Applicants generally found the interview day at Northwestern to be well-organized and informative, with a mix of individual and group interviews. The panel interview, while initially intimidating, was seen as a unique and interesting experience by many, although some felt it could be variable based on the dynamic of the group. The students and faculty were friendly, the curriculum was appealing to many, and the campus and facilities left a positive impression. There were mixed feelings about the financial aid system and the pass/fail grading structure, but overall Northwestern was considered a top choice for many applicants.
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Fantastic school with a really supportive and diverse community that trains excellent doctors that are free to follow their interests in medical school and after.
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Great school and great program, even though they're short on admissions committee members
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FSM blocks off 3 hours for interviewing--do not be intimidated by this large block of time. They go by quickly. Possibly be prepared for some unexpected questions. They're not intended for you to have prepared answers but rather to evaluate how you think in the moment and make decisions. I found that this was my most enjoyable interview but one of the more challenging with the types of questions. I stayed relaxed throughout the day and acted like myself.
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Do not get phased by the group interview.
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Really low-stress... no need to pre-prepare your answers, cause then you sound stupid
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Don't stress about the interview here, I had heard scary stories from friends about the interviews here, but it wasn't bad at all. I did something right, cuz I got accepted here :)
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All in all this was definitely the least casual, most awkward/difficult/nerve-racking, interview I have had (out of 5) so far.
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Great school and a great interview day! Don't stress about the panel interview, just be yourself and you'll be fine. NW does an excellent job of showing what they offer as a school and leaving the decision up to you if whether or not they're a good fit
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Great school - I really hope I get in there!
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My one-on-one faculty interviewer was sooo nice and impressed me a lot about Northwestern. I also really liked Dean Wallace and met some very interesting non-trad current Feinberg students. All in all, I got a great impression of the faculty and student body. That being said, it was one of the most physically uncomfortable interview days I've ever had, since it started at 7:30 AM and the admissions office was SCORCHING. Transitioning from -4 F weather outside to 80-90 F weather indoors is just brutal. And the day is wicked long - I was really drained by the time 3 rolled around. I think my ability to really enjoy the day was weakened by these factors, but I still walked away feeling like NW is a great school that could offer me a fantastic education.
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Loveddd the school =)
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WOOT
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There is a 75 minute panel interview and a 15-20 minute one-on-one. The panel one tends to have some random questions that have nothing to do with you or your application, and there's nothing you can really do to prepare for it. But I think the point is just to see how you work in groups. The shorter one-on-one is more of the traditional "why medicine? why here?" type interview.
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There are two interviews, an individual one for 30 min and a panel interview for about an hour.
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I really fell in love with Northwestern. Everyone was very friendly and it seems like it is a very stress-free learning environment. The first two years are completely pass-fail which is great. I really like the fact that everything is organ-systems based from the beginning. There is a large emphasis placed on Problem Based Learning and other group work. You are only in lecture for about 2 hrs/today. The clinical experiences set up for the first two years happen 2 days/week in the afternoon in your college (4 colleges/class to make the size smaller). Overall NW seems like a great school that will give you a great medical education!
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I was very impressed by Northwestern and am ecstatic to have an acceptance there. With that being said, I've learned a lot as I've gone to other interviews, and I don't think Northwestern is as unique as it markets itself to be. This may sounds cynical, but in the end I think that all upper-tier medical schools will give you more or less the same education and opportunities, so things like "mall-like facilities!" and "an innovative PBL curriculum!" aren't huge selling points for me. Location, on the other hand, definitely is, and NW gets a big freaking gold star in that category.
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At the beginning of the panel interview they will ask you to tell them about yourself. Its important to give them something interesting that they can ask about later. If you dont, then thats when all the off the wall questions commence. As far as the group project is concerned, just make sure to demonstrate your ability to work with others in a synergistic fashion.
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I would be honored to go here. From the location to the facilities, global opportunities, and students, and faculty it was top notch.
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I only had 1 other interviewee on my panel interview, which made it much better.
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Great school! panel interview was interesting, we had the same group question as the rest of the groups.
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There are actually two interviews. I had my individual interview first, then the panel interview (2 faculty and a 4th year student) with two other applicants. Individual interview was open file. My interviewer really didn't ask questions about myself but wanted me to ask questions about Northwestern.
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If you love PBL, have super rich parents and want to live near Michigan avenue in one of America's best cities for four years, I recommend NU.
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I had a great time, and since the interview I have accepted my offered spot.
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Great! The PBL thing at the end was fantastic and everyone was really nice and informative!
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Feinberg was the first school I visited that tried to tell you their philosophy and why it might not be for you. I appreciated the honesty.
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You're with a group of co-applicants the entire day. I interviewed with 20 other applicants. The entire day is very structured and designed to show Feinberg off at its best. After a continental breakfast and 45-minute orientation by an assistant dean, during which basic school info is presented, you break into interviews. There are two interviews, in a different order for everyone: one 20-minute individual interview with the dean of admissions or a doc; one 90-minute panel interview of a group of applicants. The invdividual interview is open file. Although the individual interview is supposed to be just to update your file, I got asked tough ethics questions here so be prepared. I also got asked the closest thing to ''Why Feinberg'' during this, too. The panel interview is closed file so the interviewers only know your name and where you're from. Two docs and one M4 interviewed four applicants. It opens with everyone introducing themselves. Then they do three rounds of individual questions and then give the group a problem to solve. You discuss the problem for 15 minutes while the panel observes you, then you present your solution to the panel. Then the applicants ask the interviewers questions for 15 minutes. You definitely have to be on your toes and the anxiety is not for nothing--be prepared and be gracious to your fellow applicants! Then all 21 applicants have lunch with eight M1s and M2s. They give you a thorough tour. The day ends with presentations by MD/MPH, MD/MA in Bioethics, Diversity training, and a mock PBL session in which everyone is expected to participate. The day starts at 7:30 am and ends at 3 pm. There is a lot of walking inside and outside.
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Well, I was more stressed about the group interview so I kinda ignored preparing for the individual interview. I basically stuttered through my individual interview which totally sucked. The group interview, I thought, was going to be very stressful but was very relaxing. My answers weren't as brilliant as those of others but I had my moments so it was ok.
