Blacksburg, VA
Osteopathic 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?
1 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
How you think you did?
9 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
7 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 commitment the school has made to serving Appalachia is refreshing. They stay true to this mission in rural education and try to give students the chance to stay local for rotations (most DO schools guarantee you will be at least a quick plane ride away for a clerkship or two). They have a great afilliation with VTech that allows them to have more resources than almost all DO schools, with opportunity to do research and other studies. The students were very friendly and down to earth, as was the admissions staff. The faculty interviews were so laid back and conversational that I don't really recall being asked specific questions. It was more a give and take... a real conversation where they get to know you as a human being first. They do, after all, have your file so they already know you as a student. They are open to questions and answer honestly.
💬 Interview Process
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Explain how your experiences made you want to become a DO.
How did you prepare for the interview?
read school's website, applications, SDN
What impressed you positively?
The school is new but feels like it's very established partly b/c of the affiliation with VTech, but mostly b/c it seems they did it right-- they planned and and built the facility well before admitting their first class. Thank goodness for grants, huh? Also, unlike most DO schools, your 3rd and 4th years can all be spent within a 3 hr drive of the area-- good for students with families.
What impressed you negatively?
The town of Blacksburg-- it is the ultimate college town (mostly b/c of there not being much else around). If you aren't a Hokie fan, and don't like being surrounded with partying undergrads, I would suggest planning on living at least as far as Christiansburg (10 minutes) or maybe even closer to Roanoke. Graduate/professional housing rentals in the area are quite expensive for Southern VA and have unreasonable pet fees. Notice I did not say anything bad about VCOM-- it is GREAT!
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
How huge a presence VTech really is. Over half the population of Blacksburg is made up of students. The area is pretty but I imagine how many drunk kids roam around on game day...
🤝 Campus and Facilities
How do you rank the facilities?
9 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this school's location?
5 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
2 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
📍 Travel and Logistics
Who was the tour given by?
Admissions staff
How did the tour guide seem?
Enthusiastic
What is your in-state status?
Out of state
What were your total hours spent traveling?
4-6 hours
What was your primary mode of travel?
Automobile
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
< $100
Where did you stay?
Hotel
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
Holiday Inn University
How would you rate the hotel?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
yes
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