Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 28% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include traditional questions, MMI scenarios, challenges faced and overcome, ethical dilemmas, past experiences in healthcare, reasons for pursuing medicine, specific volunteer activities, teamwork scenarios, and questions about personal qualities and strengths. Some respondents mentioned being asked about the MMI format, indicating a structured interview style, and there were references to nondisclosure agreements, suggesting a requirement for confidentiality during the interview process.
"Imagine you are in family practitioner and a nurse tells you that the next patient you are about to see is very clearly upset, possibly hysterical. Tell me how you would interact with this patient."
Why VCU? Explain what this profession means to you. How did your advocacy experience help prepare you for a career in this field? Any questions? Tell me about yourself. What is an ethical dilemma you've faced recently? How will you handle moving across the country? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What do you want to specialize in? What do you like about VCU? What will be the hardest thing for you if you're accepted? The easiest? What do you do for fun?
I was asked about the politics of health care and what I thought about reform. This is kind of a common question, but it can be tough to answer. Even if you have thought about it a lot, it's hard to give a full and honest answer, without worrying you're going to insult the interviewer's political beliefs.
They asked me to tell them about the pathology of a specific disease that I had seen once in a patient while I was shadowing a doctor, which I mentioned in my personal statement anecdotally. It was stressful, because I hadn't thought too much about the pathology, just the symptoms I had observed.
Mainly, my interviewer (MSIV) had thoroughly read my file and we just went through step by step all my experiences and application. It was a great format to showcase your application and gives them a good picture of what you are about.
Strengths/weaknesses, mentors, read any good books?, why VCU, most influential person of the 20th century, describe a team conflict you helped resolve, a situation when you helped someone, cultural competency
How would you feel in a situation where you have a homeless patient with a wound that needs to kept clean, but he doesn't qualify to be admitted to the hospital and will end up back on the streets? What would you do in that situation?
What changes do you think need to be made in health care? Do you know which states have implemented individual mandates? What are the problems with these mandates?
Wow I think you really hit the nail on the head in terms of identifying problems in our healthcare system. What are some specific solutions you can think of?
Did your mother being a pediatrician influence your decision to become a physician? (Which is a stupid question...of course it did...everything we live through and with influences us; either positively or negatively.)
We also talked about my secondary, one of which was about my impressions of the different specialties.
Overall, can't remember specific questions. Just A LOT of them :)
What is your opinion on underage drinking at college, have you seen that it affects education?Marijuana usage? How about medical marijuana? Supreme court cases dealing with this? Terri Shavo? Dr. Kevorkian? Uninsured citizens? Illegal aliens using government resources? Politics involved with medicine. Aka every ethical question imaginable
Tell me about yourself. What was your high school like? How did you choose your college? How did you choose your major? Last book read. What do you do for fun?
Politics and healthcare... is politics too involved? (my interviewer seemed to think so, and I also agree) More of an opinion question than testing knowledge.
How do you pronounce your last name? What books would you suggest that I read? Tell me about your current internship. Your MCAT scores improved a lot, how did you do that? Why VCU? What do you do for fun? What is your favorite movie? Any idea of the field of medicine you want to enter? If you were the surgeon general, the top doctor in the US, what medical issue would you want to tackle? What are your thoughts on PAS? If a patient came to you with terminal cancer and was tired of all the trials and drugs, what would you say to the patient? How do you feel about malpractice insurance? We also talked about health policy, but that stemmed from the malpractice insurance question. Do you have any questions for me? (These are the questions that I can remember…Good luck!)
What would you tell a parent of one of your students if you suspected they had an eatind disorder. (I've done a lot of work in eating disorders and I coach gymnastics)
Describe when/how/why you became interested in medicine. This led to other questions related to those experiences. (Describe differences in healthcare in Trinidad and in the US. Describe good attributes of physicians. Describe a negative trait of a physician. Compare the hospitals in Trinidad with those in the US.)
something to the effect of how have your work, clinical and volunteer activities effected you or something liek that- I believe this was the first interview question asked
How will your religion relate to your role as a physician? (part of a larger conversation--I do medical volunteering with my church. Goes to show you--study your activities).
What do you think of Cloning, Stem-cell research, euthanasia? Before my interview, I thought I would have a hard time with these questions but it really wasn't that bad. so dont worry, just read up on these topics before hand. :)
Students said most interesting question asked at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including MMI scenarios, ethical dilemmas, personal experiences, and future healthcare challenges. The interview format may have been MMI, with respondents possibly under a nondisclosure agreement, while questions varied from hypothetical group project scenarios to personal reflections on failure, teamwork, high school experiences, and healthcare system reforms.
How would you go about picking 4 classmates to work with for a group project? You have 2 class sessions to mingle with each other before deciding on your group members.
If you wanted to plan a vacation with your friends, how would you plan it? and then proceeded to ask every detail about this hypothetical planned vacation.
"What activities and honor societies were you involved in during high school?" (Yes, my interviewer asked me about my high school experience- including class rank and GPA- which surprised me. But I suppose he wanted to know more about my educational background)
More questions: What medical experience impacted you the most? What will you do if you don't get accepted this year? What do you like to do when you have some free time?
I was interviewed by a physician in his office. Most interviews are performed by physicians and then they present you to the admissions committee on Monday afternoons. Therefore the whole point of the interview is to get to know you so that they can present you to the board. We had a friendly conversation in which he went over my AMCAS file and activities. No stress.
I said I enjoyed googling strange/interesting facts and she asked me what is the most interesting answer/thing you have found on line. I blanked for a second but talked about looking up stuff on Sicko and the other side of the issue..I wish I had remembered some of the cooler/more interesting stuff I have learned.
She kept asking me about my religion major, and what I studied. However, she became defensive when we discussed my concentration. Plus, she was negative regarding my basic science research background, she preferred a more clinical approach to medicine.
PHD: You appear to be a great candidate, why are you interviewing so late in the season?
Lab: You have been involved with RNAi, is there any advice you can give on problems you have ran into?
All basic questions...why do u want to be a doctor, what is your def of professionalism etc...mainly just talked about my EC activities....my interviewer seemed to know me better than i knew myself haha! very impressed
Is there an alcohol problem at your undergrad? How bout a drug problem? What would you say is your strongest muscle (my application is all about weight-lifting)?
nothing really...the interviewer mostly asked questions about my application. She hadnt read it, so she wanted me to pretty much repeat everything I had written.
What are your views on Euthanasia. This prompted a disscussion about what a physician's role is as a healthcare provider, and also about the leaglity of the Oregon law (which I was fairly familiar with). Just FYI, it was recently upheld by the supreme court.
Do you read Harry Potter? I didn't but I've been muscled by friends, family, and now a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon to read the series, and so now I will likely read it.
What would have made you cared more about your illness when you were 14. (I was diagnosed with IBD at 14 and didn't comply with doctors orders. I discussed this in my AMCAS essay.)
With what happen in New Orleans I'm sure you wouldnt want to be in the midst of such devastation(Not the exact words but thats what it came down to)
I took it as some sort of trap question.
What is a negative characteristic of a physician that you have observed? (This was after being asked what are good traits of doctors you've observed, either in a foreign country or as a patient.)
The questions were specific to my file with one open-ended question about the the state of medicine. I interviewed with a 4th year who was very enthusiastic about the school and about the things I had done. We had a lot in common so the whole inteview was basically a great conversation with occasional questions thrown in.
Asked me about a book I had recently read. Talked about my background, living in another country during a Civil War. What inspired me to become a doctor.
all pretty run of the mill, talked about my education and experiences living in a variety of different places, nothing particularily interesting though
many physicians feel that government and insurance policies limit their ability to practice. why is it that you want to enter this field in the midst of such difficulties? what will you do to overcome them?
By the way this interview is for the "Prefer Applicants", a sort of Guaranteed Admission to their medical school when you are a sophomore. From what I heard, this is pretty much their real interview tactic also.
How was your childhood? (That was the most interesting question ever)
What do you think of the current financial market? Its was understandable b/c i was in working in banking/investment for a number of years b/f i decided to re-pursue medicine again.
In regards to your religion, how would you pray with a patient in the ER who is of another religion and does not believe in your God and may even be against it?
Students said most difficult question asked at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center School of Medicine discussed a mix of behavioral questions, ethical dilemmas, and hypothetical scenarios. Some respondents mentioned Multiple Mini Interview scenarios, indicating a structured format with potential nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the questions.
Difficulty was balanced between questions. In other words, there weren't specific questions that stood out to be more difficult or easier than the others.
"Who is the most influential person in history and why?" I'm not a huge history buff but I answered the question and was able to defend my (cliched) answer!
Tell me about a challenge you faced, how you overcame it, what you learned from it, and how you applied that lesson in a subsequent situation. Despite the 'difficulty' of this question, my interviewer was very friendly about it and we "conversed" through my response.
Name your most memorable patient (from my advocacy experience as an HIV prevention counselor); a lot of in depth questions about that and hypothetical situations stemming from the one test I talked about.
There were no difficult questions, but don't come off as a pigeon-holed pre-med person. Be aware of issues in healthcare, show that you care about your community and that your scope is wider than being a premed.
What would you say to a co-worker who is a close friend if you noticed a lot of recent heavy drinking? What would you say to a patient who presented with a hx of chronic alcohol abuse?
What other schools have you interviewed at? (difficult because i think this is information that might influence an interviewer's perception of a student in an unnecessary way)
MD: The person who reviewed your file indicated a problem in your secondary. They wondered why you raised some family issues, how does this apply to medicine?
PHD: Tell me how working as an undergraduate differs from working as a lab technician, walk me through the steps you would go through to design an experiment.
Are you ready to make the switch from NYC to Richmond, Virginia? Yes, I know you're supposed to make it seem like they're your 1st choice. But still. It's hard to lie.
I wasn't asked any overly difficult questions. I'm a non-traditional applicant (graduated college in 1994) so we really discussed my professional career and why the change to medicine now.
Have you read Harry Potter? (I didn't read any of it so I couldn't discuss in depth with my interviewer. My interviewer was nice enough to discuss his opinions about it)
Why should MCV take you over all other out of state applicants, some of whom may have worked with doctors without borders or other activities, what unique trait separates you from them all?
None were difficult, no ethical questions (I was expecting those). Asked how we can get doctors to practice in rural areas in need of physicians. Another person being interviewed was asked to make a decision regarding a heart transplant between a convicted felon or a 42 year old mother. After she gave her response the interviewer changed the question and asked if the answer would still be the same if you knew the mother was abusing her children.
There were no difficult questions. We talked about hobbies, activities, and jobs listed in the AMCAS application, the reason for why I am pursuing medicine, and life in Virginia (especially the traffic).
I didn't find any of the questions particularily challenging or difficult, my interview was pretty laid back and conversational although some other interviewers did get slammed with ethical questions so definitely be prepared.
i had read this site, and none of his questions were beyond those listed among others' experiences, so i wasnt unprepared for any of them/found none of the ?s difficult.
What do you feel is the physician's responsibility to indigents or illegal immigrants who do not have access to health care? (I answered that it the physician had the right to care for all, especially in emergency situations, and that medical care is a fundamental right, not a privilege. For this interviewer, that was the correct answer.)
[Luckily I researched this question beforehand; however, if I didn't, it would have been the hardest.] What are your feelings on cloning and stem cell research?
i didn't have any particularly difficult questions. i had purposely researched several bioethical topics in preparation for this interview, but i didn't get asked any questions on controversial topics, it was just generally about me. It was just hard to direct the conversation in the direction of topics i wanted to make sure that he knew about.
What's your favorite book/what book have you read most recently (1-I blanked and couldn't remember any of the 20 books piled next to my bed that I use to read myself to sleep, and 2-Thought Harry Potter would sound really, really bad)
In regards to your religion, how would you pray with a patient in the ER who is of another religion and does not believe in your God and may even be against it?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their AMCAS and secondary applications, practicing with mock interviews, reading interview feedback on SDN, researching the school's website, studying medical ethics and healthcare issues, and engaging in practice questions. They also utilized resources like this website, YouTube, and books on interview preparation.
Prepping “why medicine” and basic MMI questions/practice
Read over some ethics cases on the AMA Journal of Ethics, read over my primary and secondary applications briefly as a refresher, but other than that nothing too intensive.
Reviewed AMCAS/supplemental apps. Read Jeremiah Fleenor's book, The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success (and I highly recommend it). Read recent articles about healthcare. Reviewed biomedical ethics notes from undergrad.
