University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
St Paul, MN
Veterinary Schools | Public Non-Profit
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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 moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.2
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 220 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 include scenarios about handling mistakes, resolving conflicts, communication skills, decision-making processes, and experiences with difficult individuals. Some respondents mentioned a behavioral-based interview format, potentially an MMI, where questions could not be disclosed due to a nondisclosure agreement.
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Tell me about a time that you made a mistake? How did you deal with it?
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Describe a time you overstepped your boundaries.
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Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with someone.
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it was a behavioral based interview. Sorry but we are not allowed to share the questions. Just google behavioral questions and there are loads of sites to help with it.
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Tell me about a time you had to communicate a complex idea.
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a variety of scenarios such as working with difficult individuals, adapting skills, breaking rules, giving presentations, handling crises, and dealing with trust and commitment. Some responses also mentioned role-playing scenarios like dealing with a worried client as a vet assistant. These questions suggest a thorough evaluation of problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills, and ethical decision-making, reflecting a holistic approach to assessing applicants' readiness for veterinary school.
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Tell me about your involvement in extracurricular and veterinary activities?
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n/a
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Tell us about your past jobs, organizations and volunteer time.
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Nothing stands out as 'interesting'.
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Can you tell us a time when you had to work with someone you didn't necessarily get along with? How did it turn out?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a variety of behavioral scenarios and challenges, including situations where boundaries were tested, commitments were broken, difficult decisions were made, and innovative solutions were required. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on responses mentioning nondisclosure agreements, with questions focusing on assessing interpersonal skills and ethical reasoning.
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Name a time when you felt like you overstepped your boundaries?
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n/a
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Tell us about a time that you were in a situation where there was no right or wrong answer.
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There were several difficult questions.
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Can you tell us a time where you apologized to someone for something you were directly involved in?
✅ 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 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 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.
No responses
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by practicing behavioral interview questions, reflecting on past experiences to provide examples, researching common interview questions, and discussing potential answers with others. They emphasized the importance of being confident, remaining calm, and ensuring a good night's sleep before the interview.
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I made sure I knew all of my experiences and qualifications before interviewing. The most important thing for me was being confident and remaining calm.
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Practiced behavioral interview questions
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I thought critically about my various jobs, leadership experience, and volunteer work so I would be able to pull from those experiences when asked to talk about past experiences.
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I looked through the schools website and did some research about the school and its programs. Then I looked up what a behavioral interview was and looked up types of questions. I started practicing what I would say and came up with how I would answer different types of behavioral questions.
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Spent some time walking down memory lane, pulling examples of times where I showed networking, quick-thinking, communication, "leadership," etc.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere at the University of Minnesota, particularly noting the helpfulness of student ambassadors, engaging interviewers, and enthusiastic student body. The personalized tours, conversational interviews, and sense of community among students and faculty were highlighted as standout aspects of the experience, leaving applicants with a positive impression of the university.
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I really enjoyed this interview process! I felt as though the longer interview allowed me to really get to explain my experiences rather than just rush through them. The interview was very conversational and my interviewers were very engaged. Overall, the University of Minnesota was very welcoming!
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The student ambassadors were very helpful in calming nerves, answering questions and giving their honest opinion of the school
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The interviewers were friendly and asked follow up questions. There were a number of activities that made it clear that the school was trying to recruit me as much as I was trying to sell myself. There was a student panel that seemed genuinely happy to be a gopher.
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I really loved how welcoming everyone was. Truly I had such a positive experience with their "student ambasadors" who are first through 3 year students who volunteer to give tours, mingle and eat lunch with you, as well as share personal stories and insight. They had a student panel which I thought was a really cool idea because we could ask any questions we wanted and they had a student from each year. The school/students also offered ride to the school for your interview if you were staying at a nearby hotel! What service!
