Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 9% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low 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 encompassed topics such as reasons for pursuing medicine, research interests, handling stress, teamwork abilities, specific experiences, career goals, and personal hobbies. Respondents also mentioned questions about their application materials, challenges in healthcare, choice of medical school, and hypothetical scenarios related to the medical field. Many responses indicated an MMI format with some respondents possibly under a nondisclosure agreement based on mention of confidentiality around specific questions asked.
What would you like to do at Michigan? (Michigan really wants to support their students to pursue their own interests, so they care quite a bit about people's passions)
Why medicine? (i'm a non-trad coming from the public health field so it was important to clarify why I would move from a broader impact field to medicine. It's more typical for med students / physicians to want the public health perspective than vice versa) For those non-trads, practice providing a clear response on this question!
Specifics from my personal statement (i.e. expand on a certain aspect). Also, how did your parents' legal profession impact your decision to go into health care?
Alumni: Why Medicine? Why Michigan? Research? Asked questions about most of my activities (e.g., Why did you volunteer here? What is your research about? He also asked me how one of my research methods worked and how it related to one of his techniques, so that threw me off a bit just because I didn't remember what his stuff was about). Referring to the extreme economic problems of my home state, what's going on in California? Any questions for me?
We also talked about football, Ann Arbor, reducing costs in medicine, and what medical field he thought would be good for me.
Faculty: How is Michigan a good fit for you? General conversation about activities. What are your thoughts about Obama's health plan? After I expressed uncertainty about how it would be paid for, he asked me how we could reduce costs (luckily my other interviewer and I had just talked about this!) Any questions for me? Is there anything else I should tell the admissions committee?
Student: Questions about my teaching job/foreign volunteering experience since he had done similar stuff. What was hardest about this activity? Do you have any questions for me?
MD Interview: Why medicine? Why Michigan? (Had to spend extra time convincing interviewer because I grew up in Ann Arbor and went to college here too!) Tell me about "insert extracurricular here".
Student Interview: Why medicine? Why Michigan? Tell me about "insert extracurricular here". What would you do if you couldn't practice medicine? Summarize/update research publications progress (not questions about the research itself).
Do you have any specific questions about the Family Centered Experience I could answer? (I expressed interest in it and my interviewer was one of the faculty leaders of the program)
Explain more about x activity. Describe your research experience. What could be potential problems that you face during at the onset of your medical education?
A urological oncologist. How did you get involved in shadowing? Why surgery? Why Michigan? What are you looking for in a school? A casual conversation about surgery/surgical training.
An M2: What did you do at the free clinic? Did you discover anything interesting from your research? What do you do for fun? You're OOS...why Michigan? Why surgery? Do you have any questions for me?
An M4: Why not MD/PhD? What do you do for fun? Why surgery? Any questions for me? A casual conversation about clinical research, away rotations, the flexibility of the M4 year, etc.
what do you do for fun. strengths/weaknesses. Do you have a significant other? How will you deal with moving away. DO you know what speciality you want to do.
Why Michigan? (The interview feedback here on SDN made me think that I would be asked this question by every one of my interviewers. But really I only got asked in my last interview, at the very last minute of our time.)
Tell me about your research, how you may want to incorporate research into your career, and how you think research impacts medicine generally. (asked by an MD/PhD)
Hobbies/interests: Tell me more about your music. All three interviewers wanted to know more about it - how does my instrument work? have I been to music camps? do I plan to continue playing?
you took a lot of philosophy type courses in the beginning of college, explain this (kind of caught me off guard, wouldnt really call the courses i took philosophy)
They just want to get to know you in an informal way. Talk about things you might be interested in doing @ med school.
2 faculty interviewers and one student. All very kind.
What made you change your mind from engineering to medicine? (specific to me because I was an engineer and made a switch into medicine in the middle of college)
My goal with you today is to determine whether or not you're an axe murderer and whether or not I'd trust you with my 3 year-old child...so what do you want to talk about?
An alcoholic and a non-alcoholic need a liver transplant. There is only one liver to give. The non-alcoholic has two kids. The alcoholic shows no desire to improve their behavior......
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of Michigan Medical School discussed a wide range of topics, including personal influences on choosing a medical career, ethical scenarios such as noncompliant patients and non-disclosure agreements, and the integration of technology in healthcare. While standard questions about applications and motivations were common, some interviews delved into unique areas like favorite superheroes, family relationships, and hypothetical scenarios related to healthcare decision-making.
What are your thoughts about Obama's health plan? After I expressed uncertainty about how it would be paid for, he asked me to talk about some ways that we could reduce costs in medicine.
I currently go to UofM for undergraduate and my interviewer went to UofM for undergraduate and medical school too. So she asked me what I thought would be different about my experience between undergrad and med.
Wasn't a particular question, but I had a great conversation about health policy with one of my interviewers (don't worry. I was asked because it's one of my interests).
Nothing too interesting, mostly just about my background, this interview was very conversational so I had to steer it towards my strong 'selling points'
First question of the interview day by the student interviewer: How does being in a fraternity (on my AMCAS) help prepare you for a career in medicine.
How has your musical interests and involvment in music been shaped by (or has shaped) my interest in a career in medicine? (I did quite a few music extracurriculars)
After reading me an e-mail in which a woman blamed him for the death of her husband, who refused to listen to medical advice, one physician interviewer asked how I would feel to receive such a letter. What would be my thoughts/emotional responses?
Imagine you are walking down the street, and a box falls from the sky. It is addressed to you, and it says it contains $100,000 that should be used to reform health care. What would you do with it?
Looking at your application you are interested in population research...how do you feel about 4 years of one-on-one clinical experience (i.e. won't you get bored, etc.)?
I was asked no unusual questions. Generally, all of the interviewers focused on a few areas: Why do you want to be a doctor? Why Michigan? & questions that addressed the depth of your understanding of what it means to be a physician.
My goal with you today is to determine whether or not you're an axe murderer and whether or not I'd trust you with my 3 year-old child...so what do you want to talk about?
If you were going to perform surgery on a child whose parents' religion prohibited the use of blood products and the child would surely die if you did the operation without them, what would you do?
Nothing comes to mind! Probably the most interesting moment was when one interviewer told me flat out that he was there to make sure I wasn't a serial killer or something!
You have done many different activities and have had many different hobbies. How do you see all of your life experiences fitting into your life as a physician? How do you see it all coming together?
You are given 100,000 dollars to improve healthcare. How would you spend it? (100,000 is not a lot of money to fix the system...so it was sort of a difficult question to answer)
There wasn't really a question. It was more like a statement. Something like, "You seem very qualified...let's just make sure you're not crazy."
If I had the choice of giving a liver to a 25 year old who could go a year without it, or 55 year old alcoholic who needed it immediately...which would I choose and why>
Michigan recently went to the Supreme Court about Affirmative Action. What do you think about diversity? What if you were the person "unfairly" selected against in favor of a lesser qualified URM?
If you had a pile of money, large but discrete, to spend on aids education and research what percentage would you distribute to each? For America? For the world?
it was actually an ethical question that addressed the issue of euthenasia. I was quite surprised when the professor asked me in which state was it legal, luckily I knew the answer which was oregon.
"Did you see LeBron James play last night? Is he nasty or what?" Keep in mind this was asked by a surgeon, who watched The Chosen One on TV the night before.
You're interested in combining research and clinical medicine, what if I told you that in order to do research you'd have to devote only 30% of your time to clinical practice?
There weren't really any questions that required a lot of thought...Honestly, the most interesting questions was probably: Name three or four words your friends would use to describe you.
There were one or two expected medical type questions (biggest issue in healthcare), but mostly it was talking about myself and why I wanted to come to Michigan.
If you had a patient in jail who faced the choice of having a kidney transplant or being on dialysis for the rest of his life, what would you do? What if someone who was not incarcirated could use that same donor kidney, who should get it? Kidney transplant vs. dialysis has no difference in survival, only quality of life issue. Okay, so now what if I told you now that a kidney transplant is MUCH cheaper in the long run that dialysis, should the prisoner get it now?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Michigan Medical School discussed various topics such as personal qualities for being a good doctor, challenges in healthcare, ethical dilemmas like handling patient death, views on abortion, and motivations for pursuing medicine. Many responses also hinted at a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, potentially involving nondisclosure agreements, with interview questions ranging from career choices to ethical scenarios and healthcare reform impacts.
What can you say to convince me that you won't struggle in your first year? (My uGPA and MCAT were not stellar despite high grad GPA and lots of experiences). Fair question and fortunately, answered it well! If you know your main weaknesses as a candidate, be very prepared to address that weakness head-on, not make excuses for the past.
Is there anything else I should tell the admissions committee?
I didn't have anything to say (I hit all the big points I wanted to in the interview), so I sort of sputtered that I really liked Michigan (truth), but I think it came out really awkward. Oh well.
No really bad Q, but my first interviewer had a dead-pan stare going the whole time. No reaction to what I was saying at all. Threw me off the first couple of answers.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years? This was difficult for me to answer because I'd always wanted to do private practice...but it felt unprofessional to say that, so make sure you think about other possibilities like maybe participating in public policy, going into academic medicine, etc.
Do you have any questions for me? (For the 3rd time) I didn't have any more questions at that point, so I just re-capped the qualities about Michigan that I liked, and the things I learned from the questions I asked my 1st two interviewers.
Do you consider yourself very religious? (I had listed volunteer activities I did through my church on my primary application. I wasn't sure how to answer this one diplomatically since I didn't know my interviewer's opinions.)
What do you think are the three most important qualities for a physician to possess? What do you think you will find most difficult in medical school/once you become a physician?
You say that you're interested in primary care and the underserved, and you're from Washington. I'm sure that you'll get into UW which is great in those fields, so why do you want to attend Michigan?
(Since I was interested in doing International work in rural China): Why do you want to help China in particular? Why not rural American communities that also need medical attention?
After reading me an e-mail in which a woman blamed him for the death of her husband, who refused to listen to medical advice, one physician interviewer asked how I would feel to receive such a letter. What would be my thoughts/emotional responses?
how do you deal with difficult patients
if you are so into research (which I had done a lot of) then why do you want to go into medicine rather than research
You wrote that freedom of choice in terms of what branch of medicine (academic or practice) you could go into was a big factor in influencing your decision to go into medicine. Well what if a hospital hires you as a practicing physician and you want to do research but they make it hard for you?
I wouldn't say that there were any difficult questions. It was just a conversation, and the interviewers seemed like they just wanted to get to know me.
