University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Individual responses

⭐ Overall Impressions ▼

How did the interview impress you?

Positively

What was the stress level of the interview?

3 out of 10

How you think you did?

No responses

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

No responses

How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?

No responses

💬 Interview Questions ▼

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

For the med half, you can look up the exact 5 questions to the med school portion online. They don't change much year to year.

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How will clinical work aide your future research?

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Tell me about your research.

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What was the most interesting question?

The breakfast at the director's house yielded a great many interesting conversations. That is a great time to chat up faculty about mutual personal interests.

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What was the most difficult question?

A speculative series of questions regarding cellular mechanisms of synaptic adaptation in the songbird auditory forebrain (this was loosely based on my research).

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🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼

How long was the interview?

30 minutes

How many people interviewed you?

4

What was the style of the interview?

One-on-one

What type of interview was it?

Open file

Was this interview in-person or virtual?

No responses

Where did the interview take place?

At the school

📍 On-Site Experience ▼

Who was the tour given by?

Student

How did the tour guide seem?

No responses

How do you rank the facilities?

No responses

What is your in-state status?

No responses

What were your total hours spent traveling?

No responses

What was your primary mode of travel?

No responses

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

No responses

What airport did you fly into?

No responses

Where did you stay?

No responses

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

No responses

How would you rate the hotel?

No responses

Would you recommend the hotel?

No responses

What is your ranking of this school's location?

No responses

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

No responses

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses

✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

No responses

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

No responses

How did you prepare for the interview?

Read at least one article written by each interviewer. Read recent reviews in my field. Reread papers from my old labs.

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What impressed you positively?

The program was even stronger in Neurology and basic neuroscience than I had expected. The Damasio group is lively and doing some great clinically oriented work. The culture in Iowa City is actually rather vibrant, with a great literary scene (see prairie lights books) based around the Iowa writers' workshop, perhaps the best creative writing program in the country.

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What impressed you negatively?

No matter how much fun the college-town is, and it is a nice place, this IS Iowa city. The patient population will be drawn in from all over the state, and they have an extensive neurological registry, but the opportunities for clinical exposure that one might find in a large city simply are not going to be available here. Many students make the 4 hour trip into chicago for big city entertainment.

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What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

The odd format of the medical school interview was not over-emphasized. You will face two interviewers who are mostly (they do smile and nod occasionally) expressionless. They will alternate questions, with one always watching you closely during questioning. You will speak a monologue about why you would be a great doctor.

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What are your general comments?

The MSTP at Iowa is solid. It doesn't offer the same level of clinical exposure as some other places, but the research side, especially in neurology, is strong. The medical school is well organized, with ample study areas and "communities" of M1-4 students grouped together (the M3-4's can give some insight to the younger guys about what will be important during rotations). Cost of living is very low, with some students buying houses on their stipend. As far as free time, Iowa city is a liberal, cultured place if you look in the right areas. If you look in the wrong areas, it is a college town of 80,000 surrounded by farmland.

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What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

No responses

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

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