Applicants generally commented on the relaxed and laid-back nature of the interview process at LECOM. Some applicants expressed concerns about the heavy emphasis on Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and the school's strict adherence to its curriculum. Positive feedback was given regarding the friendly staff, helpful students, and the informative sessions on PBL and financial aid.
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Looked like a great school. Great campus, great area. I don't know if it would be as enjoyable of experience as other schools, but I would not be mad to go to school there. The admission and interview process is by far the worst part of this school. They are far below the standard of any DO/MD school I have experienced.
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Overall had a good experience. I enjoyed the easy scheduling and relatively low stress interview format. Despite the added stress, I feel I would have preferred a real interviewer to connect with and vouch for me to the Adcom!
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I feel generally stressed with virtual interviews and only having 30 seconds to prepare did not feel like enough time.
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Not a fan of the video interview format because it does not allow you to connect with someone and show your true personality which is what interviews are normally for.
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Overall a very relaxed, laid back interview. They aren't there to grill you about your application, their questions are geared to see if you can work well in a group setting. Just be sure to listen to other people's responses and build off of each other to make it as conversational as you can.
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Overall, a nice school and can't beat the price. But be sure that the fit is right for you, because exclusively PBL isn't for everybody.
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There is a dress code, there is a no food/drink policy (the school is incredibly clean), the PBL pathway definitely isn't for everyone and they seem to look for students who would truly fit PBL successfully, the Bradenton area is beautiful and near lots of beaches, the students we met seemed relatively happy, and you don't dissect in anatomy but you have the option to dissect during your first summer.
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I could not see myself being happy at this school. It was very isolating and you're expected to teach yourself everything. I sat in on one of the PBL classes and the teacher was highly unprepared. She ended up spending 15 min of their hour long class looking for IT people and the students kept joking about how terrible the faculty and administration are. Why would you say that to APPLICANTS????
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It seems that LECOM-B produces some stelar graduates, but at the cost of being very controlling of the students. The whole administration gave a strong vibe of "My way or the highway," albeit that their way seems to produce competitive grads. I would consider attending, but am by no means completely sold.
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Not a fan of PBL but the campus is ok.
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Loved the PBL curriculum, but couldn't see myself wanting to spend time at the campus.
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Prepare yourself for common questions.
Other than that, learn to be honest and think quickly.
Be yourself and if they like you, good.
If they don't, then choose a school that fits.
Remember you are competitive enough, so have confidence in your abilities during your interview. Smile.
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Be prepared to be underwhelmed by some aspects of the school. No caffeine in the library. Security cameras everywhere (NOT for security! They're watching students!). Favoring male applicants strongly. Otherwise I really liked the PBL session I sat in on and think it's one of the best COMs out there. I thought it was striking that though this was a new school, they do NOT respond to the suggestions of students. Our tour guides had many complaints and wry smiles when talking about trying to get things changed at the school. It seems the administration values its own opinions over those of the students.
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The group interview, honestly, really sucks if you're not good at group discussions (i.e., talking in a large group, getting your say in without interrupting others, saying something substantial that no one else said)--especially group discussions about trivial and/or broad things. I felt like I never really got a chance to say much, much less to say anything substantial. People in my group were talking over each other (and even the interviewers at a couple points!) to get their say in and a lot of them said what I was thinking, we were asked such general and such easy questions about PBL. This school really made me hate group interviews--I dearly hope I do not have to do another one.
The sad thing is, the interview itself was really relaxed--no hard questions asked, the interviewers were very friendly, etc. I just don't think I got a chance to make a good impression upon the interviewers, as they didn't ask anything personal (the q's were ENTIRELY about PBL).
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Make sure your voice is heard in the group interview but don't dominate the conversation!
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Very impressed. Initially LECOM-B was towards the bottom of my list, but after touring, interviewing, and watching a PBL session, it has moved to #1 or 2. PBL really is the future and this school knows how to do it (based off of their board scores).
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Great school, great students, very helpful and caring faculty.
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Great campus and area school was a backup before i went to the interview, now it is in my top 5
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The group interview idea would be good if it were in addition to something like MMI, or a one-on-one interview. As a stand alone solution, it is not a good way to judge the character of a person.
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Overall it was a great experience. Yes you need to do your research and show your interest, but overall it was fairly laid back and very informative.
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This school likes its rules.
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Campus is hardly a campus. More like a huge building next to some grass and a nice fountain.
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Great school, but you REALLY have to be a self starter. In defense of this school, they don't try to "sell" problem based learning. The whole day is about are you a good fit for their school and do you think you will do well with problem based learning. Also, the Econolodge East was a great place to stay. Clean with a microwave and refrigerator.
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All in all, interview day went very well. I was impressed with the professionalism and warmth of the school.
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The academic focus of the program is awesome, and PBL seems like an innovative and effective method of learning material, but clinical experience and rotations seem to be on the back burner, and thats a huge turn off
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They are all about PBL... so just know if it is right for you.
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This interview day was unnecessarily long. Sitting through a 2 hour PBL session was an overkill. The worst part of the day was when we had to sit around a table and tell why we liked PBL. Its unclear why tuition is 30K per year when students learn from each other and thru independent study.
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This would be my ideal school if they can get their clinical issues together. As it stands it is my back-up school because the location and PBL curriculum are very tailored to my liking.
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I never applied to LECOM in the past because I knew that they had some quirky rules. I think after going to the interview, I just didn't come out feeling that this place was a good fit for me...
