Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 40% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average 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 as average compared to 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 include scenarios on ethical dilemmas like handling patient confidentiality, professionalism concerns among colleagues, and delivering difficult news to patients. Additionally, questions about personal experiences, motivation for pursuing medicine, study habits, and viewpoints on healthcare reform are frequently explored, with some interviews conducted in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, potentially involving nondisclosure agreements.
Define perseverance and describe a time that you showed perseverance.
Ethics: A minor, 16 years old, plays football and has a history of three concussions. He is at risk for TBI with long term effects. He has signed a scholarship to play football in college. You suggest that he doesn't continue his football carrier because you are concerned about his outcome. He doesn't want you to tell his parents. What do you do? How do you tell him? Who else should you involve?
Ethics: If I were a resident physician, what would I do if I see a co-resident taking a pill after a long shift they just did and they said this will wake them up?
Not a traditional panel interview, instead there were 4 MMI stations. One was about grades/MCAT, one about ECs, an ethical scenario and one about the future of medicine/ideas for healthcare improvement.
Again, MMI format. Another scenario: Suppose you find out a family member has a (fatal) genetic disease. Do you tell them? Do you suggest other family members get tested? Etc.
It was MMI so one scenario was: You are set up with a doctor on rotations who has a drinking problem, he self prescribes medication, basically his life is falling apart. What do you do?
MMI format. Scenario: You have diagnosed a pt. with cancer. It is at a treatable stage. She misses her next few appointments and won't return calls. 4 months later she is admitted to the ER with terminal cancer. She denies ever being told she had cancer though it is in your chart notes. Her and her family are demanding more be done than what can be which is palliative care and pain management. What do you do?
They asked most of the questions that have been mentioned in the past. There was a short period where they asked questions based upon your answers at the end. During this time I was able to also ask questions of the interviewers.
All the same you've seen posted in other feedbacks. They used a standard form. They will use the same questions all year. They do this to keep a level playing field for all applicants in a cycle.
What is your expectation of your lifestyle as a physician? What ethical guidelines do you live by? If your 5 year-old son smashed his finger with a hammer and started crying, how would you react?
What will frustrate you most about working as a physician? What are your greatest strengths? What are your greatest weaknesses? What was your introduction to osteopathic medicine?
What is one thing you don't look forward to in medicine? If you were accepted to 4 medical schools, how would you go about deciding which to attend? How do you prepare for an exam?
Would you tell your patients all the bad things that could happen if they don't take their drugs, in order for them to take their drugs? What are your hobbies? Would prefer to be the sole provider of health care to a patient, or would you rather work with a team of physicians?
Your child is playing with a hammer and hurts themself, what do you do? A 68 year old woman has 6 months to live, how do you tell her this? What are your greatest weaknesses and strengths?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a variety of scenarios including work-life balance, ethical dilemmas, handling pediatric injuries, and motivations for pursuing medicine. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the diverse range of ethical and situational questions, potentially subjecting respondents to a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked.
Have you thought about work-life balance as a physician?
Ethics: As a medical student, the physician points to somewhere on the body and asks what that is. You feel 100% confident in your answer and say it's XXX. The physician says you're wrong and that was a stupid answer. What do you do?
You have a 5 year old child who is playing with a hammer. She hits her finger and starts to cry. What do you do? (Interesting in the fact that it's the strangest question I've heard)
Students said the most difficult question asked at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a variety of topics, including preferred medical specialties, explaining application details, communication scenarios with patients, and health care system improvements. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format or nondisclosure agreement, indicating a structured interview process with specific guidelines.
If you had the power, what changes to health care would you make? Only difficult if you did not prepare by reading general points about health care issues.
How would you fix the US healthcare system? This was difficult ONLY because the interviewers were not allowed to answer questions, and I think this question is best addressed in a dialogue.
What is the most important thing a physician can do for a patient? If you could meet any two people, alive or dead, who would they be and why? How do you think we can address the problems with health care today?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
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?
Many applicants prepared for interviews by practicing with family, using forums like SDN, conducting mock interviews, and researching the school and current healthcare news. Suggestions include reviewing personal statements, studying the school, staying updated on healthcare issues, and remaining calm during the interview process.
