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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 27% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 731 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?
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 friendly.
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 responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around topics such as motivations for pursuing medicine, personal experiences like research and volunteer work, ethical dilemmas, strengths and weaknesses, and specific interests in the field. Many respondents also mentioned being asked about their background, leadership experiences, reasons for choosing a particular school, and their views on healthcare challenges. Some interviews were in an MMI format, potentially involving nondisclosure agreements, with questions focusing on a wide range of aspects related to the applicant's character, experiences, and aspirations.
What do you think about the AIDS crisis in Africa (b/c I founded a medical organization in Kenya and spent part of a summer in South Africa)? How is it being resolved, and what do you think can be done?
Both interviewers opened their interviews with, "So, tell me about yourself." And then wanted to know GPA, MCAT, etc. So even though it's closed-file, these interviewers are still interested in your numbers.
Why your undergraduate university? Why did you pick medicine? What type of research have you done? Why did you do it? What is your weakness? what do you offer to a medical school? Do you have any leadership experience? What do you like about USF? Where do you see yourself in 10/20 years and what would you want to have? Basic stuff. No ethics questions.
why medicine? what do you like to do for fun? what work/volunteer experiences do you have? what do you think are current issues in medicine? how would you resolve these issues?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including community service, time travel to improve health outcomes, personal attributes like what friends and parents dislike, unique experiences not on applications, and specific inquiries about research methods. The interviews encompassed various scenarios, such as advising a family member undergoing treatment, discussing medical specialties, addressing health disparities, and navigating ethical dilemmas, with some respondents noting a mix of standard questions and discussions on cultural backgrounds and personal accomplishments.
Tell me about your family and culture. Interviewer was very interested in learning about different cultures (which was written on his bio given to us at the beginning of the interview day)
One of my interviewers literally read my entire file cover to cover. They had highlighted phrases and wanted to know why I wrote certain things in particular.
Youre in the ER, and a patient is unconscious and the physician wants to perform a procedure but the patient's surrogate cannot be found. What do you do?
The interviewers were given a sheet with standard questions they were expected to ask. Regardless, the conversations tended to be more open to other topics; typically, ''why medicine, and why USF''?
When is it appropriate to be dishonest? What do you think was the most important medical discovery in the last 100 years? Typical of all the other posts on this site.
my faculty interview was the most interesting...the whole interview was pretty weird, but i think he liked me. my second interview with a med student was a little more bland.
If you knew that a homeopathic drug had no known positive affects on a patient, etc would it be ethically responsible for you, as a doctor, to give them to a patient?
From my student intervewer: I had a question about the nurse-doctor relationship
And from the physician that interviewed me: I had a strange ethical situtation about homeopathic medicine
The most difficult question I was asked led into the most interesting questions I was asked. The most interesting question was: based on all of the negative issues facing the medical practice, especially in Florida, what makes you still want to become a doctor? What really made this question interesting was the cenacle manner and the tone in which this question was asked. The PhD who asked this question was very standoffish, unpleasant, and verging on rude, which made for a very uncomfortable interview.
How would you say that you're empathetic? (This could have been a difficult question, but the person left the question very open and that allowed me to create concrete examples and put in my two cents.)
What is oxidative phosphorylation? (he said he likes to end with a "throw-away" question, but it was good to know, and I was prepared b/c it was asked before and listed on SDN)
If you were a bacteria what would you be? This question was asked to me by a microbiologist who interviewed me and told me that he ask this question to all students who major in microbiology.
Nothing. I was actually prepared to answer anything they would throw at me, but it was a very standard interview... Why medicine, what leadership roles, etc. My interview w/ the medical student though was not really much of an interview, but more of the med student talking and talking and talking. I almost had to fight to get a few words in.
What does "humanism in medicine" mean to you? I confessed that I had only heard this term at USF, but then gave an answer about treating the "whole patient."
Do you feel that you will be able to continue all of your hobbies and community service activities while enduring the rigor of medical school? How do you plan to manage your time so that you can do this?
The Interviewer pulled out a picture that he obviously cut out of the comics section (one of those find the differences between two pictures puzzle) and asked me to find the six differences between the two pictures. This one caught me very much off guard and left me a little baffled, but I found most of the differences.
No really interesting questions. All the questions were basic. The interview is closed file... so they just asked me about my experience, if i did research, etc.
I was asked mostly about my resume, experiences, grades, etc. We talked briefly at one of my interviews about ethics and medicine... discussed how personal ethics can sometimes conflict with choices a patient makes.
Since I am a nontraditional student, who originally majored in music, my interviewer surprised me by asking me whether I regretted not venturing on that path. I thought it was a thoughtful question and one that would catch me off guard so I appreciated her efforts to show her how I 'think on my feet.'
Nothing was especially interesting or difficult. They basically just wanted to get an impression of how you interacted with other people. Don't be scared about this interview -- go over the standard interview questions relax.
A question about presciption drugs and generic drugs, and which one to choose. It was such a long question that I could not figure out what was being asked by the end of it.
Nothing very unique at all, just a lot of repeating my resume since it's closed file. Why do I want to be a doctor, volunteer experiences, clinical experiences, etc.
The questions I was asked were not too hard at all, but the most interesting question I was asked was "What are some of the things you would like to emulate from the doctors you have been around?"
Nothing especially interesting - they have a list of questions they're supposed to ask you, so everything is pretty standard. Since it's closed file you end up repeating stuff on your AMCAS. You'll have one faculty interview and one student interview.
Students said most difficult question asked at University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including medical ethics, personal characteristics, and future challenges in healthcare. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, as several responses mentioned nondisclosure agreements, but common themes included ethical dilemmas, motivations for choosing medicine, and scenarios testing empathy and critical thinking skills.
None...totally laid back conversational style interview with my of my interviewers. A "getting to know you thing" more of a "let me grill you to see what you know" thing.
Do you realize that being a DR you see a lot of sadness, death and depression? How do you plan to deal with that?
My first interviewer was very strange and seemed very cynical. But it all worked out ok.
Provide an example of a time you completed a project with a team and looked back and appreciated the value of working with a group verses working alone.
Do you feel that we didnt cover something about you? This happened after we talked about my background and my life. I really didnt know what else to add.
If you were a third year medical student and knew that a patient's test results were negative but were told by the attending physician not to say anything, what would you do when the patient asked how the results looked?
The most difficult question I was asked was: explain to me the problems that the medical profession is currently facing with regards to malpractice insurance, Medicare... and how do you see the medical profession changing in ten years.
The guy took out two copies of a cartoon, and I had to find six differences. It takes a good five minutes to figure it out. Look at the skateboarder's head, and the two windows, and the fence.
Same. It was difficult to think of something on the spot that was symbolic of how I viewed my own role as a doctor (which seemed like the point of the question). I ended up saying something that was versatile yet had a pretty significant role in the body.
above. It doesn't seem difficult to look at it, but the interviewer should have been more specific as to how I should best help the patient. I took the question to mean what would I do in order to deal with her problem and dicuss the options; rehab, etc. while providing medical care. The interviewer later mentioned that the patient needed immediate surgery; which was the heart of the question. should have asked the question more specifically.
Aside from the "find the differences" ordeal described above, the same interviewer was difficult because the wording of his questions was... difficult. He asked me to desribe my humanism. While this isn't a difficult question, it was rather poorly worded and left me searching for a way to answer it for a minute or so.
None really, I had read on SDN that the Ox Phos question was asked so I knew ahead of time that it was an option although I never in a million years thought I would be aksed it :)
Given your age and experience in another field, how will you adjust to being on the bottom rung of the ladder in your "new" profession-medicine?
What is oxidative phosphorylation? (Thrown out at the end of an interview, when org chem is the last thing on your mind. Pretty cool gotcha question, actually...)
Give me an example of how you are a caring and compassionate person. The physician had first asked what qualities are important for a physician and when I mentioned being caring and compassionate she asked if I was and how I could show her. It was difficult for me to articulate how I am an empathetic person, but I used volunteer work at Shriner's and my compassion for the children to try to have her understand.
none really- all very standard. It was more of a conversation than anything else. Just be prepared to ask A LOT of questions, as that will be what most your time is spent on.
Nothing was difficult. The 1st interview was exteremely laid back. The 2nd guy seemed a little less interested and engaging, but still it was not bad overall.
