How many people interviewed you?
| Response Average | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 1.90 | 68 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Positively | 55 |
| Negatively | 4 |
| No change | 10 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 3.24 | 68 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.33 | 52 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.35 | 48 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| In Person | 0 |
| Virtual | 3 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 0 |
| 10 minutes | 0 |
| 15 minutes | 0 |
| 20 minutes | 0 |
| 25 minutes | 0 |
| 30 minutes | 5 |
| 35 minutes | 6 |
| 40 minutes | 6 |
| 45 minutes | 22 |
| 50 minutes | 13 |
| 55 minutes | 1 |
| 60+ minutes | 18 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| At the school | 56 |
| At a regional location | 3 |
| At another location | 11 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| One-on-one | 69 |
| In a group | 0 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Open file | 64 |
| Closed file | 4 |
| Response Average | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 1.90 | 68 |
"If you knew right now that you were going to get into medical school and didn't have to be concerned with it during this season, what would be occupying your thoughts/time/excitement instead?"
"You wrote that you do not come from a Christian household, how did you come to follow Christ?"
"What is your involvement with your church?"
"Describe an ethical dilemma you've faced."
"What are your core values that you live by?"
"Why didn't you do very well on your first MCAT? and Why do you think you had trouble in [XYZ] classes?"
"Why medicine?"
"What kinds of parrots do you have?"
"If you can agree with me that a transaction takes place when you go to a doctor (your insurance or your cash pays the doc for his service), then what is the product that a doctor provides in one word?"
"What do you know about the SDA denomination? It was in a conversational manner, not testing on my knowledge."
"what was your favorite course"
"How will the new healthcare legislation affect your ability to be a doctor?"
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
"What was the hardest science on-science course you have taken and why?"
"What books have you read recently?"
"What are your influences for wanting to be a doctor?"
"If your mother was sitting in here, what three positive things will she say about you and what three negative things will she say about you"
"question about stem cells and ethics"
"What volunteering have you done?"
"My first interviewer asked me about my wife. We are newlyweds, and he said that many times newlyweds end up divorced because of the rigors of med school. He asked me how I would deal with that. I thought it was a little forward for him to ask that, but answered frankly because I figured Loma Linda was just trying to push me to see how I'd react to stress."
"How will you stay committed to the contract of not drinking, smoking, etc. while at LLU?"
"What values did your parents emphasize in your upbringing?"
"What's the most interesting thing about you?"
"If you don't get in this year, what will you do next year? (apply again!)"
"You applied three years ago. You didn't get in, not even an interview, Why?"
"What do you do in a really stressfull situation? Are you an introvert or extrovert?"
"What do you know about the SDA church/lifestyle?"
"Why be a doctor"
"What do you want me to present you as to the acceptance committee?"
"Describe a time where you had to make a difficult ethical decision."
"Tell me about your missions experience. (I recently came back from a missions trip)"
"What personality type do you consider yourself?"
"what makes you certain that medicine is the path you want to pursue?"
"Just tell me about yourself."
"What is your biggest weakness in your application?"
"Tell me about an ethical situation where you had to deal with other people. "
"What do you do in your free-time?"
"why loma linda?"
"When did you know you wanted to become a doctor?"
"Tell me about yourself."
"Tell me about your clinical volunteer work. And were you ever afraid to be in the area that you were volunteering in. "
"What kind of doctor do you want to be?"
"Would I perform an abortion even though I was morally opposed?"
"Why do you want to attend Loma linda Universty?"
"Why LLU?"
"Describe your involvement with your church."
"Why do you want to be a doctor?"
"Why do you want to be a doctor? What experiences led you to this decision? Who influenced you to go into the field of medicine?"
"What family experiences other than clinical motivated you to be a doctor?"
"What do you plan to do with your MPH?"
"What are three words someone close to you would use to describe you?"
"What did you like about your undergraduate institution? "
"Why do you want to become a dentist?"
"What would make you be a good doctor?"
"How do you feel about the state of healthcare in the U.S. today?"
"If your friends and family were in a zoom call with me, what would they say is one of your greatest strengths/something they love about you?"
"Why LLUSM?"
"What would you do if a patient chose to decline a recommendation that you make that you think could help them?"
"Describe a time when you helped to resolve conflict in a group."
"You took a gap year, did you apply to med school last year? (yes) Why didn't you get in last year?"
"Who is your shoulder to cry on when things get stressful? and What do you do to deal with your stress outside of school?"
"What's an ethical dilemma you've faced?"
"Tell me about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma and how you dealt with it."
"What one person (if any) had a major impact on why you are here today (basically who influenced you to become a doctor)?"
"What was your favorite class you have taken?"
"what do you know about LLUSM"
"What books have you read recently?"
"Why did you get this grade?"
"Why are you looking at Loma Linda?"
"Describe a difficult experience you went through."
"What is the last book you read or are reading?"
"If you do not get into medical school what will you do? How long will you reapply? How about if no matter how you reapply you will never get in, what will you do?"
"question about abortion and ethics"
"Why medicine?"
"The second interviewer asked me about my medical past, because I had a serious illness in my history that interfered with my academics. I was pleasantly surprised that this interviewer was a specialist in the field of medicine pertaining most closely to my illness. It would not at all surprise me to find out that Loma Linda did this intentionally to see if I was making up excuses or if I was legit. If you wrote something exceptional about your past, expect them to call you on it and be prepared to tell the whole story and the whole truth."
"Tell me more about...(personal statement, EC, secondary)."
"What do you know about the Adventist Church?"
"What kind of community service have you done through your church?"
"What's your biggest weakness and how do you overcome it?"
"What type of puppets do you use when you work in hospitals?"
"Who influenced you the first time you applied, who influenced you this time?"
"What one thing do you want to leave me with...one kernel of truth about who you are?"
"What should I tell adcom about you?"
"How do you handle stress; do you have work/school/life balance?"
"How with you deal w/ lifestyle policies of LLU."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Strengths/Weaknesses"
"Of your various experiences, which would you say has most impacted you? "
"What made you want to become a doctor?"
"how much harder do you think medical school will be compared to what you have currently endured?"
"Why did you choose to take a class at UC Davis after you graduated? Why specifically there? (I'm taking a year off and did research and a statistics class over the summer)"
"What was a recent book you've read?"
"Why do you want to go into medicine? "
"What do you think about stem cell research? What do you think are issues that should be considered?"
"what do you think is the biggest challenge facing healthcare?"
"What do you think is the worst thing about being a physician?"
"Please explain the difference between the two times you took the MCAT."
"Why do you want to go into this field? What would make this career choice worth while to you?"
"How do you deal with stress?"
"At what point should an embryo be considered a life?"
"What was the most difficult undergraduate class you took? "
"What is the hardest part about being a patient?"
"Do you have family members involved in medicine?"
"How would you resolve a conflict between you and someone above or below you in position, such as in a workplace situation?"
"What was your most meaningful EC activity?"
"Are you a leader?"
"Tell me about your research?"
"What are your hobbies?"
"How will I use my undergraduate major in medicine?"
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
"What is something you started but never finished?"
"How do you feel about abortion?"
"Describe a time you had a conflict with another person? Plus Follow ups."
"What characteristics do you want to have in a medical school classmates?"
"Describe a time when you failed."
"A patient has just been given a terminal diagnosis, how do you go about caring for him?"
"What's the last book you read?"
"What's a challenge that you had to overcome?"
