Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 21% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the areaโs cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
๐ฌ Interview Questions โผ
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiring about personal experiences such as overcoming challenges, taking shortcuts, interacting with diverse individuals, explaining research, and discussing ethical scenarios like smoking cessation. Some interviews were structured in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, which may involve signing a nondisclosure agreement due to the specific nature of the questions asked.
Was asked to discuss certain personal aspects of my secondary application. Know your secondary well, they really do read it before they come in to interview you.
First interview was much more intense, asked me everything in my primary, secondary applications, and ethical questions (open file). The second interviewer had a blank sheet of paper and asked me how I wanted him to fill it up and how I wanted him to remember me (closed file). We talked a lot about my job and goals in medicine.
(One of my interviewers was REALLY tough and asked me non-stop questions directly off of my primary/secondary applications. As I was answering, the interviewer was looking at my application for the next question. And I seemed to be interrupted at the end of each of my answers by the next question being asked. Just beware that you might get lots of very specific questions directly off the apps.)
Interview #1: 1) What is your biggest fear? 2) If you were stuck between a train and a wall, and you were going to die as soon as they moved the train, AND you could only have one person brought to you before you died, who would you choose? 3) What is the biggest problem in healthcare today? 4) What is the most dangerous/reckless thing you have ever done? 5) Asked a lot of questions about my family.
What would you do if you were treating an elderly patient who did not want to take a flue shot? After my answer, the interviewer pulled out a graph and asked me consider the data and respond.
A bunch of hypothetical questions regarding how I would handle situations as a doctor. For example: If you were a doctor and a child had diabetes and the parents were not changing the child's diet to accomodate the diabetes how would get the parents to change the diet?
besides feeling disappointed, humbled, reflective, and motivated, how else did you feel when you did not get accepted to any med school two years ago? (see what i mean?)
You discussed having several interests outside of medicine -How do you think this will affect you while you are in medical school? What strategies do you have in dealing with this?
My open file interview was interesting in that I was asked about everything I did relating to medicine, work experience, and extracurricular even thought she had everything right there and looked through the file as we spoke
Students said the most interesting questions asked at Rush University Rush Medical College discussed a wide range of topics from personal experiences to ethical dilemmas. While there were no standout questions, some interviews included ethical scenarios, discussions on hobbies, patient interactions, and future healthcare trends, with a mix of standard and thought-provoking inquiries, potentially in an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements in place.
Tell me about the first moment you knew you wanted to pursue medicine.
You get one open-file and one closed-file interview. The open-file interviewer, however, didn't seem to have read my materials very closely as I was asked questions that I had directly answered in my AMCAS application. The best question solicited my thoughts about pharmaceutical companies marketing strategies (my uncle was a pharm rep when he was younger so this was interesting to consider).
Given your prior experience in the pharmaceutical company, what is your opinion of pharma companies' development, marketing, and distribution of drugs?
Ethically, if you were pricked with a needle during a surgical procedure, do you feel you're obligated to tell the patient before you run blood tests on them, or can you just do the test since you have access to their blood right there on the surgery table?
Why would you put yourself through 4 years of relentless gruelling work when you could just as well stay in your current career path and earn just as much? (I'm a non-trad applicant).
What would you do if you were faced with this situation: You have great plans for the night with family...(something great)...and you get a call from ''little tommy's'' mother. She is in hysterics and says he has a fever, you know that ''little jonny'' is fine, what do you do?
I was asked a single question by my interviewers: ''What should I tell the admissions committee so that I can make a strong argument for you to come to this school?''
what would i change about the healthcare system? (not really interesting, but in my opinion, none of the questions were too interesting to me)
who do you think is going to win the big 10 basketball title? (seriously)
You are working as a physician, and a 200lb, 5'1" female patient comes to you complaining of pain in the ankles, lower back & breasts, shortness of breath, difficulty climbing stairs, high blood pressure, etc. She tells you that she used to smoke 3 packs/day, but is now down to 1 pack/day. She then says, "Doctor, I know what youre going to tell me...youre going to say that I need to quit smoking, and lose weight. Well, others have tried to get me to do those things, and I just cant. But if you tell me to do just one of those things, then I'll do it."
Which one do you pick, and why?
Unlike most of the other applicants, i was NOT asked an ethics question or "how does one get cancer?" Instead, the interviewer wanted to know why becoming a doctor is important to me.
you're treating a patient who won't stop smoking. eventually, the patient dies from lung cancer. what would you have done differently to save this patient's life?
If a Jehovah's Witness (sp.) who is religiously opposed to blood transfusions gravely needed one, how would you handle the situation? How would you treat it differently if it were a child?
Why did you write the type of essay that you did? I had written an essay that was in the form of an interview bewtween myself and an ESPN sports anchor.
To explain Question One of my secondary--the difficult situation in the past 3-5years. It was interesting, b/c my interviewer was actually interested in my answer and wanted backgroud info on it.
There was no particular question that stood out. One of the interviews was open and one was closed. Rush had a faculty member (open interview) and resident(closed interview)meet with me. They were both absolutely wonderful (bright, fun, interesting etc.) The interviewers themselves were very interesting and engaging.
Students said the most difficult question asked at Rush University Rush Medical College discussed a wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal attributes, handling stress in medicine, and resolving healthcare issues. While some students faced specific questions related to genetic testing, conflict resolution, and personal experiences, others navigated scenarios involving patient care decisions and healthcare system improvements.
How has your clinical experienced helped you prepare for a career in medicine?
If you didn't receive any feedback in medical school, either in the form of grades or verbal feedback, how would you know whether you were ready to move on to the next class?
I was asked what the common denominator was between the 3 other jobs I would be if I could not be a physician. The ones from the secondary application. This wasn't really a hard question i just was not expecting it.
My physician interviewer asked me how sure I was of entering such a difficult profession where so many negative things can occur (e.g. she mentioned parents threatening to sue her if she doesn't do a procedure right-she is a pediatrician)...
The above questions, since I didn't really see it as much of an ethical questions, as well as the quintessential ''why do you want to be a doctor?'' question that everyone hates.
If you had a patient complaining of joint pain, back pain and shortness of breath and she smoked and was 5'1" and 250lbs, would you tell her to lose weight or quit smoking (and you can only choose one)?
same as above, it was interesting because I came here about 7 years ago, not recently but he was still interested in it. Difficult because I thought I might have bungled up the answer by using a negative word
What can you bring to Rush? (i am not a big fan of these type of questions because you pretty mush say the same thing for each school that asks you this question.)
What is the most dangerous/reckless thing you have ever done? (This one was difficult because I didn't want to say something really stupid, because all these horrible things were coming to mind that I have done!)
A woman in her 70s is prescribed some blood pressure medication, when she revists your office, she still has high blood pressure. Why do you think this is and some follow up questions.
Hypothetical asking whether or not a sports team should be able to require a player to take a genetic test and then use the information to release them. I was asked to make ethical, legal, and medical considerations.
We are the official physicians of the Chicago White Soxs and the Bulls, what would you say to a pro athlete if you had to tell them that they would never play again because of a sporting injury.
when you look in the mirror, what do you see? (this was only hard because was answers were wrong according to my interviewer, and i don't know how that is possible with such an vague, open ended question. what happens if you start medical school and it doesn't meet you expectations? is your boyfriend "the one"?
