What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Hard work, determination, and tenacity are three qualities you feel you possess that helped you to get to where you are today. These are “get there†words. What qualities do you think will help you succeed in medical school and the medical profession? I said the same qualities would work…
Since I am from a small town, the student interviewer asked if I was on a panel to figure out how to get doctors to practice in small towns and large cities, what programs would I implement to encourage this.
Read through my application (both the secondary and AACOM). They like to ask questions directly (verbatim) from your application. Also read the feedback on SDN.
What impressed you positively?
Dr. Haight was great and made you feel at ease. When you meet him in the morning before the interview (GO TO THE HOTEL FOR THE BREAKFAST) ask him lots of questions about the interview. He will tell if you ask--but only if you ask. Don't be shy. The campus was okay, but the anatomy lab was pretty impressive (no smell whatsoever).
What impressed you negatively?
The library left a lot to be desired. The school is fairly new and in the construction phase. The school is the ONLY thing on the island, so you must leave to do anything. Also, the students didn't seem to have any desire to do anything but study--there was a severe lack of things to do OTHER than study (I am not sure how they would vent after tests or a hard week).
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Rent a car if you can. Vallejo has very little to do, especially in walking distance and there isn't very much public transportation. I didn't know the school was ranked so high among other schools. Also, 4000 people get applications, 400 get interviews, and about 187 get accepted (pretty good oddsâ€â€about 50/50).
What are your general comments?
The interview experience was pretty good overall. This was my first interview so I was pretty nervous going into it, especially since it was a panel interview. However, it wasn't bad at all. They don't try to make you look bad in front of anyone or put you on the spotâ€â€it’s pretty laid back and relaxed. All the questions were from my personal statement on my secondary or AACOM. They mostly focused on activities and words / qualities that I used in it. Be sure to know what you said and why you said it. The campus and school are new and it is hard to see what it will be like when things get rolling. All-in-all it was a good experience and a lot less stressful than I had anticipated. I cannot stress enough to ask Dr. Haight all the questions you have about the interview, because he is very good at telling it like it is and being honest about it. I was a bit curious about how Jewish the school would beâ€â€but it isn’t a big part of itâ€â€just an affiliation.