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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 31% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 297 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 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?
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools cover a range of topics such as personal motivations for pursuing medicine, experiences in healthcare, challenges facing the healthcare system, ethical dilemmas, and reasons for choosing a specific institution. Some respondents also mentioned questions related to MMI formats, nondisclosure agreements, and specific scenarios testing ethical reasoning and critical thinking skills.
Know all your activities you listed on AMCAS. Have specific examples if they ask for significant memory from an activity. Know how to respond if they ask how the experience impacted you and what you learned from it or how it influenced your decision to pursue medicine. My interviewers basically ran through my "Work & Activities" section with me and that's what we talked about.
What is something that you'd want me to tell the other committee members about you that is not covered in your application or that I haven't already asked you about?
I pretty much got every question that was already posted on this site! I was definitely prepared...
I got the one about who would you save if you had to choose btwn the mother, daughter, and father...my interviewer did put a lil twist on it though and said that you were actually able to save the mom and the daughter...what would you tell the wife if she asks if you'd not saved her would he still be here.
Say a man with HIV comes in and is on medicaid for his treatment. He also gets a disability check every month. However, you know he is controlling his HIV very well, and goes to work out 45 minutes at the gym everyday, so he is clearly not disabled. What do you do?
What field do you want to go into? -be sure to answer this question that (even though you know what field you want to go into) you are remaining open-minded throughout all rotations (my first interviewer was great and coached me on how to answer questions to impress the next interviewer)
Why do you want to be a doctor... Why medicine instead of some other health care profession... Why do you specifically want to be a doctor and not a nurse or some other position?
THERE'VE BEEN TIMES WHEN YOU'VE HAD TO GO HOME TO HELP YOUR FAMILY-DO YOU EXPECT THESE ISSUES TO COME UP WHILE IN SCHOOL?; HOW WILL YOU NOT PROJECT YOUR FAITH/VIEWS ON OTHERS? WHAT WAS A HARD DECISION YOU HAD TO MAKE?
What would you do about the 9/11 attacks? (I was asked this by an interviewer and also by a patient at the V.A. hospital who insisted we should just bomb Afghanistan off the face of the planet)
Students said most interesting question asked at University of South Carolina School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including healthcare ethics, personal qualities, and hypothetical scenarios. While there were no specific mentions of MMI or nondisclosure agreements, questions covered areas like managing stress, personal motivations, ethical dilemmas, and personal growth experiences.
Many 2nd generation physicians tend to have very negative and entitled attitudes about medicine. As the child of a physician, how to you plan to prevent this in yourself?
Let's say each thing you do in life represents a tomato plant and your life is the tomato garden. Time is your fertilizer and water. Would you try to let all survive but wilt a bit or let others die for some to thrive?
*If you took the time to use these interview feedbacks to help you prepare, take the time to fill one out for the next person. Don't be selfish.*
Nothing too out of the way...What's something you had to overcome in your life?
You are a doctor in an ER. A car is hit by a drunk driver. A family comes in (Father, Mother, 7 yr-old Daughter). You can only save two of the three. Which two do you chose and why?
One of my interviewers started talking about a documentary on Rome when I mentioned my interest in history. Had I seen it, I'm sure the conversation would have been much more interesting.
Most questions were fairly straight forward and turned into conversations at times. A lot of questions were asked regarding my current graduate work in public health.
..I was out of state with a connection of my father attending med school, residency, and graduate work at USC SOM so it was clear he is a doctor... "What quality do you have that will make you a better doctor than your father?"
What do you think about the situation in the middle-east? The new Newsweek's cover features an article on sex selection--how do you feel about this practice?
One interviewer would give me two choices and ask me to pick one, such as "democrat or republican," "leader or follower," then he would sometimes ask me to explain why.
Students said most difficult question asked at University of South Carolina School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including scenarios like delivering bad news to patients, personal reflections on career choices, ethical dilemmas such as patient confidentiality, and opinions on healthcare policies. The interview format may have included MMI (Multiple Mini Interview), as some responses hinted at nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted the conversational nature of the interviews aimed at understanding the applicants' character and motivations.
