Washington, DC
Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
HBCU
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 28% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.8
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 603 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 average 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 (82%)
Negatively (12%)
No change (5%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (58%)
Good (30%)
Average (11%)
Poor (1%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview day at Howard University to be pleasant and informative, with a relaxed atmosphere. They appreciated the friendly and supportive nature of the students and faculty, although some noted concerns about disorganization in the interview process and the neighborhood's safety. The emphasis on serving underserved communities was well-received, and many felt that being themselves and showing genuine interest in the school was key to a successful interview.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Great interview day and great school.
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It was really nice honestly and I loved how they wanted to make us calm.
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During tour, we were stepping over mops and buckets, no thought was given to perception. Also M1 and M2s were telling interviewees to avoid Howard at all costs
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You’ll do well, just be yourself !
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It was good but the tuition costs were insane.......
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Don’t overly prep for the interview. They ask very basic questions with the aim of gathering more information about your personality. Relax, Smile and Have Fun! You’re already one foot in the door, so just be yourself.
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I.LOVE.HOWARD.
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Great school, great city. Everyone was helpful. Just be yourself. Overall, the school is a good fit for me.
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Overall, loved the school!! Felt like I would be a perfect fit in the Howard community.
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Overall, I had a very positive experience. Howard is a great school. Students are definitely passionate about their mission to serve the underserved.
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My advice for this interview is to just be yourself and KNOW your application. The interview is open file and if they see something on your application that doesn't look good, they WILL grill you about it. Be prepared to have explanations (not excuses) for all that is "iffy" on your application.
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Great school, and DC is a great place to be for grad school.
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Howard is a wonderful school, you have to be there to know what I am talking about :)
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The school is a perfect fit for me. Everyone wants to see you succeed-even other students! There isn't a competitive nature like you might find at other schools. There was a rumor that Howard was a poor school because they didn't have microscopes or some such nonsense. Truth is they have a computer program where you can view slides and such at high magnification and resolution, so the microscopes aren't necessary. They have everything and everyone available to ensure that quality physicians are walking out after 4 years. If you think this is a "safety" school, don't apply. They'll know, and it's not the kind of student they're looking for. If you are a minority, don't automatically expect to get in-they don't have a quota to reach, so you have got to bring something special to the table. The interview is very low stress. They interview a low percentage of applicants, so if you've made it to that point, they already like you (on paper). Time to show them you're not an overachieving gunner robot! Relax, be on time, know your application, and enjoy the day!
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This school is excellent. But it is for a certain type of person. One who enjoys the culture and history of the place.
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I really really really want to go here!
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Enjoy yourself and be candid and honest
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The interview was more like a conversation than anything else. Just relax be yourself and have fun.
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I wish I could see the school after the renovations!
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Interview day was great! I met lots of great, helpful people. HUCM is at the top of my list!
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Really impressed by Howard
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I felt this interview was very laid back and conversational. You will fill out another supplementary form, which asks about your experience with the underserved and interests in Howard. Just use that as an opportunity to reinforce your "theme" i.e. wanting to be trained as a culturally-competent physician for underserved areas at Howard. My interviewer didn't have pre-planned questions; he basically just scanned my AMCAS application and asked about things that jumped out at him (my grades, course titles). With this said, review your AMCAS and responses to secondary questions. Re-read descriptions of the courses you took in college, and use that to tie them back into your overall "theme". If you want to get your interview done with earlier in the day, arrive earlier (I'd say 7:30am or so) because the person who interviews you calls you in based on your time of arrival.
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Overall, my experience was good. The students and faculty are inviting and the interview itself is pretty stress-free.
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I loved it. The library is to die for.
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You arrive in the morning and sign in in order to determine your interview order. We then had the general and financial aid presentation. After that we sat in on the 1st years class then had lunch and the tour. After the tour most of the applicants had their interviews. While we waited for our interviews 3rd years came by and spoke to us. They were very frank and candid about their experience at Howard.
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I really enjoyed my day; it lasted for a long time, but only because we couldn't stop asking the 3rd year students questions. It started at around 8am - please be sure to get there early, this helps keep your stress level down because you get more time to fill out the Supplemental Form. After filling out the form (which is really a chance for you to remind the Adm Com about why you are right for Howard, be genuine because if not it will become apparent quickly in your answers) we went to a med school class, and then returned to the office for our interviews. After interviewing, there were presentations giving detailed info about HUMS, Financial Aid and what happens for the rest of the application process (e.g. when they mail out admissions letters, etc.). You get to ask questions here, so feel free to take notes during the presentation. After that, we met our tour guides and then went to lunch. Students came and sat with us while we ate and talked about their classes, experiences at HUMS, etc. Ask more questions! It's always good to get everyone's perspective. After lunch, we got a tour of the school, anatomy lab and the library, which is absolutely gorgeous and looks like somewhere you'd want to move into. Then, we went back to the Admissions Office, third year students stopped by, others went to their interviews, and we essentially just kept talking to the students and asking questions until we had gotten all the information we wanted.
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My day at Howard was great, partly because I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from reading SDN. I got there early enough to get an ''early'' interview (before lunch). We had to fill out additional questions after signing in, which took me about 25 minutes. We were able to see a few minutes of a class, and chat with students. We had a couple of informational sessions with admissions folks and financial aid folks before lunch. Some of the interviews were early, but most were after lunch and the tour. I missed most of lunch because of my interview, but it seemed pretty cafeteria standard. The tour was good - given by someone from admissions. The facilities seem pretty standard, nothing too flashy or outdated, though the library is new and really nice. After the tour I stayed in the admissions office to talk with students who dropped by. Given all of the student interaction I had, I feel like I came away with a really good sense of the school.
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It was ok. Everyone was nice but I just felt like they were trying to kill time throughout the day by making us sit through power point presentation on info we already had. Students were really friendly, but also really long-winded, they were standing around talking for so long that we were almost late meeting our interviewers. Overall everything was ok except the laptops which were great. HU's mission to treat the underserved is a big plus for me. I would go here if accepted, but if I do wind up going I'm so wearing a name tag for the first month.
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Totally changed my mind based on stupid thiings I've heard on SDN and from friends. It seems like a great place, and I would be honored if I got in. AND...cheaper than most private schools.
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Arrived at 8AM. Signed in, filled out the secondary (which can take anywhere from 1/2 hour to an hour). Sat in on the last 10 minutes of a class. Started presentations at 10AM (overview of Howard, financial aid, curriculum). Lunch with student tour guides in the hospital cafeteria, 1/2 hour tour. Then interviews!
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Fun and very relaxed!
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I was really impressed, and this school moved up really high on my list.
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The admission staff was nice, polite, courteous, and very helpful. I didn't even mind the green folder. The school definately needs to be upgraded. It felt too old. The tour guide was helpful and informative and honest which impressed me a lot. The interviewer however was totally different. He was a doctor and from the moment I sat down in the office he attacked my grades, MCAT score and my family situation. I'm married with a kid and he wondered how I'd fair with them in tow. His questions were more scathing remarks than questions. I have been on four interviews previously and I had never felt so angered and aggravated. I was literally snarling. I guess it was a challenge to see how I would react and I held myself in check very well, but it felt like more of an attack than interview. I was ready to walk out. The interview also took place during the finacial aid presentation so I missed most of it. I wasn't too happy about that either. Overall the school is only ok.
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Overall is was a nice day. Ms. Walk is very nice and helpful. The students that came and spoke to us before the interviews were extremely helpful in answering questions honestly.
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Howard is an amazing institution. Before you go in, sit down and think long and hard about why you want to be a physician, what you have done to prepare, and what are your SPECIFIC future goals. Know these thing front and back and you will go in being able to speak from your heart and see the school with critical eyes. You are there to figure out if the school is a good fit for you. It's not strictly pass/fail, so that means you WILL be stressed out the first two years trying to get +85% to make Honors. This level of stress shows on the students there. If you think that's for you, know that it means less time spent in the community doing volunteer work or having social time. The list of student orgs at Howard is very small compared to other truly pass/fail schools. One the other hand, being in a supportive, majority POC environment takes a whole other level of stress off your shoulders. Just some things to think about...
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Like everybody else says Get there early. Even though the day starts at 8:45 I would suggest getting there around 8 to 8:15. That allows you to get your interview out of the way and have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the visit. I am happy that I arrived early and was able to get my interview done before anybody else. It made the rest of the day very stress free. After you get there they make you feel out the same secondary that you filled out for them already, you go visit a class, find out about financial aid and housing, eat, campus tour, and interview. Dont believe all that mumbo jumbo about the buildings being old they are fine. Yea they werent built last year but if you know anything about HBCUs you will be okay with the quality of the buildings. Also Xavier gets much love everywhere we go. Dr. Carmicheal has held it down for us.
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Day was short because an ice storm was coming in. Upon arrival, filled out an Interviewed Applicant Form with similar questions from the secondary, then we had presentations from financial aid and students. Get there early because interviews occur on first come first served basis.
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The day ran smoothly...sign-in(generally first come first serve), secondary application, sit-in with first year class, history and mission of howard presentation by Ms Walk, lunch/tour, interview...it was a very stress free day.
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Started on time, maybe early, filling out the secondary. Presentation about the history of school and mission. Financial Aid presentation. Curriculum presentation. Lunch. Tour. Interview.
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I really enjoyed my day at Howard. They were very much organized and polite. Judith Walk is absolutely the best at making interviewees feel comfortable. They gave us each a stipenf for lunch which was really nice. Overall, i think Howard gets alot of thrashing that it does not deserve. I really think that people need to go there for themselves and not rely on what the haters say.
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Initially I was not sure about attending Howard but after interviewing there and being in that environment there is no way I could go anywhere else. Even though I have not been accepted yet it is difficult for me to continue to interview at other schools because that is where I want to be....
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Faculty and staff seemed to like to school much more than the students. Was dissapointed to hear that the students often struggled and were dissapointed in their medical education. Other than this aspect I liked the school.
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I was less than thrilled by my interview experience. A student actually changed the interviewer at the last minute (that was a little disconcerting and less than professional in my opinion). I was lectured about my life/career choices by a man who hadn't even read my application. I was snickered at when I brought up the fact that my experiences (I'm older than the average student) may have prepared me a little more than other students. His response: I'll make sure to tell the comittee you think you are better than the other students because you are more mature. This type of response was between his answering the phone and doing other things. I was truly disappointed to get this type of interview from a fellow professional.
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Well, you get there and struggle to find the admissions office. (go straight when you enter the door, up the stairs and straight back) Then you get there sign in, PICK UP A PACKET!!! and head to the back. The supplemental application was not difficult. (Describe your living situation while you grew up, how many people in your high school, would you consider yourself underserved, why howard, why medicine, what field of medicine, Do you eat shit, ok maybe not the last one. But simple stuff) You do not have much room so ''Write small homey!'' Then you sit there through some presentation. They are interesting. Then you go to the CAFE. The food was tasteless. Coming from New Orleans, I felt like it could have been a lot tastier. (XXXX U, X.X.X.X.X.X U), ok that was for my alma mater! Then you head on the tour. Very interesting by the way! Wait I forgot to mention that you visit a class before going to eat. The class was not GREAT but the students have these lap tops that are off the chain check 'em out! After the tour back to the room to wait for interviees to come get you. This is where you start praying, because they pick up packets as they arrive and you better hope you get a good one! Then you take your a$$ home!
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Left a bad taste in my mouth
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I was greeted in a very professional and friendly manner by the director of admissions. After completing the supplemental application, we were able to attend a freshman class. During a break from lecture, many students came to talk to us (group that was being interviewed) and answered all of our questions. It was so easy to talk to them (this is very important to me). We followed the day’s itinerary very closely; there were no delays/changes. The students that were giving the tour were energetic and informative. Their feedback about the school, curriculum, other students, and housing was helpful. My interviewer asked questions that were relevant; no strange questions ever came up. He also smiled and called me by my first name throughout the entire interview, which made me feel more at ease. Bottom line, everyone at Howard seemed to be working hard but also happy to be there – what else can you ask for??
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The interview day at Howard was great. I loved D.C. and the learning potential the area has to offer alone. The adjacent Howard University Hospital was impressive. All in all...great town, great people, good school with great potential.
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I got to Howard around 8am and I was greated by the admissions coordinator. The day started with us filling out another supplementary form, attending a first year Immunology class, and the typical medical tour. After we had lunch with three medical school students, we waited for our individual interviews in a conference room.
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Great experience definitely displayed their nurturing, family-like reputation.
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When I got to the admissions office, we filled out an additonal secondary application, which the interviewer received for our interview later in the day. We then went to a MS1 histology class, where we could talk to the students. Next, there was a presentation about Howard followed by a financial aid presentation. After that, two students took us on a tour and then we ate luch (which was good.) We returned to the admissions office and waited to be interviewed. My interview lasted about an hour, but it was so laid-back I didn't even realize it! All-in-all my experience at Howard was so much better than I expected! If you want a school were students really are interested in each other and there future patients, Howard my be the place!
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A wonderful experience. The students were very happy there and supportive. It is a very non-competative but thorough learning environment.
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It was great! I was so impressed with the dedication of the staff and their committment to the goal/mission of HCOM. The students were down to earth and very diverse. Keep it real and be yourself. My interview was more conversational than anything. We identified with one another and actually laughed together. I almost felt I got a little too relax. I was glad to see someone from financial aid go over expenses with us.
