Interview Information

[Articulate]

Hmm. The interview was more like a joke. There were two people on the live. A male with a baritone kind of voice and a lady with sweet tenor voice.
I think their clock is 10 minutes late or something as most people complain thatt they call ten minutes late. so no panick there.

They asked me how I am feeling, and trying to be honest, i said i have cold. For one moment, that almost caused a problem. They said i sound drowsy and they want to reschedule the interview. I told them i would manage. After some persuation , they finally told me i asked for it and they would proceed at my own risk. I said all well and good.

Question 1: How far do you live from York University.
me - ten minutes drive.
he said he was at York University Yesterday and too bad he did not get to see me.
me - Really! you just missed the snow storm.
he talked about 5 minutes about how to get to york from highway 400 , the pile of snow by the road side and the interview he conducted at York university.
me - Do Saba interview at York?
Ans -Yes. and he said 45% of the school are canadians and this year might be 50%.
me - That is pretty interesting, we Canadians are taking over
him - Yup, you guys are really taking over. Very recently, the students have demanded a canadian flag to be put on campus. but we disagree. Netherland is scared canadians would take the island away from them. The laugh.
I tried to laugh too.
All those took about 15 minutes.

2. Why dint you take the MCAT:
Every summer I had to work to sustain myself financially and I don’t think it is wise to do the mcat not well prepared because throughout my life, I have constantly dedicated myself to performing more than the standard. So for me to take the mcat, I will attend mcat lessons too.

3. It show on your application that you also applied to Macmaster medical school. I know you would have heard from them, how was it? Yes i have heard from them and i have been rejected.
her - I know how you feel, caadian school are pretty tough to get into. I just heard about two people with a very high GPA got rejected.
me - I have a friend with a 4.0 GPA that got rejected becos of xtracurriculum activites too.

4. September is full right now, would you love to continue the interview for the January class?
me - Yes. no problem.

5. When are you graduating?
me- this April.

6. In that case, would you be pleased to come for the may class
me - hmmmmm. I could.


7. Youre doing a maths major/bio major, how come you dint go for maths master?
me - I take maths because of the analytic skills which would help me in many areas of life, including medicine. becos a doctor need problem solving skills. Maths does not appeal to me as a career field, more like a hobby.

8. Do you know of anyone who has been here
Not in person, but I did met some people on the Valuemed Saba forum
him - do you work for valuemed?
me - No!

9. Have you done research on our School? – Yes. Saba is located in the Netherland anthiles. It is a small island with 1400 inhabitants. Safe island

10. What do you know about the USMLE - United States Medical Licensing Examination. A medical student must pass the USMLE in order to become a licensed physician in the United States. If you fail step 1, you cannot continue into the clinical years.

Do you have any questions? How prepared is Saba for the hurricane season?
him - lotta explanation about how high above sea level it is, levels of hurricane(i.e the school building can withstand level 4), ................


12. So you said you can come for may. The orientation is May 5th. would you be able to make it? Yes


13. This also require that you make the first semester payment in about two weeks, would you be able to get you loans b4 then? I have enough money to pay for the first semester.

address confirmation, would be hearing the result in two days.

Oh well, I could say the interview was really laid back. It could be because i told them i have a cold and they try to be nice.

It seems i would be coming this may. They sholved May into my neck.


Blessings to others waiting for an interview.

[Radhika28]

Thanks very much appreciate it. Will post how it went tomorrow :) Goodluck with everyone's interviews today

[dwpegues]

i hope you got in. please let us know how the interview went. i on the other hand have been waiting for 16 days now to know if i am in or not. i am dying to know their decision. the interview isn't as bad as waiting for their decision.

[dwpegues]

thanks for saying how the interview went. sounds very laid back just as you said. good for you. good luck with the decision process. i am sure you got in. here is an early "congradulations."

[maserati]

everyone gets in





waiting for people to lash out

[covarubious]

dude i'm sure you got it! i know i would be going insane if i was in your position so i won't say be patient lol

i hope you got in. please let us know how the interview went. i on the other hand have been waiting for 16 days now to know if i am in or not. i am dying to know their decision. the interview isn't as bad as waiting for their decision.

[dwpegues]

cavarubious,
thanks for the kind words. i am trying to be patient. my girlfriend has been keeping me as positive as possible through all this. the crazy thing is the interview was on my 30th birthday. i want to know what my birthday present was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[covarubious]

years of insane cramming, stress and debt. happy birthday lol

cavarubious,
thanks for the kind words. i am trying to be patient. my girlfriend has been keeping me as positive as possible through all this. the crazy thing is the interview was on my 30th birthday. i want to know what my birthday present was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[garyc]

dwepgues how are you doing hope all is well with you....hang in there let us know what the word iis

[garyc]

dwepgues how are you did u hear anything from saba?

[godawgs]

So I have been a silent member and have been following this forum for a couple weeks now.... I just had my interview today and wanted to share my experience today....
They interviewed me over the phone for the semster starting May 08.... They started out with the introductions... It was the kind lady and Dr. Bernstein.... He sounded just fine to me and was actually fun to talk to......

They started out by telling me that they were going to ask me some questions and then I would have a chance to ask some later on..... First of, they asked me if I would be ready to start in May... i said that it would not be a problem and then asked me if I knew about Saba and what I was getting into.....I mentioned that I was going to apply to AUA on the application but told them that I ended up applying only to Saba... they asked me why and told everything I knew about Saba (prestigious etc)....they asked me about the island and I told them all I knew about the island and said that going away and living alone would not be a problem since I studied abroad for a year in a country where no one even spoke english...

Then Dr. B asked me about the couple of C's I had and I told him that one of them (O chem 1)was my doing and I took full responsibility but I rebounded with an A in O chem 2... the other C was another story that I told them about...... it was a genuine story and they sympathized with me

Then, Ms. X (forgot her name) asked me about my clinical experience and I told them basically what I did when I shadowed the doctor... They explained that they need students to have some clinical experience because they dont want students coming back saying that "I hate dealing with people"... I told them, I love meeting people and making friends and that would not be a problem.....

Then Dr. B asked me about why I had no MCAT scores... I told him I had taken the DAT(coz I was pre dent for a while) and did not like it and he asked me my score (had done pretty well so he was ok with it)

Then I think she asked me one more Q (USMLE) and Dr.B said that was all the questoins he had...said my grades were fine, I had solid recs so he had no doubt in my academic ability and that was the end of my interview.....

I asked them about the options for vegetarians (since I am one) and question about loan options and that was it....

they ended by saying they would let me know on Monday (i am pretty sure I am in) and made it a point to emphasize that semster started in 5 weeks and if I had the financial backing to pay for school......

All in all, it was pretty laid back, they were real nice, I did not feel like I was being drilled at any point and they gave me the feeling that I was worthy of the school and also made me like the school better!! total time on my phone was 17 mins!!

So good luck to all you guys out there and hit me up if u have any Q's!! Looks like I will see you guys in May!!

[garyc]

congratsssssss on ure interviea and potential acceptance if you do not mind can u post ure stats please thanx

[pilot4life]

STATS
cGPA: 90% (probably around a 3.9)
sGPA: 87% (probably around a 3.7)
MCAT: 30T
Clinical experience: 2 years as a junior hospital volunteer, 3 years as a senior hospital volunteer, 2 years as a medical first responder at a volunteer First Aid org. and 2 years as a student researcher with an M.D.
May '08 applicant
B.Sc. Physiology (specialties in cardiology and endocrinology)

INTERVIEW
I called the folks on Friday to check up on my application, and the administration secretary connected me to Dr. B and Beth. Dr. B asked me if I would like to do the interview right now given that he had my file in front of him. I agreed.
The interview lasted 30 minutes, and was a lot like the experience of the previous poster. I was asked about why I want to be a doctor, my B in organic chem I, the disparity between my academics and my MCAT, my clinical experience, and how much I nknew about SABA. I told them that given it was s urprise interview I didn't have much information at this time, but I could research some. They told me not to worry about it and just tell them what I know. So, I told them about a) their scary *** runway, b) their tiny size, c) the fact that it has four villages, and d) that the highest topographical feature would allow me to see damn near everything on the island.
They asked me if I could handle living on such a small island, and if I could handle living away from family, and about why I was applying to SUSOM with my stats. They asked me about other colleges I applied to, and I informed them of all my other choices (and also let them know that SUSOM was my first choice because it offered residencies in Canada). Then they asked me if I had any questions, and told me they would contact me on Monday with their decision.
So, pray for me please, and I hope my little narrative helps all those applying in the future.
Cheers, and see you in the skies.

