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.
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 areaโs cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
๐ฌ Interview Questions โผ
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around personal motivations for pursuing medicine, experiences in healthcare and research, ethical dilemmas faced, and specific details from the applicant's application and personal statement. Many respondents mentioned being asked questions specific to their application due to the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and potential nondisclosure agreements in place.
I signed a non-disclosure agreement. But a girl who interviewed with me said that they reuse the same questions every year and that her friend told her everything in advance.
MD: Tell me about .... (Asian Studies major, studying abroad, internship at HCMC) more asked about specific things that intrigued him on my application)
I noticed a general questions worksheet. I think the faculty member chooses which questions off the worksheet they find interesting or which ones they want more information on.
They just asked me stuff out of my application and secondary and we chatted about health care policy, although other students who interviewed that day were asked more traditional questions like "why medicine, why this school, etc..."
Why is an insurance at Texas less expensive than one at Minnesota? (It's not meant to stress you out. It's just to test your knowledge in future aspects of healthcare.)
Interviews were open file for the main interviewer, and closed for the 4th yr student interviewer.
Specific quesiton... Really specific stuff about my personal statement.
Very detailed/pointed questions about everything on AMCAS and personal statement. Also, be prepared to give a very good explanation of why you want to be a doctor, and why they should pick you at U of M.
Q: "How long have you been employed as a CA (community/residential advisor)and what have you done about college drinking?"
(I've never been a CA)
Who is your favorite composer, favorite woman composer, favorite woman soloist, favorite conductor, all asked in rapid succession so I didn't even have a chance to answer
There were few discrete questions... it didn't feel like a list. We just had a conversation that flowed in out of my education, background, work experience, health care, study abroad, etc.
Every little detail from my personal statment and secondary. If you interview with my person, you better know everything you said about yourself or the interviewer will humiliate you.
I see here you have experience researching the GFAP protein in autistic post-mortem brains, and you also worked with a teenager with autism. How would you explain to him what you were researching?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Minnesota Twin Cities Medical School discussed a wide range of topics including healthcare costs, personal ethics, leadership style, and handling patient scenarios. The interview format may have been MMI based on the variety of questions, but respondents also mentioned standard questions and engaging discussions about research and personal experiences.
Types of suffering, how physicians can help patients deal with it
Healthcare costs are rising rapidly. What are your thoughts? What possible solutions are there?
My interviewer and I had a really good discussion about it.
How did you do on the MCAT? This was interesting since interviewers were given all info except GPA and MCAT to reduce bias. I guess I would be curious too if I were interviewing someone.
Why do you want to go into primary care? (Although our conversation was interesting and engaging at times, I wasn't asked any terribly interesting questions.)
Besides diabetic interventions, what Other things need to be done if a patient's pancrease is removed? (I work in an organ transplant unit and the interviewer is a physiology prof)
All of the questions were VERY easy and definitely totally comfortable ''get to know you'' sort of things. Actually..my interviewer asked how slow the process had been which I thought was interesting (especially since MN has been very slow).
You are in charge of limited state health budget: give me programs to do. What book recently. Why do you want to be doctor? What are major issues in medicine to you? How could we fix them. What about a doctor's responsibility to prevent suffering? What about your family? What baout another occupation? Anything else to tell me? Any questions?
Most of the questions had to do with my research, the interviews were really just conversations about my research, and sometimes, the interviewers research.
What is the largest problem you see with the US healthcare system? This may not seem like an interesting question but since I was an MPH student at the time, I fortunately had a lot to talk about and enjoyed sharing my views.
The interview was more of a conversation during which I learned so much about both the school, it's program and resources and also medicine in general. It was laid back and so fluid that I cannot remember a specific question except for: "do you have any personal connections to Minneapolis?" and "How will you afford the tuition?" (I am an out-of-state applicant.
Imagine you had to describe your research to a group of legislators from Minnesota in laymen's terms and then had to explain why it was important for the state of Minnesota. Also, you only have one minute.
"You probably won't go to Minnesota if you get accepted here, will you?" (an interesting twist on "why minnesota?") This was followed by a series of questions regarding the likelyhood of me staying in MN after graduation (do you have family/connections here, etc.).
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Minnesota Twin Cities Medical School discussed a wide range of topics, from ethical dilemmas and healthcare reform to personal attributes and career goals. Some respondents mentioned encountering an MMI format with questions related to nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted challenging inquiries about specific obstacles faced, ethical scenarios, and opinions on healthcare systems.
Discussing health reform, because my interviewer strongly disagreed with my answer. I don't know if he wanted to see how I would debate it, or if he just wanted to let me know I was wrong in his mind. Either way, I felt like I was put in a very difficult position. He and I just had different opinions, and I walked out of the interview feeling like my opinion in someway took away from my performance.
Nothing really difficult, it was so much more conversational than anything else. Pretty chill n relaxed.
Tho for me 4th yr interview, she was more intense I think. Asked about my most difficult experience ever, regrets i've had, how i've experienced diversity and stuff like that.
Interviewer said that he thinks some diseases shouldn't be treated in certain cases (ones that are largely due to patient lifestyle) because the cost of treatment for some of these diseases is what is causing the high price and unavailability of healthcare. Then he asked me what I thought about that.
All easy questions. By easy, I mean no hard policy/ethics questions. However, you better know everything about your experiences/desires for medicine/yourself front to back.
What do you think that I should know about you that is not in your application? (there were 9 essay questions in the supplemental and I hadn't prepared for that)
"What do you see as the biggest problem in healthcare?" (I promise that this was the most difficult one although "what do you do to relax?" and "what was the last book that you read?" were right up there with it)
Tell me about implicit memory development and face processing. (I didn't complete a lot of research in this area but was able to bring the question around to areas I knew more about)
Well, at first after explaining their process, he said that the first thing I needed to do was explain why I wanted to go to medicine. But without telling where he wanted me to go. Obviously "Why medicine" is fair but he asked it in a weird way. So I talked for a bit but then he started asking questions and made it more informal and conversational.
Who is your favorite composer, favorite woman composer, favorite woman soloist, favorite conductor, all asked in rapid succession so I didn't even have a chance to answer
I didn't have any questions that were too difficult, but some others felt that they were grilled (be able to talk about everything you mentioned in your essays!)
I don't think it's possible for you to have done all these extracurriculars. Did you do this one? This one? Tell me how you calculated your hours per week.
Are you aware of any recent news about prescription drug problems? (I talked about the recent Vioxx recall and how I thought it might affect the status of other COX2 inhibitors.)
