Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
Miss. State, MS
Veterinary Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 29% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a low stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.9
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 212 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 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 average 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 (78%)
Negatively (11%)
No change (11%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (38%)
Good (35%)
Average (27%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants commonly mentioned that the interviews were conversational and low-stress, with friendly interviewers. Some expressed concerns about the school's communication, technology resources, and the town of Starkville, while others praised the genuine hospitality and curriculum fit at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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A lot of people say that the interview is conversational and that you shouldn't be stressed, but that really wasn't the case for me. Might have just been my particular group of interviewers/ the answers I gave, but everything for me felt very traditional and by the book
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Very casual interview, I felt comfortable the entire time.
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This cycle has been amazing! The school has made exceptional efforts to communicate with applicants despite the pandemic.
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Lack of diversity at least on my interview day, low stress interview and it goes by fast.
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Be confident. Bring water and a notebook/pen to write notes. Bring several questions. Ask about scholarships, opportunities, anything you can think of! it shows you are invested.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
31 Minutes Average
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Number:
3 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
38% One-on-One
62% Group Interview
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File Type:
97% Open-File
3% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
0% Virtual
100% In-Person
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Interview Location (for In-Person):
100% At the School
0% Other Location
MISS-VET-COMP interviews are an average of 31 minutes, with an average of 3 interviews. 38% of interviews are one-on-one, 100% are in-person, and 3% are closed-file. Of the in-person interviews, 100% are held at the school.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about financial planning, personal contributions to the school and profession, debt expectations, community issues in the field, teamwork abilities, stress management, ethical dilemmas, career aspirations post-graduation, reasons for pursuing veterinary medicine, and specific veterinary scenarios. Some respondents mentioned questions tailored to their experiences, research background, and ethical decision-making, while others were asked about holistic medicine, zoonotic diseases, and challenging veterinary situations.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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How do you plan to afford vet school?
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Should you be accepted, what will you bring to the school and profession as a whole?
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I got asked what level of debt do I expect to be in after my first year (they wanted a number, which I found weird)
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What are some issues you've seen the vet community deal with?
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Why are you a good fit for MSU?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting questions asked at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including favorite wildlife animals, the impact of COVID-19 on veterinary medicine, qualities of a great veterinarian, resolving conflicts, and personal experiences influencing the decision to pursue veterinary medicine. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, as some responses mentioned tailored questions specific to individual applications, while others touched on topics like nondisclosure agreements and unique scenarios like handling difficult decisions and addressing injured wildlife patients without funding.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What’s my favorite wildlife animal?
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What was your favorite research experience? (Based on my file)
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Have you seen a veterinarian you've worked with deal with a difficult situation? If so, how did they handle it and how would you handle it differently?
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How do you think COVID-19 has influenced the field of veterinary medicine, and do you think COVID-19 will have long term effects on the field of vet med?
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They asked a lot about my job as a pharmacy technician, probably 10 or so questions total, and they were interested lol
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their applications, practicing with questions from Student Doctor Network (SDN), seeking advice from mentors or current students, and doing mock interviews. Many also researched common interview questions, discussed with peers, and focused on being confident in what they wrote in their application.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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SDN, reviewing my application
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SDN and practiced basic questions
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Interview prep with a mentor, looking at questions on SDN
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I studied possible questions on SDN
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I reviewed questions on SDN, listened to various podcasts, attended the webinar that addressed how the interview process would go, and complied a list of potential questions. I brought this list to work with me to have my coworkers quiz me randomly on the questions. I also asked the veterinarians I work under for their input on some questions.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including personal accomplishments, the role of humans in veterinary medicine, leadership qualities, animal welfare vs. animal rights, and ethical considerations in the profession. Several responses referenced scenarios related to veterinary experiences, goal-setting, and ethical dilemmas, indicating a diverse mix of challenging questions that test candidates' critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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If you were injured practicing large animal medicine what other options are there for you?
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Tell me about a recent goal you set and accomplished.
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Aside from accomplishing your masters degree, what is another accomplishment you're proud of?
