How many people interviewed you?
| Response Average | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 2.16 | 124 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Positively | 99 |
| Negatively | 9 |
| No change | 16 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 3.80 | 125 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.13 | 75 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.84 | 68 |
No responses
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 0 |
| 10 minutes | 0 |
| 15 minutes | 1 |
| 20 minutes | 6 |
| 25 minutes | 4 |
| 30 minutes | 42 |
| 35 minutes | 5 |
| 40 minutes | 14 |
| 45 minutes | 32 |
| 50 minutes | 6 |
| 55 minutes | 0 |
| 60+ minutes | 16 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| At the school | 124 |
| At a regional location | 0 |
| At another location | 0 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| One-on-one | 124 |
| In a group | 0 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Open file | 109 |
| Closed file | 6 |
| Response Average | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 2.16 | 124 |
"Tell me about a time where you worked as a team, and what you learned from it"
"Asked me a ton of application specific questions... really really grilled me"
"What was a mistake you made?"
"Give an example of when you've worked in a team and had it go well (/poorly). Why was this the case?"
"What made you apply to Hopkins?"
"What would you do if you didn't do medicine?"
"What would you do if you weren't going into medicine?"
"Why here?"
"4th year: If you were in my place, and you had to present your case to the admissions committee what would you want to say to them?"
"Why did you go to the undergraduate institution you went to?"
"Faculty Interview: What would you like me to ask you? How do you feel about your current work? What are some of the problems in our education system? How does your current work relate to medicine? What clinical experiences do you have? Can you tell me about your research experience and how it plays in your future? What are some of the things that you learned or liked from performing research? Can you tell me about some of your volunteering experiences and how they relate to medicine? Could you tell me about your leadership experiences? Are there any questions that I can answer for you?"
"Discuss your early life and how it contributed to your wanting to be a doctor."
"How will your background inform the skills that you will bring to medicine?"
"How is your mom doing?"
"Faculty interview: why the east coast? research, specific activities on my amcas, why hopkins"
"Why rowing? (I had only rowed one semester my senior year so that my school could have a second boat.)"
"Tell me about this activity? "
"How would your friends describe you?"
"Where do you see yourself after medical school?"
"Tell me about X experience..."
"Is health care a right or a privilege? Elaborate on how to improve healthcare in America."
"Tell me about yourself, in the context of how and why you are interested in medicine. "
"Why your major?"
"Tell me about yourself."
"Have you always known you wanted to do medicine?"
"Tell me about your family."
"Talk about your research experience"
"Siblings?"
"What languages do you speak?"
"What do you think makes a good teacher?"
"Tell me about your research. "
"What can you offer Johns Hopkins?"
"Why medicine?"
"Tell me about your research..."
"Where do you see yourself in the future?"
"Was there a point when you knew you wanted to become a doctor?"
"The ubiquitous "why medicine?""
"What do you do for fun?"
"Tell me about yourself. Tell me about your research. Discuss your majors."
"Tell me what you are doing right now."
"tell me about your research"
"Name 5 characteristics of a good physician."
"What have you done since college?"
"Tell me about yourself, starting from birth."
"Why Medicine? (Student Interview)"
"So why medicine at your age?"
"Who would you say is your hero?"
"Were you raised around healthcare and medicine?"
"So why are you here? Why Johns Hopkins?"
"Why did you want to become a doctor? "
"Why do you want to be a doctor?"
"why would you want to go and work in a third-world country after being heavily trained in world-class institutions such as, for example, Hopkins?"
"tell me about your clinical experiences"
"Three Weaknesses/Strengths"
"Describe your research"
"Tell me about your resesarch."
"Is there anything else I should tell the committee? "
"How did you become interested in medicine?"
"How did you get here from your hometown (VERY small, very far away)?"
"Tell me about your background."
"What do your parents do?"
"Tell me about yourself (student, that interview is closed file)."
"Why do you think kids like you?"
"What do you do in your spare time?"
"Tell me about your research and clinical experience."
"What do you think public policy means?"
"Do you plan to do research during your career as a doctor?"
"Why Hopkins? "
"What do you want to tell me about yourself?"
"Where do you see yourself in ten years?"
"Who is your hero or role model, family members don't count?"
"tell me about yourself"
"I played sports in college and my interviewer did also, so she asked me some questions about my involvement in sports. The faculty interviewer has read your file, so they really just ask you questions regarding your experiences. Casual conversation."
"Tell me about you and medicine. (Which is the same as, "Why do you want to go into medicine?")"
"Most were related to my application specifically. The student interview was 15 min., close-file. The faculty interview was 45 min., open-file."
"What are two major experiences that have affected your life? (Asked by student interviewer)"
"Talk about your research (Faculty, open file)"
"asked me about my language abilities (since I went to Mexico, Peru, and spent a quarter in Germany)"
"Lots about my personal statement and other stuff specific to my experiences.."
"What do you like and dislike about hopkins so far?"
"Tell me about a difficult situation that you have faced and how you overcame it."
"Have you done any teaching?"
"How do you feel about the results of the election on Tuesday?"
"where do you see yourself in X years?"
"What brings you to Baltimore? "
"How would your friends describe you (both the student and faculty interviewer asked me this)?"
"how is US healthcare funded"
"What do you bring to the med school?"
"Most ?s were general in nature and came straight from my AMCAS or secondary, know your app well and you should be find for the majority of ?s they will ask."
"Tell me about your high school experience"
"What can you bring to the table at Johns Hopkins"
"What is a mistake you've made"
"What are the ethical concerns when prescribing a medication for a homeless man?"
"Give an example of when you made a mistake. What did you learn from it?"
"Tell me something I can't find anywhere on your application."
"What will you bring to the school?"
"Any interesting patients you've seen?"
"What specialty interests you?"
"How are you a leader?"
"Why medicine? Why Hopkins?"
"Tell me about your research experience."
"What experiences have you had that have reaffirmed your belief that medicine is for you?"
"Where do you see yourself in 20 years?"
"Tell me about yourself/Why do you want to be a doctor?"
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hobbies? What got you interested in medicine?"
"Student Interview: How has your day been? Have you had any difficulties today? Can you tell me about yourself? Why did you decide to go to this undergraduate institution? What did you study there? How did you go about picking this major? What made you want to go into medicine? Are there any fields that you are interested in? What are your career goals? What do you like to do for fun? Do you have any questions for me?"
"why hopkins?"
"What do you personally get out of [activity]?"
"How did your childhood affect your decision to go into medicine? "
"How do you think current competition between hospitals affects medical costs?"
"Student interview: tell me about yourself? research? community service? what area of medicine? any questions? anything you want to tell me?"
"Tell me about India. What did it make you reaize about yourself?"
"So...who are you? "
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
"How did you stay so focused given your family situation?"
"What's the bravest thing you've done in the past year?"
"Hypothetical scenario of a patient with a terminal disease who wants to end his life. Hypothetical scenario of a pregnant teenager asking for an abortion."
"Questions unique to my application."
"What do you like and dislike about your job?"
"Tell me about your research."
"What research experience have you had? What are you currently working on? (I'm in a lab now)"
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?"
"Clinical experiences? Research experiences?"
"Why do both an MD and a PhD?"
"When did you decide on major?"
"What should I look for in an interviewee?"
"Please describe your research projects?"
"Why do you want to be a doctor?"
"What is Dr. niparko like?"
"<after I commented on a frustrating experience when working in the hospital> Did that make you want to pursue a different career?"
"Tell me about an issue you became aware of while working at a psychiatric hospital for a summer"
"What do you do outside of work?"
"What do you see as some of the biggest problems in the healthcare system? "
"What sparked your interest in medicine?"
"Where do you see yourself in 10-20 years?"
"Your MCAT scores are below what we like. Can you explain why they don't seem to agree with your academic performance and experience? (oh, sure, start out being negative! I think this was an important question to ask not just to get the facts, but to see how I reacted under pressure when put on the defensive.)"
"green chemistry and what is green?"
"What is a book you've read recently that you've enjoyed and why did you like it?"
"Tell me about your parents."
"Why leave California to go to Baltimore?"
"What is your biggest regret?"
"Why Hopkins? What do you hope to accomplish with an additional 4 years in Baltimore? (Student Interview)"
"Did you have an easy time with high school?"
"What do you see yourself doing 10-20 years down the road?"
"Tell me about .... experience. Why did you do it? What did you get from it? "
"Have you thought about any particular specialty you are interested in?"
"if you didn't become a doctor, what other profession would you seek?"
"what kind of research do you do"
"Did you ever consider any other professions?"
"Describe the clinical experience that you noted in your application."
"Tell me about yourself."
"Tell me about xyz experience."
"What do you like about Hopkins? "
"Are you interested in psychiatry because of your research experience?"
"Do you have any reservations about coming here?"
"Why medicine?"
"What do you do for fun?"
"So why are you here in Baltimore?"
"What were the differences you noticed in your experiences working in the U.S. and volunteering in places abroad?"
"Why MD/PhD? "
"Why Johns Hopkins?"
"Tell me about yourself and your interest in medicine."
"Faculty interviewer just flipped through my app and asked surface questions, nothing tough or ethical or political."
"why md"
"What qualities do you think are necessary for a "good" physician? Which of these qualities do you feel you could improve on?"
"How did you like your undergrad school? "
"What is a difficult experience you encountered, and how did you deal with it? (Asked by student interviewer)"
"Tell me about your reasons for joining the Air Force (Faculty, open file)"
"what high school i went to (I'm from baltimore)"
"What is your greatest strength?"
"Explain your research to me."
"What would you do if you cant get into medical school"
"Have you been able to do volunteer work? "
"What do you do in your community in terms of service?"
"name 3 characteristics that you bring to hopkins (something like that)"
"Would you explain your research experience?"
"How do you know you would like to live in Baltimore?"
"in your future career what percentage of your time will you devote to what"
"Tell me about your childhood"
"Why is the Hopkins program a good fit for you?"
"What is your greatest fear about medicine?"
"Is the situation of Baltimore (crime reported in media) a detractor?"
"Why medicine"
"How would you treat an end-of-life patient? An addicted patient?"
"What do you believe makes a strong team? Give me an example of one."
"What interests you in medicine?"
"App specific questions (talk about ___ community service/research)"
"Tell me about your involvement in _____ organization."
"Why do you bother with religion?"
"What will you do if you don't get into any medical school?"
"Describe _____ research experience and the implications of your results?"
"what you?"
"Do you have any role models?"
"What's been your favorite volunteer experience and why?"
"Why do you want to pursue medicine over other fields?"
"Why medicine? Why Hopkins?"
"How do you see healthcare changing over the next few years?"
"Tell me about your research"
"What challenges do you anticipate in medical school?"
"Why medicine? Why JHU? Why you?"
"Do you have any biases?"
"What should I tell the committee about you?"
"What do you look for in medical school programs?"
"Why else are you interested in the specialty you mentioned on the secondary?"
"Is there anything else you would like us to know?"
"Questions about my experiences abroad"
"Where do you see yourself in 15 years?"
"What do you do dor fun?"
"What are the most important qualities of a physician?"
"Tell me about _______ experience."
"What kind of clinical exposure have you participated that has reconfirmed your love for medicine?"
"You know that medicine is changing; it's nothing like it was ten years ago when I got started. (not sure if this was a question or just a statement of fact)"
"Tell me about you research."
"Is there anything else that you would like me to know?"
"How'd you get this externship with a surgeon?"
"Tell me about your research experience."
"How have you reconfirmed your passion for medicine? (I've wanted to be a doctor since I was about four...) "
"What have you done in medicine? How do you handle stress? "
"I want to use this space to make one mroe point-- yes the neighborhood outside of the campus is dangerous. That is one of the reasons why the patient experience is so good here. I challenge anyone to find a more diverse patient base with such a safe campus (security is good). Besides, you would NOT end up living near here unless you lived on-campus (which is perfectly safe). There are plenty of great neighborhoods with loads of culture and restaurants that you could choose from and just be a few minutes from Hopkins."
"what is your passion"
"What do you do for fun?"
"What one EC has shaped you the most?"
"What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?"
"What do you want me to emphasize when I present you to the admissions committee that is not on your application?"
"What is one of your weaknesses?"
"I think you'll probably be bored during your first year here. (Not a question, but still one of the most confounding statements that's ever been put before me.)"
"What do you like to do for fun?"
"Why you?"
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
"describe an interesting experience that you have had in one of your clinical experiences"
"what field of medicine are you interested in"
"Tell me about blank (some activity, research, or etc. that I took part in). "
"Describe your extracurriculars and how your background will affect how your practice."
"Do you have any questions for me?"
"What are you looking for in a medical school? "
"What area of medicine are you interested in?"
"Lots of random science questions that followed along."
"what did you do during the months after you were laid off from your job?"
"Why Hopkins?"
"What are you reading right now?"
"You must be really happy with how VT is doing in football this year, right? (I went to UVA) "
"What did your research project involve?"
"Tell me more about your research."
"Student interview is closed file and supposed to be just getting to know you."
"your hobbies"
"What are you doing now in your life? (closed-file interview with 4th year student)"
"Where do you see yourself in ten years? "
"Why not teaching/nursing/etc? (Asked by faculty interviewer); What was your best experience in college? (Asked by faculty interviewer) "
"What are two specific situations in your life that made you "grow" as a person? (4th year, closed file)"
"just stuff about my activities, etc. "
"Why medicine?"
"What do you do for fun? What was the last book you read?"
"What would you contribute to your medical school class."
"Tell me about you experiences in medicine."
"Have you done any lab research?"
"explain the theory of relativity in 3 words, 2 if you're feeling ambitious. (just kidding about this one!)"
"Do you have any experience in a clinical setting?"
"How did you get interested in medicine?"
"do you know why you shouldn't goto harvard? ;-)"
"Is having managed care worth the trade off?"
"nothing too difficult :) Relax and you will be just fine! I got in, so I know what I am talking about The ad-com people are super-nice people, they just want to get to know ya a lil better."
"What kind of movies do you watch?"
"Describe your life in three acts"
"How could you reconcile different views with another person"
"What was a time that you were a minority?"
