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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 17% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 435 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
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 (89%)
Negatively (4%)
No change (7%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (26%)
Good (47%)
Average (22%)
Poor (3%)
Bad (1%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants commonly shared feedback on the need to practice strategies to deal with nervousness, the importance of showing personality during interviews, and experiences with varying levels of conversational engagement from interviewers. Overall, they expressed positive impressions of the school, its interview process, and the friendliness of staff and current students.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Questions were very hard. Vet student wouldn't let me move on until I answered all parts of question. Ended up having a long staring contest until veterinarian interviewer allowed me to move on to the next question.
They already have your application and paper stats, so show your personality. They tell you that they are there to get to know you, so do exactly that, show them how great you are.
Try and make conversation, theres comments on here about them being conversational but for me it was almost like talking to a brick wall. They asked the four questions and nothing else. It was a stressful interview, but take a breath and put aside your nerves long enough to answer everything appropriately.
Not too bad, but not as great as I expected. Just expected more friendly interview, and they didn’t want to chat at all. Asked multiple questions at the end and tried to comment on things they said but they were unwilling to reciprocate the conversation.
OSU was fantastic. Even though I'm still struggling with patience in this application process I'd remind everyone that yes, it is long and stressful---but good things come to those who wait :)
It was a positive interview, and I felt good about it afterwards. Make sure you prepare for the current events/ global issues question. It is inevitable!
Impressed with the financial aid presentation, enjoyed the interview, and appreciated the chance to get to talk with current students. But very let down with the old and disorganized facilities.
OSU has a great system-based program that does not force you into a tract early on. AND they encourage you and want to you to be open minded to all of the numerous opportunities open to you at the university (not just vet school).
I was extremely nervous for the interview, had the first one of the day. The kid sitting with me made me feel like I shouldnt even be there talking about god knows what kind of research. Then I got into the interview and relaxed (they seem to give you people that are in your "track" - I got a cow guy that specifically wanted to know about my cow experiences!) -- After a long day of nerves, I did feel pretty good. Evidentally they did too, I got accepted.
Relax! I've learned that most people really don't know how they did in their interview. I thought I did so-so but apparently they were impressed! So, if you are self-critical like I am, just breathe and realize it is out of your hands once you interview. But, definitely prepare by answering questions posted on SDN and do mock interviews.
Time is short, so they ask YOU many questions. Don't worry, you will have the opportunity at the end to make sure you have the chance to cover anything not covered. Might be a good idea to watch the clock as they stick to 30 minutes.
Plan out some answers to commonly asked questions, don't rehearse them, just know what you want to say. Be ready for them to test you, as in challenging your answers, testing how far they can keep probing in a topic, and playing devil's advocate. They seemed to want to test my maturity and my ability to handle stress.
Even tho' they designate a lunch hour, no one actually says anything about it when you are there. Food boxes just get set out, and you better grab one when you have the chance! I got the last one.
Great school! Admissions is really quick about getting back to people, so I hope to know whether or not I got in by Christmas (less than one week after my interview).
Ohio's a nice school, Columbus is pretty cute in some areas, but others seem a bit sketchy. The vet school is pretty :) Staff seem friendly I didn't get too much of an impression of what it is like to attend the school though.
I thought I really liked this school until I interviewed at other schools. I don't think I could see myself attending here. I didn't feel like the students/faculty were a big family. I had a more competitive feel
OSU-VET-COMP interviews are an average of 30 minutes, with an average of 2.1 interviews. 80% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 16% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around the motivations for pursuing veterinary medicine, personal experiences that shaped the decision, leadership and conflict resolution skills, handling stressful situations, discussing global issues in veterinary medicine, and specific scenarios related to the field. Some respondents mentioned being asked a wide range of questions, while others highlighted the MMI format with potential nondisclosure agreements due to the nature of the interview structure.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
You're working in a group. Someone in the group is providing the wrong information. How do you approach this person? Would you approach this problem differently if you were the one providing the incorrect information?
Heres the situation: a student in an anatomy group is hogging the project and the other students aren't learning because of this. What would you do to calm the situation if you were the faculty member talking to the student, the student hogging the project, and the other students in the group?
