Anyone already interview for the PhD to MD program?
2012-2013 Tulane University Application Thread
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last year they sent an email as well.
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Oh, that's wonderful! Thanks.
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Is anyone interviewing on Monday December 17th?
I'm trying to decide whether to come in on Sat and use a M1 host or just arrive on Sunday and stay in a hotel.
Has anyone done either and feel like sharing their experiences?
And if there are any other Dec 17th interviewees out there, I'd love to go out and see the city and get a drink with one of ya on the weekend before that Monday.
I'm trying to decide whether to come in on Sat and use a M1 host or just arrive on Sunday and stay in a hotel.
Has anyone done either and feel like sharing their experiences?
And if there are any other Dec 17th interviewees out there, I'd love to go out and see the city and get a drink with one of ya on the weekend before that Monday.
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I am interviewing the 17th, I think I am going to fly in on the 16th early and I would DEFINITELY be down to see the big easy. As for student host almost everyone has told me that is the way to go, so I think that is what I will be doing.
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Sweet. Congrats on the interview! In that case I'll go ahead and schedule with an M1 host.
I'm going to schedule my flight for the 15th since it's a weekend 🙂
My buddy who interviewed last year said that they're hyooge on the social scene there. Can't wait!!!!!!!
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II yesterday! oos 3.4/34,complete first weekof Aug. Dont give up hope if you havent heard anything yet. I replied to confirm the interview but havent gotten a response back yet. Did anyone else get a reply back after they confirmed?
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No, not yet
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I'm interviewing on the 17th as well. I think I'm going to fly in on the 15th and out on the 17th. Flights seem cheaper that way. Would it be weird for a 31 year-old to stay with a student host? Probably. Will most likely get a hotel room Sunday night, crash with friends Sat & Mon.
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Stay with a Host!
I am in my late 20s and thought the same thing and during my interview it came up and seemed like a negative that I didn't stay with a host. They might ask you in your interview! Stay with a host!
Then again, if you're like me and have neck/back issues. That was a risk, I didn't want to take. It might be better to stay at the Holiday Inn that is a few blocks from the school. They have different types of pillows that you can pick from and the bed is very comfortable. If you say you're going to an interview at Tulane they give some kind of discount too.
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It will only be weird if you are weird, but I understand your hesitation. I am in my late 20s and sometimes when crashing on a strangers couch, with sheets and bedding that smell kind of funny, I think, "man, I am getting too old for this." But the experience is incredibly valuable in my opinion. I have learned so much more about a school from staying with student hosts, going out with their friends for drinks, and seeing first hand how they live outside of medical school. It makes it easier for me to imagine which places I really would fit into and be happy at, and which places would make me feel miserable. I mean, if accepted you would have to live with these people in their city for the next four years. I think its a good idea to see what you are getting yourself into.
That said, I am a male and I have been staying with male hosts. It could be different for females, you guys live in a different universe.
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That said, I am a male and I have been staying with male hosts. It could be different for females, you guys live in a different universe.[/QUOTE]
Tis true, we live in a universe of lollipops and kitty cats! Ok, so I'm sold on the student host thing. But if I end up with a crick in my neck and covered in cat hair for my interview, I'm hunting y'all down.
Tis true, we live in a universe of lollipops and kitty cats! Ok, so I'm sold on the student host thing. But if I end up with a crick in my neck and covered in cat hair for my interview, I'm hunting y'all down.
I see your point but actually at Tulane a lot of students who are non-traditionals so it would not be as weird as you think. I remember staying with a non-traditional myself when I interviewed last year. If I were you, I'd request for a non-traditional student as a student host so that way it's not as weird in terms of the age gap and you could get a perspective you can better relate to.
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Interview Day Review
Once again, I'm stuck in Seattle airport with nothing to do for a few hours, so here's a review of my first MD interview. First of all, this was the only interview invite I actually wanted to attend. Going to other interviews seemed like one more hoop to jump through, just like memorizing useless physics formulas for the MCAT. Tulane's interview invite was different, partly for New Orleans cooking, but mainly because I wanted to see how the city has changed since I was there last, six months after Katrina. Of course it's entirely different now, with no flooded-out cars, X's on the doors, and none of that smelly gray mud crusted everywhere.
I stayed at the Holiday Inn, about four blocks from the school and within walking distance of the French Quarter and the river. It was nice to be so close, and by my standards the hotel was downright luxurious. For anyone else, it's a basic Holiday Inn.
Interview day started with an introduction to the school by an MS4 and two faculty members. Nothing too new here. The student really loved Tulane, especially since he's in full MS4 slacking off mode.
Next was a tour of the simulation center. They had a pretty good collection of patient sims, but I thought some of the DO schools I've been to had them beat. It really isn't going to effect my choice of a school anyway.
After that came the interviews. There were two half hour interviews, one-on-one with faculty or doctors in a two hour block. My first interview went well. The interviewer seemed pretty interested in the volunteer work I'd been doing. Most of her questions were aimed at finding out about specific experiences I'd had and what I was planning on doing after medical school. There were no tough ethical questions.
