Applicants generally found the interviews at Drexel to be conversational and low-stress, with a mix of experiences with faculty and student interviewers. Some noted positive aspects such as the community focus, innovative curriculum options, and friendly environment, while others expressed concerns about the facilities, location, and interviewer demeanor.
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Not very stressful, both interviews were very conversational.
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The overall interview was neither positive or negative. Either way would love to attend here in the future!
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Both interviews are very conversational and casual, which helps ease the stress but also makes it tricky to try to stay formal with answers
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Two interviews. One w faculty member, then one group interview w/ student
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I thought my interview went very well
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They had a curriculum q&a to answer questions about their curriculum as it is pretty different from other schools. even though there is a big independent learning component, the student i spoke with seemed to like it. the school seems really committed to serving the community and teaching its students about health advocacy.
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Everyone was super nice, very chill day. The essay is also low stress; basically CASPR part 2
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Really enjoyed the interview day, everything was very laid back and they seemed to genuinely want to get to know me as a person.
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Relaxed day. Two interviews: a one-on-one open-file faculty interview that lasts approximately 30 mins and a group closed-file interview with 2 other interviewees and a current student (very casual "interview" over a lunch and campus tour).
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Only one interview that was suppose to be 30 minutes, very relaxed. The tour was great because we saw the entire building. We even went into the cadaver lab, which was awesome.
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The interview experience heavily depends on who you have as your interviewer. My first interview here was completely conversational and flowed greatly; the time passed quickly. My most recent one was robotic: question - answer, question - answer, goodbye.
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I was immediately turned off from the school once I met my interviewer. After being 10-15 minutes late, the first thing she did was rush into the waiting room, look at me, and say "well come on." Like I was the late one. She didn't even introduce herself. I was disappointed to say the least.
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This school was spectacularly underwhelming.
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Bad location, old facilities, super big class size, seems like no one really is super proud they go there
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Seemed outdated. Micro lab has old microscopes. Students were very enthusiastic, friendly, and eager to answer any questions.
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In your interview it is so important that you are honest and real. These professors, doctors, and admissions committee members have been doing this for years and can tell right off the bat whether or not a student is being themselves. If you were invited for an interview, Drexel has some sort of interest in you so be confident, but never arrogant.
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Had a poor experience interviewing at Drexel. Although parts of my experience are unique to me, I think overall the interview day for myself and many of my fellow applicants was disappointing. Two fellow applicants told me that their interviewers were on the phone the whole time during their interviews...
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The student interviews are laid back but they still matter quite a bit.
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Nothing special
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My interview day at Drexel was overall not the best. I had an idea about the day from reading this survey and SDN. The essay was given at the beginning of the day and wasn't hard at all, so don't worry about that too much. So my faculty interview was at the adjacent campus in Central City so I had to take a campus shuttle. My interviewer was over a half an hour late because he was tending to patients and basically hinted the whole interview that I was good but not good enough. Then I was late coming back to campus and my student interviewer was nice but we ended up finishing up an hour after the scheduled end of the day, which was a little annoying. Overall, I didn't feel very welcome at Drexel, like I wasn't good enough and didn't sense a warm feeling from the students.
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Good, solid curriculum (two choices!), good clinical experiences in M1, M2. Easily accessible via pub trans (SEPTA, 9 bucks to airport). Interview was much more conversational than interrogative.
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Fantastic school that is community-focused and seems like it wants its students to succeed.
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More organization needed. desperately.
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I really liked this school because they are one of the few MD schools that give an alternative learning pathway, I like the sense of an innovative curriculum.
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Not impressed.
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I wish I had Temple interview...since it will take over the Allegheny Gen Hospital in Pittsburgh
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Very laid back interview, nice facilities, seems like a very positive student community
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Drexel doesn't even try to make an impression on its applicants. Don't expect to feel special on interview day. You won't get a name tag or breakfast.
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The clinician who interviewed me was late, answered two phone calls while I was in his office with him, and then proceeded to seem disinterested and asked me a total of 2 real questions. One of which was "where else have you gotten interviews?" which totally caught me off guard. But then I was accepted almost immediately, so I have no idea what to think now.
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An overall good day.
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I really enjoyed the interview overall. It was very laid back, and the essay at the beginning of the interview was a breeze. It wasn't made to be a critical thinking exercise.
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There was an ethics essay at the beginning of the day, but you are given plenty of time to complete it.
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Good experience there.
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Loved it here, although it's not big and shiny.
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If you interview on a Sat, expect things to wrap up by 1pm. You will not see the hospital downtown as the faculty interviewers will all be waiting for you at the school itself. There will be more or less 3 essay prompts from which you'll get one assigned in your packet. You can start thinking about it during the presentation which starts off the day. You'll have all day to finish the essay which should not go over half a page.
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Generally my interviewer was very relaxed and mostly friendly. She didn't ask anything about healthcare or ethical issues. Simply went over my application and asked about my experiences/activities/grades. It is important to take time to phrase your answer. I hurried to answer and didn't sound too convinced/confident. Overall it was a nice and cozy school, with friendly students and approachable staff.
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Very solid nice school, compacted campus, friendly environment, in general a very nice place I'd say
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Good to know about the essay!
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There needs to be a better schedule. Having people randomly leave the tour or sitting for hours waiting is horrible. Off campus shuttling is ridiculous.
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I really liked the school's curriculum, student body, extracurriculars, and community involvement.
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Definitely a cool school. I really like that they had a Saturday interview option, great for not having to miss work. Also, if you interview on a Saturday everything is conducted at the school (no having to take shuttles downtown) and they move things along - we were all done by 1 pm.
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The school is fine but I just didn't like the area and can't see myself living there.
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My student interview was during lunch and lasted maybe 20 minutes. He was very personable and it was more like a chat than anything but I was still nervous. My faculty interview was at Hahnemann after lunch and it lasted maybe 10 minutes. He was nice and although he asked me a few questions that were clearly designed to test my response to situations where there is no easy answer, he didn't grill me and he accepted it when I gave an honest "I don't know."
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I really wish I had been given a better chance with the interviewer. He did not seem very receptive to what I had to say and got quite confused with my activities despite the fact that they were right in front of him.
The student guest house is AMAZING. You get a ride to the school and they are such a nice family! They are so sweet and really put you at ease prior and after an interview.
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The essay they make you write wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. Just relax and have a good time! Student interview is closed file and faculty interview is open.
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I had a great time at Drexel, and I know I will be going there upon a acceptance. I think its a wonderful school, the interview is very relaxing and low stress. Be prepared to have a student interviewer who is not having a wonderful day.
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Your interview will vary greatly depending on who interviews you. Also, I didn't quite understand the scheduling of interviews throughout the day. One guy didn't get to go on the tour because he had to dip out early to catch the shuttle to the downtown interview site at the hospital. Also, another girl had to miss the optional PIL Q&A period because her interview was scheduled concurrently.
Also, the above ratings might look a bit low, but I find it hard to rate this school. I like Center City/downtown Philly, but where the M1 and M2 years are spent is bleh. Very boring, nothing to do, must drive 15-20 minutes in either direction to really have fun/eat after hours/party/ etc.
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The whole process was very low-stress, and both interviewers (one faculty open-file, one student closed-file) were relaxed and friendly. I found the interview timing/organization a little strange given that one student was shafted on the tour, but having students coming and going helped the casual feel of the day.
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Drexel was a pleasant surprise. It's a well-equipped med school and has a very easygoing, scholarly environment.
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I really loved the school and want to come! PIL program sounds more attracting as I learn more about it.
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Very conversational--I wouldn't worry about it. It was definitely stress free!
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Nice enough school no doubt. There was a presentation in the morning, powerpoint. i thought this was a huge waste of time and gained nothing from it.
you wait in a room with about the 10 other students whom you are interviewing with, and you can end up waiting there for about a half hour or so before the interview.
there are 2 interviewers, student and teacher. the student is at lunch. she tried to ask me tough questions, and i wasnt quite sure of how she wanted me to act - was this a 'be yourself and act casual because you are talking with a student at lunch and they want to see how cool and friendly you can be" interview'' or was it a regular interview where they grill you with questions, and they try to get you into a false sense of security by placing you in the caf. In other words, the student was asking me regular interview questions, but at same time you are supposed to have a natural conversation with the student at lunch. I guess i wasnt sure of the angle the student was taking, and how i was supposed to respond and act.
The teacher was nice enough. VERY short. Not sure how to take this. I asked a couple questions, but not too many.
He only asked about 3 or so.
I've got to agree with other comments on here, they don't go out of their way to wow you and entice you to come there. They do not make you individuallly feel unique or anything, and try to get you to come to the school. It was like the group i was with was interviewed as a whole, as opposed to being a day for me. Does this make sense??
email me with questions if you want.
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Accepted 02/06/09
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I live in a neighboring state. But I went (car) to philly one day ahead (because of a messy snow storm), stayed overnight at the student guest house, went to interview in the morning and drove back home. First I had my faculty interview (open file) at the downtown hospital and then the student interview (closed file) back at the campus during lunch. There is an essay-you have the whole day to write it. The downtown hospital has many buildings with many names. So leave time, so that when you get there by shuttle, you could ask people and go to the appropriate building on time. They have two curricula which they will show you during the tour in the morning. Be prepared for weather and if you happened to have a downtown interview, have a basic idea of the route to the shuttle stop. Finally, the student guest house - if you have to, then stay with them. The family is very nice. They provide wireless internet, breakfast, ride to the campus in the morning, and they even cleaned the snow off my car. Everything went well except the weather (snow, ice, rain...basically everything you expect). I hope Drexel would accept me (6-8 weeks for the decision). Good luck to all.
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If you stay at Moving Arts B & B, Pam, the owner will take good care of you. She picked me up from the airport, dropped me off, made sure my room was nice and warm (the room I had was really spacious), and she does whatever you might need to help your interview go as well as possible. She also gave me a heads up on what to expect for the interview (most her customers are applicants to DUCOM). The B & B doesn't come with breakfast but there is a nice cafe across the street that has delicious pastries baked daily and some amazing apple juice. Ask Pam about it and she'll point it out for you.
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Drexel seems like a great school to attend. Check it out.
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I love Drexel, the students are happy and the faculty know the students. The PIL program is a great side to the traditional lecture based programs. Faculty interview is open file followed by a student interview closed file over lunch. Stay with a student if possible they give plenty of info and the real dirt on the school if any. There are trains that run from the airport to Queen lane (med campus) for $10 one way.
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I feel pretty good about my interview and the school, there were some grilling questions but they didn't surprise me. Overall, it was a positive experience. I really like the school and the area. I can see my self coming here.
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My student interviewer told me to tell everyone to take the student interview seriously, it is as important as the interview with the doctors.
Find accommodations early, I recommend 'Student Guest House' they are practically around the corner from the school.
Friendly and professional and only $85; Can't go wrong.
Good luck!
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Stay at 'Student Guest House' if you can
to reduce stress of the day, they are just around the corner from the medical school and to the train station, it is a perfect place to stay for the interview, they only host Drexel medical student interviewees so the place is set up for the purpose. They understand the process and the stress of the interviews and trys to accommodate everything we need for the interview. They are friendly and helpful and knowledgeable about the area. The only thing is they have only two rooms so reserve soon, you don't want to be the one telling horror stories about where you stayed like some of the students at the orientation.
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I was very impressed with my whole experience. My faculty interviewer and student interview were friendly, informative, and professional. I loved the campus and the city seems pretty cool too. Overall a low stress and positive experience-I had fun! I could not have been more happy when I received my accept :)
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Nice school in an ok suburban setting. The transportation around the area is ok, but car recommended. A school I wouldn't mind attending but not my first choice.
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My student interviewer was nice, but didn't seem very enthusiastic.
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Pretty relaxed. I was really impressed. The faculty interviewer really knew my file, which was comforting.
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My interview experience was ok but not too exciting.
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The interview was conversational and easy going. I had an interview at 'Hannaman Hospital', 20 min ride from the med. school, it was an interesting experience I liked it.
