New York, NY
Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
Application Cycle: 2009-10
⭐ Overall Impressions
How did the interview impress you?
Positively 🙂
What was the stress level of the interview?
2 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
How you think you did?
7 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
7 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
7 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What are your general comments?
Overall, I liked this school. Moving to the Bronx would definitely be an adjustment for me, but I feel that I could manage it. NYC is definitely a bit claustrophobic if you are from a small city or town, though. This interview was the least structured interview I have ever been on. You basically set your own agenda, such as choosing a researcher to meet if you want, or the financial aid officer, or the dean of admissions. But if you don't want to do these things, you can skip them. The tour and lunch are recommended but are also optional; if you wanted, you could just come here, do your interview, and leave. This a la carte approach is in keeping with the general self-directed learning philosophy of the school.
💬 Interview Process
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
What patient contact have you had that influenced your decision to go into medicine?
What was the most interesting question?
If you couldn't make it to the interview today, what four people would you send to represent you, and what would they each say about you?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Re-read my application, read interview feedback on SDN, read the AECOM website, looked up and read papers published by the researcher I was meeting, practiced answering questions.
What was the most difficult question?
What do you know/think about living in the Bronx? (not much; I'd never been there before! If you're not from NYC, be prepared to get this question.)
What impressed you positively?
1) Great research opportunities (I found a prof ahead of time that I'd be interested in working with, and was able to meet with him during my visit), 2) students are super friendly and the school has a diverse student body (it's one of the more diverse schools I've visited), 3) students seem happy (the first two years are P/F, so competition is nil), 4) there are brand new buildings going up all over campus: the new Jacobi hospital, and also a new translational research center that is currently under construction, 5) cheap, convenient student housing, 6) nice first-year student lecture hall, 7) lots of non-trads (AECOM explicitly invites older students to apply)
What impressed you negatively?
The biggest drawback to AECOM for me is its cost. Realistically, I probably cannot afford to go here without some serious financial aid. Also, some of the facilities are fifty years old and look it. Yehsiva is an orthodox Jewish university, so everything closes on Saturdays, including the library (although you can go study at Fordham nearby).
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
If you already have a PhD before matriculating here, you are exempted from writing the required scholarly paper. AECOM has a large MSTP program, and all of these students are exempt from writing the scholarly paper as well.
🤝 Campus and Facilities
How do you rank the facilities?
6 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this school's location?
6 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
6 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
📍 Travel and Logistics
Who was the tour given by?
Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Enthusiastic
What is your in-state status?
Out of state
What were your total hours spent traveling?
2-3 hours
What was your primary mode of travel?
Airplane
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
$201-$300
What airport did you fly into?
JFK
Where did you stay?
With students at the school
How would you rate the hotel?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
yes
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