Hershey, PA
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
Application Cycle: 2009-10
⭐ Overall Impressions
How do you rank the facilities?
6 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
5 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
5 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
6 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
7 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
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
4 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
💬 Interview Questions
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The usual... why medicine? why Penn State? how do you feel about research?
What was the most difficult question?
The PhD that interviewed me took me to his lab to show off the facilities. While there he asked me to go introduce myself to students working in the lab (there were only two girls there at the time). The first girl I spoke to had come from China just two months previously, and spoke hardly a lick of English. We had a nice conversation, but it was quite a challenge trying to communicate since I know zero Mandrin.
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions
How long was the interview?
30 minutes
How did the interview impress you?
Positively 🙂
How many people interviewed you?
2
What was the stress level of the interview?
1 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
How you think you did?
8 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
What impressed you positively?
The new Cancer Institute; the required research project; the desire of the administration to constantly improve the curriculum; the obvious attention my file was given by my interviewers ahead of time.
What impressed you negatively?
Of all my interviews, I saw the students the least amount of time here - almost erie how little I saw them. Those that I did meet weren't mean, but they also were not as outgoing as any of the other schools I've been to. During our lunch time (not particularly memorable lunch), one of the students repeatedly kept asking me if I had any questions for him to the point of being rather awkward.
Additionally, during our time with Dean Davis, he lectured us for five minutes about how single payer universal health care was the only legitimate policy options doctors should support. Seemed like an odd soapbox moment for an interview tour. Interestingly, I asked both my interviewers what they thought about a single payer system and they both rejected it outright.
What are your general comments?
Penn State COM has lots to offer for those comfortable with living in a rural setting. I'm not sure it's fair to judge its program on the basis of only one visit, but overall I wouldn't say it's an amazing school - just good.
📍 On-Site Experience
Who was the tour given by?
Other
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?
Dulles
Where did you stay?
Hotel
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
Days Inn
How would you rate the hotel?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
yes
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