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Student interviewer loved me... said I was the best interview he has done in years. Make sure you have a LOT of questions to ask because my student interviewer only had one question for me. Make sure you can talk about interesting things you have done throughout your career/studies during the student interview (show your personality and dedication to medicine). I think my faculty interview was very different from others who interviewed at Drexel in the sense that it was not laid back or conversational. The faculty interviewer grilled me and really wanted to know why I chose medicine since healthcare is going down the drain and doctors are paid less and are less respected. I felt like I was defending my choice like you would defend your thesis. But all his questions were fair, and I do believe he really wanted to be sure I had thought thoroughly about my decision to go into medicine. All of the questions I listed were asked by the faculty interviewer. Despite the tough interview, I really enjoyed the whole experience.
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Two interviews: faculty interview and student interview. The faculty interview is open file, while the student interview is closed file over lunch.
Interviews are held in two places, either at the med school campus or at the hospital in philadelphia. If you are interviewing at the hospital, you will need to take a shuttle from the med school to your interview.
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They popped a little essay on us while we were waiting for our interviews. I believe it was along the lines of describing when its okay to break the rules, when have you broke the rules, and what were the reaction to you breaking the rules. They gave you one sheet and you had to write it on that sheet, one side only.
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The people I met were great and it was refreshing to see such down-to earth faculty members and student body. The campus is small and the area around it isn't very nice, but it does allow for more focus on school!
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I absolutely COULD NOT convince this guy I wanted to go to drexel; I had really solid good reasons, which I told him over and over again. I felt like the man was selling Penn, Jeff, and every other school in Philly.
Low-key and the rest of the interview was totally pleasant and not stressful at all...I just should have been more prepared to say why drexel is the king of the world, I suppose :) good luck all
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He implied that I wasn't medical school material because I would neglect my kids, I was too serious, and not compassionate, even though I brought up good points, and reasons to the contrary. Watch out for this one. Oh, also, if you get him, have a bunch of stuff ready to ask/tell him... The interview started with... "So, do you have any questions?" Then he asked me 2 or 3 questions, then, "Would you like to add anything?" I sat there for a good 3 mins trying to think of anything to show how good of an applicant I am, but I hadn't prepared to pitch my entire app. Oh also, don't talk about anything on your AMCAS app, he doesn't like that, you hafta talk about other things. Anyways, expecting a rejection in 6 weeks.. I'll update if that isn't the case.
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This was my worst interview. I had 5 other interviews at this point and 3 acceptances. But my interviewer was so mean and pushy that he make me think that i was the worst candidate. It was a really bad interview.
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Students seem to really like the school. admissions could do a better job of selling it, though. they really try to push the two curriculums, so be sure to investigate that even though they tell you a lot about it. your interview may be soon after you arrive.
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There was one faculty interview (open-file) and a one-on-one student interview over lunch (closed-file). They said both counted equally.
I loved the school and would be happy to go there.
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Was my last choice school when I applied, but only because it's location was very near where I grew up. Was easily the largest school I applied to which I was not a fan of, but am grateful that they were the first school to accept me.
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Miae at East Falls Bed and Breakfast is awesome. She made me a great breakfast and drove me to my interview. She's a super sweet lady.
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My interviwer who is the anatomy prof. did not get a chance to read my file. In a way i liked that because he gave me a chance to talk about my application.It was very conversational and my interviwer was genuinely interested in getting to know me.
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Very low stress, overall a nice day. I learned a lot about the school and came away with a good impression.
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Tour guide was fine. Seemed to like the school but couldn't pinpoint anything. The sim lab seems nice but we couldn't see it. Would have liked to see the hospital. Would never go here after my day and my rude interviewer.
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It was like everyone elses on SDN, but i was interviewing for a BS/MD program. I had my fac. int. in the city. My interviewer was late 15 mins. I am thinking he was in a hurry bc he only asked me 2 questions. I was surprised when his second question was do u have any questions for me? Now came the improv. I had to incorporate my statements into what i was asking and what he was saying (such as y i want to become a doctor, why drexel, etc.)
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The interview is very conversational and pleasant. The student interview is closed file and give over a quick lunch as a brief assessment of whether the student feels your personality would fit in at the school. My faculty interview was with a professor of pathology, downtown at Hahnemann Hospital (a shuttle ride away). He was very pleasant and easy to speak to.
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Good... both of the people that interviewed me were really nice. I liked the tour a lot... very informative and entertaining.
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The experience was not that exciting. I felt like Drexel did not make a personal effort to attract the students. It was bascially like they wanted you focus on the boring computer gadets they had. The student interview was the peak of my day because she was actually personable. The admissions staff tour guide was really friendly as well. Other than that everyone seemed like robots that were just getting the job done. My interviewer did not make an effort to get to know me. Maybe she was having a bad day.The school appears to be a sound school but depending on the staff or faculty you met, you might not see it that way.
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The school is exactly as I expected it be. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of enthusiasm from students, but that could've been due to the exams that were happening for 2nd year students. I also found that the other interviewees were not as friendly as those I've been with at other schools.
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The student interviewer asked me harder questions than the faculty. He asked me serval questions about healthcare and ethics. After that we just did small talk.
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There were two interviews, one with an admissions committee member (either a clinician or one of several people who work in the admissions department) and the other over lunch with a student. The first interview is more formal, open-file, and in the office of your interviewer. The second interview is in the cafeteria with a student. It's much more laid back, closed file, and you will have many opportunities to ask questions about student life. Overall, the interview is very low stress, with the interviewers friendly and affable and open to questions. This is not the kind of interview you need to stress out about, and as long as you can talk reasonably articulately about your experiences, you should be fine!
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Very relaxing, student body is very friendly
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It was a great experience overall. I didn't feel much of stress. But the weather really had a strong impact on me since I came from the south; the freezing wind almost knocked me off the ground. Spare a lot of time for yourself if you are flying, the delayed flight easily swallow 5 hours of your time.
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The faculty interviewer was very nice and attentive..the student interview was held during lunch and was pretty laid-back as well
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It was great. I felt like the interviewers were trying to see if Drexel would be a fit for me, and not necessarily vice versa which was nice. I portrayed to them this is my #1 choice and hopefully that showed. Great school, great facilities, students LOVE Drexel. Everyone I have ever met has loved Drexel.
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The people there (faculty, students, doctors, and the random people i met in between my interviews) were friendly so it helped alot with keeping me relaxed and calm. even the interviews i had were more like conversations and not a stress test like i was afraid of.
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A mix of good and bad. The interviewers were great and the student I had lunch with was very nice as well. The opening presentation needs to be reworked and the student tour guide was clearly there only for the free lunch.
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Everything was great, except for the interview! Be ready and prepared for those tough questions, esp. about your past experiences is you are a non-traditional student.
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This was my first interview, but I thought it was a good way to start. Everything was pretty low stress, and my student interviewer was really friendly and helpful in answering my questions. I really enjoyed going to one of the first year classes.
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My impression of drexel has completely changed after visiting. Drexel is very student oriented and would be a great place to learn. Would go if i got in.
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The day started at 9 with a presentation about the school which was about 45 minutes long then a tour of the school for about an hour. After that some had faculty interviews and the rest waited until 12 to do student interviews(I had my faculty interview first). I interviewed with the microanatomy professor for the school. She was nice. At 12 I had my student interview over lunch which was really relaxed and easy going. After my student interview I went home at 1pm. Oh yeah, I got accepted yesterday.
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We arrived and conveined in a conference room where we introduced ourselves to each other.
We had a presentation the Drexel's history as a medical school, the current curriculum, financial stuff, etc. We had a tour given by a first year. My faculty interview was on site (some were downtown) and early (some where later), so I had my faculty interview and then my interview with a student over lunch. Some people did things in the reverse order depending on the time of the faculty interview.
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Everyone was friednly and willing to answer quesitons. The presentation at the begining was only ok, and the tour wasnt given by a student, but people were so helpful that it made you want to spend more time with them.
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It seemed pretty standard - a group of 11 interviewees were given a presentation about how great Drexel is, given a student-led tour of the medical school, then lunch with a student interviewer, and then a faculty interview at Hahnemann. The most stressful part was just making sure i could get to my faculty interview on time and i felt like my student interview was a bit rushed.
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Pleasant and laid-back
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Overall, It was a good experience, my interviewer was very nice and it ended up being more of a conversation with some questions thrown in. He was very interactive though and made me feel like I was answering the questions well. I also had an interview with a student who was quirky but very nice as well. We interviewed over lunch and he asked a few questions about me and what I do because this interview was closed file.
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Low stress. powerpoint presentation of the school and it's curri. no financial aid stuff. uncomfortable setting for student interviewer(over lunch at noisy cafe.) Faculty interview was Dr. Nunez. She was very nice person to do interview with. There were about 12 interviewees about 5 of them had to take suttle to Hospital in downtown for their interview.
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I loved the school and the technology. It was nice seeing they have 2 different curriculums, but I felt that the students were a bit competitive with the students in the other curriculum. It was extremely laid back and there was no reason to be nervous at all. It was a kind of do your own thing interview day with the schedule they give you - and you can just leave when you're done.
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Fun experience. The school is very technologically advanced and the facilities are immaculate. The PIL program seems awesome and they allow clinical exposure very early on in your education. The faculty interview only lasted fifteen minutes which was kind of odd, but the student interview over lunch, though slightly awkward, was great and the students seem very happy. Had a great time and would love to attend this school.
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Interview day was well planned, with an orientation in the morning and then a Student guided tour. The Dean of Admissions gave the orientation, and she was super friendly and funny. After the tour, I had my interview with the Dean, lasted 40 minutes and it was mostly conversational. Then I had a lunch interview with a student who was a bit quirky but very nice. He told me after lunch that he would write me a positive review! Overall, it was a good day!
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There were two interviews, one faculty interview that was open-file, and another student interview that was closed-file. Each interview was 30 minutes. Both interviews were very conversational, but the faculty interview was very fast-paced because we only had 30 minutes for her to get all her questions in. The student interview was very relaxed. For me, it actually ended up lasting for over an hour, but it was more of a conversation than an interview. However, the student interview does address some more ''difficult'' issues, such as if you are ready for medical school, what past experiences have prepared you, and how do you think you would adjust.
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Interviewer was very nice and courteous and set a very comfortable tone. I almost felt like I was talking to my mother (of course, in a good way). She was very intersted in learning more about me and even seemed impressed to very impressed with much of what I had to say about my experiences. Faculty interview was relatively short but I got to say everything I had to say. And she didn't mind at all that I had more questions for her than she had for me! It went great. Student interviewer was cool and helpful too - completely non-confrontational. Students I met were great and in general they seemed like a pretty jovial bunch. Still, I have trouble balancing out all of these positive feelings I have about the school with that nagging sense that something still seems off. The name-changing, the accreditation issues, and the struggles of Tenet all play into this school as well, even if it doesn't seem like it. I dunno, it just looks a little too good to be true.
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My interview was at the hospital downtown so I took the shuttle from the med school to get there. My interviewer was semi-serious but didn't ask any difficult questions. It was over very quickly.
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A positive overall experience. Know your application very well and be able to communicate it to your interviewer. The interview day ended at 1pm since the people who were scheduled to present for the afternoon had unexpected commitments require their attention.
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Since it was so late in the cycle, I didn't really expect much from the interview even though they reassured us that we were interviewing for acceptances. With that said, I wasn't very stressed and decided to just be honest with my interviews. Luckily, my faculty interviewer was really sweet and sincerely just wanted to have a conversation. I'm not a huge fan of the lunch-interview, but my student interviewer did seem really nice, although he did ask more difficult questions that my faculty interviewer.
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The interview was laid back as many people already said. The student and faculty interviews are given equal weight. I really felt like the student interview was an opportunity to really sell myself because the student was laid back and didnt ask me the jarring and challenging questions like I thought she would.
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The tour and the presentation you get in the morning about Drexel was uneventful and boring at worst. I was interviewed by an admissions officer who literally had never laid eyes on my file before-- since I was told that interviews were going to be open file, this took me by surprise. The interviewer's body language was extremely negative, like she was bored at what I was talking about. I had a terrible feeling when I left the interview, but I ended up getting in. Don't let the turkeys get you down!