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I felt very welcome and supported.
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Showed up at 7:30 am for a continental breakfast, followed by an orientation, followed by the two interviews (in any order): a 20 min individual one with an admissions officer to update your profile and a 1 h 15 min group one (3-4 students, 2 faculty, 1 M4) were you wered asked some individual questions and one question during which you were asked to collaborate with your group to solve a problem. Then we had lunch, a tour of the school, a long meeting about their curriculum, and at 3 it was done and we went home.
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I've had a handful of interviews that have been pretty much all the same (basic personal questions). I didn't really expect the NU interview to be too much different. Since it was a panel, I'm guessing they didn't just want to hear 3 people talk about why they would make a qualified doctor so they asked almost all hypothetical questions. This seems to be the consensus with most of the people i've spoken to about the interview.
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You do a quick interview with someone on the admissions staff. No big deal but make sure you know what is on your application. Then there is a group interview. Some groups seemed to have harder times than others. I think the biggest trap here is that it is actually so laid back that you feel like you can say anything funny or quirky, but when I thought back on it there were some things I wish I hadn't said (They asked me were I would take them if they visited me at school and I said tailgating, but apparently a lot of people associate tailgating with binge drinking when I was thinking more of hotdogs and tossing the football around).
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AMAZING! Northwestern is a great school. I think I could have had better delivery with 1 or 2 panel questions (I was just flustered, I think what I said was ok but I didn't feel as confident as I usually do, sucks). Anyway, the day starts at 7:30AM. You do an hour introduction/orientation to the school ad the day with the dean of admissions and then break off. Half the group does their hour and 15 minute panel interviews first, the other half starts with their individual 30 minute interviews, then you switch. Afterwards, 1/2 hour lunch with M1s and M2s, followed by an hour or so tour. We saw clinical skills center, hospital (the most amazing hospital ever), anatomy lab, classrooms, etc. Then there is about an hour of presentations for dual degree programs and PBL curriculum simulation. Then end-of-day wrap up to talk with more students. A long day but a great one
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Amazing school, beautiful campus, stunning teaching hospital
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I wasn't too sure about the panel interview until i walked in the interview rm. it was a great/relaxing experience for me. they start the session by asking you to introduce yourself. try to introduce the most confident/impressive/easiest to explain part of your life. it'll help you direct the interview conversation. all three interviewers asked me practically the same simple question which derived from my introduction. i really had an easy time. one guy in my group, i felt, kind cornered himself with his introduction. i hope he got in cuz he must've had an impressive resume. the girl in my group started out with her research, which i would be feel difficult to elaborate into too much detail. i think the details loose people's interest after a while, but this girl was so impresive with her ability to captivate audience. even i was riveted.
NU was my sixth or seventh interview. i have had the chance to compare quite a few schools and was fairly comfortable at the interviews. NU facility was still one of the most impressive among them all. i liked the school philosophy, the students seem fun. my interview group was very impressive which will make my classmates a fantastic bunch to hangout with. im not too sure about the large class size, and im a bit reluctant to graduate with $250K debt which seem to be the result of their finaid system.
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This was an excellent learning opportunity for me. Northwestern has a 30 minute individual interview (open file) and a 1 hour 15 minute panel interview (closed file). The panel interview has three people, 2 doctors and one M4. You are interviewed with two other people. Its really not that intimidating. I was really nervous to begin with but I spoke with a lot of passion. Just be yourself, its all that matters. In my individual interview, we were talking about Babel and how it compared to Crash. They really try to know you as a person apart from the grades and academics. I got accepted into the program and I think just being myself and showing my positive,non-academic side really helped.
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I had a great interview experience, and with some adjustment, I could see myself attending school there and enjoying it.
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It was a great experience, all the students I spoke to were really enthusiastic about the school. Seems like a good place to spend four years.
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Very thorough day. I have a great understanding of the curriculum, philosophy of the school, and lifestyle of students.
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They definitely did the most of any school i've been to so far of trying to make you want to go there. there was breakfast in the morning followed by a twenty minute update session some down time and then the panel interview, which wasnt that bad. then lunch, tour, and more presentations in the afternoon.
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The group format is novel, and I enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I'm a die-hard city kid; life here is very urban.
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Overall, it wasn't bad. Northwestern is a great place to go if you like big cities and extreme urban life. Most students live within a few blocks of the campus in downtown Chicago, which is really great. Just relax, be yourself. The people there WANT to get to know you. They want to see the person you are, silly, weird, kooky, whatever. Just chill.
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Be there at 7:30 sharp for continental breakfast. Brief orientation at Lurie Research building, 20 minute one-on-one open file interview to update your app, 1 hour long panel interview, lunch, tour, currciculum overview, MPH/MA optional degree speech, then reception by office of multi-cultural affairs.
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The day begins with an orientation that lasts about an hour. Then the panel interview, which is about an hour and fifteen minutes. I was a little anxious about the panel format, but it ended up being really relaxed and fun! Of course, a big reason for that is the two applicants that I was interviewing with could not have been cooler and the interviewers were funny and friendly. However, the rest of my interview group all seemed to have positive experiences also, so really don't stress about the panel! The 20-30 minute interview with the dean is open-file and also laidback. She asked typical questions: Why Northwestern, why medicine, etc.
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We started off with breakfast at 7:30am, had an introduction and time for questions, individual ''interviews'' took place for 20minutes where you updated your profile, then had group interviews for 1hour 15 min, had luch, a tour, another info session on joint degree programs, and a short reception. The group interview was set up as 4 applicants and 3 interviewers (1 4th year, 1 researcher, 1 physician).
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There are actually TWO separate interviews. The first is the closed-file group interview (75 min), with three interviewers and three applicants. They ask sometimes the same question to all three, and sometimes completely unrelated questions to each person. At the end they give a group question to work on (see ''interesting question'' above). The second interview is a brief (~20 minutes) open-file session with one interviewer. Really laid-back and non-stressful.
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So good! The day is really long, but it was so worth it because I had every single one of my questions answered.
We started with breakfast and an introductory meeting; then there were two interviews: one short, update-your-file interview and one hour and fifteen minute group interview; we ate lunch at the cafeteria and had a tour of the campus with a first year student and a second year student. There was also an aoptional closing snack and info session about some of Norethwestern's joint degrees.
