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?
I read SDN, printed questions off of it, and had someone ask me the questions. I participated in a mock interview with an admissions director from another institution (at a Pre-Med conference). I went to Borders and read books on interview questions & perused similar websites.
What impressed you positively?
The vast range of clinical and research opportunities & the new technological resources. (I worked at UM Med for many years, so I was already familiar with the campus & the schools offerings before the interview. I believe the school's biggest asset is its relationship with Jackson Memorial Hospital (county hospital) and the Miami VA Hospital. The range of clinical experiences & cases one has the opportunity to see there is truly unparalleled.)
What impressed you negatively?
The cost of tuition--it simply keeps going up, & up, & up.... Given that Miami is an expensive city to live in already, & that the amount of federal loans is limited, it is hard to imagine how one might find the money to pay for school & living expenses.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Nothing. (But as I mentioned previously, I worked at the school for years. If I hadn't, I'd want to know the following: (1) it's usually *very* hot, so don't wear a suit that you'll sweat to death in; (2) do *not* stay near the medical campus (i.e. the Days Inn) as it will give you a bad impression of Miami. a good choice would be to stay at the Dadeland Marriott or a hotel on Brickell so that you can take the MetroRail to campus (that way you don't have to rent a car) & have a postive experience of Miami; (3) wear comfortable shoes--the campus is *huge* & the tour involves a lot of walking; (4) if you choose to drive to your interview, give yourself a *lot* of time to get there--Miami traffic is horrible & parking at the medical center is not great, either. also, do yourself a favor and print directions off the internet so that you don't get lost.)
What are your general comments?
UM does a good job of putting together a well thought out, informative interview experience. The day proceeds as follows: You arrive before 9:00 am. The first person you'll meet is Agnes Murphy, secretary extraordinaire, who shepards the students throughout the day like a loving mother. She'll provide you with a folder of information, containing your schedule & all sorts of information about the med program & Miami. You may then sit in the admissions office, eat dougnut holes & drink coffee, & chat with current med students & other interviewees. The day officially begins at 9AM with an orientation talk by Dr. Hinkley, who is hilarious & very welcoming. At 9:30AM there's a talk about research opportunities. After, the day diverges a bit. Your interview will either be at 10AM, 11AM or 1PM. During each hour, you'll either be interviewing, touring the facilities, or hearing the financial aid talk. At noon, you have the opportunity to have lunch with current medical students & residents. Fretnot--the food is good & they do have a vegetarian option. At ~1:15PM, Dr. Hinkley provides a closing talk, during which he tells you when you can expect to hear back from the school. In all, it's an informative, well-scheduled, & relatively non-stressful experience.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