On the other hand, my second interview was the worst I've ever had. I got a PhD, a career lab rat with zero social skills. I had an awful time trying to figure out what he was even asking. Interview questions went something like this:
Interviewer: "What do you think of human error?"
Me: "Do you mean when I make mistakes? When that happens I do A and B and C to try and correct the situation."
Interviewer: "No, I mean human error."
Me: "Do you mean when other people make mistakes?"
Interviewer: "No, human error."
Me: 😕😕😕 (It was hard to keep from saying something like, "Do you mean the inability to ask articulate questions?")
The whole interview went pretty much like that, featuring questions like "Have you ever been around dead bodies? How did it make you feel?" I compared notes with other candidates after the interviews, and it was clear that my interviewer was an exception. Everyone else I talked to said their interviews went well. Interviews were either closed book or the interviewers didn't bother to look at our files.
I was a little worried that the food would be the usual box lunches you get at any other med school interview day. I shouldn't have worried. Tulane is very proud to be a part of New Orleans and its cultural traditions, so much so that faculty and students were mildly disappointed in the interview candidates who couldn't stay the weekend to see more of the city. Lunch was crab and crawfish gumbo, fried catfish, and other local goodies. During lunch we had a third interview, one-on-one with MS2 students. This interview was another friendly one, I think designed so the student could see if we would be a good fit for the school.
After lunch was a tour of the school. On this I learned that students are very willing to help each other, and the atmosphere is relaxed and noncompetitive. This was obvious from watching them in the lounges and hallways. Also, there's no dress code, a nice plus for a bad dresser like me. The surgical laproscopic practice room looked pretty neat. Tulane's history as one of the nation's oldest medical schools means they've got a great collection of preserved babies and body parts that might be useful for anatomy and will probably give me nightmares tonight. There was a test in the anatomy lab so we couldn't go in there. Campus buildings are a bit grungy, but then I'm comparing them to brand new DO campuses like Western Lebanon and VCOM Carolina.
There's a good range of housing, generally quite affordable for a city. There is a dorm where a handful of students live, and it sounded like it would also be an option for a shorter stay while trying to find more permanent housing.
Overall I was very impressed with Tulane. Ever since I started the process of taking a postbac, this has been one of my top choices. The only downside I could see was the cost. It is a good deal more expensive than the average private school or OOS tuition at a public school. I should mention that Tulane loves nontrads. My interview group had more career-changers and older students than some of the DO interviews I've been on. Between an excellent school, a great patient population to work with during clinical years, and a friendly city with good food and a warm climate, I'd be glad to go to medical school here.
Once again, I'm stuck in Seattle airport with nothing to do for a few hours, so here's a review of my first MD interview. First of all, this was the only interview invite I actually wanted to attend. Going to other interviews seemed like one more hoop to jump through, just like memorizing useless physics formulas for the MCAT. Tulane's interview invite was different, partly for New Orleans cooking, but mainly because I wanted to see how the city has changed since I was there last, six months after Katrina. Of course it's entirely different now, with no flooded-out cars, X's on the doors, and none of that smelly gray mud crusted everywhere.
I stayed at the Holiday Inn, about four blocks from the school and within walking distance of the French Quarter and the river. It was nice to be so close, and by my standards the hotel was downright luxurious. For anyone else, it's a basic Holiday Inn.
Interview day started with an introduction to the school by an MS4 and two faculty members. Nothing too new here. The student really loved Tulane, especially since he's in full MS4 slacking off mode.
Next was a tour of the simulation center. They had a pretty good collection of patient sims, but I thought some of the DO schools I've been to had them beat. It really isn't going to effect my choice of a school anyway.
After that came the interviews. There were two half hour interviews, one-on-one with faculty or doctors in a two hour block. My first interview went well. The interviewer seemed pretty interested in the volunteer work I'd been doing. Most of her questions were aimed at finding out about specific experiences I'd had and what I was planning on doing after medical school. There were no tough ethical questions.
On the other hand, my second interview was the worst I've ever had. I got a PhD, a career lab rat with zero social skills. I had an awful time trying to figure out what he was even asking. Interview questions went something like this:
Interviewer: "What do you think of human error?"
Me: "Do you mean when I make mistakes? When that happens I do A and B and C to try and correct the situation."
Interviewer: "No, I mean human error."
Me: "Do you mean when other people make mistakes?"
Interviewer: "No, human error."
Me: 😕😕😕 (It was hard to keep from saying something like, "Do you mean the inability to ask articulate questions?")
The whole interview went pretty much like that, featuring questions like "Have you ever been around dead bodies? How did it make you feel?" I compared notes with other candidates after the interviews, and it was clear that my interviewer was an exception. Everyone else I talked to said their interviews went well. Interviews were either closed book or the interviewers didn't bother to look at our files.
