How did the interview impress you?

Positively

What was the stress level of the interview?

1 out of 10

How long was the interview?

30 minutes

Where did the interview take place?

At the school

How many people interviewed you?

3

What was the style of the interview?

One-on-one

What type of interview was it?

Open file

What is one of the specific questions they asked you (question 1)?

"What's your biggest accomplishment?" Report Response | I was asked this question too

What is one of the specific questions they asked you (question 2)?

"Why didn't you take any science classes as an undergrad?" Report Response | I was asked this question too

What is one of the specific questions they asked you (question 3)?

"Explain your poor performance freshman year." Report Response | I was asked this question too

What was the most interesting question?

"What's the link between medicine and literature? (I was an English major as an undergrad.)" Report Response | I was asked this question too

What was the most difficult question?

"What's your biggest weakness?" Report Response | I was asked this question too

How did you prepare for the interview?

"This site, PCOM's website, went to the open house in September, brushed up on my osteopathic principles and healthcare issues." Report Response

What impressed you positively?

"The facilities--WOW! Everything is immaculate. The anatomy lab is bright and well-ventilated and has a beautiful view of the Philly skyline. The new student activity center is gorgeous; the 76ers practice there. The faculty, staff, and students have to be just about the friendliest people on the planet. All day, students were constantly coming up to the interviewees wishing us good luck and asking if we had any questions. One actually took about 45 minutes out of his class time to talk to us about PCOM. While the student body is relatively large, it feels like a big family and the students seem supportive of one another. The curriculum is totally integrated, meaning that everything you learn has a broader context. There is A LOT of research going on. The 6 core hospital they're affiliated with have a total of over 1,000 combined beds. They just bought a new robotic patient simulator, which very few med schools--MD or DO--have. You see patients as early as your first trimester. The scribe service is reputed to be very good. The lecture halls are big and can get crowded, but are chock full of hi-tech gadgets--very impressive. To top it all off, even the food in the cafeteria is great! Over half of PCOM grads now specialize, and many go on to do very high-profile residencies. There are a ton of student organizations; I saw signs advertising the upcoming student SKI TRIP sponsored by the ski/snowboard club." Report Response

What impressed you negatively?

"The library was a tad small, but I don't study in libraries anyway." Report Response

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

"I didn't know about the scribe service. It works thus: no more than 2 days after a lecture, the scribe's notes are placed in your very own note mailbox in the basement of Evans Hall. " Report Response

What are your general comments?

"There were ~10 of us being interviewed. First, we had breakfast with Dr. Evan Nicholas, an OMM specialist. Dr. Nicholas is a character and definitely put everyone at ease. We were then interviewed in the order originally scheduled. There were 2 sets of interviewers. Mine consisted of the director of admissions, a DO faculty member, and an MSIII. After my interview, I spent some time in the 2nd-year lecture hall listening to an allergist teach about asthma. When the interviews were complete, we were given a tour of the campus by an MSII who was very knowledgeable and spoke frankly to us about what he liked and disliked about PCOM. I had a blast. PCOM is positively amazing. I'd choose it over any other medical school, osteopathic or allopathic. Hands down." Report Response

Who was the tour given by?

Student

On what date did the interview take place?

01/15/2003