Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

😟

How did the interview impress you?

Negatively ☹️

What was the stress level of the interview?

4 / 10

0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress

What are your general comments?

You have a 30-45 min interview with each interviewer. One of the people I interviewed with seemed annoyed that I was there. His first question was, "So, explain your mcat score." Uh, it's within their average range...and it's not even all that bad. His next question was, "So, tell me more about yourself." I did. His next question was, "Tell me more about yourself." So I did. His third question was, "Tell me more." Uh, I did. I was running out of things to say about myself. I didn't enjoy the experience. The second interviewer was actually head of the committee or something like that. He seemed like he was really tired and wanted to psychanalyze me...strange. The students don't seem super excited to be there though they are extremely nice. But they really want to end up doing residency in Philly. I did get to see lots of Amish people in the surrounding area...sweet.

Interview questions they asked

Tell me about yourself? Tell me more. Tell me more.

I was asked this too

What was the most interesting question?

Why would you ever leave California to attend school here?--the interviewer didn't exactly try to sell the school

I was asked this too

What was the most difficult question?

see above.

I was asked this too

How did you prepare for the interview?

PSU website, SDN, read my AMCAS application

What impressed you positively?

small class size, great facilities, liked the curriculum

What impressed you negatively?

One of my interviewers seemed like a jerk, the RURAL location of the campus, the most positive thing my student host (and most students) had to say about their school is, "Well, you don't have many distractions so you have plenty of time to study." Expensive school for out of staters.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

the location, lack of diversity in the student body (no, I'm not a URM but I didn't see many non-white students)