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Very nice school with friendly students and faculty
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The admissions process seems to need some organization...
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For me, one of the interviewers had read my file and the other one did not. Also, the school revolves around Problem based learning which means most of your learning is done on your own. Not a problem for me, I think, as I find lectures very boring. But be aware that the interview day at the school is really about whether or not problem based learning is for you.
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Find out if PBL is for you, it's really important to know whether you can handle studying/learning on your own. The students seemed happy, and I liked that some of the faculty ate lunch with the students. Seemed like they knew their professors/drs really well, had a good relationship with them.
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This is an outstanding school - IF you are comfortable learning EVERYTHING without classes.
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This is a great school. Beautiful location, happy students and awesome board scores. If you like PBL you can't pass this school up!
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The school seems great if you are comfortable with PBL and its challenges. It's not for everyone so make sure you're prepared to defend why you think it's a good fit for you.
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Great school but just like the dean of the school says, PBL is not for everyone. You really need to find out if the school is a good fit for you.
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Fantastic school and program.
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This was my first interview..at my top choice school. I was extremely nervous about halfway through because I was afraid I was rambling and that some of my answers weren't the greatest answers. Oh well...we interviewed friday and we can call wednesday to get our decisions. Fingers crossed!
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I LOVE this school and was recently accepted!
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Chill interview, they might grill you at first but after the first few minutes it's cool.
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Terrible interview. Interviewers are supposed to be your advocates to the admission's committee. My interviewers were not friendly or welcoming from the get-go.
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Two words: great school.
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Really liked the school! It is probably my second choice overall.
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I interviewed at both LECOM-Brad (1st) and LECOM-Erie (2nd) about 2 months apart. I was tremendously impressed with PBL (see +/-'s). The rules, etc, didn't bother me...I'll know what to wear and I don't have to worry about someone slipping coffee all of my highlighted books.
I really liked LECOM-Brad and I could see myself doing very well. LECOM-Erie on the other hand was on a different level. Brad was clearly designed for PBL...at Erie, they just had 2 tables pushed together with sliding dividers between rooms! LECOM-Brad was warm, efficient, and focused, nurturing admin. LECOM-Erie had a totally different feel - cold, efficient, scattered, overbearing admin.
LECOM-Brad != LECOM-Erie
LECOM-Brad has a great program, but I didn't send deposit in time because I was leaning towards a different osteo school. I would be very happy going there though!
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Absolutely amazing school. The interview is very well ran and laid back. The staff makes it very clear that PBL is for a specific type of student and it's very helpful to be able to sit in on a PBL session to gain first hand experience with the pathway.
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The students, faculty and staff are obviously very proud of LECOM-Bradenton. However, there is a very fine line between pride and arrogance. That line was crossed on more than one occasion.
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I loved it. After I left it was my top choice. I have been accepted and I am happy!
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Contrary to what others have said, you DO NOT have to setup your own rotations. Bradenton has a match system for these spots. You give the school your preference for order or timing of (3 and 4th year) rotations and they assign you. However, if you would rather leave the Florida area (and say return to your home state) you can, and those rotations are up to you. It's a best of both worlds scenario.
Also, this isn't a school you can go to just to be going to med school. You have to be willing to do PBL for 2 years. Unlike other schools where you can hide in the library and study, at Bradenton you have to be good at group interaction. If this isn't your thing you will be miserable.
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Admissions staff and faculty are incredibly dedicated and friendly! I felt very comfortable with this process and had a great visit! I received a response within 2 weeks and got in!!
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This was my 1st interview. Am now accepted at 2 other schools....If I would have known then what I know now, I would have walked out after 10 mintues of their schlocky presentation about how professional they are and how great it is that their students all wear buisness atire, their highschool wikipedia demonstration of OM and a hokey lecture about the amount of reading one does in medical school. Earth to Bradenton! We're applying to grad school, not college. We get it already. They wasted my time and money and didn't even read my file carefully.
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Great school doing some really good things. Understand that this school is not one to get by in. The students put a lot of time and effort into their studying and that's WHY they have such great scores. Most students I talked to study between 6-10 hrs/day out of class.
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Dr. Krueger gave a bizarre wrap-up of PBL in the afternoon... but overall, it's a good place. You should be able to figure out if PBL is a good match for you by the end of the interview day. Also, renting a car is ~$50 vs. $70-$140 for airport shuttles.
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Personally, I think that 30 days does not give prospective students enough time to make fully informed decisions when they have not interviewed at other institutions yet. The med school application process should be similar to the match system instead.
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I just have to say, take the whole "OH NO PBL and OH NO only four cadavers" comments with grains of salt. I went in there prepared for the worst, and LECOM actually impressed me. I keep hearing that not doing your own cadaver is actually nice and quite appropriate. So I'd say, don't prejudge, you might like it a lot.
I also appreciated that almost all of my time there, people were honest about how PBL doesn't work for everyone, and didn't force it on me. For me there was really only one person that was a little pushy about it.
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I expected to like LECOM-B more than I did. There wasn't anything wrong with the school, I just can't see myself there. I prefer schools in an urban environment and with a nearby hospital. A big turnoff for me was the area it's located in - turns out that other than Disney World, I'm really not a fan of Florida.
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One of my interviewers read my file and the other did not, which was sort of hard because I did not know how much detail to go into.
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Make sure you a little about PBL before the interview...they talk about it a lot.