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Love the city. Love the location. Panel interview was not as bad as expected. Be yourself, don't worry about competing with the other members of your group, and you will come across like you should, as a good person. Lot of waiting during the day. I was not sold on the school by the staff nor by the students. Still, it is a good school and the facilities are new and enticing.
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I loved the place. The admissions deans were friendly. The students were friendly. The people on the street were friendly. It was a pleasant experience overall.
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We get there pretty early--7:30am--and have breakfast. Then there is an orientation regarding general info and admissions. Assistant Dean Lapin is great. Then we wait. There are two interviews (at least for mine), one in a group (3 interviewees and 3 interviewers) and one with an admissions committee member. I liked the second one a lot. The group interview wasn't bad--the only thing I didn't like about it is that I feel I didn't get much time to really let them get to know me. I feel like they really didn't get to know the real me like they may have if it was just me. The group project was fun and I was glad that we got the question we did.
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It was really awesome. It quickly became my #1 school after the interview.
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The entire interview day was well-organized and surprisingly enjoyable. They work hard to make it a comfortable experience, and they really try to frame it in terms of seeing whether you're a good
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The day starts early - 7:30! They give you a continental breakfast and then Dean Lappin talks about the school and the admissions process. Afterwards you wait for your interview with one of the deans and your panel interview. The individual interview is a chance to update your application and highlight parts of it. The panel interview is not near as bad as I thought it was going to be. Definitely take the down time after the talk by Dean Lapin to talk to the other applicants in your panel - it helps a lot! Walking into the interview with a sense of familiarity (within the limits of what can be established in an hour or two) really helps. All the med students I talked to were really enthusiastic about the school - from the ones that dropped by to find fellow undergrads in the morning to the tour guides.
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We had breakfast and orientation at 7:30. Then a short 20minute open file interview to update yoru records followed by the panel interview. Then we had lunch and a tour. Finally, we went through a PBL case
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The panel was slightly akward, but do your best to meet the others on it and it won't be too bad. don't get stressed out about the interviews, especially the one on one, which is a very low key discussion. Come with questions ready!
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The day starts off with everybody meeting and eating breakfast (at 0730). From there, we went to a lecture room to discuss the school. Next was interviews. I first had an individual one with Dean Brown (who is very nice, as is the other interviewing dean), which was fairly informal about my application and why I chose medicine, etc. Then there was a lull time (during which a couple interviewees and I went to the John Hancock building to check it out), followed by the group interview. This wasn't too bad either, though like everyone says, it's mildly awkward. Everybody at the school is very nice and encourages you to come. Waiting is going to be tough as I would love to come to the school.
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Really enjoyed the whole day, the students were very happy and were a fun bunch. i could really see myself fitting in here.
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A long day, but very informative and fun. The panel interview was kind of weird; it felt like there were 3 separate, simultaneous interviews. But the group discussion (see below) was really great.
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The panel interview is NOT BAD. Yes, its a bit awkward answering questions in front of 2 other students that want to go to the school just as much as you do (hopefully) but its actually a very informal environment with a bit of conversation and in mine they tended to ask us all the same question and then if there was anything that we brought up that they wanted to know while answering they asked us about that. One of our interviewers asked each of us a seperate
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The day began with an breakfast and an orientation session. We then split up into our interview groups; some of us had our one-on-one, open file interview first, and others had their three-on-three, closed file, panel interviews first. We were given a sheet of paper that illustrated our interview times, and the individuals with whom we would be participating in the panel interview. Take advantage of the opportunity to get to know your fellow interviewees before the panel; it will certainly help put you at ease. The one-on-one interview was with a professor or one of the deans, and lasted 20 minutes. This was primarily an opportunity to review your file and provide any updates. I was asked about my interest in medicine during this interview. The panel interview lasted for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Each of the three interviewers took a moment to introduce themselves, and went out of their way to make us feel at ease. A series of individual questions was followed by a problem-solving exercise in which the three interviewees had to work together to solve a particular problem posed by the panel. The interviews were over by 11:45. We were then provided lunch at a small cafeteria in the Robert Lurie Research Building. The rest of the afternoon was filled with tours of the facilities, a dessert reception, and special interest briefings on MD/MPH and MD/MA programs. People were able to leave as early as 2:30 pm to catch flights. The interview day was shortened from previous years by removing a sample PBL session from the afternoon schedule. Overall, it was a great experience!
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This was a very good experience. I am blessed. I am a one on one person so the fact that they did not have any panel interviews that day was great.I got to talk to two assistant deans of admission.The interviews were suppose to last 35 mins but I got them to talk for an hour each.This was very important.I got a 24 on the MCAT so I wanted a chance to explain. One of them practically told me I was in!I was so excited. The school is beautiful and the students love the place. I can understand why.This is the first interview where I actually felt bad that the long day was over. I loved my fellow interviewees. Northwestern spends a lot of time on your personal statement and secondary.They want to make sure you can handle the pressure of PBL and the independant learning environment.
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See above. Beside the panel interview, my visit was was very positive. Lunch with current students was useful. I was left with the impression that this is an excellent school in a great location where the students and faculty are welcoming and smart.
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I think there were over 30 of us the day I interviewed (they said it was one of their biggest days). We all gathered in the admissions office and there were bagels and juice available. Then we had an overview lecture by Asst. Dean Lapin and found out who we were doing our panel interviews with. Then we had at least a half hour to meet and chat with other applicants in our panel group, which you ABSOLUTELY should do. It feels a lot better going in as friends than as strangers. Then the panel interview which was pretty fun and a short interview with Dean Lapin (or Dean Brown or someone else) to "update your file" and ask questions. The one-on-ones varied quite a bit. It sounds like Dean Brown is very outgoing and talkative, but with Dean Lapin be prepared to get a conversation going. Talk about what's new, ask questions, etc. Students hosted lunch and a tour, then we had a presentation from the Dean of Minority Affairs, the Dean of Education asked us for feedback (feedback is big at NW), and we did a mock PBL session as a group (a bit difficult with 30 folks).
