Thread: FOM Interview Questions?

Hey guys I just received an e-mail from my admissions counselor saying that I have been offered an interview for the Foundations to Medicine Program. I was wondering are the interview questions similar to the ones asked for the MD program (the typical: why medicine, etc)?
I just want to know what to expect...

Also any additional info on the FOM program would be greatly appreciated (personal experiences, work load, etc.)!

Thanks!

hey just wondering... you already have a degree in the sciences? if so did they tell you why the are offering you the FOM program. Can they offer it to even if you have a dgeree in Biology or Biochemistry? cause the courses wil be reptitive

yeah I was a bit upset when I got the e-mail about it, I do have a B-S in Cell and Molecular Biology, and most of the course will be repetitive.

They did not tell me why I was offered this program, but I know it's because of my GPA which is less than great. My MCAT was decent and I know I have good recs so I guess they're giving me a shot to prove my GPA doesn't really represent me. I'm happy that I wasn't out right rejected but the thought of repeating a semester worth of work is not too appealing. The funny thing is that most of the courses that I will be retaking (if I'm accepted) are the ones that I did well in during college...

If anyone has any info on the interview process or the program itself, please share! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Athena773

yeah I was a bit upset when I got the e-mail about it, I do have a B-S in Cell and Molecular Biology, and most of the course will be repetitive.

They did not tell me why I was offered this program, but I know it's because of my GPA which is less than great. My MCAT was decent and I know I have good recs so I guess they're giving me a shot to prove my GPA doesn't really represent me. I'm happy that I wasn't out right rejected but the thought of repeating a semester worth of work is not too appealing. The funny thing is that most of the courses that I will be retaking (if I'm accepted) are the ones that I did well in during college...

If anyone has any info on the interview process or the program itself, please share! Thanks!

what was your gpa?

the interview is exactly the same as for med (or well atleast mine was).
foundations is the first term of the premed year three with just a few differences.
we are taking a social science in medicine class and also our research class is geared for people with research experience. the classes that are the same are anatomy, biochem, genetics and abnormal psych.. you take 20 units which sounds worse than it is, don't worry!

in terms of why people are offered foundations versus first term med, it seems to be up in the air.. some people didn't do too great on the mcat.. others like myself had a low gpa. we all have degrees, research experience.. some people even have postbacc work and a masters! some people just graduated, some have been a few years out. we have stopped trying to figure it out, haha

but everyone is doing well in the classes.
and from what we hear (from other med students), foundations kids do amazing in first term.

Thanks for the info mlcal!
Are you currently in FOM right now? How are the exams? Is it really that difficult to maintain the 3.2?

The only class I would be worried about is Bio-chem...chemistry is just not my thing. Also I called my counselor today and she said it cost about $12,000 for the term, is there any financial aid available? Thanks!

Messy: my gpa is definitely not good, <3.0
But I had my reasons for why it was so low and explained it in my personal statement..

Were you told that you would be considered for the Medical school and possibily FOM, or just FOM? Im just wondering, because I was told the former.

in my interview letter it said i would be considered for med and perhaps foundations..
in terms of classes (question you asked in the other thread), you are taking the premed classes adn with them.. they definitely made it seem like foundations is a separate program which isn't. you're lumped with the premed program, but on the other hand you just do one semester and start med versus mph which is a year. i know some of you may be frustrated being offered foundations, but it is good in the sense it gives you a term to figure out the island and just how to do well in med.. and everyone i've talked to says the foundations kids rock med.

unfortunately there are no loans for the program..

in terms of the 3.2, i don't think it's too hard.. it is a big courseload though but it will be helpful for med later

also, just a note of warning.. bayshore doesn't really know that much about foundations.. my counselor told me all sorts of weird things that i found out were wrong when i got here. she told me books were included in tuition (they're not, and you can just bring your own biochem and anatomy texts if you have them) and that we followed the med school calendar (we actually follow the arts and sciences calendar.. so we get to go home a week earlier )

Originally Posted by FlatlandMe

Were you told that you would be considered for the Medical school and possibily FOM, or just FOM? Im just wondering, because I was told the former.

No they just told me FOM, they said how they have a lot of qualified applicants, blah blah, you know the nice way of rejecting you.
I applied for the GSP program though so that might be true, since they only accept 150 per term...

I was wondering have there been people who are interview for FOM and then get med instead? I've read somewhere that some people "argue" and get placed in med, but it seems kinda risky...

I'm just hoping that somehow my interview is beyond amazing and they take me for med instead...
time to freak out about the interview!