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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 10% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 714 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional8–8.9 Very Good7–7.9 Good6–6.9 Mixed< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
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 area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's motivations for pursuing medicine, preferences in selecting a medical school, experiences in the field, challenges faced, personal interests, and ethical considerations. Additionally, many respondents mentioned being asked 'Why Pritzker?' repeatedly, indicating a focus on school-specific motivations, with some interviews following an MMI format that delved into personal attributes and scenarios.
they asked a lottt of questions concerning why UChicago: what are u looking for in a school, what made you apply to UChicago, what made u apply to ur undergrad, what would you do if you had multiple acceptances. i kinda ran out of things to say bc they asked it so many different ways.
Tell me about your experiences in Mexico (I volunteered there while in high school with my church to build bathrooms with plumbing and other needed facilities)
I cant remember all the questions. Most were just to get to know who you are and how you have dealt with specific situations (e.g. how did you cope with a given situation?)
Will it be necessary for you to maintain long-term relationships with patients? (this related to my stated interest in ER)? How flexible will you be about the other specialties (you might hate ER rotation).
-Why did you choose to graduate from college in three years?
-Why Pritzker?
-A few ethical scenario were set up involving dealing with an authority figure that is in error and another question about a friend who cheated to get into medical school.
What do you do for fun? What was your most challenging class and why? How do you deal with problems? Who do you admire and why? How would you describe yourself?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including personal qualities, favorite books, career decisions, and hypothetical scenarios. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on the variety of questions asked, with some respondents possibly under a nondisclosure agreement due to the specific nature of the questions.
if you are someone with social justice in your application be prepared to back it up
Asked me if I was interested in the new 'scholarship/discovery' program in their curriculum and which field i think i would pick to do my project in. also asked if i spoke other languages.
What ties do you have to the Hispanic community? (I am applying as a URM but I got none of my Mexican mother's looks and all of my dad's Irish looks - plus, his Irish last name!)
Why and in what ways do you think China's society differs from our own... (prompted because I began studying Chinese) this question led to a 15 minute discussion about international politics, which was interesting!
If you were stranded on an island w/ 10 people (and you had everything you needed to survive) what would you most like to learn from them? What would you most like to teach them?
I usually like my interviewees to teach me something. You have 5 minutes to teach me anything you want. [It's hard to come up with something fun and interactive (that you know TONS about) off the top of your head.]
Tell me about your experiences with the doctor you shadowed in Maine. From there my interview developed a conversation about how ridiculous it was that doctors complain about decreasing salaries.
If I were to talk to your best friend, favorite professor, and a family member, how would they each describe you? My student interviewer asked me to just "talk about something."
Everything related to my file and from the conversations I had. The closest would be given your experiences with unethical practitioners in the law (I had remarked about a few cases I encountered but also pointed out that this was not the primary reason for my career switch), how would you react to a situation where you believed a doctor acted unethically or erronously?
Nothing too out of the ordinary- Why Chicago? Why Pritzker? It was clear that they take a lot of time and effort to make sure that the right students are matched up with the school.
How do you think the peace process is going to change now that Arafat is dead? He died the morning of my interview so I had no idea that he had until asked that question, needless to say I was surprised at first.
A man runs into your house looking panicked. He then runs out and you see him run to the left. Another man walks in with a knife and says, "Where is that guy...I'm going to kill him!" What do you say to the man? (In the end, I was told that the true answer is to tell the truth...) I said that I would like to say, "I DOn't know" but in reality, if I was scared for my life, I would probably tell the truth. (I think they were looking for the idea that you would not lie)
i am a CA resident, so the faculty interviewer posed a good question: i look at CA applicants every year and they inevitably are drawn to CA, even if they get into one of the lower ranked UC schools. why should we offer you admission when I know that you will still choose a UC, even a lower one, instead?
You are in a windowless room with 3 light switches, labeled A, B, and C, each corresponding to a light bulb in an adjacent room. You may make only one trip to the other room. How can you determine the identity of the light bulbs?
The interview was very conversational. There weren't any questions that really stood out. Of course I was asked why I wanted to go to that school and also why I chose medicine.
What would be your position if the hospital you worked for had severe budget cuts and had to turn away non-emergency patients without adequate insurance?
What would you do if you were an ER doctor in a hospital with a policy to refuse non-urgent care to patients due to budget constraints? (this was a no-stress question because the interviewer told me he just wanted to hear what i thought, since there is no right/wrong answer)
Imagine you're driving on I-55 and you have no one to talk to, and your radio's not working...what would you think at this point?? (I have no clue what this is supposed to mean)
How does your research apply to everyday life?