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The whole day is about PBL! You need to have a good understanding of PBL and they will grill you on whether that style of learning fits you.
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They want you to be a fit for PBL. If you don't think PBL is right for you, do not bother with this school.
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Pbl is interesting but not worth $50k/year.
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Be prepared to read an article and be asked a question about it in the interview.
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GREAT SCHOOL!! Definitely NOT for everyone though! If you like to read, study as a team, and take initiative in your medical education, then PBL is for you! If you like lectures...don't come here! You won't get them! =)
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Great school for those who like PBL. Make sure it is for you because it requires alot of hard work.
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I felt that I had been done a disservice. No one had even the remotest idea of who I was. It was very strange.
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Everybody was very nice, very low stress level. Interviews were almost the 1st thing in the day (after a short PBL info session, followed by housing info, PBL session, lunch with students, tour, and financial info.
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Very friendly people at LECOM, but if you aren't sure you want PBL, then it's a major risk doing this curriculum
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There is a small introduction to the school with a video and faculty in the morning followed shortly after by the interviews. Then we sit in on a PBL session for 2 hours that flew by for me. Lunch with students to ask questions, tour, then some financial aid and wrap up sessions.
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Two faculty members interviewed me. One, Dr. Baden, was friendly but strange.. (I didn't come up with that, another member of their staff said that after my interview!). He kept asking me 'why?' after most questions: i.e. after being asked "Why medicine?" and giving an answer, he said "No, WHY medicine?"...at first it was intriguing, but after five questions went by with him asking "But WHY?" after each one, it got old...The other member of the interview committee just read questions from a sheet, took notes, and didn't say much. My interview took over 50 minutes because I had a long talk with Dr. Baden, which seemed positive...they acted like I was accepted, but I later found out I was waitlisted (Therefore please take my 'negative impressions' of the school with a grain of salt).
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Good interview overall. read the questions on SDN - they read the same questions off of a standard sheet for every interview. A long day!
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No big deal interviewers were very personable and not stressful. Interview is first thing in the morning which is great!
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Met at 7:45 and went from there. Interviews were from 8:45-9:45 so they were done early, which was nice. It was a very long day though, by the end I was dragging and just wanted to go home. Got done at about 2:45pm.
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I felt very welomed and at ease the entire day. LECOM holds the interviews early in the day so you can get the hard part over with. Everyone was extremely positive and supportive. The best part of the day was watching the PBL session. I can't believe how much the second years were able to synthesize. I even got to add my 2 cents (with permission, of course!). I'm really excited about this curriculum.
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They talk to you about PBL and then give you an article that you must read in 10 minutes. Then you have your interview. In the interview you are asked to summarize the article. After the interview they talk about housing options and then you get to sit in on a 2 hour PBL session. After that you eat lunch with a few 1st and 2nd years. Then, they talk about financial aid and about the PBL program some more. The day ends at 2:30pm.
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Overall the day was fine. The PBL session really was fun. The interview, itself, was no problem. However, I did get a sterile feeling from the school. There was a coldness present in the students I interacted with.
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Great experience. Love the school.
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The whole interview day was pretty laid back. They first talk to you about PBL. Then they go straight into the interviews. After the interview they talk about housing options and then you get to sit in on a 2 hour PBL session which is really cool. After that you eat lunch with a few 2nd years, they tell you about financial aid, and they talk about the PBL program some more. It's all over by 2:30pm.
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Since I prepared and knew what they were going to ask me, it went perfectly. The weather was so nice, a big bonus seeing that I come from North. Lunch was light, wraps and pastries. The facility is brand new so it looks so beautiful.
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The day went by pretty quickly... started at 8 ended about 2:30. Enthusiastic staff and students.
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The school impressed me a great deal. I read another person saying the students were googling things and had no clue what they were doing. Reading that I was skeptical but sitting in on the PBL session, I felt the complete opposite. There were things the students did not know off the top of their head but each time, they knew where in the book to turn (and they had like 5 books in front of each of them). They would talk about a case discuss what was happening, why what was happening, and a possible next step and why they would do that next step. Then they would ''order'' a test and discuss the results is so much detail. Aside from that, all the students were very professional and respectful. They were also very disciplined and took their learning seriouslly. I was skeptical of PBL prior to this, but this session made me see how well trained the students become. I was also able to particiapte because I am knowedgeable about diabetes which they were talking about. With that said though, if you do decide on this school, you have to enjoy PBL. It is a different way of learning and it is not for everyone. So when you attend your interviews, I am sure you will get annoyed with how much they are talking about PBL learning, but the reason for that is because thats their style of teaching and they want you to make sure you can be successful in PBL. I did not feel they were trying to sell it to me. Rather they were trying to get me to understand what strengths you need to be successfull in a PBL program.
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Interview was nice, probably would have been nicer if I hadn't gotten lost on my way there. Even though the sign points to Bradenton being WEST of 75, trust your directions...it's actually EAST. I was 5 minutes late for the intro...
But, I received my first acceptance from here and couldn't be more elated that I know med school is in the cards for me. CLASS OF 2012!
