Nashville, TN
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
Application Cycle: 2009-10
⭐ Overall Impressions
How did the interview impress you?
Positively 🙂
What was the stress level of the interview?
2 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
How you think you did?
7 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
8 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
8 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What are your general comments?
Overall my impression of Vanderbilt was positive. I like this school, and I'd be interested in going here. I thought that the interview day was relatively personal and well-run, especially considering that Vanderbilt plans to interview close to 1000 applicants this year. When you go, ask Dawn Sharp to show you the videos of the Cadaver Balls from previous years while you're waiting in the interviewee room.
💬 Interview Process
What was the most interesting question?
Do you consider yourself to be an MCAT expert?
How did you prepare for the interview?
I re-read my AMCAS application (the interviewer has seen your AMCAS, but has NOT seen your secondary), looked up information about my interviewer (the school will provide his/her name to you ahead of time), read about the Vanderbilt curriculum, and read the previous interview feedback posted here on SDN.
What was the most difficult question?
What is special about Drug X---why not use Drug Y? (for my research)
What impressed you positively?
1. The students seem friendly and appeared to have good camaraderie. All of the first-years were wishing us interviewees luck when we saw them in the halls.
2. The office staff were extremely friendly and helpful; Vanderbilt is an example of Southern hospitality at its best.
3. The interviewer was pleasant and conversational, and he had clearly taken the time to learn about me before the interview.
4. The facilities were on the whole very nice, especially the new Children's Hospital, the Cancer Center, and main Vanderbilt Hospital.
What impressed you negatively?
I can't think of too much to say here, but just to caution future interviewees, there is a lot of construction going on right now at Vanderbilt, so be careful where you walk. Also, the cafeteria is pretty expensive, but the medical school gives you a voucher for $7, so it doesn't cost you out-of-pocket. Vanderbilt is a conservative school, so you should dress appropriately; ladies, wear skirt suits here, and save the pants for when you interview up North. Finally, if you go to Vanderbilt this early in the interview season, keep in mind that this is the South, so you can expect it to be HOT and HUMID.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Vanderbilt will not consider you to be independent for financial purposes, regardless of your age.
🤝 Campus and Facilities
How do you rank the facilities?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this school's location?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
8 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
📍 Travel and Logistics
Who was the tour given by?
Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Enthusiastic
What is your in-state status?
Out of state
What were your total hours spent traveling?
2-3 hours
What was your primary mode of travel?
Airplane
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
$201-$300
What airport did you fly into?
BNA
Where did you stay?
Hotel
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The Guesthouse
How would you rate the hotel?
5 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
yes
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