Would you be able to tell a patient bad news? (not hard but none were really hard)
Nothing too hard...What's the worst thing you've done to someone. I'm sooo not trying to sound perfect, but seriously, I'm not a mean person so I struggled to come up with something I did bad.
You visit one of the two people you saved (I picked mother and daughter). The mother asks you if you could have saved her husband if you had not treated her. What do you tell her?
You are a physician who just diagnosed an elderly man of pancreatic cancer. You are about to walk into the room to tell the patient, but just then the man's daughter (who is Asian), tells you that it is not in their culture for the elderly to find out they are sick. She asks you to tell her everything and not reveal to her father that he is sick. What would you do?....Now you are in the room with him, and he asks you, doc what do I have? What would you say?
"Your personal statement said you knew you wanted to be a doctor since childhood. Why and how did you know?" This doesn't seem like a difficult question, but she kept on saying my answer was not enough to separate my choice of entering the medical field from being a therapist...? I had to elaborate three times and still don't think she was convinced..!! Just be prepared to have a unique and specific reason.
Strangely enough, I was asked the "What if Medicine doesn't work out for you, what will you do?" question. I told the truth... medicine is the only option.
How do you find the patient/physician relationship so appelaing considering you haven't had a whole lot of direct patient contact in any of your clinical experience?
After being asked what I thought was the major problem in health today, I was asked what others there were. I blanked because I had been focusing on only one issue.
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 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.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN), mock interviews, reviewing their applications, and researching common questions. They also focused on being themselves, practicing answers out loud, and seeking feedback from peers or professionals to build confidence and honesty in their responses.
SDN, mock interviews, self-reflection, researching common questions and formulating general answers, advice and preparation homework from student services staff on campus
SDN.. None of the preparation truely prepared me for the questions I was asked and I wish I had not wasted so much time.. Interviews are to figure out how you think so my advice is know yourself very well and be able to explain anything about you or your beliefs (if that makes since).. Just do what you need to do to be confident about yourself and your decision because no two interviews are the same so you cant predict anything!
SDN, Interview Feedback Questions, Focused on being myself. I did not memorize any answers to any questions, but rather "shot from the hip" and remained extremely honest.
reviewed application and essay, this website, checked out a few books with pointers on getting into medical school and the admissions/interviewing process in general
StudentDoctor Feedback, reviewing my application, speaking with doctors, friends, and family, educating myself on current news, the school's website, and critically evaluating myself and motivation to apply for school
I have a book about applying to medical school and I read the section in it about the interview process and potential questions. I also take a beta-blocker for a heart murmer, so I took an extra one before the interviews to calm my nerves.
Applicants were consistently impressed by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere, the sense of community and support among students and staff, the advanced technology and facilities, the close-knit campus environment, and the emphasis on student well-being and satisfaction. Suggestions for improvement were not prevalent in the feedback provided.
(USC Greenville) Beautiful school. Even though they're new, they have been working with USC Columbia for ~10 years so have plenty of experience. Can predict step one score to within 1 percentile using test scores. The building is amazingly high tech, and almost every surface (tables, walls, glass dividers) can be written on with Expo markers. Student lounge with Playstation, exercise bikes, etc.
I heard from several students that the school has a family-type atmosphere in which the faculty members are very helpful. The letter grade system made me fear that students might be highly competitive, but the current students said that their classmates were actually very helpful to one another (most likely due to the small class size and family-type feeling). Each class member has a mentor from the class that is a year ahead; there are many opportunities to get involved in student organizations and extracurricular activities; med students have access to the school basically at all times.
The campus is really unique and very pretty. There are dedicated spaces, like a workout facility and parts of the library, just for med students. The students were all very friendly. The smaller class size makes it easy to get to know your peers. The ultrasound curriculum and equipment is very impressive. Overall a great experience. Columbia is a relatively inexpensive city to live in.
Its a comfortable atmosphere on interview day. Nothing is intimidating or stressful. The interviews are very much conversational rather than interogative. The students are really helpful and were happy to field questions.
I really liked the community feel of the school. I came from a small school for undergrad, and the atmosphere was similar. Overall, a very friendly place.
The students seemed very laid back. They were completely willing to answer our questions, no matter what they were. There was also a great feeling of satisfaction.
the students seem close-knit, all of the members of the admissions committee were extremely nice, parkning no problem. the interviewers made me feel relaxed from the moment i introduced myself.