How do you keep up with the advancing technology field and its effect on your practice as a physician? Specifically, what if patients come to you and ask you for your opinion about certain websites/new technologies they've found in relation to their illness?
What would make you choose UM over other schools you applied to? (besides acceptance, location).... I didn't really have an answer prepared, since I'm very interested in the school, they wouldn't have to do much to persuade me to pick them.
See above.... (FYI, I highly doubt this question will make it to a standard medical school interview question, but it has something to do with the spin of the earth)
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 1 person.
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?
Applicants commonly prepared for their interviews by practicing with mock interviews, reviewing common questions, researching the school and interviewers, and refreshing their knowledge on current medical topics. Many also utilized resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN), school websites, and their application materials to prepare effectively.
Used free mock-interview service at my school, did tons of MMI questions found on the internet with friends and family, a few sessions with an online interview prep person
I reviewed my primary and secondary application, made a list of the things about the school that interested me, and read the interview feedback on SDN.
Enjoyed Minneapolis and learned a little about the campus, SDN interview feedback, made certain I was up-to-date on health reform, and developed my thoughts and opinions on the matter.
I read sdn, attempted to read up on everything I don't know about the health care system but gave up very soon, read some standard interview questions and came up with specific responses to "why medicine" and "why this school"
I read other student's opinions of their interviews, read essays on health care reform, read novels and essays by physician/writers, rehearsed with friends, and reflected on my decision to become a doctor.
Reviewed AMCAS and secondary applications, brushed up on current medical topics, found a test bank of sample interview questions, explored U of MN website
Reviewed my application, looked at standard interview questions and the feedback on this website; brushed up on my past research/work experiences so I could talk intelligently about them.
SDN and reviewed my secondary and primary applications. I also went to the free coffee night before the day of the interview to meet with current second years.
poorly (8am interview and I managed about 4 hours of sleep the night before because I had to finish a term paper. In case you had not already inferred from my late interview date I am what some affectionately call: a procrastinator)
read SDN website and school website, looked up my interviewer to see what field(s) he was in (he was impressed with that), re-read my secondary application questions (IMPORTANT! a lot of my interview questions came directly off of mine, so make sure you know what you wrote!)
Visited studentdoctor.net, researched my interviewer on the school website, read my AMCAS and secondary applications, had my father interview me the night before from The 2004 Pfizer Medical School Manual.
The school provided me with the name of my interviewer in advance, so I looked him up on the school's website to find out his research interests. I also reviewed my AMCAS and secondary applications (especially since it was open file), and looked at previous SDN comments.
I thought a bit about how I would approach "standard" interview questions (maybe two hours looking over a list I compiled from interview feedback on this site).
Don't tell on me, but I just sort of "winged it". I know my experiences, I know my essay, and I know why I want to be a doctor. If you spend an hour "pumping yourself up", reminding yourself why you are a qualified candidate and go in there with self-confidence instead of a headfull of trivial MN facts, your interview will go much more smoothly.
SDN, knew my application well, read "Severed Trust", which details the troubles of our health care system (an excellent and very informative book)
Read my AMCAS, read the Univ. of WA bioethics site. Look at one of the late October reviews for the link (it's excellent). Read my 2' app and thought over and reread some of my research. Looked at the website.
read up on my interviewer's research (not a bad idea to get an idea of what he/she does); studied my application and research (definitely a good thing to do)
Explored the website, read through the catalog, wrote down a few things I wanted to highlight about myself as well as some questions for the interviewer.
u of mn website (not the best but good to get a sense of the school's curriculum) looked for sample interview questions online and also studied my application materials thoroughly.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the school staff, students, and faculty. They appreciated the positive and inclusive community, the supportive learning environment, the diverse opportunities available, and the flexibility of the curriculum. Many highlighted the genuine enthusiasm of the students, the excellent facilities, the focus on diversity and inclusion, and the low-stress interview experience as key positive aspects of their impressions.
The admissions team and student ambassadors had a lot of good things to say about student life and support. I was happy to find out about their ongoing review of curriculum to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hands-on learning was also a major plus.
The 4th year student who interviewed me and the 5 other students that I met during the panel and tour all seemed like people that I would get along with really well. The facilities blew my mind (I went to a really small school that had much less funding for undergraduate). What really finalized my positive impression was the faculty though. During the tour, we ran into 2 different faculty members. They seemed happy, excited to talk to us, and really genuine. I would love to have them as professors in the future.
Their curriculum is very solid and has a very good reputation. All lectures are recorded and uploaded, so you hardly have to attend lecture. All exams are based purely on powerpoint from lecture (also uploaded), so no need for textbooks (save for anatomy). Plus it's a big school so every imaginable resource is available
The number of opportunities at the school. The possibility to do clinicals all over the state. The friendliness of the admissions staff. How laid back the interview was (it was like having a normal conversation).
I really liked minneapolis, it is a really nice city. I liked the facilities, they are a bit on the older side but they do a lot to make things feel homey--lots of little study nooks and cafes in the school itself. I really liked my interviewers, the students and my tour guide, everyone was very nice and down to earth.
very nice and friendly people: I feel I got to know people, my interviewer, medical students and fellow interviewees.
The only medical school in the area: many opportunities/hospital rotations are open to medical student.
The main room for the interview day was very nice and had plenty of snacks and beverages. The admissions staff was very kind, as were the interviews. Very relaxed.
The city of Minneapolis, the campus, the facilities, the interconnectedness of the medical campus with the undergraduates, graduates and other health professions, the facilities dedicated to medical students
The students seem awesome, very friendly. Facilities are nice and the location is great. I love their new curriculum and all the opportunities it offers
The students: both those in my interview group and current students. I felt like they were a pretty chill, laid-back group and got along really well with everyone. I'm way out-of-state, and everyone was really interested in learning about me and my job, life, etc. The curriculum is changing for the better, in that they are becoming more clinically friendly in years 1 and 2. Also, I like the criteria they use to chose students: personal character and experiences are more weighted than MCAT and GPA.
Minneapolis seems like a great city, too.
I like Minneapolis, there is live streaming of the lectures, the admissions people were friendly, the interview was incredibly laid-back (with the med student, it was almost impossible to remain professional, felt like I was talking to some guy, a friend), pass/fail, anatomy is right away so you don't stink for an extended period of time, I like the VA a lot, and there is free printing, so people print their course packets for free!
The enthusiasm of the students; they seemed very laid back and happy to be there. The 4th year student I interviewed with was very honest about his experiences in medical school.
Free and plentiful lunch.
