2015-2016 University of North Dakota Application Thread

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Minnesota resident here; just received II today, hoping all goes well to all those still waiting to hear back!
 
If you are a medical student at UND, or did interview last year at UND or know how UND do their interviews, could you please tell me whether interview is close or open file? What kind of questions they ask. I mean, do they ask get know you kind of questions or strictly medical related question? Do they ask about your GPA and your MCAT score? Thank you in advance for your input!
 
rulingsince1993 said:
If you are a medical student at UND, or did interview last year at UND or know how UND do their interviews, could you please tell me whether interview is close or open file? What kind of questions they ask. I mean, do they ask get know you kind of questions or strictly medical related question? Do they ask about your GPA and your MCAT score? Thank you in advance for your input!
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UNDSMHS's interview is open file.

Check the Interview Feedback page, they're pretty spot-on. Anything is game for questions, so be prepared, but generally the interviews are pretty chill. Mix of get-to-know-you and some medical-related questions, possibly healthcare/ethical questions. But as long as you answer reasonably it's not like they expect you to be a healthcare administrator/medical ethics expert. The primary focus of the interview is you so it'll be weighted that way.

They are unlikely to ask about your GPA/MCAT unless you have something exceptionally higher or lower. The averages for UND basically every year are around a 29 MCAT and a 3.7 GPA. If you have something significantly lower be ready to explain how you're going to be capable of handling the intensity of a medical curriculum and if you're significantly higher just don't come off as pompous and you'll be fine.

Speaking of which, if something sticks out on your application be sure to be able to explain it. If it does come up, just be honest (e.g., withdrawal, a retake, leave of absence, misdemeanors, etc) and come up with a way to turn it into a neutral or even a positive (e.g., learning experience). Also, if someone is ignoring the interview, sleeping/fake sleeping, or get critical just ignore it/keep your composure. Not sure why but they love pulling that.

Overall it's not too bad, though the 3-on-1 interview format is a bit awkward and can be nerve-racking.

Good luck, just try to relax and you'll do well.
 
sylviaplathMD said:
Was just accepted to one of my top choices so I will be canceling my interview at UND. Hope it goes to one of you! Good luck everyone!
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Congratulations! May I ask what were your MCAT score and your GPA is? I'm not really sure whether I will be getting into any school, because of my grades 🙁
 
NoDakDok said:
UNDSMHS's interview is open file.

Check the Interview Feedback page, they're pretty spot-on. Anything is game for questions, so be prepared, but generally the interviews are pretty chill. Mix of get-to-know-you and some medical-related questions, possibly healthcare/ethical questions. But as long as you answer reasonably it's not like they expect you to be a healthcare administrator/medical ethics expert. The primary focus of the interview is you so it'll be weighted that way.

They are unlikely to ask about your GPA/MCAT unless you have something exceptionally higher or lower. The averages for UND basically every year are around a 29 MCAT and a 3.7 GPA. If you have something significantly lower be ready to explain how you're going to be capable of handling the intensity of a medical curriculum and if you're significantly higher just don't come off as pompous and you'll be fine.

Speaking of which, if something sticks out on your application be sure to be able to explain it. If it does come up, just be honest (e.g., withdrawal, a retake, leave of absence, misdemeanors, etc) and come up with a way to turn it into a neutral or even a positive (e.g., learning experience). Also, if someone is ignoring the interview, sleeping/fake sleeping, or get critical just ignore it/keep your composure. Not sure why but they love pulling that.

Overall it's not too bad, though the 3-on-1 interview format is a bit awkward and can be nerve-racking.

Good luck, just try to relax and you'll do well.
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Thank you so much for the information. When you said "Check the Interview Feedback page", is there a different thread for interview feedback for UND or what?
 
rulingsince1993 said:
Thank you so much for the information. When you said "Check the Interview Feedback page", is there a different thread for interview feedback for UND or what?
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http://schools.studentdoctor.net/school/undsmhs

Just click on "Interview Feedback" and there's a bunch of different information given by other applicants who interviewed at UNDSMHS.

This kind of stuff is available for basically every medical school. Very useful if you plan on interviewing other places as well. Direct link:

http://schools.studentdoctor.net/schools/?view=medical&tab=1
 
It's interesting to me that med schools pull the fake sleep trick. There are so many other ways to test composure. Oh well! Adcoms are good at what they do!
 