Having a family, have you planned well how to manage the parent absentee years while in residency? How thoroughly has this been discussed/agreed with your spouse? (This is something that a parent needs to consider very carefully.)
what do you think we could do to resolve these issues? (while this question was difficult, it was asked in a very non-threatening way and my interviewer didn't challenge my answer or tell me I was wrong)
See above. Also, the dreaded "so, tell me about yourself" popped up. When this happens, I always feel like I am giving an autobiographical speech instead of participating in an interview.
There were no difficult questions either. In fact my first interviewer did not ask me a single question other than why I chose my undergraduate school. So the main difficulty was finding ways to ask questions during his discussion of the school.
What do you think of the situation in Iraq?? (wanted to be careful not to offend him) Don't let this scare you though.....he asked it in a very nice manner and wasn't trying to play devil's advocate.
Nothing really difficult, but be prepared to have some good questions for them - they leave a big portion of the time for that, and both my interviewers were impressed with my questions and said they liked that I had obviously thought a lot about the school. Because of this, both interviews went about 15 minutes over, and I had more of a chance to let them get to know me.
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 low 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 a closed 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?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing common interview questions, reading the school's website, and utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN). Many also engaged in mock interviews, researched healthcare issues, and sought advice from current students to feel more confident and prepared.
Read through AMCAS app and secondary. Made list of common interview questions and possible answers. Read up/watched videos on the US healthcare system and its issues. Did a few practice interviews with random people online (through r/premed reddit page).
I looked at my entire file and really thought about the ideas I wanted to convey so I would not choke up on questions or phrases I wrote in my application. I did not study it though because I did not want to seem rehearsed.
SDN interview feedback, review primary and secondary applications, review the school website, go to the dinner with students the night before and ask them a ton of questions
Read SDN, read over the school's website and noted what made them different from other schools and researched those things so I had questions, read up on health care debate (didn't end up needing to know anything), read over what I'd written in my AMCAS and secondary.
read my application (including all essays, resume), SDN.net, going over possible questions (like the inevitable "Why do you want to be a doctor?")
SDN, USF website. You really don't have to know that much background info. Just make you have rehearsed with somebody and that you can tell others why you entered medicine.
Looked at the feedback on SDN, practiced answering questions, read the school's website, talked to some friends who go there, read my AMCAS and secondary (even though the interviewer doesn't have access to them, I wanted to remember what I had already told them so that I could tell them about new activities since I sent in my app.)
Researched the USF College of Medicine Website. Read previous experiences on studentdoctor.net. Re-read my application. Talked to my personal doctor and a few current medical students.
Usf website and studentdoctor. (thank you to all of the previous students who have interviewed and took the time to post some valuable info on this website!)
I read the school's website, got other info off the net, thought about answers to typical interview questions, and prepared my own questions. If you're prepared, it should be really relaxing. I also talked to my student host, and she took me on a tour of the facilities the night before so I knew where everything was.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and staff at USF School of Medicine. They appreciated the emphasis on early clinical experiences, the supportive and welcoming atmosphere, and the personalized approach to the interview process. Positive feedback was also given about the new facilities, the extensive hospital affiliations, and the opportunities for research and community involvement provided by the school.
They did a good job of matching me to a student interviewer with similar interests/background
Niceness of students and staff; continual improvement and adjustments of curriculum based on student input; amount of support students get in terms of coaching and guidance
The campus culture is collaborative--they all want each other to succeed. The admissions staff are the most encouraging people I've met in a while. Overall an excellent experience.
The camaraderie many of the students had, the culture of the Tampa area, the unique aspects and focus of the SELECT program. The school also seems to provide many opportunities to practice clinical skills.
Such a laid back interview where they truly try to get to know you more than the words of your applications. The interviewers personally picked my file as they liked my application. They try to pair you with an interviewer that has similar interests/experiences.
Everyone was so friendly and enthusiastic about the school. The students genuinely enjoyed their experience at the school and the atmosphere was very laid-back.
The happiness and fun that many of the med students seemed to have really impressed me. A lot of the people at the USF School of Medicine seemed happy to be there.
Everyone gives you hope that you have a strong chance. Also the staff, interviewers, and medical students create a very relaxed environment for the interviewees.
The clinical experience that the students get right away. The integrated curriculum. The students were extremely friendly and enthusiastic about being there. The hosting committee id a nice job of welcoming everyone the night before.
The clinical focus is simply amazing. They actually gave us a lecture on what to listen to during a heart exam on their robot during the tour, talk about early clinical exposure! The scholarly concentration program is also excellent, and it should help you in whatever field you choose to do in the future.
Oh, and hot girls ;p
The entire interview day was very relaxed. I would consider the clinical program at USF to be arguably one of the strongest in Florida, if not in the country. The school prepares you well for residency. I was particularly impressed by CACLS (pronounced "Cackles"), the scholarly concentration program, and the family atmosphere at USF. USF likes to personalize your interview experience and all of the faculty and the fellow students are very friendly people who genuinely care about you. After lunch, the collar on my suit was flipped up and the Director of admissions, Mr. Perez, tells me "[My name], your collar is flipped up" and fixes my collar for me. I think that simple act, by itself, speaks volumes about the school. After the admission committee reaches a decision, Mr. Perez will personally call you.
As far as research goes, the Dean of the Medical School, Dr. Klasko, in conjunction with Mr. Perez have been pushing USF towards the direction of a more-research oriented school. As someone interested in research, I am pretty excited about this change.
THE STUDENTS ARE AWESOME! They took us to dinner the night before and really made us relax by talking about random stuff. They were willing to answer any quesiton we had. The school was very chill. no cut-throat crap you hear about at other schools. They also get back to you with a decision within 2 weeks from your interview.
the "concentrations" or "minors" that the school offer and the community service opportunities that they offer. Tampa general Hospital is super cool.
Everyone is so suportive at USF. The faculty and administration will bend over backwards in order to help you succeed in the program. I was really impressed with the clinical facilities. There are numerous clinical and research opportunities in the area. All the students seemed to be very happy about attending USF.
The Director of Admissions, Mr. Larkin. He's honest, straight-forward and forthcoming. The transplant facility. Efficiency and availability of the Admissions staff. Also, Mr. Larkin calls all interviewees 10 days after the interview with the adcom's decision.
Great medical students. AWESOME hospital ED (TGH). Hospital tour was led by staff, so I felt like I learned much more. Great progressive curriculum. Scholarly concentrations program is a great idea.
everyone was really helpful and wanted to get to know you. the students were really friendly and seemed happy there overall. the staff and faculty support of students seemed outstanding
The admissions team was extremely friendly and inviting. They had snacks and drinks ready for us in the morning. The interviewers were very nice and seemed down-to-earth.
Everyone was extremely positive. All the medical students we met during the day were very excited about what they were doing and were encouraging of all of us who interviewed that day. The students were what really made the day special. The interview was extremely laid back and very enjoyable. The two 30-minute interviews were colloquial and fun.
The school seemed to focus a great deal on patient contact early in medical education. They say that their students are well prepared to go into their residencies. Also, the students and staff were wonderful. One even walked the extra 1/4 mile out to my car to make sure I could figure out how to get home. =-)
The students were very enthusiastic. Also, TGH & Lifelink were very nice. The admissions staff couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating (Mr. Larkin has a great sense of humor and is great to have around to make the day more manageable).
How honest and enthusatic everyone I talked to was. Everyone seemed genuniely happy and satisfied with USF and the facilities, faculty, and curriculum.
The hospitals (we toured Moffitt but that changes depending on the day), the people and atmopshere of the school. They are really looking for people that
Mr. Larkin is an awesome guide. The 4th year medical students were very friendly and honestly informed us about variety of issues and questions the group had. Clinical training is awesome, given you are in the Tampa Bay Area. Have a VA and Moffitt Cancer across the street. Research funds are definitely up especially in the Pediatrics division of the school.
I really liked the location of the School. There were four hospitals within walking distance and two other large hospitals within a 20 minute drive. All of the admission staff was very kind and welcoming (with the exception of the PhD that gave me my second interview). The students that I spoke to seemed to be very pleased with the cirriculum and with the medical school in general. It really seemed that the saff would do anything to help the students.
The faculty were so kind and treated me as if I was already accepted. The medical students were very enthusiastic and had only positive things so say about the school.