"Tell me how you think about the cause of condition X (a specific interest of mine)."
"Tell me something I can't find anywhere on your application."
"What would you do if you're not accepted anywhere?"
"Any interesting patients you've seen?"
"What do you look for in a medical school?"
"Why do you have a family already?"
"What will you do if you don't get into any medical school?"
"What would you like me to ask you? "
"none...pretty conversational. faculty interview was open file, student was closed file"
"Do you have any role models?"
"Discuss your early life and how it contributed to your wanting to be a doctor."
"What are you looking for in a medical school?"
"If I thought a single payer system would work."
"Why rowing? (I put this as an activity, but didn't think it was particularly noteworthy.)"
"All of the questions were pretty standard. "
"stuff from my application"
"What do you think about healthcare for illegal immigrants?"
"What are two things that you are most proud of?"
"Have you spoken to any doctors who told you not to become a doctor? What did they say? Why didn't you listen?"
"Compare your research experience in the States to your research experience abroad."
"Do you have any biases?"
"Name two of your proudest moments. What 3 words would your friends use to describe you. "
"What possible connections do you see between singers and sleep apnea? "
"If you could do it again, what would you do differently?"
"What is the greatest problem in US healthcare?"
"Why did you come on the subway? That is extermely dangerous."
"they were all just standard questions to get to know you/your personality, etc."
"If I had been able to shape the direction of the Gates Foundation's efforts, what would I have advised? (not out of the blue -- I lived in a developing country)"
"Very straightforward questions."
"What is the greatest factor restricting healthcare access in this country (hint: not lack of insurance)."
"Nothing stands out as especially out of the ordinary."
"nothing really, a lot of questions specific to my application"
"What do you suggest I should look for in an interviewee?"
"How would your friends describe you?"
"Tell me about your research, or, if you haven't done any research, would you be interested in research, or do you hate what you think is research?"
"Why the uproar from the Deaf Community on cochlear implants?"
"Nothing particularly unusual... both interviews were very conversational. Student: what do you like to do for fun? Faculty: your recommenders have said a lot of very positive things about you. What would YOU say is the most important thing about you?"
"Explain anthropology to me."
"They were all really run of the mill. "
"nothing interesting"
"What is science?"
"nothing"
"What do you think is the biggest problem medicine faces in the near future?"
"what is my passion"
"Detailed questions about my academic but non-science interests. (Other interviewers haven't really asked about these.)"
"Are you competitive? She told me she is."
"What one EC shaped you the most?"
"Nothing particularly stands out"
"Nothing really out of the ordinary. "
"How do you approach stroke patients in the ER? How do you decide which patients to talk to first? (Faculty Interview)"
"What is your definition of "science"?"
"He asked me to explain an essay I had written in college."
"General Qs"
"Who, living or dead, would you consider to be your hero?"
"What do you think needs to be done to solve the current state of healthcare?"
"So why Johns Hopkins?"
"I don't know why they are killing us when we are only trying to help them?"
"It was pretty standard conversation. They asked me about what I've been doing since I graduated three years ago and were very interested in my travels."
"who is your idol, and why?"
"Pretty standard stuff. The faculty interviewer had very pointed questions about my file and the student interview is closed file and was much more general."
"what is the one thing in your file that you are most proud of?"
"Name three weaknesses/strengths."
"How do you think sociology prepares you for a medical career? (I am a soc and bio double major)"
"None of the questions were terribly interesting, and they were predictable."
"I can't remember any question as particularly interesting. "
"I can't remember all the questions I was asked."
"How do you pronounce "Vejle"?"
"What do you think are the pros and cons about our program?"
"Nothing really that interesting"
"Who is your favorite artist?"
"What do you want to happen in the 2004 presidential election?"
"Nothing really. The faculty interview is open-file, and the student interview is closed-file, so be able to adapt to both."
"Nothing out of the ordinary was inquired. Interview with faculty was open and interview with student was closed. "
""I see it that you are here on your dollar and your time. We can do this any way you want to. I can ask you questions, you can ask me questions. How do you want to proceed?""
"Why Emergency Medicine?"
"What question should I ask you so that you will not regret not being able to say something interesting about yourself?"
"Totally low stress questions. Nothing particularly interesting or particularly difficult. "
"None."
"If you had 5 years and a technician, what direction would you take your current research project?"
"What for you would mean success in medicine?"
"Why do you want to be a cardiologist?"
"nothing really. they just want to know you. "
"None of the questions were really unique. The interviewers were just trying to get to know you. Standard questions."
"Tell me about a hero of yours. "
"How will your health policy experience fit into your practice?"
"None too interesting--most of the questions were very straightforward."
"What is the last book you have read?"
"nothing really special. pretty typical stuff"
"Who is someone you look up to, or a hero? Don't choose anyone from your family."
"did you find anything negative about hopkins so far?"
"Asked me about my early educational background."
"Nothing interesting at all. Everything off of my application."
"How do you think your friends would describe you?"
"What was the result of your research?"
"What should i tell the admissions committee about you"
"The 15-minute student interview was just a closed-file., get-to-know-you thing. The faculty interview was open file and my faculty interviewer and I had more of a conversation. There really were no "interesting" or tough questions. The faculty MD who interviewed me was amazing-a really neat woman."
"As a non-science major, why do you think you did so well on the MCAT?"
"Questions related to my personal statement and secondary. I was asked to explain why I chose a particular college activity as most important in my secondary."
"what percentage of scientific paradigms are on solid ground"
"What do you like to do outside of school?"
"In the faculty interview all I was asked was "What do you want to know about Johns Hopkins?""
"none really... watching everyone try to stand out in front of the fourth years was entertaining/ineteresting though."
"MD/PhD: "Do you think MRI is going to further encroach on the other imaging modalities? (i.e. PET, SPECT, CT, ultrasound) MD: How does your engineering background help or hurt you in studying medicine? "
"Pretty generic interview questions, a lot of "Tell me about this experience" type things."
"How will your minor help you as a physician"
"He asked me why medicine like three times"
"What was an example of a time when you were on a team and it didn't work out?"
"Give an example of when you made a mistake. What did you learn from it?"
"See above*"
"What do you like to do for fun? (at least since my student interviewer immediately seemed bored by it)"
"Explain "creative.""
"None at all! I was surprised at how easygoing my interviewers were."
"What has been your most difficult experience?"
"What do you think of interracial marriage? (I am very obviously multiracial.)"
"None really."
"None."
"none"
"What surprised you about medicine?"
"If you could meet any three people living or dead, who would it be and what would you ask them? (different questions for each one)"
"Why medicine because the interviewer would play devil's advocate to my responses."
"Why medicine? (This is more complicated than it seems. At least for me.)"
"''What else?'' My faculty interview did not attempt to be conversational at all and following almost every single one of my responses, she says ''ok, what else?'' "
"no real stumpers"
"Why Johns Hopkins? (I'm interested in primary care)"
"How is your mom doing?"
"What's the bravest thing you've done?"
"We know what we can offer you--a superb medical education--but what can YOU offer US?"
"Do you have any biases?"
"What do you want the admissions committee to know about you? (I hate tooting my own horn...so awkward...)"
"What concerns do you see on the horizon for the profession? "
"Tell me about your childhood. (so vague!)"
"Tell me something about yourself? [Prepared answer] Tell me something else? [Goes blank]"
"nothing"
"N/A"
"Questions relating to research, their's and mine."
"-"
"What can you contribute to Johns Hopkins?"
"Nothing real difficult. They just asked the basics and really only touched on information in my application."
"See most interesting"
"If you had a deaf child with two deaf parents, what would you recommend? (obviously this is something i had done research on- which is why they asked)"
"Nothing difficult whatsoever. I didn't even get asked "why Hopkins?"!"
"What is science?"
"So...tell me about angiopoietins (related to a research project). It just caught me off-guard because my interviewer had been going on and on about how great Hopkins was. "
"nothing difficult except for the typical "Where do you see yourself in 10 years" which is purely conjecture everyone seems to change their mind..."
"When I told my student interviewer I interned at a facility for developmentally disabled he told me he had been doing research on children with autism and asked me what I knew about autism and how it presented itself in the autistic patients I saw"
"What is not in your file that you would like me to tell the committee? (open question but one that is OH so important!)"
"what is my passion"
"Who is your favorite artist? Why? Does your appreciation of his/her work go beyond mere enjoyment? He really wanted me to go into detail on this. Since I know nothing about art, I really struggled to answer this question."
"Nothing. Both interviews were easy conversations. The faculty interviewer did ask me what the deepest aspects of my personality are. She said she really wanted to get to know me and present positive things to the committee, things not seen on a paper application."
"A question about why not going into public health and a current event question about the machinisits in Seattle going on strike. I don't think I came up with a good response for the latter, but oh well."
"What is the your biggest weakness that is known and your biggest weakness that no one knows?"
"What are pertinent healthcare issues facing India today? (Faculty Interview)"
"Have you ever considered academic medicine?"
"Explain why the disease you are studying is actually a disease (he didn't think it was real)."
"Really awkward ones like "what is one word to describe you to the admissions committee" and "3 reasons to choose Hopkins"... Very generic Qs"
"What would you have me say to the admissions committee for you?"
"See above and Name 3 things that teh US does well in terms of healthcare and 3 things that it does poorly."
"nothing really"
"shouldn't you be doing public health?"
"What do you think about stem-cell research? (from the student interviewer - I had done some of this research in college. Forming a cohesive, concise answer was more difficult than I thought it would be.)"
"do you like being the big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?"
"No real whammies."
"Above."
"What will be difficult for you in medical school?"
"What are you dying to tell me that I don't know?"
"Nothing was particularly hard"
"What's your worst quality?"
"Why do you think your recommenders wrote what they did?"
"Really hard science questions"
"Why did you drop out of college?"
"Is there anything you want me to tell the admissions committee? (asked at the end of both)"
"How do you explain anorexia in America?"
"What is a clinical outcome of a problem with the mylenating cells of the central nervous system."
"My faculty interviewer questioned the ethics of the research work I'm involved in, and asked me how I felt about it personally."
"Do you think you would like living in Baltimore? Being from the southwest, I had never been to Baltimore before. The school is in a bad part of town and I believe the interviewer wanted to know if I was ok with that. Naturally I'm ok with the neighborhood because it is Hopkins after all. But I fear I didn't adequately relay this. "
"See above."
"How do you plan on mixing your background and a PhD in Chemistry with Emergency Medicine?"
"None, really. Interview"
"What kind of research can you see yourself doing at Johns Hopkins? (Difficult because I have no particular interest in research.)"
"Who is your role model or hero? (difficult because I have many but no one who i idolize)"
"What was a difficult situation you faced and how did you learn from it?"
"same as above"
"What one experience influenced you the most to go into medicine? (I always find this question difficult because there isn't just ONE experience that has influenced me... there are MANY... and all of them are significant.)"
"The first question from the sudent (closed file) interviewer: "So I don't know anything about you. Tell me a little about yourself." A common question at closed file-interviews, but always dreadful, especially since this was one of my first interviews. Make sure you prepare for this kind of open-ended question. This usually means you have to do some reflecting on childhood experiences that you may not remember well. "
"How would your friends describe you?"
"What would you like me to tell the admission committee, that is not reflected in your file? (Asked by both faculty and student interviewers.)"
"In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facing physicians today?"
"3 adjectives your friends would use to describe you"
"What is your greatest failure or weakness?"
"see above.... thats a tough question to answer!"
"None that I can think of"
"See above"
"Where do you see healthcare in 20 years?"
"What was the biggest challenge you've faced?"
"what are your weaknesses"
"What makes a "good" doctor?"
"(See above)"
"There was really nothing too difficult. There were just the standard interview questions. Other interviewees got harder ethics questions though depending on their interviewer."
"Both interviewers asked me what challeges I expected to face as a physician and I went blank the first time."
"how man uninsured americans are there"
"What do you wish you could change about medicine?"
"Same as above by default"
"My faculty interviewer wanted me to explain some organic synthesis research I had done and what implications it had in furthering scientific knowledge... so if you have done any research, brush up on the details of your experiments."
""Please explain the Fourier Transform window you used in this experiment" (MD/PhD question related to my research). As for MD only, I dont remember any really difficult questions. I guess the toughest was "What personality characteristic would you change about yourself?""
"Student Interviewer: "What do you want me to tell the ad com about you that doesn't show up anywhere else on your application?""
"SDN, Website, talking to students, review my app"
"I did some reading and mock interviews"
"Read SDN questions."
"I answered questions off a list of common interview questions. I also studied the school website."
"looked over amcas & secondary; focused on secondary"
"Not much - read over the Hopkins info/mission statement"
"SDN, visiting school's website, speaking with student host"
"Read my files, reviewed possible questions"
"SDN, review app, practice basic questions"
"SDN, mock interview"
"SDN, Application, Hopkins Admission and student website."
"JHUSOM booklet, website, SDN, mock interviews"
"MSAR, JHU Booklet, SDN, Talked to current students & Previous interviewing experience."
"researched the school online and talked to friends who are current students"
"Student doctor forum, read about school."
"Read my app, this website, got pumped up!"
"reread my application, read the website, spoke with students from the school"
"I read the SDN interview questions, and I went into the interview as myself."
"sdn, school websites, talked to students"
"SDN, 158 Best Medical Schools (Princeton Review), Hopkins website, books on healthcare"
"SDN, read primary and secondary"
"read about hopkins, thought about possible questions"
"read SDN, Bodenheimer health policy book, U of Washington bioethics website, JHU glossy marketing materials and website, talking to students at the greeter's reception the night before"
"I read the interview feedback, looked around on SDN forums, reviewed my applications, and took a deep breath."
"Read school's website, went over practice interview questions"
"SDN, prepared questions ''why medicine'', re-read AMCAS and secondaries, read articles on medical ethics and health policy."
"Reread AMCAS and secondaries, prepared answers to likely questions "
"Went to the Greeters session the night before (and highly recommend it!)"
"Reviewed my application materials, glanced through the interview reviews, looked over MSAR, read brochures, scoured the Johns Hopkins website, talked with current faculty members and Baltimore residents, and tried to relax. "
"reread essays, SDN"
"Re-read applications, reviewed SDN"
"reviewed my CV and publications, my AMCAS and secondary publications, prepared responses to standard questions"
"Four previous interviews. Reviewed my own research."
