How many people interviewed you?
| Response Average | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 1.75 | 20 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Positively | 19 |
| Negatively | 0 |
| No change | 1 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 3.16 | 19 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.45 | 20 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.40 | 20 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| In Person | 0 |
| Virtual | 1 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 0 |
| 10 minutes | 0 |
| 15 minutes | 1 |
| 20 minutes | 0 |
| 25 minutes | 1 |
| 30 minutes | 3 |
| 35 minutes | 2 |
| 40 minutes | 1 |
| 45 minutes | 4 |
| 50 minutes | 3 |
| 55 minutes | 1 |
| 60+ minutes | 4 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| At the school | 17 |
| At a regional location | 0 |
| At another location | 3 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| One-on-one | 14 |
| In a group | 6 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Open file | 5 |
| Closed file | 15 |
| Response Average | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 1.75 | 20 |
"Why optometry?"
"What would your best friend say about you if they were here now?"
"If your best friend was here and you stepped out of the room, what do you think they would say about you?"
"What is your hobby"
"Describe how you became interested in optometry?"
"What led you to consider optometry?"
"Why does biomechanics interest you?"
"Tell me about yourself"
"Why haven't I shadowed yet?"
"What type of things do you like to do?"
"What was the last book you read? haha, dont say Harry Potter. lucky for me, he was a fan!"
"We actually signed a confidentiality statement saying we wouldn't share details of our interview and questions, but the questions were all normal, nothing out of the blue."
"Tell me about a situation that was very stressful and how you delt with it."
"If we could fly your best friend here right now, what would he or she say about you?"
"Just basic stuff...why optometry? why pacific?....etc"
"How has your day been?"
"Why optometry? Why Pacific?"
"What's an optometrist?"
"What would your best friend change about you?"
"What do you like to do for fun?"
"What would your best friend say about you?"
"What can you bring to Pacific?"
"Have you done any research?"
"Why Temple?"
"What is it about Pacific's program that interests you?"
"What's the most recent movie you've seen?"
"Tell me something about yourself that describes your personality is not covered in your letters or application."
"Tell me about your observation experience. "
"What are your hobbies and interests?"
"Why Pacific?"
"Tell us about your observations. "
"why did you want to go to pacific?"
"What are your strengths/can you bring to Pacific University?"
"Why optometry"
"What did you learn during your shadowing experiences about optometry (both good and bad)?"
"How would your best friend describe you?"
"If your best friend were here, what would he/she say about you?"
"What non-science class did you like the most?"
"Is there anything else you would like me to know. Maybe a question you had a great answer to and I didn't ask. "
"What could you bring/add to Pacific's campus?"
"Why optometry?"
"Why do you think you would be a good fit for Pacific?"
"How would you identify somebody whose stressed and how would you suggest they manage it?"
"what are your thoughts on organic food?"
"I won't go into details but they give you an ethical situation and you have to figure out what is the best way to approach it."
"What characteristics do you think are essential for optometrists, and which of these do you lack?"
"N/A"
"Nothing really, prof was familiar with my undergrad and impressed. Pretty much accepted right there."
"What type pf learner are you? (visual/auditory)"
"My DPM didn't really ask me questions. Basically told me he knew I could do it, that I was accepted in his book, and would put in the good word"
"What's the most recent movie you have seen? "
"How was your experience like at Texas A&M?"
"They had us sign an sheet saying we would not share the specific questions."
"If I would pay for you to go anywhere in the world and take any type of class (from school to scuba diving) where would you go?"
"If you could go back and take more classes in undergrad that are not prereqs, what kind of classes would you take?"
"I'm not going to get specific on the questions, but I will say that there were no ''tricks'' and the questions were very basic in nature. They just asked questions to get to know you as a person and student. Interviews are closed file so be sure to bring up your extracirriculars and activities because the interviewers know nothing about you!"
"What your best friend would say good/bad about you."
"If we could bring your closest friend into the room, what would he or she say about you?"
"Name a song that describes you"
"Nothing too difficult, but I would say the ethical question."
"Why should we choose you over another, equally-qualified candidate?"
"No tough question, just a conversation really."
"If there is anything you would like the admissions committee to know about you, what would that be?"
