Applicants generally found the interview day at OUCOM to be low-stress, friendly, and informative. They appreciated the conversational nature of the interviews and the opportunity to showcase themselves as individuals. Some suggested being well-prepared to discuss personal experiences and motivations for medicine, and highlighted the positive atmosphere and strong community feel of the school.
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Know your primary and secondaries well. Low stress environment and super friendly, down to earth admissions staff. They get back to you same day or next day with decisions.
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My favorite interview I had so far
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Be yourself and be genuine. The interviews want to know you as a person, they care more about your "why" rather than your "what".
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The information session, in the beginning, is very informal and helpful. Allows us to meet the admissions team and each other as candidates. Would appreciate more specifics on the actual courses within the new PWH curriculum, but they did their best to give us a broad overview in a limited amount of time. Make sure to have your lunch packed and ready, as you won't get the full 30 minutes for lunch. The Q&A session went longer than expected and this cut into our 30-minute lunch break. This was avoidable, but some fellow interviewees felt the need to ask redundant questions simply for the sake of asking (questions that have been answered already or easily found on the school's website/handouts we were given).
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Pretty laid back interviews, feel like I messed up my chances because I said I’d go MD if closer to home, but I was being honest... we will see
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I had a great interview and a tour of the campus! I can't wait to go to school here.
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The faculty and students were so kind and helpful. It left such a positive impression of this school and quickly promoted it to my top choice.
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Great school but I did not connect well with interviewers.
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Great school and atmosphere! Awesome interview experience!
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The interviews were very relaxed and the interviewers really wanted to get to know us as people and not just numbers.
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I actually liked the school itself more than anywhere else I've interviewed. As I said before, their paranoia about osteopathic bias left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
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If you get a chance, talk to Dr. Schriner. He's a really good guy and really wants you to come away from the interview day loving OUCOM.
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This school is the complete package.
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What a great school. it was a long day but totally worth it.
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Low stress interview, good school. Still can't believe how friendly everyone was including the med students and faculty.
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It's a long interview day, but low stress overall. There's 3 separate one on one interviews and they do make you put on a white coat for a photograph, which seemed like a bit of a tease. Still, this is a great school. I felt very much at home here and there are lots of opportunities to shape your medical education however you wish.
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Just be yourself. They really just want to get to know you. They never grilled me on anything, and I was just as sincere as I could be. I got accepted the following Monday morning by 9am
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The interviewers just wanted to get to know me; they were very casual and it was easy to relax after I started talking for a bit.
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Everyone was great, the admissions staff is very responsive, friendly, and informative. By the time the interviews started I was no longer nervous thanks to the students and staff joking around etc. Definately a school I will attend if I am accepted. A lot of stability in 3rd and 4th year... you dont need to move around unless you want to! They are building a huge research building slated to open late fall of 2009, it will include medical and engineering research so there will be some interesting opportunities for students! Finally, just be be yourself (like everyone says) and let the interviewers see your personality.
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If you have an interview here, I strongly suggest you go. I wasn't expecting much and I was very pleasantly surprised.
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I would review all of the previous questions posted on the interview feedback forum as I was asked almost all of those questions. My interviewer had a list of 'suggested questions' but went down the list and asked them all.
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A great school.
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In the morning, school introductions. financial aid talk. toured COM facilities. on/off campus tour. lunch with current students. interviewed by 3 separate people--very laid back, mostly questions about application profile. more like a conversation--gives you time to boast about yourself/your achievements. overall, great experience.
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This was my first interview and it was awesome. just be yourself, they want to find out about you. Great school.
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The interviews are incredibly laid back. There are three individual half hour interviews. All of the questions came straight from my file and related to me personally. It was nice because the interviewers actually seemed to know stuff about me.
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This was my fourth visit to OUCOM, overall it was the same as the first three were (for campus visits). The staff is above extraordinary, fun and well just great. Im glad I held out for my interview with OUCOM
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The interview was very lax, long day,
starts at 830 til 330pm. Lots of info,
very nice people.
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The interviews went great, agian very conversational. No pressure at all, just be yourself and you'll do fine.
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In the morning a group of 10 students talked to director of admissions about the school and a financial aid counselor. then we got a tour of the building and campus. after lunch with some current students, you got interviewed.