VCU website, interview feedback, re-read application. VCU supposedly asks a lot of healthcare questions. I didn't get any, but I definately read up ahead of time on some issues.
SDN, interview feedback, VCU website, sites about healthcare and ethical issues, primary and secondary apps, PRACTICING OUT LOUD DURING THE CAR RIDE TO VCU
Reviewed file, looked at website, talked to M1's, read SDN's interview feedback, looked over current public health and medical ethics issues, went over answers in my head, asked friends/family what they thought were my best qualities =D
looked at the website, sdn stuff, thought of answers to expected questions, reviewed my application & secondaries, read books about health care and doctoring
SDN, school's website, previous interview experience, U of Washington ethics site because I heard they sometimes ask about physician-assisted suicide (though I didn't end up getting asked about this).
Read SDN, my own primary and secondary. I had planned on being more prepared for this interview but ended up having a biochemistry final the day before, so wasn't as ready as I had been for other interviews. As it turned out, it didn't matter because the questions were so open-ended and the interview was so laid back.
I was so rushed the night before that I literally barely prepared and just hoped I wouldn't get asked ethical questions. It worked...I was lucky and didn't get asked anything outside of my file.
SDN, read my AMCAS and secondary applications, talked to two current students (one M1 and one M2), read the school's website, looked up various ethical/ current healthcare issues (prepared more than necessary)
This website, MCV website, and a few med school books about interviews, and brushed up on some ethical issues like growing uninsured population, stem cell research, euthanasia, ect. I did not need to prepare as much as I did.
Read over my AMCAS and secondary application, read reviews on this site, and read several articles on various topics in medicine (ei. stem cell research, drug testing safety, AIDS figures, Medicare, ect...)
I read over the school website, read a book concerning the health care crisis, reviewed the UW medical ethics website, and looked at the feedback from the student doctor website.
Studied this website, studied their website inside and out, seriously studied my AMCAS and secondary application (very important!), and studied myself (thought about difficult questions and my personal stances on medical issues).
Talked to people who are part of this program, went to the MCV website, read interview feedbacks from SDN site (MAJOR help!), research bioethic topics, read over application, practiced with "Most Common Interview Questions" (you can easily find this online by typing that in under SEARCH)
I reviewed the interview feedback on this site. Also, I went over my AMCAS and also read articles on www.bioethics.com that related to the questions posted on SDN.
I read articles on current bioethics topics, reread my application, made sure I knew all about my research, talked to an M1 student, SDN and MCV's website.
I read over my primary and secondary application essays, went over MCV's website pretty thoroughly, and also read interview feedback from this website.
Read up on school, talked to an M1 that I'm friends with, reread my essays (yes, they do look at the hand written one, it's not just a handwriting sample!)
This web site, school web site, MSAR, my AMCAS app and secondary essays, reading up on managed care and ethical issues (although no health care questions were asked)
I just read their website and looked through my application. I had heard they were very interested in Bioethical issues so I read from articles in the Journal of Bioethics at www.bioethics. I didn't have any but for those who are interested it is interesting reading.
Applicants were positively impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, the relaxed and conversational interview format, the state-of-the-art facilities, the emphasis on student well-being, the transparency in the admissions process, the high-quality curriculum, the support provided by faculty and staff, the happiness and enthusiasm of current students, and the urban location of the campus. Common suggestions included enhancing the integration of clinical experience with theory, maintaining the non-competitive environment, and continuing to provide personalized support and resources for students preparing for board exams.
I liked how forthcoming/helpful the med students were throughout the day. I also liked the thorough breakdown of the curriculum during the info session.
I found interview day as a whole quite efficient. An appropriate amount of time was allotted for each activity which included the interview, financial aid presentation, lunch with med students, and tour.
everything! i loved loved loved the school. they seem like they are really going through a positive transition with the new condensed pre-clinical curriculum and all new facilities
Happiness of students. The tour was very thorough and left me with a really great impression of the school! They even pulled a 4th year med student for us to talk to (which is somewhat unusual based on my previous interview experiences)! VCU is very "well rounded" in the sense that it is a well-known research institution and is a great place to prepare for a career as a specialist, but it is also a great place to do something like rural primary care. Also the location is great (right in downtown Richmond), with abundant affordable housing in 'hip' neighborhoods very close by!
Research opportunities, new medical building and, most importantly, the school treats interviewees as assets. They make you feel welcome. This is opposed to other schools that make everyone feel like they are incredibly lucky to be there.
The interview format was relaxed and provided a good platform to discuss my application. The tour was informative. Everyone was relxed and friendly. The facilities are great.
Everything. Students were well taken care of, the faculty really goes out of their way for the students. Richmond, while it is a small city, has enough to keep a med student busy. The facilities were pretty nice/new, the hospital was huge and clerkships are definitely this school's strongpoint.
VCU's step 1 prep is as good as it gets (google Dr. Costanzo). Clinical rotations are great, especially since there is an option of rotating at Inova Fairfax during the last 2 years, which is close to where I live. Students really liked the school.
A lot... Dr. WHC is amazing and welcoming. The office staff were accommodating and friendly. Great Step 1 prep, nice facilities and great urban location.
I loved my student hosts. I came into the apartment and there were a whole group of M2 students just enjoying dinner. They were very welcoming and gave me lots of advice. We had ice cream and watched movies. Very relaxing before an interview.
How relaxed and conversational the interview really was. Most schools say that and it ends up being at least slightly stressful, but this one not at all. I really enjoyed talking to my interviewer who at times was just telling me about his/her career and things about the profession. It was great.
students seemed very happy, faculty and staff very friendly and approachable, urban location, lots of facilities, SIM lab was nice, short days (4 hours lecture/day), personalized study plans for Step I, good match rates
The USMLE prep: their USMLE coordinator CUSTOMIZES a study schedule and guide for you. The students score well above average on step 1, and this is why.
Friendliness of... everyone! (and their enthusiasm!)
Also, they don't have textbooks! :-) The block schedule is very nice and it seems like clinical experience is beyond adequate and great board performance.
The resources available for USMLE preparation (one of the physiology teachers at the school is the leading expert in this field), the cohesion of the class, and the buildings are centrally located.
The size of the hospital they are with (4th largest academic hospital in the nation), they are way above the average in board exam scores, they were very friendly and personable.
The school is great - awesome hospital, newly renovated anatomy lab, and a great curriculum. Their board prep is top notch. Also, they've started to implement more technology in the classroom (most lectures are now digitally captured so you can play them back with audio and notes that the professor made on the screen).
The friendliness of the administration and admissions office. The emphasis on being your "home away from home" while you are a medical student.
The staff were friendly, and excited about the future of the school. The architecture was fascinating. Who knew you could go to school on the front lawn of the ''White House of the South.''
There are actually cool parts of Richmond. I heard a number of bad things, but after having a few days to explore, I liked it more than I thought I would. The students that I spoke to really love their school.
the atmosphere! everyone i met was so nice and helpful. they help each other out with everything, and there's no competition (mcv has online forums that students go to answer each other's questions/problems). mcv would prepare you well for the boards - they are one of the few schools that offer board review sessions, taught by professors. it's interesting to note, that in the past, some of these professors have written questions for the board exams. option of doing 3rd and 4th year rotations at INOVA.
great welcoming attitude by the faculty, interviewer was a very warm personality, project HEART is one of the best ways of teaching compassion and empathy that I have ever seen
Facilities and people. Completely awesome visit, very laidback atmosphere, lots of places to study, eat, use computers. Thoughtful touches like free photocopying and being allowed to eat in the library. Schedule is 8-12 most days. Our guides were both M-4, so they were basically able to tell us anything and everything we wanted to know.
The city, the hospital, how active the hospital was, the other med students, the facilities were great, i also really liked that there was a pharm school and a dental school--made it very much so a health environment
The enthusiasm of the students!! Even the students we just saw on the tour looked so happy and relaxed. The amount of people utilizing the hospital system.
Every single interviewer I had was so encouraging! I really enjoyed the laid-back style of the interviews, it really allowed me to feel relax and let my true self show. I think that is a smart move for interviewing style.
The process was really easy. Everyone tried to make me as comfortable as possible. I was very impressed by the organization of the day and the technology available at the school.
Out of all my interviews, MCV had the best waiting room and interview processing. You may think you're relaxed, but being able to send out a quick email, watch T.V. or surf the web does put you at ease.
The people are awesome. Students are happy, they say its a relaxed learning atmosphere. The facilities are quite nice. I hope I get in! Oh, and stay with a student host, saves money, and they are very helpful.
The students were obviously very happy with the school and were very personable. I also liked how the staff went out of their way to make the day as stress-free as possible.
everyone was enthusiastic, the school is growing and expanding research facilities, my interviewers all had been at VCU/MCV for a long time and still loved it
the students seemed really happy, and the faculty cares a lot about the well-being of the students. There is a professor who wrote a book that students at other med schools use. That same professor apparently sits down with 2nd year med students and helps them develop good study skills for school and for boards. that's pretty awesome
The school was bigger than I thought, the campus was more active than I expected, the faculty that I met were very welcoming and the students were positive and enthusiastic about attending.
All of the faculty and staff were very welcoming and friendly. Nobody made me feel as though I did not belong at their school. I didn't feel like they were trying to weed me out.
Everything. The Dean of Admissions is such a nice lady. The people who work in her office are equally as nice. The students who gave us a tour really seemed to genuninely love the school.
The size of the facilities (8th largest teaching health sciences center in the country). That next year a lot of additions I didn't even know about will be done next year (such as the new student center). I'm a grad. student here and didn't know about this.
The school has about a 95% pass rate on the boards thanks to strong curriculum.
The information session with the Dean Admissions after the interview though long as informative as you're briefed about how the selection/waitlist process works and about financial aid, etc...
My interviewer talked to me a lot about the diversity of patients you get to see here and the ability to get involved in seeing patients really early on.
The facilities are very nice, and Richmond wasn't half as scary as I was expecting. The focus on training excellent and well rounded physicians. The faculty seem dedicated to helping the students learn, and not just to pursuing their own research interests.
When I walked into the admissions office, the most pleasant wonderful administrative assistant ever greeted me warmly, noticed that I looked tired, and then proceeded to procure a cup of coffee and a bagel for me. That really set the tone for the day. The staff, students, and interviewer were all similarly helpful and encouraging. The hospital was much much larger than I had anticipated and seemed bustling with a lot of energy. Students universally seemed very enthusiastic about the program.
Medical campus is quite comprehensive. Well known for a variety of specialties and a diverse patient population. Lots of renovation and construction. New 300-bed hospital expansion underway.
I LOVED the school. The city is quite historic and, for me, it is the perfect place to study medicine. I was extremely impressed by the professionalism of my tour guides and by my interviewer (MS4). I really enjoyed Dr. H's presentation about the application process and found it comforting that the admissions committee truly wants to relieve applicants' anxieties. I was also impressed that the hospital houses a small library for patients to research common diseases.
Early clinical experience; MCV Hospital is amazing if you want to see a wide variety of cases; non-competitive nature of the students; the campus is very wired (everything's online for easy access)
Almost everything. The scale of the medical center is impressive. The students were intelligent but down to Earth. The facilities were high-tech. The patient volume is extremely high. There are unlimited clinical specialties at the center. Richmond is not at all as "ghetto" as people say.
Facilities - It is a major medical campus in downtown Richmond.
Interviewer felt like he really wanted to get to know me.
Downtown area (Shockoe) is pretty cool.
a LOT of things. My interviewer was so laid back and nice, she was a 4th year medical student. She was enthusiastic and so friendly. I really like the dean, who did not beat around the bush and was very personable. My tour guides were really nice and informative. Both had a very high opinion of their school and their classmates. The facilities are great. The student host i stayed with was wonderful. she took me out both nights i was in richmond, introduced me to her friends, and showed me around the area.
I was impressed by how relaxed the students were, and how relaxed the interview was. My interviewer was a very nice guy and I was happy that he took the time to carefully read my application and address issues that pertained to it. I'm also encouraged by the fact that everybody can do well if they work hard, and that the grading system is fair. Also, MCV/VCU has a prominent head injury ctr, and the largest ER in the state (for all you potential ER docs!) Also, I like the fact that the hospital is right across from the medical school. They're also building a new anatomy lab and a recreational facility. Oh, and rent in Richmond is cheap!
