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University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Mobile, AL

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 26% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ 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 low stress.

How you think you did?

Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.

How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?

Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's motivations for pursuing medicine, their interests in specific specialties, their views on healthcare challenges, their academic background, and their extracurricular activities. Many respondents also mentioned questions related to their future goals, strengths and weaknesses, and scenarios involving ethical dilemmas in healthcare. Some responses indicated that the interviews followed the MMI format, suggesting a structured approach with potential nondisclosure agreements in place.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at University of South Alabama College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal hobbies, future career goals, healthcare challenges, ethical scenarios like managing obesity and pregnancy complications, as well as contentious issues like abortion and euthanasia. Some students mentioned questions about their military background, favorite books, and views on healthcare policies, while others engaged in role-playing exercises and discussions on music preferences. No specific mention of MMI or nondisclosure agreements was noted in the responses.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said the most difficult questions asked at University of South Alabama College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, from handling disagreements with leadership to ethical dilemmas such as advising on abortions and healthcare as a right or privilege. Many respondents mentioned questions related to personal statements, academic backgrounds, and future goals, while some indicated scenarios involving non-disclosure agreements and MMI formats, including identifying chemical structures like TNT and discussing discrepancies in academic stats.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.

How many people interviewed you?

Most respondents were interviewed by 3 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.

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 Admissions staff personnel

How did the tour guide seem?

Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.

How do you rank the facilities?

Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.

What is your in-state status?

Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.

What were your total hours spent traveling?

Most respondents spent 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.

What was your primary mode of travel?

Most respondents traveled by 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 Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)

Where did you stay?

Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.

How would you rate the hotel?

Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

Would you recommend the hotel?

Most respondents would recommend their hotel.

What is your ranking of this school's location?

Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.

How did you prepare for the interview?

Most applicants prepared for the interview by conducting mock interviews, reviewing their application materials, researching the school's mission and values, and practicing potential questions. They also sought advice from past interviewees, used online resources like SDN, and stayed updated on current healthcare issues.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the school, faculty, and students. They appreciated the personal attention, small class size, and hands-on clinical experience offered, along with the enthusiasm and passion displayed by staff and students for the program and the Women's and Children's Hospital. Suggestions included emphasizing the school's unique strengths, such as the board-focused curriculum, and continuing to foster a supportive and close-knit learning environment.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about scattered interview locations, lack of organization and directions for interviews off-campus, outdated facilities like the library and medical buildings, as well as the need to travel long distances for interviews. Suggestions included providing clearer directions, organizing interviews on campus, and updating facilities to improve the overall experience for applicants.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants commonly mentioned wishing they had known about the relaxed and lower-pressure nature of the interviews, the need for personal transportation for off-campus interviews, and the importance of familiarizing themselves with the campus layout and parking options. Additionally, some applicants highlighted the significance of understanding the unique aspects of the school and being prepared for the scattered nature of interviews, which may require driving between locations.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview experience at the school to be relaxed and conversational, with interviewers showing genuine interest in their experiences rather than focusing solely on academic numbers. There were positive comments about the faculty, the campus facilities, and the emphasis on hands-on clinical training, although some feedback highlighted areas for improvement such as organization and diversity.
  • In some ways, an informal interview is harder to prepare for. We spent less time talking about my file than diverging into wormhole conversations.
  • This was my first interview, and it felt really relaxed, which I was not expecting. The interviewers put me at ease quickly and I felt like they were really interested in my experiences, rather than my numbers, which were only about average.
  • I genuinely enjoyed my experience at South Alabama
  • I definitely came away with a much better impression of the school than before I visited.
  • Easy interview, relaxed and informal-it is kind of a pain to drive to off campus interviews though

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggest implementing a low-stress interview format with a mix of open and closed file interviews, eliminating snail mail for faster communication, and transitioning to an online application and status system for more efficiency and convenience.