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Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Springfield, IL

Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit

⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Positively

What was the stress level of the interview?

8 out of 10

How you think you did?

3 out of 10

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

6 out of 10

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

5 out of 10
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

Explain your grades and MCAT scores. How did you study for the MCAT?
What ties do you have to the area? Would you seriously consider attending SIU and practicing here? (I'm from the Chicago area)
Why do you want to attend SIU? (make sure you mention PBL because it's huge there)

What was the most interesting question?

What's the last book you've read? What is your favorite movie?

What was the most difficult question?

Not necessarily a question but the fact that I was grilled so much for coming from my hometown. My AdCom interviewer behaved like he doubted my sincere interest in becoming a physician in the area and I was really offended.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

50 minutes

How many people interviewed you?

2

What was the style of the interview?

One-on-one

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?

5 out of 10

What is your in-state status?

In state

What were your total hours spent traveling?

4-6 hours

What was your primary mode of travel?

Train or subway

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

$101-$200

What airport did you fly into?

No responses

Where did you stay?

Hotel

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

Homestyle Inn & Suites

How would you rate the hotel?

8 out of 10

Would you recommend the hotel?

yes

What is your ranking of this school's location?

2 out of 10

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

2 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?

10 out of 10

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

10 out of 10

How did you prepare for the interview?

Read SDN interview feedback questions, practiced answers with friends

What impressed you positively?

The PBL curriculum and how happy the current students are. Also, the Admissions people are incredibly nice.

What impressed you negatively?

I felt attacked by the AdCom member interviewer. It's like he was very turned off about where I came from and nothing I said would impress him.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

That being from Chicago apparently works against me. Had I known this, I probably wouldn't have attended the interview.

What are your general comments?

One interviewer is an Admissions Committee member and that interview is open file. The other is a faculty member and it's mostly closed file. Other than my negative experience with the first interviewer, everyone else was incredibly kind and really did their best to sell SIU's positive points. PBL sounds really impressive and the med students seem really happy. Also, Homestyle Inn & Suites is incredibly close to the school and decently priced if you're looking for a motel to stay at.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Just to clarify that all interviewees need a visitor's badge when they arrive.