The large amount of clinical experience you get right there on campus. They have tremendous opportunities via the many hospitals located in or around the campus. The faculty/students were really nice and willing to answer any questions. My interviewer was great, he broke the ice with some Harry Potter questions and we went from there. Richmond wasn't that bad, high murder/crime rate but what do you expect from a larger city. The hospitals are beautiful and I would consider myself lucky to attend there.
They have a really high USMLE pass rate. Great school all around.
MCV staff and students were very friendly helpfull people. Tour guides have liked their experience so far. The hospital is quite large and very nice. Seems like a great place for 3rd and 4th year rotations. A new cancer center is being built as well.
I enjoyed the Richmond area, everyone from the school (students, admissions office staff,) was very friendly. Living in Richmond is very affordable compared to California.
Richmond was better than I was led to believe. The school is located right in the heart if down town. I liked that the school of nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and applied health are all in the same vicinity. That way you can mingle with other students instead of your classmates - especially if you single like me.
I was impressed with how laid-back the interview was. He told me at the beginning that he hoped it would be a good, easy-going experience and that it was probably a good first interview to have. I was very impressed with the facilities, especially the hospital. The admissions meeting was very thorough on explaining exactly what is next in the process. She emphasized that the interview is the most important part because it allows the committee know you as a personal personality. This is especially important when there is a tie, interview score, then undergrad gpa, and then mcat score. Also the associate dean of admissions mentioned to feel free to email her with any information you may have forgotten to mention to the interview. Before the rest of the committee, she mentions that information. (It was somewhat difficult to always remember everything to say to the interviewer, especially since it was more of a conversation). The food was good also! You can get whatever you want and it's free! Richmond was very picturesque. I loved it. I hope I get accepted!
Seems like a setting very suitable for the study of medicine - in an urban location with an array of people, and with good facilities. Also the students and interviewer were nice and enthusiastic about the school. Plus the cafeteria food was several standard deviations in quality above an average cafeteria.
The students were very enthusiastic, happy, friendly, open, and non-competitive with one another. Waiting in the reception area I looked through the Med school yearbook. It seems the students are close and have a great sense of humor. The classes seem to be pretty well bonded too. Also apparently the Fan distric just down Broad Street is a beautiful historical area and a great place for Urban professionals and grad students.
Friendly students. Facilities are nice. Richmond is not as bad as some of these reviews make it out to be. It is pretty quiet on Weekends. It has some industrial facilities mixed in with old historical architecture. The school is right by the state capital, the Virginia Supreme Court.
The facilities were larger and more modern than I expected. The area surrounding the medical center was not nearly so ghetto as I was led to believe. The cost of living is also really low.
How much pride the students had in the school and how friendly the staff were. I was also impressed that they let you know exactly how the application process works.
the egyptian building was great; dr. costanza is the person who writes the board exam study books and a lot of vcu/mcv people in her class do very well
The facilities, the friendliness of the students, the attentiveness and genuiness of my interviewer. At the end of the interview, I was handed a card with my interviewers information and was told to write if I had any questions or concerns (I am assuming this is also true for the other students who interviewed there). I did write and received a response the same day. I was certainly impressed.
The people were very friendly, including my interviewer. I expressed an interest in pediatrics through my essays so they matched me with a pediatric emergency room physician. Also, the medical students who gave me the tour were really helpful and friendly.
Nothing really. I won't say that I was negatively impressed by the school...I just wasn't impressed at all. There was nothing that made me say "I HAVE to go here!"
The students were extremely approachable, honest, and friendly. I had the opportunity to stay with a first-year student and we had a blast. We went to a comedy club the night before the interview with other med students. Many of the students said they came to VCU because of the students. I would do the same.
Lecture halls, hospital are very nice. It serves a large number of people and is in the downtown area. VCU has a reputation of being one of the 'better' schools.
The block schedule would fit perfectly with my learning style. I also liked that they only have lecture from 8am-12 pm most days so there's plenty of free time.
The public transportation system. The students have an online bulletin board that they use for all communication, both related to their coursework and to social activities. They seem very close-knit and inclusive. The testing schedule is set up so that blocks end usually before weekends and always before vacations (Thanksgiving, winter break) so there is nothing to study for over the breaks. Also, the tests are in a format that is similar to the usmle step 1, and that seems like a sensible way to help students prepare for the exam. Lecture notes are given to the students before each block.
The admissions committee does not give too much preference to in-state students. All of the exams are made to look like Board questions. The emergency medicine department is one of the largest in the country.
i love richmond, the students were very nice and helpful, the atmosphere is great, more laid back than other schools. admissions staff and prof were also pleasant and helpful.
It was a great campus (I think they said it was the 4th largest medical campus in the US). The area around it, although currently not as nice, is being invested into to make a clearner downtown area.
99% step one pass rate - every student has a custom designed review for preparing for the boards starting january of second uear (6 month head start), lots of students matching into top residencies, block scheduling, organ based approach, friendly students, level one trauma center with a burn unit, 8th largest teaching hospital (means lots of patients)
The facilities are very nice, Richmond has a lot to offer even though it's a smaller city, the administrative staff are extremely welcoming and nice, students seem happy and diverse
VCU/MCV is technologically wired in every aspect. everything is on the web (i.e. course syllabi, course movies, grades, etc.) They have an excellant clinical course that spans the first 2 yrs (you will start seeing patients by the 3rd week). From what I hear this course really prepares you for the clinical half of med school.
The new health sciences building is pretty nice. The curriculum (foundations of clinical medicine) and class schedules seem to be to the student's advantage. The plans for the new hospital facilities seem very impressive.
I REALLY liked my interviewer. He was such a wonderful old man. I was nervous when I walked in, but once we started talking, it seemed like I was talking to a close relative of mine. I also liked the hospital buildings and how they are all nicely connected.
The facilities are nice. The newborn intensive care unit (NICU) is top of the line, the buildings are all neatly interconnected, the atmosphere is really laid back.
The students, admissions office and staff. Everyone was genuinely nice and respectful of their prospective students. The interview was laid-back, and our tour guides were really informative and conducted a great tour.
The talk with the associate dean for admissions was fantastic. She explained the process very well and how she thinks the school's curriculum will change in the future. The new facilities are beautiful! The Egyptian Building looks great renovated, too. ALL of the students I met seemed happy and excited about MCV. They all like the new block class format where they only have lectures in the morning.
I drove out to the Fan area of Richmond since I wanted to see a nicer part of the city than is around the med school. It was very nice - lots of cool historical houses and renovated row houses...
The interview itself and the fact that Dr.Costanza is a part of VCU's faculty. She has written nationally-renknowed books on the USMLE boards. Meets individually with each VCU's med student to plan and devise a strategy that meets their specific style.
How nice the staff treats the interviewees (professional, kind, and even treated us for lunch!). The improvements made on campus (med library, undergrad library, etc) ever since i finished the certificate program in 2002. The improvements in the surrounding community (new shopping centers and stores).
Dr. Heldberg explained the entire post-interview process of what happens to your application. Hopefully knowing this will make the waiting process a little easier
The interviewer was very nice and laid back - he just asked some very strange questions. I am not muslim yet somehow we got into a religious discussion regarding islam, the middle east, U.S. foreign policy, support/non-support of Israel, the Palestinian problem, etc etc. We hardly talked about medicine at all.
The students were really nice. My host was really cool and laid-back. The Egyptian building is pretty cool (a little bit out of place though). FCM sounds like a great class.
I really liked the Foundations of Medicine program that MCV has started and also the Egyptian building is really cool. The other really nice thing about the school is that they present every detail about how the admissions process works and what the next step is after the interview during the orientation so there are no surprises.
How "wired" the school is (curriculum, admissions, etc.), extremely diverse patient population seen at the hospital, lack of cutthroat atmosphere, block scheduling
Everything! VCU is surprisingly dynamic in its curriculum and its facilities are undergoing an extensive renovation -- most of the campus should look completely different by the time I potentially get there in 2 years...
Great school with great facilities. I really liked the Egyptian building, the block schedule (from 8-12), the professors and the building. Oh, and they sit you down and explain the whole interview process to you, there is no mystery!
the integration of clinical application with theory, the technology (most books are on CD, all lectures are powerpoint presentations that you will have, videos in the lab), the non-competitive environment, the easy-going faculty. Everyone seems to be happy there.
The doctor who interviewed me conducted a fantastic interview and was very nice. He made sure to ask questions about nearly all of the experiences on my application, as well as questions about my personal characteristics.
Happiness of the students, Remodeled educational facilities for firts and second years, Introduced to Clinical Medicine course during first and second year
The admissions director took a lot of time to explain the entire admissions process to us...in fact, she went into far too much detail. I almost fell asleep.
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions about aspects such as rude interviewers, long periods of sitting during virtual interviews, outdated facilities, lack of organization during interview day, large class sizes, surrounding neighborhood safety concerns, and limited diversity in the patient and student populations. Suggestions included improving interviewer training, updating facilities, providing more engaging interview experiences, and addressing safety concerns in the surrounding areas.
One of the interviewers was the rudest I had all season. Not sure if he's purposely combative to check how you respond to aggression, but I basically left the interview knowing the outcome even though I thought all the other stations went well.
Interview day was somewhat poorly organized; I had an 8am interview, and there was nothing for me to do between my interview and the next activity (had over an hour of down time).
Not much! There is some downtime during the interview day (up to an hour or so), but it's no big deal. Out-of-state students generally can't get in-state tuition.
One of my interviewers was really stern and made me really nervous, since I had the interview first thing in the morning. But that's just one person...
There were like 22 other people interviewing, so the tour got kinda crowded and sometimes it was hard to hear what the students (2 M2 tour guides) were saying.
The tour could have been more organized and informative. There are better food options available than the hospital cafeteria for lunch. The food is not bad, but I am a current science grad student at MCV, so I guess I'm being judgmental.
My interviewer was horrible. There is only one bad interviewer at VCU and I got him.
He wad deaf and couldn't hear anything I said and he was not able to keep up a normal conversation so I had to talk slowly and continuously repeat myself. He made it extremely stressful.. but everyone else was cool
Some of the interviewees I've met at my interview date made some comments that offended me. But nothing bad about the interviewers and the interview process.
I can't think of anything. A lot of people will say the city of Richmond impressed them negatively. Those people shouldn't have bothered to apply to MCV. You don't have to visit Richmond to know something about it.
Everyone kept referring to how great a school it was GOING to be. However, most of the improvements would not be implemented until I graduated. Also, they do not have class capture/audio capability.
Nothing negative, but the school didn't really elicit any positive feelings. Very practical, very functional, and I think I'd do well here, but that's about it. Didn't *love* it.
the class size is a bit large relative to other schools. however, when i asked my interviewer about this, he mentioned that the classes get broken up into smaller groups, so that you can still get individualized attention.
Some of the buildings are starting to fall apart...but there are plans to eventually replace them.
-My interviewer said...so you want to go into pediatrics...thats cause you're a woman and women like kids
My interviewer was a completely pompous jerk. He condescended to me through the entire interview, making numerous snide remarks, and bragged about his multiple degrees. VCU apparently needs to screen/train their interviewers better. I don't think he was just ''having a bad day.'' I could never recommend a school that would allow someone to treat applicants this way.
something that caught my attention was the huge difference between the obvious money in the system/hospital and the utter poverty of some of the people walking around. ....
The interviewer was 25 minutes late. She had not read my file and seemed not to have known she had an interview that day. She answered 3 phone calls during the interview, cutting off my answers to do so. Very insulting and discourteous considering how much time and money and effort I put into my application, career and journey to get to MCV.
My interviewer asked me questions that essentially required me to recite back my application packet. There were no really thought-provoking or deep questions.
The tour was almost too superficial and I walked away feeling like I didn't get as good of an impression of the school's atmosphere as I had at others.
the campus wasnt very nice and i didnt feel really safe driving into richmond...but it might be because I was comparing it to my undergrad campus, which is so beautiful.
There's not much to do immediately around the school. To get to cooler areas of Richmond you need to have access to a car or use public transportation.