The students seemed happy and enthusiastic, and Mr. Larkin was very informative. He really tried to make us relax and feel welcome. The tour of Tampa General Hospital was exciting- I've had four interviews and USF was the only one in which I had a tour of the teaching hospital.
Mr. Larkin and admissions staff are awesome, students were very friendly, there are many high-quality medical facilities (Moffitt's Hospital- a cancer hospital, Shriner's Children's Hospital - a pediatric orthopedic institute, and a Veteran's Hospital), innovative curriculum (focus on small groups and case-based learning), focus on applicants as a person vs. as a set of scores
The breadth of opportunities that are available during your time at USF and the degree to which they encourage you to seek out experiences that you'd like to do.
The students! They were clearly tired but soooo happy. I was interviewed by a 4th year who said she had absolutely no regrets. That seemed to be the general sentiment. The faculty and administration were very genuine and seemed very eager to help students. A previous medical student (now a 3rd year resident) led the tour we had.
Mr. Larkin and Dr. Spector were both very nice. The students were very excited and the school boasted many opportunities including research and mission trips.
The enthusiasm of everyone, the friendliness of my student host, and the welcoming atmostphere fostered by the students and admissions staff. They talked to you like you were in and were just recruiting you. I also liked how they provided the residency placements. The day was also very organized and informative.
The location- Tampa is a great city to live in. Also, the people went out of their way to make they day informative and enjoyable (they even gave out chocolates!)
Larkin and the admissions staff are some of the nicest people! Interviews emphasize you as a whole candidate (i.e. personality, academics, involvement) rather than just you and your test scores.
Several things about USF really appeal to me. 1) Mr. Larkin's transparency-he explains exactly what's going to happen and when, as well as how the committee considers us. And then he calls you the next week to tell you where you stand. 2) USF is not a numbers whore-your clinical, research, and service activities are very important to them. 3) They have strong clinical training and great affiliated hospitals. 4) There are lots of non-trads there; the average age of the first year class is 25. 5) The Moffitt Cancer Center is fantastic and I'd rate it to be better than any of the other cancer centers in this state (I've also seen Sylvester and Shands.) 6) The administration seems caring and responsive to students and their problems. 7) I really felt like the school wants me to come here and was working hard to recruit me.
People are super nice at USF both students and admissions stuff, even interviewers. This is one of those school where you can feel welcomed, at home, and less stresses.
Also there are many pretty large size hospitals at Tampa region which would provide you good clinical trainings.
Their new curriculum seems to be really students friendly (not dry).
Mr. Larkin was extremely accomodating and did a great job of putting me at ease. The students seemed very happy to be studying at USF. Breakfast and lunch were outstanding. It seems that USF has an endless number of possibilities for top-notch clinical training and research. Shriner's Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, VA Hospital, and Moffitt Cancer Center are just a few of the medical centers that students can gain exposure to while studying at USFCOM.
How amazing the students and staff were. It was actually test day for all the students and they were still trying to calm our nerves while dealing with the stresses of their exams. Our tour was of the main teaching hospital, Tampa General. Was very impressed by the facilities and staff there as well.
The openness of the faculty, staff, and students. Everyone was honest, friendly, and helpful. Everyone tried very hard to help you relax, as the interviews themselves were not that stressful.
The whole staff was extremely personable and they seemed to care very much about the success of the students. Also, the realization that early clinical experience is stressed in the curriculum.
The extensive facilities that are available to the medical students, the admissions staff, the cleanliness of the campus, and the excellent teaching facilities.
The entire staff at USF was incredibly hospitable and willing to work with anybody. I stayed with a student host and was able to meet several other students, and everyone was more than kind and seemed pretty relaxed. Also, USF has a very hands-on, clinically oriented curriculu, which is appealing to me.
Mr. Larkin, the administrative staff, Tampa General, the clinical experiences, my student host. Most importantly, that you receive a response (acceptance, waitlist or rejection) within 10 days.
Faculty. Hospital facilities: USF's med school is affiliated with some pretty damn impressive hospitals (Tampa General; Moffit Cancer Center; Shriner's; All Children's; Haley VA; etc.)
everyone was extremely friendly. mr. larkin is very nice and tries to make everyone happy. the va hospital spinal cord unit is amazing. great facilties.
The admissions staff were very friendly and Mr. Larkin went out of his way to please eachand everyone of the interviewees. Also their clinical facilities are fabulous.
Moffit is an AMAZING facility. Our tour guide was very soft spoken so it was difficult to hear her but I was impressed anyway.
USF did a great job at outlining the app process and timelines for acceptance as well. Dr Larkin was very helpful in that respect.
LifeLink, Tampa itself, the admissions staff (who are really friendly and actually seem to want to help the students who are applying..if all of the faculty/staff offer that much support, USF would be a great place to attend!)
The school is definitley all about giving students the best medical experience possible. They realy seem to want to make sure that you are a good fit for USF. Mr. Larkin does a great job of organizing the day.
Rel and his admissions staff really have their act together. Excellent job in running the show. And I appreciate the fact that he personally calls you and tells you the results. It's got to be a tough job.
All the students and faculty seemed very positive. I asked about negative aspects and most students could find very few to complain about. Medical facilities are very impressive.
The faculty and students were an incredibly warm and happy group of people. The atmosphere was very positive and people want to help each other rather than harm each other, academically. Also, lifelink, a transplant center that is one of the top 12 transplant centers in the nation was neat. Additionally, the staff is very receptive to comments and is continuously uses feedback to update their courses, faculty, and facilities.
There seems to be a genuine desire to help the applicant become well informed in order to make a sound decision. The tour provided an objective view of the school and hospital facilities. Students seem to work as good teams, instead of competitive individuals. There is a strong emphasis on clinical practice, starting in the first year. Mr. Larkin runs an excellent admissions process, with efficiency, transparency, and consideration for the applicant.
Everyone was entirely too nice. Mr. Larkin made this an absolutely stress-free day. Also, Tampa General has some awesome views of the bay. It was nice to see other areas besides the med school.
The tour of Life Link was very interesting. I was unaware of the magnitude of transplant surgery that came through USF and Tampa General. The admissions staff was courtious and made you feel very comfortable.
They tried very hard to make make it a good day for all of us and did everything possible to make us comfortable. Also they have 4 medical centers in the area that students rotate throught, a very diverse patient base.
The admissions staff and the Dean who spoke with us were great. I got the impression that they really care about the students, how they're doing, and what they think. TGH and Lifelink were also very impressive.
curriculum, including the patient contact during years 1 and 2 as well as the simulated patients; Moffitt, the cancer hospital/research center, is a beatiful facility and very state-of-the art in terms of treatments and integrating technology into day-to-day practice (they have PCs in every exam room and are moving to electronic charts); students were really friendly, and not in a showy way (ie, one just randomly came up to me and started a friendly chat); overall atmosphere seemed very "family-like" and the administrators come across as rather parental over the students (in a good way)
The school's facilities are really impressive! I came thinking that USF was maybe top-10 on my list of schools, but right now it's at least top-3. Go with an open mind, and really take a look around you. The admissions staff were incredibly nice, and every student we met took time to speak with us. I think it would be a lovely place to study medicine for the next four years.
The new curriculum, the new MD-MPH program, student happiness, Ethnic diversity of Tampa, number of hospitals to work at, the adminstrative staff and faculty completely support the students and will go out of their way to help you get what you want
The facilities are very impressive, many of which are amazing like LifeLink, the transplant facility that works in conjunction with Tampa General Hospital. Mr. Larkin was also a very impressive person, the director of admissions. He was very honest and very friendly, like most of the faculty and administration. Class rooms are completely "wired" Students love it there, especially my student interviewer who gave up acceptances at top schools to come to USF. The teaching seems to be great too. Pretty impressed overall.
The facilities are incredible, and I personally really liked the area. The physicians we spoke with were beaming - obviously thrilled to be there. Dr. Ackermann is amazing, but he'll be retiring in October. Also, the students, including my host, were really friendly and very down-to-earth, and they seemed to be genuinely happy to be there.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about disorganization during interview days, outdated facilities, lack of professionalism from some interviewers, the emphasis on comparing the school to others, and the unimpressive campus aesthetics. Suggestions included improving interview structure, updating facilities, ensuring interviewer preparedness and professionalism, and focusing on showcasing the school's strengths rather than comparing it to other institutions.