We mostly talked about my personal experiences and what sorts of skills I've gained from them. Make sure you review your VMCAS so you remember what you put on there.
Tell me about a situation in which you had to take a leadership position. What qualities are important in a leader? In a group situation, do you usually jump in and take the leadership position, or do you sit back and let others lead? What is your role?
How will you reconcile the time commitment of wanting to be a food animal vet, and also wanting to be involved in farming yourself? (I didn't answer that well. Nerves!)
An older couple comes in with an older dog with behavioral problems. They are moving into a nursing home and want you to euthanize their dog. The dog is healthy. What do you do?
This interview was a while ago so I don't remember too many of the questions :( Tell me about Proposition 2 in California and Issue 2 in Ohio. (I attended undergrad in California)
Students said most interesting questions asked at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed scenarios related to leadership, conflict management, and ethical dilemmas. The interviews may have been in a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, as several responses included detailed scenario-based questions and could have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
You are in your clinical rotation and, due to personal reasons, you are running late to your shift for the second time. How do you approach your supervisor?
Scenario: you are in anatomy lab and a student is monopolizing the project. How would you respond as the monopolizer, the other students, and the professor
Scenario: You're in your first year of vet school and you're in anatomy lab. There is a group of students doing dissections and there is a student who is monopolizing dissecting and the other group members are upset about it. What would you do if you were in the position of: a. the faculty member running the lab b. the student who is monopolizing the dissection c. one of the upset group members"
Scenario: You're in your first year of vet school and you're in anatomy lab. There is a group of students doing dissections and there is a student who is monopolizing dissecting and the other group members are upset about it. What would you do if you were in the position of:
a. the faculty member running the lab
b. the student who is monopolizing the dissection
c. one of the upset group members
What would you do if you worked for a veterinarian who did not believe in declawing, and you had a client that wanted her cat declawed? What would you say to her?
After answering a question about a difficult time in my life and how I handled it, they asked me what I learned from that experience and how would I handle a similar situation today?
What would you do if an aggressive dog at a shelter was up for adoption and a family with children wanted to adopt it? What is involved in temperament testing? (related to experience)
Should food-borne illnesses be eradicated? (It was neat because my interviewer explained that Sweden has made a concerted effort to eliminate Salmonella in recent years)
You are a recent vet grad working in a SA hospital. It is close to closing time and someone comes in with their dog who has been hit by a car and has a diaphgramatic hernia. You have not done the procedure before, the vet who owns the hospital is not there and not accessible by phone. The dog will die without surgery and requires immediate attention. What do you do?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing Student Doctor Network (SDN) questions, practicing mock interviews, researching the school, and discussing with current students. They also emphasized the importance of knowing their application well, practicing answers to common questions, and staying up-to-date on current events in veterinary medicine.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
I used the student doctor network to find common interview questions and then practiced how I would discuss certain topics and I decided on a few specific stories that demonstrated certain qualities that I would try to work into various questions. I was careful not to rehearse anything but just came up with general ideas ahead of time
I studied previous questions and went over my application I submitted through VMCAS since it's open file. However, the questions submitted here by others were not asked. There was nothing specific to my file that was asked in the interview.
Talked to a current vet student, looked over my application, prepared answers to sample questions, looked up current events in vet med and global issues
Reviewed the website, all of my application materials, and also reviewed current news in veterinary medicine. Also practiced my answers for basic interview questions.
I looked on their website to come up with some questions to ask them about the school, and I prepared answers to some general interview questions found online.
Read SDN questions, practiced interviewing aloud with my parents, talked out difficult questions aloud in the car during my commute, drafted a response to the necessary question "Why do you want to be a vet?" which they didn't ask.
Read previous interview feedback on SDN, talked to current students, reviewed my application/ personal statement, went to an interview workshop hosted by my college at OSU.
I read through my VMCAS and supplemental applications, did mock interviews, and consulted current vet students about their experiences interviewing at Ohio State.
