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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 24% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 278 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (90%)
Negatively (6%)
No change (4%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (53%)
Good (37%)
Average (10%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally expressed positive feedback about the school, mentioning friendly and supportive staff, great facilities, and early clinical exposure as highlights. Some applicants noted the long interview day but still had a positive overall experience, praising the faculty, location, and opportunities for hands-on learning.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
They didn’t ask me very many questions, it was more me asking them, so have a lot of questions prepared!
The students genuinely seemed to love the program and all of their professors. The faculty seems wholly dedicated to making sure everyone is able to reach their potential.
Amazing school. Faculty is very involved with the students and most of the students love the school. Anatomy lab was large and the student to cadaver ratio is 4:1. New MARC Lab and early clinical exposure were overall selling points for myself. The opportunities to conduct research was also a plus.
Very friendly and welcoming staff, being able to shadow at Highland Hospital on the day of the interview was very unique and eye opening in a good way.
I really enjoyed my time there, I felt welcome and appreciated by the staff, and the students were the most welcoming and friendly out of all the schools I've been to.
A fun, easy day. Do not let what people on SDN say in regards to how "bad" Oakland is. Yes, Oakland in general is not the best, but CSPM is near Oakland Hills which is the better part of the city. The interview with the Dean for me focused on my hobbies, talked about how we both love California, my family, my education, and why podiatry. Second interview with a faculty was a bit more intidimating since he/she did not give me any facial expressions after each question - focused mainly on academics and why I chose to pursue this profession, so it was more cut and dry, but as long as you know and be honest with yourself, you shouldn't even have to sweat it answering those kind of questions. I hope this will help future students and good luck!
Impressive clinical experience. Student start early with clinical in second year. Lots of diversity, but the school could still use some work despite how old it is.
Very nice day. Staff and students are nice. If you interview, I feel that the seat is yours to lose. I got the general feeling that they wanted me in every aspect. Not one question about a bad grade or my previous bad mcat score. Just pleasant.
Interview day is long, but not that bad. Starts off chatting with Doctor Tran at saint marys medical center, tour facilities, chat with students, lunch, two back to back interviews. Travel to SMU. a 2 on 1 interview with faculty, tour the school, exit "interview" with Dr. Tran... not really an interview though. Just a "do you have any questions for me?" travel back to Saint Mary's medical institute by taxi... takes awhile because you have to fight traffic across the bay bridge. Got home late.
Dr. Tran was awesome and all prof./faculty seem nice and have great achievements under them. I liked San Francisco and all the variety of clinical rotations. Lots of opportunity for community service. Had 4 separate 1-on-1 that were laid back. Long day but worth it!
Overall this was the longest interview I went to. It started in the morning around 8am and went until almost 5pm. The interviews were somewhat conversational / laidback.
I think everyone who gets an interview invite should definitely come and check this place out. There's a nice new simulation lab that the school is going to start using more. Since the classes are small, we get our own cadavers to dissect and work with for the year. Basically, the training very well prepare you for your 4th year and residencies.
This school is truly top-notch! Don't believe what people say negatively about this school in the forums... all BS! Great education, great location, and sweet training will be paramount for your future! Dr. Tran is the MAN!!
Overall, I had a very good experience at CSPM. Just realize, the interview day is very long and you will probably be tired at the end. I left for St. Mary's Hospital at 8am and didn't come back to my hotel until nearly 6pm!
I really like the class size is small and capped at 48 students. CSPM does not seem tuition driven like a few other pod schools (ex OCPM with 135 students). The location of the campus is an okay part of oakland, a hospital complex...not ghetto like some people on these feedback forums make it out to be. You have pretty good dorms right on campus as well. The weather is awesome, there is a BART station a few blocks away so San FRANCISCO is quite close. You start clinicals early as well which I personally feel is a plus. The 2nd year clinicals are in small groups (4 people) and involve some observation, pallative care, H and P's, simulation center with mannequins, radiology workshops, homeless shelter, etc. Seems to be great for learning how to interact with patients and prepare for 3rd year. The 3rd and 4th years seem quite strong from what I heard. The one negative is that you have a lot of lecture hours during the 1 day of class 3rd year (about 10-11 hours). I feel it would be better off being spread out to another morning/afternoon. The 2nd year also has 2 lecture days which are jam packed (hour-wise) but this seems to be the trade-off for an early clinical experience. I believe the new dean will be addressing this in the near future when curriculum review comes around.