None really, but one interviewer did tell me that I had dominated the conversation. This is completely true, and it's probably also why I didn't get asked any difficult questions. ;)
You mention you felt helpless in the Peace Corps being just a health education volunteer. But sometimes you are helpless as a doc, as well, when a patient has a terminal illness. How will you deal with that?
How can your Faith (the Baha'i Faith) resolve the problems between Israelis and Palestinians? (he was talking about how it's in our nature to be like animals)
"So, this is the last interview date for Univ. of Michigan. There aren't that many spots open. Please tell me why you should be selected. In other words, tell me what I can say to the admissions committee to accept you."
There really were no difficult questions. All 3 interviewers were very friendly. I had 3 leisurely conversations about my interests, my experience etc.
Follow-up question to above: what aspect of the alternate career is related to medicine? in what way could the skills from the alternate career be useful in medicine?
We get a lot of very strong applications for a limited number of spots. We're looking for a well-rounded student body. What can you bring to this institution?
If a collegue delivered exceptional medical care 29 days of the month, but gave poor medical care one day a month, what would you do? Is it your decision to deny patients access to an overall great doctor?
See Above. Everything else was really straight forward - just back of the hand knowledge about yourself. Nothing on ethics, health care issues, controversies inclinical medicine.
none - despite what I'd read on SDN, I didn't get any tough questions. all my interviewers were on the young side and all were very nice, so maybe i just got lucky.
What would you do if you had a patient that did not listen to your medical advice? What if that patient was a drug addict, whose drug abuse ruined his heart valve, which required replacing, would you do it? What if it happened a 2nd, 3rd, or more times?
The best part of your clinical experience in Africa was spending time with patients and developing a relationship with them. Will you still want to be a doctor if you can only spend 5 minutes with each of your patients?
why did I want to be a doctor. eventhough that isn't necessarily difficult for some reason I felt that it would be challenging. I've been asked the question many times but this time I was not prepared.
"So it looks like you are a criminal. Tell me about your alcohol violations." This was asked by a current student, one of my interviewers. When he said this, he was laughing, and he wanted to reassure me that he was from New Orleans (Hint: Mardi Gras) and had put much worse "activities" on his application. Take home message: If you must put down school violations or other "indiscretions", don't fret about it, because if it were important, you wouldn't be invited to Ann Arbor in the first place.
None. All the questions were very straight forward and pretty much geared toward getting to know why I'm pursuing a career change (I have a PhD in Chem. Eng.)
There were definitely no difficult questions in general. One interviewer had me discuss the limitations of my research -- that was probably the most difficult question.
the ideal school one. argue one side of a medical ethics issue - but argue the side you disagree with. (i.e. if you are pro-genetic screening, argue against it) why don't you have any publications from all this research. (had to go into the icky situation of removing my name from a big research project due to ethical objections towards how the study was conducted)
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 reviewing their primary and secondary applications, reading interview feedback on SDN, researching the school's website, and practicing mock interviews. Additionally, many applicants brushed up on current events, healthcare policy, and medical ethics to be better prepared for potential questions.
SDN, looked over my AMCAS and secondary, browsed the admissions website, talked to current medical students at UM, talked to faculty and former admissions committee members
SDN, U of Michigan website, U of Michigan student chats (live) and transcripts (all posted online). Felt like I knew the school and the atmosphere of the school really well.
Nothing, really. I tried to keep up on current events since the Obama health care plan was pretty big in the news cycle for the week before my interview.
mock interview, read own app, SD interview feedback, Michigan website and promotional materials; Bodenheimer Health Policy book and U of Wash. bioethics website (both of which were not useful at all for this interview)
Review primary and secondary, read about UMich on website, some light reading on healthcare and visits to npr.org, SDN practice questions, mock interview
just chilled out, i am pretty sure the point of these interviews is just to make sure you are not an average premed psycho (i'll know if I was right in october)
Since it was my first, I had a mock interview with the Career Services office at my school. I also looked over the school's website and my application.
Read over interview feedback on SDN and review my application. I also practiced a mock interview and researched the UMICH website about latest breakthroughs and news.
SDN website, UMich website (read up on what kind of research they are interested in by looking at recent research grants they received, research departments and centers that are opening, and other such trends), looking over my secondary app. to UMich and my AMCAS app.
Reviewed application, read SDN, prepped for the standard interview questions (which I didn't really need for this interview), and talked to current UMich students and friends who had interviewed already
Re-read my application (the interviewer has access to your AMCAS and your secondary too), read interview feedback on SDN, read about the school on its website, practiced answering interview questions.
I compiled a list of all of the questions people had posted here in the last year. None of the odd/atypical questions were asked. I spent a lot of time refining my answers to "why medicine" & "why Michigan." I reviewed my AMCAS application and application essays. I listened to "Hail to the Victors" from my UofM Marching band CD! :-)
I downloaded their M1/M2 guide to survival--"Code Blue"--off of the webpage. It has everything about the school in it. Reviewed my AMCAS application and secondary materials.
What everybody else does, reviewed this site. My essays. I wrote what I considered to be the 30 most common questions I would be asked on notecards and my answers on the back.
read over questions on this site and looked up some ethics stuff, read umich's website (med admissions website is not terribly helpful, but if you do some searching, you can find what you're looking for), got a good night's sleep and had my dad drop me off at the front door
studied website and various programs school had in place, read this site, watched school videos, read school's principles and objectives. learn "why michigan", i was asked more than once
Read the MSAR and SDN reviews, reviewed school website, talked with M1s and M3s from the school, and went to bed early. (The interview day starts at 7:30am.)
I am a UofM undergrad, so I had the opportunity to go see the facilities ahead of time. Reading SDN. Reading the website and brushing up on their new curriculum. Talking to current students. Reviewing all AMCAS and secondary materials.
practiced having friends asking me questions from this website and Kaplan's admissions guide. Also read the (somewhat meager) info available on the website.
Brushed up on health care issues. Talk to medical students and read through examples of interview questions. Brushed up on my past experiences/research.
Read as much as I could about the school. Reviewed my own application very thoroughly. Kept up with current events, and read the feedback on this site. Don't worry - the interviewers were super-nice, and it was just an enjoyable conversation.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and admissions staff at the University of Michigan. They highlighted the well-structured and efficient interview day, the emphasis on work-life balance, the innovative technology integrated into the curriculum, and the welcoming atmosphere of the campus and surrounding area. Many also appreciated the transparency of the admissions process and the school's commitment to student success and happiness.
The most well orchestrated (and most fun) interview day I've had
One of my traditional interviews was with an alum. He didn't live in Ann Arbor and literally flew in to just interview me. I was pretty touched by his service to the school. The untour experience was also very fun. And the students were the most enthusiast bunch I've ever met at any school!
The medical students were very friendly and happy, none of them had any complaints about the medical school. Everyone in the admissions office were friendly and approachable. The interviewers all tried to make the experience as low-stress as possible. The simulation lab was pretty cool too.
The students, the faculty, the facilities, the admissions team. Fantastic school! The admissions process is extremely transparent and they tell you the # of candidates accepted and give you an exact date of when you will hear a response. Also, the admissions organizes interview days really well. You're always hosted by a number of students.
The impressivness of the school. It's huge and the whole hospital screams WE GOT MONEY! The students also seemed very friendly. They seem very attentive to the students and to the school's image. There is also a ton of school pride. Go Blue!
Everyone was really friendly and loved UofM. They always stressed that they had flexibility with their time, mainly due to flextime quizzes and online learning material.
The school is very well-run. Students are VERY happy. P/F first two years. I love the flextime quizzes. Family centered experience seems cool. Also, the students seem to have lives outside of medicine...which is definitely something I was looking for.
How candid, happy, and confident the med students are. One of my interviewers followed up on one of my questions and emailed later in the day with more info.
Organized way of doing the interviews--you don't have to run around to all different places. Lots of school pride. I think I would like the block curriculum. P/F. Family Centered Experience where you spend time with a patient with chronic illness during your first two years.
Friendly admissions staff and students. The whole admissions process is the most clear and easy to follow that I have experienced. They said, "You will know our decision Dec. 1 between 2-5pm EST. So that aspect was great
The interview day structure, the students, the school layout, the curriculum, ...everything! I want to go here! Also, my third interview was an alumnus and the sweetest old man I've ever met. He clearly loves his school since he's doing it for free. They're so wonderful--hope that you get an alumni interviewer.
Friendliness of admissions staff and students. Flexibility of curriculum. Research opportunities available. Breakfast & lunch. Facilities. Online pathology/histology. Recorded lectures.
They knew all our names, and even during the break time, a faculty member came and talked to me about an orchestra for medical students (he knew i'm a violinist).
We had a lot of un-supervised contact with current students, and they all seemed very enthusiastic. The student body was very diverse in terms of age distribution and background.
Fantastic ''sales pitch''. Everything was well organized and on time. They gave us breakfast and lunch, and we had presentation about every aspect of the school. The night before we went out with current students and talk to them-they were great and all seemed happy. Flextime quizzes are a good deal, they video record every lecture, P/NP grades.
The admissions staff was amazing. They really go out of your way to sell the school to you and even though the interview day is large, you never feel like you've been lost in the crowd. Things feel personalized, and the students seem , helpful, and enthusiastic.
Everyone was incredibly friendly all day. The entire affair was non-stressful. The interviews themselves were just conversations about me and my activities that I had listed on the AMCAS. Nobody grilled me about anything and the staff were very helpful as well. The medical campus is expanding and the university seems to take really good care of its students.
Enthusiasm and friendliness of students and admissions staff. It is clear that Michigan takes good care of its students overall. Innovative, flexible curriculum.
enthusiasm of the students, social life, flextime exams (they get the entire weekend to take a weekly quiz whenever they want), the school pride and the inviting atmosphere, how cool all the interviewers were and all the students
how much the admissions people seemed to care, curriculum, facilities, ann arbor, and especially the other students I met who seemed very down-to-earth and genuine
The enthusiasm of all the students I met. Of all the places I ended up interviewing, none of them were happier or friendlier than those at Michigan. The same could be said of the admissions faculty and the two doctors with whom I interviewed. Also the flexibility of taking quizzes anytime between Friday afternoon and Monday morning is very appealing. Straight P/F classes for 2 years. Med students at U-M have a life outside the classroom.
Incredible facilities and program. Faculty seemed very committed to students and to the system in place. GREAT admissions staff and very user-friendly admissions process.
The enthusiasm for the school; the friendliness/care of the faculty, staff, students; the training and technology; a centralized campus...The professors knew the students' names. I LOVED IT!