Zoom interview. So I spent time setting up my room with things that showed who I was, and made sure the Camera captured it all. Had mock interviews and morality discussions with family and friends. Watched lots of youtube advice videos and read blog columns. Dug deep into their website to find specific questions to ask. Exercised every day.
I read over my file and essays for PNWU, then went over the feedback for some other schools, as I did not see many questions listed for PNWU at the time I was preparing.
Studied my file, student catalog, talked to the PNUHS students prior to my interview, read the first few chapters of Harrison's Internal Medicine (This is a great resource for medical school applicants- a wonderful amount of pertinent info. for interview background. I recommend this.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the school, with staff, faculty, and students creating a supportive and close-knit community. The dedication of the faculty to student success, commitment to continuous improvement, and the school's focus on providing a positive learning environment were commonly highlighted as positive aspects.
conversational style interview, my interviewer was smiling and nodding the whole time event though I know my answers made zero sense.
The group style discussion. It was fun meeting other applicants. Students seemed down to earth. The deans felt reachable and relatable. Admissions seemed available. Loved the faculty interviewer!!! She really made a huge difference for me. I am really excited to get to know her more.
Anatomy lab and curriculum is fantastic. You will know your anatomy well at this school. Students and staff seem freakishly happy. Very much a family atmosphere.
The student centered focus. Since it is not part of an academic medical center there is a lot more emphasis on the students and as a result a much more close family feel to the school.
The facilities are nice, especially the gross lab. The staff, students, and faculty all seem very committed. The schools seems to have a lot of community support.
Student and faculty friendliness, new facilities, community support. They are very committed and want their students to excel because, as a new school, their success depends on the students. Already have many rotations in place.
Students and staff appear genuinely excited and committed to success. The campus is brand new and built with growth in mind. I saw nothing that made me think, "I wish that they had done X instead" when it came to facilities. Students were very friendly. Based upon conversations with residents in Yakima, they community is very supportive of the school.
Dedication of the staff to students and school. Teachers seem to have great credentials, and the whole atmosphere was definitely laid back. Staff was joking with one another during parts of the presentation and made it fun.
Classrooms had great technology, and they have a mock clinic complete with exam rooms to practice clinical skills with volunteer patients.
I like the small class sizes. The facilities are really nice and given that they are a newer school, they are really receptive to student feedback and continuous improvement. I also loved LeAnn Hunter's comment during the orientation, "Once you are admitted, the competition is over. We want you to all pass and become doctors."
I thought the campus was great. It's small but has an at home feel. Yakima is a great area to go to school, with lots to do. It is not a huge city, though, which I prefer but some may not.
The school has their stuff together! Being a new school, I was kind of intruiged how "together" they would have everything and what they could do for me as a student there. Seriously was impressed with the setup, as well as the attitude of the faculty and staff. The mood there is a very positive one, with the main goal being to provide the best possible environment for medical students to be successful.
Everyone is super-nice. The faculty need the students to succeed and respond to their feedback as the program develops. Nice, new facilities. Over next 10 years, PNWU will build 9-10 buildings on a 42-acre campus including schools of various health sciences. Traditional 1st-year lecture format with full gross anatomy lab. Wide variety of clinical sites in the Northwest.
Leanne sat with the students in the lounge/hall as we waited for our interviews. Also, there were many students who talked with us and answered questions about the school. Be prepared to talk with both candidates and students in the morning.
Most everything. They are a family; from the maintenance guys, the security guard, the students and faculty/admins are all on a first name basis and bend over backwards to help each other out. The school is also extremely committed to providing docs to the underserved areas and is making it a point to create quality rotation sites near or in these areas so the students can get exposure and connections.
The friendliness of the admissions staff and students. Although the school is small, they are employing top notch technology with robust plans of expansion.
Applicants were commonly concerned about the disorganized and chaotic group interview structure, lack of opportunity for all candidates to contribute, unprofessional behavior from interviewers, faculty diversity, limited study spaces, and the school's newness and location. Suggestions included improving interview formats, providing clearer information on rotations and student housing, enhancing faculty professionalism, and addressing concerns about the school's development and location.
