Chapel Hill, NC
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 17% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about extracurricular activities, weaknesses, failures, important volunteering experiences, career interests, hometown, healthcare system challenges, motivations for pursuing medicine, and personal traits. Many respondents mentioned Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) formats and nondisclosure agreements, reflecting a structured and confidential interview setting in some cases.
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Tell me about a time you failed?
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Tell me about extracurricular?
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What are your weaknesses?
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Asked me about the work I did during my gap year
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What specialty do you think you're most interested in?
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What was your most important volunteering experience?
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Is there anything you want to explain or highlight in your application?
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Tell me about your hometown
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Why UNC?
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Tell me about your family.
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Why medicine?
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Why not another healthcare profession?
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how did you study for the MCAT?
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What is one of your weaknesses?
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What was the most important thing you took away from your clinical experiences?
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Tell me the story of how you became interested in medicine.
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What was your least favorite part about your leadership role in X and what was your favorite/most rewarding?
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Why do you want to come to UNC?
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What is one trait you wish you could change about yourself?
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What is something that makes you mad?
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What job would you least like to have?
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As an OOS, what draws you to UNC?
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Describe your upbringing and family life growing up
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Was there a defining moment that motivated you to pursue Medicine?
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Have you read [specific book related to my interests]?
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How do you see healthcare in 20 years?
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How can we fix the healthcare system?
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Tell me about (insert activity).
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What three adjectives would your friends use to describe you?
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Tell me about yourself.
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Why didn't you get in last year/how have you improved as an applicant?
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Describe your childhood.
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Describe your research.
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Tell me about your family life growing up.
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Describe a Personal Challenge.
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Do you use illicit drugs?
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Tell me about the journal you review for.
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Do your parents support your decision to go into medicine?
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Tell me about your leadership roles.
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What would you do if you were not admitted?
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what are some problems doctors face in the medical industry?
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Why do you want to do medicine if your background is in a non-science field?
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What will be your biggest challenge in medical school?
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Why do you wish to attend UNC SOM?
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Tell me about your research
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What made you want to be a doctor?
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Why do you want to attend UNC?
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Do you miss the South? (I go to school out of state).
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What kind of medicine do you want to practice? / Where do you see yourself in 10 yrs?
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Why do you like UNC?
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Compare health care in India with US? I am an Indian
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Dinner with 3 people? One at a time Who u choose?
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How wud u fix them?
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Problems in Health care
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Talk to me about a book ur reading?
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What would be ur gratest challenge in the first semester of medical school?
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Interviews were extremely conversational, talked about my experiences, just a very naturally flowing conversation. Easily the most relaxed so far of all the places I've interviewed.
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what clinicals have you had
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why'd you choose your major?
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Do you wish your mcat/grades were higher?
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How has your background (specific thing from file) prepared you to be a doctor?
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What about this school appeals to you?
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Explain why you chose your current job.
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Why did you do X in college?
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How did studying abroad shape your decision to become a doctor?
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What 3 things are you most proud of?
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Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
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Tell me about a time you were stressed and how did you deal with it?
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What do you think is the most pressing issue in healthcare today? No brainer-obesity
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What draws you to UNC? Umm good and cheap...lol no brainer
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How have your experiences convinced you that medicine is for you?
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What would you do if you didn't get into medical school?
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#1 How in the world did you decide to become a physician? #2 I have read your application, and my job is to convince the committee that they should give one of their medical school slots to you, with that in mind tell me about you.
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#1&#2Have you done anything that gave you any experience in the medical field?
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They pretty much asked me questions off of my app. after the initial greetings.
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What is a strength and weakness in your application and in you personally?
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Why did you decide to go to your undergraduate institution?
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Why do you want to be a doctor?
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How do you know you want to be a doctor?
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Tell me about yourself. Starting from high school sequentially until now.
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What clinical experience have you had?
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Tell me your story.
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What kind of clinical experience do you have?
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You've done a lot of international work, but how do you feel about the need locally?
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How's the application process?
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Oh, you are only applying to one school? That's strange... why?
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So tell me about how your international experience has contributed to your decision to become a doctor (something like that... I have a lot of experience living abroad for 6 years).
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How would you advise a presidential candidate to pay for health care reforms?
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What do you do when you are met with a challenge?
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What one figure from history would you invite to dinner?
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How are you qualified to become a physician, i.e. what feedback and/or epiphany have you had that leads you to believe you should become a doctor and would make a good one?
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Tell me about where you grew up.
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Tell me about your high school.
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Is there anything else we have not gone over that you would like for me to mention or explain to the admissions committee?
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What was your favorite and your least favorite course in undergrad?
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What would you do if you weren't accepted into the school?
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Describe the progression of your interest in medicine?
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What are your strengths and relative weaknesses?
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What book are you currently reading?
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What do you do for fun?
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So what can you add to our medical school class?
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Tell me about the moment you really new you wanted to practice medicine.
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Tell me about your life growing up?
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Any medicine related experiences? Why medicine?
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Describe research, volunteer experience.
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Tell me your life history. Um, what if you read my file first....Isn't this the point of an open-file interview?
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What was your favorite undergrad class? Ridiculous........
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How will you finance your education?
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Tell me about your clinical experiences.
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What did you do in the lab?
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Tell me about your healthcare experience.
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What characteristic do you possess that is not conveyed in your application?
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What type of medicine would you like to practice?
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How did you become interested in medicine?
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Tell me about your research.
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What got you interested in coming to Carolina? (I'm from out of state)
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Basic questions: why medicine? why UNC? surprisingly nothing too in-depth given that it was open-file.
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Have you been accepted anywhere else?
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Why didn't you go straight from undergrad to med school?
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Why UNC-CH?
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Do you feel medicine is an art disguised as a science or a science disguised as an art?
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How did you get interested in medicine?
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Why North Carolina (Out of state)?
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What do your parents do?
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what has been your biggest achievement?
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Tell me about yourself Tell me about your research
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what is your favorite book? who is your favorite short story author?
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when did you know you wanted to study medicine?
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Do your parents support you going to med school?
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What did all your activities mean to you?
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What the hell happened to you sophmore year?
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What 3 famous deceased people would you like to have dinner with?
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What makes a great leader?
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tell me about yourself
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What do you like to read?
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What is the most difficult issue you will face personally asa physician?
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What are your top 3 medical schools right now and why? I realize it's only prudent to include UNC in this list, but seriously, I'm curious. Furthermore, why are you a competetive applicant for those schools?
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What haven't I asked about that you would like to elaborate on?
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You mentioned music as an interest of yours...explain.
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Give three adjectives for you, your mother, and your father.
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How has being a Paramedic prepared you for medical school?
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What are the best qualities you have?
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What have you been doing since your interview last year?
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What will yo do if you do not get in this year?
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Are you taking the MCAT in April?
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What are your plans if you don't get in?
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Where else have you applied, why, and what have you heard?
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Tell a little about your self? Hobbies? Interests?
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Where do you envision yourself in 10 years?
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Why healthcare? whats wrong with the current system? How do you got about fixing it? (this last for about 40mins!)
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[with enthusiasm] Why on earth do you want to come to UNC???
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How would you fix the healthcare system?
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Who is your favorite poet?
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In 15 years, what do you think will be the greatest challenge to you as a physician?
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What made you apply to UNC?
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Who would you model your life after?
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If it was possible,would you change medical policy in America, and if so, how?
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If there was someone who was in excruciating pain that passed all the criteria for the assisted suicide law in Oregon, would you obey there wishes?
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Would you pray for a patient who had a different religion than yours if they asked you to?
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How do you handle stress?
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List three adjectives about yourself, yourself in high school, your mother, and your father.
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What is happiness?
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Tell me about what your high school was like, what your family is like and why you choose your college.
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Tell me what the admissions committee should know about you. Tell me your three strongest qualities. Tell me your biggest strength and biggest weakness as a person and then as an applicant.
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Why did you pick these majors? What were your plans your first semester of college and how have they changed?
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How did you fall into medicine? Tell me about your research etc.
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Talk about clinical/patient contact have you had.
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What types of problems/issues do you forsee in your future as a physician, and what kind of medicine are you interested in?
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How would your best friend describe you/How would your worst enemy describe you?
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What are you reading now?
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Are your expectations idealistic (see "interesting question" above)?
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Explain how you choose your undergrad school/major and how you came to choose medicine.
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Why are you working in analyticial testing/pharm dev instead of as a research tech?
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Go through your life with me from start to finish.
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What other schools did you apply to?
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When did you become interested in medicine and why?
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If I was accepted/rejected at every school where would I attend/what would I do? (both interviews).
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Where do you see yourself in ten years? (both interviews)
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Why Medicine? How can you be sure?
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How did you choose your summer programs
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Tell me about yourself, your parents, your high school, and your college
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What would be going through your head as you stand outside of your first patient's room during the start of your clinical rotations during your third year.
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Tell me about yourself?
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How are you going to pay for this? Have you thought about military medicine?
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If you believe in some forms of euthanasia, what would you say to those that believe that the primary mission of medicine is extending life?
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If you were Czar of the health care system, what problem would you focus on and how would you fix it?
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Give me three adjectives that describe A) you 5 years ago, B) you now, C) your mother, D) your father.
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Tell me about a problem in health care today.
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What do you do when you fail at something? What about when you fail at fixing it? Etc etc
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Nothing particularly unusual, mostly standard questions straight off SDN.
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Give me three adjectives to describe your mom, your dad, yourself in high school and yourself now.
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What did you have as a young single parent that allowed you to do well that others in the same situation don't have?
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When was the last time you cried?
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AMCAS related stuff.
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Motorcycle question.
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What is wrong with health care?
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How do you plan to handle the workload and have a life?
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Strengths/weaknesses?
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Do you have any weaknesses?
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Tell me about yourself before college?
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where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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What about your undergraduate grades
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What type of medicine are you intersted in
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Why change from being a PA
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Explain your research
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why medicine
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Talk about your experience working with a physician.
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Talk about your research.
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Why Carolina?
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How much patient contact have you had besides shadowing a doctor?
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What makes you think you are cut out to be a physician?
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What will you do if you don't get in this year?
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Give three adjectives that describe your mother, father, yourself in high school, and yourself now.
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What is a leadership role you have been in in the past?
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How much patient contact have you had besides shadowing a doctor? What procedures did you see when you shadowed the orthopaedic surgeon?
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Tell me about yourself. Tell me about your research.
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Why did you come to Charlotte? (I migrated to the US in 2001 and have been in Charlotte ever since)
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How do your parents feel about you living so far away?
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Tell me about your current research projects.
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What would you do if you didn't get into med school.
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What I regret most about highschool
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Why I went to Carolina as an undergrad and why I wanted to go there for medical school
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How do I know you will be a compassionate physician?
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In what area would you like to specialize?
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Why return to school?
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why unc
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Tell me about these bad grades so I can explain them to the committee.
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What do you want to specialize in?
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What made you realize you wanted to be a doctor?
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Talk to me about your summer experiences.
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What would you like for me to tell the admissions committee about you?
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Big hospital or rural community, etc...
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How did experience X prepare you for a career as a physician?
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What are three things that you always have in your refridgerator?
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What is a problem with health care today and how would you fix it?
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Biggest healthcare problem and how will I solve it?
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What did I want to specialize in? and then practice where?
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Why medicine? Why now (I am non-traditional)
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"What was your favorite class in college?" (If you say Biochemistry, everyone will know you're lying).
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"What will you do if you get into all the schools to which you have applied?" "If you get into none?"
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"Where do you see yourself in ten years?" as in do you see yourself in a big city at a busy hospital or clinic, in a rural setting, or maybe at a teaching hospital near a university campus, immersed in the atmosphere of academic medicine.
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Are you interested in private practice or would you like to work at a large hospital?
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What advantages to you see in UNC program compared to other schools you applied to?
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What has been your favorite class in your undergraduate career.
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Tell me about your experiences...
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What makes you different from the rest of our applicants?
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Asked about my time off b/w school and why?
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Research?
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What medical specialty would I be interested in receiving training?
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How is it that your MCAT score is very good and your GPA is average?
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Tell me how you have changed since applying last year.
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
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What was your research?
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Why medicine / what medical field are you interested in?
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your GPA is a solid B, but normally we would like to have somewhat higher, explain to me your 1st two years of college. (I had much better grades as a junior/senior than i did as a freshman/sophomore).
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why medicine; why UNC; do you really have clinical exposure or valuable extracurriculars? (can't just say yes and list them; had to prove it)
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How would your best friend/enemy describe you?
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What are your three greatest strengths and weaknesses?
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If you could not become a doctor - what would you be?
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Why would you be a good doctor?
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What does your application say?
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What interested you in medicine?
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What is the greatest problem area in medicine and how would you fix it?
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What is the greatest weakness of your undergraduate institution?
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What is your medical background?
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Tell me about the farming your family has done.
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What field could you see yourself specializing in?
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Why did you want to become a doctor?
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What do you think about the healthcare problem in this nation?
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what else can you tell me that I can go back to the committee with that would make them want to accept you?
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Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, and 20 years?
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why did we invite you for an interview if we were not interested? (not out loud)
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describe problems in the medical field
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describe yourself/strengths&weaknesses
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do you have siblings and what do they do?
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Is there anything else that I should know that I can take to the admissions committee to convince them to accept you?
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So what is it that got you into medicine?
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What is the most recent book that you've read? What types of books in general do you like to read?
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What are your strengths and weaknesses?
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What is special about you, that would make you stand out?
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What questions do you have for me?
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What do you think about being older? (Half of UNC's students are older)
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What kind of books do you like to read?
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What kind of doctor do you want to be?
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Explain the history of Shaolin Kung Fu and how it is different from tae kwon do...
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So how are you going to succeed in medical school if you strive for perfection in all aspects of your life. Do you really think that you can be a perfect parent and a perfect student? Hmmmm....
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What does Zoe mean?
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As a woman, how do you plan on raising a family and being a doctor?
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What is your biggest concern about medical school and what are you looking forward to most?
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Why do you want to be a doctor and Why Carolina?