Richmond, while certainly not horrible, is a little run down with graffiti and wandering around alone at night is probably not a good idea. The school is in a pretty safe area, however. I didn't care for the Egyptian building; it seems like a strange place to take your first year classes. I mean, what the heck is that thing doing in Richmond, VA? The other negative thing was that Dr. Heldberg basically told us that if you are out-of-state, you should expect to be waitlisted, at best. The waitlist does move quite a bit though, and in the end, 30-40% of the class is OOS. Also, the OOS tuition is very pricey, but that's to be expected. I was also disappointed that we didn't get to see the ER that I've heard so much about (they used to take interviewees throught there, but I guess it was causing too much disruption).
Not much. I was pretty impressed overall. Students did mention that it is a lot easier to get along if you have a car, but that parking is a huge pain in the area.
It's in Richmond...and I'm from NYC. My interviewer even warned me that although the academic area tends to be more open- minded, Richmond in general tends to be very conservative.
The admissions committee is 4 weeks behind. With the holidays approaching, my interview group may or may not be reviewed before they send out the next batch of acceptances. I was also surprised how many out of state students were interviewed today (~7 of 10), especially since each class is comprised of only 30% out of state students.
Some of the facilities are a little dated. My interviewer was actually a current MD/PhD student - I didn't meet any actual faculty other than the info session with the dean.
There are EIGHT people per anatomy group. I think four is really the max for learning well, and most schools have four. I don't see how you can learn intricate body parts and all get to participate with EIGHT people. My tourguide told me that it saved the anatomy dept. money and even though they paid ahead tuition they got no refund for the decrease in cadavers, weird and yuck...
nothing really, i don't knowhow i feel yet about the richmond area. being from california, it seems kinda small, but a lot of peole here consider it a big city.
Richmond isn't a bustling metropolis, so it would take some getting used to. Oh, and finding a cab wasn't easy, but this doesn't have anything to do with the school. Regarding the school, I was a little sad that we didn't get to see the anatomy lab.
The student tour guides - yes, they loved the school and were enthusiastic, however, they were 2nd years and knew NOTHING about rotations, clerkships, etc and did not seem to care about finishing the tour on time for my 2 pm interview (neither wore a watch...)
The cost for out-of-staters (budget around $60,000). Ouch. But I think it would be worth it in the end. Didn't get to see the anatomy lab, but that is understandable. Parking, could be crazy. It takes them FOREVER to get back to you about their decision and once they make their decision about you and your file (about 1 week after you interview) it (your rating)is set in stone and cannot be changed by sending in updates (grades, progress rep.) etc.
Be prepared to walk a lot during the tour. Also it got hotter after lunchtime. Also, with 11 interviewees in today's group, it was harder to hear what each of the tourguides said because they were usually answering questions at the same time.
The interviewer spoke mainly about himself and didn't ask me very many questions. When he asked me questions, he never asked a follow up and he seemed generally uninterested in me. I also don't think Richmond is for me.
Parking is a pain, there was a lot of construction. I was worried about the area being rough based on previous posted responses, but its definitely not that bad. Its a typical urban hospital area. Also everyone at the hopsital eats out of meat trucks/vendors on the street. The students were pretty psyched about them though.
the students were not as friendly. in fact, a lot of them (with the exception of the two student tour guides) were very snobby. i interviewed at DO schools before. this school was my very first MD interview, and it was so amazing to see the differences in attitude between DO students and MD students. on the whole, i found DO students to be so much nicer and friendlier thant the MD students i met that day.
The cost! The tuition is sky-high for out-of-staters. Also, they seemed a bit disorganized. They did not tell me who I was interviewing until after my interview was supposed to start, so I was a little late to my interview.
My interview was at the end of the day, after the tour, so I was rushed to finish the tour and make it back to the admissions office in time for my interview. It was really negative, just made the experience slightly more stressful at first.
There was one thing that rubbed me the wrong way during my time at VCU...the Director of Student Outreach or Minority Services. I felt that she asked questions that were inappropriate and really, none of her concern. She didn't make me feel comfortable.
Nothing really - - - except for the tuition, but that's standard out of state. The downtown Richmond area was much nicer than I expected from what I've read on this website. It's not Beverly Hills, but it's really not bad at all.
They only send out acceptances four times a year and the committee get's pretty backlogged with reviewing canidates so I will be waiting a long time to hear about the outcome of my application.
MCV is in a part of Richmond that is practically deserted on weekends. On the positive side, though, you can live away from the MCV campus in an area called "the fan" that seems to be a popular place for students to live (including undergrads from the VCU main campus), and still be able to take public transportation to MCV.
The cost of tuition (kinda offsets the low rent) for out-of-staters, the lack of underrepresented minorities and the unwillingness of the students to comment on this issue
Large class size seems to get in the way of personalized advising. My impression was that pursuing electives was something to be done on one's own time during 1st and 2nd year (rather than a specific requirement for a certain number of elective hours). As a city, Richmond was not that appealing.
The meeting with the associate dean. She told us everything about the rest of the process and what will happen next with our file. This included how they discuss our files, and score us and rank us. Right after having my interview I did not really want to hear about that. I mean, you know it goes on, and they have to select or not select you somehow, but you do not really want to think about that.
The tour guides were first-timers and kept talking about all the alcohol and parties that the students have at the school (I am 100% serious). I feel this happened because of the interview setup, which has some interviewing in the morning before the tour and some in the afternoon after the tour. During my interview day, I was the only one interviewing in the afternoon, so everyone had a relaxed, celebratory attitude during the tour. The tour guides set the tone of the tour such that I was uncomfortable to ask serious questions about the school, and when I did I felt that I was looked down upon. This was an unfortunate situation. In addition, I was not positively impressed with the hospital facilities and was surprised by the school's lack of a centralized International Studies office. Also, the admissions officer gave a really long talk in her office and gave statistics (like only 20-25 students are accepted during the first round of acceptances in October) that were intimidating and unsettling rather than encouraging.
The tour was way too long. Also, several of the other people interviewing that day seemed rather cut throat, and spent the day trying to one-up eachother.
I wish I knew this but Richmond has one of THE most highest crime and homicide rates in the nation (top 25...google for the following keywords: 'richmond crime statistics'). the few blocks near the medical campus is fine, however if you go down just a few blocks it is so ghetto. I took some time surveying the area and I swear some of the homes looked like crack houses and I'm not over exaggerating. The city literally shuts down after 8pm...there's like no one out. comin' from cali I've seen the ghettos in LA like compton, etc., but richmond makes compton look like a walk in the park. friggin' A, I highly suggest that if you come here spend some time going around richmond and you will see. an M2 told me this story of an MCV physician who was killed and thrown into the James River (south of MCV). although I was accepted, I just couldn't ignore everything I saw there. other than richmond's crime rate and junk, VCU/MCV is a great school and has a solid MD program.
the interview was so dull that i was caught looking at a digital clock in the room. also, the city of Richmond is FILTHY. I also believe that the class size is too large for personal attention. the other two virginia schools have smaller class sizes.
the school is old and outdated, the hospital is like a miniature hospital, usmle scores are not high for many students, it rains too much, petty crime is high, richmond is a small city with nothing to do, this is everyone's backup school.
My interview was at the West Hospital building and the elevators there were SOOOOO slow. I seriously waited for about 8 minutes before an elevator came. Besides that, the surrounding area isn't paradise, but it's not too bad either. I lived in NYC for a year so my love for the city-life is still in me.
Parts of the hospital seem a bit old. The ER is really small. At the same time though, there are parts of the hospital that are brand new. In the end, It didn't bother me too much and really has no impact on my interest in the school. MCV seems like a really great place.
Parts of the hospital seem old and run-down, and downtown isn't the nicest area. But Richmond is a great place and definitely has nicer areas to live in.
I was initially worried b/c my interviewer did not have a copy of my file, but then i gave it to him and i later spoke with the dean of students and she explained to me that it was just my particular interviewer's style not to look at the paper work until after he had interviewed me b/c he wanted to have an objective opinion before he found out who i was. So if your interviewer doesn't really know much about you, just talk about whatever you want him to tell the board, you're file reviewer will talk about all your paper work.
Make sure you have a friend drop you off at the school or take a taxi or something like that. Leave plenty of time (i.e. 7.5 hours) for finding a parking spot if you go in your car.
The setup of the campus. If you are used to your closed off, closeknit, college town community, MCV is totally different. The campus is very integrated with construction and hospital staff, community people, businessmen, dental, nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, and medical school students. Not that it is negative, but it is different than my undergrad.
short notice - I got an email thursday before a monday interview, and I did not check my email until that saturday. felt like I could have been better prepared if I had had more notice. So if you applied to VCU/MCV, CHECK YOUR EMAIL EVERY DAY - also, if you have a junk mail filter on your email, turn it off, because VCU/MCV sends out invitations in bulk, and this triggers a lot of email servers to see the message as trash!
one of the tour guides hinted that this school, isn't where a minority student esp with aging faculty should go i.e. kicked out some bright students for small infractions, history of past problems between faculty n racial issues t
is all really freaked me out, so don't know now if I should come here if given an offer
Parking (I was denied parking in the lot they told me I was guaranteed parking in and had to pay $12 to park farther away; not very good student hang out/lounge facilities
Need for security. Screaming (as in high on drugs or a little nutty screaming) woman strapped to a stretcher in the ER. Feeling like I was in an old middle school with all the beige walls. Interview in a conference room (big, long tables for just interviewer and me).
The campus and student facilities are for the most part just not attractive, and in fact are quite rundown. For an out of state student to pay the $31,000 tuition, there are schools with much, much nicer facilities.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews, the need for comfortable shoes due to extensive walking on the tour, the closed-file interview process, and the potential for traffic or parking challenges. They also highlighted the friendliness of the staff and the importance of being prepared for behavioral questions and healthcare-related topics.
When I checked in before my interview, the secretary told me the name of my interviewer. Since I got there early, I had 20 minutes or so to do some quick research on my interviewer so that was fine for me. However, I am sure future interviewees would like to know further in advance who their interviewer will be- I know some schools even type up a biography for you to read. Not completely necessary, but definitely helps get you oriented.
there would be hills on the tour. i guess people were writing about how they ask you the behavioral questions, which i was really worried about. the way my interviewer presented them, though, was very relaxed and didnt ask me about what i had learned from the experiences or how i applied them to future situations or anything.
Your interviewer is required to ask a set of "behavioral" questions such as "tell me about a time you were challenged" or "discuss a time you made a mistake and what you learned from it."
I wish I had known who was going to be my interviewer before the day of, but unfortunately they don't give you that information. Just be prepared for any interview style, no matter what you've heard about the "general" style for that school.
That it would be really rainy and gross, and that my interviewer would be late and not have time to read my app - it made it a lot less stressful being a basically blind interview.
I knew this...but you can sneakily get your parking validated in the hospital if you act like you're there for some other reason. Otherwise nothing... parking isn't expensive anyway.
You can get your parking validated. The admissions office may not validate it, but after your interview, go to the desk in the building attached to the parking lot.
The admissions office is one of the friendliest ones that I have come across. There is no need to overly freak out, they are there to help you have a relaxing experience.
That all of my interview questions would come by reciting my application info, i.e. volunteer activities, research experience, clinical experience... I would have spent more time reviewing my AAMC application.
between 11 am and 2 pm we had meetings / tours. some students interviewed before 11 others interviewed after 2. Interviewing after 2 meant you had already seen the school, talked to students, etc. I think it was quite helpful.
Make sure you check in at the airport in enough time to check your bag that carries all of your toilletries. Of course I did not, so I was forced to throw away all of my liquid items: lotion,perfume,lip gloss,liquid eye-liner, nail polish, toothpaste, and facial soap.
That the focus of the school is clinical medicine (which is my goal, but I realize it's not everybody's), and they have a very good reputation in the mid-atlantic area. There is also research for those who are interested, and many students do participate in this during the summer (apparently most faculty members have a study going on).
Had to walk two blocks from admissions office to get to interview site. Some were in the admissions office, but others were spread throughout the campus. This wasn't too bad.
The school was great and it was a great day overall. I'm glad I made the trip down to visit the school. I thought it would be a waste of my time, but it wasn't.
I laughed when Dr. H admitted to checking SDN on occasion. She was surprised to find out that VCU has a reputation of asking ethical questions, since the interviewers never specifically reference the applicant's responses. Instead, the interviewer will say something like "John Smith is a very insightful, well-spoken applicant."
I wish I had known that an October 3rd interview probably isn't early enough to be notified by the mid-October mail out date because they're running behind with presenting the interviewees to the admissions committee. I chose today because the Monday interview would allow me to only miss one day of classes.