Faculty interviewer was late & in her car chewing gum. She was nice, but it felt really informal & the vibes were off.
The lack of focus on student wellness (they're only mention of it was that they had puppies come in during finals week). Student tour guides seemed less professional than they should be. Interview day was weirdly organized (financial aid session during lunch, curriculum presentation was 1.5 hours, sessions ran over time)
Lots of talk about moving and using better campus (CAMLS + new building), but not actually showing us what it looks like, etc
Interview day seemed pretty rushed--as if the admissions officers were just going through the motions and trying to get us in and out as fast as possible.
Tone of voice for some of the administrative things they talked about was pretty negative: "If you are put on the waitlist, DO NOT send us updates. We do not want them"
Was told these would be student interviews, but turned out to be faculty. Some faculty were experienced at giving interviews, and that was more stressful.
Very humid in Tampa, rained sporadically and lots of lightning. Awkward two-stage interview groups. One half of the interviewees get interviewed first, then the second half. If in Tampa, you don't get to talk to any upperclassman because they're all in Allentown. (this applies for SELECT only)
There was not much time for them to answer my questions any time during the interview, and the interviewers did not tell me much about themselves in the beginning.
A few of the questions were phrased in a confrontational manner - e.g. questioning certain minute details (showing they didn't truly believe my story).
The admissions office should discourage interviewers from asking questions about politics. It is unprofessional and irrelevant to medical school admissions.
The campus was not very aesthetically pleasing. The classrooms appeared old and run down. The library was dated. The surrounding area adjacent to the campus was nothing spectacular. Also, the size of the interview group was very large and impersonal.
I can't really think of much, actually. Maybe give us a tour of the anatomy lab? We did get to see the histo lab.
Oh, the only two girls in my interview group both got the same interviewers, and one of their interviewers drilled both with difficult questions. That's in sharp contrast to the relaxed, conversational interviews everyone else had. Coincidence or sexism?
Classrooms. One of my interviewers. Military recruiter presentations. Dean Ackerman -- seems like a "ladies-man" and kept referring to one of the other interviewees as his "lunch date". He could have been just kidding around, but I thought it was in bad taste.
I thought some of the "rank" talk could have been left out, the same way a student with some slightly-negative aspect of their application doesn't start an introduction revealing it.
The tour was a bit thrown together. Originally, it was supposed to have been a tour of Moffitt, but that was canceled. We were given a tour of the Moffitt researh center instead. However, this ended up being very interesting.
USF's facilities weren't up to par with some of the other schools I've visited. Their computers and buildings are outdated, and I didn't see much in the way of technology. Everything looked like it had been around since the 80s, including their student lounge. They should really do some remodeling, considering the medical school is where students will be spending most of their time. Plus they don't do much research which is a negative thing in my opinion.
The tour of Shriner's Hospital seemed pretty useless. We got to visit the pediatric prosthetics department, but this is a very specialized area and probably only stuck the interest of a couple of the interviewees.
At times it felt that the admissions staff was trying to reason with us to still consider them as a school, acting as if they were not confident of their school's place in the ranking of Florida medical schools. The assignments of staff to interview us was a little hectic but ended up just fine.
Neither of my interviwers seemed to be very happy with the actual interview process. One was a med student who showed up in jeans and flip-flops. The other didn't like the closed-file process. Some interviews were conducted outside on the benches.
Although they are currently redoing much of it, the USF campus portion was so-so. Also it seems like it might be a driving school in that you may do your rotations in hospitals pretty far away
The commuting required, but it's also a positive since you have so many hospitals and clinics to obtain clinical experiences at, and a huge diversity of patients
Extraneous information. The interview day could have been cut in half without any loss of information. Also, the tour guide was was not enthusiastic at all.
Nothing. I've never seen a school who had to together like this. Amazing! However parking services were not very helpful (but the school had warned beforehand).
I think this school has a lot to be proud of, however, they made it seem as though they were trying to prove something to us since the school is not as prestigious as other Florida schools
Everyone all day was late. The woman who was taking us on a tour of Moffit center forgot about us apparently. She also had very little information about the research or anything that happened at the center. The med students also had a test that day (no ones fault really) so we had only a small opportunity to speak with students. My interviewers did not know much about the medical school, which was a little bit of a detriment.
My Ph.D interviewer ended the interview saying he hoped I'd choose "just good old USF" over better schools that he "assumed or at least hoped [I]applied to." That was a very negative statement about the school. After asking what college I attended, he also told me that the interview was a recruiting tool for students from big-name schools. I just don't like how he put the school down like that and assumed I was using USF as a safety. Also, there were many statement throughout the day justifying why USF is not as well known as UF and UM. I think USF is good enough to hold its own w/o comparing itself to others.
The interview day was too long, I was exhausted by the time it was over. As with most other med school interviews, I felt that the financial aid speech should be optional. Most interviewees are more concerned about being accepted, then they will worry about all of that stuff.
Nothing too bad; One interviewer was around 45 minutes late. It seems many interviewees have gone through the same thing at this school; some don't show up at all.
One of my interviewers did not show up, resulting in a quick alternate interview with another person. The hospitals were you do rotations are far from the campus, so a car is a must after your first two years.
While the facilities were nice, I've seen better. Furthermore, the USF Health thing where you have to share clinical rooms with nursing students seems pretty rinky dink.
1) There are grades and class rank, which I don't love. 2) Non-trads are not considered independent for financial aid, no matter how old you are. 3) USF is a relatively young school, so they are still trying to make a name for themselves in research, but their new dean is very research-oriented, and they have just started a new MD/PhD program. 4) The teaching hospitals are spread all over the Tampa Bay area, necessitating a lot of driving during the third and fourth years for clinical rotations.
I actually thought med school facilities were not bad, contraly to what others mentioned in their posts. However, other part of the USF seems less impressive.
Nothing really.. only thing I could mention is that the classrooms, library, and buildings themselves are pretty plain and old, but this might be because I'm spoiled now by attending a school with the most beautiful campus I have ever seen.
The number of classrooms for students. In your first year you have one classroom where you have all your classes. The second year you move next door to an identical room. Maybe I'm too used to undergrad classes where you have to walk all over campus. There seemed to be a large number of rooms that were used for research, and only a few for teaching.
Well, for one, I think some of the people may give the applicants a sense of false hope. There was a great deal of "when you come here" and "we hope you choose to come here". There was very little or no "if you are accepted"
Nothing really, except maybe the fact that the main tecahnig hospital (Tampa General) is 30 mins away. Although the fact that there are 6 hospitals in the area associated with the school can be a plus in that it provides for diversity.
the organization of the interviews. Some of the interviewers found out that same day that they would interview candidates and everything was done in front of the candidates.
my medical student interviewer who was fixated on my age and how I would interact with younger classmates. The medical student had a more confrontational attitude (on this issue) than I expected and a negative tone (maybe it was because we were rushed). The yearly bugdet is higher than I thought it would be and financial aid is rather limited.
the interviews were not very structured. my first interviewer was 20 mintues late and he didn't really let me talk much, but he was funny and friendly.
Some of the facilities are a little outdated and could use a renovation. It's nothing I couldn't handle, but a new paint job or some new desks may help out a little.
the facilities seem a bit decrepit and my faculty interviewer did not seem particularly interested in getting to know me, nor did he have any prepared questions to ask me.
It wasn't all about come to our school, it was more of like we are here to show you the reasons while you should come to USF however go to the school that comforts and suites you the most.
The campus isn't very pretty and the facilities aren't the best. The school is in a pretty unexciting part of Tampa, so a lot of students live about 20 minutes away.
The interviews seemed a little disorganized. For example, my first interviewer said he had not received the forms he was supposed to fill out about me, some of the interviews were rescheduled on the fly, etc. In the end, it all worked out though. Also, the school facilities were adequate, but not impressive.
It was ugly, but that is really not a big deal. :) Also, there were only maybe 4 or 5 medical students that we saw all day long...I would have liked to have had the opportunity to talk with a larger group of them.