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tell me how you exemplify scholarship. (and grades werent enough of an answer)
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what book are you reading right now?
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Other than the in-state cost being inexpensive, why have you choosen Carolina?
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What do you think about an organized healthcare plan?
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Why did you choose your major?
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Tell me what you want to know?
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What do you do in your free time? What do you do in your quiet time?
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What was the last book you read and why did you like or dislike it?
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But what got you initially into medicine? (wouldn't drop this despite what I thought was a good answer)
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He also asked my favorite book and movie, which I thought was a bit odd.
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So, are you going to make me ask, or just tell me? (Implying- "Why do you want to be a doctor?")
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Why did you apply to so many schools?
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Tell me about your (fill in the blank with bad class) grade.
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Tell me something I can use to defend you to the committee.
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Where do you see yourself in 12 years?
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I don't really understand your research. Explain it to me.
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If you could read any book right now, what would it be/why?
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What are your strengths/weaknesses.
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explain MCAT score
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Why medicine at this stage in your life
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All other questions were pretty much standard questions mostly about volunteering, getting to know my background, and some ethical questions.
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One interviewer gave the the categories that they score us on and told me to describe how I fill each category.
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Last question- what is one thing that you want me to definitely make sure to tell the committee about you?
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What was the last book you read? The last movie you saw?
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Tell me about yourself!
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Where are good places to eat around here?
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tell me about your community service experiences?
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what do you do in your free time?
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what have you read recently?
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Just the basics. Know em...
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including personal qualities for being a good physician, unique autobiography titles, future career aspirations, favorite books, and ethical dilemmas. While the questions varied, there were references to MMI format interviews, implying a structured approach, possibly under a nondisclosure agreement.
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None.
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Tell me about your interests.
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What 3 sentences do you want me to write down for your file?
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What personal qualities do you have that will make you a good physician?
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2 part question: What do you think makes a good doctor, and in what ways are you unique?
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If you were to write an autobiography, what would it be titled?
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What book are you currently read? (We ended up talking about various books related to my particular medical interests)
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Was your undergraduate institution difficult/did it prepare you well?
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My interviewer seemed to have memorized my profile before I came in, so he was prepared to ask specific questions.
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Do you use illicit drugs?
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What kind of physician do you see yourself as in 10 years?
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Tell me about your family.
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Tell me about your friends.
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Dinner with 3 people? One at a time Who u choose?
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What do u do to relax?
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Honestly it wasn't a question and answer format, just a really good conversation about medicine, UNC, and my experiences.
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Fairly standard questions. . . How does a girl from X end up in country Y doing activity Z? (They both read my app carefully and gave me many opportunities to explain/brag.
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I was asked in both interviews to explain my husband's job in more detail.
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Some guy finds out his wife is ill unless she gets medicine. He breaks into a pharmacy and steals the needed medicine, was he right in his actions?
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What was the last book you read?
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How do you like your current job?
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Tell me about your first car.
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Are the students at your current school happier than the students here?
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Say "How are you feeling" in Haitian Kreyol.
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If you were advisor to one of the presidential candidates, what would you tell them to do about health care?
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(looking at my list of current activities...) Do you have free time and if so, what do you do in it? I talked about cooking as being my favorite kind of hobby.
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If you could talk to anyone, dead or alive and not a relative, who would it be and why?
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What book am I currently reading
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What do you think might be a possible solution to the problem of health dispairities?
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Surprisingly...nothing. Very standard
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Have you done anything to cause your friends to view you negatively? If so, how did you deal with it?
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When are peanuts harvested?
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Who would you like to eat dinner with, besides a family member?
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What do you like to read?
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If you could have dinner with anyone, deceased or living but excluding relatives, who would it be?
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Nothing interesting
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Why did you do post-bach work somewhere other than UNC-CH? (I don't live in the Chapel Hill area)
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What was the plot of the Stranger?
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What aspects of public healthmost interest you?
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We were talking about holden from salinger's catcher in the rye and the word ''phony'' when he asked me if I thought people at UNC were pretentious and then asked if I was judgemental.
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Tell me about your first car?
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What do you know about Korean?
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What do you think will be the biggest problem facing physicians when you finally get into practice?
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What is the german word for singer?
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Would I bring religion into a patient visit?
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Why do autistic people behave the way that they do? <I work with autistic adults so it was relevant>
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What problems do you foresee affecting your future practice on a grand scale?
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where do you see Healthcare going? How do you think we should adress the problems?
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Do you think your humanities major will fit into medicine?
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When was the last time you cried?
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If it was possible,would you change medical policy in America, and if so, how?
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If you were any cell in the body what would you be and why?
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If I could go back to the beginning of college what would I change (if anything) and why?
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In your opinion, what are some of the negative aspects about becoming a physician?
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If you got into Hopkins, do you think you'd come here or go there?
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Do you think that your hopes of building relationships with patients is realistic considering that primary care physicians these days often shuffle patients in and out in 8 minutes?
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What should I tell the admissions committee that will convince them to accept you over the other applicants?
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What was the first car you owned?
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What was the most recent book you finished reading?
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Have you thought about military medicine?
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What was the name of the OB/GYN that delivered you?
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You are interested in a very narrow specialty (peds neurosurgery). How did you focus on something so specialized this early?
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As you reach the end of retirement from a successful medical career, God tells you she's throwing a 3 day party for you, with your spouse and all your family. What 3 people would you invite that you'd like to get to know better, dead or alive, real or fictional and why?
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How do you feel about people riding motorcycles without helmets? Is this a right? Should others have to pay for their medical bills?
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Tell me about Victor Jara. (A Chilean musician involved in my senior thesis, who the interviewer happened to admire)
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Why medical school after practicing as a PA
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What sandwich would you like for lunch?
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Ethics question: "Pregnant woman whose baby's bloodtype doesn't match the father...mother doesn't want to tell, boyfriend does - what do you do? I said maintain patient-doctor confidentiality...apparently that was the more "right" answer.
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If you could change something you did in the past, what would it be?
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Very standard questions
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How fast can you run? (I'm a XC coach)
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As a doctor (or med student) you are going to come into contact with patients' bodily fluids. How would you feel if a patient threw up on you?
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The thing I regret most from highschool
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Usual stuff
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Does the rise in managed care and insurance companies' roles in medicine deter you from your desire to become a doctor?
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The beginning questions were very "interview-like" but the follow-ups to the answers I had to specific questions were unique and well orchestrated.
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What would you suggest be done to deal with the inequity of healthcare (millions of uninsured) in the U.S.?
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What type of non-dark beer would you recommend for me?
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None really.....most questions were as it is from this website....I have a unique background so most questions were based on that....
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"You have made it through four long years of med school, and the day you have been waiting for is just around the corner. You are about to graduate with 159 of your classmates/friends, with whom you have shared all the challenges and accomplishments of the past four years. It is the day before commencement, but tragedy strikes-you are killed in a horrible car accident. What do you hope your classmates will say about you at commencement?"
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In your opinion what is one of the biggest healthcare problems faced today? How would you suggest resolving it.
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Who is your hero?
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Are you Jewish? Fair question b/c of our conversation about my daughters name which is ancient AKAN/AFRIM and means MOTHER OF ISRAEL.
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What would you do if you had a patient who would not listen to your medical advice. The patient had been smoking and drinking for years and refused to stop. How would you influence that patient to start healthy behaviors.
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What character in the lord of the rings movie was the most interesting when compared with their portrayal in the book?
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What makes you unique
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Do you travel much? (not very interesting, but they didnt really ask any interesting questions)
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Have you considered dentistry? As a Japanese-American, do you feel any guilt for Japan's conduct in World War II? (no joke)
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What would you do if you had a patient that hated you?
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standard questions - nothing very interesting. the conversation took on a life of its own.
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Why did you choose your ugrad and why didn't you transfer?
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I haven't bothered to look at your file. Tell me about yourself
-
Why did you take juggling?
-
None in particular.
-
Are you capable of making a major lifestyle change if and when you get into medical school (a reference to the fact I do alot of activities that I would not have time for in med school)
-
Nothing really, all standard crap questions.
-
What is a chord?
-
Pretend I'm a cashier at Dixie Mart. Explain your research to me in terms that I can understand and that I might find interesting.
-
What's the difference between compassion and empathy? Can I, as a male OB-GYN, have empathy with a patient suffering from menstrual cramps. (The answer was yes. I got it wrong. :)
-
Have you ever had milk straight out of a cow udder?
-
How can we fix health care today?
-
So I see you delivered a dead baby....where was this, in a back alley at an illegal abortion clinic?
-
How do you plan to fund medical school and would you be interested in joining the military in order to fund medical school?
-
describe a typical day in your life
-
female health care with regards to reproductive rights: from an OBGYN
-
Do you like chirality? (in reference to me being a chemistry major)
-
What did you think of the State of the Union address?
-
Is there anything that scares you about medical school?
-
IF you had a patient who wanted to try alternative therapies, what would you do?
-
Give me 3 adjectives to describe your mother and your father, respectively. Then which are you most like.
-
Do you know what problems physicians are facing in the healthcare field?
-
why in the world are you pursuing medicine at this age?
-
see below
-
I was asked to provide 3 adjectives for my mother, father, me in high school, and me now, all separately, and he jotted down all 12 adjectives that I said.
-
What are great places to eat around here?
-
do you think paying patients to participate in clinical trials poisons the doctor-patient relationship?
-
We discussed my essays. It was nice to see that my interviewer took the time to carefully read over my app.
-
Why do you wear your watch on the same hand that you write with?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal challenges, ethical dilemmas, healthcare system improvements, and reflections on past experiences. While some faced specific queries about academic performance or decision-making, many described the interviews as conversational; however, some responses suggested the interview format might have been an MMI, potentially involving nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the questions.
-
Why a low Mcat?
-
Is there anything else you want to tell me about yourself?
-
What three sentences should I tell the admissions committee?
-
Describe a time you were on a team, but not leading it, and had a disagreement with another team member. How did you handle it?
-
What do you think will be the biggest challenge facing you as a medical student/doctor?
-
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing healthcare?
-
If you could make a 60 minute movie about your life, what portions would you include, and how long would each portion be (minute-wise)?
-
What is an ethical problem you have faced and what did you do about it?
-
How can we fix the healthcare system?
-
Was your undergraduate institution difficult/did it prepare you well? This question wasn't THAT difficult, but it was unexpected, and the way it was asked led me to think my interviewer had made assumptions about my college being easy.
-
What was the weakest part of your application?
-
(I was a student-athlete in college.) One Dr. asked me why I hadn't done more volunteering or research. I didn't have time!
-
Describe a persona challenge. (I bumbled the answer at first)
-
When was a point where you reached utmost saturation and what did you learn from that experience?
-
The most simplistic. "Tell me about yourself". It is hard to say something positive without sounding like you are boastful.
-
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
-
none of them were very hard -- interviews were extremely conversational.
-
Biggest regreat in life?
-
Discuss a problem in clinical rounds?
-
none
-
The regets question. . . difficult one to answer (what's you biggest regret)
-
Of all the things we've talked about, what are the two key points you want me to present to the committee?
-
What have your experiences as a patient shown you about being a doctor?
-
Same as above
-
What mistakes have you made?
-
Questions about past.
-
Have you ever failed at anything?
-
Have you talked to people at different stages of medical school including residency?
-
Honestly, like everyone else says, it's really conversational. We didn't really finish talking about my application fully in order to get into any hard questions. We basically discussed things that were on my application, my family and background, why I wanted to be a doctor, etc.
-
Which of all the work experiences you've had was your favorite?
-
How can you know you're qualified to become a physician?
-
What do you think about our curriculum?
-
none, the interview was very conversational
-
How do we distinguish between applicants who really have a heart to help people from those who only seek the monetary rewards?
-
So when you don't get in, what are you going to do?
-
Tell me one thing about yourself that will show me that you will be a good doctor in the future.
-
None.
-
What else do you want to tell me?
-
What is the most difficult thing you have ever had to do?
-
What was the most difficult decision you have had to make in your life?
-
How do you feel about the decreasing autonomy of physicians?
-
Nothing difficult
-
Would you perform a surgery/procedure with which you disagreed morally?
-
What has been the biggest challenge for you?
-
What happened with this <insert random poor grade here>?
-
what is the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?
-
Who was your hero growing up? and You did great in difficult classes but medicore in medicore classes, what does your erratic grades say about you?
-
Were Churchill and FDR good friends?
-
Explain the lack of service-related activities in your file.
-
So, the solution you proposed [for the answer to the last question] (see
-
If you were going to die in 3 days and you were able to have a banquet with all of your family and friends each night until you woke up dead on the 3rd day, and each night you were able to invite any person, living/dead/fictional/nonfictional, who would you invite each night? (just names, no explanation)
-
see above
-
Are you taking the MCAT this April? (I had already taken it and hadn't even considered taking it again as I was applying)
-
Hmmm...nothing really. I talked about Healthcare for like 45min in my first interview. Some people might find it daunting...good thing I had been reading up on the subject.
-
What was your most difficult class?
-
If you could have dinner with 3 people dead/alive, fiction/non-fiction, who would they be? What would you ask them?
-
If there was someone who was in excruciating pain that passed all the criteria for the assisted suicide law in Oregon, would you obey there wishes?
-
I am Socrates and I see you on the street. I put my arm on you and say "my child you are _________" Fill-in-the blank.
-
What are you dying to tell me that we have not already talked about?
-
Explain poor XYZ undergraduate grades.
-
If you got into Hopkins, do you think you'd come here or go there?
-
The most daunting was "Explain your driving infraction..." followed by "Does alcohol ever cause you to miss work?" I was a bit thrown by the abruptness of the question and just hope that he recognized the sincerity of my remorse and the truth that it was a one-time mistake, an irresponsible decision that has never and will never be repeated. For those that don't realize it, it is exceedingly easy to reach an 0.08 without feeling impaired or knowing rationally that you should be over the limit. Bottom line, don't have any amount of alcohol, not even a single drink, if you will be driving.
