Richmond, VA
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
Application Cycle: 2009-10
⭐ Overall Impressions
How do you rank the facilities?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
10 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
10 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
9 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
💬 Interview Questions
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Describe when/how/why you became interested in medicine. This led to other questions related to those experiences. (Describe differences in healthcare in Trinidad and in the US. Describe good attributes of physicians. Describe a negative trait of a physician. Compare the hospitals in Trinidad with those in the US.)
What was the most interesting question?
What is a negative characteristic of a physician that you have observed? (This was after being asked what are good traits of doctors you've observed, either in a foreign country or as a patient.)
What was the most difficult question?
Explain your verbal reasoning score compared to the sciences.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions
How long was the interview?
60+ minutes
How did the interview impress you?
Positively 🙂
How many people interviewed you?
1
What was the stress level of the interview?
2 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
How you think you did?
9 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What was the style of the interview?
One-on-one
What type of interview was it?
Open file
Where did the interview take place?
At the school
How did you prepare for the interview?
SDN, read my AMCAS and secondary applications, talked to two current students (one M1 and one M2), read the school's website, looked up various ethical/ current healthcare issues (prepared more than necessary)
What impressed you positively?
I was impressed with how laid-back the interview was. He told me at the beginning that he hoped it would be a good, easy-going experience and that it was probably a good first interview to have. I was very impressed with the facilities, especially the hospital. The admissions meeting was very thorough on explaining exactly what is next in the process. She emphasized that the interview is the most important part because it allows the committee know you as a personal personality. This is especially important when there is a tie, interview score, then undergrad gpa, and then mcat score. Also the associate dean of admissions mentioned to feel free to email her with any information you may have forgotten to mention to the interview. Before the rest of the committee, she mentions that information. (It was somewhat difficult to always remember everything to say to the interviewer, especially since it was more of a conversation). The food was good also! You can get whatever you want and it's free! Richmond was very picturesque. I loved it. I hope I get accepted!
What impressed you negatively?
Be prepared to walk a lot during the tour. Also it got hotter after lunchtime. Also, with 11 interviewees in today's group, it was harder to hear what each of the tourguides said because they were usually answering questions at the same time.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
I wish I had known that an October 3rd interview probably isn't early enough to be notified by the mid-October mail out date because they're running behind with presenting the interviewees to the admissions committee. I chose today because the Monday interview would allow me to only miss one day of classes.
What are your general comments?
I stayed with an M1 who walked me to Sanger Hall this morning. I didn't feel as nervous about leaving later because he knew exactly where to go. I arrived 10 minutes before my interview at 9 am. My interviewer picked me up from the admissions office, and we walked to his office in the hospital. The interview lasted an hour and a couple minutes. He had another interviewee at 10 am so we left the hospital at 10. Then I sat in the applicant waiting room for an hour with other interviewees. Ten of us had morning interviews and one had a 2 pm one. Then we met with the associate dean of admissions for 55 minutes before the tourguides, 2 M2s, came. We started the tour and then ate lunch at the hospital. Then the rest of the tour consisted of the computer lab, lecture hall, pediatric ICU, courtyard, etc.
📍 On-Site Experience
Who was the tour given by?
Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Enthusiastic
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?
$501+
What airport did you fly into?
RIC
Where did you stay?
With students at the school
How would you rate the hotel?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
yes
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