UPenn/Goucher Interviews

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Figgypudding

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Hi, I have an interview with goucher and upenn this month. Can anyone tell me about their experience or offer any advice?

I'm also thinking of applying to chicago schools since I live there, but are any of them competitive with the east coast schools i listed above?

Thanks! :hardy:
 
I interviewed at both of those. I got in UPenn but not Goucher. The Goucher interview is just your TYPICAL interview. Everything you'd think they'd ask, they ask. They ask about high school, college, what you've done post-college, why you want to be a doctor, what brought you to this decision, what are the 3 best characteristics a doctor should have, what is the most difficult challenge you've ever had in your life, how did you deal with it, how do you deal with stress, whats your greatest strength and weakness, what's your greatest fear of going into medicine/med school, what do you think is the biggest problem in health care today. The reason I didn't get in Goucher (I actually wrote and asked, because I thought my interview went great) was because I had taken a couple Bio classes in college (10+ years ago) and had gotten a c+ in one of them, and they didn't like that - despite the fact that my overall GPA was a 3.5 from an Ivy League. They are VERY selective.

UPenn had a similar interview. That was definitely my best interview. Its an hour long, and mine went an hour and a half. The woman who interviewed me (Lynne Hunter) I thought was so cool...it almost became more of a conversation than an interview. Similar types of questions but more personable. I really liked UPenn, but I'm actually going to go to Bryn Mawr.

I don't know anything about Chicago schools, except that its easier to get in Northwestern's program than these ones you're applying to on the east coast.
 
I'm in the Goucher program now. Basically ditto what sailaway said--it's your standard get to know you, q&a type interview. It's not high stress or confrontational in tone. The list of questions given above should be enough to help you prepare. Also, it goes without saying that you should dress up and look your best for interview day (wear a suit or something equivalent).

Good luck.
 
Pemulis said:
I'm in the Goucher program now. Basically ditto what sailaway said--it's your standard get to know you, q&a type interview. It's not high stress or confrontational in tone. The list of questions given above should be enough to help you prepare. Also, it goes without saying that you should dress up and look your best for interview day (wear a suit or something equivalent).

Good luck.

I also interviewed and will be going to Upenn. I have met Lynne Hunter in the past and she is great! My interviewer was actually Dr. Ceccatti who was awesome as well. The interview definitely asked the important questions of why medicine and you will need to acknowledge and explain any shortcomings in your past but they in no way will drill you....like the other post, my interview was about an hour long and flew by because it was really a conversation. I have also heard that Penn does most of it's rejecting pre interview and the interview is an opportunity just to meet you and confirm you arent crazy and such haha. best of luck!
 
sailaway415 said:
The reason I didn't get in Goucher (I actually wrote and asked, because I thought my interview went great) was because I had taken a couple Bio classes in college (10+ years ago) and had gotten a c+ in one of them, and they didn't like that - despite the fact that my overall GPA was a 3.5 from an Ivy League.

Thanks for the info... I have an interview w/ Goucher later this month...

I guess I don't understand why Goucher would give you an interview if they could already determine from your application that would not get in due to the science courses you took in College? I too have a few science classes from college (majored in engineering). I would hate to think that I am wasting my time driving a couple hours to Goucher for an interview if I am already on the axe because of them.
 
raf7m said:
Thanks for the info... I have an interview w/ Goucher later this month...

I guess I don't understand why Goucher would give you an interview if they could already determine from your application that would not get in due to the science courses you took in College? I too have a few science classes from college (majored in engineering). I would hate to think that I am wasting my time driving a couple hours to Goucher for an interview if I am already on the axe because of them.

Raf -

I doubt they would interview you if they had already ruled you out, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. It would be a waste of your time and theirs - it seems unlikely.
 
I don't think they'd totally ruled me out, because I did have a 3.5 overall from an Ivy League school and a good SAT score, and I'd been out for 10 yrs...but when it came down to it I guess they just liked some other people better, and their records were just slightly stroner...I don't take it personally...I got in to Bryn Mawr and Upenn, so its ok...
 
Raf,

Ditto what Amy and Sailaway just said. There are a few people here who have taken a science class or two in the past, so I know that Goucher doesn't automatically knock you out for that, and if it were an issue they wouldn't bother to invite you for an interview. I'm quite certain that they hadn't made up their minds about Sailaway yet when they invited him/her for an interview. There are simply a lot more people who apply to the program than there are seats, so they can afford to be very selective, and unfortunately this means that sometimes otherwise great candidates like sailaway get turned down.

Bottom line: don't worry about it. Good luck on your interview.
 
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