Pennsylvania State University

Make sure to check the school portal ahead of the interview! Interviewer info and the specific time slot of the interview will be released before the actual date. We do not have to always stay on Zoom throughout the Interview Day.

Interviewers are trained to put on poker faces this year (2023-2024) and kept rushing me. They did not interrupt any of my responses but would say in the middle of two questions that we had to hurry up. So I was constantly worried I talked too much or went overtime.

Everyone was very friendly. I would say even the poker-faced interviewers were nice. I greatly enjoyed the presentation by Mr. Lubbers, the conversation with the associate dean, and all the PSCOM students I talked to. The students were amazing and made me love the school a lot more.

Mock interviews. Prepare personal stories. Read through the PSCOM website carefully to get to know their curricula. Going through SDN threads to know the change of interview style at PSCOM this year (2023-2024).

The 2 interviewers alternated asking questions and there were 5 total questions with 5 minutes to answer each. Then you could ask 2 questions of your own at the end. Most of the questions they asked were “talk about a time when…” type questions.

Not that it made a huge difference, but I wish I had known that it would be a closed file interview and that we would not be allowed to mention the name of our college or details like that.

This year (23-24) interviews are not like in past years where they are conversational interviews to get to know you as a person. It felt like an MMI format interview, but with the same 2 faculty at the same time. 25 mins, 5 questions, 5 mins to answer each, cold responses from interviewers, no connection to be made, no follow up comments. Felt almost like I was getting judged or dismissed.

The interview was like an MMI format, but was not advertised as so, 25 mins for 5 questions, 5 mins each, you get 5 mins to ask 2 questions at the end. It was two faculty members and I, one of the interviewers came 5 mins late and connected on her phone, not a computer (this would have been frowned upon if a student had done it). The questions were whatever, no why us, no why medicine, no tell me about yourself, just 5 random questions. At the end I asked a question about a new program which they didn't know anything about, I asked another question which was answered. I asked if I could ask another question (since my first one didn't get answered), the same interviewer that was late said "we are only allowed 2 questions, and we are actually running out of time", not a good look, ruined the rest of the day.

Dr. Gilbert was very nice, students were cool and down to earth. Nice vibe from students.

Awesome interview with fantastic, thought-provoking questions that I think allowed me to fully represent myself as an applicant.

I did know ahead of time, but please be sure to have solid stories and anecdotes you can share. That helped a lot to demonstrate my qualities or lessons learned.

Had trouble connecting to the interview (me and the interviewers). There is no way to test your webcam beforehand.

Very friendly interviewers! Low stress.

Don't stress so much.

Slight delay in starting the check-in compared to the advertised time.

Enthusiastic Q&A lunch with current students.

I had a wonderful time

They did not give a folder of information or Hershey kisses (sad)

The curriculum and the vice dean

SDN, school website, mock interview