The Personal Interview
Invitations for a personal interview are given to applicants whose academic
records and other qualifications appear sufficiently competitive to merit further
consideration. Each year approximately 700 students are invited to interview.
Interviews are conducted by two interviewers independently. The interviewers
look for personal qualifications such as; responsiveness, warmth of personality,
ability to adjust to social situations, poise, communication skills and motivation.
The interview also provides an opportunity for discussion and clarification
of information submitted on the application form regarding your academic record,
extracurricular interests, clinical experiences and more.
Interviews begin in September and continue into March. They are conducted
every Monday and Wednesday and the third Tuesday of every month. On interview
day, students are expected to arrive at 8:30 am and should be done around 2:30
pm. A tour of campus will be conducted by a current medical student(s) and lunch
will be provided.
If you are driving
to campus, visitor's parking is available for a fee ($14). You may have
to walk to various locations on campus, so please wear comfortable shoes. The
weather in Syracuse can sometimes be a bit unpredicable (yes, it snows in Syracuse)
so be sure to check the weather channel and dress appropriately.
Many of our interviewees stay at:
- the Genesee Grande Hotel, which
is located close to campus and offers free shuttle service, based on availability,
to and fromthe airport and your interview. Be sure to mention that you are
interviewing at SUNY Upstate to receive a special room rate. Please call 1-800-365-4663
for reservations.
- the Renaissance
Hotel, which is also located close to campus and offers a free shuttle
service from the airport and to and from your interview. Be sure to ask for
the SUNY Upstate rate when contacting them for reservations 1-877-843-6279.
The interview provides a means for both the college and the applicant to learn
more about each other. We hope that you will take this opportunity to sit in
on classes, talk with current students, visit the library, residence hall or
campus activities building or learn more about the city of Syracuse.
An acceptance decision is made after careful consideration of an applicant's
qualifications subsequent to the personal interview. Students are notified as
soon as a decision is made, typically 3-4 weeks following the interview.
The Admissions Committee considers the following factors when selecting applicants:
- academic achievement in the sciences, humanities and social sciences
- volunteer and clinical experience
- communication skills
- meaningful experiences dealing with and relating to people
- character
- motivation for selecting a career in medicine.
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