The fact that we were split into two groups, 10-15 people per group, and then asked the question "what could we do to improve healthcare in rural populations", then let discuss for 20 minutes. Absolutely horrible structure, had 7 other interviews and this is the only one that did something like this. There were so many people wanting to talk, and so many "oh no you go.." "oh sorry no you go.." "no that's okay you go..". And so many "I agree with xxx, I also want to add..". Little time for people who wanted to talk and bring up their points because so many people were always interrupting lol wtf is this. It's harder on zoom because there could be a lag on people's end, so they could go on while interrupting someone and then the next person would do the same. I kept trying to say my point but never was able to because of this so I just typed it out. You could tell who were the gunners and who wanted to talk but couldn't. Maybe this was one of the reasonings behind this, but it was so poorly structured to not give people a chance to talk and say their points in front of everyone. Another school did something like this but was more structured and felt more calm by going one by one, giving each individual a chance to talk. This was like a free for all. Pointless when trying to make a good impression on potential students in my opinion. Left with a bad taste in my mouth and would not want to go here if I got in.
Also, rotations third year will be making you travel potentially more than many other do schools. Travelling is a given for DO schools, but this school seems to be more so than others. Definitely research and ask how often they have to travel for third year and compare this with other do schools, this is just what I found when I looked this up and went through interviews.
Students also seemed a bit "academically cocky". But I guess that is to be expected, afterall they are all in MEDICAL SCHOOL!! Faculty didn't seem that diverse.
Yakima is a small town so if you grew up in a big city it might not be the best place to go to school. (I came from a small town so it didn't bother me) Also, South Yakima has a bit of a crime problem, but that is nowhere near the school.
Yakima is nearly OK, but the school is in the very sprawly section of the city. The non-refundable deposit ($1k!). The student health insurance sucks. Students have to pay out of pocket for dental care!
Not much; the interviewers are supposed to act "scripted" and not allow prompting or express emotion but mine did. Some people had interviewers that were very stoic, as they were supposed to be, so it depends on who you get.
I personally hated this interview style. It isn't very stressful per se but it is very awkward. I felt as if my answers were stilted even though in the (short) interactive portion at the end I was told I am was very articulate. I am usually a strong interviewer but this type of interview format neutralized any skill or advantage I would have had.
I did not like the interview format. It was very structured and you had to figure out how to incorporate parts of your application into each question to stand out. I would have rather had a less structured format that let the interviewers and interviewee guide the conversation more.
Very new. Lack of full accreditation. Still much work to establish the school. Also, since they rely on private donations, I foresee issues with the downturn of the economy.
The surrounding area is ok, your typical medium-sized town. Whether that's your cup of tea is up to you. You have to take some classes in summer between 1st and 2nd year. They expect you to do web videoconferences from the remote clinical sites.
They mentioned that they have a dress code for their students - no denim! Now, I understand the rationale for having a dress code (to be more professional), but c'mon! This is the Pacific Northwest! Jeans and a fleece is ALMOST business casual!
I wish that the staff/faculty would have addressed what I think are pertinent concerns regarding the issues any new school would face. I felt as though my questions might have a negative impact on my acceptance chances, as they were pretty direct. I felt that two of the three students who sat with us rather dodged these questions.
The interview style this year :P. they give everyone 21 standard questions, and are not allowed to clarify them. They are also not allowed to add supplemental questions that might clarify or shed more light on the interviewee's answers. It was very impersonal, which was the complete opposite of the atmosphere at the school.
Applicants commonly wished they had known more specifics about the interview format and schedule, such as the presence of traditional questions, the relaxed atmosphere, and potential waiting times. Suggestions included preparing for unexpected factors like weather, ensuring updated GPS information, and being mindful of arrival times.
That we were going to be doing a free for all discussion on a certain topic.
If you rent a car, go drive the mountain passes. Beautiful! Also, bring a book or something to read. There is a few hours wait while the interviews are going on.
Just how difficult the standard interview format was for me. I prefer an interview format where the interviewers can ask follow-up questions, even if this means that you get put on the spot more.