I was a bit concerned about finding the location of my interview, especially after hearing about it this site. However, when I arrived, I asked the person at the admissions office about who my interviewer will be and where the location was. I was provided with the name of my interviewer and was told that I would be picked up at the office. No worries!
Other people mentioned it, but if you park in the visitor's lot you have ot pay. Try to park at the "bottom of the hill" where it only costs $1.50
They're doing a lot of renovating of the facilities. They have a new pediatric ICU and several other buildings are being redone. It gave the impression that the school is trying to improve itself.
You can go to the admissions office thirty minutes or an hour before your interview, but five minutes before the interview, an admissions office person will give you a sheet with directions to the interview location and send you on your way alone. It was kind of stressful - worrying about being late and not knowing exactly where I was going.
Downtown Richmond is not fabulous at all and pretty sketchy after dark--the Fan and other areas are nicer so if you're planning on spending some time in Richmond definitely try to stay in the Fan or Shockhoe areas.
Large percentage of class came from wait-list (nothing wrong with that if you're one of those lucky students), but it indicates to some extent that the school is not a top choice for many applicants.
Stay at the Commonwealth Park Suites. Mention that you're interviewing with VCU and you'll get a discount. The hotel is great and is highly recommended by others on SDN. Also, the hotel is within walking distance to the university.
Patch Adams went to school here.
The school only offers acceptances on Oct 15, Dec 15, Feb 1, and March 15. You may have to wait a while to hear back from them.
That the interview day would be so poorly set up as to have me be the only applicant to interview in the afternoon after the tour. The focus on partying rather than academics was unfortunate, and I feel that I did not learn as much about the school during the interview day as a result.
Never buy new shoes like the day before the interview. I didn't notice it at the time, but by the end of the day, I was bleeding, because of that stupid thing. It cut my ankle like a knife.
High drug use in the VCU campus. There is a high attrition rate at the school. Soome students say the faculty is difficult to get to and is not available. Also found out that the class chemistry is not very supportive of each other. Decided not to attend VCU.
that i wasted my time coming here. the school was so umimpressive, the tour was ok, the interview was ok, the medical students were ok, the facilites sucked, the city was bad, and i am going elsewhere.
Once your file goes before the admissions committee and you are "scored", nothing can change that score. It doesn't matter if you submit new grades, letter of rec... your score is your score. If I had know this ahead of time, I might have postponed my interview until my fall grades were in. Also, clinical experience is very important here, so it is important during the interview to talk up whatever experience you may have (to make sure that your interviewer relays that to the committee.)
The AMTRAK station is within a walking to the hotel and the school, but you have to know your way around not the best thing to do when carrying suitcases.
My interviewer had an emergency meeting that was absolutely mandatory, so he had to cut my interview to only 35 minutes. Still, everything went very well and the best news is that I got into the program.
Parking can be bad. I had read this on other interview feedbacks so I just took a shuttle from the hotel, no big deal. I showed up about 30 minutes early just to be safe.
The whole admissions process that was explained after my interview would have been helpful before the interview. The assistant dean thuroughly explains the process, but it made me concerned that i had not discussed the right type of information during my interview.
I had read about how bad the parking is, but wanted to reiterate that you should plan to get there at least 45 minutes early in case you have to walk as far as I did from a parking lot.
You have to find your interviewer somewhere on the campus - it took me almost 20 minutes to find mine b/c the building was under construction and I had to enter underground from a different building.
The students enter the clinic during the first year in FCM, and continue into second year. Lots of student run clinics for M-I,II students. Housing is CHEAP! Compared to California at least. Huge medical center...about 700 inpatient beds. They are redoing the libray..will be done by the time we enter in 2003.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at VCU to be positive and relaxed, with interviewers focusing on getting to know applicants through conversational questions rather than high-stress scenarios. The facilities and resources of the school were well-received, with students and staff being friendly and supportive, leaving many applicants with a favorable impression and considering VCU as a strong option for their medical education.
VCU SOM was a top choice for me since day one, so I came into the interview quite biased in favor. I had a very smooth interview and interview experience as a whole.
awesome day! prepare more or less using the questions here, but then relax. most of the interview is just talking about your application, and the "behavioral" questions are mixed in.
VCU is middle of the pack in terms of rankings/prestige, so I was very pleasantly surprised by how engaged and happy all of the students seemed! I really got the impression that the students here are satisfied with the education they are receiving AND have fulfilling lives outside of school. In addition, the interview day was well organized, and the tour was very comprehensive and enjoyable. Having no preconceived notions about the school's reputation or cost, I think VCU's interview day left me most impressed with the school, even more so than some of the more "prestigious" places I've interviewed.
I was very impressed by the interview day. This school is incredibly friendly. The new curriculum is exciting, but only time will tell how successful it will be.
Talking to other candidates, it seems like this interview was not the norm. Most people are saying that it was casual, relaxed, and conversational, with little to no behavioral questions. Mine was the exact opposite, it was essentially a grill session.
Interview was very conversational, which is why I was not able to provide many specific questions. We spoke about both of our backgrounds, cultures, experiences and it was very open. A previous interviewee warned me that my interviewer would ask random questions (like, who are the Senators of my home state), but that did not happen. I even asked the interviewer why he didn't ask me those types of questions and he said it was clear that my head was not buried in the pre-med sand.
Interview was a very positive experience. Faculty, staff, and students are very kind, and VCU definitely accomplishes its goal of training competent clinicians (check out match list).
The interview at MCV was very relaxed, and the interviewer was very friendly. There is no reason to be nervous at this interview. If you get an interview at MCV, you have a 50/50 chance of getting accepted.
I'd highly recommend the student host program. Tour guides were also extremely helpful.
I didn't know that the White House of the Confederacy was on the VCU medical campus.
Really, really love VCU. I wish the student tour guides would have talked a little more about opportunities available to students (ie., research, extracurriculars) other than the perfunctory interest groups etc. The students seem to really like the school, and the admissions people are excellent.
MCV was my 2nd choice going in and still is. I really liked the school. There's a good balance between what you do in the classroom and what you do outside of it. Even though the school has one of the larger class sizes, the students seem very close.
The school is great. From what I understand, my experience with interviewing was a true rarity at MCV. Everyone else was raving about how awesome their interviewers were!
It was really laid back and enjoyable. I stayed with some students and they all said the interviews at VCU are laid back, which they were. Tour was a little long, but the admissions dean told us they interview around 800 students a year and accept about 400 of them which was nice to know.
I was interviewed by a fourth year medical student. They have full voting privileges on the admissions committee and I think that it demonstrates the school's faith in their students.
It's really relaxed and easy going. The interviewer just wants to get to know you so they can vouch for you to the admissions committee. Just be yourself and know yourself. Be able to relate traits you want them to be aware of with stories/anecdotes. Don't just say I'm a good person, tell them why! =D Good luck!
The interviewer was overly aggressive, and seemed to have preconceived notions of who I was. My experience was a stark contrast to the woman who interviewed after me. (Maybe the interviewer didn't like my suit.) :)
I arrived, got lost in the parking garage/hospital, arrived at my interview exactly on time, it went quickly, typical financial aid and general talk, then tour with lunch - the tour went long
Really liked my interviewer, though he asked me A LOT of questions. The interview was nearly 2 hours, but I hardly noticed; it was very conversational and relaxed.
There was very little lag time which was nice. Started with an interview, then a meeting with financial aide and dean and then a very comprehensive tour and lunch with med students. My interviewer was unique. He was a long time faculty member and was relatively laid back, but also had 4 pages of questions that he asked me.
I was the first person to show up for the early morning interviews. John in the admissions office was extremely nice, and I was impressed by how laid-back everyone was. I was walked to where my interview was (down the street) and had a nice conversation with my interviewer. He asked very routine questions, except for the ones mentioned already. He also seemed very interested in trying to find out if I really wanted to be in Richmond, as it's far from my home state. He reacted well to my answers and I felt that I did well based on his reactions.
The tour was conducted by two students and is normal as far as school tours go. I was impressed by how new or updated all of their facilities are. The cafeteria is really nice, and it is provided (they don't mention this on the interview schedule). The other interviewees were nice and we had a lot of fun, so I think VCU picks good kids to interview and ultimately accept. There was a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. The tour was over an hour long.
there was nothing spectacular about the school or facilities, but the location has many of the pros of both rural and urban areas and the students are reported to be happy and successful
I chose to stay with a 4th year medical student, which turned out to be the best part of the entire interview experience because he was very friendly, informative and just overall an awesome guy. The interview was very relaxed and low-stress, and actually your interviewer becomes your advocate when your case is presented to the admissions committee. I received an acceptance from them and MCV is currently my first choice based on the interview experience.
Not very good. The interviewer seemed more interested in talking about herself than me. She was more interested in knowing more about my undergraduate experience than my doctorate study. She had at least 4-5 calls she had to respond to during our interview. But, she was friendly and nice.
The interview was pretty good. I got there, and the interviewer asked me ''Why medicine, and why VCU''...so after I spent 10 minutes answering that, she asked me if I had any questions (as if the interview was already over)...I started up a discussion about everything from Richmond to US healthcare, and we kept talking for another 30 minutes. No ethical questions whatsoever (VCU is not known for this)
great. period. plus i learned that students not only have access to the gym (and grad housing is avilable 2 blocks from the hospital/school) but drop-in classes (i.e yoga and kickboxing which i like) are FREE!!!
I loved this school. It is now and will forever be one of my top choices. the students and admissions staff are so relaxed, it really seems like a great place. Everyone really friendly and happy. If they were just putting on a facade, they did an amazing job and sold me.
830am chat with MD/PhD administrative assistant; 9am MD interview one-on-one with associate director of MD/PhD program; 10am PHD interview with MD/PhD director, Professor familiar with avenues of my research as well as my hometown (yay!), G2 student doing spinal cord research; 11am Info session with 9 other students (1 other MD/PhD, 8 MD applicants) regarding financial aid and another questions; 12pm Tour led by M2 students, 1pm lunch with med students and other applicants; 2pm Lab interview with a young PI; 230pm Lab interview with a professor from my PHD interview; 3pm interview with Professor whom I would like to work with. 4pm... head toward the airport!
It was very laid back and mostly conversation style. My interviewer gave me a lot of information about the school, programs and opportunities at VCU. We started the interview earlier than schedule and she even gave me directions to get back to the airport
Laid back. Interviewed by a 4th year student who had just matched into opthamology. He said he would very highly recommend me to the admissions committee, but I really feel like I was inarticulate for the most part. My mind just wasn't with me.
Very disappointing. I feel that I performed well under the circumstances but it was very unprofessional. I don't think that arriving 25 minutes late and answering 3 phone calls during an interview is a way to get to know a potential student or to make them feel valued.
The interview day was organized and informative. It was helpful having an interview in the afternoon after the tour of the school and plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The student tour guides and the interviewer were eager to answer questions and share their experiences.
It was good-> the interiew was REALLY laid back, which was awesome. My interviewer was a 4th yr student who was like ''We're just gonna talk but there are some standard questions I'm going to ask you throughout''
Overall a good experience. The tours were helpful. After my first interview, I would suggest taking my interviews in the afternoon. The tours always give an excellent idea of the pros of the school, and this question always comes up at length in the interview. I wouldn't recommend an afternoon interview for the first one however, since I was a little too nervous to pay attention.
I had my interview in the morning, and that was the first part of the day. Everyone in the admissions office was extremely friendly, and after checking in, I got to meet some fellow interviewees. I was then sent to my interviewer's office within the medical campus. My interview experience was very positive and I felt totally at ease the entire time. After my interview, I headed back to the admissions office for a meeting with the dean. The meeting covered various things such as curriculum and financial aid. Near the end, two M2's came to take us to lunch and on a tour.
I started the day with a lab visit and clicked with the researcher rght away over football. Next I had my MD interview (one hour, open file, one-on-one) and that went really well. It was very relaxed, we told a few jokes, and the hour went by really quickly. Then we had a little pep-talk about the program (everyone else interviewing that day was straight MD so it was mainly geared toward them) and financial aid and planning. Next we had lunch and a tour with two tour guides who were amazingly excited, honest, and very knowledgable. The first years were having a big anatomy exam and then didn't even seem too stessed when we walked by some of them studying. Next I had my PhD interview (one hour, group, open-file). Mostly I discussed my research, my future plans, why MD/PhD and not one or the other... the usual stuff. After that I had one more lab visit, and then dinner with two MD/PhD students which was great because I got to ask whatever I wanted since it was just the three of us.