"Why haven't I shadowed yet?"
"I see you applied to dental schools, were you interviewed, and if so, how committed are you to podiatry?"
"See above"
"Tell me the characteristics you think make someone a good student and tell me which you possess."
"What qualities do you think an optometrist should possess? And which of these characteristics do you think you possess already? Which do you not yet possess?"
"What was a stressful situation in your life and how did you deal with it."
"(general theme of the question... I can't remember the exact wording) Think back to a class that you had difficulty in. Why were you having problems? What did you do (or could you have done) to overcome that difficulty?"
"student doctor network"
"I looked up a lot of questions from SDN, read some tips on interviews and ask current optometry students about the interviews to help make my answers stronger."
"Looks up practice interview questions, wrote down bullet point answers, then answered them out loud. Also attended a mock interview."
"SDN"
"SDN, various optometric websites, searched online for interview questions and rehearsed."
"SDN, practiced interviewing with family, previous optometry school interviews"
"I had been to several before so I just went over the information packet and made sure I had written down a few questions to ask."
"Sdn, school website"
"SDN interview feedback, mock interview, rereading my OptomCas responses, and the supplemental application questions."
"SDN, read the info in the school interview folder"
"Read the packet that was sent by TUSPM and looked at the school website, read SDN "
"Read SDN, read personal statement, went to other interviews, lived amongst eskimos. . .j/k, "
"Read Interview feedback on this site, prepare the standard questions: why optometry?, why this school?, strengths/weaknesses, browse the Pacific website and learn about the school."
"Read through SDN forums, re-read my essay answers from my app, relaxed the night before"
"I had a couple of mock interviews at school and they gave me a really good idea of what to expect."
"Read over practice questions from SDN, read over info about the school, spoke with current students."
"I mostly just relaxed, got a lot of sleep, and made sure that I knew what I wanted to say. I practiced talking to myself in the mirror with what I would answer to some basic questions."
"Just said to myself, ''Be yourself!''"
"Mock interviews with friends, family Read SDN Studied the school's website to become more familiar with the school's background"
"very nice faculty members"
"At lunch, being able to talk to current students and professors"
"The professor, students and staff are super nice."
"Very positive atmosphere. I like that they have clinics in different places. The health professions campus in Hillsboro. Living costs is cheap!!"
"The campus was beautiful and the students were very friendly. Staff really seem to care that their students not only do well academically, but succeed in their life goals as well."
"Busy clinic, ethusiastic students, casual conversation with DPM's in the clinic, nice tour, location of school."
"Clinic"
"The friendliness of the faculty, students & staff. The facilities."
"Everyone was very friendly. The admissions staff were excited to have us there. The students seemed to all get along well with one another."
"Facilities are described by others to be shabby, but i don't think that is the case and i do believe MANY students on this site engage in "school wars". the facilities were not BRILLIANT AND SPECTACULAR, but they are MORE THAN ADEQUATE to receive a podiatric medical education. Admissions staff were extremely helpful and seemed very genuine in their approach in making our day very structured. David Martin was out sick, so another member of the admissions staff helped us. It was long and they showed us as much as possible including any new facilities they might have built. Also, they are not "affiliated" with Temple, but rather a PART of Temple U, which I think is great seeing as how TU is a school that is actively improving its reputation. The students who talked with us at lunch were very professional, as well as the students who we met in the clinical setting."
"All the faculty and students are really there to help each other and us there for the interview. Everyone was happy to see you there, learn about you and answer any questions you had."
"The honesty of the staff, faculty and students. The incredible facilities! The amazing degree of professionalism from the student body. The profs are fantastic. The students and the profs have great relationships. The school is very student-centered. The program is geared towards specifically meeting your goals. Everyone is so nice!"
"The school was very laid back and every equal opertunity. The clinical rotations are chosen on a lottery system so that everyone has a fair chance. "
"The family-oriented atmosphere and small ''hometown'' feel to Forest Grove. It was not very intimidating and all of the faculty were very friendly and enthusastic."
"Pretty much everything, I loved Pacific. The most impressive thing for me was that I got to talk to faculty and the dean like they were my friends or colleagues, not as if I was subordinate."