[raptors]

STATS
cGPA: 90% (probably around a 3.9)
sGPA: 87% (probably around a 3.7)
MCAT: 30T
Clinical experience: 2 years as a junior hospital volunteer, 3 years as a senior hospital volunteer, 2 years as a medical first responder at a volunteer First Aid org. and 2 years as a student researcher with an M.D.
May '08 applicant
B.Sc. Physiology (specialties in cardiology and endocrinology)

INTERVIEW
I called the folks on Friday to check up on my application, and the administration secretary connected me to Dr. B and Beth. Dr. B asked me if I would like to do the interview right now given that he had my file in front of him. I agreed.
The interview lasted 30 minutes, and was a lot like the experience of the previous poster. I was asked about why I want to be a doctor, my B in organic chem I, the disparity between my academics and my MCAT, my clinical experience, and how much I nknew about SABA. I told them that given it was s urprise interview I didn't have much information at this time, but I could research some. They told me not to worry about it and just tell them what I know. So, I told them about a) their scary *** runway, b) their tiny size, c) the fact that it has four villages, and d) that the highest topographical feature would allow me to see damn near everything on the island.
They asked me if I could handle living on such a small island, and if I could handle living away from family, and about why I was applying to SUSOM with my stats. They asked me about other colleges I applied to, and I informed them of all my other choices (and also let them know that SUSOM was my first choice because it offered residencies in Canada). Then they asked me if I had any questions, and told me they would contact me on Monday with their decision.
So, pray for me please, and I hope my little narrative helps all those applying in the future.
Cheers, and see you in the skies.

It sounds like your interview went well. Congrats on getting accepted to SABA.

I believe they're trying to fill up the spots for May and with your stellar stats, I see no reason why you wouldn't be accepted. Expect an email pretty soon. The actual package took me two weeks to receive, however they notified me by email first.

I say don't worry about being accepted and start planning a check list, loans etc. because May is coming soon!

Congrats again. Cheers.

[raptors]

So I have been a silent member and have been following this forum for a couple weeks now.... I just had my interview today and wanted to share my experience today....
They interviewed me over the phone for the semster starting May 08.... They started out with the introductions... It was the kind lady and Dr. Bernstein.... He sounded just fine to me and was actually fun to talk to......

They started out by telling me that they were going to ask me some questions and then I would have a chance to ask some later on..... First of, they asked me if I would be ready to start in May... i said that it would not be a problem and then asked me if I knew about Saba and what I was getting into.....I mentioned that I was going to apply to AUA on the application but told them that I ended up applying only to Saba... they asked me why and told everything I knew about Saba (prestigious etc)....they asked me about the island and I told them all I knew about the island and said that going away and living alone would not be a problem since I studied abroad for a year in a country where no one even spoke english...

Then Dr. B asked me about the couple of C's I had and I told him that one of them (O chem 1)was my doing and I took full responsibility but I rebounded with an A in O chem 2... the other C was another story that I told them about...... it was a genuine story and they sympathized with me

Then, Ms. X (forgot her name) asked me about my clinical experience and I told them basically what I did when I shadowed the doctor... They explained that they need students to have some clinical experience because they dont want students coming back saying that "I hate dealing with people"... I told them, I love meeting people and making friends and that would not be a problem.....

Then Dr. B asked me about why I had no MCAT scores... I told him I had taken the DAT(coz I was pre dent for a while) and did not like it and he asked me my score (had done pretty well so he was ok with it)

Then I think she asked me one more Q (USMLE) and Dr.B said that was all the questoins he had...said my grades were fine, I had solid recs so he had no doubt in my academic ability and that was the end of my interview.....

I asked them about the options for vegetarians (since I am one) and question about loan options and that was it....

they ended by saying they would let me know on Monday (i am pretty sure I am in) and made it a point to emphasize that semster started in 5 weeks and if I had the financial backing to pay for school......

All in all, it was pretty laid back, they were real nice, I did not feel like I was being drilled at any point and they gave me the feeling that I was worthy of the school and also made me like the school better!! total time on my phone was 17 mins!!

So good luck to all you guys out there and hit me up if u have any Q's!! Looks like I will see you guys in May!!

Congrats to you as well. It sounds you interview went well and had a similar feeling to mine.

[princess12]

hey u guys i'm wondering how long it took before you guys heard from saba regarding an interview? do any of you guys know if there's seats for may stil... i think im going to call them on monday

[pilot4life]

princess12
Do call them. That's how I got my interview taken. I called them, and they connected me to Dr. B. He then asked me if I would like to do the interview right then and there. So, go ahead, call them ASAP.

[maserati]

princess12
Do call them. That's how I got my interview taken. I called them, and they connected me to Dr. B. He then asked me if I would like to do the interview right then and there. So, go ahead, call them ASAP.




how professional.


sigh

[CompassionMD]

I would say to go ahead and call them to check on your application status. The time varies for person to person, but there is no harm in calling!:)

Take care.

[princess12]

thanks you guys... ya ill call them on monday then :) hey pilot4life are you from canada too? where abouts are u from? the reason i want to go to saba too is to get a residency in canada... i've from vancouver... i've been doing a lot of research n it jus seems so hard to get one.. its better then what it was like the past but it still seems reallyy hard :S

[godawgs]

Hi princess12, I had to call them as well and they told me that I was selected for an interview and was given one a week later.... they dont mind us asking them questions at all.....and raptor, thanks for your words!!

[pilot4life]

princess12
I'm from Saskatoon, applied at the U of S college of medicine, got an interview, and waiting to hear back from them. And you know what, even if you don't get a residency directly in Canada, you will be able to move back, if not in two years, then three or four. In the end, does it matter as long as you are practicing medicine?

[godawgs]

Gary,
thanks for the message.... apparently, I cannot PM you becoz I dont have more than 5 posts....but anyway, I had a 3.2 science & overall GPA... had a 19 in DAT's, a ton of extra curricular activities and about 50 hrs of shadowing..... my rec letters were solid (according to Dr. bernstein).... dont worry man, your GPA is way better than mine.....
I was a chem major with a lotta of upper level bio classes..... just dont worry about it too much...they are trying to fill in the May session and judging by the applicant pool (such as yourself), it looks a pretty strong one as well.... so good luck and let me know if you need anything else....

[CANKID]

I had my interview last week. He was very friendly and we talked for over an hour. It was actually like talking to a friend about medical school, therefore, not stressful at all! We basically just chatted about med student life, the school, the island, etc. They really just want to know if you know what you're getting yourself into. He asked me what I knew about the island, school, and USMLE. I gave a one sentence answer for each of them and that lead into other stuff. I definitely over-prepared! I could have went on much longer about those questions but he didn't seem overly interested in the answers, just that I have looked into this stuff.
Oh yeah, he also spent at least 15 min telling me why it would be better to start in May (I applied for Sept.), and that I should seriously consider changing my mind about when to start.
I have been accepted to AUC and St. Matthew's, and I am just waiting to hear the verdict from Saba.

[maserati]

I had my interview last week. He was very friendly and we talked for over an hour. It was actually like talking to a friend about medical school, therefore, not stressful at all! We basically just chatted about med student life, the school, the island, etc. They really just want to know if you know what you're getting yourself into. He asked me what I knew about the island, school, and USMLE. I gave a one sentence answer for each of them and that lead into other stuff. I definitely over-prepared! I could have went on much longer about those questions but he didn't seem overly interested in the answers, just that I have looked into this stuff.
Oh yeah, he also spent at least 15 min telling me why it would be better to start in May (I applied for Sept.), and that I should seriously consider changing my mind about when to start.
I have been accepted to AUC and St. Matthew's, and I am just waiting to hear the verdict from Saba.






This whole business of them ushering people into May08 simply 'cause they don't have enough students is really bothering me.

[Moldovanits]

I had my interview last week. He was very friendly and we talked for over an hour. It was actually like talking to a friend about medical school, therefore, not stressful at all! We basically just chatted about med student life, the school, the island, etc. They really just want to know if you know what you're getting yourself into. He asked me what I knew about the island, school, and USMLE. I gave a one sentence answer for each of them and that lead into other stuff. I definitely over-prepared! I could have went on much longer about those questions but he didn't seem overly interested in the answers, just that I have looked into this stuff.
Oh yeah, he also spent at least 15 min telling me why it would be better to start in May (I applied for Sept.), and that I should seriously consider changing my mind about when to start.
I have been accepted to AUC and St. Matthew's, and I am just waiting to hear the verdict from Saba.

what are your stats?

[Articulate]

I know maserati. Business strategy.

[maserati]

I know maserati. Business strategy.



Articulate! Thanks for bailing out on Sunday!
We were looking forward to seeing you ... but of course, you dancers
are too cool for us.

[garyc]

hey guys i sent in my application to saba last wednesday and i called the office today and they still have not recieved it....i sent it priority mail.....if they do not recieve it by tom do u think i just resend the application....it would suck if the mail got lost in tranlsation

[godawgs]

Gary, Give it a couple more days.... It was the easter weekend so things must have been slow... after a couple of days think about sending it again!!

[garyc]

hey godawgs thanx for the response your a kind man....this waiting peroid really sux each day is filled with lots and lots of anxiety....anyway gotta go noe gonna study form mcat peace

[Articulate]

llol Maserati! I dint baail out intentionally, its just that saturday would have been the best. Its Easter time. .Yup looking forward to seeing u guys too. I am certain for Bonnie send off party.

[Moldovanits]

hey godawgs thanx for the response your a kind man....this waiting peroid really sux each day is filled with lots and lots of anxiety....anyway gotta go noe gonna study form mcat peace

Are they making you take the mcat?

[kajolandshahrukh]

when I had my interview, it was stated that SABA prefers people who wrote the mcats.