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We signed in; filled out the packet; sat in on a first year class; had a presentation from the head of admissions; got a tour from a second year student; ate luch with the same student; and then waited to be interviewed. While we waited at least 8 people came into the room to talk very candidly about their Howard experience. The students were very honest. The first year students were tired, the second year student was a riot, the third and forth years were very well dressed (we only received visits from male students yum yum), and had a lot of advice on making the right decision about where to attend medical school.
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Arrived. Checked in. Filled out info sheet. 1st year class sit-in. General Info presentation. Financial aid presentation. Curriculum Presentation. Lunch. Tour. Got to know current students (they are REALLY cool by the way). Interview. Day over.
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It was good. The interviewer asked brief easy to answer questions. No trivia questions.
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The day went very well. I arrived early so I could leave early. We were all given a short answer questionaire. It was sort of a pain in the butt. After we completed that we toured the gross anatomy lab. Then we had a short presentation. My interview was in the middle of the presentation. My interviewer was very nice, but her english was not that great. So I had some difficulty understanding her questions. I think I did ok though. No real tough questions. I was never really stressed at all. I did get nervous for a few moments when they first called me, but that was about it. After my interview we had lunch at the hospital and then we toured the school and library. The tour guides were very friendly and helpful. It seems like a lot of students at Howard are very supportive of each other. I never sensed a cutthroat attitude. But, I was only there for a few hours. After the tour we had the opportunity to talk to some of the med students. I sort of just quietly slipped out so I could make it home at a reasonable time.
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Before I summarize my interview experience I will let you know a few things I wish I knew before coming. It just helps to know what to expect I believe. First people have posted that Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM) is in an unsafe neighborhood. If you consider any neighborhood that is predominately black unsafe then this school may not be for you. If you are afraid to live in the underserved community the medical school strives to serve then this school may not be for you. If you don't want to commute from a "safe" neighborhood then you probably don't want to come here either. Next, if you need the most modern equipment (Stan, Harvey, videotaped lectures posted on the net, antiseptic hallways, track lighting in every cooridor, simulation centers, etc..,) then Howard may not be for you. Look medical school is hard and Howard has a reputation for accepting students that would otherwise not have the opportunity to practice medicine. Howard appeared to have a great support network that really looks out for their students and gives them a decent opportunity to pass USMLE I, II, III and obtain a decent residency. Howard University hospital (where MS III, IV's rotate) see's a great mix of pathology attributable to its inner city location and allows students a great hands-on learning opportunity. If you have a chance to look at some of the physicians that have graduated from Howard you will be very suprised to see that they are oftentimes leaders in their field. Howard will produce a competent, able physician. Ok about my interview. They say it's laid back and conversational but it really depends upon your interviewer but I really enjoyed mine. Thank you. Again this school is not for everyone I hope this helped a bit.
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My day at Howard was really nice. The people you meet (especially fellow interviewees and current students) are friendly. My interview was more traditional rather than conversational. The interviewer asked a question, then I answered, then repeat. But it still wasn't bad. They interview you in the order that you arrive, so try to get there early. However, I was the second to last to arrive and still managed to leave by 4:00 pm.
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Get there at 8:30 and start filling out the green question form. It takes a considerable amount of time and you want to fill it out properly. Additionally, you are generally called to interview in the order you arrive. You sign in as you arrive. Overall, the day is very organized and time is well spent. But bring something to read, you may have a little down time. My interviewer was pleasant, warm and enjoyable to talk to. I had a very positive experience during the day from start to finish.
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Howard is a really great school. I just wish that you could see more of their success online so that everyone could know how great they are. The students care about each other and the faculty do too. If you want to get a great education in a family setting, Howard is for you.
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Pleasant and informative.
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I thoroughly enjoyed the day. The speakers and students were all very friendly, frank, and honest about their experiences with the medical school.
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My interview was great because my interviewer actually engaged me in conversation. Also, they take time to look through your entire file before you come in, which helped the interview run more smoothly.
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Howard is my first choice! My visit to the school only cemented my feelings. Everything you have heard about an unorganized day is all false...Ms.Walk kept the day running smoothly...The actual interview was extremely relaxed...don't stress
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This was my first interview and it was fabulous. HUCM is my first choice, so I don't really want to continue interviewing. The other school's I've applied to will have some big shoes to fill to even compare.
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Very laid back, the person who interviewed me was kind and loved teaching here
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The experience changed my mind about Howard. They're a good school and they are willing to take chances on people that really want to become doctors.
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Very informative and more organized than I thought it would be. Everybody was really nice and students remained open and honest about their experience at Howard. The interview wasn't bad.
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I had a wonderful experience overall. I was really impressed with this school.
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The admissions personnel are very nice and made it a good experience.
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It was great!
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Very pleasant
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I thought the experience was overall very good. It changed my opinion of Howard. I was kind of leary about it, but I think the administration has improved. It seems like things are running a lot more smoothly.
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Very nice. The interview started out with a tour of the hospital, the lecture hall, and the admissions office. They asked some wonderful questions during the interview, really thought provoking. The students are really enthusiastic. The faculty is so incredibly generous and supportive they are willing to remediate ~30% of the student body each year (not many schools will go to THAT length to help you) to make sure you advance in your medical education. There is a 5 year model for medical school (1st year is split in half), and if you are a Howard student, apparently they spot you 20 points on Step I and II on the boards.
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Mine went really smoothly, except for the lack of a person to welcome students in the morning. Make sure you get there a bit early to sign in and fill out the green form. It helps a lot.
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Overall, this was a wonderful experience that elevated Howard's position on my list of schools.
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At first I was a little apprehensive about interviewing at Howard b/c of all the negative things I've heard, but I was thoroughly impressed with the school. I think they just got a new adminstrative secretary, Ms. Walk and she was incredibly nice unlike another secretary I had spoken to in the fall whose name I won't mention. There were 11 others in my interview group and I thought most of them were friendly and well qualified. I was suprised at how diverse the student body and interview group was: there were people from all different ethnic backgrounds, religions, life experiences, and ages. We spent most of the morning sitting around, filling out paperwork, and meeting MS1 & 2 students. After lunch there was a tour followed by the interviews. I got along with my interviewer from the get go b/c we do research in the same field. The interview was pretty short and my interviewer didn't really ask me much about my desire to study medicine, etc.
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The students said that the interview would be casual, laid back and like a conversation- not so at all. My interview was very formal and I really had to sell myself.
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Very unorganized. Be prepared for a day of chaos. As a bit of advice to those of you who are going on the interview take the time to really fill out your green sheets b/c the interview will be based on it and I heard from the students there they use it when it comes time for the AC to vote on you.
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Overall, it was nice. All the students gave us a warm reception. The faculty were all friendly and the atmosphere was very chill.
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I loved my day at Howard. the students are very honest and down to earth. having gone to a city school, the environment is much like home and I can see that there is a lot of support/non-competitive atmosphere. Everyone is there to succeed as a group not try to bring eachother down. Great interviewer -very conversational. dont stress about this interview: Just be yourself - the interviewer will notice that and likely recommend you for admission.
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Overall, I had a very positive experience. The students seemed very excited about being there and had lots of good things to say.
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Arrived early at 9am. Saw 1st year class at 10:00am. Talked to many MED students. Met financial aid and Dean Cannon. Eat. Interview.
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I enjoyed my day at Howard, everything went well for me. I met with a lot of students, which really helps me to gauge the environment. I was accepted, but I hope to attend another school with more opportunities and funding.
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Very disappointed
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I enjoyed my day at Howard. I felt that it was a very welcoming place and that the students there work hard and enjoy going to the school. The interview was not stressful. The biggest downside is the lack of organization of the interview, but it was great talking to all of the students. I am definately considering this school.
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Very positive. He gave me feedback and told me how he thought I would do in med school. We spoke for over an hour, but it felt like ten minutes because of how relaxed it was.
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The interview went well, everyone there was real laid back, which is good for me. The atmosphere was good, almost like a family. The interviewer didn't ask any extremely difficult questions. Just why I wanted to be a doctor, and my good and bad qualities. Overall I think it went well.
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I fell in love with Howard after the day was done. It was a long day but I was so interested with what everyone had to say, especially the students, that I didn't realize that I had been there almost 10 hours. Howard feels like home to me. Everyone was sincere and genuine with everything that they said. The students were honest and spoke about the positives and the negatives at Howard. Regardless, they all said they would choose Howard in a heartbeat if they had another opportunity. They looked happy and appear to bond very well with each other. I had a little difficulty getting to the school because I got off at the wrong train stop. I also had difficulty finding where the classes were held so I could sit in. When I made it back for the scheduled 10am, everything went smoothly. Student made a point to stop by the conference room where we had our lunch, the financial aid meeting, and the meeting of Dean Cannon. I think by the end of the day, we spoke to about 10 students with very different perspectives and experiences but the same love for their school. I'm glad this was my first interview and that I had a postive experience. I don't think I'll be as nervous for the other interviews. My other interviews have a hard act to follow because I was so impressed with Howard.
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When I arrived I was met by a secondary like application. Then our student host, Ben came to speak with us. He along with other students welcomed us and gave us honest opinions of what ever we asked. We sat in on a first year class and were also given a financial aid informational session. Next came a talk with the associate dean. Followed by a quick greeting by the Dean. At around 12 we had lunch which was followed by a tour of the school. As I said we were scheduled to start interviewing at 1:30 but no such luck. There was a lot of down time waiting to be called for the interview. As least it got rid of any nerves that I am have had. While we were waiting we had a few visitor, all nice people. I interviewed with a PhD.The first 5 mins or so were spent going over any weak point in my transcript, this was not fun but not painful either. He said he had to ask. Questions like why medicine, why howard, and question specific to some of my AMCAS followed. I had a lot of questions. He was VERY candid. We spoke about everything. My impression of howard was definately improved from this experience and the interviewer (an he wasn't just trying to sell the school to me).
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Its a good school, i sure would love to attend it
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Overall, I was very happy with my experience at Howard. I think the students' happiness with their medical education was infectious.
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The overall interview was pretty laid back. No stress at all. They really want to hear you say that you would like to work in an underserved community. No matter what you say try not to down play the school. Be there as early as possible.
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I went into this interview with a really bad impression of Howard-unfortunately, there are a lot of negative stereotypes out there about this school. For me, though, this completely changed once I stepped foot on campus. The history which this college of medicine holds is amazing. The students were extremely friendly; they spent time answering questions and filling any down time we had by talking with us. The day flowed very smoothly and I had a really good interview experience. Howard has a long standing committment of providing care to underserved communities and if this philosophy matches yours, I can think of no better place to learn and practice medicine.
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Overall it was good. The enviroment was very non-stressful. Staff was accomodating.
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The interview was bad to begin with. Unorganized, non-interesting. With the bad reputation that Howard Med school has, it should try extra hard to put on a great impression for students. It shouldn't just be a safety school. The interviewer seemed very nice, I really liked her alot. She would be a big reason I would want to go there. But the disorganization of the interview process is a warning of things to come. Unfortunatley I will not be going to Howard.
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It was a pleasant and lovely experience. Now I know for sure I want to go HUCM.
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Overall Howard provided an amazing experience. The negative responses written on Howard were vastly overrated. Howard students kept it real and I appreciated their hospitality. Dean Cannon was very down to earth. I love HU. And I wish all that will have an interview in the future the best.
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My interview was more of a conversation than an interrogation. The interviewer, (Dr. Baker) is a knowledgable guy who shot straight from the hip about my chance of getting in based on my academic record. It was one-on-one and was even enjoyable. Don't be nervous just represent yourself like you are the bomb but not arrogant. Sell you and turn every potential negative into a positie. I found the your body language says a lot. Nod to show you are listening and sit in the middle of you chair with a straight back to show enthusiasm. The body language worked for me. Be sure to use mouthwash because you will be sitting very close to the interviewer.
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I felt the interview was the opposite of stressful. The interviewer was very friendly, non-confrontational and very understanding of certain weaknesses in my application. The interviewer did not ask tough questions and all they asked were straight forward questions regarding my application.
