What I have learned: from applying to acceptance

[DOApplicant021592]

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Just wanted to share a couple of things that I felt helped my application:

1. Letter of intent: I really wanted to go to KYCOM, so I wrote a letter some time after submitting my secondary stating why I wanted to go to KYCOM and why I believed KYCOM would be a good fit for me. I believe it showed the administration that I truly care about the school and that KYCOM wasnt simply a shotgun-approach school.

2. Constant contact: I had a couple of hiccups with my application (AACOMAS MCAT scores were lossed). I never received a phone call about it, but was persistent in asking about my application/ensuring its completion. If I wasn't persistent, my application would have never been reviewed.

3. The interview really is about getting to know each other: My interview at KYCOM started out by talking weird southern delicacies. I asked questions throughout, intertwined aspects about myself, and engaged with them as I would engage with any other person. When they say its both a conversation about how you will fit and how they will fit with you, they mean it. Don't be afraid to throw out the odd-ball question: I asked that considering the caliber of students produced at KYCOM, would they ever consider donating their body to the anatomy department (READ YOUR INTERVIEWERS) and I got a couple of great responses. The entire thing was fun, humorous, and enjoyable.

4. Care about the school: While you might not care about every school you apply to, at least have the interest to research basic facts about the school. After all, you might be spending the next 2 years there.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Just wanted to share a couple of things that I felt helped my application:

1. Letter of intent: I really wanted to go to KYCOM, so I wrote a letter some time after submitting my secondary stating why I wanted to go to KYCOM and why I believed KYCOM would be a good fit for me. I believe it showed the administration that I truly care about the school and that KYCOM wasnt simply a shotgun-approach school.

2. Constant contact: I had a couple of hiccups with my application (AACOMAS MCAT scores were lossed). I never received a phone call about it, but was persistent in asking about my application/ensuring its completion. If I wasn't persistent, my application would have never been reviewed.

3. The interview really is about getting to know each other: My interview at KYCOM started out by talking weird southern delicacies. I asked questions throughout, intertwined aspects about myself, and engaged with them as I would engage with any other person. When they say its both a conversation about how you will fit and how they will fit with you, they mean it. Don't be afraid to throw out the odd-ball question: I asked that considering the caliber of students produced at KYCOM, would they ever consider donating their body to the anatomy department (READ YOUR INTERVIEWERS) and I got a couple of great responses. The entire thing was fun, humorous, and enjoyable.

4. Care about the school: While you might not care about every school you apply to, at least have the interest to research basic facts about the school. After all, you might be spending the next 2 years there.

Ok so I'm a medical student for full disclosure.

I have to say something hear about this advice.

Please don't ask your interviewer if they would consider donating their body. This might work out but if you misread your interviewer you could come off weird. Don't ask personal questions about the interviewer ask about things you genuinely want to know about the school. Additionally if you would like you could even ask about your application.

Letters of intent: showing interest is good but for most school letter of intent don't mean much. Unless your extradonarily convincing it most likely have no effect. If they aren't receptive to loi then you can't follow instructions and this is negative. BE CAREFUL. This is a non binding contract that can easily be broken. Schools already know your interested you applied.

The 2nd point is good advice but also kind of common sense that you should be tracking your application. But I'm glad to hear your interview at KYCOM was like that but this also depends on the school/interviewer etc. I had interviews that weren't like that. Don't generalize. Clearest example was LECOM. That interview was all about how you interacted with others.

I agree with the 4th point but medical school is 4 years not 2. The school will make an impact on where you go during your last two years also and that's argubally much more important.

 

[crazyboi1993]

I interviewed at a lot of places, and some were conversational and others werent

1) CUSOM: Least stressful interview, although it was 3 interviews, they were very conversational, I didnt feel intimidated, one interview did ask me random science questions, but I didnt seem nervous or anything. (Accepted)

2) ACOM: A little intimidating at first, but after a couple of minutes it became quiet conversational, my only problem was that I couldnt read the interviewers, couldnt tell if they liked me or not, they had a good hiding face,, (Accepted)

3) LECOM- SH: It was quiet intimidating bc, it was my first group interview ever, but the two interviewers were so sweet, and we had spend the day earlier with the same people, so conversations flowed really well. It was quiet easy (Accepted)

4) LECOM-B: I felt this interview for me was the hardest, and most intimidating, I had a feeling that I could be rejected. It seemed pretty strict, and very business like, and everyone just seemed much smarter, and had a lot of qualifications (the other people that were interviewing). During the group interview, a lot people had intense medical stories about saving a life, or what not, and i just life stories and my struggles, and interest in being a DO.. So I felt slightly intimidating, bc everyone in my group was really strong, but I was Accepted. I was shocked. Originally, I had not planned to even attend the interview, but I fell in love with the location, cost, and the PBL curriculum.