I was extremely impressed by VCU. The fact that ''the powers that be'' are pouring a great deal of money into the surrounding area and facilities shows (and gives the impression) they are committed to having superb facilities. I felt that this also indicates a significant commitment to improve the learning environment for students. I chose to have my interview at the 9am time slot. Definitely go for the morning time slots (if available). You will be worn down after the whole interview day since the tour involves a fair amount of walking. I had a good time with my interviewer; I felt like I was able to give him a picture of ''me'' and my motivations beyond my numbers and essays.
Extremely positive. Didn't know too much about VCU before this but after my visit it's definitely very very high up on my list. My interviewer was like 70+ years old and extremely nice. He was a very good conversationalist and SOMEHOW managed to insert very standard interview questions in in a VERY subtle and casual manner.
it was okay. the facilities are not that nice and the location isnt ideal, but the students seem happy and they have a high pass rate for boards which is what really matters anyway.....
Good experience overall. The interview day began (for me at 9am b/c of my early interview, everything normally starts at 11am) and ended at 2pm. The day was cold and I am veryy glad I brought a heavy coat. The tour was amazing - I could see myself here.
It was great and very relaxed. The interviewer was definitely very nice and wonderful! The tour guides were enthusiastic about the school and this was just a great experience.
The entire experience was very positive and has really bumped VCU up on my list of schools. I would feel good about taking an acceptance into their school right now. The interviewer was very nice and did not make me feel at all uncomfortable. The students that I interviewed with were very down to earth and friendly. The tour guides and the entire admissions office was amazing and did a great job of making a relaxed atmosphere. The interviewer did ask a lot of questions and really seemed to try to get to know everything about me - from personal issues, to medical issues. At any other school, it may have seemed like a stressful interview, but my interviewer made it real easy for me to answer each question openly and honestly.
Interview itself was very laid back. Interviewer was friendly. Asked simple, straight forward questions. Everyone who interviewed that day seemed to have a v. positive, stress-free experience.
I had a good experience. I got there kind of early so I had to wait a bit to be seen. Once I was told where I would have to meet with my interviewer around 930AM and I would be directed to where I would go. As the time came around, I realized that I had not been told where to go yet. I let the administrative person know and she rushed me to my interviewer's office in the hospital. My interviewer was really nice about the whole thing. We talked for a lot longer than we were supposed too because I was late to the Dean's meeting. It was a bit stressful but the Dean was really nice about me walking in late and told me not to worry about it. Overall, it was a really good experience.
This was a great experience. It was my third interview and I felt really comfortable with the experience. My interviewer was an older man who was a physician overseas in the Vietnam War so he had many stories. The interview was very conversational. I had to find the place to my interviewer by myself but upon leaving, he actually walked back with me and we talked the entire way back to the admissions office. Overall a great experience with not too many controversial questions. Good Luck!
I was interviewed by an M4 from the same region of state (middle of nowhere). She was able to empathize with some of the academic difficulties I had in undergrad and was very encouraging of all my aspirations and just tried to get to know me during the interview.
Overall it was a good interview...not stressful at all, although at times I felt like the interviewer was antagonizing me, maybe just to see my reaction. He actually ended up liking me and presented a positive review to the committee which is probably why I got in.
This interviewer definitely grilled me a little more than any of the others I've met, but he wasn't unreasonable. I appreciated that he was persistent and seemed to really want to know about my thoughts and opinions. Overall, it was really just a good and relaxed conversation.
The interview was pleasant, although it makes me wonder how much the interviewer learned about me since none of the questions were particularly challenging or in-depth. The interview is your advocate to the admissions committee, so you want them to like you and give them the information they need to convince the rest of the committee that you would be a good doctor and a good medical student at VCU.
Dr. Heldberg, the Dean of Admissions, gives an informative speech about the selection process post-interview. She is a very nice and very smart lady who actually reminded me quite a bit of my mom. But I have a science minded mom, so that's probably just me.
2nd year medical students provided the tour, which included a free lunch in the cafeteria. They are very helpful in answering any questions, especially practical questions like "Where do you live?", etc.
This was the most enjoyable interview I have had thus far. My interviewer, who was a 4th year, greeted me warmly and told me right off the bat that the interview was intended to be laid back, and that he was looking to be an advocate for me to the admissions committee. He was very encouraging, willing to share a lot about his own experiences, and at the end he told me that he would "be in my corner" when I was presented to the committee for review. The other students interviewing with me all reported similar experiences. It seems that the staff are committed to being friendly and encouraging and genuinely want everyone to be able to go to med school. We were even told that if you are given the decision of "not accepted for this year," they will be able to talk to you and provide pointers on how to improve your application for next year.
It was completely non-stressful. It was more of a conversation than anything else. It was nice and thorough. This was good because it helped me to fully present myself as an applicant. My interviwer was kind and cared that I was interested in MCV.
Before I started, my interviewer said that she was there to be my advocate which made me feel realyl comfortable for the rest of the interview. I think the VCU interview style is to send people to be your supporters, so it's really low stress.
I interviewed with a surgeon who is one of the top surgeons to have practiced at MCV. He started the cardiothoracic surgery division at MCV... I thankfully didn't know this until after the interview. It was definitely more of a conversation and verifying parts of my application. Only 1 or 2 ethical questions..
I was hesitant about having a 4th year medical student interview me, but he was great! I think that I may have been a little too laid back, but the interviewer was really down to earth and put me at ease. The interview was extremely conversational, minus the 2 ethical questions (surgeon general, PAS) and 1 current medical issue (malpractice insurance) question. We even spent time talking about Grey's Anatomy and Harry Potter. Since my interviewer is currently applying for residency programs, we talked about that process for a few minutes as well. I was really excited to see that VCU is home to wonderful doctors. **As a side note, one of the applicants had an interviewer who asked several difficult questions, and followed up with an even more difficult question.
I think it went well. I interviewed with a 4th year student. He was a great listener and left the interview pretty open to me to talk. Be sure you have a couple questions to ask! He was pretty pushy about that actually.
I came into the interview seeing MCV as the option for people from VA that didn't get into UVA. However, after the interview and visit I'm second guessing my choice of UVA. The students at MCV are WAY nicer than at UVA and they are more down to Earth. Students at MCV get to spend all four year there which is nice. The medical center is huge and gets every case type from A to Z. Also, the admissions people there are insanely helpful.
The interview was conversational style rather than Question, question, question....the tour was good - saw all the important stuff and the two students were very open about their experiences.
Like I said, I felt like the interviewer did his best to get to know me as a person. It went over the time allotted, which made me feel like he was interested.
Very laid back, Richmond is okay, not cultural paradise but decent. Goodluck finding parking near the school! Prepare to walk up a big hill or pay the parking deck.
The faculty member who interviewed me was extraordinarily friendly. VCU’s interview was my 10th and by far my most pleasant. We chatted about my hobbies, family, education, and interests. He asked many “difficult†subjective questions regarding politics and medical ethics. Normally this would have been frustrating. However, our conversation was more of a philosophical discussion than a battle of wits. Overall a super-cool interviewer, friendly students, and nice facilities made for a good experience.
Great day! It was a rather long tour, but we had a chance to see where we would have classes, and what the hospital looked like. The people were nice, from the admissions staff to the interviewer to the med student tour guides. It seems like all the children's hospitals in VA are sponsored by Food Lion grocery stores.
Overall, I enjoyed the day. My interview was casual and interesting. It mostly consisted of open-ended, conversational questions, no medical ethics/healthcare questions at all. I did get a little stressed out with timing, so I do suggest that you make your interview appointment for the morning if you can (get it over with). Be careful in certain parts of downtown Richmond! Stay downtown, not near the airport. Have fun and ask tons of questions. They are there to help you out as well. Oh yah...girls, wear comfortable shoes -- walking tour!
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay in Richmond and VCU. The city really isn't that bad and the school is beautiful. It has some bad things about it but what school doesn't? My interviewer was great. He was a old school doc. and we had a great conversation. Our student guides were great and very informative and they were able to answer all of my many questions. I hope the news is good in two months, we'll just have to wait and see. Good times.
It was a very laid-back, conversational interview. The interviewer and I shared many similar interests. She was a family practice doctor and I want to do either primary care or family medicine so the discussion flowed very naturally.
Totally non-stressful. I interviewed with an MD-PhD student, so he wasn't intimidating at all. Questions were mostly about my file and work I had done, no ethics questions. Dr. Heldberg was amazingly nice and funny during her session.
I had a morning interview which I would recommend since it gets very hot in the afternoon. My interviewer made me feel very relaxed. It was like have a casual conversation and we talked about interesting subjects. No typical questions like why do you want to be a doctor/ why MCV. Very enjoyable!
The morning interview is a lot less stressful than the afternoon interview. Everyone in morning interview was enjoying the campus tour without much stress.
I thought it was a very pleasant interview. I waited almost 15 minutes outside my interviewers door because he was just wrapping up the interview with the person before me. The tour was nice too - wear comfortable shoes cause its quite hilly.
I stayed with an M1 who walked me to Sanger Hall this morning. I didn't feel as nervous about leaving later because he knew exactly where to go. I arrived 10 minutes before my interview at 9 am. My interviewer picked me up from the admissions office, and we walked to his office in the hospital. The interview lasted an hour and a couple minutes. He had another interviewee at 10 am so we left the hospital at 10. Then I sat in the applicant waiting room for an hour with other interviewees. Ten of us had morning interviews and one had a 2 pm one. Then we met with the associate dean of admissions for 55 minutes before the tourguides, 2 M2s, came. We started the tour and then ate lunch at the hospital. Then the rest of the tour consisted of the computer lab, lecture hall, pediatric ICU, courtyard, etc.
I was picked up by my interviewer, who I had a lot in common with. He was an ER doc, I was in EMS for 10 years. Very conversational, very easy, very laid-back. More like a conversation with a colleague - very welcoming.
The tour was a bit disorganized, but the guides were VERY candid in their answers, so overall the tour was very good. The meeting with the admissions staff was absolutely outstanding. She laid out the process in great detail so there was no question about what was going to happen when.
I really love VCU, and hope I get an acceptance soon.
I arrived early and sat in a waiting room with the other applicants. 10 minutes before my interview, I was given a paper with directions to my interviewer's office. This proved slightly stressful because I had to walk two blocks to a new building and then find my interviewer's office. The interview was very conversational and laid back. After the interview, all the applicants met with the dean, who explained what happens to our applications. We were then given lunch and a tour of the campus by two 2nd year med students.
I thought the whole day was well put together and organized. Tour guides were engaging, open and frank. Interview was very laid back and so was the meeting with the admissions people.
Overall totally relaxed experience, which was a pleasant surprise since it was my first interview. Even the other applicants on the tour were very chill. It is the exact atmosphere I want for med school, it's my first choice.
I really didn't think I was going to like VCU, but now I'm so glad I applied. As an out-of-state student, I've never been to Richmond and didn't think I would like the city. The interview wasn't all that intimidating at all, and he really seemed to want to make me "sound good" to the admissions committee. The interviewers seem to want to be your supporter when your files brought to the committee, or at least that was the impression that I & the people that interviewed on the same day got. I didn't get asked any ethical questions or the "what are the problems with health care" questions. It was a really relaxed day. The only curveball type thing was that my interviewer asked over & over if I had any questions about the school, and I definitely didn't have 6 questions prepared. Overall, I'm glad that I was invited to interview here & I would definitely go here if accepted...
I was interviewed by a doctor of family medicine. It felt like a conversation and she immediately put me at ease. Review your application before you go. We talked about books I have recently read, my research experience, volunteering in a cancer hospital.
I was really impressed by VCU, alot more than I thought I would be. The school is clean and the faculty all seem very interested in the students. THe interview was super laid back and was very conversational. I did not reciece any ethical questions but I know other during the day did.
my interviewer was really nice. she made me feel comfortable and was impressed with a lot of things i had to say. the whole thing is like a 50 minute conversation with someone you just met.
My interviewer was a faculty member, but some applicants got an M4 instead. Interview was laid-back and conversational in nature, but the important questions still came out. The presentation by the dean of admissions was very illuminating and I definitely appreciate VCU's efforts to keep people as up-to-date on their status as possible. The tour was led by two semi-enthusiastic students, which colored my perceptions somewhat. Still, I had a positive experience and the school seems to be good.