-
What will you find most challenging about medical school?
-
What should I tell the review committee about you?
-
none really
-
You wrote that your extensive community service experience proves you are compassionate. How does it prove that?
-
The interviewer sat me down across the table, raised his eyebrows at my app and, using my full name, said, "Who are you?" and sat back to wait for a concise and intelligent response.
-
N/A
-
Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of your top three schools
-
Why were your undergraduate grades so poor
-
How do you expect to get into medical school when you are competing with people who have 3.8 GPAs Do you think that the fact that you lost your parents as an early teenager is going to get you into medical school.
-
Nothing too bad, no ethical dilema questions or anything like that.
-
Why do you think you have the mental capacity to be a doctor?
-
What gives you energy?
-
An extended question on the concept of my research...My research was on the effects of cadmium on mitochondria, and he asked me what other organ systems were affected.
-
What will be the hardest challenge for you in Medical School?
-
What would you like me to write on your evaluation that will distinguish you from the other applicants?
-
What makes me disappointed about people
-
Nothing really
-
What will you do if you don't get in this year?
-
I had to explain what I thought to be the most pressing issues facing north carolina's health care system and how I would go about changing that.
-
If you could sit down to dinner with 3 people throughout all history which 3 would they be and why?
-
Explain your background...I am non-traditional and from different country so the interviewer was trying to understand my perspective on things, which was a good thing. It was more of a get to know you kind of interview.
-
Probably the one above...it took me a little off guard. But, actually, I had more trouble answering "Who would you say is a role model for you?" I had not prepared for that question, and could not think of an answer until my interviewer helped me out be re-phrasing it: "Who do you go to for advice?" Then it was obvious to me who my role models were.
-
The ever dreaded open ended "So tell me about yourself", and what do you want me to say in your defense to the board
-
What would you do if a patient hated you?
-
No difficult questions
-
Both interviewers asked about specific low grades that I had as a Freshman and Sophomore. When I responded that I overcommitted myelf to too many activities, he asked what specific activities I was undergoing at the time, which I didn't remember exactly and I stumbled.
-
What would you tell a pregnant sixteen year old girl if she asked you for all the options for her baby?
-
Give an anecdote of why you think you'd be a good doctor or an event that led you to believe medicine was right for you.
-
I was challenged on my attempting to raise a family and go to med school and residency - it was in an indirect, but deliberate manner.
-
How can I know that you will make a good doctor.
-
Why did you have such a low physics MCAT score? (It was one point below their average) Everyone who was interviewing with me said that during their first interview, the interviewer pointed out the weakness of their application and asked for an explanation.
-
What is there about you that will help you contribute to medicine?
-
What would you change about you application if you could?
-
What is the weakest part of your application? (MCAT in my case)
-
There really weren't a lot of difficult questions. It was very conversational.
-
No difficult or off the wall questions
-
What's your leadership style? Think of a famous leader in history which has a leadership style most like yours.
-
What makes you think that you can adjust to a rural setting to practice medicine?
-
How can we fix health care today?
-
What should I tell the admissions committee in your defense? I had already written a rehearsed response for this question, but it wasn't good enough for him.
-
convince me, using specific examples, that you have the passion required for a career in medicine
-
Think of a time that you were treated unfairly and how did you resolve this issue?
-
What was the biggest thing that you've ever had to overcome?
-
Why do you think physicians are cynical and pessimistic after medical school? What will prevent YOU from becoming a cynical "asshole"? (Based on an earlier answer of mine)
-
What would you do with a noncompliant patient?
-
If you could talk to any three people other than family members, living or dead, who would they be and what would you ask them?
-
What are your weaknesses?
-
Name 3 specific, as in September 28th etc, vignettes that exemplify how medicine choose you, NOT how you choose medicine.
-
Name the three historical figures you would invite to your last dinner.
-
NONE AT ALL!
-
same
-
Is there anything else we should know about you which is not represented by your file?
-
Why would you want to live in chapel hill?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
No responses
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 0-1 hour traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
-
Raleigh-Durham
-
Raleigh Durham (RDU)
-
RDU
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Friends or family or with friends or family.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
-
stayed in an UG dorm
-
Stayed at my girlfriend's house....
-
Red Roof Inn
-
Holiday Inn in Chapel Hill
-
Holiday Inn Chapel Hill
-
Holiday Inn - Chapel Hill
-
Holiday Inn
-
Days INN
-
Courtyard Marriott
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for interviews by reviewing their applications, practicing with mock interviews, researching the school and its curriculum, reading resources like SDN and books on healthcare, and seeking advice from current medical students. Many emphasized the importance of being themselves, staying positive and confident, and trying to approach the interview as a friendly conversation rather than an interrogation.
-
SDN, MMI practice, review of bioethics, researched the school's curriculum
-
SDN interview feedback, talking to current students, and researching the school
-
SDN, reviewed my application
-
Reread my application, read the website
-
Read SDN advice, reached out to M1 student for details about student life through SDN, practice interviews with friends/family
-
"The Medical School Interview: Winning Strategies from Admissions Faculty" by Desai and Katta
-
Mock Interviews (multiple) provided by Career Services at my institution SDN
-
Reading up on the curriculum and programs, reading SDN.
-
wikipedia, SDN, UNC website
-
Read questions on SDN, practiced answering with a friend.
-
Ask med students, mock interviews
-
It was my second interview overall. I also did two mock interviews at my undergrad school.
-
Reading this forum. Having my friends and family grill me with questions.
-
SDN
-
student doc, typical med school interview questions
-
I read everything I could find about the area and program. I also had 2 mock interviews.
-
Mock interview, read about UNC
-
SDN, other interviews, reading school website
-
SDN, AMCAS, Mock and Printed questions from advisors
-
SDN, friends, list of questions from internet, personnel statement, mock interview
-
SDN, Read over applications
-
SDN, School's website, mock interviews, practiced questions, spoke with a bunch of current med students
-
Website, reviewed AMCAS, SDN, slept
-
Printed the questions from here and practiced with a friend.
-
Interview feedback
-
Reviewing personal statement and secondary essays, going over potential interview questions, and doing mock interviews.
-
SDN, website, application
-
Looked over my supplemental
-
Reviewed secondary application and AMCAS.
-
SDN forums, reading books on health care policy, mock interviews, talking with med students
-
SDN, practicing questions with my friends
-
read essays and sdn and newspapers
-
Read the website, re-read my AMCAS and secondary essays.
-
SDN and school's website
-
SDN, read over AMCAS
-
SDN interview feedback, read my primaries.
-
SDN, AAMCAS, Arrived early (most arrived right at the time, or even late...bad form)
-
UNC Website, re-read AMCAS app.
-
Looked over my application
-
SDN, read AAMCAS app, read books on medical ethics and healthcare policy
-
Looked up my interviewers. Got my name out.
-
Read feedback on SDN, reviewed possible interview questions, asked a current student for advice/inside tips, researched the school.
-
Read SDN feedback, reviewed my application, read up on UNC's curriculum
-
Researched online and relaxed
-
This site, UNC site, previous interview experiences
-
Read about school on website, researched my interviewer, SDN
-
Read personal info, SDN, website.
-
read website, SDN, yoga class
-
applications, mock interview, read up on healthcare, unc curriculum, studentdoctor.net
-
SDN, friends that knew the interviewers (they give you a heads up on the interviewers)
-
SDN interview feedback, school Web site, looked over my app.
-
re-read PS and essays, SDN
-
Read up on the school.
-
Read application, UNC website, interview coach.
-
SDN, Health Politics (Mike McGee), AMCAS app, UNCCH app, researched some health terms, had a mock interview, typed out a list of possible questions and answers, practiced with a friend (this was my first interview)
-
This website and previous year's interview
-
SDN, Primary, Secondary
-
Read about healthcare and did a bit of soul-searching.
-
SDN, School literature, talking to people I knew who went there/go there
-
Read over AMCAS and Secondary apps, SDN. There are a ton of different interviewers, and they all apparently have different interview styles. Check out the questions on here, but also be prepared for some completely random questions.
-
The student doctor network feedback summaries
-
Read Student MD, talked to friends attending the med school, re-read my app, read "Critical Condition" (a book about the state of healthcare in the U.S.), looked up info on my interviewers.
-
Reviewed my application, looking on the school's website and looking up my interviewers (they tell you beforehand), reading other people's interview feedback from this school to get possible questions - I wrote out a sentence answer to all of them.
-
SDN, read UNC website, mock interview
-
SDN, reread AMCAS and secondary, mock interview, read up on health care/ethics
-
Read over primary and secondary apps, read studentdoc, talked to friends at UNCSOM.
-
read over my secondary, SDN
-
AMCAS, SDN, introspection
-
reviewed my AMCAS and secondary, the school's website, and SDN interview feedback
-
SDN interview feedback, talked to MS1-4 students currently attending UNC
-
read sdn interviews, application, "shadow boxed" so to speak
-
School's website, SDN
-
Read AMCAS, my secondary, SDN, and also mdapplicants.com to get an idea of my standing in the applicant pool.
-
Read my research papers, talked with current students, read SDN, researched the two interviewers online, figured out where to park the day before and bought a new suit.
-
Read AMCAS and Research, UNC Website, and SDN
-
Read current medical events, looked over my application, looked at their web site
-
SDN, Interview workshop, talked with current MS1s
-
Prepared and reviwed a list of questions based on suggestions by my consultant, looked at this website, reviewed my AMCAS application
-
Looked over my AMCAS
-
Read over my application and research, this website, took it easy the night before.
-
SDN, read over application - it was amazing how accurate SDN's questions were - my first interviewer used about 5 or 6 of the questions that I had pulled off SDN and prepared for...
-
SDN, website, internet
-
This website, talking to med students at UNC, mock interview with brother-in-law.
-
StudentDoctor.net, read my secondary application, research papers (my own and the MDs I interviewed with), three mock interviews with MDs at an academic hospital.
-
Went over my application, looked at UNC website, read about current health-care and ethics topics in medicine
-
Reviewed statement, UNC web site, sdnet experiences
-
Read this website, read the school's website - UNC gave me the names of the interviewers so I read up on them. I also talked to a friend who went to the school and rehearsed with friends.
-
This website as well as talking to a 1st year student here for advice.
-
this website, reviewing UNC website, prayer
-
read UNCmed website, this website, review AMCAS and secondary applications
-
This website, visited UNC website, talked to some other medical students.
-
Well, I read the interview feedback on this website (for UNC and some others schools) to get an idea of the actual questions I could expect. I composed a list of those questions (including the seemingly easy ones), and practiced answering most of them out loud a couple of times, until I was satisfied that I would not go blank if asked the question in the actual interview. I also reviewed my AMCAS application and seconday application, and re-read my senior thesis/research paper. Perhaps the most important way I prepared was to try to convince myself that these interviews were not going to be interrogations, that they were just a friendly little chit-chat, a harmless getting-to-know-you effort. The reason that you are being "interrogated" in the first place is not because you've done anything wrong, it's because, so far, you've done EVERYTHING RIGHT! If you think about it that way, and keep a positive attitude, you will realize that you are there because YOU HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME A DOCTOR! Just be yourself, be positive, and be confident!
-
Looked over this site to get an idea of the questions that would be asked
-
SDN, amcas app, personal statement, secondary, mock interviews.
-
SDN, INTERVIEW RESOURCES, REVIEW PRIMARY AND SECONDARY APPLICATIONS/ESSAYS,
-
I looked over my research and application. Read through the UNC website.
-
this website
-
This.
-
Night before my interview I re-read this site, rehearsed in my head what I would say about my research, why I wanted to be a doctor, and specific anecdotes that I could point out to answer different types of questions... but then I realized that too much preparation would probably make me too nervous, so I stopped thinking about it after 30 minutes of preparation, watchted TV, ate some food, and went to sleep.
-
websites, friends, reading, soul searching
-
Nothing.
-
reviewed site, spoke to friends currently enrolled in the med school, reviewed my application.
-
SDN, read up on my interviewers...... anything humanly possible to get my mind OFF the interviews and relax. GO RELAX!
-
read over application
-
This site and read up on the school.
-
Talked with med student who had interviewed here, ready amacs essay.
-
read website, read my amcas and secondary
-
used this website, studied my application, and masturbated
-
sdn, reviewed research
-
Reviewed secondary and AMCAS, talked to a friend that goes there, SDN
-
Thought of all sample questions, practiced responses, read up on school, re-read AMCAS. It was my first interview, and I really anal, so...
-
Knew my AMCAS and school essays, SDN, practice, and pray
-
Read the SDN posts, read my apps, prayed
-
Wrote out answers to the questions I found on SDN, researched into the school and curriculum, did background searches of my interviewers,
-
read over AMCAS and UNC applications, mock interviews, UNC website
-
reviewed amcas and unc applications
-
read the website...knew my file...reasons for wanting to attend UNC...
-
website, amcas notes, talked with students
-
read my essays, AMCAS read up on the school and my interviewers
-
sdn, read my app, talked to others + thought about my reasons for wanting to attend
-
Looked over Aamcas, read some interesting books.
-
read over amcas essay, UNC app, other app essays
-
Reread my essays, kept up with current events, this site, practice interviews with friends.
-
Mock interview at my school, read this site, read over my AMCAS and UNC secondary.
-
read over my application, checked here, read the website.
-
Reviewed AMCAS and secondary, UNC's website
-
Read AMCAS, read my supplementary, browsed med.unc.edu and read interviewfeedback
-
unc website, read my essays
-
Reviewed research, amcas and essays.
-
Reread my application/notes
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly, enthusiastic, and genuine nature of the faculty, staff, and students at UNC. They appreciated the emphasis on community, the quality of facilities, the organized and relaxed interview process, and the opportunities for research and hands-on experience.
-
Great school for both primary care and research, dedicated to the community
-
Everything! It was efficient and organized.
-
My interviewer was very casual and nice. It felt more like a conversation than anything. We discussed my hometown and job. We were enjoying the conversation so much that someone had to come and end tell us time had ended.