My response: Ummmm, not at all really. But it is interesting no? (psychophysics is not exactly a useful subject for short term application)
Would you accept money for Nestles (candy company) to assure that children will have meals to eat at school? (We were talking about childhood obesity.) What's the most populous animal that is the same size or slightly larger than the cat? (Seriously.)
The Dean asked me, "What makes you unique?" When I answered the question, he said, "I already knew that but I just wanted to hear you say it."
I asked a question about the participation between the medical school and the surrounding area of Hyde park which has a bad reputation and the doctor looked at me and said "are you asking me if Hyde park is a safe area". He pretty much cut to the chase and I sputtered out a clarification of my question.
It was very conversational, talked about books, Sept. 11, etc. I am non-traditional and was asked if I would be willing to take a summer course to get me back up to speed, if the admissions committee required it.
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including teamwork experiences, failures, reasons for pursuing medicine, challenges in medical school, and ethical dilemmas. Additionally, the responses indicated that the interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview), as some mentioned nondisclosure agreements and standardized questions across different interviews.
nothing actually hard - they just were clearly fishing for commitment to uchicago
I was talking about how medicine isn't all-powerful and can sometimes disappoint. Then my interviewer asked whether I've had experience with this kind of scenario in my shadowing experience...
Nothing really. All the interviews were pretty conversational and they specifically said that they don't want to ask any difficult questions or questions to trip us up because they were confident that if we were chosen for an interview we could all take on the course load. They really just wanted to get to know you as a person.
The student interviewer said I had a lot of community-service oriented activities and noticed (in my personal statement) that my father is paraplegic, so he claimed that I was too emotional to be a physician and then asked if I think I would waste hospital resources because of that.
You struggled academically your freshman year of college--how would you deal with the adjustment to medical school? How would you find a support system if you don't have any family/relatives around?(Really dwelled on this question and since it has been 7 years since I was a freshman in college I thought that he was pressing the issue too much--it is clear from my upper class years and postbacc work that I have been able to handle myself academically with success)
Really pressed the why do you want to be a doctor question. Asked once, then I answered. He asked again saying, why not just MPH. When I responded with another answer, he kept pushing and pushing--probably just to see how you handle the stress
given the limited experience you have working in a diverse environment, how do you think you'll be able to cope working with such a diverse student and patient population in hyde park?
None really...they were honestly all 40 minute conversations. Just know your file really well because they WILL ask you questions about your experiences.
About Woody Allen (I said that he was a pervert, but then realized that that sounded judgemental, but you have to admit that his behavior runs against societal norms)
"Well, don't you think that somebody is going to have to pay the phone bill?" (faculty interviewer, in reference to my comment about not wanting to go into private practice because I want to focus on patient care rather than spending a lot of time running my own business)
A question about my personal statement that totally caught me off guard. What type of research do you see yourself doing?...honestly nothing all that difficult.
What are your professional goals? The tone of the question was interested not confrontational, but the implication was "is this the right school for you"
Ethical questionn about what I would do if I saw a colleague lying to one of the attendings about an exam that they had done on a patient and what I would do. It was not that hard, but i just had to phraise it correctly...I hope i did
Ethics question regarding 14-year old 2nd time heart transplant candidate who hadn't followed the prescribed treatment the 1st time and now needed another transplant.
The questions were very straightforward; though several required some personal details to answer as fully as I wished. But all the interviewing was exceedingly tactful and gentle and fair.
The interviewer probed me about how to improve the uninsured/underinsured problem. Listing the problems and giving a very ideological solution wasn't enough. He wanted to know how it was going to actually be fixed.
How would you treat migrant workers/immigrants who don't want to be treated or are afraid to be treated? (I'm very interested with working in the underserved communities)
My faculty interviewer had thoroughly reviewed my file and was citing items for further clarification/explanation that she felt members of the committee might bring up and she wanted to be as prepared to speak on my behalf as possible (ex. support system since I was from NY and never lived or even visited Chicago before, a grade in Chemistry, MCAT breakdown, diverse background and incorporation into my future career as a physician).
a tie: how do you see the future of medicine? how would you fix the healthcare system (both followed by a blank stare and my responses were met with blank stares as well)
Nothing too difficult, just the standard. The phrasing of the above question made it seem like she thought it was a bad thing that I didn't want to take time off, so I had to adjust my answer slightly to cater to that attitude.