I reread my Personal Statement and Supplemental Application essay. Make sure you go over everything on there! Also, be prepared to explain the weaknesses in your application. I read up on current events but they didn't ask me about any.
Looked over questions from people who had interviewed previously, spoke with a career counselor regarding dress and interview techniques, tried to remember to breathe regularly (oxygen is important)
Read SDN and talked to a friend of mine who goes to Ohio State. I looked up a lot of current events but they didn't ask me about them at all except for a question on zoonoses that wasn't really about current events.
Had a mock interview, talked through a number of SDN questions, read up on current events, AVMA news, my applications and essays, some old personal reflection essays, practiced with my dad on the drive out, and kept telling myself how excited i was, lol
Read the interview feedback, read about other people who interviewed and the questions they got, practiced with friends, and used my university's interview preparation workshop
Students said the most difficult question asked at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including anatomy scenarios, conflict management, current events impacting veterinary medicine, global veterinary issues, leadership qualities, and ethical dilemmas. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on responses that referenced scenario questions and a variety of challenging inquiries, which could suggest respondents were under a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Tell me about a time that you were in a team. Describe three characteristics that made the team dynamic work, rank these three characteristics in ascending order from least to most effecting, and explain why you assigned these ranks.
After answers what current events I thought veterinarians were involved in they asked: What do you think will have the most effect on the veterinary profession in the next few years?
After I had named several global vet issues, I was asked to name a specific, current one in the U.S. that was "in the news." I had spent so much time reading about international vet issues that I forgot to read about US current topics.
If you had to separate several horses from a herd to examine them, what two people would you bring with you to help, what role would you take on, and how would you do it? It was an easy question to answer, it was just worded strangely and I didn't quite understand what they were getting at at first. Especially since they started the question with, "So we've offered you a place in the class of 2017, congratulations." Instead of "imagine..."
If a client's animal died under anesthesia and you were the veterinarian how would you tell the client? (related to the conversation, but still a tricky question to answer)
I was asked about how I drew blood/restrained birds. Given that I had done neither, I politely informed the interviewers of this fact and they quickly steered the topic back to a skill on my supplemental that I had listed (a deliberate miscue on their part to gauge my reaction perhaps.)
None of them were particularly challenging. Asked me a question about mice I couldn't answer, but I explained that my role in the lab was more benchwork than animal care and that seemed to satisfy them.
Besides ethical and moral issues, what are some of the other effects of the ban on horse slaughter? (Looking for some mention of economic issues, I think)
I was asked to elaborate upon a comment I had made in my supp app that said it can be difficult to reconcile veterinary science with the personal beliefs of clients. I must have answered satisfactorily but at the time I felt like I bumbled my answer.
Tell us about yourself. This was the first question and, when nervous, I think it's the most difficult to answer well w/out rambling and/or emphasizing the wrong things. I talked much more about my interest in farming than about my interest in vet med, although I think my presence there made the latter obvious.
How many animals get euthanized a year? Why so many in the US? Well in Spain they don't spay/neuter their animals and there isn't an overpopulation problem. Why is that?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the faculty, staff, and students at the school, as well as the well-organized interview process. Many applicants appreciated the opportunities to interact with current students, the inclusion of students in the interview process, and the relaxed and laid-back atmosphere during the interviews and pre-interview events.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
The interviewers escorted us to our interview rooms instead of someone else, so we got to talk to the interviewers before the actual interview began, which took away a lot of the anxiety and stress. The interviewers also weren't blank faced the entire time like in other interviews. Mine also took me on a quick 5-10 minute tour after my interview to one of the labs we didn't get to see during the school tour.
The entire session was so professional and impressive. I really felt like I learned a lot about the school and that they really wanted to convince me of why I should come to their school. It was really nice to have a faculty panel and to get to talk to them about their research and work.
Everyone was so incredibly fun and supportive during my interview. I also think the dinner prior to interviews was a great way to calm everyone down a little.
The interviewers were very low-key and did not give me reason to feel nervous. They seemed like they really wanted to get to know me and hear more about the activities on my resume.