-
My interviewer was clearly passionate about the curriculum, ensuring quality instructors, and being responsive to student feedback. The videos we watched had student testimonials that seemed like they genuinely felt very supported by the faculty and administration, academically and personally. All the students I met were enthusiastic and honest.
-
The interviewers had taken a lot of time to read through my file before the interview. Their questions were thoughtful. I felt like they really wanted to get the best possible picture of who I am, and were not trying to grill me.
-
The laid-back nature of the interviewers. Both of my interviewers were positive and energetic, yet relaxed, so it was very easy for me to communicate my thoughts.
-
The medical students were very friendly, positive, and open. They answered most of my questions about the school.
-
My interview with the Adcom member went amazingly; he knew my application to a "T" and even pulled up all of my grades during the interview when referencing my academic achievements.
-
People were friendly and some of their facilities were very cool!
-
Everyone seemed really friendly and happy there.
-
UNC really speaks for itself; top ranked in research, primary care, and public health, and a great location. Students seem really happy and relaxed. I think this is a school where students can find happiness and satisfaction quite easily. Amount of time in class seems less than many schools (generally 8am-1pm).
-
School, facilities, students
-
How nice everybody was. We met several students in the "holding room" and they were all gushing with love for the school.
-
Pass fail system seems to foster a great academic community. Breaks between each block to go to different sites around the state and work with a PCP.
-
The medical students I met were friendly, sim lab was awesome
-
great atmosphere at school, students seem happy
-
The faculty and staff. Everyone was happy to be where they were.
-
the resources and use of technology in the classroom, teach using patient simulators, the students seem very happy
-
Nice facilities & library, very friendly students who are uber satisfied with the curriculum. Chapel Hill is a really cool town and the campus is really nice.
-
Interviews were conversational
-
School curriculum
-
Everyone was extremely excited and friendly.
-
students, admissions, building
-
The interviewers asked in-depth questions and seemed genuinely interested in me, no intimidation tactics.
-
the people are fantastic and the facilities are top-notch
-
The whole day was very relaxed. I was comfortable with the conversational interview style. Lunch was Panera.
-
How nice the facilities and friendly the admissions people and students were
-
The admissions office was very friendly and receptive.
-
everything, how good the cookies were
-
Everyone was very laidback and it put me at ease.
-
The students seemed very happy and very laid back. The facilities were great.
-
The administrators were so helpful and really did everything they could to make us feel comfortable. The students were very enthusiastic and couldn't think of one negative thing to say about the school.
-
How nice everyone was! How relaxed things were (even though I had heard it was relaxed like a million times)!
-
lots of enthusiasm, very active campus, excellent school of public health right across the street
-
The town: Chapel Hill is a nice little area. The facilities are expanding and getting better, there are three large hospitals plus a neuroscience hospital on the campus and the medical, dental, nursing and pharmacy schools are all close together. I like that the UG campus is also connected and the great sports tradition that UNC has.
-
Faculty, students, and admissions staff were very friendly; the campus is expanding and it looks great.
-
The low-stress level and the admissions office was very helpful
-
Everything seemed organized, and all my questions were answered in detail. Also you guys need to check out the new lecture halls. They are beauuutifuuul.
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Brand new facilities. The whole staff was amazingly personable. They really did seem genuine when they state they want you to have a good interview experience.
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People were generally happy to be at UNC.
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The facilities were amazing.
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Not much.
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I went here for undergrad, so I'm in love with UNC, therefore I'm a little biased.
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How beautiful the facilities are and that they're within walking distance of a lot of restaurants/bars.
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I would have to say that the most impressive thing about UNC is the people. The faculty members who interviewed me, the students, and the other applicants were all very friendly and personable. They were the kind of people I would like to spend the next four years in medical school with. Chapel Hill is a very nice community.
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Pride in school, great new curriculum style.
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The students seemed happy, the new facilities being built should be beautiful.
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Not much, sadly because this school is ranked pretty high and is much cheaper than others.
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New facilities and upcoming facilities are amazing. Faculty and students are extremely friendly. Quality of education.
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There are so many programs for people interested in community-based medicine and public health. Primary care is taken seriously, and students get a chance to practice their clinical skills during community weeks at primary care sites during the first and second years. Chapel Hill is a great area, and there are so many other types of people- it's not all medical students- you have the whole university at your fingertips.
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Nice but challenging interviews
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Everything - They were very open and positive.
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The campus was beautiful, leaves were turning, nice weather.
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The facilities were outstanding and the students were very enthusiastic. Plus, Chapel Hill is a great town.
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Happiness of the students. Quality of facilities. Curriculum (didn't know quite as much as I thought I did prior to the interview day). Willingness of professors to help you sort out your medical career path.
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The facilities were being redone and looked great!
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amount of construction going on (for new facilities), the rankings in us news, the dean and people who came by to talk to us.
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The interviewer's honesty. And that he cut though the BS and did not ask the standard questions. Like, "where do you see yourself in ten years." He asked me relevant questions about what I had been doing etc. A refreshing interview
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Interviewers and my fellow applicants, I went to Carolina so everything else was familiar and has already impressed me many times over.
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The people I met around campus were REALLY nice.
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How genuine they were about their school and trying to make the 8 of us feel as comfortable as possible in an inherently stressful environment.
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The students are very close and incredibly laid back... very little competition at UNC. Pass/Fail in the first year. Lots of construction and new buildings going up
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UNC Shool of Medicine seems to be under perpetual rennovation. Construction is taking place all over the campus.
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Once the construction is complete the facilities will be very nice. The students seemed to be very well-rounded and I liked the M.D./MPh program. The new integrative approach to the curriculum seems to be working well for the 1st years.
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All of the staff and students seemed excited about the school and even excited about us being there to interview. A lot of extra random students came up to us to ask if we had questions.
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The facilities are great: Lots of construction is going on, but it seems like once it's over the med school campus will be state-of-the-art. Also, the staff is extremely friendly and enthusiastic, and their sense of pride for UNC is infectious! Although there were different interviewers assigned to the students, most of them made it a point to come to the waiting room and introduce themselves to the rest of us, which made the process very casual and laid back.
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How friendly the admissions staff and interviewers were.
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Curriculum - block schedule, P/F first year, H/P/F after, organ sys, ICM, early clinical experience, students spent several weeks in a community working with a primary care physician, giving students more control over 3rd year rotation/elective selection to prepare for career sooner Facilities - some soon to be completed, all very nice Students - may have been the free cookies, but all were very open and friendly and the guides were extremely helpful and informative SHAC - practically student run, with attendings to report to, local health clinic that a lot of students volunteer at Seem to be lots of opportunities to research and be involved in clinical care early.
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the students seemed to really like the new block scheduling
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Great facilities, students were friendly, entire campus will have wireless internet next year
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the opportunities available to students for research and experience abroad and the funding available, the changes in the curriculum, and the fact that the school actually listens and addresses issues raised by the students
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The staff was great. Very polite and helpful.
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Awesome new facilities town has a great atmosphere, lots of cultural events, etc... students were gushing over the new curriculum that allowed them to be out of their block course by 12 -also did a block of anatomy...and just anatomy, no other courses or tests at the same time (besides ICM and the medicine and society course)
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I dunno, it's UNC. Dirt cheap for in-state, good basketball, etc etc
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Facilities were gorgeous, especially the new lecture halls. Very nice. The people were pretty laid back, and seemed relatively honest.
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I interviewed with two nationally prestigious physicians, and the first year students I met were pleased with the school. The other 3 applicants in my group were very nice, as were the very calming admissions office people.
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Two new hospitals (Children's and Women's), School of Public Health, Dean Hoole, Lecture Halls, New First Year Curriculum.
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Everyone, including the interviewers, was very friendly.
-
The students are relaxed and emphasize extracurriculars but are also enthusiastic about studying medicine at UNC
-
My 3rd interview was just great. I wasn't expecting to have a 3rd one but the interviewer and I had one of the best, far-ranging conversations I've ever had with a total stranger.
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The lunch
-
The positive energy that all the students, professors, and doctors exuded. The hospital is large and nice and apparently there will be new teaching facilities soon. I am from Chapel Hill, so the town was no suprise. I also like that one of your interviewers calls and notifies you of your acceptance. Its a nice, personal touch.
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everything, I'm a UNC fanatic
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Facilities are great, staff was very friendly and helpful. I loved the school!
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How comfortable they made all interviewers feel; I was expecting a more snooty atmosphere!
-
The relative ease of both of my interviewers, and how much they loved the school. Both could not have been more different. The first was a new faculty member who had returned from private practice after 40 years to teach. The second was a young pyschiatrist who had stayed in academia all of her life. However it was clear their love of their fellow faculty, students, and medicine was what led them to Chapel Hill. Also, the admissions office went out of their way to make you feel comfortable. The students who gave us our tour made sure we didn't have any questions and gave us more insight on their lives (one was married, one was single, I thought a good mix). I went here for undergraduate and finished grad school somewhere else, so I may be just a tad bit bias.
-
Everyone was very nice, and the students really seem to want to work together and help each other
-
How happy the students were and the classroom was very nice.
-
Campus is really expanding/updating including new MS1 building for next year. Great education. Low tuition for in-state students.
-
easy-going interview experience
-
Not too much. The people in the admissions office were nice.
-
The campus, despite the construction, is really nice. They're also moving everything into a new shiny building for next year. Everybody involved with the interviewing process was also extremely friendly.
-
LEAVING
-
Even though I'm a senior here now, I haven't spent much time at the med school despite the fact that its on campus. I was thoroughly impressed with the southern hospitality and the laid-back atmosphere of the interviewers as well as the employees at the admissions office.
-
the friendliness of the students and people in the admissions office
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The students excitement and happiness
-
It is an awesome school and how much student input was valued in all aspects of medical school.
-
Wow...these people are down-to-earth. The interviewers, the students, the staff, they are all just real people. There are no airs floating around the place, just an abundance of positive energy. The campus is infused. If you want to go to a great med school and be yourself, and not worry about maintaining any kind of image, this is a great place. I was also impressed that they offer a combined M.D./M.P.H. (Master's of Public Health-which I am interested in), and that their M.P.H. program is number two in the nation.
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Interviewers were very cordial
-
Carolina is a great school. The admissions staff/faculty are very friendly and my faculty interviewer was great.
-
New facilites, resources, specialty hospitals, the programs structure. Someone from the admission committee was in the waiting room and he helped to calm our nerves or at least mine. Not sure if that is part of their effort or an individual on his part, but it was well worth it.
-
The tour and the excellent faculty-student relationships.
-
the students seemed very excited to be there. the facilities were nice. the faculty was very capable.
-
Admissions staff is lovely, interview process was smooth, never felt uncomfotable or stressed.
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One interviewer had interviewed and remembered one of my good friends from high school that had been accepted the previous year. I was also impressed by the fact that a very highly regarded and distinguished professor was taking his time to interview me. I was also impressed by the brand new Health Science Library that looked extremely nice (and much much better than their old one). The Dean (Dr. Hoole) was very friendly when he gave his talk. The other interviewees were pretty friendly (I interviewed with a small group of 6 or 7). The 2nd years that took us on a tour were pretty knowledgable and friendly. The Panera lunch was alright, but it was nice to have lunch with the 2nd years who took time out of thier busy day...Randee and Lisa were both extremely friendly and Randee even remembered who I was when I came in the door.
-
they made a point about protecting their students, and it did seem the students spoke up and were heard within the school
-
Community Service Week starting your first year.
-
My second interviewer was fantastic. A walking saint.
-
One professor that I interviewed with was AMAZING - she was the most well rounded and interesting doctor I have ever met. We talked about literature, the creative process, life stages, EVERYTHING. Unfortunately, I think she may be retirng soon.
-
how nice everyone was
-
I really liked the student body. The tour guides were extremely nice and helpful (even if it was their first tour), and everyone I saw just seemed very into the school and sincerely nice.
-
Nice school, everyone was very friendly.
-
great classrooms, nice instate price, good clinical exposure, decent lunch from panera
-
students seemed very happy to be there, the students over the next few years will use all new facilities, admissions office seems very motivated and helpful
-
Students are very enthusiastic and excited to be there. Seemed like everyone was very close and not a cut-throat environment.
-
the plush lecture hall and active courtyard lunch area where the dental/pharm/med students congregate.
-
I loved my first interviewer. Turns out we go to the same church! Also, the students were really psyched on the school and so friendly.
-
EVERYTHING
-
New facilities that have recently opened. The classes that get in for 2005, 2006 are going to have a state of the at medical school. The students are well cared for and the get their own desks in a lab where they can work from.
-
The enthusiam of the medical students running the tour. New facilities.
-
the second year medical students really loved being at UNC
-
the students giving the tour seemed to really love the school. they are renovating the facilities.
-
A student stopped by and said that the interview day doesn't represent the quality of the school so not to judge UNC by the lack of organization on the interview day.
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cost - its my state school really great training, people are really nice, sincere, down to earth
-
The students were perhaps the coolest I met from all the schools I had visited thusfar.
-
community week, price, nice staff
-
The atmosphere was like one big family and everyone, from the office staff to the students to the interviewers, were really friendly.
-
Everyone I talk to was very friendly. Miss Reid remembered me from my emails.
-
interviewers very personable
-
Dr. Hoole approached me to see if I had all of my questions answered (the day was rushed). Also, the Orange county bus system is great and free to everyone!
-
UNC has a very heterogenous student body, and all of the students seemed fun, approachable, and seemed to love the school. I met several students who approached me to talk just because I was dressed for an interview.
-
Lots of community service involvement...
-
the amount of community involvement the students engage in (community service weeks)
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I could relate to the medical students!
-
Enthusiasm/excitement and professionalism of the faculty, staff and students
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative feedback about the disorganization and lack of structure during the interview day, including delays, last-minute changes, minimal information shared about the school's offerings, and unenthusiastic or unprepared interviewers. Suggestions included improving scheduling efficiency, providing comprehensive information sessions, enhancing the tour experience, and ensuring that interviewers are well-prepared and engaged with applicants.