Our curriculum is pretty similar to several other schools across the country. Why choose Pritzker based on the strengths of its curriculum? (By the way, don't tell them the reason you want to go there is because of the strength of its curriculum...bad idea.)
my first interviewer was a little intense. he pulled things out of my application that were out of context and basically tried to have me prove to him why i should be accepted to chicago despite these things.
My interviewer pointed out that I spoke about my research less enthusiastically than about my volunteer experiences, and I had a hard time explaining that while not being too critical of doing research (since it's so research oriented)
My faculty interviewer didn't want to put me on the spot with difficult moral questions, so he poised very general questions which made them difficult to answere because it was hard to see what he was getting at. It seemed obvious that he was following a set of guidelines provided to him.
What are the components of the Celsior preservation solution (it is related to my research)? Almost all of the questions were fairly standard. Just relax and be yourself!
Is it fair for people to be judged based on first immpressions?
(The interviwer thought that it was fair,as he was judging me on his first impression!)
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 3 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
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 application materials, practicing with mock interviews, researching the school's website, reading feedback on Student Doctor Network (SDN), and staying updated on current events and health ethics. Many also sought advice from current students and faculty, participated in mock interviews, and familiarized themselves with the school's mission and curriculum.
I read over my app and secondary, had someone ask me interview questions every couple of days for about a week or so, researched the school, and researched some interesting things about Chicago
Practiced answering questions from sdn, re-read applications and reviewed my thesis and past research, mock/practice interview with friend, watched pritzker reels and admissions videos
Studentdoctor.net, reviewed my secondary, school website, answered a packet of interview questions from my pre-health office, contacted students I know at the school for advice.
Re-read secondary and PS. Listen to the podcasts on the website. SERIOUSLY!!! Don't look at anymore interview feedback. The podcasts on the website will tell you what Pritzker prides itself in and what you want to touch upon in the interview.
truthfully, i over prepared for my first interview at rochester. after seeing how relaxed and conversational interviews at pritzker were (by reading SDN and talking with current students), i realized all i had to do was be myself and feel comfortable talking about my path to medicine
looked on this website, surfed the Pritzker website a few times, watched some news specials on current healthcare issues, tried to catch up on current events (which is hard when you only have new newspapers and can't really do much to find out about the background behind these events), talked to my advisor at my University, talked to my summer research mentor who is actually on the Pritzker faculty
-this site
-made three lists (and updated continually): health news, world news, uchicago news
-used uwash med school ethics site for great case studies of diff ethics situations
-mock interview at my school
Looked at the school's website, interview feedback, and went over my application. I also stayed with a med student the night before so I got a pretty good perspective of what the school was like.
I looked over the entire uchicago website to get a feel for the curriculum and school. I also reviewed my application and amcas. I looked on a few bioethics websites to get the latest info.
I generally keep up with public health issues which aided in conversation ease and flow.
we discussed everything from malpractice to physcian shortages in urban areas. I went to the bioethics sight
for University of Washington. This sight is pretty up to date on bioethical issues. There is also the Kaiser
Permanente sight for health care issues.
I also made sure I knew my research. If you have ever done any research they will match you up with someone in that
area of reasearch. Know the ends and outs of your project.
Reading their paphlet was very helpful.
Read over my AMCAS and secondary. Talked with faculty and students, read materials sent by admissions, read articles published by faculty, and talked with other premeds that have interviewed at U of C.
practiced interview questions with doctors at the hospital i work at-read over their mission statement and thought of reasons why i felt like a good fit for pritzker
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the genuine friendliness, positivity, and sense of community at Pritzker. They appreciated the emphasis on health equity, strong mentorship opportunities, and the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere of the interview day. Additionally, the students, faculty, and staff's kindness, the school's commitment to social justice, and the beautiful campus and facilities left a lasting positive impression on applicants.
Everyone seemed very nice and genuine, people here really care about health equity
"Teacher of teachers" mindset - very strong mentorship at Pritzker. The S&D program. The students were VERY nice. One of the best schools for placing physicians in academia (https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2015/05000/What_Makes_a_Top_Research_Medical_School__A_Call.20.aspx). Great match list. VERY generous scholarships!
Students, the school's ability to self-criticize, admissions staff, food, campus, neighborhood, community outreach programs (they actually walk the walk)
Everyone at the school was super nice and friendly, they all wanted to get to know the interviewees. The interview itself was structured so that applicants could relax and be more like themselves. I liked the school's emphasis on social justice and serving the Chicago community. Interview food was also pretty good in comparison to other programs (deep dish pizza!)
