Hattiesburg, MS
Osteopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
Faith-Based
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 38% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.4
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 283 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (78%)
Negatively (8%)
No change (14%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (32%)
Good (50%)
Average (16%)
Poor (2%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview experience at the school to be welcoming and relaxed, highlighting the friendly and kind nature of the staff and students. However, some expressed varied opinions on the facilities and overall impressions of the school, with a few feeling underwhelmed compared to their expectations.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Seems like a great place
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N/A
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Great interview overall !
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I honestly had little interest in this school and it was my "safety" but I left feeling like it was a strong contender for my possible school I attend! They were so kind, the tour really highlighted both good and bad aspects of the buildings, and the dean took time to talk to us about what they were improving or what they had struggled with. I felt like the school felt like a happy family.
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Enjoyable interview overall, I just wish I was given a bit more time to breathe between questions.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
26 Minutes Average
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Number:
2.7 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
66% One-on-One
34% Group Interview
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File Type:
90% Open-File
10% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
77% Virtual
23% In-Person
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Interview Location (for In-Person):
100% At the School
0% Other Location
WCUCOM-COMP interviews are an average of 26 minutes, with an average of 2.7 interviews. 66% of interviews are one-on-one, 23% are in-person, and 10% are closed-file. Of the in-person interviews, 100% are held at the school.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the candidate's motivation for pursuing medicine, specialty interests, ethical scenarios such as patient confidentiality, qualities of a good doctor, leadership experiences, and reasons for choosing a specific medical school. Some respondents mentioned being asked a variety of questions related to why they want to be a doctor, why they are interested in osteopathic medicine, and why they selected a particular institution like William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM). Notably, several responses hinted at an MMI format, potentially involving nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the questions asked.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tell me about yourself
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Why DO?
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What kind of doctor do you want to be/where do you want to practice
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They asked me an ethical question related to HIV where you had both the husband and wife as your patient. If the Husband had HIV, would you tell the wife without the husbands permission?
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Why medicine
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a variety of topics including ethical dilemmas, comfort levels in professional settings, and personal experiences related to medicine. Some respondents mentioned questions about providing birth control to minors, handling ethical scenarios at parties or in medical settings, and their fit with the institution's mission, while others were asked about their leadership, volunteer experiences, and knowledge of the school and its location. Some responses indicated the interview format may have been an MMI, and respondents might have been under a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Fun, specific question about one of my activites in my application.
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Tell us about your leadership experience
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Do you have any pets?
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What do you know about WCUCOM and Mississippi?
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Why DO?
How did you prepare for the interview?
The most common feedback and suggestions shared by applicants on how they prepared for the interview include practicing common questions, using resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) and mock interviews, researching the school and its mission, reviewing application materials, and ensuring a good night's sleep and relaxation before the interview for a confident and authentic performance.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Wrote out my answers to the most common questions, practiced saying them outloud, practiced smiling and listening
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SDN, prep answers
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Sdn, Dr. Gray's interview prep book, mock interviews
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Studied the questions on SDN
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SDN, watched a couple of youtube videos, mock interview with school's pre health team
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed ethics scenarios, including handling situations like physician-assisted suicide and blood transfusions based on religious beliefs. The interview may have been in an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements, focusing on ethical dilemmas, commitment to practice, and academic scenarios like GPA and MCAT comparisons.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What is one weakness/ strength you have?
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Ethical question
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Ethics-based question about insurance
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N/A
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How would you handle a situation where a depressed patient is wanting a physician assisted suicide
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness, kindness, and professionalism of the interview staff and current students. They appreciated the welcoming and conversational atmosphere of the interviews, as well as the genuine care and enthusiasm displayed by everyone they encountered throughout the process. Many were also positively impressed by the school's integrated curriculum, facilities, and commitment to providing primary care physicians to underserved areas.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The interviewing staff seemed really nice
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Interviewers were super kind
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Enjoyed the small group of interviewees and that we got to eat lunch with the students. Everyone I encountered was very friendly.
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The friendliness and professionalism of the interviewers.
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Their politeness and smiling throughout the interview. It felt very conversational.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative feedback regarding outdated application forms, lack of interviewer engagement and feedback, unenthusiastic interviewers, and insufficient information provided about student life and campus facilities. Suggestions included updating application processes, improving interviewer rapport and feedback, and enhancing campus tours to provide more comprehensive information about the school and its amenities.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The application form seemed a bit out-dated
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Interviewers were friendly but not super conversational, I would try to build some rapport and mostly got blank stares.
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Nothing
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Nothing really
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The interviewers took no time whatsoever to discuss any of my answers. They immediately went on to the next question after I was finished answering.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known more about the interviewers' research interests, that the interviews were not as stressful as anticipated, and to arrive early for interviews. Additionally, many applicants mentioned feeling nervous unnecessarily and emphasized not stressing too much about the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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More about what the interviewers research interests were
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How it was not that stressful
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Nothing
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I was ten minutes early but 15 minutes out they called me and asked if I was still coming! SO definitely get here super early.
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While Mississippi is a rural state, Hattiesburg is an urban city.
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
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.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest making the application process online-only and more streamlined, while also recommending more flexibility with letter of recommendation requirements.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Make the application online-only, and more up-to-date with the process for other medical schools. Don't be so picky about who you want letters of recomendation from. I submitted one from a Neuroscience professor, and a Psychology professor I did research with, and they informed me that neither of them counted as a "core science" faculty member, so I would need to get a new letter before they'd process my application- so I had to scramble last minute to get one from my Biochem professor
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They could not have been any friendlier or kinder. I left feeling a strong connection to them and the school.
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N/A
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Nothing! I loved the process
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Have current COM students talk with applicants
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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New Orleans
18% interviewees used New Orleans (New Orleans), with 18% using New Orleans (MSY) and 9% using Pine Belt Regional (PIB) and 9% using Hattiesburg (Hattiesburg) and 9% using Jackson-Evers International (Jackson-Evers International) and 9% using , DFW (DIA) and 9% using Gulfport (Gulfport) and 9% using N/A (N/A) and 9% using n/a (n/a).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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26% Airplane
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61% Automobile
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0% Train or Subway
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13% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Mariott-Courtyard (average ranking 7/10), with some staying at N/A (average rating 5/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Mariott-Courtyard
7/10
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N/A
5/10
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Home2Suites
9/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel
Admissions staff (58%)
Faculty member (19%)
Other (17%)
Student (6%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Discouraging (3%)
Enthusiastic (67%)
Neutral (31%)
All Responses
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