"What do you do for fun?"
"Can a A student be a bad doctor? Can a B student be a good doctor? Do grades really matter to whether or not you are a good doctor? If not, then what does matter?"
"What happened with your first MCAT? (I scored a 22 the first time and a 32 the second time.)"
"do you have any questions about the Seventh Day Adventist Church?"
"How do you feel about going to Loma Linda given your non-Adventist background?"
"What would your friends say are your strengths and weaknesses? What do you think they are?"
"What part of medicine are you thinking about specializing in?"
"Why did you decide to get an MBA?"
"question about death and ethics"
"Why LLU?"
"They asked me what my job selling Cutco Cutlery taught me about being a physician. No matter what job you worked in the past, be prepared to connect it to medicine. I am uncertain whether "It didn't teach me anything about medicine" is a fair answer or not; I would be honest rather than lie to look good. It is a Christian school and your honesty may very well be viewed as commendable."
"What are your thoughts on healthcare (also some light questions on politics, global warming - wanted to know my basic opinion on current scientific events)"
"Where do you see yourself in ten years?"
"Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?"
"What type of art do you like? (my major was art)"
"when is a physician successful in the short time, in the long term?"
"How do you think you will handle the workload and maintain balance in the first two years?"
"What are your plans if you don't get into medical school?"
"Tell me why you want to be a doctor?"
"What do you think about the medical situation in the US"
"What serious books have you read?"
"Why medicine/Why LLU?"
"Was there ever a situation where you did not succeed, how did you deal with that?"
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
"what should i tell the adcom about you?"
"How did you come to work here?"
"What was you favorite/least favorite class?"
"Is there anything else you want me to communicate to the admissions board? "
"What is the hardest thing you will have to deal with as a doctor? What kind of support systems do you have in place to deal with them?"
"how did your upbringing shape your worldview?"
"How did you go about solving a moral dilemma you faced, and would you have the courage to confront similar issues on a daily basis?"
"What is your involvement with your church?"
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
"Tell me about your research."
"What contributed to the difference in scores between the two times you took the MCAT?"
"What sort of social activities did you engage in while you were in school?"
"Who do you admire most in the world?"
"Describe your teaching experiences."
"What are some of your weaknesses?"
"What is something you have failed at? What are some of your weaknesses?"
"Just asked about my experiences from AMCAS."
"What are your strenghts that you would bring into the school?"
"Why did you struggle in your science courses?"
"Why Loma Linda University School of Medicine?"
"What type of community service have you done? "
"Why do you want to go to LLUSM?"
"What were some of the classes that gave you difficulty in your undergrad years?"
"Tell me about your parents and siblings. What do they do for work? plus follow-ups."
"Tell me about a time when you disappointed yourself?"
"What characteristics do you want your doctor to have?"
"If you were to bomb your first exam in medical school, what would you do to improve?"
"What have you prepared for that you wish I would ask you?"
"What makes you think that you won't change your mind about wanting to be a physician?"
"Specific questions and conversation about one my most meaningful activities"
"Why did you choose this instead of PA, nursing, etc.? There are many other service oriented careers, so why become a physician?"
"What attracted you most to your wife? (been married for 6 months)"
"Was there a time that science tested your faith?"
"How will you manage living so far away from your home?"
"You have an alcoholic student. He has gone through rehab, and seems to be doing well. He goes on spring break, starts to drink again, and assaults an officer. How would you argue for (or against) him?"
"Describe some of your traveling experiences."
"Suppose you come to work one day and you discover that there is a big blackout in your workplace and they barricaded the doors and you left all your work-related materials inside, what will you do? How will you spend your day?"
"How would I deal with perhaps feeling "left out" or "like an outsider" since many of the students that end up there somehow may know each other from undergrad"
"What is the last book you read?"
"The most interesting question they asked me (and here I reveal a bit of arrogance) was an entreaty to discuss my religious conversion from an atheist evolutionist to a Christian creationist. Both interviewers seemed very excited by this. I am a recent convert to Seventh-day Adventism, and I think part of the excitement was over seeing a fellow believer come to the faith and part was trying to figure out if I was faking it to make my application look good or if I was sincere. We discussed the information that brought me to the faith in detail, especially in my first interview, and that seemed to satisfy both interviewers."
"What advice would you give to a high school student considering going into medicine?"
"What will you bring to LLU medical school?"
"What is the hardest thing you have ever done?"
"If you were the interviewer and I was the student, what would you ask me?"
"If I were the committee member asking the questions, what questions would I ask?"
"Give me a scenario in which you incorporate the spiritual, emotional, and scientific aspect when treating a patient."
"If you were the interviewer and I was the nervous applicant, what would you ask me?"
"Why do you think physicians work such long hours?"
"What do I know about the SDA church?"
"What about your parents do you have in yourself"
"I metioned that I enjoyed reading Harry Potter, my interviwer then asked how would you reconcile some of Harry Potter's themes with Christian values? How would you handle explaining these themes to a Christian child?"
"What did you do this summer?"
"How much do you bench? (I'm a personal trainer) How long have you been surfing?"
"What do you do to relieve stress?"
"Why LLU?"
"would you lie to provide surgery for a patient dying of heart failure?"
"Tell me who influenced you and why you're here begging to get into our school."
"Film or digital? (on the topic of photography)"
"What's the racial demographics of the kids who get tutored at these places you used to work? "
"The first interviewer asked me all the typical questions...why a doctor, why here, why you. But the second interviewer asked me about my denominational affiliation and how it differed from SDA, about my temperament type and how it affected my plans as a doctor, about my family, about ethical issues and how I would deal with them, etc."
"How will your background influence the diversity of the entering class?"
"What makes you unique? What is it that sets you apart from other pre-meds?"
"If you were to be any type of cell in the human body what would you choose and why?"
"What do you think is our health care system? What do you think is a major issue that you will face in the future as a physician?"
"What would you do with a young patient who was pregnant?"
"Can't remember"
"What is more important, passion or reason?"
"I was asked a battery of ethics questions, from what I thought about stem cell research, abortion, end of life practices, to what I would do if my patient had pancreatic cancer, the prognosis was pretty bad, and the patient wanted to stop treatment because of the pain it would cause to his family?"
"Do you think you have succeded? "
"How will you handle the shift from undergraduate school to medical school? What characteristics do you posess that would allow you to make the tsansition smoothly."
"Descibe a significant moral dilemma you have faced. "
"Have you experienced or seen a "bad doctor". What bothered you about the doctor, what gave you this negative impression? "
"If I wanted to date the interviewer's daughter, how would I convince the interviewer to let me?"
"How are you going to deal with the economic situation doctors are facing?"
"What are the negatives and positives about your culture?"
"If an attending asked you to perform an abortion, but you were ethically oppossed to it, what would you do?"
"What is the most difficult decision I have had to make involving an ethical dilemma."
"What does it take to become a better Christian?"
"I was given a scenario about a patient who was a vitcim of domestic violence and I was asked what I would do. "
"What is a good book you've read lately, besides a text book, and what was it about? "
"If you could look back on your life and choose one person that has had the most significant impact on you. Who would that person be and why?"
"N/A."
"What are your thoughts on evangelical Christians and alt-right politics?"
"How would you increase diversity in a group that is not diverse/ unfamiliar with other cultures?"
