Linda,
the interview went really well. It lasted over a half hour and I felt I was able to present myself well. Not a stress type atmoshpere, but I was nervous anyway. No wacky questions, just the usual ones you'd expect and I did get to ask some questions as well. It seems the first two years just hit the basic sciences and get you ready for the Boards, which they say have a very HIGH first time pass rate. (last years class had a 100% pass rate) This will sound trite, but it really seemed like they just wanted hear what I had to say about my experiences and expectations. I'll take that as a positve sign. They did ask if I had been offered other interviews or an acceptance anywhere else. I saw this as a good opportunity to express how much I was interested in SOM. Even though I had sent in a deposit to secure my seat at the other school, they seemed to understand by the very nature of the application process, this was a reasonable thing to do as the process is so full of uncertainty. I did make it very clear I was SOLD on UMDNJ and felt it was a GREAT place. My family is in the area and right now I think I would like to stay and practice here. At least initially. If offered a seat, I told them I would accept. Although there doesn't seem to be much organized campus life, I liked the program and the people I met seemed nice and content to be there. Maybe not as collegiate and enthusiastic a feeling as expressed by the student community at UNECOM (which impressed me more than I expected, but it's so cold and far from home), but I believe for me, UMDNJ is a good choice. I did get to talk to one of the student council vice presidents at SOM. She loved the school and was actually more forthcoming than my student host. So maybe my impression of the students at SOM was too limited to draw any conclusions. I still like the idea of a supportive, cohesive, active student body even if it is a medical school. I won't know if I'll be offered a seat until around Thanksgiving but I have my fingers crossed.
Unfortunately. I have yet to hear anything from PCOM. If offered an interview, I still would go. Have you any idea how far along in the interview process they are? When they began and how many students a week they are seeing? I know of one poster who was recently offered a seat. I don't know if they are just slow with their interviews or if I just don't fit their profile. It's strange, because from all that I learned about the school's new entrant stats, including my having a good reference from my DO who is an alumnus, I felt I had a good chance. And not as good a chance at the other four schools that offered me interviews. Go figure! I'm just glad I have the insurance of that seat for next year, and I'll see what the other three schools decide. Who knows, maybe I'll hear from PCOM yet. If you have any info on that issue, I'd appreciate hearing from you.
How are your studies going at PCOM? Is it brutal - frequent tests - any patient contact or to soon for that? Is there life outside of the classroom at PCOM? Take care and hope you have time to reply.
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rog
[This message has been edited by roger2004 (edited 10-30-1999).]