So, if your brother should apply, (I telling a story about how I came to realize one of my traits, because I learned through him, I do and he doesn't have it)should I hold that against him?
The standard "what is the biggest problem in medicine," but with a bunch of follow-ups on the practicality of the ways I would solve that problem if I were in charge.
Same as above. (I guess this question was hard for me, because this was my first interview and I just wasn't prepared.....I couldn't say "becasue it looks good on an application"...you know?)
Name three problems with the medical practice, excluting any insurance, economical, and money related issues. What is your opinion on each of these and what should be done to fix them?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
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.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing their primary and secondary applications, conducting mock interviews, researching the school's website, and reading feedback on sites like SDN. Many also practiced answering common interview questions and sought advice from alumni or current students.
Addressing sample questions, reflecting on personal anecdotes, mock interviews
Looked over my primary and secondary application briefly. Looked through the interview feedback page. Went over the school's website and prepared answers to the most common questions. Practiced answering questions with family.
Thorough review of website materials including new hospital, community outreach programs (LOTS), and history of hospital. Review of my own application materials
looked over SDN Interview Feedback, primary application, secondary application, Rush's website, old ethics course material, current medical ethics issues.
Reread my AMCAS and secondary (they asked me lots of questions from these so be prepared for this!), prepared ''general'' interview questions and specific ones from SDN,
Reread my application, looked at reviews of Rush here, read about Chicago on the web, and read about some specialties I am thinking about in case they asked me why I am interested in cardiovascular surgery or neurosurgery.
Re-read secondary app., AMCAS app., Rush community service statement, Rush website, talked to people doing residency at Rush and dr's who graduated from Rush.
SDN- reviewed possible interview questions, read my AMCAS and supplemental applications, researched the school's website, typed up my questions to ask the interviewers/students
reviewed my supplemental and amcas, as both interviews are open file in some manner. i also ready up on rush, which was a good thing, as they asked me a question about why i specifically wanted to go to rush.
Reread my AMCAS application and secondary application. Prepared questions to ask and looked carefully over as much of the school's website as possible.
This was my first interview, so I had a mock interview with my pre-health advisor, read Rush's website and MSAR profile, and did a google news search to find any recent items about Rush.
Read SDN interview feedback, went on rush university website, rmstudents.com was helpful, talked to faculty who worked there and talked to people who went there
Reviewed my application, this website, Princeton Review book on medical school (very helpful), talked to people who have had similar experiences, and had a good time the previous day (proved to be a good stress reducer)
Read SDN, read web site, practiced interviewing, read over AMCAS (I'm glad I did this because one of my interviwers was asking me many questions on it)
Read the AMCAS and the secondary application. ADVISE: Don't forget to review the answers you gave to essay questions on the secondary applications. You'll be asked questions on them on the open file interview.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students, faculty, and staff at Rush. The collaborative environment, supportive atmosphere, and emphasis on community service opportunities were commonly highlighted as positive aspects of the school. Suggestions included improving communication with applicants prior to interviews and increasing responsiveness from the admissions office.
The kindness of the students and faculty and how collaborative everyone said the school was.
Based on their questions, my interviewers had obviously read my application carefully. I appreciated the amount of thoughtfulness they put into their questions.
Interview style was very relaxed and straightforward for the open file interview. AdCom interviewer was clear in what he did like in my answers and my demeanor. Faculty interviewer was very very nice and made it clear that the interview would be relaxed. All of the staff and speakers seemed very passionate about the school and seemed genuine about their excitement.
The students seemed very happy with the school and the administration. I was told that the faculty is very supportive and this was the impression I received from interacting with faculty during the day. Many of the students are very actively engaged in extracurriulars (community service is big at Rush). The other students interviewing also seemed fun, friendly, and laid back. Also, the facilities are beautiful (the hospital is brand new and they are building more new facilities). Another positive is that I didn't realize that many students actually live in downtown Chicago!
Everything about the school is catered to its students, Rush students are the only ones rotating through County, building, location, faculty and staff, student atmosphere
everything! The new hospital they're building, the tour of the hospital and the medical school. Lunch was delicious too! Everyone who talked to us was so nice and the students were so pumped to be there
The interviewers, faculty, recruiting director were all friendly and welcoming. And not in a "fake" way either, you didn't feel like they were looking over you with a microscope, but that they were really trying to get to know who YOU are.
New hospital that will be finished by the time I would start rotations, all students seemed to be down to earth and positive, attention to detail of admissions, reputation of school
Everyone was so friendly and excited to show off the school. Loved lunch and meeting the admissions members, students, professors, etc. overall a great day.
Very centralized, connected campus in the heart of the medical district. Rotations at Cook County Stroger. Very non-competitive, "family-like" (their term) atmosphere.
They students are very happy at Rush. They all seem to have a good balance between school and social life. The new hospital will be finished by 2012. Curriculum is changing (cutting down on class, physicianship program). Chicago is AMAZING! All the professors still practice medicine and see patients.
everything. the campus was awesome, the students were really friendly, the staff was friendly, my interviewers were cool. the students who took us on the tour and ate lunch with us were awesome- but even just the ones we passed by smiled and waved and wished us luck. they all seem so happy! also, lunch was amazing (and vegetarian friendly)
The admissions staff was really friendly and as far as I heard, everybody's interviewers were extremely nice. Mine were very laid back and although they asked me specific questions, it was really just a long conversation.
Very Low Stress, Very straight forward and honet. Very bright Gross Anatomy Lab. Best Lunch so far out of my intereviews. Having interviews first in the day made the day much easier.
The students were very enthusiastic and the faculty seemed very nice and interested in the students. I was surprised that the admissions staff were also nice. Rush admissions staff won't take phone calls, did not respond to several emails that I sent (well, a secretary indicated she had forwarded my message and that someone would get back to me but that didn't happen), and seemed generally uninterested in me until I got an interview invitation. I tried calling and was directed to email (again). They wouldn't even take a message and call me back. Turns out the staff are nice after all (they escort you to the interview offices which was very nice as Rush is mazelike) but my earlier impression of their inaccessibility still makes me nervous about how they might treat me if I have any problems as a student.
The students are extremely welcoming and really down to earth. Totally could see myself at a school with people like that. Faculty are all caring and welcoming. The school itself has some outdated areas (but what school doesn't) but overall I liked the campus. Beautiful views of Chicago from a lot of the windows in the hospital. I also really liked that everything was so coordinated during the day. The welcome session definitely put me at ease and staff members walked you to and from your different interviews, which was great. Lunch was provided and the Dean of the medical school stopped by to introduce himself. Everything was great.
The true compassion the students seem to have, the collaborative environment of the students (not cut-throat competition), and the accessibility of the professors. LOTS of opportunity for community out-reach and public health service.
The admissions office who ran the interview really kept us busy and made us feel comfortable. The interviews were very laid back, and they even had some attendings and the dean of the med school come in to speak with us.
Rush is ranked in some top specialties. Rush also has a large community outreach program which interested me. I also like that the school is connected to the hospital, so you never really have to go outside unless you want to go home =)
The facilities are great, everyone was helpful, friendly, and nice (even random M3 and M4 students I met later in the day), the administration and day was well organized.
Everyone was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and friendly. We were escorted to and from our interviews, thereby eliminating our fears of getting lost. The school has great facilities and is in an excellent location.