Everything! I went to this interview expecting this school to be my last choice, but I would now choose it over every other school I've interviewed at. The campus is beautiful, the faculty are very involved with the students, and the school is much more student-focused than hospital-focused.
The interviewers knew my application inside and out. They were very nice and easy to talk with.
The medical school library was wonderful--24 hour access.
the people are AWESOME, the 4th years truly love their school and they have lots to say. Everyone was open to ANY question you may have, and I was extremely impressed by how successful the 4th years were in terms of Residency placements and their interviews... they were all over the country.
The incorporation of technology was a plus. Also, this school has an excellent close-knit community feel with small class sizes and what seems to be a relaxed and open learning environment in a ddition to being a quality school.
the small class size, friendliness of students. it was nice to eat lunch with current students and get some insight. everyone was very happy about their choice of school. the office staff were very nice and willing to answer any questions.
The professor in the Gross Anatomy happened to be present during our tour, and gave us an impromtu speech about what we could expect in our years at USC. He expressed the sense of community in the school, explained the exhaustive trials of anatomy, and shared how his own experiences in the school had stayed with him for years. It was nice to see an unrehearsed, candid viewpoint.
The school seems very close-knit, and I got the feeling that the administration, faculty, and staff are very supportive of the medical students. The campus, although old, seems somewhat charming once you're there.
They meet that very same day to decide on acceptances, and they let you know less than a week later. Its so fast and not a lot of waiting around to hear back.
The intimate feel of the campus and the people. It seemed like a pretty close group of people whether they were student, faculty, or staff. The memorial for those who had donated their bodies was also a nice touch.
The friendliness of the faculty, staff, and students. The entire day was great and the program is great. I would be happy at South Carolina with no problem.
The dedication of the students to their school. I havn't met one student who has ever said anything negative about the school. They all love the experience they've had and are glad they chose USC.
the use of technology, such as connections for laptops at every seat in the lecture hall (all students are required to purchase a laptop at this school) and wireless internet connections for the laptops.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of time during the welcome session to learn about the school, outdated facilities, the traditional curriculum, uncertainty about rotations, and the surrounding area of Columbia. Suggestions included providing more time for interactions with the admissions committee, updating facilities, and addressing concerns about the school's location and curriculum.
You're assigned letter grades, out-dated facilities, traditional 2-year preclinical curriculum, Columbia area is a bit sketchy, not impressed by adjacent VA hospital
I do not like the city of Columbia. Also, no one seems to know where 3rd and 4th year students will do their rotations now that Greenville has its own school. Everything is up in the air.
"Cookie Time". And that's only because there was not nearly enough time to mingle with the AdCom members and some of them didn't join us at the time at all.
I personally didn't love "cookie time." It was a great opportunity to meet all of the admission committee members. However, it was very awkward and you feel like you are interrupting everyone else to get a chance to talk to them.
The 'Cookie social' at the end of the day is a bit confusing. Its hard to start and end conversations with the entire admissions committee in 10 minutes and really leave any kind of impression.
One of the students that eat lunch with you before the interviews wasn't very enthusiastic about the school. She also did the tour which made it even worse.
That my first interviewer was a 2nd yr student.. There are 2 2nd yr and 2 4th yr students on the committee. How a student who has only been there for 2 years gets just as much pull as a professor thats been there for 30 I dont know.
i've seen that many people say they were unimpressed with a lack of anything to do in columbia. being undergrad here, i know there's alot to do and go, you just have to know about it. the only thing at all that i can think of is that even though the school seems very up to date technologically, the buildings seem to be in need of some remodeling.
The facilities seem pretty old and the VA hospital is limited on the type of patients you will see in clinical rotations. There is another General Hospital locally but the VA hospital is right on campus.
the associate dean didn't seem too friendly. some of the admissions committee mingled with themselves at "cookie time" instead of getting around and meeting us. we were told we'd know of a decision either way in about a week, but i haven't heard yet
Not knowing that the infamous "mingle" would only last 10 minutes. I had heard that the mingle on other interview days lasted an hour, so I was surprised when they called time after about 10 minutes. Rather than a bunch of "hi" and "bye" encounters, I recommend having some good conversations with several people on the committee. Quality over quantity, if you ask me.