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We introduced ourselves, then spent an hour or so in the conference room with the director of admissions who talked about the pluses of OU (there are a bunch.) Then we had a talk with a person from financial aid, who was helpful. An admissions rep took us on an extensive tour of the two campus buildings, then we piled into a car + van for a tour around all of OU's campus and the nearby parts of Athens. Returned to campus, had yummy lunch with current students from both curricular tracks, then had a series of 3 different 30 minute interviews with a clinical prof, basic sciences prof, and admissions person. The interviews were super super low key, to the point that with one interviewer it was a struggle to keep the conversation going, but with the other two folks it was just a fun conversation about my experiences, what the school has to offer, future plans, etc. I didn't get any standard questions like ''why do you want to be a doctor'' or the OUCOM favorite ''which 3 people would you invite to dinner?'' they just didn't come up at all - we had lots of other things to talk about. Admissions staff email accepted applicants the Monday after the interview, and occassionally they call that same day.
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Interviewers were very friendly and we basically had a conversation and not an interview. There is no need to get nervous.
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Overall it was a good experience. I was accepted and will probably attend although I do have some other interviews that I am going to. The interviewers were easy to talk to and it didn't feel like I was being interogated like I had feared. Mostly they asked about my research and clinical experience and my motivation to become a doctor since it was a career change from being a librarian. The day started off with a financial aid presentation, tour, and lunch then interviews. I wish they had the interviews first because I was too stressed to enjoy the food that much.
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Was given a packet, was brought to a conference room, introduction, OUCOM speech by head of admissions, finaid information, building tour, town tour, lunch, interviews, long drive home. The actual interviews were great, be yourself and have fun with it.
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Since this was my first interview, I was incredibly nervous at first but then relaxed as the day progressed. It was nice they did the tour and stuff in the morning so you have time to get used to everything. The interviewers (two profs, one DO) were very nice and laid back. They didn't ask me anything too difficult, but they all pulled from the same sheet of questions. I was asked why I chose the school I went to for undergrad all 3 times. Otherwise, the interviews were fine. They just want to get to know you better.
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Everyone was so friendly and down to earth. Location isnt my number one choice but how the curriculum is laid out makes sense and I could definitely see myself going here.
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This was a laid back, easy day. Just as they say, there is nothing to worry about. You listen to the director of admissions (great guy) talk for a while and then go on a tour of campus and med school. You then have a nice lunch with current students to prepare for 3 interesting conversation type interviews.
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2 out of my 3 interviews were REALLY nice. My first interview picked at EVERY answer I gave. Overall it was truly like having a normal conversation with the interviewers. We had lunch with some second year students who were able to give us some input on who we would be interviewing with.
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This school is great. I actually enjoyed the interviews. They are really set up to be actual conversations. No scripts or cue cards like some places. The day was very enjoyable. On top of that they email your acceptance if you get in the same day as your interview.
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The day was great! People were friendly and eager to answer questions. We started out with basic information about the school and financial aid. Then we went on a tour of the medical school's facilities followed by a tour of OU's entire campus via van. Next we had lunch with current students, and then finally we had our three interviews.
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Entire day was planned very professionally and efficiently. First half of the day was spent learning about the school and touring the school. Lunch was provided and we were able to talk to current students and ask questions. Caution: Do not be late to any of the interviews because then you won't have quality time to interview. Last half of the day was spent going on interviews. 3 interviews were scheduled. The interviews are very conversational and friendly. There will be one interviewer that is very "by the book" and asks very specific questions.
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The day started at 8:30 am and ended at 4:00 pm. We began by receiving information from the admissions officers and financial aid advisors. We then went on a tour of the facilities and the city. I was impressed that they gave us food for lunch rather than a voucher. Once all of that was over, we began our interviews with various faculty and administrative officers. I was relieved at the end of the interview because it was over, but I did not feel worn out or anything. It was a smooth, organized experience.
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Overall a good day. it is definitely a good school and the day was not stressful at all. they offered to call me telling me my status right after they met so by 5:30 i knew i had been accepted.
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The day was super laid-back. I was nervous when I got there in the morning, but by the time that the interviews rolled around I felt quite relaxed. All three of my interviewers were nice and enthusiastic about the school. I was asked a couple of ethics questions, but the way the interviewers asked the questions it didn't seem like they were grilling me. They actually lead into the question by saying, "Now there is no right or wrong answer to this question..." Overall, the day was nice, and it was great to hear that I was accepted three days later.
