nervous about interview

[hope2bdoc]

anyone know the answer to the following?:

are all applicants automatically interviewed?
how many who are interviewed are rejected?
is it better to speak idealistically and attempt eloquence or just be yourself and have a "whatever happens happens" attitude.

is it ok or recommended to just come out and describe one's situation and what schools he's admitted to and just be real blunt about strongly preferring smu and for all intents and purposes, and reasons why, and essentially make clear that he would do anything for admission. it's not necessarily that i lack confidence in myself, but rather that given the lateness of the cycle, the imminence of the fall semester, and the (even noticeable just from this board) higher profile of smu from the ny thing, i would think the class would be close to full, but whatever the case, that borderline apps would stand a better chance of rejection than prior years.

i am REALLY nervous.

[Andrew21]

DO NOT sweat this interview. I am telling you, 10 minutes max for me. If your gpas are 3.0, or anything close, you have a pretty good shot. My best advice, don't be too neurotic about how to act. This school knows that it's not your first choice, as JP I believe put it. This is not a dis, I was very excited to have been offered a seat at SMU. It simply means that they know you are applying to SMU because you couldn't get in "back home." Be yourself 100% and the interview will go as well as possible.

Andy

[hope2bdoc]

that's the thing. my gpa is not a 3 or even close, however i have a good mcat, clinical experience, work experience in health care, considerable hospital volunteer work, bachelor's degree in a hard science, considerably more than the basic prereq requirements as far as science courses, good recommendations from docs i've worked with and shadowed......

all in all, some stuff to explain, and some to fall back on.....it's just really making me nervous because truth be told, i want to go to smu because of the modern island, my other options school-wise are not drastically different from smu. i've seen the pictures and it would ease my burden considerably to live in a place that closely simulates home, the united states. i would like to make this clear during the interview (my intensity of desire to attend for the reason mentioned) but i can't figure out if it would sound shallow or if the candor would be a plus and enough to save me if the decision was really close.

[Andrew21]

Yes, Grand Cayman is probably the greatest island in the caribbean in terms of beauty/convenience. It lacks all the super glitzy (trashy) casinos and stuff, and seven mile beach is awesome. The diving can't be beat IMHO. Please be confident on your phone interview. It is totally cool to let the interviewer know that you really like the island--I did. There is nothing wrong with explaining that the "comforts of home" will help you focus on school. Also, with all your extras, you should be fine. Getting an interview is obviously a great sign. Just be cool on the interview

Andy

[hope2bdoc]

Thanks for the reassurance. I appreciate that. One of my alternatives if I don't get into SMU is a solid school which I have no qualms entrusting my future to. Problem is, it's located in a place where I would probably cry myself to sleep every night the first few months (and I'm a guy and not easily given to emotion).

I am going to try and just be relaxed and loose. All my life, I have had a problem with high-pressure situations. I have a good mcat, for sure by carib standards, but it would have been better had I been able to eat something during the twelve hrs prior to the test or had I been able to sleep more than two hours the night before.

That's good the place has no casinos. In my experience, casinos turn the nearby communities into cesspools.

I have done exhaustive research on this whole subject as have many here and I believe this school is a rising star. I'd like to rise with it.

[AmericanIMG]

good luck on the interview, just relax and be yourself, remember to be professional though. also i would suggest looking at studentdoctor.net and maybe looking at the other interview experiences of students at US medical schools. you never know what questions they are going to ask...but relax its definitely nothing too harsh, just a rough interview to see your views on current medical issues and to get an impression of your personality.
Cayman is an amazing island, i am from Cali and i swear it feels like i just am in a different area of SD (except for the wrong side driving). to see a great site check out www.jasonandrebecca.com/smu
good luck!!!
:wink:

[MDTOB]

hope2bdoc,

Why Medical School?

Define success?

Explain Medical Experience!

Why St. Matthew's?

Do these, and you'll do fine on the interview.

Good luck!