5) Touro- Middletown: Honestly, it was kind of intimidating first, a lot of the good cop vs bad cop, but I honestly didnt like the school at all, I just didnt like the location, and I went to the interview with a carefree attitude, bc I knew I likely wouldnt attend, but it wasnt too stressful.. (Accepted)

6) NYIT-COM: I felt this interview was the most laid-back, it was stressful b/c it was my first, but I got the vibe the Interview didnt play a huge role in to the admissions process and STATs mattered more, I thought it went really well, and the lady really liked me.. But I was waitlisted..

So it really depends on the school and the interviewrs.. Its hard too read them, some treat it like a business while others genuinely treat it like a conversation. Its best to be professional!

 

[Ho0v-man]

I interviewed at a lot of places, and some were conversational and others werent

1) CUSOM: Least stressful interview, although it was 3 interviews, they were very conversational, I didnt feel intimidated, one interview did ask me random science questions, but I didnt seem nervous or anything. (Accepted)

2) ACOM: A little intimidating at first, but after a couple of minutes it became quiet conversational, my only problem was that I couldnt read the interviewers, couldnt tell if they liked me or not, they had a good hiding face,, (Accepted)

After reading these forums, I was surprised at my interviews at these schools. CUSOM was awful for me! I got grilled. They were respectful about it, but it was very intimidating and full of weird ethical questions and was obvious they were trying to trick me with certain questions. My interviewer at ACOM was downright condescending and it sucked bc I was looking forward to it.


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[crazyboi1993]

After reading these forums, I was surprised at my interviews at these schools. CUSOM was awful for me! I got grilled. They were respectful about it, but it was very intimidating and full of weird ethical questions and was obvious they were trying to trick me with certain questions. My interviewer at ACOM was downright condescending and it sucked bc I was looking forward to it.


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I had a very diverse 3 people who interviewed me. One was very sciencyy, and asked me random questions about the genetics lab I took, other one was chineese, and he cared a lot about stats.. I felt I asked him more questions, than he asked me.. The other one was very sweet, and very friendly, and asked me interesting and thoughful questions pertaining to my file.. I felt ACOM, the interviewers were kinda hit or miss for some people, I was lucky I got 2 friendly ones. But I do feel like CUSOM, is over-hyped on SDN, I expected it to be a lot better than what SDN presented it as, and I almost attended CUSOM (due to family being there), but felt ACOM was better overall. Also, I feel like sometimes SDN doesnt do a good representation, pn some schools and over-exaggerates in some elements.. Like I almost cancelled my plane ticket to Bradenton, bc of the reviews I heard, but after I attended, I liked it, and that where I am going.. So I would take everything with a grain of salt, but dont get me wrong, SDN is bae!

 

[Ho0v-man]

I had a very diverse 3 people who interviewed me. One was very sciencyy, and asked me random questions about the genetics lab I took, other one was chineese, and he cared a lot about stats.. I felt I asked him more questions, than he asked me.. The other one was very sweet, and very friendly, and asked me interesting and thoughful questions pertaining to my file.. I felt ACOM, the interviewers were kinda hit or miss for some people, I was lucky I got 2 friendly ones. But I do feel like CUSOM, is over-hyped on SDN, I expected it to be a lot better than what SDN presented it as, and I almost attended CUSOM (due to family being there), but felt ACOM was better overall. Also, I feel like sometimes SDN doesnt do a good representation, pn some schools and over-exaggerates in some elements.. Like I almost cancelled my plane ticket to Bradenton, bc of the reviews I heard, but after I attended, I liked it, and that where I am going.. So I would take everything with a grain of salt, but dont get me wrong, SDN is bae!