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The interview was scheduled for 10:00am, but I got interviewed shortly after 4:00pm. There was the financial aid information not to mention the shock of having to buy a lap top for $2,500 through the school this was later followed by a brief overview about the curriculum by the Dean of admissions leading to lunch. Afterwards we had a tour of the school and a very impressive library. By 2:00pm only one person had been interviewed. The next person to be interviewed was after 3:00pm at this time I was taking my second dose tylenol for my headache. There was a medical student representing each year (1,2,3, and4), they kept us occupied for the most part of the three or so hours we had to wait before we got interviewed. My interview took place in the main hospital and it did not last long, but it was very encouraging, the interviewer just wanted to know what kind of a physician I would become. Interactive
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I just wanted to respond to some of the comments that were made earlier about the College of Medicine at Howard University. I was shocked by the negative passion that oozed out of some previous posts, but with due respect to everyone's views, I would like to share my experiences as a first year at Howard Med. It is true that the Board pass rate isn't as good as we would want it; and it is no lie that the neighborhood around the school is not the best in the nation. I am not even going to attempt to deny any of the allegations against the school, even though I believe that many of them are either stretched and twisted truths or outright fabrications. I am very surprised that nobody is talking about the positive observations that I have made since the commencement of my medical education at Howard Med. Besides the unique camaraderie that the students demonstrate, there is among the students, an atmosphere of non-competitiveness that is non-existent at many other medical schools. Where else would you find classmates that are willing to share their notes and resources with you? The majority of the faculty is very approachable, and will go beyond the call of duty to make sure that we understand the lecture materials. We have professors who would set up directed reviews before exams, invite us into their homes for group reviews, meet with us to clarify points (even on public holidays), and do everything within their abilities to make sure that we excel. We get state-of-the-art laptops with wireless access that make your home PC look archaic. These laptops are not only aesthetically appealing, they are useful academic tools that make effective studying possible around the clock (There's nothing like "the computer lab is closed, so I can't do my workâ€Â). We have a wonderful library, a study haven that is impressive by any standard. We are able to access all our lectures online, and all our lectures are audiotaped so that we can review them over and over until we understand their contents. To top it all, as freshmen, we've all had the opportunity to shadow practicing physicians in the specialties of our interest. I guess the point that I am trying to get across to anybody who cares to read this is that despite Howard's shortcomings that many have either clearly reiterated or exaggerated, there are a lot of positive things happening around here, and a majority of HUCM students will agree with me that we are excited about the quality of the education here. The Board scores are only going to get better and will be excellent in the nearest future (mark my words), the kinks in the new curriculum are to be expected and they are being worked out for the benefit of future classes. Every medical school has its problems, and Howard is not an exception, but I am certain that the quality of education at Howard will do more than just prepare you for the boards; it will prepare you for life. Ask those who have 95th percentiles on the boards in the current third year class. In the end, the medical school you go to won't determine how good of a doctor you are going to be in the future. The individual you are, and your ability to maximize the opportunities you have to become the best person and doctor that you can be, is going to supercede any curriculum-, location-, adminstrative-, USMLE scores-or aesthetic- related issues that you might have with any medical school. Please forward any questions to Julius Oni ([email protected])
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Response to the respondent (2/10) who commented on why he or she (probably she) didn't go to Howard: While I appreciate your honesty, your comments make it seem as if you are trying to prove something to yourself. Unless you are going to a top 25 medical school, your board passing rates are probably below average (even if slightly). I am also bewildered as to why you would be on this website if you don't go to Howard medical school. I can understand that Howard students want to see how the interviewees thought of their medical school, but what are you doing looking on it? It strikes me that you may have too much time on your hands. I suggest that you concentrate on your upcoming anatomy and physiology exam rather than denigrating the reputation of a fellow LCME accredited medical school. To the student who wrote this on 2/18/04, I would like to say that I totally agree with what this person posted. Howard University College of Medicine is a crappy school and I appreciate this student's honesty in coming foward about his/her experiences. I would like to state that anyone who has had an interview at this school is welcome to share their experiences on this site and it is apparent that this student did have an interview at the school and considered going there even if he/she doesnot attend there now. So instead of crying this person down, why don't you respect others opinions rather than crying them down. GET A CLUE!!!!
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Why don't we start from the interview letter? Very dirty, photcopied and disgusting. Well, that set the tone for the interview. Current students may try to salvage the school's reputation as much as they can but if I were the president, I would close this school down. I guess the political implication is too risky.hmmm...I would still close it down anyway. Everything was disorganized, food sucked, tour sucked, interviewer was like an hung over vampire and I just hated the entire process. I am black and I was very ashamed leaving this institution regarded as an HBCU. Wake up Howard! I regret applying to this school. What a waste of my time and money.
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Well, the day was fine. Students came and spoke with us about what they like about Howard and administrators came in to chat with us. I have been to other interviews, but I kind of expected to wait a little while at Howard's (from what I have heard). I wasn't stressed, so that made the wait more bearable. Also, you definitely get that "family" feeling. But I wonder if that can get to be a little too much at times.
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My day was fine in the beginning, however, as you can tell the evening is what really turned me off. Initially I was impressed by the comments made by the students, but those are easily forgotten when you are waiting for 4 hours. Yes, it is a very "family-like" atmosphere, however, problems with the administration over shadow that. I honestly do not think that I can look over the lack of organization. This was not my first interview, so I do have an experience to compare it to. I do not expect every school to operate the same, however, if I am thinking about paying $38,000/year to attend an institution, the least they could do is be organized and not have me waiting for an interview for 4 hours.
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Before the Interview: I enjoyed my time at Howard. In the morning you get the financial aid breakdown, then a Dean comes and speaks with you, then many students come into the room throughout the day asking if you have any questions. Actually, two other faculty members came into the room while passing by to speak with us. They joked with us and tried to ease some of the tension. I appreciated that. I can feel the "family" atmosphere that others on the website mentioned. However, I feel that there are advantages and disadvantages to that. While I would love a strong support system in medical school, I’m not sure if I would appreciate everybody up in my business 24/7. Interview: I really liked my interviewer. We had a great conversation...I emphasize conversation. He asked me questions, I asked him questions. It was an exchange. I didn't feel like he was condescending or attacking my character or anything like that. It was a positive experience. Surprisingly, I didn't get the age-old question "Why do you want to be a doctor?" However, at some point in the interview I did explain why I was interested in medicine. Response to the respondent (2/10) who commented on why he or she (probably she) didn't go to Howard: While I appreciate your honesty, your comments make it seem as if you are trying to prove something to yourself. Unless you are going to a top 25 medical school, your board passing rates are probably below average (even if slightly). I am also bewildered as to why you would be on this website if you don't go to Howard medical school. I can understand that Howard students want to see how the interviewees thought of their medical school, but what are you doing looking on it? It strikes me that you may have too much time on your hands. I suggest that you concentrate on your upcoming anatomy and physiology exam rather than denigrating the reputation of a fellow LCME accredited medical school.
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I will like to comment on the above post. I do not attend the school but have attended an interview in the past and know people affiliated with the school. The USMLE 1 pass rate is not 70% but rather 66-67%, which is far below the national average of 92%. That is a primary reason why I didn't attend Howard. In addition, their new curriculum has many problems and is not well organized. In fact, in some cases, they have to scale grades so that people can pass exams if not many people would fail. The school tends to admit students that have problems getting in somewhere else and there is a high level of discontent among students of the school. In fact, when I interviewed, many of the students warned and pesuaded me not to come to Howard if I can do better. I found that disheartening since there seems to be many people telling me the same thing. However, when I asked my friends, they told me the same. Thankfully, I got accepted somewhere else where I am happy. In addition, the neighborhood of the school is bad and not safe especially at nights. Many people get mugged, cars are stolen, and students attacked. I did not know all this before, so anyone considering this school, think twice about applying. If you have anymore questions, look at the Howard medical school website and their response to an article written by the Hartford Courant. In addition, you can pull up info about that article but putting in "Four That Flunk" in Yahoo or MSN search.
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This school should be ashamed of itself and I wouldn't doubt it if they soon lose their accreditation. Many of the students complained about the professors. They also complained about how unorganized the school was. My interviewer also mentioned that the school admits people who wouldn't necessarily be accepted at other schools. So basically, this is the slum of medical schools. But the students seemed to be somewhat happy.
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I think my interviewer was a very nice lady, but just focused on my first semester grades too much. She would turn my answers around. I think she just wanted make sure i could handle medical school classes. It was just annoying for her to keep going back to them, i mean they were good enough to get an interview! advice: get there early because if you come late you will be there all day or come late and ask people how their interviews went...its up to you.
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Pretty laid back interview...but I did consider it to be one of my hardest because the interviewer was really trying to get into my head. But he did seem really nice and sincere.
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Overall the school was very nice
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Staff was really helpful and friendly
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When I left at 4:30, there were still 6/10 applicants to be interviewed. There was not as much disorganization in the process as some of these posts suggest. The interviewers just want to know you better and it takes longer for some than for others.
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Not stressful at all. The students were very friendly and encouraging. They gave us ample information. It was a very informational visit.
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This was a remarkable interview experience. Both the faculty and students were hospitable. This would be an excellent place to study medicine.
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I've said enough
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Overall, I had a great time, the interview was not stressful, and I would love to attend.
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It was my first interview, so I was really anxious and overly prepared. Howard showed me that it was more important to be relax, confident, and be able to go with the flow.
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The name of Howard is prestigous and I'm sure the teachers are great but the interview day was not a good way to display your credentials since it was disorganized.
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Would rather have gone to any other interview but here. Heck, I'd rather go to dental school. Howard apparently has one of those too. And from what I've heard the problems are even worse! At least I heard every year there are a "couple of hotties" from what my professional tour guides mentioned (as a selling point). Professionalism did not seem to be universal among students. May God have mercy on them. If I were to assess a score, it would be a 0 out of 10. Or can I assign a negative number?
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I felt really good about this interview. It was my first so I had no idea what to expect. I had a great man as an interviwer, he is the chairperson of the new Curriculum (they implemented a new curriculum 2 yrs ago). He did not ask much. he said he was impressed with my file so it made my life a lot easier. The students were awesome, the tour was good. The is a great support system there. I was not seriously considering howard before but I definitely will go there now.
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Good overall and they were pretty friendly
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The whole process was pretty laid back. I enjoyed meeting the faculty and the students. Both were very enthusiastic and welcoming. I can honestly say I'm more psyched about Howard after the interview than I was before. My only suggestion to others is to make sure that you want to work in underserved communities, because that mission is paramount to Howard.
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The faculty seemed uninterested and looked outside the window during the interview. She never smiled and made the interview very uncomfortable. The student also never similed and made no effort to be friendly.
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A VERY relaxed interview day, not stressful in the least bit.
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I think this was my best med school experience so far (honestly). I was the only person at my interview so things went by really fast. ALSO, for those of you that are getting interviewed really late (say in May or June)...or who havent receieved an interview yet....Howard is usually very backed up so dont be surprised if you are like me and get an interview in June. The student guide took me the anatomy lab, the new library (wow, its sooo nice), and the various facilities. OVerall, my impression of the school was good. Dont be intimidated and nervous! I know I was and there was NO reason for it. Unlike other schools, it seems HOward's interview is just really to get to know you better. They dont scrutinize you with unwarranted ethics questions and other meritless questions. SO just be yourself and show them that you really have a desire and motivation to help the underserved!
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I interviewed with a delightful basic science faculty member. The interview was very conversational, he didn't ask many questions, he was more interested in getting a general feel for each of us. As I and another student were the last two to be interviewed and because it was getting late (~4:30pm) he offered to interview the both of us simultaneously. We both agreed and I don't regret the decision. This gentleman was very spiritual, so part of our interview included a discussion of medicine and the bible as you'll see in some of the questions stated below.
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It's an alright school but too expensive for its own good.
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You are suppose to be interviewed by two people, if time permits: a student (close-file) and a faculty (open-file). I only had a faculty interview due to time. BUt everyone is SUPPOSE to have a faculty interview, that's the one that counts. DO NOT LEAVE without a faculty interview.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
🕐
Length:
36 Minutes Average
🔄
Number:
1.1 Interviews Average
👥
Interview Type (Interaction):
99% One-on-One
1% Group Interview
📁
File Type:
91% Open-File
9% Closed-File
💻
Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
HUCM-COMP interviews are an average of 36 minutes, with an average of 1.1 interviews. 99% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 9% 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 ethical scenarios, reasons for pursuing medicine or attending a specific school, personal attributes and strengths, academic performance explanations, and future goals in healthcare. Some respondents mentioned being asked a variety of questions in an MMI format, potentially indicating the use of a Multiple Mini Interview setup with nondisclosure agreements in place.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Ethics-based question. Along the lines of how would you handle a peer doing something unethical in class.
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Tell me about the challenging time you put in your secondary? (coursework related)
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Why Howard ?
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Why you want to be a doctor and a lot of just open discussion and questions came out based on that
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What is altruism?
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Why medicine?
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What is altruism? give an example of a time you were altruistic
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Why Howard?
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How do you define integrity?
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How does your city compare to the D.C. Metropolitan area?
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Tell me about yourself. (ugh!)
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Why do you want to be a doctor?
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Why do you want to come here?
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Tell me about your experience prior to college
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What qualities should a good doctor have?
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What makes you think you'll be able to handle an all-science curriculum?
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Tell me about yourself
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Why do you want to go to Howard?
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Why do you want to be a physician?
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Tell me about yourself, your educational and social background as a child growing up in xxxx
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
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So... since I haven't really had the chance to look through your file and while I'm looking through it, why don't you tell me a little about yourself?
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How does Howard rank among the other schools you applied to?
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Do you have an family members that attended/worked at Howard? Do you have any family who are in medicine? (he asked me this like 2 or 3 times)
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"Besides your one grade of a C, how did you manage to get all A's?" (I'd suggest talking about your strong work ethic and commitment to success - if this describes you)
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What other schools did you apply to ?
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What is freshman orientation?
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Tell me about your family.
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What would you recommend to someone as steps to take to becoming successful?
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Tell me about yourself.
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What are your strengths/weaknesses?
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Tell me about your research?
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Why Howard?
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What would you like to know about my profession?
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What was your favorite course
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Explain your grades in college (I'm nontraditional)
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What is your life's motto?
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What are your strength
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Tell me about yourself and family pre-college
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Very conversational...but a few questions were: What do you have to offer HUCM?
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What are your strengths and weaknesses
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What was the best movie you saw in the past year?
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Volunteering in underserved area?
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Why didn't you enroll in a Postbac program?
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Tell me about your experiences with the greatest fraternity in the World, Alpha Phi Alpha that is? (Yes, everyone is an Alpha so you better wear your pin) And if you pledged something else, you better denounce you membership and become and Alpha LOL In summary, THE CAMPUS IS PHROZEN!
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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Who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine this year?
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Tell me about yourself?
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Why did you decide to get your MPH?
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What are the three synoptic Gospels?
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At what have you failed?