Both the faculty and the students are extremely enthusiastic about the school. The school also seems to really encourage students to have a life outside of medical school.
The hospital and medical facilities are huge and really great. Also, the medical school is pretty technologically advanced--they have all the slides on the internet and have really cool interactive learning programs on the internet. Also, the people were friendly.
Everyone was very, very gung-ho U-M. Even when asking the students about what could be better or what they didn't like, the only thing they thought of was 'parking'. And it seemed pretty genuine.
As has already been said, the friendliness of EVERYONE I encountered from the cab drivers to the applicants to the director of admissions to all the med students. They really go out of your way to make you feel like they care about you.
The medical students are so excited about their school. All the ones I met (M1s and M2s) said that they were less stressed than they thought they would be, and that they liked how they could actually have a life outside of med school.
Everyone at the school was very nice and the interviewers were laid back. No one tried to make the day stressful. U. Michigan seems to truly care about student feedback, and as a result their unique program has details, such as the flex quizzes, that allow students to adjust their schedule and have a life outside of medicine.
Students really seemed to like the pass/fail system for the first two years. It eliminates competition, and it hasn't negatively affected the school's pass rate for the Step 1 USMLE. In fact, U of Mich's average score for Step 1 is two standard deviations above the national average, so the students definitely aren't slacking off because of the pass/fail grading. Also, all the lectures are video taped, so you can access them if you missed anything or if you missed a lecture. It allows for lots of flexibility. Finally, during the tour we got to go into an anatomy lab for about 15 minutes and watch the students dissect the posterior leg. It was very cool.
1st year students took me and other prospectives out to a bar and we had a really good time. The people were very very friendly, more so than other medical schools that claim they are friendly
Everything is new. The building that students are taught in is beautiful, state-of-the art, well-equipped. All of the students had great things to say about the school, especially of the supportive administration. No one seemed stressed out.
this is a damn good school. the students are excellent but normal, the hospital system is very strong, the town is nice but not too expensive, and there is a positive focus on student training.
All my interviewers were very fun to talk to. Admissions staff was very helpful. Liked level of internet integration in curriculum. Also P/F grading for first two years, and powerpoints and lecture videos online.
Everyone was very friendly and welcoming; the admissions staff and the students had a sense of humor and tried hard to put everyone at ease. The facilities are great, students seem really happy to be there.
Everyone there seemed to really love the school, and the people couldn't have been nicer. The whole day really made it seem like they were trying to win us over, rather than the other way around.
The students are SO friendly and it is extremely clear that they balance very strong academic skills with vibrant social lives (I went to a party with some M1s so I got to experience it first hand). Also, the interviewers and administrators make you feel very welcome. Ann Arbor is pretty awesome (I thought so coming from Charlottesville, VA) and the medical center is HUGE (looks like a fortress or something)!!
The school is huge but easy to navigate. The facilities is very new and modernized. The students and admission office staff were so welcoming and very friendly. I enjoyed meeting everyone and getting a feel for the student life at UMICH. Everything is laid back and the interviews are stress free.
The location of the admissions office (it's immediately in front of you as you enter the building); the admissions staff (they escort you from the second you enter the building and through out the day so you don't have to worry about getting lost); the friendliness of the interviewers (they were very conversational and easy to befriend)
Everyone seemed very happy with the school and the students appeared to really enjoy going to school there. The interviewers were also down to earth and interested in what you do that is not medically related. It is nice to see admissions staff that value keeping your life well balanced between school and everything else.
UMich is SO technically savvy and the admissions process is truly geared towards making your day easy! The faculty (interviewers) are so accomplished but so accessible. Students are in love with their school!
You'll hear this again and again, but FRIENDLINESS of the admissions people, the students, and interviewees was awesome. They must put something in the Midwest water. The hospital is HUGE - it has 4 helopads for helicopters to land.
How friendly and happy everyone was. The technology they had to aid students. The fact that the interviewers treated me as an equal rather than being condescending, and they definetly had the best food of any of my interviews
Michigan has state-of-the-art technology, fantastic research and clinical opportunities, and a warm, diverse student body. Ann Arbor is a nice town, and the classes are all P/F for the first two years. (This is a new change made since the MSAR was printed; it used to be just the first year that was P/F.) Merit-based scholarships are awarded to some students. (You don't have to apply for them because you're automatically considered.) The entire hospital is wireless, and you never have to go outside to go from building to building, which is good in Michigan!!!
The caliber of both current and prospective students, that they're ranked #3 by residency directors, the friendliness of all the admissions staff--even the dean, that you're given a free PDA for keeps along w/ 1 yr free subscription to ePocrates,
The friendliness of the students and how laid back everyone was. one faculty interviewer specifically pointed out that faculty focus on helping students because they're paid through a salary, not through grants that they need to earn. U Mich apparently introduced "plasticizing" of body parts (the method that creates the figures for Body Works.)
It was obvious that Michigan cared a lot about the students and they all seemed happy and enthusiastic about their education. I like that they intentionally have large (40+) groups of interviewees in at once so that you have a chance to meet a lot of people who might end up as your classmates. Details of the exceptional preparation student's receive during their 3rd year were impressive. The 45 minute interactive presentation on their medical education technology was also impressive. I like the FCE and Medbuddies programs a lot too. The quality of achievement, character, & personality of my fellow interviewees was impressive!
The integration of technology into the curriculum to assit the students with their studies (online recorded lectures, PDAs, online quizes and exams). The facilities were modern. The students seemed extremely happy with their education. The interview day was perfectly structured so the interviews were conducted in the same area and were back to back. By lunch time the admissions stuff was over and the rest of the day was spent with students.
Pretty much everything. One of my interviewers stressed that U of M really keeps the "triangle" of research, patient care, and teaching "equilateral." I found this analogy to epitomize the U of M experience.
Just how much of an effort is put into making you feel like they are recruiting you personally, the enthusiasm of the students, the desire to excel among the faculty and administrators, the fact that they are 3rd on the Residency Directors Preference List, the flexibility of the schedule, the use of technology
Everything about Michigan is wonderful. They make you feel like you will be a part of the medical school community and they will try their hardest to ensure you succeed there. The technology is also top notch.
The facilities were incredible, but not as incredible as the curriculum. I'm a procrastinator, so I think the weekly quizzes with the flex time would really work well for me (and anyone else with a similar problem).
The students were all really cool and the learning environment wasn't competitive at all.
Everything - the admissions staff is very friendly and I felt like they had taken the time to get to know my application, the facilities are amazing and the new construction should make the health center world-class. My interviewers really knew my app and were genuinely interested in talking to me. They all loved the school and made me really want to go here. The faculty seems very responsive to student feedback. I really like the technology (flex-time quizzes and tests - take them online from Friday 5 PM till Monday 8 AM, PDAs for 3rd years, online clinical skills simulator for practice)
The sincere enthusiasm of both the students and faculty for the school and the new curriculum. Also, I was impressed with the amount of technology used for things ranging from anatomy lab to patient interviews.
The enthusiasm shown by the students, faculty, and staff. Everyone seems pumped to be at UM, and really wants us to go there too. Plenty of time for questions, and their answers seemed real and un-canned.
people are NICE, in the whole state. even random people in the bathroom were really sweet. They're laid back and straightforward, technological stuff (online lectures) REALLY cool.
Honestly, everything about the school impressed me! I absolutely loved it. The facilities. The intense devotion to wolverine football. The interviewers who were extremely nice and down to earth. The admissions committee who were on top of their game. The current students who were all high caliber students. The other applicants. The school's committment to diversity (not just racially). The huge hospital! Flex time--def. ask about this!
how happy the students seemed. how amazing well they do in the boards and the match. their organ-based curriculum (especially computer-based/online part of the curriculum).
SO MUCH! Everyone is mad friendly, the school has great facilities, the curriculum is flexible, and they seem to treat their students really well--this was all evidenced by everything from the well-equipped student lounge to allowing students to choose anytime between Friday afternoon and Monday morning to take their quizzes and tests. People seemed really down-to-earth and unpretetnious.
The faculty treated me well. I felt as if I was wanted. The campus was beautiful and the school is ranked high. The school funded the visit (MSTP only).
The professional air of interview day at UMich was amazing. UMich holds interviews only once a week, so although the interview group is immense (about 40 people were interviewing with me), UMich is better able to concentrate its resources to make a glossier and more powerful presentation. My interviews were with 2 faculty members and 1 third-year medical student. All three interviewers were engaging, friendly, and obviously interested in my application and in representing me before the admissions committee. Their questions were both challenging and interesting. The rest of interview day was just as good--we got a full introduction to UMich's campus, reputation, and curriculum; a group Q&A with a roomful of friendly current medical students; a full tour--even the financial aid info session was more detailed and helpful than those at other schools I've been to. Perhaps best of all: I received a notice of acceptance to UMich not a week after my interview date. Very, very impressive.
Even being an undergrad here, I didn't quite realize how nice the facilities are. The school is ranked in more lists and publications then I have ever heard of, including some VERY impressive ones (Residency Directors Ranking = #2). All the students were really nice, and you really got the feeling that they enjoyed being there- all very low stress. They were all very proud and happy about the fact that the curriculum at UM is very "customizable" to your preferences and lifestyle as a student. Ann Arbor is a great town. The flex-time testing program M1, as well as P/F M1 and possibly M2 are great features. Clinical time starts M1. Lots to be impressed by here.
everything! the school is beautiful, the facilities awesome, very clean and new looking, the hospitals are outstanding, they are building a brand new cardiovascular center, and ann arbor is gorgeous! the faculty seemed really cool and the students were really sweet, they even gave me rides from and to the airport!
Flexibility of tests (can take anytime during weekend), early emphasis on clinical training (one full week every two months from start of year 1), laid back students, responsiveness of administration to students concerns (they are considering changing 2nd year to P/F based on student opinion). very technologically oriented education
The school ran seamlessly. Everything about the day bordered on perfect. The admissions office people, the interviewers, and the students all were very friendly and genuinely interested in having a conversation. There is a really big emphasis on technology in the curriculum and the facilities are great. Also, Jack Kevorkian went there.
The faculty and staff were incredibly friendly- everyone seemed genuinely happy and eager to get to know the interviewees. Also, they have all the lectures online and there are many opportunities early on to get clinical experience through volunteering and shadowing.