At times it was too laid back, that is, it seemed unorganized and people didn't know what to do. Also we finished an hour early, which I would usually think was positive, however I had to wait for a ride.
the campus is ugly (drab colors, boring architecture... you can tell the school was built in the 1960s); they compared themselves to UF and UM a bit too much - we know it's a good school or we wouldn't be interviewing there
A LOT. First, they already filled their class BEFORE our group interviewed so we were all competing for a spot on the wait list....and they decided to drop this bomb on us right BEFORE we were to go on our interviews at TGH. Nothing like a ton of bricks before your interview. They could have at least waited until later to drop the news. Also, they kept comparing themselves to UF, FSU, and Miami by putting the other schools down. They appeared very insecure. A student tourguide made negative comments aimed directly at the University of Florida which was uncalled for. I was there to learn about USF....I didn't care for their "dogging" tactics for recruitment. Anyway, I found the USF staff (for the most part) and students to be extremely unprofessional. Also, my first interviewer was 15 minutes late (for a 30 min interview), and my second interviewer was 20 min late!!! (a dean and a medical student, so it wasn't as if they were busy doing surgery or something.) Very unprofessional in my opinion.
I wasn't impressed with the attractiveness of the campus. It was okay... just nothing special. Reminded me of a community college in my hometown. Same opinion of Tampa. Yeah the water's cool, but not much else going on for it.
I actually didn't like the closed file interview. I don't know how they can decide among the applicants based on those questions. It was almost too easy and relaxed. If you can't handle that interview then you shouldn't be a physician.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the open-file nature of the interview, the emphasis on behavioral questions, the importance of comfortable shoes for the tour, the relaxed and non-stressful atmosphere of the interview day, and the potential delays in receiving a decision post-interview. They also mentioned being surprised by specific details such as the medical campus moving, the low stress level of the interview, and the potential for difficult questions.
The interview was open file (they seemed familiar with my application and experiences) but the questions they asked seemed standard (i.e. not specific to my application).
Both interviewers asked at least 1 difficult question. Both interviewers had access to my file, but only 1 interviewer seemed to have examined it beforehand.
That they would only focus on behavioral questions, asking about why and how you did things in past situations.
I wish I had thought to turn the conversation towards how the current me would do things differently and focus on how I am always trying to continually improve.
That it was going to be an open-file interview. Apparently they just changed it this year. Also, it sounds like they no longer hand out decisions 1 week after the interview either, it's gonna be as long as 8 weeks.
Thankfully, there were no big surprises. The visit is very relaxed and I would recommend attending the pre-interview dinner or staying with a host. It was a great way to get to know students and other interviewees.
My only concern is that the interviews didn't seem to hold much weight - they weren't given by members of the admissions committee, but rather with students and M.D.s or PhD's anywhere in USF. My MD interview was with a doctor at the V.A. who didnt even know she would be interviewing someone that day. However on the spot she was extremely encouraging and I was surprised at her adaptability to the situation
make sure to eat their breakfast, even if you are nervous or not hungry. . . . it is like, 6 hours until you will get to eat again and you don't want your stomach growling during the interviews!
I felt very well prepared, but the process is as laid back as it has been reported many times before. If you have an interview here, don't worry about a thing.
I wished that I had taken everyone else seriously who said wear comfortable shoes - my interview day went to Tampa General Hospital and we walked around for nearly 3 hours straight. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!!!
None of the admissions faculty have a vote in the committee that makes a decision on your application, so feel free to talk and joke with everyone. Once you matriculate into a med school, no other schools can give you acceptance offers. (While not specifically about this school, it is something to keep in mind if you are accepted to a school that starts earlier than others but are still interested in another school.)
You need to park in a parking lot that cost $3 but it is a machine that gives tickets and it would not take my $5 so I had to get change and I was late. So have three singles.
How much emphasis is placed upon medical experience. It seems that mcats, gpa's, and basic medical involvement and volunteer work take a back seat to extenuating circumstances and years of varried medical experiences. For this school shadowing, volunteering, and research don't seem to be enough. Many people who get in have had some grandious story either about setting up triage units in Guam or having more clinical experience that would rival 3rd and 4th years. I know some people whose mcats and gpa's would be a stretch for D.O. schools and yet they get in easily here because of a great story or unusual experience.
USF is a very non-trad friendly school, and Tampa is also a family-friendly city. There is a science museum and also Busch Gardens located practically within walking distance of the campus. On-campus childcare is also available.
They feed you breakfast. Which included pastries, fruit, coffee, juice, water, tea, and more. And don't get stressed, it's really a relaxed environment.
Nothing, really. I'm a non-traditional student and the staff did a good job of making me feel at home. I also did my pre-med science requirements at USF -- had a good chance to learn about the med school over the past few years.
That it is really comfortable and laid back so there is no need to stress out over it. They really are just trying to get to know you since the interviewers don't know anything about you.
Interviewers do not have to be members of the admission committee. It destroys the interview process because all of their impressions of you get reduced to a couple of sentences quickly jotted down.
you do ALOT of walking so wear comfortable shoes, not shoes that will feel fine for the first 4 hours because you end up walking around almost the whole day with short stops to sit and talk in-between.
Lunch sandwiches come with mayo on them. This is becoming a common theme for me, so maybe someone in an admissions office will catch on and request that the caterers bring condiments on the side. A boy can only dream...
Applicants generally found the interview day at USF to be well-organized and informative, with a positive and relaxed atmosphere. Most appreciated the conversational and laid-back nature of the interviews, the friendly staff and students, and the emphasis on getting to know the applicants beyond their stats. Some feedback included suggestions for more engaging tours, more structured interviewer preparation, and better time management throughout the day.
The interviews made up for the lackluster student tour and Q&A.
I was impressed with USF on a prior visit because of their positive energy and great campus. Definitely did not feel the same way on this interview day--what a shame.
Eat before because breakfast is not great. Interviews are the last part of the day so try to keep your energy up. I had one interview last 30 min. And the other 1 hour. Many interviewees had 2 30 min ones, it just depends I guess. Some interviewers grill you on healthcare issues and some ethics so be prepared for them just in case you wind up with one of those.
Very stress free interview day, pack antiperspirant if it's not winter because you'll probably sweat during the tour. Just enjoy yourself and don't worry excessively about the interview, they just want to get to know you.
I felt compelled to review this school because I was in the same group of the guy before me who gave a negative review (I met the bow tie guy he was referring to and actually thought he was very nice) and I had a very different experience. Both of my interviewers were pretty laid back, and I was able to bond with them through shared interests, passions, and food preferences. One of them even gave me awesome suggestions for dinner. It almost didn't feel like an interview except for the occasional interview type questions I wrote above. I think luck can play a big role for interviews at any school but I'm hoping this neutralizes some of the bad of the previous review and doesn't deter people from giving this school a chance.
They were also late in starting the interview, about 10 minutes late. I had informed the coordinator that I had a flight to catch, and barely caught my flight. This all added unnecessary stress to the situation in my view.
Great school and program!!! Def my top choice in FL hands down. The students were so welcoming. Definitely go to the Jason's Deli social the night before.
Long day, but filled with info. Never really spent much time just sitting around. enjoyed lunch with the faculty members. Very impressed by the curriculum.
The two forty-five to fifty interviews are semi-open in which your two interviewers know everything about you other than your academic record (GPA & MCAT). I found the interview to be more conversational than anything else in which the interviewer just wants to get to know you as a person. Also, the interviewers are hand-picked by Dr. Klasko because they are nice people.
As far as suggestions go, be prepared to casually talk about yourself, don't forget to smile (it's easy to forget under the stress of an interview), and try to be yourself.
The interviews were laid back. Lots of food is provided. Parking and a place to stay overnight was provided. Don't be shy to ask blunt questions. The staff wants to help you make the best decision for you.
Overall, it was a good experience. I actually enjoyed speaker with my two interviewers. The day was a little long and seemed to be dragging on at the end.
I really enjoyed my interview experience. If you have gotten this far you are essentially fully qualified to be a student, it really comes down to whether or not you fit with their program. The interviews overall are very laid back and unintimidating. If you relax, be yourself, and share your heart and desire you should be fine.
Both interviews were straight-forward. One of my interviewers seemed pretty green and didn't know much about the application or interview process. I learned later that the class was already full when I interviewed. I was waitlisted and then subsequently admitted.
Enjoyable, interviewers appeared to be truly interested in what I have done, my experiences, etc. Only negative aspect of the interview was that they were required to fill out a sheet of paper, which I think took away a bit from the otherwise relaxed atmosphere, it added a bit too much structure as the interviewers felt compelled to go through questions one by one.