"Hopkins website, SDN, essays"
"SDN, school website."
"Read their website and lots of papers."
"sdn, school booklet"
"SDN, other interviews."
"SND, website, reviewed secondary application"
"SDN, read JHMI site"
"just relaxed"
"Read up on SDN, read the information on the website and the booklet that was mailed to me, and the other interviews I had already been to."
"SDN, Hopkins website/viewbook, stayed at Reed hall and went to Greeter's, my 8 previous interviews"
"I honestly didn't even expect to get an interview here. I really just reviewed what the academics were like. My attitude was that I was just going to be myself and enjoy the day."
"SDN, looked over AMCAS, looked over secondary, read almost their entire website, read up on health issues. "
"read application, SDN, JH brochure/website"
"SDN, school website, reread amcas, talked to a student, "
"SDN Interview Feedback, glanced at the JHMI website"
"read website, talked to current students, read catalog, SDN, reviewed applications, mock interview"
"sdn"
"Read the school website a bit, re-read secondary and AMCAS, this site, mock interview, readings on health policy"
"SDN interview feedback, mock interview, reread AMCAS and secondary app."
"SDN, just talked to myself (sounds crazy, huh?)"
"SDN, AMCAS and secondary review, website and catalog review, practice interview"
"SDN, mock interview, read up on application and healthcare issues, made a list of questions you want to ask faculty and student interviewers"
"SDN, Website, re-read AMCAS and essays"
"Talk to friends, read booklet, ate healthy breakfast..."
"Read my application, website, literature. Read SDN. "
"SDN webiste, school website, asked questions of student host"
"Reviewing school catalog and website, asking alumni and other physicians about their opinions."
"This website, read over AMCAS application, read over JHMS application, and read up on bioethics and current events."
"Read their website, sdn, mock interview, stayed with a student."
"Read SDN, website, brochures."
"read AMCAS, Hopkins secondary and research papers."
"Relaxed. Reread everything I've written during this process. Read up on Hopkins."
"read the hopkins viewbook and site, reviewed secondary."
"Read Hopkins brochure, Hopkins website, SDN."
"SDN, reread application, searched the website since you need to come prepared with lots of fodder for the informal session with the 4th year students"
"Read application, Hopkins website, current magazines"
"Research admission website, reread secondary app and AMCAS, read SDN postings."
"Reread website, my app, etc"
"SDN interview feedback, reread application, Hopkins viewbook and website"
"SDN, Hopkins website, reviewed my app"
"Didn't"
"Read a Johns Hopkins publication, talked to other interviewees, SDN, etc."
"the same way you are"
"Read their website, talked to students."
"reviewd app, looked at the Hopkins website"
"Read up on Hopkins, chatted a bit with a 1st-year buddy of mine, re-read my secondary, read this website."
"Read this website and practiced standard questions (you will not be asked anything suprising). I prepared myself mentally by minimizing distractions prior to my trip east. "
"Read this site. Read a little about the school. Looked over my essays to the school and my research. Read A LOT of current literature."
"Read this site"
"Relaxed."
"Read over my research briefly. "
"Viewed this website, looked at a Johns Hopkins viewbook."
"I read my application."
"read this site, read their brochure and their website, practiced common questions aloud, got a good night's sleep"
"Read my JH app."
"i look at their web page and their catalog"
"Read up on Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Read SDN, Reread my primary and secondary applications, went to the Greeter's Program the night before, stayed with a student, RELAX and just BE YOURSELF!! :-)"
"I took advantage of the practice interview service at my college's Career Development Center. I think a lot of schools have this, and I found it extremely helpful. Otherwise, just make sure you know at least the basics about Hopkins, their curriculum, strengths in your particular research area, etc. (look at the website first - hint, hint) "
"JHMI Web site, this Web site, re-read my applications"
"Looked over Hopkins website and viewbook (which are basically the same), my secondary and AMCAS applications, the SDN website, looked over my research notes, and thought of answers to commonly asked questions."
"This site and reading some papers on universal health care/ HMOs."
"read the website/admissions catalog. read this website"
"read their website, read this website."
"read brochure, reviewed my application"
"No preparation. I believe you should just be yourself"
"Went over my applications, read feedback on SDN, look at JHU website"
"I read Hopkins' catalog, reviewed my applications, and thought about possible questions."
"read up on Hopkins... prepared some general answers to questions you would expect"
"Played video games and watched TV."
"looked at their website "
"Talked a friend who's a med. student; read website; plenty of sleep "
"Talked to a JHU MD I know, read the website, MSAR, practiced possible questions, mock interviews, etc."
"Read through the website, looked over my Hopkins secondary."
"Good nights sleep"
"read reserach articles - nothing for md part"
"Read interviewfeedback, looked over AMCAS"
"I read the prospectus and looked over my application"
"www.interviewfeedback.com, read over web-site (look at some of the awesome research they have beeb doing there! it will give you goose bumps it is soo cool), read over AMCAS and secondary... practiced mock interviews with friends"
"Looked at this web site, interviewfeedback.com also. Read up on current medical issues. Studied my previous research very thoroughly (probably dont need to do this unless you are applying MD/PhD)"
"Read materials, looked at their fabulous website."
"The building, student body"
"Prestige of school"
"The facilities and engaging people."
"The facilities are shiny, new and impressive."
"The students, faculty and staff enjoyed being at Hopkins."
"students & faculty- they loved the school and while we toured the campus it became obvious why. The facilities, as well, were amazing with even more potential in the new hospital being built."
"The prestige, and the top public health/disparities programs - but literally nothing else..."
"Research opportunities, friendliness of students"
"New medical school building (and anatomy labs!), new hospital buildings in progress, the rich history of JHU, the new curriculum, the students... everything really."
"Everything...new facilities, curriculum, people.."
"Everyone I met throughout the day was extremely nice and answered any questions I had. The new curriculum and the new medical school building are amazing. "
"Everything basically."
"The resources, faculty, and community feel of Hopkins. I sat in on a class taught by a leader in the field, which was pretty cool. While Baltimore has a notorious reputation, it's really not that bad. It's gentrifying and from Hopkins the Baltimore skyline is awesome at night."
"Surprisingly, the awesome people. Especially the 4th years in the waiting room, they really couldn't be more helpful."
"My expectations for JHU were already so high, that it would have been hard for me to be more impressed. However, it is hard to argue with the opportunities that students are given here, the current hospital system as well as the new additions, the communication between students and the faculty, the financial aid for students, and the training that comes with being a JHU medical student. They do these things so well already, that sometimes it is taken for granted."
"the hospital, baltimore, patient population, faculty, the SPH and how easy it is to get an MPH or whatever else you want to do, opportunities available, the students are all awesome..super friendly and down-to-earth"
"The students were really fun, the school worked hard to answer all questions."
"The diversity of the students, the seemingly low/moderate stress level"
"I was really inspired by the students; the faculty seems to really care about teaching and they are very passionate about what they do. Overall, I found the energy of the school to be amazing"
"I love the new building opening next year. I also like that the medical campus is separate from the undergraduate campus."
"simulation center, clinical training"
"The Hospital, 4th year med students, percentage of people who get MPH/MHS"
"the facilities available and how large the school is. "
"illustrious faculty, top notch research, students seemed genuinely happy about just about everything except for the crappy location; housing prices are really cheap; the story is that it is not really competitive amongst students anymore; opportunities and resources abound; inner harbor and fells point areas are nice, otherwise the whole city is an enormous ghetto, the city is pretty much dead by 11 o clock at night"
"Looking at the snow-covered Med School (from Reed Hall) was an amazing sight. The people were all top notch too "
"The students and faculty are EXTREMELY nice and helpful."
"The enthusiasm of the students, the diversity of backgrounds in the student body."
"The hospital is amazing (it just got ranked number 1 in the nation for the 17th year in a row) The campus area is nice--but don't stray away from it..."
"Everyone was really nice, and all the students seemed like they loved it there. Also, even though it's in a bad area, the campus security seems very good, almost excessive. I'd feel very safe there. "
"Super super friendly students, all enthusiastic and funny and down to earth. And of course, it's Hopkins and has amazing faculty. For example, I had lunch with a guy who made his name in lasik..that was pretty cool."
"Honestly, I was most impressed by the warmth of the learning environment. Before my visit I knew about the excellence of Johns Hopkins' faculty, facilities, and curriculum. However, what left the biggest positive impression on me was the people. Every individual was brilliant, yet inspiring and unique. These are the individuals that anyone would be honored and proud to call colleagues."
"amazingly friendly and motivated students. plus we walked by the CEO of hopkins and he knew our tourguide's name."
"Baltimore is not as bad as everyone makes it seem. I was blown away by how NOT ghetto it looked"
"students and faculty, atmosphere"
"The students were really friendly, funny, and genuine (and of course smart and interesting). Presence of Bloomberg is awesome. Research environment seems to be really friendly/collaborative. Interviewers were great people."
"The school has the most variety and depth of opportunities that you can imagine. During the interview, you are treated extremely well and made to feel as comfortable as possible. Wonderful chances to speak with older med students and faculty as well. Small group guided tour was great. "
"The facilities, the clinical opportunities, and all the history. It's hopkins afterall. The people were also very nice."
"The clinical training, the opportunities for collaboration in research, and the students and faculty."
"everyone, especially, the students were really nice and chilled"
"Nice and laid back students, incredible facilities and opportunities."
"How enthusiastic all of the students were about Hopkins. "
"It's Johns Hopkins; they know their stuff"
"the other students i interviewed with ;)"
"The resources and opportunities at Hopkins are unparalleled. If you have an idea and the motivation, you can get it done here. The students were laid back despite my reservations. My interviewer was fantastic--she was genuine and interested by my answers. "
"The students--I'd heard some negative rumors, but they were all really friendly, and much more laid-back than I expected. The MS1 class is all REALLY closeknit and have a lot of fun together. Also, my fellow interviewees were amazing. I'm actually keeping in touch with several of them. Obviously, there are tons of opportunities here, and it's a life-long door opener. It's Hopkins!"
"The students were much cooler than I expected. They didn't seem intense or elitist at all (which is apparently the reputation that they have)."
"Everything! From the 1st year greeters the night before your interview, to the late start (11:30) to the great food, to the faculty, the facilities, the students, and even Baltimore. "
"friendly students, curriculum, accesibility of faculty, compact campus, diverse students and patients, flexibility of clinical curriculum (support for abroad, MPH, etc)"
"The tourguide made the students sound very social and fun, but I'm not sure I saw that in the ones I actually met. The faculty is incredible; the students can find almost any research or clinical opportunity they could possible want, and everyone seems very receptive to welcoming students who want to shadow or work for them. The upcoming construction projects sound very exciting, but wouldn't really affect anyone who started there next year. It is incredibly cheap to live there."
"students were more laid back than I expected, block scheduling, revamped advising system, shuttle system, gym, unlimited resources for students and you can basically do anything you want to at hopkins"
"The facilities, faculty, and students are top-notch. The Dean (Paul White) is very friendly and easy to talk to. The evaluation period in the room full of 4th years was not as bad as some people make it out to be. The student interview was totally relaxed and fun."
"the hospital is alive, so many poeple there, it seems like a place that you can gain alot from."
"Everything"
"interviewers were laid back, students seemed happy and interesting, the facilities were awesome."
"the student interviewers were really open and honest about the school and they spent a lot of time relating my interests (and others interests) to opportunities at Hopkins - vast opportunities! they are knowledgable and friendly."
"The hospital is fantastic and the students are very friendly. I don't sense the cut throat attitude that I heard so much about. Inner Harbor is beautiful and the school has LOADS of opportunities. Definitely a great place!"
"The facilities are gorgeous, there are many opportunities to do anything you want to, the professors are amazing, the students are friendly, and the reputation is great. Hopkins grads get the best residencies. "
"absolutely everything"
"Hopkins. Oh, and Hopkins, too. The place has technology and history intertwined beautifully. State-of-the-art equipment and facilities, but still has old Zenith monitors hanging from some lecture hall ceilings to keep a touch of old-days tradition to it."
"The dean of admissions took the time to speak with the students."
"Students were very nice and down-to-earth"
"Facilities were much better than I imagined they would be. Students were enthusiastic about the program. Were very adamant that Hopkins is not as "cutthroat" as it is made out to be. "
"The immensity of resources the school has to offer. The fact that 10 fourth years all were placed in their top 2 choices for residency for neurosurgery. The name goes far."
"The students were much more friendly than I was expecting. The faculty seems to really care about helping out the students who ask for help and guidance. Most of the buidings were also connected by covered walkways. Also, the fact that they validated my parking for free was a big plus."
"All the people I met very genuinely kind, caring, and down-to-earth. "
"The students that I hung out with were great and very hospitable. The same can be said of the fourth years that are on the ad-com. Also the faculty I met at the lunch were really cool and very nice to us, they seemed like they sincerily like interacting with students. And Baltimore is not nearly as bad as everyone says, the inner harbor area is really cool and there are also a lot of nice options for student housing like canton/fells point, federal hill, etc. And even the area right around the hospital is not that bad at all, I've seen much worse. It will certainly make for some great clinical training."
"The faculty seemed so relaxed and pleasant, engaging the applicants and trying to make us as comfortable as possible. I like the fact that rotations start the spring of 2nd year; the facilities, of course, are outstanding; there seems to be a lot of flexibility in the curriculum, more so than at other schools."
"the students seemed very happy and content. i got a sense that they were the most important assets of the establishment: more important than the famous hospital (and its patients) or the nobel-prize-winning faculty and the world-class research projects that are going on."
"Students did seem happy. Great opportunities/flexibility to pursue additional degrees, travel and research."
"freedom to schedule clinical rotations, rotations start a bit early (spring of 2nd year), easy to get involved in research at hopkins. i am not sure how i felt about baltimore. but there are various housing options available to students who dont like the area."