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Arrived at 7:45, signed in with security and got a visitors badge, was taken to a conference room with 5 other people who were being interviewed, they had coffee and food and a folder with info about the PBL, appartments, clubs at the school, financial aid info, Dean came in and told us about himself and then briefly about the school, assistant dean talked about PBL, and why they started a campus in florida, talked about himself, then we got an article to read for 10 min, interviews started, closed file, they knew nothing about me so it was hard to pick and choose what i wanted them to know, then went back to conference room where they told us about where we could live if we went to the school, and the clubs at the school, then we say in on a 2 hour PBL session, i thought it was going to be long and boring, but i really enjoyed it, its a good way to see if the school is a fit for you, i was able to understand what they were talking about to some extent. Then lunch with two students, they served chips and wraps. One of the students said she NEVER went out, pretty much only studied, the other studnent had a more well rounded life, went out, studied, said that the tests werent hard if you put the time in, he also had a gf. One thing he said was that the anatomy is the first ten weeks of the first year and its intense, dont have time to do much but study the first 10 weeks. Next we got a short financial aid talk, and then met with the assistant dean again, he asked us each to say what we thought of PBL, AND asked us to write down on a piece of paper how much learning took place in PBL, just to warn you HE thinks that only 1% of learning takes place in the PBL sessions, and that most of the learning occurs on your own. Then we had a tour...out by 2:30
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Being already accepted in a medical school, I really had second and even third thoughts about coming for the interview. I knew very little about osteopathic medicine before and therefore I was not sure if this was going to be a waste of time and money. However my premed advisor told me that I should keep in the interview because she knows the recruiting people there and they really impressed her about the school and the program. After meeting many of the people, (dr. b, dr. k, and some students), I am now hoping to get accepted there. I like being responsible for my learning, having support from faculty should I need their help, being treated like a professional from day one, and having someone to email or talk to during the application process.
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This was the worst interview ive been on yet. The school totally sux, the tour was 3 seconds long (i didnt care cuz i wanted to leave). They didnt show us anything. Theres no gym, you can get a ''discout'' to the YMCA next door. I got grilled in the interview about why i think i could handle PBL which annoying bc they had no reason to assume i couldnt. They didnt ask anything outside of PBL related questions. Didnt even ask why i wanna be a doc? I thought that was standard. Anyways, the interview was just plain annoying. What really turned me off was the 2 hour PBL session. The students seeemed so lost, i got the feeling they ahd no idea what they were studying or anything. The ''facilitator'' was not helpful in the least. When the students asked questions, he wouldnt answer them. It was unreal. Like goin to medschool and given absolutley nothing but the books. They actually sit there googling things!!! They also spend like 10 minutes looking up a word they never seen before. The whole experience was mind-boggling. Personally PBL looked cool at first but i dont think it prepares you for the boards at all. One of the students actually told me that their first year, there class had the lowest pass rate in the nation. They claim they got the highest in the country last year, but im just not impressed with that. Im not willing to take that risk. I wish i knew what i was gettin myself into, i coulda saved a lot of money, i wouldnt go to this school if it were my only option.
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Arrive at 7:45am. Go through security. They're hard core about it. Better safe than sorry, I guess. Intro speech. There were 10 interviewees total and we interviewed 2 on 1, closed file, in two groups. We had to read an article and summarize it. Piece of cake. Don't sweat it. When I finished my interview we waited for the second group to finish and compared notes. Then went to a full 2 hour PBL session. Each interviewee went to a different session. Very good program they have here. This is really the cornerstone of the school. After PBL, we had lunch with 2 second years who answered questions...very nice. Next we had a very short fin aid talk and a quick tour. Didn't see the cadaver lab because a class was in there, and didn't see the library just 'cause...but it's probably all electronic anyways. Nice new facility, everyone was friendly. Staff/faculty were lighthearted and joking. Great town. Went to the beach the day before. Warm water, kinda like a lightly heated pool. Stayed at Hampton Inn. Very nice also. Overall very good experience. I like this place alot and I'll be very disappointed if they turn me down.
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I flew into Tampa the morning before my interview, drove down to Sarasota (where my hotel was) and went to the beach to relax. I wouldn't recommend the Quality Inn and Suites in Sarasota off of 41 -- my room smelled heavily of mold. I arrived at the interview on time/early. They had a group of eight students interviewing at a time (they provided a light breakfast and lunch) and gave us an overview of PBL and Bradenton residential life. Very friendly staff/faculty. Also, they allowed us to sit-in on a 2 hour long PBL session. This experience really confirmed my desire to do PBL.
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It was a very laid back interview! It was fun with only a small group of 8 interviewees, because we got to interact. It was helpful attending a PBL session, you really get to see how it works; it's amazing how advanced the students seem in their clinical knowledge even at the beginning of year II! The completely blind interview style was a little harder than you would think, because they know NOTHING about you, so you sort of have to keep explaining yourself, in addition to trying to answer questions and make a good impression. With that said, it was conversational, and the faculty was SO nice, so it wasn't too bad at all.
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Stayed with family about an hour away, so I arrived about 30 min early. We got started around 8:30am when Dr. George and Dr. Krueger talked about the school and the PBL curriculum. Interviews began around 9:30 with each of use assigned a specific time slot when we'd be called out for the 30-40min interview with 2 faculty members (2-on-1). After the interviews we went on a tour of the campus. It's a brand new building and kept extremely clean (no food/drink except for in the cafeteria). Then we had lunch (sandwich rolls with chips, drinks, and a pudding like dessert) with just us and couple current med students where we were able to ask questions ''off the record'' and get honest feedback from the students. They were very honest and seemed to genuinely enjoy the school and the PBL style. After lunch a local realtor came into to give us some brief info on the area, she offers her services free of charge to students and after a few emails back and forth seems very helpful and willing to answer any question. We ended with some financial aid information and were done around 1:30pm.