"None - they truly are not out to get you and will make it a comfortable casual conversation. Was two of the kindest interview experiences I have had. One interviewer started out incredibly humble saying "with your grades it should be you interviewing me""
"What is an ethical dilemma that you've experienced and how did you handle it?"
"Tell me about a time that you messed up."
"Tell me about things you've overcome."
"In the context of a patients relationship with his/her doctor, explain what you think this metaphor could refer to: "A rolling stone gathers no moss""
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years."
"Tell me something unique about you. (I had just spent 15+ minutes doing this, lol)"
"One interviewer reviewed my classes on my AMCAS application beforehand and asked me details about class titles that sounded interesting to him. A couple of the classes he mentioned, I forgot details about what I studied in the class."
"Say you have a patient who declared that they haven't smoked in the past couple of weeks but when you puff in the apparatus, it shows a high level of carbon monoxide, how will you treat/advise that patient?"
"All the ethics stuff"
"What is one ethical situation you have faced and how did you respond?"
"The most difficult question was honestly the one about what I learned of medicine from my Cutco job. At first I thought maybe the honest answer was "Nothing," but then I thought about it and realized I did do a lot of communicating with people as part of a sale-oriented job, and I discussed this angle. My interviewer seemed satisfied with that answer. I should note I did NOT try to bloviate or stretch the importance of this job out of proportion; I think they were looking to see if I could think on my toes, not lie through my teeth or distort the truth."
"Nothing particularly difficult, they just want to get to know you"
"What would you do if you had a middle aged cancer patient who was refusing treatment?"
"What attribute would you contribute to the next class? There weren't really any difficult questions, but I kind of blanked on this one."
"What is your view on imigration and how it affects medicine? (and you can't be political)"
"Besides retaking the MCAT and research, what have you done for the past 3 years that will make us accept you this time? "
"What do you know about the Adventist beliefs?"
"What criteria makes a physician successful?"
"Why do you want to be a doctor? What kind of doctor do you want to be?"
"What is your best quality"
"Ever look in the mirror and not like a certain aspect of yourself? (Not physically, but emotionally/mentally, etc.) Why do you not like that particular attribute about yourself and how did you go about changing it?"
"NA"
"What made you decide to be a doctor?"
"What do you think is the biggest problem concerning healthcare?"
"Assess your communication skills"
"Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? (I hate this one)"
"Why do medicine overseas?"
"If I was to talk to the admissions committee right now, how would I sell you to them? What would I tell them to get you in to Loma Linda? "
"About a time when I was confronted with an ethical dilemma and how I dealt with it. "
"none"
"If you could not be a doctor, what would you be? And why be a doctor instead of that? "
"None."
"Tell me about the busniess aspect of having your own practice. "
"Interviewer commented on my being honest when I said that I had consumed alcohol in the last year...I was really worried and not exactly sure how to respond to that. None of the other ones were extremely remarkable."
"What do you think of laws trying to push for an 80 hour maximum work week for residents."
"Explain your college grades."
"Why do you want to be a doctor? (even though it is the most popular question out there)"
"Describe your most difficult failure and how you dealt with it."
"Describe a time when you've failed."
" None of the questions were hard. The interview flowed like a conversation, so one answer would lead into the next question. There weren't any real surprises. The interviewers aren't out to get you."
"Tell me about a time that you faced an ethical dilemma and what did you do?"
"What is an ethical situation that you have been in?"
"Why are your grades so low and what is your plan of attack for medical school?"
"What is the most difficult decision I have had to make involving an ethical dilemma. "
"What do you know about Seventh Day Adventists? "
"What would make you be a good doctor?"
"None were truly difficult. I was asked how I would change the E.R., if it was up to me, since I've volunteered there as well as various questions on the current state of medicine."
"None were truly difficult. I was asked how I would change the E.R., if it was up to me, since I've volunteered thereas well as various questions on the current state of medicine."
"SDN questions"
"Practice questions, school website, SDN"
"Read through sdn interview feedback, toured the campus and learned as much as I could about Loma Linda, practiced my approach to questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "Why do you want to be a doctor" (both were asked), prayed and asked those around me to pray for me!"
"sdn questions and mock interviews"
"SDN questions, review my application"
"Practice using general questions and questions on this site."
"Mock interviews with neighbors and friends"
"Read over my application and practiced my answers to questions that I anticipated."
"I studied my AMCAS app, I reread my secondary, I read all the questions that are on the SDN about LLU, I asked friends questions, I made a huge list of questions and asked the ones I still had remaining when I got to the interview. Turns out I totally over prepared because the interviews were both just hanging out and getting to know you type interviews. It honestly felt like I was just hanging out with old friends."
"Researched their website, SDA (because I'm not Adventist), practice interviewing with my wife"
"I went to their website and read about their "to make a person whole" statement."
"Mock interviews"
"Read all the information on the website."
"Read AMCAS and secondary applications."
"Read SDN, researched their websites, talked to current med students there, thought friendly thoughts while I was waiting for my interviewers. If you focus on thinking nice thoughts you will come across as a nice person!"
"Reviewed questions on studentdoctor.net; got interview feedback from the students who were in my program the previous year; got interview advice from close friends and family; prepared 3-4 themes that I wanted the interviewers to know about me and that the interview answers would highlight."
"read forum for student doctors, practice interview with my boss and also a friend that is in medschool. Work there for the last 4.5 years."
"SDN, school website"
"Previous interviews, read the website."
"Honestly? By reading the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I had several different students at Loma Linda tell me that was the #1 best thing to do to prepare for the interview. I started out doing it because I heard it as a recommendation, but ended up sticking with it because of the incredible sense of calm that came over me as I read the gospel, especially while reading Luke's gospel (the story of the Good Samaritan is in Luke, so be sure to read that one if nothing else since Loma Linda's foudning principle is making man whole, based on the parable of the Good Samaritan and Jesus' ministry on earth). I didn't read any "How to" books. The only answer I rehearsed at all was the standard: Why do you want to be a doctor? And humorously that was never asked. Which isn't to say they won't ask you it; I am a bit of a non-traditional applicant, so I suspect I got a bit of a non-traditional interview. But for you other non-trads out there, I was not given a cold shoulder. Quite the contrary, both of my interviewers seemed very interested to talk with me."
"Read Fleenor's ''The Medical School Interview'' 2-3 times (highly recommend this book - get it on amazon)."
"Read my primary, read up on ethics, read about the Adventist church"
"SDN, talked to host student, relaxed."
"Going over questions, SDN, re-reading AMCAS application"
"I read the Loma Linda Website, articles, SDN forums, and practiced questions with people."
"talk to my boss who interviews medical students, SDN, talk to my friends who are in medschool/residents"
"SDN!!! TMSI book, read my secondary, the school website and adventist.org"
"AMCAS, sdn forums, asked friends who had interviews at LLU, secondary"
"SDA info, AMCAS review, Secondary App review."
"read SDN reviews and application materials"
"Read up a little on LLU. I grew up in Loma Linda so I didn't do too much."
"Practice with friends, presentations on the school, asking previously interviewed students"
"SDN, AMCAS, 2ndary, LLU Website, SDA websites"
"Read over application (primary and secondary), outlined major points I wanted to cover or have conveyed in the interview. "
"Read LLU website, reviewed personal statement and secondary interview"
"sdn, amcas, llu website, sda facts and views on ethical situations"
"read AMCAS, talked to a friend who had been interviewed here, website."