Everyone was super nice and genuinely helped us out. Guides escorted us to and from all interviews so we wouldn't get stressed getting around their cavernous facility. Brilliantly well coordinated (nothing like their e-mail fiasco.)
Everybody was excited to meet us. The interviewers were great. Met with a Surgeon and a Director of a department. Both very friendly. The tours were amazing. One led by an M4 and one by M1s and M2s. Toured the hospital and school.
The enthusiasm of the students and faculty for the school were great. My interviewers were very candid about what the school has and doesn't have in terms of the M1 and M2 years. I can' think of a better place to be for my M3 and part of my M4 years.
Everyone was happy and loved the school, the facilities were great, curriculum seemed well thought-out, involment in free-clinics and research was encouraged (and participation was high), we got to meet a lot of differen't students and had time to chat with them over lunch and ask them anything...
I definitely got the feeling that students really love the school and I was so encouraged by how friendly and nice everyone (and I mean everyone) was to me and to each other!
EVERYONE was so incredibly friendly and seemed to absolutely love it there. The faculty seems very approachable. And you are given packets of notes for each class that covers everything you need to know for exams--so you don't need to go to lecture if you prefer and you don't need to rely on a note-taking service.
The atmosphere was VERY inviting. The staff and students claim to be happy, and you can clearly see they enjoy their jobs and studies very much. It was a very enthusiastic place to be. Can I add the views of Chicago are breath-taking from every wing of the hospital?
The friendliness of the EVERYONE there. The windows are really quite nice- great views of the city from nearly every floor. The way the buildings are all connected to each other- Chicago can get really cold in the winter! The cooperativity of the students. The way the profs give the students a packet of everything they need to know for the class instead of using a notes service. The high-tech lecture halls. The location- so close to so many great Chicago things. The amount of people that have stayed at Rush for so long because they simply like it there.
Everything was extremely organized. I arrived there, we each had a personalized folder explaining EVERYTHING I wanted to know about the school (my interview schedule, class schedule, student organizations, financial aid, school statistics, etc). The lady coordinating the entire event was extremely fun and did a great job introducing us to the school. And then we were escorted to/from each of our interviews. Can't ask for more than that on an interview day in terms of logistics.
Not only that, but everybody there seemed to love Rush. I asked some students, ''So, give it to me straight - do you like it here?'' They looked at me like I was crazy for even considering that the answer would be no.
The overwhelmingly positive enthusiasm of the school -- everyone -- students, faculty, administrators -- all seem to love being at Rush. The faculty seem concerned with improving the curriculum but also with how well their students do. It is a very supportive environment -- and did not feel like students competed against each other in unhealthy ways.
I was impressed by the facilities... regardless of the old elevators... The dean of admissions stopped by and greeted all of us (very personable)... I particulary loved the volunteer programs they had available for the medical students...
The students really liked their medical school. They seem happy and relaxed. I was told the students are very helpful and student are not cut-throat competitive. Also, Chicago is a very diverse and happening city.
The deans' office seems very open to the students, offering a tight-knit feeling to the school. Students stopped by to talk with the deans randomly, and everyone seemed very enthusiastic about the school.
I was impressed with the overall commitment to student satisfaction. The curriculum has adjusted to meet the students concerns. Faculty seemed very positive and supportive of students.
Everyone is very happy at Rush, including the students and faculty. The students don't seem too stressed and everyone (faculty and staff) really wants to help the students succeed. The environment is very supportive. Also, Rush is a very clinically orientated school, which is different than some. You can have serious patient contact as early as January of year one.
The students and faculty were very enthusiastic about the school and seemed very happy. They also have wonderful oppotunities to get involved in the community and abroad.
Collegiality between students. Everyone said of how friendly everyone is and willing to help you out. The guide, a senior, actually said there was only one gunner in the class and the rest were all cool.
The students were very nice and it is in a great location. The administration is really dedicated to producing excellent doctors (not neccess. physician scientists, which is a bit of a down side).
Everyone there (students, faculty, staff) seemed genuinely happy to be there and enthusiastic about the school. The RCSIP (Rush Community Service Initiatives Program) is an amazing way to get students involved with clinical community service and all the professors/doctors encourage students to approach them to do research if they want. Also, M1s get to have clinical experience after 6 weeks.
Everyone is happy there. Rush students are happy with their choice, lifestyle, and location. There seems to be much more cooperation than competition among students. The Medical center is huge and quite nice.
Friendly & helpful students, match lists, surrounding hospitals, financial aid presentation, free lunch, admissions office was inviting (and I was even late!!)
The students seemed really happy with their decision to attend Rush and said that the administration is really receptive/responsive to students' needs, there are only four students per cadaver (six is more common), the facilities are quite new and additional renovations and construction is pending, there are so many opportunities to network and take advantage of Rush's medical district location, and it's really close to Chicago's downtown area (great view from the ninth floor).
Both the students and staff are extremely friendly. The facilities are amazing. 4 students per cadavar. Community feel towards campus. Great network of hospitals including Cook County. Student housing is also pretty nice.
The student body and admissions committee are super friendly. As we were touring the library ourselves, two medical students stopped studying and chatted with us.
clinical rotations. Rush is affiliated with Rush Medical Center and Cooks County. Rush medical center predominately treats patients who are wealthy and Cooks County treats patients who are poor. Thus, students get to see a wide spectrum of patients.
Not too much! The director of admissions was very friendly and financial aid. But, the school is quite expensive and students spend much of the day in the classroom leaving little time for anything else. Also, the school is not in the best of neighborhoods.
The students were really friendly, and not to sound like a pig, but the lunch really made my day! It was huge and very delicious, so if your interviews are over in the morning (as mine were), then sit back and enjoy a big, yummy lunch to celebrate! In addition, the staff was very friendly and helpful throughout the day. I felt very comfortable there.
My open file interviewer was very straightforward and asked thought-provoking questions. It would be great if all of the teachers at the school were like him. I was also impressed with the friendliness of the students.
The facilities were impressive. The admissions director gave a welcoming orientation. The M1's that guided the tour seemed to be very content with their school.
The staff and students were extremely enthusiastic about their school. School pride is happiness to me because it reflects the happiness and well being of the student body.
New facilities, beautiful view of Chicago, amiable faculty and students, very efficient admissions process, Rush is the only med. school with access to Cook County Hospital
everything!!! Rush is awsome. the people are very nice and helpful. the students looked stressed but it was finals week. Other than this, the students were very down to earth and happy there.
All the students expressed a great deal of pride in their school and education, staff & faculty were very welcoming & candid; It just seems to be a place where people can learn and still enjoy themselves. Rush is a great system to do clinical rotations at, and there is access to several other neighboring systems. Chicago is a great city & parking at the school is cheap ($40/month).
This school has the most friendliest people -- staff, students and professor, you name it! The admission staff treat each applicant with respect. This school is the most laid back of all medical school I have visited in the past.
THere were two interviews. BOth one on one, but one was open file and on was closed file. THe closed file interview was amazing! The doctor was really down to earth and seems to absolutely love being here
Everyone at the school was very, very nice. They all wanted to help and make sure everything went well for the day. The atmoshpere was great due to them.
Everyone was so friendly and happy! The students, staff, and the admissions director (Jan Schmidt) were all absolutely fantastic. Everyone at Rush has been extremely helpful and pleasant every step of the way. According to a recent survey, Rush students are among the happiest in the world and it shows! Every student we met absolutely loved Rush. The learning facilities are great too. The study areas are open 24 hours and are very nice!
