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University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Tampa, FL

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Positively

What was the stress level of the interview?

2 out of 10

How you think you did?

9 out of 10

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

7 out of 10

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

8 out of 10
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

Tell me about your clinical experience. Tell me about your community service. (USF is big on both clinical and service activities, so keep that in mind if you want to go here.)
Tell me about yourself. (I'm a non-trad, so this took up the bulk of both interviews!)
What questions do you have for me?

What was the most interesting question?

None really. I basically talked the entire time. The interviewer doesn't know anything about you and hasn't read your file, so it's very open-ended.

What was the most difficult question?

Do you really need an MD, or could you achieve your career goals without going to medical school?
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

45 minutes

How many people interviewed you?

2

What was the style of the interview?

One-on-one

What type of interview was it?

Closed 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?

Enthusiastic

How do you rank the facilities?

8 out of 10

What is your in-state status?

In state

What were your total hours spent traveling?

0-1 hour

What was your primary mode of travel?

Automobile

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

< $100

What airport did you fly into?

No responses

Where did you stay?

Friends or family

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

No responses

How would you rate the hotel?

9 out of 10

Would you recommend the hotel?

yes

What is your ranking of this school's location?

8 out of 10

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

8 out of 10

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?

Looked at the feedback on SDN, practiced answering questions, read the school's website, talked to some friends who go there, read my AMCAS and secondary (even though the interviewer doesn't have access to them, I wanted to remember what I had already told them so that I could tell them about new activities since I sent in my app.)

What impressed you positively?

Several things about USF really appeal to me. 1) Mr. Larkin's transparency-he explains exactly what's going to happen and when, as well as how the committee considers us. And then he calls you the next week to tell you where you stand. 2) USF is not a numbers whore-your clinical, research, and service activities are very important to them. 3) They have strong clinical training and great affiliated hospitals. 4) There are lots of non-trads there; the average age of the first year class is 25. 5) The Moffitt Cancer Center is fantastic and I'd rate it to be better than any of the other cancer centers in this state (I've also seen Sylvester and Shands.) 6) The administration seems caring and responsive to students and their problems. 7) I really felt like the school wants me to come here and was working hard to recruit me.

What impressed you negatively?

1) There are grades and class rank, which I don't love. 2) Non-trads are not considered independent for financial aid, no matter how old you are. 3) USF is a relatively young school, so they are still trying to make a name for themselves in research, but their new dean is very research-oriented, and they have just started a new MD/PhD program. 4) The teaching hospitals are spread all over the Tampa Bay area, necessitating a lot of driving during the third and fourth years for clinical rotations.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

USF is a very non-trad friendly school, and Tampa is also a family-friendly city. There is a science museum and also Busch Gardens located practically within walking distance of the campus. On-campus childcare is also available.

What are your general comments?

This was by far the most relaxed interview that I have attended. The interview group was small (16 of us), and the interviews are conducted off-campus at places like Tampa General Hospital, Shriners' Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, or Lifelink. There are two interviews, both closed-file. This feels kind of bizarre, because the interviewer literally knows nothing about you, not even your name, until you step into the room. One interviewer was a physician, and the other was a student. Mr. Larkin calls you the following week to tell you how the committee voted. (I got in!) Overall, this school is a great option for FL residents, and it is one of my top choices.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

No responses