Overall, I had a great experience. I interviewed with one faculty member and one student. However, it is a bit of a long day so make sure to bring water and eat.
Same questions as everyone has posted. 1 4th-yr student and 1 faculty interviewer, closed file. Day was really full and got boring for the last few speeches, but overall very impressive. The students seem to be very involved in the program and the interview day.
I definitely recommend going to the dinner the night before with the medical students. The interviews are closed file so they know nothing about you. The medical students have a list of questions that they are expected to ask you (one about difficulties you've had, one ethics question, and one about medicine)...the faculty was very laid back..the students were all very nice and enthusiastic about their school
Overall it was a really great day and very laid back. I had one interview with a 4th year student and one with a faculty member...both were very nice and personable. They gave us the opportunity to have dinner with current students the night before...I would definitely recommend doing it...a great opportunity to talk to current students and meet some of the other applicants before the big day. Also, be sure to eat breakfast. They are very fast in their response....I heard back their decision a week later.
The interviews were relaxed and comfortable. Almost no pressure. Both interviewers seemed interested in everything I had to say (even if they weren't, it was nice of them to act like they were!). No difficult questions were asked and we spent most of the time talking about what I had mentioned in the "Tell me about yourself" questions.
This was my first interview and I don't think I could have had a better experience. They are so friendly and unintimidating. I could tell they are just trying to get to know you. I tend to get super nervous about stuff like this, but I was soon put at ease.
My first interview was a one-on-one interview with Dr. Specter. He was very kind and gave me the opportunity to tell him about myself before the official questions. He was very kind and relaxed, which enabled me to answer questions candidly and honestly without apparent judgement.
The second interview was with Dr. Cutolo at the VA hospital across the street from the school. He was, again, very relaxed and nice. His questions pertained more to the medical field than did Dr. Specter's.
Great experience, have 7 more days until I find out the result. Shame Rel Larkin is no longer on staff, he sounded really nice on the phone. He is now at the UCF medical school admissions program. I was very impressed with the staff, and it seems that the needs of the students there are the most important goal of the staff and curriculum.
The admissions staff is amazingly friend, especially Rel Larkin. I had the unfortunate experience of getting the flu the night before my interview, but they took really good care of me and were extremely accomodating. The students are really happy and there are good opportunities, but it wasn't the school for me.
I stayed with a second year the night before my interview who was really nice and helpful. There were a lot of boring speeches we had to sit through. One speaker, Dr. Akerman, participated in the first heart transplant surgery (that was exciting!!).After hearing from the speakers we headed to TGH for our two interviews. My interviewers were surprisingly laid back and easy to talk to. After the interview we ate lunch and toured the campus.
I loved USF. The strength of the program, the superior residency placement and the willingness of the staff to help you through med school was awesome. I hope I get in!
Arrive 8:00 am. Pastries/coffee/small talk. Info on curriculum/financial aid/interview day. Bus to TGH. Tour. Interviews (2). Lunch w/ med students. Bus to USF. Tour school...final wrap up session.
overall it was enjoyable. i think faculty interviewers make better interviewers than med students (more experienced, maybe more professional?) but maybe its just me...
Quick talks in the morning with breakfast; bus to Lifelink to see transplant center; bus to Tampa Gen'l Hospital for interviews and lunch; back to campus for tour and closing- seemed a lot shorter than it actually was
Overall it was very low stress and informative. Make sure to eat something in the morning - we walked a lot and didn't get to lunch until after 1pm. Also, and I cannot stress this enough, WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES and do not be hesitant about asking questions.
Started the morning lost, looking for the conference room but luckily a 1st year med student helped me find my way. Breakfast was good...be sure to eat, because lunch is not for a few hours. Then had some speakers before we took a tour of Shriners, which was amazing! The doctors working there seemed so passionate and the facilites are top notch. Then we had our interviews. Mine was with a PhD and a fourth year med student. The interviews were very relaxed and conversational. The med student was very eager to answer my questions and she seemed very honest in her responses. Then we had lunch and had a tour of the school led by med students. Lastly there was a presentation about financial aid.
Its a pretty long day. Wear comfy shoes. I cannot stress this enough. They make you walk forever. We first toured the VA hospital after listening to a curriculem by Dr. Specter (which is very informative, by the way). After the tour we did our 30minute interviews. Mine was first with med student-a super nice dude , and than a faculty member- also super nice. We ate lunch (also really good) and chit chatted with everyone. It felt like social hour, but it was fun. Dr. Larkin than told us how the admission process worked. We took at tour of the school, and then the Army and navy gave us a talk on their military scholarships. These people are SUPER NICE and HONEST. They answer any question graciously!
I didn't really like it overall. The med students that I did see weren't very enthusiastic, neither were my interviewers. The second one, a professor, was not very friendly at all.
Was a good experience. REL and the rest of the staff made everyone comfortable. Interviews were relatively laid back. I didn't perform perfectly on the first interview, not sure why. Just could not present things as I intended to as I was very nervous for some reason. Second interview went much better after I relaxed.
Overall, I had a wonderful experience. Mr Larkin was amazing and very insightful. He shared lots of information about the school, students and staff at USF. The school really has its own unique atmosphere. Its very condusive to learning and everyone is really interested in helping you suceed!
2 interviews. 1st interview was with a an awesome 4th year student. Other interview was with a knowledgable oncologist who truely took the time to answer your questions. Very friendly and supportive atmosphere.
My fist interviewer was very friendly, personable, and relaxed. As I previously described, the second interview was just the opposite. I think he wanted to see how I handled myself when I felt cornered. When I spoke to the other students in my group, they said that all of their interviews were really laid back, so I think I just had an unlucky draw getting that type of interviewer. Otherwise, the overall experience was very enjoyable.
USF was my first interview and I had a very positive experience. I loved the administration and the medical students who were so helpful and the day was very well planned out.
We had breakfast in the morning with one of the med students, then listened to an hour presentation about the curriculum. Then we took a bus to Tampa General where we had a tour, our interviews, and lunch with the med students. The interview was conversational and it seemed like the interviewers were just trying to get to know me. We even had a few laughs and I asked them some questions. I was super nervous (as usual) but by the end, I didn't want to leave! They seemed more concerned with "will you fit in here" and less concerned with your statistics. I was surprised by how much I liked the school. I've been to other Florida schools- ones with better facilities- but USF is now my top choice because of the community atmosphere, the attitude and the clinical experience right off the bat. I hope i get in here!
The day is pretty long but relatively low stress. (If I have one complaint, I would be that the day goes from 7:45 am to 3:30 pm.) Much of that time is spent with discussions and presentations. You tour a facility assocaited with the med school (like Shriner's, Moffitt, Tampa General, etc.) and then interview, either at the tour location or back at the med school depending on the place. There are two closed file interviews, so interviewers know nothing about you. That means you will get general questions. My interviewers were quite nice. Don't worry if your interviews go long, are short (one of mine was only 20 minutes long), or if your interviewer doesn't show up/you get a replacement interviewer. Roll with it. Be yourself and give honest answers that describe you as a person, and you'll be fine. USF specifically is closed-file to ensure that you are seen as a person (that means you can't rest on your GPA, MCAT, or other fancy accomplishments; you have to able to articulate you experiences). Lunch is given and there are more presentations in the afternoon (which can be a challenge to keep focused through as you are done with the actual interview). Mr. Larkin (a credit to the school) will personally call you 10 days after the interview to tell you the school's decision. P.S. The sheet interviewers are given to evaluate you has categories like shadowing, medical volunteering, community service, leadership, research, empathy, personal appearance, etc.; this might help you prepare answers to questions in these areas.
The day could probably have been cut in half with all of the same content. Tours and virtually every talk could have been shorter, though all were helpful. Everyone was very nice all day and enthusiastic about the school. I was very impressed by the wide variety of opportunities that are available while in the program and that the schools seems as though it will support you no matter what your interests are. I interviewed with a PhD researcher who was very nice. I had some experience in the specific types of research that he conducts and he was interested in my background in that especially. My other interviewer was a 4th year medical student. She was nice, but I didn't feel like I could get a good "read" on her - very stoic. Nothing negative from either interview regardless though. Very laidback and comfortable.
