Scranton, PA
Allopathic Medical Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 39% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.9
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 283 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 low stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (89%)
No change (11%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (36%)
Good (48%)
Average (16%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally expressed appreciation for the strong faculty support and emphasis on primary care, but some had concerns about the diversity lecture and the location of the school. Overall, the interview process was seen as relaxed and conversational, with a focus on the school's mission and commitment to student wellness.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Emphasis on primary care though the match list is strong, impressed by student wellness and friendliness of faculty, but confused about clincal years
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As a diverse applicant, I wish they had made an effort to match me with interviewers who understand my experience, or at least have faculty interviewers receptive /ask about what makes my experience and path to medicine unique
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What an amazing faculty from my short experience. I never thought I would be treated with so much respect and kindness in a medical school interview. Nobody talked down to me, but treated my experience as valuable and overall treated me as a peer in medicine, not an underling.
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Everything was great besides the diversity lecture. The woman giving it seem quite full of herself and said the same crap over and over again.
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I think I'd be really happy going to school here because of the quality of the education. Their mission isn't just something they say they care about but there's a strong sense that the faculty lives and dies by it. Geisinger also has a strong network throughout the region. I do not, however, love the location of the school.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
47 Minutes Average
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Number:
2 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
94% One-on-One
6% Group Interview
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File Type:
71% Open-File
29% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
TCMC-COMP interviews are an average of 47 minutes, with an average of 2 interviews. 94% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 29% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the difference between empathy and sympathy, reasons for pursuing a career in medicine, discussions on strengths and weaknesses, and scenarios related to patient care and interpersonal skills. Many respondents mentioned questions specific to the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and potential nondisclosure agreements, such as scenarios involving cultural sensitivity and ethical dilemmas.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Difference between empathy and sympathy
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Tell me about a book you read?
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MMI style question about what I would do if staff rejected to treat a patient because of the patients ethnic/racial background
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Tell me about yourself.
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Why Geisinger?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at The Commonwealth Medical College discussed a wide range of topics including customer service in medicine, personal experiences influencing medical practice, family dynamics, career transitions, ethics, and healthcare system preferences. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) as some respondents mentioned personal questions and scenarios, while others elaborated on their views on healthcare and medical training, with a few expressing interest in ethical dilemmas and healthcare challenges.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tell me more about your customer service experience and how it relates to medicine?
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What do you think are issues/barriers in the field of medicine? Also asked me again when I said I was interested in OB/GYN
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What have you learned from being a father? How do you plan on helping your wife feel included and fulfilled while you are in medical school?
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How do you think your past as a firefighter will affect how you are as a doctor?
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How's your mom?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, researching the school's mission and values, practicing with mock interviews, and reading through Student Doctor Network (SDN) for common interview questions and feedback. Suggestions included focusing on understanding healthcare issues specific to the school's location and reviewing personal statements and secondary applications thoroughly.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Read over my secondaries and school's mission.
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Sdn questions, zoom mock interviews
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Practice questions
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I didn't.
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SDN, mock interview
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at The Commonwealth Medical College discussed various topics such as ethical dilemmas in patient care, healthcare challenges, personal strengths and weaknesses, and opinions on healthcare reform. While some mentioned specific questions like the difference between empathy and sympathy, others noted a conversational interview style with faculty members and hypothetical scenarios related to healthcare and ethics.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Difference between empathy and sympathy
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Ethical question regarding treating an unruly and bigoted patient
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What do you want me to tell the admissions committee that you haven’t already told me?
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What is an ethical dilemma you have faced lately?
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What is the biggest problem facing healthcare?
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the faculty, students, and admissions staff at Geisinger. The brand new state-of-the-art facilities, emphasis on student feedback, and the welcoming and conversational interview atmosphere were highlighted as positive aspects of the school.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Both interviewers were really nice and the whole thing felt more like a conversation than an interview.
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Emphasis on student feedback, massive integrated health system, brand new facilities
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The interviewer were very porfessional, but very personable. They made me feel like I was apart of the team already. This interview shot Geisinger to the top of my list.
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The facility.
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Personalized, cooperative learning environment where the faculty are extremely passionate about teaching.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants were negatively impressed by factors such as long and unorganized Zoom calls, lack of enthusiasm from interviewers and current students, concerns about the school's curriculum changes, limited facilities and resources, as well as the rural location of the school. Suggestions include improving interview experiences, providing clearer information, enhancing student engagement, and addressing facility limitations to create a more positive impression on prospective students.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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How long the whole Zoom call was.
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1 hour diversity lecture was overly hammy...students had no criticism of the school. no one could accurately inform us how the longitudinal clinical rotations worked
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I didn’t expect it to be closed interview, I don’t know if it was supposed to be. My faculty interviewer seemed distracted and in a rush to finish.
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N/A
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The annoyingly long diversity lecture. Bad way to start the whole day.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known more about the interview format, such as the types of questions asked and the sequence of faculty and student interviews. Additionally, many mentioned the challenges with parking and the need to be prepared for walking on hilly terrain during the visit.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Geisinger had no dedicated step 1 prep time, and doesn't have a concrete plan in place to remediate it
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Interviewer name, whether it would be closed or open interview
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N/a
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My student interviewer only asked me 4 questions and I had to carry the rest of the conversation for the remaining 20min
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Grading structure, attendance policy
🤝 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 suggest that the admissions office should provide quicker decisions, improve communication consistency, offer more information during interviews, and consider implementing rolling admissions for reduced stress on applicants. They also mention the need for better presenter/speakers, improved lunch options, and potential changes to the interview day schedule.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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6-8 week is very lengthy...some students have waited 11 weeks for a decision this cycle
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Wow, Geisinger admissions committee impressed me more than I can say. What a professional, caring and responsive staff. There is a reason Geisinger is shooting up every year in medical school rankings.
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Get back to us quicker than 6-8 weeks (If you can!).
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Presenter stated information that contradicted what students said later on tour. It was confusing.
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Better presenter/speaker for curriculum overview.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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Wilkes-Barre
17% interviewees used Wilkes-Barre (Wilkes-Barre), with 17% using Philadelphia (Philadelphia) and 17% using scranton/wilkes-barre airport (scranton/wilkes-barre airport) and 17% using Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport) and 17% using Wilkes-Barres (Wilkes-Barres) and 17% using virtual interview (virtual interview).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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15% Airplane
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78% Automobile
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2% Train or Subway
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5% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Hilton (average ranking 8.9/10), with some staying at Radisson (average rating 7.3/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Hilton
8.9/10
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Radisson
7.3/10
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Hilton - has free airport to school and airport
10/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in 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
Admissions staff (17%)
Other (2%)
Student (81%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (76%)
Neutral (24%)
All Responses
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