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I'm certain that plenty of you are gearing up and trying to figure out how to interview, and while I understand looking good at your interview is excellent, I wanted to make this thread to discuss some must-ask questions. These aren't questions you need to ask your interviewer; in fact, you'll probably get better answers (or none, which would be very informative) from a current student after you're accepted. I encourage anyone who is attending or has attended an allopathic or osteopathic thread to contribute questions.
In addition, try to keep the questions limited to ones that actually have some sort of concrete answer and are specific to schools you've been accepted at.
1. What is the health insurance like?
Specifically, what is the deductible for primary care? What is the deductible for surgery? Do most students who aren't still on their parents' health insurance purchase the plan? Does the plan offer full coverage or is it a plan where the school pays part of the cost and you pay part of the cost (i.e. an 80/20 plan or something similar)?
2. How easy is it to start a student organization?
How much paperwork do you need to fill out? In what format does it need to be submitted? Do you need to attend a litany of meetings to make your organization official or are organizations established as soon as paperwork is submitted? What kind of funding is available to student organizations?
3. What is the grading system?
Is it pass/fail? Is it ranked? How are your scores in courses reflected in your Dean's letter? You may need to speak to an upperclassman, recent alumnus, or dean for this one.
4. How much does housing cost?
How much does the on-campus housing cost? How much does local housing cost? Again, students are probably your best source for this.
5. How does financial aid work?
Since most schools offer a number of students or a % of students on financial aid, you should ask a few more detailed questions: How many students receive merit-based scholarships? How many receive need-based scholarships? Is there an application process for these? If so, when are the deadlines for these applications, and when will the school tell you if you've received a scholarship?
6. How many students to a cadaver?
Keep in mind that fewer students to a cadaver is not always better; if you aren't particularly excited about anatomy, as I wasn't, six students to a body can be amazing. Most people end up asking this question at the interview, but it's not a bad question to ask afterwards if you forgot to ask earlier.
7. What are classes like? (Adapted from mcloaf)
What percentage of classes are mandatory? Are all non-mandatory lectures video recorded? If not, what percentage are videotaped? Also, If not, is there a scribe service? WHICH classes are mandatory? How often do these classes occur?
8. How are rotations structured? (Adapted from sunsfun)
How are the rotations determined? Who is evaluating you during them? Is there a lot of busy work or scut work?
9. How is the pre-clinical curriculum structured? (Adapted from sunsfun)
Is the pre-clinical curriculum relevant to clinical rotations or is the focus mainly on teaching minutia? How does the school help students study for the boards? Does the school provide Firecracker? First Aid? A substantial discount on UWorld? CBSE? Anything?
In addition, try to keep the questions limited to ones that actually have some sort of concrete answer and are specific to schools you've been accepted at.
1. What is the health insurance like?
Specifically, what is the deductible for primary care? What is the deductible for surgery? Do most students who aren't still on their parents' health insurance purchase the plan? Does the plan offer full coverage or is it a plan where the school pays part of the cost and you pay part of the cost (i.e. an 80/20 plan or something similar)?
2. How easy is it to start a student organization?
How much paperwork do you need to fill out? In what format does it need to be submitted? Do you need to attend a litany of meetings to make your organization official or are organizations established as soon as paperwork is submitted? What kind of funding is available to student organizations?
3. What is the grading system?
Is it pass/fail? Is it ranked? How are your scores in courses reflected in your Dean's letter? You may need to speak to an upperclassman, recent alumnus, or dean for this one.
4. How much does housing cost?
How much does the on-campus housing cost? How much does local housing cost? Again, students are probably your best source for this.
5. How does financial aid work?
Since most schools offer a number of students or a % of students on financial aid, you should ask a few more detailed questions: How many students receive merit-based scholarships? How many receive need-based scholarships? Is there an application process for these? If so, when are the deadlines for these applications, and when will the school tell you if you've received a scholarship?
6. How many students to a cadaver?
Keep in mind that fewer students to a cadaver is not always better; if you aren't particularly excited about anatomy, as I wasn't, six students to a body can be amazing. Most people end up asking this question at the interview, but it's not a bad question to ask afterwards if you forgot to ask earlier.
7. What are classes like? (Adapted from mcloaf)
What percentage of classes are mandatory? Are all non-mandatory lectures video recorded? If not, what percentage are videotaped? Also, If not, is there a scribe service? WHICH classes are mandatory? How often do these classes occur?
8. How are rotations structured? (Adapted from sunsfun)
How are the rotations determined? Who is evaluating you during them? Is there a lot of busy work or scut work?
9. How is the pre-clinical curriculum structured? (Adapted from sunsfun)
Is the pre-clinical curriculum relevant to clinical rotations or is the focus mainly on teaching minutia? How does the school help students study for the boards? Does the school provide Firecracker? First Aid? A substantial discount on UWorld? CBSE? Anything?
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