For everyone who has interviewed, how did you feel like you did? Where do you feel like you'll be accepted, and white your front runner? (Answer however you'd like I'm just bored)
I've gone to A&M and Houston so far!
A&M faculty and students were nice and welcoming, and the school is close to home since I'm also from the Dallas area. As for the interview, I think it went pretty well. My last of the three seemed to be nitpicking at some of my weaknesses at first by asking me why I got Bs in two classes during my junior year and then subsequently, why I had a lower PAT score than the rest of my sections, but after that it became pretty conversational again as we moved onto stuff I felt more comfortable talking about.
Houston was such a great surprise for me. I was really caught off guard by how brand-new and nice the new facilities are, and the crowd there definitely won me over. At the beginning of the cycle, A&M was my top school in Texas if I stay in-state, but after going to Houston, I think I honestly became much more indecisive! The environment there seems to be an excellent fit. The interview itself also went a bit smoother than Baylor as she basically complimented me on my personality in the middle of our conversation and and the end willingly offered me a business card and told me that she will have great things to say about me, so at least at face value, I take that as a good sign. Definitely my best interview so far this cycle (including OOS).
Still haven't heard from SA for some reason, but I hope to hear back from them soon before Dec 1st!
So far, I've also had another interview at UCSF, which I think went pretty well even though slightly harder than my Texas ones since it's closed file and you really have to sell yourself from the start. I felt that my faculty interview went extremely well there though (that and my Houston interview were definitely my best performances)!
🙂 Also for UCSF, I actually was in the 2nd interview date of the cycle (they actually start really late and have 6 interview dates pre-Dec, and 6 post-Dec), so that's a great sign as well. UCSF is a very excellent school, with one of the best specialty program prep in the nation, and excellent clinical experience and a TON of community outreach opportunities (SF, as a city, also provides a great opportunity to interact with a very diverse group of people). Also, going to UCSF and living in SF (even though rent is crazy high), is in my opinion, a great chance for me to take on a new chapter and new opportunities in life. We'll see though! I also have another one coming up at MOSDOH, but I had to reschedule that one to Dec 15th due to issues with traveling, expenses, and exams.
Out of 3 the schools I've gone to in and out of state, I feel that all my interviews went fairly well and I, like you, optimistically feel that I could be accepted, with fingers crossed. If I were to get accepted to all three, I'd pick UCSF>Houston>A&M. However, that's not all set in stone as there's still a lot of things I will consider, and I will definitely have a discussion with parents about what school I will ultimately choose. In the end, I really do like all three schools and I feel that I would definitely be happy if I picked any of them. It's now a matter of intangibles and what happens come Dec. 1st.
Yeah sorry, my post is super long too because I don't feel like studying for my exam tomorrow oops xD