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the long and tiring interview day, lack of engagement or warmth from interviewers, disorganization in interview scheduling, high tuition costs, limited facilities (such as no gym or outdated library), and the intensity of some interviewers. Suggestions included improving interviewer friendliness, streamlining the interview process, enhancing facilities, and addressing the high costs associated with attending the school.
The interview day felt extremely long. It's 30 mins per interview (2 interviews), then the remaining 5 hours consists of informational sessions or Q&A. There's also an optional student Q&A/social hour the night before for 1.5 hours. I appreciated all the opportunities for questions but it started feeling redundant.
I felt grilled by my interviewer. He seemed preoccupied by the weaknesses in my application and focused pretty exclusively on wanting to hear about them.
Adcom interviewer was very curt and seemed very uninterested in discerning more information from me. Asked me if I had any questions for him after only 1 or 2 questions.
Nothing except you are stuck in one lecture hall basically for two years. But, the incredible hospital and the people, and being in Chicago override all of that!
I dont like that they are on the topic based learning model. Even my interviewer said he wished they switched to systems based. They say they are modifying the curriculum but it won't be for some time. Its also REALLY cold in Chicago.
not much- the location is kind of a pain to get to if you go to school here (either park in an expensive lot or take the train) but they validate the parking for your interview so it's ok. also it didn't seem like the lecture hall had outlets for laptops which is kinda weak but i'll deal
Too many people from U of I at the school, it takes a long time to give you a final answer, my interviewers were sort of distant and not very warm, it seemed like commuting to the school would be a suicidal idea
Nothing! It was my first interview and I was terrified, but they were really good at putting everyone at ease, and by the time I actually made it to the first interview, I was much calmer than when I first arrived.
The facilities. There is no gym -- you have to go to UIC or find your own gym. The lecture hall where you apparently live 9-5 every weekday for the first two years has no windows and is awful! Research is difficult to do at Rush. Opportunities seem limited and you have to take a lot of initiative to make ti happen or plan to give up the entire summer after M1 year. The MD-PhD program is almost dead in the water and students discouraged me from considering it. The website makes the preceptor program sound very cool but the students I talked to about it were not happy with their preceptor. One of their classmates got assigned to a doc in a Mexican neighborhood -- the patients all spoke Spanish. The doc was bilingual but didn't translate for the student. She asked to get reassigned but wasn't and felt that her time there was just a total waste.
As I was told by one of the students, research opportunities at Rush don't jump out at you-- you have to go searching for research to do.
The lecture hall that M1s spend 9-5 in has no windows and is very cavern-like.
It was a little bit chaotic, running from one interview to the next; also, my second interviewer had never interviewed a med school applicant before, and it was pretty clear during the interview he didn't know what to ask me.
Tuition, obviously, but this IS a private institution. Getting around Rush is tricky--this place is one huge maze. If you wanted to play a game of hide-and-seek, I guarantee they'd never find you!
The lecture hall is really large. I'm tired of that and am kind of looking for the small class size atmosphere. This was a negative to me, but may not be to you.
The lack of a formal program for doing work abroad in the summer. No gym, but you can use UIC's or other gyms for a discount. The quarter system (as opposed to semesters).
They have a great volunteer program, but it seems like you HAVE to volunteer to get a significant amount of clinical experience in M1/M2 years. Notice I said *significant.* They still give you patient contact in your first 2 years there.
Some of my fellow interviewees were given incorrect room information -- this was the last day of interviews and I was surprised that they were disorganized.
Disorganization. I was one of six people who was left waiting outside of the wrong room (but the room on our confirmation email)until 5 minutes AFTER the day was to start. Also, my open-file interviewer hadn't read my file and my closed file interview was a jerk.
The disorganization. A bunch of interviewees were left hanging at the wrong location because they were given the wrong room number. I received several e-mails asking me to confirm my interview day/time, despite responding to all of them. My interviewers were not committee members and were not instructors at the school -- what was the point of talking to them? They couldn't answer important questions, like what changes were being made in the curriculum, as reported on their website.
I heard from several students that they are really screwed when it comes to health insurance. Students can't get prescription medicine they need and they say they're paying thousands a year for coverage. You can see some bitterness in the students with that regard.
Rush has a wide spectrum of buildings meaning that some of them are old and dumpy but some are very new and nice. Some of the elevators suck! Some of the other interviewees seemed like they were putting on a act, which kind of bothers me sometimes. But hey, didn't affect my performance so I guess who cares.
The school is expensive, there is no gym (they get a discount at surrounding gyms, most go to UIC's), and classes go from 9-5 every day (but are optional attendence for the most part)
Cost is way up there. Financial aid meeting helped show how school is paid for, but its still going to cost about 1/4 of your paycheck for the first 10 years of work unless you land a great residency.
The price, this schol is super expensive, but its private so what do u expect. Also the tour guides seemed like the kids in undergrad that slacked off the whole time and got into med school.
my open file interview was very intense and lasted over 90 minutes. the interviewer took every opportunity to probe me- and when he felt it wasn't working, he took the opportunity to get into my personal life and express his opinions about that, which i found very frusterating and inappropriate. I was told that I wasn't altruistic enough for the school- making why they would have interviewed me in the first place. However, the closed file interview when very well, but seemed unimportant in comparison to the longer, earlier interview
There were two interviews, each ~50 minutes; one open file and one closed file. The open file went much smoother. The closed file interviewer did not go as smoothly. I was asked about what would happen if I made a mistake, & what I do for fun. It wasn't anything he said, it just seemed that he was not a very positive, nice man. Admissions just pointed us in the direction of where we were suppossed to go & didn't take us there. I had to go across the street to another building & got lost coming back! I also couldn't find my car in their parking garage when I was trying to leave!!!
My first interview was very short, while my second interview was very long. I was therefore left feeling like I really didn't know how I had done overall.
The students who did my tour were not very impressive. One bragged about sleeping in class all the time and another asked all of us whether we really wanted to come to Rush or if our interview was just a test-drive. Also, they didn't have a good place for us to have lunch because the room they usually use was full and they didn't want to ask the people in there to leave.
My open-file interviewer seemed to discourage me from doing medicine. He really stressed the fact that I might have to give up music in medical school and he didn't think I was prepared to face that. It was incredibly intimidating.
The labs could use a little work. Also, the removal of the alternate curriculum, which included more PBL, was a negative for me. I was under the impression, however, that the revised curriculum is still quite acceptable (97% match in their top three choices & the students do well on Steps 1 & 2).
One of my interviews was with a practicing physician who kept staring at her watch, pager, and computer instead of listening to me. I mean, I know she was busy, but I felt really bad about that interview afterwards. I thought she hated me, but I still ended up getting accepted the following week, so don't feel bad if this happens to you.
The school is set up in a few floors on one building, it seemed like they never leave that area. However, most the students, and even on of my interviewers, commented on how virtually no one actually goes to class.
Applicants commonly wished they had known more about the interview format and specific types of questions asked, such as how some interviews were more conversational while others focused on ethics. They also recommended being prepared with questions for the admissions team, dressing comfortably for tours, and being aware of traffic conditions when traveling to the interview.
That for RUSH getting the interview is the hardest part.