[garyc]

moldonavits
i did not hear back form saba yet they told me in around 3 weeks or so......i did not take the mcat so i am not sure they are going to request it with my stats they are decent 3.3 science 3.4 and decent amount of extracularisars....ill keep u guys updated

[Moldovanits]

moldonavits
i did not hear back form saba yet they told me in around 3 weeks or so......i did not take the mcat so i am not sure they are going to request it with my stats they are decent 3.3 science 3.4 and decent amount of extracularisars....ill keep u guys updated

gdluck man

[ucd]

i have an interview coming up and i have a choice to go in person or have a phone interview. Does it matter which i option i chose? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks

[maserati]

it doesn't matter, at all.
questions are super simple, if you spend that $$$ and travel down in person, you'll regret it, it'd be a waste.

[princess12]

hey u guys!

i'm jus wondering how they contacted you regarding the interview? Do they call you or do they send a letter out? please let me know thanks :)

[maserati]

hey u guys!

i'm jus wondering how they contacted you regarding the interview? Do they call you or do they send a letter out? please let me know thanks :)





they call you and asks you which date works best

[princess12]

hmmm i called them today too seee what the satus of my application was.. since it has been a few weeks since i sent my application.. and they told me that a letter had been sent... and i asked if it would be an interview and the lady i spoke to said seh doesn't know what it actually says... and i asked if they mail letters regarding interviews.. or call and she said both... maybe she just said both because she didn't want to say that its a rejection letter :S:S

[misteeq]

hey,

i was in the same situation..they sent me a letter saying that i have not been accepted due to limited space and gave me the option to forward my application to MUA...this was just my case maybe they wanted to inform you about an interview through a letter..Dont get scared just yet wait for the letter and then see..I know the feeling i was freaking out too..but im sure it will work out...Good luck :)

[ucd]

I called to ask about my application because I didn't hear back for awhile, and a couple days later got an email saying to call the office and schedule an interview date.

[garyc]

ucd did u apply for sept admission of jan admission?

[princess12]

hey,

i was in the same situation..they sent me a letter saying that i have not been accepted due to limited space and gave me the option to forward my application to MUA...this was just my case maybe they wanted to inform you about an interview through a letter..Dont get scared just yet wait for the letter and then see..I know the feeling i was freaking out too..but im sure it will work out...Good luck :)


hey misteeq... i got the same letter in the mail today

[nuclearmedicinetech]

hey misteeq... i got the same letter in the mail today

did you apply for the Sept 08 or Jan 09 Class?

[ucd]

I applied for jan '09 class

[Da86]

I sent in my application a little over two weeks ago and havent heard anything yet...I figure since I am in Canada maybe it takes a little longer? How long should it take? I am scared to call because Im so nervous to not get an interview...

[zack0000]

articulate. good luck. i have an interview the 26th of this month with saba. i cannot wait. i was to have three interviews with other schools this past week, but i had to cancel and reschedule because i had the flu for three weeks. it was a bummer because i really want to use the other schools as preparation for interviewing with saba. please post back once you have your interview and let us all know how it goes with saba. i will surely do the same once i have mine. i cannot wait another 2 weeks!!!!!! i want to know their decision so bad.


Hi dwpegues,

Can i ask which 3 other schools you had interviews with, other than SABA? Did you have to take the MCAT for these 3 other schools?

Your reply would be much appreciated!

[Moldovanits]

hey misteeq... i got the same letter in the mail today


what are your stats?

[misteeq]

I sent in my application a little over two weeks ago and havent heard anything yet...I figure since I am in Canada maybe it takes a little longer? How long should it take? I am scared to call because Im so nervous to not get an interview...


It takes about 2 weeks from for them to recieve the application from Canada and another week or so to review the application. But if you really can't wait just give them a call and see. they are pretty nice there at the admissions office..good luck!

[bush2004]

hi..........................

[bush2004]

hi....................

[bush2004]

good luck...............

[bush2004]

good luck...................

[bush2004]

good luck...........................

[garyc]

Bush Shutup U Idiot

[bush2004]

hi garyc,

which semester were you accepted to?

Thanks and god bless

[godawgs]

when is the fee deadline for sept semester and jan semester??

[bush2004]

I've copied and pasted this for you from saba website.....

All students are responsible for payment of tuition and fees in U.S. personal check, bank check or money order, one month prior to matriculation into each new semester whether Basic Science or Clinical Medicine Program. All students entering into 1st semester must pay tuition 45 days prior to matriculation. If payment is made by check, the cancelled check will serve as the student's receipt. If a student remits a payment check that is returned because of insufficient funds, he or she must make any future payments to the University in the form of a U.S. bank check, or money order. Payment of all tuition and fees are due in full by the due date specified on the student bill. A returned check fee of $35.00 will be imposed for a personal check returned not honored. Students will be billed approximately two months prior to the beginning of each new semester. Invoices are mailed to the permanent address on record for registered students. Payments for a student's semester bill should be directed to the Bursar's Office. If a bill is not received, it is the student's responsibility to contact the Finance Office. All fees for the Clinical Medicine Program must be paid prior to graduation. Students whose account have not been paid in full, or otherwise cleared by the Finance Office, will be subject to cancellation of class enrollment. SABA University reserves the right to withhold all diplomas, degrees, official transcripts and any other documentation from any student with outstanding financial obligations. (Rates are subject to change without notice)

[mitt2008]

My interview experience will be posted here shortly.

[wizzle]

Total interview time - 20 minutes. Began with small chitchat and was asked about my undergrad university. Asked about one poor grade. Volunteer work and clinical experience. Why Saba/why not elsewhere. Feelings of family about me going away. Saba life/environment. USMLE. I asked one Q. Financial stuff.

They were super nice, I was nervous but they seemed happy/pleased. I'm feeling cautiously optimistic! Will hear by end of week :) Good luck to everyone else!

[tiger15lily]

Total interview time - 20 minutes. Began with small chitchat and was asked about my undergrad university. Asked about one poor grade. Volunteer work and clinical experience. Why Saba/why not elsewhere. Feelings of family about me going away. Saba life/environment. USMLE. I asked one Q. Financial stuff.

They were super nice, I was nervous but they seemed happy/pleased. I'm feeling cautiously optimistic! Will hear by end of week :) Good luck to everyone else!

Hi,
Your last post indicated you were also getting interviewed mid May for Sept. How did you get moved? Is this for Sept and did they mention Sept spots are still open?

[jar22]

hello guys, I just wanna ask if its necessary or recommended to send a thankyou note after the interview? is this practiced for SABA medical school? any opinion will be appreciated. Thanks!

[HopefulMD21]

I have my interview for Jan 09 coming up soon. I'm just wondering, is the name of the school pronounced saah-ba or say-ba? I doubt that it really matters, but I don't want to seem ignorant in front of the interviewers. Thanks!

[Mike77]

hello guys, I just wanna ask if its necessary or recommended to send a thankyou note after the interview? is this practiced for SABA medical school? any opinion will be appreciated. Thanks!

heh, not that i've heard. That's a new one for me.

I think I'd be confused if I got one, haha.

[covarubious]

i always thought it was sahba but no, its SAYba. i got a cd from the school and everybody was pronouncing it say ;)

I have my interview for Jan 09 coming up soon. I'm just wondering, is the name of the school pronounced saah-ba or say-ba? I doubt that it really matters, but I don't want to seem ignorant in front of the interviewers. Thanks!

[wolfvgang22]

Say-ba is correct.

[Mike77]

Say-ba is correct.

Tangent: I cannot figure out why so many people (SUSOM INCLUDED!) write it SABA as if it's an acronym. I've had at least 3 people ask me what it stands for... I was going to post some possibilities, but they were all offensive, haha.

[covarubious]

Special, Achieviers, Brainy, Amiable? yeah, the caps this is a bit odd

Tangent: I cannot figure out why so many people (SUSOM INCLUDED!) write it SABA as if it's an acronym. I've had at least 3 people ask me what it stands for... I was going to post some possibilities, but they were all offensive, haha.

[wolfvgang22]

Tangent: I cannot figure out why so many people (SUSOM INCLUDED!) write it SABA as if it's an acronym. I've had at least 3 people ask me what it stands for... I was going to post some possibilities, but they were all offensive, haha.
Yeah, that is funny - I get asked that all the time too. Maybe because the island is so tiny they are trying to make up for it by writing the name big. :lol:

[covarubious]

yeah a lot of guys overcompensate for size ;)

Yeah, that is funny - I get asked that all the time too. Maybe because the island is so tiny they are trying to make up for it by writing the name big. :lol:

[khann4]

i had a phone interview, talked about clinical experiences, the rest was really laid back, good to have questions for them, also explain low marks

[Mike77]

i had a phone interview, talked about clinical experiences, the rest was really laid back, good to have questions for them, also explain low marks

Yea, I didn't get anything out of left field.... except they did lay the pressure on at one point.. I got D first year first semester in a math course, but then took stats and my most recent mark was an A, and i said I was poised for an A+ this semester, so I showed that I could do it. Word of advice: the interviewer REALLY knows stats well and spent a good 15 minutes asking some very tough questions, and IMMEDIATE followup questions. Luckily, I knew my stuff. He was even asking me multi-variate stats questions that I never even learned :p . So if you mention you're good at stats, be sure to back it up :D .