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Overall very laidback and easy going. Interviewers were very nice (one teacher, one student) and staff seemed very enthusiastic. Didn't get to interact with other interviewees very much because we all had different schedules. Facilities were beautiful. Although this seems like a ''I didn't get in anywhere else'' school, you still get a good, thorough, well rounded education. Definitely impressed overall.
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Maybe I just interviewed on a bad day but I was very unimpressed with the attitudes of both the students and the faculty.
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Loved it! I'd gladly make Drexel my home for the next 4 years!
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My interview went rather well. I heard from most of the other students, as well as on most of the SDN reviews, that the interview experience at Drexel is a very relaxed and conversational one. I got the feeling that my particular interview was much more structured than others, but it was still a very nice and enjoyable experience. The questions asked were very deep and probed at my motives and reasoning for going into medicine, and as such I think overall it was very informative to my interviewer. My student interview was much more relaxed, and she was able to answer all of my questions and was extremely helpful.
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I signed in at the front desk and was later esocrted to the Admissions Office by the security guard. As I waited in conference room with the other interviewees, I watched our group grow and grow to a number of 14. Apparently Drexel interviews many people every day of the week. We watched a presentation on the school (history, curriculum, clubs...) and then went on a tour of the school. I then had a thirty minute faculty interview. Consider yourselves lucky if you get Donna Antonucci!! That interview was immediately followed by a student interview. Of the two interviews, however, I must say that the student one was a bit more awkward. Student interviews are conducted in the cafeteria as the two of you are eating which makes for an ''interesting'' interview. The day ends with an optional presentation on the PIL curriculum. Overall, it was a good experience. Not stressful at all.
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The student interview and tour of campus went very well and I was very impressed. the faculty interview was awkward because of the interviewer's demeanor
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Drexel was fun and the faculty and students are super nice. The atmosphere there is very relaxed. I loved how committed the students and the faculty were towards the school. I enjoyed this interview very much and fun meeting the students at Drexel and making friends with fellow interviewees.
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I got to the building early. They gave us background on the school and curriculum, focusing on the two tracks offered (IFM and PIL), then gave us a tour by the lovely secretary who was enjoyable. Some of us had to leave to catch the shuttle to center city for the faculty interview (luckily mine was on the main campus) and then we waited for a student to come by and have another closed file lunch interview. The day could have ended there but a few of us stuck around to here what PIL students have to say about their curriculum. A good interview experience overall.
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Overall, it was like everyone says: very laid back. I was suppose to interview with one faculty, but then they pushed me onto someone else (so I don't know how much time my interviewer had time to review my file). My student interview was closed-file; that was where I was asked ethical questions, which they said they did in order to see how we think under pressure.
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Okay, the school is really great even though it's not that well known, the lunch is in a small cafeteria, you get a voucher for $6
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It was great. As interview experiences go, this was the very best.
Drexel's reputation may not be the best, compared with my other 9 schools, but it was by far my best visit. by far.
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We all had to get their at 9, however, the dmissions dean was late and the 13 of us were placed in front of this self-running video on the history of the school until another guy runs in to save us and talk about the school for over an hour. Due to their mistake, those with 11 or 11:30 interviews had to miss the tour and take a 30 minute shuttle to the hospital for an interview. My interviewer had someone before me and during the interview was constantly interrupted by his pager, the phone ringing, and people coming into the office. Once I took the shuttle back to the school I had to sit in a room for 1.5 hours until they could find a student interviewer to eat lunch with us. During this interview I was scarfing down food with someone who had already completed 4 other interviews because no other students signed up. Overall, terrible experience.
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Both my faculty and student interviewer were enthusiastic and engaging. The interview process was largely stress-free.
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Overall, the whole process was laid back. Its like they already knew who I was and why i wanted to do medicine, all they wanted to see is how good of a communicator i am. The student interview was great..we had a lot in common.
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Positive. definitely.
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My interviewer was extremely nice. He hadn't read my app yet, as it was just after Thanksgiving, and my file was misplaced, but he finally found it and gave it a quick skim while I was there. That was a little strange, especially when he asked me is there anything you'd like to explain in this file? After that, everything went smoothly. Spoke about my interests, my reasoning for medicine, and talked a lot about the school. He was trying to sell me the school, and he definitely had a favorable opinion of Drexel.
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This was my first interview out of 5 and I liked Drexel. I know Drexel may not be the best medical college in the US, but it does have a lot to offer and is in a nice, quiet neighborhood.
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A good option if I need it.
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Presentation on the school by admissions staff, tour by very enthusiastic student, interview with wonderful laid back faculty member (open file, 30min), hung out with other interviewees, had student interview over lunch (closed file, 1+ hour)
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They really do a good job at Drexel of presentng their school and helping you get to know it better. They have great programs in women's health, humanities, and community outreach. Overall, I was very impressed. My interview was very conversational and laid back. Same with the student interview.
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I really like the school. The campus is fully wireless. They also have facilities which record you while taking patient histories from trained actors. The students, faculty, and admin seem very supportive. I also like their Program Integrated Learning Curriculum. It seems to encourage genuine learning rather than memorization.
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It was a pretty positive experience and I'd be happy to go to Drexel if they accept me!
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I don't love Drexel but I would go there. My faculty interviewer said it didn't matter where I went to med school because they were all the same. My student interview was kind of pointless. They guy was nice but talked about himself a lot.
It was nice to do the interview on a Saturday so I hope for y'alls sake Drexel continues to do that.
Overall, everyone was nice. The school was decent but definitely a I-didn't-get-in-anywhere-else kind of school. That is not to say that Drexel is a bad place to go- it has many redeeming qualities.
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On the weekend, there is ample parking, but you still have to pay for it. The admissions staff is not particularly helpful, but my interviewers, one student and one faculty, were very friendly. The faculty member I spoke with was especially inspiring and seemed to truly care about the medical field. On the weekend, lunch is catered, which is nice, and following that is a tour of the campus, which is concise but informative.
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Overall I was very impressed with Drexel. The problem based learning is what I am looking for and they seem to incorporate it well in their curicullum. They are very supportive of families and non-trads and seem to focus on the student more than other schools.
The day went well, a short orientation at 9:00am and then interviews started at 10:00. I was first interviewed by a student and then a faculty member. Both were very nice and seemed genuinely interested in me and what I had to say. They didn't grill me in any way but just wanted to know: why I was applying to Drexel, about some of my esperiences, and where I see myself in 10 years. We then had lunch with some of the students, they all seemed happy to be there. Finally we had a tour of the facilities, which I thought were great. Again, overall it was a great experience.
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It was a good experience, 2 interviews, neither too difficult really. I recommend going over your research papers just in case they ask you about it because I kind of got asked a lot of specifics about my research. The student interview is very relaxed and nothing to be worried about at all. There is an informative slide show presentation and they show you the anatomy lab which is cool. Overall I liked it..good luck!
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After arriving, an admin director gave a PowerPoint presentation about the school. Afterwards, the interviews began. Candidates are interviewed by a faculty member individually and also a student individually (the order is random). The interviews are 30 min long and mine were not confrontational at all. They were very very friendly. The interview blocks are also selected at random so you have a chance to talk to other candidates while waiting. The fac interview is completely open file. My fac read my entire primary and did not interrogate me about grades or MCAT, which was nice of her. The student interview was closed file. At noon. there is a nice lunch with students who sell the school and the director. The food was actually really good. After lunch, there was a tour and then we were released.
Positives:
friendly people, newly renovated gym and rec area, access to med school fac (they are mainly teaching not research), in philly, good women health program, choice between PIL and IFM
negs:
in bad neighborhood, med campus is quite isolated (no hosp next door & undergrad campus is not there and needs shuttle ride), no student housing, seemed small
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My faculty interviewer was nice, but he grilled me on some info in his specialty ...I wasn't expecting that. On the whole, the interview was very rushed because the shuttle was 20 min late to pick me up. The student interview was very laid-back and easy, but it was slightly awkward to do because it was over lunch (eating and interviewing don't go too well together).
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It was an overall positive experience. I got to learn more about the two programs. The day was relatively short and stress free.
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I was very happy with the information that was presented, and the interviewers were very happy to answer my questions.
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Overall, it was stress free. My interview with both the faculty member and the student turned out to be very conversational. We talked music, my travels and books. The school takes pride in technology and its new facilities.
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The school's optional curriculum tracks for different learning styles offer useful options. The environmental health program is impressive also.
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Went smoothly enough overall. had to take a shuttle to downtown for first interview, and then come back for student interview
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Overall it went very well. It was my first interview and I am really happy it was here. The faculty interviewer definitely drilled me on a lot of issues. The student who interviewed me was awesome! It was very laid back and conversational
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Since this was my first interview, I got pretty nervous at first. But overall, it was a comfortable and relaxed experience. It was not that structured as I thought. Probably because it was around exam time, the dean of admission did not give us an orientation or the PIL info session afterwards. We spent a lot time sitting in the conference room and waiting for interviewers. I recommend not to come around exam time.
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Student interviewer: interested in my resume, accomplishments, motivations, personal strengths and weakness, and general character. Facutly interviewer: complete 180 -- it was like talking to a brick wall; most of the questions he asked were framed negatively, such as DID YOU EVER SEE ANYTHING GO WRONG WHEN A DOCTOR TREATED A PATIENT, or WHATS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IN YOUR LIFE Also, he was generally unreceptive and unable to respond to the questions I asked him like CAN I GET ONBOARD WITH A RESEARCH PROJECT THE SUMMER AFTER MY FIRST YEAR?
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I stayed at the Moving Arts Bed & Breakfast (hi pamela). Pamela, the owner, is an extremely sweet lady. She will more than accomidate for your needs and she is like a mother for the applicants! Her place is not like your average home but don't worry it's just because she's really into culture and the arts. If you are an introvert and want to stay to yourself and practice for the interview, I don't recommend this place. However, if you are an outgoing person, interested in learning more about Philadelphia's history and hot spots, and basically anyone who is not just a big stiff, then Pam's place is for you.
Anyway, Drexel is a great place -- with respect to classroom education (PIL & IFM are both great), clinical education, and LIFESTYLE - this is a huge vibe that I got from my student interviewer. They have a lot of non-traditional students so there's a huge diversity of people that you can meet. Philly is just like where I grew up and where I went to college so I feel like I can fit right in. I like very much.
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Overall, my interview experience at Drexel was very positive. There was a small group of interviewers and we got to chat during the downtime. The dean is really friendly and gave a helpful presentation. The students seemed to really enjoy going to Drexel. The day ended pretty early (3pm) and would have ended earlier except we were waiting for one person to return from their interview.
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Student and faculty interviews are equally weighted. Both people seemed genuinely attentive, interesting and asked apt questions.
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I was one of about 25 people there interviewing. The tour was brief but informative. The formal interview was very open and honest and I was happy with how everything went. The student interview over lunch was very honest from a student's prospective and the guy I had it with was very nice. Over in about 6 hrs. I was accepted 10 weeks later (yes, 10).
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At 9:00am there was a powerpoint presentation by the dean. She was very nice and informative. Then at about 10:00 we were given a tour of the facilities. Of the 15 interviewees, myself and two others had to take a shuttle to the hospital for our interviews. The interviewer was really nice and laid back. When I got back I waited around for a bit and talked to other interviewees until the student interviewer came to bring me to lunch. The student interview is really casual and nothing to worry about. We pretty much just ate lunch together. I asked him to see the gross anatomy lab, and it was cool to see. I really liked pretty much everything about the school.
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With both faculty and student interviewers, I felt like we really engaged in a conversation that touched on things of interest to us both.
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There are two interviews- a one-on-one with a student over lunch (closed-file) and a one-on-one with a faculty member (open-file). I had an enjoyable interview day with both interviewers. I was very impressed with how laid back the interviews were. Both of my interviews lasted an hour or more. I stayed at the Germantown B&B and I highly recommend it. The owners are very nice and helpful, the only downside is that part of town seemed a bit sketchy. I walked from the B&B to campus and it was a very enjoyable walk, plus I saved a few $.
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It's a late interview, and I already have an acceptance elsewhere, so I was neither expecting nor much prepared - but school was surprisingly nice and if accepted I would give it a serious consideration
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The woman who interviewed me was pretty thorough, but she did not seem at all excited about the school. When it came time for me to ask questions she knew almost nothing about any of the school programs, and after several times of her telling me that she didn't know any details, I had to downshift into general "what is your opinion about ___" just so it would stop being embarrassing. Also, yes, the student "interview" was just having lunch with a student.