I applied to cusom bc of everything on this website, and the potential for a scholarship since my stats fell in that range. I walked out with the intention of attending only if I got the scholarship bc I wasn't feeling it. To be fair, they weren't feeling it either since I got rejected

I interviewed at LECOM bc it just happens to be close to my sister's house. I didn't even want to submit the secondary. I was expecting them to be giant jerks or something from what's on here but they were really nice and transparent. It looks like I'll be matriculating there after all.

Edit: makes me wonder if lucom is really all that bad.


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[DOApplicant021592]

Ok so I'm a medical student for full disclosure.

I have to say something hear about this advice.

Please don't ask your interviewer if they would consider donating their body. This might work out but if you misread your interviewer you could come off weird. Don't ask personal questions about the interviewer ask about things you genuinely want to know about the school. Additionally if you would like you could even ask about your application.

Absolutely agree, I only felt comfortable asking because I was able to read my interviewers well. Most of my questions had to do with things like administrative support from taking the COMLEX/USMLE/Whatever it becomes to matching, etc.

"Don't ask personal questions about the interviewer" - I'm not sure about this one, I agree you shouldn't ask people too personal of questions, but I think a perfectly reasonable question is to ask why they chose to stay at that particular school. Its a relatively mild question and people care a lot when you take interest in them.

 

[costales]

Please don't ask your interviewer if they would consider donating their body. This might work out but if you misread your interviewer you could come off weird.

Another reason is 99.99% of Americans, including organ/tissue donors, do not wish to donate their whole body for dissection.

 

[mathnerd88]

Just wanted to share a couple of things that I felt helped my application:

1. Letter of intent: I really wanted to go to KYCOM, so I wrote a letter some time after submitting my secondary stating why I wanted to go to KYCOM and why I believed KYCOM would be a good fit for me. I believe it showed the administration that I truly care about the school and that KYCOM wasnt simply a shotgun-approach school.

2. Constant contact: I had a couple of hiccups with my application (AACOMAS MCAT scores were lossed). I never received a phone call about it, but was persistent in asking about my application/ensuring its completion. If I wasn't persistent, my application would have never been reviewed.

3. The interview really is about getting to know each other: My interview at KYCOM started out by talking weird southern delicacies. I asked questions throughout, intertwined aspects about myself, and engaged with them as I would engage with any other person. When they say its both a conversation about how you will fit and how they will fit with you, they mean it. Don't be afraid to throw out the odd-ball question: I asked that considering the caliber of students produced at KYCOM, would they ever consider donating their body to the anatomy department (READ YOUR INTERVIEWERS) and I got a couple of great responses. The entire thing was fun, humorous, and enjoyable.

4. Care about the school: While you might not care about every school you apply to, at least have the interest to research basic facts about the school. After all, you might be spending the next 2 years there.

1. This does not help much at most school before interviews. This only helps perhaps after being waitlisted.

2. Constant contact is not necessary. Most schools have an online portal where you can check the status of your application. If something is off, then contact the school. Constant contact may end up annoying the administrators. After all, they get thousands of applications and probably hundreds of phone calls a day from overly worried premeds. Contacting the school should be as little as possible and as anonymous as possible. You don't want to be "that guy" to admissions.

3. Agreed, but I don't think any personal question should be asked. It's a professional interview. Donating your own body is a personal question and a personal choice. It is always better to err on the side of caution, and focus on questions that relate to the school. You may never know, lots of people misread their interviewers and people. Also, you may upset some patients by asking personal questions that are unrelated to their care.

4. 4 years, but if you don't have any acceptances, then research every school that you apply to is imperative. I recommend researching the school heavily before interview.

 

[Endorphins98]

My interviewer at ACOM was downright condescending and it sucked bc I was looking forward to it.

That's a totally opposite experience to what I had at ACOM. That's a bummer. Do you remember who you interviewed with?

 

[Ho0v-man]

That's a totally opposite experience to what I had at ACOM. That's a bummer. Do you remember who you interviewed with?

To be fair, I think he was trying to see how I responded to pressure but he didn't stick the landing. I can talk more about it in pm if you'd like. You and I interviewed the same day.


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