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The panel interview was not as bad as expected, but I suspect that this has to do with who interviews you and the others who are in your group. Becuase it is closed-file, questions tend to be general and less personal -- of the "what do you think about..." variety
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First we were given an introduction to Northwestern, followed by a 15 min interview with someone of admissions to review our files. Afterwards, we had a break and had our group interview. At the end we had lunch and a tour of the school.
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Can't imagine another interview being as relaxed as this. didn't feel like anyone was trying to sell me on the school, they just had so many things to say! although the day is long, it's all-inclusive, and all topics are dicussed. all my questions were answered!
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Began early, I had the first personal one on one interview at 8:30 and then down time till 10:30 when my panel group of 4 went to talk. After that we ate lunch, tour, then PBL session and further questions, long day ended around 4:30.
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It was great. I had fun. A tad too long, but I'm glad the interviews were in the morning so by noon, everyone's pretty relaxed.
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This was by far the longest interview day: be prepared! When you arrive they sit you in the admissions office and serve you breakfeast while everyone casually chats. Then you go to a room where they welcome you, everyone introduces themselves, and asks questions. They hand out folders w/your interviewers name & applicants you will be interviewing with. You then go back to the admissions office to wait for your interview where you sit and talk amongst your group. When you get called back for your panel interview, you're there for about 45-1hr. You don't get that many questions in a panel interview as I thought you would. None of my questions asked why I wanted to be a doctor/why NW/why Chicago? Then at the end they give you a group problem to solve- and they watch you solve it. Then you go back to admin office where you go for a one-on-one interview w/someone: it's mainly to update your file & answer any questions the admin committee may have had about it. It was very relaxed and comfortable. Then you wait for other groups to finish their interview and in the meantime med students come in and answer any questions you may have. At 12 some med students take you to lunch at the hospital and then you go on a tour of the facilities, while asking the med students any questions you might still have. After the tour, you discuss the curriculum and do a sample PBL session. After that there is a reception... which is at like 3:00. so again, it is a long day- try to be well rested.
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Well, if you read the last 100 posts here you will get an idea of what it is like at NU. So I won't rehash what everybody already knows. But I will discuss the Panel Interview in some more detail.
The purpose of this interview is to have you talk about stuff, anything really. They want to gauge your communication skills, your impromptu thinking abilities, and your ability to express weird and abstract concepts that you would otherwise never do. Note that these qualities are also quite important in PBL - you must be able to interact with your fellow students and mentors. This is why I recommend you study and prepare as hard as you can, because they will ask you questions that have been posted before and even some that have not.
My main problem with the Panel Interview is it is not a dynamic Q/A/Q/A discussion between you and your interviewer. There are times I wanted to follow up on a question or expand on what someone else said, and you can't do that. It's like a firing squad of questions. As soon as you finish with one question your fellow candidate is asked another question.
All this said - I felt I performed quite well. I had prepared for my group question in advanced and I think it killed it during the group problem session at the end.
One last thing - it is so interesting to hear other candidates answer questions. One candidate seems to clearly contradict himself but he didn't catch on to that. Most of the answers you here are stock answers, completely transparent. Ethics this, injustice that, helping the unfortunate here, i'm intellectual because my favorite movie is something that sounds completely boring....
I think one will have a superior interview if you not only show depth in thought but also some passion, personality, and sound like a real person. It is more impressive to sound like a pragmatist than an idealist.
I'll list all of the questions I can remember below...
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I arrived at around 7:20am and found there were a lot of other students already there. I stayed at the Holiday Inn hotel which is 2.5 blocks away which was awesome. I met the Dean and spoke with her for 30 min and I waited for my panel interview. There were 3 panel interviewers: a 4th year and 2 faculty members. After that, the day was a piece of cake. They even fed you too!
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Long day. Begins with orientation. Then you have three hour block for individual interview with dean, panel interview, and downtime. You get a chance to talk with your panel beforehand so you're more comfortable together. Lunch and tour with 1st year med students follows. Then, an explanation of the curriculum and reception end the day. They have plenty of food fyi! They have breakfast if you're running late!
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It was great, eyeopening,& informative. The students were entertaining as well.
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The panel interview was very stressful and the day was quite long. It starts at 7.30am
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You have to be there at 7:30 in the morn, they give you breakfast as soon as you get there. We then moved over to the new research building where the dean spoke with us about the school. there we found out our grps for the grp interview and who we would be talking with for our ind. interview. The first interview is a panel interview with you and 2 other applicants. There were 3 interviewers and they ask questions, some they put to the whole grp others they put only to a single person. That lasts for about 1 hr or so. the last 15 min is a problem solving session with your grp. The second interview is one on one with a dean, you get to see your file and update it with new info. and then they ask you the standard interview questions.
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Overall, I thought the panel interview was terrible.
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Overall I was very impressed with the school. The panel interview wasn't bad at all. It was interesting to see someone else be interviewed. We were interviewed by three people. When they were done asking questions we had a project to work on. It was kind of awkward at first doing the project with the interviewers staring at you and listening to everything you say but after a while I got used to it. It went well but it was definitely quite different from any other interview I had.
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Intro meeting, individual interview/update session with the dean for 20 minutes, walk around for an hour, group interview 1 hour 15 minutes.
ATTN ALL INTERVIEWEES: read everything on this website regarding panel interview questions. You, or someone in your interview will be asked every question posted. I read all the postings before i went, and heard every single question in my interview. So, prepare answers now, for real.
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Did not really enjoy the panel interview, especially because it was closed. Felt more like a very choppy akward show and tell than anything else. Not neccesarily a firing squad, but I didnt leave feeling like the interviewers were able to learn anything about me.
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The one on one interview was great, the interviewer was friendly and allowed me to ask questions after letting me update her on my application. The panel was easy, there was no competitive nature to it because we wern't given the same questions other than "tell me about yourself."
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I think the three-on-three interview, especially because it was closed file, didn't give me a chance to let my interviewers know who I was. The dean's interview was very helpful, but felt too limited in time to tell much more. The rest of the day was wonderful, though. The students were enthusiastic willing to answer all my questions and the curriculum session was incredibly helpful.
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The interview day as a whole was wonderful. The interviews were not stressful at all, the students could not say enough about their experience at the school, and the mock problem based learning session was interesting as well.