The students were all very nice and close with one another. They were all very honest with their answers to our questions, and would pop in and out of class to come sit and talk with us, even the first years who had a big exam that day! The head of diversity at the school was also amazing, she radiated positivity and you could tell that she was truly invested in the students and making a difference at the school. Everyone I met was super passionate. They were also extremely accommodating of my special diet which was very sweet.
Everyone was very happy and excited you were there, the students were genuinely happy being there, the curriculum is well designed and allows for you to go above and beyond.
Everybody -- all the staff, faculty, students -- were absolutely the nicest bunch of people that I've ever met. And all the students that I talked to seemed genuinely happy to go to Pritzker and they all seemed very passionate about their involvement with the different activities at Pritzker.
Everything! They were all really friendly and I felt I had a good conversation with each of my interviewers. What's more, I felt like my interviewers had really read my application more than at any other school.
That the curriculum allows students to explore their research and extracurricular interests throughout all four years. The work-life balance here seems AMAZING.
The interviewers seemed very interested in me as an individual applicant. They were very open about the positives and negatives, but mostly had great things to say about the school. Also, I am completely confident that the admissions office is looking for students who are a great fit for their institution. Students were also awesome! My student host was really generous and caring.
The school was absolutely beautiful, and you can tell the admissions office really took the day seriously and wanted you to have a good day. Also the pizza was AWESOME.
Facilities, students seemed really happy. Admissions office was nice about accommodating my dietary needs. Changing curriculum to be more integrated. Start with anatomy in the summer.
beautiful campus, nice neighborhood, seems like a very 'together' curriculum with interesting changes for next year (scholarship/discovery aspect especially). i think they give out a lot of financial aid also.
How anatomy is taken by itself. Opportunities at free clinics and abroad. Health disparities course. Kindness and enthusiam that I saw in every person that I met there.
Everybody totally wanted to sell the school to us. They gave us a folder with brochures, a pen, pad of paper, match list, etc. The students and administration alike LOVE the place.
Everything. The biggest surprise was the level of attention the admissions staff gave us during our visit. However, the campus, the financial aid, the classes, the hospital facilities, the location, student housing, etc all impressed me.
Everyone there made all the interviewees seem so welcome and wanted. From the admissions staff to the students around, we were constantly asked if we needed anything or how our day was going. All the students we talked to had nothing but compliments for Pritzker.
The campus just seemed vibrant and of a different 'breed.' It really seemed like, ''Yea! This school rocks!'' They weren't cocky, and yet they have one of hte nations best programs
The entire school in general. It is on the undergraduate campus which I think is awesome. The students there were really nice and really excited about choosing the school that they did. The admissions staff were all really nice and really seemed to care about us and how we were feeling about the day. The campus is beautiful, not too far from downtown Chicago. The school is highly ranked and highly respected, can't beat that!
I really like the architecture, there are a lot of cool older buildings and new modern ones, the children's hospital is so cool! the elevator changes colors on every floor, the students were so nice, the admissions staff is wonderful, they really go out of their way to make the day as stress free as possible, the multicultural affairs and diversity committees are excellent, there are a lot of great community service opportunitie, the facilities are really nice, great hospitals, ect.
their philosophy. stress cooperation, but at the same time they dont baby you, but again at the same time they're always there to help with anything.
Dr. Abelson - he gave the best introduction to the day at any school I've been to (and I've interviewed at hopkins, upenn, upitt, vanderbilt so far). such a straightshooter and genuine nice guy.
the students here are a different breed than the ones i met at other schools, all focused and intellectual, but not intense or competitive. the school seems to
Nicest Deans ever. I also interviewed with a great bunch of people. Definitely one of the least awkward interview days I've had. If the interview pool on my day is representative of the admitted students, it will be a great class.
Facilities. Hyde Park is much nicer now than it used to be. The administration really takes care of and listens to the students. Students there are really happy. Stuffed pizza for lunch!
The students all really loved their school...the facilities were awesome...i love chicago...the admissions staff rocks and the pizza at lunch was ridiculous
The amazing facilities (the lights in the children's hospital elevator change colors!), in a good, interesting part of Chicago, I liked that all the facilities were right next to the other graduate schools, the students and faculty both were very friendly. Also, the third-year seems to prepare students very well for clinical practice.
Organization of the day, their info packet is great, students were really friendly and approachable, the OME office was awsome, deep dish pizza for lunch!
Facilities & faculty. I interviewed the same day as the person before & our group got along really well, playing chess with each other while waiting for interviews.
The school has amazing facilities, and their match rate is REALLY high. Students seem enthusiatic and there are sooo many opportunities at this excellent school!