POTUS1995 said:
Congratulations! May I ask what were your MCAT score and your GPA is? I'm not really sure whether I will be getting into any school, because of my grades 🙁
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Don't count yourself out! My stats are far from being impressive... GPA was between 3.7-3.9 but my MCAT didn't break 30.
 
MicrogliaMan said:
It's interesting to me that med schools pull the fake sleep trick. There are so many other ways to test composure. Oh well! Adcoms are good at what they do!
Click to expand...

UNDSMHS is the only school I've ever heard that does it. I disagree with it, but it's rather irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. You'd rather have someone sleeping than someone that is abrasive. It is still less strange than the 3-on-3 interviews, exceptionally difficult to understand interviewers, etc.
 
NoDakDok said:
UNDSMHS is the only school I've ever heard that does it. I disagree with it, but it's rather irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. You'd rather have someone sleeping than someone that is abrasive. It is still less strange than the 3-on-3 interviews, exceptionally difficult to understand interviewers, etc.
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Disagree with the first part, I've had abrasive interviewers I think it is much more representative of what you would experience in a clinical setting. People challenging you and putting you in stressful situations helps the interviewer see your true colors. Someone falling asleep when it is obviously a ploy to see your response is something you can prepare for.

But I agree with the multiple interviewee scenarios being odd and difficult, those are hard to deal with.
 
NoDakDok said:
UNDSMHS is the only school I've ever heard that does it. I disagree with it, but it's rather irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. You'd rather have someone sleeping than someone that is abrasive. It is still less strange than the 3-on-3 interviews, exceptionally difficult to understand interviewers, etc.
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And I agree it is completely irrelevant in the grand scheme. There's no reason to get stressed out or hung up on small minute details such as interview practices. Instead applicants need to exclusively focus on fit of school's mission and goals for themselves.
 
MicrogliaMan said:
Disagree with the first part, I've had abrasive interviewers I think it is much more representative of what you would experience in a clinical setting. People challenging you and putting you in stressful situations helps the interviewer see your true colors. Someone falling asleep when it is obviously a ploy to see your response is something you can prepare for.
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My comment about having a sleeping interviewer being preferable to an abrasive one is entirely in the scheme of being interviewed. It is not discussing the merit of having abrasive vs. apathetic interviewers in the evaluation of an applicant. If I were to speak to that, I think both of them are poor metrics in a panel interview format. I don't think an applicant's response to an abrasive interviewer is going to show their true colors, either, but rather just makes them very uncomfortable and most likely, if anything, become more guarded and less themselves. Panel interviews ought to be used to get to know an applicant, not to use that short window of time to see how they adapt to random scripted scenarios. If they wanted to do that they would be better off adopting the MMI format which excels at evaluating interaction and problem solving.

I was simply stating, as an applicant, dealing with an abrasive interviewer is much more difficult than an interviewer just dozing off during your interview. You'd much rather have someone sleep than someone be an ass to you during an interview. I actually find both disrespectful to interviewers and both can cause applicants to get a bad feeling about a school. With interviewees who have or will have multiple acceptances, interviews are just as much about a student getting to know the school as the school getting to know the applicant. Giving an applicant a bad feeling or being oppositional/apathetic can leave a sour taste in an applicant's mouth and cause a great applicant to choose to go elsewhere, which is actually bad for the school.

Obviously, this is all personal opinion.
 
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NoDakDok said:
My comment about having a sleeping interviewer being preferable to an abrasive one is entirely in the scheme of being interviewed. It is not discussing the merit of having abrasive vs. apathetic interviewers in the evaluation of an applicant. If I were to speak to that, I think both of them are poor metrics in a panel interview format. I don't think an applicant's response to an abrasive interviewer is going to show their true colors, either, but rather just makes them very uncomfortable and most likely, if anything, become more guarded and less themselves. Panel interviews ought to be used to get to know an applicant, not to use that short window of time to see how they adapt to random scripted scenarios. If they wanted to do that they would be better off adopting the MMI format which excels at evaluating interaction and problem solving.

