Hi everyone! I just got an invitation to interview at St. Georges and I am so thankful and super nervous for this opportunity! I know it doesn't mean I have a spot but I did have a few questions!
1. Does anyone know how many people on average they interview out of all their candidates?
2. What is the interview like? I am totally unprepared and mine is in less than 2 weeks.
3. If you are invited for an interview do you think its a really good sign of possibly getting in? I know its not the best phrased question but I don't know if they already decided if they want to accept someone or not before an interview like certain schools.
Thank you!!!
Hi there!
I attended a virtual fair and spoke to Krista (an admissions coordinator) and asked these questions when I first applied! She stated that:
1. Almost all applicants get an interview. She said they utilize the interview in their decisions for a more holistic acceptance and it weighs a good amount. They don't really look too deep into your application when you first apply (as in they look if you meet the minimum gpa, you have the correct LORs, minimum shadowing experience, and a good GRE score) then offer an interview. Once the admissions committee gets the feedback from your interview, then they start really looking at your app.
2. Someone previously stated the questions that was asked and how their interview went. I'd refer back to those and previous SGU forums because they're all pretty accurate. The main ones they ask are your strengths and weaknesses, why vet?, and this one really tripped me up for some reason, but I didn't think that they would ask me about the other schools I applied to and where I was in their application process... I felt like my privacy was invaded or something lol (even though it wasn't a big deal at all). They also ask how you expect to pay for vet school. Questions like those. I do disagree with alot of the people who posted about their interviews saying it was such a chill experience. I really thought mine would be, but it was quite the opposite. I think it depends on the alumni who interviews you. My interviewer had no mercy or chill LOL. She was very straight forward, stern, and definitely made me feel on edge rather than comfortable. It also wasn't "conversational" as other people stated. It was her asking me questions, me answering, then a moment of silence as she typed her notes and my response, then her asking another question. She gave no sort of feedback on my responses (no head nods, nothing). I will say though, there was only one response that sparked some tiny feedback. One of the questions I was asked is if there were any issues in the veterinary industry that I was aware of and what I would do to change it and what controversial topics in the veterinary industry I was aware of. I discussed veterinarians ranking the second highest profession in the U.S., right behind police officers in terms of suicide and the whole "grain-free" diet fad and how it has actually been linked to DCM. She was impressed that I knew this info. and that was the only time I got feedback... She said most of the people she's interviewed discussed euthanasia and she that I discussed something different with some statistics to support my answer.
3. It is a great sign that you'll get in. From what I've learned, they accept and interview ~88% of applicants (per Krista). To this day, I haven't met anyone who interviewed and got rejected. I think you really have to mess up in order to be rejected. Even if you do "mess up", they are not quick to reject you. They're really lenient and will just place you in their Vet Foundations Program as opposed to starting right away. So essentially, you're just interviewing to end up either in Vet Foundations or actually start directly into the program as opposed to straight rejection. Although, do not get me wrong, you can definitely still get rejected after the interview, it's just super uncommon.
I am so excited yet nervous at the same time. Despite all of the opportunities I've had in my life to gain veterinary experience I have honestly and never truly had a formal interview before. I have no idea what to expect and I just keep thinking about what if there is a question I can't answer or what if I mess something up?
I interviewed on 9/26 and my interview materials were submitted on 9/28.