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I stayed with my girlfriend's family in Highland Park over my Fall Break, so her mom drove me in on the morning of my interview. The day started off dreary - completely cloudy and rainy. I didn't realize how downtown the campus was until we got off on Ontario and were in the middle of it all - not too shabby. I got there at 7:20, and the doors to the admisisons office didn't open til 7:30, so I got to wait in the lobby with a few of my new friends. After breakfast (bagels, fruit, muffins, juice, coffee, water, etc.), we had a 20 minute orientation given by the associate dean of admissions. Afterward, we went back into the admissions office for a short break, during which time I got to know the other two people in my group interview. I was in the first batch of group interviews, from 9 - 10:15, so that was first. Questions were straightforward, though this varies from panel to panel. The group question was more difficult for me, as I had a different background than the other two, i think - in any case, if they were looking for strong morals and a willingness to stand by my opinions, they got it. If they wanted compromise, well... I think that was my only failing. After the panel interview, I had 1.25h to kill, so I wandered up to the lake and then to the magnificent mile - by then, the clouds had broken, the skies were blue, and the sun was shining - a gorgeous day (though it did prove to be the Windy City!) At 11:30, I had my individual interview, though the interviewer was more about making me relax and answering my questions than he was about grilling me. All-in-all, it was a really laid back time. At noon, the student guides picked us up and took us to lunch ($8 voucher) in the new hospital - it was awesome. Then we toured a patient room, the histo lab, the anatomy lab, a couple of classrooms, and then we went to the curriculum presentation and a mock PBL problem (speak up - it's fun, and it can't hurt!). After that was a reception by the Office of Minority Affairs or somesuch, and then it was back in the car for an eight hour drive home.
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BAsically, it was a pretty nice, relatively unstressful day. The weater was amazing, blue skies, the students seemed very friendly and seemed to enjoy their experience. After a continental bfast, you have a short meeting with the Dean, followed by your 20 min solo interview andyour panel interview or vice versa. The one on one interview is fine, so you have nothing to worry about. However, with the panel interview, I feel half of it may be up to who is in your panel (both interviewers and interviewees). Basically, you want a friendly panel, and you dont want any fellow interviewee on your panel to be super aggressive or annoying or amazing for that matter, as it could definitely detract from your performance. It is good to just go in and try to be relaxed as possible of course, pay attention to what everyone is saying, anddont worry if you have to take time to think about your answers. Then after the interviews, you have lunch and a nice tour by the students. On the whole, I liked Northwestern, and thought the panel interview went fine. It is nothing to worry about, however they will try to put you on the spot, so you absolutely have to remain composed. Even if your answer is not the best, the way you deliver it is half the battle.
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Great experience, all things considered. The panel interview itself was not bad, but not great. In all honesty, it was more like three separate interviews going on in the same room rather than an interactive experience (there were three interviewers and three interviewees). My main interviewer was a great guy, young, interesting, really chill. But it seemed like he really tried to back each of us into a corner. His questions were at times a bit obscure and impossible to answer. But the students were definitely people I could hang out with, and they obviously have fun.
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After they fed us breakfast(!), we had an orientation session for half an hour. Then I had a chance to talk for a bit with the other candidates that were going to be in my panel. Then we had our panel interview which wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be AT ALL! It was really easy. Then we had about an hour and a half of down time during which we had our one-on-one interview with the dean or assistant dean for 15 minutes. At noon we had lunch, tours, mock PBL session, and then a reception. I was done at 3:30!
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I was so glad to have seen the campus. They let the interviewees talk amongst each other quite a bit and get to know one another, so the panel interview felt like a team effort.
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Great interview. Met great applicants. Great-looking campus. Picked up a CD at the giant Virgin Records store a couple blocks away on Michigan Ave. GREAT STUDENT HOST. Good times had by all.
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It was a very good experience. I interviewed for the NUPSP program, so my interview might have been different from the regular interview process.
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This was my first interview but remained my favorite through all the others. the panel interview was actually kinda fun - they give you the groups in the morning so you know who else you will be with, and you can get to know them before the interview - then you really feel like cheering each other on. they ask general questions at first that you all answer, then as they start to get to know you better they come up with individual questions targeted at each of you. it was nice because you weren't always on the hot seat, and some of the questions that were asked of other people, i was really glad i didn't get! i was impressed by the facilities and really liked the students (hesitant about the fact that so many are from the 7-year program though, as an older applicant). by the end of the day i was completely exhausted though.
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I enjoyed the panel interview. I lucked out by having two other friendly/cool people in my group. The questions they asked were standard, just make sure you approach the PBL problem the right way.
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Panel interviews are not my thing. The first interview is a personal one, and its actually just an opportunity for you to verify and update the file they have on you. The panel interview was difficult for me, because you need to establish a group dynamic, and having the other interviewees in the same room made me a lot more self-conscious about my answers..
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I really liked Northwestern, the students there, the curriculum, Chicago, and just about everything else except the panel interview. I've done a lot of these interviews, but I was really looking forward to this one. I had done a panel interview before and had loved it. This was much different. With the very impersonal questions they asked, I highly doubt they really got to know me at all. Had they read my application, the questions could have been much more personal and in-depth. But that's the way they do it. Regardless of the panel interview, I really loved Northwestern, and everything else in the day was very impressive (except for the final curriculum/PBL session, which seemed rather awkward).
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I usually don't post on this website but I really enjoyed my interview experience at NW. It seemed very unique and the panel interview questions were challenging and made you think. I like the fact that you had really had to put some thought into the answers and could not just list your accomplishments. I think that the way they interview makes them attract a certain type of student. I also really like the problem based curriculum and the students seemed very down to earth and helpful. After visiting, this is my first choice if I am fortunate enough to be accepted.
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There is 15 minutes with the dean, then a 1 1/4 hour group interview. the group interview was ok, but i don't feel it really gave each of us the chance to fully "say our piece". they knocked themselves out to make the whole thing low-stress.
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I was really apprehensive about this group interview format but I guess I did okay because I got in. =).
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Love being in the city, i can imagine myself at NU, enjoying the free time to study or explore the city, didn't like the panel interview, it wasn't as laid-back as they claim, the heat didn't help. the pseudo-PBL case study at the end of the day was good way to show us how it'll really be.