Overall, I have visited 8 pod schools and feel CSPM offers a great overall package. I am from the East Coast too and do not care about living close to home. You have a small class, great weather, early and diverse clinicals, located in the bay area, and more. I believe DMU and Scholl are great schools but during the winter...probably a bit rough with the snow and cold. Seems a bit depressing when your stuck inside all the time with so much stress and studying. At CSPM, you have the ocean and Tahoe is only a 3-4 hour drive away (awesome snowboarding). The weather definitely is a plus in my opinion, as you can be outside all year and the surrounding areas are beautiful.
Hope this information helps. I got accepted to all the pod schools with good scholarships and most likely going to CSPM. Seems to offer everything I'm looking for in podiatric medical education.
My advice for prospective students is to actually interview at CSPM and not believe most of the garbage you see on SDN and the interview feedback forums. Everything I read on here seemed to be complete or nearly opposite when I actually interviewed at Samuel Merritt. It was probably one of the best and most thorough interview days (and I have been to all the pod schools). I really would encourage pre-pods to take a look at CSPM, you will most likely be pleasantly surprised.
Long day...met at st. mary's medical center, toured the medical center and the clinic across the street, met some second and third year students, faculty interview (very laid back), had lunch with two students at a mexican restaurant, traveled to oakland and met with financial aid, basic sciences interview (a little more interrogative), quick tour of samuel merrit campus, travel back to st. mary's.
First off, it's a very long day. You arrange a cab to go to St. Mary's medical center in San Fran (arrive about 9am). The 3rd year students are rotating through a mainly surgical private practice at these facilities. You get to shadow and ask them questions. After this is lunch at the very good mexican restaurant on Haight Street. Following you have an interview with 2 of the private practice pods. Then you are provided with a cab to samuel merritt in oakland in which you go to the anatomy lab, tour, fin aid + housing presentation, etc. At the end of the day (about 3:30pm) I met up with the Tranman and the director of admissions who said I was accepted to the podiatry program. I def enjoyed my day at CSPM and St. Mary's.
The interview was long- started at 9am and ended at 4:30pm. First was a tour of St. Mary's hospital, an hour to mingle unsupervised and shadow/question current students/professors. Lunch at a burrito place on Haight. Interview #1. Go to SMC. Tour the school. Financial aid spiel. Interview #2. Interview #3. Tour dorms. Final exit interview/wrap up.
Overall, a very thorough interview day. Bring COMFORTABLE shoes -- there is a LOT of walking. We began by shadowing/talking to 3rd years in clinic, then we were taken for lunch at a yummy Mexican joint on Haight St. After lunch: interviews, travel to Oakland, financial aid workshop, more interviews, tour of campus
You meet at least 5 people that you talk to 1 on 1 including surgeons, Deans & professors. Ask to see everything including housing and class rooms or they may not show you. We also saw the 1st years in the Anatomy lab and spoke with them. The morning is spent in clinic shadowing 3rd years, see as many patients as you can.
The school, faculty & students appear to be a very tight-knit, supportive family. This left a very positive impression for me, and am very excited to attend this particular program.
Very relaxed. The first interview was at St Mary's Medical Center with the Dean and another DPM. The second was on Oakland campus with the head of Student Affairs and the the big guy of the science dept. They were all very nice.
The interview started out at the clinic where you meet the dean. He is a very nice gentleman who later takes you out to lunch and shows you the tour of the school after the interview. Before lunch, you shadow a couple students in the clinic for an hour or two and then you have an interview with the physicians. After the interview, a taxi takes you to the actual school where you have lunch. It ends with the tour. The whole interview experience took 8 hours.