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Student interview was over lunch--real casual--appeared that many of the students did it for the free food. Student interview was real helpful in my case because it occured before the faculty interview (gave me heads up on the possibility of immigration question). I oversaw a student interviewer fill out a form after the interview in which they rank the interviewee between 1-5 in several categories (couldn't see what the y were) also area for personal comment. The interview with Dr. Zarro was short and it was hard to get a read on what he thought of me. Also, I felt he cut the interview short maybe so he could go to lunch.
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I was very impressed with Drexel. I don't think it gets the attention it deserves as an outstanding medical school. The people were all very friendly, the CEAC rooms were great and it looked like a place I wouldn't mind spending the next 4 years of my life.
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Interviewees arrived by 9 am. dr hanau gave a presentation about the school history and curriculum. then we had a student led tour. we were then given our interview assignments and hung out in the conference room until/in betweeen interviews. faculty interview is open file (though my interviewer did it closed file, maybe not to have any preconceived notions) and the student interview is closed file over lunch. 2 students had faculty interviews at the hospital so they missed part of the tour b/c they had to catch the shuttle. the day ended with an optional PIL Q&A around 3:30 pm.
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I stayed with a student host who lived a couple of blocks away from the school. The morning of the interview upon arrival there was a continental brekfast and the dean of admissions gave a powerpoint presentation on what distinguishes drexel from other med schools. Then I had a student interview, approx 30-40 min. Then a faculty interview, approx 40-50 min. The student interview is closed file and faculty was open file. I was impressed that the faculty had read my file in depth and all of the questions were related to my past experiences. Very easy going. Then we had lunch and a tour of the school.
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Relaxed and conversational. My interviewer seemed genuinely interested in my life and my reasons for choosing medicine as a career.
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1) I was late (approx. an hour)
2) My interviewer was late (approx. .5 hour)
Minus these two minor points, I liked my interview experience.
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Excellent, smooth, stress free, and interesting
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Waited 1 hour for dr. to interview me, asked me at one point if i felt deprived, was not enthusiastic about the school at all, and was one of the worst interviewer and PERSON i ever met. interviewing with him was like talking to a wall.
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I had Dr. Lazarro, who is really nice, but he asked some tough healthcare questions. I didn't get too flustered, but it was intimidating nontheless. I guess my approach worked, I was accepted 2 weeks later.
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The faculty interview was very short and didn't vary from the typical, expected questions. I got the last student interview, and needless to say, he wasn't the most enthusiastic at the beginning. But he didn't open up to me and we had a good, broad conversation about both of our lives. Just don't schedule an interview right before an exam.
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Dr. berkow is pretty chill. with him, you do most of the talking, so know what you're going to say, don't ramble about random ish. my student interviewer likewise was very cool, it was very conversational and she encouraged me to ask her questions about whatever i wanted. she looked like the chick from laguna beach.
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FAculty interview is open file, and student interview/lunch is closed file. they said the favulty and student evals are equally weighted. My faculty interviewer was extremely nice and enthusiastic. Our interview was basically an informal conversation about various topics that came up in my file. My student interview was also very conversational. She asked more direct questions than the faculty. She also volunteered to drive me to the train station so I could make it to New york on time for a concert that night!! I would have been one hour late if she hadn't done that. The people at the school definitely made my first trip alone to the east coast memorable =).
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Started off with a presentation about the school which was nice and informative. There were a LOT of interviewees (about 12, almost all of which were dudes...WHACK). Then I had to take a bus to my interviewer's office at some hospital downtown. The guy was a complete prick and wouldn't allow for a normal conversation. He proceeded to grill me for the entire duration of time there. His name was Dr. Chawla and he really left a bad taste in my mouth as far as Drexel goes. Then I took a bus back to the medical center where we ate lunch with current students (who are basically in it for the free lunch and don't really give a shit about you)
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The day started with a presentation from the dean, telling us about the 2 different tracks that are available. Next we were given a tour, followed by an interview with a faculty member, and then lunch with a student. My faculty interview was great and I enjoyed speaking to the interviewer. On the other hand, my student interview wasnt that comfortable and she ended up asking me ethics questions as well as questions about the health care system (I thought the student interview was supposed to be relaxed and casual). They finished up the day with an optional PIL information session.
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The day starts at 9:00 with an hour long power point show about the schools history and curriculum. Next is a student tour of the school followed by interviews at 11 and 12. More waiting until your student interview can see you, then you have your student interview over lunch. More waiting until you get a lecture about the PIL program (which is optional). Day ends about 3:00 or so.
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Given a hisotry and overview of the cirriculum. Had a tour of the school. Then two interviews. The student interview is over lunch with them.
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Very low stress. The student interview was just a good conversation. Its hard to judge how well I did without having an answer. Answers are mailed out in 6 to 8 weeks.
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Got there a little before 9:00 AM, free breakfast (the raisin bran muffin is really good), very comprehensive powerpoint presentation (1 hour), off to the interview, lunch at 12:00 (1 hr.), tour from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and that was it.
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The day felt a bit amateur; the financial aid talk was the admissions staffwoman saying "I don't know anything about financial aid. call this # if you have questions." Also the student interviews are in the cafeteria at lunchtime, so it's not really a formal interview. All in all, Drexel seems fine, but it certainly lacks some of the research opportunities I've seen elsewhere. Also, you don't get to see the hospital unless you interview there.
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It was a good experience, mainly a conversation no real hard questions
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Student one was a joke...I think he only signed up to do it for the free lunch. The faculty one was confusing...after I told him abotu myself, he did all the talking and just tried to sell the school which was cool. But I didn't do much talking. But I got in, so don't worry if it happens to you.
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We started the day with a power point slide for an hour and a half, and then had a tour which an admissions officer gave, and then I had an interview with a faculty member, then another interview with a student over lunch, and finally a talk about the PIL program by the course director.
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The best interview ever! I loved the school, although the surrounding is the ghetto- but the scohool itself is a really good school. The offer so many opportunities for you, and you can live either within walking distance or in the city itself, which is a 10 r 15 minute drive.. But its fun!
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I had an amazing experience. The admissions staff seemed very friendly. I interviewed with Dr. Hardison and we had a very interesting conversation. He was really laid back and fun to talk too. I also was able to hear about what he does at the hospital...which was really interesting. My student interview was very informative and laid back. I really liked hearing her thoughts on the program (which were all very positive). I hope I am accepted into this program! I would love to go to this school!
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It was a nice interview experience. I had 2 interviews - one with a faculty and the other with a student. The on e with the faculty was open file and the one with the student was rather layed back and closed file. I unfortunately had to interview at the hospital downtown. That was'nt too bad after all as I got to see the downtown area. ( I wish the school itself was downtown like Upenn & Jefferson). Overall it was a pleasant day.
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I stayed at the Bank Street Hostel, near 2nd and Market, so I got up early and left at 7. I got to the interview 30 min. early. The dean of admissions gave a good power point presentation and took questions. She painted Drexel as a school made for educating doctors, as opposed to other school that brag about their research. The tour was given by a student who splits her time between Texas and Philly-she watches the lectures online while away! The facilities were nice and quite modern. I had my first interview with a first year over lunch. He appeared truly interested in what I had to say and we had a good conversation. My second interview was with the director of admissions. The questions were pretty standard and she participated as much as I did. Overall I was impressed with Drexel. The two options of curriculum allow students to choose how they want to learn. I even like the fact that the school is situated away from downtown Philly. It has a quieter and more serene environment than the center city campus.
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Overall, it was great. Very low stress and my student interview was very conversational and enjoyable. My interview was at Hahnemann Hospital so it was nice to get to see the commute that the students make. But do not take taxis if you have to! They are horrible.
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Relaxed, positive overall
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It was a good experience overall. The temperature was a little on the cold/freezing side and everyone seemed very happy to be there. The admissions people and the students seemed to be very happy that the med school highly emphasizes the quality of medical education and its clinical applications. They also emphasized the family-like community that they have.
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Drexel is a very good experience, esp for those who want PIL. Their IFM curriculum seems outstanding as well and they defintely put most of their effort/resources into ensuring you have the best education. I just didn't like the surrounding area (There was not a whole lot around minus some factories, industrial places and I was told, it is not the most safe place at night.
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It was a good experience. I like that they have a student interview along with a faculty interview. They were both more of conversations than interviews.
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It was awesome. The Dr. who interviewed me was very friendly. He said that he was impressed by my essay, and activities. It was very casual.
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It was really fun learning about the school, and everyone was very open and honest and seemed to truly care about us and about making us the best doctors they could in the best way for each of us. i was a little discouraged that the school didnt seem so prestigious, but everyone seemed really dedicated.
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The faculty interview was very relaxed and informal. The student interview was more like me interviewing him than the other way around.
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Interview itself was very low key
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Pretty typical interview. it didnt seem very inspired. the dean of admissions started her intro with a speech on how she never wanted to go into medicine in the first place. how's that for enthusiasm?
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You sit in a conference room and watch a slide show before the tour. The tour takes you all throughout the main building and is very comprehensive. After the tour, each applicant has one 1/2 hour interview, followed by a lunch interview with a student (which I really liked, this was a nice touch).
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Low stress, conversational overall a positive experience.
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School: awesome.
Interview: weird.
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I was impressed with everything I saw and it was fairly standard interview day. Everyone I met at Drexel had a very friendly demeanor and I think they liked being there.
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I went in with no expectations and left loving the school.
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Presentation on the school, tour, interview with a doctor, interview over lunch with a student, sat in on a PIL lecture, PIL presentation
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Low stress. Due to the nature of the interview, I was able to talk to the interviewer rathan than be worried about what my answers were.
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Lots of free time waiting...there's a overview presentation in the morning, then a tour, then interviews and lunch w/ a med student
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I stepped out of the airport to find out how humid the weather was. By the time I got to my host's apartment, I really wanted a shower. The interview day was very relaxing and ended at 1 pm for me. I had time to go downtown before my flight.
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Overall very good, however, the interviewer was difficult to read, so who knows. He was very calm and relaxed. We had a nice conversation during that time. Although I was surprised to find that he did not have a copy of my info before I got there, so be sure to always keep a spare: AMCAS App, personal statement, resume or CV.
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The school was hard to find for me--I got lost on the way. My interviewer was ancient and asked weird questions. The students seemed like they were generally older and many married, which is fine for some people, but I am 21. Overall, the facilites are nice and the students seemed eager, but it just isn't the school for me.
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The school was nice. Very impressive facilities. Interview was difficult- it was a lot of hard questions and didn't flow very well, like she had a list of things to ask, and didnt want to deviate.
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The director of admissions was very nice, enthusiastic, and encouraging. Overall, she was the most memorable person (others were kind of dry and boring / neutral). After being scheduled for an interview at the hospital, I was told after the tour that my original interviewer would be unable to make it and that I would interview with someone else at the actual medical school. Although this change hardly affected me, I felt like it definitely affected my new interview because I figured it must have been last-minute for him. Thus, I didn't feel he was really in the mood to hold an interview and I felt like I had to defend myself the whole time. It was almost confrontational more than conversational (aka, the ideal interview experience). The tour guides were okay and the facilities were really nice but overall nothing too amazing. The student interview was over lunch and it was difficult to hold much of a conversation because the cafeteria was particularly loud at the time.
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I was very impressed with Drexel's facilities, students, and faculty. Students are really lucky to have the choice of two curricula, both of which seem very interesting and unique. The tour-guide was very informative and very honest (which always helps). Even though she was willing to share the school's shortcomings with us, she clearly seemed to enjoy being a student there. There was a lot of down time, but my fellow interviewers were all very friendly and talkative. It seems like the interviews were all very straightforward. My interviewer basically asked me to elaborate on a few things from my application. S/he was very to-the-point and it was hard to read him/her. That's always nerve-wracking, but the questions were not difficult. The student interview was great. Mine was literally a conversation about random things (mostly social) while other people got asked questions from lists (why medicine? etc). The dean of admissions, Dr. Hanau gave a helpful presentation and she was quite entertaining. Overall, I'd be very happy attending Drexel. The wait for a response should be about 6-8 weeks.
