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?
sdn, website, reviewed app
What impressed you positively?
The opening presentation was given by the dean. He repeatedly stressed that the interviews were designed only to get to know the applicants better, there were no "high pressure" situations, and any concerns should be addressed directly to him...gave direct contact numbers and email. (Although it was curious to me that he spent so much time talking about how to resolve interview problems/handle concerns or inappropriate questions.)
What impressed you negatively?
One of my interviewers was hostile, condescending, and confrontational. He essentially asked me NO questions and spent our entire time lecturing me about how I wasn't good enough to get in. (This was the same interviewer who accused me of lying on my essay.) Also, I was very disappointed to hear the upper classmen extolling the virtues of how you can get through your first two years (including anatomy lab) without attending any classes...you can hire a scribe, study anatomy from a book, and only show up for tests. Why should I pay tuition and relocate when it could just be an online degree???
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
They have a "scoring sheet" that goes from 1 or 2 to 8 or 9. There are guidelines on the form for where a student must be placed, based on scores. They go strictly by scores (GPA, MCAT). The interviews are essentially irrelevant. "Interviews can only move you up a maximum of one point. Negative interviews can move you down onw or more points."The decisions are based on the numbers with little leeway for personal impressions by the interviewers. This was repeated by all 3 interviewers. Made the trip seem like a waste of everybody's time.
What are your general comments?
Despite the initially positive impression of the dean, it was overall a very negative experience. I am glad that I went because it confirmed that I did NOT want to be affiliated with UAB...I withdrew my application the next day.
One of my interviewers told me that they didn't want "any strictly religious people to become doctors; for example, a Catholic who doesn't believe in abortions." I was stunned at this direct religious discrimination in a state-supported school. Per the dean's instructions re: contacting him about any inappropriate interviews or questions, I emailed the dean the following day (and contacted the equal opportunity compliance officer). After "reviewing" the situation, the dean told me that they had decided to grant me another interview to replace the one in question. I believed this would only be a further waste of my time and was an indication that the dean wasn't serious about addressing problems. I subsequently spoke with other applicants to UAB from various years and found that many had similarly inappropriate experiences. Even though UAB has a good reputation, my advice is to SERIOUSLY evaluate your options and talk to as many previous applicants and students as possible before applying. I want a school that can TEACH me and teach me HOW to learn...not teach me how to get by with as little effort as possible.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