"NICE people, VERY accomodating!"
"Very family-like and casual atmosphere The faculty are top notch GORGEOUS CAMPUS!!!"
"Not very conversational, Interviewers are constantly writing your responses. Completely closed, I wish the interviewers had at least read my essays."
"Some of the lab rooms were older but I heard that they are doing some remodeling this summer."
"The forest grove clinic is tiny. But you probably would work elsewhere. I would have like to see the 3D clinic"
"Jefferson Hall seemed a little small and outdated compared to other schools' optometry facilities. "
"We only were able to see 1/5 of the clinical facilities because the other 4 clinics were not located near campus. I wanted to see what they were like. Also, this means that the students have to commute more to go to the clinics."
"Facilities are a bit old, but I had taken anatomy/histology in old labs before and it doesn't make a difference. "
"Only the small size of Forest Grove. The proximity to Portland & Hillsboro & the coast more than make up for that."
"clinic was busy but not overwhelmingly busy, bashing of the NYCPM program, you have to apply for scholarships your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years, they are definitely dorms"
"Only the location really. It's in a big city (downtown), and if you're not use to city life it could be a little overwhleming."
"The day was kind of long."
"The town of Forest Grove itself. It is quite small and run-down. "
"The school has an undergrad program... so it is disenchanting to be walking around campus with a bunch of 18 year old kids."
"The way some other students had dressed/ prepared. Jeans and hoodies in my opinion show a lack of respect for the interviewers."
"The clinicals director was very abrasive and tried to sugar-coat the fact that the clinics that actually had patients coming through at a steady pace were all located in Portland . . . an hour away. The facilities seemed a bit small."
"Nothing, absolutely nothing."
"Small facilities, clinical program presenter spent too much time defending the clinical program... Overall though I think the externships make up for that and great docs definately come out of the program."
"Forest Grove itself is small, but fortunately Portland is a short drive away! Campus clinic is very small and looked empty (they do have other clinics throughout the Portland metro area... but you don't get to see them!)"
"How long the day was going to be."
"That it was a long day. It does not end till 4ish"
"To relax. It is a very relaxed environment even during the interview."
"Not to worry because the interview was mainly about getting to know us personally, not drilling us to see what we knew. Also, bring specific questions because they had a student-led question and answer session which was really helpful!"
"How well Temple podiatry is integrated into the Temple University Health System."
"How many times I would hear how much better temple is than any other school I applied to"
"Nothing"
"Nothing. It was a good stress-free visit."
"The interview it seems can be either intense and scrutinizing, or laid-back. Mine was fairly laid back and frank."
"Nothing really."
"I wish I had remembered to bring an umbrella! "
"That the school was only 25 minutes from downtown portland and that most students go to the city 3+ times a week."
"Pacific attempts to accept an equal number of males and females for each class, so with the ratios going the way they are, all males should apply to Pacific since they'll have a great chance of getting in! I didn't see how this isn't discrimination of gender. Shouldn't all have an equal opportunity to be accepted regardless of gender, race, religion, etc?!"
"I'm from the Portland area, so nothing really surprised me."
"The 1st year budget is $45,000 and soph year an additional $8000 is needed for the summer. AHHHHH!"
"Can't think of anything..."
"It was a long interview day, but overall I liked how they scheduled everything."
"This school is unique and prestigious. I liked it because of it's proximity to where I live and its strong clinical program but if I was not from around the area, it would not be a top choice for me."
"The hotel, Best Western, offers a 15% discount to students who are interviewing at Pacific."
"Pretty long day. Tour was long, but enjoyable. Everyone was friendly, nice lunch, very casual day."
"Pretty layed back. They know who is there for real, and those using pod school as a backup. "
"Awesome...very impressed with the facilities and staff, dorms could be better It's a good idea to shadow first then interview"
"I thought that it was a good experience. For being my first interview, it was very stress-free. I never felt pressured at all. The staff at TUSPM are very pationate about the school, which I feel is a good thing."