The Director of Admissions (Joni Huff) is the nicest woman you will ever meet. I was fortunate to interview with her. The facilities are also amazing and all located in the same area (you don't need a car). The children's hospital is brand new, and has lights that change colors in the elevator (sooo cool!). Hyde Park is an amazingly diverse area...I love that.
The University of Chicago is a WONDERFUL school. The faculty and students were awesome. Throughout the day the students stopped by to say hello and answer questions. There is no reason to leave Pritzker with unanswered questions. The facilities are great and you have access to the library and other buildings 24/7 as a medical student. The children's hospital is MAGNIFICENT.
Chicago is amazing!! Virtually no other medical school has such an amazing location. There are so many hospitals (including the new pediatric centers and Children's Hospital) and opportunities to do community service. The patient population is amazingly diverse. Also, this school is honest when it says that it wants students who are not just science-majors. I cannot tell you how many times someone emphasized that they had students who are pursuing their PhDs in English literature or JD or MBA. Pritzker really seems to want its students to pursue everything and anything that interests them. The tour guides are so excited about the school and completely laidback. No one seemed stressed out and the other interviewees I got to meet were completely unpretentious and genuinely interesting people.
Almost everything - I loved the area and the campus, the students were friendly and loved the school, the admissions staff was so nice and helpfull and enthusiastic, the lecture halls and gross lab and study areas were really nice
The facilities are all new, the students seemed genuinely excited to be there and were happy with their education, the numerous service opportunities, the outstanding hospitals, the location of the medical school campus is integrated with the main campus, the research opportunities for medical students.
The school was amazing! I really enjoyed the people and the area. Plus, they provided some very convincing evidence about sticking with a traditional cirriculum.
the campus was really pretty, even Hyde park seemed like a great area to live in, if a little eccentric and grubby, all the students were incredibly nice
The overwhelming love of the school from everyone there...students, admissions staff, faculty...everyone I met loves the school and everyone is amazingly supportive and friendly. A fourth floor anatomy lab with windows is a nice bonus too!
Academic facilities were brand new, very nice, students were friendly (they recognized the suit and went out of their way to make nice), beautiful campus, tons of research and international opportunities, U of C hospital only US News ranked top hospital in Illinois (what about NW?) anatomy lab didn't stink too badly
very erudite atmosphere, superb facilities, emphasis on diversity, admissions staff seemed very interested in acommodating our needs, Pass/Fail system, students were genuinely happy...
The schools commitment to its students. It will support you with any project or aera of study that interests you. It's very accepting of people taking time off to do other things and doesn't give students a hard time with this.
The school is magnificent: lecture halls, labs, facilities, are all top-notch: not to mention the ***** (5-star) professors. The administration seems thoroughly respectful of and responsive to the students' wishes--with a caveat (see below):
The campus is beautiful and its location is much better situated than I thought. It's six miles away from the loop, so it's far enough to make it a very livable area and close enough to let you go downtown whenever you want. Moreover, they don't use a PBL approach, but they back up their curriculum with sound evidence. They also use a strict P/NP system, unlike most schools which
Everything. The administration, the students, the facilities, and the general cooperative, enthusiastic vibe of the school. The new children's hospital is amazing and the new gigantic research building looks very high tech. I think they are putting a lot og money into the school, which good thing for us fellow applicants.
1. There is an "intellectual buzz" (I can't think of another word) at Pritzker that is really invigorating. I could feel it even though I was only on campus for the day. The students all seem so fired up to be doing what they're doing.
2. Participation in research during the MD years seems emphasized in a good way.
3. The school strictly adheres to a Pass/Fail system (as opposed to the masked letter grade system of: honors, high pass, pass, etc.)
4. The facilities are fantastic!
5. The students were very friendly, sincerely took an interest in who you are, they seemed tighter as a class than many other schools I have seen. They seem very driven toward personal but also group success... (certainly not the competition you would expect from such a highly-ranked school).
6. I sat in on a class and the professor was extremely engaging -- you could tell he was enjoying lecturing to students.
The students were so enthusiastic about becoming doctors and were much more involved in extracurriculars and student run organizations than students I met at other schools. I also was impressed my the faculties commitment to teaching and to their students.
I was very impressed with U of C. Everyone was extremely nice and welcoming. My interviewers really knew my application and tried to make me feel comfortable.
