USC Interview

[jweinberger22]

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I was wondering whether anybody could tell me what to expect at the USC interview? I am aware that there is a PBL session... whats that all about??

 

[OxfordM3]

Check the interview feedback link at the very top of this page. From what I have read, there is no interview to speak of, just a mock PBL session with other applicants and two observers.

 

[Dentifrica]

Yeah, the interview feedback things are really good...But I'll give unnecessary info anyways...no one will ever address you with any interview questions so you don't have to be nervous about that....the presentations can run a little long....and lunch is good...Basically, they have already ranked everyone before they get there so you're just there to see if you like it for yourself. 🙂

 

[OxfordM3]

Dent did they present any info about going to a hybrid system and not total PBL? I read rumors of a hybrid system for the 2014 class.

 

[lphiewok]

also one thing to make sure is to work really hard on your secondary application.
i believe about 90% of people who interview there just wrote their answers on the secondary application.
i actually typed mine with photoshop and i put lot more information on it than anyone else i saw during my interview and i personally believe the information and effort i put into secondary app. helped me out a lot.

also, you dont have to dominate during your pbl to get accepted. I participated and contributed during pbl but i was not the leader of the table during mock pbl

 

[camouflage831]

i also got an invite for Feb interview..
I don't see anywhere in the email attachment that we need to bring a 2 x 2 photo.. Just to clarify - we don't need one, do we?

 

[OxfordM3]

i also got an invite for Feb interview..
I don't see anywhere in the email attachment that we need to bring a 2 x 2 photo.. Just to clarify - we don't need one, do we?

It is not in the email, but when I scheduled my interview I was told to bring one by the attractive sounding girl with whom I spoke to. 😍

 

[azntennischic]

hey,
hopefully i can answer some of the questions asked in this post. i'm currently a first year student at usc and i'm loving it. regarding the interview- it's one of the most laid back interviews out there. i actually interviewed in feb last year too. i know you guys will do the tour and have meetings and then lunch and then the pbl session. you'll also have to do a writing sample.
the pbl session is really laid back. you'll actually do an expedited case. we usually only do one part per day and it's 3 hours long. i believe in the interview it's only 1-2 hours.
you will need to bring a 2x2 pic and some forms i believe as well as your secondary. i did see some people that typed it out, but i just wrote everything on the paper. i think as long as you have nice writing and dont scratch out a lot of stuff, you should be ok.
i know some people in my class also thought we'd go to a hybrid system, but when i talked to admissions- there wasn't any news about changing it. the dean says usc is known for it's pbl and it's the reason many people choose to come to our school. which is true, i have classmates that turned down acceptances to nyc, uop, asdoh, midwestern, case. we might add more "resource sessions" (similar to lecture based) to the curriculum. i only have 1 resource session now and there's talk about doing a perio resource session instead of learning it in case. hopefully i've answered some of the questions posted, but if any of you guys have any other questions- please feel free to ask. also let me know when you guys have your interview, there's a chance i'll be giving a tour or eating lunch with you guys. say hello to me : )

-crystal

 

[subdoc]

Thanks, Crystal...I'll be there on Feb 4th.

 

[aPiano]

Can you please elaborate more on the writing sample?

 

[azntennischic]

hey if you guys have specific questions- just send me a private message. it's easier that way.

 

[azntennischic]

Thanks, Crystal...I'll be there on Feb 4th.

sweet! if i happen to be eating lunch with u or giving a tour- please say hi! i'll probably try and eat lunch with u guys anyways, even if i'm not scheduled... but we'll c.

 

[ranbow]

hey,
hopefully i can answer some of the questions asked in this post. i'm currently a first year student at usc and i'm loving it. regarding the interview- it's one of the most laid back interviews out there. i actually interviewed in feb last year too. i know you guys will do the tour and have meetings and then lunch and then the pbl session. you'll also have to do a writing sample.
the pbl session is really laid back. you'll actually do an expedited case. we usually only do one part per day and it's 3 hours long. i believe in the interview it's only 1-2 hours.
you will need to bring a 2x2 pic and some forms i believe as well as your secondary. i did see some people that typed it out, but i just wrote everything on the paper. i think as long as you have nice writing and dont scratch out a lot of stuff, you should be ok.
i know some people in my class also thought we'd go to a hybrid system, but when i talked to admissions- there wasn't any news about changing it. the dean says usc is known for it's pbl and it's the reason many people choose to come to our school. which is true, i have classmates that turned down acceptances to nyc, uop, asdoh, midwestern, case. we might add more "resource sessions" (similar to lecture based) to the curriculum. i only have 1 resource session now and there's talk about doing a perio resource session instead of learning it in case. hopefully i've answered some of the questions posted, but if any of you guys have any other questions- please feel free to ask. also let me know when you guys have your interview, there's a chance i'll be giving a tour or eating lunch with you guys. say hello to me : )

-crystal

Hi crystal
thank you so much for all of that Info. My interview will be on Feb 16th. I am really panicking. I really want to get in to USC. But can you please help me with the writing part. I know it's 15 min. But can you tell me how important it is and any additional information. thank you so much.