Know your application extremely well and be able to back up any assertions you make. Same goes for your responses during interview day-- they will ask you to elaborate and defend your position.
Interview is VERY relaxed and conversational for the 40-minute interview. Application-specific topics and medical topics are discussed, but much of it is a natural progression of conversation (i.e. we talked about reading, music, etc).
Uber is your friend to and from the airport, if you can try to ride back with other interviewees. Water was provided, but you should probably bring a bottle just in case. Eat breakfast beforehand although they did provide snacks (granola bars/muffins) and coffee. Bring flats for the tour if you are wearing heels. And RELAX, it was actually a very fun interview.
I wish I had known that I wouldn't be asked any tough questions about the healthcare industry or ethics! I was worried about this, and at least for my interview, I wasn't asked any questions on these topics. Note that this was just my personal experience.
Searle Conference Center is Home Base
My schedule:
830am-- Arrive-Welcome
845am--Rush Medical College Overview
930am--Closed File/Co-Curricular with an M4 student
1130am-- Clinical Tours-- Tour Floor with M3 and M4 students
1200pm-- Academic Tour and Lunch with Students
1:10pm-- Reflect on Day, The Next Steps, Q and A
1:30pm-- Dr. Anderson-- Open File/Academic Interview Department of Internal Medicine -30 minutes.
Even though my parents live in the suburbs and I stayed with them, I wish I would have stayed instead with a student in one of the Rush apartments. I think I would have learned more about the school on a less formal basis. They are building a new hospital but it won't be open until I am done with medical school.
I wish I had known more about how important community involvement was. I would have found more info on their programs. They pride themselves on patient care (well above research), so take note.
That the interview would be laid back..I didn't have any ethical questions, all q's were just getting to know me better as a person. Although, from talking to other interviewees some got all ethics q's at their interviews.
I wish I had known how stress-free the experience would be. I was really nervous about the interviews, and so I barely slept the night before. RELAX, they're not out to get you!
Traffic was a nightmare. Arrive the night before if you're driving. I hit fog and black ice conditions. I doubled my trip time and still arrived 15 minutes late for orientation. Granted, I had the worst luck ever but still. Don't make the mistake I did.
I debated over whether to stay in a hotel right by the school or to stay downtown (which I did) and enjoy the city while I was there. In the end, the cab ride from downtown took no more than 15 minutes and cost around $10, so there was little advantage to staying right near the school.
The interviews were at the end of the day, so you already have so much information about Rush prior to asking your questions to your interviewers. I also wish I would have known that our day was the last interview day of the year (with rolling admissions, I leave little room for hope of an acceptance).
they wouldn't ask me any questions about anything of my application or anything about medicine. I guess it depends on your individual interviewer though. However I didn't go home thanksgiving break because of this thing
That there was going to be music playing and a picture slide show in the morning. It was pretty funny. I have no idea why i "wish i had known of this ahead of time" but i just wanted to share this with others.
Interviews immediately follow the welcome session! Also, they say 30 minutes/interview but mine were 1 hour / 40 minutes. The doctors either don't know about time limits or don't care.
They have changed the interview format this year. There are two 30 minute interviews; one open and one closed file. Interviews are all over the place, but a staff member personally takes you to and picks you up from each interview. They make the day as stress free as possible, and this was a nice touch.
Chicago Traffic!! Literally took me 1 hour 30 minutes to go about 15 miles. Plan to be there well in advance. Also make sure you have an alternate route in case highways are locked up.
Rush has a lot of institutional grant and loan monies available--it appears to help offset the REALLY high tuition. Also, Rush has migrated to a paperless admissions committee review process this year--and it's been LOADED with problems. As a result, they didn't interview anyone for nearly three months. I asked about the delay in my application (six months) and whether it corresponded to Rush's level of interest in me. My interviewer said that because of the computer glitches, it did not (although in any other year, it would). So--don't despair if you haven't heard from Rush yet.
I wish i had known how intense the interviews were know to be. i later realized that many people had had similar experiences there, but i was not expecting the intensity of it. whatever you do, don't take what your interviewer is saying to personally and don't get too frusterated. maybe other people don't need this advice, but it would have helped me.
That I was gooing to sit there for an hour before we started anything. I also would have liked to know that I was going to get one interview before lunch, then wait until 2 pm for the next one. What a long day.
Nothing. But here is a tip: if you are driving to RUSH, allow extra time for traffic. The traffic is brutal around when you are supposed to be at the school.
Also, you can park in the RUSH visitor parking for free but don't forget to ask for parking validation at the admission office.
Applicants generally found the Rush interview experience to be structured, with a mix of open and closed file interviews. Most feedback highlighted the friendly and down-to-earth nature of interviewers, the emphasis on knowing oneself and motivations, and the positive impression of Rush School as a welcoming and community-focused institution. Some applicants mentioned specific interview styles, varying stress levels, and aspects of the campus and student life that influenced their perceptions of the school.
The open file interview was more structured and there was a pre-set list of questions you had to go through while the closed file interview started more general and followed the conversational flow.
All of my interviewers were straight and to the point. They were not particularly warm or smiley, which is ok, it's just a change from some of the other interviews I've attended. I would characterize it as a "pressure interview," they definitely pushed me on some points I'd written about or responses I made.
Would recommend not only knowing the ins and outs of your application, but why you wrote about them and what your exact motivations are beyond what is written in your personal statement
Don't be nervous about your Rush interview - if you know yourself and know what Rush stands for, you will be fine. They told us during the interview that they are just trying to make sure that you are who you represented yourself to be on your application, so as long as you are true to yourself you'll do great :)
You do go outside during winter so bring warm stuff, shoes that aren't easy to slip in. Prepare for the interview but not too much, most interviewers weren't bad.
Not a high stress interview as long as you go in knowing that you are going to be expected to be communicative, and know what you wrote on your secondary, and be able to expand those experiences and add to them.
Great Location. Great People. Incredible New hospital being built. So nice. Huge Medical Complex. Great Teaching place. lots of hot women if your a man! Doctors are your friends and teachers. Chicago has tons to see and do. I never thought Rush was this good. You have to see to believe that Rush is a TOP notch school. You will be trained a good doctor. They have you shadow and acutally do diagnosing as an M1. Sick Sick school. I hope I get in. I cant wait to go there!!!
Each interview was scheduled to be 30 minutes each. Both of my interviewers followed the time frame. Come with 10-15 minutes of questions. (about 3-4 good questions)
Their curriculum is undergoing major reform, and this will continue to occur in the upcoming years. Both my interviewers were really nice - the interview was definitely more of an interview rather than a conversation (more focused). Almost everyone I interviewed with had a great day and really enjoyed the school.
Overall, great experience and wonderful interviews. They are just curious to get to know you. Very low stress. People from admissions office take you from the meeting room to each interview so you don't get lost.
you have 2 interviewers, one has access to your whole file, the other has access to your supplemental only. I thought I did very well with my open file interview, wasn't so sure of my 2nd one because it was so brief and she mostly spoke about her experience at Rush. In the end I got in so I guess they liked me!
The admissions office was very warm and friendly. The interviews were rapid fire questions. There were 25 people total being interviewed. The interviews were done first so you could relax and enjoy the tour and extra info.
There are two interviews, both one on one. One is a ''co-curricular interview'' which means it is essentially closed-file except that you interviewer has access to your secondary application. The other is the ''academic interview'' where you interviewer has access to your whole application.
