Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
Boca Raton, FL
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 22% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.8
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 245 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (95%)
No change (5%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (62%)
Good (29%)
Average (9%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally praised the schools for their impressive presentations, friendly and welcoming environments, strong clinical focus, and well-designed curriculum. Suggestions included reducing costs for non-residents, increasing class sizes slightly, and providing more clarity on interview questions.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I didn't know what to expect and I was really impressed by the presentations and everyone we met.
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Great school, campus, friendly environment, awesome simulation center.
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I loved it. They seem to really care about their students and to have an extremely well designed curriculum.
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Know and believe that you are qualified to become a physician so questions about your qualifications won't bother you. Take your time and stay calm.
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Behavior interview was no big deal with my interviewer. School seems to have a strong clinical focus.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
46 Minutes Average
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Number:
1.5 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
100% One-on-One
0% Group Interview
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File Type:
93% Open-File
7% Closed-File
FAU-COM-COMP interviews are an average of 46 minutes, with an average of 1.5 interviews. 100% of interviews are one-on-one, and 7% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the qualities of a good doctor, pivotal events leading to a career in medicine, handling ethical dilemmas, decision-making processes, influences on career choices, and personal strengths and weaknesses. Some respondents mentioned a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format which may involve nondisclosure agreements, focusing on behavioral questions and ethical scenarios.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What is the most important quality for a doctor to have?
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Describe a time when someone asked you for advice
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6 behavioural based questions in the vein of "tell me a time when..."
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Asked specifics from my application.
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What was the pivotal event that made you decide to become a doctor?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine discussed behavioral scenarios, such as handling differing views, managing overwhelming situations, and ethical dilemmas like disclosing diagnoses to patients. The interview format likely followed an MMI structure with situation-behavioral questions, and respondents may have been under a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific inquiries.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Talk about a time when someone had different views from your own and how you handled it.
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The questions are all "behavioral" so not like typical "tell me about yourself" style medical school interviews.
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Tell me about a time you became overwhelmed at school and how you handled it.
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The previous question - about a patient with cancer, and his wife and son requesting you not tell the patient the truth about his diagnosis - what would you do?
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The situation-behavioral questions
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their applications, researching the school website, practicing with friends or on their own, reading SDN interview feedback, and preparing for common interview questions. Suggestions included mock interviews, maintaining self-confidence, researching current healthcare issues, and seeking advice from current students or previous interviewees.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Re-read my secondary, FAU website, SDN
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SDN, looked up behavioral style interview questions, went over my app
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Read over my app and prepared for the most common interview questions
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Read about school, reread application, mock interview, researched sample questions, talked to myself in the car, told myself I am a perfectly good applicant and not to worry!
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By cultivating mindfulness and self-confidence through meditation.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal strengths and weaknesses, ethical dilemmas, experiences dealing with disappointment, financial planning for medical school, and reasons for pursuing medicine. Additionally, some respondents mentioned an MMI format, suggesting a potential nondisclosure agreement in place for these interviews.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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How would your professors describe you?
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Describe a time when someone asked you for advice
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Explaining a gap in my clinical experiences.
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Why should we accept you when you have no research and other candidates do?
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As I am an alternative pathway applicant, I was asked about my projected age for retirement.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the small class size, engaging curriculum with hands-on learning opportunities, strong student-faculty relationships, state-of-the-art facilities including simulation labs, and the welcoming and supportive atmosphere of the school community. The emphasis on individualized attention, interactive learning, clinical exposure, and early patient interactions were highlighted as key factors that left a positive impression on applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The curriculum and the thought that went into it, and the admissions faculty who were incredibly fun and caring.
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The students seem really excited about the school and have a lot of resources to help them through it.
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Small group dynamic and PBL
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Extremely caring faculty, incredible curriculum, small class size
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The small class size.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were commonly unimpressed by the lack of diversity in patient populations, high cost of living, the emphasis on primary care, and the distance of hospitals from the campus. Suggestions included addressing the lack of scholarships for non-residents, improving public transportation options, and providing more opportunities for specialized training.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The students who spoke to us during lunch didn't seem to care much about answering our questions.
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3rd and 4th year rotations are all over the area.
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Almost everything else, maybe I came into the day with high expectations but I was much less impressed with what the school and the students considered their selling points than they were. Everything seemed pretty standard especially the sim lab.
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Facilities where messy. But it is very clear that the students USE all of the study rooms and work together, and that they have decent food options on campus.
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They tell you the interviews are conversational, but I found myself on the defense frequently.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would focus solely on behavioral style questions, the importance of preparing for specific questions like the close of their career, and to expect a low-stress interview day. Suggestions included researching how to handle hair and makeup in humidity, arriving early, and being aware of potential changes in the curriculum and clinical rotations.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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THEY ASK ONLY BEHAVIORAL STYLE QUESTIONS
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That it would only be behavioral questions
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I am not from Florida, I was expecting humidity, but I did not really know how to handle it. Ladies, research how to handle your hair and makeup in humidity. And everyone give yourself extra time to arrive and cool off inside before you have to enter the room with everyone else.
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The interview day starts before 10am - there is NO arrival time even though it will say it on the schedule.
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To prepare more for the close of my career question. I've waited so long to get to this place, I simply assumed my career would end when I take my last breath.
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants suggested that the admissions office consider offering longer campus tours, making efforts to attract non-resident students through scholarships, and clearly specifying scholarship eligibility criteria on the website. They also appreciated the welcoming atmosphere during interviews and well-organized admissions processes.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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It would be nice to have a longer tour if possible, since the campus is so big.
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It would be nice if there was an effort to entice non-residents to come to the school. To tack on and extra 30K per year and then to offer no scholarships for non-residents makes it seem like the school doesn't really care to get qualified non-residents into the program. It would also be nice if the website specified that the charter scholarships were only for residents. I was really let down when I discovered I was not eligible.
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Very impressive curriculum and M.D. program.
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The admissions office did a wonderful job of making the interview group feel welcome!
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I had an excellent experience!
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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FLL
29% interviewees used FLL (FLL), with 29% using MIA (MIA) and 21% using Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale) and 7% using Ft. Lauderdale (Ft. Lauderdale) and 7% using Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International (Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International) and 7% using Fort Lauderdale (but I recommend Palm Beach in retrospect!) (Fort Lauderdale (but I recommend Palm Beach in retrospect!)).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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37% Airplane
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56% Automobile
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5% Train or Subway
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2% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Wyndham Garden Hotel (average ranking 10/10), with some staying at Holiday Inn (average rating 9/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Wyndham Garden Hotel
10/10
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Holiday Inn
9/10
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Sheraton Miami Beach
10/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (12%)
Faculty member (17%)
Other (2%)
Student (69%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (90%)
Neutral (10%)
All Responses
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