Other then that, know the school, know about the usmle's and the general process of med school (which you should know by this point anyway!!!). Be prepared to talk about anything on your application, and your personal statement, then you're fine. :) . I found them to be serious, but not hostile. They're generally very nice.

[woods]

I will have my interview July 16th!! Am trying for September but was told the class is pretty much full now; are others getting this same response?
January 2009 will be my second choice if I am accepted. I'll post my experience here once I'm done. Wish me luck! :)

[covarubious]

yeah, in the online chat they said Sept is wait list only now but you never know!

I will have my interview July 16th!! Am trying for September but was told the class is pretty much full now; are others getting this same response?
January 2009 will be my second choice if I am accepted. I'll post my experience here once I'm done. Wish me luck! :)

[gumby]

Yea, I didn't get anything out of left field.... except they did lay the pressure on at one point.. I got D first year first semester in a math course, but then took stats and my most recent mark was an A, and i said I was poised for an A+ this semester, so I showed that I could do it. Word of advice: the interviewer REALLY knows stats well and spent a good 15 minutes asking some very tough questions, and IMMEDIATE followup questions. Luckily, I knew my stuff. He was even asking me multi-variate stats questions that I never even learned :p . So if you mention you're good at stats, be sure to back it up :D .

Other then that, know the school, know about the usmle's and the general process of med school (which you should know by this point anyway!!!). Be prepared to talk about anything on your application, and your personal statement, then you're fine. :) . I found them to be serious, but not hostile. They're generally very nice.

Probably the best advice you could give to anybody prepping for an interview with Saba U.

[Mike77]

Probably the best advice you could give to anybody prepping for an interview with Saba U.

Thanks. I think the main thing to keep in mind is to just be yourself and don't overthink it. Don't spend 15 hours thinking of possible questions and coming up with answers, just do your homework that should have been done when you considered applying in the first place. The interviewers know what they're doing and can tell if you're feeding them pre-thought answers and aren't being yourself. Furthermore, you'll freak out when you get something you didn't think of. They're mainly just testing your interpersonal skills, your motives, general personality, and ability to react under pressure.

Good luck everyone, and just talk like you would to any authority figure. They're not out to get you, they're there to interview you.

[Sandidi]

Hello people,

I am here to contribute something.. =)
So, I was asked:
1) About school, the island
2) about what you know about USMLE
3) clinical experience
4) about the biggest challenge I had as an undergrad

[woods]

Hi Everyone,
Had my interview this morning. I'm not sure how it went; for now I'm neutral and just awaiting their decisions. I wasn't asked anything that I didn't expect. This thread pretty much tells you what to expect. Both interviewers were really nice and I felt very comfortable speaking with them.
Good luck to everyone!

[mineyonne]

Hi All,
Just had my interview. They said I should hear back by Wednesday. Was kind of nervous and kind of stuttered a bit, so don't know how it went. But if I don't hear back from them by tomorrow, does it mean that I don't have a chance with SABA? Or do they just need more time? And how do they notify you if you are accepted? Any help is appreciated!

[D.Fish]

mineyonne... from what I've read, sometimes they take longer for their decision - don't sweat it!

My interview is tomorrow!! Any last advice? I have a bad feeling about it :(

And a big thanks to everyone for posting their experiences here.

[2bDrAN]

hey guys!

I had my interview recently. These links are reallllyyy helpful and they asked me the basic questions about what I know about:
- SABA island
- SABA school of med
- Why I chose SABA
- How do my parents feel about it?
- Finances
- How i prepared for the MCAT
- USMLEs
and so...

now i had some really low scores first year and they GRILLED ME..and i mean GRILLED me about it so just be prepared if you are in the same situation.

also, they initially rejected me. However, I appealed and they finally reconsidered my application and gave me an acceptance. so just hang in there and if this is what you want, be confident, be yourself, just go all out and keep pushing!

good luck!!!

[WaiWahine]

Congratulations on your interview :)

[Simple]

Had my interview today! It was about 12 mins. The interviewers were really nice. they asked very simple questions like the ones listed by 2bDrAN. they told me they will contact me via email and also send me a letter by mail. I hope it will be the acceptance letter. About the interview if there is one thing i can say that would be BE YOURSELF!!!!!! and try to smile.. you will sound better and also u will gain confidence as the interview continues. I will let you guys know what the decision would be when i get the letter.

[Simple]

Accepted for Jan 09 !!! really excited... 23/ M/ Toronto.

[rosalin]

hi
how long was your personal statement? mine is about 1000 words and im trying to shorten it but its kind of hard, do u guys know if its going to be problem if i leave it this way?

[JonT]

hi
how long was your personal statement? mine is about 1000 words and im trying to shorten it but its kind of hard, do u guys know if its going to be problem if i leave it this way?


Hey Rosalin,
I think it's best to contact them about it. Usually they don't care if you go over the limit.
My essay was over 1000 words as well, but I shortened it to around 600-700 words.

Oh and I just had my interview last week.
Got my acceptance a few days ago. :)
Needless to say, I'm very excited.

[rosalin]

omg congratsss,good jobb, greatt... its my dream to post here one day and tell u guys that i got accepted, hopefully ill know if im in very soon, wish me luckkk:rolleyes:

[rosalin]

ok by the way, what did they ask u in the interview if you dont mind... i no i ask alot of questions and its gets annoying, its just because i really have to get in, this is the only school i want to go to, so im really trying to do anything i can to get in
thanks

[JonT]

ok by the way, what did they ask u in the interview if you dont mind... i no i ask alot of questions and its gets annoying, its just because i really have to get in, this is the only school i want to go to, so im really trying to do anything i can to get in
thanks

Hi, the questions Dr. Dan posted are basically the questions they asked me.

Good luck!

[rosalin]

greattt, thanks for your helppp

[fforamm]

ok by the way, what did they ask u in the interview if you dont mind... i no i ask alot of questions and its gets annoying, its just because i really have to get in, this is the only school i want to go to, so im really trying to do anything i can to get in
thanks

Along with all the questions/ info mentioned by others on this thread..make sure you also ask some good questions to them! anything that shows your interested, dedicated and your enthusiasm towards the school! (i.e..ask them about student clubs etc)

From my experience after the first few mins during which they asked me about my grades, USMLE, MCAT, etc...it was more or less a chat...pretty casual.

[MDblondeguy]

hey thanks for the info.

[jerseygirl88]

My interview was a 28 minute phone call (yes i timed it). I was basically asked similar questions as those posted above. What are the USMLEs, how does your family feel about you leaving the country to practice medicine, they asked about extra curriculars, MCAT. If one of the interviewers is really rude dont get scared. One of my interviewers was pretty rude, but I got in so dont get discouraged. gluck to the rest of you!

[jerseygirl88]

Oh and I was also on speaker and there was a lot of disturbance so make sure you're in a quiet spot.

[WaiWahine]

I've had my interview today - I was so stressed.
Dr. B was the interviewer, but it seemed that I was on speaker phone? He was kind and professional as well as informative.

He'd asked about:
-my degree in progress
-some of my dated coursework (>10yrs old)
-previous university experiences including less than stellar performances when I was younger (i.e. poor grades)
-why I have not written the MCAT
-how do I feel about living in a dorm as an older student
-asked me to talk about Saba USOM
-asked me about the island
-what are the USMLE's and when are they written...
-why did I choose Saba and the other Caribbean schools to which I'd applied
-how will I pay for school
-how does my family feel about me moving away
-do I have a significant other that would create home-sickness and cause me to leave SUSOM
-why do I want to be a doctor

I will get an email next week and written documentation supporting their decision in the mail. At best I can hope for a provisional acceptance, I must get a B- or higher on biochem next term due to my dated coursework. That was the best piece of advice that I'd received on this journey so far! I'm taking the biochem class regardless of my acceptance to SUSOM as it will help in the other med school to which I've been accepted.

Good luck to all candidates :)

[Lovely786]

Thanks for all the input guys, this really is helpful! Seems like these interviewers really want to get to know you really well.
Well I mailed in my application for Saba just recently, hopefully they'll grant me an interview as well, if so, I will definitely post on here! Thanks guys! :)

[WaiWahine]

I am accepted to SABA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!:-smiley7
Just got the email this morning and the letters are in the mail.
YYYIIIIPPPPPEEEEE!
:-sunny

[spmani29]

Well guys, I am sure there is more than enough info in here already but i thought i'd put forth my 2 cents as well. I just at my interview today and I think it went well. I got flustered at some points, but overall it was an enjoyable and informative experience. I was interviewed by Dr. B and umm...I can't remember her name right now i have it written down, but she was a really nice person. They asked me the usual: - Course work - DAT score (kinda tore into me on this one) - Clinical Experiences - USMLE's - What aspect of clinical experience stuck with me Then we moved onto questions I had, and that was it. They said I would get a decision via mail in about 10 days. Fingers crossed!

[WaiWahine]

Good luck spmani29

[spmani29]

Thanks WaiWahine! I actually just checked this thread and ran out to get the mail, and what do you know I'm accepted!!! WHOOO HOOO!! Of course I have to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, it really did help. Good luck to everyone!

[WaiWahine]

Fantastic, congratulations!!

[jabee_usm]

sounds awesome. congradulations again. there is nothing better than having the taste of accomplishment.

good luck with your studies on the island.