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So you teach school?
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What are your strenghts and weaknesses?
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Do you play any sports or have any hobbies that require hand-eye coordination?
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What specialty would you practice?
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Yeah....I was asked so many questions specific to my application it would be pointless to post it here as they wouldn't be asked of you.
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Tell me about yourself, why howard, what do you have to offer howard
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Why did you get a 'C' in __ class? Why did you withdraw from __ class?
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Tell me about your research
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Why the C's and low mcat score?
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Why should we accept you?
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Which one of your extracurricular activities means the most to you, and why?
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Why don't your grades correlate with your grade point average?
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What are your strengths and weaknesses?
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Do you have any questions for me?
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Explain why you got this grade in Organic Chemistry.
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Why didn't you apply to Howard the first time you applied to medical school?
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What's unique about......my name here
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What happened with a few grades and the MCAT?
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Describe your experience climbing Mt McKinley.
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What are some of your hobbies?
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Why dont your MCAT scores reflect your grades?
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Explain your grades after your junior year.
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Explain grades!
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What do you like to do in your spare time?
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Why do you want to be a doctor?
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Specific questions related to grades and post-undergraduate work.
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Why Howard
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Explain this grade...
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How would your friends describe you
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Why medicine? Why not pharmacy? (my father is a pharmacist)
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Why Howard? Why should I pick you over any other candidate?
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Explain this withdrawl.
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Explain your previous MCAT score
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Nothing of value!!
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Is Howard your first choice? I blatantly refused to answer this question. The a** pressed on further and I still refused. He did not need that information. I doubt I'll get in but hey, I have been accepted to the #9 school in the US so I really don't give a ..
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What makes you stand out from other applicants?
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Why do you think you have what it takes to be a doctor?
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Tell me about yourself. Your family.
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Tell me about yourself. Why Medicine? Why Howard?
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Strengths and weaknesses
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What made you want to attend the undergraduate school that you did.? Are any of your family members in medicine?
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How did I prepare for the MCAT?
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Tell me about yourself, your weakness, strengths
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What attributes do I have that would make me a good physician? What do I consider to be my greatest strengths/weaknesses?
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If I visited your school what would people tell me about you?
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What three qualities do you feel a physician must have to be effective?
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Where are you in the application process (i.e. have you been accepted elsewhere)?
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How did you hear about Howard?
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Do you plan to serve minorities?
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Tell me about yourself. What brings someone like you to Howard? What do you have to offer us? You know this is a Black school, don't you? How do you feel about helping save the lives of Black people?
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What does your father do?
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Why Dentistry
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Why do you want to become a dentist?
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Why do you want to be doc?
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Which one of the apostles was a physician?
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Why Howard Medical School?
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What do you do for fun/on your spare time?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Howard University College of Medicine discussed a variety of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal qualities, future aspirations, and reasons for choosing Howard over other schools. Additionally, some respondents mentioned questions related to their academic background, experiences, and views on healthcare, with a few unique questions like identifying a doctor in the Bible and reflections on personal philosophies.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What would you do if you found out someone cheated on an exam? something like that
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How would your friends describe you ?
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About how I balance life
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N/A
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How do you feel about your SAT scores?
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What do you want me to tell the admission committee about you?
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Hmm...none really. Was a pretty interesting interview session overall though!
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How do you stay close to your family? (I am an international student, so I have family outside of the US.)
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What are you looking for in a medical school?
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A lot of ethical questions.
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Ethical question regarding other students having a copy of an exam... what would you do?
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Do you have any ticket?
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What skills do you think you have?
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What would stop you from coming to Howard?
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What should I judge you on? Your gpa or you mcat?
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Why do you feel Howard is the best place for you?
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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I'm not sure. Where do you see yourself in 10 years, maybe.
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How does Howard rank among the other schools you applied to?
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Where does HUCM rank in your prospective schools?
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What are the qualities you see a good physician must have and how do you fit into that?
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Were you discriminated against? (This was asked after I said I attended a racially homogenous high-school on a merit-based scholarship)
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What traits do successful physicians have but you do not have?
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What in the world is Freshman Orientation? (I took that class my freshman year)
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What can Howard offer you?
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Since you know a lot about healthcare (based on my educational background), what do you think is the biggest problem facing the US healthcare system today?
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All the questions were standard. Most interesting part of the interview was when the interviewer described a mural on his wall that was a memorial to folks at Howard who had dedicated their lives to service.
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None really. Everything was pretty standard.
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What kind of physician do you see yourself as in 15 years?
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What do you think of managed care? Would you change it?
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Why are you in your current academic program?
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Nothing out of the ordinary, I guess. The one I least expected was ''How supportive are your parents about you wanting to go into medicine''
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Why Howard instead of Meharry or Morehouse?
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None of the questions were really interesting they were pretty basic.
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Did you have an 'ah-ha' moment (regarding wanting to be a physician)?
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There are three types of leadership roles that doctors play (1) The type where the doctor tells everybody what they should do and everybody follows, (2) The type that feels that he is a part of a team and everybody has equal say-so and (3) the type that offers opinions on what he thinks his patient should do. What type are you?
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What would your friends tell me about you?
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Given what you have heard about medical school, do you think you can do it?
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If you had the power to change one thing in healthcare what would it be and how?
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Most questions related specifically to my file
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Would you do academic medicine?
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If you could take anyone out to dinner to talk to (God, Ghandi, your Mom, anyone), who would it be and why?
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What type of medicine do you see yourself practicing?
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It was not even a question - more of a statement. Something about knowing someone else from the same country I'm from (Ghana) who illegally married two women -- what I ask did this have to do with me? And what was the point of bringing it up?
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Which of the three would best reflect your academic potential - your undergrad work, graduate studies or the MCAT?
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How will your previous degree and experience contribute to medicine?
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I see that you worked in the health care environment for 3 years. What has been your favorite job?
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Which of the three synoptic Gospel's was a doctor?
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At what have you failed and how did you deal with it?
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What is my life's philosophy?
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What are some caveats you live by?
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I did a lot of listening.
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What is your personal life quote/motto?
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How was my high school education?
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If I ever watched ER?
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So how about those Steelers?
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If all of the schools you applied to accepted you, how would you choose the school you would attend?
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You don't seemed disadvantaged, so why do you consider yourself diadvantaged?
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Do you know these people? *She listed five names* What do these people have in common?
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Do you have a philosophical quote which you live by? If so, what is it?
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What is unique about you that would motivate the adcomm to pick you over everyone else with your creditionals...
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You got A's in ... and a C in..., why do you think that is?
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Why didn't your MCAT correlate with your GPA?
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Which one of the gospels was written by a physician, and where in the Bible does it state he is a physician?
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What do you bring to Howard?
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Estimate the number of people in this country without health insurance?
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Well I thought it was interesting when after telling me my MCAT scores were above their average, he asked me whether or not I was happy with my score.
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If a patient came to you very sick but very poor, what would you do? Would you turn them away because they couldn't afford the medical attention?
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Do you agree with Kanye West's declaration during the Katrina Relief effort that President Bush doesn't care about black people?
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Most were "getting to know you" questions
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What are your strengths and weaknesses and what can you offer to Howard University?
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[Related to my research experience]
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What should I say to the Board so that they accept you?
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It was all so text book. Really they give you a green sheet to fill out right before the interview and they go right off that. Silly system?
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Do you know how Dr. Vivien Thomas and Mos Def (rap artist) are linked?
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What should Howard offer to make YOU want to spend the next 4 years here?
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About my study abroad experience
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What do you like to do when you go home from work?
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Why would I choose Howard over another top school?
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Who did you rehearse with?.....that was the only non-standard question he asked
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They were typical interview questions. Emphasis was put on my course work and grades
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Question about my some of my research
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Tell me an experience that shows your leadership skills?
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What would you do to solve the problem of health in the underserved community?
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When you go to India to visit your family, what bothers you most about your experience there?
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Nothing really...questions were pretty standard
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Why should HUCM select me?
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None, all the questions were right out the book
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If there is only one spot left for the class, why should we choose you above everybody else?
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What did you focus on in Biochemistry? This question was before the actual interview began. She was a Biochemistry professor. And she was very nice (Dr. Abraims)
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I was asked what made me think that I was medical school material by my interviewer.
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What preparatory courses did you take for the MCAT and why?
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He asked me to explain the social relationships of people from different ethnic backgrounds in my country of origin.
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Nothing!
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None
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None.
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My interview was too busy being an asshole to ask me an interesting question. When he opened my file, he made a noise and sort of shook his head. What was that all about?
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What can I tell to the Admissions committee that would convince them to accept you?
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Why Howard? Why do you not like being labeled as a premed? What problems do you think you'll have in medical school?
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How would you see yourself functioning as a physician?
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When you look at your role models that are doctors what do you think you lack in comparison to them
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What makes a good physician?
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Why should I be picked over the other candidates?
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How do you feel about standardized testing.
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If I thought I had the three most important qualities I think a physician should have.
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What do you think your relationship with your patients will be like?
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Questions pertaining to my job and my interviewer's research.
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What is your best characteistic?
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Tell me about the "C" you made in Organic Chem and why you made it? (he would not accept my first answer so made me revise my answer for his records)
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I:How have you liked your "experience" here? Me:"Experience" I asked? I:You know, how do you feel about Black people?
-
Why I wanted to be a pediatrician?
-
Name four adjectives that describe yourself
-
If you had access to a time machine and you could go forward and see yourself in 10 years, what would you see?
-
If you were the interviewer, what questions would you ask that I (the faculty) did not ask?
-
Standard, tell me about yourself question led to interesting conversation
-
Why do you want to go to Howard?
-
Who am I?
-
Why do you want to become a physician???
-
What does it take to become a doctor? I thought he meant things like dedication, hard-work blah blah. But he was thinking more in the line of the academic path....going to class, studying, boards, residency...etc.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing with mock interviews, reading through SDN, researching the school's website and mission, and getting advice from mentors or current students. Suggestions included practicing responses to common interview questions, familiarizing oneself with the school's history and values, and seeking feedback from peers or alumni.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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SDN, mock interviews
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I did mock interviews with my mentors, read through SDN, and went through my application since it is an open file interview.
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SDN and God
-
Career center at my university does mock interviews
-
Read over my Primary & Secondaries. Try to formulate responses to the common interview questions.
-
Read over my application several times. Prepared myself to explain MCAT retakes. Nothing else out of the ordinary.
-
By reading through my application, going through interview prep books, reading SDN, practiced saying my interview answers, etc
-
Went over my AMCAS application and secondary application. I also used the feedback questions from this website.
-
SDN and mock interviews with friends. Also looked up medical school interview tips on the internet.
-
SDN, friend that is a med student at Howard who interviewed last year
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SDN, AMCAS app
-
Came to this website to view questions and read about the school
-
Advice from other students, researchs, did mock-interviews, practice questions
-
Reviewed my primary and secondary, SDN, considered possible questions they could ask.
-
Howard website
-
Reviewed my file. Wrote out an outline on why I wanted to go hear.
-
Looked at the school website, went over my application and thought about general interview questions
-
I arrived 4 days before the interview (stayed with friends), and talked with a couple. i looked at the history, mission, and vision, and i reread my own 1o and 2o applications.
-
SDN, Medical School Interview e-book, read over my application, mock interviews, read history of university, prayed a lot
-
Reviewed my application, looked over the school website, and talked to alum of Howard medical school.
-
Read SDN, read "The Medical School Interview" by Jeremiah Fleenor MD, read a short medical ethics book with cases and explanations, read up on the latest health news articles in Wallstreet Journal Health and in New York Times Health.
-
Reread all application materials pertaining to this school, looked at some SDN interview feedback pages.
-
SDN, AMCAS, lots of deep breaths
-
Read about Howard, read my AMCAS & secondary
-
Went on this website and looked at all entries in the past 2 years; wrote down possible questions asked and practiced the main points I would discuss in front of a mirror (try not to sound like you rehearsed at the actual interview); did a mock interview with my academic advisor; my friends asked me questions and I practiced thinking about them
-
I pracxticed in front of a mirror, reviewed the studentdoctor.com post on interviews, and harassed my family, friends, and mentors into giving me mock interviews.
-
Prayed because only God Almighty allowed me to be interviewed at this GREAT school. Read over AMCAS, Secondaries, etc
-
Spoke with friends who attend Howard and prayed.
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SDN website (I literally read every single entry over the last year), my secondary and AMCAS application, HUMS website, mock interview with friends
-
Read my application, mock interview, SDN, read up on Howard, talked to local folks.
-
HU Website, mock interviews, SDN
-
I did not prepare for this interview. I had been on some before, so I felt I knew what I had to say and what questions to ask.
-
Interview prep guide, Howard website, reviewed AMCAS/secondary
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SDN, interview materials, mock
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Howard website, SDN feedback, mock interview a few months ago with premed committee
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Read books, the very limited internet site and visited other websites.
-
Read the comments on this website, asked a 3rd year medical student about good responses, reviewed websites with possible interview questions.
-
Read howard web site, ate well, SDN, talked informally with people about my goals.
-
Read SDN, my amcas, my secondary, and talked to some alumni
-
Howard website, AMCAS app, SDN
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SDN, school website, previous interview.
-
SDN, amcas, howard website
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SDN, 2ndary Application, and AMCAS Application
-
Sdn, website, practice.
-
SDN
-
I read SDN (of course), I re-read my AMCAS, and just relaxed. I also went to the MLK memorial ground breaking ceremony.