CSPM-COMP interviews are an average of 24 minutes, with an average of 2.6 interviews. 84% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 0% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools included inquiries about specific academic performance, reasons for choosing podiatry as a career over other professions, experiences with standardized tests like the MCAT, personal motivations for pursuing podiatry, and the candidate's understanding of the field and specific programs. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format with questions related to academic challenges, career choices, and personal motivations, which might have been subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Asked about a specific class that I didn’t do well in.
Interview was split into 4 separate ones, with 1 faculty and 3 professors.
Was very long, so I'll try to put down as much as I can remember.
Why DPM? (times 2)
Why Samuel Merritt?
Students said most interesting question asked at California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University discussed a wide range of topics including choosing between DPM and DO, motivations for podiatry, favorite and least favorite undergrad courses, adapting to city life, MCAT perceptions, and personal hobbies. The interview format may have been an MMI, with some respondents mentioning nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted questions related to public health roles and personal experiences.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
You applied to DO schools at one point. How will you choose between DPM and DO?
If you were free to take any class, what class would you take? (I had asked if they recommended taking any classes. They said I should enjoy the opportunity to learn about whatever I was interested in during the last year of my undergraduate career.)
I see that you have also applied to allopathic medical schools. Can you tell me why you would be interested in podiatry as opposed to allopathic medicine?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources like SDN forums, practicing with friends or advisors, reviewing prior interview questions, researching the school, and going through their application materials. Suggestions included being honest about goals, relaxing before the interview, and reviewing personal statements.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
SDN and be very honest with yourself and your goals. This way, you will feel relaxed because only you can understand yourself best, and minimize any interview-anxiety you may have on the day of!
Students said most difficult question asked at California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University discussed a mix of personal and academic inquiries, such as choosing between DPM and DO, self-improvement feedback from family, and justifying career choices. Some respondents mentioned specific questions about personal statements and extracurricular activities, while others reflected on unique qualities and reasons for pursuing podiatry, with some also highlighting inquiries about adjusting to the curriculum after time away from school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Applicants were consistently impressed by the early clinical experience, small class sizes, friendly faculty and students, diverse clinical rotations, and the positive atmosphere at the campus. They appreciated the strong emphasis on clinical training, the supportive environment, and the opportunities for interaction with current students and faculty during the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
Really nice assistant dean of admission and faculty!
The friendliness of Andre and Dean Venson. The willingness of the 1st year students to answer a million questions and share their contact info (they eat lunch with you).
Everything! The faculty, students, Highland Hospital, and the campus. The students and their transparent honesty and enthusiam for their school really sold me on CSPM. They did not need to bad mouth other schools, but were thrilled to tell us why they personally chose CSPM. The neighborhood around CSPM is not ghetto or sketchy, it is perfectly fine and slightly urban. Even as I was waiting in the lobby for my interviews, Dr. Dutra came over, introduced himself, and we just made small talk. Everyone speaks highly of him, and he was very frank and honest as to his position in the school and his belief that CSPM does prepare students at a high level of excellence.
I liked how we began the interview process by speaking to current students and residents to get more insights on the school. It made the interview day a bit more relaxing. Everyone was so encouraging and kind including the doctors, admissions staff, and dean. CSPM seems to have very strong clinical training. The podiatrists that teaches you in your second year surgical lecture are the ones who will train you during your third year rotation. The new dean really cares about doing w/e to make everyone strong podiatrists. Overall, I was very impressed!
They listened to their students and modified the curriculum for the better. Everyone we met asked us how we were doing so far. We were allowed free reign to ask questions to students, residents, faculty, and staff without anyone looking over our shoulders. You start clinicals in second year and they are taught by the same faculty member as in your classrooms. Small class sizes and open door policy with faculty. Everyone there is soooo nice.
The school is the ONLY one to start clinicals in the second year...right at the beginning. You'll be coming out of this school truly prepared and ready to treat patients and work in a hospital setting as well. Facilities are great.... and of course, LOCATION!!! SF Bay Area is the ultimate cultural experience and is a wonderful place to go to school. BART and MUNI can get you all over the city cheap! At least go check it out if you get an interview!
