PCO and SUNY interview report

[Rusunn]

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Hi all, I just finished both my SUNY and PCO interviews and I would like to share information and my thoughts

SUNY
This was my first optometry interview and i had it last week on Wednesday, October 12.
My general overall feeling after the interview from a scale of 1 to 10, (1 being absolutely horrible and 10 being fantastic): 3

Thanks to previous threads on this forum (thanks r_salis), I knew exactly what to expect from the interview process. Also, from what my friends had told me, I knew this interview would be a tough one. I spent the entire day before the interview researching the school and practicing speaking. I wanted to make sure I expressed everything as clearly as I possibly could (i.e. speaking slowly, and no UHs or UMMs). I tried as best as possible to be prepared for any type of question they could throw at me and also went out to buy interview books. In addition, I had 5 jobs interviews and 2 mock interviews in the past (so I am no stranger to interviews)
After the impromptu essay (my topic was really easy, I felt this was the easiest part of the interview) I went into a room with 3 people and I could see the empire state building from where I was sitting. Damn, they threw questions at me the instant I sat down, JEEZ. It was tough. At first, one interviewer keep on asking me to explain myself, asking why, why, why until I said I don’t know, lol. They ask a lot of theoretical questions, (maybe to test how I think under pressure) and some of them left me tongue-tied. I don’t think I can articulate my thoughts as clearly as other people can (I would never run for office). It was intimidating!! However I always smiled, keep my composure, remained clam and relaxed, and even made a joke (got a little laugh from one interviewer). If the interview was pass/fail, I think I passed, if the interview was to gain points, I don’t think I gained much. That’s my thought of the interview, but it is important to realize everyone is different. after the interview was a tour by one of the interviewers and then lunch. Unfortunately, Dr. Johntson wasnt there.

PCO
I had my PCO interview today. My overall feeling after the interview (1 to 10): 9

I thought the whole interview process was rather fun. It was really laid back. I almost rescheduled it but after advice from SDN (thanks cpw, Ning) I decided to go. There was no essay and I was sent strait to the interview. It was in a small room, closed file, and one on one. He interviewed me for 1.5 hours but for everyone else it lasted like 30 mins to 1 hour. It was so long because most of the time he was talking to me, about PCO, the health care system, and optometry in general. He was an OD in his 70s (maybe 80s) and had a sheet of paper with questions listed on it and wrote something down every time I answered his questions until he was finished with the paper. No difficult questions (maybe one, but even that wasn’t bad compared to SUNY). In the entire interview, I would say 50% of the time I was talking and 50% of the time he was talking and he was very nice. After that, 2 students, a 2nd and a 3rd year gave us a tour of the campus and clinic. We got to ride in this nice limbo/bus from campus to the clinic. We ate lunch after and got free lunch up to 7 bucks. Financial aid was after lunch (~20mins) then the exit interview (~ 7mins to review your application). At first, I thought it wasn’t an actual “interview” but the lady asked me real questions about my transcript, which surprised me a little. (Asking me to explain a bad grade). Overall, I think they want me to go there as much as I did and they advertised the school during the process. The school is beautiful but I prefer to stay at home in new york. (I heart NY!) They have great facilities and nice surban eniviroment to live in.


Tips
If suny is your first choice, I suggest, (If possible and convenient for you) to schedule an optometry interview before the SUNY interview. I could have been more prepared for the suny interview if I had my pco interview before hand. Keep in mind, however, that others do perfectly fine at the suny interview even though it’s their first. If PCO is your first choice, relax, and review these questions: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=165848&highlight=optometry+feedback
Also i dont think PCO is as competitive as other schools, if u meet the avg. requirements in GPA and OAT and apply early, you should get in.

Well, that’s everything. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!!! Ill be happy to help.

 

[ching88]

Wow, thanks Rusunn for sharing your SUNY and PCO interview experience; I thought I was the only one who thinks SUNY interview was intensive. Well, good luck to you, and I am assuming you were one of those 4 guys who interviewed last Wednesday right? Well, Ellen told us last Wednesday was the first time there were 4 guys interviewing at SUNY, I was quite surprised since my group had 3 girls and one guy. Ya, and you are absolutely right, I wish I had done some other interviews before going to SUNY.