-
Read over personal statement, sdn etc
-
Read about Howard - (history, mission) asked questions to physicians that have worked with Howard alumni, and went over comments posted on SDN.
-
Read the school website, took notes on the mission statement, Googled the hell out of the school, this website
-
SDN, Howard website, mock interview, had friend ask me some questions
-
SDN AMCAS review schools core value review
-
SDN, read my amcas, brushed up on school history and mission statement
-
Review my app. Read over my research
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SDN; MMEP at UAB with a interview component; a friend who matriculated to Howard; practice questions at home by myself
-
SDN and read my AMCAS
-
Relax, Good Night's Sleep
-
Read SDN,
-
Read through my AMCAS application.
-
To be honest I do not prepare for interviews
-
SDN, reviewed AMCAS and secondary, browsed school's website
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SDN website, reviewed my research papers, read AMCAS application.
-
Reviewed my applications
-
SDN website, reviewed applicaiton, researched the school, practice interviews
-
SDN, AMCAS application,
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SDNet, Reviewing AMCAS and Secondary
-
Secondary app., sdn, school's website
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Secondary, AMCAS app.,School website,SDN, coversations with current medical school students
-
SDN, read my secondary, googled the school, and read the website
-
read secondary, AMCAS, went over typical interview questions asked
-
Student doctor; current med students
-
Spoke with students, read AMCAS app and secondary, and read school website
-
School website, studentdoctor.com, secondary application, AMCAS application, talking to current students.
-
Read personal statement, website, secondary
-
Read SDN feeback, HUCM website, read amcas application and secondary
-
Read my AMCAS essays, their website, SDN Forum and feedback. I actuallu PMed some Howard alumni on SDN and they were really helpful...specifically nbmjd
-
Read the website, read my "secondary", read SDN
-
Read SDN, read my AMCAS application, tried to colloquialize my lexicon for the interview. Pushups.
-
SDN, read my AMCAS and secondary
-
Re-read my secondary application.
-
Read SDN, checked out the school webpage, read over my AMCAS application.
-
SDN website, practiced with friends, reviewed AMCAS application, and prayed.
-
Well there is not much info on thier web site. Other then that the MSAR, and mock interviews.
-
Browsed SDN and the school website
-
Sdn, read website, went over my amcas
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SDN, school website and other internet sources
-
SDN, called 1st amd 3rd year MED students, practiced interview questions, read Howard's page
-
Read school website, practiced with interview questions
-
Very difficult neither the website nor US News had any data on the school. I read the materials they gave us while waiting for my interviews
-
Read The Howard website
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This site, my schools interview workshop.
-
SDN, Pfizer's guide to Medical school, People who had been interviewed there.
-
Read AMCAS, Knew Howards mission
-
Read the school's website, SDN interv. feedback, re-re-re-read my AMCAS essay
-
Read this web site; reread my application. Visited HUCM web site.
-
SDN, mock interviews, going over my AMCAS, visiting the school's website
-
School's website, SDN, talked with some people that I know at HUCM
-
I think I over-prepared actually, being that the interview process was so laid back.
-
Thought about stuff I was going to say
-
By reading up on the school, using this website and by having a mock interview with my pre-med advisor.
-
I read this website and compiled the questions that this school mainly asked. I reviewed my transcript and my AMCAS application.
-
I read this website and memorized all of the pertinent facts surrounding my AMCAS application and my Secndary application.
-
I read this website and about the school and talked to some students from the school
-
This website, counsel of doctors I work with, reviewed my AMCAS application.
-
This site. My file.
-
Enthusiatically read about Howard, went in positively...I would never advise my enemy to go there now
-
This website, going over practice questions with friends, reviewing AMCAS application, and reading Howard's website
-
This website and Howard's website.
-
This website, looking over example questions, rehearsing questions with my friends, and really thinking about characteristics make me stand out
-
Nothing. This was my third interview so I knew my application pretty well.
-
I wrote out answers to practice interview questions and I have had mock interviews in the past.
-
This and the school's site, my AMCAS , got a good night's rest
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Student doctor, school website
-
This website
-
Read this website, reviewed my AMCAS application, mock interviews with family
-
Sdn and practiced questions
-
This site, on-line.
-
Practice answering questions, read info and my application materials
-
SDN and Howard wev site.
-
Reviewed packets with possible interview questions and talked with current medical students at Howard and other schools.
-
SDN, Howard's mission, other students
-
Read application file, read about the school history.
-
Interviewfeedback.com, school website and my AMCAS application.
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This website and mock interviews with my friends
-
Read about Howard in MSAR, UW's Bioethics page, practiced answering a bunch of questions in my head.
-
Practiced standard interview questions, read comments, researched the school and its faculty members
-
Website, current students, school's information
-
I just went here and read some of the previous feedbacks about Howard interviews.
-
Mock interviews, read over possible interview questions and read interviewfeedback.com messages about the school.
-
AAMC's book on admissions, www.howard.med.edu and www.studentdoctor.com. Re-read my essay.
-
My third interview so I knew what to expect.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Howard University College of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, academic performance, personal motivations for pursuing medicine, and future career aspirations. While some mentioned specific inquiries about grades and test scores, others highlighted thought-provoking questions like sacrificing personal interests for others and the challenges of balancing humility with ambition in medicine.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Specific questions about my application. The questions weren't inherently difficult, just thought-provoking.
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Nothing SDN prepared me well.
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N/A
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Nothing, honestly.
-
Name 3 good things AND 3 bad things about being a doctor.
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In medicine you may at times be asked to put someone else's life before your own. Give me an example of a time when you had to sacrifice your own interests for the benefit of someone else?
-
How does your city compare to the D.C. Metropolitan area?
-
Since you've been out of school for going on two years, what makes you confident that you will excel at the medical school curriculum?
-
What specialty would you like to go into?
-
A lot of ethical questions.
-
Questions pertaining to sub-par grades in undergrad courses
-
Why did you get C in this class?
-
None were difficult.
-
Defending my science GPA, only because I wasn't expecting to have to do so
-
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most humble, how humble are you?
-
I actually don't think I answered the "why a doctor?" question sufficiently...but that's because i was ridiculously overzealous... also, there was that "what other schools did you apply to?" question. and my answer was all: "list of school" ...but i really want to go to howard--it truly is my number 1 choice! lol wow.
-
There really weren't any difficult questions, the interviewer looked through my application and asked questions specific to my app
-
The interviewer did not ask me anything difficult. The most "difficult" might have been "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
-
How does Howard rank among the other schools you applied to?
-
I felt really hard pressed by the "don't you have any family members in medicine" because I don't, and the interviewer made me feel like that was bad.
-
You see one of your fellow medical students cheating. What do you do? / You have a conflict with a faculty member. What do you do?
-
"I'm going to have to pick on you a little bit. Explain your one grade of a C senior year." (My interviewer didn't have pre-planned questions. He basically scanned my grades listed on my AMCAS and asked about the only grade that stood out.)
-
Few, if any, difficult questions. The questions were direct and standard interview fare.
-
What should I tell the Committee about you
-
What other schools have you applied to and what is your status there?
-
None were difficult, the interview was extremely laid-back and very conversation-like. My interviewer asked great questions because some were kind of tough, but I got a real sense that he wanted to know what I thought, and wasn't just looking for cookie-cutter answers.
-
About my grades - I knew the question was coming, but he asked it in a very indirect way, so it caught me off guard.
-
There were no difficult questions, but she did go through my ENTIRE academic record and asked me about every class I've ever dropped with a 'W.' Not so bad except that I graduated undergrad a while ago so there was some stuff I barely remembered taking.
-
Same
-
Nothing really--very conversational interview
-
None
-
To explain the disparity between my grades and my standardized test scores. I knew it was coming, of course, but I didn't feel like I said everything I wanted to.
-
Explain your grades.
-
List 5 reasons why I should tell the board to accept you. Then she wrote 1-5 on her paper and waited for me to start talking.
-
There really wasn't a diff. one. i did have to think about this one: ''what was your favorite college class?'' only because i like so many...
-
No difficult questions. My interviewer was very nice and understanding.
-
What should I tell the admissions committee about you?
-
No difficult questions were asked. The interview was trying to get to know me beyond what was in my file.
-
Why should we accept you?
-
As a physician how would you get the uninsured to come to the hospital?
-
Explain why your grades took a dip.
-
Tell me about yourself (only because it was in the middle of the interview and came out of no where).
-
Why did you make a C in organic chem?
-
None really -- the man seemed on a mission to upset me with snide comments about things i had no control over
-
When did you decide that you wanted to be a physician? This was a bit difficult because there have been many experiences that contributed to my decision. I wanted to think of the most influential experience and that was a bit tricky.
-
Can you explain the C+ in Statistics your sophomore year?
-
Do you think you can deal with such an intense course load?
-
What's the difference between a doctor and a physician?
-
There were several interesting questions, but nothing too hard.
-
None in particular
-
There were none.
-
None at all
-
Where do you see yourself 15 years from now?
-
No hard questions at all
-
Nothing was terribly difficult. The interviewer was hard to understand because english was not her native language.
-
What do you want me to tell the committee to ensure your acceptance to Howard University School of Medicine?
-
No difficult questions.
-
None were difficult, because he only asked three questions.
-
The people question.
-
Now...you know I'm going to ask you about that MCAT...what happened?
-
Why do you think there is a discrepancy between your MCAT score and your GPA?
-
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
-
So, why do you want to come here? (Normally this would be easy, but I've heard so many things about their accreditation problems, so I had to think of something quick.)
-
None were really difficult.
-
What do you bring to Howard?
-
Name three doctors from the bible?
-
How are you going to finance your education since I'm an international student
-
I see you took Religions of the World. That's fascinating. Tell me about Hinduism! (I was interviewed by an Indian professor at the School that also specializes in Hinduism....)
-
You stated you want to be a competent physician. So why Howard?
-
If a big name school gave you a lot of money, you wouldn't come to Howard. You agree?
-
Why do you want to be a doctor? (For me, I find it difficult to adequately express passion verbally).
-
Tell me about yourself.
-
Why dont your MCAt scores reflect your grades?
-
Nothing. The questions were very straight forward.
-
Why do you lack clinical exposure (i.e. hospital volunteering)?
-
Where do you see yourself in your graduating class at Howard (% Rank)?
-
Explain grades!
-
About any low grades
-
Explain your score on the writing section of the MCAT
-
The questions weren't very difficult.They just wanted to get to know you.
-
What is one of your personality flaws
-
If you are so interested in research work, why do you want to be a doctor?
-
Is Howard your first choice if you are offered multiple addmissions? (i didn't like this question at all).
-
Please explain this grade.
-
Explain this grade
-
None really...
-
What books have you read
-
The same as the most interesting?
-
Explain your C's during this semester.
-
Relatively speaking, there were no tough questions becuse I knew my file and I knew myself so all that i hed to do was to TELL THE TRUTH.
-
What are your "current" weaknesses?
-
None... the interviewer was not even interested...bunch of stuck up a**holes.
-
What school is your first choice? (what do you say if the answer is not Howard?)
-
Why do you want to practice medicine? Maybe it was difficult because every reason I gave, he questioned it and/or shot it down. For example, "If you like science, why don't you do research?" or "There are a lot of ways to help people." He actually said, "Hmm, I still don't know why you want to practice medicine, but I guess if you know then it doesn't matter."
-
None really. They were all pretty much run of the mill. I did have to think carefully about a couple though.
-
Do you think you're going to have problems getting into medical school?
-
See above
-
Explanation for a bad grade (c in physics)
-
See above.
-
What's your excuse for this particular grade?
-
Explanations about grades received in certain classes.
-
None.
-
What do you have that Howard is interested in?
-
Would you feel comfortable helping to save the life of a Black person?
-
How I thought I could impact healthcare on a global scale since I can only be at one place at a time (it was not really a question, more like a statement).
-
If I was doing the interview and they were the interviewee, what questions would I ask
-
Where does Howard rank among the other schools to which you're applying?
-
Why do you want to be a dentist?
-
None too difficult, just one about a non-A/B on my transcript. My interviewer asked me to explain
-
Why did you have a such a bad verbal score, yet a really high writing sample score?
-
Who am I?
-
Why do you want to become a physician??
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and supportive atmosphere at Howard University College of Medicine, noting the caring nature of faculty, staff, and students. The strong sense of community, camaraderie among students, and emphasis on creating a family-oriented environment were highlighted as key positive aspects that left a lasting impression. Suggestions included improving organization and maintaining transparency to continue fostering a welcoming and supportive environment.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
-
Everyone was so nice. You can really tell they care about their students. They were also very transparent about everything which was comforting.
-
The amount of time they put into the day, really makes you feel like they want you.
-
The attitudes of everyone .
-
The med students were friendly no privileged stuck up kids like at the other DC med schools. Everyone was smart and down to earth.
-
The friendliness of the entire faculty, staff and students at HUCM
-
Speaking with the students about the “family feel” of Howard; the non-competitive and extremely supportive environment. Also getting reassurance from them that they’re confident they’re being well-prepared for Boards.
-
The students! They were very welcoming and supportive.
-
Support system, friendliness of students, faculty, and staff
-
Everything! I specifically loved how friendly all of the students were. Such a family enviroment! You could tell that all of the students were truly happy.
-
The friendly atmosphere --- from the students, to the staff to the faculty.
-
The camaraderie among the medical students. Throughout the day, many of them dropped in on the interview to ask us if we had any questions and to wish us good luck.
-
The students are AMAZING and very involved.