Everything. I am a non-traditional student and prefer traditional lecture-based format to PBL. The classes were entertaining and well-organized (and of course, extremely informative). The students were all highly intelligent, articulate, genuine people who obviously cared about the school and each other (my student interviewer was representative of the class and we had a wonderful conversation and I hope we can be friends next year if I am fortunate enough to get in). I don't understand how anyone who visited the school can characterize Pritzker students as competitive with one another. They push themselves but they collaborate so everyone passes the classes (the system is pass/fail. Students tutor one another and even share review sheets). There are a number of older students at Pritzker and my student host (who is one of them) said that they refer to themselves as the "post-bac Mafia". To me, it showed what a good sense of fun everyone has. In addition, the administrative staff was fantastic and truly interested in making the process as painless as possible. The facilities highly impressed me- esp. the gross anatomy lab with the negative pressure air system. If anyone else has allergies like I do, know that you can barely smell the formalin (I have been to other schools where the smell nearly overwhelmed me).
when I walked into the school, I said, "This is what a medical school should feel like." I had the gut feeling. pass fail system, happy students, ample research opportunities, strong traditions of success.
The attitudes of the students. Everyone really loved attending school there, especially working in the non-competitive environment fostered by the strictly pass/fail system.
Pritzker has a very nice hospital and new outpatient and advanced medicine building, very nice and intelligent students which I honestly hadn't experienced before, and is a very solid, academic-feeling school. The students seem to really have a desire to learn and have fun at the same time. I honestly met zero uncool people.
Unsurpassed academic/intellectual environment of the place; integrated, cooperative campus; really cool helicopter; interviewers were friendly, but still got to the point and asked the difficult questions. Excellent orientation/interview lady.
i liked the extensive integration of undergrad and med campus (and education), the large number of grad students, med students seemed excited and intelligent, staff was friendly, great opportunities to do research as well as clinical volunteering. people in the hospital were really friendly and everyone asked if they could help me find something (which was really helpful because the directions to the interviews were bad). new hospital coming.
All of the students are so happy to be there. There is a big sense of togetherness and cooperation among the students that I think is fostered by the pass/fail system.
The students seemed very happy to be there and very impressed with all the facets of their medical education at Pritzker. Even those students that had exams came out with smiles on their face it was pleasant.
The whole day was really well-organized, and even the down-time was ok bc the other pre-med students were really nice/interesting. Everyone was really helpful, funny; really got the impression they wanted you, plus the campus is BEAUTIFUL
The staff and students are nice. I asked a question at the begining (during orientation) and the faculty member I asked didn't know the answer. By the end of the day (about 7 hours later), she had gathered so much information and another staff member so that my questions were more than answered.
Words can not express my shock when I discovered, how happy the students were, the falcutly and staff go out of their way to help the students, and the level of support just might be unmatched.
For example, if for some reason you can not take all of the classes of a quarter and perform well there is the option of decompressing your
course load and only take half the classes. now, you will have to stay and extra year or two, but you only pay for four years. This is great if you want to do research or start on an academic medicine
path.
the school's attitude towards its students and the philosophy towards teaching them to be good doctors. i hadn't really considered u of chicago too much before going to the interview and after i left, it had climbed to the top of my list.
The med school is completely integrated with the undergraduate campus and students take classes in other schools, TA for undergrads, and are very much a part of the community. The campus is very nice.
The students and staff were VERY enthusiastic and friendly and nice and genuine. The facilities were also pretty nice. And the apartment my host student had was ultra swanky.
everything. the campus was beautiful, i liked how it was intricately connected to the undergrad school, the facilities were great, every student i met was wonderful, the anatomy lab was bright and well-ventilated, the relatively new bslc was high tech, chicago was wonderful, everyone from the admissions staff to the students to the interviewer were sooooo friendly
Almost everything, the integration of the school into the U of C campus, the hospitals, the honesty with which the students spoke about the school, the support the Office of Medical Education gives to its students.
Everything there is amazing, the students are happy and intelligent. The facilities are top notch, and they serve an underserved area, so unusual and rare diseases are often presented.
The people were AMAZINGLY friendly and welcoming. I felt truly honored to interview there...and the campus was beautiful. The opportunities to do interdisciplinary stuff was GREAT.
The people - everyone was extremely friendly. All four research faculty I met with were extremely friendly (although they were tough with their questions). The director is definitely unique (in a good way) from any other MSTP directors I have meet so far. He is serious but relaxed and funny at the same times. For example, one of the girl (interviewee) uses cream in her coffee and the director was walking around trying to find her some cream.
The students are all top notch and the facilities are beautiful. The cadevars are cremated at the end of each year and a memorial service is held with the family members of the deceased. It gets pretty emotional and students sometimes even write to the family for years afterward.