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The beginning of the day consisted of the usual, such as the admissions overview, financial aid presentation, and a tour. After lunch was when the interviews began, and all of my interviews were very conversational. I was asked a few pointed questions at first and then it just went from there. The college is in a very beautiful area and has all the amenities that a larger university can offer as opposed to some of the smaller, private institutions. Athens is quite the college town and there's all kinds of bands that play there and things of the sort.
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Very laid back atmosphere. The interviews were more like discussions. I was only asked specific questions in one of my interviews, and that was not bad at all.
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Loooooonnnnnnggggg. I got there at 8:15a and left at 5pm. I had meetings and interviews from 1:30p until 5p.
OUCOM has their campus tour, financial aid talk, admissions talks and lunch all BEFORE interviews. So, be ready to head over to interviews all sleepy and full.
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It was very relaxed, friendly and low stress. We started the morning with an overview, then some financial aid stuff, a tour of the facilities and a van tour of Athens and the campus. Afterwards was lunch with students which they had set up for us instead of giving us a meal voucher for a food place like other schools had. The students all seemed super friendly and relaxed; they seemed to go out a ton more than others I had talked to. After lunch we all had assigned 3 separate one half hour interviews one on one. They were all very conversational; only in one did I get asked many questions. THey have your file right in front of them so a lot comes from them looking it over. If there are obvious things they might get asked about; almost all my interviewers commented on my high MCAT but one poor grade in a class. The campus is gorgeous, Southern Ohio is too but it is a very small town. Lots of community service opportunities for students and a lot of patient exposure early on. Overall a great day and I would be very happy here.
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A little advice: if you are ABSOLUTELY SURE that OUCOM is where you want to end up... apply for the SURF program. IF you actually get in (it;s VERY competetive), you get an interview as part of your summer research experience. It DOES NOT grant you an automatic seat in the next year's class, but it doesn't hurt your chances either. It is the closest thing that OUCOM has to an early decision program; I knew 8/2/2005 that I was accepted. The interview itself: RELAXING!!! I left that day feeling like I hadn't interviewed for med school, but just had a meet-n-greet with faculty. It was nice. RELAX EVERYONE!!!!
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The entire morning was spent chock full of information sessions and tours, which honestly wore me out and had me itching to go home even before the interviews hit. But then again, I spent the entire week sick as a dog, and was most ill the day of the interview (go figure), so it was a feat just to not pass out during the day. The interviews themselves were about as laid back as you can get, very very conversational....3 half hour sessions. JUST MAKE SURE YOU COME PREPARED WITH PLENTY OF QUESTIONS TO ASK IN RETURN.
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It was relatively laid back, 2 of the 3 interviews went very well, the third guy seemed impossible to please no matter my answer...
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Laid back, with a bit of pomp..."We are the almight Osteopathic School supported by the State, with higher expectations then any other Osteopathic schools"
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Very comfortable, interviewers were enthusiastic.
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Standard osteopathic questions. as stated in previous OUCOM logs, interviews turned more into conversations. My last ended in a discussion about evidence-based traditional chinese medicine with DO surgeon of 25 years.
Try to bring something (book, experience) to the table that you're very comfortable talking about that will relate to osteopathic medicine in an INDIRECT.
Pick the brains of the students with whom you have lunch, they're your last stop before the faculty interview
HAVE FUN
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Wonderful city, Athens, OH, and campus.
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Overall very impressive; I learned that I was accepted 3 days later and I will be starting at OUCOM this fall.
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It was very candid and relaxed, just like a one-on-one casual conversation.
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Conversational and laid back.
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Three different faculty members interviewed me after we had a tour and some lunch.
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It was great, very well worded questions. just be yourself and it seems like a conversation.
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The day was great! It was really long (8am-4pm). The morning is a lot of logistical stuff--financial aid, meeting with administrators, etc. We had a tour of the COM and a van tour of the town. Then we had lunch with current students and our interviews. The interviews are with a DO, PhD and an administrator. My DO didn't show, but I met with an admissions staff instead. It was very fun and very not stressful.
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My first interview was with a member of the administration - it was very conversational. Nothing to stress about. The second was with the director of admissions and we spent most of the time talking about my undergrad college. The third interviewer - loved him. Absolutely loved him. The interview was like 45 minutes long because we were just talking about our research (his project is fascinating). I just wish I could keep talking to him and he could be my life coach or something. My fourth interview was with the DO/PhD coordinator. She was really nice too. If you get in, they let you know right away. In fact, the admissions committee and all the interviewers meet right after we leave. They emailed me at 5:15 to tell me I got in (I left campus about 4:45). If this school were in an urban area, I'd go in a heartbeat. It's still a top choice, though, and it will be a hard decision.