There was a student and faculty member that interviewed me and they asked me if I had any questions for them and I got to learn more about the program.
The interviewers were really nice.. one of them was nicer and more talkative while one was more watchful and quiet but they weren't grilling me or waiting for me to fail and they seemed genuinely interested by my answers even when I wasn't talking about my veterinary experience. Also the tour was amazing, the financial aid presentation and admissions presentations were really helpful and the student panel was IMMENSELY helpful. I had gone in nervous and hopeful but not really that concerned with Ohio State specifically as opposed to my other schools, and I was sure I wasn't going to get in, and I left LOVING IT and just dying to get in. Which I did! =]
My interviewers provided very compelling responses when I asked why they had chosen to work with OSU CVM. The campus and facilities are impressive and everyone was very friendly.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about interviewers lacking follow-up questions, not engaging in a conversational manner, and not showing interest beyond scripted questions. Suggestions included providing more guidance on the interview format, ensuring interviewers are more personable, and minimizing wait times between activities.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
It was stressed how much the interview would be a "conversation" but my interviewers were not particularly friendly and kind of awkward themselves. They were not super responsive when I would attempt to make a conversation.
This is my 2nd year interviewing, both years were closed file but I was never told that. Since it was closed file they asked me no questions about myself, even after I brought them up in my answers. Both years it seemed like my interviewers did not feel the need to get to know me as a person, and I have a very strong application (accepted to the 7 schools I interviewed at).
The waiting after the lunch. If your interview is after the scheduled lunch time, you sit there and wait. So make friends or schedule an interview time closer to lunch or before!
My interviewers were not overly friendly. Everyone says to expect a “conversation” but mine was just a question/answer. They did not provide any extra comments or try to have a conversation with me.
The facilities (hospital and anatomy lab) were outdated and disorganized. I was very unimpressed that the hallways were lined with objects clearly out of place, that personal water bottles and dog bones were strewn about the hospital. Overall very disappointed with this school that supposedly has such a high reputation.
I had a morning interview, and probably could have made the early tour, but was scheduled for the later one. Had to skip it because I had to drive home and work the next day. Maybe having an extra tour somewhere for people who can't stay late, or allowing students to opt for either tour would have been better.
The hospital definitely needs a makeover (though all the equipment is great, it's just not built for the caseload they have). Supposedly they should be starting to totally redo the hospitals and they will likely be done 2016 for 2017ers starting clinics.
Our student guide couldn't tell us much about the hospital and generally seemed unprepared; I had already visited before and knew more than she told us.
There was a long wait in between my interview and lunch and I didn't know to rent a car so I didn't get to drive around columbus lol. Other than that everything was great.
My tour was given by a first year student who didn't have as much knowledge as the third year student did. A tour guide further along in the program would have been better.
I was disappointed that I wasn't one of the people who could come out of the interview saying "that was fun, it was just like a conversation, I was comfortable." I actually felt pretty weak about my interview coming out.
Couldn't handle being around a bunch of chatty, nervous applicants. I showed up 40 mins before my interview, and wandered down the hall to be by myself.
Day-long interviews/FAQ sessions/tours are fine but the morning interviewees ended up sitting around for a total of 3ish hours while waiting for the second half of our day to begin. Organizational issue
Tour of the classrooms was really good but I didn't get much of an impression of the clinic/teaching hospital. The students also seemed not as friendly to people they didn't know as to people they already knew.
Most applicants wished they had known ahead of time that the interview would be more laid back and conversational, rather than an interrogation. They also mentioned the importance of relaxing, being themselves, and not stressing too much during the process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
All of these questions were intended to gauge my emotional maturity and my communication skills. They did not ask me anything specific about my application or my experience. we didn’t even talk about vet med
I wish I would have known it was a closed interview. And then once I did know (shortly before my interview) I thought my interviewers would ask more about my application but they really didn't, which made me feel like I should have talked about myself more.
How relaxed this interview was going to be. I was super nervous, but everyone from the informational sessions, tour guides, and interviewers were all super nice and welcoming. This was the least stressful interview I've had with a vet school thus far after it had started.