-Very small class size that is capped at 48 students (Not tuition driven like some pod schools)
-Part of a healthcare university
-Main building has open-air areas
-Located in a better part of Oakland with hospitals and clinics in SF and O-Town
-Great weather in the Bay Area!!!
-Close to a BART station so amazing San Francisco is only a few minutes away
-Begin clinicals early, seem quite diverse
-Have a great simulation center (mannequins) which pod students ACTUALLY USE...unlike Temple
-Very nice admissions staff and Dr. Tran is awesome
-New dean seems great, very forward thinking about podiatry and CSPM
-On campus dorms, they will be getting an apartment complex if those are torn down
-Awesome scholarships (based on GPA/MCAT) one can get up to $60,000 over 4 years
-Diverse class
-Pool on campus
-Samuel Merritt College will be undergoing a massive expansion/renovation very soon
-Legit interviews - with phd and DPM's
-Get to see the campus along with a 2nd/3rd year clinical site
Almost everything because what I had read on here did not seem to coincide with what I had learned at the interview...small class size, clinicals start during second year (HUGE), the faculty that teaches in the classroom is the same that teaches in the lab, nice campus, great location, the school appeared to do everything possible to keep their students instead of being "survival of the fittest"
Small class sizes (capped at 48 students), earliest clinical exposure compared to the other 7 pod schools (start after first year), St. Mary's and its pod clinic is very nice, on-campus housing, great weather, bay area location, interesting research opportunities ie combining AIDS and podiatry. The area where the school itself was located was not bad at all (like a medical center complex) unlike what a lot of people complain about on the pod forums. The BART train is very good and you can walk or take a shuttle to the station from campus (which gets you to san fran, berkeley, etc).
The Simulation lab; the faculty's relationship with thier students; the small class sizes; and how they consistently review their program by using student feedbacks.
Most applicants expressed concerns about the organization of the tour, lack of detail on financial aid, rushed feeling during the visit, safety and location of Oakland, high cost of living, traffic, limited study spaces, small gym and library, mixed opinions on facilities, long commutes between Oakland and San Francisco for clinics, and limited time for questions during interviews. Suggestions included improving organization, providing more information on financial aid, addressing safety concerns, offering more amenities, and allowing more time for questions during interviews.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
The rain. Lol! The location initially turned me off, but over time I have found that it's really not that bad. It's right on the edge of the "nice part" of East Bay.
Located in downtown Oakland. Not safe. Board pass rates are not very impressive (poor students or poor curriculum?). Small and old facilities. Gym is the size of my bedroom.
Way too much construction. I don't like how it doesn't feel like a school since everything is so separated. Also, there were some first year students that we were paired with that just had way too many negative comments to say about other programs.
I did feel like I was rushed in and out of the interview. Even though they asked if you had questions for them, you really didn't have time to ask because they were kind of pushing you out the door.
-Traffic sucks
-Expensive cost of living
-Library a bit tiny but is currently being renovated
-The "gym" is quite tiny and pretty bad
-Area around school not terrible but not amazing
-Number of students bitched about a particular 1st year professor
-Facilities pretty decent, but not like DMU/AzPod/OCPM
-Anatomy lab quite basic compared to some pod schools (cadavers on a metal gurney)
-Early clinicals result in LOTS of lecture time in 2nd year (8am-7pm two days a week, one day like that in 3rd year)
School in oakland...clinic in san fran; however, there seemed to be ample modes of transportation between the two loations, on-campus housing is dorm-style, classes are not taped but there is a blackboard for notes
Maybe the travelling between San Francisco / Oakland clinics and the main campus. It seems like you definitely need a car. The good thing is that you have FULL days of clinic/class which is definitely more doable. Some of the students I talked to did not look at other schools and mainly picked this place cause it was close to home.
The fact that St. Mary's (the hospital where the students do their clinical work) is in San Francisco while the college is in Oakland. It is a very long commute (30-45 min. and a very congested).
