost
The facilities seemed a bit older, and I didn't love the location, which seemed very isolated. However, UMASS is constantly building new facilities, and everyone told me that Worcester is a very culturally diverse location with many opportunities for service in the community.
Not really a negative, but I thought it was a little strange that first year students gave the tour because they had only been at the school a couple months at this point.
No MPH integration possible w/MD. Worcester is nice and all, but its no Boston/NYC/ other cultural center. You have to have a car to get around. The library closes at 11pm (how am I supposed to cram????).
My 2nd interviewer made it clear that she didn't have a lot of time and was really squeezing me in. Not so cool, in my opinion. No campus, just 1 med building, 1 research building, 1 hospital.
My second interviewer repeatedly yawned during the interview, and did not have an opportunity to read my file prior to meeting with me -- I felt like I reiterated much of what is in my file.
medical school building was tough to navigate, and the way they number the rooms makes it 10 times worse than it already is, but if you go there on a regular basis I imagine it becomes easy enough.
Facilities are a little rough; one interviewer had some disconcerting, old medical apparati in his office that I think were the "utensils" used to relax hysterical women in Victorian days.
The tour given by the student went til 1:00 and my first interview was scheduled for 1:00 and I asked if I could leave 10 minutes before-hand so that I could get to my interview on time, but he said not to worry. Even though the interviewer didn't mind, I was rushed to get there on time and had trouble recovering from my nervousness due to my lateness.
Honestly, the fact that everything was so rushed over and that there wasn't more time to spend with the six interviewers and exploring the school and research facilities.
The city of Worcester leaves a bit to be desired. I also wish that they had given more time for the tour. We barely got to see the facilities and everyone who had an afternoon interview was at least five or ten minutes late for it because our tour ran over.
The day was really rushed because each interview was only about 30 minutes and I had to book it from building to building. Fortunately, secretaries showed me where to go, but others weren't as lucky and got lost and were late to interviews/meetings.
The organization of the day. Some students complained that their first interviewer did not show. The medical school can be difficult to navigate and you are kind of on your own.
Lack of preparedness of the staff for interviewees. There were no name tags and the agenda was pretty loose. Two students lead us around which made of for this.
My first interview was in another building and I was late to my second because I didn't have enough time to make it back. The second interviewer was cool with it, though.
Many applicants wished they had known about the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews beforehand, as well as the potential for off-site interviews and the need for comfortable shoes during the tour. Additionally, common feedback included concerns about parking, the building's confusing layout, and the lack of depth in questioning beyond personal interests and experiences.
Well my first interviewer never showed up (got stuck in surgery I later found out) so I had to wait around for a couple hours while they found a new one for me. But couldn't have predicted that, obviously. Ended up interviewing with the residency director for EM so that was pretty cool!
Unless you are an MD/PHD candidate, you will either have two interviews in the morning or two interviews in the afternoon. I personally think that I was lucky to get the morning interview because we spent more time with our tour guides and had less stress during the tour.
Everyone there is so nice! Current students wished me good luck in the halls, the administrators were very friendly and helpful...
The main building is EXTREMELY confusing to navigate. I was late to both interviews, and I had to ask at least 5 people before one of them could find the room for me.
I thought their questions were supposed to be "get to know you questions" but my interviewer seemed to really like asking about current events.
If you said you don't mind where your interview is, you can be assigned to an off-site location. They drive you there & bring you back, but it makes for a very long day because you might have to wait til 3:30 to have your interview, and then also wait for another student to interview after you do before you get a ride back to the school.
Although both the interviews were supposed to be open file, one of my interviewers said that he personally prefered closed file so he chose not to read my application ahead of time... same guy that asked me what vegetable I wanted to be....
There are morning interviews and afternoon -- if you have an afternoon, they ship you off-campus(in a stretch limousine, that's right!) to other area buildings affiliated with the school -- it was a long day.
Look up the people on the admissions committee beforehand, so you know who your interviewer is. For me, it was a complete surprise...and I really wish that I had looked up in advance.
The directions given on the website are not the best way to get to the medical school portion of the campus. Also half of last year's entering class came from the wait list.
If you said 'yes' to an 'off-campus' interview, you had to take a van off the premises, and it added on much more time to theh length of the entire interview day. Also-lunch is early...we ate at 11. Lots of down-time too throughout the day.