Overall it was fairly pain-free. The interviews are pretty structured in that they use a form with ''pre-formed'' questions that they don't deviate too much from and jot down notes while you answer so don't expect a conversational interview.
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The interview day started at 8:30am. I was checked in at security and given a guest ID name tag. Dean welcomed us. Faculty member gave a lecture on PBL. Then I think we got pulled out 4 at a time for our interviews. When everyone was done we went on a tour. Afterwards, we had lunch with students who answered questions. In my opinion, one student was a little too talkative. Then the real estate agent came to talk to us, then the financial aid and we're finally done at around 1:45pm? I can't remember the exact order of things. Oddly, i do remember lunch! half a turkey wrap, a bag of potato chips, what looked like home-made chocolate pudding with cookie bits in it (I thought it was strange but tried it anyway), mini candy bars, and a bottle of water.
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Overall, I very much enjoyed my experience at the school. Everyone there is very laid back and committed to helping the students in any way they can. I got the feeling that if I attended the school, they would do everything in their power to make sure I would be successful.
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Overall the interview experience was really nice, and pretty much just as the other posts described. Unlike the negative impression posts, I didn't feel that they were trying to ''sell'' the school. The students and faculty were sincere and seemed honestly proud of their school.
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Had overview of PBL(problem based learning), interview, tour of campus/library, lunch, and financial aid information session.
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Stayed at the Days Inn which was okay except that they do not have late check out. Arrived at 8, listened to faculty, dean and admissions staff speak. They had snacks, muffins, breakfast items which was very kind. Toured the building. Interviewed with 2 faculty (ie. 2-on-one) who were very personable and made the interview a low-stress experience (very conversational). Then had lunch and listened to financial aid speech and a third year student, as well as a talk by a local realtor who helps students find housing free of charge. Concluded after admissions staff told us what came next. Overall, it was a very pleasant, smooth, and interesting experience. PBL is a great fit for my study style, but definitely is not for everyone.
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The overall experience at LECOM-bradenton was a very mixed one. The admissions staff are excellent and very friendly, yet some of the faculty and the dean that came and spoke to us seemed a bit arrogant. They made it sound like PBL is only for the strong, smart, and superior students. I completely disagree. PBL is an excellent curriculum if it incorporates the values of teamwork and working together. It seemed they wanted the complete opposite. They wanted you to read on your own 10 hours a day by yourself and you were basically teaching yourself. The faculty never expressed an open door policy and gave very little info. on the 3rd and 4th year rotations. All they talked about was PBL for the first two years. Aditionally, the students that came and talked to us were nice but they didn't seem too happy and all they talked about was PBL. There are other factors that need to be addressed besides just the first two years of the curriculum I think. It seemed everyone was just out to sell the PBL curriculum and not the school. Overall i got an EErie feeling there!
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The interview was with two staff members. They were very familiar with my full application and they asked interesting questions which showed me that they wanted to get to know me better. While waiting for others to interview, students came in to speak with us and reduce our stress level which made the time go by faster.
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First they go over their PBL program pretty extensively. Then they hold interviews. Then you get a tour of the campus and then have lunch with medical students. Next there is a discussion about financial aid. The day concludes with a realtor explaining the area and how to contact her (there is no on-campus housing for students)
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If you like pbl, its a great school, but make sure you research pbl on the lecom website, not a google search. I like pbl, but not as the primary learning engine
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The interviewers were completely impersonal, the admissions staff and students seem like they have a rehearsed, choreographed song and dance to try to CONVINCE you to go to their school, complete with a realtor to come visit to talk about buying property. The day lasted ENTIRELY too long, we arrived at 9:30 and they finally let us go at 3:30. Please, please, please know what you're getting into before you apply here. I was open-minded and optimistic, I left feeling like a prisoner.
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I had one MD and one DO, pretty straightforward with their questions, but still a relaxed atmosphere and they would laugh when I made jokes
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Very casual and relaxed. All the questions they asked have appeared on this website given by others.
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I really enjoyed the day, they gave us lunch and breakfast! Everyone was friendly and I had a good interview group.
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Great experience! And good luck to u :)
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Overall, I thought the interview went well. Although it was not long, I thought I was able to say everything I wanted. I really liked the school and have been accepted. The turn around time between the interview and acceptance is less than a week so there is immediate response, which is nice.
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I got there really early. Talked to the other interviewee's. We started the interview early (but if you interview on Friday, you will have your interview later on in the day). From there, we took a tour, ate lunch with some students, and went over financial aid stuff.
The students we talked to were great! They really made me want to go to the school.
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This is probably the least stressful interview you will ever go to for medical school. The interviewers really make you feel relaxed and they are just trying to find out who you are and if you are a good candidate for the PBL curriculum.
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This was my first interview and the impression that I had from the faculty was very positive. Everyone is very friendly(except the security guy). I had a great time during the interview day.
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The interview was fairly cordial. I was led into one of the PBL rooms to interview with a DO and a Microbio/Immunology PhD. They had a list of prescribed questions, which they scribbled upon furiously while you responded. The only major questions that were asked you can find in these reviews. Why Medicine/DO/Bradenton? Leadership style, strengths/weaknesses, conflict management, article summarization (really easy article, no specifics asked, just quick summation)
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I'm glad that this was my first interview. They make the stress level as low as possible.