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I completely fell in love with northwestern. of anywhere i've interviewed so far it is BY FAR my favorite place.
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Two of the three interviewers were very intimidating. in one-on-one interviews, i feel like i can engage a person even if they are a tough interviewer. when the interview is in a group, and their attention is only on you some of the time, its much harder to anything but answer the question. i really liked the group exercise though. also, Dean Brown, in the one-on-one interview, was great.
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The group experience was enjoyable. Hmm...that last sentence sounds a little odd.
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Overall I thought the school was ok. It's a great place for people right out of college who are really into research, I'm just not sure that I'd fit that well with the student body, at least not from what I saw.
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Got there way early, had orientation and morning interviews. Then lunch and a tour--very nice hospital. Then I forget but I believe PBL session. Seemed like a really long day...
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The interview experience was informative and not too stressful. You're fed in the morning and you have an opportunity to talk to the other interviewees and the people in your group. That really helps because in the group interview, you feel a lot more comfortable and you don't feel like you're competing with the other interviewees. Dean Brown, again, was incredibly friendly and she made the one-on-one interview so comfortable - it was a great way to start the interviewing and really calmed my nerves for the group interview.
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Panel interview is not that bad. It is very low stress. The only thing I'd watch out for is the group question. If there's someone in your group that just dominates the discussion, make sure that you get a chance to talk.
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The interview was not nearly as stressful as I anticipated. We all meet in the admissions office. We are taken to another room for a little talk, and then we head to our group interviews. The group interviews are the same as normal interviews, but you get a chance to sit back and listen to other candidates respond to questions. It is really interesting how other applicants respond. We also had an individual interview. I spent about a half an hour talking to one of the nicest person I've ever met. It was very laid back, and we talked about anything I felt like telling him.
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It was very positive overall. There was a large number of people interviewing, which probably contributed to some of the tension (especially in the morning). The panel interview is slightly intimidating, but it really does ease some of the tension to be going through it with two other people. The interviewers are good about asking variants of questions to each applicant, so they don't ask one question and go down the line waiting for responses. The first and second year students who took us to lunch and on the tour were extremely friendly and helpful in answering our questions. And, Northwestern Memorial Hospital is amazing!
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2 interviews: 1st is with a dean, for 10-15 min, make sure you prepare questions. 2nd is the panel that everyone's already talked about. this doesn't really give you much time to say much about yourself, so try to make your answers count. otherwise not that different from other interviews.
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Excellent school and interview date. Know how to relate to strangers, the panel interview is decent. Keep up with current medical issues, you may be asked to discuss pros and cons. Think quitely before you speak, because it interferes with the group discussion.
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Location is amazing, although COL is high. The school prides itself on its curriculum. seem to get good experience during years 3&4 even though hospital in ritzy gold coast area. Everyone is very friendly. The group interview is somewhat intimidating and impersonal
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The school was impressive, but at the end of the day i didnt feel that it'd match well with me. i still think its a great place. all the students i met were happy w/the school.
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Great experience overall. I would highly recommend this school to anyone. It has impressed me the most so far, even moreso than schools that are ranked higher.
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Great faculty/staff, great students, great applicants. very low stress levels at this one. Wasn't sure I was going to be impressed with the quality of the school but was really surprised.
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I'm bored and it occured to me that I never posted any interview feedback about this school, which i had been meaning to do because it was quite unplesant. Overall I liked the city, the school, the administration, and even my interviewers-- what I couldn't stand were my fellow interviewees. Maybe it's because I'm from the midwest and they were mainly eastcoasters (boston primarily) but the vast majority of them were subtly condescending, pretentious, and for lack of a better word...mean. A friend of mine has a wife who goes to NW and she confirmed that, while she loves the school, she really has trouble getting along with the vast majority of students there. I don't know what it is, but after meeting these kids I'm not going to school there.
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The school was great, everyone was very accessible. There are 2 interviews, one 15-minute one-on-one with people like the Dean and Associate of Admissions. The other was a 3 on 3 and you had a case to work on with you fellow interviews. I met with the Dean and she was PHENOMENAL. I "fell in love" with her and she was probably one of the single best aspects about the whole day.
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It is a long day...got there at 7:30am and didn't leave til 4pm...and I was surprised that the group interview lasted 1h 15min, but the ono-on-one meeting with the dean was only 10-15min...thought the one-on-one would be longer...the students were great...we saw alot of the campus--some labs...lots of construction going on right now, but should be completed in april 2004.
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The doctor who interviewed me was great! he had an excellent sense of humor and made me feel extremely comfortable.
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This was my third and best interview so far. This was my first choice school before I went to the interviews and my decision was solidified by the time I left there. It was very relaxing and a very fair process. The interviewrs didn't know anything about you except the for you name, age, and undergraduate university. How much fafirer can you get? As far as the interviewer was concerned, everyone was on an equal playing field. What they new is what you wanted them to know. There were no preconceived notions of who you were or your grades or anything else. It was a nice group discussion. There was no competition between the applicants. If anything we were helping each other out.
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This was my 11th interview and I haven't been nervous for my previous interviews. For some reason, the group interview made me nervous though. Part of this had to do with not having a particularly great vibe with my co-interviewees. I got along with most of the interviewees though so I think your experience will depend on who you interview with. Most of the other interviewees liked the experience though. None of the questions were a big surprise - many of them are listed on interview feedback. The campus and students were very nice. I didn't get a straight answer about financial aid and tuition though. Be prepared for a long day.
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Aside from the very antagonizing interviewer, the school was great. Let me clear up something about the pulmonologist. He was not necessarily being rude, but he seemed very opinionated and disagreed with almost everything he didn't "like" to hear. Yet, people who brown nosed a bit seemed to win his favor and he had no trouble showing this. I thought that was a tad inappropriate during a panel interview. Other than that, the school was great. Definitely a top choice since I live close by.
