University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine

"What was your favorite class in college?" (If you say Biochemistry, everyone will know you're lying).

"What will you do if you get into all the schools to which you have applied?" "If you get into none?"

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?" as in do you see yourself in a big city at a busy hospital or clinic, in a rural setting, or maybe at a teaching hospital near a university campus, immersed in the atmosphere of academic medicine.

"You have made it through four long years of med school, and the day you have been waiting for is just around the corner. You are about to graduate with 159 of your classmates/friends, with whom you have shared all the challenges and accomplishments of the past four years. It is the day before commencement, but tragedy strikes-you are killed in a horrible car accident. What do you hope your classmates will say about you at commencement?"

Probably the one above...it took me a little off guard. But, actually, I had more trouble answering "Who would you say is a role model for you?" I had not prepared for that question, and could not think of an answer until my interviewer helped me out be re-phrasing it: "Who do you go to for advice?" Then it was obvious to me who my role models were.

Well, I read the interview feedback on this website (for UNC and some others schools) to get an idea of the actual questions I could expect. I composed a list of those questions (including the seemingly easy ones), and practiced answering most of them out loud a couple of times, until I was satisfied that I would not go blank if asked the question in the actual interview. I also reviewed my AMCAS application and seconday application, and re-read my senior thesis/research paper. Perhaps the most important way I prepared was to try to convince myself that these interviews were not going to be interrogations, that they were just a friendly little chit-chat, a harmless getting-to-know-you effort. The reason that you are being "interrogated" in the first place is not because you've done anything wrong, it's because, so far, you've done EVERYTHING RIGHT! If you think about it that way, and keep a positive attitude, you will realize that you are there because YOU HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME A DOCTOR! Just be yourself, be positive, and be confident!

Wow...these people are down-to-earth. The interviewers, the students, the staff, they are all just real people. There are no airs floating around the place, just an abundance of positive energy. The campus is infused. If you want to go to a great med school and be yourself, and not worry about maintaining any kind of image, this is a great place. I was also impressed that they offer a combined M.D./M.P.H. (Master's of Public Health-which I am interested in), and that their M.P.H. program is number two in the nation.

Not really anything. I mean, yeah, there is some construction, and my second interviewer was 35 minutes late, but none of that really stressed me out. I think I was overcome with everything I liked about the school, plus I lucked out and had a beautiful 70-degree day which put me in an even better mood.

That I should have filled out the disadvantaged section of the AMCAS application. I took the August MCAT, and waited for my scores to come back before completing the AMCAS application. I was pressed for time, and that section just looked like too much of a hassle to complete (I don't keep the best records of my finances, and I hate having to bug my parents for financial information all the time). Anyway, according to one of my interviewers, disadvantaged status not only may help you get more financial aid, it may also give you a better chance of being accepted. Ooops.

This campus just has a great feel to it! People are friendly, down-to-earth. As far as the interview experience itself...you are first directed to a small waiting room across from 121 MacNider. There is tea, a plate of cookies. When I arrived (almost late because it took me so long to find a space in the parking garage, and construction made it a little difficult to find the MacNider entrance), there was a second-year student sitting in with the other candidates, just chatting and trying to put them at ease. Everyone pretty much seemed to have control of their nerves, and we all just began chatting with each other when the student left. He asked if he could have one of our cookies on his way out. We obliged. A woman from the financial aid office came in with a hand-out and spoke to us for about 15 minutes. She was very friendly, and we repayed her by fulfilling her request for a cookie upon her exit. Five minutes went by, and a staff member from the admissions office poked her head in to ask our permission for a cookie. Once again, we allowed it. The next person we saw was the Assisstant Dean of Admissions, Mr. Keith, an unscheduled visit. Mr Keith entertained us for 15 minutes with a speech that culminated with the realization that "God painted the sky Carolina blue." I don't know about the rest of the interviewees, but I was pretty jazzed up about the school by that point. Mr. Keith was about to leave, but paused to help himself to a cookie before doing so. We all began to worry about our dwindling supply of cookies, but almost as if on cue, two first-years showed up with boxed lunches for us from Panera Bread...with a cookie at the bottom of every box. We were all relieved. The nine of us walked through campus to find a good place to sit down and eat. We sat outdoors since the weather was so nice, and kept the first-years talking so much with our questions, that they barely had a chance to finish half of their sandwiches. After lunch, we walked around campus and had a tour of Berryhill, the library, the MBRB, and the hospital lobby. The MBRB (medical biomolecular research building) and the library are both VERY nice. Finally, we returned to our waiting room in MacNider where we sat until it was time for our interviews. Depending on your interviewers and their schedules, you will either be going somewhere to meet them, or they will be picking you up at the waiting room. A representative from the admissions office will inform you of which situation you are in, and will then help herself to a cookie. One of my interviewers took me outside, and the other took me to an empty conference room downstairs in MacNider. Both were very down-to-earth, genuinely friendly people. Of course I was still somewhat nervous, but if you just remember to stay positive, smile, and look at the whole experience as just a casual TWO-sided conversation (go ahead and ask your interviewers some questions, too...just don't interrupt), rather than a grill-session where you are in the hot seat, you will be alright. Have some fun if you can, loosen up, and be yourself!