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I had one faculty interview and one student interview. My faculty interviewer had my file in front of her and had marked all the things she wanted to ask about my application on it. Other than that it was more like a conversation than q&a. She made me feel comfortable and the whole thing was pretty informal. The student was 1st year, she actually asked me the generic questions (like why drexel, why medicine, etc)but no biggie...
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The school is nice, but the area it is in wasn't the best. the interview is easy so don't worry about that. Just see if you could live in a more run-down part of town(it is only 20 min from downtown Philly though)
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The day starts with the director of admissions talking about the school's history, and a few other things. Then we had the student led tour around the school. Afterward, there was a lot of waiting around. Some students had interviews in the med school, others had to go downtown to Hahneman Hospital. Either way, we basically just had to sit and wait for our faculty interview. After that, we returned to the same room to wait for a student to show up take us to lunch and interview us. Then, you can leave or stay for the PIL talk, which lasted about an hour as the PIL director fervently advised that we make the "right" choice.
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Very relaxed, but i am puzzled by the personal questions (though i wasn't uncomfortable to answer them)
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Got lost on the way there, so i called the admissions office and they got me back on track. i was late for the info session but it wasn't a big deal. the tour guide was really nice, then i took the shuttle to the hahnemann campus in the city for my interview. the bus ride was nice and it gave me a chance to see the area. student interviewer was cool too. i was out by 1:30, good day all around
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The interview with a faculty member was really conversational and relaxed. The student interview is over lunch (which makes it a little hard to eat and talk at the same time) but it was also really relaxed too. In general, very low stress (except this was my first interview so I was a little bit more stressed than need be).
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Very well organized. Each person had a schedule and directions, so it was all laid out clearly. Very relaxed.
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A great day with plenty of opportunity to get a feel for the school and social life.
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My faculty interviewer I think liked what I had to say even though it was only 15 min. The person in front of me also had a short interview, and the interviewer even said he likes to do them fast, so its very stress free, and the questions were very easy. Student interview was good too, it was over lunch in the cafeteria. The tour was also nice, showed us around every area thoroughly and they seemed excited over the kinds of technology they have there.
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A very relaxing conversation. We talked about my prior experiences in medicine and how I would apply such experiences as a physician.
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If I didn't already feel comfortable in the school and know all about it, I probably would have had a stressful day. The first part with the presentation about the school was excellent (much better than other schools' presentations have been), but it went over time a bit. Then I had to go with 2 other interviewees down to Hahnemann Hospital for my interview (actually, I interviewed in the building I work in every day!). Becuase we had to take the shuttle, we missed the whole tour. Then the shuttle just didn't show up, though (I ride the shuttle twice a day and this is the first time it hasn't shown up), so we were late. I had to wait for another girl to have her interview before me, and then my interview ran a little late, and so I had to take a later shuttle back to the med school campus. It wasn't a big deal, but it delayed my lunch and student interview. The faculty interview was fine, a typical interview but not stressful. The student interview was very short (perhaps because it was late), but casual and fine. I was offered a tour after that, since I had missed the real tour, but I know the school so I just went home. Overall I left with a very positive impression of the school from the presentation and also just from what I already know. (Faculty interview is open file, student interview is closed.)
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The interview was my first and it was very laid back. They did not ask why medicine, why drexel. The first thing the guy said to me when I walked in after a hello was, "relax, this is going to be a breeze." (and it was)
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One-on-one conversational interview. Typical questions, no real curveballs.
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If you end up interviewing with someone who is on the addmissions staff (Not an MD) you will have very comfortable experience. It was very conversational! I can't speak for the other interviewees, but the ones I spoke with had an experience very similiar to mine. They just want to get to know you better.
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The faculty interview was relaxed. It was more like a conversation. The student interview was even more relaxed. Overall, the admissions committee wants you to have a positive experience and they do a good job.
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I like the fact that Drexel takes many older, non-traditional students. Also, Drexel is becoming more selective by lowering its class size and raising the average accepted MCAT.
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Faculty interview is open-file, and student interview is closed-file and in the cafeteria over lunch. Both were very conversational and everybody was very friendly. Cafeteria food is average.
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Overall, a great day. i was pleasantly surprised. everyone was really nice and enthusiastic about the school.
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Interview started at around 9am in the morning. The tour was given around 10am. The student interviewer was friendly. I felt like talking to one of my friends. It is very relaxed. During the faculty interview, I also felt comfortable talking to the interviewer. The interview ends with "Is there question about Drexel?" "Is there anything about you that you want us to know?."
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All in all, I had a good time while interviewing at Drexel. I wasn't blown away by anything in particular, but I also didn't find any large problems with the school. I can see myself being comfortable here. If you want a busy, bustling urban school with a lot of things to do, then this is NOT the school for you. But if you want a solid education and don't mind its suburban location, then I think you would be happy here.
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The student interview over lunch was informative and very stress free. A good idea on Drexel's part. The faculty interview was not bad at all for me. I didnt get any hard ethical questions or questions about solving the healthcare crisis.
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Both my student interview (closed-file, over lunch) and my faculty interview (open-file) went well. Really easy to talk to and made you feel comfortable. I was sort of nervous because it was my first interview and I didnt know what to expect but everything went well. The tour guide was pretty enthusiastic about the school.
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It was very laid back, the interviewer made me feel very comfortable from the beginning and allowed me to open up rapidly. Overall, I had a relaxing and enjoyable time.
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First, we had a presentation about the history of the school and an overview of the curriculum (both branches). The interviews themselves were standard. The day was very well-structured. Each interview was 30 minutes long and they stayed pretty much on schedule. The student interview was closed-file; the faculty interview was open-file. Finally, it was lunch and the tour. [The Saturday interview schedule is different from the weekday one.]
The best part of the experience was after the interview day was over. I noticed a flyer for a Lunar New Year charity banquet hosted by the med students of 5 Philadelphia med schools. One of the tour guides saw me looking at it and asked if I wanted to go. She offered to drive me there and back and I got to hang out with her and her friends during the 200+ person dinner. I learned about Drexel's Chinatown clinic and their students' involvement in the Asian American Health Care Network in Philadelphia. I wasn't expecting such friendliness but I ended up meeting a lot of kind people (students and random Philadelphians) over the weekend.
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Relaxed. i flew all the way from alaska though, so i had wished to have more in depth discussions. AK to PA just to "tell them about myself" seems a little disrespectful. i would also have liked an opportunity to discuss my scientific publications and my graduate work, but it never came up. just be able to discuss your personal experiences and how they impacted you. be articulate.
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The faculty interviewer had read my file and told me he didn't have anything to bother me about from it. Pretty much we just talked about the school, why I liked it, and the two different curricula.
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The faculty interviewer only asked me 3-4 questions which took about 15 minutes
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Overall the interviews were very laid back. My faculty interviewer was a sweet lady who asked me very broad questions (I was able to talk about whatever I wanted). She was very encouraging during the interview, always giving me reaffirming comments saying "This is good, real good." I got along really well with my student interviewer. We had a fun conversation, and we just talked and talked for a hour. The choice of curriculum is unique to Drexel, but I could see people getting depressed here because there is nothing to do around campus. Overall, if accepted, I would definitely come to this school.
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Sat in a room full of other interviewees and watched a Powerpoint presentation for about 40 minutes. Took a long tour (1hr) and then returned to the room. Waited some more. Was interviewed by a student after a long time waiting, over lunch. Then was interviewed by faculty. Then watched a lecture on substance abuse. Caught a train back to airport (train station across the street).
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Very hospital and focused a lot on the needs of potential students. Faculty interview was open file. Student interview was closed file over lunch. Student interview was very quiet, shy.
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I enjoyed being at the school.. not my first choice but I would go there if I got accepted... the student interview was over lunch, which I didn't like because you're trying to chew your food and there are questins being thrown at you...the school itself seemed pretty nice and the admissions office staff was very helpful
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The day was quite organized. I liked the downtime between the interviews to chat with the other applicants, who might be potential classmates. The student interview over lunch was good but its hard to talk seriously and eat at the same time. It seems like a good school with much opportunity to mold your own education. Faciities are great so as long as you're someone who doesnt need to go to the city or much social activity during the weekdays at least, it seems like a good fit.
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It was very pleasant. The Associate Dean of Admissions gave us the history of the school then we were led on a tour of the facilities by a first-year. Afterwards, we had the faculty interviews, then the student interviews (with lunch). My faculty interviewer was very nice and made me feel very comfortable. He really knew my file so make sure that you go over everything that you sent to them. The student interview was much more relaxed and my interviewer was also very nice. We had great conversation that it almost didn't feel like an interview. I had a good experience.
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There was a presentation about the schools history, a 30 minute tour of the school, a faculty interview, luch and then a student interview.
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Drexel was an interesting place. I felt like there was a lot of downtime, which is both good and maybe not so good. My student host was great, very helpful and informative. The faculty interviewer was kind of hard to read, and just asked the standard "stuff about you" questions - tell me about yourself, etc. No ethical questions or off the wall questions. The student interviewer had a distinct set of questions she wanted to ask, but it wasn't really awkward or anything. I liked the facilities, and the curricula - both IFM and PIL - seem to have a lot to offer in different ways. Plus, the humanities thing is neat. I thought our tour guide was a little off the wall, and she told us about a pseudo-prank that was done in the anatomy lab.. that was a little unsettling to me, but maybe I'm being too sensitive about it. I'm not sure that I felt "at home" here like I have elsewhere, but I guess we shall see, and that's totally a personal comment.
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Drexel was my first interview. I was stressed out only because it was my first interview. My interviewers (admissions office staff member and student) were nice and laidback. I was totally relaxed halfway through the day and at times forgot that I was being interviewed.
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We were given a video introduction to the school then a 1st year student took us on a tour. Since i had an early interview at their Hahneman campus, i had to catch a shuttle to the city and missed the end of the tour. When i came back, i had lunch with a student who interviewed me at the same time. He then showed me around and answered all of my questions. Other than the faculty interview, the day was pretty relaxed and everyone at Drexel as well as the other students being interviewed were really friendly.
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It was hard to tell how I did, because my interviewer was all business, unlike some of the other people's who had more of a conversation than an interview. They were nice, but hard to read as far as how it was going.
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The day started off with a presentation by the Dean about the history of the school and some of its present highlights. The tour was very thorough, led by a student who definitely had thorough knowledge of the school. He described the service project he did that was required of all students, which sounded interesting. Interviews with faculty are scheduled throuout the day, and then later in the afternoon is a presentation about the PIL curriculum.
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We talked about the hospital situation (the nearby affiliated hospital is no longer available to 3rd and 4th years)and where students can go on rotations, easy interview, I felt very comfortable.
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Drexel has a really great program (two curricula, emphasis in women's health), but it doesn't seem to attract the students it needs to become a really great school. You would get a solid education there, but I'm not going to go there.
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While my interviewer complimented me for having worked my way through college, she also seemed concerned that I hadn't done MORE volunteer work. What?! To me it was glaringly obvious that I can't work 40 hrs/wk, overload of courses and be in a soup kitchen all the time. Clearly, decent scores, hard work, & some volunteer work aren't enough for my interviewer. Next time, try to be MAGICAL.
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Not very impressed.
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The interview was interesting and laid back. I just joked around with the student interviewer for 45 minutes about nothing in particular. The faculty interview was interesting and not stressful. The half hour went by really quickly.
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Interview experience was laid back, pleasant, and I appreciated the free $6 food voucher for lunch. The cateria food was actually reasonably priced so the $6 went a long way. The school is peaceful and the students were all really nice and appeared happy. When I asked 3 different students what the worst thing about Drexel was, they really didn't have any complaints.
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It was a great experiance, the staff and students were very friendly. Both interviews, student and faculty, were very relaxed. They got to know me and vice versa.
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I was very impressed and pleasantly surprised. The faculty is there for the students first and themselves second. This is unlike most schools whose faculty are primarily researchers. The students seem quite pleased with the curriculum. Philly is a great place to learn medicine and is close to NY, the shore, DC and the mountains so there is alot to do. The recent class had an average MCAT of 30 and GPA of 3.5 which is consistent with national averages.