The two current students who ate lunch with us were informative and honest.
The admissions staff is fun and helps make the experience easier.
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The interview was nice, one interviewer was late which worked for me because I was really nervous in the beginning. By the time I calmed down the other interviewer came, and I think the first one was nice and didn't tell him how nervous I was. From their comments and questions about my application, they were VERY familiar with it and my LORs. Cool!
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Everyone seemed really nice. They seemed like they really wanted everyone to get in. Everything was good except for my interviewers
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It was not bad, not too stressful.
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The interview was great. The people were all very friendly and they all want you to go to their school. The other great thing is letters are mailed within a week of your interview.
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Arrived at 8:30 to interview with a group of 8. The had your standard breakfast, were introduced to staff and physicians, watched a video on the school, and heard about the curriculum, financial aid, housing, etc. They really covered everything you needed to know and were very attentive. Interviewed at 9:30 with one MD and a DO. It went great and I received an acceptance letter yesterday! It was really relaxed and they were very amicable, in fact everyone seemded extremely happy! Had lunch afterwards and spoke with their very own realtor who looks for your housing needs so you need not worry about that. the day finished at 1:30, with a tour of facilities which are state of the art and brand new! Even the cafeteria was great!
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I am glad I went, the pbl was very interesting, and through that I learned it wasn't for me--but I did get accepted. Its a great area and wonderful facilties.
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Very low stress. The interview was like extremely conversational with questions raised as I was talking. I felt like I brought up topics before they did. One thing that I would like to see is more students on campus but other than that the interview was great. I was accepted and cannot wait to go there in the fall!!!!
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The interview day is typical: presentations, tour, interviews, wrap-up. I didn't get a good sense that you get exposure to clinical skills, aside from physicals and histories. The curriculum is very innovative, but I felt there was something lacking. If I were to pay $26,000 a year for med school, I would want a little more than a ten week anatomy survey, 2 hours of PBL M/W/F, OMM lab once a week (Thursday) and clinical exam class (Tuesday). Don't get me wrong, I thought the PBL was a great way to learn, but I just didn't feel as comfortable with the curriculum as at other schools. If you are comfortable with independent study as your primary means of learning, then LECOM-Bradenton is right for you.
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They talk to the interviewees briefly, giving you an overview of the curriculum and a bit of history of the school. Then you are given an article to read that isn't very difficult. Interviews begin right after that. The interviews were conversational and pleasant and the interviewers were very nice. After the interviews you are given a tour by a student. You then have lunch with some students and get to ask all the questions you ever wanted to. After that you get a brief talk on finacial aid and the wrap up talk. It was very enjoyable!
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On balance, my interview was a very positive experience. At the conclusion of the curriculum overview, we (8 candidates) were given an article that appeared in a popular, non-science periodical (topic - stem cells). The group was given 10 minutes to review and take notes. Next, I interviewed with Dr. Quinn (DO) and Dr Leo (PhD). There were no suprises in the questions that they asked. The process seems to be very standardized (in the favor of the prepared applicant). There were no follow-up questions. After the interview, the group was given a tour by two first-year students. We had lunch at 12 followed by a brief financial aid overview.
This school seems to be a good fit for those students who are self-motivated, work well in groups and can excel outside the confines of a traditional classroom.
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I interviewed with two D.O.'s on the faculty who were both very attentive and worked well together. Neither of them was harsh or detached, and we did an awful lot of laughing! The questions come straight off of a scoring sheet, and they have all of your numbers in front of them. It is really just a "get to know you" session, more so than a "do you really belong here" kind of thing. Relax, and have fun! That's all the two guys who interviewed me wanted from me.
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The whole interview day is very laid-back and informal. It feels as if everyone there is rooting for your success, no matter where you end up.
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I felt very positive and laid back during my interview. Because I'd prepared and it wasn't my first medical school interview, I felt less stressed and was myself. The school is great and I hope to be accepted from there.
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It was a great interview and a lovely campus, but I did not feel comfortable with it being so new.
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It was a bit higher stress than expected but I think one of the interviewers was testing me about my commitment to osteopathy since I live in an allopathic-saturated area of the US.
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The interview went well, I think. They were nice and polite. They made a point to be very discreet about their opinion of how i did.
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I was interviewed by two professors simultaneously. They both had read my file, but they had a standardized questionnaire in front of them from which they asked me questions and marked down comments while I spoke. Since others had reported "cold" interviews here, I anticipated needing to draw them into conversation. This approach proved successful and I recommend it. I was asked some difficult questions (see below), but, in a strange manner, I think they pressed me further on purpose to see if I could remain calm. When I did, remain calm (even when I couldn't answer something), I could tell they were impressed, and that felt great.
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I felt very nervous and sick before the interview, but was so relaxed afterwards- they don't try to stress you out at all and gave a great presentation on financial aid and living arrangments
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Yes, it was the standard questions...but the two interviewers that I had were incredibly nice. They smiled, laughed, and we genuinely had a good time.
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Very positive. will probably go here if accepted.
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Very relaxed atmosphere, interviewers were non-intrusive and laid back. Make sure you have questions to ask.
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Overall a great experience except they lost one of my letters and didn't tell me! I waited 2 weeks then called and found out they placed my app on "hold" until they found it. got waitlisted next week. would definitely consider going here if accepted.