The dedication of UM to its students. The faculty seem available and enthusiastic about teaching. The students seemed like a tight group that was put together to be able to work with each other well. Also, UM's commitment to technology to improve health care and learning the medical sciences. And even though it was cold, windy, and rainy, Ann Arbor was still beautiful. Plus, I saw a great ice hockey game!
This is really a great school. I'm surprised that it doesn't have the same national recognition as some other schools that are ranked lower. Awesome technology integration, weekly quizzes during M1 (great for keeping procrastinators like me in check), organ-based curriculum, Ann Arbor is a great little college town.
the friendly tone of all the admissions staff and interviewers. they weren't out to get you and they made that clear. all classes are recorded and can be watched with high speed internet.
Students were SO happy there, and there was tons of school pride. Everyone was very generous, honest, and laidback. The only thing they could complain about the school is parking; they loved their school. Ann Arbor is a cute town with lots of ethnic restaurants.
The postive gut feeling that I had as soon as I stepped in the medical school. The friendliness of student body, staff, administration, and faculty members. The uniqueness of their admission process: the fact that at midnight of Oct 15 I found out that I was accepted. They held a chat session prior to my interview, which helped me prepare!
People were really nice and friendly. My interviewer was a specialist in the exact field I had expressed interest in in my application, so I thought it was either a really good coincidence, or the adcom had matched me with him beforehand. Everyone was relaxed and the admissions people were sure to make us feel at ease.
The students seem very relaxed. UMich has a great rep. The administration listens to students. And you can take quizzes/exams anytime over the weekend, although this is only for first years for now.
The interviewers were very nice and personable. I was expecting the interviews to be more stressful. The facilities are very nice and the computing resources are impressive.
there was not a lot of down time. We had an extensive computer session, an in-depth financial aid presentation, and good Q&A session with current students from all levels of the medical school.
The students were cool, they weren't dorky like other schools cough WashU cough. I missed the party they threw though =( but it prolly woulda been gay anyway compared to the undergrad scene
Everyone there genuinely loves it there! They admit that the winter weather season sucks but they are all friendly people who LOVE their school and the interviewers are genuinely interested in meeting the people who want to attend their school.
*Lots* - great interviewers, students, and admissions staff, great technology, exciting new curriculum, great hospitals, strong MD/MPH dual degree program, strong primary care, strong research, great residency placements, huge university, and on and on and on.
the interviewers were extremely nice and the interviews were set up back to back so it was all done really quickly. the day was well-planned and the students tried to make it fun for the interviewees.
Curriculm changes, students, presentations were humorous and lively. ranked 3rd by residency directors in the nation! great technology--the best i've seen. wireless internet everywhere.
The admissions staff made a concerted effort to make the day as least stressfull as possible. After arriving to the admissions office, they escorted you to where you needed to be and were very friendly and supportive. The students seemed really happy with the school and I was impressed with how highly U of M is regarded by residency programs
The school is constantly trying to improve itself, building new structures, reconfiguring its technology . . . to make learning easier for students. Also, great university town-very safe!
University Hospital is a beatiful, state of the art facility, as are the other hospitals (children's, cancer/geriatric, outpatient facility); UM's reputation in the eye of residency directors; students themselves were great; the computers and technology integration into the curriculum - this is the most techno-happy school I've seen so far (even more so than Baylor in my opinion); Ann Arbor seemed like a great place to live and be a student
Everything. This is a fantastic medical school. Curriculum, board scores, residency match, facilities, friendliness, administrative support, technology, great town, etc. I could go on and on. I loved it.
The first two years as they lay it out: good early clinical learning, good lecture/sm group mix, and *absolutely no hassle* first year (ie, P/F with online quizzes to be taken at your convenience)
The school has ridiculously good facilities and research. The clinical training is superb and the professors and deans I met really seemed to care about the students and their overall success. Definitely seemed like a family atmosphere. Ann Arbor is probably the best college town in America during the summer.
The school is fabulous - the people were both intelligent and friendly. Perhaps the most diverse student body I saw in any of my interviews; there are students from a huge variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. I really can't say enough positive things about the place, and I sensed that others in my interview group felt the same.
The size of the entire hospital, which makes sense since it is freezing cold in ann arbor. The place was so clean and looked absolutely new. One thing that did stand out was the student's repeated emphasis that the professors are not that stressed out and therefore are more focused towards educating medical students.
The facilities seem great. The students seem positive and friendly. It seems to be a low stress/low competition type of environment. Ann Arbor seems like it would be a lot of fun.
How happy and down to earth the students were. I was scared I would be spending the next 4 years of my life with zombies and robots. Really cool people who are proud of their school.
The students were the coolest. My host in particular was a high-energy guy and this is the first school I've interviewed at where we hung out in a bar all night before the second day of interviews. The MD program has alot of cool features, such as quizzes that you can take any time over a weekend, taped lectures, and a fairly inexpensive and detailed student-run note taking service.
The new curriculum--they're putting a lot of effort into making their curriculum better, more integrated with IT, and more invovled in the clinical components earlier.
All the people I met -- students, faculty, staff -- seemed particularly friendly, interesting, and helpful. Ann Arbor seems like a great place to live.
The facilities are amazing - they have really update many of the labs. The student lounge is also the nicest that I have seen in a medical school. The school is also very great about computers - they are everywhere, and there are many online resources that blew me away.
Facilities, students, faculty. The university is putting many resources into improving the medical school, the students were happy, and the faculty and staff very nice.
How friendly and laid-back everyone was. The admissions people were joking around with us, and the students were very helpful. Everyone looked like they were genuinely happy to be there and excited about telling us about their school, rather than look like they were just required to be there and give us the party line.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the challenging nature of some MMI stations, outdated facilities, cold weather in Ann Arbor, lack of diversity in the patient population, and limited parking options. Suggestions included improving organization of tours, addressing the competitiveness among students, providing more structure in the curriculum, and emphasizing a better balance between technology and human interaction in the learning experience.
Some of the MMI stations were a little challenging than I thought they would be.
We were told at the start of the day that we wouldn't get any weird questions and that it would be conversational but one of my interviewers asked me lots of unusual questions
Students said average class attendance is 50-60 out of 170. Many students don't even use microscopes because all the slides are available online (that's good from a technology/convenience standpoint, but I don't want my doc not knowing how to use a microscope).
Cold. Think Michigan/Ann Arbor would be a hard place for my significant other to find a job. Lack of electives for non-clinical studies. Really huge which is a + and a -. Didn't like how they sent a facebook of all the other interviewees--felt my privacy was not respected. Students only do half of the dissections in anatomy in groups of 3 (6 people to a cadaver). Students felt that the anatomy lab was taught exploratively and was not as structured.
The students basically said that only about 30% of people ever went to class. It is nice that the online lectures make that possible but it doesn't seem like a great way to see your classmates
The weekly flextime quizzes have to be taken at a computer on campus. The large class size: anatomy groups are split up so you only do 50% of the dissections.
Ann Arbor is a good college city, but I think I prefer bigger urban environments. The access to a diverse population of patients is not as great (which I guess is almost a given for a suburb). Some students were a little hesitant in their answer when I asked how they liked Michigan so far (Although many also immediately answered "I love it here!").
THe 3rd years said it was a little competative and people were a little cut throat in trying to impress attendings. THey didnt have any presentations specifically about dual degree programs.
The sinking feeling when I realized that I was going to end up living in Michigan my entire life. Don't get me wrong, Ann Arbor is lots of fun, but I have lived in the area my ENTIRE life and it would be nice to live somewhere else for a little while.
Not a lot of pre-arranged options to do rotations outside the U of M health system (although there are opportunities to go abroad, and you can set up your own away rotation).
One student mentioned that they didn't like the workout facilities at the school. We didn't get to see them but from the way they described them, it didn't sound great.
Though I only encountered a few of the students, it seems a little like the medical school version of a party school. Also, I sort of got the impression that the students felt a little arrogant about the fact that they go to ''The University of Michigan'', always toting the top rankings.
Not much. I found out the the grading system is high honors, honors, or pass, so it sounds a lot like a grading system to me, just without A,B,C,... Still, the students didn't seem competitive.
Didn't really get to see the sun while I was there (apparently it is gray there a lot). Also, not every student gets to perform all the anatomy dissections (not sure if this is the norm at other schools though).
I don't think they did as great a job as they could have selling the school. I know that the school has electronic model patients for us to practice certain techniques, but we didn't get introduced to that.
Ann Arbor is an expensive place for a student to live, and the school does not permit OOS residents to gain state residency after the first year. The cost of the school is its biggest overall drawback, but they do award some grants and scholarships.
For me, Ann Arbor is a small town and I kind of felt trapped--not sure I could live there for 4 years. Also, the schedule is really flexible, which for me is bad because I prefer more structure and solid deadlines.
I didn't really like the town or the medical school facilities. They were pretty run of the mill. Also, I never felt like I got an accurate picture of what the student body was like. I didn't get to interact with anyone who wasn't part of the admissions process.
Staff and faculty are effusive with their praise about U of M and it seems a little suspicious. It's almost as if they have a inferiority complex. If you know you are good, you don't need to repeat it every 5 minutes.
not much - AA is a great town, but it's lacking in diversity (luckily, you can do some clinical rotations in Detroit if you want to), worried that because lectures are video-taped and put on the web that no one would come and it would be harder to interact w/ classmates
Might be a little too lecture-based for me. Also, the great push for online lectures, labs, quizzes, clinical observations, and chatting seems great, but I wonder if it also dehumanizes the experience somewhat...
I'm from GA, so I won't lie....it's cold and that is something I'll have to make my peace with if I choose to go there. Oddly, I was the only southerner there, and out of ~20 girls, I was the only one wearing a skirt suit!
Not much -- perhaps the winter weather is a little daunting, especially for people like me who are used to the mild, snow-free winters of western California.
The rankings were thrown in your face what felt like several hundred times throughout the day. I think everyone was fully aware before they got there that it is a great school. No real BIG negatives to the interview day or to the school in general.
They kept talking about how good the school is. And they took back the name tags at the end and put them into a basket. It made me feel like they were going to pick candidates by picking names out of the basket!
The one weakness is that the patient population is not very diverse in Ann Arbor, but UofM hospital is the major medical center for all of Michigan, so you will see a lot of different types of cases.
The tour. My guides seemed like slackers who barely went to class. You absolutely don't need to attend all of your classes to be successful, but I don't feel that they were the best representatives for the school.
The students seemed to oversmphasize that grading in the second year was good but it seemed more competitive and stressful than if the first two years were pass/fail.