So did you ever get in? I admire your determination. I hope you did get in.

[MONS]

Hello all,

I have been reading through this thread and I would like to thank everybody on here that has been posting information and giving pointers about the interview. I have my interview coming up in February and I noticed that they ask why you did not write the MCATs. I did not write my MCAT and there is no real reason as to why I did not take the MCAT. Does anyone know if that would be a problem?

Thanks!

[AlanLeeKU]

I had my interview last week and it lasted a total of 17minutes including questions that I asked the interviewers.

They didn't ask me any questions that I had rehearsed...

They didn't even ask me why I wanted to be a doctor... :confused:

I had an admissions lady + the dean of clinical sciences. (he had a British accent)

I got my acceptance packet in the mail about 2 days ago. They got back to me in under 6 business days.

[MONS]

Congrats AlanLeekU...what semester did you get accepted for?

[rnaug11]

Hey all,

Had an interview yesterday and was notified this morning of my acceptance! Very excited to join the May '09 Saba class.

I wanted to thank you all for the helpful advice - really came in handy. As for my stats, I did not take the mcat..but if you haven't taken the mcat, make sure you justify why you didn't as they ask you that in the interview.

Best of luck to future applicants!

See you all on the island in May!

[AlanLeeKU]

Congrats AlanLeekU...what semester did you get accepted for?

May '09. I haven't paid my deposit yet... hoping to hear back from SGU or AUC still. Although I don't know that I would go to AUC over SABA...

[MonAmiMD]

Hey all,

Had an interview yesterday and was notified this morning of my acceptance! Very excited to join the May '09 Saba class.

I wanted to thank you all for the helpful advice - really came in handy. As for my stats, I did not take the mcat..but if you haven't taken the mcat, make sure you justify why you didn't as they ask you that in the interview.

Best of luck to future applicants!

See you all on the island in May!


Congrats!
:-smiley7

Going for my Saba interview soon, hope I get in too.

[Hopeful1984]

Hi folks I had my interview today Dr. B. and Miss M. Were both really nice I gotta tell you guys this forum was helped me so much and I don't know If I am in but it seems like I am in Dr. B kept saying so are you ready to come on :) neway I am gonna keep my fingers cross...

Hope to see you all in MAY!!

[ngoctranly]

Hi,
Today I got an email to offer a telephone interview. Yeah, happy,happy .I will call them tomorrow!

and now, nervous, nervous! :-) ... Certainly I will go over the thread to prepare for my coming interview! Thanks all of you! :-)

[Doc411]

i had my interview yesterday, it was sooo much better than i thought it would be. i was scared out of my mind before. Everyone should just relax, it isn't bad at all!

[Doc411]

ngoctranly, is your interview for may 09?

[taranta]

Well, my interview was way back in November and it went rather well. about 15 minutes.... IT was less academic training and more about me personal and how I will adapt to life on an Island. Just be yourself! I'm heading over for May, I hope to see you there

[jbnguyen]

hi, i am from CA, anyone from us or CA???

[VPI08]

I have a question...that I've actually been wondering about for awhile. If someone is offered an interview, without taking the mcat yet and gpa isn't that high compared to others who have been accepted... Does the admissions committee ever give a conditional acceptance...in terms of requiring that person to take the MCAT and getting a certain score? or will they usually accept that person without any conditions if they have already granted an interview?

(from my understanding, the only conditional acceptances I've read about are when students have not taken all the required science courses at a 4-year college and MUST take the MCAT. Or if they are in the process of finishing a science course and need to get at least a B.)

[taranta]

I know that they do offer conditional acceptances too. When I received my acceptance package, they had an official sheet that showed unconditional acceptancel box checked off... Right below there was a conditional acceptance box, with a few lines below it (I'm guessing to highlight what conditions need to be met). Why don't you contact the office?

[Doc411]

hi, i am from CA, anyone from us or CA???


im from cali! where in cali are u from?

[WaiWahine]

I have a question...that I've actually been wondering about for awhile. If someone is offered an interview, without taking the mcat yet and gpa isn't that high compared to others who have been accepted... Does the admissions committee ever give a conditional acceptance...in terms of requiring that person to take the MCAT and getting a certain score? or will they usually accept that person without any conditions if they have already granted an interview?

(from my understanding, the only conditional acceptances I've read about are when students have not taken all the required science courses at a 4-year college and MUST take the MCAT. Or if they are in the process of finishing a science course and need to get at least a B.)

They also offer conditional acceptances to students who have dated coursework. Often the condition is to retake the course and obtain a certain GPA (in my case, the new course gpa is actually lower than what I'd received the first time around) - just to refresh the material I imagine.

[VPI08]

thank you guys so much for the feedback.

[MONS]

Hey all,

First off, I would like to thank everybody who posted their interviews on this forum they were very helpful. I just had my interview today at 3:15 and including my questions the interview lasted about 30 minutes...they only asked a few questions and they were the typical question such as what do I know about the island and the school. They asked me why I did not write the MCAT...so be prepared for that question. They asked me about the USMLE...I found that the interview was a lot like a conversation between the three of us (Beth, Dr. B, and myself) it was very relaxed and I don't know if they got all the information they wanted but now I wait and see if I am in. They told me I should hear via e-mail tomorrow or friday. I think it went really well!

Good luck to everybody else that has interviews coming up.

[ngoctranly]

Hey all,

First off, I would like to thank everybody who posted their interviews on this forum they were very helpful. I just had my interview today at 3:15 and including my questions the interview lasted about 30 minutes...they only asked a few questions and they were the typical question such as what do I know about the island and the school. They asked me why I did not write the MCAT...so be prepared for that question. They asked me about the USMLE...I found that the interview was a lot like a conversation between the three of us (Beth, Dr. B, and myself) it was very relaxed and I don't know if they got all the information they wanted but now I wait and see if I am in. They told me I should hear via e-mail tomorrow or friday. I think it went really well!

Good luck to everybody else that has interviews coming up.

So have you heard good news from them, Mons?

[ngoctranly]

Mons, nevermind I read other thread and know that you got in for Jan 2010! Congratulations!!!

[MONS]

Hey ngoctraly...thanks I am pretty excited!

[davidMD]

Guys...
I just interviewed with Dr. B for May...pray for me..
He told to check my email tomorrow...

[MONS]

Hey David....
So what's they word?

[davidMD]

Hey David....
So what's they word?

Hey Mons...they emailed my acceptance the next day...and said they sent me my materials via priority mail...yippee! I'm excited because its my first choice out of the 'Big 4'

How about you Mons? Whats your status?

[FK2009]

So, I called to schedule an interview today, and Paula scheduled me for March 23rd, over a month away and getting close to the May start date.

Is this unusual or were your interviews out in advance as well?

:somewhat confused:

F

[MONS]

Hey Mons...they emailed my acceptance the next day...and said they sent me my materials via priority mail...yippee! I'm excited because its my first choice out of the 'Big 4'

How about you Mons? Whats your status?

Hey David...I was accepted for January 2010. I just send in my deposit today and I am close to 100% sure that I will be going there. When are you starting? May 2009?

[seff]

did you guys actually sit down and prep for this interview, like write down specific things you wanted to talk about... or did you just wing it?

[davidMD]

did you guys actually sit down and prep for this interview, like write down specific things you wanted to talk about... or did you just wing it?

look thru the interview thread to get an idea of the questions that will be asked. PM if you want to talk more about it.

[Doc411]

did you guys actually sit down and prep for this interview, like write down specific things you wanted to talk about... or did you just wing it?


I did research alot about the island just in case and i did write those things down, however none of that was neded when it was interview time. So for your own peace of mind maybe you should research, but other than that it wasn't really necessary, Just be yourself!! GL!

[VPI08]

I just had my interview today, ahh keeping my fingers crossed.

Also, congrats to everyone who got accepted!

[postdoc]

I had my interview this morning. It was really nice and relaxing. Beth and Dr. B conducted the interview. Both of them were really nice. It lasted for about 20 minutes. They asked me about SUSOM, reasons for SABA application, how did I rate SABA compared to other schools, clinical experiences and financing tuition. Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope I get in for May 09. G/L everyone.

Cheers!

[sm17]

hi!
i had my interview yesterday morning and got acceptance this morning. the interview was great, it lasted around 20 minutes and they asked about the USMLE, island life, why i wanted to come to Saba, what i knew about saba, two bad courses and that was about it. they were REALLY friendly and the conversation was really easygoing and relaxing. good luck to everyone else. if u have an interview just read over this thread and you'll be fine :)

[ngoctranly]

@sm17: congrats and thank you for sharing the questions they asked you.
@postdoc: also thanks for sharing and good luck!

[ngoctranly]

I just had my interview today, ahh keeping my fingers crossed.

Also, congrats to everyone who got accepted!

have you heard from the school yet?

[ngoctranly]

did you guys actually sit down and prep for this interview, like write down specific things you wanted to talk about... or did you just wing it?

How was your interview, seff? If I remember correctly, yours was yesterday, right?

[sm17]

@sm17: congrats and thank you for sharing the questions they asked you.
@postdoc: also thanks for sharing and good luck!


thank-you!

[seff]

How was your interview, seff? If I remember correctly, yours was yesterday, right?

hey.. I was interviewed by 2 people on Friday..