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I very much enjoyed my visit to LECOM. I believe this school provides students with a great education. As we waited for the other interviewees, we all talked, and LECOM provided many snacks and beverages for us. We then sat thru a brief discussion about the PBL curriculum by Dr. Leo. AFter this, we were given 10 minutes to read an article. Following, we were interviews, then a tour was given. Next we got lunch with 1rst year students.
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Relaxing and conversational. nothing hard. must have been good because i interviewed on a fri and i was accepted the following mon with a personal call from the associate dean.
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Positive. I really enjoyed the experience. Great area (beaches, potential $$ in real estate, lots of things to do and perfect weather, dont miss Siesta Key), great staff. Very welcoming and calming and happy students.
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Enjoyable, my interviewers were extremely friendly, i enjoyed the experience. they did ask me alot of questions about pbl and if i'd fit into a small group setting.
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It was my first, so I was so nervous! I was also very sick and loopy from all my meds. I felt like I did so bad, but I guess I just felt like my life was up in the air. My advice, stay calm, be yourself and talk to them like you are talking with a friend. They want to know that you are a real person.
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We all got in on time through security (yes, it's very strict, but the guy was friendly), then we introduced ourselves twice, once to a (the?) dean, another time to the admissions people. half went on a tour, the other half went on interviews: 4 30-min sessions with 2 interviewers to one person. then some living spaces talks and a financial aid talk some time in there. ultimately, i was accepted, but declined the offer because while i think it'll be a GREAT school in 10 years, i don't want to be part of a 'guinea pig' class. the stats for the board pass rate are as yet unknown. also, the $1500 deposit was just too much for a school i was only lukewarm about.
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Very laid back and conversational. The staff (starting with the security guard all the way to the interviewers) did a great job of making it a friendly, encouraging atmosphere. Ask lots of questions. Undeniably, the most important thing is to get a sense of whether or not you belong there, so come relaxed (easier said than done) and ready to let them get to know you.
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As expected, the interview lasted from 8:30AM through 1:30 PM. The staff was extremely willing to help and overly friendly. Although school was out and there were no students to talk to, they brought in two local first year students to meet with us for lunch.
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I was brought into a room with two interviewers who would ask me a question, then busily look down and write on a pad while I answered it. They didnt smile much and I almost felt like I was getting grilled. The questions were easy enough and general since it was a close-file. Basically they ask the same questions to everybody.
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The interviewers that my group was assigned to asked a greater amount of questions as well as more in depth questions than the other interviewers for the other groups. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But the other applicants that were in the other groups felt happier about the simplicity of their interview, whereas my group felt quite tense afterward.
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I arrived around 8:15 and checked in with security. He made a call to admissions, and then I was escorted by someone from admissions to a room where the other students were. You will spend much of your day in this room. We all chatted for a bit after which one of the facility came in and spoke to us about the PBL curriculum for a while. Interviews began at 9:30 and lasted until 11:30. There were 3 panels of interviewers, 9 interviewees showed up, 2 were absent. Great bunch of people, hopefully some of them matriculate. While the first group interviewed, the last group was went on a library tour, and then the 2nd and last groups went after that. We had lunch with 2 OMSII students where we could ask questions and they told us what they thought about the school and the area. After lunch we went on a tour of the school with a lady from admissions.
After the tour, someone from financial aid came and spoke to us.
Then we were free to go, it was about 2 pm.
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There were a lot of other people that day, about 12, I dont know if thats normal, I was too early, talked to a lot of people, everyone was great and thoughtful. After five minutes of being there, this school became my first choice over my hometown school, which I attend currently undergrad.
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Pretty standard interview day. I really like the PBL approach. However, the building seemed unlived in. The fact that everyone studies at Starbucks rather than the school bothers me a bit. Also, the security there is like Ft. Knox. I always felt like I was being watched. Good facilities though, and they even managed to convince me that prosections can be good things. I must've done well because I have been accepted.
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Very laid back. They even tell you up front that they're going to try and make it as stress-free as possible. I was interviewed by two of the professors, they were extremely nice and I felt that they were sincerely trying to get to know me as a person.
Another main thing they stress is that you have to be the kind of student that will be successful with PBL.
The students also seemed genuinely happy to be there and answered all the questions honestly.
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Overall, positive experience. Students were friendly, faculty and staff were friendly. PBL sounds good. The school is beautiful and sort of secluded (minus the high school next door!). There is also a YMCA next door which would be good for stress relief.
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Ugh
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This was my first medical school interview ever, and i'm so glad that it was at LECOM Bradenton. Everyone was very laid back, and the admissions staff and faculty are all very friendly and student-centered. Their emphasis is of course on PBL, so definitely read up on that before going to interview so that you can field questions if they ask. Also, they give an article to read and they only give you 10 minutes to read it, then they ask you to summarize it in the interview. In the interview when they asked the questions, I had trouble remembering one of the big long terms, and they said "don't worry about terms" so my hint would be, just focus on the main idea-- they just want to see if you learned something.
Oh- and dress code- at the school they actually enforce a dress code for the students- shirt and tie and at least khakis for guys, and a blouse and nice slacks/skirt for the girls, so definitely for the interview- don't show up in anything less. Also, BE EARLY. Find the school the night before because there is construction going on- one of the students was about 10 minutes late, and that is a horrible first impression.
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I thought the interview went well but I was surprised that so much of it was dedicated to the military, which was half my life ago, and not what I had done in the last 3-5 years
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Great, laid back, and I was just accepted today. A great school for people who like learning on their own and prefer this to lectures.