It was a long day but very well-organized. I feel as though we were treated very well (breakfast and lunch!) and the interviews were very laid back. Some of the previous remarks on SDN mentioned that interviewers have a list of questions that they are supposed to ask. Although this is true, neither of my interviewers were actually writing during the interview. It seemed to flow very nicely, and the interviewers actually seemed like they were trying to sell the school to us since they spoke at length about the programs and curriculum.
I had one very good interview, and another that was so-so. The second interviewer sort of made me seem like I was a disturbance to his day (which I probably was, but jeesh!). He didn't even write anything down. I doubt he knew my name when all was said and done, and probably had to look it up to give his feedback to the committee.
It is a very long day, especially after the interviews are over, but everyone is very nice. Rather than disorganized like many other reviewers are writing, I found it to be more laid back and relaxed. Prepare for your service answers! They are HUGE on service! They have a sheet with questions they must ask you (all of the answers are in your application so I don't know why they do closed file) but they talked mostly about your service experience. They want to know they are getting "compasionate, caring" people, and you have to prove it with your resume. One interviewer spent ten minutes telling me about all this great stuff some other applicant had done and then expected me to match it. Then gave me a lecture about what medicine is really about. So watch your words carefully. If you haven't set up a free clinic in Africa, you better describe what service you do have very eloquently.
basically both interviewers had a sheet that had the following headings: Professionalism, Empathy, Leadership, Community Service, Medical Experience, Research, and one or two other categories. Under each is a space to take notes. At the very bottom is where the interviewer can rate the whole experience 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The interviewer has to circle one.
I had one student and one faculty interview. Althougth it was closed file, the student had more formal questions than the faculty member. The faculty member did not ask very much but: "Tell me about yourself?" The faculty member was hard to read but must have given a positive response because I got in.
Overall it was a great experience. I love how they tell you the decision within 10 days! At the end, Mr. Larkin tells you he will call everyone from 9am-12pm in exactly 10 days to touch base. Mr. Larkin is awesome, and he knew I had an exam when he was going to call everyone about the decisions, so he called me at 8:30am just before my exam to tell me I was in. The care they show towards their applicants says a lot about the school. My first interviewer was a Ph.D and my second was a 4th year med student. The interviews were closed-file, and both interviewers seems to have a list of questions they had to cover. My tour guide was a 2nd year med student and she was great. My student host was a 1st year student and very accommodating. This was definitely the friendliest and most welcoming interview experience. Definitely a school to consider.
I liked the school much better after taking a tour and meeting some people over there. I was neutral about the program going into the day and they really impressed me.
I was overall quite happy with my interview experience. The school is a good choice for in staters and offers a more big city environment than the other state med schools. The med students seemed happy too. The only thing that would have made me LOVE the school would have been a straight pass/fail grading system (not honors, high pass, etc). But most schools are not, so what can you do?
The interview experience as a whole was a good one. The questions aren't too tough, just the general stuff; why medicine, tell me about yourself, etc. In fact, I think the experience is deceptively easy. Everyone is so nice and helpful; it seems you've already been accepted. Then to be low on a wait list because other applicants made the decision to go into medicine at an earlier age (I mean like 7)seems a bit unfair.
My USF interview was my first med school interview, so I was very nervous. The interview process was interesting to say the least. The day was kept light by Larkin. Important to note: interviews are somewhat disorganized. Many interviewers showed up late or not at all. I understand that they were taking time out of their schedule to interview that day. Jusu roll with it. Stay calm and focused and you'll do fine. Oh, and prepare for closed file questions; translation: you will be asked general questions like "why do you want to be a doctor" and "describe so-and-so event" a lot. (I prefer to be drilled on specific issues or flaws in my application, so general questions threw me off a bit.) Overall, it was an eventful day.
First interview was with a 4th year guy. He was very down to earth, and after talking for a while he basically tried to convince me to come to the school. Second was with faculty PhD. He was actually really nice, but it was my 1st interview and I was a little jittery.
USF is a really good school and surprised me with their level of excellence. Apparently the clinical experience you receive at the school is pretty much the best in the state and one of the most comprehensive in the nation. One 4th year student remarked that some USF students knew more clinical procedures than residents in some cases. Medical students seem to really enjoy the school and there are renovations currently in progress to improve the medical student lounge and computer labs. Just really a positive experience overall and this school moved up in my draft board.
Arrive at USF and get a presentation from the admissions committee, then travelled to Tampa General where we were shown around the hospital (it's amazing!). Then had our interviews at the hospital, one faculty, one student. Very relaxed.
great. very impressed with how invested the college is in the med students. This is my first interview, so my perspective may change, but overall, USF moved up on my list
This was by far the most relaxed interview that I have attended. The interview group was small (16 of us), and the interviews are conducted off-campus at places like Tampa General Hospital, Shriners' Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, or Lifelink. There are two interviews, both closed-file. This feels kind of bizarre, because the interviewer literally knows nothing about you, not even your name, until you step into the room. One interviewer was a physician, and the other was a student. Mr. Larkin calls you the following week to tell you how the committee voted. (I got in!) Overall, this school is a great option for FL residents, and it is one of my top choices.
They tour you for one of the medical facilities before the interview. Our group visited Shriner's hospital, which impressed me a lot (they treat children patients there).
Plus before the actual interview, you get to talk to med students and Mr.Larkin (very nice guy) and all of these should help you relax before the actual interview.
Overall I had good experience there, I liked the city originally, and people were just so kind at USF. I'm glad this was my first interview.
I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The interview was fabulous and the school is top notch as far as clinical and research opportunities go. I was impressed with the honesty and integrity that the admissions staff possessed- they even gave us a detailed sheet of residency matches of previous years as hard data we could look at and take home with us. The staff seemed very open to suggestions and I even overheard students talking about a curriculum change to improve the great curriculum that USF already has. Another plus is that students gain clinical exposure beginning in their first year of medical school. Just relax and have a fun day- it really is a great school and a great experience!
This is an all-day experience which begins with food before 8am. You are given a talk about what exactly you will be doing if you get into USF Med School (which is kind of hard to stay awake during). Then a tour of one of the affiliated medical centers nearby (we toured the Shriner's Hospital). Then, two interviews each 45 mins long. Next, lunch with staff and several students. Afterwards, several discussions about financial aid, a military presentation, housing options, etc. Then you're done by around 3:30pm!
A little stressful since it was my first, but still enjoyable. My interviewers, one a doctor on the adcom, the other a med student, were really easy to talk to.
It was a long but well organized day. Laid back and stress free day. Presentations and tour in the morning and then two 30min interviews. After that was lunch and then financial aid presentation. End the day about 3pm.
Great time, good people, tohught I did quite well on the interviews but I think the school is very focused on numeric considerations like MCAT and GPA. They say they arent but from what I have heard they are.
Overall it was a positive experience, the interviews were laidback, except for the Ox Phos question which if I hadn't seen on SDN could have stumped me pretty badly.
I thought that this was a very laid-back experience as the admissions staff was very friendly and really made you feel relaxed. I liked how the interviews were in the morning instead of after lunch. Also, I liked how they presented information regarding the military scholarship. They also were very good about having ample students around for you to talk to and ask questions
A great interview. The staff makes the day go incredibly smoothly. Mr. Larkin was very welcoming. I liked the campus and the affiliated hospitals, the curriculum looks good, and the students seem like a good blend.
Mr. Larkin and the admissions staff do a good job of making an inherently intimidating process feel comfortable.
During your visit, Mr. Larkin (the admissions director) also commits to a date/time when he will call you to let you know whether or not you made the grade.
I won't find out for another 36-39 hours (who's counting?) but I admire their professionalism and commitment to the applicants.
USF is a young school (~30 years), but the staff and faculty are way impressive. Their clinical partners (hospitals) are first tier. This place is a hidden gem -- like Microsoft circa 1981.
it is a very long day so get plenty of rest the night before. we had breakfast and listened to two speakers. we have a short tour of the va hospital and then the interviews. afterward, we had lunch and more talks. the day ended early, which was good.
I had a great time during this interview. Unfortunately I did not do that well since it was my first interview and fear of the unknown took over me. My first interviewer was kind of intimidating and I was really nervous but my second interviewer was a lot more easy to talk to. The overall experience was good and the admission staff tries to do their best to make you feel comfortable prior to your interviews.
One of the two interviews was with a fourth-year medical student so it was completely comfortable and conversational. The other interview was with a physician and primarily she wanted to know about volunteer work, research, my motivation, leadership, and my humanism with medicine.