Although it wasnt on the top of my list it is now.
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I was interviewed by a non-md non-phd person who knew nothing about science and didnt really ask me anything interesting, just basic stuff from my application, it was no stress at all, she was very nice
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Most relaxed interview i've had... i was interviewed by a really nice woman who worked in student activities office (wasnt an md or phd)... we talked about random stuff for most of the time - seinfeld, curb your enthusiasm, chris rock...
the student interiew is over lunch and was way to chill. i totally forgot that i was still being evaluated, and i asked lots of questions about social life / party scene.
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Had to ride a bus to the hospital (about 20 minutes from the school.) The directions weren't clear and I got lost. Because the bus was late, compounded by the unclear directions, my interview was shorter than scheduled.
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It was generally pretty relaxed. the student interviewer was extremely nice and helpful!! i was able to sit in on a lecture and also walk into the gross anatomy lab. but the faculty interviewer i had comparing to other "extreeeemely nice" ones i've heard from other students didn't seem overly nice. it was hard to tell whether she liked me or not.
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I appreciate that Drexel actually reads all applications instead of poping numbers into a computer. As a result, I think they select a good group of people who are entering medicine for the right reasons.
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The student interviewer was nice and talked a lot about the PIL curriculum. I think she was trying to convince me that it was the best.
My second interviewer was really nice. She seemed genuinely interested in me and talked a lot. She made me feel like it went well.
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I think Drexel is a nice place, but the impression that I got was that it is a nice second choice. All the students I talked to said that they choose Drexel because that is that was the only school they got in to. They all seemed happy and balanced, but I wasn't struck by anything that made me think, wow, Drexel is really great. If I wanted to do PIL this would be a great place, the PIL students seem cool, but the IFM seems pretty standard and second-tier. Interview was very friendly and conversational, don't stress about that.
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It was a good overall day. I liked the wireless campus and meeting a few students, they all seemed happy there. My faculty interview was at Hahnemann Hospital and was tough because I could not understand the guy. He had a thick foreign accent. He also did not have my info so we just talked about random things. He also watched the clock the whole time. My student interview was great, just a conversation. She wanted to know that I was a normal person. I was accepted about a month after my interview.
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My faculty interviewer was great, very warm and non-threatening. The interview was mainly a conversation, with her inquiring about different points in my application, asking me to clarify the timing of things and to describe in more detail some of my work experiences. It was a very relaxed environment. My student interviewer was awesome, so nice and had a lot of great things to say about the school. He asked more pointed questions than my faculty interviewer, such as what brought me to the decision to become a doctor, and if I were on an admissions committee, how would I screen out the people who were in it for the wrong reasons. We talked for almost and hour, and I really enjoyed this part of the day. Overall, I was impressed by the school and the people in it, and would recommend checking it out if you get the chance. Another plus, they get back to you within six weeks of your interview with a decision.
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Drexel is pretty much what a private medical education is all about- nice facilities, high tuition, laptops and PDAs. The two track curriculum is pretty neat although I'm not sure that I would be into the PIL group learning idea.
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My interview with a faculty member was at the University Hospital - 25 minutes away from SOM campus via shuttle. Got to meet some of the third and fourth year students that were at the hospital on their clinical rotations; they seemed really satisfied with their clerkship experiences. The interview was very conversational which concerns me a bit. I really don't know what to expect.
The student interview is a get to know each other over lunch thing. It is extremely laid back.
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I think it went really well. We basically just talked for 30 mins. She wrote down things, but also made sure that she looked up and made eye contact with me, so it wasn't too distracting. She made me feel really comfortable and at ease. It seemed like she was just trying to get a feel of what kind of a person i was. She also complimented me a lot, which really made me feel good about myself and helped to boost my confidence during the interview.
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Very stress free. In the interview the doctor did most of the talking. He went out of his way to make sure all my questions about the school were answered. The student interview is over lunch, so it is also very laid back.
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This was my first interview, and it really put me at ease. The people are great, the interviews are really positive and they basically just want to get to know you better and see that you are a genuine person. One faculty interview in the AM, then lunch with a student around noon. The informational presentation is thorough, and you get a good sense of the two curricular pathways you can choose as a first year.
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It was good. I learned a lot about the school. Got to stay with students and found that really helpful. Looking forward to hearing back in 6-8wks.
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Overall really good...the people were very nice, Wanda is awesome! the student interview is great b/c you get to have lunch in their cafeteria and just talk, a very laid back time; they're all very helpful and informative and want you to have a good experience
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The doctor who interviewed me seemed very nice and extremely intelligent, but he hardly let me get a word in edgewise during the interview. I barely felt I had a chance to talk about myself, most of the time was spent listening to him talk about what's wrong with healthcare in America, which was very interesting to hear his point of view, but I'm not sure how much information he gained about me that wasn't already in my application.
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You interview with about 15 other people. One interview is one-on-one with a facutly member (open file), and the other is with a student over lunch. Overall, the experience is really nice, although some of the student interviewers didn't seem to really be interested in the process. Also, Drexel does interview A LOT of people, so you definitely sometimes feel like a number. Overall though, the school is great. I will be attending this fall.
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It was great overall. Just know that you will have two interviews. The one with the faculty is open-file and the one with the student is closed file. (The student interview is over lunch.) You may not have your interview at the Queen Lane Campus because some students get interviewed in other locations. However, they provide you with a shuttle bus. It didn't even take the full 6-8 weeks to get a letter of response. I got my letter of acceptance in 4 weeks.
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The interview day started off with a presentation first by a member of one of the admissions staff and then a presentation by a dean. Right after the presentation, I left to the university hospital and had my first interview with a cardiologist. He was super super cool and our converstation was laid back. After the faculty interview, your next interview is with a student over lunch. It is extremely informal. I think they just want to get a feel for who you are. I didn't have any "stress" questions at all. After the conclusion of the interviews, there was an optional presentation on the PBL curriculum which was really informative.
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The interviews were easy. Almost too easy. They kept stressing that they conduct laid back interviews, but this was borderline rediculous. I've always been told that the interview process was designed to distinguish among applicants that look the same on paper (good grades, MCAT, ECs, etc.)but I really have to wonder how this interview facilitated that. I mean, my 12 year old sister probably could have answered the questions I was asked - it wasn't even remotely challenging. What I thought was most distressing was that state of the students. They seemed miserablely stressed and unhappy (even more so than medical students are typically are). Even my student interviewer (who I had assumed would be full of nothing but praise for the school) said that the demands put on students were a bit much - more so than other schools - at times they are juggling something like nine classes concurrently (including a statistics class??).
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The faculty interview was great...very laid back and conversational. I found the student interview a little stressy.
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Very good. Non-stressful. Pleasant. The day gave me an excellent idea of what school would be like at Drexel, which, i suppose, is the point of the day....
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This was probably my best interview experience...I came in with a great view of what Drexel Univ SOM was like...and left even more in love with the school, the opportunities, faculty and students.
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Awesome!! Time flew by so fast.
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My day started off with an information session, followed by a tour of the campus. My tour was cut short because I was the only one in the group who had to go off campus for an interview. My faculty interview was great. My interviewer made me feel completely comfortable. When I came back from my faculty interview, I had a student interview which was also great because it was completely informal and my interviewer was a very relaxed person. I jsut wish that I could've changed into something more comfortable for the student interview (it was that relaxed!).
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Very relaxed, I was worked up for it much more than I should have been. I've been accepted now as well!
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I could tell my interviewer did not like me. i waited outside her office for about 15-20 min. while she spoke on the phone and she didn't even shake my hand and say hello when i was finally able to walk in the door. she basically went over my amcas page by page and pointed out all my weak points and tried to put down all my accomplishments.
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Overall, Drexel is a good place. The people there are very friendly and easygoing. I didn't feel stressed out at all and found the hospitality to be amazing.
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It was a great interview. The faculty was really nice and they took the time to talk about their school and giving us a tour. Very low stress day.
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My faculty interview was at Hahnemann Hospital. It originally started in an office, continued on walking through the halls of the building, into the OR during a debridement, and in the doctor's car on the way back to the campus. Bizarre, but overall very good interview - I hope. Student interview was even more laid back - over lunch. I felt very comfortable and learned a lot about the school and its students.
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Overall everything is ok. They have a extremly small cafeteria.
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Good school
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Nice school. curriculum is progressive. gym is too small but you can use the ymca for free and drexel's undergrad facilities. numerous clinical sites available. cafeteria is small but had good hot food. i like the sound of the problem based learning curriculum. the traditional lecture based curriculum is integrated though which is good. no real reasearch to speak of, but that doesnt matter to me. seems like a back up, an only school for most, but i think it is better than that.
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I pray that I get in...I liked the school...the area isn't the best...pretty close to the ghetto...they have a pretty nice gym there...
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The interview was easy. Very easy. Just relax and you'll do fine - the faculty there are cordial, welcoming and foster a very low-stress atmosphere for your interview day...a welcome change to my interview experiences of late
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Private schools are expensive. That is the reality. I would keep that fact in mind when assessing the benefits of Drexel. My day was a very positive one and the students were very genuine. 50G is just a very chunk of change each year.
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Keep in mind that the student interview is over lunch, and the regular interviews are conducted at various campuses. It was a very conversational, laid-back interview. Had a great time!
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Overall not bad. Relatively short day which could have been even shorter. Students I spoke with didn't seem enthusiastic, they called Drexel a "good backup school."
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The school is somewhat in the middle of nowhere. But it is affiliated with many hospitals, which is nice. MCP is not definitely closing, but even if it does (which would be a major loss to the local community) there are plenty more affiliated hospitals.
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As above- Drexel more than other schools I visited is dedicated o improvement, their classrooms/labs are impressive and the city of philly is fun/affordable
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The faculty interviewer was super nice and it was a really good conversation. It wasn't stressful at all and felt like a regular conversation. The student interviewer was even nicer and was great. It was like talking to a friend. He also let me follow him down to the cadavers and meet his friends.
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Drexel Med was my first interview experience and might as well been my last. I have been offered an acceptance and I am taking it. I have been accepted at more prestigious schools, but I feel that they can not offer me the educational opportunities that Drexel can.
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Dont worry about the interview. its extremely low key and laid back. they were very friendly and accomodating. the interview felt more like they really wanted the applicant to consider them to be at their school. just basic easy questions, talk about yourself and why interested in medicine.
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Overall it was good. I had a very challenging faculty interview, with some difficult questions. Questions seemed like they were more geared towards hearing my views on certain issues in healthcare, rather than getting to know who I am as an applicant
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This was my first interview, so I went in a little nervous. My interviewer was very nice, however and it made me feel more relaxed. Most of the questions came from my application and were not challenging. Besides the health insurance issue question (see above) the only other real thinking question he asked was what role do I think education has in medicine. Overall, it was a good experience.
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The students and faculty are nice and accomodating. There were almost 50 people interviewing with me though and it seemed a bit hectic. I had to be redirected to another interview room, etc
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MAKE SURE YOUR INTERVIEWER HAS YOUR 2003 AUGUST MCATS SCORES!! THEY DON'T HAVE THEM ON FILE DESPITE WHAT THEY TELL YOU!!!
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Very low key, emphasized the history of school and recent changes. VERY impressive facility. Drexel has done everything they can to ensure that all learning environments are available for their students
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School is nice....the average debt was kind of astounding but average for private scchool.
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Great Day! I came into the day not looking forward to it because I had a negative impression of Drexel. I left with a big smile on my face :)! The day was great: very nice campus and surrounding area, pleasant admissions staff, low-stress interview - - an overall great experience. For my faculty interview, I had to travel by shuttle bus to Hahneman University Hospital in center city, which is about a 25-minute ride. At first I thought this was ridiculous, but after thinking about it, I feel that it gives the interviewee an experience that Drexel students go through during their course of study. The student interview is over lunch, very laid back and conversational. I am still concerned about the teaching hospital situation. The hospitals are owned by a for-profit company, which just announced that it was closing MCP Hospital (the MCP in "MCP/Hahneman University") . . .
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Everyone said that Drexel was very low stress; I think I just happened to get an interviewer who asked questions for shock value. Although we did have a nice discussion on the state of health care in the United States.
