Yay! I'm SO excited for you! It's good that you have an interview so early in the semester; mine was toward the end of Ross's spring semester, so I had to wait a lot longer for the decision, since the admissions committee was on vacation. Silly vacations.
Anyway, I'll try to give you as much advice as possible without going on too many tangents...
First of all, the most important thing is to relax and be yourself! I was a nervous wreck at mine, and it did not help- I thought I kind of made an ass out of myself, but they apparently liked me.
BTW, do you know who your interviewer will be and which location you are going to? For some reason, I'm thinking you live in VA, but I could be wrong.
Right, no tangents.
Come up with questions to ask about Ross beforehand so that you have something to say when they ask if you have any. Similarly, think about anything you might want to explain or add to your app. When they asked if I had anything to add, I explained why I had decided to major in French, since most people seem to think it's an odd choice for someone who wants to go to vet school, and I explained that I had slacked off during my first year of undergrad but since then have been more dedicated to my studies.
They don't ask any random medical questions (I'd heard that some schools do, so I was studying my Merck Manual like a spaz
), but they did ask one question that kinda threw me- what is was a major significant moment in your life. I just totally wasn't expecting it. So prepare more for questions like that one. Also, if you have any experience studying or living abroad, make sure you highlight that- they just want to know that you'll be able to handle studying and living in a very unfamiliar environment (so if you've had an experience like that, even if it wasn't in another country, make sure to mention it). They mostly focus on asking your questions about your different animal experiences and what was entailed in them, so I'd practice talking about them eloquently (like I said, I was nervous, and ended up being not so eloquent...).
Other than that, make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before and eat something beforehand that will be soothing to your stomach if you get butterflies. Bring a bottle of water in case your throat gets dry (that is VERY inconvenient), and make sure to smile and be yourself! The interview is pretty laid back and very conversational, so don't feel like you'll be put on the spot.
As for the financial situation, the exchange rate actually hasn't really changed here, as far as I can tell. A lot of things that you get used to in the States will be expensive here (like Lean Pockets
) and other things will be difficult to find (like tater tots
). The cheapest easy-to-make things here are mac and cheese and tuna, so I hope you like them!
If you want to ask about how expensive specific foods are or how much my weekly groceries usually are, just PM me. As for other expenses, I'm living on campus right now, which is roughly $900/month for a single efficiency (including kitchenette and own bathroom) apartment (it's $2700/semester). Next semester, I'm moving off campus and my rent will be $600/month (I'm sharing a $1200/month apartment with a friend) plus electricity and internet. The off-campus housing office tells us that most students pay between $700 and $1000/month, so I guess I got a little lucky. Living down here is a little more expensive than the States, but I think the tuition is also lower, so it works out.
Alright, I can't think of anything else, but I hope that helped! Feel free to ask here and/or PM me with any more questions. Good luck on your interview (although you won't need it)!