 

[prk15]

anyone know when usc's 2nd round of acceptance is?

 

[BubBleGumGun]

hey guys! im totally new to studentdoc, but i figured it might be a good idea to make some friends before my interview

mine's on feb 2... coming up SUPER fast!

Can anyone tell me a bit about the writing sample? I have NO idea what this is

Also, is it true that during the PBL session we're going to be asked a traditional interview question? If so, is there somewhere I can find a list of em to prep?

Thanks!!

 

[MechZZ]

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE WRITING SAMPLE
It's something really basic and you just write about it
Mine was "Describe your best friend."


Also, DO BRING A COPY OF YOUR PHOTO. If you mailed it in with your check, it is already gone. Good luck every body =] I already withdrew my acceptance a while back.

 

[trieuhoney]

I interviewed last fall and it was very relaxed. We each had a couple of ice breakers then questions and straight into pbl. The writing sample isnt bad, as everyone else has already said.
I didn't know about the photo, but I emailed mine in right after the interview. Hope that helps!

 

[Talib]

Hey guys, i interviewed at USC last year and I have an interview tomorrow for the second time( hoping will be my last with them and ill get in). The interview was very easy and as everyone said you rly dont hv to prepare for it. Be polite and respectful for other students, dont talk too much and contribute with useful info.

The writing sample was very easy too, mine last year was "what is your strongest attribute?" you need to know that they will hand you the package first thing in the morning and your writing sample question should be in one of the pages. so you will have time to know the question and think about it throughout the day. This is what happened last year so i dont know if they changed it or not. I heard here that they added one thing to the interview where they hv a box in the pbl session and each student draw one dental related question from it and have to answer it on the spot.

Also, since im a re-applicant im goin to have a one-on-one interview in addition to their normal PBL session.

Hope this will help,
T

 

[Dental1001]

Congratulations to all of you with interviews!! My application still says 'under review'. Do you think that's hopeful for an interview or too much time has passed and I shouldn't get my hopes up?

Thanks for your input 🙂

 

[BubBleGumGun]

Hey Talib,

What kinds of "dental questions" should we expect? Just standard interview questions? Do you have any examples?

Thanks!

 

[BubBleGumGun]

Does anyone know what kinds of questions we'll be asked from the bucket? How can I prep for this?

 

[BubBleGumGun]

Hey MechZZ,

do you have any suggestions for how to prep for those random dental questions we'll apparently be asked? Any idea what some of the questions were during the last cycle?

 

[MechZZ]

They SAAAAY that they're "ice breakers" and it won't factor into your interview. However, in my opinion, I thought they were way too "interview-ish" for them to not be paying attention to your answers.

I honestly can't remember what questions I had but I remember this poor guy had some pretty tough ones. He had something like "Would you describe yourself a leader or follower and why?" "Describe why you would be a good dental student." some other stuff. That bucket hated him.

Honestly, just answer confidently. It's just like any other interview question that you could possibly get at a normal interview. It's just that you have to answer in front of a group of 8ish. Just to clarify, I interviewed in October, so it was this cycle.

 

[BubBleGumGun]

Thanks MechZZ 🙂

Hopefully I dont get grilled 😛 When do you find out if you're accepted?

 

[MechZZ]

I was accepted on Dec 1st. I already withdrew my app from USC. Chose BU over USC.

 

[HillsNayyr]

They SAAAAY that they're "ice breakers" and it won't factor into your interview. However, in my opinion, I thought they were way too "interview-ish" for them to not be paying attention to your answers.

I honestly can't remember what questions I had but I remember this poor guy had some pretty tough ones. He had something like "Would you describe yourself a leader or follower and why?" "Describe why you would be a good dental student." some other stuff. That bucket hated him.

Honestly, just answer confidently. It's just like any other interview question that you could possibly get at a normal interview. It's just that you have to answer in front of a group of 8ish. Just to clarify, I interviewed in October, so it was this cycle.

THIS
The questions were wayyyy too interviewish. Some of them were really hard, or incredibly similar to the person before you......and you don't want to just copy someone elses answer.

as for the mock pbl session, I just tried to make some suggestions and pretend like I was listening to other peoples. I got accepted on Dec 1st but chose MWU-AZ over usc. The pbl just seems........bad to me.

 

[BubBleGumGun]

Congrats MechZZ and HillsNayyr!

I'm actually applying from Canada, but USC is the only school I've heard from so far... I wonder if there's still some schools doing interviews. I applied to Boston too, but havent heard from them just yet.

 

[CherryBlossom1412]

Yeah, the interview feedback things are really good...But I'll give unnecessary info anyways...no one will ever address you with any interview questions so you don't have to be nervous about that....the presentations can run a little long....and lunch is good...Basically, they have already ranked everyone before they get there so you're just there to see if you like it for yourself. 🙂

what do you mean? they ranked everyone based on the application already?