-
My interviewer was a pleasant person and I felt at ease the entire time
-
The clinical testing room is nice and new! The new library is beautiful! The students are so warm and friendly :)
-
1.Everyone was very friendly-students and faculty stopped by to wish us all good luck. 2.The clinical skills/mock patient center. 3. Location!
-
Enthusiasm of students to talk about why they love Howard and what their process was like
-
The interviewer was personable and not intimidating at all. They have technologically up-to-date teaching tools and the group of interviewees was the most friendly and outgoing I've experienced so far.
-
The overall vibe of the place.
-
The interview was very personal. The interviewer had looked at my file, and had made a bunch of notes on my classes, and ECs to ask me about.
-
The warmth from the students.
-
I was impressed by the camaraderie between the medical students. They offer each other so much support and that is what impressed me the most, as you have probably read, it is a family oriented environment
-
They gave us complete information on the medical school, the tour guide was helpful and thorough.
-
Again, like everyone says, the students seem very close, very comfortable with each other and very friendly. The physician who interviewed me was very nice, and Ms. Walk is also very friendly and the overall environment was not intimidating. The fact that the neighborhood is not so good means the learning opportunities in the hospital should be good.
-
The level of collaboration between students. The people were very honest, and real about the challenges of medical school, and seemed to be overall content with their experience.
-
True sense of community amongst the students.
-
Tight knit community at Howard, campus, cultural life, student services, honesty of students and staff. I was really impressed with the school, their mission & how much students look out for each other.
-
The interviewees were nice. I don't know if they did this purposefully or not, but everyone in my group was female.
-
The students and fcaulty are all very tight-knit and enthusiastic about Howard.
-
The love that I recieved from EVERYONE..Ms Walk, the first year student president, my interviewer
-
Howard University is much more put together than I had thought.
-
It's been said by most people, and that just shows how true it is: the atmosphere here for students is absolutely wonderful. We had two second years give us interviews, and then three third years who came to talk with us for way over an hour. It was extremely insighful, and they were very candid. They asked us to list some of the reservations we might have had about HUMS, and were very frank about the things they liked and things they weren't so crazy about at HUMS. Overall, I think they convinced each of us of the family atmoshphere at the school, and although HUMS is already at the top of my list, it like doubled in points.
-
It's been said a thousand times, but it is true - everyone (students, faculty, staff) is friendly and encouraging. Plus, Howard is directly invested in its local community.
-
Students were great, the laptops they get are super cool, laid back atmosphere, super diverse class, great faculty
-
''The Family'' atmosphere. The students and faculty are big on that. It's nice because its obvious not an admissions trick, its real. The great students, not subpar by any means. These people specifically choose to go to Howard over other schools because of the atmosphere.
-
Tablet PCs that all the students are required to have are really nice. The new Health Sciences library is also beautiful, very modern and up-to-date. Seems like a great place to study
-
Students and staff seemed like a family, students were very nice also, very nice new library
-
The students! They all seemed so happy and to work together so well. It was just a comfortable place.
-
The hospital and the history of the school.
-
I thought the cafeteria food in the hospital was good. They even have tasty items for vegetarians. The health science library is very nice and up to date.
-
The family-like atmosphere. i didn't believe it when i read it on this web site, but the student laptops really are amazing. the surrounding community is vibrant, people are down to earth.
-
How the faculty and students seem to have a good relationship amongst each other
-
How happy the students and faculty are, laptops they give students are cool too
-
Like everyone before me i'm sure, the tablet PCs are nice, the students are very friendly. I felt as though I would not mind spending the next four years there. Of all the interviews I've had so far, this was by far the most welcoming...I felt very comfortable and the tour guides were fun and pleasant. The library is new and very impressive...Above everything, the school's mission is very noble.
-
As everyone has said, I was most impressed with the students and how much they liked Howard. Also, almost all students mentioned how much they supported each other. The student body is close network. I met so many students during the day and told each of them who I met earlier. They all knew exactly who I was talking about.
-
The constant positive vibe given by students and faculty. I also enjoyed the satisfaction of getting to see a plethra of Black doctors doing it BIG! HUCM has produced some of the worlds greatest surgeons!!!
-
My interviewer really impressed me. Ms. Walk is great. I felt like they really cared about getting to know me. I also was amazed when I walked into the hospital and saw a cafeteria full of African American physicians. It is normally difficult for me to find just one. They give applicants opportunities that other medical school would not give.
-
Wonderful faculty.
-
I heard horror stories, both from friends and read it on SDN about the down time, waiting and general lack of organization by the admissions staff. This was not the case at all. The day was scheduled to the minute and the staff stuck to that schedule like glue. I enjoyed lunch with the other prospective students they seemed really well put together. The library is a beautiful facility. The school is located in a cultural mecca. I liked the standardized laptops everyone received.
-
How great the school really is? You hear so many negative things about Historically Black Medical schools. However, this interview really has turned my opinions around. Also the student who gave us the tours were great. THANKS La'Kimberly, Gabrielle, amd Neka Loved yall
-
Some of the faculty that stopped by seemed really accomodating and very well versed in their fields
-
There is a vibrant atmosphere at Howard that I have not seen elsewhere. After interacting with the staff and students, it is very easy to relax and be yourself. Everyone I met seemed so happy to be a member of the Howard family.
-
The people were all really nice and supportive. Seeing black people runnin' things well.
-
The students and the faculty. Both of them are really happy to be there. Students, in particular, reinforced how much they love the school by talking to us throughout the day and answering alot of questions about the school. The staff was very personable and greeted everyone as if they already knew us.
-
Students are extremely enthusiastic kind and passionate
-
Everyone I met was enthusiastic about the school. Students felt good about there choice to attend Howard. Many students saw us dressed up and came by to give us pointers and to say good luck. The faculty was approachable and seemed genuinely interested in the students. One faculty member had taught at Tulane, Harvard, a school in Texas, and Howard among others. He said he had been at Howard the longest, and that it was by far his favorite place to work because of the atmosphere of the school.
-
The student camaraderie
-
The students were so supportive and encouraging. Many stopped by the office to wish us good luck. A few even stopped by and talked with us for a while. Even a faculty memember asked us if we had any questions for him. He said he continues to work at Howard because of the faculty-student relationship that he has not experienced at any other school he worked at, and he worked at some top-notch schools.
-
Students are very pleased with their decision to attend Howard. Their super computers were very nice. Oh, lunch was pretty tasty too. You get to choose your own food.
-
The overall atmosphere. I had my doubts about HU (being that it's a predominately black medical school), but I was totally impressed - my opinion changed completely. The students are extra friendly and they are really close.. kind of like a family type of closeness.
-
The number of students that stopped by to give us encouragement and help us prep for the interview.
-
Got a chance to see the students in the anatomy lab. Also, the current students were very friendly along with the rest of the students being interviewed. Nice library.
-
The fact that Howard University, Meharry and more recently Morehouse have single handedly produced some of the brightest and most dedicated minority physicians in the country. The students are the strong point of this school although you may not get that impression at first. In none of my interviews have I met a more talented pool of minority applicants than I have here.
-
The cohesiveness of the student body and their laptops
-
The process was very organized and timely. The admissions staff was friendly and the students were pleasant & enthused about Howard. Many students (nearly 20) took the time to stop by at various intervals and offer advice, answer questions and give general helpful information.
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The students! We got to see so many students who cared about us and hoped we would be their classmates next year.
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Their willingness to admit why they have problems with accreditation and how they view the problem. Also a well planned financial aid presentation.
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I loved the comraderie betweent he students and their welcoming attitude to the interviewees. Members from each class took time out of their day to come and welcome us and speak to us and make it less nerve-racking for the interviewees.
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The feeling of community among the students, faculty, and administration. The anatomy lecturer and the tablet pcs. Brand new library.
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The consistency btw the student body and faculty as to those characteristics of HUCM that made them like the school.
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All the students seemed like they were happy with their choice to attend Howard. Everyone was extremely friendly...Lots of support and a family atmosphere; Howard is willing to take chances on students who really want to become physcians...
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The students and faculty were extremely enthusiastic, friendly, and welcoming. I loved this visit.
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The students were kind and enthusiastic- they really seemed to love Howard
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The attitudes of the students were great. They seemed like real people with personalities and everything.
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All of the students were really excited and enthusiastic about their school. Everybody was really nice (students, faculty, and administration). They attempted to make the visit as comfortable as possible. All the students get the same labtop computers. The new library and admissions office are new.
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Each new student receives a laptop. The students are so friendly and helpful, and it's obvious they love their school. The faculty seem to really care about the students.
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The program was much better than what I expected. Students are very very nice and enthusiastic.
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The people are absolutely great!
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The camaraderie among the students and my interviewer was awesome...it was liking having a nice conversation with my advisor. My fellow interviewees were also very friendly...eased the tension
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The students were all extremely positive. Every single one indicated that it isn't cut-throat and it really feels like family. That was unexpected.
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Facilities. I had heard Howard has no anatomy lab, but was pleasantly suprirsed to find out they have one.
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The friendliness of the director of admissions- she took the time to answer any questions I had on an individual basis. Also, the students utilize group studying a lot to pass classes
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The camerarderie among basically everyone as well as the remarkable closeness between faculty and students. People there seemed really relaxed but still very professional.
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The new library is beautiful and the much improved board pass rate. Students seemed like really well rounded individuals and were all enthusiastic about Howard.
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The enthusiasm of the students, the humor of the faculty members I met and touring the anatomy lab.
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Honestly the other students interviewing, the med students and faculty were unorganized and not the friendliest.
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The enthusiasm of the students and their willingness to talk to the interviewees and give us hints on how to interview well.
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Everyone really seems HAPPY at Howard - the students were great to talk to and shared their experiences(both positive and negative)... all concluding that it's a great place to be.
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The simulation lab that will be complete on the 16th of March
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Each student has laptops; wireless campus; lecture notes, powerpoint, audio is available; family astmosphere, library facilities.
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Student enthusiasm for the school, and their support for one another. They were great, and made all the applicants feel really comfortable. They gave us tips about our interviewers too.
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The students were very friendly and helpful
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The students seemed to be glad with thier decision to go to Howard. It was a very warm environment where I felt that everyone is striving for excellence.
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The support system, the students were extrememly nice and all seemed happy.
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The comraderie between students and faculty and the down to earth, supportive, family-oriented environment was very positive. I felt very comfortable and at home there. Everyone was very nice and they went out of their to ensure that this would be as stress-free as possible. If you get a chance to tour with Lorissa, a 3rd year, she will provide you a wealth of information and her up-beat personality made the whole experience very enjoyable. I was very pleased and impressed with Howard.
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VERY nice library building. All the students to REALLY nice gateway laptops. Our student host/ guide BEN (a second year) was very helpful, open and nice. People from faculty to administrators to students came in the welcome us and talk to us throughout the day.
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The camaraderie between the students was great. And not only did the students make you feel welcome, but the staff and faculty were helpful and encouraging.
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The new library, the new curricullum that the school started two years ago, and students seem to be very happy.
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The school's library and their financial aid package, also their teaching hospital is awesome
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The friendliness of the students-everyone was warm and welcoming; they went out of their way to spend time answering our questions and discussing the school. Also the library, the hospital and it being a "wireless" community-laptop computers are included in the tuition, residency match list.
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Warmth from the HUCM community
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The students. They were really energetic and nice. Really wanted to help us. None of them seemed sad to be there. They were happy.
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The manner in which the current medical student looked out for each other, and as myself and several other candidates waited to be interviewed, some of the medical student went out of their way to come upstairs to encourage us. This made me feel really welcome.
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I was impressed by the welcoming staff and faculty. Also, the supportive student environment was phenomenal. I could tell that the students at HUMC will be leaders in their communities and their respective medical fields.
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The thing that impressed me about Howard was the strong, strong sense of family and pride that the students displayed.My tour guide was a very bright guy who was, at the same time professional and down to earth.
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The close knitted family that the students form. They seem to really establish a family feeling.
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The actual interview. The interviewer asked relevant questions to my academic and professional background, he did not deviate to oblivious questions contrary to what I have been told by people who have interviewed before.
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Nothing!!
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Nothing...the students and some admin tried but it seems they were trying too hard to cover up a bad reputation (which I was not aware off until now)
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Well, after reading notes from this website I didn't know what to expect. I was skeptical. However, the students and the interviewer changed my opinion.
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The morning actually went a little better than expected. Completing the "secondary" was time consuming but it gave us something to do for the hour that we waited. The students were very helpful and offered us a lot of insight about being a med student. I really appreciated their help. Several faculty members and random students did "pop up." It was random, but helpful. I think the whole day just lacked organization.
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When reading the comments on this website I expected the worst. The students and my interviewer impressed me though.
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The interviewer was really nice, the students knew each other really well. The library was nice.
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How much the students really love the school. They are like a family (all students despite classification). Also, it seems the students are taken care of as far as financial aid.
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The student body has alot of autonomy...very family like environment
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The students were really friendly and the faculty were informative
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Students honesty
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The students seemed to really like their school. They openly shared their experiences and what they considered as downsides to attending the school. My interviewer had a very warm demeanor. This was my first interview and I had a wonderful experience. I did not think as highly of Howard before the visit as I do now. You should not be nervous about this interview. It is very laid back yet still professional. Have fun. Be yourself.
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The closeness of the student body
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Everyone seemed like family.
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That I would be done with the interview with plenty of time to make my flight
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The students seemed to love it and the brand new library was awesome!!!