I had a morning interview, then an hour and a half to kill. Then the admissions dean talked to us for an hour about how their admissions process works and financial aid. Then I went with two student tour guides to lunch and toured some facilities (classrooms, PICU, library, computer lab). I was done just after 2pm.
The interview experience was very positive. You arrive in the morning and wait in a room with the other applicants. You interviewer comes to pick you up and in my case took me to his office. The interview itself is not stressful and more like a conversation. After the interview, all the applicants come back together and an information session is held by the dean of admissions. The session was very helpful and they let you know where your application goes next and when you should expect to hear. Finally, you take a tour of the facilities with two second year students.
The interviewer was not super enthusiastic, so with the time change, I was pretty much falling asleep. Only two other people were interviewing, so waiting for the interview wasn't too fun.
went over the hour mark, interrupted several times by phone calls that my interviewer kept getting, i had to wait while he talked to someone on the phone for about 5-10 minutes. my interviewer did not take any notes on me at all. i asked other interviewees, and they all said that their interviewers took down notes and wrote down whatever answer they said during the interview. i was afraid my interviewer forgot the specifics of our conversation, since he didn't write down anything. plus, there was another girl he had to interview right after me, and after her interview, she told me he didn't write anything during her interview either. i don't know how he could possibly remember all the answers i had to his questions if he didn't write down anything at all, and that scared me since he is my advocate to the admissions committee.
I had a wonderful experience at VCU/MCV. I was impressed by all that I saw. I interviewed at other schools that were ranked higher but did not feel as comfortable as I did at this school. Plus, the food in the cafeteria was wonderful (plus, there was no limit in what you could get..quite different from other schools that I interviewed at). The interview itself was very conversational and my interviewer was very attentive to what I was saying.
It was fairly low stress. The interviewer basically asked me about all that I had written on my AMCAS application plus a few ethical questions about euthanasia, stem cell research, healthcare and abortion
The interviewer asked me to elaborate on several points on my AMCAS application. He explained that the purpose of the interview was to get a feel for the candidate. It remained very conversational. There were no ethical questions.
My interviewer was a retired surgeon. He asked me a couple of ethical questions. If you have a red flag on your application, be sure you know what to answer when asked about it.
The day wasn't bad...I just wasn't impressed. The people were definitely friendly. The student tour guides were cool. My interviewer was sweet (and a little strange). I don't feel they did anything to really "sell" the school. Maybe they did and I didn't see it because I had already formed my opinion. I don't know. I guess different people belong at different schools, and I just don't know if VCU is a perfect fit for me. Of course this will be the one school I get into. Doesn't it always happen that way?
Arrived in the morning and had an interview first thing. This had both positives and negatives. It was nice because then I didn't have to worry about the interview and could enjoy the rest of the day, but it was bad because I had a lot of lag time after the interview waiting for other people to finish up their interview. They put you in a room off an office with other applicants and if you get too loud (above a whispered conversation) someone comes and tells you to quiet down. They were playing a video of the white coat ceremony from the previous year to entertain us, but it got old very quickly. The tour was great, and the students who led us on the tour/had lunch with us were really helpful and informative. It was nice to actually see the lounge, inside the lecture halls, library, study areas and mundane things like that since those are the places where you'll be spending the majority of your time.
The interview was very conversational. I was encouraged to ask any questions I had about the school, and any other questions about being a student there. We talked a lot about student life at VCU, considering it was partly an interview so he could get to know me. My interviewer said he was impressed with the level of maturity of the students at VCU.
Overall, the day went pretty good. The interview was very stress free once I was actually taken back (my interviewer got called to surgery so they had to find a replacement.) We met with the Dean of Admissions who broke down the assessment process, which was informative, but kind of intimidating. The tour was okay, but seemed almost rushed. Overall, I enjoyed the experience.
There was a PowerPoint presentation at the beginning of the tour, where the interwiewees crowded around a desktop computer. The highlights that seemed to be regarded as selling points by the students seemed to be par for the course at other schools.
I arrived at 9am in the morning and was greeted by my interviewer who took me to his office. We then talked for an hour about my hobbies and my vision of medicine. I did not get any ethics questions, but I've heard that others will occasionally get questions about abortion, euthanasia, etc... After the interview the Dean met with us to tell us in detail how the admissions process works. Every Monday the committee meets to vote on candidates by scaling them 1-5. Like the Olympics, the highest and lowest scores are thrown out. After several weeks, the Dean ranks everyone by score and accepts the top fifty or so. After this meeting, we met up with two current students who took us on a tour of the children's hospital and the classrooms. The whole day lasted from 9am-2pm.
Very laid back interview. The questions weren't difficult, but we had a conversation more than anything else. The interviewer did not take notes which I think helped make our interview more like a conversation.
my interviewer was promt and seemed very interested in the whole process. he was there only to find out about me beyond my file, not to test me in any way. he truly fulfilled the "advocate" role that mcv describes. we talked about subjects from acc basketball to invading the white house with jaques chirac. the interview lasted on hour and 15 mins.
I think the interview went very well. The doctor I was with was VERY friendly and really wanted to get to know me (that's why my interview lasted for over an hour). I was really impressed with how well organized the school was from Admissions to being a medical student there. It really felt like a place I would want to go, even though I am from Colorado.
pretyt good. i went in knowing a lot about the school as well as the interview process so there were no major surprises. My interviewer was super cool and truely a great doc. I was very impressed by the way he conducted the interview.
Since I've already been accepted at another school, this interview was very "low key" for me. I didn't expect to like it, seeing as how it's urban-based. I was suprised by the program, to be honest. I loved the block scheduling, and the facilities seemed up to date and very nice. Their hospital is quite large, and being a level 1 trauma center and the 8th largest medical center in the US, they see LOTS of cool things. Richmond is very historic and pretty city, and it felt "smallish" even though it's quite busy and bustling. Parking is heinous, but that's what you get for being in the middle of downtown!! The interview was laid-back and relaxed, and felt more like conversation than anything else. It's a large class (184 students) so they send out a lot of invites. Even though I'm a small-town type of person, I'd go to school here in a heartbeat. Technologically advanced, progressive, and the students seem happy.
VCU sends out decisions both in the mail and on the internet. I was accepted to the school on 10/16, the earliest possible date after the interview. This is the perfect example of a situation when the interview day went poorly and the interview itself did not go incredibly well, but resulting in a positive outcome. The interview was conducted by a 4th year medical student on the admissions board. Student interviews are to be taken seriously--her place on the admissions panel is equal to that of experienced professors and physicians. The interview was one-on-one and setup like a conversation. The student was really friendly, but she was prone to long, awkward pauses. For example, she would stare at me for what seemed like long periods of time like she forgot she was supposed to lead the interview. The conversation was not as natural as I had hoped it would be and I did not feel we particularly connected in any stand-out sort of way.
The interview was alot less stressful then i feared, the interviewer was just a regular person, and the people I met there were really nice and friendly.
Overall, the school seemed pretty good. The facilities are on par with every other school I visited. The clinical experience available is quite varied which is nice. The research is non-existant. A good middle of the pack school.
I was more impressed with VCU after visiting the school. The school is very diverse, and the admissions committee take a lot of time examining each individual applicant. I think I would be very happy here.
It was great overal as far as I know, I had one of the "tought" interviewer. All the other interviewers were asking questions about basketball, but thanks God that I didn't have him or else I would have plunk, since I know jack about basketball.
interview was great, totally conversational, just wanted to get to know you and what makes you tick etc..i was very impressed with the school, and will be ecstatic if accepted!
The interview itself was great, had a wonderful interviewer. However, the school just didn't do much for me. Seemed very nice, but the whole day I just felt like I really could not see myself there.
Interview was short. I couldn't finish my answers. The school has a very small hospital and facilites compared to other medical schools. Their gym facilites are way too small, basically they don't have a gym or swimming pool, or anywhere to exercise. I know that student life and living conditions will be big detractions. I did not like the services offered to the students (such as a nice big gym) and the hospitals were small, and I just did not like the environment of the school.
When I met my interviewer I found out that he is from Winston-Salem, NC, near where I live. I found out that I played soccer with and against his son. For the majority of the interview we talked about soccer and how that has been a big influence in my life. We also talked about evolution and how it has affected the structure and functions of the body. Overall, it was just a regular conversation.
I had to answer a lot of ethical questions, my interviewer was Dr. Brooks who is famous for asking these ethical questions (and whether or not you like Harry Potter). By far, he was the best interviewer I have had. I ended up talking to him for 90 minutes. Don't stress about this interview.
The interview was very laid back and relaxed. I had a medical student. He had not had a chance to read my file yet. We mainly just talked about my decision to be a doctor, my family and my interests. I felt like he was trying to decide if I was a good person and if I had communication skills rather than quizzing me to determine what my knowledge of specific health care issues was.
The interviewers were great, no complains from any of the other applicants. VCU makes it their policy to let you know what is going to happen to your file right afer your interview. You may also submit any new material that you know they don't have in you file on the day of your interview or shortly afterwards. The admissions committee meets the following monday after your interview and you have two people advocating for you; your interviewer who met you face to face and your file reviewer who has gone through your file with a fine comb. At the meeting they present your qualities and let the admissions board know why you qualify to attend VCU not to mention while they are doing so all your grades are on a big screen for everyone to see; MCAT and your academic transcripts. Now, the board is comprised of 31 people and at any given meeting you have atleast 25 people present. After your advocates have made their presentation, the board may need a clarification on something and they get to ask your advocates questions regarding your grades or ask the financial aid officer to read something in your file (AMCAS ESSAY, VCU ESSAY OR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATIONS) just to clarify something. Here is the odd part (to me) each of the 25 people including your advocates get to grade you on a scale of 1 to 5 which is on a scantron. 5 is the worst and 1 the best and all votes carry equal weight. They may decide that anyone with a grade from 3.2 to 5 there is no need to keep them waiting any longer and they send you a letter of rejection. Everyone else is either granted an admission or placed on the alternate list and you may called in at anytime even as late as August 11. The board never reviews your file again the grade the assigned you (1-5) remains on the computer and that is what they use to determine your eligibility for admission, by the way you will never know what your grade was. If you are from out of state your chances diminish since they can only accept only 40%, but chances increase when other applicants from out of state get accepted in their state school and hence withdraw from VCU. The whole process takes about 3 wks when you hear from VCU, otherwise it is a great school to study medicine.
First of all, let me explain my particular kind of program. I am a senior in high school, and I found out about a Guaranteed Admissions Program for Medicine at VCU-MCV from my cousin (who is part of the program). Basically, high school seniors with an exceptional academic performance and many hours of volunteering have a chance to be part of this program (only 20 students are chosen from the 150+ that apply). Those students complete their undergraduate at VCU as part of the Honors Program and then go straight into MCV WITHOUT taking the MCATS. If you want, you can still take them, but by being in this program, you don't necessarily have to since you'll already have a spot reserved for you at MCV when you begin medical school. Anyways, I was fortunate to have gotten to the second level (where 50 students are chosen for an interview before the final decision is made). Overall, I REALLY liked my interviewer. Also, the VCU campus and MCV campus are great and place a heavy emphasis on Medicine and Life Sciences.
Overall, a really great experiance. VCU/MCV is definately somewhere I could see myself going. My interview was at 10:00AM, before the tour and everything else. There were about ten people in all. The school mentioned that they interview 4 days a week. My interviewer was a fourth year medical student. The whole interview went really well, the interviewer was incredibly nice and well informed about the process. The whole thing was about an hour long and really felt more like a casual conversation than a formal interview. I was asked the typical questions: Why Medicine? How did you choose your undergraduate major? How did you choose you undergraduate college? etc. However, alot of the time was spent talking about what I do in my free time and extracurricular activities. I wasn't asked any bioethics questions, although other people I talked to afterwards mentioned that they had been asked such questions. Afterwards, everyone meets with the Dean, who explains the details of the admissions process and financial aid. This woman is incredibly nice and takes all of the mystery out of the admissions process. After this, two second year medical students took us on a tour of the campus (buildings, hospital, library etc). We ate lunch and talked about the social scene in Richmond. In general, everyone seemed happy and interested in answering all of our questions. The tour is casual, but organized and efficient.
Overall, don't worry too much about an interview at VCU/MCV. They don't want you to be nervous, and you will really walk away having learned alot about the school.
