Why our school?

[Aubrey Graham]

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I know this has been asked before...but how bad would it be to say the location of the school as to why this school? I was asked this at an interview a couple of weeks ago. I don't live anywhere near the school, but I really like the large urban area. I am afraid that this isn't a good answer now...


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[SSSMDt]

I know this has been asked before...but how bad would it be to say the location of the school as to why this school? I was asked this at an interview a couple of weeks ago. I don't live anywhere near the school, but I really like the large urban area. I am afraid that this isn't a good answer now...


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Location can certainly be a part of the reason, but I'd hope its not the only reason?

 

[Aubrey Graham]

Location can certainly be a part of the reason, but I'd hope its not the only reason?

It was a really short 15 minute interview and I wasn't able to add more...I started off with location...damn it


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[SSSMDt]

It was a really short 15 minute interview and I wasn't able to add more...I started off with location...damn it


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I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Youll get accepted 👍

 

[NonTrad16]

Location because you're from a rural area and are interested in the diverse patient populations/possible cases, or because you have family/SO around, or because you want to be able to go out and party? I think location is very important, and there are many pretty reasonable reasons to want to be in a given place. Some less positive.

 

[Aubrey Graham]

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Youll get accepted 👍

Thanks! Will probably get waitlisted. I have below average stats and really needed to kill that interview....


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[LizzyM]

Well, it is the one thing that is unique about each school (no two schools can occupy the same space).

 

[aldol16]

That's not a bad answer if the school is the only one in the area. So like Dartmouth is a great place to be if you want to be at a school that's the only major medical center around/only medical school in the state. But if it's in a place like NYC or Boston, then that wouldn't really explain "Why Cornell versus Columbia, etc." In that case, your answer should incorporate something else about the school specifically that distinguishes it from the other schools in the area.

 

[Goro]

It's an OK answer.

I know this has been asked before...but how bad would it be to say the location of the school as to why this school? I was asked this at an interview a couple of weeks ago. I don't live anywhere near the school, but I really like the large urban area. I am afraid that this isn't a good answer now...


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[rolliespring]

It would be a better answer if you added some other reasons such as wanting to practice in that area, unique programs or curriculums about the school etc. I wouldn't sweat it too much and focus on future interviews.

 

[LizzyM]

That's not a bad answer if the school is the only one in the area. So like Dartmouth is a great place to be if you want to be at a school that's the only major medical center around/only medical school in the state. But if it's in a place like NYC or Boston, then that wouldn't really explain "Why Cornell versus Columbia, etc." In that case, your answer should incorporate something else about the school specifically that distinguishes it from the other schools in the area.

If you knew Cornell and Columbia, you'd know that they are on the same island but in very different areas.

 

[Aubrey Graham]

Thanks guys! I really like the school and hope to get an acceptance! I will keep this question in mind in the future.


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[ChrisMack390]

This is the dumbest interview question. They might as well be upfront about it and just ask "hey can you stroke my ego for a second?"

Heavily mission based schools are an exception, but even then you should just restate what the mission is, which you likely already wrote in your application.

 

[Turkishking]

Not sure if this is correct, but you should do research on the schools mission. Then you should provide a statement corresponding to their mission.

 

[aldol16]

If you knew Cornell and Columbia, you'd know that they are on the same island but in very different areas.

I do know Cornell and Columbia. If one is choosing a medical school for the area of the city it serves, then of course the majority of medical schools will be unique because each academic medical center will necessarily have its own sphere of influence with little overlap (since medical services are, at the bottom line, driven by demand). Even comparing only schools on the East Side, NYU, Cornell, and Mount Sinai all serve different areas of Manhattan. But if one is choosing a medical school for the city it is in because of the opportunities available in that city, then living on the Upper West Side vs. Upper East Side wouldn't make much of a difference - especially in Manhattan, where it's fairly convenient to get anywhere on the island. For instance, if one wanted to go to a Broadway show, getting there from Columbia would only be a little easier than from Mount Sinai and only because of the express train. The point is, one can take advantage of all that Manhattan has to offer by going to any of the schools in Manhattan - East or West Side.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

😵

Agreed. Convenient is one word to describe New York commutes that I would probably never use.

 

[aldol16]

Agreed. Convenient is one word to describe New York commutes that I would probably never use.

Try living in Arkansas.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Try living in Arkansas.

I lived in super rural Texas. I feel you.

 

[aldol16]

I lived in super rural Texas. I feel you.

Even though NYC transit may be inefficient, it's convenient to be able to live an entire life in Manhattan without ever needing a car. IDK how the Clintons ever lived in Arkansas.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Even though NYC transit may be inefficient, it's convenient to be able to live an entire life in Manhattan without ever needing a car. IDK how the Clintons ever lived in Arkansas.

It's nice to have a car if you ever want to leave. Manhattan makes it super inconvenient to have a car.

 

[aldol16]

It's nice to have a car if you ever want to leave. Manhattan makes it super inconvenient to have a car.

Depends on where you want to go. The northeast corridor is very easy to travel via mass transport (and greener too!) if you're going to any major population center (i.e. anything from Boston down to Baltimore). If you just want to get away for a weekend into the mountains, then perhaps having a car would be useful.

 

[WildcatS11]

Location can certainly be a part of the reason, but I'd hope its not the only reason?

It's funny, because once you are applying for residencies, it's well accepted that location is the #1 factor in applying/ranking programs.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Depends on where you want to go. The northeast corridor is very easy to travel via mass transport (and greener too!) if you're going to any major population center (i.e. anything from Boston down to Baltimore). If you just want to get away for a weekend into the mountains, then perhaps having a car would be useful.

Or if you don't want to rely on mass transport that has an enormous range of reliability.

 

[aldol16]

Or if you don't want to rely on mass transport that has an enormous range of reliability.

Mass transport may be more reliable than a car in many instances, especially when one is traveling along the northeast corridor. Trains don't have to wait for traffic whereas cars are subject to traffic conditions. In that sense, it's easier to estimate a train's arrival time given no mechanical malfunction (rare, but does happen on occasion) than it is to estimate a car's arrival time - especially as distance traveled increases.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Mass transport may be more reliable than a car in many instances, especially when one is traveling along the northeast corridor. Trains don't have to wait for traffic whereas cars are subject to traffic conditions. In that sense, it's easier to estimate a train's arrival time given no mechanical malfunction (rare, but does happen on occasion) than it is to estimate a car's arrival time - especially as distance traveled increases.

Agree to disagree. I love trains, but I just really like the convenience of having my car.

 

[md-2020]

Well, it is the one thing that is unique about each school (no two schools can occupy the same space).

Not for a lack of effort from Lerner and Case Western to do so though...