Acceptable Questions to ask Admissions while waiting for interviews?

[ktsiman]

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Hello,

I am not applying anytime soon but my partner applied this cycle. Out of curiosity, I am wondering if it would be acceptable to engage with medical schools admissions through email while waiting for updates about interviews? Would it be acceptable to ask admissions about community engagement and outreach opportunities available to students, if it is a service heavy school? Or ask about research and mentoring opportunities to inter grate science and medicine into good clinical practice and care, for a more research focus school? Or I guess, what are acceptable questions to ask to continue to learn and engage with medical schools while waiting to hear back from them?

 

[LizzyM]

That information should be readily available on their website. It is also something that can be asked at an interview but asking before an interview invite is just wasting someone's time given that you are not yet a candidate for admission and may never be one.

 

[ktsiman]

That information should be readily available on their website. It is also something that can be asked at an interview but asking before an interview invite is just wasting someone's time given that you are not yet a candidate for admission and may never be one.

Got it, thank you. So the only time we should engage with admissions is if there is something wrong/incorrect about the application or if we are sending updates?

 

[AJ25]

Remember, you don't want to seem annoying either.

 

[LizzyM]

Got it, thank you. So the only time we should engage with admissions is if there is something wrong/incorrect about the application or if we are sending updates?

That sounds about right.

 

[olofmeister]

Prior to receiving interview I just asked a couple questions about that application, such as clarification on wording. After receiving one, I sent 3-4 emails over 3 months asking questions I already knew the answers to, just to become acquainted with the admissions people. That strategy seemed to work well.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I am not applying anytime soon but my partner applied this cycle. Out of curiosity, I am wondering if it would be acceptable to engage with medical schools admissions through email while waiting for updates about interviews? Would it be acceptable to ask admissions about community engagement and outreach opportunities available to students, if it is a service heavy school? Or ask about research and mentoring opportunities to integrate science and medicine into good clinical practice and care, for a more research focus school? Or I guess, what are acceptable questions to ask to continue to learn and engage with medical schools while waiting to hear back from them?

BEFORE applying, prospects are welcome to engage with admissions staff. It's our job to answer your questions and familiarize you with our website or other resources. Those questions should have been part of the selection criteria for making the final list.

Read

Beyond MSAR: Additional Resources for Building Your School List | Student Doctor Network | SDN

Compilations like the MSAR, the ChooseDO, the VMSAR, or the ADEA DSE are essential tools to compare your application profile against historical trends,

www.studentdoctor.net

WHILE applying, engage the admissions team via the applicant portal (if available).

 

[ktsiman]

Prior to receiving interview I just asked a couple questions about that application, such as clarification on wording. After receiving one, I sent 3-4 emails over 3 months asking questions I already knew the answers to, just to become acquainted with the admissions people. That strategy seemed to work well.

Thank you for this perspective. I guess I am nervous of asking the wrong questions and coming off as overbearing. I am interested in learning about support structures at the medical school for example, or opportunities to give back to the community given the skills medical school would teach us. I have always wanted to work in a free clinic for example and it would be cool to attend a medical school in which there are students that share the same interest as me and we can partake in such activities with the community. Those would be some things I would want to ask about. It does make sense that continued engagement with admissions can leave a mark. But my question for you is, how did you navigate the 3-4 questions, post-secondary submissions? Were the schools receptive to them, via their response? Did they continue to encourage you to ask questions? What kind of questions did you ask? If you don’t mind giving an example.

 

[ktsiman]

BEFORE applying, prospects are welcome to engage with admissions staff. It's our job to answer your questions and familiarize you with our website or other resources. Those questions should have been part of the selection criteria for making the final list.

Read

Beyond MSAR: Additional Resources for Building Your School List | Student Doctor Network | SDN

Compilations like the MSAR, the ChooseDO, the VMSAR, or the ADEA DSE are essential tools to compare your application profile against historical trends,

www.studentdoctor.net

WHILE applying, engage the admissions team via the applicant portal (if available).

This is really helpful. I have been reflecting a lot about my personal goals and missions as someone hoping to go into medicine. I would like to take your advice and reach out to schools I am hoping to apply to in future cycles. Is there an appropriate time for me to do so? I understand that now is the middle-ish of a cycle and would not want to take away space from current applicants. Would suggest the period between May and June as a reasonable time to initiate conversations with admissions prior to applying?