The demeanor of both my interviewers was very abrupt. It was a bad experience.
There is a tea and cookies time with the admissions committee after the interviews, which is very awkward and unnecessary. Other members of the committee were very nice and not as rude as the two individuals whom interviewed me.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interview process would be very relaxed and conversational, with a focus on getting to know the candidate as a person. They also advised being prepared to ask questions, being oneself, and not stressing over the process.
The interview was very conversational. I had prepared for many off-the-wall questions, but they mostly stuck to the questions I read on SDN beforehand. I wish I had not stressed so much.
The interviews are relaxed and are done on neutral territory, not in the ADCOM's office, which makes it less formal. Both of my interviews seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me as a person. They also seemed extremely happy at USC.
The cookie "meet and greet" session isn't all that bad. Just be chatty and talk some people up. Its your chance to let the other members of the ADCOM who didn't interview know who you are.
Nothing...I read this forum about the school and knew what to expect. I will echo what is alreay written and say that while the med students were giving us a tour, the admissions committee met right then and there to decide who they wanted to accept! Letters should go out soon...
Don't stress out about the interviews too much. The environment was very laid-back and you are helped during the time to meet the admissions committee.
Once the interviews start there is no time to breathe between the two interviews and the "cookie social". That all lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and no time is given in between AT ALL
Their hallways are really hot! Be warned, and well-hydrated! Another thing... this is actually concerning the whole process... although this is risky, it may be a good idea to leave a couple of minor attributes OFF of your AMCAS because this makes good conversation about something they didn't already know about you.
I was surprised to find that our interviewers would decide whether to accept us immediately following having met us. All candidates are then notified within a week.
Basically, that the interview is not worth stressing over. This was my first interview, and I was nervous on my two hour drive to the campus. Prepare well, be confident that you can do a good job of selling yourself, and look forward to learning more about whether or not you might want to spend four years there.
The social gathering of all the committee members and applicants is really more important than they let you know. Be sure to meet and impress as many of them as possible during the short time.
It is very relaxed. The interview day doesn't start until twelve, and then you basically have two hours to eat and relax, and they will tell you a little bit about the school. The interviews seem like they fly by-only 2 interviews 30 minutes each. The stess level is really low-the interviews are very conversational and they are just trying to get a picture of your reasons for entering medicine and your motivation to go to their school.
Applicants generally found the interview day to be well-organized and laid-back, with friendly interviewers and a welcoming atmosphere. They appreciated the conversational nature of the interviews, the opportunity to interact with current students, and the unique 'cookie time' session with the admissions committee. They also emphasized the importance of being genuine, showcasing passion for medicine, and making a memorable impression during interactions with committee members.
This is a very laid back interview, everyone is super nice and welcoming, they are not out to get you, know details about your application and you will be fine
My interviewers were great. There are two 30-minute interviews, one-on-one with USC SOM faculty, AdCom, etc. They were both extremely friendly and welcoming, but their positive attitude made it hard to tell how I was actually doing.
After the interview and tour, I realized that this school is truely a hidden gem. The class sizes are small and everyone knows everyone. The campus is average, but the family oriented atmosphere will make you feel at home.
Arrive early, come prepared, talk with people during cookie time, and try not to stress! In general, it seems like this school is more interested in getting to know you apart from what they have seen on paper, not in grilling you about controversial issues. I carried some mints for after lunch. Also, ladies, since you can carry a purse...I packed an extra pair of hose, a small brush, lip gloss, and headache/stomach medicine just in case. I only used the lip gloss after lunch, but you never know!
Be yourself...I don't have stellar stats, but I did have great summer programs, ecs, volunteering, ect...so, if you got an interview, don't blow it. They clearly saw something in you. So it could make you or break you. They're interested in the whole student.
Day starts with lunch with a few students, then general comments from someone on the admissions committee, then 2 30-minute interviews - one with a student, one with a faculty member. I'm sure it varies with each interviewer, but it was pretty laid back and there weren't too many confusing/shocking questions (not even one about healthcare or ethics). Overall a pretty positive experience.