"The facilities are quite nice; the aura of Hopkins also is hard not to admire, and the students are really friendly and laid back. "
"Great facilities, students seemed happy, area not so bad at all; also the other students at the interview were more diverse in terms of undergraduate institutions and home states than at the Ivy League med schools where I have interviewed"
"The satisfaction and enthusiasm of the med students was quite refreshing."
"The students seemed very down to earth and realistic about the good and bad aspects of the school. Also, there was an extended time to interact with students and faculty NOT associated with the admissions office."
"The connections between JH and the Peabody Institute, the Hospitals"
"Everything! The school has such a great atmosphere. The session with the 4th year students is great - it isn't anything to worry about at all. They are all extremely friendly and gave such unique perspectives on the school. They were the ones that really sold me on the school. Besides having a great reputation, Hopkins has so much to offer. The facilities are amazing, and the opportunities for research, community service, international experiences are endless. The students I met all seemed incredibly intelligent and very happy at Hopkins. The environment seemed very noncompetitive - the students seemed more interested in learning than competing. Also, Hopkins has a great school of public health."
"most everything. Hopkins was amazing. the students and interviewers were all very friendly, but mostly i was impressed with the caliber of the people and their obvious dedication and intelligence. It was inspiring and the energy there was incredible."
"The faculty literally memorized my application - all 6 of them. The hospitals and research labs were all interconnected, and interdisciplinary research is common. The students seemed happy, and the professors really know what they are talking about. They impressed me the most."
"The energy of the school and the students I met. I felt like I was in a truly amazing place while I was there."
"well besides the obvious, it was nice that they had professors eat lunch with us. they have a lot of great opportunities and connections available to med students."
"The 4th year students. They were the first medical students I've come across whom I would actually trust to take care of a sick family member."
"I like Baltimore."
"The hospital is awesome, world-class. You get to treat not only people who fly in to come here, but also a really poor local population from East Baltimore. The faculty seem pretty great, lectures are videotaped. The medical students are "top dog" here, it's a real privilege to be here, and you have so many benefits and opportunities. Plus, the MPH program is easy to get into, though a bit more difficult to find funding."
"So many opportunities at Hopkins. Students seem to be very happy and energized about their futures. Great place to become an excellent researcher and clinician. Whatever you want to do in medicine can be achieved at Hopkins. "
"Everything. The students are so chill. The facilities are great. The clinical instruction is the best on the planet. The classrooms are kindof dark, but you can take lectures whenever you want (they are videotaped)."
"The school is beautiful"
"The outstanding facilities, faculty, and the attitude of the students."
"Amazing facilities, brilliant faculty, briliant students. "
"Everyone said that the teachers are excellent and very willing to help the students in any way possible."
"The security on campus was amazing, and the family atmosphere in the MSTP program was very comforting."
"everything - the dedication of their faculty, caliber of the students (and their friendliness!) and their reputation"
"The students really weren't competitive, the facilities were nice, the hospital is #1."
"overall, people were friendly and were very helpful. despite being in baltimore, students seem to like it there."
"I obviously knew that Johns Hopkins has an impressive reputation, but I expected to go up there and meet a bunch of stuffy people who thought that they were better than everyone. This totally was not the case. The faculty was really nice and the students were extremely nice and down to earth. These are just normal people - with impressive records!"
"I really got a sense of the strong history and tradition at Hopkins. The hospital and medical school are filled with portraits of past leaders in medicine. There is a kind of haunting predestination about Hopkins. The watchful eyes of the deceased in the portraits lead to the feeling that, if you walk these halls, you will emerge into the medical elite. It's creepy, but also inspiring. There aren't many women or minorities in those portraits though, but that certainly was not a reflection of the amazingly diverse student body at Hopkins. "
"Amazing, friendly people; amazing resources--top researchers in every clinical, scientific, and policy field are delighted to find med students interested in their area; quality of hospital and diversity of caseload; gave Reid Hall guests free pass to gym"
"The happiness of students--they seemed to genuinely believe that competition was not a problem at all. We were told that Hopkins switched from letter grades to Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail to remove the perception from applicants that Hopkins is a very competitive place--they said the change has not made any real difference since people were not competitive to begin with. They said 80% of students get pass, and those students get top residencies anyway, simply because they come from Hopkins. The students were so nice, and down to earth. Facilities were nice, though not quite as nice as I had expected, but the educational program is obviously very strong. Random fact: Hopkins anatomy exams do not include lab practicals. (Though I could see this being a negative also.)"
"Just about everything, the faculty, the 4th year students, the 1st year greeters, the campus..."
"Hopkins' excellence. I knew it was the number one school, but I was still impressed when I was there, and hearing about all the institution's accomplishments made me really want to go there. The statistics were excellent for residency choices, boards, etc. "
"Everything. This place is amazing. Facilities, faculty, everything. The other interviewees were very impressive and friendly, I'd love to go to school with them."
"the facilities are second to none, as expected, but unexpectedly, the student body was so chill and down to earth... great people, quite a nice surprise. In addition, the neighborhood was not nearly as bad as i thought it would be."
"The Dome. Its pretty cool!!! Pretty big hospital. Students do accomplish some pretty amazing stuff. I met a student who is taking 3 years off to pursue a JD. "
"Lunch!"
"The flexibility of the clinical years and how devoted the faculty seemed to really teaching the students and talking to them about anything."
"the history of Hopkins"
"Med students were cool. Hopkins' history is amazing. Interviewees were pretty cool too. Commitment to community service. Professors' dedication to both research and teaching."
"the tradition"
"The fact that such a high percentage of their med students get into one of the top residency programs in the country -- class times only from 8am-1pm"
"The atmosphere at JHU (mainly the hospitals). Also, the clinical training in the 3rd and 4th years sounds amazing. Plus, it sounds like Hopkins gives out lots of grant $$ !!"
"The students, the faculty, the hospital, the history, the reputation...everything."
"JHU seemed to really encourage both research (clinical and basic) as well as clinical work. All the students commented on the excellent teaching skills of faculty and residents. The old hospital, now the administration building, is beautiful, especially at night. A majority of the students I met had participated in research or rotations abroad. "
"the clinical facilities - the hospital is the best in the world"
"The teaching experience is incredible here. We met many doctors who were interested in talking to the applicants. They were all very friendly and seemed to love teaching students"
"The students and faculty were great. "
"EVERYTHING about Hopkins was awesome, the students and faculty were probably the most impressive. Very accomplished yet still very down to earth, nice people."
"Incredible research opportunities available in every area of medical science; possibility of doing research at the NIH while at Hopkins; Clinical training in 3rd and 4th years is unparalleled in my opinion."
"The other interviewees...what a diverse group! The facilities (research and clinical) were outstanding. I (unlike many people) find the location to be an asset - in the middle of a community that really needs good medical care, what an opportunity!"
"Kind of a harsh interviewer?"
"Being grilled by the student interviewer after the med students said that the student interviews were very relaxed. Just caught me off-guard and left my confidence a little shaken."
"My student interviewer had no interest in having a conversation with me. He wanted to ask his questions and write down my answers. Later on, he was on his cellphone instead of interacting with applicants. The admissions staff set an odd tone for the day too; I felt like we were being judged constantly, as we interacted with each other and with the medical students who "mingled" with us. Of course, you ARE being judged the whole day, but it wasn't subtle here."
"I heard a lot about the dangers of living in Baltimore."
"...admissions officer was about 10 mins late to start the day; however, this mishap was soon forgotten as we began discussing the school specifics"
"Very "stuffy" atmosphere of the students, and elitist attitude, interview group was a good combo of elitists from the west coast and poindexters from the east coast. BALTIMORE, the dorms are absolutely atrocious, really can't walk around anywhere."
"Baltimore was worse than I expected, and there was a multiple shooting at the hospital. Also, the vast majority of first year students live in a dorm, but I guess this helps reduce the stress of moving to B'more."
"I was a little intimidated by all the interviewees from "brand name" schools."
"nothing!"
"Weird forced conversation with the MS4s"
"I was harassed for my religious beliefs and lifestyle choices by the student interviewer. Admissions screwed up my interview date, which resulted in poor housing during my stay. Another minority student and I were harassed by security on our way to the interview and were almost arrested for being on the campus. It took the admissions director intervening on our behalf to mitigate the situation. Also, I was on my own for one meal and could not find accessible food on campus, as I was not allowed in any buildings. I ended up wandering around inner city Baltimore at night looking for dinner."
"Everything else was pretty standard (facilities, curriculum, etc.). Plus, Baltimore = Ghetto."
"Baltimore is not for everyone. Ask many questions about this city, get to know both the good and bad, and decide for yourself if it'll be a good fit."
"the food at lunch was the worst I've had at an interview yet"
"The group interview environment is exhausting."
"the dorm that we stayed in, though it wasn't as bad as previous posts made it seem"
"No merit scholarships :("
"There were a ton of ambulance sirens."
"a lot of lecture time, minimal early patient contact"
"Having lived in Baltimore for my undergraduate years, I'm already used to this city. But if I've never been to Baltimore before and I just walked around on the streets for the first time, I'd say I would have gotten a negative impression of the city. "
"Baltimore is extremely ghetto and there is not much to do there at all, there is no family medicine department or rotation at hopkins"
"Reed Hall was pretty cramped. "
"I wasn't too hot on the location. I need grass, trees, and sky. But this is available in a 30 min drive."
"Reed Hall."
"My faculty interview was really intense, nto conversational at all. The guy was a blank wall, I had no idea what he was thinking and he kept asking me really hard questions."
"I had only heard a little about how competitive the students at Hopkins are, but literally every person whom we spoke with actually brought up the fact that everyone is very helpful and not at all competitive. I don't know why they felt the need to reinforce that so much...it made me a little suspicious."
"Nothing really. I'm sad the new building won't be up till '09, but really, whether or not your room has 5 plasma screens isn't going to be the determining factor of how good your education will be :)"
"Perhaps the only negative aspect of my visit was the frantic period between the tour and the first interview. I would have liked a minute to collect myself, but such a detail was minor indeed."
"at the lunch, our faculty member really didn't make conversation flow. the financial aid presentation was boring (and should be optional)"
"The new med school building wont be ready for my first year"
"lecture halls for 1st and 2nd years (old) but they are building new facilities"
"Baltimore. But I think I could handle it."
"The neighborhood--but I wasn't expecting much better."
"-"
"School is in the projects."
"The area that surrounds Hopkins is a bit dodgy. Also, the fact that my interviewer had barely skimmed through my file prior to interviewing me (she admitted this to me). "
"Let's see... the students talking about spending so much time at the bar, instead of studying, and that they have to be on antibiotics (not sure if that was a 'I am out all night and my body is worn down so I got sick' or 'I did something else'), JH is in a really ghetto part of Baltimore, but that didn't bother me too much; the policemen on every corner provided a great deal of security."
"Baltimore's a much rougher city than I expected, yet that probably means the clinical opportunities are superb. The multi-tiered grading system seems to cause a lot of competition between students (although it wasn't evident or they were good at hiding it)"
"Reed Hall looks like a mental institution--yikes. And Baltimore still scares me,: even though everyone at Hopkins says it's not as bad as its rap, it doesn't exactly seem good either."
"The neighborhood around the school isn't great. But I also wouldn't mind living in another part of the city and just driving or taking the light rail to school."
"Really, nothing. Baltimore, despite its really bad rep is actually a really nice city. I got a chance to actually explore a little bit, and the Inner Harbor is beautiful. "
"the actual interviews weren't great - very short - they just asked a few basic questions - not enough to "get to know me" - also, sitting in the room with all the 4th years seemed a bit much (they just answer questions really, and after a few hours of asking questions and hearing about the school, this just seems overboard)"
"East Baltimore. It sounds like it's going to change completely pretty soon, but for now it doesn't seem like a nice area to live, especially if you don't think you'll have a car and can get out of the area a bit. The current pre-clinical teaching building looks like a basement even if you're on the third floor; it felt dark and almost dirty, and the new one won't be ready for years."
"Reed Hall, Baltimore will definitely take some adjusting to, not a good public transportation system so you need a car to get around, parking for first and second years is $115/month"
"The competition is so high among your other interviewees, you can taste it. In a room of 10 people, you know that 2 or fewer have a shot at getting in, so there is some competition for attention during the group evaluation. My interview with the faculty member was very stressful and he seemed disinterested and distant; or was it just that he was acting that way to see what I would do?"
"The tourguide said he never studies because he is in medical school and the whole time he talk to the harvard girl because he went there himself and ignore the rest of us"
"Nothing comes to mind"
"The school did nothing to make us feel welcome (no welcome packet, no brochures, etc. just a financial aid handout)"
"Being from California, the weather sucked (it rained and was really humid), but that doesn't really matter. They name drop quite a bit, but I guess when you've accomplished a lot as they have, it's okay. Baltimore isn't as ghetto as it's made out to be, but it's not a paradise either."
"Baltimore is scary. There are lots of murders and muggings. Unemployment is 50%."
"Much time was spent with 4th year medical students while waiting for faculty and student interviews, but it was difficult to tell how they were evaluating us."
"Yeah, it's in the hood. But the campus itself is almost in its own little world, and the security presence has practically eliminated any negatives within campus. Also, Reed Hall was an experience. My prison cell of a room had nothing but a clock-radio, and the radio part didn't work."
"Too long to list, see summary."
"None"
"Nothing."
"The interview process was annoying"
"The location isn't the best part of the city, but the campus is relatively safe. The tour of the school itself was fairly abbreviated. I would have liked to seem more of the actual units."
"There are some very poor neighborhoods near the Hopkins medical campus, and car break-ins/theft seem to be a problem in the area. "
"The student facilities (reed hall, lecture halls, eating/studying options) were much worse than I was expecting. Also my interviewer made a bad impression on me, although everyone else I interacted with was great."
"The "group assessment" done by current 4th years - they sat with us in the room and looked at us expectantly, and we were supposed to ask questions while they scoped out our personalities. I'm not really sure what the objective was. "
"the buildings/campus was very dull and ugly. the neighborhood did not seem too safe. we kept hearing of the widely-acclaimed faculty but, apart from my faculty interviewer, we didn't meet any faculty that seemed that top notch."