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The experience was absolutely wonderful. I strongly suggest just taking in all the information they give you and enjoy the day. The interviews are very laid back. They tell you that you have made it over the biggest hurdle by getting an interview. They say they know that each of you will make a wonderful student so the point of the interviews is to get to know you and see if you will fit in with the OUCOM community, not to drill you over the Krebs Cycle - so be yourself and relax.
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The first was a thinker, a philosopher. It was difficult to think in those terms with the news of the first interview. I really had no feel of what he thought of me or the interview.
The 2nd, I loved the woman. Absolutely without a doubt loved her. I would like to just talk with her and have her as a mentor for years to come. She also is the director of the student run learning program (PCC) and I was already interested in that track, and now I definately am.
The third was a Psychology professor. We talked very well because I also am a Biopsych major. He was very informative ab out the campus and the educational processes. I definately like the idea of a social science department in the medical school.
The campus is beautiful, the students seemed to want to talk to us. It really was great. I drove the horrid drive back with a smile.
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The interviews were great. All three people were very casual. During my last interview, I spent most of the time listening to my interviewer tell stories about his life. It was great! However, if you have done research, know everything about it. I got drilled!
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Great place...see positive impressions
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Overall, be prepared for a long day. The morning hours are full of talks, tours, bus rides, photos and lunch with students all aimed at getting you better aquainted with OUCOM. By the afternoon I was more than ready to get through those interviews. I met with two faculty, one Ph.D. and one D.O., and one of the admissions staff. Overall, the interviews are nothing to worry about but make sure you are prepared to answer questions about yourself.
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I loved the day I spent there. I was so excited when I left the school and even more excited when I got my acceptance phone call in the morning. I can't wait to start in the fall.
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Overall, everyone at OUCOM was extremely nice and helpful. I really enjoyed the experience.
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Overall a great experience. I encourage everyone thats interviewing to not only ask a lot of questions, but make the most of your opportunity. I knew going in that this was an opportunity of a lifetime, and to do EVERYTHING that you can. Ask if you can sit in on a class, i got to sit in on 2 classes. Ask to see whatever things they'll let you see, cause the most they can say is no. Definately stay the night with a student there, OU offers it, and i'm surprised that only 10% of the interviewers accepted that offer. Think about it guys: You get an opportunity to stay with a student, see how their life really is, AND you dont have to pay for a hotel room!
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AWESOME experience! Interviews were more like conversations. Really hoping to get accepted here
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There are 3 separate interviews, so you are asked a lot of questions. Be prepared to answer almost every question that previous people have posted. One interviewer had me read an article and discuss it which threw me off a bit, but in the end, he just prob. wants to see that it didn't throw me off and that I can critically look at something. Know why medicine, why osteo, why OU. Know who your heroes are in your personal life and in the community. Know what kind of books you read, why you can handle med school. Know you favorite and least favorite class. I was honestly asked almost every single question posted previously by other people. In the end it was a great day. Good luck!
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There were 10 other individuals interviewing with me. Everyone was very nice. We got a summay of the curriculum, financial aid and a tour of the campus and the surrounding area. Then lunch with current students, who were also very nice and let us know somthing about the interviewers. Then the interviews.
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This is about as honest of an opinion as you will get. Although I got put on the alternate list, I still have nothing but good things to say about OU-COM. The school has excellent facilities (except the anatomy lab) and the faculty and staff are almost too kind. Make sure you take time to relax and settle down before each interview.
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There are three half-hour one-on-one interviews that are very conversational in nature. I would not have been as tense had I known that it was going to be like it was. The interviewers are more concerned with how you will fit in personality wise at the school, and if you are committed to osteopathic medicine. I heard nothing but positive comments from the other interviewees as well.
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The whole day was rather stress-free. I left each interview feeling really good about the experience. I actually felt more confident after each interview than I did going in!
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It was a truly a great experience. I stayed overnight with a first year medical student and I strongly suggest that for any interviewee because it really helps you to relax for the interview. It also is a great chance for you to ask the student any questions or concerns you have about the school. The interviewers were really easy to talk to and there were no hard questions. This website really gives good preparation questions...just give these questions some thought but don't memorize your answers...be yourself!
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The students who you talk to are all very helpful and want you to succeed. There is not too many interviews given, so if you get one that is a great sign.