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What is your idea of professionalism regarding veterinary medicine? (the way it was asked was weird and I don't think I answered what she wanted me to)
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Things I had not thought about like what I would go into for a specialty if I decided.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the faculty, staff, and students at the school, as well as the detailed organization of the interview process and informative orientation sessions. Many highlighted the emphasis on mentorship, hands-on experience, and the supportive environment that made them feel valued and well-prepared for their potential studies at the institution.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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2+2 program, friendliness of the faculty and students, how much hand son experience is given even in the first two years
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The faculty and community
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They really seem to prepare you for becoming a student there, with lab coat fittings, professional headshots, orientation, and all. Really feels like they want to sell themselves to you as much as you want to sell yourself to them.
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It was very casual and we just had a conversation!
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Fantastic process! Even though interviews were online, it felt as though I was in the room with the interviewers. I loved the virtual tour the day before as well.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed negative feedback about issues such as lack of communication or organization from mentors and admissions staff, unprepared interviewers, limited tour visibility, and concerns about the dress code or technology. Suggestions included improving communication with applicants, enhancing interview preparation, providing more informative tours, and addressing concerns about the dress code and technology to create a more positive experience for potential students.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Business casual dress everyday, and you’re not allowed to wear jackets to lecture (but can bring blankets??).
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My mentor did not reach out before my interview
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There's supposed to be a mentor pairing that you have and I never got contacted by mine. A lot of the social aspects are reliant on that contact which left me floating around trying to force myself on conversations/groups.
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They told me a major research experience I mentioned during the interview wasn’t on my application, and when I pointed out where it was, they told me “Next time you apply, you might want to make that more clear”. Very unpersonable people. This just went to show me how important having a good interviewer is because it dropped the school to the bottom of my list.
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Nothing.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known that the interview process was very conversational and not stressful, with friendly interviewers. Additionally, many applicants suggested being prepared for potential downtime between activities and interviews, as well as being aware of the professional dress code and the need to plan ahead for logistics like interview times, accommodation, and transportation.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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It was very conversational, do not stress about the interview.
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Don't come earlier than what's on your sheet. I finished everything they had set for that block of time before the start time, which left quite a bit of time to just twiddle my thumbs while everyone else checked in
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N/A
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I wish I believed other students when they said the interview was not stressful. I had fun in my interview and was surprised how quickly the time went by!
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They ask if they can record you
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
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 commonly suggested that the admissions office should provide more detailed and updated statistics about accepted applicants, improve email response times, and assign mentors earlier in the process. They also appreciated the friendliness and efficiency of the admissions staff.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing, everything was very well organized and prepared.
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I'd really like to see more accepted applicant stats released after the cycle is over. The stats on the website seem to be the same ones from previous years. How many applied, how many interviewed, got seats, etc. A really cool thing to do would be the class profiles that OSU and Michigan do! Other than that admissions was very speedy in responses of all kinds and very accommodating.
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Respond to emails in a more timely manner. I had to email twice to make sure my RSVP for the interview was in, and then it took more than a month for me to get the actual information about the interview.
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M. Hadaway always told us to contact her if we had any questions regarding the process. I tried contacting her on two different occasions. I sent her 2 emails, and left 2 voicemails. She never responded to me. Also, she never informed me of my interview time, so I had to waste money on a hotel, car rental, and missing another day at work so I could stay an extra night (when I could have flown out that day if she had actually returned my correspondence).
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Absolutely nothing, the admissions office was extremely friendly and helpful
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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JAN
21% interviewees used JAN (JAN), with 14% using GTR (GTR) and 7% using MEM (MEM) and 7% using bhm (bhm) and 7% using BHA (BHA) and 7% using Birmingham, AL (Birmingham, AL) and 7% using Golden Triangle Regional Airport (Golden Triangle Regional Airport) and 7% using Jackson, MS (Jackson, MS) and 7% using golden triangle (golden triangle) and 7% using Airport (BHM) and 7% using New Orleans (New Orleans).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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40% Airplane
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57% Automobile
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0% Train or Subway
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3% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Days Inn (average ranking 6.3/10), with some staying at Hilton Garden Inn (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Days Inn
6.3/10
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Hilton Garden Inn
10/10
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Holiday Inn Express
8.3/10
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 a Student
Other (3%)
Student (97%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (82%)
Neutral (18%)
All Responses
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