"I felt there was just a general lack of enthusiasm/energy to the day. The facilities (at the least the pre-clinical teaching building) is old and dark. I left wondering what the big deal is about Hopkins, because I was not very impressed. I was also negatively impressed and suspicious when I heard two different students tell the exact same anecdote to try to convince us that the atmosphere is not as competitive as rumor would have it. Seems like it came out of some handbook. Reed hall is not a nice place at all. Think cinder block and shared bathrooms. Also, Hopkins does not have merit-based aid."
"the weather. reed hall."
"The nearly three-hour session with the 4th years got nerve-wracking at times. Had no idea how much say the 4th years who didn't interview me had with committee. That part of the day got to be drawn out, but not stressful...just it was hard trying to find questions to ask for nearly 2-3 hours. "
"The informal session with the 4th year students-- conversation seemed a little contrived."
"Reed Hall rooms, the necessity for tight security around the hospital, and in general the city of Baltimore were not very encouraging."
"Often, just dropping the name "Hopkins" seemed like it should be enough of an explanation (E.g. "How does this school do as far as residency placement?" "Well, it is Hopkins..."). Also, the session with 4th year med students on the admissions committee was a little stressful."
"Reed Hall, the lack of connection between JH med and undergrad (they have seperate gyms)"
"The only part I didn't like is that the area around campus is very unsafe."
"Baltimore was freezing, and the general public in the area isn't really friendly. "
"I couldn't find a Starbucks - or anything else for that matter, near the school. I'm used to a school where you can walk to eateries and shops. Not the case with Hopkins. But then again, isn't that what everyone says about JHU - it's in the "ghetto", yadda yadda yadda."
"the neighborhood is not the best"
"The dorm is ghetto, ghetto, ghetto! Even the suites."
"I met very few students, and the student tour guide said more than once, 'Even if I weren't happy here, I couldn't tell you, because it's my job to say I like it.' also, the classrooms were depressing."
"Mingling with the 4th-year students, but having it count toward the selection process just felt unnatural. I wanted to ask questions, but I was afraid it'd reflect negatively on me if I asked it the wrong way, and I didn't want to ask too many for fear of looking like I was hogging "Air time" from other students. At one point, I was in the middle of a conversation about an unrelated topic with other interviewees and two med students, when all of a sudden, one med student got up and told me to come with him for our interview. It's really just weird. Probably don't need to worry so much about looking nice, but the atmosphere just felt so ridiculous to me, since there were definitely some people who were playing "Joe Millionaire" and trying to look memorable."
"As I have heard, Baltimore is not as fun as other cities. Reed Hall wasn't great. But rent in Baltimore is cheap on the other hand. "
"Reed Hall. Its kindof ghettoish, but everyone lives there--very social."
"The area around the school looks like Compton, CA."
"The location of the school within the city."
"Nothing. Even Baltimore isn't so bad. "
"Certain events seemed to lack organization. At lunch we all had assigned seats, but many of the doctors and medical students just took random seats. I ended up with a couple other interview candidates and one MD/PhD student who hardly talked."
"Parking and traffic were a nightmare."
"the tour, but hurricane isabel was starting and they had cancelled classes but kept interviews going, so we had to have the tour inside and the tunnels were dingy but functional - a lot of the campus is functional at the expense of some of the aesthetics. if you like a pretty campus, might want to think of another school..."
"Baltimore is quite slummy and the med center is in the heart of it. They have police on campus so it's safe there but don't wander more than a block outside the safe zone."
"nothing"
"Well, Reed Hall isn't exactly luxurious... but not many dorms are. Most of the students still live there first year though in order to adjust and meet people. I wasn't really negatively impressed by anything, to tell you the truth."
"Everyone kept denying that competition is prevalent at Hopkins. I heard this so many times, that I started to believe that there was a cover-up underway. The students seemed really insecure about their reputation as intense, competitive people. Also, the admissions office made it sound like the changing of the grading policy was a marketing ploy to alleviate the stereotype of competition held by applicants and outsiders. The truth is that the grading system is essentially the same. They now have Honors, High Pass, and Pass instead of A,B,C, but the grade distributions in each category are unchanged. I left Hopkins feeling that competition is indeed prevalent."
"Surrounding neighborhood is sketchy, but the security of the campus is very good, and at any rate, it provides an opportunity to practice urban medicine."
"Reed Hall is not great, but it's better than I expected. They put interviewers in singles, but most med students stay in 4-room suites, which are much nicer. Baltimore, especially the area surrounding the campus seems to be the biggest downside of Hopkins. "
"Reed Hall is a dump, but that was no surprise..."
"nothing really"
"Baltimore isn't New York. It's not the greatest place to be. It's not a bad place to be, but it's not my first choice location either. "
"not too much, to be honest"
"REED HALL!!! Absolutely terrible facilities!!! I still cant conceive how people stay in those cells. The area around the school/hospital is also pretty bad. All in all, I was not impressed by Baltimore at all! It really affected my perception of JHU"
"The interviewer"
"I was given the impression that Baltimore isn't the best city to live in."
"Baltimore"
"Neighborhood and the 'school bus' shuttle."
"The Dorm...Reed Hall"
"It's location in Baltimore -- shady part of town."
"The relatively traditional curriculum, lack of technological innovations in the first two years, and the surrounding neighborhood. Also, I did not care for the Sorority/Fraternity Rush-style "get to know you" with fourth-year students and fellow interviewees. The conversations were canned and strained at times since the 4th years were on the admissions committee and were clearly making mental notes and comparisons- ugh! It was intense!"
"The area isn't great, but I didn't mind it that much. I didn't get a chance to stay in Reed Hall but I hear it's not the greatest. The classrooms are kind of dark."
"Reed hall was the worst dorm I've ever stayed at, and I've been in a lot of dorms. Don't stay there because it will bias you against the school. The part of the hall where interviewees stay is composed of single rooms that are really nasty. The medical school students all stay in a different wing that is composed of suites. The suite section was marginally better than the singles but still not very nice. Half of the first year class usually stays in Reed Hall. After that, people live elsewhere. Because the neighborhood is bad, students don't live near the school, but have to communte about 20 minutes every day if they don't live in Reed. "
"the pre-clinical facilities - for such a rich school they can move out of the 70's"
"The area around campus"
"Reed Hall was horribly depressing and the surrounding area was a little scary (which is not all bad)"
"Reed Hall kind of reminded me of a jail cell... and the area immediately surrounding the medical center seemed kinda scary... but otherwise, Baltimore is beautiful and under-rated. Head down to the inner harbor and visit the undergrad campus while you are there!"
"the area around the medical campus is not good, as i'm sure you've heard before"
"Reed Hall (med student dorm) wow, what a dump!"
"How helpful the greeter's meeting was"
"That it was.. not chill?"
"I wish I had known how much I would love it but that it would be my worst interview."
"I wish I'd had an answer prepared for the two questions that BOTH interviewers asked: 1) Describe a mistake you made and what you learned and 2) Describe a team experience that went well (/poorly) and why."
"I wish I had checked the weather the morning before my interview."
"n.a."
"I was debating on going in the first place due to the area it was in, but I figured I'd have to see for myself. It's as bad as they say it is, and probably wouldn't have gone if I did know that."
"Just how bad Baltimore actually was (traffic, drugs on the street, safety issues, lack of significant green space, etc.)."
"Traffic leaving Baltimore was pretty horrible."
"If you're driving in, get there earlier rather than later as parking can be a problem"
"Don't take the subway! The $3 you are saving are not worth the time/multiple transfers/inconvenience/sketchiness!"
"What to do during the time when I woke up (~7am) and the interview ~11am."
"That what we are told from the fourth years REALLY doesn't apply to us, considering the revamping of the curriculum and all the new, amazing construction."
"That there would be 16 of us there!"
"to eat a big breakfast and bring a snack because the lunch wasn't good and all that was offered the rest of the day was cookies and chips...I was sooo hungry by the end."
"Try not to sit in the corners of the waiting room, you want to stake out a good spot for the semi-interview meeting with med students. I recommend going to the meet-and-greet the night before in Reed Hall, it was pretty fun and I feel like I got a good impression of the students there."
"I wish I knew that JHU only has one patch of grass."
"How old/inadequate Reed Hall is."
"Nothing really. "
"It is really easy to get an MD/MPH from the top public health school in the country if you are interested"
"I wish I was better prepared for the hang out session with the 4th years while we were waiting on our interviewers. I felt like I was not sociable enough."
"I wish I had known the nature of the faculty interview. I was expecting something really laid-back (my other interviews were that way) and I was caught off guard. "
"That it was so relaxed and fun. You do probably need to be a social/talkative person to enjoy it though since there's a lot of group interaction. I personally really like baltimore, it gets a bad rap, but there's lots of fun things to do here."
"I discovered that I truly love almost everything about Johns Hopkins! This may sound over the top, but Johns Hopkins really does an amazing job of selling their program during the interview day."
"just relax! also, the interview with the fourth-year student is closed file (the faculty interview is not)"
"That JH students are really relaxed and non-competitive"
"The people are so much more friendly and relaxed than I had expected and the interview is extremely low-stress...they just want to get to know you!"
"-"
"More easygoing student body than I would have thought."
"That Hopkins interviews are relaxing and not stressful."
"Strange interview set up: One faculty interview, 45 minutes, open file, one student interview, 15 minutes, closed file, but as you're waiting for your turn to interview, you're in a room with M4s, and you have to make conversation with them, and they are on the committee..."
"that it's not a high stress interview. its very laid back and the people are really supportive!"
"Driving on the East Coast is nuts. They're crazy aggressive (I'm a midwesterner)."
"that Hopkins students aren't crazy gunners. And that the "refreshments" at the Greeters session are basically a bag of candy, so, eat dinner!"
"Hopkins doesn't have their students do rotations in primary care/family medicine. Nor do they really have faculty of that specialty."
"You can take music classes at the Peabody! "
"that my interviews would be so general...I wouldn't have wasted time preparing"
"That it was by sheer miracle I got the interview-- I was surrounded by Ivey Leaguers and felt pretty out of place and intimidated."
"that there is nothing to be worried about"
"Hopkins is looking for a certain type of person. The interview day was set up to favor the most outgoing applicants. The down time with 4th year students was not the cutthroat competition that some people have complained about, but if you don't know much about pop culture, you won't be noticed, because that's what most of the discussion is about. I wish I had known this beforehand, because I would not have wasted my money applying to Hopkins. Oh, and make sure you take flip flops if you're staying in Reid, since the shared showers are kind of gross. And there's nowhere to hang your towel."
"My faculty interviewer was utterly amazing. I wasn't too stressed going into the interview, but I wish I knew that my interviewer was going to be one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Our personalities clicked and that made the day and (in part) made Hopkins my first choice. "
"that the sky is brown over Baltimore"
"No merit-based scholarships. Bummer. "
"They want you to have about 1000000 questions for them because you sit around with admissions committee members in a group interview for about 2.5 hours. "
"I wish I had known that it was useless to be so stressed and nervous beforehand."
"I forgot to pack a belt. Also, being from a smaller city, the subway scared the living hell out of me. But I live here now, so I'll have to get used to it."
"That Hopkins has a unique personality that doesn't fit mine."
"Baltimore is COLD (at least, it was when I was there). "
"The interview process."
"Bring gloves for winter weather."
"Take advantage of the hosting program, it is a great opportunity to learn about the school and mentally prepare yourself for the interview in a relaxed setting. Students who stayed with hosts off-campus seemed to have gotten more out of the experience than students who stayed at Reed Hall. "
"Hopkins has a great setup for the clinical years and Baltimore is not that horrible."
"No big surprises."
"All of the things I discussed above."
"they are discussing changes in the curriculum. i didnt ask much about it. sounds like the earliest time changes would take place is in the 2nd year for the class of 2009."
"Eh, I knew Baltimore wasn't the greatest, but the area around Hopkins is livable. "
"That the cab drivers are always late-- almost missed my bus back to Cornell!"
"I wish I had believed people when they described Baltimore as "ghetto.""
"There is a LOT of talking to other interviewees, students, faculty, etc., so be prepared with lots of questions. "
"That Hopkins has moved from a letter grade system to Honors/HP/P/F. Also, that there is no formal MD/MPH dual degree program, but it is still possible to pursue both degrees while at Hopkins."
"That it would be so cold. "
"You are very limited in food options - only fast food close by was Popeye's, I got in late and I was hungry, and I was very limited in my options. We ate at Mamma Mia's in the morning - good cheap food but definitely not room service."
"Not to stress, it really was one of my beter interviews (I thought)."
"The faculty interviewers do not stick to the schedule. Don't schedule an early return flight."
"M.S. involves a problem with the mylenating cells of the CNS"
"If you want to visit a class, you have to get clearance, otherwise security will throw you out of the Preclinical teaching building. Look at a map before you get here, parking, Reed Hall, and the Broadway Research Building might take a while to navigate to, with all of Baltimore's one-way streets."
"That I wouldn't be able to sleep in Reed Hall. Loud and uncomfortable. But its a dorm, what did I expect? "
"RELAX! Just relax. If you get an interview at Hopkins and honestly love what you are doing, know what you are talking about, and can carry a conversation, things will go well. If you are a tool, you probably won't get in."
"People are down to earth"
"methods of transportation in the city"
"Baltimore is the syphilis capital of the world, and top 3 in gonorrhea. "
"My day ended at 3:30 p.m., even though they said to plan to stay until 5 p.m."
"MD/PhD interviews are really easy."
"nothing"
"There are two options for getting to campus. If you're brave and it's daytime, take the light rail to the civic center and then the subway to the med center (see an earlier post for details). They're $1.35 each. Otherwise, you can take the shuttle to the marriott ($18 round trip, $11 one-way) and then a cab ($5-7). "
"We interviewed on the last day of interviews, which is kind of scary... but the faculty told us that all of the spots are not filled yet, so I guess we really aren't at a disadvantage."
"If you're coming from California, Hawaii or the South, make sure you check the weather reports before you go. That place is COLD!"
"I knew this ahead of time, fortunately (from the general JHU Web site, not the JHMI information): If you have time, take the light rail from the airport to Penn station, and catch the shuttle (free) or taxi ($5) from there. Much cheaper ($1.35) than a cab from the airport."
