How did the interview impress you?

Negatively

What was the stress level of the interview?

6 out of 10

How you think you did?

3 out of 10

How long was the interview?

40 minutes

Where did the interview take place?

At the school

How many people interviewed you?

2

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)?

"I don't see evidence of pre-med here. You took X and X and more X and X....." Report Response | I was asked this question too

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

"Why DO? Why KCUMB?" Report Response | I was asked this question too

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

"Opinion on stem cell research" Report Response | I was asked this question too

What was the most interesting question?

"The subject of the question, stem cell research, was interesting and thought provoking, but the interviewer was extremely inept in phrasing the question. Essentially, he asked if I thought stem cell research was "relevant" to medicine (??? DUH???) and what my personal opinion was about it." Report Response | I was asked this question too

What was the most difficult question?

"The most difficult question I received was a non-question. The interviewer was unprepared and did not seem to know what to ask me, so he fixated on something irrelevant , kept repeating himself and looked at me inquiringly without ever having asked a question. I should have asked what, exactly, he wanted to know." Report Response | I was asked this question too

How did you prepare for the interview?

"Read SDN interview feedback; prepared list of many anticipated questions and answered all of them so I would not be caught off guard; reviewed osteopathic history & philosophy; knew my file contents; personal reflection on my background and motivation." Report Response

What impressed you positively?

"Everything about the school exceeded my expectations except two things (noted below). The campus is beautiful, with old & new red brick buildings and nice green spaces. The facilities are modern, clean and inviting. Anatomy lab is in a "basement", but it is NICE--good ventilation, ample space, numerous large video screens. The people (students, faculty, staff) are very friendly, encouraging and helpful. The school emphasizes community service and outreach (check out Score 1 and DOCare on their website)." Report Response

What impressed you negatively?

"Have lived in cities all my life, but was uncomfortable with the location of the campus. It is close to major highways (71 & I-70), so easy to access by car. The campus and parking is fenced and patrolled by security. However, I did not like that the campus seemed isolated and different from the surrounding community. KCU is this important, beautiful, wealthy medical institution spending millions on new construction, upgrades and renovations in the midst of low income people who do not have money for food or decent housing. As per above, service is stressed, but there was a disconnect which made me uncomfortable. The second thing I did not like was the personal interview (see below)." Report Response

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

"Nothing but the personal interview suprised me. It was not the questions, but the demeanor of the interviewers and the manner in which it was conducted that bothered me. Everyone (students, admissions staff, SDNrs, prior feedback) gave me the impression that if I had been invited for an interview, the school was very interested in me and that the purpose of the interview was just to get to know me better and match the person to the paper. The interview was represented as a friendly, conversational, even fun experience. I was advised to relax, be myself and enjoy the conversation. My experience was anything but fun. I was first in my interview group of three, but was not informed of my assigned time until after 1pm, just moments before interviewers began calling for students. I wish they had informed us of our assignment to the 1st, 2nd or 3rd time slot before lunch. I wanted to have just 5 minutes to be alone to relax & focus for interview. Unfortunately, I was called before I got a chance to do that. The student ambassador hustled me over to the science offices, across campus and up 4 flights of stairs, so I was out of breath when iv started. The two interviewers, one science faculty PhD and one alumni development person, were distinctly stern and unfriendly from the start. After a bit of non-conversational small talk, the science prof started flipping through the pages of my file and eventually started mentioning and repeating subjects I had studied in undergrad and looking at me as though I was crazy for being there and seeking to study medicine. He never really asked a question, but I felt I needed to respond to him, so I started to explain my story (early interest in medicine but late decision to actually pursue it). That was my mistake, because I felt then that I had been put on the defensive. I regrouped and answered several additional questions well, but while I was answering, he avoided eye contact and continued rifling through my file papers. When I explained my personal views on stem cell research, in response to his very clumsy attempt to frame a question, he acted intimidated or offended, as though he really only expected me to waffle around the issue. He even said something like, "Well, I just wanted to know your opinion", which was exactly what I had told him. The alumni person only threw softball questions. She just seemed nervous herself, or uncomfortable with being a part of the interview. She was very quiet and did not help me to feel comfortable. I realize now, after licking my wounds, that the faculty interviewer had not read my file in preparation for our meeting. He was too busy trying to learn about me through the file, while I was responding to his awkward questions. He zoned in on the first college course I took and seemed to fixate strangely on that. He was trying to buy himself time to do what he should have done earlier--READ MY FILE. I do not think that the other interviewer had access to my file, even though the session is supposed to be open file. I think the iv would have gone more smoothly if she could have asked me more questions. She was nervous, but more articulate than the professor. The interview was just nothing like what I expected." Report Response

What are your general comments?

"After orientation/info talk, panel discussion with students, tours and lunch (comfy cafeteria, paid by school, sat with student ambassadors and fellow interviewees), we gathered in student lounge. There, while awaiting interview, we were fitted for white coat, visited with students and have informal Q/A with financial aid and relocation people. I stayed at one of the two hotels from which KCU provides van transpo to and from campus. It was comfortable and convenient. I would recommend this option over making your own arrangements. Those who did seemed to have some problems. Was on campus from about 8:30-3pm, back to hotel earlier than expected. However, I would not plan on this, as interviews were schedule to conclude at 4pm. We just finished early." Report Response

Who was the tour given by?

Student

On what date did the interview take place?

10/20/2004