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Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center School of Medicine

Richmond, VA

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?

What type of research do you think you want to do?
Why did you apply to VCU/MCV?
Why do you want to get the PhD? Why not just an MD and do research?

What was the most interesting question?

tell me about your family

What was the most difficult question?

some very specific questions about my research, since one of the interviewers works in a very similar field
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

60+ minutes

How many people interviewed you?

3

What was the style of the interview?

In a group

What type of interview was it?

Open 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?

Out of state

What were your total hours spent traveling?

7+ hours

What was your primary mode of travel?

Airplane

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

$301-$400

What airport did you fly into?

RIC

Where did you stay?

With students at the school

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?

7 out of 10

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

7 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?

read over my research, school website, I have a friend who is there as a first year so I asked her some questions

What impressed you positively?

everyone was enthusiastic, the school is growing and expanding research facilities, my interviewers all had been at VCU/MCV for a long time and still loved it

What impressed you negatively?

Richmond and the food poisoning I got from my dinner :(

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

No responses

What are your general comments?

I started the day with a lab visit and clicked with the researcher rght away over football. Next I had my MD interview (one hour, open file, one-on-one) and that went really well. It was very relaxed, we told a few jokes, and the hour went by really quickly. Then we had a little pep-talk about the program (everyone else interviewing that day was straight MD so it was mainly geared toward them) and financial aid and planning. Next we had lunch and a tour with two tour guides who were amazingly excited, honest, and very knowledgable. The first years were having a big anatomy exam and then didn't even seem too stessed when we walked by some of them studying. Next I had my PhD interview (one hour, group, open-file). Mostly I discussed my research, my future plans, why MD/PhD and not one or the other... the usual stuff. After that I had one more lab visit, and then dinner with two MD/PhD students which was great because I got to ask whatever I wanted since it was just the three of us.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

No responses