"Transportation from BWI to Reed Hall: Go to the International Terminal of the airport, and walk outside to buy a Light Rail Ticket ($1.35-exact change is best). Take the Light Rail to the LEXINGTON MARKET stop. Walk half a block in the direction the Light Rail was taking you, turn left, then walk 3/4 block to the Lexington Market Metro Station (Look for the "M" signs). The Metro also costs $1.35--again, try to have exact chage. Take the Metro to the last stop--JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL stop. When you get out, the Hopkins "DOME" will be obvious. Reed Hall faces the Dome (look on the campus map they mail you to find it). The whole trip takes about 50 minutes, but it will save you lots of $$ as a cab will cost about $25-$30. Also, if you stay at Reed Hall, you should know that even though the interview day starts at 11:30am, check out time is 10:00am."
"Nothing, they keep everything open and light."
"nothing much really, I read all the comments on this web page, so I pretty much knew what was going to happen. If I hadn't, it would've been good to know about sitting in the room with fourth years who were evaluating us, although there wasn't any when I was there since they were all on break. When they were there though (for all of five minutes), it was no stress at all. "
"The students don't deserve their competitive rep. They are extremely hard working, but not trying to beat everyone else. This is definitely not a party school though. "
"i was pretty well informed thanks to you wonderful interview feedback folk!"
"Baltimore is a shady city."
"Driving in Baltimore is rough after the interview (around 5 p.m.). You might want to take a cab."
"learned about flexibility in clinical years, classes at the peabody, jhu undergrad campus. found about some ethnic restaurants in the city, some city highlights and history. not yet convinced about things to do in the city... feels like you can run out of things to do real fast."
"how bad reed hall was"
"That for a couple hours we'd be sitting in a room with all the other applicants and med students who were supposed to be "chatting" with us but were at the same time evaluating us"
"Your can take your core clerkships anytime during your 3rd and 4th years. That way you can be sure of your interests and get lots of experience and letters of recommendation. "
"Hopkins is affiliated with the Peabody Institute (arts/music) and the undergrad campus such that all medical students can take a class for free every semester. How cool is that!"
"Should have stayed with a student."
"the low -stress friendliness of almost everyone there - very warm collaborative environment "
"People from all over the world come to Johns Hopkins Hospital."
"n/a"
"Travel to the school - you can take the light rail to the subway to get to the school and save some $$ (you can get to the school for $2.50 instead of paying a cab $25-30), the subway drops off right by Reed Hall and the med center. Head to the international terminal at the airport and buy a light rail ticket for about $1.25 (? I think) and head toward Hopkins Hospital, at the Lexington Market stop, get off of the train and walk about 1.5 blocks to the subway entrance, buy a ticket ($1.25), and take the subway to the last stop - Hopkins Hospital. *NOTE* I would not reccomend walking through Lexington Market after dark, especially if you are by yourself... I think you can also catch the subway @ Penn Station, but I don't know if that area is any better."
"There were a couple of labs that I didnt know about beforehand that I wish I had known about so I could read some of their publications and meet with the principal investigators."
"There was a time where all applicants were in a room with fourth year med students who were ad comm members...what a stressful hour! People wanted to catch the attention of the 4th years, but not be TOO annoying, definately my least favorite part of the day."
"Loved the school, easy top choice."
"Positive experience as a whole."
"Largely, this wasn't a comfortable or warm interview day. In part this depends on who your interviewers are, but it was also the larger structure of the day."
"I got a very positive impression overall. Hopkins is among my top choices."
"great day- one of the best interviews of the entire season in terms of complete school overview, tour, and student opinion"
"Faculty Interviewer: Repeatedly yawned in front of me during the interview and dressed in sweats. Clearly didn't want to be there. Student Interviewer: Meh, just got the general vibe he didn't like me - I felt like he thought I wasn't interesting The Waiting Room: You ARE critqued by interviewers while waiting in the waiting room and talking with them. I don't care what anyone says - it DOES inherently create an awkward and artificial tone. Overall, really only the prestige, and maybe the public health/disparities side is intriguing. New curriculum seemed good also, but that's it. Interviewed at several other elite schools, and only school where admissions staff and tour guides were openly obnoxious. Really just did not like it here - not a good fit at all."
"Excellent school in a place where I wouldn't want to live. I could tolerate Baltimore, but I think it would add to my stress level. Contrary to some other reviews, I enjoyed the hang out session with the MS4s and thought it was a good idea."
"<3 Hopkins"
"GETTING TO JHMI (TIPS FROM A JHU UNDERGRADUATE) From the airport: Take the MARC train to Baltimore Penn Station (it costs around $5.00). There is a FREE Hopkins shuttle that runs from Penn Station (train station) to the medical school. The shuttle is quite reliable. You will pick it up on the St. Paul side of Penn Station (take a left when you exit the front door of the train station, and wait at the bus stop shelter). The bus will usually be a big blue and white bus that says "Johns Hopkins" on the side, but may also be a school bus or a white bus (if the normal one is broken). You can access the shuttle schedule here: http://www.parking.jhu.edu/shuttles_jhmi_homewood.html Click on the "Shuttle Schedule" link on the right to see the most recent schedule. The next stop after Penn Station is the Peabody Conservatory, so stay on the bus. The next stop after the Peabody Conservatory is the Hampton House on the JHMI campus. GET OFF HERE! Reed Hall is the building next to the Hampton House (same side of the street as the bus stop). If you are heading toward the admissions building, cross the street from where you got off and continue down North Broadway."
"Interviews with 4th year students, individually, are closed file. Interview with the Adcom faculty member are open file. While you're waiting to have your interview you're being evaluated by the 4th years (1-2) that wait in the room with you. Also, stay with a student host if at all possible. My student host helped me out with a tie when I realized that I hadn't brought one."
"The whole "get a seat in the center of the waiting room so you can talk to the 4th years who are grading you" is bogus. There were 16 people applicants in the waiting room and everyone got involved, chitchatted, and had a pretty awesome time, it wasn't stressful at all. I want to go back there and party with them there! Also, BEWARE: Reed Hall is a dump!"
"I went into this interview already knowing some of JHU's greatest strengths and was pleased to see that most are true. You may have a larger interview group like me, but the way that they split us up for specific activities worked well in my opinion. The lunch, and subsequent chat with fourth year students before interviews can be a little awkward at first, but if you have good things to ask and state, you'll be fine. My faculty interviewer was very nice, had access to my whole application, and had a set list of questions already. My student interviewer was very casual but thorough. Just relax and let your true personality shine forth. I had a good day and left with many reasons to consider Johns Hopkins seriously if given the chance."
"awesome school"
"Faculty interview was open file and student interview was closed file."
"Much has been said about the period in which interviewers sit with older med students on the admissions committee...as one doctor there put it to me before my interview, that part is "just to weed out the pricks". On the whole the med students were very kind and we talked about all kinds of things...just show you're a well-mannered and kind person. Both interviewers were very nice, interviews were conversational, I was quite impressed all around. It has also been noted that the school is right in the ghetto, which it definitely is. Other parts of Baltimore are pretty nice though, and the rents are low."
"Johns Hopkins is a pretty impressive school in comparison to many other medical schools I have seen."
"one open-file 45 minute faculty interview and one closed-file 15 minute student interview."
"Everything except my faculty interviewer was great. "
"2 interviews: one faculty (30 min) and one student (15-20min). Both were really low-stress"
"The tour was nice, there is a ripped Jesus on steroids statue in the bell tower area. We got sent to a lounge area and then were pulled out for interviews. One is a 15 minute closed file with a 4th yr med student. The other is a 45 minute open file with a faculty member. Sitting in the lounge and chatting with the 4th yr meds. By then, we already had so much opportunity to ask questions that we mostly talked about social stuff"
"There are two interviews (4th year student closed file and faculty open file) and yet you're being evaluated while in the waiting room with the other applicants and 4th years. I really enjoyed the tour and the lunch. I stayed with a student host who took me around town and gave me more insight into the school. It was a blast."
"A little overwhelming. It was my first one so I didn't do as well as I could have, but on the whole everyone was very kind and they gave me lots of opportunities to showcase myself."
"Stayed at Reed Hall (didn't go to Greeters the night before, but I heard that was really great). Breakfast (buy your own) and chatting with other applicants (15 of us there) Orientation (boring), lunch with faculty and student (our student didn't show up), tour by a student, two interviews, one with a M4 (closed file) and the other with a faculty member (open file)."
"Two interviews: my first was 15 minutes, with a student, and the second was 45, with a faculty member. "
"Financial aid talk, then lunch with faculty, then interviews. Student interview closed file, very informal and very enjoyable, just be ready to talk about your life A LOT. Then hung out in the ''group room'' and then interviewed with faculty which was a little more formal and structured, but still pretty relaxed and conversational. Oh, the students you hang out with in the group room are on the committee, and get to cast a preliminary vote, but don't get an official final vote, just fyi. "
"I was simply blown away by Johns Hopkins. From witnessing the collegiality present between the fellows and the other physicians during a Grand Rounds session to interacting with the current students, it is readily apparent that the greatest asset of Johns Hopkins is its medical community. As such, they invest greatly in making sure every member is as well trained as possible. The curriculum includes journal clubs, clinician shadowing, traditional lectures, small group sessions, and several special courses (like Physician and Society) that cover the issues that will become increasingly pertinent to the profession. I cannot say enough good things about my interview day, the curriculum, and Johns Hopkins in general. It was a great honor just to visit such an amazing institution."
"The day is divided up into two parts: the morning where you are not being evaluated and then a total immersion with admissions people. After the lunch with faculty and the tour, you sit in a room with fourth years and just chat. Hint: don't try too hard to impress them, you look dumb. The student interview is really really laid back, just be yourself. Same advice for the faculty interview, only he or she has all your information and can ask about grades etc. Big hint: look over your experiences you listed on your primary so you don't forget to mention it in the interview!"
"Everything I thought about JH was wrong. People are very laid back, friendly, etc. Lecturers are nobel prize winners. apply early. i submitted my application mid july, was one of the first interviewees"
"GREAT"
"I'd already been accepted to my top choice (Cornell), and went into this interview not really expecting to be impressed enough to choose Baltimore over NYC. But the school is really amazing, and the people (faculty as well as MD-PhD students) were wonderful. Also had incredible crabcakes for dinner."
"The day was planned to maximize your opportunities to learn about the school and show the admissions committee who you are. Day began at 11:30 and ended at 4:30 and there was a looseness to they way that the day progressed. The interviews were entirely conversational and relatively brief. "
"Arrived and sat with fellow applicants for 20min, then had introduction by dean and financial aid. Lucnh with faculty and MS3s, followed by a tour with same MS3s. Then back to admissions waiting for interview. You're waiting with fellow applicants and MS4s who are on adcom. There's plenty of time to ask them questions and just chat (be sure to say something). One of the MS4s calls you back for a 15min, closed-file interview. Then back to waiting with others for the longer, open-file faculty interview."
"Two days, four interviews one day, two interviews the next day, lots of time with current students. The MSTP office is exceptionally well run."
"The faculty interviwer wasn't the nicest person ever, but it still went well. The student interview is closed-file, but still counts just as much as the faculty interviewer. "
"The day starts at 1130, which is nice because of extra sleep. Starts with brief intro. and financial aid talk, then lunch. Student led tour in small groups was pretty informative. Then there's two interviews: open-file with faculty and close-file with 4th year student. Anytime you're not in an interviews you're in a room with fellow interviewees and 4th years. This is not as bad as it sounds, just don't be stuck in a corner. The students are very nice, so it's easy to feel comfortable."
"We started the day meeting the other interviewees in the waiting room of the admissions office. There is a brief introduction and then a financial aid presentation which in total takes about 25 minutes. There is a lunch that follows. There are MD's as well as medical students at the lunch who are not on the adcomm. They are there to answer questions and are very friendly. Lunch is followed by a quick tour and then back to the admissions office. Once in the admissions office you are joined by several 4th year students who are on the adcomm. They sit and talk with you until the interviewer calls you back. Following the faculty interview, one of the 4th years (who are in the waiting room with you) will take you back into another room for a closed file interview. The rest of the time, you wait for everyone to finish both of their interviews and know it is time to leave when the refreshments are hastily removed from the area. All in all, great interview experience at Hopkins!"
"Like I said, very odd. My faculty interviewer talked for about 40 of the 45 minutes."
"i thought it went really well. much better than i had pictured. i imagined all these hard ethical questions and i really didn't get any!"
"I had a great time. There's a meet-and-greet the night before with a tour of Reed Hall. I really like the idea of a dorm setting to create community between the students. The next day, there was the option of visiting classes in the morning. The day formally started at 11:30am with Dean White speaking to us about admissions and financial aid. We had a lunch with students and faculty at small tables, took a brief tour of campus, and returned for an open-file faculty interview and a closed-file student interview. If you get a chance to travel, inner-Harbor is gorgeous."
"All in all, a great visit. Staying in Reed was a lot of fun since it gave me time to bond with other interviewees and talk to more Hopkins students; by the time I actually got to the interview day in the morning, I felt very settled in and comfortable. Dr. White gives a brief talk about the admissions process and financial aid, then you go to a lunch with assigned seating so each table has 3-4 interviewees and a faculty member or student. We talked about sports and city driving, and the food was good. Totally laid back. This is followed by a tour by a student. Then, at 2, you all go to the admissions office and sit with a bunch of 4th years who are on the adcom. They're evaluating you, but it was TOTALLY chill. They were friendly and easy to talk to. Throughout this period, you get taken away for a 15 min closed-file interview with one of these students, and a regular-length one with a faculty member. Both were extremely friendly and easy. My heart rate didn't accelerate all day, and Hopkins left a very positive impression on me!"
"It was good. My interviewer was extremely interesting and fun to talk to. The closed-file student interview was also great. We really just chatted for a while about fun stuff."