I think my interview went well... the only school related question they asked me was "Why Saba (the school)" and "What do you know about Saba? (The island)"... the rest was just chit chat and small talk... they said they would let me know on Tuesday.

It was very laid back and comfortable.. which really helped, because I was extremely nervous haha. Goodluck! You'll be fine.

[postdoc]

I'm in for May '09. :)
G/L everyone.

[ngoctranly]

Hi seff,
Any good news from them yet?

I just had my interview. It was 25 minutes. Only one person interviewed me, asked me about bad courses, think any academic problem in the future, how prepare MCAT, why choose Saba university, any problems coming to the island to study and moving a bit for clinical rotations, and living in the dorm for first semester. She then asked me if I apply to any other schools. I said only Saba. Then she asked what if I get a 'No' from them... Then what do I want the Committee to know one thing about me... How do I pay school? Then my turn to ask questions. I asked about Step 2 preparation ,if Saba has any for students; hurricane; California clinicals (now they only have elective, but working on core clinicals) and residencies; about New York clinical sites purchased by SGU...

Yes. the interview was laid back. I feel I did okay, but still I am worry...not sure if they will accept me though. Now and again nervously waiting to hearing from them....Keeping my fingers crossed!!!


hey.. I was interviewed by 2 people on Friday..

I think my interview went well... the only school related question they asked me was "Why Saba (the school)" and "What do you know about Saba? (The island)"... the rest was just chit chat and small talk... they said they would let me know on Tuesday.

It was very laid back and comfortable.. which really helped, because I was extremely nervous haha. Goodluck! You'll be fine.

[ngoctranly]

I'm in for May '09. :)
G/L everyone.
Congrats!!!

[postdoc]

Thanks ngoctranly. :)
And G/L. I'm sure you did fine.

[seff]

oh yea

i got accepted via email on tuesday morning

see you all in may

[ngoctranly]

Hi everyone,
I got accepted via email this afternoon for Sep 2009 class. Yay!!!
Anyone in for Sep 2009?

[FK2009]

For those interested,

I had my interview with Dr. B and Beth at 11am.

Much of the interview was back and forth discussion, moved along by questions from Beth and Dr. Bernstein, and at the end, me. It was friendly and comfortable. I can say that I was not there to be grilled or probed too much. The purpose was clearly to determine whether the applicant is a coherent, intelligent, rational human being who can express his or her thoughts in professional conversation.

If you are expecting an interview, you naturally should be familiar with the island and the reality of moving to one, the USMLE process and the path to becoming a physician, your interests in medicine, and how you plan on paying for the next few years. Just share your thoughts and the interviewers will as well.

I will find out here shortly whether I am in or not.

FK

[FK2009]

I am in...

That wasn't too bad.

[ngoctranly]

congrats FK2009!!! Are you in for May or Sep class?

[terp07]

Hey guys, I just applied to SABA last week and got their email today requesting I sign up for a telephone interview. I want to attend sept 09. I will keep you updated on my status.

Is it true 95% of the candidates that are interviewed get in?

[FK2009]

May 09. Thanks man.

congrats FK2009!!! Are you in for May or Sep class?

[FrankStarling]

May 7th interview... I am praying for the best!!!

[terp07]

May 7th interview... I am praying for the best!!!

You'll be fine! I just had mine today conducted by Dr. Wilson and Beth. Both of them were very kind and helpful with telling me more about Saba. Make sure you repeatedly express your interest in Saba, research the school and know what you are getting into. Be truthful in your answers and most importantly show them why you would be a good candidate for their school . Total interview lasted about 45 minutes, but the time flew by and I grew very comfortable by the end of it.

Opt not to use a cell phone, I don't think they liked it when I used my cell phone. They have recently moved into a new building and the interviewers were still working out the kinks with their new phone system. It was hard to hear them at times so make sure you are in a quiet room with no distractions. Lastly have enthusiasm in your voice!

Good luck!

-Terp07

EDIT: One last thing they called me about 20 minutes late, so don't panic if they don't call you at the exact time of your scheduled interview.

[ngoctranly]

@terp07: Congrats! I guess you will hear from them on Monday or Tuesday? I hope I will see you this September in the island!!!
@FrankStarling: Good luck!!!

[terp07]

@terp07: Congrats! I guess you will hear from them on Monday or Tuesday? I hope I will see you this September in the island!!!
@FrankStarling: Good luck!!!

I got in! I will be seeing you in September ngoctranly! =)

[ngoctranly]

I got in! I will be seeing you in September ngoctranly! =)

COngratulations!!!!!! Join the Facebook group so we get to know a bit about each other before seeing in September! hihi. The name of the group is "Saba University School of Medicine September 2009 class" ,if I remember correctly! :-)

[FrankStarling]

Congrats man! Must feel amazing to be in for the semester you want!

I have my i/v for september tomorrow..... I hope I can get in and if possible for septemeber..... how long did they take to reply?

anyways... hope to see u in september, but if not, all the best!

[terp07]

COngratulations!!!!!! Join the Facebook group so we get to know a bit about each other before seeing in September! hihi. The name of the group is "Saba University School of Medicine September 2009 class" ,if I remember correctly! :-)
Thanks! =) Will do!
Congrats man! Must feel amazing to be in for the semester you want!

I have my i/v for september tomorrow..... I hope I can get in and if possible for septemeber..... how long did they take to reply?

anyways... hope to see u in september, but if not, all the best!

Thanks man, yea it feels great. All the stress has dissipated for now.

My phone interview was on a Friday, I received an email the following Tuesday letting me know I had gotten in. They sent the package three or four days later.

Good luck man! I'm sure you will do well.

[radsalltheway]

any recent interviewers that would like to share their experience please?

[Confused 20]

I have an interview with Saba

[rxprital]

Hi Confused, when is your interview? mine is this month...I think there is plenty of info on this thread regarding expected interview questions...but i'll try to pitch in my experience once i'm done.


I have an interview with Saba

[tabithak]

deleted post

[Hammzah]

I have an interview next week, so i hope everything goes well, this thread is really helping out.

[jsdhenry]

On wednesday and it was actually quite easier than I had expected.

It was a one on one interview which I was surprised by and I wasn't asked any questions I wasn't expecting. They asked the basic questions that people have been listing here regarding, knowledge of Saba, where I want to do clinical, explain certain lower grades. I had a 3.9/4.3 average and a few Cs in my second and first year so she obviously asked what happened... I believe she had a slew of questions regarding clinical experience as well but she flat out told me that she wasn't going to ask them because of my history as an emergency room RN. All in all it went well I think and my nerves really dissipated as the interview went on. It lasted about 20 minutes.


I expect to hear back by monday or tuesday. My interviewer told me that there was limited space left in the January class but she convinced me to make that my first choice and may to be my second. The way she spoke made me feel good about my chances of getting accepted.

But until I get that letter I'm on pins and needles!

[Hammzah]

I Got in for may :) gd luck jsdhenry

[drmatty]

I have an interview tomorrow...i'm a little nervous ...but i'm already accepted to UMHS so no worries. I have a 3.69 gpa. Any advice for the interview? What kinda questions should i be concerned about??

[TorontoSMH]

I got an email to schedule an interview with SABA yesterday. gonna do that soon. I just had a question on what others did if SABA asks if we applied to any other caribbean schools? I just applied to SABA and SGU, but I am a bit reluctant on mentioning SGU b/c they might be a bit biased against me. any thoughts/suggestions?

thanks.

[MDCM]

I mentioned SGU and Ross during my interview, and they started getting a bit edgy. They kept on emphasizing that I wasnt familiar with how high Saba's standards are and what a great school it is (and how SGU and Ross are both catching up to Saba in academic excellence).

My advice would be to not mention that you applied to another competing school, and instead mention how you found Saba to be a better quality school and more likely to meet your goals for your future career as a physician.

Needless to say, I got in for Jan and will be going to Saba ;)

[B_W_]

DO mention it. If they've offered you an interview then they are interested in you as a student. As much as you are in competition w/ other students to get in so are they to attract students to their school so if you are seriously considering another Caribbean school then you can mention it just note that you would prefer Saba b/c of it's better academic record and more affordable tuition.

[sgMD]

DO mention it. If they've offered you an interview then they are interested in you as a student. As much as you are in competition w/ other students to get in so are they to attract students to their school so if you are seriously considering another Caribbean school then you can mention it just note that you would prefer Saba b/c of it's better academic record and more affordable tuition.

++

do mention!

[Marvcap]

Had my phone interview monday, got acceptance this morning, Wednesday. The interview was very casual with only Dr. B. Lasted only about 20 minutes, and then I spent only 10 minutes asking questions. They questioned a couple of bad grades but as long as you can explain them, that's pretty much all he wanted to hear. Surprisingly no grilling at all, the interview felt like a formality - probably because my stats were strong for carrib.

[TorontoSMH]

cool..congrats on the acceptance :clapover:. so, how much of a lag time do you have to schedule an interview from when you get the email? also, wut is the best time to call the saba office to find the interview time? reason I ask is because i'm currently out of school & working full-time (9-5), so if it's within these hours, i just might have to take a day off or something for the interview. yea, i think im going to mention that SABA is my first preference, although i applied to SGU as a back up - that makes sense. thanks for the help and advice. ;)

[nydoc70]

Saba is 'virgin territory' as a caribbean medical school...it has a good name, very good graduates, no scandals, no issues, very academic...it doesnt have that caribbean stigma or aftertaste when discussed among residency program circles. lets hope they keep their students in check...and limited. Thanks Dr. JC.