Overall, I had a great experience! I like that it didn't start until noon, because that gave me time to travel there that morning. The "Cookie Time" is really unique and is a neat way to meet all the ADCOM members and hopefully make a memorable impression. All the staff and students were extremely friendly. They all seemed generally happy, even though the first years had a huge test the next day. The school has a great curriculum and many resources for students. A great day!
Great experience. One interview by a physician (laid-back), one interview by a student (more question/answer style). Both interviewers were easy to talk with. The day was well organized.
It was a great experience. Since we were the first group to interview, they had two interviewers per session, one old members of the admissions committee, and one new member of the admissions committee. The interviews were nice and conversational as well, and the adcom meets right after cookie time to decide your fate. The food was good too. Overall, I was very impressed.
Started at noon with lunch, followed by introductory comments from the dean, and then two 30 minute interviews. After the interviews was a 10 minute meet-and-greet (cookie social) followed by a quick review of financial aid and then a short tour. The day ended about 3:45.
The day began with lunch with the medical students. Then we had a short orientation. Then We were escorted to two interviews. After the interviews we had ''cookie time'' where you chat with all of the members of the admissions commitee. We had a short presention about financial aid followed by a tour with a medical student. It was a nice interview experience. Both of my interviewers were engaging and polite.
Starts with lunch for an hour, then two 30 minute interviews back-to-back. The interviewers get right down to business and start asking quality questions. after the interviews, the med students take you on tour and while on tour...the committee meets! ahh, nerve-wrecking! overall, good experience and i enjoyed meeting everyone and they were very helpful and friendly!
First we all had lunch (yummy!) with a few med school students and then we were taken to a room and given a short presentation on what to expect. Then, I was guided to each of my 30-min interviews. After that, we met with all of the members of the admissions committee for ''cookie time.''
This was a great interview experience that lasted about 4 hours total. I was interviewed by one science faculty and one 2nd year med student also on the admissions committee, both had a calming effect and asked good questions. After the 2 interviews there is a social session with the rest of the committee which was also nice and gives you the chance to introduce yourself to many different members before they go make their decision.
I was first taken to the student lounge where I met other applicants. We then had lunch with current students. After lunch we went to listen to a professor talk about the school (actually interesting). Following this, we were taken to our interviews and then went back to the student lounge to meet all the admissions committee. Then we talked about financial aid and took a tour with a 2nd year student.
You start with lunch with some students. Enjoy this time that has no effect on there decision to relax and get comfortable. Then came a 30 minute interview. NO Break. Another 30 minute interview. NO break. A 15 minute social with the whole committee. (Talk to as many as you can, the time goes quickly!) Then the committee goes to vote on you and the part that decides your acceptance is done! Before and after that period is spent with non committee students and has no pull toward your decision....
The interviewers were great, I was really lucky and got matched up with interviewers I had a lot in common with. We had tons to talk about and I really enjoyed myself. The dean was really informative as well, really excited about the improvements and technological advances they were working on.
i came in more interested in MUSC and applying to USC as a backup. after interviews at both of these schools, i now feel like i would almost prefer USC. THe entire experience was great. they get you there and feed you before your interviews, and this seemed to take the stress out of most of the applicants. then they have the ass. dean talk for about thirty minutes, then you go on two thirty minute interviews. The two interviewers i had were great. a couple of the other students seemed to have a little different opinion of their interviewers afterwards, though. the 15 minute "cookie social" after your interview is a chance to meet with all of the admissions committee. BE SURE to use this time wisely. my first interviewer even told me that this time was more important than most interviewers think. introduce yourself to as many as the members as possible, but be sure to talk about something so that they will remember you. for me it was football(you're in gamecock country) and the small town that i'm from... then you get a very brief financail aid talk and a short tour of the campus and youre free to go.
I arrived very early. The interview day began at noon, but I wanted to be there before anyone to guarantee they'd remember me. They have a modified good cop/bad cop system. The first interviewer really knew my AMCAS app. and commented on just about every activity, while my second interviewer was strictly by the numbers.. MCAT, GPA trends, Organic Chem grades... They provided lunch first (at noon) and then the Associate Dean of Admissions gave a 45-min overview of the program. What I really liked about their system was that they allow you to mingle with the remaining members of the admissions committee after the interviews so that you are able to kinda sell yourself to the entire group. Following this, the entire committee meets immediately to discuss your acceptance/hold/rejection/etc. Following the mingle period, two second year students give a breif tour and the day ended around 4 PM
I love USC. It's a great school with a really close group of students and faculty. They all support each other & really help eachother to succeed. There's no competitive feel what-so-ever. The small class size is really appealing also. The interviews were laid back & relatively stress free, nothing to freak out about.
