Hi,
I meant to get this up sooner but it's been kind of crazy. I had my interview last week monday (mar 12) near chicago.
I was not real happy with the whole interview experience.
#1) I did not like the interview location. I am a little unhappy that I know for a fact there is an interviewer in Milwaukee and I had to drive an extra 3 hours to this location. But I understand that there are circumstances that are out of peoples control, but it was very stressful. I rode as a passenger and I'm not sure that it helped my anxiety level any since we were driving my car. I think we came pretty close to being involved in a fatal accident at least 3 times and a serious accident more times than that. Traffic was horrendous and the drivers were insane! I was very near anxiety attack by the time we arrived there, which was pretty close to interview time despite planning an extra 2 hours to get there. (Map quest's estimated drive time was about 2 hours we left 4 hours ahead of time and got there 45 mins before the interview). But this has nothing to do with the actual interview except for setting my mind state by the time we got there.
so....
I thought the interview was very...weird. The interviewer seemed really nice, but I'm not real sure. She'd ask me a question, I'd answer and then she'd launch into this thing that seemed a little bit like a lecture, or she'd not say anything for awhile so I wasn't sure if I was supposed to keep talking. It was a little uncomfortable. The interview was conducted in her exam room so the seating was a little awkward also, but that's minor.
questions I remember:
What do you know about vet school?
What is different about Vet school in a foreign country?
What do you know about SGU?
Tell me about your experience
What is your application history and status?
What are the ethical concerns in vet med?
Will you be able to handle going to school at SGU?
What else should I know about you?

The questions, while legit questions, seemed little vauge to me or a little too broad. That made it hard to figure out what was being asked and how much information I was supposed to give. She pretty much just read off the categories on the interview sheet. She didn't ask me if I had any questions (I did) and kind of seemed to be rushing me out at the end. She did give me some good information though (like during the little lecture tangents) and overall seemed very impressed with the school. she also gave us an alternate route home that was much easier.
I was very nervous and not quite settled from the drive and I think that may have influenced my impression some. Overall it was a very different experience and I'm not sure I was able to give the best impression of myself, but I guess we'll see. I'm applying for jan '08 so it will be awhile until I hear something probably but I'm sure i'll have more questions to hopefully keep this board alive
Sara

Dude... I practically wrote a book for you on what you would be asked on the interview! The same questions that you rattled off in your post were on mine and another poster's reply. Just wondering, how are those questions "vague of too broad"? She asked you straightforward questions like "what do you know about SGU" or "application history and status" or "what do you know about vet school". What kind of lame **** questions did you want to be asked... like "what color is your freakin' underwear"? Or how about "how old are you?" Are those questions specific enough for ya?

Look, those were softball questions that you ALREADY had access to WEEKS/MONTHS BEFORE your interview so maybe you just suck at articulating your thoughts. It's ok, some people will never be great communicators but PLEASE stop making excuses by telling us about your sappy/lame story about driving... errr riding... three hours all the way there. Stop whining and show some fortitude.

Also, try not to overanalyze your performance, all interviews have their awkward moments and you will always remember the worst of them. I'm sure you weren't as bad as you think. An important lesson you have to learn is to ALWAYS be confident in your abilities... not overconfident... but know that you have done your best to prepare and your performance should reflect it.

Make sure you send your interviewer a nice thank you card saying how you appreciate her taking time to meet with you for your interview. Stay confident and good things will happen.

Wow, not sure that all of Doc4Pets comments were warrented, but maybe that's because I am sure that I interviewed at the same location.

Sara-I understand 100%!!!!!!

I have interviewed for countless things including being drilled by whole panels (10-20 people) multiple times. Not to be cocky, but I am a good interviewee, and I thought that was the most awkward interview I have ever had! It is the only interview I have ever left thinking ***?

It felt like I was interrupting their schedule, and that I wasn't worthy of their audience. The interviewing in the exam room was different, it was like sitting on a short stool and I felt that they didn't even read my application before hand. I mean, fine I'll repeat everything that is on the paper, but I thought an interview would be more investigative.

Regardless the interviewer was very harsh and insulted my judgement, questioning my decision ot pursue SGU, making me very uncomfortable. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE MEANT TO DO!!

When I left and sat back to think about it I understood completely! This was a way of determining who has thought about the severity of actually leaving life here and going someplace entirely foreign. While of course I wish it was a better experience, I felt I understood it.

Hang in there, because I am sure SGU is worth it, and getting us out of our comfort zone is the point!! And if you haven't sent your thank you already, then remember that your interview is not over yet!

I got my acceptance call on Friday. I sent my thank you card right after the interview when I got home. Doc4pets I don't feel like addressing everything in your post but I just wanted to say I did read through your post from before prior to the interview. I didn't get asked why I want to be a vet, I didn't get asked why I chose to apply to SGU, what type of practice I want to do/what I want to specialize in etc. Those were they type of questions I was expecting. Not all the questions I was asked were vauge and I should have clarified that point, but I feel that some of the questions were very vauge. For example, what are some ethical concerns in vet med? I don't feel that listing ethical concerns is as effective as asking me how do you feel about *ethical concern* (You listed that you got asked about euthanasia). Listing things, be it ethical concerns or what I know about SGU, shows that I'm aware of them but doesn't give any impression about what I understand or feel about them. When I tried to elaborate, I was cut off. I appreciated your pre interview advice and it was helpful but my interview experience was not the same as yours and there was no reason to attack me for sharing my experience.
RayeTV:
Thank you for your input. It sounds like we did interview at the same place The interviewer did give me some very good information but it was a very odd experience, but like you said, there's a reason for it. Anyway, it doesn't matter because I'm accepted
Now it's just sorting out financing and getting stuff organized.

Congrats on your acceptance!!!

You applied very early! Do you mind if I ask why? Is it better to apply ~9 months early?

Congratulations Tora!

See you down here next term in sunny, fantabulous GRENADA!





yes...studying has put me in a gooftastic mood!!

__________________

Know your food supply

Turn and Burn: I orginally was applying for the Aug '07 term, but due to some personal reasons I had to switch my application for the Jan term. I know they are still accepting applications for the Aug term and you've got quite awhile left to apply for the Jan term.
I'm very excited
Sara

Congrats Tora! Welcome to the SGU DVM and if you have any questions, please let us all know.