SDN Logo
 
 

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Interview Feedback Summary

Philadelphia, PA

Osteopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit

AI Advisor

Ask questions about this school. Answers use aggregated data and are subject to error.

👋 Hi there! How can I help?
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 16% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.4
Above Average

Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.

Based on 1,314 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 (80%)
Negatively (8%)
No change (12%)

How you think you did?

Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (47%)
Good (40%)
Average (11%)
Poor (1%)
Bad (0%)

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview experience to be relaxed and conversational, with interviewers showing interest in getting to know them personally. Some appreciated the campus facilities and friendly atmosphere, while others noted minor organizational issues and a lack of detailed information during the day. Overall, the interview style was low-stress with straightforward questions, making for a positive impression of the school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
  • Very good school and kind faculty and students.
  • Interview felt very rushed, 3 interviewers and had a very obvious list of questions. They tried to be more conversational but it didn't work well as it was just question after question with no time for real discussion.
  • Faculty were pleasant but to the point. the admissions coordinator who started the welcome sessions was bubbly yet very unprofessional. the interview day was surprisingly short!
  • The interview day here was honestly a great experience. I never felt anxious except at the start of the interview and that went away immediately. The people (students, staff, DOs) were extremely nice, and the day wasn't overly long, although I wish there was a formal presentation at some point and also a chance to ask questions to the financial aid staff.
  • Great campus, great environment
💬 Interview Process

Length, number, and type of interviews

🕐
Length:
28 Minutes Average
🔄
Number:
2.4 Interviews Average
👥
Interview Type (Interaction):
63% One-on-One
37% Group Interview
📁
File Type:
98% Open-File
2% Closed-File
💻
Interview Modality:
25% Virtual
75% In-Person
🏫
Interview Location (for In-Person):
100% At the School
0% Other Location

PCOM-COMP interviews are an average of 28 minutes, with an average of 2.4 interviews. 63% of interviews are one-on-one, 75% are in-person, and 2% are closed-file. Of the in-person interviews, 100% are held at the school.

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about book recommendations, challenges faced in healthcare settings, explaining osteopathic medicine to patients, required characteristics for healthcare roles, regrets from college, ethical dilemmas like helping at an accident scene, qualities of a good physician, personal accomplishments, school selection criteria, desired patient impressions, study habits, and motivations for pursuing medicine, often focusing on details provided in the application. Many responses indicate a focus on the MMI format with questions related to nondisclosure agreements, while others touch on personal experiences, academic performance, career choices, and preparedness for medical school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)

What was the most interesting question?

Students said the most interesting question asked at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal attributes of a physician, approaches to patient care, and reflections on past experiences. Some responses indicated a focus on personal interests, research experiences, decision-making processes, and the integration of diverse backgrounds into medical practice, showcasing a holistic approach to evaluating applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)

How did you prepare for the interview?

Applicants commonly prepared for interviews by engaging in mock interviews, reviewing their application materials, reading interview feedback on SDN, and researching the school's website and osteopathic medicine. Many also practiced answering common questions and sought advice from current students or alumni.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including decision-making between medical schools, explaining osteopathic medicine without buzzwords, ethical dilemmas like patient confidentiality, and personal challenges faced in academics or life. The interview format may have been MMI, with mentions of nondisclosure agreements and specific questions on handling disagreements, diverse populations, and end-of-life issues.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and staff at the school. They appreciated the positive and non-competitive atmosphere, state-of-the-art facilities, and the support and encouragement provided throughout the interview process. The campus, quality of clinical rotations, and the school's reputation were also highlighted as positive aspects that left a lasting impression.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants were negatively impressed by long waiting times, disorganization, lack of enthusiasm from interviewers and student guides, uninformative presentations, large class sizes, unenthusiastic campus atmosphere, unprepared interviewers, and limited information provided about the curriculum and financial aid. Suggestions included improving organization, providing more engaging presentations, offering more structured interview days, and enhancing the overall campus experience to better showcase the school's strengths.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants commonly wished they had known about the potential for a long wait before their interview, the conversational nature of the interview, the need to bring snacks, and the importance of being prepared for ethical scenarios. They also emphasized the benefit of being relaxed, asking questions during the tour, and the overall laid-back atmosphere of the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
🤝 Campus and Facilities

How do you rank the facilities?

Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.

How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?

0 = Low, 10 = High

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggest improvements such as streamlining interview day schedules, providing decisions via email, enhancing professionalism in communication, and offering more structured presentations about the school. They also appreciate the friendliness of the staff and suggest more efficient communication methods to enhance the admissions process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
📍 Travel and Logistics

Airports Used

✈️
PHL

44% interviewees used PHL (PHL), with 28% using ATL (ATL) and 5% using phl (phl) and 5% using atl (atl) and 5% using N/A (N/A) and 3% using bwi (bwi) and 3% using Philadelphia International Airport (Philadelphia International Airport) and 3% using PIA (PIA) and 3% using (Family lives there) (BWI) and 3% using PHI (PHI).

What was your primary mode of transportation?

Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.

✈️
23% Airplane
🚗
69% Automobile
🚆
4% Train or Subway
🚲
4% Other

Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees

Most interviewees stayed at the Hilton (average ranking 9.7/10), with some staying at Holiday Inn (average rating 8.7/10). (Top 3 displayed)

🏨
Hilton
9.7/10
🏨
Holiday Inn
8.7/10
🏨
Crowne Plaza
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 (5%)
Faculty member (1%)
Other (1%)
Student (93%)

How did the tour guide seem?

Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Discouraging (1%)
Enthusiastic (88%)
Neutral (11%)

All Responses

Loading responses...