[Marvcap]

cool..congrats on the acceptance :clapover:. so, how much of a lag time do you have to schedule an interview from when you get the email? also, wut is the best time to call the saba office to find the interview time? reason I ask is because i'm currently out of school & working full-time (9-5), so if it's within these hours, i just might have to take a day off or something for the interview. yea, i think im going to mention that SABA is my first preference, although i applied to SGU as a back up - that makes sense. thanks for the help and advice. ;)

The lag time was about a month, they scheduled me in for an October 29 interview slot. However a few days later they called me because someone canceled for Oct 12, so i got that day. The office hours are in eastern time because its in Massachusetts. There were only 2 interview times offered, around 10 in the morning i think, and 3:15 (I had this time)

Yea its ok to say Saba is ur first Caribbean preference. But jus fyi, they'd know ur lying if you thought it was better than a US or Canadian school, because it still isnt.

[fouziam]

hi,
I have an interview tomorrow and have no idea WHAT TO SAY TO THEM if they ask me about saba or why saba...can anyone please give me a few good suggestions for answers... please

[B_W_]

hi,
I have an interview tomorrow and have no idea WHAT TO SAY TO THEM if they ask me about saba or why saba...can anyone please give me a few good suggestions for answers... please

Well why do you want to go to Saba? It's a lower key Caribbean med school w/ a reputation as good as Ross or AUC. It's more affordable, the min. standards are higher which suggests that the academics are more rigorous, it markets itself as a non-profit school which makes it seem like they're genuinely intrested in teaching and not making money, it's a small island, no crime........ pick one or 2 of these. You'll also find some good info on the Saba tourism website. It's possible that they'll ask you to tell them some stats about the island to show that you know what you're in for and that you didn't just throw an application out and hope for the best.

[sgMD]

hi,
I have an interview tomorrow and have no idea WHAT TO SAY TO THEM if they ask me about saba or why saba...can anyone please give me a few good suggestions for answers... please

I say if you know nothing about Saba, why did u apply?

[fouziam]

sgMD...
thanks for your input... i didnt need your sarcasm though...

[sgMD]

sgMD...
thanks for your input... i didnt need your sarcasm though...

1- there is TONS of information here and Saba website regarding Saba School of Medicine. It'd be nice to read them before asking what 'saba' is like etc.

2- you have an interview TOMORROW and ask such a question the night before? I mean give me a break. They usually let you know at least 1-2-3-4 weeks in advance (in my case 2 months!) when they are going to interview you.

Your post reminded me of a student who has a microbio test tomorrow and calls a tutor at 10pm and says OMG I have a test tomorrow, can you tell me what Microbio is all about?


I am not trying to be sarcastic or rude here, because I actually treat people nicely and try to help them as much as I can, but sorry I couldn't help it. This kind of attitude won't get you anywhere in MD school. I hope my 'sarcasm' was at least a wake up call here.


I hope your interview went well regardless :)

[nydoc70]

Just be truthful...your academic record will carry you...no need to weasel your way into an interview...these guys up in Gardner know...Saba is special...students are limited...average scores and pass rates for comps, Step 1, Step 2 and residency placement is higher than Ross, SGU and AUC...those are the facts....believe me, if you qualify, you will compete with a very good crowd...numbers are not important for Saba...they want to keep the school limited and very successful academically.

[fouziam]

Just be truthful...your academic record will carry you...no need to weasel your way into an interview...these guys up in Gardner know...Saba is special...students are limited...average scores and pass rates for comps, Step 1, Step 2 and residency placement is higher than Ross, SGU and AUC...those are the facts....believe me, if you qualify, you will compete with a very good crowd...numbers are not important for Saba...they want to keep the school limited and very successful academically.
i understand that... the lady i spoke to for my interview information told me the wrong date...can you beleive that... she actually said it was on this monday when it is in fact coming monday... man i paniced!!! then i called her to reconfirm and then she corrected her mistake... anyway i have the interview on 26th oct.... lets see how that comes along...

[fouziam]

1- there is TONS of information here and Saba website regarding Saba School of Medicine. It'd be nice to read them before asking what 'saba' is like etc.

2- you have an interview TOMORROW and ask such a question the night before? I mean give me a break. They usually let you know at least 1-2-3-4 weeks in advance (in my case 2 months!) when they are going to interview you.

Your post reminded me of a student who has a microbio test tomorrow and calls a tutor at 10pm and says OMG I have a test tomorrow, can you tell me what Microbio is all about?


I am not trying to be sarcastic or rude here, because I actually treat people nicely and try to help them as much as I can, but sorry I couldn't help it. This kind of attitude won't get you anywhere in MD school. I hope my 'sarcasm' was at least a wake up call here.


I hope your interview went well regardless :)
thanks but dont need a wake up call for someone else's mistake.. so chill

and yes i got A LOT of info from this thread... thanks to all the people here and hope to add some from my side soon

[sgMD]

thanks but dont need a wake up call for someone else's mistake.. so chill

and yes i got A LOT of info from this thread... thanks to all the people here and hope to add some from my side soon

someone else's mistake?

I am not sure what you're talking about, but if you consider 'knowing saba and still applying there' not your mistake then I've nothing to tell ya...

perhaps it's also other ppl's fault on vmd that you're going to attend a carib MD school and not a US MD school?

We apologize!

[fouziam]

someone else's mistake?

I am not sure what you're talking about, but if you consider 'knowing saba and still applying there' not your mistake then I've nothing to tell ya...

perhaps it's also other ppl's fault on vmd that you're going to attend a carib MD school and not a US MD school?

We apologize!
apology accepted!
but i was talking about the person in the addmissions office who gave me a wrong interview date and i panicked coz i had less than 48 hrs to prepare... so now if you just take it easy and stop taking this personally...

[fouziam]

i have my interview at 9am on this monday... i hope it goes well... really nervous though but hope to make it thorugh with flying colors...wish me luck!

[canadianhopeful]

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your posts...they are very helpful to read!

I have an interview next week for May 2010. My first choice was Sept. 2010 but I was told I'm only interviewing for May. I would be happy with May but would prefer Sept. as my husband is a teacher and won't be able to come to the island to meet me until end of June and would need to sell our house on his own.

I'm wondering if anyone has been successful in differing an acceptance to a later semester?

Thanks!

[TorontoSMH]

hey guys,

just got off the telephone interview with Dr.B and someone else. man..i found the telephone interview SO AWKWARD to say the least. I'm very visual and would have liked to have it in person..oh well..they really grilled me on the courses i got low grades on, so all I would say to others prepping for the interview is that if u have any courses that might be flagged - be prepared to have an explanation for it..but that issue took up most of the interview time..then they asked me about my extra curricular involvement etc at the end. Another thing, please sure to listen carefully to what either Dr.B or the lady asks..I found that when I was talking to the lady, I couldn't hear when Dr.B was trying to ask me a question..and then he was like I was talking too much which is not a good thing..I apologized but said this was my first telephone interview and found it a little awkward, I'll do the best I can. Overall, I found lady very nice..if I give an analogy..say the lady was paula abdul and the guy was Cowell..of course not that harsh..but still..the guy knows how to grill u. Be strong..I don't know what my outcome..don't have a good feeling after all that grilling..will find out in 2 weeks..:confused:

[Future Dr.]

I found my interview wasnt all that bad. My interview was with Dr. B and Elizabeth. Both were really nice. It only lasted 15 min. However during the phone interview I got disconnected which really freaked me out. But they called me back. Basically during the interview I was asked why I chose saba, my volunteering experiences and why I didnt write the MCATs. Overall I found this interview easy and not very stressful:)

[TorontoSMH]

Just got my acceptance in my email. that was super fast!

[sgMD]

Just got my acceptance in my email. that was super fast!


Congrats!

you're in for Jan or May?

[TorontoSMH]

Congrats!

you're in for Jan or May?

Thanks! May 2010

[canadianhopeful]

Hey everyone,

Just had my interview yesterday. It's very hard to gage how you did because it's a phone interview. No eye contact or body language to feed off of to see if you're doing well. My interview lasted almost an hour. They asked about some not so great grades in first year (for me that was almost 8 years ago). They also asked why I hadn't written the MCATs since 2005. Finally, because I am married they asked a bunch of questions about what my husband plans on doing if I get accepted. Other then that, the questions were very similar to others, what do you know about the USMLE, the island, the university, about my clinical experience, etc.

All in all I felt good about the interview but am constantly playing back my answers in my head realizing I probably could have answered better. I guess all I can do is wait.

Good luck to all who have an upcoming interview!

Cheers!

[canadianhopeful]

P.S Thanks to everyone who posted about their interview experience! It really helped me prep for mine!

[AllisonAnderson]

Wow, what a fantastic site. I think it’s a good opportunity for dream career. Its a very helpful site. :eyebrows::-D

[matti9]

Had my interview this morning.
Very straightforward and relatively stress free, felt more informative than anything else.
Both interviewers were friendly and the toughest question I was asked was why I withdrew from a course in my 2nd year.
Took about 35 minutes or so.