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The interview day was very disorganized and rushed. My interviewer showed up late and didn't bother to read my file in advance, so they spent a lot of time asking me to give a complete summary of my application. We saw practically none of the campus, and even the students didn't have many positive things to say about the facilities and ongoing construction. I left having learned almost nothing about the school, including its financial aid, diversity, research, and student life. I guess they expect you to learn all this information from the current students, but even they wouldn't know all the details of it.
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The construction and parking challenges
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Didn't get to see much of the school, (no tour, just different rooms used for the intro, MMI, one-on-one, and "break" room) and what we did see was older and not particularly impressive. They explained the main building for classes would be renovated soon.
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I missed the lunch and dean lecture because they didn't have enough interview slots and I interviewed during lunch.
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The interview day itself was pretty disorganized. There was no presentation on the curriculum, the research opportunities, financial aid, or the office of diversity. I'm used to schools trying to sell me on their strong points, but UNC didn't do that at all. I guess they figured that their reputation should speak for itself.
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The "schedule" of interviews was a bit unstructured. I was lucky and had two people set to interview me and they came at their respective scheduled times, but some interviewees only had one scheduled when they arrived and had to wait to be told later when their next interview would be and whom with.
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The interview day is relatively unstructured compared to others. After show time, we were given our interview times. There were no formal briefings from staff, only a 5 minute informal talk from one of the deans. The student-led tour of the school was brief and ill-timed. Most of the time was spent in informal talks with random students who wandered in for cookies.
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N/A
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We had to sit around waiting for a long time; it seemed a little disorganized as to who was interviewing who.
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People were much more Southern than I expected.
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The interview day is not efficient; some people waited nearly two hours for their first interview and had nothing to do during this time. As for the school itself, student housing would be really nice, at least for the social experience. There was practically no mention of financial aid, even though there is a lot to talk about regarding state and federal loan repayment programs. It would be great if there was a "track program" like some schools have.
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class size
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Not a very thorough tour.
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Some of the first years hadn't met eachother yet. You can tell there are alot of students here.
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disorganized, no real presentation about the school, one of the interviewers was a bit strange
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NOTHING
-
Nothing, it was a great experience.
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The interviews were designed so that you had to wait at least an hour and a half at some point either before or after your interview instead of having wait-time filled with something informational. We spent at least 30 minutes at the beginning hearing a story about the interview coordinator's trip to Korea--a time that could have been better spent giving an information session about the school (something the interview day seriously lacked). It was also very hard to park and get to the Admissions Office, plus parking cost $8!
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We didn't get to see any of the medical facilities on the tour--I wish we could have spent less time in the sim lab and maybe a little time in the hospitals, since they're so close by.
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Financial aid people did not talk to us. There was school tour but we did not see any labs or classrooms
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Student led tour didn't have enough time to take us to see the classroom, but since I'm here for undergrad I'll just stop by sometime.
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an interviewer...
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Unfortunately, one of the student-tour guides was laid back to the point of disrespectful. He was quite cocky and condescending, in a "you are not as cool as me" kind of way. Pretty annoying, we had to ask several times for him to take us on the tour, he said "its not important, I don't really want to go"
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it was raining outside...not really UNC's fault though.
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The tour was ok, but I didn't learn enough to make it worth walking around in heels.
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Some comments were a little bit unprofessional on there part.
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The classrooms and labs seemed pretty spread out.
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My interviewers were late. I had to arrive at 11:15, had a brief talk with financial aid, then a student tour, lunch at 1...then I waited until 3 for my first interview. Well, it ended up actually being about 3:20. Even though that interview was awesome, I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary downtime during the interview day.
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Construction outside of admissions office is annoying if driving.
-
one interviewee had to wait 2 hours between interviews
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One interviewer is late, not too big a deal. Neither had looked at my application beforehand. One promised to read it later, the other breezed through and asked a few perfunctory questions. Considering the number of applicants they see, and the fact they're running practices too, I can understand why they run short on time.
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The last minute change in interviewers.
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Not too much.
-
Just about everything. The interview was a joke. Interviewer had not even read my file even though I had been scheduled with him for over 2 weeks.
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Everything was really pleasant. The weather was amazing.
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The medical campus is spread out. This meant a lot of walking. Girls, wear comfortable shoes!
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Nothing really. The tour was kind of brief.
-
Admissions office slightly disorganized.
-
Everything was under construction, NO on-campus parking (you have to take the bus or live within walking distance), my interviewers put me on the defensive about everything.
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Everything seemed so scattered - there was very little organization. Almost all of the interviewees had our interviewers change at the last minute. Our tour guides did not know much about the school at all! When asked questions about patient exposure and free clinics, I got a lot of unsure answers. Further, they didn't even know who to ask to find the answers. I sensed arrogance both from the administration and one of the men who interviewed me, as if I should beg to get into this school.
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Increased construction.
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My tourguide. He was a little over the top selling the place instead of just relaxing into it and getting to know the applicants and their specific questions.
-
Student tour guide acted a little stuck up and unattuned to answering questions in the expected UNC way. As a graduate of UNC undergrad, I think most people at UNC undergrad and med are awesome and not like this.
-
The tour didnt involve too much besides the bottom floor of the hospital and the class room
-
The attitude of the people I met. Carolina is a good school but it (or its students and faculty) has an unwarranted high opinion of itself.
-
One of my interviewers gave me no feedback at all during the interview...he just stared at me the whole time. Fortunately my first interviewer told me this was coming so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
-
The fact that you have to seek out professors to get them to help you (which is really not that bad b/c they will actually help) sort out your career path.
-
First interviewer.
-
my blood pressure was through the roof, this being my first interview. i just mainly remember being terrified of one of my interviewers, because he was tough and i had to be defensive.
-
Bit of a wait to interview.
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No patient simulator for first and second years
-
It was a cold day...I flew down from Miami =)
-
massive construction made it harder than it had to be to find anything...but i suppose that's a good thing, right? i'd pick a school with tons of construction over one with none any day of the week.
-
The interview day was kind of short... if I didn't already know a good bit about the school already, I wouldn't have gotten a very good all-around picture
-
Interview day organization, or lack thereof!!
-
The haphazard approach to the interview. Also, during parts of the tour the guides would just quickly walk us through key areas without describing where we were.
-
Construction everywhere is apparently the norm for UNC-CH but it wasn't too hard to find my way around it all to get to the admissions building - they have pedestrian maps on almost every corner.
-
The medical school campus is huge...so there will be lots of walking!! Bring comfortable shoes! You also have to pay to park, but it's only $6.
-
I had a daunting interview session and left exhausted and not wanting to answer the "how did it go" question at all. Was pretty intimidating. But it's done; I just hope I get in. Construction at UNC is a continual process that can be annoying (detours, noise, etc), but the end results are always impressive.
-
MacNider Bldg was completely surrounded by construction, but what can you do?
-
The whole process is very disorganized. It seemed like there was little, if any management. Students that gave the tour had been at the school for all of a month and a half and could not answer a majority of the questions I asked about the curriculum.
-
The tour was HORRIBLE. No financial aid presentation, no admissions people, and we got to see the cafeteria and a 2nd-year class room.
-
One of my interviewers was a little bit hostile, but nothing terrible. Luckily she was NOT my committee representative. I think I hit it off with my committee guy, he even gave me a ride back to where I was staying after the interview.
-
I didn't feel that the committee interview represented my suitability for becoming a physician as well as it could have.
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Lack of presentations - not sure they really bring out all the bells and whistles to sell the school or explain the curriculum. Traffic and Parking. High cost of living for NC. Recently increased in-state tuition. Having to go to remote locations for clinical rotations/electives. No chance to speak with 3rd and 4th Yr Students.
-
Construction
-
The tour was very short, a brief walk-through of the hospital with little information presented.
-
The 4th years who did our tour and lunch acted pretty bored with us.
-
The interviews and the staff were very disorganized. I did not feel welcomed.
-
The day seemed disorganized with a lot of downtime. Nothing to get stressed about, just bring a book or something.
-
The interview that was stress-oriented, and I felt like I was being told I wasn't good enough to go to this school.
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My second interviewer, and unfortunately, my committee representative. I don't think he had read my application, he did not ask any real questions, and his face was expression-less.
-
Nothing really, my interviewer was changed the day of (I expected that talking to current students and reading this web site).
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The tour was very short and sort of on-the-fly. I would have liked to have seen more of the hospitals and labs.
-
Short tour and stressful interview.
-
interviewers had not seen my file before interview
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Pretty much everything. See my comments.
-
Not so much a negative, but the tour seemed kind of slapped together. You couldn't really see too much. It was more than made up for by the tour guides who were both very helpful and informative.
-
My interviewer was an ancient corpse of a physiology professor who could not get beyond my MCAT scores. He had already made up his mind about me before I entered the room, and there was absolutely no point for me to be there.
-
As you've read before, the construction is rather awful, but they say its going to be cleaned up by the fall, including a new building for M1 students. But, I've also heard that the dental school will be undergoing construction soon, so don't get your hopes up.
-
all the construction around Macnider and the disorganization of the student-led tour (some of the rooms we were supposed to tour were locked and the tour guides had no key)
-
Construction and somewhat disorganization of the admissions office.
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Lot of construction going on but most will be finished by the time next first year comes in.
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Not really anything. I mean, yeah, there is some construction, and my second interviewer was 35 minutes late, but none of that really stressed me out. I think I was overcome with everything I liked about the school, plus I lucked out and had a beautiful 70-degree day which put me in an even better mood.
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Nothing, but one of our student tour guides never showed up
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How the interviews were organized. You had to walk all over the campus. They should have an interview rooms set up to organize the session. For instance, my second interviewer was waiting on me when I returned from my first interview. This wasn't a reflection on my promptness, but a result of inadequate scheduling b/w interviews.
-
the construction made it difficult to find the buildings. Most medical schools have a new building under works or a renovation but the entire school seemed to be under work.
-
The construction noise drowned out the voice of our tourguide so be prepared to stand next to them or ask questions at the end.
-
Too much construction, but the buildings that are coming are supposedly really nice. They didnt get a chance to show us the "brand new state of the art" lecture hall because it was locked and they didnt have keys on our tour. The student lounge seemed cool, but the labs and building it was in (berry hill) seemed pretty old (apparently they are building a new one, but it wont be finished for a couple of years). The lecture hall in Berry Hill where they may hold classes for first years seemed dated (there were still 30 year old TV's hanging up), but they pointed out that all you needed was the powerpoint projector, and there was still a wirelesss connection available in the lecture hall.
-
My interviews had some bizarre moments. The second was relaxed and collegial, but with some odd questions (see above). The first was rough (I was warned I drew a tough one), though I actually appreciated his candor. Gave me a chance to defend myself.
-
Lots of walking around construction sites.
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Certain students blatantly trying to suck up to the dean. Construction was not the best but honestly, the library is beautiful, I can just see myself falling asleep on my books already.
-
All the construction
-
All the construction! And the statement made at the beginning of the day by the Dean on how he doesn't know exactly where classes will be held next year but he's sure it will work out. (Didn't instill a lot of confidence)
-
Not one person could think of anything negative about the school, felt like they were all mascots.
-
alot of sitting around, you feel like a schmuck on the tour because you have to carry your lunch around, the two interviewers asked the exact same questions, one interviewer didnt listen to a word I said, that awful accent.
-
construction and that my interviewers changed and no one had reviewed my file so i spent most of my time explaining what was in my amcas
-
We didn't go there during the interview but I've been at the hospital and its not very impressive at all.
-
Did not meet any 3rd or 4th years, did not see classes or anything on the tour. It will take them 2 months before they would let us know.
-
The construction, and the disorganization of the day.
-
Nothing impressed me negatively.
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Nothing.
-
too much construction...but then it will be nice for the new students
-
waiting around for several hours in between interviews.
-
The system for interviewing was disorganized. They had to resechedule both of my interviews. I was there the entire day.
-
no tour of hospital, way way too much sitting around doing nothing, very southern accents, they couldn't find someone to interview me, only two first years as tour guides
-
lab groups - kinda of force you to meet the same 30 people out of your class - the hospital/facilities are not fancy and ooohh ahhhh like other big rich schools but nonetheless a high quality medical education will be obtained at UNC
-
The day was a little unorganized.
-
not much info about the curriculum given
-
Things seemed a little disorganized. One of my interviewers apparently never got back in touch with the office to confirm so someone new stepped in the morning of and he didnt have a complete file on me. Also our student tour guides were late and the tour was kind of haphazard.
-
The construction, finding out the little eye/ear/nose looker-inner thingy costs like $600!
-
cold boxed lunch; $6.00 to park!!!
-
The rent in Chapel Hill/Carrboro is WAY to expensive.
-
The construction.
-
facilities, students' enthusiasm
-
The other interviewees. Very snotty about 30k educations. It must be scary to interview with the person who spent 12k TOTAL.
-
Cost for out of state students
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the interview process, including not relying solely on the interview day for information about the school, being prepared for the curriculum discussions, bringing snacks, and understanding the significance of the ADCOM interviewer. They also mentioned the importance of being relaxed, allowing for extra time due to construction, and preparing for possible changes in interview schedules.
-
Not to rely on the interview day to give me much valuable info about the school.
-
Nothing.
-
Where to park, and that public transportation was available.
-
I wish I had more thoroughly versed myself in the ins and outs of the curriculum. One of my interviewers helped develop it, and wanted to talk about the little details of it.
-
That there wouldn't be coffee (there was only decaf tea) and that the lunch would be super small. They served cookies but I probably would have brought a snack to supplement the lunch.
-
Not much. It is fairly straightforward. It is $8 to park in the visitor lot and about 1/2 mile walk to the medical school. Public transport to/from airport is very cheap and easy. Chapel Hill is a great town.
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N/A
-
I knew this going in, but if you're reading this you might not: you will have two interviewers at UNC. One of your two interviewers will be a voting member of the admissions committee (ADCOM) and will play a key role in the decision for your application. At some schools, the interview is just another component of your application, but at UNC, the ADCOM interviewer can truly make or break your chances for getting in.