That it would be closed file. I was told it would be open, but the interviewers didn’t seem to know my experiences and at the end I heard from others that they were done closed file.
They just want to make sure you are who you say you are. If you mentioned a procedure or anything specific in your application, they will ask you about it. They want to make sure you have really paid attention and learned as much as you could in your experiences!
I wish I had put more time into looking into current international issues in the veterinary field - that question caught me off guard a bit and that is where I fumbled the most.
People always say the same thing, but I really do wish I hadn't stressed so much because the interview process is made to try and make you feel comfortable, while getting a sense of who you are.
The dinner, which is the night before, really is a casual and non-stressful experience. They are really just trying to welcome their applicants. I didn't feel like they were evaluating me, as I thought they would be.
1) That it honestly is more like a conversation than an interrogation.
2) Talking to people (for me current students and a few other interviewees) would be the most helpful in calming me down.
3) That the only thing that I really should have studied was my personal statement and relaxed more.
If you can, pick an interview time right before or after lunch so you don't have to sit around and wait all day. If you interview in the morning you won't have your tours and stuff until the afternoon and vice versa. So you don't want to get there for an 8am interview and then sit around until lunch for anything else to get started. I had the 11:15 slot which was the one right before lunch which seemed to work out perfectly.
That most people don't actually change clothes after their interview for the tour. I was going to change into boots, but seeing how no one else had I stayed in my heels and my feet were killing me by the end!
My interviewers were extremely objective and did not give facial cues or strong indications of how they felt about my responses to questions; it was somewhat off-putting at first but I stuck my character rather than trying to mold my answers to what I thought I "should" be saying.
To bring a small water bottle- there is a lot of sitting and waiting for your interview and your throat gets dry from nerves. It's a pain to have to keep getting up to go to the drinking fountain.
That my flights would get cancelled! and getting home would be a nightmare...that I should definitely have rented a car bc my hotel was not close to the school or airport and we spent a ton of money on cabs.. to RELAX because they really just want to learn about you and you do have a shot!!
That I wasn't going to be asked any of the questions that I had prepared for! I really had the strong feeling from the moment the interview started that I had already been accepted & we were just hanging out, sort of killing time. SO comfortable & informal!
Carry more cash when I'm traveling! Otherwise you have to go find an ATM at the airport to get a taxi when your mom's flight is canceled and you can't get your rental car. So always be prepared!!
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 that the admissions office should review and potentially improve the interview process, specifically addressing concerns about organization and communication. Overall, most applicants appreciate the welcoming environment and effective communication from the admissions office and suggest they should continue their positive efforts.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Ask simple questions that are clear and not hard for people who are nervous and/or have ADD to answer coherently.
The coordination between the professional admissions office and the vet school admissions stinks! I had no problems communicating with the vet school admissions, but if anything had to go through the prof admissions office something went wrong.
Nothing! April Pugh is awesome! All my emails were answered very rapidly and she was extremely friendly at dinner. She convinced me to apply this year and I am so glad I did!
32% interviewees used Columbus (Columbus)
, with
24% using CMH (CMH)
and
8% using Port Columbus (Port Columbus)
and
8% using Port Columbus International Airport (Port Columbus International Airport)
and
4% using CMT (CMT)
and
4% using Cinci Airport (Cinci Airport)
and
4% using Port Columbus International (Port Columbus International)
and
4% using pittsburgh -then drove b/c it was cheaper (pittsburgh -then drove b/c it was cheaper)
and
4% using Columbus- Port Columbus (Columbus- Port Columbus)
and
4% using -Columbus (RDU)
and
4% using Port Columbus international (Port Columbus international)
.
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
✈️
42% Airplane
🚗
58% Automobile
🚆
0% Train or Subway
🚲
0% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Holiday Inn Express (average ranking 8.4/10), with some staying at Fairfield Inn and Suites at OSU (average rating 7.5/10). (Top 3 displayed)
🏨
Holiday Inn Express
8.4/10
🏨
Fairfield Inn and Suites at OSU
7.5/10
🏨
Blackwell
9.3/10
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 a Student
Student (100%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