I was a little worried that the food would be the usual box lunches you get at any other med school interview day. I shouldn't have worried. Tulane is very proud to be a part of New Orleans and its cultural traditions, so much so that faculty and students were mildly disappointed in the interview candidates who couldn't stay the weekend to see more of the city. Lunch was crab and crawfish gumbo, fried catfish, and other local goodies. During lunch we had a third interview, one-on-one with MS2 students. This interview was another friendly one, I think designed so the student could see if we would be a good fit for the school.
After lunch was a tour of the school. On this I learned that students are very willing to help each other, and the atmosphere is relaxed and noncompetitive. This was obvious from watching them in the lounges and hallways. Also, there's no dress code, a nice plus for a bad dresser like me. The surgical laproscopic practice room looked pretty neat. Tulane's history as one of the nation's oldest medical schools means they've got a great collection of preserved babies and body parts that might be useful for anatomy and will probably give me nightmares tonight. There was a test in the anatomy lab so we couldn't go in there. Campus buildings are a bit grungy, but then I'm comparing them to brand new DO campuses like Western Lebanon and VCOM Carolina.
There's a good range of housing, generally quite affordable for a city. There is a dorm where a handful of students live, and it sounded like it would also be an option for a shorter stay while trying to find more permanent housing.
Overall I was very impressed with Tulane. Ever since I started the process of taking a postbac, this has been one of my top choices. The only downside I could see was the cost. It is a good deal more expensive than the average private school or OOS tuition at a public school. I should mention that Tulane loves nontrads. My interview group had more career-changers and older students than some of the DO interviews I've been on. Between an excellent school, a great patient population to work with during clinical years, and a friendly city with good food and a warm climate, I'd be glad to go to medical school here.
I think that is a good sign for you that one of your interviews lasted so long. I think however that the norm is 20-30 minutes, at least that's what the faculty member who did the introduction in the morning told us. His words were, "you have 20 minutes to brag with style." And some of the people in my interview group had their interviews back to back, for example at 10 and 10:30, so I'm guessing they try to shoot for 30 minutes max. My student interview actually was the longest of the 3, at around 30-35 minutes.
It was nice to meet you at the interview! (I'm the girl who teaches high school chem.)
Cannot wait to hear from Tulane--I loved it! Very community oriented, which I love, and lots and lots of culture 🙂 Seems like everyone is very happy there. (Probably because admissions places so much emphasis on having "the right fit".)
I agree, the Holiday Inn was nice and very close to the campus. I would definitely recommend it to those interviewing. Also, more than one person recommended staying for the weekend to really see and explore the city. I think it's a good idea. My interviews were all very relaxed and conversational. Overall, I was very impressed with the school and their impact on New Orleans. Hoping to hear good news soon!!!
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decision emails anyone?? so nervous...
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Nothing yet here. If it eases some anxiety, I'll inform you that everyone found out on Tuesday last year. But I'm also getting nervous!
Good luck.
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ACCEPTED!! Interviewed 9/21.
I'm new on the SDN scene but had an interview invite five days ago, heh.
OOS, 3.5/32, complete first week of Aug.
Just a quick question though...I sent in my email confirming the interview but haven't received a response like others it seems. A little worried since I've also emailed Susan Vargas but no reply. It's the fifth day deadline as well. Any ideas?
OOS, 3.5/32, complete first week of Aug.
Just a quick question though...I sent in my email confirming the interview but haven't received a response like others it seems. A little worried since I've also emailed Susan Vargas but no reply. It's the fifth day deadline as well. Any ideas?
I never got an email confirming my confirmation email (lol) either. No worries! I called just to be sure and the woman on the phone made sure they'd gotten it, so if you want to be 100% sure I'd recommend that.
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They would probably let you store it in the Office of Admissions somewhere. Maybe just check with them the day before via email?
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Rejected today (pre-interview). Not surprised. Congrats to all the acceptances!
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Today's the fifth day deadline, and I just got an e-mail about an hour ago from Susana Vargas confirming my 'confirm' e-mail. You should be fiiiiine. A phone call can't hurt either.
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II last week. GPA mid 3's, MCAT mid 30's, OOS. Really excited about this school.
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I'm sorry to hear it! Do you mind sharing when you were complete?
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ACCEPTED!!
Kind of surprised considering my second interviewer talked WAY more than I did.
Interviewed on 9/24
Kind of surprised considering my second interviewer talked WAY more than I did.
Interviewed on 9/24
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II today!!! complete around 8/27. Interview for mid january.
MD apps for stats but those with mediocre GPA, OOS, and who have transfered there is hope!!
however I am an Americorps volunteer and a non trad.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE ELSE!!!
MD apps for stats but those with mediocre GPA, OOS, and who have transfered there is hope!!
however I am an Americorps volunteer and a non trad.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE ELSE!!!
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Rejected today🙁 Complete 9/21.
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Got my rejection email today. *sigh* SO got his rejection email as well. Oh well, on to the other schools we're still waiting to hear from I guess. Good luck to everyone else who is still in the running!
wow, 2 week turnaround is quick! That's awesome, congrats!
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To the email address it was sent from. And she didn't get back to me until like 7 days later... I think they probably acknowledge it immediately but don't have time to reply until later.
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