Congratulations on receiving a University of Rochester BS MD Interview Invite for the Rochester Early Medical Scholars program, otherwise known as “REMS”! We are super excited for you, and our BS MD Admissions interview team is happy to help you out. In this blog post, we want to give you step-by-step tips on how you can prepare for your University of Rochester BS MD Interview. The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is a counter-intuitive interview style, and our goal is to help you STAND OUT! Through our Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course, you’ll learn how to tackle all types of MMI questions.
In this post, we will cover:
- What does the REMS BS MD program look for in applicants?
- How to prepare for University of Rochester’s Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
- Research unique opportunities at University of Rochester
- Read about healthcare issues that affect University of Rochester’s community
- Common University of Rochester BS MD interview questions and how to prepare
- Schedule a mock interview with our Cracking BS MD Admissions team!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Rishi Mediratta and Dr. Rachel Rizal below!
What does the University of Rochester BS MD Admissions Committee look for?
The University of Rochester is a vibrant University that loves students who are well-rounded and intellectually curious. The University of Rochester REMS program recruits students who reflect those values!
Given that every University of Rochester BS/MD interviewee is going to have strong academics + clinical experience + research, how will you stand out?
Remember the points in the box right down below as you prepare for your University of Rochester BS MD interview!
Highlight the following qualities in your University of Rochester BS MD Interview:
- Commitment to Upstate New York – University of Rochester cares about recruiting students who are committed to serving the Upstate New York population. How do you show your commitment to the Rochester community? 1) Know healthcare issues that affect the Upstate New York population; 2) Say you want to practice near Rochester in the future; 3) Mention any connections you have with Upstate New York, particularly University of Rochester; and 4) Mention any community service work or projects you’ve done near the Rochester area
- Intellectual curiosity – It’s important to note that there’s a difference between high test scores/grades and being intellectually curious. The University of Rochester wants to recruit intellectually curious students.
- Critical Thinking – Know healthcare current events and be able to give ideas on how to improve healthcare issues our society faces today. The Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course created by Dr. Rachel Rizal has an entire module on healthcare current events!
- Research – The REMS BS MD program loves students who pursue research. The school gives undergraduates and medical students ample opportunity, funding, and resources to pursue research. Many students receive funding throughout their undergrad and medical school years.
- Community Service – University of Rochester is committed to improving its local community. Have ideas about community service opportunities you want to pursue in Upstate New York. These community service opportunities can be both healthcare-related and non-healthcare-related.
- Well-roundedness – The University of Rochester loves students who are passionate about other things aside from academics. If you have outside academic interests like dance or sports or the arts or journalism, you should highlight them in your interview.
- Teamwork – Many premed classes and medical school classes at the University of Rochester involve team-based learning. As a leader, you’ll have to work and lead many teams. As a physician, you will also be leading a lot of medical teams. Be able to discuss times when you worked on teams in your University of Rochester Multiple Mini Interview stations.
How To Prepare For University of Rochester's Multiple Mini interview
The University of Rochester BS MD interview format is a Multiple Mini Interview. These are “mini interviews” where you have 2 minutes to think about a scenario and 6-8 minutes to give your response.
The absolute best way to prepare for the University of Rochester BS MD interview is through our Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course created by Dr. Rachel Rizal herself! It’s the first MMI course in the United States and she uses her experiences from being an applicant who did MMIs herself and her insights from being a Stanford MMI interviewer.
Sign up for the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course today!
Research Unique Opportunities at University of Rochester
We like to give University of Rochester BS MD applicants very specific opportunities to look up at the University of Rochester so that you can mention these opportunities during your interview! For example, if there is a University of Rochester MMI interview question about access to care, then you should discuss a community health opportunity in Upstate New York where you are improving access to care for rural patients. Alternatively, if there is a University of Rochester Multiple Mini Interview question about research, then talk about a research opportunity you are interested in pursuing as a student in the REMS program.
How to Research Opportunities at University of Rochester
Overall, the REMS BS MD program recruits students who want to pursue excellence in clinical medicine and excellence in medical research. Therefore, it’s imperative that you look up clinical, academic, and research opportunities.
- 2 clinical opportunities: First and foremost, you are applying to a BS MD program. Therefore, you should look for clinical opportunities you want to pursue at the University of Rochester! You can start looking for clinical opportunities here!