My interview experience was great- very non-threatening. I basically had an hour long conversation with a semi-retired physician who has been at MCV for a long time. He had read my file and his questions followed my application. He asked about some questions not related to my application: bioethics questions, what I like to read, what I do for exercise, my thoughts on same-sex education. The only thing about the entire day that I did NOT like was that I never was given the opportunity to explain certain things on my application. My interviewer did not ask me if there was anything we had not covered that I would like the admissions committee to know, and I did not have a chance to explain myself or to talk about some things I really wanted to talk about.
I was very impressed overall with MCV and would definitely attend if accepted. Their lecture halls are really nice, and I like the fact that everything- syllabi, lectures, presentations etc- is online. The student body seems to be a diverse group that strives for excellence while maintaining a non-competitive atmosphere.
The interview style at this school is wonderful- enjoy yourself. They are very willing to answer all your questions and take the mystery out of their admissions process.
This interview was a good experience, especially as a first interview. I was nervous, but my interview was at 9am, which got it out of the way and I was able to enjoy the rest of the information sessions. During the "morning session" with the assistant Dean, she explains that you have 2 advocates during the panel discussion about you. They only spend about 5 minutes on you where they place all of your stats (i.e. gpa, mcat scores, home state, etc) on an overhead for the whole committee to see while your interviewer talks about how your interview went, how you answered questions, your style, etc. then your file reviewer (who reviews everyone's file and is responsible for getting you the interview in the first place) talks about what was in your file (i.e. grades, essays, involvements, etc.) then the other board members discuss you and any problems they have with your file. your interviewer can then defend you if you gave any answers to questions about grades or mcats or whatever. then everyone on the board (about 30 people) give you a score from 1-5 (with decimals) 1 being the best and 5 the worst. A computer program averages your score and that is what stays with your name until they either let you in or terminate your file. they don't go back and reconsider people after this point and you can never find out what your score was. the committee meets every monday and they are supposed to get back to you soon after they meet at which point they will either put you on "hold" or decline your file. If you get on hold, you could either get in, be rejected later or put on the alternate list. she said they don't fill the class until everyone has been interviewed and they don't make an alternate list until the class is filled by students that said they would definately go there.
Conversational interview, despite the "thought process" questions. My interviewer had a bunch of little notes about my application he kept referring to, but he was nice!
My interview was very laid-back and conversational. The person interviewing you is your advocate on the admissions committee, so try to clearly answer any questions/discrepancies asked about your background. My interviewing basically went through all of the factual information in my AMCAS application, interjecting comments about football, and a few ethical questions here and there. I had my interview first thing in the morning, so I was finished with the day by 2PM.
Good interview with a really swell old dude. Very kind to me and very accomodating. The students were low key and very friendly. Cool placeto live. Plenty of boating on the James, not too far from the beach, and just a jaunt away from the mountains. A great location with a hospital that sees EVERYTHING.
the interviewer thoroughly read my file before i got there and covered EVERYTHING in it. very good ethics conversations covering all hte big issues. very laid back and like talking to my grandfather!
The school has just put lots of money into several new lecture halls and small group learning rooms. There are new study areas and almost all of the classwork is online. I think this is a really great time to go to MCV.
My interviewer was a researcher who for some reason didn't get my file. It really wasn't a big deal, though. As the associate dean for admissions explained, you have two advocates at the admissions committee meetings: your interviewer as well as a file reviewer (who reads every single essay and recommendation letter). Interviewing at MCV is a laid back experience - similar to what it's like going to school there (from what I can tell). It was more like an hour long chat. I did have to save most of my questions for the associate dean and the students, however, since he didn't know a lot about the school (he deals mostly with MD-PhD students and residents).
I really like how they interview is designed. It is open file, so my interviewer had read everything and instead of asking general open ended questions like "Tell me about yourself" or "Why medicine" he asked "So I see you worked here, what was that like" or "I see you are involved with this, what do you do in that" Very specific to me, which made it easy to discuss and talk about. No bioethical questions, no hypothetical questions. Just wanted to expand on my application and explained that he is my advocate to the admissions committee, so whatever I wanted to have expressed or brought to the admissions committee's attention I should let him know and he would do it. However, after reading a lot of these reviews, it doesnt seem that EVERYONE gets this exact style. So I am not guaranteeing no bioethical or general questions, just that I didnt get any.
Overall went well. An ideal school for VA residents. Offers tons of diversity in the patients you will get to see as well as the conditions/disease. As usual the students that go there are very happy with the quality of their education and experience.
My interviewer was extremely nice and started out by going over some of my experiences and complimenting my efforts since graduating undergrad in '99. He told me a little about himself and then asked me questions regarding some of my experiences. Then he asked me some bioethics questions followed by some discussion about his thoughts. It was my first med school interview and I was completely at ease. Dont stress! MCV just wants to get to know you and how you think.
Great school. I was impressed by a lot of the facilities and by the professionalism of the staff, interviewer, and students. I am from Richmond, and the area around MCV is not nearly so bad as everyone seems to think.
Don't let other's impressions of Richmond fool you. Yes, the area around the school and hospital itself is not so great but if you have time, check out the Fan area of Richmond where there are GREAT places to live, highly acclaimed restaurants, local music, etc. All of Richmond is NOT like the area surrounding the hospital.
My interview was at 10AM. My interviewer was really nice, the first thing we talked about was college sports, which made me feel really comfortable. The interview was pretty much like a conversation. Standard questions about my experiences and school work. Nothing tough, very relaxing and laid-back. Then there was a tour at 11, we ate lunch in the cafeteria at 12, and then the tour continued until about 1:30. The tour guides were nice. The associate dean of admissions was really informative, and told us the whole process of admissions, and financial aid info. She was really honest and straightforward about the school, which was appreciated. Overall a good experience!
My interview was the only afternoon one scheduled for the day so my day started off with an orientation at 11am (which is normally conducted by the associate dean of the med school, but she was out so a 4th year conducted it instead). It was a really great orientation and I had a lot of my questions answered then. They do a phenomenal job of putting everyone at ease and of taking away the mystery of how your application will be reviewed, what criteria they are looking for, etc. Then two second year students came and gave us a tour of the campus. They were both really great and did a really nice job. Then my interview was at 2pm and I had to walk across the street from the admissions office to meet the professor in his office. He was a really great guy and the interview was very conversational. Most of the time I talked about myself and he also told me about his background. Normally the interviews are OPEN, but my interviewer chose to keep the file closed. At first I thought this was a bad idea, but it actually ended up working in my favor so that was nice.
I was not impressed - I try not to buy into rankings so much, but I see why MCV does not rank in the top 70 or so. My interviewer was a PhD (i have no interest in research) who did not even teach at the school. He was not even an almumnus of MCV, he couldn't answer most of my questions about the school. Also, it was supposed to be open file b/c the interviewer is supposed to be your advocate in front of the admissions committe. I had to give my printed copy of my secondary to my interviewer b/c he didn't even know my name! I asked four people about the exercise facilities, and no one could tell me much. It seems the quality of life is low there - and tuition for out of staters just went up to 35K. I could find a much better school for the price.
The interview is totally laid back. DO NOT BE NERVOUS! They are very encouraging and it is an honor to even be asked to interview. I would read over this website and pay attention these questions are asked over and over again. You should also not take any questions regarding poor performance personally. Your interviewer has to present you to the committee and is only trying to come up with a defense for poor scores or grades. They are more than likely on your side! Don't be stressed out by the "score talk" it sounds a lot worse than it really is. Oh yeah, have some questions! Good Luck!
I was interviewed by a clinician who had definitely reviewed my application ahead of time (incl. the handwritten essay). The interview was extremely laid back (almost too laid back) and conversational. I was not asked any questions about items appearing on my application, with the exception of my MCAT scores, and was not asked any basic science or ethical questions. Overall, I was very impressed by the school and the atmosphere in Richmond. Dr. Heldberg and her admissions staff were unbelievably helpful in describing exactly how the application process works and what to expect in the coming months. In comparison to other schools, MCV is really on-the-ball when it comes to keeping applicants informed of their status.
Arrived at 10 am. They called my name and gave me a building and room to go to in order to meet my interviewer. I had a clinician and the interview was very conversational. He had "skimmed" my file, made some notes, and asked me specific questions. Afterwards, we met with the associate dean who explained every detail of their acceptance procedures and answered additional questions that our group had. At noon 2 2nd year med students came to give us a tour and take us to lunch. Afterwards (around 2) we were allowed to leave. Some people will have tours at 2pm so they will go back to the admissions office for their tour. Overall, very positive experience. I was impressed with the facilities and the staff.
This was an interview for the Preferred Applicant Track, VCU's Early Admit program with VCU's undergrad. Honors Program, so I was a soph. in college when I interviewed. I know that VCU is my first choice, and this confirmed it. My interviewer was very casual, asking me the normal questions while also keeping the interview conversational and friendly. The tour was excellent...I fell in love all over again :)
Very relaxed atmosphere...didn't have any surprise questions, the same ones we all expect. She didn't ask any questions not directly pertaining to me (i.e. how do you feel about stem cell research). The vast majority of our conversation was focused on my experience and the reasons I wanted to go to medical school.
Overall hard to read, the interviewer hadnt prepared at all. Told me my mcats (26) not the worst but not good either. Thought that was a little rude. Also told me hopefully I will have luck at my state school which Im interviewing at next month.
VCU/MCV is a much better school than I thought it was. The facilities are extremely nice and I think that leads to better patient care and opportunities for students. I was matched with a medical scientist who has similar research to mine so it was obvious that they'd thoroughly considered my application before I showed up.
Not bad, not great. Talked a lot about my handwritten essay. Room was too big to feel like we were having a personal conversation. Interviewer was 5-10 mins late (but, to be fair, got tied up in the ER - it happens). Interview was with a 4th year student, wasn't as polished an interviewer as someone who's been doing it for a while, seemed a little awkward.
A 4th year student interviewed me and he made me very comfortable. I felt like we were having a conversation. He had read my file and knew it very well. He will be my advocate in front of the admissions committee so he wanted to be sure any questions about my application were covered. I rushed to get to the interview right on time, and he could see that I was panting and red-faced. But he offered water and some time to relax before we started. I the interview and the day feeling very positive about the school.
The tour was long, but I liked that the interview was first, followed by an information session and tour. This made it so I was not tired once it was time for my interview. The people at the school and patients seem really nice, but the facilities are honestly depressing.
My interview was great. I had a good conversation with my interviewer that encroached on the next person's time. The tour was fine, the facilities are solid despite the apparent age of the hospital. The only detriment on the school is that it is strapped for funding assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
I entered the interview with high expectations of the school, especially since I had heard some good things about MCV from years ago as well as now, but I came out of my interview day feeling very disappointed. I had close to no student interaction, only with the two tour guides, and they were very friendly but not really the type of people I could see myself with...Also, the buildings are old except Gateway Building and Richmond is Richmond...small, Confederate, and small...
Overall the day was great from start to finish. The receptionist in the Admissions office definitely takes care of interviewees by offering fresh coffee, tea, hot chocolate and even soup. I don't know how important it is but it showed me that MCV try to cover all its bases when it comes to hospitality. The structure of the day was very nice too. They had planned seminars and a planned tour with lunch included that has not been as organized at other schools I visited. I felt very comfortable asking my interviewer any questions and if there is anything you are slightly the bit worried to ask the tour guides who are second years will answer anything and will NOT have anything to do with whether or not you are accepted. One more thing, my interviewer did NOT look at my file prior to our meeting. Although they had the opportunity to do so, she rather chose to have a very casual conversation. Thus the questions may not be indicative of a normal interview.
Great school. Students seemed happy to be there. Out of state expect to pay $31,000/year. Lots of restaurants in the area. Easy access to Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Maryland.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Overall, applicants had positive experiences with the admissions office but suggested implementing virtual interviews, addressing technical issues, providing interview day schedules in advance, improving communication and response times, and potentially offering interview packets or more information about the interviewers. They appreciated the transparency and friendliness of the admissions staff but highlighted areas for enhancement.
I personally had an smooth application experience with VCU SOM, although I know many other applicants had a horrible experience with them. I am thinking part of the reason may be due to some recurring IT issues they have been having. One suggestion I would have for the admissions office is to try and iron out these technical issues before the next cycle so save everyone the headache!
I wish the Dean of Admissions would have given a discussion about her view of the school and the admissions process instead of the entire time just being questions.