"I had an amazing time at Hopkins. Every single student I met at Hopkins seemed incredibly happy. Our tour guide was a really kind person who clearly was plugged into the community--he must have greeted at least 3 different doctors during our short tour, who all knew his name in return. The format is excellent. You don't start until 11:30, then have lunch with a faculty and student (who are not on admissions), and then the interviewers call you when it's your turn. You're done by 4pm, and you've met several faculty, the dean, and a ton of students by then. I really thought that the whole experience was excellent. The administration clearly cares a lot about the students, and it's so clear from everyone's attitude, that they absolutely love it there (including the faculty). I was really nervous because it was my first interview, but it must have gone okay because I got in! I left having totally fallen in love with Hopkins. "
"Loved the school, facilities, students, etc. Didn't love the interviews. Actually, my interviewees were really nice, but the faculty interview was incredibly short and just glazed the surface, and my student interviewer (closed file, btw) seemed a bit reserved and so the "conversational" exchange I usually enjoy didn't seem possible."
"I was set up with a student to stay with who was absolutely wonderful. She showed me around and answered all my questions and was probably the best part of my visit. While the school seems ideal for med students interested in research or seeing unusual cases in certain specialties, it didn't seem to necessarily excel at its general classroom education or be particularly unusual in its clinical education. "
"If you get a chance go to the 8pm meeting with the 1st years at Reed Hall, you get a chance to meet some first years ask questions and meet your fellow interviewees. The interview day started at 11:30 but there was a housing informational at 10:30 which was pretty informative, at 11:30 we met with the assistant dean, 12ish we had lunch where we had assigned seats with a faculty member and a 3rd year student, a tour from 1-2 and then at 2 you sit down with fourth years and basically socialize and ask questions. They are evaluation you but it's really not stressful at all. The whole day is very social but its nice you get to meet some cool people and learn a lot about hopkins. They pull you out for an interview with a student and a faculty member at various times. My faculty interviewer was from my home town which really surprised me considering I live in a pretty small city and he was very nice and laid back not stressful at all The student interviewer is closed file so they ask a lot of questions that you would normally have in your application so be prepared to talk about all that. It's also very laid back and the students are really nice"
"The day begins with a talk from Paul White, who is awesome, just going over general admissions things, financial aid, etc. You immediately go to lunch with 4th years and faculty NOT on the admissions committee, so you can have an "evaluation free" time to ask questions and get to know people. Then, we were taken on a brief tour with a 4th year (and believe me, for the size of the place, the tour was too brief to even highlight the top 10 things to see). Then it's back to the room of doom. No, that's a joke. It was not doom at all! You sit in the room waiting to be interviewed by a student and faculty member and you are surrounded by fellow applicants and 4th years. Yes, the 4th years ARE evaluating you, so don't sit and look mad or scared, just relax and have a conversation. This is also a good time to ask questions, but ask question that you really want to know the answers to! They will see right through you if you are just trying to show off. My student interview was very laid back, closed file of course, and went really well. We talked for a long time! The faculty interview came next (which is first or second is pretty random) and I was totally stressed by it. Part of the problem was that this is my 1st choice, so I was nervous and clearly not my usual relaxed and confident self (I am not a babbler, but felt my mouth moving a mile a minute!). He asked some really basic questions and did not seem interested in my answers. It was not conversational at all. It was hard to tell if he was acting like this to seem impartial, or he was really quite unimpressed by me, and maybe wondering why he was wasting his time there. I got the feeling he only reviewed my grades and scores and did not look much at my experiences or letters (other med school interviewers have had praise or at least positively-toned questions regarding these things). I know I did not do as well as I could have, and it was hard to relax enough to be myself with his demeanor. It's odd, because I know a few physicians in his specialty and they all tend to be very friendly and warm. So, maybe it was an act?"
"I was too nervous but the people are very nice there and very attentive to your need. the food is good, i like it."
"The student interview was straightforward, just "tell me about yourself," etc. The faculty interview was much more difficult and kind of weird, see above. I was not accepted, but that's really okay since I got the impression Hopkins would be a bad fit for me."
"You don't have to arrive until 11:30am. This is beautiful and allowed me to get a good night's sleep. Dean White begins the day with a short talk on the admissions process, when you should expect a desision, financial aid, etc. You then go to lunch. There are tables of 5 or 6 people with each seat being pre-assigned. They make sure that students from the same school do not sit together, and each table has a faculty member and 3rd or 4th year seated with interviewees. Lunch is buffet-style. After lunch, you go on the tour. Basically, if you want to see something, then tell the tour guide. They will take you there (unless you want to see the OR). Be sure to ask them questions. After the tour, you sit in the admissions office with a handful of 4th years. They are evaluating you. Do NOT stress about this. As long as you are not socially inept, then you're fine. They will approach you. Talk to them, talk to fellow interviewees (these might be your future classmates). Throughout this time (roughly 2pm until 4:30pm), you'll be swept away by both a student and a faculty member. The student interviews are closed file. They just want to get to know you and see if you'd be a good colleague. Faculty interviews depend on who you get, for each interviewer has a different style. Around 4:30pm, you're done."
"It was a good first interview because not stressful once I got there, people were welcoming and the other interviewees were fun. The adminstration doesn't seem to make an effort to sell itself to us whatsoever."
"I enjoyed it."
"So the interview day starts at 11:30 with a talk about admissions and financial aid. We then sit down and eat lunch with a faculty member and student, neither of which is on the board of admissions. Then we take a tour, which isn't so great when it's extremely hot and humid outside. I came back from the tour really sweaty, and then I had to go straight to my interview (at 2pm). The interview with the faculty was alright; she was nice, but some of the questions she posed were a bit tough, though not unreasonable. The student interview was fantastic; he took me to the fountain inside, so it was a very soothing location. A note on the time when you're sitting in the room with students from the admissions committee: this is definitely not stressful. Some people spaz out about it, but they're probably just gunners who feel compelled to impress them all with their amazing questions and impressive resume. No, it's not a time to be snotty, but just a time to find out info from them and show that you can talk to people on a normal basis. I talked about football for at least 1/3 of the time. Enjoy this session, have a few questions prepared beforehand, and just enjoy the flow. It's rather informal and relaxing. There is NOTHING to fear with this part!"
"The interviewers were friendly and very proud of Hopkins. The med student was particularly laid back. "
"The 4th year medical students REALLY want to get to know you and made the interview atmostphere so comfortable. I talked about the Pistons, DJing, and other topics with them. Being an undergraduate at the same university helps, but everyone is eager to fill those traveling from other schools about all the details about Baltimore and the medical school. Always have questions to ask! Review the curriculum, attend visiting sessions beforehand, read the website, but get to know the school thoroughly."
"I came in the night before and did the meet-and-greet at Reed Hall, which I recommend. You'll meet some students and get a feel for the people, who are NOT the stuck-up type or the bookwormy ones either. They were actually extremely cool. Two 20-minute interviews the next afternoon - open-file with faculty and closed-file with student. But you do sit around the admissions lobby for 2+ hours with the group of interviewees and 4 fourth-years who are on the admissions committee and are judging you. It wasn't as unnerving as I thought it would be - they just wanted to see you interact with others. Tour was incredible, the day was great, and I walked out wondering how I could possibly feel like I had actually done it and gotten in. Oh, and they call you to notify you if you're accepted, so it adds a personal touch."
"I didn't plan on doing any interview feedbacks, but after reading the ones posted here and how mild they were, I felt I had to speak up about my experience at Hopkins. I'm not a very harsh person, but I have to say that Hopkins managed to elicit the strongest negative reaction I have had to anything in recent memory. 1. The students were pompous, insecure, and obnoxious. I heard "we have a nobel laureate teaching our classes" about 40 different times throughout the day (I actually can't think of a single student who didn't mention that). They kept coming back to how awesome Hopkins was and how it's repuation was so good (which I'm sure is true), but it was a stark contrast to the modest confidence that I found at other schools of equal caliber. Harvard and Columbia were great examples of schools where the students never even mentioned how "prestigious" their schools were, but managed to speak about other relevant strengths. 2. They are singularly focused on dispelling their reputation as a school full of gunners. You can tell a lot about a person based on what he/she is defensive about, and I think you can tell a lot about a school based on what it is defensive about. If I hear "oh, we pass along class notes and make summary sheets all the time" one more time from anybody, I'm going to go crazy. I went to 13 interviews, and my second-worst impression of a school was actually pretty positive. I wouldn't have minded going to that school. However, I would consider reapplying if the only school I got into was Hopkins. "
"I arrived a bit early and then waited around in a room with the other applicants for about an hour. We then moved to a conference room for an hour of lunch and talking to faculty and 4th year students who were not involved with the admissions process. Then a tour with a 4th year. We were then returned to the waiting room and were met by 4th years who were part of the admissions process and were called away to do interviews with students or faculty one-by-one. A long day. "
"It was good. I liked it. People were nice and down to earth. They say it's not competitive at all, and it showed. The SNMA dinner was great too."
"Fairly good experience. I was asked why I wanted to come to Johns Hopkins, and the interviewer made sure to figure out if the school was a right fit for me. Other than that we talked about his specialty some of the work he's done, which I happened to have an interest in. The other interview was conducted by was of the students. It was closed file, so I spent the time going over the major parts of my resume, filling in details that weren't already in my application."
"I stayed with a student in Charles Village, and I found out a lot of useful info about the school from her. Also, since I was staying at such a close proximity to the school, I had a lot of time to get ready and go to my interview. Overall, I had a great experience at JHMS. The students seemed genuinely nice, the facilities were impressive, and while people at Hopkins seemed to have a lot of Hopkins pride, they didn't have the arrogance many times found in peer institutions. "
"I really thought that my interview day went great except for the actual interview itself. The students were really cool and interesting people, not just book smart. And all the fuculty from the secretaries in the office to the physicians at the lunch were super nice. My problem was with my interviewer. From my name and appearance one can easily deduce that I am a Muslim. So Dr. McHugh asked me several questions about the war in Iraq and why we are encountering so much resistance. I felt that these questions were inappropraite, how the hell I am I supposed to know, it was like he was saying, you're one of them so why don't you tell me about it. Also I had expressed that I was interested in getting involved in humanitarian work so he questioned me about that and suggested that I should be doing public health. It was my first interview and I was nervous so I don't think that I gave the greatest responses but he was not being very accomodating. Perhaps he wanted me to take a stand and say how the hell should I know what's in the mind of the insurgents, or maybe he wanted me to appologise to him. In any case it didn't go well for me but I still thought the school was very good."
"My faculty interviewer was, by far, the most relaxed, no-pressure interviewer I've had. He put me entirely at ease. Overall, I really enjoyed my day here."
"both interviews went well. both the faculty and student interviewers were there to listen and were very friendly and approachable. the whole experience ended up being kind of cheesy as the faculty interviewer switched to more of a recruiting tone than an interviewing one. but who knows, maybe that is how he approaches every interviewee."
"Overall, I left feeling like I must have missed something, because I SHOULD have liked it, right? I recommend stopping by the new public health building. It has great study spaces and is really quite nice."
"i was really impressed by the school. you have lunch w/students and faculty. the interviews were conversational and the interviewers i had were extremely friendly and easy to talk with. i would say the stressful portion is just sitting the the room w/everyone. "
"Interviewers were really laid back and just wanted to get to know me. They did this by really reviewing my file beforehand (the faculty member that is) and asking really pointed questions. The student interviewer is closed file, which creates a more laid back and free-flowing,conversational atmosphere. Again, a pretty satisfying experience and a great school..."
"There were two interviews-- a closed file 15 minute interview with a 4th year student, and a 45 minute open-file interview with a faculty or admissions committee member. Also, all your down time (from approximately 2 PM after lunch until you can leave [they say to stay at least until 4:30]) is in a group interview-type setting with 4th years who are on the admissions committee. This is relatively informal, but still a little stressful because there is a sense of being evaluated. The student and faculty interviews went smoothly and were low stress. No one tried to stump me with hard questions or anything like that. The campus seemed a lot nicer than everyone had been describing it. I didn't feel unsafe or see too many security guards, etc-- it seems that the "ghetto" description is unfair. Besides, the community that is served by the hospital seemed great-- very diverse ethnically and socioeconomically."
"The student and faculty interviews were as expected. However, the group mingling with the med students on the admissions council was very very long and drawn out. I was out of questions to ask the students after 30 minutes, so for the other 2 hours, I basically had to ask irrelevant questions and make small talk."
"I had expected to like JH, but not as much as I did. The students were wonderful. My interviews were relaxed and yet quite productive. "
"My faculty interview was great - very conversational. It's open-file, and my interviewer really took the time to get to know me and what motivates me. She also told me a lot about the school, the MD program at Hopkins, and what life in Baltimore is like. The 4th yr student interview is short - only about 15 minutes. It's closed-file and very laid-back. Most of the time is spent telling your interviewer about yourself and what you have done during college, etc. The time spent with the 4th yrs is great - it's really nothing to worry about. They are awesome people who are interested in getting to know you and telling you all about Hopkins."
"The interviews were not stressful, sitting around the room with med students and interviewees was fine, but it was kind of a weird situation as you all know you're being "watched." the student interview was closed file, relaxed and low-stress. the faculty interview was great & both really made me feel like I would love hopkins. i was trying to figure out why they get such a bad rep for being cutthroat, etc. and can only think that people are intimidated by hopkins. i suppose it could seem overwhelming...i thought it was incredible. "
"The interviewers gave me quite a hard time and pressed me on many scientific problems. I felt grilled. However, I was really impressed with the degree to which they treat their interviewees and how important selecting qualified candidates is to them. The program is really well run and the research done is quite fascinating. The area is not as great though, but that's also one of the traits of this medical school. "
"This is my top choice now after visiting the school. I felt I got a very good look into the school because I stayed at the residence halls for two nights. I was able to hang out with first year students, go into the city and enjoy the night life with another interviewee staying in the res hall, and spend time with 4th years without worrying about getting back to a hotel. I felt like they value all their interviewees. I would advise people to stay in Reed. Yes, it's a dump, but my interviewer told me that when the students were given the option to renovate, they opted to allocate the money elsewhere into the school - and you can handle anything for one or two nights. Plus you get the option of hanging out with students there, and that was very cool."
