interview day was fun! a bit belated since I knocked out cause west coast to east coast time difference really sucks, but thoughts:
general overview of interview day:
- check-in at 8am, will wait with other interviewees before being taken into a conference room.
- admissions counselors will make introductions, then will go around the room and introduce yourselves.
- there are two split interview groups; one will take a tour with student ambassadors while the other group interviews, then switch.
- entire group will reconvene for tour of simulation lab and demonstration of OMT by OPP fellows.
- lunch will be served in the conference room, and a faculty member will give a presentation about NSU-COM.
- meet with the dean and ask questions (she's such an interesting storyteller and a very genuine person).
- campus tour via shuttles with undergraduate representatives, including graduate housing, main campus, gym etc.
about the actual interview (please keep in mind this is my personal experience and yours may vary):
- ranges from 15-25 minutes or so; some student ambassadors told us that usually it's 15-20, but some may have been a little longer this first run since we were the first interview group of the season.
- two faculty for each interview, very conversational but VERY thorough.
- know your application well, including timelines, significant events, volunteering and research experiences, and possible questionable areas.
- both my interviewers were incredibly engaged and thought-provoking, and I felt like a lot of ethical implications were sort of tied into their interview questions even though they were all about me. I personally enjoy this method of getting to know someone as opposed to asking MMI-style ethical questions, but of course it's different for everyone.
- don't worry if you don't get a chance to ask the interviewers any questions (especially since the interview is so short, I'd recommend focusing on yourself more), and there are plenty of chances later to ask the dean, student ambassadors, lunchtime presenter, admissions counselors etc.
general thoughts and tidbits:
- give yourself an extra 10-15 minutes if you're driving in; traffic is awful and the parking garages are a bit cramped. also make sure to print out the interview parking pass so you can park in the leveled parking garages for free.
- tip (for ladies especially): wear comfortable shoes! there's quite a bit of walking even though the tour at the end is via shuttle.
- NSU is a huge campus compared to many others, as it houses an undergraduate campus, a lot of other graduate programs, and many other health professional programs like nursing etc. this can be both good and bad, as you really get that large-campus feel and there are more resources and things going on, but it can be a bit distracting and very bustling. I do like the fact that you're really immersed in interprofessionalism though.
- this program is VERY supportive of student groups and students helping each other. the internal resources seem to be really amazing, especially the way our student ambassadors described it. that camaraderie is really impressive, and there seem to be a good focus on not letting anyone fall through the cracks even though the 200+ class is relatively large every year.
- lots and lots of student groups, so numerous opportunities for outreach and community service and volunteering (there's also a community service requirement).
- good resources for research because of how extensive the campus is and how many faculty there are actually on campus, which is great.
- lecture attendance is not mandatory, and all lectures are recorded and uploaded online. can be good or bad, but up to each person's individual learning style.
- exams are multiple choice for the most part, and the grading is a number grade for most courses (such as 85% = 0.85 x credits of that class). I find this a bit intimidating, but 70% is passing and I was told it's not that bad.
- lots of established rotation sites, especially for core rotations. seem to be lots of affiliated residency spots as well. majority of these are in Florida, understandably.
.. and of course, I wrote a novel without meaning to. please let me know if anyone has more questions!
good luck to everyone with upcoming interviews!
@getfat @BruceWayneJr