"SDN, read over application, llu website, good night's sleep"
"read this site (though there weren't any Loma Linda interview for this year yet!), read my ethics book (though I didn't get any ethics questions)"
"Read about SDA so I wouldn't look ignorant, talked to LLU students, reviewed my app."
"sdn, loma linda website, students, other applicants"
"Read questions on SDN, talked to the students there, spoke with students who had interviewed there, had a mock interview"
"SDN, re-read my application, 2ndary and their school website. Mock interviews, practice questions and a good night's rest helped too. The night before, I came to the campus to locate the Office of Admissions which was a smart idea."
"Read a TON of ethics books. Made sure I was confident about the major issues. Reviewed HMO, PPO, private vs. public hospitals, the closing of Southern California emergency rooms, abortion, # of uninsured Americans, Good Samaritan Laws, just to name a few. "
"Interview Feedback, Brochure."
"I went online and looked up some basics about the Adventist church, and made sure to go through the entire website. I also prepared some questions that I specifically wanted to know about the community of Loma Linda, and I think those went over well."
"Reread AMCAS, practiced interview questions from list, mock interviews, reread secondary application."
"Read up on ethics, adventist.org, sdn."
"Read "How to get into Medical School" by Brown, wrote down responses to popular questions and looked at informational publications by the University."
"www.Adventist.org, SDN, read my applications, mock interview, and a good night's rest."
"This website, LLU website, several e-mail conversations with current LLU med students, Adventist website, several bioethics books - although no ethics questions were asked."
"I read up about the school on the internet and reviewed some typical practice interview questions. This helped alot!"
"Read this site and the school's webpage."
"Read school materials and website, practice talking about how I want to integrate Christianity into my work as a physician."
"Past interview experiences, SDN, reading up on LLU on the web.."
"Read SDN, school website, school papers"
"School website. "
"I read the school's website but didnt really do know enough about the school. "
"Talked to people who applied there, anticipated questions."
"I familiarized myself with the school via web pages and personal visits."
"both my interviewers were so kind and personable. I had a lot of fun talking with them and they were very curious and interested in me and my life. It was clear they read my application thoroughly and cared about the questions they asked."
"Very relaxed interview and very kind interviewers."
"How thoroughly the interviewers had read my application beforehand. Especially for my first interviewer, everything he asked was asking me to expand on different parts of my application, so I was talking about things I was familiar with and passionate about. Both interviewers really just wanted to get to know me better as an individual and were very receptive to the questions I asked about them and Loma Linda."
"Interviewers we’re passionate about whole person care and seemed to love working for Loma Linda"
"The interviewers were extremely kind- I actually enjoyed the interviews."
"The kindness and genuineness of the interviewers."
"The interviewers seemed genuinely interested in my journey to medicine and were rooting for my acceptance."
"Everyone I met throughout the day was so friendly! Beautiful facilities. There's a new hospital that's going to be completed soon. Also the campus is so beautiful with snow-capped mountains in the background. Obviously focused on whole-person care. My student interviewer, a MS4, described a great culture at the school and even at the hospital where she did her rotations."
"I really liked that they paired me up with people that had a lot in common with me because it made the interview really enjoyable and like you were one really great first dates. The first interviewer was from near where I lived and had 3 kids that had gone to my school and then the second one was a 4th year med student who had also gone to my school and was engaged to someone I knew so I really felt comfortable in both interviews. Also, both interviewers were SO NICE. They felt like old friends by the end and both stayed over an hour to talk. I really enjoyed my interviews."
"How kind everyone is and how they want you to be successful"
"The location was very nice! They stressed how supportive the faculty are to the students. Most schools seem to say this, but I actually believe it to be true."
"The interviewers esp the second. I was really impressed with him."
"Their openness about faith integration."
"Everything, especially the friendliness of everyone involved."
"Friendly people, students all seem really happy, everybody genuinely cares about healthcare."
"The new Centennial complex is incredible. Fabulous lecture halls, anatomy facilities, and study rooms. Additionally, the interviewers were laid-back and genial. They don't shy away from tough questions, but they're not at all high-pressure or intimidating."
"The openness and friendliness of the interviewers."
"The spiritual aspect of the school"
"My first interviewer's kind demeanor"
"The friendliness of everyone at the school. The school's mission. The support (financial and otherwise) for medical missions and summer research. "
"My interviewer praying with me. That is the #1 most gracious, hospitable thing any interviewer can do for their interviewee on the day of the interview. More than food, water, shelter, or good will offerings, the comfort and peace of mind brought to me by the fact that my interviewer was a human being who shared with me a common belief was what made my day at Loma Linda excellent. Dr. Church, if you ever read this, you were outstanding to me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
"The interest of the interviewers in my life and experiences. The relationship between students and professors seem tight knit. A lot of clubs and groups."
"The welcoming people and the interst that the bug wigs took in the applicants"
"The students and the admissions staff were very welcoming. Everyone had positive things to say about the school. There is a strong emphasis on ''whole-person'' care. Loma Linda scores the highest in California on their Clinical Evaluation standardized exam. The supportiveness of the faculty."
"The cheerfulness of the interviewers."
"simulation center"
"I liked the Christian atmosphere, and the ability to believe in a God and maybe miracles and still become a doctor. "
"Nothing really since I work there so I know the positive aspect of the school"
"Everyone was friendly, the students I spoke with love the school, program, etc."
"Everyone was so friendly, even the medical center staff. I was also walking around outside taking a self guided tour and multiple people stopped just to say hi."
"The kindness of the admissions staff, the tour guides and all the people on campus. Also, I had to interview at the VA hospital and they had a van just for me and walked me out to get it so I would not get lost; very hospitible and welcoming."
"The atmosphere of the school"
"n/a"
"NA"
"The interviewers were EXTREMLY, EXTREMELY non-threatening and just wanted to get to know a little bit more about me. We got to see the cadaver lab (very cool) and the simulation lab. Also the hospitals are some of the best in the state. Overall, the Christian atmosphere lends a kind, relaxed atmosphere."
"Interviewers were extremely nice and made me feel very comfortable."
"How friendly everyone was"
"students there seemed to really enjoy their time. they were big fans of their school, which says a lot. school is known for accepting below average scoring students and graduating above average scoring students. "
"The faculty I talked to were all very friendly."
"The overall welcoming atmosphere. The skeleton of the giant in the developmental bio room."
"Everyone involved in the whole day was so friendly, all the various deans, the tour guide, the interviewers. Seemed warmer than my other interviews. "
"The people were absolutely wonderful. They were so helpful and the organizer lady knew my name when I got there. Also, my first interviewer's only job was to counsel students who were falling behind...they really wanted you to succeed."
"how thorough my interviewers were in evaluating my application before the interviews, and leona edwards...just as nice as other posts say"
"The professors/faculty/staff/students treated the interviewees as though we were already a part of the school and did their best to put us at ease. The other interviewees were also very friendly and as soon as we walked in, Lenoa Edwards in Admissions already knew our names and we were warmly greeted."
"The medical center is impressive. I took a particular interest in the artwork inside. Also, everyone I encountered (faculty, doctors, students) were very welcoming which eased the stress a bit. Everything about LLUSM was delightful."
"The campus is amazing. It is very small and intimate, which I love. Out of all of my interviews, it is the only campus on which I felt comfortable and ready to spend the next four years. Lenoa Edwards is waaaay cool and so very nice. It's also nice to have the medical center right on campus. Plus, it's SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!!!!!"