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The cooperative effort of the students and faculty.
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Not much
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Nothing.
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The interaction between students and faculty, there was a sense of togetherness and support. Very relaxed with each other and the new Library, it was Gorgeous! it makes you want to study.
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The diversity within the school
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How much the students love their school.
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Washington, DC.
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The comraderie between the students. The other students being interviewed.
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The guy that interviewed me was Dr. Bloch. He's an immunologist I believe and he is married to a woman who graduated from Howard med. He is a really cool guy. He is very, very laid back. He doesnt speak down to you. He'll even tell you what he thinks of you. He even told me that he thought my file was really good and if someone thought otherwise, they were out of their mind!
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Washington D.C., student satisfaction, the history and mission of the school, faculty members and, most of all, my interviewer.
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The Louis Stokes Library: Newly designed, state of the Art, high-tech and beautiful architecture.
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The faculty/students happiness there.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were frequently unimpressed by the disorganization of the interview day, old facilities, lack of professionalism from faculty and students, and the surrounding neighborhood. Suggestions include improving organization, updating facilities, enhancing professionalism, and addressing safety concerns in the area.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing
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Some of the links on their websites do not lead anywhere which made it difficult when I wanted to learn about the school.
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Faculty seemed bothered by having to read materials.
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Nothing .
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The financial aid and tuition seminary dropped my heart into stomach.... $200k+ in debt with each yr being about $70+k more for students taking out for living expenses....
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There weather was awful but that’s not in HUCM’s control.
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Nothing.
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Nothing at all.
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Nothing really.
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At first the admissions office was really dry, but then they got more energy as the day went on. The students complained about excessive typos on their exam.
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Nothing really
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Of my tourguide...he spoke to fast...
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Nothing!
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My interviewer hadn't read my app and was more concerned with my major and hometown than my reasons for pursuing medicine
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The main classroom building was more utilitarian than appealing
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Nothing specifically.
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Nothing, a lot of construction so we could not see most of the medical school, everything being done to make the medical school experience much better
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The weather was not ideal
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The neighborhood is kind of shady, but most good medical schools (for people who plan to practice in urban areas, at least), are not in good neighborhoods. Also, the construction was a bit inconvenient, but this is all being done for the betterment of the school.
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There is a lot of construction going on right now, so I couldn't really get a feel of the physical environment. It's not their fault, but heels + construction area = hesitation. It also seems like anatomy lab is very crowded depending on how many students are admitted in the final class list.
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Lots of construction, which is good for the long term, but was not favorable as an interviewee.
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There was a lot of construction -- but that should be done soon & looks like it will update a lot of Howard's clinical facilities; the school looks kind of shabby on the inside, the class seemed really boring & didn't have cutting edge technology
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Nothing impressed me negatively, mainly because I know quite a few Howard med students and so I had a pretty good impression of the school beforehand. But I still made a list of questions to ask the student who led our tour because you want to seem engaged and interested. They are doing construction and building a lot of cool facilities so be prepared to walk through areas in the process of being renovated.
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Some of the facilities were a .little old. However, there were several new addition. So, I guess there is a balance.
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Nada
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Nothing specific to Howard. D.C. traffic is pretty horrible.
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Nothing actually
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My interview time was right before lunch because that was the time my interviewer had free. I ended up missing most of the student's talk during lunch.
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The facilities aren't that old, but I've seen better, the ''presentations'' on general info about the school, the curriculum, and financial aid were extremely redundant, they gave us handouts with the same info. And I swear while we were sitting in the conference room waiting around AT LEAST 5 people asked us 5 SEPARATE TIMES to go around the room and introduce ourselves. It just seemed like everyone was trying to kill time. There was like 3 hours that we really didn't need. And why oh why do we have to fill out ANOTHER secondary at the interview?
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The facilities are kind of old.
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It seemed (and I could be totally wrong) that most students are either in class, in the library studying, or at home. Not as many student organizations/student life activities as would have hoped. Would have liked to see the hospital on the tour
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Lectures are not video-recorded
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Nothing, actually.
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The interviewer was ultra aggressive. I was literally snarling halfway through it.
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DC traffic is kind of scary. The graduate dorm looks so nice from the outside but the inside looks very old. I heard they have a roach problem. Admissions office was hard to find. During interviews some people weren't even asked questions about their application during their interviewer asked them about movies, music, and books?!?!?!
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The school clearly has a lack of adequate funding, which is really sad, but it does show in the facilities. the initial overview talk was unbelievably boring and repetetive, esp. if you read the web site before going in.
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I was pleased with everything that I saw. The food wasnt that great I guess.
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How old the facilities are
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Honestly, nothing.
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My interview was intense and serious but that's not what negatively impressed me. I was caught off guard by the sarcasm and tone of the faculty member who interviewed me. I could not tell if he was joking because he was so serious. His questions were like comments. I was not sure whether or not to respond sometimes.
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Their USMLE Step 1 pass rate is considerably low. Also, i didnt like the study facilities they had for their students...but the new library makes up for that.
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School is kind of old
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Depressed students.
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Howard is an older school, the facilities were less than top notch. I feel there were some questions that were danced around. Howards USMLE 1st time pass rate was low (80%).
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The fact that you do not know who you are interviewing with until you get there. It just seemed unprofssional. And also that secondary was terrible. Really, for real, your secondary is a WORD document. Very unattractive!!!
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First of all they did not have ANY of my documents supposedly. The interview was supposed to be an open one but the interviewer did not have any of my info or my recommendation letters, transcripts, NOTHING. After checking with the Student Affairs "office" (a shambled mess of a place) I was told they did not have my info either!!! Why was I accepted for an interview then? Anyway I had to call my undergrad school to fax over the rest of the info I didn't have on me. The interviewer also sent the first 20 mins of the interview checking his email and replying them (interview was in his office)then he proceeded to eat his lunch for through the remainder of the interview.
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The traffic and cost of living.
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Some parts of the school are older and need to be renovated. Also, I had to wait 2 hours in a conference room to be interviewed.
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There is some remodeling going on, but the a good portion of the facilities are old and rundown.
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Cost of living in D.C.
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First year students work pretty f-ing hard.
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The medical school building is a bit old.
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It is very hard to get over the initial shock of just how bad (old, dilapidated, and non-functional) the two medical school buildings are. However the newly built Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library is new and amazing. Also, as is traditional in the Northeast, Howard instead of being rebuilt from the ground up is being gradually renovated. When I arrived it was undergoing major renovations with the admissions office and pathology department being finished. Don't be suprised to find desks, carpet, and chairs ripped out and being replaced
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There is no parking in the area.
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Proceesing can be a little slower because everything is paper based rather than computer based.
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The interviewer was sloppy and dirty looking. He only asked three questions. I didn't mind the questions, it just seemed like he was going through the motions and didn't really care about getting to know me as an applicant. So I asked him more questions than he asked me.
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Smell of anatomy lab. The admissions presentation was rushed.
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Nada!
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Absolutely nothing.
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Since the school is old, some of the facililies could be improved
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The facilities could use a lot of work.
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Some of the buildings are old.
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Interviewer did not read through my file at all. They were supposedly given time to review the applications. She kept fumbling with the papers detracting form the interview.
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The facilities are old and the administration is unorganized
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That i had to wait till 3 something for my interview since they do a fisrt-come-first basis kind of interview. Its really not that cool.
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Although I anticipated it already, it was kind of annoying to not be interviewed until about 3:00 after having been there since 8:30 AM.
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The hospital is ok. The hospital is kindof old, and the shag carpeting in the ICU needs replacing.
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The interviewer was completely inappropriate and really was the only bad part of the visit. He seemed to think that I wouldn't go to Howard and was just there to have a safety school. However, I talked to other interviewees who did not have this experience and the other interviewers that I talked to in the hallway were a lot friendlier
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It seemed somewhat chaotic owing in part to the fact that the admissions office was in the process of relocating.
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Research opportunities aren't as strong as some other schools I've been to. Also, the interview was short and I didn't get asked the "important" questions about why I wanted to study medicine.
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Having to fill out the secondary application (green card).
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The unorganization. I'm from Cali there were four other students there that attended Howard for undergrad. When the associate dean came in to interview me he explained that I would be missing the tour b/c he had a meeting. Why he did not pick a Howard undergrad who has expereinced the school for the last four years instead so I could at least see the school still confuses me??? Then during the interview the Dr. kept answering his phone, he excused himself to pick something up from his secretary, then would sit down and be like umm continue... it was so disrespectful. I almost thought it was a test.
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The time I had to wait between the informational sessions and my actual interview - 4.5 hours
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Nothing really, perhaps just rush hour traffic but that's anywhere...
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The older labs
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Waiting time for interviews.
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We didn't see the hospital, the low board pass rate.
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VERY disorganized day...we sat in the conference staring at each other for 3 hours waiting to be called by interviewers
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The afternoon of the interview day is not organzied and so the wait for the interview is annoying.
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The wait. Got there at 10, didn't interview until 5:15.
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I wish the secondary that you have to fill out while you are there could be done at home. Make sure you know your SAT score broken down by Math and Verbal Score. It would've been nice to have someone greet us and tell us where to go if you came early to sit in on a class.
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There were 12 interviewing. Interviews were scheduled to begin at 1:30pm, I wasn't interviewed until 4pm! We all just waiting around hoping that every person that was walking by was going to come in the room and call our name for the interview, ANYBODY
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The admission office
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The day didn't go exactly as scheduled. Consequently, we didn't get to meet the Dean.
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The disorganized office of addmissions.
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Facilities are a bit old, board passing rates,parking situation
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Students could appear more professional being that this is a professional institution...
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Interview was extrememly unorganized. I attend Howard University and I was extremely dissapointed on what happened at the interview. I waited until 5:30 for my interview. My interviewer was great, but the fact that everything was so crazy, pissed me off. They had us just waiting for like 4 hours. The tour was also a little whack. they should've showed us the hospital. I have interned in the hospital and that would get my attention and bring some positive stuff to the med school. We also had PLENTY of time to look around. They could have shown us the white house for the time we spent doing NOTHING!
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I was impressed by everything that was presented. I dont have complains per say.
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I wish the form we had to fill out was part of the secondary application. I lack quality handwritting skills and their was very little space for me to write my responses.
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Nothing really. all of the stories thatI had heard about this school are vastly embellished. Medical school will be what you make it! Don't beleive the haters. Also, D.C is a top-notch,trendy, city with lots of culture.
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The fact that the failing of courses kept getting brought up by students and faculty. It makes you wonder about the curriculum and how maybe it might be flawed and not the students.
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THE WAITING TIME AND DISORGANIZATION OF THE ENTIRE DAY. There is ample room for improvement.
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Everything! The site of the school, lack of facilities, and the professors seem not to be too interested when they interviewed me. Stayed a whole day.
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Everything.
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Like the other interviewee said, you do get a sense of disorganization. Location.
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I arrived at 9:45AM, and did not leave until 6:10PM. After eating lunch and going on the tour, we were pretty much ready for the interview. It was around 1:30-1:45PM mind you. I did not interview until 5:45PM. What the hell?! I brought my book like the previous comments suggested, but that even got old.
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The location of the school. Students also say they take initiative to implement change, rather than the administrators. I found that interesting.
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Read comments. In addition, I was put in a conference room for the whole day without even an opportunity to tour the school! Interviewer knew little about my file.
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Everything else.. (1) Only about 50% of the students pass the USMLE step 1. (2) Many students recommended that we go to Meharry Med instead of Howard. (3) The school was really unorganized. We waited for the entire day.
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Nothing really negatively impressed me on my visit. The neighborhood is bad but my school is in the hood too ;)
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Their pass percentages when asked, the fact that students were telling us "RUN" and "Go to Meharry"...said alot about the school
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Some students were telling us to go to "Meharry" and they were telling us to "RUN"
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One student said not to attend this institution, another said to go to Meharry, interview did not start until 10 am, although the letter sent said 8 am
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The facilities could use some work. I don't like the idea of having to purchase a laptop through the school. The cost of living in D.C. is extremely expensive.
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The location of the school
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Pretty much everything else--I got to the office thinking I could drop my things off, visit the class, and have my interview done that morning. No one showed up in the office until well after 9 am, when they claimed the interviews started at 8:30. My open-file interview turned out to be closed, which I wouldn't have minded had I known ahead of time, but the interviewer knew nothing about me, while I was expected to know everything about the school. She flippantly says, "I haven't read your file" and sits there reading in front of me. The office lost my recommendation letters (if you've been there, this is no surprise), some of the students who talked to us complained about having to actually work when they got there (imagine that--and they want to be physicians). The only stop on the tour was the library, which the guides bragged as being state-of-the-art,then said they never used it. Such a low pass rate on the boards made me wonder what exactly they were doing around there. The woman that came by to field our questions about the curriculum looked and acted as if she would have preferred to be anywhere except there. The neighborhood wherethe school is located--watch your back!
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I wasn't negatively impressed.
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Everyone commented that their interview went well, which made it difficult to gauge your performance.
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How rude and unfriendly some of the students were as soon as I walked through the door. The day was very unorganized (lunch was late, interviewers weren't predecided, a lot of free time with nothing to do).
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Facilities are run-down and poorly maintained. Faculty were generally inattentive and seemed rude. Student guides were not knowledgable about the school history and were more interested in flirting with candidates. The surrounding area is a ghetto, not the worst of DC, but still shady. Some students told me they were victims of armed mugging but was "pretty safe." African American predominant student body apparently in dire need of sensitivity training. Somebody should call the authorities, this place needs help!