My interview experience was GREAT! Everyone was so friendly and genuinely interested in the students. Don't be nervous about this one - it was easy and fun and I was actually disappointed when the day was over.
Great day, started with lunch with students that answered all our questions, moved to a room to hear the chair of the ad. com. speak.. very nice speaker, two interviews spread out on campus, coke and cookies with the ad. com, financial aid speaker, then its over. Very enjoyable, charming campus
I enjoyed by interview experience at USC. It was not stressful for me at all and the interviews were exactly 30 minutes apart. You moved from one to the other without breaks. And then you moved to the cookie social, which wasn't bad either because the committee members want to talk to you and they are really friendly. It moved smoothly and the whole process took alot less time than I thought it would.
Interviewers were very nice, not condescending at all. One was student, other was professor. Both interviewed for about 15 min each. I was very impressed by the way the students themselves felt about the school.
I did not expect to like this school and absolutely loved it. Everyone was extremely friendly and laid back. It was a great experience all around and I am seriously considering going here.
One clinical professor, one basic science professor: basic science interview was more Q & A session, clinical was more of a conversation on various aspects of medicine.
Began around noon with lunch with current students. Then listened to the Dean speak. Then a tour. Next had two 30 minutes interviews with staff, faculty, students and doctors. Finally a tour and then a short mmingling session with the committee followed by a presentation about financila aid.
This was a good experience, and my impression of the school definitely improved after visiting and interviewing. I would certainly consider going here if I got accepted.
1 4th year and one MD. Very relaxed. Ending with entire selection committee not that fun ... just added stress because you are supposed to suck up to everyone as a whole in the same room with the other interviewers.
Everything goes as planned. The "mingle" period at the end is only fifteen minutes, so try to talk to everyone and make a good impression. Overall it seemed like a place I'd love to be.
I really enjoyed the interview day at South Carolina. From the time you arrive, they do a good job of making sure you are calm. You can talk with some current students (who are not part of the committee), then they serve a laid-back lunch in the student lounge. A professor talks about the school, the curriculum, boards, etc. for 30-45 minutes, and then they take you to the first of your two interviews. Both interviewers try to learn more about you and what makes you unique. Then we heard a speech about financial aid and were taken on a tour of the school before being dismissed.
at the small talk session with the admissions folks after your interview be sure to know your college football (esp in the fall) - great discussion topic. ask them q's about themselves. this is definitely a chance to stand out while your competition is trying to fit in one more harrowing story about volunteering in the doctors office. be engaging, outgoing, and honest.
I felt very unimpressed with the school. I feel, as if I was treated much better at schools that were much more competitive and impressive. I know people who interviewed there and had a cake walk with other interviewers. It just depends on who interviews you.
I was incredibly impressed with the University of South Carolina. I have nothing bad to say about the interview at all. I was very pleased with the interview. I was a nervous and a bit apprehensive going into the day, but the staff, students, and even my interviewers really put me at ease. The interviews very relaxed and conversational. A great school and great atmosphere!
Overall, the interview process if very relaxed. After the interviews, you meet with the whole committee with the other interviewees. It is very important to mingle and talk to as many people as possible during this time.
This interview was for early decision. I didn't get in as an early decision student, and I'm glad now, because I discovered later that I liked another school better, so that is where I'm going. Overall the interview experience was good, but since it was my first set of interviews, I was really too nervous to enjoy it much. Also, at one of my interviews, there was a second interviewer present who was training to interview students in the spring.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should improve their processes by transitioning to online applications and secondary forms to streamline the application process and make it more convenient. Many also recommended enhanced demonstrations, particularly for specialized programs like the Ultrasound Institute, to provide a more thorough and impressive experience for prospective students.
Do a better job with the Ultrasound Institute demonstration. The M2s on my tour did their best, but a demonstration from an instructor would be much better and more impressive.