"Christian environment, curriculum, down-to-earth students and faculty, Lenoa Edwards' attention to detail."
"Loma Linda is a close knit community, even for students like myself who aren't Adventist. This fact was mentioned in my interview and it is pretty true. The professors here are extremely motivated to help their students learn, much more so than almost all the profs at UCSB. In addition, this school is great for anyone who wants to go into the mission field. The school will even pay for up to half of the expenses encountered if we want to go on summer missions in Adventist Hospitals abroad."
"Everyone (deans, medical students, interviewees) was extremely friendly and got along well. The Loma Linda Medical Center is a fascinating teaching hospital that will prepare students during their clinical rotations. The emphasis for faculty on teaching along with the school's reputation for educating great clinicians puts me at ease about receiving a great education."
"The interviewers were very personable. My second interviewer asked tougher questions, but was not out to attack me or my beliefs."
"The school and town is very beutiful and most of the people are wonderful and down to earth."
"Lenoa Edwards is delightful. She knew my name right off the bat without having seen me for more than a minute. The students are extremely happy, LLU's students are among the best clinically trained students in the state of CA (which says a TON), The dean is amazing and takes time out of his busy day to spend at least an hour with us. Also, they hold a memorial service for the families of the cadavers after anatomy lab is finished. I just found that amazing as well!! The religion aspect was perfect. Like the entry above mine said, it is just to emphasize the "making man whole" motto that the schol professes. There are plenty of places to live right near the school and they have on-campus housing available. "
"The woman (Lenoa Edwards) in charge of the interview program knew our names! The medical center is incredible, the students seemed happy, and lots of opportunities for missions or research work. Comfortable environment."
"I talked to at least 6 students and everyone LOVED the school. They only had good things to say and they really were encouraging about how great it was, even with all the hard work. When students who are not involved in the interviewing process tell you such positive things about the school, then you know that they aren't just putting on a show. We had a tour of the hospital and I really liked the "feel" of the hospital too."
"Moral standards, fact that Loma Linda is very strong on clinical skills."
"The kindness of the administration and faculty. Everyone was so warm and inviting. They really made you feel welcome. They gave a nice lunch, and the students were really nice too. "
"The faculty seemed really nice and down to earth. They focus on holistic health.. the campus seemed nice, although the community didn't. Most of the students at the med school pass the boards and do well. "
"People are very friendly and down to earth environment"
"The school's reputation in California of producing the best student clinicians. The location is 45 min from LA, 1 hour from Malibu and Venice Beaches, Big Bear Ski resort is 45 min from Campus. It's not like I'll have the time to do all that anyway. The town of Loma Linda itself has a great sense of community."
"The people were really nice including the person who interviewed me."
"I was impressed with their dedication to mission work."
"The down-to-earth nature of the faculty and students."
"The student interviewer I had was having some technical difficulties with his headphones and I wasn't able to hear him for a few minutes but he figured it out in the end."
"Interviewers acknowledged that there is a range of staff and students who consider themselves Christian but do not live out their faiths. I appreciated their honesty but it reminded me that going to a Christian medical school will not automatically make me a great Christian physician. It still requires great personal commitment and conviction."
"Loma Linda is not as focused on research as other med schools"
"My virtual interviewer at did not show up and I had to wait around for 2 hours while they found another one."
"You could tell that the people running the events before the interviews were judging everything you said. All the interviewees had a chance to introduce ourselves to room, and the staff was taking notes on your introduction."
"They are making a change in the curriculum, so not sure I want to be a guinea pig for that. I was one of the only people there during the interview day that wasn't SDA. Not really a problem, but a little worried about how cliquey it might be. Does not seem like there are many basic research opportunities, but there are apparently some good clinical research opportunities. I tried to get a student host well ahead of my interview date, and could not get one arranged, so I had to book a hotel room at the last minute."
"The process of getting the interviews was rough. I didn't know until a few days before when my interview was and by then the plane tickets were super expensive since I live far away. That was really frustrating. Also, they spelled my name wrong when they went to email me about my interview (even though they had emailed me many times before) so I didn't get a confirmation email until the day before the interview so that was stressful."
"Don't serve meat on campus. You could say I'm a carnivore"
"Cost. It will be very hard for me to justify why choosing a school that will be close to $80K more expensive than my state school."
"Got a sort of strange vibe most of the day."
"One of my interviewer hadn't read my application."
"They talk too much about religion. I understand that it's a christian school but religion is somewhat a personal subject"
"Smallish facilities, many are showing their age inside and out."
"Nothing. This was actually a fun experience; I truly enjoyed myself."
"Even though my interviews flanked the lunch hour (because of the interview schedule change), I was not given a lunch voucher and spent time going off-campus to find lunch."
"The politics "
"Nothing really"
"The basic science curriculum. The school seems to be a bit behind compared to many others I have seen in that respect. "
"I did not like the question about my marital integrity. I felt it was inappropriate, and I even got the impression that my interviewer thought so too, but that he was obligated to ask it. In the future, Loma Linda could certainly find a nicer way of stating the question and getting the same information. In my mind there is a fine line between stressing a candidate to see how they perform and stomping on toes until they break. That being said, I *was* forced to stop and think by that caliber of a question, and my answer was straight from the heart."
"I had a MS2 and MS4 on my tour and they seem to have very different opinions of the school (the MS4 was more optimistic). "
"The area is a little suburban if you like being in the city."
"Not much... they say that the area gets pretty hazy in the summer months. "
"How bored the student tour guide seemed."
"HUGE favoritism"
"Facilities are getting old, however the Centenial building will be finished in a couple years...don't know if it will benefit medical students."
"I know most of the negative aspects of the school before visiting."
"The campus is a little dated and the immediate surrounding area is kind of dead. But I don't think these are that important."
"It wasn't an interview day, so I had to do all the touring."
"It is very strict and conservative"
"n/a"
"NA"
"The schedules were more of guidelines than schedules... but like I said, it is very relaxed there."
"facilities were pretty dated. "
"I didn't come on an interview day, so after my two interviews I was just on my own. Thankfully, I work on-campus, so I just changed and went to work. "
"Aging campus, san bernadino county area in general"
"The campus itself isn't all that great. The medical center is nice, but the classes and stuff are nothing to write home about. And our tour seemed kind of rushed, but then again, we were running late. "
"The facilities were pretty dated..."
"My parents are both doctors and the interviewers were really wanted to make sure that my intentions to become a doctor were not overly influenced by my parents. It was not necessarily a negative experience, but it was difficult to say again and again in different ways that my motivation for going to med school was purely my own."
"Nothing. I left feeling excited about everything I experienced that day."
"I was treated very badly during my interview. The woman who was conducting my interview tried really hard to make me feel and look stupid. Some of the questions she asked me were absurd...no medical school candidate should have to answer those types of questions. She would begin a lot of the questions with: "I know you probably don't know much about this..." It was a very very very uncomfortable experience. And she made me late for my second interview with the medical student. But it's all good, I got in anyway! I interviewed December 2nd and I just found out on Jan. 25th...so be prepared to wait a little while for their decision."
"My interview was really disorganized because I didn't have an interview scheduled on an interview day. The prof who was supposed to interview me apparently forgot, and they had to call her at home to get her to come to the school and interview me. Thankfully she was really nice to me after that and the interview went well. Also, they didn't have anyone to show me any part of the campus and I had to walk around with a tiny map and try to figure out what buildings I would be having class in."