The student interview was very low key. Nothing interesting there.
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This was a great experience. The students seem very happy. The resources are excellent. And the students come out very well-trained.
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The facilities are amazing, but that's about all I got from my interview day. The admissions office didn't really provide an opportunity for us to interact with current students, as most schools do. Even though the day's class schedule was written on the board, it was a little difficult to try and make it to any classes when you're waiting for an interview (plus, the only one I could go to was the same huge lecture we'd seen on the tour). Also, my faculty interviewer was 45 mintues late in starting my interview, so I missed out completely on the PIL session, which I found quite unfortunate.
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The day was very relaxed and enjoyable. The staff is super-friendly and they give you a great tour. Be prepared to have to take a shuttle to your faculty interview. After this you will have lunch with your student interviewer. And the day ends with the PIL presentation which is optional, but well worth the time.
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The interviewees met in a room in the admissions office and were given a presentation by one of the admissions staff about the history of the school, the curricula, and financial aid. We were then given a tour of the school. After the tour we had our faculty interviews. I had to ride a shuttle to the hospital in Philadelphia, where I met my interviewer. The interview was very relaxed and conversational. After the faculty interview, I went back to the main campus and had lunch and my interview with a student. This interview was really laidback, she didn't even really ask me any questions, we just kind of talked about the school and what it's like to live in Philadelphia. Finally, we had an information session to tell us a little bit more about the PIL program.
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The length of the interviews is ridiculously unprofessional. The faculty do prepare for them by reading your file, but the length is just insufficient. Drexel should have saved me the cab fare and held the interview at the airport. Some people only got 20 minute interviews.
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The student interviewer over lunch asked me tougher questions than the faculty interviewer. Both interviews were very relaxed and informal.
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Completely low-stress; so low-stress actually that I worried they weren't taking me seriously. My interviewer was a psychiatrist (which totally worried me!) but was awesome; had read my application thoroughly and asked me specific questions about my personal statement and activities, in a very non-threatening way. I was flattered that someone had prepared so much for my interview and felt like I really got a chance to let my personality show through. I didn't even get the standard "Why drexel" or "Why medicine" questions; it was really laid-back, and I liked the day. My student interview was also fine; the student was not very talkative so I had to carry the convo a bit, but the free lunch was nice.
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Overall the day was very relaxed and well organized besides the enormous amount of down time between sessions.
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Thought the interview was off the topic of my application and centered more on how I would react to strange questions. My interviewer also didn't know I was supposed to meet with him that day and took me to see some patients before he sat down with me. Then he answered his cellphone twice during the interview. Student interview, however, was really fun and easy-going
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I enjoyed the school, and my student interviewer was great. However, my faculty interview was terrible. She made a pre-judgment about me based on where I grew up, and I know that I don't have a chance of getting in because of it. She was very insulting and condescending to me throughout the entire interview.
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I absolutely loved Philadelphia, and I was impressed with the people I met while in the city, including an amazing 3rd yeard student that I just happened to meet in the city who took me out on the town the night after my interview. Maybe it was a bad day, but I did not find the students at the school itself to be especially friendly and/or happy, as other interviewees here had indicated. The student tour guide was condescending.
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If you interview here, make sure you try to get a good understanding of both the IFM and PIL programs. The class size is around 250 and the school seemed more crowded than any other school I interviewed at. The PIL program seems like a nice fit for someone looking for a smaller learning environment within the large school.
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Both my interviews were very conversational. My faculty interviewer was very nice and asked me many questions as I was answering them (which made me feel like she was interested in what I had to say)
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Overall, it was a great interview experience. I wouldn't stress too much about this interview!
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I was initially uneasy due to Drexel's financial troubles but following the information session, it seems that the school is fine now. The campus seems new and is slated for renovation according to my student interviewer. Very down-home feel for a medical school with such a large class (250).
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I was not particularly impressed with Drexel, although I think I came away with the interview feeling that it wouldn't be a bad place to go to school. There were 15 people interviewing the day I went, and all said their interviews went very well, and were really easy. I was the only one that had my particular interviewer, and he wasn't Drexel Faculty. He was kind of cold and very hard to talk to, and spent a lot of time looking for problems with my application. I also felt very rushed during the interview, like there wasn't enough time to get out all I needed to say before he would go on to the next question.
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Great school, i could definately see myself there, huge class size, prepare to interview with 20+other applicants, lots of people from california
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Overall positive. Despite the fact that my student interviewer was weird, the other students seemed to be friendly.
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You get two interviews. One student one faculty. Tour was given by the admissions staff-wish students did it. lots of down time. Faculty interview is open file and student interview is closed-file. Very laid back and conversational.
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I had a negative image of Drexel before my interview. I had never heard of the school and pretty much wrote the school off before I knew anything about it. My opinion changed quickly, I really like the curriculum especially the Interdisceplinary Foundations in Medicine or IFM. They also have a Program for Integrated Learning or PIL which is for people who like to learn in groups but there isn't enough structure for me. The medical school building is great, everything is really new and the campus is in a nice area. I interviewed with the associate dean of admissions which was a little intimidating but he was laid back and didn't rip into me about my many weak points on my application, especially my grades. I also like the fact that they decide on your fate in four to six weeks. It's either going to be a great or really bad Christmas.
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The whole experience was very positive. The day was not too strenuous, except for taking the half hour shuttle ride to Hahnemann hospital where my interview was held (it takes half an hour because it's all local streets). Just enjoy your time at Philadelphia. Be sure to go to Pat's and grab a couple of Philly Cheessteak Sandiches before you leave town.
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Has the potential to be a really good school if Drexel is willing to make a finacial committment. They have great facilities, and everyone is really friendly.
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We started the day off with some of Drexel's history, and I learned that it's bancruptcy is old news and and has a very reasonable explaination. Then we went on a tour, then faculty interviews, then we had out student interview over lunch. Next you could leave or you could wait around for a PIL presentation/discussion.
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Drexel seems like a great school with a very relaxed atmosphere. I really like the IFM curriculum because it is symptom-based but also taught mostly in lectures, with some small group learning as well. The PIL curriculum is mostly problem-based. The interviewers were really approachable and answered all of my questions about the school. I like the location because everything is all in one building that is in a residential area.
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I liked the school. I liked the large class size. The cafeteria food is great! Their anatomy lab is well ventiliated. Students seem to have a life.
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There were about 15 people interviewing. the faculty interview was very fair, dr. larson was very nice and asked all the standard questions. the student interview was very laid-back also over lunch. mostly the students seemed pretty reserved, not the most lively bunch, but not totally stressed out either.
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Overall, I'd say I had a positive experience there, but I just wasn't really impressed by the physical school itself (the building, grounds, etc) Not sure I'd want to spend 4 years there. My faculty interviewer was half an hour late, and I spent only about 25 minutes in with her, but she was nice enough. That interview was open file. My student interview was over lunch, with is hard to do because I was trying to eat and talk at the same time. It was closed-file, but I spent over an hour in there with him. He was cool though, we ended up just chatting about everything from Drexel to Penn State football and partying. His friends were there so I got even more feedback too, which was nice. They all seemed very normal. Be prepared for a LOT of down-time throughout the day though. At one point I sat in the conference room for an hour and a half waiting for my next appointment.
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A great overall experience. I came in thinking, I would never want to go to this school... now I feel the opposite. This is a great place, the people were great and friendly. The opporunities seem wonderful. A great place for clinical medicine.
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Drexel is a place I wouldn't mind attending but I wouldn't exactly look forward to going there either.
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I got there and got an overview followed by the interview w/ the dean and lunch and tour with the student. Very laid back and easy. Everyone was really friendly
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Overall the day was great. We got quick intro to the school and choice of curricula, a tour of the place (which is really really nice), talked to some students, had an interview, had another interview, and went home. It is a great place that is getting better and better. Residency placement is great and there is a choice of curricula. The interview was the most relaxed, fun, interesting that I've had.
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I was really excited to check out drexel...its history and commitment to women's medicine were appealing. however, this commitment seems to encompass alienating the male students to some extent. the interview was fine. the main reason i'd go there (if i am given that opportunity) would be for the pil curriculum.
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It was great.
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It was all right. My faculty interviewer was nice and we had a good conversation. My student interviewer was also nice enough. I don't know, there just didn't seem to be a rich intellectual tradition there -- it seemed like it would be perfectly fine to go to school there, but you better have a separate support network.
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I had a good day and found that most of the students that I talked with were very positive about the school. The questions that I was asked were very straightforward. I was asked nothing ethical or nothing very difficult.
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The experience was great. This was my last interview of the season and so I was pretty laid back. It was also the first really honest interview I had. The interviewer took the time and steps to really get to know me and why I had choosen medicine. My studnet interview was terrible. They do them over lunch with the students and there is a wide variation among studnet interviewers. Mine never asked any questions and seemed to have no personality. Overall though the day was positive.
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Generally a good interview experience that was not conducted as a stress interview. The student interview was more challenging and asked harder questions that the faculty interviewer. The student interviewer has some standard questions to ask. Faculty member just seemed to want to get to know me better and had the standard questions.
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My faculty interviewer didn't give me any feedback as to how the interview went. My student interviwer seemed pissed off that she had to fill out the interview form. It always boggles my mind that I always get stuck with med students that either hate the school or are not too interested in interviewing the potential candidates.
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Overall a really great interview experience. The tour and orientation was really informative. Everyone was extremely nice. Interviews were conversational and relaxing.
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This was my first interview and was expectedly nerve-wracking. However my group was tremendously supportive of me and even cheered me on as I left for my faculty interview. I was thoroughly disappointed that the lady who interviewed me was retired. She didn't seem very interested in my motivations to become a doctor, rather questioned whether I was capable of it due to difficulties I had with grades. Granted that my grades are average and my MCAT scores are not phenomenal, I really felt that it was the first thing that struck her about me. My positive attitude about myself didn't seem to matter because it seemed like she had already made her mind about what she thought of me. It was tough, which made me nervous.Plus she was really old and squinted at me the whole time....not a good thing. The student interview was GREAT. He was really supportive of what I thought and genuinely seemed enraptured by what I had to say. I got to say what I felt and liked that he seemed to affirm what I thought about various issues. All in all, it was an okay interview experience. I wish everyone the best of luck in the interview process. Believe in your potential...that's the first step. Let them know that you know you'll be a great physician. Take care and good luck :)
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There's a student interview over lunch which is closed file and a faculty interview which is open file. The faculty interviewer didn't seem to have looked before the interview.
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Good school, good program, good people...would love to go there
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Pretty laid back and everyone is nice. The PBL curriculum and the IFM is pretty appealing and shows that the school has a correct trajectory in it's educational approach. Yet, the school did not have the luster to it. I think that it would be better to stick to your state school for a better education at a much cheaper price.
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The experience at Drexel was great. They provide a lot of useful information about their school and everyone was really open to answering questions.
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The people I met were very interesting. As a high school student, I really had little clue of stuff like residency and the USMLEs. The other interviewees gave me the inside scoop on how medical school works and some of their postgraduate work they were doing. My interviewer was really nice and he even came from my hometown! Definately a positive interview experience.
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The interview should have been relaxing, but for whatever reason my interviewer was challenging my desire to pursue medicine. She picked my application apart asking me to defend all the faults I have. Hopefully I gave her enough ammunition to combat the same questions people on the committee will ask. I have done many interviews, so I know that she was attacking me. Look below to see the questions. It might have just been her style, and maybe it will pay off.
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Overall great experience. My first interview was with a student. Very laid back, asked me why I want to be a doctor and the hardest thing Ive ever done. After that I interviewed with a Md. Very laid back. He asked me why violence was so high in american schools today, infant mortality, insurance, and if docs should volunteer.
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The interview day was organized pretty well considering there were about 40 people being interviewed. there are two separate interviews, one with a faculty (30 minutes) and one with a studnet (about 45 minutes). student interview was very relaxed. he was actually tired from partying the night before but we still had a good conversation. lisa, the admissions director was very friendly. there's not much to do within the area of the school. you have to go to the city and the school provides a shuttle to take you there.