Because one of my interviews was off-site, it was scheduled later in the day than I realized. This could have been a problem if you had to take a flight.
That people in Worcester drive like people in Boston! :)
Grading in the first and second years is not as complicated as other resources make it out to be.
How stress-free and relaxed the interviews would be. The interviewers were more concerned with learning about me than seeing how I would react under pressure. I also learned that the majority of UMass' funding does not come from the state, so don't be afraid of Romney's budget cuts!
That the interviewers had very little knowledge of the actual school it's self. They were physicians that volunteered and therefore were unable to answer my questions.
Applicants generally found the UMass interview experience to be low-stress, conversational, and enjoyable. There were positive comments about the friendly staff, supportive environment, and the school's facilities, but some concerns were raised regarding interviewers' engagement and the length of time taken for admissions decisions.
I had a blast during my interview day. The staff and students were extremely nice. Despite not having experience with this style of interview, UMMS did a great job on explaining the template and why most schools are changing to the format. As for the MMI, the interviewer doesn't expect you to talk for the full six minutes. Rather, they will ask you questions about your particular stance or provide additional information. Also, be cautious about being to adamant about one side. Ideally, you should give pros/cons for your decision and then why you think (blank) is the best option.
Its a wonderful school and the staff and administration is really on the students side helping them become the best version of themselves. That's the type of school I would want to go to. Where your individual weaknesses are addresses and you feel supported!
I wish UMass would let applicants know their admissions results, or at least keep us in-the-loop with where our apps are in the process. You interview in the early fall and you still haven't heard a peep in the early spring...?
Good school, ultimately didn't go here because I thought it would limit future options and therefore not provide as full and education as other schools.
I had an off-campus interview and I was nervous about finding my way and mode of transportation (I thought I'd have to take the campus bus or something)...but they gave us a limo! It was very cool :)
Overall, great school for the price. Boonies location, and pretty low level facilities at some parts. One interviewer was very open and friendly but far more judgmental to responses, other was off-beat and odd without a care in the world. I have no idea how to interpret either. Also, waiting months and months to hear back is absurd and unprofessional, for any type of organization.
Overall the interview process was low stress, but I think I didn't perform all that well (I spoke a little fast, mispronounced a disease I was talking about, etc.) To everyone else interviewing, just relax and be yourself.
I had 2, 30 minute, one-on-one interviews. The interview process was extremely relaxed; it felt like the interviewers wanted to get to know you as a person. Just be yourself!
There were 17 people who interviewed that day, but I was part of the afternoon group of which there were only 6 of us. So it was a bit crowded in the beginning, but it wasn't an issue. Very impressed with the school, they've got a lot of new buildings coming in the next 5 years or so. Thoroughly enjoyable first interview.
I was a little thrown on some questions (not sure how to answer and how much to say) but overall the day was fun and UMass would be a great school to attend.
Don't overprepare, but at least think about what you might say to various questions you are sure to be asked. Mock interviewers are great, if you can get someone who knows how to do them.
Interview was not as stressful as I thought it was going to be. The only thing that I was put off by was my second interviewer, who ended the interview 15 mins early cause it seemed like he was too busy to talk to me and wanted to get back to his research. But the current students are really nice and the new ER is amazing.
Both interviews were conversational. In fact, sometimes it was difficult for me to cut in, as both interviewers seemed more interested in hearing themselves talk. I often had to interrupt with statments like, ''that's why I want to be a doctor'' or ''I think so too.''
Arrival in the morning, presentation by admissions staff, have some breakfast and students come in and talk and give a presentation. We take a tour and have 2 interviews. Some interviews may be off campus, but they provide shuttles and everything. The admissions staff actually does look at SDN interview feedback for ways to improve. I appreciate that. They run a smooth day and I was impressed with UMass!
Very positive. Everyone is really happy. The facility is undergoing lots of new/recent buidling. Lots of oppurtunities to explore different aspects of medicine.
Met in the admissions office at 9:15 with the other morning interviewers. Got our interviewer information with times (10:00 and 10:45) and location (both within the hospital/med school complex). Had a little bit of time to kill before the 12:00 presentations by admissions and financial aid, which the afternoon interviewees come for as well. Then lunch in the room (which you have to sit hungrily and smell while folks are presenting), followed by a presentation by students, then a tour.