Good luck all, relax, you will do just fine.

[gbeh]

I had my interview today. Over all, it was very pleasant. Both interviewers have a great sense of humor. I felt that they legitimately wanted to know about me as a person, a medical student, and as a doctor.

I would recommend the following to future interviewees:

1) Have your personal statement, application, and transcripts in front of you during the interview. Also, have any notes about the school and island (what you like, what makes it different, etc.) available to refer to.

2) Be prepared to explain any bad grades, MCAT scores, and time spent between graduating from undergrad and now.

3) Be prepared to defend yourself on pretty much anything. My interview went well, but I was certainly questioned for if I was ready for medical school or not. I felt as if my interviewers asked a couple of questions to test my reaction in terms of whether I was good enough or not.

4) Emphasize knowledge about living on the island, school stats, etc.

5) Have a list of questions prepared to ask. Most of my questions had already been addressed by the time it was time for me to ask questions, but I also had an extensive list.

My interview lasted one hour and fifteen minutes. We did get disconnected once and it took a few minutes for them to call me back. It was very laid back and after the first few questions, it felt more like a conversation than an interview.

[gbeh]

I'm in for May 2010. :)

[matti9]

sweet, I'm in for May as well, although attempting to defer until September.

Anyone have any tips on how to successfully defer an acceptance?

[happystar]

Hi
Just had my interview this afternoon with two people.
It was exactly as other posters have stated previously- they'll ask you about clinical experience, you'll have to justify any bad marks that stand out on your transcript, if you have a low MCAT that will need to be justified as well, and what you know about the USMLE and Saba the island.

So they told me I'll hear by next Wednesday--

[bchul20]

i had my interview on the 16th for Sept 2010, and i got an acceptance email today, the 18th. i didnt really believe it was real since its been only 2 days. interview is very laid back, lasted 30minutes. kind of hard b/c its on phone. there was one time i couldnt tell if they asked a question or not so after they paused, i just started rambling on. i was nervous, but they make you feel real comfortable and even joke around.

[Pinetrees]

yes, the Admin Office is very nice and make one feel at ease. Very non-intimidating experience. And they make their decisions quick.:)

[par5in2]

Long time browser, first time posting. Had my interview March 4 and got acceptance today into Jan 2011 class. Everything posted here was accuarate to the tee. My interview lasted about 1 hour.

To reiterate previous posts, they will ask about
1) Why you want to be a doctor
2) What you think a doctor's role should be
3) Bad grades / Bad MCAT scores and how this will affect your studies in med school
4) General info about the island and medical school
5) USMLE

Interviewers were very friendly and often joked around.

Can't say enough to those who posted on this thread and others, the information is invaluable. THANKS!!! I'M IN!!

[solace]

Congrats!! was Jan 2011 your first choice? or was it sept? Just curious if there is space in sept 2010...thats the semester Im hoping to get in (i got an interview coming up soon at the end of the month)

Good luck to everyone!

Long time browser, first time posting. Had my interview March 4 and got acceptance today into Jan 2011 class. Everything posted here was accuarate to the tee. My interview lasted about 1 hour.

To reiterate previous posts, they will ask about
1) Why you want to be a doctor
2) What you think a doctor's role should be
3) Bad grades / Bad MCAT scores and how this will affect your studies in med school
4) General info about the island and medical school
5) USMLE

Interviewers were very friendly and often joked around.

Can't say enough to those who posted on this thread and others, the information is invaluable. THANKS!!! I'M IN!!

[par5in2]

Hi Solace, January was my first choice as that will give me some time to save up for school. Good luck on your interview!

[thinker001]

Had an interview a couple of days ago.. very friendly interviewed who laughed and joked sometimes. it didn't last very long, about 25 minutes which included quite a few questions from my side.

typical questions, nothing fancy, reasons for med, strengths and weaknesses, why saba, etc

[solace]

What are some of the question you asked the interviewers about saba at end when they ask if you have questions?

I dont want to simply ask a question for askings sake and ask a stupid ques that wud show a lack of research on my part :|

Any suggestions? for those that got accepted..what did you ask?thanks

[thinker001]

Well i wanted to know if they had a library area with actual physical books. they do. but also there is a move towards more electronic resources.

also i had many questions about the clinical rotations. are all the cores green book, the electives, how much time delay can we expect in between rotations, etc.. all the answers were positive and encouraging meaning that yes they even encourage the electives to be greenbook, and that you can have no time delay if you are willing to travel a little bit.. but all rotations can be done in more or less the same geographical area (still something to understand more perhaps if i get an acceptance)

but if you want to go to med school and have already applied, then you should definitely have a detailed understanding of the medical school process and things that you will encounter, and thus after checking out their website you will definitely be left with a lot of questions.

[solace]

thanks for your reply thinker001. I have done alot of research on susom, med process and the island in general. Whatever I couldnt find officially, i have learnt via this forum...so i was just a bit curious of what i can ask about, that I could not find out by researching. lol.

As you can see Im nervous about my interview and dont want them to think i havent done my homework!

WHen did u have your interview? any good news?

[thinker001]

I had it on tuesday. haven't heard anything yet.

If you figured out some questions that otherwise weren't mentioned on their website, you can still ask them those questions.. either pretending you don't know the answer or just making sure you have the right facts.. because learning from the forums is all good but you can never be 100% sure.

[lillymay]

Long time browser, first time posting. Had my interview March 4 and got acceptance today into Jan 2011 class. Everything posted here was accuarate to the tee. My interview lasted about 1 hour.

To reiterate previous posts, they will ask about
1) Why you want to be a doctor
2) What you think a doctor's role should be
3) Bad grades / Bad MCAT scores and how this will affect your studies in med school
4) General info about the island and medical school
5) USMLE

Interviewers were very friendly and often joked around.

Can't say enough to those who posted on this thread and others, the information is invaluable. THANKS!!! I'M IN!!

Hello par5in2,
I saw that you post your interview questions. how did you answer for bad grades and bad mcat score and how it will affect in the future? I'm kind of in the same boat and just wanted to know if you can give me some advice. I have my interview on march 16th.
Thank you in advance.

[thinker001]

Let me answer for myself here.

i was also asked this question and for me i didn't really have any specific answer to explain any course individually, but yet i have a good MCAt (33) so that already is a good defense mechanism. But since I have some sort of an extra curricular or two in every semester, whether be it volunteering, working or getting myself into something personal (hobby, online business etc), i just said that trying to keep up with all of this has certainly taken its load sometimes on my courses. I mentioned that organization is probably my weakest point and that i'm working on improving it.. and improving this and learning to focus more on something specific will certainly improve my performance in school. i also had a semester with a heavy load (more than required) but i forgot to mention that.. so it's up to u how you explain them.. you can try a course-by-course approach, or more of a general trend approach.

the interviewer (if you get the lady at least) is very nice and her intent is not to corner you but she aids the flow of the conversation.

[confusled_02]

Hey,

So my interview went just as posted here on the forum. I found it to be pretty casual overall.

First, it was just regular conversation - a bit of small talk. Next I was asked about some not-so-good grades and they wanted a detailed explanation of this. I spoke about the difficulty in the high school to university transition and about the personal development I had made as an individual as well as a student. I felt quite pressured, however if you do a bit of preparation you'll be fine!

Next they wanted to hear about my clinical experience as well as what I knew about Saba's program. Nothing too strenuous or crazy.

Finally, I asked a few questions, mainly about hurricanes, weather and temperature on the island.

Lasted about 45 minutes.

[par5in2]

Hello par5in2,
I saw that you post your interview questions. how did you answer for bad grades and bad mcat score and how it will affect in the future? I'm kind of in the same boat and just wanted to know if you can give me some advice. I have my interview on march 16th.
Thank you in advance.

Hi Lillymay,

I've been out of town last week, haven't been checking the forums. Hope I caught you in time.

Anyways, I basically told them the truth. The truth for everyone will be different, but my reasons for bad grades in 2nd year was my inability to adapt to the studying habits necessary for high grades in uni. I told them I was still relying on smarts rather than hard work and that hopefully mistakes learned will not be repeated in med school. I guess it also helped that I had a steep upward trend to back up my claims.

Best of luck to you!

[lillymay]

Hi Lillymay,

I've been out of town last week, haven't been checking the forums. Hope I caught you in time.

Anyways, I basically told them the truth. The truth for everyone will be different, but my reasons for bad grades in 2nd year was my inability to adapt to the studying habits necessary for high grades in uni. I told them I was still relying on smarts rather than hard work and that hopefully mistakes learned will not be repeated in med school. I guess it also helped that I had a steep upward trend to back up my claims.

Best of luck to you!

Hello par5in2,
Thank you for your response. I have a steep upward trend towards my last years as well. so hopefully that will help. what did you say about the mcats? yes you did catch me in time. My interview is tomorrow and i'm really nervous.
Thanks for your response.
Lillymay

[par5in2]

my MCAT was fine for Saba (25Q). I just was putting it out that if they question grades, they would also question MCAT scores.

Good Luck, pulling for you! :D

[lillymay]

ahh i see. thanks :).