The friendliness of the students - what is the chance that two separate, BUSY medical students will offer to take time to drive an interviewee to the train station? They were extremely friendly.
Pretty much everything. I stayed with a medical student overnight and that was great. People were A LOT more outgoing then I anticipated - they aren't just introverted researchers, which was my impression before the interview.
Applicants were commonly concerned about the location and safety of the surrounding neighborhoods, the traditional lecture-heavy curriculum, lack of transparency in the admissions timeline, and the stress levels reported by students. Suggestions included improving organization of interview days, addressing issues with certain interviewers, providing more information about the clinical years, and enhancing the tour experience.
The surrounding area isn't too great. Hyde Park (where Pritzker resides ) is pretty safe, but if you go further south or west, may run into some more unsafe neighborhoods. Not as bad as Baltimore, MD or St. Louis, MO but you still need to be "street smart" if you're out in the evenings frequently.
Pritzker's admissions timeline is a little less transparent than other schools. I interviewed in October, and was told that we might hear back anytime between then and March...
I had another interview in Chicago in December, and it was 3 degrees. Literally... And then for the school specifically, it was a bit difficult to get to my last interview, but in the end we found each other and had a great chat.
My student interviewer seemed a bit bored at first and almost felt like she wasn't paying attention to me, but I think that was because she took down the most amount of notes and was so focused on that. She was, in the end, very helpful in answering questions and very nice to talk to as well.
Students seemed much less happy than at other schools. The area felt dingy, and the professors we met were unenthusiastic. Probably will not attend if I am accepted.
It was very strange to have administrators (no medical degree nor any educational role in the school) interview candidates. I felt like my administrative interviewer had no idea what he was doing, had only glanced at my application, and was unnecessarily harsh about minor blemishes in my application. All of my other interviews have been at schools higher ranked than UChicago, and they have all praised my record, not denigrated it like my UChicago administrative interviewer. It seemed like they were more interested in talking to me about my numbers than actually meeting me and assessing fit (unless the "Pritzker Fit" is simply being able to justify a less than perfect record when interrogated).
The student interviewer; he was extremely rude and started talking about all the negative aspects of the school without me even asking, and didn't even bother to mention any positives. Also we're required to do a research project now in order to graduate.
it seems like they ask a lot of their students, but if you are up to the challenge i think its a great place. i didn't like that the students that gave us the tour/ate lunch with us were on the admissions committee, i think they should have used other students.
the curriculum is not systems-based for second year, and histology is still taught with microscopes, the previous school i interviewed at uses digital images, but anatomy labs have plasma flat screens so you can follow along with TA's and also look at x-rays ect. while dissecting, so i guess that kind of makes up for histology
seemed like students didn't want to live in hyde park and thus move all over the city. one thing i liked at some of the other schools i visited was that everyone lived in the same area and hung out a lot.
The students were cocky. They kept emphasizing that they don't get good Board scores, but that they don't have to because residency programs want people from UChicago. I know they meant it as a good thing, but for me, bragging that they are behind in a category other top schools do well at turned me off.
it was 2 degrees when I got in, 9 inches of snow fell the during the day, an airplane slid off of a runway at night. I learned later that there have recently been several carjackings in hyde park.
Hmmmm, not much about the school per se, but it was about zero degrees when I visited and it snowed heavily. Oh yeah, if I had to say one thing about the school it would be the fact that the buildings are not interconnected.
My faculty interviewer was a real jerk. He looked surprised to see me when his secretary told him I was there for my interview. Then he sat slunched over with his foot on his knee sticking his pencil in his shoe. Halfway through the interview he asked me if I did such and such at BAYLOR, and I was like "uhh, I don't go to Baylor." He kept asking me who was going to pay the phone bill in my future lab (even though I told him I didn't want to have my own lab and was more interested in the clinical aspects of medicine). He also complained about the patient population on the South Side of Chicago because they were pretty poor...this was his response to the fact that I had worked with underserved inner-city patients in the past and enjoyed it. Then he berated what was probably the most meaningful experience of my life by saying "well, medicine isn't all about little kids with cerebral palsy." Every question he asked was antagonistic and began with "well don't you think that..." or "well, what about..." He made it pretty clear he spent 100% of his time in the lab...which probably explained why he had ZERO people skills. Thankfully, my other two interviewers were INCREDIBLE and made up for this guy. And I got in anyway, so either he was just trying to stress me out and I passed, or the other people on the committee didn't care what he had to say about me.
The traditional style curriculum (lecture based). Most of your day as an M1 and M2 is spent in the same lecture hall and in the same building. The interviews were spead out all over campus and that you were basically given a map and told to go find your interviewer's office.