I really enjoyed the interview day and I learned a lot about the school.
Rush supposedly has a second look day. I am reserving my final judgment until I can have another look around. It is a REALLY expensive school, mostly because the amount of financial aid you get is crap -- its almost all loans. Congenial students and nice faculty teaching in crappy lecture halls don't necessarily make the $200K you will accumulate in debt worth it when you leave for residency.
Overall, a positive experience. No weird questions, they definitely were just trying to get to know me and not grill me about health care politics or moral issues.
I was lucky that I was in a group that had interviews in the morning and then the tour in the afternoon. It made the whole thing a lot less stressful because we got the interviews over early and could focus on asking the current students questions during lunch and the tours. Everything was very well-organized about the day. Lunch was pretty good and they had muffins and coffee upon arrival.
I REALLY RECCOMEND taking advantage of their student housing option which allowed me to arrive the day before my interview and stay with M1 students who were extremely helpful and friendly, answered all my questions, and took me with them to study in the computer lab, library, and even to anatomy tutorial so I could feel what it was like to be a Rush M1 student. It was worth sleeping on the couch to get all that extra experience. Plus, one of the students that I stayed with walked me to the interview site so I had no problems arriving exactly where I needed to be without a lot of stress. Plus, it was freeÃฦ¢ââโฌลก¬Ãโ¦.
About the interview, I was really lucky in that my interviewers were totally laid back and I really clicked with them. The first interview had more ''tough'' questions than the second, but they were both basic ''getting to know you and your motives and goals'' which was fairly un-stressful. Just be sure you know the answers to those questions yourself and can express them clearly.
Although MY interviewers were really laid back, there was another prospective that had two really hard interviews- she said that every question was ethical during her first interview (even handing her an article to read and reflect on during the interview!) and that during her second interview, the interviewer just fired question after question going right down a list with no real conversation.
Because Rush has no standard questions that every interviewer must ask, it's really luck of the draw as far as what you'll be facing in your interview!
Introduction to each other and the recruitment director, 2 interviews (open and closed file), a laid back lunch with the students, tours of the facilities, and out by 2:30.
It is a great time. Even though you go in worried, they immediately make you feel at home and comfortable. Even though the interviews were in the afternoon, once you were there, it was in a very relaxed environment.
a very very chill day. both of my interviewers were very laid back and easy to talk to and everyone was super nice. don't stress about interviewing here at all and enjoy the day.
Overall, it was a long but pretty stress free day. The interviews are pretty relaxed and typical; getting them out of the way in the morning is nice, so you can enjoy your afternoon tours.
The day was awesome. You have an orientation first..and the admissions director is very honest and straight forward. The nice thing about Rush's admission process is that you have just as much of a chance of being accepted in march as you do if you had interviewed in october or november (they told us that on interview day). So a march interviewee is definitely interviewing for open spots.
You have two interviews. One open file the other closed file with access to your secondary. The closed file interview was definitely a lot more fun and enjoyable. Both interviewers were just trying to get to know you as a person. I did not get any hard questions or ethical questions. Enjoy the day..it will be fun!
The whole day was very structured and really laid back. The interviews were more of a conversation than a Q and A session. Overall, a totally stress free day.
Very relaxed, but at the same time you know you are there to see if this medical school is a good match for you. They flat out tell you that the interview day is to see if you are a good fit for Rush, and based on the interview format, they do just that.
Going into the interview, I honestly didn't expect to be wowed by the facilities and the staff, which is what I felt after the day's agenda was done. Rush is a great school and their admissions staff will exert every possible effort to make sure that the interview experience is a pleasant one.
Positive, stress free, with everyone very enthusiastic. It was low-key and I wasn't drilled at all about really difficult questions or concentrated on the faults of my application.
After being welcomed, we were given an overview of the day. The interviews were held in the morning, after which we were given a clinical tour by an M3 student and resident. Next, we had lunch with a group of medical students. These then took us on a tour of the college itself. We had plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the school and student life. Overall, it was a great day. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be doing a LOT of walking!
The entire day was choreographed to perfection and everyone seemed to be making a genuine effort to make us have a pleasant and stress-free time. Their students are excellent not just academically, but also as caring and personable individuals. The school is heavily invested in its community activities and in this regard, boasts some impressive statistics. If you're looking for a sunny campus with outdoorsy setups, Rush is a poor choice. They are crammed into a few buildings with few windows and even the gym facilities are located off-campus in UIC and other areas. Although if you're willing to sell your soul to medical school and want to study in a top class institution in an artsy city with plenty to do during your breaks, Rush is located perfectly. Finally, if you are the type who cares more about actually making a difference as a physician rush is the place for you.
Out of the 3 schools I've interviewed at so far, it was my favorite. The faculty aren't paid to teach. They are paid to do research but the teaching is voluntary. Many faculty stick around for long periods of time, because they like it there so much.
Really pleseant and informative. They answered half of my questions with their information packets, so be prepared with lots. Looks like a great school
I absolutely loved Rush and hope that I get accepted there! The day started with a greeting and looking through the schedule and other handouts given to us. Next, I had an open-file interview from 9:30-10:30 and then a closed-file interview from 10:45-11:45. Folliwing this there was a clinical tour (hospital), lunch with Rush Medical Students, and an academic tour (lecture halls, library, etc.), and then a final debriefing session explaining what's next in the admissions process. We were done promptly by 2PM, and the day was extremely organized.
The day was very organized and staff took you directly to your interview and picked you up so that you didn't get lost. We were given a packet of information about the school and program and had to opportunity to meet a number of students from all four years during the tour and during lunch. The 2 interviewers were very friendly and definitely seemed interested in getting to know me and convince me to go to Rush, rather than trying to fluster me. It was an early day (8:30), unfortunately, but we were done by 2 pm.
went to the gameroom, about 18 students there, mostly OOS. presentations, tour of the facilities, lunch with students, interview scheduals arrives, first interview around 1:30 and closed for about 30 min, second interview around 2:30 open mostly ethical and around 70 min. Finally closing statements by the president of the school and other departments. Finally home sweet home!!!
Good experience but others had a rough time. A girl had non stop questions from her secondary. Make sure you know what you wrote because you will regret it if you dont.
There were two interviews. One was closed file, and the other was open file. We were escorted to our interviews in a timely and efficient manner. We got a clinical and an academic tour by M2, M3, and M4 students. They answered all of our questions and offered valuable advice. I throughly enjoyed my day.
Great interview day. The students were friendly and helpful, well organized day, relaxed atmosphere, they take you to and from the interview areas (I have been lost before) diversity is apparent and celebrated.
A lot of people talk about the UIC vs. Rush comparison. I learned something today. At Rush, you belong to a family. Every faculty member knows one another. Every faculty member knows every student by first name. They all get along, hang out, have dinner together, get drinks together, joke around with eachother, etc. People DO love it there.
I did not get that vibe when I interviewed at UIC. I'm not saying UIC is inferior, but I AM saying that Rush is much more suited for me. I like students working together, I like a school where people actually go to class, and I like feeling as if every single person in the Rush Medical Center is working towards a common goal together. They care about their students.