Living in Oakland, commuting to San Francisco. Very short interview with the 2 main guys (surgeons) and all they asked was 'Why Podiatry' and nothing else. They accept you at the end of the interview so if you have an interview you can count on being accepted.
All the 1st year students said that they liked the school but Arizona is better.
I was expecting more difficult "on-the-spot" questions, like why not another medical profession. It was pretty obvious that I was going to get an offer at the end of the day.
Applicants commonly wished they had known about the long and standing-intensive interview day, the need for comfortable shoes, the multiple interview sessions throughout the day, and the location-specific details like parking and navigating the campus. Suggestions included being prepared with questions, arriving early to account for potential delays, and adjusting travel plans accordingly.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
That the travel time from San Francisco took much longer than expected. Give yourself an extra 30 mins if you're taking the BART because the shuttle is a rate-limiting factor I didn't foresee.
That there were two seperate interviews. At the end of the day, each student will have an interview with either the Dean first, and then a faculty member. Each interview lasted around 20-30 minutes for me.
How old/crammed together the buildings in Bay area are. It's almost like a version of NYC with less people. Living on top of each other. If that's what your used to, you won't mind it at all.
You would be interviewed by 4 different people at 4 different times throughout the day. It never ends. But it was no where near stressful. They were all candid and genuinely interested in you.
That the dorms were going to be torn down in the near future (no date set yet). Part of Bechtel hall is going to be demolished to make way for a patient tower for the hospital next door. Also making new classrooms/labs/offices. Construction may be annoying during class time. They are looking into buying out an apartment complex in the area, which is going to be much nicer than the dorms.
I did not realize that I was going to like CSPM as much as I did. It seems they made tons of changes/improvements after CSPM merged with Samuel Merritt College in 2001. It really seems like a great school with a lot to offer but gets a lot of flak for its past (The bad part of it) on the SDN forums. Also, I expected the college to have crappy facilities and be in a bad area (as per SDN forums). However, the area seemed quite nice and part of a medical center complex. It is not "inner city" oakland as people make it out to be. Furthermore, the facilities are pretty nice as well including the academic building, which had a very "open air" design. It may be a lot of concrete but still functional and adequate. One of the game rooms even had glass ceilings and wall that were opened on nice days, complete with plants and everything. Def look at the year and a half old patient simulation center. Long story short, don't believe all the hype and BS on these forums. Check everything out for yourself and come to your own impressions of the school. I was very surprised with many things on my interview day as I previously listened to all the negative comments on the interview feedback and forums.
A taxi would be very convient since there are a lot of one way roads and it's hard to get to places if you do not know the area that well. It is a group interview as well with other interviewees.
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally praised the admissions office for their friendliness, professionalism, and responsiveness, suggesting to keep up the good work and maintain the streamlined efficiency. Some applicants also recommended improvements such as organizing meetings with the dean, ensuring positive interactions with current students, combining interview sessions, providing information on residency placements, and offering tours of dorm rooms.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
From the moment I checked in at 8:30AM at the Campus Service Center to meeting Andre, they were all friendly and welcoming, and most importantly, professional. They have all been quick to answer my questions and able to direct me to the proper people/departments without any hassle. Big thumbs up for streamlined efficiency
I would make sure that the students that are paired with the interviewees NOT be so negative towards other podiatry programs. I would rather hear their opinions about their own school.
41% interviewees used SFO (SFO), with 22% using Oakland (Oakland) and 9% using Oakland Airport (Oakland Airport) and 6% using sjc (sjc) and 6% using Oakland International Airport (Oakland International Airport) and 3% using OAK (OAK) and 3% using San Fran (San Fran) and 3% using sfo (sfo) and 3% using San Francisco (San Francisco) and 3% using Oakland international (Oakland international).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by airplane to the interview.
✈️
70% Airplane
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27% Automobile
🚆
0% Train or Subway
🚲
2% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Castle Inn (average ranking 10/10), with some staying at Renaissance - Stanford Court (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Castle Inn
10/10
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Renaissance - Stanford Court
10/10
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Waterford (the recommended hotel)
10/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel
Admissions staff (63%)
Faculty member (26%)
Student (11%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
