Palo Alto, CA
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?
8 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?
8 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
9 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What are your general comments?
You definitely don't want to interview on a Wednesday since there is no class (and there are few students around). At least that's what the coordinator said. I was there on a Thursday, but b/c of exams it was the same thing. My first interviewer was very dry..just wanted to talk about research. My second interviewer and I talked about research, but we got off topic and talked about news etc.
💬 Interview Process
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Tell me about your research (one guy only asked me about research). At the end i asked him if he wanted to ask me about activities or other things, and he said he had read my app.
What was the most interesting question?
Because it was match day and first and second years were having exams, I had two faculty interviewers as opposed to one student and one faculty. Both of my researchers mainly wanted to talk about my research. My guess is they are trying to get a feel for how you'd fit in their program.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Read my application, went over med.stanford.edu...basically tried to formulate my answer of "why stanford?" which was asked by both interviewers (that's a standard question at the school)
What was the most difficult question?
I already know all about your outside activities by reading your application, but tell me how these will help you as a physician.
What impressed you positively?
Some of the new facilities and the friendliness of the faculty (you have to go to your interviews...and both of mine were in basements of old buildings...but people knew i was interviewing by my suit and would offer to point me in the right way)
What impressed you negatively?
The classrooms are pretty old, but they seem to be slowly updating things. Also, in the morning, our interview coordinator made it a point for us to introduce ourselves. She ended up telling everyone in the group information from our applications. When one gentleman introduced himself, she waited until he was done and then pointed out that he was getting his PhD. Another girl started an NGO etc. etc. While that definitely says that they have stellar applicants, it's kind of awkward for someone else to be sharing it. Could have been an isolated incident...
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
How suburban and undiverse the area around Stanford is (while i hear East Palo Alto is mixed, the area around stanford is very yuppie/country club--not very colorful).
🤝 Campus and Facilities
How do you rank the facilities?
7 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?
Neutral
What is your in-state status?
Out of state
What were your total hours spent traveling?
0-1 hour
What was your primary mode of travel?
Train or subway
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
< $100
Where did you stay?
Friends or family
How would you rate the hotel?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
no
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