They made an effort to still give us some serious student contact during the day, even though students were on vacation. Our two tourguides were incredibly cool and fun and spent a long time answering questions, and it was great to also get some time with a 4th-year student. Students seem really happy and diverse. Lunch is really great, with no dollar limit!
I was very impressed by the students. They seemed genuinely happy at the U of M, and they seem to have a strong sense of mission and purpose without taking themselves too seriously.
Our tour guides were very friendly and enthusiastic about the school. The assistant director of admissions who gave us the introduction was informative and welcoming. The lunch was fantastic! We got to sit in on a second year test and tour through some of the labs--very nice.
You can eat as much food from the cafeteria that you want when you have lunch (people were eating ~$20 meals), the student ambassadors were very enthousiastic. They gave us great info about what sets their program apart from others - which was good to hear since my interview was later in the day, and the cpre teaching hospital and the rest of the health campus is all connected to eachother via tunnels (it gets cold in MN in the winter). They are renovating all the classrooms.
Everyone (except the administrative assistant) was extremely positive and nice. The school has some awesome programs and facilities, as well as opportunities to go abroad.
Up until we met the students, I was leary about the school (see below). However, the lunch and tour were absolutely awesome. First off, the students were VERY enthusiastic about the school and did a bang-up job of highlighting it's strengths. Most of these ''highlights'' are nowhere to be found on the website. eg...top ranked research/primary care, very dedicated faculty, tons of opportunities to work with rural/international health, extremely flexible for taking time off or doing clerkships at other schools. Yeah, crazy huh. I also loved Minneapolis; it's just like Seattle (best city in the US in case you were wondering).
The interview was in the morning, allowing you to relax for the rest of the day. Very friendly students. They seem to cater to different kinds of learning styles (online lectures, 24 hour access to labs etc.)
The interviewer was very casual and gave me ample time to respond to all of the questions. I was really impressed by the flexibility that the school provides.
The enthusiasim of the students there. The number of activities that are available to the students. They are very flexible with the students in order to allow them to pursue their own career goals. The staff seemed very laid back and easy to talk to.
Absolutely everything. The students were fantastic. The admissions office staff were very kind and helpful. The facilities impressed me as well even though I had heard otherwise. Also, go to the coffee hour they have the night before the interview. I learned so much from chatting with two 2nd year med students. I am now two days away from starting school here and couldn't be more excited.
The school, the city, the country, the cleanliness, the friendly people, the great facilities, the direction they are going with their school the future
Everyone was SO FRIENDLY!! It was the most pleasant experience, and they made you feel so welcome. The atmosphere is pretty laid back and very supportive. The admissions staff really cares about the applicants, and they gave wonderful presentations about their programs and financial aid. It's facilities are pretty cool and seem very up-to-date.
everyone was SO friendly! I'm from the midwest myself and I was so taken with how inviting and enthusiastic everyone was. random students would wish us luck along the way, and we ran into a group of first years right after they had taken an exam, and they took the time to talk to us about their experiences. it was wonderful.
I really liked the campus. All of the buildings are connected by tunnels so you don't have to go outside in the cold very often. Students seem to love it.
The Twin Cities (Minneapolis & St. Paul) have a huge breadth of health care facilities, all of which are open to having students do rotations there. The facilities and faculty are available for students to explore interests in primary care, rural medicine (one of the best programs in the U.S. for this), urban medicine, clinical/lab research, international medicine both locally (large immigrant population in Minnesota, esp. Hmong & Somali) and abroad.
The interviewer expressed to me that he was just trying to get to know me as a person. I also really enjoyed touring the school facilities. The school is very nice, and they offer a lot of high tech training instruments. Mary Tate is always a pleasure.
Everything. They have a million opportunities for students, and the staff really cares about you. The students were really cool, and you got an all you can eat lunch. The tunnels weren't bad either. Also, there was no downtime at all between any events.
The new interdisciplinary health resource center is quite impressive for its ability to remotely monitor student-patient clinical testing, practice simulated IV sticks and work on a high-tech programmable "dummy".
In addition, all of the students seemed really happy with their choice and felt that the "Honors/Pass/Fail" grading system reduced competitiveness and fostered a sense of class comaraderie.
The interviewer, the facilities, the admissions staff. The students who conducted the tour were very nice and friendly (in contrast to the student mentioned below).
The great enthusiasm with which everyone spoke of the school. I appreciate the cooperative, low-stress atmosphere.
My interviewer was great for putting me at ease. Talking to her was like talking to someone you'd meet at a party.
Everyone at the University of Minnesota is glowingly happy to be there. They are laid-back, welcoming, unintimidating, and excited about what they do. The staff is flexible with all the students' needs--many students there have a children or are pregnant and the school provides every means to help them balance their school and family lives.
Every single person that I interacted with, faculty and students, have very good things to say about the school - they can't all be faking it! The Minority Affairs Office is very active and a strong advocate for prospective and enrolled minority students.
I really like the clinical opportunities an chance to work with underserved communities. Also the simulation and learning resources areas were amazing!
The interview was very good. I think that the one-on-one, personal interview allowed me to get comfortable and allowed my interviewer to get a better idea of who I really am as a person. The school is very student-oriented.
Honestly? Almost everything. It's very hard to find a negative thing about this school. Affordable housing, enthusiastic staff, friendly students (no acting), diverse population, EXCELLENT LUNCH, beautiful city, lot's of scholarship (out of staters--dont worry too much about paying the fees). Airport is less than 30 mins from the school ( I fly a lot)I can go on and on.
The school is pretty fancy for a state medical school.
All students and staff were very friendly and laid-back. They had us do our interviews first, so we could relax the rest of the day (for the tour, lunch, etc.). The interviewer was personable, kind, seemed genuinely interested in me as an individual, asked questions relevant to my app, not just 'standard' questions.
Well, I actually attend this school, so I there were not too many suprises, but I was impressed with the brand-new, state fo the art. Also, my interviewer was really cool. I liked him a lot! He was retired but still active in admissions, and he talked about his grandkids, and some of his experiences with the changes in the medical field, etc.
Many of the buildings are either brand new or have recently been remodeled. The friendliness of all the staff and students. The first year students that gave our tour were very happy to be at the U and had nothing but postive things to say. The wealth of opportunities to get involved in activities outside of academics. The new curriculum/schedule gives more time during the summer.