Really enjoyed talking with both my interviewers. Thought they got to see the best I had to offer. They were honest with me, that if I didn't get in, (which I didn't) it would be b/c of MCAT scores. Which makes you wonder why they bothered inviting me to interview for 3 years in a row.
I arrived at 9:00am and was given information about my 2 interviews. The interviews were done by 11:15 and I returned to meet with the other students and have a lunch as the associate dean did a brief presentation. Then we were given a student led tour of the school. Vouchers were also given for parking.
UMASS admissions people stressed that they so no point in adding stress to the candidate's experience. Although I was nervous at the beginning of the interview, both interviewers were able to put me at ease pretty easily. Also the admissions staff definitly is interested in improving the interviewing experience for candidates. The admissions lady admitted to us that she was giving extra time for questions because someone on studentdoctor.net said she didn't give enough time. Perhaps they could extend the tour time in the future because some people in our group missed part of the tour so they could get to their afternoon interviews on time.
It was very relaxing and there was little pressure. The first interviewer went on for an hour instead of 30min, very conversational and freeflowing interview
The experience overall was okay. I did not expect to love the students as much as I did. However, the information session seemed a bit perfunctory; they asked if we (the whole group) had any questions but literally didn't pause to let us ask anything. My interviewers were strange. They were more interested in talking themselves--which is fine except I'm not sure how they plan to evaluate whether I am a good match for the school--and seemed uncomfortable.
Great experience. For afternoon interviewees: lunch/presentation, followed by student led tour; and interviews. Everyone felt happy to be there and proud of UMass accomplishments.
Great experience overall! Lunch was good and they even paid for parking. I was quite nervous going into the day, but both my interviewers really helped me to feel relaxed.
My interviews were great. I talked a lot about my undergrad and my thesis I'm currently writing, as well as my volunteer work as an EMT. We also talked about collaboration between med-students, and what field I wanted to go into. Very relaxed, nothing to worry about. Towards the end of the interviews, it seemed as if they were trying to sell the school to me, and told me why they were so happy there.
The faculty interviewer kept closing his eyes and didn't seem to be listening to me. At other times he was very attentive and condescending, didn't know what was going on there. The student interviewer was much more laid back and nice, she asked normal questions and wasn't confrontational at all.
The interviews were very laid-back and comfortable. One was with a faculty member of the grad school and one was with a second year student/adcom member.
Great experience in all. Interviews were both mostly conversational, with some standard questions mixed in, but nothing to tough and certainly nothing to stress about. Just do the standard prep and you'll be fine at UMass.
Three of us arrived for morning interviews, and were joined after our interviews by 12 more who came for afternoon interviews. We had lunch, a presentation by two 1st-years, and a brief tour. There is usually a presentation by the dean or director of admissions, but they were out of town at a conference. I was out of there by 1:15.
Basically, this was my first med school interview ever, so I was extrememly nervous and wanted to be prepared but did not want to appear to be memorizing a script. My first interviewer I really couldn't gauge. I almost felt like I wasted time talking about stupid stuff and not really about the strengths of my application. My second interviewer was great though. He really just sat and listened and it was a great genuine, free-flowing conversation.
I love this school, maybe because I am a UMass alum but the people and facilities are amazing.
very laid back, casual conversations, mostly about whatever I wanted to talk about with some prodding by the interviewers for more info on certain parts of my application.
Showed up early, talked to students.
Orientation w/ dean and 2 MS2.
Italian lunch.
2 interviews.
1st guy v busy doc, left interview (x4).
Gracious, offered more time if needed.
? how I did.
2nd interviewer, researcher.
seemed like it went well.
I had a great day. The students, faculty, and staff were all incredibly nice and friendly....everyone tried to emphasize not to be to stressed or worried about the interviews. The other interviewees also seemed like people I'd want to go to school with (something *certainly* not true at other interviews I've had). One of my interviews was
Overall, the best by far. I think the school did such a great job of pairing me with interviewers who were in fields that I would like to explore. I was impressed at how well they knew my application. One interviewer is on the adcom, so his questions were focused on Why medicine and the like. He tried to clarify some parts of my application, but it flowed, and there weren't any awkward moments. The second interview was bit more relaxed, tried to get to know me as a person.