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That lunch wasn't at the hospital cafeteria
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How to walk through the dental school to get to Bondurant Hall
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How rushed the day would feel
-
nothing
-
That the interview really was stress free. Everyone wants to see you do well.
-
the use of patient simulators
-
I wish I had brought more reading material for sitting in the admissions waiting room in between interviews. Also note that the 30 minutes they tell you to allow for getting from the parking deck to the office is definitely necessary--because of the construction, getting from place to place requires some roundabout navigation.
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How relaxed everything would be.
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That I was going to be there for 6+ hours and would be REALLY tired by the end!
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There's construction going on near Bondurant Hall -- make sure you allow for parking and walking.
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Expect to run late. My last interview was about an hour late. It was fine, but make sure you are flexible.
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Nothing really...just read the website and SDN
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it can be a slight hassle to get to the admissions office because of construction (although I do recognize this as a good thing)
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One of my interviews was moved to a different time. This seems to be a common experience about their interview day so don't get too comfortable with the names and times they give you.
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How I'm qualified to be a physician! haha.
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Not to be so stressed out!
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that I didn't need to stress!
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That the interview really is low stress. You can read it a thousand times and not believe it, but it really is true. Just be yourself, and be confident.
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UNC is not very accepting of non-trads.
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This year, 1 in 4 interviewees will be accepted (a higher percentage than previous years).
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How friendly people in North Carolina are!
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It would be so haphazard and disorganized.
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Amount of construction currently.
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The school has a great program for people interested in working with the Latino community- it's called Campos, and you test into it, and get priority for clinical opportunities at sites where there are many Spanish-speakers.
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Nothing really. Fun interviews and really nice interviewees to talk to.
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This is my first interview - I wish I knew how emotionally draining it was going to be
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That my clinical experience did not stand out on my application.
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That almost all the facilities are brnad new or are being renovated
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a rough interview doesn't mean that all is lost; staying overnight is better than getting up at 4:30 am to drive to CH.
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UNC-SOM is ranked #2 in promary care and in the top 20 in research. I would have loved to say that to the interviewers.
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I would see parts of the med school that are open to the general public, so if you went to UNC the tour isn't necessary
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I should have figured out where Mcnaider Hall was in proximity to other buidlings. I had to sprint to my second interview uphill!!....I got lost numerous times. Thank god few professors were nice enough to reroute me a few times.
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Don't know if knowing this ahead of time would've affected my application at all, but UNC reserves only 20 spots out of 160 for out of state students... a lot lower than most state schools.
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The school of Public Health was #1 in the country.
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That I should have done more self-analysis--not just medically related topics. My 2nd interviewer really focused on philosophical inquiries.
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That it was going to be super windy that day, I had my hair down - look at the weather report!
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If you're new to Chapel Hill (which luckily I wasn't), you might want to bring a campus map and/or arrive early. All the construction can make finding the buildings pretty difficult for visitors. MacNider Building (admissions office) is very well-hidden from plain sight and is tucked away behind the Health Sciences library.
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How rigorous the questioning would be. Be prepared to intelligently defend/explain everything you say.
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that after everything it is still expensive even though it's in-state tuition
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The location of the MacNider Building
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That I would love the professors and not the students.
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my interviewers were really intent on getting to know me better. My first interviewer did a closed file, while my second did an open. Very relaxed atmosphere. First interviewer left the room and returned with info on military medicine, second interviewer drew a map of franklin st. and wrote down a list of places to visit that night.
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That the tour was going to suck.
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In-State applicants who are invited to interview have roughly a 2/3 chance of getting accepted.
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Nothing really
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Nothing significant.
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There was a considerable amount of down time.
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Nothing. I knew the school pretty well from having participated in their summer program for potential med school applicants
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UNC presents an air of superiority and pertentiousness surpassed by few.
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How much down time there would be.
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I was pretty well prepared.
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The internal transportation system is awesome!
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Make sure you plan on where to park before you get there. I already knew where to park having graduated from here but I heard multiple people complaining that they did not realize they were going to have to pay to park or they could not find parking at all.
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Parking is horrendous!
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That out of a class of 160, 30-40 went to UNC undergrad. EVERYONE is from NC. I didn't like the lack of geographic diversity.
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That the shoes I was wearing would give me such huge blisters on my toes.
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Non-minority woman with below 32 on MCAT=don't bother
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The breakdown of in-state vs. out of state students who are admitted. Being a public school, I knew that most students were from NC, but I was suprised to hear that a large majority of students, more than I thought, were admitted.
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how laid-back the interviewers are, it was much lower stress than i expected
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They are changing the curiculum for the incoming class... they have already changed first year from Honors/Pass/Fail to pass/fail and now they are going to restructure first year curriculum to sub-cellular/cellular/organ/person kind of organ-based curriculum in a bottom up approach. They are also moving first years from Berry Hill to the Research building.
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That I should have filled out the disadvantaged section of the AMCAS application. I took the August MCAT, and waited for my scores to come back before completing the AMCAS application. I was pressed for time, and that section just looked like too much of a hassle to complete (I don't keep the best records of my finances, and I hate having to bug my parents for financial information all the time). Anyway, according to one of my interviewers, disadvantaged status not only may help you get more financial aid, it may also give you a better chance of being accepted. Ooops.
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I went here for undergrad so no big surprises
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Student will soon have classes in the new MBRB. It is nice and state-of-the-art. Plethora of resources are at your very fingertip.
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I realized at 8:00 am that my interview was at 8:30 and not at 10 like I had thought. I barely made it... my brother and alot of my friends go to UNC med so I already knew alot from talking to them..
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Clerkships all over the state in 3rd and 4th years. Tons of construction that will be ongoing for many years, though from the med students' point of view, the worst may be over in 2005, after which the facilities will be outstanding.
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Community Service Week starting your first year.
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nothing really.
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UNC is 4th in NIH funding. (NICE)
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they aren't sure where lectures will be given next year
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That my first interviewer was the previous dean of admissions at Chapel Hill and 2 other medical schools. I found this out during the last five minutes of the interview!
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bring something to read. i had a 2 hr break between the tour and my 1st interview.
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nothing really, no preparation required for this interview
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my interviewers changed, after i researched the original ones
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I didn't discover this during the interview but its good to know - while they say it takes 4-6weeks to hear back, a lot of times they will call you within days after the interview. I just found out last night that I was accepted!
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I live in Durham and have a few friends at the school, so I felt pretty covered.
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The tuition had increased since last year. But is still relatively low.
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I know the campus and the system there very well, but I would tell people that have never been there to allow plenty of time to park and locate the office as there is a great deal of construction going on.
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That I would be walking...oh, about three miles in heels.
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they have a program to do 3rd and 4th year rotations internationally, as well as in other parts of the country.
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Study the types of specialty programs at Carolina. They emphasize diversity in their student body and their strength for a balance between clinical and research.
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I should have brought something to read or do during all of the waiting or I should have just toured the school/hospital on my own during down time.
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The traffic in Chapel Hill is not as bad as the hype.
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That I have weaknesses.
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Who I would be interviewed by
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There might be huge gaps between interviews, so bring something to read or study besides your regular stuff you bring along in your folder.
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nothing at all...
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UNC has a big brother/big sister program for incoming students. They also allow students to manage the care of patients from the second semester of their freshman year. They continue with these patients throughout the course of their education.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally shared feedback about their interview experiences at UNC School of Medicine, expressing a mix of positive and negative sentiments. Common themes include a welcoming atmosphere, friendly interviewers, laid-back and conversational interviews, the school's excellent reputation, the supportive student community, and the affordability of in-state tuition. Some applicants mentioned disorganization during the interview day, unstructured interviews, challenges with specific interviewers, and concerns about the old facilities or lack of impressive features.
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Really disappointed with my day here. I went in ready to fall in love with the school and left with a bad taste in my mouth about it. They seemed like they didn't care about giving a good impression.
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I had a very positive experience and enjoyed interacting with everyone.
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The facilities are pretty old, but the students seem to get along well, and Chapel Hill in general is a great town.
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Overall UNC is an amazing school. The tour was short and there's not really anything special about the physical hospital that's impressive looking, but they certainly have extensive facilities and the atmosphere is so supportive and positive. I think the greatest attribute about UNC is its culture, and Chapel Hill is a great community as well.
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Phenomenal school.
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Great school, great atmosphere, great people. I hope I get accepted!
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UNC is an incredible place. The interview day might be a bit disorganized and unstructured, but don't be deceived; UNC is a top-notch institution. Here, you really find a sweet spot between location, academics, and student happiness.
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Interviewers really know your application so make sure you know what you put in your application and be yourself during the interview.
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They really do their best to make it as stress-free as possible.
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great school!
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I hope to soon be a part of great school with an outstanding history.
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Overall a pretty disappointing interview day.
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Great school to get in if they extend an offer.
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Know the reasons for your low grades if u have any.
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one interviewer challenged me a lot on everything, the other was awesome. dang it was high on my list too
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Great school, great facilities. The interviews really are very laid back and conversation-style. They want you to be yourself and just explain the various aspects of your file and how those aspects have prepared you to be a good doctor.
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Great time!
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It's an excellent school, just not the right place for me.
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Very nice school and will most likely end up here. Cant beat instate tuition. First year is Pass/Fail and second year is Systems based which are both positives for me.
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I really liked UNC and hope to have the chance to be a Tarheel. The school has a lot going for it, good reputation, good faculty, and happy students. I would be forever grateful to receive my medical education at Chapel Hill.
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The medical students seemed very happy with UNC and it made me more excited about interviewing there.
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Great school. I'm biased because I did my undergrad there, but it seemed like a really good learning environment.
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Seriously, for the millionth time, wear comfortable shoes.
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good. first interview was pretty laid back, second one (with faculty, not committee member) pretty intense
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I think I mad a good impression. Once we got there Dr. Harper came in to talk to the group and really let us know that we were all qualified to become a doctor and they really just want to get to know us a little better and make sure we are ''a reasonable facsimile'' of our AMCAS and secondary applications. Overall, a nice day and the free Panera lunch is nice too!
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Light and conversational. They just wanted to know more about me.
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The interview process is very relaxed, the interviewers seem to really just want to get to know you , alot of medical students came in the waiting room to tell us how they felt about the school . The student tour only lasted 20 minutes because it was finals week . UNC really makes an effort to make you feel comfortable during the interview day , be sure to call the day before to confirm.
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My interview at UNC Chapel Hill was a great experience. To begin with, members of the admissions staff were really very nice and polite. The interviewers made me feel relaxed, and that way, I was able to do my best during the interviews. Although one of my original interviewers was switched with someone else, the new interviewer seemed to have read my file, and was able to ask specific questions on things I had written in my application. It's also good that they give you feedback relatively early. I got a call from them exactly two weeks after my interview, and I had been accepted. On the dark side, however, I'll have to say that I almost ran out of luck on the day of my interview, as my car decided to stop on Franklin street. I got some cops to help it to the side of the road, and I left it there till my interview was over. I wasn't about to let it ruin my entire day.
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I actually had a good time. I never thought I would. Everyone was amazingly warm, and the new facilities were fantastic. It went from a second or third choice to my number one pick in a flash. The questions were all very straightforward. My interviewers just seemed to want to get to know me and my motivations in medicine, nothing more.
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The interviews were pretty low-stress ones. Just look over you AMCAS as most questions were directly from there. Make sure you have good answers to ''Why UNC?'' Besides the obvious cheap price tag. Call in a day before interview to see if you still have the same interviewers. Lunch is catered by Panera Bread.
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Great.
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The interview was a complete waste of time. At no point did I think my adcom interviewer took the interview seriously. He had not read my file and the questions were basic. Maybe that's just his style....There was a fair amount of overt commentary about my age. Pretty shocking.....I left the interview feeling like a decision had been made before I ever walked thru the door. Fortunately, I have other acceptances, but I'm not expecting much from UNC.
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Overall, it was very nice. The tour was somewhat haphazard, but the students were very helpful in answering questions. My interviews were not intense at all. Studentdoctor made me worried about it, but my interviews were very conversational and stress-free.
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I was nervous at all my schools, but having a friend here made all the difference. I got travel tips, advice on my interviewers, and someone to take me out to dinner afterwards!
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My interview at UNC was a great experience. Even though they're strong in research, they are also serious about primary care. I guess that it's the first school I've interviewed at that really felt like home. Since my interview, I've pretty much had my heart set on going there.
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Fun, exciting overall experience
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I've interviewed at 10 schools and this by far was the most unpleasant, stressing, negative experience I've had. Both of my interviewers were unfriendly, grilled me about every answer I gave, and just in general weren't fun to be around. In fact, one asked me why I want to go into medicine and I responded with my usual answer. Now bear in mind, I have a very unique motivation, and it has struck a chord with every interviewer prior to this one. My UNC interviewer responded, "Well that's different, but it's still not very compelling." UNC has a great reputation and the tuition is dirt-cheap. If you get an interview here, I'd say take it for these reasons, but just hope you don't get the same interviewers I did. They completely turned me off of this school.
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Poor. Even though I got accepted and could go for much less money, I have chosen another school.
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Extremely impressed by faculty and students. Active student body and amazing facilities and upcoming facilities. Admissions staff was friendly. No excessive lectures or waiting around.
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The day begins early, at 7:30 or so in the news admissions building, which is pretty nice. All applicants are shown to a reception area/waiting room where they can hang out, read about the school, and even browse a database of the faculty interviewers. The interviews are in the morning and the afternoon, depending on your schedule, and the interviewers come to get you. I had one faculty interviewer, and one medical student interviewer. Mid-day, medical students take you on a tour, and have lunch with you to answer any questions you have. Day ends pretty early, and overall is very laid back.
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A very positive experience. I was accepted at UNC less than 2 weeks after my interview. Although they say it can take on avg 6weeks to hear back I know quite a few people who hear back earlier. Admissions committee meets every 2 weeks to make rolling admissions decisions.