Students loved it there, seemed to be pretty cohesive (studying in groups, even though I don't usually do that myself). Anatomy curriculum is packed into 8
I am a U of MN student, so I'm very familiar with the school. But the flexible curriculum in years 3 and 4 look great, and the new ananatomy course looks like a nice addition
the interviewer told me exactly what he knew about me--basically the first part of the AMCAS application--no grades or test scores. i could see the sheets and he had highlighted portions of my personal statement, which he later asked me about. he really knew my application info and asked about it--so be prepared.
Applicants were commonly unimpressed by the disorganization of the interview day, including long periods of downtime and confusion about the schedule. They also expressed concerns about outdated facilities, lack of diversity, and a feeling of being underground due to the school's physical layout. Suggestions included improving organization, providing more information about the curriculum and student life, and enhancing the overall campus facilities and atmosphere.
I thought they could have explained the curriculum a bit longer; they do a unique new curriculum at Minnesota, but we had a very short time going through this piece in terms of how long the interview was.
They ask the same questions each year. This seems lazy and promotes dishonesty in the review process - putting those who find out questions in advance at an advantage.
The school feels archaic. They acknowledge that the school feels outdated and have been trying to make improvements. But this is just a symptom of a very large state school, not particular to U of M
Nothing really. One slight turn off was the amount of "Why Minnesota?" questions I was asked and the feeling that as an out of state applicant I didn't really stand too much of a chance. Also (not completely negatively but as I said before, kind of a turn off) were the questions about "Do you think you'll fit in?" and the minor expressed doubt that I could acclimate to Minnesota and get along with Minnesotans because I had interests (like hobbies) that might not play out so well in Minnesota. Additionally, the lack of an answer by the students to my question about the class dynamics and interrelationships between the students.
-Common complaint: admissions doesn't appear to operate with a normal time frame, and is very very slow compared to other schools. I waited nearly 4 months after my interview to hear anything, despite having been told that I would hear within 6 weeks. I wondered how an admissions committee could even remember me after 4 months.
-Those familiar with UofM already know that most of the med school classrooms are underground. I should think it might be kind of depressing if that's how you spend most of your days.
The students seemed a little lack-luster about some things... not as motivated as I would expect (at least my tour guide). Also, no university housing for med students (unless you live in a fraternity)
Overall, the day was short. Granted, I didn't want to be there all day, but I feel that they didn't "sell" the school like some of the other medical schools.
high tuition for public school (even IS), no electives the first two years, facilities left something to be desired, most of the interviewers were running late
The study spaces didn't seem particularly comfortable, the whole place was underground, which was a little strange, you probably need a car in years 3 and 4 bc the Light Rail isn't particularly developed yet, and worst of all, the social atmosphere is said to be pretty cliquey - there is apparently a "popular" student council-ish group like in high school! My 4th year guy also said there is too much practice in simulations, not enough with real people.
Students I met didn't really give thoughtful answers to my questions. Too many people I went to high school with are there. Not a very diverse school ~85% Caucasian, ~85% Minnesotan.
There was a great deal of confusion about the 4th-year student interviews. We were informed that the school was ''moving away from formal student interviews to an informal group Q&A'', however it turned out at the end of the day (after I had let myself relax, thinking I didn't have another interview) that the students were still conducting formal (30-minute, closed-file) interviews. Even though the ''free coffee'' attachment was sent to us with our confirmation email, the event actually wasn't happening since all the students were gone. Also since students were gone, we didn't get to observe a lecture or see many students in their natural ''habitat''. Too much dow-time during the day! You'll have a minimum of 1.5 hours of just sitting, so bring something to do. Tourguides couldn't get us into the anatomy lab or bio lab because security had changed the codes on the doors.
The slight disorganization of the interview day. We, the interviewees, were meant to have a second interview with a 4th year med student, but none signed up to interview us on that day.
My interviewer thought I was supposed to have my interview an hour earlier than the admissions office told me. This made the interview feel a bit rushed. Also, while I thought my interview went fairly well and was fair, my interviewer didn't seem very well prepared for my visit.
didnt like the interview with the 4th year. the interviewer became quite uncomfortable and a little threatened after i asked him/her a difficult question.
Not much. We didn't get to sit in on a class because there were none scheduled since everyone had tests the day before. I was looking forward to watching a lecture.
The main rant I have is that the interviews are FIRST thing in the morning and are VERY LONG. My interview was at 8:30 AM, and lasted until 9:50!! Not only is it pretty tough to be on your game at 8:30, but you go into it without having heard all of the good stuff about the school. Because the school website doesn't have a lot of information about the school, it's really hard to get a good answer to those ''Why do you want to go to U of M'' questions. The facilities were moderately ghetto. By that, I mean some parts were brand new, and some parts were hella 60's. I guess that doesn't really matter unless your materialistic. Just kidding, I'm sure non of you applicants are materialistic ;)
There was supposed to be a 2nd year med student tourguide, but after waiting no one showed up. So the 4th year who had given the talk gave the tour but she got lost and was kind of random. Then we didn't eat lunch until after 1pm which was tough since my interview was at 8:30am.
the interview day was a little disorganized. also, i wish they would have had multiple interviews...mine was even shorter than the 60 minutes i thought it would take.
Parking. I had to pay 11 bucks for six hours of parking! Try to get a ride if you can. Otherwise, I have no complaints about this outstanding institution!! (besides that i'll have to take biochem this summer if i get in :( )
The interview day was not particularly well organized. There is 1 interview, which is immediately after you arrive, but no one was sure if we were supposed to go to the room (some of which were on the other side of the school) or wait for the interviewer to pick us up. There was also some down time during which nothing was scheduled - the office sent us down to sit in on a lecture.
The student who was supposed to tell us about student life at the medical school. It really seemed like he did not want to be there, and had someplace better to be.
My interview seemed extremely nonchalant and unorganized. I understand the need for a relaxed setting but I had spent the time to dress up in a suit and tie and my interviewer looked like he barely had had time to come his hair, let alone wash his jeans and fleece. Also, the general atomosphere was stuffy and I felt like we were supposed to feel like we were privileged to be there. I didn't feel welcomed
lack of more explaination about the program, came away feeling like it was just long day filled with answering questions about myself but learning less the other way around, also don't know much about the med program
The buildings all share space with the pharmacy and dental schools, so it seems really big and not intimate, though I was consistenly told the opposite by current students.
The winter. However, there are tunnels and skywalks so everything is cool. Like I said, you must have a pretty nasty experience before you find a bad thing about this institution. I really hope I get in.
Not much... I wish they would have talked a bit more about student groups, volunteer and shadowing opportunities. However, those are questions you can ask the student guides directly. Oh, parking is expensive.
There was a program about financial aid, which wasn't very interesting to me, although it probably would have been beneficial to have at least pretended to pay attention. (These are the things that can come back to haunt you...)
