Tampa, FL
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public 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?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
8 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
8 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What are your general comments?
The day is pretty long but relatively low stress. (If I have one complaint, I would be that the day goes from 7:45 am to 3:30 pm.) Much of that time is spent with discussions and presentations. You tour a facility assocaited with the med school (like Shriner's, Moffitt, Tampa General, etc.) and then interview, either at the tour location or back at the med school depending on the place. There are two closed file interviews, so interviewers know nothing about you. That means you will get general questions. My interviewers were quite nice. Don't worry if your interviews go long, are short (one of mine was only 20 minutes long), or if your interviewer doesn't show up/you get a replacement interviewer. Roll with it. Be yourself and give honest answers that describe you as a person, and you'll be fine. USF specifically is closed-file to ensure that you are seen as a person (that means you can't rest on your GPA, MCAT, or other fancy accomplishments; you have to able to articulate you experiences). Lunch is given and there are more presentations in the afternoon (which can be a challenge to keep focused through as you are done with the actual interview). Mr. Larkin (a credit to the school) will personally call you 10 days after the interview to tell you the school's decision. P.S. The sheet interviewers are given to evaluate you has categories like shadowing, medical volunteering, community service, leadership, research, empathy, personal appearance, etc.; this might help you prepare answers to questions in these areas.
💬 Interview Process
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Why do you want to be a doctor?
What was the most interesting question?
How would you say that you're empathetic? (This could have been a difficult question, but the person left the question very open and that allowed me to create concrete examples and put in my two cents.)
How did you prepare for the interview?
read my application (including all essays, resume), SDN.net, going over possible questions (like the inevitable "Why do you want to be a doctor?")
What was the most difficult question?
How would your friends describe you? (Difficult only because I don't spend much of my time thinking about others' views of me.)
What impressed you positively?
Mr. Larkin and admissions staff are awesome, students were very friendly, there are many high-quality medical facilities (Moffitt's Hospital- a cancer hospital, Shriner's Children's Hospital - a pediatric orthopedic institute, and a Veteran's Hospital), innovative curriculum (focus on small groups and case-based learning), focus on applicants as a person vs. as a set of scores
What impressed you negatively?
clinical centers are spread out over Tampa (and the need to commute), large amount of time in the classroom
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
None of the admissions faculty have a vote in the committee that makes a decision on your application, so feel free to talk and joke with everyone. Once you matriculate into a med school, no other schools can give you acceptance offers. (While not specifically about this school, it is something to keep in mind if you are accepted to a school that starts earlier than others but are still interested in another school.)
🤝 Campus and Facilities
How do you rank the facilities?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this school's location?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
9 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?
In state
What were your total hours spent traveling?
2-3 hours
What was your primary mode of travel?
Automobile
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
$101-$200
Where did you stay?
Hotel
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
Doubletree
How would you rate the hotel?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
yes
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