University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
St Paul, MN
Veterinary Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 19% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
⭐ 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 average 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 revolve around behavioral scenarios, such as describing times when applicants faced challenges, resolved conflicts, overstepped boundaries, or demonstrated leadership skills. Several responses mentioned an MMI format, where questions were behavioral-based, and some respondents cited nondisclosure agreements regarding specific questions asked during the interview.
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Tell me about a time that you made a mistake? How did you deal with it?
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Tell me about a time when you felt like people didn't support you?
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Describe a time that communication was difficult with another individual.
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Describe a time you overstepped your boundaries.
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Describe a time you put the needs of your team over yourself.
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting questions asked at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine discussed various scenarios such as teamwork challenges, problem-solving experiences, adaptability in skill sets, and instances of breaking rules or overstepping boundaries. Additionally, role-playing scenarios, personal goal discussions, crisis management situations, and handling difficult personalities were commonly explored. Some responses hinted at an MMI format with a focus on ethical dilemmas and personal reflections, possibly under a nondisclosure agreement.
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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 various behavioral scenarios, such as overstepping boundaries, handling ethical dilemmas, breaking commitments, and demonstrating problem-solving skills. Some responses indicated a mix of standard interview questions along with unexpected behavioral inquiries, causing candidates to feel unsure despite preparation. Additionally, references to MMI or non-disclosure suggest that the interview format may have been in the Multiple Mini Interview style with potential confidentiality agreements in place.
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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 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 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.
📍 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 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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N/A
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Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
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Minneapolis-St. Paul
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Minneapolis Airport
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Minneapolis
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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courtyard my marriott rosedale
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Westin
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Ramada Inn
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Radisson in Roseville
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Radisson
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?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by practicing behavioral interview questions, reflecting on past experiences to provide examples, and researching common interview questions online. Many emphasized the importance of being confident, remaining calm, and practicing their responses with others to ensure they were well-prepared for 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 supportive atmosphere at the University of Minnesota, highlighting the friendliness of staff and students, the well-organized interview process, engaging student panel discussions, and the personalized tours that provided a thorough feel for the school. They appreciated the genuine interest shown by interviewers, the sense of community among students, and the impressive facilities and resources available, such as the new equine center and diverse elective options, contributing to a positive overall experience.
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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 concerns about the lack of interaction with faculty members, outdated facilities, limited diversity, casual attire of interviewers, and the high cost of out-of-state tuition. Suggestions included providing more opportunities to meet professors, updating facilities, increasing diversity, maintaining a more professional dress code for interviewers, and potentially addressing tuition costs for out-of-state students.
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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 wish they had known in advance about the weight of the interview in the application process and the importance of thorough preparation. They also suggest being well-prepared for a mix of behavioral and traditional interview questions, and to familiarize oneself with the program's unique aspects to ask informed questions during the interview.
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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 appreciated specific feedback and encouragement to be well-prepared for interviews, while some mentioned the importance of showcasing positive experiences. They also valued a friendly and engaging interview environment, with a focus on behavioral questions and a balance of professionalism and approachability from interviewers.
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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 commonly suggest that the admissions office continue using email for updates, consider making phone calls to accepted students for a personal touch, improve the friendliness and stress level of the interview process, provide free parking for out-of-state applicants, adjust interview schedules to allow for more time between activities, and offer a more welcoming experience for in-state students on interview days.
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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!).
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