The inteview day itself- it wasn't organized very well and we didn't get to talk to that many current students. And it was short- I'm glad I didn't have to fly here for it.
1) The director of medicine was like a car salesman, and really spent his time talking about his illustrious career and how great UMN med is- if it's so great, let it speak for itself a little more. 2) With the pass-fail grading system, students I talked to mostly just seemed intent on JUST passing, even though your scores will be used for residency selection, recommendations, etc. My tour guide quoted me that students probably only study 1-2 hours (if at all) a night.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews were relaxed and conversational, not meant to be stressful or challenging. They also noted the importance of being prepared to discuss why they wanted to attend that specific medical school and to relax and be themselves during the interview process.
I would have read up a bit more about the school curriculum on the website.
How relaxed the interview would be (especially the faculty interview in my case). I am glad I didn't spend more time prepping, because it really isn't needed.
That there would be no breakfast and not too much interation with the student body (granted the day I went no one was in class - the first years were all in exams and second years were on independent study time)
The interview is assessing the 4 areas that the U of M believes is essential in medical students (on their website). The interviewers ask questions to gauge these aspects, which would have been nice to know and tailor answers to what they were assessing.
How relaxed and informal most of the day would be. I had friends who were grilled during their interviews, but mine was one of the easiest yet. Just depends on who you happen to get I suppose.
Not to be nervous, and that they weren't going to ask me any ethical questions. I was all worried about answering questions about the U.S. health care system, but I got along with my interviewer so much that we actually got into a long an involved conversation about the topic!
Discovered after my interview was scheduled that all the students were on vacation as of 12/17 and there would be no lecture to observe. Also discovered after my interview that my interviewer may well have been the discoverer of the sodium pump!
I was pretty well informed about everything, but people should read up on the MED 2010 initiative, the flex MD program, and the U of MN's goal to become a top 3 public research institution in the next decade. They want to know why you want to attend there, and you might interview early in the day before the presentations about this material
Maybe I was too preoccupied with other things, but I didn't expect Minneapolis to be so freaking cold. On my interview day, the temp was about 4 degrees farenheit. It snowed 6'' about 10 miles south of the city. Plan this accordingly since the airport can sometimes be shut down due to snow delays, especially this winter. ALSO, Minneapolis has AWESOME light rail. For about 1 dollar, you have a fast ride from the airport to downtown, and to the Mall of America. See my plug for mall of america above.
There was a dinner for us in the evening. It was a really great time, but it would have been nice to know about it advance for planning my travel schedule
The school really believes in it's mission: changing the inequities of healthcare throughout the world. It's refreshing to be in such a left-wing and compassionate environment.
not much, thanks to SDN, but i should point out also that they interview a tight pool of candidates, so they offer admission to about half of them...AKA relax!
First two years are pass fail. I learned this at the coffee house hour the night before the interview. The student was really helpful with information.
I was a little stressed because my last interviews had gone well, but I was waitlisted at both. I wanted to make a good impression because it's my state school, and so many things about it are appealing: amazing facilities and opportunities, cheap tuition (not compared to other instate rates, rather to private schools), nice students, and close to my family! As someone mentioned before, they do take half the people they interview - so relax! If I had to do it again, I would be a little more solid with stuff on my resume. Oh, and make sure you are pretty comfortable talking about current health issues.
Applicants are told to arrive at different times. I had one of the later arrival times, so even though I got there a bit early, I felt late. That threw me off a bit.
The day lasts through 2pm. I'd have been able to prepare better if I'd not anticipated being done by 1pm or so.
Also, ~460 people are interviewed; 250 are offered admission. I had no idea that the odds were that good.
The interview was SO casual that I was a bit angry at myself for getting so nervous. I would have been better in the interview if I would have just calmed down beforehand.
There was more down-time during the day's events than I anticipated. They really could do a better job 'meating' the day's schedule or provide the option of dropping-in just for the interview. It can be tedious spending a great deal of the day with fellow candidates. I guess what I'm trying to say is they probably need more interviews ....one?!
That the admissions process has changed this year, so they give fewer interviews; also, they have no quota for residents/non-residents... they're considered in the same pool. all this means we had better chances of getting accepted!
That anatomy is done in a block in the first seven weeks. The students said that it was strenuous, but enjoyed only having to worry about the course by itself. Your application is evaluated by a number of people before the final decision is made.
Applicants commonly mentioned that the interview process at the University of Minnesota was generally laid-back and conversational, with interviewers focusing on getting to know the applicants as individuals. Feedback highlighted the positive and friendly atmosphere of the school, while some applicants expressed minor concerns about organization and communication during the interview day.
Nice interview, the actual interview with students and faculty was very casual and friendly.
There was a CASPER-style virtual interview before my actual mission interview. I scored in the 2nd quartile on CASPER and thought I kind of flubbed this one up but I still got in
On Zoom. 20 minute interview followed by MMI. Lots of breaks. You get the questions at the start of the day and don't know which one you'll answer until you are in the breakout room.
The admissions committee at this school has poor communication with applicants. Applicants are encouraged to ask questions, but answers are often too vague to provide any relief during a difficult and long process. Other schools are more responsive to feedback and give more meaningful information.
This is really a great school. While it's old, it really does have a massively collaborative environment and very good academics. I would love to be accepted here
I got the general impression that none of my interviews were trying to set me up for failure. They just want to get to know you, make sure you're normal, and that you have an interesting perspective on medicine.
UofM is an awesome school and I congratulate all those who got in. I was bummed that I got wait-listed. I rank it very highly next to the other schools I visited.
The faculty interviewer doesn't know your GPA or MCAT, so the whole interview is very unbiased. They want to know if your personality would fit with school and medicine. It's very relaxing.
Student interviewer doesn't know anything about you. You'll have to explain, which is good.
I was very impressed by the school, especially how well the students got along and how dedicated the faculty is to the students. Our student tour guides were very unconventional and simply gave us their raw opinions on various aspects of their school... mostly positive. From their feedback, I gained the impression that the staff was very dedicated.
Every student also agreed that the environment was very cooperative, as the P/F system essentially neutralized any competition whatsoever.
Also, everyone (including professors) heads to the bars after exams. Awesome.
If you interview with Dr. Martel, consider yourself lucky. He makes you feel very comfortable and puts you at ease. He just wanted to know about me and what my passions were. Just a nice conversation in general.