"I was interviewed by Dr. Newman, who was very frank and honest. He asked me what schools I had applied to, (i think this is pretty common to all the pod schools). He asked my thoughts on temple, he went over some of the things in my file, and said he was impressed with my letters. Most of the conversation I feel was geared towards assessing my personality as opposed to asking redundant questions like "why podiatry"? which every applicant has already answered through applying and an essay. i was asked how committed i am to podiatry."
"The interview and the whole day was very informative but a little long. Everyone was laid back and made the interviewers relaxed. All of my questions were answered by the time I had my interview (in the afternoon). There was a question and answer period with just some students so you could ask whatever you wanted and were not being evaluated by any teachers or admission committee members. "
"The prof and staff member (both on the admissions committee) were incredibly nice. I had a great time during my interview - and we even went over by 10-15 minutes! I was so relaxed and it was really like having a conversation with friends. The entire Interview Day was an awesome way of getting acquainted with the school."
"My interview was actually in Canada at the University of Alberta, which was great because it saved me the cost of flying to Oregon. The presentation was excellent and answered almost all of my questions and the interview was very laid back. I felt every comfortable and welcomed by the school."
"I was actually interviewed by two faculty, rather than the usual one faculty and one student. I did not prefer this format. The two were sitting rather close but far apart from each other, so splitting my attention between the two while I spoke nearly got me dizzy. It was NOT as relaxed as everyone makes it out to be because with a 2-on-1 interview, it's much more difficult for the interview to flow like a conversation. The interviewers took turns asking questions and they were much trickier and difficult to answer (at least about yourself) than my other interviews. The interviewers almost lost their personalities as soon as it was my turn to be asked questions, and then became people again when it was my turn to ask questions at the end. It was really intimidating. I also was very UNimpressed with the clinicals director - he was rapid-firing questions at us applicants at a very vulnerable time and completely ignored some people in the room. I found him to be borderline unprofessional. The area is gorgeous though - great for someone used to the small, hometown feel. It's also great having the undergrad right there because it opens up the extra curriculars like sports and music so that it's not always the same 30 people participating! It's a very active campus, and the cafeteria was fantastic. Save room for a big burrito!"
"It's a LONG day, however, it really gives you the opportunity to see what it would be like to spend a lot of time there. First we wrote a quick essay, and sat in on a class. Then the Clinical Director gave us a talk. Then Janelle (the Admissions Director) told us everything we needed to know about Pacific and Financial Aid. Then a representative from Student Services came and talked for about 15 minutes. Then lunch. Then tours and interviews. Last, everyone got together and had dessert and talked with the faculty (my favorite part). "
"Very positive. Super nice people and I was very relaxed. "
"Pacific held an Interview Day, and I was with ~15 other applicants. We got a tour of the school, sat in on a class, faculty lunch, student panel, and of course, the interview. It was very laid back and I felt like I got a good impression of the school, and what it had to offer. "
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Student | 12 |
| Faculty member | 2 |
| Admissions staff | 4 |
| Other | 1 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Enthusiastic | 13 |
| Neutral | 4 |
| Discouraging | 1 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.11 | 19 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| In state | 2 |
| Out of state | 17 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 0-1 hour | 3 |
| 2-3 hours | 5 |
| 4-6 hours | 4 |
| 7+ hours | 5 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Airplane | 8 |
| Automobile | 8 |
| Train or subway | 2 |
| Other | 1 |
Portland
PHL
PDX
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| At school facility | 0 |
| With students at the school | 0 |
| Friends or family | 3 |
| Hotel | 9 |
| Home | 0 |
| Other | 1 |
Avalon Hotel and Spa in Portland, OR
Best Western
Doubletree
DoubleTree Hotel
Doubletree on Broad St.
Best Western University Inn
Best Western Forest Grove
best western
Avalon Hotel and Spa in Portland, OR
Best Western
Doubletree
DoubleTree Hotel
Doubletree on Broad St.
Best Western University Inn
Best Western Forest Grove
best western
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| < $100 | 4 |
| $101-$200 | 4 |
| $201-$300 | 2 |
| $301-$400 | 3 |
| $401-$500 | 0 |
| $501+ | 3 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.25 | 20 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 6.84 | 19 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.47 | 19 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.00 | 8 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.63 | 8 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.14 | 7 |
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What is one of the specific questions they asked you (question 1)?