Irvine, CA
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public 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
What are your general comments?
I had an awesome time, especially since it was my first interview. I was really nervous coming down, but I had the opportunity to go to a underrepresented minority gathering at Chili's the night before. I highly recommend this to anyone who is invited because the med students really put my mind at ease about the ensuing interview day. I entered the next day with composure and confidence that nothing was going to surprise me.
I think the best advice I heard was from Gayle who reminded all of us in the morning that the day is just as much about the school trying to impress you as it is about you impressing them. If you are offered an interview, then that means they want you to come to their school. They are trying to get you to like them as well as trying to get to know you a little better.
Finally, UCI COM is a great place and my overall impression was changed by my interview experience. I highly recommend the school and hope to some day be a part of it. Good luck everybody!
💬 Interview Process
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Tell me about your involvement in (blank) activity. Tell me about your family.
How did you prepare for the interview?
SDN website, read Time magazines to catch up with current events, re-read my personal statement & application to Irvine, and went over some basic questions in my head like why go to medicine, why Irvine, etc.
What was the most difficult question?
Where do you see yourself in 15 years? What type of practice will you be in, what type of patient population will you be treating, and where will you be?
What impressed you positively?
I was surprised at how high their pass rate is on the Step 1. Also, their students have a pretty high percentage of placing into the top 3 choices of residencies. The environment of the school is very friendly and not competitive at all. The students I talked to all said that they help each other study and that there is a huge data base for past tests to help them also. Now, UCI would probably be a top choice for me if I am accepted.
What impressed you negatively?
The only thing that is weird is that the medical center is a ways from campus. Otherwise, everything is peachy.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
The traffic going south on the 55 is still horrible in the morning. It took me almost an hour to get there from my house when it should only take 25 minutes. Of course, that is partially my fault since I left right in the middle of rush hour. (7:00am-8:00am)
📍 Travel and Logistics
Who was the tour given by?
Student
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