Applicants generally shared mixed feedback about the interview experience at the school, with some expressing nervousness impacting their responses and others mentioning positive aspects such as the welcoming environment and emphasis on holistic learning. Some highlighted concerns about the location, cost of tuition, and waiting times during the interview day, while others praised the school's potential and dedicated faculty for rural medicine education in the Pacific Northwest.
Don't just answer the question, please answer with a story. My interviewer asked about one of my experiences and I jsut said what I did in my role instead of expanding further because I was so nervous.
Got in but not going, you can tell that I did not like this interview. Personal preference I guess but just wanted to share. Good luck if you do apply and receive an interview here! I'm sure they have a solid curriculum but was not left with a good impression at the end of it. N=1
I liked the experience overall. I think that it is a school worth considering, especially if you love the outdoors, rural Pacific Northwest, and like a holistic and group learning approach to school. I am looking forward to attending there!!!!
Tuition here is insanely expensive compared to other DO schools (almost $52,000 vs the ~$40,000's average elsewhere), which would not be a problem if this school was exceptional, but it is not. I was told that professors here are OK (not awesome), and location is in terrible part of WA known for high crime and gang activity.
Absolutely fell in love with the school. This was my last choice school going in but became one of my top choices leaving. Everyone was so kind and welcoming I could tell people were genuinely happy there.
This is a wonderful school and it should be at the top of the list for anyone interested in practicing in a rural area or practicing family medicine in the Northwest. The facilities are also top notch (it has the only cadaver lab I have ever seen that has windows!) and they are a testament to the fact that value quality over quantity as they continue to expand their campus.
I was just amused by how they have a script they have to read to you at the beginning of the interview to make it "standardized," I suppose. For the most part, though, it's a pretty normal interview with relatively nice people.
Because of staffing limitations, there was a lot of down time for some students between the end of lunch and tours and the start of their interview. For example, I sat around for three hours waiting. You can't really do anything (like nap) while you wait so you just sit and wait and wait and...
At least it was a good time to get to know some of the current students and fellow applicants.
I had two reviewers. One had viewed my file, while the other did not. They use a standard set of questions. There are only two "ethical" questions which have been listed by previous posters. The format was actually easier than some of the less structured interviews I have been on. Also, given the interview questions, it is clear that they are looking at you as a whole person and not just your academic record.
The school has promise. If they can achieve their goals, I'm sure it will be a very good place to learn rural medicine. They are very dedicated to the northwest, so don't go here thinking otherwise.
The day starts at 9.30am. You don't need to show up before then; nothing happens before 10am. If you show up early, you'll sit around in the entryway with nothing to do.
Anyway, PNWU is a nice school, and will develop into a top DO school over the next few years.
The staff and faculty (including my two interviewers) were great. I had an awesome interview experience. My recommendation with respect to the interview is to truly be candid, thoughtful, and make those impersonal questions personal. That'll be helpful in standing out. I think that personality is important to this school- more than I have felt at the other schools I had interviewed at.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested updating the outdated portal, improving the interview process to be more individualized and less intimidating, and providing more clarity on interview schedules and online application procedures. They also appreciated the responsiveness and helpfulness of the admissions office staff.
The portal is very outdated and kind of confusing in comparison to other schools.
Please do not do the free-for-all discussion session. That may be good for your admission team to view, but for the potential students that experience is not beneficial in my opinion. There are better ways to do this such as giving each individual a chance to talk and express how they feel about a certain topic. Another school did this within a group and it felt much more comforting to know that the school cares about your opinion and wants to hear what you have to say. Did not get this impression from pnwu.
Keep up the good work. I had a small hiccup with my application, which was addressed quickly and smoothly. Everyone was super friendly. I am looking forward to continuing the admissions process next week!!!
Keep it up! They were awesome, especially helping me actually get there! My flight from Seattle to Yakima got cancelled and they were so helpful and understanding while I was scrambling to get to Yakima. They also had fresh coffee available as soon as we arrived for the interview because they knew a bunch of us did not get a lot of sleep due to the late arrivals to Yakima on the shuttles.
Worst of any of my interviews and my only waitlist that did finally turn into an acceptance. The interview process here is really terrible and the interviewers make you feel stupid. Actually wish I had been rejected, but my wife is hell bent on staying on the West coast so PNWU here I come. Oh well... it's only four years.