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I loved pretty much everything about the school. I found the curriculum to be the most impressive aspect of the program, but everything is pretty top-notch. The students and faculty alike were very giving of their time and honesty, and I left with a great impression of the College.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions related to the lack of interaction with faculty, outdated facilities, unimpressive tour experiences, casual attire of interviewers, lack of diversity, and concerns about the cold weather and high costs. Suggestions included enhancing faculty involvement, updating facilities, improving tour experiences, addressing diversity, and considering the impact of weather and expenses on applicants.
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I would have liked to meet some of the faculty members, or be introduced to some of the professors I would be studying under.
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There is a large number of interviewing pairs, so it is very likely that another interviewee might have had a completely different experience than my own. Additionally, it seems that it would be difficult to standardize acceptance criteria.
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I didnt like the cold weather, but thats not within their control. Aside from that they were very accommodating and fed us well. It would be nice if they offered free parking, however it didn't affect me because I was dropped off. Some of the other students were miffed though.
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Some of the facilities are a little dated but I wasn't pushed away by them.
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The facilities in the hospital were dated and the halls were kind of convoluted.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly expressed a wish to have known the importance of interview preparation and the weight the interview carries in the application process. They also highlighted the value of being informed about the interview format, potential questions, and the overall experience.
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Im glad that I knew how much the interview factored into my application. The interview weighs pretty heavy so it is important to be well prepared.
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How much the interview weighed toward the final decision
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Always wrap up your experience with a conclusion and/or impact.
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I wish their idea of "refreshments" on the Friday night Equine Center tour (an optional event to mingle with students and see the equine facility) had more than just cookies and cider.
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Pretty sure I had a good idea of what to expect going into it. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did!
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally emphasized the importance of being specific in responses, taking note of key words during interviews, and showing positive aspects despite negative questioning styles. They also appreciated the friendliness of interviewers, the well-organized process, and the opportunity to engage with students during the visit.
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Be very specific as they do not like broad answers.
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During your interview, jot down key words to remind you of each question. It’s easy to forget the question as you begin telling your example story.
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I was so impressed with my interview experience that it was a no-brainer to choose UMN.
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I had an interview with two people and they wer very nice. I found that the whole interview was very well organized and when I got accepted the whole process of notifying us was very streamlined. Also from what I heard they kept the waitlisted people updated on their spots, so overall I would say their admissions office is very well prepared and friendly.
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Great school with amazing faculty, research, and curriculum. The Equine center was pretty awesome, I thought.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants suggest that the admissions office should continue using email for updates, consider making phone calls to accepted students, and focus on creating a friendlier and less high-stress interview process. Additionally, offering incentives like free parking for out-of-state applicants, adjusting schedules to allow for a more relaxed interview experience, and providing more welcoming gestures, especially to in-state students, were common suggestions.
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So far so good. Keep using email to update people. Although I think phone calls to those who are accepted is a nice personal touch, so keep doing that.
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Compared to the other schools I have applied to, the interview was much more high stress and cold. I understand that it is unnecessary to ask behavioral based questions but I think the process could have been friendlier. It is very reassuring a huge selling point when the school seems friendly.
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I would have liked a tour of the Raptor Center, but overall the interview was really nicely planned out.
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Free parking for out-of-state applicants who took the time to travel to Minnesota.
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Adjust the schedule so that folks who have the 'right after lunch' interview slot aren't trying to fit the tour and lunch both into one hour. I didn't want to eat because I didn't really want to rush from eating into the interview with lettuce stuck between my teeth. :) (That said, I skipped lunch and after my interview someone from admissions saw me headed out and stopped me and asked if I had had a chance to eat; so they took care of the problem!).
📍 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 out of 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 airplane to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent more than $500.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
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MSP
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Minneapolis
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Minneapolis Airport
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Minneapolis-St. Paul
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Minneapolis-St. Paul 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 that users stayed in is Best Western.
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Best Western
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Best Western - Bandana square
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Best Western Bandana Blvd
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Best Western Bandanna Square
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Best Western Kelley Inn
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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