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Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Like a medical student once told me, there are really two things that separate medical schools from one another in the United States. The first thing is the curriculum, and how the faculty introduces the volumes of information to their students. By law, every medical school in the USA (both MD and DO) have to provide so many set hours of classes. Some classes may vary of course; however, medical students learn the same things. The second thing has to do with the community. I found Ohio University to be very nurturing (from the short time I have been exposed to it as a visitor and from what the DO I interned with told me). I thrive in such atmospheres because, as one medical student stated during my interview visit, students work together and are not malicious or cut-throat towards one another in their determination to succeed. If you like such an environment, Ohio University will be a great place for you.
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I have been really pleased by my entire application process with OUCOM. I received the interview just two weeks after sending in my secondary, and they called me to tell me I had been accepted just hours after my interviews! Three interviews may seem like a lot, but they were very laid back and conversational. I was really impressed with all aspects of my interview day at OUCOM!
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What a great interview experience! I felt so welcome and accepted at OU! You get a true feel for the school and it's faculty through 3 interviews- one D.O., one faculty, and one administrator, plus tours with the admissions committee, and lunch with OU students.
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Overall, it was a great experience. The day starts with an overview of the admissions process and the curricular tracks. Then they take you on a tour of the campus and the surrounding city. After that it's lunch with current MS1 and MS2 students (Ho-Ho cake rules!) and then the interviews. Some of the interviews were conversational get-to-know-you type interviews and some were more structured (with the interviewer reading prepared questions off a list). Nothing stressful, tricky or difficult.
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The interviews were low stress. They just want to get to know you. The interviewers actually read your essays and are interested in you as a person. The interviews are really laid-back and conversational. The physician who interviewed me was actually inspiring. This is a wonderful school.
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I loved OU-COM. I will be there in the fall.
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The campus was nice. I liked the fact that they have two different curricula to chose from. Overall, everyone I met was very friendly and excited about the school and what it had to offer. Also, the fact that it is associated with a university was a major plus, since med students have access to all the undergrad facilities, such as the new Ping Center (rec center).
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The experience was great. I loved every minute of it. The faculty really seemed to care for thier students and the students were very adamant about thier feelings with the school. The tour was confusing becuase Grovsnor can be somewhat confusing to get around. However, the day was very laid back, the interviewers just wanted to get to know you and what you had to offer to them as a potential graduate of OUCOM.
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You spend the morning learning about OU and touring the medical conference. You have lunch with students, then from about 1-2:50 or so you have 3 half hour interviews, they you can leave. It's VERY relaxed. And... If you're accepted, they email you the next morning!!!
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VERY VERY conversational. The faculty really want to get to know you as a person and not as a sheet of numbers. Good luck finding the interviewers' offices. Grosvenor Hall is like a maze! Oh and I had ZERO ethical questions!!!!!!
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The day started out very well with a video and tour. Following the tour you got your picture taken and then had lunch with some of the students. The students were very nice and open. Afterwards the interviews began with a ten-minute break between each, though mine ran over so I had to rush to the next interviews. The first interview was VERY laidback, just you asking questions. The latter interviews were a bit more stressfull, but had very good questions. All in all a great and personable interview experience!
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Great! I interviewed with 3 different people and they were very friendly and just wanted to get to know me. I was nervous at first, but they were really interesting and I had fun with it. The campus was beautiful!
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OU is definitely geared toward primary care. The gross lab was a bit old-school, but I guess a gross lab is a gross lab. The people were very nice. The buildings used to be dormitories, so that's kind of weird. All-in-all, a good trip. Halloween in Athens is the biggest day of the year.
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I was nervous to have three separate interviews, but they were all pretty laid back. The admissions staff was very informative as well as the students who ate lunch with us.
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A very good experience.
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OU-COM is known for one thing -- Primary care. They are the best place in the nation to go to if you want to specilize in this area. Supposidly 80% of their graduating class takes residencys in primary care and this number is still rising. This interview was as laid back as I could imagine. I was interview by three people at three differnt times for 45 min. each. There was two clinical faculty members and a administrator. Not many ethics issues arose and it mainly consisted of the things I had written about on my application. OU has a very beautiful campus, but there is no medical center in the area and you are very far from any major metropolitan area. Even so their clinical rotations can be done at 9 different sites around ohio in most major cities. The curriculum at OU is very advanced and they are one of the most forward looking schools of any in the nation. Definitly one of the best DO schools around.