Arrive at 8am, curriculum and fin. aid presentations for ~1hour, then interview. Then we sat around for an hour; then 2nd-year students showed up for long tour (in which doors were locked so we couldn't see labs) and tasty lunch. Tour was entirely inside, but it's a lot of walking. Then we sat around some more waiting for our 4th-year interviews.
Very informative. I gained a better understanding of what the various years of medical school might be like at the U of MN. I am now even more excited about attending.
Overall, I was impressed by the University of Minnesota. The students and faculty I met were helpful, and there seemed to be a genuine feeling of community and dialogue amongst everyone at the school. I was disappointed that my interviewer and I were told different times for the interview, which caused the interview to feel rushed. I also wish my interviewer would have been more prepared for my visit. I'm not certain that he had read my personal statement. I actually liked him a lot, which prevented me from feeling completely disappointed with the mix-up. It was energizing to meet someone who has been in medicine for a VERY long time and still really loves what he does.
It was a great experience. The people were incredible and we were treated well. The interviews were very laid back and the entire day had minimal stress.
two interviews- first with a faculty member, admissions committee member... those last about 45 min. then you attend a lecture, tour, eat lunch, do a lot of waiting in between, and have a 4th year student interview you... which is awkward depending on your interviewer... some are very friendly and others are way too shy and not very easy to talk to...
The day was well organized and it is obvious that the administration wants to attract good candidates. The only ''hitch'' in my day came up during my interview with a 4th year student (new feature in the interview process) because they forgot to forward him my file. But we ended up having a good interview regardless. If anything, I was sold on the school just based on how happy the students were and how willing they were to offer insight and advice.
Everything was exactly as expected. The interviewer just went through my application and asked questions based on what I had written. I could tell I was the millionth applicant she had gone through this with.
The day begins with the interview. Mine was at 9:30 AM. My interviewer's previous interview ran long, so mine was a little late. Since my interview ran a little long too, I wasn't able to sit-in on a class. It was optional anyway, so I just waited in the admissions office waiting room. Paul White gave a presentation on the school, and a financial aid representative spoke. Afterward, we were picked up by the student tour guides. My tour guide was really hilarious and enthusiastic, and the school was great. Lunch was the last activity of the day, and it was a great meal.
Very comfortable day. I checked in to the office at 845, had my interview from 9 'til a little after 10, had an opportunity to sit in on class, got a tour, a schpeel from the admissions director, and a delicious lunch.
My interview was the first thing on the agenda and lasted for 80 minutes. We could have attended a class but both first and second years were taking exams that day. We sat around for an hour and attended a seminar by the dean of admissions, financial aid office, and the dean of students who came in for Q&A. We were then greeted by our two awesome tour guides who took us around on a tour and then to lucnh at Fairview. Overall the day was great.
Pretty informative and everyone was super nice! The director of admissions was really funny and my interviewer was very sweet. Lunch was amazing and overall the interview was very laidback, they really wanted to get to know you and not stress you out. Interviews are suppose to be 30 minutes but lasted longer.
I wasn't really sold until the student's met us for lunch/tour. The early interview (first thing) could be considered good or bad depending on the person. But, since the website doesn't have a lot of info about the school, and the interviewers want to know exactly what you like about the school...It would've been nice to have the tour first. Minnesota is cold as balls, so prepare accordingly. Finally, I would recommend you go to the Mall of America. It's quite a spectacle: 400+ stores, 50 places to eat, huge indoor amusement park, wedding chapel, over 3 million square feet. Good way to kill time before a flight. Take the light rail from downtown, it'll get you there in 20 minutes for less than a buck. INFO ABOUT THE INTERVIEW: your interviewer only has your AMCAS without grades or MCAT scores. They do not see any of your letters of rec, or anything from your secondary.
It was a very positive experience. At the beginning of the interview, it was clearly stated that it was a chance for the interviewer to get to know me. The interviewer was very open and the interview was very conversational. We got caught in a conversation and had to cut it short because I had to go sit in on a lecture. At the end, the interviewer was positive and said he would like to be a colleague of mine.
My interview was very straightforward. No ethics questions, in fact, no questions that were meant to make me squirm. My interviewer treated me like a young professional and didn't even ask "Why medicine?" I got the impression that he felt that if I had made it this far, I knew what I was doing. We basically went through my list of ECs one by one and I described them in greater detail. I brought along a minature version of my research poster and showed it to him. It was easier to briefly describe my research by showing him pictures rather than going into long boring detail.
I had googled him beforehand and saw that in the 60s he had studied under a surgeon who had a building named after him. When he asked if I had any questions, I asked him about the surgeon. He lit up and pointed to a portrait on the wall and told me that it was that particular man, then he went on to describe this person's philanthropic principles. He said he hoped I got in and he'd write up a good recommendation for me. I couldn't have asked for a better interview.
My interviewer was very old (ca. 85 years) and made several inaccurate statements regarding items on my application. I wasnââโ¬âโ¢t sure if he was intentionally making ââโ¬Åโmistakesââโ¬Âย to try and catch me off guard and trap me in a lie or if he was just old and had not thoroughly read through my application. I did my best to politely correct him but after about the 5th or 6th mistake it became a bit awkward.
My interviewer was kind of strange. His name is Dr. Levitt of Physiology. He was very kind but also very soft spoken and non-conversational. He loves details and anything he asks you about he will pry deep underneath it. He didn't just focus on my application though, which was nice, and we ended up talking politics for the last half of the interview. At first I thought that he was taking notes while I was talking but soon realized that he was just doodling on my application. I think the guy might have a mild case of Asperger's syndrome, but that might just be me being quick to diagnose. But he was soft spoken and had trouble making eye contact and very detail oriented so maybe I'm right.
The interviewer was very casual and gave me ample time to respond to all of the questions. I was really impressed by the flexibility that the school provides.
Overall it was reletively low stress and personal. Many of my questions were pretty non-traditional regarding things I was interested in and the ways I felt about current medical issues. My interviewer seemed to want to get to know me more than anything else.
Everyone was very casual, which almost made it difficult to keep a professional attitude. Make sure you don't get so caught up in casual conversation you forget to sell your good points. (I think this happened to me a bit.) Have things you want them to know about you ahead of time and make sure you fit them into the conversation. They don't seem to ask the generic questions but just ask questions off your essays. Also, side note, don't worry about weather too much. There's underground tunnels everywhere so we never went outside. It's easier to not have to cart around a coat.
I enjoyed the interviewer and going to the 2nd year class. The rest of the program wasn't very organized, but I think that was because the dean was out of town.