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The day starts at 7:30. There is a introductory section and a long video. At about 9:00am the group interviews start. They ask you individual questions at first, then a general group question where you work it out together. It is relaxed and I think the questions seemed sensible and my group worked well together... it feels wierd to be watched... Then there is an individual meeting (waited around for about 1hour and 15min). All you do is add to your file and ask questions and talk... not really an interview. Then lunch and then a tour. Finally a PBL tutorial thingy where the Dean of Education talks about the program and works through a problem in the same style. Day ends at 3:00pm
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I really loved my visit to Northwestern and to Chicago. I made sure I had some ample time to sightsee. The interview was a bit stressful for me because it was my one and only panel-type interview. It's hard not to compare yourself and your answers to the other people in the room. But the key is DONT. And even though I thought I sucked in the interview, I still got accepted, so just be yourself.
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Fantastic. As an East-coaster, I was leery about going so far from home, but Northwestern is now one of my top choices. The school really seems to care about the students, and they all seemed happy to be there. And don't worry about the panel interview, it was really interesting, almost fun. I tried to include as many questions as I could remember below, both mine and the other interviewees.
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I was really nervous about the interview because I've never had a panel interview before and a lot of the questions that I read on this website seemed bizarre. I was worried that the other students on my panel would be super competitive, socially inept, or just plain mean. It turned out that the other two students who interviewed with me were awesome, and we were all asked reasonable questions. Overall, I had a great day at Northwestern and I would be very happy to get accepted.
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Three-on-three interview w/ a problem at the end for your group to work together to figure out. 15 min. interview one-on-one w/ the deam of admissions-important face time. The longest interview day I've had, but the most interesting b/c of a sample PBL and the group interview--a huge emphasis on working as a group.
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I've always loved Chicago and have known that Feinberg is a great school so I didn't think I could develope any more appreciation for it... but I was wrong! I love it there! I even forgot that I was in another state after just a couple of hours because it just felt like home. Personally, I like the dorm (but I didnt' eat there so go figure). The hospital is just gorgeous. And the cadaver lab! Yeah that's not a complete thought.
Anyhow, the individual interview is very very comforting and relaxing and the panel interview is very fun. The great thing about being in a group interview is that if you are asked a question that you can't immediately answer, you can always have them go on to someone else and return to you later. I was reminded by the Dean that as much as we are trying to impress the interviewers, they are at the same time trying to impress us too. so relax! have fun!
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Overall it was a good experience. The medical students were really excited about the school and often just came in during the interview day to ask how we were doing and to let us ask any questions. The interview was really low-key, probably because with the group setting, the spotlight wasn't always on me and I got a chance to interact with and get to know the other interviewees better. Plus staying with a student is always a great way to see how the students really feel about the school away from faculty and administrators.
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I loved Northwestern, I hope that I get in. Their curriculm suits me really well, and it makes the pre-clinical years much more interesting.
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Overall, a long day. I was a bit nervous about the panel interview, but it ended up going by pretty fast for me, I felt quite relaxed. I do hope I get into this program, it really is unique. How likely it'll be that I can afford this place? That's another story.
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Northwestern's interview questions are rather different from other schools. Even this was my 9th interview, I still got stuck at some questions. However, they seem to recycle questions, as my group was asked a couple of questions that I found on SDN interview feedback.
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I was a little apprehensive about the interview format because it is so unique and different. However, the interviewers were really nice and tried to put us at ease. The only thing is that the interview seems really variable because your interview can be positively/negatively affected by the people you are (randomly) put with.
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The panel interview was fine. Just be relaxed and conversational and don't try to impress anyone.
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Northwestern definitely is my top choice school and I would go in a heartbeat. The panel interview for me was more like three individual interviews done simultaneously with a little group project at the end. Not any more stressful than an individual interview.
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Great
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Overall very positive. I liked the school a lot and it's now one of my top choices (and I found out yesterday that I got in!) They do a second-look weekend in April which I'll definitely be going to.
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The interview itself was fairly intimidating. Others didn't seem to mind it, but I found the group interview to be the most nerve-racking of all my interviews. I felt like the group interview introduced a level of competition even though they reminded us that we weren't competing against eachother, but against the whole body of students interviewed.
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I arrived the night before the interview and stayed in the dorms. The building is very old; it is in mediocre shape. It is convenient to have a basketball court and workout facilities in the dorm. Note, though, that if you do not live in the dorm you have to pay to use those facilities! Chicago is a very expensive city to live in; food, housing, owning a car, etc. The interview day starts very early. Unfortunately half the group waits doing nothing while the other half does the 1 hour 15 minute group interview. The group interview is not bad; the other two students in my group were very friendly and we worked together well. I personally did not like the Pass/Fail grading for both years one and two; it seemed to breed laziness in the students.
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I got there about 7am, walked around, admired the view of Lake Michigan. There was an introductory session with the assistant dean of admissions, plus a continental breakfast. Then I hung out in the admissions office for an hour, waiting for my individual interview. In that one, the assistant dean asked if there was anything I wanted to add to my file, what I wanted the adcom to know, and if I had any questions. She took notes the whole time. She was very friendly and easy to talk to. Then I went to the group interview. I am not a fan of the group interview. It's just not my style and I got nervous. Plus, they asked the most difficult questions that I've had (this is my 6th interview). It lasted for about 70 minutes. The three interviewers took turns asking us questions. Sometimes we all got the same question, other times they mixed it up. Toward the end, they had us work together to answer: What are the 5 greatest advances in medicine in the last century or so. We worked on that for 10 minutes, while they observed, and then we presented it to them and defended our answer. Then we got a chance to ask them questions for 10 minutes. After that we went to lunch in the hospital cafeteria. Then there was a tour or the hospital. This is one of the nicest hospitals I've toured. They told us that Northwestern's is the most profitable teaching hospital in the country. We also toured the anatomy lab and the dorms. Then there was a curriculum overview session, with a sample PBL lesson. Then it was over about 3pm.
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Overall a really good experience. It was definitely interesting to do the group interview and get to hear how other people answer questions. The students were very nice and happy to be there.
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I really enjoyed the day. Everyone was very helpful and friendly. Unfortunately one of the applicants I interviewed with was a bit of a talker and kind of wierd. It made the interview awkward. I was overall though very impressed with the attitude, location and curriculum of the school. Definately in my top three choices!