- 2 academic opportunities: Have an idea of 1 or 2 majors you’re interested in. Also, be able to mention TWO classes or electives you want to take as an undergrad or medical school student.
- 1 research opportunity: From our experience helping students get accepted into the University of Rochester School of Medicine, the REMS Admissions Committee LOVES students who pursue research. You can look up research opportunities at the University of Rochester here.
- 2 community opportunities: As we mentioned above, the University of Rochester REMS program loves students who want to serve its local Rochester community. Find public health or community service opportunities around Rochester!
- Think about causes you care about and find community service work around Rochester that you want to engage with as a college student!
- 1-2 other non-academic extracurricular activities: Being well-rounded and balanced is important for the University of Rochester REMS. Therefore, find two organizations (non-medical) you want to participate in at the University of Rochester. These can be related to singing, debate, robotics, or intramural sports.
Mock Interviews: Refine Your Interview Skills With Us 1-On-1
Rachel Rizal, MD
Changing the trajectory of people’s lives
Undergraduate
Princeton
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Fulbright Scholar
USA Today Academic First Team
Tylenol Scholarship
RISHI MEDIRATTA, MD, MSc, MA
Advising students to attend their dream schools
Undergraduate
Johns Hopkins
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Marshall Scholar
Tylenol Scholarship
Global Health Scholar
Read About Current Event Issues That Affect Rochester
Read about healthcare issues that affect the Rochester community
- Look up the Monroe County Department of Health website and/or local newspapers to see the most recent pertinent healthcare issues.
- Some popular Upstate New York & Rochester healthcare issues that our BSMD Admissions team regularly hears about are the following:
- Rural health, including access to care
- Opioid epidemic & drug addiction
- Mental health
- Vaccine hesitancy
Common University of Rochester BS MD Interview Questions
While the University of Rochester BS MD Interview is a Multiple Mini Interview, it does not mean it won’t weave in traditional questions.
It’s important to prepare STRONG answers for the following University of Rochester BS MD Interview Questions:
- Why do you want to come to the University of Rochester?
- Tell me about your research?
- Tell me about a stressful situation you were a part of and how you navigated through it?
- How do you plan on balancing work and life throughout college?
Scheduling a Mock Interview
Work with Dr. Rachel Rizal to practice for your upcoming University of Rochester BS MD interview!
How to schedule a mock University of Rochester MMI interview:
- Purchase the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course on this page and click “Enroll today.” Make the payment at the checkout.
- After purchasing the course, you will receive an automatic email that allows you to upload your application materials, including your Common Application plus your REMS / University of Rochester supplemental essays. Additionally, you will be asked for more information like your name, contact information, interview date, time zone, and availability. Please fill out the form thoroughly.
- Dr. Rachel Rizal or Dr. Rishi Mediratta will reach out to you to schedule a mock University of Rochester MMI!
- Do the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course before your mock interview. You’ll receive feedback on how to improve and then we want you to keep practicing using our MMI practice questions!
- If you want more mock interviews, you can purchase additional mock University of Rochester interviews or mock MMIs for other 4-year colleges / BS MD programs. The additional mock interviews can be purchased here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. I have an interview soon, can I still purchase the course? Will I have time?
Yes! The course takes 4 hours to complete and we can schedule a mock interview right when you finish the course. Typically, the shortest lead time to schedule a mock Multiple Mini Interview with our team is 3 days before your interview. Please contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview ASAP.
Q. How far in advance should I schedule a mock interview?
We typically tell high school students to take the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course as early in the interview cycle as possible, because it helps them even for traditional interviews! The ideal time to schedule a mock MMI interview with our team is 1-2 weeks prior to the interview date. That way, you will still be able to practice using the feedback from the mock interview.
Q. I have other questions. How can I contact you?
If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta through the contact form below. Or, you can email us directly at he***@*******it.com.
Mock Interviews: Refine Your Interview Skills With Us 1-On-1
Rachel Rizal, MD
Changing the trajectory of people’s lives
Undergraduate
Princeton
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Fulbright Scholar
USA Today Academic First Team
Tylenol Scholarship
RISHI MEDIRATTA, MD, MSc, MA
Advising students to attend their dream schools
Undergraduate
Johns Hopkins
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Marshall Scholar
Tylenol Scholarship
Global Health Scholar