Two interviews -- one closed and one open. One of my interviewers was a psychologist who works in the Dean's Office. He asked me great questions and had a wealth of knowledge about Rush and its curriculum. I was concerned ahead of time that he was not a physician but he was the most informed person I met the whole day! Plus, he was a really nice guy. Staff escort you to the interviews and pick you up. Sure beats getting lost -- my norm at other schools. The students also give a tour (including the hospital!), refreshments and a yummy lunch are served. There are some brief presentations about Rush and some of its programs. They are very serious about their volunteer program and give you a lot of information about it. The students think the volunteer program is one of the best opportunities they could have!
You have two interviews: one totally open-file and one totally closed-file. However, my open file interview was really closed because he was in surgery all morning and didn't have time to read my file, but I thought it was friendly enough. Then my closed file interview was awful, he questioned my ability to perform during residency given my age and left me 25 minutes to ask him questions. His answers were vague and not very helpful.
It left me questioning the school. With its disorganization, how frustrating would it be to be a student there? I get the sense that Rush would be a great place to be resident, but I'm not sure about a med student.
It was very organized. it was easy to find the place. free parking. refreshments are provided. Everybody that you will meet will be happier than the next. its a VERY happy and nice environment. Two tours and then a person takes you to and from your interview rooms. thats pretty dam nice.
I thought it went pretty well and I really liked the school and would love to attend. I was waitlisted about 5 weeks later and am hoping I will still get accepted in the next few months.
I arrived at the conference hall around 8:00 am... they don't start with the basics until 8:30 am... remember to drink some coffee it's a pretty long day with a lot of walking...
The interviews were very low stress. The interviews felt more like conversations rather than actual interviews. The interviewers were very nice and truly cared about you. One thing I suggest is have questions ready for your interviewers.
The interviews were easy, to say the least. My open-file interviewer didn't ask me a single question about myself really. He almost seemed to assume I was in for sure. My closed-file interviewer just chatted with me about the school and health care.
Excellent experience. I came in with some misgivings about Rush and its reputation, and left convinced that this would be one of my top choices.
Just found out that I was admitted, so I'm really excited at the prospect of going!
Both of my interviewers were very knowledge and positive of the campus environment. They asked me questions regarding my MCAT scores and academic record but were really trying to get a sense of me that was beyond just the numbers.
I was impressed about how relaxed they made me feel.
The whole experience was very informative and not very stressful. They really wanted to provide us with a lot of information about the school. We got a tour in the morning and got to ask a lot of questions. Then there were two 30min interviews in the afternoon (one open file, one closed). It was a really great experience.
It was really low stress, but again it depends on individual interviewers, My interviewers only talked to me about what I felt coming here and that was pretty much it. The rest of the interview they talked about going to medical school, how's technology working in medicine. Most of the interview they kept saying "what can I tell you about Rush" In the end my open file interviewer kind of freaked me out when he asked me all the places where I applied and went through each cities but then in the end said you are still young there are more ways to get there than one and you have a lot of time...I was like what the ... is he rejecting me already??? But Alhamdulillah I got in so ...
The interview was well organized and a person walks you to and from your interviews. You have 2 interviews 1 open file, the other closed both 30 min long. I felt that they were really easy but many students (60-80%) complained that they were asked difficult ethical questions or stupid bio questions like "how does one get aids? or cancer?"
Regardless, I must have done well enough to get in!
My interviewers were both very friendly and easy to talk to. It seemed like they were pleased with my file and my responses so things were very low-stress = ). I spent a lot of the time just shootin' the shit basically. Some of it was medicine but a lot of it was random stuff.
The day was organized very well with a welcome session followed by a clinical tour with 2 M3 students and then lunch and Q/A with M2 students. After lunch, we had another brief tour and then we were supposed to have 2 separate 30 minute interviews (even though my second one lasted 1 hour). One interview was open file and one was closed (even though both of mine were closed, which was fine with me!). The interviews were both VERY relaxed and not stressful at all. Overall, it was a very enjoyable interview day and I really hope to get accepted!!!
I was a bit nervous at first, but as soon as I started my interview, I found the interviewer very kind and easy to talk too. The best advice I can give is to be yourself and relax.
After showing up late and first interviewer being unavailable, the day went great. I enjoyed talking with my two interviewers and I never felt uncomfortable. The questions didn't deviate from application. No crazy cancer, current event or technical questions.
The first one was open file and consisted of the standard questions. He kept glancing at the wall clock behind me, which was a bit disconcerting--but whatever. Some other applicants on my day said that their interviewers asked them to discuss what causes diabetes or cancer, but I didn't get any of that. Nor did I get any ethics questions, which surprised me. The closed file interview was VERY laid-back and conversational. He made it a point to really sell me on Rush so that I could make a fully informed decision based on the program and its future plans.
Despite the recent posts, the interview was really laid back. If you're a nontraditional student, be able to justify all your decisions (why changing career, motivations, etc.).
I spent the night with a student host in Campus Court (student housing). The day started with two faculty interviews, one open file and one closed file. After that they gave a campus tour. The campus is connected to both the hospital and the nursing school. At one point of the tour, we entered an area of 30 students having lunch. One of the kids in my tour group asked "where are all of the guys?" Everyone in the room was a female. The school is comprised of 65% girls with a nursing school attached to the medical school.
It was really laid back. There were no ethical questions asked or anything that might be considered difficult. However, it does depend on the doctors you interview with.
Very nice student body and staff. 65% women for those single guys out there! One open, one closed interview with an MD and PhD. Open was traditionally formal interview, closed was casual conversation.
The other posts on this website had me worried that this was going to be a very intense, high stress interview but that wasn't the case at all. My interviews went very smoothly. They pretty much just wanted to know about my backround and experiences etc. The school seems pretty laid back and so do the students.
I thought the interviews were intense. My interviewers asked me almost everything. My first interviewer kept asking me to elaborate on my answer. For example, I would give him an answer after which he would say "aside from the answer you gave me, can you think of other reasons?" I just kept repeating my answers.
Overall pretty good. The second interviewer was a chld psychiatrist, so his interview was very stress-oriented. He immediately asked me why I wore a black suit, why I am bothering to apply to medical school, what my MCAT score is, if I have a girlfriend, if I will stay with her, etc.
Rush is a good school, and it was my third interview so I have adequate experience to compare it to other IL schools. Bascially, the staff and students did not seem very enthusiastic about the school, not that there is anything inherently terrible about that, but I just did not feel that sense of belonging to that school! It seemed that possibly there is more independence of students there than it seemed at other campuses. This can be good for others, but it wasn't something that I'm interested in.
I had a really good day at Rush. I felt that the interviews were challenging, and since there were my first I was somewhat nervous. However, the atmosphere is really relaxed, warm, and friendly. I felt that I would find the support that I'm sure we will all seek from our schools during the next four years.
Rush is a very good school for training future clinicians. By their own admission, they put patient care above research, although many opportunities exist for research experiences. There were two interview sessions, one was open file and basically went over the standard "Why medicine?," ethics, and personal problem questions; the other was closed file and the interviewer's only prior knowledge of me was my name. The closed file interview was very laid back and was more of a meandering conversation. The tour and its guides were very informative and worthwhile. Overall I liked the whole experience.