I was simply stating, as an applicant, dealing with an abrasive interviewer is much more difficult than an interviewer just dozing off during your interview. You'd much rather have someone sleep than someone be an ass to you during an interview. I actually find both disrespectful to interviewers and both can cause applicants to get a bad feeling about a school. With interviewees who have or will have multiple acceptances, interviews are just as much about a student getting to know the school as the school getting to know the applicant. Giving an applicant a bad feeling or being oppositional/apathetic can leave a sour taste in an applicant's mouth and cause a great applicant to choose to go elsewhere, which is actually bad for the school.

Obviously, this is all personal opinion.
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Great points
 
I agree both are poor metrics as well. I was saying as an interviewer I would choose abrasive over fake sleep if I had to choose one or the other. Although I would use neither and can only hope I am put in a position to serve on an admissions committee someday.

Exactly. Being rude is not a very effective way to demonstrate what your school is all about!
 
Good luck everyone. It's the end of the road for me this cycle. Maybe next year 🙂
 
rulingsince1993 said:
Why are you saying it the end of the road for you? No interview notice yet or what?
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Well, I got a lovely email from UND declining an invitation to interview offer. But of all the rejections I've received, theirs was the most polite 🙂
 
ryeela66 said:
Does anyone know if people get accepted here with sub 26 MCATs. I somehow received an interview invite from them with a 24 MCAT (10B, 9P, 5V). I am a Montana resident and a part of the WICHE applicant pool, but I do not think I have a a chance at acceptance.
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I'm a MT resident here right now. Feel free to ask me any questions and good luck! If you've gotten an interview, they view you as worthy of admission. At this point, the majority (if not all) of the separation in candidates is due to your interview and how they see you fitting at the school. I did well on the MCAT, but had to spend a large chunk of time on the waitlist before getting in - I don't think there is much of a correlation at all. If you have the interview, you are qualified.
 
ryeela66 said:
Does anyone know if people get accepted here with sub 26 MCATs.
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Yes.

ryeela66 said:
24 MCAT (10B, 9P, 5V)
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That 5V is egregious. Expect to be asked about it and have a well-thought-out response that does not equate to excuses. How do they know you will be capable of handling the medical curriculum, which is essentially them dumping thousands of facts you have to read, understand, and memorize? Provide an example of why you will be successful.

ryeela66 said:
I do not think I have a a chance at acceptance.
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If you have been invited to interview you are being considered seriously. Your academics will still be considered at the interview stage as they do not magically disappear because you have received an interview. However, they are less important now that you have received an interview invite. They have deemed you academically qualified or they would not have wasted an interview spot, even if your academics are suspicious. If you knock your interview out of the park you will certainly have a shot of acceptance.

Best of luck.
 
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Anyone who interviewed on 12/11 or 12/12, how did it go? How was your experiences?
 
rulingsince1993 said:
Anyone who interviewed on 12/11 or 12/12, how did it go? How was your experiences?
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It was alright. It personally wasn't my best interview. I think that a panel interview is a little more intimidating than one on one format. One of my interviewers was pretending to fall asleep. The other avoided eye contact for a little while. I don't really get why they do things like that.

The questions they asked were pretty typical. I was asked a particular question that at the time didn't know how to answer. Looking back at it now I realize how easy the question actually was and feel a little bit stupid. :smack:

So basically know your application and relax. Again most of their questions were pretty typical. However the interview wasn't as conversational as some of the previous ones I had. I think it's because there are three people interviewing you.

Good luck!
 
MerYangBey said:
It was alright. It personally wasn't my best interview. I think that a panel interview is a little more intimidating than one on one format. One of my interviewers was pretending to fall asleep. The other avoided eye contact for a little while. I don't really get why they do things like that.

The questions they asked were pretty typical. I was asked a particular question that at the time didn't know how to answer. Looking back at it now I realize how easy the question actually was and feel a little bit stupid. :smack:

So basically know your application and relax. Again most of their questions were pretty typical. However the interview wasn't as conversational as some of the previous ones I had. I think it's because there are three people interviewing you.