 

[Ning]

Hi all, I just finished both my SUNY and PCO interviews and I thought I like to share information and my thoughts

SUNY
This was my first optometry interview and i had it last week on Wednesday, October 12.
My general overall feeling after the interview from a scale of 1 to 10, (1 being absolutely horrible and 10 being fantastic): 3

Thanks to previous threads on this forum (thanks r_salis), I knew exactly what to expect from the interview process. Also, from what my friends had told me, I knew this interview would be a tough one. I spent the entire day before the interview researching the school and practicing speaking. I wanted to make sure I expressed everything as clearly as I possibly could (i.e. speaking slowly, and no UHs or UMMs). I tried as best as possible to be prepared for any type of question they could throw at me and also went out to buy interview books. In addition, I had 5 jobs interviews and 2 mock interviews in the past (so I am no stranger to interviews)
After the impromptu essay (my topic was really easy, I felt this was the easiest part of the interview) I went into a room with 3 people and I could see the empire state building from where I was sitting. Damn, they threw questions at me the instant I sat down, JEEZ. It was tough. At first, one interviewer keep on asking me to explain myself, asking why, why, why until I said I don’t know, lol. They ask a lot of theoretical questions, (maybe to test how I think under pressure) and some of them left me tongue-tied. I don’t think I can articulate my thoughts as clearly as other people can (I would never run for office). It was intimidating!! However I always smiled, keep my composure, remained clam and relaxed, and even made a joke (got a little laugh from one interviewer). If the interview was pass/fail, I think I passed, if the interview was to gain points, I don’t think I gained much. That’s my thought of the interview, but it is important to realize everyone is different. after the interview was a tour by one of the interviewers and then lunch. Unfortunately, Dr. Johntson wasnt there.

PCO
I had my PCO interview today. My overall feeling after the interview (1 to 10): 9

I thought the whole interview process was rather fun. It was really laid back. I almost rescheduled it but after advice from SDN (thanks cpw, Ning) I decided to go. There was no essay and I was sent strait to the interview. It was in a small room, closed file, and one on one. He interviewed me for 1.5 hours but for everyone else it lasted like 30 mins to 1 hour. It was so long because most of the time he was talking to me, about PCO, the health care system, and optometry in general. He was an OD in his 70s (maybe 80s) and had a sheet of paper with questions listed on it and wrote something down every time I answered his questions until he was finished with the paper. No difficult questions (maybe one, but even that wasn’t bad compared to SUNY). In the entire interview, I would say 50% of the time I was talking and 50% of the time he was talking and he was very nice. After that, 2 students, a 2nd and a 3rd year gave us a tour of the campus and clinic. We got to ride in this nice limbo/bus from campus to the clinic. We ate lunch after and got free lunch up to 7 bucks. Financial aid was after lunch (~20mins) then the exit interview (~ 7mins to review your application). At first, I thought it wasn’t an actual “interview” but the lady asked me real questions about my transcript, which surprised me a little. (Asking me to explain a bad grade). Overall, I think they want me to go there as much as I did and they advertised the school during the process. The school is beautiful but I prefer to stay at home in new york. (I heart NY!) They have great facilities and nice surban eniviroment to live in.


Tips
If suny is your first choice, I suggest, (If possible and convenient for you) to schedule an optometry interview before the SUNY interview. I could have been more prepared for the suny interview if I had my pco interview before hand. Keep in mind, however, that others do perfectly fine at the suny interview even though it’s their first. If PCO is your first choice, relax, and review these questions: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=165848&highlight=optometry+feedback
Also i dont think PCO is as competitive as other schools, if u meet the min. requirements in GPA and OAT and apply early, you should get in.

Well, that’s everything. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!!! Ill be happy to help.

Hey,

I'm glad your PCO interview went well! I remember my SUNY interview I was talking about why wanted to be an OD rather than a MD. But then I didn't make a clear distinction between a doctor and physician. That probably counted against me. They didn't ask me too many eithical or scenario type questions, whewh!!!

Out of all the places I interviewed at, I thought the IU one was most difficult. But I'm sure it really depends on which interviewer you get. Good luck in your app. process!

Ning-Ju

 

[Rusunn]

Wow, thanks Rusunn for sharing your SUNY and PCO interview experience; I thought I was the only one who thinks SUNY interview was intensive. Well, good luck to you, and I am assuming you were one of those 4 guys who interviewed last Wednesday right? Well, Ellen told us last Wednesday was the first time there were 4 guys interviewing at SUNY, I was quite surprised since my group had 3 girls and one guy. Ya, and you are absolutely right, I wish I had done some other interviews before going to SUNY.

LOL thats right. there were no girls there, all guys, which she thought was unusual. Except for one girl, my pco interview was all guys too!