A nurse who came into the bathroom after the tour, asked students if they were studying medicine, and then told them that all the doctors she knew hated their jobs.
one of the interviewers (i was his first interview ever) asked really strange questions that tended to be very negative. i didn't particularly enjoy that interview.
There are people in this world that are vegetarian and the people who coordinated lunch FORGOT this. While they had about 5 different kinds of sandwiches with different kinds of meat, I, as a vegetarian, had a brownie for lunch.
The administration is caught up in rankings. I heard some aspect of UM's US News ranking in this category or that about 10 times. It even showed up on this practice quiz they make you take during the computer facilities tour. I mean, everyone looked at US News before applying to UM, so they know its good, no need to indoctrinate it any further. That's my only complaint though, the school seemed really friendly and academically motivated overall. I couldn't find the match list in my packet for some reason either.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews, the need for comfortable shoes for walking, and the emphasis on getting to know the school and Ann Arbor. Additionally, they mentioned the importance of practicing MMI formats and being prepared for a teamwork MMI scenario.
That there would be a teamwork MMI. How difficult it would be to find the admissions office.
I'm OOS and interviewed late in December, when they were starting to interview A LOT of in-state applicants. I felt there was an overwhelming number of U-M undergrads/alums on my interview day and they bonded with each other more naturally than with me. I wish I had known what to expect better.
I'm glad that I wore comfortable shoes. We walked around the hospitals and the interviews were in different rooms than the lunch, etc. Comfy shoes are a necessity!
I was a bit worried after reading this site that I might get some hard, ethical questions. I didn't have any of that -- all of my interviewers were really friendly and nice, and were genuinely interested in learning more about me.
You can pack a pair of comfy shoes in your bag. After your interview you are off the record so you can change into more comfortable shoes for the remainder of the day
You can set up a shuttle between the airport and the school/hotel before. Definitely research this option. The cab from the airport to my hotel was expensive!
Very low stress, friendly, conversational. Michigan really is different from many schools; once you are invited for an interview, they will go out of their way to make you feel relaxed and comfortable, and make the trip worth your time.
That if Michigan is not playing a good team on the weekend, you could easily score tickets to the game, I wished I stayed on Saturday! Also, that I should not have lost a minute of sleep over this interview because it was not stressful at all.
that you can walk indoors the entire way from the parking deck to the medical sciences building. going to college in the south has made me forget how cold the upper midwest can get.
Michigan Med is not the stereotypical 'research' school. One major concern of mine was the quality of the clinical experience I might get at Michigan. Residency directors rate U-M med grads among the top 5 nationally.
This was my first interview. I was surprised to find prospective students didn't seem overly friendly, beyond what was required for being on their best behavior. Maybe this was due to the element of competition, simply the stress of the day, or the fact that I was the only student from my school when many other students hung out in a group with their classmates. However, this feeling of false friendliness was NOT reflected in the medical students who attend U.Michigan.
Ann Arbor is FAR from the detroit airport and taxi will cost you $55 one way. arrange for a shuttle ahead of time, because they're not easy to come around at the airport.
Ann Arbor is a really nice city. It combines the picturesque qualities of a small town with the cultural and professional benefits that come from having a huge university complex. I was very impressed with the area.
That the M1's loved to invite M zero's to parties the night after the interview, and that if you interview on a football weekend, the interviewees and the M1's go to the football game together.
That U-M is so fast about making decisions after you interview. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have waited as long as I did to schedule an interview (it would have been nice to alleviate the whole "am I even going to get into school?" stress earlier than I did).
I talked to friends at UM and found out that the hospital, although connected to the parking garage, is a maze. They informed me to walk around outside to get to MSB1. I went with a friend the night before to scope it out... it was really helpful.
Stay for a football game. The campus pretty much comes to life. I missed the one against Penn State! Also, there's a difference between Medical Science Building I and Medical Science Research Building I (the first one is where the admissions office is).
You get PDA's during your third year, there is a scholary research paper requirement for fourth year students, and 799 out of 801 interviewers in 2005 got accepted to some medical school in the US.
-How much of a pain it is to get between the med school and the airport!!! Plan in advance!
-How relaxed everything was. The interviewers are really nice and want you to like UMich and Ann Arbor; just be yourself.
How wonderful the interviews would be. The interviewers--and indeed, all the admissions staff--look very professional and, at least at first, somewhat intimidating. But everyone was very nice and determined to make you feel comfortable. It really helped to show the friendly atmosphere among the students and among the faculty.
They get back to you pretty quickly about their decision. There's a fair amount of walking so wear comfortable shoes. Also, the interviews go by a lot quicker than you expect them to.
That all of the builings of the medical campus are linked together by hamster Habitrail hallways. Very cool, you don't have to go outside in the bad weather. If I'd known that, I probably wouldn't have gotten so lost.
Even though it is a state school, it attracts top students from across the country.
Make sure you know how to get to the admissions office beforehand! The campus is very large and is it easy to get lost.
That once they get into the March interviews days you are interviewing for a spot on the waitlist. Although the waitlist is more active than at other schools, it almost made me feel as if I should have saved my $$ to visit a school that I have a better chance of getting in to.
That Ann Arbor's streets are CRAZY! Everything is like a one-way street, which is fine if it's in a normal grid like NY or chicago, but all the streets curve and are on hills so it takes forever to get to where u need to go.
The Campus Bed and Breakfast (which I found at the last minute) is a great place to stay and very homely. Not far from the medical school at all and highly recommend it.
I wish I had known how relaxed things would be. Even though I was asked many difficult hypothetical questions, the interviewers seemed more interested in how I thought things through rather than if my answers were right or wrong.
how huge the complex is and how tough it would be to find the admissions office - my student-host gave me great directions, but MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THERE IN THE MORNING! it would be very confusing for someone with no clue as to where they are.
The school has such an excellent reputation, particularly among residency directors. The students were extremely impressive, but also down-to-earth and very friendly.
I wish I had known how expensive Ann Arbor really was to be in. I had assumed that since it was so out of the way, alot of students would be buying houses and starting families (this is my goal). However, very few seemed to be doing that.
One interviewer made sure he had answered all my questions about the school/Ann Arbor before he even asked me any interview questions -- come to U Mich with TONS of questions.
What a great reputation the school has. The are ranked 3rd in the nation by residency programs, and are 7 standard deviations above the national average on the boards.
u of m is re-doing their curriculum (towards more good stuff, in my opinion) that focuses more on clinical exposure in the 1st/2nd year and adds a required senior thesis (not necessarily research, tho)
It was my first interview and it was at my undergrad school...I wish I had realized how over-confident I was. I really was cocky and I think this had a hugely negative impact on my application. I deflated a lot after getting waitlisted, and went into future interviews much humbled, I think I performed better after this.
Applicants generally found the University of Michigan interview day to be well-organized and enjoyable, with a mix of traditional and MMI interviews. The interviews were conversational and laid-back, with friendly interviewers and a relaxed atmosphere throughout the day. The facilities and campus were impressive, and current students were welcoming and enthusiastic, contributing to a positive overall experience.
My interview at UM was the most extensive of all of the interviews I've done so far. There were two one-on-one interviews, one 45 minute with a faculty and one 30 minute with a medical student. After that there were six MMI stations. All of the interviewing occurred in the morning, and in the afternoon we got a tour and split into smaller groups to do fun med student activities. I thought the current students were a little lack-luster.
Very organized interview day -- University of Michigan makes it very clear where you are supposed to be and when you are supposed to be there. There is someone from the school telling you where to go at all times of the interview -- you will never feel lost.
This was an awesome experience. I never thought I would refer to an interview day as being fun but it was. Every person did their best to make the applicants feel at ease, so there's no reason to stress out about this interview. Make sure you know what is on your application and make sure you know the answer to the questions "Why medicine" and "why michigan" and as long as you know all of that you will be prepared for the interview. This is absolutely my #1 choice because of how much the interview day impressed me.
They really stressed that Michigan has to be right for you and you have to be right for Michigan. If that is the case, you should come. If not, do not come.
I liked how up front and honest they were throughout the entire interview day.
One of my interviewers spoke for 90% of the interview. I felt like he had his mind made up before meeting me so he spent most of the time telling me how amazing the U of M is. I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing....
Interviewers were really friendly. I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of other interviewees. It detracted from getting to know the school I felt. The school seems to be really great but I just feel concerned about the job market in Michigan in terms of my partner being able to find a job.
great school, Ruiz is a funny guy, environment is relaxed and friendly, sometimes it seems overly friendly, current students are proud to attend UM and try their best to convince you UM is a great school.
The interviews are pretty relaxed. The half an hour for each interview goes by really fast. I was pretty nervous for the first one, but the second and third ones I felt more relaxed.
they make it as low stress as possible. the school is so awesome and the opportunities are great, especially their international opportunities. overall it was a great experience.
Overall, it was great. I am OOS, and feel like the cost is worth the education. The Dean and Director of Admissions were all straight forward--
After a short presenation/breakfast my group went to interview. I had three interviews, 30 minutes each. two were students and one was an MD. then we went back and had a presentation about the school's technology/computers.
Lunch after that-presentation about financial aid(which there is plenty of!), and then a tour, which included the anatomy labs and looking at cadavers. We were done around 2pm.
The interviews were all really laid back and conversational. The facilities are great, and the med students I met seemed pretty relaxed, which was all the more impressive considering that they all had an exam that day. After visiting, this school is definitely one of my top choices; to make things even better I found out 2 days after my interview that I was accepted!!
A very positive interview experience, and the school is incredible in residency placement as well as a fairly low stress atmosphere (for medical school).
My first interviewer was pretty typical. He just asked me about my activities, my research, and volunteering. It was really low-key. With my second interviewer it was like I couldn't say anything wrong. Everything I said he enthusiastically agreed with. With my third interviewer it was like I couldn't say anything right. Everything I said she was very critical of. So basically I got a completely different vibe from each of my interviewers. I had it a little bit weird though because I had 3 faculty interviews and most people get 2 faculty and 1 student.
U of M is a fantastic school. I am enamored with everything about it except a little bit about the location. Almost all if not all of its graduate programs are in the top 10, in case you want to pursue studies outside of medicine-- and a top public health school. It's ranked top 5 by residency directors. There are tons of global research opps. The city during games days is electric. And to top it off, they try to make your interview day relaxed and calm.
The whole interview day was great. I actually had fun talking to my interviewers and meeting the med students and other applicants. The staff did a really great job of keeping the experience relaxed and informal. This is the way an interview day should be.
