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George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Washington, DC

Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 25% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Most respondents felt positively about their interview.

What was the stress level of the interview?

Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.

How you think you did?

Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.

How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?

Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around personal attributes, motivations for pursuing medicine, experiences working with others, handling stress, facing failure, contributions to diversity, healthcare challenges, leadership qualities, and future career goals. Some respondents mentioned being asked about their family background, weaknesses, clinical experiences, research projects, hobbies, views on healthcare, and specific interests in medical specialties. It appears that the interviews were diverse, ranging from standard questions to more personal and scenario-based inquiries.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said the most interesting question asked at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences discussed a range of topics including ethical dilemmas, healthcare system improvements, personal changes, diversity interactions, and reasons for pursuing medicine over other healthcare professions. While the interviews were conversational, some respondents noted standard questions, with a mix of personal, ethical, and healthcare-related inquiries, reflecting a diverse set of considerations for aspiring medical students.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences discussed a wide range of topics including ethical scenarios, leadership traits, challenges in healthcare, coping with failure, and reasons for pursuing medicine. Some responses mentioned an MMI format, indicating a structured interview with questions on ethical dilemmas and leadership styles, possibly under a nondisclosure agreement.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.

How many people interviewed you?

Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.

What was the style of the interview?

Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.

What type of interview was it?

Most respondents had a closed file interview.

Was this interview in-person or virtual?

Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.

Where did the interview take place?

Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience

Who was the tour given by?

Tours were most commonly given by Admissions staff personnel

How did the tour guide seem?

Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.

How do you rank the facilities?

Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.

What is your in-state status?

Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.

What were your total hours spent traveling?

Most respondents spent 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.

What was your primary mode of travel?

Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

Most respondents spent less than $100.

What airport did you fly into?

Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

Where did you stay?

Most respondents stayed either with friends or family or at a hotel.

What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?

How would you rate the hotel?

Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

Would you recommend the hotel?

Most respondents would recommend their hotel.

What is your ranking of this school's location?

Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.

How did you prepare for the interview?

Most applicants prepared for the interview by reviewing their application materials, practicing mock interviews, researching the school's website, reading interview feedback on SDN, and familiarizing themselves with common interview questions. It was also common for applicants to brush up on healthcare policy, current medical news, and ethical issues.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were positively impressed by the laid-back and supportive atmosphere at GW, the strong sense of community, the extensive opportunities for involvement in DC and beyond, the new and impressive hospital facilities, the emphasis on clinical training, the friendly and happy students and faculty, and the location in DC. They appreciated the relaxed and conversational interview style, the diverse student body, the variety of tracks and opportunities available, and the focus on developing well-rounded physicians. Overall, the facilities, location, and supportive environment were highlights for many applicants.

What impressed you negatively?

Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of engagement during virtual interviews, the absence of opportunities to tour the campus and facilities, the high cost of tuition and living in DC, limited financial aid, outdated facilities, long class hours, and the need for improvements in curriculum, faculty interactions, and transparency regarding school rankings and evaluations. Suggestions include providing virtual tours, enhancing financial aid options, improving interview organization, updating facilities, and increasing student engagement and satisfaction.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the rapid pace and strict timing of the interviews, the types of questions asked, and the relaxed, informal nature of the interview day. They recommended preparing for questions about conflict resolution, not stressing too much, and being aware of the conversational approach of the interviews.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview experience at GW to be relaxed and low-stress, with friendly interviewers and a well-organized day that included a tour of the facilities, interactions with students, and informative presentations. Feedback on interviewers varied, with some finding the student interviews more conversational and the faculty interviews more structured. The school's location, facilities, and student camaraderie received positive mentions, though concerns about high tuition costs and lack of enthusiasm among some interviewers were noted.
  • I can tell they try to make it seem casual to decrease the level of stress which was nice. I am unsure about timing since some comments on here said their interviews were longer than 30 minutes but prepare concise answers just in case.
  • Overall, the interview day was very brief (the interview itself was only 35-40 minutes). However, my interviewer was very friendly and spent a few minutes introducing herself before launching into the bulk of the interview, which consisted of several interview style questions she needed/wanted to ask. Although she seemed very passionate, I really wished it had been more interactive before and after the interview (i.e. virtual tour of the school, social event, etc.)
  • Since it’s closed file you definitely have to find ways to highlight all your interesting experiences that you want them to know about you!
  • Both interviewers were super kind and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me!
  • Just practice very common interview questions and spend a lot of time researching the website, about their curriculum/student organizations/etc. Ethical scenario questions were not asked at all.

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggested improvements such as updating interview information, offering more engaging and interactive experiences, providing more communication and information about the school, making the process more student-centered, and implementing electronic applications to save time and resources. Additionally, there were requests for better scheduling, student interaction, and more thorough financial aid presentations.