Calgary, AB
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 30% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.2
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 71 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was unfriendly.
No responses
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was unresponsive.
No responses
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The interview questions commonly asked at medical schools include scenarios testing ethics, discussions on alternative vs. traditional health care approaches, personal reflections on experiences in medicine, and decision-making scenarios like helping a failing classmate. Responses also indicated questions about research experience, allocation of funds in health care, and personal preferences related to the field. Some respondents mentioned a nondisclosure agreement related to the interview format, suggesting it might have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) where specific questions are not disclosed.
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Alternative vs. Traditional Health Care approaches. Why is there tension?
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Tell me about yourself.
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Can't give specifics but it doesn't matter because next year they will be totally different! Just wait until you finish this interview, when you see the scenarios you will understand that the possibilities are infinite and they won't be repeated. Oh, and you will also see that your prep didn't help you at all!
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scenarios...
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Just lots of scenarios, so just be sure to learn your ethics and look at things from every angle
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine discussed the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with various scenario-based questions, including scenarios about patient confidentiality and autonomy. Some respondents mentioned being asked about personal topics such as regrets in life, views on alternative medicine, ethical dilemmas, and hypothetical patient interactions, indicating a diverse range of question types in the interview process.
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Asked to describe what I saw in a picture! Wasn't expecting that!
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Naturopathic medicine q?
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It was all the most random scenarios I have ever seen. Honestly, there is NOTHING you can do to prepare for this interview. One personal question was asked but it wasn't any of the one's you would have prepared for or expected.
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The multiple-mini interview format had a lot of interesting scenarios.
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they were all scenario based, very different than most schools
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical scenarios, decision-making, and personal values. Many mentioned encountering scenario-based questions typical of Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI), with some respondents noting nondisclosure agreements and vague or unexpected essay topics adding to the challenge.
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What role can doctors play in preventing bullying in schools? Should medical students give medical advice?
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What is a decision I made that may have been wrong?
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Confidentiality agreement, sorry! But they were all so different and not healthcare related even!
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The essay topics were vague and a bit more stressful than I had thought they would be.
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again, all scenario based (MMI) and couldn't really prepare for specifics.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had 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.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for interviews by reading news articles, researching ethical and healthcare issues, reviewing their application materials, participating in mock interviews, and seeking advice from peers and professionals in the field. Many also emphasized the importance of staying informed, practicing relaxation techniques, and maintaining confidence in their preparation efforts.
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went to mock MMIs, read websites, newspaper articles, took a bioethics course
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Student sites, read over my essay, ABS, looked up ethics, RELAXED
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Read the news, used this website, read my application and info on the school, prepared answers for common questions (huge waste of time!) I did everything I could think of to prepare and none of it helped me in the slightest! MMI's are very odd.
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Read a few articles about MMIs, quizzed by friends.
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read some ethics literature, discussed possible questions and answers with physicians, family and friends, self-reflection and re-read essay/resume
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly and enthusiastic students and faculty, as well as the welcoming and non-competitive atmosphere of the school. They also appreciated the modern facilities, the innovative interview format, and the accommodating admissions staff.
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The students were very friendly!
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The facilities
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The students seemed really happy. They were also very enthusiastic. The interview experience was great. I loved the MMI format - I felt it was a lot of fun and more ''objective'' than the traditional interview format.
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The med students lounge is awsome! Air hockey, pool, the whole bit...
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Everyone in the med school class was extremely friendly.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about the lack of information and preparation for the MMI format and on-site essays, as well as concerns about the curriculum structure and facilities under construction. Suggestions include providing more details about the interview format in advance, improving communication about the program, and ensuring a more welcoming environment despite ongoing construction.
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NOTHING
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Nothing by itself....it was just very different from what I'm used to.
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I didn't like the on-site essays
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The curriculum setup: 3 jam packed years with two 2 week holidays a year. The presenter at info session: a med student who spoke quite unprofessionally. The fact that you are not really informed about exactly how the MMI works and what is going to happen AND THE ESSAYS- worst experience of my entire life, so stressful! I couldn't even hear the guy giving instructions at the front of the room and all of a sudden about 100 people start typing as fast as possible and i didn't even understand one of the questions, I almost was in tears by the end.
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the MMI format was wierd, i hadn't seen or heard enough about it beforehand to really be comfortable with it. also, close-file interviews didn't with specific stock scenarios made it difficult to incorporate all of my experiences into the interview
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the absence of faculty members at the interview, the different format of the MMI, the relaxed and casual nature of the interview, and the option to change into professional attire at the location. Additionally, some applicants mentioned feeling surprised by the differences between Canadian and American medical school interviews and emphasized the need to relax and not get overly worked up about the process.
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Nothing
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I researched the school prior to coming, but knowing that there would be no faculty member at the interview would have been helpful...
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That I wouldn't leave feeling like calgary is an amazing school - I interviewed last year at UWO and when i left I wanted nothing more than go to that school. I wasn't sold on UofC at all!
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how different the MMI was than a regular interview...would have prepped totally differently...some of the most random scenarios
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who unstressfull the interivew was going to be
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) process to be quick-paced and different, with a mix of positive and mixed feelings. Some appreciated the friendly interviewers and conversational style, while others felt the format lacked depth in assessing candidates. Stress levels varied, but many noted the importance of preparation and research for a successful experience.
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The MMIs happened very quick! I was nervous, but relaxed a bit as they went on. I was pleasantly surprised that the interviewers were friendly and gave good feedback such as nodding, smiling and commenting. I wasn't expecting that!
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Good, but different...
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I had a good time. I loved the interview. I found that I liked the school a lot more than I expected. After the first couple of MMI stations, I started to enjoy myself rather than being stressed out.
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My feelings on this interview are mixed. The MMI format does not allow the interviewers to get to know you at all. Someone with no social skills would have soared through this interview! Unless they have discovered some secret way to truly analyze what should be analyzed in a med interview then I would say that it doesn't give them any indication of how you will behave as a physician. All you need to do is read the scenario and talk about every aspect you can think of - all common sense. I'm almost sure that every single person would have given the same response to these questions. The only difference would be word choice and the sequence they come out in.
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Overall, very positive; but it is difficult to assess your performance in an MMI.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 2-3 hours 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 between $201 and $300.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Calgary International Airport (YYC)
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YYC
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?
Best Western
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Best Western
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Best Western Village Park Inn
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
| Application Cycle ▿ | Impression | Performance | Interview Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Negatively ☹️ | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | No change 😐 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | No change 😐 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | No change 😐 | Poor | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Negatively ☹️ | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | No change 😐 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | No change 😐 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Negatively ☹️ | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | N/A | N/A |
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