I arrived at 8:30 for my interview at 8:45, but they had changed the time on the interview without telling me, so I had to sit outside her office for another 45 minutes. That was the only bad part of the day however. I interviewed with Dr. McLoon, she teaches anatomy to the 1st years. It took a minute to connect with her, because she likes to talk alot, but she was very nice. The questions she asked were pretty standard though. After the interview there is a short presentation about the school (short but impressive) and then there is a tour that is given by students. Make sure that you wear comfortable shoes, because the med school campus is large and spread out. I didn't have problem but some of the girls in high heels did. After the tour they take you to the cafeteria and you can eat whatever you want. There was quite a bit to choose from so that was good. Overall the experience was good, and I hope I can go to school there.
I had a great interview experience, my interviewer was very friendly and interested in finding out who I am as a person and the school was great in how the classes are run and the information presented.
my interviewer was a nice old man who had recently moved from TX to MN. i talked about myself a bit, then asked him about his research (tumor vaccines).
Very positive. I was a little afraid because I was interviewed by a 4th year student. I assumed beforehand that she wouldn't have as much weight as the other admissions committee members. I was completely wrong and she was great at making me feel comfortable and welcome.
We talked about our backgrounds and why we each were interested in medicine. Dr. Hill asked me question based on my responses to understand how I see medicine and what role I will play as a physician.
Amazing. It was just the best interview in all of my graduate and undergraduate experiences. My interviewer was so excited and kind and really made me feel relaxed (and very welcome).
pretty good, the staff and faculty were so enthusiastic about the school and very passionate about everything they talked about. you could tell they really believed in the school and its qualities.
I had a great interviewer who put emphasis on the conversation more so than interrogating me, which I was worried about beforehand due to horror stories I had heard. It was a "getting to know you" exercise and it seemed to go well, with few awkward moments. One thing I appreciated was at the end of the interview he made me stop and take the time to think, for a full minute, of anything I had forgotten to add to the interview...he didn't want me to leave the office and regret not having said something. Also, the questions flowed nicely between one another, and while there were some difficult ones he never seemd condesending if I didn't have a snappy answer. Rather we would discuss and debate the issue between us.
Very good. The applicants were all friendly, the students were nice....everyone seemed very intelligent and down to earth. My interviewer was extremely friendly as well.
Very positive- my interviewer made me feel like we were old friends, looking back I think maybe it was TOO comfortable... but at the end he told me he liked me and was going to write me a good review.
The interviewers don't get your scores or grades, only the responses to the essay questions, which they have looked over beforehand. Know thyself, and know thy application, too!
Although my interviewer was a bit challenging (I had to defend everything; he seemed to think I had lied on my application - I had NOT!), the school seems pretty good. I'm not sure it's the right fit for me, but I can definitely see other people having a great experience here.
University of Minnesota sounds like a great place to go to school. True P/F cirriculum and you get to make your own schedule for rotations in your clinical years. Very well balanced school as far as research and primary care. Seems like whatever you want to pursue, they afford you significant opportunity to do so. Most importantly, you are are surrounded by great people.
It was great. Even though I am familar with the U of MN campus and student life somewhat, I found myself still very impressed by the facilities, student and faculty.
The interview itself was pleasantly relaxed. The interviewer had copies of my AMCAS PS and Experiences, but nothing else (as far as I could tell). Having the interview over before 9:30 AM made the rest of the day more enjoyable.
Overall, the day was very pleasant. Our interviews were scheduled first thing in the morning so that we could enjoy the rest of the day. The formal presentation by the admissions department included several members of the administration who both seemed very eager to help us out any way they could. Two second-year students gave us a thorough tour and offered their candid opinions (largely positive) on a variety of subjects. Unless you have a good reason to do so, don't stress out about this interview.
The interview was laid-back and conversational. No surprise questions. The interviewer only had my personal essay and secondary application essays to go off of, so we mostly stuck to discussing things I had mentioned in them.
We were taken for a tour of the clinical skills practice area by the director of admissions, whch was special. She seems very down-to-earth and was very open about how the admissions process works at UMN. We had a rather lengthy tour of the campus with two medical students that were happy to be at the school. Lunch was great, the second best I've had on my interview tour. My interviewer was quite nice though I don't feel we adequately discussed my application, interests, strengths and intentions. He strayed a deal into sports (an unfamiliar terrain) and when I told him that I had an issue on my application I wanted to highlight in case it came up in the Admisions Committee's deliberations, he told me that wasn't necessary because he had taken a close look at my application. Considering that it was the only interview I got, I thought the response was unusual. Other than that, I think the University of Minnesota is a great school if you look past the out-of-state figures.
I was totally unimpressed and disappointed by the majority of the admissions staff. They are unfriendly and would prefer to not talk to you or answer questions if they could. The school seems ok but the lecture halls are all underground and they look uncomfortable. Overall, I'm sure it is a fine institution but the school is a reflection of its northern climate, cold.
overall it was a good, conversational interview and the whole day around it was great. the students really like the school and were laid back. i was impressed by the facilites and all of the resources they have available for the students. we were also able to sit in on a lecture which was nice. we were given a lot of information and the day was very worthwhile I thought.
This was by all means that one-in-a-hundred unforgettable hellish interview. My beliefs were attacked at every step of the way, from the college I attended to my political stance. I realized the interviewer wanted to see how I could think and how I could defend myself, but I was really turned off by the interviewer's seemingly arrogrant attitude.
After nearly two hours of arguing, I left the room feeling pretty awful and angry, and it was even worse to hear how every other student interview was really laid back and conversational. But don't worry, I got accepted even though I thought I really messed things up.
the professors you meet are doing very interesting research and they'll be happy to answer questions on what they do and even invite you into the lab to show you so those parts are fine, the interviewers are kind, but it feels like you're make to jump through hoops
I had a great interviewer, so it was really low stress and easy. I liked that they told me the name of my interviewer ahead of time so I could look him up and know a little about him. The admissions office seemed a little disorganized in that I didn't receive my itinerary until the day before my interview, and they told me the wrong place to wait for the shuttle to the other campus to find my interviewer...
The school is great. The staff was helpful and friendly, and the students here like to have fun. The facilities are nice and newly renovated in some parts, and others need to be worked up a bit. My interviewer was supposed to be conversational, but ended up as him asking me one question after another, more like a grilling session. Some of the questions were very tough. Overall, my experience was +ve and I would not mind attending here in the least.
My interviewer was a PhD so she drilled me on my research projects. At first, it was not very laid-back, mainly just question and then answer, but then toward the end when I asked her about her own research, we got a bit more conversational.