"I had to walk 15 minutes just to get to my second interview, plus the room was difficult to find."
"I was given the wrong room number to my second interview, so I ended up being a few minutes late, which added to my stress level."
"The assumption that you can just tell highly stressed candidates how to get to their first appointment at a totally new location and they should be able to get there without difficulty."
"The school facilities are a tad run-down."
"The school was founded in the early 1900s so some of the facilities and labs looked rather old. This may have been compounded by the fact that my current school has a completely new science building. The age didn't seem to matter to current students."
"It seems that the religious undertones are very strong and might be overwhelming. "
"Nothing."
"The fact that they make you walk like 15 minutes to your interviewer's office. They give you a map and just tell you to go to this far building and you just walk up this big hill. You might get sweaty."
"I didn't like the community. It's hot and humid.. The school seemed to focus alot on SDA and so it seems that if you're not, then you would have a hard time. you would have to conform to all their traditions.. expect no meat, chicken, pepper, and packaged (fake??)cheese!!!! "
"The med student that interviewed me seemed concerned that I wouldn't fit in with the school because I am non-SDA, even though I am not concerned about that."
"The lecture hall for the first year med students is a little gloomy. "
"They talk about religion alot. Scared me a little! "
"nothing"
"That this interview is genuinely very low-stress and the interviews are so kind and genuine."
"That it’s relaxed and there is nothing to stress about."
"If doing Zoom interviews, you can log in ahead of the start time and see your interviewer's name. I was able to Google them quickly in the ~5 minutes I was in the waiting room which helped calm my nerves a little."
"Was asked a lot about my religious involvement"
"It really was not that stressful!"
"That no one on the admissions staff would be interviewing me. I was interviewed by a third year medical student and a physician at the hospital. My interviewers told me that they would send a letter to the admissions committee that detailed the interview and their thoughts of me, but that they would not be involved beyond that point."
"Vegetarian lunch!"
"How relaxed and easy-going the interview would be. I was nervous for nothing!"
"Doing the morning session would have been better because you do your interview first and get that out of the way. I was the later group and so we had a full day of activities and by the time I got to my interviews I was pretty tired"
"That the school recently celebrated their centennial. Oops"
"How laid back the OT department is!! It was not stressful - they were all wonderful."
"That they were looking into simulation technology so much."
"That over-rehearsing answers is NOT the way to prepare for an interview. People always say to "be yourself", but you gotta understand what that means. Be honest and speak your mind, even if it may not be what YOU think the interviewer wants to hear. These people can spot canned answers and insincerity a mile off. "
"That I would be very sick during the interview and would be coughing in the face of my interviewers and losing my voice in the process."
"That ethics questions would be a major part of the interview"
"Lack of food/something to drink in the morning before the interviews. I was starved by lunch time. "
"Nothing. I think the interview went the best it could possibly have gone. Occasionally I get a twinge of "well, maybe if I had known who my interviewers were in advance..." but then I realize I would have just spent time talking about THEM, when the point of the interview is to talk about YOURSELF. As such, I would have done myself a disservice had I known who was interviewing me in advance. I'm glad things went as they did."
"That LLU's students surpass all other schools on the Macy test."
"The new building for the school of medicine should be ready by next year."
"That I had to be across the campus in 3 minutes, when I was told to be at the admissions office at at the same time. "
"that there's a possibility that they will pull out my old application file the first time I applied....that shadowing matters, and that I should not be afraid to take my stand on issues just because they conflict with mine."
"how much walking I would do, my feet are killing me!"
"Traffic was not as bad as I thought it would be. Got there a little too early."
"The amount of walking I would do, my heels were killing me. "
"n/a"
"NA"
"That Loma Linda is next door to the freeway jungle. I hate L.A.-ish stuff, and being right by the 10 and 210 freeways, etc. kind of sucks... of course most medical schools are in big-city areas, so I better get used to it."
"There are interview days where you get a presentation and lunch. I didn't."
"how small the campus is"
"Wish I knew how friendly and easy-going everyone would be, so I wouldn't be nervous! "
"It was my first interview, so I think I OVER-prepared...They didn't make a big deal about SDA at all, except that they didn't serve meat at lunch. I didn't have to worry nearly as much about not being SDA as I did."
"that my mcat score was not bad enough to keep me from applying to the MD/PhD program"
"nothing!"
"That they truly are not out to get you. Some people had suggested that since it was open file, they may be drilling you on weaknesses your application may have showed, but that wasn't the case. A physician had told me they want to see if you can speak eloquently, be able to form educated opinions and have two eyes, a nose and a mouth."
"That I didn't have to leave so early to get there. And that the people who called and confirmed their interviews right away got to interview at better times and with better people (my interview was very late in the afternoon)."
"One thing that comes to mind is that the students here aren't all Adventist, and I thought that they mostly were going to be. I think I'm one of around 20 or so non-adventists in our class. Oh, also Adventists aren't all vegeterians and lots of them drink coffee so don't make any ignorant comments."
"I wish I would have known who my interviewers were prior to the interview date. "
"Who my interviewers were. Most schools give you that information about a week before the interview which gives you an oportunity to 'get to know' the people you will be talking to ahead of time. "
"Not to get there 2 hours early! I didn't mean to, but there was supposed to be traffic or something!"
"Nothing really."
"I wish I had known that during the interview they bring everyone that is being interviewed into a room together with the deans of the school and everyone has to introduce themselves and say something interesting about themselves. "
"Nothing."
"I discovered that we would be in a group of 30 students and have to introduce ourselves to the group."
"I came into the interview thinking that most of the students interviewing would be from Seventh-day Adventist undergraduate institutions. They had a lot of individuals who were from several secular well respected universities. Also, they really didn't shove the religion issue at all. They do make it clear that it is a Christian institution, but they do not shove it down your throat. "
"I was interviewing for the DDS program. Before the interview they make you write an essay. The topic was "What are your methods of handling discouragement and depression?" Weird topic. hm.."
"Nothing"
"This interview made me want to go to LLU even more and was very encouraging."
"I had a faculty interviewer first and then a student interviewer. I wish it was the other way around because the student interviewer made me feel much more relaxed but both were very nice and genuinely interested in getting to know me. I also found it very interesting to get to know them as well. Definitely make use of the time you get to ask them questions!"
"N/A"
"NA"
"The interviews felt comfortable and the entire staff was excited to tell you about the program and the culture of the school."
"I was blown away by how beautiful everything was - the campus, the buildings, and the culture. It was a long but good interview day. Both my faculty interviewer and my student interviewer clearly took time to read in-depth about my application and I felt that I had good conversations about topics that I genuinely care about. They didn't just go down the list of all my activities that I had done. If you need to fly in, I recommend flying in to the Ontario Airport. I highly recommend staying at the Loma Linda Inn if you need to stay at a hotel. It's just a short walk from campus and they'll give you a discount if you say you are there for an interview."
"This is a super faith-based school so you really have to know that that's something you want to be a part of if you are wanting to go here. That's super important. It's talked about a lot so make sure you want that to be a part of your education. If so, it's the school for you!"
"Love the school and felt I did well on the interview. Can't wait to hear back!"
"I have had six interviews and this was probably the most conversational. They have a very high acceptance to interview ration, so just be yourself, be kind, show humility."
"Great interview overall."
