Its a relatively low stress interview. The first day was MD interview day,
so you're with all the interviewees. Some people first had their interview
(I am guessing around 8 or 9) but at 10 we all sat down with the Assit.
Dean, Dr. Whitehurst-cook in her office for an introduction and financial
aid info session. Then I had an interview, as did some other people and I
guess other people who had already interviewed had some downtime in a
waiting room. The interviewer actually will come and find you so you dont
get lost or late.
Then after that there is a tour and Lunch in the hospital cafeteria with
current students. No anatomy lab tour =/. After that you go meet with a
faculty of your choice, they give you the opportunity to meet with 3
faculty. Then there is dinner with current MD/PhD students. That's
basically it for day one.
Day 2: You start out with a breakfast and info session of the MD/PhD
program with Dr. Archer (the Director). Then you head off to your MD/PhD
interview with a faculty + current MD/PhD student (it wasn't too
stressful, just questions about research obviously) After that you attend
a seminar + lunch, the seminar is for all of their MD/PhD students and one
of them presents. The Director does sit in on the seminar so its a good
idea to at least look alive... After that I finished up with my last two
lab visits (about an hour each, good idea to read their most current paper
or atleast their website)
There was some variation with my schedule and the other MD/PhD
interviewees but I think for the most part thats it. The campus is really
nice adn new, nice part of downtown, lots of new buildings + renovations.
The hospital is right across the street. You can definitely tell its a
smaller school and not as many bells and whistles as the bigger
programs... but the fact that they are able to provide full funding is
great and with sort of an optional 4th year for MD/PhDs is awesome. Also I
did not stay with a student host and stayed at a hotel and I can't
remember the name of it... but they paid for it and the hotel had a
shuttle which dropped off and picked up which was great. You will need to
get from the airport to Richmond, I took a cab for about $25.