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We got there mad early, but it was a quick walk from the dorm. we had an hour long orientation thing with one of the admissions deans, including a short video made by feinberg students. they had a light breakfast served. then we had two hours of interviews, both group and individual, and free time. the individual interview is more like, is all hte info in your file correct. then we has lunch/tour with some students. the facilities were awesome, lunch was good, etc. we went back for a brief talk about the curriculum and an example of a pbl session. the dreaded financial aid talk has apparently been replaced. then we chatted informally with some current students that stopped by. the day ended around 3:30, and we were all exhausted.
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Overall it was a lot less stressful than I anticipated. The group interview was not that bad. Sometimes they ask each person the same question (for example, they asked us each to talk about a challenge we faced). They ask one group question - ours was to name 5 attributes a med student should have when they graduate. There is also a 15 minute one-on-one session with the dean or assistant dean of admissions. Be ready to tell them what you want the admissions committee to know about you.
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This was my first interview, but it was pretty early (this was only the 2nd day of interviews for them). there were 12 people interviewing, 4 groups of 3 at a time. it was nice that they had the interview in the morning so you could get it over with and relax for the rest of the day. i stayed with a student the night before which i highly recommend because i got to talk and go out to dinner with other med students and get an impression of how they really like it. everyone raved about the school, but i had a feeling it wasn't representative because they've only been there one month. we were supposed to have 2 faculty and one med student interviewers, but the med student didn't show up. i was glad i got to talk to the other interviewees beforehand because once we got into the room i felt pretty comfortable with them. it was really relaxed and i didn't feel like i was competing with them at all. the interviewers though had very different personalities so the conversation didn't flow very well. the other groups said they were asked more personality questions, but we mostly talked about current issues in health care. part of it was because one guy was an economics major and they wanted his perspective on issues, and then the other two of us were asked to comment on his opinions. overall, a very low-stress interview and a chill day.
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Very relaxed...you'll be leaving smiling! My interview experience at NU reinforced the school's place at the top of my list!
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The flight was not paid for, but we got two nights in a hotel (shared w/ another applciant) which was cool. They told us to get there pretty early on Wednesday, but then they just gave us dessert that night. I guess it wasn't all that bad since I got to go around downtown Chicago.
There was 6 interviews and the meeting with Dr. Engman. 3 interviews were at the medical school and 3 were at the other campus in Evanston. It seems that the school just picks a number of interviewers for the day and matches each applicant to the ones they picked as best as they could. Alot of us ended up with people who did things we had no interest in. Then there was the panel interview, with other MD/PhD students, but really, just be yourself, it's not bad.
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My high expectations were surpassed. Have good questions to ask the students as they are more than willing to answer them for you.
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Great place, good people, laid back students
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Overall much better than expected. I was a bit apprehensive of the panel format, but it turned out okay.
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This was my last interview, but I was still nervous because of the panel format. It was extremely relaxed and informal and I felt like the people I interivewed with were very friendly and non-competitive. Get to know your fellow interviewees before hand (they let you know who they'll be at the beginning of the day). The interview with Dean Brown was very pleasant. She was just making sure that your application is complete and asks some questions about your family.
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It was a great place and i loved everything i saw. The down side was that it was my first med school interview ever, so i was very nervous, and didn't get much sleep during the week leading up to the interview. Big mistake!! NWU is definitely my first choice, so i wish i would have done the interview a little later, so that i could have gained experience from previous interviews.
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This is definately my number one choice. Its a great
clinical education with terrific research opportunities.
the school is in the nicest part of downtown chicago and
students appear to have plenty of time to persue educational
and recreational interests (relative to the average med student
of course).
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The location and the pre clinical curriculum are awesome. And, I actually didnt mind the panel interview, my interviewers and fellow applicants were pretty chill. However, I couldnt really get over the pricetag, and I'm a little leery of the amount of experience I could get their during my clinical years.
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First interview was a panel of three interviewers interviewing four candidates. Second interview was a one-on-one with a dean of admissions, just to make sure your file was correct, etc.
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Pretty impressive overall. The group interview was extremely laid back, actually less stressful than many of the 1-on-1's I've had.
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The school is impressive, and the students were very friendly and happy. You can't do any better in terms of location and environment in Chicago.
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Really nice school, with a really not-so-nice price tag. The facilities are great, and the curriculum is really progressive, with less lecture time than almost any other major school in the country. Students seem to live it there, the area is great, and NWU really seems to encourage its students to get involved outside of school. In addition to the 3 on 3 panel interview, there's a 20 minute interview with one of the Deans to check your file (they don't trust AMCAS) and address any general questions you may have.
Some people have complained about the 3 on 3 format, but if you take the time to talk to your fellow interviewees before hand, it can make the whole experience much less stressful. The two people I sat with were really nice, no-one tried to show up anyone else, everyone laughed, and as a whole, we were really relaxed with each other.
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The staff was really nice, and there were a lot of students who showed us around and had lunch with us. Some first year students even dropped in to see us in the admissions office while we were waiting for our interviews. All interviewees also meet with the Dean or Assistant Dean of Admissions for 15 minutes to discuss their application, but both are extremely kind and supportive.
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The day started way too early, so i wasnt as sharp in my panel interview as possible. I thought it was an interesting format, not just to see group dynamics but to see how other people answer the same questions.
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*first, it was great! i personally liked the change in pace. it was nice to not be the one talking for the whole time. the interviewers did a great job of making us feel relaxed. it was more like a group discussion than anything. they posed some questions to us individually, or they would ask subquestions (ie ask us to elaborate on a previous answer of ours), and sometimes they asked one question and then went down the line...we each answered one at a time. but it was geared towards personal experience, like "why do you want to do medicine," or "if you couldn't do medicine, what would you do?" so we never felt like we had to really compete or "one-up" each other...so that was a relief.
*i felt it was important to really try to talk to the people on your panel before hand...get to know a little about them, get comfortable, and it makes the actual panel interview much less uncomfortable...
*about it being blind, one just had to remember it was blind (they remind you), and include certain things in your answers to reveal yourself to them...
it was a great time...after that was an individual interview with one of the deans...i happened to get the Dean of Admissions.
*this was much shorter, but pleasantly inquisitive...i expected a technical check (are your grades right? etc.....)
*but she took the time to ask me questions about my life, get to know me a little, and then was very, very nice to me...it was nice :)
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There was a group interview of 3 on 3 and and individual with the dean. The dean's interview is open file, while the group was closed file.