"Had a great interview - loved my interviewer. After the interview you have to do an essay portion. Keep in touch with the school while waiting for your status -- I was accepted and will be attending!"
"LLU is a great school for the atmosphere and patient-centered approach towards education, and it's especially great if you're an Adventist. To a non-Adventist it may seem a little small and stuffy and the academic facilities will probably be a step down from what you're used to, but the quality of education is still good. Also, they're working on improving the facilities drastically, especially with the opening of a new building featuring a full-floor medical simulation center."
"If you interview here, try to envision it as a fun experience. Odds are, it will be."
"Speak up your mind no matter what. They can see right through you. My boss interviews students all the time and he hates it when students give generic answers as well as yes or no."
"My first interview was a very nice experience. The second one was not difficult but very long (one hour 45 minutes). He was a nice guy but he went way over time, asked tons of ethics questions to which I had pretty much the same answer for all. I missed the tour because the interviewer took so long, and most importantly, lunch with the medical students which is when one gets to ask the most important questions and the most insight about a school. I was excited about this school before but not so much anymore."
"Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to the school. It is not for everyone, but as a Christian I had a very positive experience and could see myself attending LLU. "
"All things considered, the interview was very casual and low-stress with the exception of one or two questions. I've given LLU a 10/10 on everything except enviromental friendliness in their interview materials. There is no N/A or "This is a cheesy question" options, and the default was a 1/10, so I didn't want to give that. But a 10/10 would have been materials printed on recycled planktonic detritus sustainably dredged from the sea of Japan and imported on solar-powered ocean barges. What a baloney category on which to rate an interview! The 5/10 is because Loma Linda's interview material was printed on paper, in a paper folder, with straight up black ink. Nothing ostentatiously fancy, no absurd amount of tuition money wasted on pointlessly green materials, just a standard format."
"Met in a conference room with other students interviewing, toured simulation lab, toured campus, had lunch with all students and deans of school (I really enjoyed this part), and had two back to back interviews."
"There were two interviews and both were very nice and accomodating. The first was with a professor and he prayed with me at the end to the interview and hte second was with a student that I got along with really well."
"Two interviews in the morning (not too early, which was nice), short campus tour, lunch with info session, and a tour of the simulation lab. "
"Arrive, meet the other candidates in your group. Go on one tour with a staff member to the simulation center, then go on a another tour with a medical student. Have lunch with both morning and afternoon interview candidates, then have two interviews (one with a faculty member and one with a medical student)."
"The interview was very relaxed, the professors just wanted to get to know me. They asked fairly simple questions, until the ethical questions. All they want to know is how you will respond, and that you can think, not what the correct answer is. The professors also tried to find common interests to see what really excited me. "
"I didn't come with a tour group since I work there. My first interviewer was late for approximately 20-25 minutes and I ended up chatting with his secretary. He looked bored and uninterested the whole time (basically had a closed appearance) so unconsciously I didn't feel like disclosing anything. He hurried me through my interview so I wouldn't be late for my second interview. I was still late. Fortunately for me, unfortunately for her, my next interviewer happened to be my boss' colleague which means indirectly my colleague as well and she had to hear me air plus/minus 25 years of my life. Whereas I talked too little in first interview I talked too much in the second one. After talking about collaborating in research with her I went back to work"
"I went on a non-tour day...so it was just me and just the interviews. Although they did give me a free meal ticket. The interviews themselves were really conversational, not high-stress. Both professors I met were VERY friendly and interested in getting to know me. I had friends give me a tour so I could see the campus."
"The overall interview experience was positive. I was way too nervous for no reason. The interviewers were very conversational and laid back. No tough ethical questions either."
"I really enjoyed the whole experience. The interviews were fun and interesting, the tour was well done and the simulation lab experience was very informative. Very good experience."
"It was a nice campus, with a very warm atmosphere. Everyone there had a very good feel about them and the interview process was very well organized. I left with a better impression that I had had going in."
"Not so stressful, just what I expected. My interviewer was really nice, tried to make me sweat a little, but overall it was fine."
"Great! It was on campus, so there was no travel involved. I had already had a junior interview, so I was familiar with the procedure. Dr. Niyradi is a wonderful gentleman."
"I couldn't have asked for better interviews. The Christian atmosphere is very, very nice. I'm not SDA, but I am protestant and no one seems to have a problem with that. The Campus is not enourmous, which I like. Lenoa was amazingly organized and knew my name when I ran into her on the stairs. I have a very good chance of being accepted, and, if I am, It will be difficult to not attend Loma Linda!"
"The previous feedback is supposed to be a positive impression, NOT negative. sorry."
"I was on a non-interview day, so I had no tour, but I arrived a day early, and took a nice walking tour on my own, nice campus with amazing history. The day of I arrived about 45 minutes early, to get my packet, and make sure I knew how to get to the rooms. Both interviews were comfortable and it seemed as if they just wanted to get to know me, and clarify certain aspects of my application. "
"i opted for the afternoon interviews so we met at 10:30 in a conference room and received our packets from lenoa. after all of the morning interviewees came back to the room, the deans asked everyone to intro themselves with an interesting fact. they then give a short intro to the school and financial aid, then you're split into groups for the tour led by a student. lunch is provided afterwards (taco salad) and those with afternoon interviews go off to find them. my faculty interview was interesting because at the end he showed me exactly what she was putting down for me and emailed it off to the adcom in front of me! student interviewer was extremely nice and comfortable to talk with."
"I got to campus 15 minutes early, but ended up being late to my interviews because I thought the office of admissions for the SOM was in a different building. Ms. Edwards gave me my packet and sent me on my way to Shryock. My first interviewer was very nice. He teaches anatomy and just wanted to know who I am and where I'm coming from. My second interview was upcampus and I was a little late to this one as well, but it was very short and brisk (I guess that's the best word for it). Both faculty members know the man I work for and so they didn't really expect me to have any questions about the school or religious aspects of it, but I had a really good discussion about Christianity with my first interviewer, which was an unusual experience for a medical school interview. I went back to the medical admissions office after my interviews, hoping to meet some other interviewees, but it wasn't an interview day (which I was unaware of), so I just went to work."
"I grew up less than half an hour away, so it wasn't too unfamiliar to me. As soon as I parked, i realized i forgot my breath mints, which wasn't too big a loss. There were about 20 interviewees. The assistant dean knew everybody by name and even was able to recall specific details from the files. Lunch consisted of fritos and beans/cheese/guac. Easy on the beans if you have afternoon interviews. Interviewers (both at the VA hospital-accessed via shuttle) were very friendly, both SDA (which I am not). Intervews were very chill, got to know the interviewers pretty well, no big ethical questions."
"A very pleasant day, like I said, everyone was great to me. Real friendly people there, seemed happy to have all of us there. I'm not an SDA, and it seemed to me like there were more than a few others there who were non-SDA's, but I didn't get asked a single question about spiritual issues anyways, and I'm a Christian, so I felt ready for any questions like that! The interviews were pretty relaxed, both just like nice long conversations, my second one even went half an hour over! "
"The interviews were all over the place, but they arranged a shuttle for me and told me how to get places. I still got lost (dang government hospitals!) but they were very understanding. Lunch was good, but the tour was not super informative. I had my student host take me around after my interviews and she showed me the "behind-the-scenes." Overall, I felt really good about it. It was a good first experience."
"exceeded all my expectations...i would definitely attend this school if accepted."