This is more of a concern about this school. I was accepted elsewhere and I'm incredibly torn. I wonder why Rush does not report to the US News survery that leads to medical school ranking. I know that it may be frivolous to rely solely on rankings in the selection of a school, especially considering that Rush is a place I can see myself spend the next few years of my life at, however, the reputation of your medical school still carries some weight in the subsequent residency placement. I guess, if you're interviewing here in the future, make sure to ask this question, and clarify (for your own peace of mind if you decide to go there) the politics behind this process. Is their reputation so impaired, or, in fact, historicaly poor, that they feel it shouldn't be reported? Where exactly do they rank?
The students and staff seemed nice. One of the interviewers kept answering pages and talked about nothing important while I was sitting in her office, almost like I was bothering her. The day was way too long. I was there at 8 something, sat around, had a couple meetings, then interview, then lunch, then sat around, then interview again. I got out of there after 3 pm.
Two interviews and a tour were conducted over a 5 hour period.
The first interviewer did not speak English very well and was just filling out answers on a worksheet. When the interviewer did not get the "correct" answer in a certain amount of time, he would just tell me his answer and move on; a couple of times, his was an answer to a different question ââโ¬âโฌล again because a language barrier existed.
The second interviewer seemed negative from the beginning. He spent half of my interview talking about the year I took off from college 16 years ago. The same questions were asked over and over again. The education portion of my AMCAS application was all that was covered. This interviewer did most of the talking and went off on tangents at every opportunity; he clearly liked to talk. I was not asked at all about the career that I have had for the last 10 years nor was I asked about any of my extracurricular activities or achievements. My research and volunteer activities were also not covered. I donââโ¬âโ¢t think this interviewer even read my application; if he actually had taken the time to study it at all, it did not show. I donââโ¬âโ¢t understand why I was invited to interview if they were not interested in me (the secondary application asks you to write 15 essays).
During the tour, the two first year students spent all of the time talking to the pretty girls that were interviewing alongside myself. Neither tour guide spent much time with my questions.
The facilities are beautiful - no doubt paid for by the high tuition. All classes are conducted in the same building so it is convenient. The medical students are happy with their school. After talking to many physicians in the Chicago area, I got the feeling that the school is not that prestigious. Also, there did not seem to be much credible research being conducted at the school that did not originate from other institutions or from outside physicians.
A refreshingly friendly and supportive atmosphere. Overall, it was more fun than stressful. I was also impressed with how nice the facilities were. A school I would be proud to attend.
8:45am - Arrive at Admissions office
9:15 - Admissions director still not out of meeting
9:30 - Director of fin aid talks with us
10 - Closed interview (1 hour)
11:15 - Open interview (40 minutes)
noon - lunch (complimentary, but just the salad bar and a drink)
12:30pm - Med student takes us on tour; anatomy lab, a classroom, student lounge.
I really liked the school alot. From the facilities to the students, everything was impressive. The great impression of Rush was all the hands-on experience one can get in just the first year.
There was an open file interview and a closed file interview each was over an hour long ( they were supposed to be at least thirty minutes each: lunch was held in a nice lounge that is normally reserved for physicians during the tour segment: i had one interview in the morning and one in the afternoon: total time spent at the school was about six hours:
I knew a sufficient amount about this school going into the interview, but knew of no defining characteristics. Following the interview, it's a very solid school in my mind. I'd definitely go here over many schools. Location is amazing, the reputation and quality of education have been consistently rising over the past 10 years, and there are no major negatives.
My interview experience started with a close interview first thing in the morning. Then then financial aid talks were given, then my second interview, which was open was given. The tour took us all around the facility and that was it ! The experience overall was very positive. The dean was amazing and so encouraging. It was very apparent just how enthusiastic she was about the school in general.
I had a great day at my interview at Rush. Rush doesnt talk themselves up much, so its hard to know what to expect. They really give you the feeling like they want you to choose them instead of the other way around. This would be a perfect place to have a first interview. Rush def. went from being a consideration to a top choice!
The entire experience was more comfortable and pleasant than I thought it would be. I felt that the interviewers tried their best to learn more about me beyond the numbers. It was more like a conversation rather than an inquisition, which I enjoyed.
Overall, the interviews day went well. For the most part the interviewers asked pretty standard questions but were less "conversational" than I expected.
The whole experience was REALLY laid back. Talk to the students everywhere you go, and see if these are the kids you want to spend your next four years with.
My first interviewer was pretty intense and intimidating... asking me nothing but questions about my weaknesses and ethics. Second one was closed file and very simple, but that interviewer didn't seem very interested in talking to me.
Overall, I didn't get the best feeling about the school. The student who led the tour was a first year and didn't seem too enthusiastic, and my interviewers were either not very personable or purposely intimidating. I left without really understanding Rush is truly like.
It was a pretty good and relaxed interview. They just wanted to have a conversation with me and really didnt put too much pressure on. They seemed to be trying to sell the school on me more than I was trying to sell myself.
It was a pretty standard visit. An orientation type meeting, my interviews, lunch with students, then a tour. Get there early, the complex is huge and there are a bunch of buildings attached to eachother. It can be hard to find your way around.
Rush is lots of fun. I liked it there a lot. The interviews went really well except the last guy talked for a long time about medicine and said a lot of the things that I wanted to say but he was very nice over all. Don't freak out if this happens to you, it's not that big a deal.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience - as enjoyable as an interview can be, that is. The staff goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable, and even prep you with some information on your interviewers.
Overall, I got a good impression of the school from the staff and students. I was very impressed with the friendliness of the interview coordinator and the first year students seemed really happy to be there. You get a sense of a caring, community type feeling on campus.
My interviewers were nice and interesting people, but the school just wasn't that great. Also, the anatomy lab needed some serious fumagation (that's the worst I've been in).
Overall the school and the people gave a good impression. The interviews were pretty laid-back and the schedule was very efficient. The student tour-guides were honest but enthusiastic about where they were going to medical school.
The interviews were very relaxed for the most part. They actually spent more time talking than I. They shared about themselves and, while they said my chances were favorable, gave me advice about what to do if I get wait-listed or rejected.
A terribly long day because of the 6 hours I was there, 4.5 of it was spent in the waiting room. However, everyone is very friendly and helpful. Interviewers were friendly and interested.
Overall it was a good experience. My first closed-file interview went by really fast. My second interviwer liked to take long pauses between questions while he flipped through my application.
I really liked Rush and hope to hear from them soon. I got a good feeling about the school and feel that they represented themselves honestly and fully.
Low stress, except it's hard to answer that many ethical questions hoping you're being sincere while saying the right things. I think they were just looking for a thoughful answer, not necessarily a right answer.
The interviews were wonderful. The staff was extremely nice and open to questions. This was a fun and enlightening experience. Be yourself. Check out the facilities and the people. You'll love it. I would give Rush my highest recommendation.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office provide more clarity on when to expect feedback after interviews and maintain consistency in the interview process. Additionally, they recommend updating the website with pertinent information, offering a contact number for inquiries, and standardizing the interview process.
I think we should be told exactly when we are hearing back from our interview.
A little more continuity in interviewers would be nice. My interviewer was critically analyzing my application and made several negative comments. I heard from others that their interviewer didn't really ask them any questions just sat and talked with them. I really enjoyed that such an effort was made to match interviewers with candidates that had something in common. That was a welcome and nice touch.
None! Very well organized, very clear on where we were going or what we were doing. Staff was extremely helpful and nice, and the day passed by very quickly.
Shorten the interview day - by the last few hours it was like...Okay the school is great, I appreciate your philosophy, but I get it already. Otherwise, it was very good.