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They had no gym.
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The appearancs of one of the rooms and the airconditioning at the end of Novemver!
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The school seems a bit disorganized. It might get a little frustrating if you're used to a really structured environment.
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The campus, faculty, unenthusiastic students. The administration office was in disarray. There was a lack of file cabinets and files were strewn about on the floor. The room I interviewed in was cramped, stuffy and not at all attractive.
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The interview day could have been a bit more cohesive and organized. Alot of time spent waiting
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N/a
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Neighborhood immediately surrounding the school.
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The administration seems a bit disorganized. And it was difficult to find someone to answer my questions concerning the school or the interview process.
-
The lack of a good gym, and slowness of the administrative offices.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wish they had known to relax, wear comfortable shoes, and that the interview process would be laid back. They also suggest filling out financial aid forms early, arriving early for interviews, and researching the school beforehand.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing
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Nothing I was really prepared
-
To RELAX.
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Wear comfy shoes.
-
How laid back the interview process would have been.
-
How nice all the students truly would be!! My interviewer was also lovely and nice. Made the experience so much more stress-free.
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For US students, fill out your FAFSA form even before you hear whether or not you have been accepted. It will help to make the financial aid process a lot smoother.
-
Nothing! SDN is a great resource before the interview. Once you read the feedback you'll be fully prepared
-
Nothing. I already knew about the green sheet of paper that they give you on the day of. It is very similar to a secondary. The purpose is to ensure that each applicant is literate.
-
I think I was well informed prior to the interview
-
That a snow storm would delay my flight back home..!
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That the supplemental would ask so many questions. I tend to write too much when put on the spot, and there is no time to edit. Other than that, everything proceeded as expected.
-
That most interviews would take place in the morning, so no time during the day to think of specific questions
-
That dulles airport was further than Reagan from the school.
-
Nothing--nothing felt "out of nowhere."
-
Stress level is extremely low
-
I wish I had known the interview does not last until 5PM. It was over around 2PM.
-
I wish I wouldn't have stressed out so much about the interview. I wasn't even asked an ethical question!! The interview was like a conversation, with the interviewer just genuinely interested in finding out more about me. I think interviewees should relax a little (if you're like me, at least).
-
Students at Howard do not use microscopes because the school does not have them.
-
That there would be a supplemental to fill out while we waited; that my interview would be so in-depth. my interview happened to go really long.
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I was called in for an interview earlier than expected. Based on the order of your arrival, you are called in whenever your interviewer is available to speak with you. Personally, I liked this because I wanted my interview earlier in the day.
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That Howard's facility may be better than Georgetown's.
-
That I would have fallen in love with this school and that other schools are fool of CRAP when they report 100% USMLE pass rates. It turns out that some schools do not allow certain students to take the boards unless they do well on a ''pre-test'' that the school gives out. If they do not do well, the student is not allowed to take the test. I found that very interesting.
-
Nothing.
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That my bus ride to Howard would be so long, but nothing about the school or interview itself.
-
That I really didn't need to be there that early. It wasn't first come first serve since the interviewers read your file right before they interview you. If you've got a slow reader interviewing you, you might not get seen until after someone who signed in after you.
-
What a great place Howard is. It has definitely moved up on my list. I wish the facilities were newer; that would bring it to the top of the list.
-
Nothing--but if you didn't already know, they give out interview slots based on the time of your arrival in the morning so keep that in mind
-
There is a form that you must fill out when you get to the interview...it is kinda long too.
-
The cooperational spirit of the students was above and beyond what I expected, and they have a lot of new or currently being rennovated facilities, things didn't seem as old as people said on SDN.
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That I'm not a huge fan of our nation's capital.
-
That getting there by 8:20 was still late compared to other students interviewing. There were already 6 people there filling out the secondary, but it really didn't affect my interview time negatively. I should have went ahead and worn flat dress shoes, nobody cares if you have on heels.
-
Getting there early really is important. even though i read that on this site, i did not take it seriously enough. the day is so much more relaxing if you get the interview over with and plus you can leave early instead of sitting around waiting for 2 hrs. get there at 7:30, no joke. I got there at 8:15 and there were already 7 people there.
-
That you shouldnt fly into BWI because it takes an hour to get to the airport if you are staying in a hotel in Downtown DC
-
No joint MD/MPH program which sucks
-
The facilities are not as old as everyone makes them seem...
-
I wish I would of known that the order you come in is the order that you interview in...so get there early!!!!
-
Can cut through hospital from metro to get to admissions office. To reduce time in the cold.
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Just how busy and full the interview day was, I was exhausted by two o'clock.
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That Howard is truly a great school, and that I would fall in love with it. Also, that the women on Howard's campus are so beautiful. I would have put my big boy face on that morning. WEW!
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The unsafe location of the school. That I would have been better off keeping my $ to myself instead of buying a plane ticket to get insulted
-
Cab service is not reliable.
-
Mapquest.com accounts for traffic, but the site really fails to accurately estimate the time it takes to drive a couple miles down Georgia Ave. at 8-9ish in the morning.
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That we were going to fill out an additional supplementary form.
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I would get out early
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I knew DC traffic was bad, but it was worse than I expected.
-
That there are some students on the admissions committee.
-
Well we had to fill out this packet which was to be review by the interviewer. It asks everything from SAT to why medicine and why Howard. It took a long time.
-
I wish I knew how great HU is. It is now in direct competition with my previous 'top choice'.
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How easy the subway system is to use.
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I think the history of Howard University School of Medicine is very unique and to get a full appreciation of what they have accomplished following emancipation needs to be studied prior to coming.
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Where to park. You can park in the hospital's vistors lot all day for $8
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How wonderful Howard really is! You would have no idea unless you visited the school. The students are really supportive of each other and there are many opportunities for students.
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Which Hotels were better places to stay than the one I stayed in. The admissions office should at least have a list of good, reasonably priced hotels and which airport to use. Since other schools offer this type of assistance, Howard should as well.
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That the green paper would be short anwser.
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Arrive around 8:30am to get an early start on filling out the green sheet given to you at the start of the day
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That the interview was going to be waaay later
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The cafeteria is super small with little selection.
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Don't believe everything you hear...the administration was really organized and strived to make our experience a memorable one.
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That I would have to wait so late for the interview.
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That the interview was sooo relaxed
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That international students may not be eligible for their MD/PhD eventhough they didn't specify on their website....i'm still waiting to hear from them regarding that issue.
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Umm...nothing really!
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Apparently, Howard is an HBCU.
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How much the students love their school
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That I would wait 7 hours for my interview.
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First be prepared to fill out a silly green sheet that asks you a lot of questions you already filled out in your 2ndary. Your interview will be based off it. Second be prepared for unorganization they are really really bad in this aspect. Honestly everything, I am greatful for the opportunity to interview but if I knew it was going to be like that I would have just saved my hard earned money.
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How to take the subway correctly from Union Station
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Bring something to read (book, magazine whatever) because you'll have to wait to be interviewed. also, get there early and go straight to the admissions office to sign in (first come/first serve basis) even if your interview email gives you a room number: GO TO ADMISSIONS OFFICE FIRST!!! I didn't and ended up closer to the bottom of the list - late interview - even though I was there early.
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Another secondary application is required.
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Nothing really. Just get there early since the interviews are first come, first serve.
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That my interview would only last 20 minutes and be conducted by someone who hadn't even read my file ahead of time
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That its first come first serve for the interviews so you should get there before 10am to sign up in the admissions office.
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That the Med school is right by the Hospital. That would have made it easier for me to find the school. If you take the Metro to the Med school, get off at the Howard/Shaw stop and walk a few blocks. Don't get off at the U Street stop and walk to W Street because that's the wrong side of W Street. Howard is on the other side of W Street.
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I was going to have to wait wait and the wait some more.
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I wished i reviewed my undergraduate research projects more thoroughly
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That you could get called for your one-on-one interview at any point in the day.
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That you have to fill out a form with a lot of questions that should have been asked on the supplemental appl. form.
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Your letter says get there by 10am, but you will be called for you interview based upon who signs in first. So if you're one of the first ones to get there, you'll be out sooner.
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Nothing really...
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I could've shown up there late.
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I knew pretty much the whole process and what it entailed.
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I wish I had known that the activities during the day would have impacted my responses in my interview. I had an a.m. interview( before the tour). I would have had stronger concrete responses as to why I wish to attend Howard had been interviewed in the afternoon.
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I wish I had known that cabbies try to gouge you and that renting a car and staying in Virginia or Maryland is the best bet.
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The amount of time you need to wait to get interviewed. They could definitely do better in that aspect. Waiting a couple of hours in the afternoon is not very appealing.
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That some of Howard's program just got accredited again. WHAT??? I am shocked...
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That my interviewer would be a jackass and not ask me any questions that may give him information about me and ability of becoming a successful doctor. My interview was a waste of time, I could have a random person on the street getting smart with me. I believe that he was annoyed because he had to stay late, I would have been annoyed too, however, I question his role on the admissions board and his thoughts on the questions that are necessary to ask.
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Nothing...student feedback from this website really prepared me
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Read comments.
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I learned that the admissions office gives people their interviews on a first come, first serve basis. So if you are the last one to arrive to the interview scene, be ready to wait all day (til 5pm) for your interview. And bring a good book because the admissions people don't have much to say.
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Just how cold it would be and that we would be going outside in it. Also, that we would have to fill out a sheet that is similar to a secondary. It seems they should have just mailed that sheet with our real secondary.
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That there was no lot of visitor parking except for the hospital parking lot that you had to pay for...couldn't even hook us up with a day pass or anything
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Everyone is required to buy the a laptop that is included in the tuition
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More about transportation to and from BWI.
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The bad location of the school
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Nothing really.
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That it wasn't a good idea to walk through the neighborhood the evening before. The claim that profs take such an interest in students was a lie. That my interviewer would not answer any of my questions about the school and its programs (like the issue of some residency programs being on probation), saying simply that "that is being addressed."
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USMLE pass rate.
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Relax, they just want to get to know me better. There is a metro stop closer to the school than the Howard and Shaw stop.
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How low their Step 1 pass rates were and how many drop out in a year.
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Prejudice still exists in a professional setting, and not just from the "white folk." Howard had poor facilities, is in an unsafe area, and students were overall whiny and did not seem happy.
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Nothing really, I was just surprised that they had some pretty pretigious faculty members.
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So MANY OTHER PEOPLE WOULD BE INTERVIEWING ON THE SAME DAY
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How bad of an area the school was situated. If I had known, I probably would never have considered it.
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Each interview day they have a group of ten students come. You take tours, talk to students, talk to administrators, and eat lunch together. You are interviewed individually and in the order you arrived. Plan to stay at least until 5pm. Also, fly into National Airport (DCA) and take the Metro (subway) to campus. MUCH easier and less expensive than a shuttle.
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The admissions office is quite disorganized. They even lost my rec letters. However, the people in the office and ms. rodgers at Financial aid are all very, very nice. The guy that interviewed me is very nice.
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Interviews go in order of arrival at the university. I was the last person to arrive, so I was the last to be interviewed.
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I drove to the school and it was difficult to find parking. It costs $6-10 for parking.
🤝 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?
Overall, applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should invest in an online application system to streamline the submission process and provide better organization. Additionally, there were requests for clearer communication regarding interview schedules and increasing staffing levels to improve the quality of service provided.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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To ensure all the links on the page work
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N/A
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They’re really unorganized
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Name tags for interviewees?
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Other than an on-line application, none!
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I think it would be helpful to have interviewees wear Name Tags on the day of the interview.
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We were told only 1-2 people would have morning interviews, but it turned out all except 1 had morning interviews. More clarity in terms of what to expect would have been much appreciated.
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Budget for more staff. The quality of the admissions office seems predicated on the absolute commitment of a few overworked people. Lose one of these people and your ability to replicate that level of quality will be difficult.
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Be early! i turned in my amcas 7/31 and my secondary 9/18. i was invited for interview 10/13.
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If they could hire more people that would help, but obviously they can not
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Make the application secondary submission infrastructure online, students can track easier
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My suggestions are similar to those others have expressed: Use an online application. Also, having t
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I think it would be a good idea to invest in an online application, and a more interactive website t
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Start an online secondary application. Also, more options for the application fee payment.
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Move towards internet applications
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Invest in an electronic application!! Also , please accept credit card payments. At present, howard
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
✈️
DCA
34% interviewees used DCA (DCA), with 24% using BWI (BWI) and 10% using Dulles (Dulles) and 7% using IAD (IAD) and 5% using Reagan (Reagan) and 2% using N/A (N/A) and 2% using bwi (bwi) and 2% using iad (iad) and 2% using dca (dca) and 2% using WAS (WAS) and 2% using PHL (PHL) and 2% using Reagan International (Reagan International) and 2% using Ronald Reagan (Ronald Reagan).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by airplane to the interview.
✈️
47% Airplane
🚗
29% Automobile
🚆
16% Train or Subway
🚲
9% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Bloomingdale Inn (average ranking 9.3/10), with some staying at Bloomingdale Inn Bed and Breakfast (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
🏨
Bloomingdale Inn
9.3/10
🏨
Bloomingdale Inn Bed and Breakfast
10/10
🏨
Hilton on Embassy Row
8.5/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of 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 (4%)
Faculty member (3%)
Other (1%)
Student (92%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (98%)
Neutral (2%)
All Responses
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| Application Cycle ▿ | Impression | Performance | Interview Location |
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