Very positive - everything was well-organized, on time, and impressive, from the admissions staff and deans to the student tour guides. All were willing to answer any questions, and interviewees were treated with a lot of respect.
Michigan does an amazing job selling itself every step of the way, the culture of the school and even the admissions process is very welcoming and refreshing compared to other schools. The three thirty minute interviews are in two shifts in the morning, they tell you who your interviewers are in the morning. Their health sciences campus is very large so you might need help getting to the right place. There's also a very entertaining e-mail that you get if you're accepted. Good luck!
Awesome. I didn't know where UMich stood on my list before my visit, but everything was so impressive that it became my immediate top choice when I left that day. I wasn't too much a fan of the back-to-back-to-back interviews, but all my interviewers were very nice. I was unfortunately waitlisted, but my fingers are still crossed to get off of it soon.
I went to U-M for undergrad and had mixed feelings about returning for medical school. After interviewing at U-M and a number of other schools, it became clear that U-M med was the place for me.
Like everyone else here has said, be prepared to have a conversation with your interviewer. The interviewers and admission staff will do everything possible to make you feel comfortable all day. At least in my experience there were no strange questions so really concentrate on having a good answer to the typical interview questions.
It was a little bit more stressful than I had anticipated because it was not as conversational as other interviews I had gone on. The interviewers fired questions at me and it was more businesslike than I had expected.
The day started with breakfast, then we were separated into two groups. One group went to breakfast the other went to technology/financial aid presentations. I was in the first group and had my interviews right away. After the interviews we had technology/financial aid presentations. Then both groups had lunch with current medical students. After lunch, there was a tour given by the current students.
The day was very well-organized - no downtime and plenty of opportunities to interact with med students and applicants. The interviewers were very friendly and the interviews were very laid back and conversational.
It was an exhausting day, but a great one. I learned a lot about the school and what life is like as a student at U.Michigan. Every representative from the school was very friendly and sincere. I absolutely fell in love with the school.
The MSTP committee is extremely helpful, and pay for your visit. Everyone was really conversational and helped me get from place to place (all the research professor interviews are in their offices). You'll get a schedule that outlines all this. Though all the MSTP kids only had 1 MD interview, while MD only kids had 2-3. I appreciated that actually, a break was nice. There's plenty of time to be social with the other applicants, though all of us were so exhausted that it got a little quiet.
Starts early, and the group is big- 40 or so students. Breakfast and lunch are served, and students go in shifts- one group does their three interviews, boom boom boom, and the other group tours the computer labs and gets a financial aid seminar. After everyone finishes their interviews, the admissions committee leaves, and med students come and chill with applicants, answer questions, and take you on a tour. The day ends early, and is full but energizing, and people seem really happy and down to earth. They all say they're fed well by the school.
Very positive. The first day I interviewed with professors whose research I was interested in. Also interviewed with the director of the MSTP program. Went out to dinner with MSTP students and stayed overnight with an M1 MSTP student. Friday I joined the Medical School applicants for the day. Interviews were in the morning, then seminars on financing your education and the technology at U Mich. Finally had lunch with lots of med students and had the tour. The interviews were run very efficiently, was impressed.
Overall, it was a great experience and definately a school worth checking out. The 5 standard questions asked every applicant with no feedback leaves you feeling a bit like you blundered somehow, but all of the students currently attending remembered feeling the same way.
overall a great day, the director of admissions does a phenomenal job making sure the day is smooth and no one is ever sitting around bored. probably the best interview day in the land.
When we first arrived, we were given a breakfast buffet. There was a general information session, then half of the group interviewed while my half got a demonstration of the computer lab and a financial aid presentation. The groups then switched. There were three one on one interviews; I had one M3 and 2 MD interviews, but some people were interviewed by 2 med students and one professor. Then it was lunch time with the current students. Quite a few came, and the admissions staff all left the room so you could talk candidly. Then there were student led tours of the facilities. Be prepared for lots of walking! At the end, you fill out evaluations of your interviewers and the entire day while getting more snacks and pie. Overall, I was extremely impressed with UM. Everyone went out of their way to be helpful, and the whole atmosphere of the school was cheerful and enthusiastic about the opportunities offered.
Good experience overall. Starts early, breakfast at 7:45. Interviews afterwards , one group 8:30-10, another 10-1:30. Then its a tour and the day is over. I really liked my interviewers, and all the interviews were mostly conversational and regarding you and your application. I received no ethical or
My mother and I drove in the night before and stayed at a hotel. The interview day started at 7:30 with breakfast, followed by an introduction and admissions talk that went over the attributes of the school and the application/admission process. Then, the applicants were split into two groups. My group had the computing and financial aid talks while the other group had their interviews. The talks were very helpful and informative. Then we had a half-hour break that gave us a chance to talk some more to each other. After that, we had the interviews and the other group had the talks. There were three interviews, one right after the other. They were conducted by faculty members and students (and in one case an alum). The students carry as much weight as the faculty, so some people had two faculty and one student interview, while others had two student and one faculty interview. I was in the former situation. The interviewers have a picture of us so they came out and found us in the waiting room. The interviews were conducted in the rooms used for Stimulated Patient Exams, so it looked kind of like a doctor's office. My first interviewer was a faculty member and he was very welcoming and nice, and put me at ease. We pretty much just had a conversation, with him using my application to guide us through and make sure we covered everything. It didn't really feel like an interview, if anything he was convincing me why I would love UMich and Ann Arbor. The second interview was pretty much the same. The more difficult one ofr me was the student interview. She was an M2 and just went through her list of questions - what were your leadership roles? I see you were involved in this organization, what did that entail? What do you do for fun? Tell me about your research, etc. It wasn't really difficult, just caught me by surprise after the two other interviews that were totally different. Overall, I enjoyed all of them though and learned a lot about the school and feel like the interviewers learned a lot about me. After the interviews were over, we had lunch with students and they gave us a chance to ask questions, and just talk to them. Then some of the students took groups of us on the tour, which was fun and gave me a pretty good feel of the school. After that, we went back to the admissions office and filled out evaluation forms, ate pie and left.
VERY laid back- just be yourself in the interviews. If you're more serious, don't force it with awkward jokes. I'm more laid back so I was able to joke around and I think overall it went smoothly.
Everyone has three back-to-back half hour long interviews and each one is one-on-one. I had two doctors and a 2nd year med student, but that wasn't true for everyone. All three interviews were laid back and conversational, if anything, the interview with the student was the least conversational.
Being an undergrad there I had already been in the med school for some classes but I was still very impressed with the tour which took us places I had never been and the student guiding them were really helpful and truthful about the school
Michigan is a very welcoming community. They are very enthusiastic and make you feel comfortable. The interview day is as follows: Presentation by director (Ruiz), presentation on computers/technology, financial aid stuff, 3 interviews (30 min each), lunch, tours, done. The interview kids are split into two groups (A and 1), and the other group interviewed before computer presentation. The interviews, themselves, are very relaxed. They want to get to know you better.
It wa very laid back it seemed as though one of my interviewers was trying to convince ME to become a doctor!
Also, the medical student that interviewwed me put me at ease more than the faculty members (who were really nice themselves). Every one was very helpful and kind.
Seriously, just relax and be yourself. Know why you want to become a doctor, and what you plan to do with your M.D.
Incredibly laid back, and very well put together. It's hard to get too worried about an interview that's only going to be 30 minutes long, although it does feel kind of odd to do three consecutive short interviews...
It was such a great day. I really enjoyed the chance to talk to so many prospective students... be warned that I think they observe how you interact with those there, as they are looking for how well you would fit into the community. The day was nice, with breaks right when you needed them. The interviewers were all nice and really relaxed (at least for me). Overall, a wonderful experience.
OVerall it was positive and general questions about my application and why medicine and why Michigan medical school. All three of my interviewers were friendly and open with me.
It was very friendly. In addition to friendly admissions staff, the interviewers were very amiable. I had 3 back-to-back 30 minute interviews. All the interviewers were easy to connect with, but the back-to-back format left my second interviewer a bit unprepared (he had an interview right before mine) and he spent some time trying to remember my AMCAS app.
It was great! Everyone was super nice. I thought I was going to rammed with difficult questions, but that wasn't the case. The best interview tip I can give is that you should think about what aspect about each experience make you stand out the most.
Breakfast with introduction.
3 interviews back to back. Very easy.
Fin Aid talk.
Show you computer lab and learning programs <-- very cool!
Lunch with students.
Student tours.
I had a great experience at Michigan. All the admissions people were very friendly. Interviews were all conversational and interviewers were all receptive to what I was saying. Facilities are pretty good -- they use the newest technology and keep all the buildings (hospitals and med school bldgs) updated. Technology is very well integrated into the curriculum -- all lectures (at least for M1) are videotaped and posted on the web to watch and a PDA with useful software is given to you in M3 year. Michigan has both M1 and M2 pass or fail and the best part is they don't rank students for these 2 years. While some schools have a similar system, they secretly rank students and give that information to residency directors. Umich has no such policy. The students seemed enthusiastic about the school. In general, I had a great time and hopefully if I get in, I will seriously consider going there.
I had heard from everyone that the interviews were really "chill," but I was still a little tense. They let you interact with the other interviewees pretty extensively, which takes the edge off considerably because everyone is so friendly and open and talkative. I wouldn't even call the interviews "interviews." It was like we started a conversation as we were walking toward the interview room, and we never stopped chatting, and before you know it, 30 minutes are up. Overall, it was just a very relaxed and friendly environment...I had a blast. AND they feed you chocolate eclairs for breakfast...what more can you ask for? Just be careful not to get food on your suit.
I was in the first group to interview, and that was nice because we were done with the stressful stuff at the beginning of the day. The interviewers were all really nice, and treated the experience more like a conversation than an interegation. I also liked the extensive tour we were given, I think it highlights just how big UMH is.
This interview is a long and busy day, but I was very impressed with the school. I had three interviewers: one faculty member and two students. We also saw the technology center, had a financial aid talk, went on tours, and were given breakfast and lunch. The interview group is relatively large (about 45 people), but they divided us into two smaller groups for most of the day.
The day starts really early, and the interview group is big (like 40 or 50 ppl). Everyone is ushered up to a room where there is a continental breakfast and a couple brief overview presentations. Then the group is split in half, with one group going to interview and the other getting technology and fin aid presentations. Then the groups switch. The 3 interviews are one-on-one and back to back. Interviews were extremely conversational- know your AMCAS app forward and backward. Then we had lunch with M1s and M2s before having our student-led tour. The day ended early :-)
Ann Arbor is a beautiful college town. 7:00 AM in October is still before sunrise, something I wasn't used to coming from Cali. There are about 40 interviewees per day, so you really get a chance to meet prospective classmates. There are two groups of 20. The first group has interviews first from 8:30-10 and then the rest of the day is for learning about student resources (computer labs, lounges, library services) and financial aid session. The second group has their interviews after the workshops from 10:30-12. Afterwards we break for lunch and then separate into smaller groups to tour the school as well as the main hospital.