Overall the experience was pleasant. Faculty, students, and staff were all extremely friendly and my interviews were more like open conversations than critiques. I feel like UMass has the best value and noncompetitive atmosphere for state residents and there is a plethora of opportunity for students to experience culture and volunteer work.
The interview was very low key, there were about 6 people in the first round of interviews (starting at 10am) and about 5 for the later interviews. Pesronally I liked having the interviews first thing in the day so I could enjoy the tour and the lunch more, I dont think I would have eaten anything if I still had to interview.
The open file interview was more of a conversation than an interview. He would comment on something on my file and then ask about it, but it was very low key and low stress. The closed file interview was more stressful for me.
The interviews were fine but the tour and orientation were mediocre. The person who led the orientation read a power point slide and the tour failed to impress me. We visited one lecture room, the anatomy museum (no labs), the library, and the research building.
the facilities are nice and the students very upbeat and happy, however my interviewers were very disconnected from the school and students which made it difficult to ask them questions
Pretty standard. Low stress. Lunch was very good -- not just cold sandwitches. I hope that the disinterest of my 2nd interviewer does not detract form my review.
Interviews began a little late and ran long, hopefully because they were interested in me. But they were very enjoyable, we had some great conversations, and they almost seemed over too quickly. They didn't go too deeply into my application, because they both were intrigued by my response to a short essay question and we spent at least half the time of each interview on topics related to that question.
Overall, I had a great experience at Umass. It's my first choice and I hope that I get in :). The people are so happy, friendly and warm. Students are very cooperative with one another and do not compete with one another (it's actually highly discouraged by the faculty).
Great first interview. Looked lost in hallways, and students came up to me, introduced themselves and helped me to where I needed to be. Umass is a great place where I could certainly see myself
This was my first one and I found the interviewers easy going. No big questions to solve the health care system or any ethical questions. Just have an idea of what you have learned in each experience and how that will help you in medical school
a great interview experience! although the time allotted was not suppose to surpass 30 minutes, we spent 45 minutes discussing not only myself, but their lives as well.
Overall it was a somewhat positive and low stress day. Of 6 interviews, only 3 were difficult. Everyone was super-nice and there seems to be a very collaborative environment built around the whole institution. Bring your walking shoes, cause you'll be trekking all over the campus, which was fun in the Worcester winter weather. Don't pass up this gem of a school because it's not in Boston. If you have any doubts about Worcester, it's a great city to live in on the med student's budget. Some of the Mud Phuds even bought houses with their cushy $24k stipends.
This was my first interview so I was nervous. The day was long...everyone was very hungry by the end. I didn't know I would have 1 off campus interview, but it was only a few minutes down the road. This is an awesome school though.
Overall I was very impressed with the school and its students. I felt like there was a great learning environment and everybody helped me to feel at ease. Both of my interviewers were friendly and easy to talk to. The interviews were more like conversations and flew by. There was ample time to ask questions and get information. Tour could have been better but this is definitely my first choice school.
It was a really good day -- met with a lot of faculty and most of them were real friendly and just wanted to answer questions. The only really tough interview was with the director of the MD/PhD program who went through my application with a fine-tooth comb: asked questions about every little thing in my application and things I said.
First interviewer, a PhD biochemist, wasn't prepared (the original interviewer was sick) bc he found out he was interviewing me moments before. The second interviewer, a PhD psychologist, ran 20 minutes over but was really friendly. After asking some specific questions about my application, she stuck to a list of questions on some form. Really nice people though.
As these were open file interviews, the interviewers asked about my file and for me to go more in depth in certain areas. Almost every question was in reference to my application.
UMass is an awesome school and I had a great day. The interview group of applicants was smaller compared to other schools with only 8-10 people. Everyone tried their best to put me at ease, including my two interviewers.
The interview is supposed to be open file but neither of my 2 interviewers were familiar with my file and had overlooked crucial aspects of my application. They asked me why I received poor grades in classes that I had received A's in. It was just confusing and strange. They were both struggling to read my file and interview at the same time and it just came out messy. Neither knew much about the school. The whole day dragged on with a boring tour of ancient facilities.
