How did the interview impress you?

Positively

What was the stress level of the interview?

3 out of 10

How long was the interview?

30 minutes

Where did the interview take place?

At the school

How many people interviewed you?

4

What was the style of the interview?

One-on-one

What type of interview was it?

Open file

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

"For the med half, you can look up the exact 5 questions to the med school portion online. They don't change much year to year." Report Response | I was asked this question too

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

"How will clinical work aide your future research?" Report Response | I was asked this question too

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

"Tell me about your research." Report Response | I was asked this question too

What was the most interesting question?

"The breakfast at the director's house yielded a great many interesting conversations. That is a great time to chat up faculty about mutual personal interests." Report Response | I was asked this question too

What was the most difficult question?

"A speculative series of questions regarding cellular mechanisms of synaptic adaptation in the songbird auditory forebrain (this was loosely based on my research)." Report Response | I was asked this question too

How did you prepare for the interview?

"Read at least one article written by each interviewer. Read recent reviews in my field. Reread papers from my old labs." Report Response

What impressed you positively?

"The program was even stronger in Neurology and basic neuroscience than I had expected. The Damasio group is lively and doing some great clinically oriented work. The culture in Iowa City is actually rather vibrant, with a great literary scene (see prairie lights books) based around the Iowa writers' workshop, perhaps the best creative writing program in the country." Report Response

What impressed you negatively?

"No matter how much fun the college-town is, and it is a nice place, this IS Iowa city. The patient population will be drawn in from all over the state, and they have an extensive neurological registry, but the opportunities for clinical exposure that one might find in a large city simply are not going to be available here. Many students make the 4 hour trip into chicago for big city entertainment." Report Response

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

"The odd format of the medical school interview was not over-emphasized. You will face two interviewers who are mostly (they do smile and nod occasionally) expressionless. They will alternate questions, with one always watching you closely during questioning. You will speak a monologue about why you would be a great doctor." Report Response

What are your general comments?

"The MSTP at Iowa is solid. It doesn't offer the same level of clinical exposure as some other places, but the research side, especially in neurology, is strong. The medical school is well organized, with ample study areas and "communities" of M1-4 students grouped together (the M3-4's can give some insight to the younger guys about what will be important during rotations). Cost of living is very low, with some students buying houses on their stipend. As far as free time, Iowa city is a liberal, cultured place if you look in the right areas. If you look in the wrong areas, it is a college town of 80,000 surrounded by farmland." Report Response

Who was the tour given by?

Student

On what date did the interview take place?

11/17/2003