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Interviews were laid back, the interviewers were hard to read, but they were supportive as long as I answered their questions honestly
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Carolina felt very snooty. My first interviewer was interesting but we talked about random things and not as much about my work/school/volunteer experience. He also was very honest and said I basically have no chance of getting in. (I was declared OOS). My second interviewer asked me lame general questions (dead famous people you want to have dinner with, strengths, weaknesses). Compared to other interviews, the whole day was disorganized and showed a lack of trying on their part. I got the impression that they thought there school was so awesome that they didn't have to try to attract students.
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I had a great time at UNC. Outside of the one interviewer the whole experience was outstanding. This is a great school with a great atmosphere and awesome facilities.
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Spent the night with an MS I. Went to two classes in the morning (one more interesting than the other, but it was the day before the test, so that was to be expected). Chatted with some med students in the waiting room. Financial aid info session. Talk from one of the assistant deans. Tour and lunch (catered Panera, impressive). Two hour-long interviews (one w/ a faculty member and one w/ a admissions committee member).
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I arrived at UNC 30 minutes early and was extremely nervous. UNC was my first choice and my only interview last year. The first interview was awful. My original faculty interviewer was sick that day so I got a new interviewer who was very adverserial. The interview only lasted about 20 minutes, but it felt like a week. To make matters worse, he was not only a faculty member, but also on the admissions committee. (you normally get 1 faculty interview, and 1 adcom memeber) So, I had two admissions committee members as my interviewers. My second interview was the exact opposite, we had a 55 min conversation about pretty much everything in my file. I really felt like I did very well on the second interview. The tour was mediocre b/c the students really didnt seem to know what they were talking about as far as facilities, but were very enthusiatic about the curriculum, student life, and faculty. The lunch was pretty good deli sandwiches and we were out by 1245.
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pretty scary - not because it really was, but because it was my first. be smart and look up your first interviewer's research. it will allow you to look intelligent when making conversation. your second interview will be tougher. do not lose your cool -keep talking. i was sure that i had ruined my chances and i got in! chapel hill is EXCELLENT about communication.
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2 hour long interviews. One by the committee member who has your file and one by a member of faculty who does not have your file. This is followed by a tour.
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Amazing for the first interview. Was like a conversation with a new friend about topics I enjoyed like medicine and politics. He was so nice that after my interview I was skeptical of how genuine he had been. My advice, like most advice you've been given, is to be as honest as possible. Be passionate and discuss what it is about you that makes you passionate about medicine and Carolina. My second interviewer asked me some tough questions and made me doubt my candidacy, DON'T be discouraged, I got in and it was because of who I've been and what I've done, not high MCAT scores and extravagant GPA.
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I was stressed but they got back to me within six weeks with a good response. So, I can't complain
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The day starts pretty early, where they shuffle you off into a little room with cookies and coffee. They have a couple of talks to let you know about the school in general, the day's schedule, and financial aid. Then you get taken on a quick tour of the hospital and some of the facilities. Then you go to the cafeteria and eat lunch, and usually some med students drop by and say hey. After lunch you have your interviews.
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Both interviews were very different. My faculty member interview seemed more like a conversation than an interview, and my interviewer asked a lot of "who are you?" questions. The Admissions Committee interview addressed more of the "why medicine/why UNC" type questions and dealt more with my pre-med background. I don't know that either of my interviewers had looked at my file before I walked in to their offices, but I assume that's something that they'd do before presenting me to the committee. The interview day was kind of short, and there was a lot less clarity to the application process than I have experienced at other interviews.
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The interview process seemed to be very unorganized. One of my interviewers was swithched when I got there, along with my interview times being changed as well. My interview with my commitee representative (which happened to be the dean of the school) was an hour later than rescheduled. I just sat in the waiting room doing nothing for about 2 hours. My second interview seemed to be pretty impromtu. I ended up getting interviewed by a guy who I thought was an M.D., but instead taught US health policy, which I didnt find out about from him until the end of our interview. He was pretty cool, but I wondered why he was asking me such politically driven questions. Anyway, I hope my interview day at Carolina was not a typical one. Happy Interviewing!!!
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I arrived at UNC the day before my interview and checked to make sure that nothing had changed with the interview or interviewers and they said no. The next morning, however, both of my interviewers were different. My first interviewer was a fill in for the original so she had just received my file and was flipping through it during the interview. My 2nd interview was about an hour late so they asked me to tour with the rest of the group and go to lunch and return back (when everyone else was leaving) for my 2nd interview with another person.
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Got there at 10:45AM, waited around for about 10 minutes then a 4th year student came in and talked to us, then the dean of Admissions, then two first year students came in and took us to lunch and a tour. They brought us back to the original waiting room and we just sat for 45 minutes until our interviewers came in and got us. First interviewer took my to the coffee shop to interview and then brought me back to the waiting room and I immediately left to go with the second interviewer to his office. Financial aid never came because they had a meeting so they just dropped off packets, but they would have come in after the dean before the tour guides.
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There were about 9-10 students in my group and we all had different interviewers for the most part. So, there was a constant flux of interviewees coming in and going out of the waiting room. Overall, the entire group was pretty social and willing to offer advice about their past interview experiences, either at UNC or at other schools. My interviewers (a psychiatrist and a professor emeritus) had definately looked over my AMCAS profile thoroughly, which made the actual interview run very smoothly. After the interview, we had lunch with the medical students, followed by a tour of the medical campus (hospitals, classrooms, library etc).
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It was pretty low stress and everyone was very nice. It was my first interview, so I was definitely nervous! We had the standard talk about admissions and financial aid, then we had lunch and a tour with the med students. Then we had the admissions and faculty interviews.
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Enlightening to learn more about the school, made me more enthusiastic/hopeful about attending. Tiring and slightly disappointing.
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You have two interviews for about 45 minutes a piece in the morning. One interview is with a faculty member and the other is with someone on the admissions committee. Then you have a financial aid briefing and lunch and a tour with medical students.
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There were six of us in the waiting...around 11:15 a woman from the financial aid office went over methods to pay for education, how to get loans. Then there was an hour tour with two students and lunch from Panera. A secretary escorted me to my first interview, at 1:15, and warned me the Dr is very stoic and not to worry if I couldnt read him. My first interviewer was about 85 years old. He started off all buisness but warmed up about halfway through the interview. By the time I left we was smiling and even gave me advice on how to approach my second interview (with my Ad Com interveiwer). The second interview was with a much younger phD who was also very nice, there were no suprises but I couldnt get a feel for how he rated me. The second interview wrapped up around 2:45.
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I was extremely impressed with the school and what they offer. The students work together and are not so competitive that they are not willing to help each other out. There are opportunites to do clinical experience abroad as well as several research opportunities. Students are able to publish in academic journals and a student research publication. The students were friendly and helpful and the interviews were laid back and relaxed. I liked that the interviewers were friendly and not intimidating. They even made an effort to ask questions specific to your interests.
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It is an all day event. You have to pay to park, if you do not want to navigate the busing system (recommended, only a few dollars). You interview with about 8-10 other people, which is nice because you have people to talk to during the potentially long, post-lunch waiting period. Anyway, students are alway popping in the waiting room to wish you luck and eat the horribly unhealthy cookies that the staff puts out for you. Thank God they had tea....Well, the students seemed nice enough. The tour guides come by after a spell and take everyone around the school. This part I found extremely boring. The students giving the tour were not very knowledgeable about the school itself, but, thank goodness, could point out all the building. The facilities are pretty nice, but again I did not find this very helpful at all. After the tour was over, they dropped us off back in the waiting room where we waited for our two individual interview to start. The people I interview along side of where talkative and the time went by quickly. The interviewers themselves were great and very comforting. We did the interviews in their respective offices, which, because of the clutter, made me feel overdressed in my suit and tie. I probably would have been more comfortable in a jumpsuit. After this, you pay about $6 to get out of the parking deck and begin the 1-10 week waiting process.
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Very relaxing, was stressed out at first, but was relieved after both interviews.
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Not a great interview experience, but since I got in, in retrospect it must have been OK.
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I had a good time, overall. The hospitals are nice, the people are very friendly, the education is top-tier, and the price is right.
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I scheduled my interviews early, because I knew I would be stressed until they were over. I was happy to be finished mid-morning, and to be able to relax for the rest of the day. The first interviewer had obviously interviewed a lot, and had lots of questions that I had to think through on the spot. He didn't ask me about my research, or my favorite books or sports. He did answer the "Who are you?" question himself when I bungled it, demonstrating that he had read and incorporated my entire application, even to asking me to define words I'd used in my secondary. The faculty interviewer asked me a little about myself, but mostly sincerely gushed about the University and medical school. I found him charming, especially because he was very very old, and he kept talking about how he loved his wife and their committment to medicine.
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I parked in the Dogwood Parking Deck off of Manning Road. I would suggest parking there because you won't find another spot within twenty miles. It cost $6.00 for the day is within two blocks of MacNider Hall. Day starts off with the FinAid brief, which is a little lacking. They pretty much give you a hand-out and go along their merry way. Then you get lunch and a tour with two Second Year Students. Despite some complaints by previous posters, my tour was really pretty good. The new hospitals are great and the lecture halls are nice as well. Still alot of construction, but it's nearing completion. Got back from the tour around 1230. Dean Hoole stepped in and answered a few questions before everyone started going their own way for interviews. I had about an 1.5 hour wait for my first interview. Not bad. You could bring a book, but I enjoyed talking with the other applicants. My first interview was with the Dean, which was pretty cool. He was familiar with my AMCAS and asked good questions. I thought things went pretty well. Second interview was with a Biochem professor. He definitely asked more probing questions on healthcare, society, and ethics, but the tone was not hostile. I enjoyed the discussion. He challenged a few points, but I think he was just trying to see if I would stick to my guns. I was done around four. Overall, I think Carolina has alot to offer. In the positive column, I would put outstanding facilities, great NIH and research funding, one of the top MPH programs, friendly staff and professors, and a more traditional curriculum (I like this - not a PBL fan). They don't however, do the best job of selling all of these points. If you ask the right questions and dig, I think you'll find Chapel Hill is on par with any state school and even the top tier privates as well. On the negative side, I would put the homogeneous student body (everybody's from NC - imagine that!), the high expense of Chapel-Hill, having to ride the bus to school everyday, less research focus in the curriculum (if that's what you want), and honors/pass/fail in years 2,3, and 4, and the clinical rotations in remote NC. Overall great school hidden in a mediocre interview day.
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It was much less painful than I anticipated--I even enjoyed my interviews. The students who led the tour were very enthusiastic and friendly. I had a good day.
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Overall I enjoyed talking with both my interviewers and found them truely interested in getting to know me.
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3 interviews- -2 open file (I think) and one closed file. All interviewers were great. One was dean of admissions so that had a certain level of tension.
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My first interview started an hour and a half late because his daughter had surgery that morning. I felt he was a reasonable person and asked fair and pointed questions concerning my application. However, I feel that his method of reviewing my application to be quite deficient. Is it really possible to get a good overview of an applicant when you read his/her application on the elevator to your office? It felt rushed and impersonal. My interviewer did not make eye-contact with me until 15 minutes had passed. My second interviewer whom I will leave unnamed for his own personal dignity was personable yet arrogant at the same time. He never personally attacked me but asked me what he was supposed to say to the admissions commitee for someone with a 3.47 GPA when I was competing against people with a 3.8. He also tried to make me feel that it was a mistake to have included in my personal statement that my parents deaths while I was in middle school was basically a "sob story," and making someone feel sorry for me was not the way to get into medical school. I would still choose UNC just because of the price, but it seems to me a moral dilemma because I would not want to be associated with such an arrogant group of physicians. This was the only interview that I left feeling like a smaller person because of who I was. The only reason to go to UNC would be the great price. Would you want to be surrounded by such pompous sour attitudes for four years?
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Overall, my interviews at UNC were two of the better ones that I had throughout the entire medical school interview process. The first was with a radiologist, who was very friendly and just seemed to want to get to know me. I was warned that my second interviewer could be tough, but he was a friendly guy and didn't grill me at all. In fact, we even talked about fishing for a while.
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Arrived at 10:30 (for all of you who don't go to UNC, understand that parking is nearly impossible and MacNider building is hard to find = go very early!), at 11 brief talk on financial aid, 2 very nice second years ate lunch with us (catering from Panera), then showed us around. First interview at 1:15, took place in the coffee shop-for me it was relaxing to be around other people. Interview was about 45 minutes, the doctor was very stoic and hard to read...thought i did ok though. Hung out in the waiting area for a while...med students were constantly stopping in to say hi and introduce themselves...i was very impressed. Second interview at 2:45, went into a big conference room, doctor was extremely personable and nice. Important note: Only one of your interviewers is on the admissions committee, I don't really know what the other doc's purpose is...just do a great job on both interviews and you don't have to worry about it! The first doc that interviewed me asked a lot of the questions found on SDN. The second doctor (who was on the committee) was more interested in just chatting for the most part.
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The first interview was good, but the second was scary! I felt like I was being attacked, and being told I was not a very good applicant.
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Dr. Sanderford is a sweetheart. Dr. Perl is nice to, just harder to read.
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I did not have the question one, two, three type of interview. While practicing with other MDs the biggest advice I was given was to be myself and ask myself what I truly believe, don't feed them BS. I did just that and I think it went well. Also on this website is the advice of one previous interviewer "The reason you are being interviewed isn't to try to foul you up and see what is wrong with you, but instead learn more about you because up until now you have done everything right to earn this interview."
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Overall it was a very good experience. My interviewers were both very nice, and I didn't feel intimidated. They didn't ask me about any pre-existing into on my application, with the exception of my research experience. They also didn't ask me about any current events or ethical issues, although that may have just been particular my interviewers. Really it was more conversational than question-answer. All-in-all, a great experience.
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I thought it was the worst/most stressful interview I had at the time, out of 5. But, two weeks after the interview I was called by my interviewer and offered admissions. So, although I was nervous, it all worked out.