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I wasn't crazy about East Falls (Drexel's not actually in urban Philadelphia), but my interview was at Hahnemann University Hospital, which was. I liked my faculty interviewer, and also the "pathway" program where Drexel provides close counseling for students in the residency match planning. I didn't like the med school building, and the grading system (essentially, a letter system, Honors, High Pass, Pass, Fail = A, B, C, F) which seems to make it higher pressure; also I didn't like the fact that the clinical rotations will take you to Erie PA, Pittsburgh PA, and a couple of towns in Jersey (i.e., you will not be able to do all of your rotations in Philly). Also I was not enthralled with the huge class size of 237, but that's minor really...
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There were two interviews: one over lunch with a student and another with a faculty member. I was pleased that the faculty member took a lot of interest in my application and in trying to understand it throughly (I am a non-traditional student, out of school for a couple years). The med school building was pretty nice, but seems quite isolated. We did not tour any of the hospital either. The med building has a small gym area and its library seemed quite small.
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If you have a female psychiatrist interview you, who also coordinates some academic programs, expect a rude interview. The other student who interviewed with her, had the same experience that I did.
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I did not have the typical Drexel interview that everyone else seems to have had. My interviewer had read my file very carefully and asked very specific questions, none of the typical why do you want to be a doctor? why drexel? etc. Told me a decision I had made was "a tragic mistake". I did not have a very positive experience but apparently this is not typical...
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Overall it was my worst interview yet...the interviewer didn't really want to get to know me she just wanted to discuss grades and mcat scores.
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Faculty interview felt odd. He didn't ask too many direct questions and didn't have many positive things to say about me, Drexel or medicine in general. He also didn't answer most of my questions - he said the students knew the school better than he did and I should ask them...
Great student interview - also counts in your file.
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Overall it was a really good experience. The interviewers were really friendlyand laid back one was a student and the other one was a faculty member. The day was also very well organized.
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The interviews was not a tough as I expected. I interviewed with the dean of admissions and the MD/PhD director, 3 other PhD faculty and an MD/PhD students. Most of the interviews were conversational and straight foward. The PhD faculty just want to see if you are truely dedicated to research as a major part of your career. There was one faculty that did not ask me any questions regarding my application and just talked incessantly about his research for about an hour... wow...
Oh, one note on the hotel accomodations: The school pays for accommodation. I stayed at a bed and breakfast close to the school but the flip side of that is it's not really comfortable (and I'm a non-picky avid camper). I would pick a hotel somewhere if I have to do it over.
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The city is pretty cool--lots of stuff to see and do. The school is niceness too. Students were super friendly and the buildings looked clean and renovated.
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My interviewer was really nice and friendly. She did a lot of the talking at the beginning and did not really ask too many questions about my application, we got off that subject quite a bit. My student interview was kinda random. I overheard him telling his friend how he was so hungover from last nite and so prepared for the occasion (he like rolled out of bed to come interview and have a free lunch). He said it would be nothing to worry about, but asked kinda serious questions because that was what was on the paper. Its quite awkward to talk and eat in such a loud crowded cafeteria, but I was kinda prepared for that after reading these comments.
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OK, so, you start by going to campus and once you check in with the security guard, you go into the admissions office. Then you check in there and you sit in this conference room with all the other interviewees (about twelve when I went). You chat among yourself and then there is a presentation and a tour, guided by admissions staff. Then there is a whole lot more waiting and chatting until your two interviews (one with a student over lunch and another with a faculty member). Pretty much, by the end, all the interviewees have totally bonded because, let me repeat, there is a LOT of waiting and chatting. It really was a fun day, so don't stress!!
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I am from the area, so I thought I had some idea of what Drexel is all about. I was a little concerned about the University's torrid history (the name changes, new management, etc), but the presentation by the the admisisons director put my fears to rest. I must admit that I went in expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the admissions staff, students, and faculty. OH, and the faculty interview is open file, while the student interview is closed.
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I was very impressed with the school, and I was accepted in November..I am seriously considering it, except for it is very expensive. The interview was difficult to assess...my interviewer did not seem exceptionally friendly, yet I have heard this is generally the case. All in all, one of my top choices.
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I had a pretty unremarkable experience. The orientation presentation was extremely fast and haphazard. The lady spoke way too fast during the 1 hour presentation. My interview with the faculty was pleasant (although he was very late to start the interview and early to finish it). My student interview occurred over lunch, which I thought was unusual to eat in front of someone interviewing you for admission to medical school.
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There are two interviews - one student (closed file) and one faculty member (open file). They give a nice slide show presentation about the school, tour, and then there is about 3 hours of free time when you will have your interviews (you interview with the student over lunch - it's hard to talk with your mouth full!!) In between interviews you can listen in on classes or sort of wander around, or just sit in the room and wait.
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I was still a little skeptical after reading this site, but the interviews really are relaxed (this doesn't mean that they don't ask any challenging questions, but it's more like having a discussion with a friend that with someone who's judging you).
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Brief info session, followed by a tour. Then I had one interview with a retired doctor who actually attended the school (but did not work at it): she specifically said I should not ask her any nitty-gritty questions about the school since I could ask the student. The interview was basically just conversational, no really hard questions. Then I had the student interview over lunch, which was slightly strange since this student will be evaluating you. The student actually asked me much harder questions, such as pushing me on why I want to be a doctor, etc etc. Then I sat in on a class, which was pretty interesting. I was impressed with the school and its technology, not so much with the location.
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The interview was pretty relaxed. Expect to be there the whole day, but you may get to go early depending on when your faculty interview ends.
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Overall, I thought the school was great. Everyone I encountered was really nice, and the interview was probably one of the most relaxed interviews I've had.
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Group orientation followed by an interview with a medical school rep. She was difficult because a research background seemed to be a bad thing in her eyes. She only wanted clinical experiences - weird. Then, a meeting with a PhD. and off to lunch with a very nice M.D., Ph.D. student. Then, a meeting with the director and off to 4 meetings with Ph.D.s who were often new to the school. The interviewers were very nice but too new to Drexel to comment on the school. Then, the thing wrapped up with a pizza party.
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There are two interviews at Drexel University School of Medicine, one with a student(closed file) and one with a faculty member(open file). Both of these lasted 30 - 40 minutes for me. My student interview was in the cafeteria (which is a bit small for such a large school). She was a first year and the interview was as much an opportunity for her to guage my motivations, background, and interest in Drexel as it was for me to ask any questions I had. My faculty interview was at MCP Hospital which is a couple blocks away from the school (a shuttle is provided). My interview was delayed about 15-20 minutes. My faculty interviewer was intellectual and asked my opinion on a number of open ended questions - the kind that nobody really has an answer to... I was impressed by the facilities of the actual college and the surrounding neighborhood does not seem too bad. Admission decisions are made within 6 weeks. Tour guide (Director of Admissions) is a veteran at giving the tour -> NO B.S.
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Overall very easy day-everyone is warm and wants you to feel comfortable.
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Overall very good, the tuition is little high for my taste, but a school that won't burn you out.
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After interviewing here I have a really positive outlook on this school. The students are very friendly and seem to all know each other.
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Everyone was really nice. Random students would ask me how my interview went and wished me luck. My interviewer was the sweetest lady! My student interviewer was a little weird...I ended up asking him more questions than he asked me. The interview was very conversational.
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Students didnt seem too happy at the school and the class size was too large for my liking. Learned that the PIL students dont interact much with the IFM kids.
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My student interview was basically a conversation except for the end when he said that he was supposed to ask me certain questions. It was a little awkward conducting it over lunch. The faculty interview was quite relaxed. He only asked me what I was doing now and about my volunteering in the past. The rest of the time we discussed sports, history of Philly, etc. (which was fine with me).
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As of 4/02 it was MCP Hahnemann was adopted as part of Drexel university, an advantageous marriage in many ways. The students at Drexel seemed extremely happy and get a lot of attention. Also , there problem-based learning and 3rd-4th year curricula are models for the rest of the country.
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The interviews were both low key. The faculty interview was conducted either at the school or at hospitals with physicians. The student interviewers did not have access to your files.
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Nice people, very nice school, great opportunities
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VERY positively....if it weren't for the cost, this would be my number 1 choice.
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The interview day was very poorly organized. They did not know who the faculty interviewer would be for the three of us (out of 20 people group) and I was on of them. We were told that we would have to take a bus to another campus to be interviewed.
There was an hour break between the tour and the student interview that was filed with nothing. In the middle of the student interview an admission office representative came in and told me that I would not have to travel to another campus after all and would be interviewed on site.
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My student interview went really well, she was really laid back and didn't ask any hard questions. My faculty interview was a little more difficult, he was not in a particularly good mood.
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Overall, the interview was SO laid back. the faculty interviewer just wanted to talk basically and what was really great was that she didnt have to ask me if i had any questions for her...my questions all came out as part of our discussion. One thing that I learned was that any problems students had with the PIL program were due to issues a couple years ago and since then there have been no problems with it. In fact, the students I talked to in IFM told me that I should apply to PIL if not just to try it out b/c you can always switch out but you can't switch in to it. Read up on the different tracks for the first two years because it is definitely a good discussion point during both interviews.
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Overall, it was a low stress day. Everyone at the campus was friendly and were really helpful. The interviewers did not ask any tough questions, but instead, wanted to get to know you as a person.
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Overall, it was a very laid back experience, positive, and put drexel up on my top choices list
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Overall, easy interview, nothing to worry about.
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The student interviewer was fantastic, very enthusiastic. The faculty interviewer was laid back and very interested in being my advocate on the admissions committee. However, my interviewer didn't read my file before or during my interview; he said he preferred to get to know me as a person first.
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My faculty interviewer was great, he made me feel real comfortable talking to him. The setting was like a more like a regular discussion, not an interview.
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It was very positive! But any public transportation to the area is very shady and sucks big time (is dirty, slow, etc.)
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It was a low stress,and gave applicants an opportunity to interact with current students/staff. The morning was filled with a summary of the school/history. this was followed by a tour, after which the interviews started.
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I had one-on-one interviews with a faculty member and a student. The faculty interview lasted 45min and was extremely friendly and conversational. We discussed my history and interests, and found some common ground.
The student interview lasted an hour and a half and was also very conversational. My student interviewer was a bit distracted (he seemed to know everyone passing through the cafeteria), but was still very friendly and talkative. I felt I learned quite a bit about the school during that time.
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I thought the interviews went fine, but i had the misfortune of getting interviewers (student and MD) that were in bad moods. the student was very much in a hurry, and was obviously doing the interview just for the free lunch she got. she also did not make much eye contact with me. the md who interviewed me was thorough, but was a little bit disillusioned with both his profession and particarly specialty. neither interview experience was very stressful, but i would have liked it better if either person had at least pretended to enjoy themselves.
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I didn't get a whole lot of real questions--just a few clarifications on my experiences, hobbies etc. It was actually a bit disconcerting, but the other interviewees seemed to have more traditional experiences. The student interview was a really good experience--it was good to see the students interact. They all seemed relaxed and happy.
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There were about seven of us interviewing. The day started with a presentation by staff. We were given a tour of the facility, then we had lunch. You get interviewed by a medical student during lunch, so be prepared to answer questions and keep a dialogue. The school is crowded as there is such a big class, but the students seem to like the school. There are two teaching styles here (IFM and PIL-read about these). Students in each of the styles are happy with their style and encourage you to go into it. The students and faculty were very friendly here. The interviews were not stressful, they were more interested in getting to know you.
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A fair interview that served mostly to answer questions the interviewer had in regards to my file.
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Overall, i had a very positive reaction to the place. i went in unsure but left very excited.
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MCP Hahnemann is now the Drexel University College of Medicine
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Positive. Made me rank MCP well above other choices.
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Anyone going after the friday i went is going to be interviewing for a wait list spot, so don't get your hopes up too high, even though they do go to there wait list. just changed management, again, so who knows if its going to get better or worse. just relax! email me if you have any questions:
[email protected]
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Really good experience; enjoyed the interview, fun conversation; associate dean was very nice, easy to talk to, felt challenged in a good way
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Interviews were pretty typical: one student, one faculty. The student interview is closed-file, faculty is open-file. They asked the usual questions. The student interview was over lunch in the cafeteria.