The interviews themselves were very laid back and conversational. There was plenty of time to spend with current students and ask them questions (the whole afternoon). It felt like the school was really trying to recruit the prospective students who was there.
You have to wake up at the ungodly hour of 6am to get up there by 715am. Breakfast is followed by a welcome and brief talk. You have session on financial aid as well as computing resources. The three interviews are back-to-back, which makes you feel as though you're on a game show (behind door number 2 is Dr. So-and-so). After that, you eat lunch solely with students and take a tour.
Overall the entire experience was fantastic. I loved the area and the school. I don't think my interviews could have gone any better-from the get go I felt that all they wanted to do is to get to know me better. UMich is definitely one of my top choices.
The interview day started a little too early in my opinion but other than that it was very well put together. There was no downtime which I thought was a good thing. I honestly didn't think the interviews themselves were as incredibly laid back as people said. They seemed just like the others I had and one of my interviewers was a little harsh concerning one of my MCAT scores. It still was a good day though. I absolutely love this school and I am wondering how could any other school be better? The day ends pretty early, around 2 so that was good. All in all a wonderful experience and Ann Arbor is a really nice, affluent neighborhood.
Overall it was excellent. Low stress. All of the prospective students (interviewees) are all highly accomplished and intelligent people. The facilities are top notch and the technology integration is first rate.
I was surprised by how relaxed my interviews were. The faculty I talked to made jokes and were genuinely interested in finding out more about me as a person. The interview day is packed with information and was the best structured out of all my interviews thus far.
It was not that stressful, but they had trouble coordinating where to move students for interviews, so even though we started earlier than planned, things went over time.
student interview was much less pressure. 3 interviews means not so much weight on just one. school was scenic, lots of activity. weather was overcast and dreary, but at least not cold like it will get eventually. interviewees seemed sharp, all from top schools. michigan is one of the best public schools. hospital system was large, supposedly all interconnected too. good place overall, check it out, although i might prefer a smaller private institution, not sure yet.
The University of Michigan Medical School is serious about supporting its students and helping them become the best future physicians possible. For this and many other reasons, the students seem very happy and confident in their studies.
My first interview, and it went great. Students and staff were friendly, interviewers were amazingly laid back. Spent most of the time just chatting about my interests, and their own fields/specialties.
This was my first interview, great experience. I loved the students, other applicants. Ann Arbor is great, feels like a city but it's small. technological perks are really impressive. Students are definitely happy. I had two great interviewers, one was just getting to know me, one wanted to show me that I would fit in here, and the other was reaaaalllly weird.
Overall it was great, there were about 40 other students interviewing and we were split up into two groups. Each group interviewed at different times. The people there make a point to keep you relaxed and there to enjoy getting to know the university. University of Michigan is definitely my top choice.
this is one of the best medical schools in the world. the student body is extremely diverse, and they are very happy. they do exceptionally well on the boards and the match. the interviews were nothing like interviews. they were more like chatting and personal recruitment sessions.
It was great. It was a full day from 7:30 to about 3. Plenty of food offered and everyone is very helpful to make sure you know where you have to be and when.
Michigan is an awesome institution. The day was presented in a very organized, professional (but not stuffy) manner. This was my first interview and I can't imagine any school topping this experience. The students were available, enthusiastic and seemed genuinely happy to be there. By all appearances Michigan has created an environment where success is completely up to you. The resources, technological and human are top notch and readily available. Go Blue!
Relax! The interviewers are really nice and want you to like UMich and Ann Arbor; just be yourself. I think most of my interview time was spent on interviewers telling me about how great the city is--and it definitely looks lively. The admissions office takes good care of you throughout the day--breakfast and lunch are provided, and they make sure you know where you are and where you're going. They're also very fast and responsive...I found out two days after interviewing that I was accepted :)
This school is DEFINITELY in my "top three" and there is a very good chance I would come here. The only thing that might stop me is that if I'm going to be somewhere cold, I don't really want to need a car (I don't really know how to drive in snow/ice or maintain a car in such conditions!) and Ann Arbor probably won't be the best place for that....but we'll see. The flexibility and friendliness of this place, not to mention the great MD and MPH programs could overshadow that one doubt :)
Wonderful experience. Michigan became first on my list after the first set of interviews. The faculty take time out to read and re-read your profiles and applications. Do not pass up this interview!!
If the interview day is any indication, this school is incredible. Exceptionally well-organized, the interview day showed me by example the degree of professionalism, efficiency, and camaderie evident in the faculty and students of the University of Michigan School of Medicine.
really chill, its a really good school that is looking for students with diverse backgrounds and cool experiences so emphasize those things about your self
I was really nervous about the 3 back-to-back-to-back interviews, and they were in fact kind of stressful being organized that way, but in the end it wasn't a big deal because the interviewers were all really nice. The school is great
I was interviewed by three people, two of which were students. I liked that because it gives you a chance to get a lot more real information out of the interview. They give you a LOT of time for questions, both for faculty and students.
it was awesome. there were 3 back to back so i thought it would be really stressful, but it went by fast and the faculty were really nice/they are just interested in getting to know you,not grilling you. the school is amazing, i am keeping my fingers crossed!
Very good. I was a bit surprised that there were so many interviewees showing up. There must have been over 45. Most other schools did not have that many on a given interview day. It was a bit intimidating.
Quite laid back. 30 min for an interview is really quite short and time's up before you know it. Seems like the student interviewers grill you a bit more than faculty.
Overall, the people the were very nice and friendly. I liked the interviewers, although having three in a row can be a little indimidating (although the actual interviews seemed to go by really quickly)
The day started insanely early (7:30) when it was still dark out. They kept the day pretty busy, so there wasn't as much down time as other interviews, which was nice. There was a short intro to the computer lab and financial aid, and three interviews. The interviews were laid-back and the faculty was super-friendly. Then there was lunch with the med students and a tour, which was more comprehensive than others I have been at. The day ended pretty early, about 2 pm.
I was a bit late to the interview, so my first impression was being lost in the medical school. A little stressful, compounded when I walked into a room with about fifty applicants and of course the only seat was in the front row. However, UM puts on a great Interview Day. The presentations were useful and exciting, the interviewers had clearly read my file and were ready with questions. They were very friendly, supportive, and enthusiastic. The students who led us on the tour were reassuring and full of helpful information. For such a scary start I had a wonderful experience and UM moved to the top of my list!
3 interviews back to back to back can be a little tiring and the 30 minute limit for each can be a little constraining. But all the interviewers knew my AMCAS very well and most of the questions were based on that.
it was a great experience. the interviewers were very polite and easy to talk to. they didn't ask any hard questions; they just wanted to get to know me. the admissions people were very up front about what the school has to offer and the students seemed happy to be there. i like it!
the one-on-one interviews one after another aren't so bad, 30 min each. i really liked the school - the location, facilities, curriculum. people seemed very down to earth, great overall experience.
I got there really early in the morning (esp because of the time change) They fed us breakfast and then we watched a few demonstrations. Then we had 3 interviews followed by lunch with the sudents. All in all, it was a good day.
I was awed. My interviews were all very positive and my interactions with the current students very informative and friendly. Ann Arbor is a pretty and bustling college town and there are tons of things to do there. UMich has a great reputation among residency directors and both the basic science and clinical professors are supposedly amazing.
UMich is a great school with great people, though some applicants were stuck up, others were really nice. The interviewers thoroughly look over your application beforehand. It seems like everyone wants the already great med school to get better. They are highly regarded by residency directors, but the number of hospital beds at Ann Arbor doesn't compare to, say, Miami. Overall, everything was great, the food (better than usual, at least), the people, the facilities, and the town. But the email they send you right before the interview is kinda intimidating: it's all about what not to do on the interview day.
Overall, really good - lots of cool people interviewing with me. They realy made it as painless as possible. The interviews were really conversational - not many direct questions
The interview day started with a couple orientations and then lunch. There were three interviews, which seems like a lot, but I ended up having two student interviewers. And all three were very nice and laid-back. Nothing surprising, they just want to get to know you. Tour was good, too, but could have been longer.
The interview day starts early, but ends in the early afternoon. The interviews seem overwhelming because they are back-to-back, but all of the interviewers seemed really nice and the interviews were very laid-back. Most of the interview was spent getting to know me and reviewing my application, and I didn't get any ethical questions. Take the opportunity to talk to students in all four years - I had the chance to talk to a third year student. He didn't say much about the third year, but I got the sense that it is stressful. Also, students claimed that the second year grading system didn't breed competitiveness and that the weekly quizzes were a good thing. People with late interviews will most likely be waitlisted, but the adcom claims that there are a few open acceptance spots left. Everyone should know by the end of March.
This is a SUPERIOR medical school. The interview day started early and was well run. The PPT presentation by the director of admissions was informative. The interviewers asked relevant, objective questions. No one seemed pompous. People around the school and the hospital seem busy and focused, but friendly and accesible. The entire university is impressive. There is a strong emphasis on excellence and diversity – both readily apparent.
i'm going to michigan next year. if you're such a tool that you're going to let a FREAKING INTERNET FORUM INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION DO ME A FAVOR AND Don't come. THANK YOU.
The absolute BEST interview I've ever had! Dr. Maya Hammoud is my hero. She was so laid back it was crazy, I ended up telling her I'd name my first daughter after her.
I was really excited about this school before my interview and it is now at the top of my list. I hope I find out my status soon - they said the end of February (groan).
i'm also a current student who mostly agrees with the previous evaluation. be sure to ask about grading policies and grade distributions during the 3rd and 4th years at this school as well as other schools. if 3rd and 4th years don't tell you the ugly truth about getting honors, then i wouldn't trust anything those students have to say (some of the 1st & 2nd years may just be ignorant of it). applicants seem to get hung up on rankings and 1st & 2nd year grades, but neglect to drill the schools on their clinical grades. michigan has grade-deflation - not a good thing for residency placement. very few receive anything above "pass." the faculty / administration tells you with >>pride<< toward the end of the 2nd year that a clinical grade of "pass" is considered an honor and that they reserve "honors" for only the most extraordinarily spectacular students. i guarantee that residency directors don't have the same opinion on this matter when they have the luxury of considering many candidates with transcripts full of honors. while michigan may still place some great students in great residency spots, it's mostly because those great students worked themselves to death to get top clinical grades and very, very high board scores. med school is hard enough without also having to work against your school's own policies.