The program was a little unorganized but made up for it with outstanding resources and an obvious committment to education. The students were really accessible and my interview was casual and comfortable.
I really had a great day. The school has a great program and the people there are always willing to help the students. The facilities for pre-clinical work are pretty cool also.
Interviews are supposed to be 30 mins. My interviewer was pretty cool so we "chatted" a lot as she was conversational. I spent about 15 mins talking about her own research so my interview was over an hour.
Great institution! They feed me really well. Everything was organized and professional but they still communicated the fact that they want you to be comfortable. Some of the special things at the U includes:
Emphasis on International medicine
Emphasis on research
Numerous hospitals around for rotations
Early clinical exposure
Flexibility in classes during the 3rd and 4th year
Massive emphasis on physican and medical student well being.
Overall, I really liked it. The students seemed non-competitive and laid-back, and they genuinely liked the school. The physician I interviewed had many positive things to say about UM graduates as residents.
It was a fabulous day (except for how early it started)! There are three steering committee interviews, which were really interesting. They were all very different, and yet still probing in their own ways. Then there is a student interview, which is pretty lowkey. Finally, there are three informal interviews with faculty at the school to introduce you to some of the research going on there. There is also a tour and a nice lunch at a restaurant at the top of the memorial union.
My interview was very laid back. He started off by asking me where I was from, what I liked to do and why I wanted to be an MD. From there, he told me some interesting anecdotes and a detailed description of how the admissions process would proceed. He emphasized how hard they try to make the process fair but luck sometimes played a role. He then asked me if I had any questions. I asked several and then he sent me on my way.
I got there early, and my interviewer was already there so we started early! It was extremely laid back, and I suggest being honest. My interviewer asked my what books I read and I honestly told him I didn't really read books. He laughed, and I got accepted, so don't worry... you don't have to be a perfect candidate! Just be yourself!
I chose a morning interview, which was great so I could relax the rest of the day. Had about an hour program at the school from 11-12, where we learned about the cirriculum, financial aid, admissions. Then a current student took us on a tour of the school and to lunch. Pretty short day!
It was overall a positive experience and I would recommend anyone who has an interview at the "U" to attend. Please try to take advantage of their student hosting program as it really helped me.
The interviewer had my secondary application and my personal statement but didn't have grades or MCAT scores. He pretty much just asked me to elaborate on things I wrote about that he found interesting or important. He spent about a quarter of the time getting off topic and telling stories. It was more of a conversation than an interview.
The interview was very laid-back and informal. The questions were all personal and related to my essays and experiences, nothing ethical or hypothetical. My interviewer was very encouraging and genuinely seemed interested in me. He had worked at a number of other institutions and said that the U was his favorite. Overall I felt that the interviewer really got to know me (as much as someone can in 45 min.)and what I had to offer.
The day overall was enjoyable, the fellow interviewees in my group were nice and the interview went well. The lady checking in folks at the admissions office was a little surly, but hell, I would be too if I had to deal with snooty pre-meds all day everyday.
Overall, a good experience. The U of M med school seems very laid-back with little competition (gunners may consider going elsewhere). Be prepared to find your interviewer's office in the maze of buildings--you get no escort.
My visit was enjoyable. I had my interview in the morning (you can request this- do so!) so during the rest of the day I wasn't nervous like the students who interviewed in the afternoon. I'm from out of state, so my interview seemed to be mostly about whether I would stay in MN after graduation- he perked up though once he knew how much family I had in the area/state. The students they've selected for interviews seem to be very relaxed and interesting people, and the whole health building seems to be actively growing.
The interviewer had all my information except for test scores and GPAs. Many of the questions he asked were about my academic experience and experiences. The school seemed to try to make sure the interviewers did not ask inappropriate questions.
Very, VERY informal, more of a conversation than an interview. It ran longer than the alotted hour. My interviewer was congenial and made me feel very comfortable, as well as really listening to what I had to say. We talked about books, our organic chemistry experiences, and how death is treated in the medical profession. An excellent experience.
Although most interviewers said their interviews were casual and conversational, mine was not. The interviewer did try to be casual and informal, but it mostly ended up being question, answer.
my interview was very relaxed and enjoyable. He just asked questions about my background (not difficult questions, just "get to know you" types of stuff). We went an hour and a half, although it it didn't feel like it. Just be relaxed, be yourself, have some fun, and you'll do fine.
Everything seemed quite informal, from the presentation to the interview. Everyone interviews at different times, but all convene for an informational presentation, tour, and lunch. The disjointed schedule made for a very independent, relaxed atmosphere. The interview itself was nonconfrontational and conversational. I guess one should know why Minnesota (esp. if you are out of state).
The interview was very laid-back and conversational. He was familiar with my application, and made a few general comments about my personal statement and a a few of my experiences. The interview concluded with "I'm going to give you my most outstanding rating. I think you're exactly the kind of person we want here. I hope you come here, and look me up if you come because I think you have the perfect personality to be a great surgeon." Yikes.
My interview was early and went quickly. Interviews at the U of MN are notorius for being very laid-back and my interviewer told me right away that he would not ask any "trick" questions. Once the interviews were done, the 30 or so of us interviewing that day were given a short presentation about the curriculum and what the school has to offer in general, and then given a quick tour before lunch. The most beneficial aspect of the whole day was how they put all of us together in a waiting room...it seemed restrictive at first, but we were soon all talking and venting our nervousness. Although I didn't really click with my interviewer, it was a positive experience overall. I should also mention that interviewers were given by students (on the adcom), current MDs, doctorate level researchers, and even a retired MD.
The interview was very laid back and my interviewer was very friendly. There was a information session, tour and lunch program from 11-1:30. Interviews were held before or after the program. It was nice to have the interview before so I could relax the rest of the day.
this was my first interview. i was pretty nervous, but the interview was mainly converstaional. all of the students are really happy to be at the u of m, which really made me want to go there.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest improvements in communication efficiency, organization, and hospitality, such as providing clearer information on the website, quicker responses to inquiries, offering breakfast during interview days, and enhancing the interview experience with more relevant and diverse questions to better assess applicants' abilities.
It'd be nice if the logo on the glass bottle is the school color. It'd be great if we can meet the dean of the medical school on the interview day. Some MMI questions don't really test how students would respond in real life (such as standing up to the people who have an influence on the students' career - how one acts ideally is different than how one would act realistically).
If you're going to use MMI and not change the questions, you'll select for dishonest students. You really need to get it together and not give groups the same questions session after session, year after year.
I would suggest that they have some sort of breakfast for the applicants or at least let us know that there is no food at the interview day until lunch.