It was a good experience. The first interviewer was a 4th year med student and we had a very comfortable and laid back conversation ranging from my experiences in medicine to him going hiking soon. It was a good warmup for the second which was with a physician who is also the head of the admissions committee. He was much more serious and seemed extremely concerned with making sure that I had a good reason to want to become a doctor. When he presents me to the committee he said he wanted to be able to tell them something good about me, so it seemed like he really cared which was reassuring. When I asked about USF not being popular around the nation (unlike Harvard, Stanford, even UF, etc) he said that it's not so important and if you put in the effort you will succeed, and I believe him. So overall a great experience at USF today!
Warning, USF will interview you even if they have no intention of offering you an acceptance. Both of my interviwers told me that I would definitely get accepted. Later I was told I had a poor chance of getting in due to things they saw as lacking in my application. They shouldn't have offered me an interview and wasted my time. They also said I had typos in my app. essay, which was completely untrue. There was not a single mistake in the entire thing. I am guessing they were unfamiliar with certain terminology used and assumed they were mistakes. It might pay to pick up a dictionary.
A VERY relaxed day. Really, the stress level was very low. Everone had different interviewers but no one came back in tears or freaking out. USF chooses its interviewers because they're nice folks. They aren't out to trick you, so relax. This has been my most laid back interview so far!
Dr Larkin is very approachable, so ask him questions if you've got them. He'll also give you a straight-up answer as to your chances of getting in off the waitlist if that happens to you.
Interviews are closed-file, so questions are very generic. My interviews went well, however, I interviewed with a student who didn't seem too interested in me. We finished rather quickly. Rel was great - very nice and put you at ease.
Pretty standard - met with other interviewees, faculty and students. USF Admissions does a really professional job organizing the day. School is very interested in supporting its students academically. Tampa General was impressive.
It was a fun experience. It felt like a mock interview...although I've never had one before. It was my first but I don't think it completely prepared me for others. Since others were not as relaxing as USF's.
The day was long, but the admissions staff did not leave a single question unanswered. I cannot count how many times we were asked for questions. Also, there are many presentations, but as the day wore on, Rel moved the process along more quickly. The students are awesome and really helped me gain perspective on the positive and negative aspects of the school. We were able to talk to at least 6 students throughout the day from every year. The interviews were very low stress and conversational. I felt like USF was more intersted in making sure the students are a good match for their school than to necessarily pick the most qualified students.
Good visit overall. Talking with 4th year students over lunch was very helpful (it would have been nice to have more time). The short visit to the catheterization control room was brief but VERY interesting, as was the visit to the neonatal ICU. For a med school, the lab facilities appear a bit outdated. Perhaps they serve their purpose well. Interviews were with one Doctor and one 4th year student. Good people. They are trying to ascertain if you are making the right decision. Both at Tampa General Hospital.
The interview process was pretty laid back. We took a tour of Shriner's Hopsital. It was interesting, but some of the other interviewees complained that the tour focused too much on certain aspects of the hospital. There are a lot of interviewers; you could get matched up with MD's, PhD's or med students. If you don't like one of your interviews, you can ask for another.
overall, this interview experience was very low-stress and informative; the admissions office is very helpful and friendly; interviews are mostly conversational and are very non-threatening
Both my interviewers were extremely nice and the interviews were both a conversation. There were no trick questions or abstract questions (like what color are you and why?). All of the questions were straight forward and it was a good experience overall.
Overall, great experience. We were bussed to LifeLink for a tour and to Tampa General for our interviews. Both of my interviewers were very friendly and conversational. There was food everywhere, so come hungry. We changed locations often, but I don't think we were ever more than 10 meters away from a bagel. A little long, but very low stress day.
Both of my interviews combined took up about 30 min. It was advertised as 30 min a piece. They did offer a third interview to anyone who wanted this, however. Overall it was a positive experience, if a little long.
I did not have the experience of a warm, friendly, conversational interview. My interviewer was harsh and yelled at me that I was naive. This is a bit tough to handle from an interview that you are told will be laidback and informal.
The admissions staff is very friendly, direct, and informative. They told us how the process will go and exactly when we can expect to hear from them regarding our admission. It makes the process much easier with them and you can really appreciate the school. The day borders on being a little too long, but overall the school was very impressive (great opportunities in clinical years with many options)......Larkin makes you feel at home
The closed-file interview meant that they don't put much emphasis on the interview. I was not accepted and had great experiences with the interviewers.
They give you breakfast, and then talk, then we went on a tour of the Shriner's Hospital (given by one of the doctors there). After that we all had our two interviews and then went to lunch. We went on a tour of the college facilities (given by a student) and then got more talks and went home. :)
There are two CLOSED FILE interviews... I mean, they don't know a thing except your name. I had one with a clinical faculty professor and my other with a 4th year student. Both were extremely laid back and they just seemed to want to get to know me. I got asked a fair number of questions having little to do with medicine and more to just find out how I converse.
USF is a great school with lots to offer! I think you have to really walk around and see if you feel comfortable there, and if you can imagine yourself studying there for the next few years. Tampa is a great city (home of the 2002 World Champion Bucs!!!) and living there would be a lot of fun.
Be ready for the longest interview day you have ever experienced, and don't sweat the interviews. As one of my interviewers told me, they are just trying to get a "gut feeling" as to whether or not you will make a good physician.
I went to the school thinking that it was merely a backup school, but I left with a very positive impression. The school is definitely on its way up and whatever experience you want out of medical school you can get here.
Mr. Larkin even gave us a "treat" at the end of the day. Chocolate, yummy. Very relaxed day on the whole, though I think the stuff afer lunch is entirely unnecessary. If you want to fly or drive out early for whatever reason, don't hesitate to let your travel plans cut into the after lunch military and financial aid presentations.
This school is well on its way to becoming a great school. It is a young school and very receptive to its students. It only doesn't have a reputation because it is a relatively new school.
It was overall really nice, but it was a very looooong day so be prepared. It seemes like on of my interviewers was not that interested in the whole process, she just wanted to get it over with, she didn't know what to ask. But overall, it was great
I had an interview with a surgeon and a medical student, while some had two faculty members, either MD or PhD. They ask basic interview questions because it is closed-file so be prepared for that. For me, this interview was much more conversational than other interviews I have been to, but I can't say that its a good or bad thing since every school looks for different things. But you must come up with at least three intelligent questions to ask your interviewers, they seem to almost expect it from you. Again, be relaxed!
The interviews are closed file, so the they don't know ANYTHING
about you...be prepared for that. My interviewers were great.
One was a 4th year student and the other a practicing
physician in the hospital. They made me feel comfortable and
I really didn't get any ethical questions (thank god!).
The only problem was that the interviews were disorganized.
My original interviewer didn't meet with me, so I had to run
to the other end of the hospital to meet with another guy,
for whom I had to wait about 30 min to speak with (it
turned out well for me though!).
from my experiences and others interviewing with me, i felt that the interviewers are "green" and unsure how to ask questions, etc. since the interviews are closed file, this makes it even worse. the med student interviews are enjoyable and friendly but for the faculty ones i suggest being prepared to carry a conversation by yourself and talk alot, even if you get little feedback. good luck!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should consider extending the Q&A session time, moving interviews to the morning, providing umbrellas for interviewees, and improving communication through e-mail updates. Additionally, they recommended involving upper-level medical students in the tour guide group and making the tour more structured and engaging.
Give more than 10 minutes for the student Q&A session (maybe hold it during lunch instead of doing the financial aid session at that time). There was not enough time in the tour for extra questions.
Put the interviews in the morning! Also it would be nice to have some M3s and M4s be part of the tour guide group. Our questions about rotations weren't answerable by M1s.
Prepare umbrellas for interviewees in case it rains. Flip the schedule so that interviews are in the morning--will have a more enjoyable and stress-free afternoon for tours, etc. Don't make the lunch a panel with the office of financial aid and just have one of them come talk to us after interviews, etc.
Please have a more structured and productive tour. Also, the first 90 minute lecture to start the day could have been presented in a more engaging manner, maybe by involving discussion of what applicants are looking for, and then the faculty responding by saying how the school meets those needs.
E-mail updates to current applicants. The process is already long, but it makes it more difficult when you don't know where you stand as an applicant. Exact ranks don't need to be given, but priority versus low chances can be helpful for those who are reapplying.