A long two-day interview (11+ total interviews). Three purely medical school interviews, an interview with the MSTP director and three interviews with members of the Operating Committee (including one student). I was exhausted and sick of talking but the experience was great. The faculty and students were great. The town seemed really fun and live-able.
A pleasant series of 3 interviews. Open-file, interviewers were familiar with aspects of it (weren't seeing them for the first time), large group of interviewees.
The interviewers were extremely nice and the interview was very conversational. They mostly just want to get to know you. Read over your AMCAS and your secondary application- know your activities and research.
Wear comfortable shoes because the tour is quite extensive. If you can, try to explore Ann Arbor to see if you feel like you can spend four years there.
I had a great experience. All of my interviewers were kind and considerate. The tenor of the interviews themselves was conversational; in fact, one of my interviewers spent five minutes talking about how Ann Arborites and Austinites (I live in Austin) deal with snow. The facilities and curriculum are outstanding. The students are cool. Best of all, I was accepted within 48 hours. So it looks like I'm gonna be at UM Medical School next year!
I liked the school. the students were very friendly, and it's a great education. you can see the caliber of the school from the presentations and the students. my interviews were very stress-free, although having 3 back to back can be a bit tiring. i was also really hungry the whole day so that sort of tired me out. get sleep before. it's cold, so dress warmly!
There were three interviews of about a half hour each. I didn't get any tough ethical questions or anything like that. All the questions focused on my application or me as a person. Surprisingly, the interview with the student was probably the roughest for me.
The interviews consist of three 30 minute interviews, usually done back to back. Things were very conversational and relaxed. We also were given a financial aid presentation and a computer demonstration.
There is no reason to stress out. While I am sure others got tougher questions than me, I dont think that anyone walked out of the interview feeling totally dejected. Just exude confidence and know that you've gotten this far- thats great in itself. Be sure to be courteous. But to summarize, understand that any stress you may feel is of your own making. they seem to try to make it as stress free as possible. Also, this was my first interview. It is a great place to interview at first simply because of the lax atmosphere there.
This is a very solid school overall. They don't do any one thing to knock your socks off, but when you look at the entire package they clearly are a top-tier school. Facilities, students, curriculum - all look very good. The admissions staff is very friendly and straightforward about what will happen after the interview. The interviewers seemed much more interested in just seeing how I communicate and think rather than grill me with stupid questions.
i guess i was a little surprised by my interviews because i had heard that they were really chill and they asked almost no moral or ethical questions, and i found that that was definitely not the case at my interviews. i think as long as you know why you want to do medicine and stay on top of current issues in medicine, you'll be fine. also, remember to always be yourself at the interview.
It started very early in the morning. We had a continental breakfast. Then a speech by someone from the admissions office, then we split up into several groups. Half the people went to interviews. The other half went to a computer presentation and a financial aid session. Then we switched. The 3 interviews in a row was kinda tough. My first two were very conversational and friendly. My last one had a lot of tough ethics and diversity questions. Many people had at least one student interviewer, but I didn't. The computer presentation was okay. Kinda boring, but neat to see how well they use technology. The financial aid session was depressing as usual. Lunch was catered and attracted a horde of poor, hungry med students who were glad to answer our questions. They all were very friendly and seemed very happy there. Then we went on a tour. They have top notch facilities. I loved the student lounge, although the big screen TV and foosball table might not be conducive to studying. And that was it. Right now this is my No. 1 choice (of the 3 schools I've interviewed at).
Overall it was a good day. We started off with an intro speech by the asst dean and thenwent on to a computer presentation and a financial aid presentation. The interviewers were really nice but it was hard to judge whether they liked what they were hearing or they were just nice.
Good day. Long. Pick a good tour guide and ask them anything you want- they really are not on the committee and don't mind random qs like "how many students date students?" etc.
U of M is definetly my top choice now that I have been there. The school totally takes care of its students in any way that it can. The admissions office was great, so were the interviewers, and the students there. They do everything to make you feel comfortable during it. I'd arrive a little early, 'cause parking can be bad, I was 15 minutes early and there were already about 8 people there.
This interview was an awesome experience. Overall, it was a relaxed environment and a great time. Going into the interview, I was not as excited about University of Michigan as I am about other schools. However, the faculty and students are all down to earth and genuine. The facilities are equally impressive.
I had two faculty interviews and one student interviewer. They were all really nice and friendly and tried to make me feel more comfortable. Having lunch with the students was the best part of the experience because they were really helpful in honestly answering questions and giving you a sense of what their school is like.
The interview definitely pushed UM up the list of schools I want to attend, its a fantastic school with great resources and faculty. The cost and the weather, in that order, are the only things that are worrisome about the school. Everything else seems top notch. I think UM is a great place to get a medical education. Also, it seems like a lot of Cali students go there, so there might be something to that for Cali applicants trying to find some out of state alternatives. But definitely check the place out if you get an interview, its extremely friendly and a beautiful place. It is for sure in the upper eschelon of medical schools from what I have seen.
Of all the schools I interviewed at, including other highly-ranked ones, UMich has by far the best facilities and best atmosphere. The buildings were modern, clean, attractive. The people were impressive and friendly. The curriculum is great, and it's only getting better with the changes that were made for next year. UMich is an amazing place. I hope I am accepted - I would definitely attend.
Hard interviews with hard questions. It was anounced at the beginning that these interviews were just to get you on a waitlist...all the places are filled, but may open up if students go elsewhere
For all of you who want to interview on another day besides friday don't. According to the students they have fun on fridays. Don't be nervous because there are three interviews scheduled, just think there are three opportunities to demonstrate how good you really are, so if you screw up on the first interview there are two more in which you can make it up. The staff are quite helpful, so be really super nice to them. Overall I would say that the school was quite impressive, leaving the hospital I thought gees its almost as if the difficult question for me is why shouldn't I go to this school its an awesome place. The fascilities and anything else you want are there for medical students and that is a fact. So a comfortable life you can expect at Ann Arbor if you dare take the challenge. For all of you who are nervous get over it, for all of you who are relaxed then you have it made, hey you are there for a reason so enjoy.
The interviews were very laid back and not intense. I definitely got the sense that they asked very thoughtful questions just trying to get to know me better. The day seemed organized pretty well and was overall a good experience
Michigan is a very well-rounded school, in the fact that it is considered a top tier school, but isn't as competitive and stuffy as some other well-respected medical schools. In addition, the campus is money and students are cool. I even got accepted the same day! If you have your interview at Michigan tomorrow, stop reading this, get a good map, go to bed, and be ready to enjoy your time in Ann Arbor. Good Luck.
The interview day was very well organized and everything went smoothly. I absolutely enjoyed the conversations I had with all my interviewers...they made me feel very relaxed.
It was ALOT of interviews. A previous feedback said 12 interviews, and while I didn't count mine, that seems about right. They claim that all 12 of these interviews are weighted equally, however the interview with the director was an hour long and I bet that was the most important one. The director is a fairly low-key guy, and I get the impression that he's not a particularly powerful figure, as some MSTP directors are. Their spin on this is that the student becomes a "full member" of the department they join... Ok, fine. There was one student interview for the MSTP program, a whole bunch of researchers that you pick and they try to match you up with, and there was three faculty interviews for the MD program, which were pretty low stress. Two of my MD/PhD interviewers gave me a hard time, but it wasn't that bad and I hear they do this to everyone. It's a good school, the students are awesome (my love to RNAgirl), and I could see myself there next year.
The process started at the crack of dawn; about 40 interviewees were herded together and then split into morning interviews and afternoon interviews. We watched presentations about the new curriculum, computers and IT, and financial aid. It was really great to see how many students showed up for the luncheon; they were excited to meet us and answered all of my questions. The tour was really thorough, showing us labs, classes, and the hospital (which is connected). I do, however, recommend finding the admissions office the day before (or going early) because the medical center is a little confusing and filled with one-way streets.
This was my first interview so I was nervous, but everyone was so friendly that I really had a good time. I interviewed with two students and one MD. The students were very friendly and the MD just asked run of the mill questions about my application. They have a new curriculum starting next year that looks promising and their technology demonstration was impressive. There did not seem to be any animosity among the students and everyone seemed happy to be there. All in all a great day. Low stress and enjoyable.
This was a really great interview. Although there were a lot of kids they still managed to make it a great day. Plus, the interviewers gave really good feedback about how you did.
Michigan medical students, the admissions staff, and the interviewers were all welcoming. Even my "tough" interviewer, who asked me a few ethical questions, was very courteous, and everybody seemed like they just wanted to get to know who I am.
Three interviews seems intimidating, but they go y so quickly. The facilities are new, the electronic curriculum in snazzy, and everyone is nice and genuinely happy to be at Michigan. You'll have a good day and it ends early (2:30 pm!).
I loved it. My interviews were laid back and extremely conversational. It would be nice if the interviews were longer, but they were long enough to get the job done I think.
Michigan rocks. We arrived at about 7:30 in the morning (6:30 Central time for me). After a quick presentation by one of the deans, half of the students (myself included) had 3 half-hour interviews while the other half went to a computer lab/technology interactive presentation and a financial aid session. My interviewers were extremely friendly and engaging, and the interviews were conversational and not at all stressful. Then the groups switched, and after everyone was interviewed we had lunch with some med students (M2-M4). They were very helpful and and honestly answered our questions. Then we took a tour of the school and hospital facilities - huge and very nice! I actually had fun at my interview - this was a great experience!
really laid back, friendly and enjoyable. interviews were conversational. i had to explain my non-trad stuff, which i expected (i'm 25). really got me excited about the school.
Good school, good interviews, great office staff in the admissions office. Really interesting fellow interviewees. Didn't interact that much with students, I wish we had the opportunity to sit in an entire lecture instead of the 2 minutes we saw during the tour.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants overwhelmingly praised the admissions office for their clear communication, friendliness, and transparency throughout the process. A common suggestion was to provide more timely admissions decisions to avoid prolonged deferrals and enhance the tour experience for a more comprehensive understanding of the institution.
None. Very communicative, welcoming, friendly, transparent admissions process.
My admissions decision has been deferred twice, the second time for several months. An earlier decision, whether positive or negative, would be much appreciated.