Good luck!
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Thank you very much for the information. Did you guys discussed about MCAT/GPA in your interview or they don't ask about it? I heard that if you get an interview, it means you crossed GPA/MCAT barrier, but I don't think that is the case with UND.
 
rulingsince1993 said:
Thank you very much for the information. Did you guys discussed about MCAT/GPA in your interview or they don't ask about it? I heard that if you get an interview, it means you crossed GPA/MCAT barrier, but I don't think that is the case with UND.
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They didn't mention my GPA or MCAT at all. Someone posted the point system that they use to give automatic interviews which is based on GPA, MCAT, residency. I don't think that there is ever a time where schools completely ignore your GPA and MCAT. I think they take everything into account when they review your file after the interview.
However if you got an interview that means they believe that you are a qualified candidate and they want to know more about you!
 
rulingsince1993 said:
Anyone who interviewed on 12/11 or 12/12, how did it go? How was your experiences?
Click to expand...
So mine actually went really well. I guess it's different from interviewer to interviewer. For me personally, it was very warm and friendly. Like seriously, all those people on the SDN interview feedback site saying it was nice and conversational weren't kidding.

There was a medical student, a PhD, and an MD and basically they each asked a set of mostly generic questions before moving to the next interviewer. So even though it's three-to-one, it's not like they're all rapid-firing questions at you. I was REALLY surprised that they didn't mention my grades or my MCAT attempts. I am an OOS applicant so they did want to know about my home state and why I was interested in UND. Also, I got the impression that they already knew everything they cared for from my application and everything else they wanted was just to know me as a person (i.e. hobbies, passions, hometown, etc).

If there's any bit of advice I'd want to give, it would be to appear genuine. The first couple answers, I was pretty tense and gave really generic, semi-rehearsed-sounding responses - to which they didn't seem to impressed. It wasn't really until I just decided to abandon my pre-rehearsed responses and talk naturally (making me less stressed too) that they seemed to pick up on the confidence and started smiling and engaging more. Just my two pence...
 
Accepted this morning as well! Also interviewed on 12/12. I can't believe we heard back so fast! I was not expecting to know until late January!
 
Hash Slinging Slasher said:
So mine actually went really well. I guess it's different from interviewer to interviewer. For me personally, it was very warm and friendly. Like seriously, all those people on the SDN interview feedback site saying it was nice and conversational weren't kidding.

There was a medical student, a PhD, and an MD and basically they each asked a set of mostly generic questions before moving to the next interviewer. So even though it's three-to-one, it's not like they're all rapid-firing questions at you. I was REALLY surprised that they didn't mention my grades or my MCAT attempts. I am an OOS applicant so they did want to know about my home state and why I was interested in UND. Also, I got the impression that they already knew everything they cared for from my application and everything else they wanted was just to know me as a person (i.e. hobbies, passions, hometown, etc).

If there's any bit of advice I'd want to give, it would be to appear genuine. The first couple answers, I was pretty tense and gave really generic, semi-rehearsed-sounding responses - to which they didn't seem to impressed. It wasn't really until I just decided to abandon my pre-rehearsed responses and talk naturally (making me less stressed too) that they seemed to pick up on the confidence and started smiling and engaging more. Just my two pence...
Click to expand...

I also thought my interview went really well. It was conversational and informative, and it seemed like the interviewers took a true interest in me as an applicant. For those that have heard back, congratulations! Hopefully more will be sent out shortly as they continue moving through the interview schedule.
 
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Any ideas on whether the committee sends out acceptances close to your interview date and waitlists/rejections in late January/early February? I would find it hard to believe that the committee has already gone through the large number of applicants who interviewed there on 12/11 and 12/12.
 
XactoPencilSharpener said:
Any ideas on whether the committee sends out acceptances close to your interview date and waitlists/rejections in late January/early February? I would find it hard to believe that the committee has already gone through the large number of applicants who interviewed there on 12/11 and 12/12.
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I was told by my interviewer that the committee meets over lunch to discuss the morning interviews. The admissions committee has 12 people, with 3 people interviewing each applicant, so 4 applicants interview per time slot. I believe there were 3 time slots in the morning session, so it sounds as if they review 12 applicants at a time. I am guessing they all meet in the same way following the afternoon and evening sessions as well. I've known a lot of people that have applied/interviewed at UND the past couple years and it always seems that a few are accepted in December, while a large majority find out whether they are accepted, rejected, or waitlisted towards the end of January after all interviews have been completed.
 
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