"This was the medical school interview in which I felt the most comfortable, mainly because of how I was treated throughout the whole experience. At other schools' interviews, it seemed that the interviewers tried to make you sweat or even defend yourself, but at this interview, it was more like a conversation so they could simply learn more about you outside of your GPA and MCAT score."
"LLUSM was beautiful and everyone was wonderful. Right when I walked in, Leona prepped me up and was very nice. I chatted with the receptionist while waiting for my 1st interviewer as I was half an hour early. After he had arrived, we had an hour interview that was very smooth and conversational. Although they ask you straightforward questions, it's not a drilling session. One question leads to the next. I arrived early to my 2nd interview as well. (Arriving early is one of my BIG recommendations in anything as it minimizes stress.) Luckily, I had another very amiable interviewer and I was free to take a tour of the school as there were no available guides that day. I left feeling excited and more anxious as I fell more in love with LLUSM that day."
"Please see above. If your first interview is in the medical center, give yourself an extra few minutes to find the room...it can be difficult. If you don't know where you're supposed to be, just ask. Everyone is so nice there. I hope this helps!"
"The previous post on 12/8/2004 was NOT meant to have a negative impression/red face!"
"The interviews are back-to-back so you have to make sure you have ample time to get to each one of them. Lenoa Edwards is wonderful and makes sure that all interviewees have the best experience. A talk by the dean and financial advisor was also given, followed by a tour and lunch. "
"Was the most disorganized of all of my interviews, but the disorganization isn't representative of the quality of the school."
"The 4 hour orientation started off with the first 2 hours reserved for interviews. My first interview was with a medical student who was really cool. The second interview was with a doctor who gave me as much as advice as he asked me questions. The campus tour was fun, and the other interviewees were friendly. The day ended with lunch (vegetarian) and socialization."
"After the first interview, which was with an anesthesiologist, I felt pretty confident. We talked about my social activities in college and church, the future of health care, and moral dilemmas I faced. My second interview was more difficult. It lasted the whole hour and we got into a discussion about stem cell research and how we may be able ethically to grow lines from the extra zygotes that are produced for in vitro fertilization and are destined for disposal. "
"As other people will tell you, it is awesome to get to a school and the Admissions Administrator (Lenoa) knowns your first and last name and is well acquanted with your application. My two interviews went quite well. My first was with an MD in pathology who asked logical and direct questions and went out of his way to make sure he understood me. My other interviewer, also an MD, is involved in evangelical work and he gave me a strong sense of the school's values and mission. He was direct about telling me he thought I was a strong candidate. I came back from California with a positive impression about Loma Linda and am very happy about the way things are done there."
"Loma Linda is a wonderful place. Lenoa Edwards is a wonderful person, and Loma Linda's emphasis on treating the whole person is wonderful as well. You feel like you are joining a family when you are there and you do not have to be SDA to get this feeling. Many of the students I met were not SDA and they couldn't be happier. I wish LLU would get more credit with applicants, but from what I heard, the reputation across the US is strong enough to carry you into the most competitive of residencies. I just loved it there. One interviewer was faculty and the other was a student. A delicious lunch was served, and we got a financial aid talk as well. The only downside is the average student debt which, dare I say, is upwards of $158,000. "
"Compared to a previous experience, this one was great. I interviewed with two faculty for 45 min each. My first interviewer was a very gentle biochemist who recalled parts of my personal statement and 2' and asked me questions about them. My second interviewer was a neurologist who gave me the feeling she thought I was a good candidate - this was very reassuring! She was great! Contrary to what I had heard, their emphasis is more on educating physicians to care for the whole person (mental, spiritual, physical) than trying to push Adventist doctrine on med students. It was a very warm and supportive environment. The Dean took the time to meet and have lunch with us and the lunch was GREAT!"
"The interview goes very quick and everyone is very friendly and interested to talk to you. "
"Interview was a positive experience, area was nice (although some of the surrounding cities have a bit of a bad rep). I would have liked to talk with some of the first and second year students. "
"I was interviewed by two LLU doctors. Each interview lasted about 30 minutes. We were given a tour of the university. "
"I had alot of doubts about the medical school going into the interview, but coming out of it, I liked it even more. My interviewers were two very nice and friendly researchers, and I got really lucky with that because of my bacground in research, but I have heard of many other students who interviewed here and were asked and hassled so much about their religion and ethical issues that they could possibly face in the clinic. "
"The school seems like a great environment and my MD interviewer was awesome, but the student interviewer seemed to have some issues with non-SDA's. He wanted to REALLY make sure that I was not there for the wrong reasons."
"Overall, I felt that Loma Linda University was great inverview experience. They really wanted to get to know me as a person and wanted to know my motivation and desire for the study of medicine. The students were very passionate about Loma Linda and why they had chosen to obtain their medical education there, despite being accepted to other respected institutions that also had cheaper tuitions. "
"The school is in the middle of boonyville, and yikes i had my zipper down the whole time during the interview!!! =T "
"Although I didn't go to the school itself, I got a good vibe from the interviewer. The interview was different from my previous ones; he asked several questions that I wasn't prepared for."
"Don't be afraid of this school if you aren't a Seventh Day Adventist, they accept other faiths so don't believe the hype. There are guidelines that must be followed during attendance, no drinking, smoking, so familiarize yourself with the school's doctrine before applying. If you can't lead a drug/alcohol/tobacco free lifestyle then this school isn't for you. "
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Student | 37 |
| Faculty member | 1 |
| Admissions staff | 0 |
| Other | 9 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Enthusiastic | 22 |
| Neutral | 5 |
| Discouraging | 3 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 6.86 | 44 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| In state | 22 |
| Out of state | 21 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 0-1 hour | 15 |
| 2-3 hours | 11 |
| 4-6 hours | 6 |
| 7+ hours | 8 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| Airplane | 19 |
| Automobile | 18 |
| Train or subway | 2 |
| Other | 4 |
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| < $100 | 19 |
| $101-$200 | 0 |
| $201-$300 | 2 |
| $301-$400 | 3 |
| $401-$500 | 4 |
| $501+ | 3 |
Virtual interview.
Ontario International Airport
Ontario Airport
SNA (but check ONT and LAX)
Ontario
ONT
| Response | # Responders |
|---|---|
| At school facility | 0 |
| With students at the school | 5 |
| Friends or family | 11 |
| Hotel | 10 |
| Home | 2 |
| Other | 0 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 7.35 | 46 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 6.90 | 48 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 6.73 | 48 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.31 | 29 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 8.69 | 29 |
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 5.89 | 27 |
"N/A"
"NA"
"I would have liked an opportunity to have an exit interview after I was rejected. It's important for reapplicants to know what they need to improve on."
"It would be cool if you gave everyone a tour as part of the interview process..."
"Less paper usage. Interview invite was through snail mail, and the confirmation came through snail mail also. When we arrived we all got folders with papers and some brochure. Interesting things, but still too much paper."
"Don't schedule interviews too far from the orientation location. I got lost and even current students had no idea where that place was."
"No suggestions. They made the whole process very smooth and comfortable."
"Changes to interview times shouldn't be made the day of the interview."
"Using e-mail rather than snail mail would be nice and more "green". Provide some light snacks or som"
"I don't really have any. The interviews were both relatively laid back and conversational. I suppose"
"I forgot my info packet at home, so it would have helped me to have an email or something online wit"
We help students become doctors. TM
What is one of the specific questions they asked you (question 1)?