For timeline purposes, I am tentatively applying June 2027 as I am currently in a post-bacc program that will be complete in spring 2027. I am taking the MCAT this summer in preparation.

 

[moltmannfanboi]

Hello,

I am not applying anytime soon but my partner applied this cycle. Out of curiosity, I am wondering if it would be acceptable to engage with medical schools admissions through email while waiting for updates about interviews? Would it be acceptable to ask admissions about community engagement and outreach opportunities available to students, if it is a service heavy school? Or ask about research and mentoring opportunities to inter grate science and medicine into good clinical practice and care, for a more research focus school? Or I guess, what are acceptable questions to ask to continue to learn and engage with medical schools while waiting to hear back from them?

That information should be readily available on their website. It is also something that can be asked at an interview but asking before an interview invite is just wasting someone's time given that you are not yet a candidate for admission and may never be one.

My perspective on this is that every school I've interviewed at this cycle has had either an async way to get in touch with *current students* (who will probably be able to answer your questions in a more genuine way) or a synchronous student panel with no adcoms. I'd be surprised if your schools didn't have something similar.

Also, you want to "keep your powder dry" on some questions so you have something to talk about with your interviewer. A full 30 minutes of a 60 minute interview for me was "what questions do you have for me?"

 

[Mr.Smile12]

My perspective on this is that every school I've interviewed at this cycle has had either an async way to get in touch with *current students* (who will probably be able to answer your questions in a more genuine way) or a synchronous student panel with no adcoms. I'd be surprised if your schools didn't have something similar.

Also, you want to "keep your powder dry" on some questions so you have something to talk about with your interviewer. A full 30 minutes of a 60 minute interview for me was "what questions do you have for me?"

Agreeing.

As an admissions professional, I would advise you to get going with questions. However, if you are a current applicant, an admissions office will be very limited in what they can share to avoid accusations of favoritism or bias. Use the current students to get your insight (even before you apply).

 

[olofmeister]

Thank you for this perspective. I guess I am nervous of asking the wrong questions and coming off as overbearing. I am interested in learning about support structures at the medical school for example, or opportunities to give back to the community given the skills medical school would teach us. I have always wanted to work in a free clinic for example and it would be cool to attend a medical school in which there are students that share the same interest as me and we can partake in such activities with the community. Those would be some things I would want to ask about. It does make sense that continued engagement with admissions can leave a mark. But my question for you is, how did you navigate the 3-4 questions, post-secondary submissions? Were the schools receptive to them, via their response? Did they continue to encourage you to ask questions? What kind of questions did you ask? If you don’t mind giving an example.

Yeah, they were very receptive! Keep in mind these were AFTER receiving an II, but I asked about campus tours, virtual info sessions, and a question about open/closed file interview (plus a thank you note saying they were my top choice).

Also, at another school I suppose I got lucky but one guy offered to go over my secondaries with me and even helped me edit/added comments in a google doc. All I did was ask for clarification on wording initially lol. I would say the vast majority of adcoms are very kind and willing to help, they know how ****ty this process is

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Also, at another school I suppose I got lucky but one guy offered to go over my secondaries with me and even helped me edit/added comments in a google doc. All I did was ask for clarification on wording initially lol. I would say the vast majority of adcoms are very kind and willing to help, they know how ****ty this process is

That’s actually super kind of them, but isn’t that a conflict of interest, especially if they’re involved in admissions?
Edit: not really a conflict of interest but inequity instead. Either way great you got that feedback

 

[moltmannfanboi]

That’s actually super kind of them, but isn’t that a conflict of interest, especially if they’re involved in admissions?
Edit: not really a conflict of interest but inequity instead. Either way great you got that feedback

Eh. Usually the people who you connect with are not adcoms. For example, at UWSOM they connected us with students for questions AND connected us with students willing to do mock interviews. I agree that if it isn't systematic there might be more inequalities in the system.

 

[LizzyM]

The point is, your behavior in terms of questions should be different before you apply, before you get an interview, after the interview, after the offer of admission. After you apply and before you are interviewed, the school may be least likely to welcome inquiries. The ball is in their court at that point and asking questions is not likely to move it.