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The first interview was with an older faculty member - thankfully not on the admissions committee - who seemed to just attack my app. I was on the defensive the whole time. He also spent about five minutes trying to determine just how little of a certain ethnicity I am because I listed it on AMCAS as a secondary race. It was low stress for me, but some might be a little overwhelmed. Second interview - hopefully the one that counted - was much different. We discussed my desire to return to school and other points regarding my educational path. It was a very positive experience. Otherwise pretty routine.
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I came away with a bad taste in my mouth after my day in Chapel Hill. Firstly, everything was extremely unorganized. No one really knew where to take me for my interviews and my adcom interviewer didn't have my file, so he knew absolutely nothing about me. My first interviewer just told random stories the whole time and literally asked me NOTHING. It was bizarre. The tour was unorganized and incomplete. And I was not at all impressed with the students I talked to. Their reasons for going to the school were that it's cheap and there's good basketball. I didn't get the sense of excitement about med school that I've felt at the other schools, ranked higher and lower, I've interviewed at. All in all, a very disappointing day.
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The whole process was very helpful. I was nervous since it was my first interview, but the interviews were done in a very casual fashion. The first interview was with the admissions committee member - she started off just going through my application, asking me questions, and we just chatted for a while. The second interview was with the faculty member and she asked me more questions like I was expecting to get, but nothing too difficult. Again we ended up chatting for a while on different topics. Both were very friendly and made you feel relaxed and not nervous.
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I still hate UNC 4 years later and won't ever in my life refer a patient there.
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This was my third interview of the fall, and my third of the north carolina schools. I am currently a senior here now, so there weren't many suprises as to the location and the beauty of chapel hill (with the exception of the construction happening now). I was a bit distressed to hear that both of my interviewers could not interview me that day, and I had to be changed to two other people during the course of the day. There was also a lot of down time between interviews and after lunch. The school, however, is well-respected and the students really seem to be encouraging and delighting in their studies (as much as one can during med school). All in all, I think this school is probably my number one choice considering the new facilities, the price for in-state, and the prestige UNC has around the state as well as the country.
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great overall experience. The tour guides were 2nd year students and were very friendly and helpful. People in the admissions office are nice and willing to help out in any way possible. My two interviewers were pleasant and really made me feel as if it was a conversation instead of a "grill session".
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This was my first interview and I was significantly nervous but I was glad to see that the interviewers were very laid back (even the Dean of Admissions)
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We started our day at 11. There were 4 other students. We started with financial aid meeting. Then we had our tour and lunch. Then we met with Dr Hoole before proceeding for our interviews. Both the interviews were conversational and very low stress...both were just trying to understand my point of view and my background. A very good experience overall.
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This campus just has a great feel to it! People are friendly, down-to-earth. As far as the interview experience itself...you are first directed to a small waiting room across from 121 MacNider. There is tea, a plate of cookies. When I arrived (almost late because it took me so long to find a space in the parking garage, and construction made it a little difficult to find the MacNider entrance), there was a second-year student sitting in with the other candidates, just chatting and trying to put them at ease. Everyone pretty much seemed to have control of their nerves, and we all just began chatting with each other when the student left. He asked if he could have one of our cookies on his way out. We obliged. A woman from the financial aid office came in with a hand-out and spoke to us for about 15 minutes. She was very friendly, and we repayed her by fulfilling her request for a cookie upon her exit. Five minutes went by, and a staff member from the admissions office poked her head in to ask our permission for a cookie. Once again, we allowed it. The next person we saw was the Assisstant Dean of Admissions, Mr. Keith, an unscheduled visit. Mr Keith entertained us for 15 minutes with a speech that culminated with the realization that "God painted the sky Carolina blue." I don't know about the rest of the interviewees, but I was pretty jazzed up about the school by that point. Mr. Keith was about to leave, but paused to help himself to a cookie before doing so. We all began to worry about our dwindling supply of cookies, but almost as if on cue, two first-years showed up with boxed lunches for us from Panera Bread...with a cookie at the bottom of every box. We were all relieved. The nine of us walked through campus to find a good place to sit down and eat. We sat outdoors since the weather was so nice, and kept the first-years talking so much with our questions, that they barely had a chance to finish half of their sandwiches. After lunch, we walked around campus and had a tour of Berryhill, the library, the MBRB, and the hospital lobby. The MBRB (medical biomolecular research building) and the library are both VERY nice. Finally, we returned to our waiting room in MacNider where we sat until it was time for our interviews. Depending on your interviewers and their schedules, you will either be going somewhere to meet them, or they will be picking you up at the waiting room. A representative from the admissions office will inform you of which situation you are in, and will then help herself to a cookie. One of my interviewers took me outside, and the other took me to an empty conference room downstairs in MacNider. Both were very down-to-earth, genuinely friendly people. Of course I was still somewhat nervous, but if you just remember to stay positive, smile, and look at the whole experience as just a casual TWO-sided conversation (go ahead and ask your interviewers some questions, too...just don't interrupt), rather than a grill-session where you are in the hot seat, you will be alright. Have some fun if you can, loosen up, and be yourself!
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I just found out that I was accepted at this school. My MCAT schor was slightly above their average, my GPA slightly below their average due to a poor first year. My approach was to simply be honest. Don't simply try to tell the interviewer what you think he wants to hear, they'll challenge your stances.
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My first interview went very well. My second interviewer was not very friendly.
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The interview was very casual, almost too casual with my first interviewer. It was broken into two parts, one with a person on the board of admissions, the important one, and another with a faculty member. Both were roughly 45 minutes and both were very laid back.
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Like everyone else said, the interview was pretty laid back and everyone was really friendly. You'll go into the admissions office and sit in the dean's office (he wont be in there with you) until you'll be taken by the secretary to your interview, which may be in another building.) My 1st interview was about 30 min, my second was about 25 minutes and were very straightforward. It was freezing (20F) so I was cold walking outside during the tour (bring a coat to go over your suit). I was surprised by my interviewers that they didnt ask tough questions like "what would you do to the healthcare system in this country" although another interviewee did get asked that question. My interviewers were VERY straightforward (why medicine, what's up with this grade and that grade, what do your parents do, why did you do ____ extra curric, why UNC, do you like chapel hill, what type of medicine do you think you'd be interested in... standard questions that I think most people would expect out of an interview. One interviewer told me that he was interested in finding different "angles" that he could present me to the admissions committee and he was trying to highlight my strengths and let me explain my weaknesses so that he would have something to report ... My advice would be to prepare to explain why you may have some weaknesses (and be honest because it will be clear to the interviewer through subsequent questiosn if you are lying). Be honest about yourself and your intentions and you shouldn't have a problem with your interview at UNC.
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Very much what I expected. If only all med schools protected their students from brutal hours and work loads and enormous debts. UNC does this while still being top 20.
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AWESOME school. First choice before I interviewed and now it feels like it's my only choice. Just a great place.. Kind, good-hearted interviewers in general, just GOOD PEOPLE! UNC has a great program and is still interested in public health AS WELL AS research.
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Two interviews - one on the comittee and one off. My first interview was a bit intimidating, but later I discover he was a big supporter of me. My second interview was wonderful. Everyone I have dealt with in the admissions office has been great - no exceptions.
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Since I had read the interview feedbacks from this site, I was prepared for a rather unorganized interview, and thats what I found. My interview times were changed as were the people with whom I was interviewing. The tour ran long (although I can't complain since it was the best part of the day). The admissions people were really nice; they just seemed rather scatter-brained.
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Overall it was a good experience. The interviewers were very nice and made the whole process as stress free as possible.
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Pretty basic and relaxed questions. One easy-going interview and one more difficult one. great school.
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Could be worse, laid back experience but they seemed overly concerned of where else I was applying.
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who knows...
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Overall a really great experience with very nice people and a relaxed environment. Even the other students I interviewed with were very cool and low stress.
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There were 5 of us, started with presentations by the admissions people then two 2nd years gave a tour and lunch. Our name tags didn't stick to our clothing and kept falling off. The interviewers were very friendly.
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The interviews went fine- biggest hurdle is getting over nerves! This is my first choice school, so I would be psyched to get in.
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Overall, the interview was great! I was stressed out because it was my first interview, but I couldn't have asked for a better one!
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The day started at 11am with coffee/tea and cookies. Financial aid came in and briefly discussed the cost of attendence. Lunch was catered. Two 2nd years arrived with bags of lunches and we carried them with us during the tour, which I thought was kinda weird. There is a big difference between the 1 st and 2 nd year facilities right now because of the contruction. Second years get the new building. My first interview was at 1:15 and my second was at 2. Both were conversational and easy going. UNC is trying to make interview day less of a scheduling nightmare so people don't have to wait around as much as years passed. I didn't have to wait at all, but some of the people had to wait an hour. This is my dream school so I hope I get in!!
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The committee member was very stern and did not seem to care about me but was more interested in talking about his experiences in medical school and in the military, and he had not read my file. The faculty member was a lot nicer and asked alot more questions about my application.
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two second year students gave a tour, then we had lunch. there were two interviews. one interviewer really grilled me hard on whether i had a strong enough desire to be a doctor. overall, the school is beautiful, and the day was better organized than i was expecting based on other comments on this site.
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This was my first interview so it was difficult for me. Overall though it wasn't that bad.
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I thought the day was very disorganized. I didn't get to see much of the school b/c we just sat in one room the whole time. I only met a couple current students and it didn't seem like anyone cared that people were there interviewing that day. I have a lot of uncertainties about the school that I won't be able to have answered now unless I get in and then come back for a second look.
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I was accepted and its my state school - I have a scholarship to a private med school I would rather attend so I won't be coming here but its really a great school; out of staters can establish residency for in-state tuition which is soooo cheap for that kind of education. Chapel hill is fun - its not NYC but its cool nonetheless. low cost of living.
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Although the day was a little unorganized and one of my interviews was insanely stressful (the guy just prayed on me), I really liked the school. The students were awesome, the admissions office staff were the friendliest people, and it just seems like a great place to be.
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We had a tour and lunch with interviews scheduled either before or after-- I had one at 9 and one at 1:30. My interviewers were nice but definitely wouldn't let me get away with half answers. One of my interviewers took me in to see a patient, which was a nice change from the usual.
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Overall, pretty much what you would expect. Be ready with some questions of your own for the interviewers and be ready to explain any weak points in your background. Surprisingly, in neither interview did I get asked why I wanted to be a doctor or why I wanted to go to Carolina.
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Pretty straightforward interviews. They'll ask getting-to-know you kinds of questions, and a few to check that you really know what you're getting yourself into.
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School with a name. Faculty were very personable. One tour student was a little "pushy"
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Due to bad weather I didnt get to go on a tour and everything was rushed so I don't have a completely accurate impression of the school.
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I'm a UNC student, and I was much more pleased about the day than I expected. Everyone was very helpful, especially the students giving the tour. The interviews were definitely long and serious, but not intimidating at all. I was surprisingly never asked why medicine, or why UNC. More thought provoking questions and specific questions to my file were asked. Definitely bring something to do during the lag time, and have a plan for where you're going to park before you get to campus.
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Two interviews - one non committee and one on the committee... They seemed really nice and had conversations with both of them. It was just to see if you could hold up a conversation with them.
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not stressful at all - just getting to know you questions except for a lot of ethical questions about clinical trials one of my interviewers asked
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Be prepared to explain every decision you have ever made.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office should provide more detailed information and structured schedules during interview days, including thorough tours, financial aid details, and curriculum information, to better showcase the school's strengths and benefits. Additionally, there is a desire for more organization, clearer communication, and additional informative sessions to make the interview process more engaging and valuable for prospective students.
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1) Include a thorough tour of the medical school and facilities 2) Have well-prepared and enthusiastic interviewers 3) Give more information about financial aid, curriculum, research, diversity, and student life
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1) Give students a schedule with times and locations in their packets at the beginning of the day 2) Include a short Q&A with the financial aid office on the schedule, or perhaps include more materials on the financial aid process in the interview folder 3) Include an optional student tour of the hospital and various medical school buildings
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Nothing!
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Mini interview sections should be slightly longer. I feel like my interviewer and I were cut off during each rotation.
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Show off the facilities/campus more, or at least give interviewees the option to walk around campus with a student before/after the interview. The new MMI format felt like it was a lower stress way to show my genuine self. Not sure if it was on purpose, but the instructions were pretty vague so I think we all were doing our best despite being stressed from the uncertainty.
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Tell students more than 6 hours in advance if you plan on cancelling interviews due to snow.
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The interview day is an opportunity to sell your interviewees on the school. Bring in people to talk about its strong points and some of the details not readily available on the website. One positive: best interview day food that I've had so far!
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Use a separate online system for admissions where updates could be uploaded or at least the application submitted could be reviewed.
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Improve the daily interview schedule to make it more structured. Allot a specific time for the tour, facilities to be toured, relevant departments to speak to students, a formal briefing on the school/stats/facilities/benefits/etc. Continue making med students available as they were a great resource.
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Wish the interview day had less down time and was more structured. Would have preferred some more formal talks by administrators/financial aid. I don't understand why UNC's state residency form is so much more complicated than ECU's. But the admissions staff were awesome, as were the cookies!
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Speed it up, please.
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the interview day was disorganized and could have been much more informative. I would have liked to hear more about the curriculum - a booklet/pamphlet would have been nice. I got the feeling that unc didn't feel like they had to impress the interviewees because they know that they are already everyone's top choice.
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Keep applicants posted about the progression of spots left (like what ECU Brody does).
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I would not change anything.
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Make the interview day more informative! I don't feel like I learned anything about the UNC School of Medicine.
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Nothing. they are just great.
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Interviews were a little uncoordinated, but everyone was really friendly
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make sure all the interviewers are actually making the interviews stress-free...
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I had a great time! UNC is definitely my first choice
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No real suggestions. I think maybe they need to hire one more person to make it more efficient. The
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It was a little disorganized, but I found that it made it less stressful, so I didn't really mind!
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I know faculty are extremely busy, but it seems like there should be a little more stability in the
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Provide students with a more detailed schedule for the day.
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A little bit more reading material in the waiting room...Some of us had a long time to wait.
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