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They asked me a couple questions, Then asked if i had any. It was fast because my app was quite self-explanatory. It was very relaxed and informal.
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Fine..nothing unexpected because they have a set of questions that they ask every applicant.
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Well, I was accepted, so I did something right. Basically, you go and check in with security, sit in a room with other students and listen to some basic presentations, interview, go on a tour with the librarian (he's somewhat entertaining), then another real tour with one of the ladies from admissions....then lunch (where you meet with some students), then the financial aid talk (in the lunchroom towards the end).
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Nice. The lunch was awful but it was an informative interview day, PBL is very impressive.
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Overall it was not bad but i thought the 10 interview questions were a little bland. Make sure you have questions prepared because you will have time. also, the registrar had no qualms about swearing during our sessions.
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Very relaxing. You start out with a tour, then interview while another group of ppl meet with the librarian. Then a couple of 1st yr students come and talk about the school and about PBL.
This school is all about PBL, so you should know what it is and talk about it in the interview.
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Great! I had a good time talking with the interviewers about my experiences, etc. and talking with them about their life, practice, and reasons they loved LECOM.
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LECOM-Bradenton was really awesome! The interview was really fun and we all got along quite well as a group. I got everyone's emails and am keeping in touch with everyone, and I suggest that y'all do the same thing. The teachers at LECOM are really awesome. I learned that they use Prosections and pre-prepared slides so that you don't waste time in Anatomy lab. This is very efficient. I was considering either going to LECOM-Bradenton or Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, but LECOM-Bradenton is way better! LECOM-Bradenton's PBL curriculum has already proven itself in Erie, and will soon prove itself again in Florida. Western's best professor has even left Western to join LECOM-Bradenton. Think about it. Do you like to learn in lecture from 8-5 every day or would you rather meet in PBL groups 2 hours a day, 3 times a week, and then only 2 times a week your second year? Also, I have heard that the girls at LECOM-Bradenton are very hot! Can't wait for OMM Lab...HOLLA!
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Interviewers were unresponsive and reluctant to give opinions. Highly scripted and emotionless. Be ready to impress
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It was a relatively stress-free day and I enjoyed the tour of the building and their explanation of their curriculum.
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Good overall. The interviewers did however play a little good cop bad cop.
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Looks like a great school. Very professional for the most part. Both the staff and students seem very happy with the program.
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2 on 1 panel. The Ph.C was really nice and directed all of his questions towards me. The DO just sat at the edge of the desk and joted his notes, he never really smiled. They also gave us 10 minutes to read an article before our interview and asked us to summarize it during the interview. It's a really easy read with a few numbers to remember. I want to point out that I don't think that I did poorly of my interview, but the questions seemed awkward and didn't let me give a spectacular answer.
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I loved it there. It became my first choice and it made me very happy to be accepted.
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I hated the interview itself... I was fortunate to have a really cold interview... The two gave no facial expressions while they just ran down a list of questions....
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Start at 745, tour, discuss about school, read article, interview, talk to two students, leave
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The day was very relaxed and consisted of tours of the facility and an interview in the morning. After the interview, everyone ate some snacks and chatted until the financial aid administrator arrived. Finally one the students at the school spoke to us and answered any questions we had.
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The morning began with a quick group tour of the building. Then a talk from the dean and then the interviews began. The whole day was pretty laid back and relaxed. The two people that interviewed me were very nice. However, one was "cut and dry" just wanted to talk business when the other joked and he would've been content just chatting about the weather or anything other than interview questions. The student that spoke with us at the end of the day provided a lot of info about the student life and the local area, which was nice to hear it from someone who didn't really care if we came there or not. All the students seemed very happy at Bradenton.
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Arrived at school at 7:15 am.
Interviewed at 11:00 am.
Took a brief tour.
Talked with current students.
Left at about 1:30 pm.
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Fairly laid back. The interview questions were straight forward and designed to see how motivated you are to becoming a DO and how motivated you are to doing that at LECOM Bradenton.
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The interview was very relaxed. The interviewers showed sincere interest, so just be yourself and be excited. Just have fun and stay focused on the school and the possibilities.
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Awesome! The two people interviewing me seemed genuine and they were interested in my personality. It was laid back and it was quick and easy. 30 min bada bing bada boom, then a tour of the facility and then on the way home
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The admissions staff was very helpful and helped make the whole interview process less stressful. When you first arrive, they go over the schedule for the day and you sit in the order in which you'll interview. There are two sets of interviewers. You are given an article before the interview to read and summarize during the interview. The faculty asked me some difficult questions, but I think it was more to see how I would handle being in a stressful situation. Most of my questions were specific to my file and my career interests. They were very friendly and seemed to be happy at the school. The tour of the school was good, but since no classes were going on and many students aren't on campus on Fridays, so it was hard to tell what student life is really like. The students that came to talk to us had only good things to say about the PBL curriculum. Even though the school is in kind of a remote area, there is a lot to do in the area. The beach is only 10 min away and Tampa is 1 hour away. Overall, it seems like a great place to go to school. Coming from California, the only draw back for me is the lack of diversity in the surrounding Bradenton area. I got accepted though and may go there!
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Being a Florida State Seminole has its advantages, especially if one of your interviewers is one too... very laid back, more conversational than anything, an enjoyable experience.
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Seems like a great school, admissions was nice and the professor of OMM was very personable.