"After a talk, lunch, and a tour they bring you back to a lounge where there are 4th year students that you are to talk to. This part counts as part of the evaluation process. It isnt stressful, just try and be part of a conversation at least some of the time. My complaint with that part was that it was really long. I mean there are only so many questions you can ask. The student interview was longer than they said it was supposed to be, but I am not complaining because I feel like they got a better sense of me that way. The faculty interview was pretty relaxed too. They seem to ask a lot about future plans."
"I was impressed. They deserve their reputation - this is a serious medical school. However, I still don't know about Baltimore."
"I thought that the room was set up really wierdly for the 4th year student led "discussion"... the couches were set up so that a few people were sort of off to the side of the main group. The faculty interview was open file and about 30 mins, the student interview was closed file and about 15 mins."
"Nothing amazing, but it is Hopkins, hard not to be impressed. Overall, I left definitely seeing myself possibly coming here more than before, since the opportunities at Hopkins are just great."
"Fantastic school. Don't sweat the group interview. Its more like a question and answer session with students. Find out as much from them as you can about Hopkins, you will be impressed. "
"Just amazing. I loved this place, Baltimore isnt as bad as people say. There really is a guard on every corner of the medical campus, it isnt just a sound bite. The students are the best part, no doubt."
"I loved the school. It was amazing to see the history and beauty of the school, but I was very turned off by the area around the campus. Something about cops every 10 steps is not very appealing. "
"Very impressive place. It is great getting to talk to the M4s while waiting to interview and finding out about the school."
"It's tough for to imagine any school that can measure up to Hopkins. The clinical and research facilities are superb, and the faculty are supposedly fairly accessible. People complain a lot about Baltimore, but the indigent population base actually provides for rigorous clinical training. And several faculty noted the fact that you feel like you're actually helping the surrounding population by practicing in Baltimore. The students are extremely accomplished, highly brilliant, and very humble. "
"Very informal. They have constructed a new building where the Admissions Office is now housed; a great deal of time is spent in one room of that building simply talking to 4th year medical students. They do have a voice in the admission process, but it is not high stress by any means. Unfortunately, it does become tedious making small talk for almost two hours. Entirely too much time is spent in that one room. I was impressed by the doctors who I met, many of whom were teachers. However, I was not particularly impressed by the campus or facilities. A small recreation center, a poor dorm hall, etc."
"These interviews were very easy and conversational. You can pretty much count on getting only 2 major questions: what is your research experience and why do you want a combined degree instead of one or the other? If you have good answers for those, you'll sail through!"
"It was a great interview experience with one closed-file, short student interview and one open-file longer faculty interview. Don't let the small talk with fourth-year students who are on the committee scare you because they're really cool and just want to get to know you and answer questions for you. There's really no reason to stress and it was a much more relaxed day than I thought it would be. Also, my interview experience was slightly hectic because they had just moved into their new building and the hurricane was a-comin! oof was that a mess. Anyway, they're not all about research or competition either - you'll see when you get there how laid back the students and faculty really are."
"Hopkins rules! The reputation scared me, but each time I visited I like the place more. The people are amazing but down to earth. We have so much free time in the first year - I'm taking outside courses and volunteering. Don't get scared off by rumors other med students start - this place is an amazing place to study medicine. "
"I was really impressed by everything there and I'm convinced that the opportunities outweigh the bad weather (compared to Cali) and the bad neighborhoods. Also you eat lunch with faculty and students who aren't on the admissions committee and they give you soft drinks all day long, which is cool. The big scary room with the 4th year interviews isn't as bad as it sounds, either. "
"the interview experience was very unique in that the applicants have numerous opportunities to talk with each other and with 4th year students. the atmosphere is very relaxed and everybody were friendly and helpful. the interviewers just wants to know you, not to bust your chops."
"I went up to Baltimore not considering Johns Hopkins as much of an option. They are now either my #1 or #2 choice, probably #1. It is common knowledge that Johns Hopkins has an impressive reputation, but I did not expect for the atmosphere and attitudes of the people to be so welcoming, friendly, and down to earth. I kept looking for the down-side of this school... I didn't find it. The only thing that I would consider a down-side is that it is a private school, so obviously their costs are a little higher... but I would suck it up and go a little further in debt to go there. I read a lot of other comments that kind of scared me about that whole part where you are in the room with 4th year students on the admissions committee and how aweful it was.... I didn't think so at all. Just be yourself... they are just there to keep you occupied from 2-4 pm while you are waiting for your interviews. No one was left out, we all talked in groups. It wasn't like you were fighting to have one-on-one conversations with them or anything. JUST RELAX AND BE YOURSELF... THAT IS ALL THAT THEY EXPECT! :-)"
"The interviews themselves were really great. The interviewers were warm, asked only fair questions, and I felt that they were really interested in getting to know the applicant. However... There is a part of the interview process where all the interviewees are sitting in a large room with 4th year medical students who were on the admissions committee. We were told only that this was a chance to "mingle" with Hopkins students. As soon as the mingling started, it felt like the first episode of "Joe Millionaire." Everyone was trying to catch the attention of various students, struggling to turn casual conversation into a meaningful interaction that the students would remember. But it felt so fake! I even saw some of the other interviewees turn to each other after talking with one of the 4th years and whisper, "That conversation felt so artificial." It also felt like the entire group of 4th years were gradually starting to hone in on their chosen stars. One of the 4th years told an interviewee, "Yeah, I will totally call you when I'm down in LA and we will hang out." I found this to be highly unprofessional and inappropriate. The rest of us non-stars started to feel demoralized just at the time when we needed to be psyching ourselves up for our formal interviews. I have no idea how much this part impacts the final admissions decision. But I feel like half of the interviewees (the stars) left feeling great about Hopkins, and the other half (the non-stars) left feeling like there was absolutely zero chance of acceptance. "
"The rumors of hypercompetitiveness among the students appear to be bogus--why should they compete with each other when 95% of them get their 1st or 2nd choice of residency? The "competitive mingling" everyone worries about isn't that big a deal. If you are competent in social situations with strangers, you will be fine."
"Overall, the experience was much more relaxed than I had expected. The day starts at 11:30am with an introduction to Hopkins and how the interview day will work. Then, lunch at noon with students and faculty (seats are assigned to assure that each table has at least one student or faculty member). The tour of the campus at 1:00pm was pretty good, but did not include Reed Hall, so go to the greeters program at 8pm the night before, or the housing session at 10:30am if you want to see the housing. Next, at 2:00pm, all of the interviewees return to the waiting room area, and 4-5 fourth year students that are on the admissions committee (they tell you that they are) introduce themselves and spend time "mingling"/sitting with different groups of interviewees. They are supposed to be evaluating interviewees during this mingling time, but all they did was take questions--they were very nice, and did not make any effort to make us feel as if we were being judged. It was casual, and seemed like mingling at a dinner party. The students have a preliminary vote that determines the order in which files will be considered during admissions committee meetings, but they have no final vote. During the mingling, you are pulled out for a 30-minute, open-file faculty interview, and then a 15-minute, closed-file student interview. My faculty interview was about 45 minutes, and my students interview was about 35 minutes, so they are not strict on time. Both interviews were very relaxed and conversational, and both asked pretty standard questions. It was MUCH less stressful than I had anticipated. The day ends around 5pm when the fourth year students thank everyone for coming and say goodbye. Overall, a relaxed, informative day with LOTS of opportunities to ask questions--so come prepared with lots to ask!"
"Friendly advice: Baltimore is not a bad city! I grew up in the Bay area (CA), and besides the weather, think that Baltimore is great! Check out Canton, Fell's Point and Federal Hill areas and you will find great neighborhood with rent from 400 to 600 (even cheaper in some spots)."
"It was a very enjoyable experience, especially considering this was both my first interview and first choice, so i was a bit nervous. The dean was really nice and funny and he had a very welcoming talk. Everyone was really nice. My interview was no stress at all, and it was more like a conversation. The interview with the med student was really hurried, but that was again because people were on break so they had fewer staff around. "
"The day starts with a very short orientation, followed by lunch with a faculty member (ours was this very sweet old man, he was great), then a tour. In the afternoon, you sit with all the other interviewees and fourth-years who are on the committee. Interviewers pop in and take students, the faculty interview is open file. After the faculty interview one of the fourth-years will interview you, that one is closed-file. The interview was made more stressful because after the tour and meeting students, I really wanted to go to Hopkins, so I was more concerned than normal about making a good impression."
"All in all, the day was organized and very productive. After a tour and lunch, we sat in a room with food and current med students talking. They made a point of telling us that these students were on the committee and would be evaluating us, but our students happened to be super cool, as did our interview group, so it was not stressful at all. I could definately see how it could be however. At different intervals, each interviewee was pulled out to have a faculty interview and a student interview. The day was pretty long as interview days go (11:30-5) so get a good nights rest the night before."
"It was alright. We didnt get an indepth info session and it would have been nice to hear from Financial aid and learn about the various opportunities that the school offers. I also didnt meet any first year students...hmm i wonder why"
"We had lunch with a 4th-year student and a faculty member, followed by a tour, then the interviews. One 15 minute interview with a 4th-year and one 30 minute interview with a faculty member. I really enjoyed the students, but the faculty member I interviewed with did not impress me at all. She was not welcoming at all, and I felt like she didn't want to be there. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth. The facilities are good and the atmosphere is obviously top-notch, but I wasn't as impressed as I was hoping to be. The are is not as bad as everyone says, and there is plenty of security around, so that really shouldn't affect a decision. Overall, I guess I just wasn't as impressed as I thought I was going to be."
"The faculty interviewer didn't seem to listen to what I had to say and would cut off my answers. My student interviewer was really nice, just wanting to get to know more about me (this was a closed-file interview). "
"It was a really nice visit. My impression of Hopkins went up dramatically. The interviews were with a student and a faculty member. Student was closed file and faculty was open."
"Hopkins is the best. Everyone is super accomplished but also warm and friendly. Clinical experience and flexibility is unmatched. 2 interviews, one with faculty open file 30 minutes, another very informal interview with student, closed file 15 minutes. interviews are no stress at all. also, waiting in the room talking to the 4th years is no stress either, unless you're the type of person that psyches yourself out for no reason."
"It was a very great time. We learned about the traditions of Johns hopkins and I really felt a sense of history. The facilities were not all that great but the hospital and the people outweighed that negative."
"The school, faculty, and students are ultra impressive and they're not afraid to let you know it when you get there. The emphasized over and over that they were not competitive and that it was the undergraduate institution that is competitive. I thought the sitting around in a room with all the other applicants for so long was stressful and created a strange environment; knowing straight out that only about 2-3 of the 10 would be accepted furthered that feeling."
"I really was nervous for this one. I felt fine all morning, but being stuck in the room with all the other interviewees and fourth year admissions committee members all afternoon was stressful. I am a non-traditional applicant with a quirky sense of humor, and judging from the fourth years I met, this might not be the place for me. They seemed a little rigid... But the admissions staff was so nice, and the other interviewees were a fun group. As always, it's hard to get a really good idea of the entire student body after meeting a few people, but the people I did meet confirmed my preconceptions about the type of person Hopkins attracts."
"Very low-stress. If I am accepted I will very likely go here."
"Good interview. Lunch was excellent, the tour was also good. I found the waiting period with fourth years to be pretty low stress and informative. The student interview was closed-file and lasted about 15 minutes. The faculty interview was wonderful, open-file, and lasted about 45 minutes. "
"the school isn't as competitive as people say - it is intense, people work hard, so you have to as well. the interviews are fairly relaxed, no one is out to get you."
"After going to the interview, I was dead set on attending Hopkins (unfortunately i was not accepted). There are so many famous researchers there who also love to teach and will sit down at any time to talk about what they are doing. The impact that Hopkins has on medicine is unmatched in my opinion. The med students are definitely not cut-throat like some people think (they are referring more to the undergrad students; the undergrad campus is on the other side of town)"
"Johns Hopkins seemed less competitive and friendlier thatn I had been led to believe"
"Hopkins is such an awesome place, don't believe the rumors you hear about the school being super competitive, that might be true at JHU undergrad, but the med students here seem like a nice, cooperative, and cool bunch! Relax and enjoy the interview experience, and don't try too hard to catch the attention of the fourth years when you are sitting around together.... they just want to make sure you aren't a wallflower (don't be anti-social.. talk to the people around you) or otherwise a wierdo (don't try TOO hard to be the center of attention.... you might come off as obnoxious) Just be yourself and R-E-L-A-X! Good luck!"
"Overall, very positive. The only thing I didnt like was the area around the campus. The campus itself is OK, there are uniformed guards on every corner on the campus, but once you step off campus, watch out."
"Wow, what an amazing group of people at JHU, and an amazing place to learn medicine - it was practically born there and it is just all around impressive."
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Student | 120 |
| Faculty member | 0 |
| Admissions staff | 0 |
| Other | 0 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Enthusiastic | 59 |
| Neutral | 5 |
| Discouraging | 1 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.84 | 64 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| In state | 7 |
| Out of state | 55 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 0-1 hour | 17 |
| 2-3 hours | 11 |
| 4-6 hours | 17 |
| 7+ hours | 16 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Airplane | 34 |
| Automobile | 18 |
| Train or subway | 8 |
| Other | 4 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| < $100 | 14 |
| $101-$200 | 11 |
| $201-$300 | 9 |
| $301-$400 | 11 |
| $401-$500 | 5 |
| $501+ | 2 |
DC/ Reagan
Baltimore
None, BWI otherwise
Reagan (took DC metro to MARC, $8)
DCA
Logan-BWI
BTW
PHL
BWI
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| At school facility | 18 |
| With students at the school | 17 |
| Friends or family | 7 |
| Hotel | 4 |
| Home | 0 |
| Other | 0 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.81 | 68 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 5.83 | 69 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 6.68 | 68 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.17 | 30 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.81 | 31 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 5.71 | 28 |
"None"
"Be nicer omg"
"Prospective students should be able to choose from a few different interview dates."
"Be nicer"
"Include some JHU swag like a pen or folder."
"Make the tour a little longer. The tour was a little rushed in order to make it back in time for th"
"Hm, provide softer cookies."
"An online interview scheduler would be helpful."
We help students become doctors. TM
What is one of the specific questions they asked you (question 1)?