The day either starts or ends with two interviews depending on whether you are a morning interviewee or afternoon interviewee. Between the morning group and afternoon groups sets of interviews, there are two presentations for all interviewees over a light lunch in the late morning (one by admissions/faculty and one by students) followed by a very short tour by students.
The interviews are scheduled for about 30 to 40 minutes. They are relaxed/informal like everyone else says, but it is hard not to be somewhat nervous before you get through your interviews. It is a nice place with nice people. Enjoy the interview process and try to get as much as you can out of it. Ask questions whenever you want throughout the day. The experience was definitely a positive one.
Great school, great price. Worcester is not so bad; they have made a lot of improvments in the area.
The interviewers made me feel comfortable and not so stressed. They mostly wanted to know about my military experience in the Navy.
I'm quite familiar with the school -- I worked on and off in a lab there from junior year in high school to the summer before senior year of college, and I've also volunteered in the hospital. I've seen the facilities improve a great deal in that time, and it seems like they're investing a lot more money for the future. I don't there's anything to complain about on that front. The students I know who went/go there all loved it and are doing very well. The tuition is low and living expenses are not like the Boston area. Despite what people think, there's plenty to do in Worcester, not that you'll have a whole lot of time to party. In short, there's not much to complain about. Unless you're not a resident of Massachusetts. ;)
My first interviewer was a bit tough to read, but my second interview went much better. Going off campus isn't such a big deal unless it's really cold that day.
Fantastic. UMass seems to keep their students' happiness at the top of their priority list. They didn't need to brag about their program or cost (which speak for themselves). Instead, they focused on the opportunities you can make for yourself at their school.
Both of my interviewers were doctors, and mostly seemed to want to know more about me. My first interview was very conversational, we mostly just talked about big things in my application, e.g. the volunteer experience in my essay, my research, one other anonymous EC that would give me away instantly. My second one was more like an interview, with the doctor asking a few tougher questions that weren't just variations on "Tell me about yourself." The second one seemed more formal than the first, but neither one was very intense.
this was my first interview so naturally i was really nervous...but shouldn't have been! the interviews were basically just conversations. there were no tough questions, the interviewers just wanted to get to know you a bit i think. definately a low stress day. Also, the students seemed genuinely happy and friendly...i came into the day not thrilled about UMASS and left with a completely different feeling. the faculty/staff/students all seemed wonderful and they definitely sold me on the school!
It was a relaxed conversational experience. One of my interviewers actually had to send me away because he had a meeting to go to, but they grabbed someone else and it was fine. My second interviewer was great, she had really read my file and had interesting thoughtful questions.
I was pleasantly surprised with the school. I already thought it was a good school, but the interview day increased that feeling. Everyone seems very committed to UMass having the greatest positive effect possible in local healthcare and beyond. Friendly atmosphere.
Fine day. I was in the afternoon interview group. There were only 7 of us total. My secodn itnerview was a piece of cake. He asked simple things from my application and I think he was more nervous than me.
On the tour definitely ask to see the Anatomy Museum. It is an amazing collection of specimens that would definitely provide a key learning source.
I llked the school before I visited, and positively LOVE it now. Too bad it's so hard to get in.
One question that had concerned me before I visited UMass was that the School would be adversely affected by the Commonwealth's fiscal woes. But it seems that the med school has good friends on Beacon Hill that keep the cash pipeline flowing. Also, the research dollars UMass has been awarded from other sources has grown in the last few years by tens of millions of dollars.
GO HERE if you get in. You'll never regret your decision.
I did not know that this website exsitsted before my ineterview. Perhaps I would have been less nervous had I read some of this feedback before my interview. I would reccomend UMass to anyone applying to medical school. It is a great school.
The school is amazing and definitely my top choice. But the interview left me feeling very uneasy about the day and uncomfortable with the schools decision on how to evaluate students.
the day was very pleasant. everyone was very very nice. my interviewers were pretty removed from the main medicine and/or admissions world, which was a little strange.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest providing recycling bins for MMI materials, improving communication about application statuses, streamlining acceptance notifications, giving more details about the interview day in advance, and enhancing organization and scheduling to avoid downtime and rushed presentations.
Please provide recycling bins for our MMI notes/materials? I felt sad seeing all that paper thrown away