Tour guides were really un-enthusiastic (monotone and boring), parts of hospital old and dumpy-looking, traditional curriculum (8:30-5 lecture in same room each day zzzz), Hyde Park is not a very nice area, not much to do, hard to get around, expensive to live in Chicago :-( - U of C is soooooo expensive (gulp)
Hyde Park can be a negative and the dean of admissions who interviewed me gave my application a cursory lookthrough. When I answered his questions, I had to watch what he was writing because a few times, he misinterpreted my answers regarding discrepancies in my coursework.
The admissions staff was, at least before us as a group, rather unwilling to concede there were any drawbacks whatsoever to attending the U of C. Really? Even the weather is wonderful? One student, whose honesty I appreciated, conceded that the scores on the Boards might well be lower at the U of C than they might be elsewhere--though admittedly this doesn't seem to matter much on the match. He came close to saying that he wondered whether the $250,000 price tag was entirely worth it (and for those with good state school from which to choose, and little money, that's a nontrivial decision!). Some students have asked for problem-based learning--i.e. the case method, i.e. fewer lectures, and more real medical problems. However, the office of medical education sticks to its guns, and so at U of C, for better or for worse, the first two years it's a smidgeon of clinical observation, two years of quite detailed (but non-Board-relevant) hard-core science lectures, and no formally supervised small-group learning. Those first two years are pass/fail, though, so the students band up to get through the exams.
I was concerned about the more traditional curriculum but after seeing what PBL is like at other schools, it seems sort of like a waste of time. I like that class is optional but that you still have the opportunity to learn from a leading MD/PhD in the field. Class interaction with faculty is very high
1. It was very cold in January -- it was 6 degrees on the day that I interviewed. If you're not used to that, it could be a big deal to get used to it.
2. Hyde Park does seem a bit sketchy. The school is well aware that the area is not the greatest, and said they have taken precautions accordingly, but it's hard to really assess how dangerous the area is until you are in it, I guess. The word from students is that, as long as you have some street smarts about you, there should be no problem.
3. They give you a Q and A session during lunch with a panel of students. They intended for it to be a low-key, ask-the-questions-you-really-want-to-ask-but-are-embarassed-to thing, but one of the students on this panel had been introduced previously as a member of the admissions committee. I don't know in what capacity he serves that committee, but having him there (although he was a really nice guy) seemed to defeat the purpose of their candid lunch session. Needless to say, we interviewees didn't ask too many interesting questions.
4. My fourth comment is really a neutral point, but I thought I'd include it down here since I've already listed so many positive impressions. It is: the curriculum is extremely traditional. The feeling from the students is that they would prefer to learn all the material comprehensively as it is presented in lecture as opposed to piecing together the information through problem-based learning. I actually agree with that format, and am a bit weary of PBL, but it's a good thing to keep in mind if you are looking for a school with far less lecture time.
That pepsi is in the soda machines. I am a diet coke fan-- but do not despair, they sell diet coke in the 2nd floor cafe. That is the only thing I can think to write. I know some people pick on Hyde Park. I thought it was charming. In addition, public transportation although decent is not as convenient as NYC (at least not that I saw in the New Hyde Park area). The chinese food in the area is pretty bad-- but that will be good for my diet.
the faculty interviewer was a real loser, didn't even know my name and thought my middle name was my first name, was falling asleep and was very unfriendly and cold. the students at lunch and giving the tour were unfriendly and weird ,compared with other schools. also this is a place that emphasizes intellectualism for the sake of being an intellectual it seems. a ton of pressure to get a phd in something, even non-science related. also my host was horrendous, left me stranded and was a spoiled little rich girl
Neighborhood is ok, but nothing special. I know the hospital is one of the best, but for some reason, it didn't really impress me during the tour. Very cold outside.
the maps they give you to the interviews aren't very good. audrey sparks is rude. and the talk in the morning is too long and kind of boring. the construction of a new hospital on campus sucked, but on the upside, a new hospital will be open by the next academic year.
there isn't much to do around hyde park and even though there is public transportation in chicago, the el doesn't stop near the school, so you need a car.
there's very very little to do in Hyde Park without a car-- no downtown like other campuses (you know, restaurants, stores, movie theaters), everything is really spread out. public transportation is also a little confusing and takes forever to get anywhere
my first interviewer seemed distracted and a bit aggressive. i had heard that the interviews were very relaxed (and appartently everyone else who interviewed had a great time), so this was a bit of a surprise. i still felt ok about the interview and it didn't detract at all from the excellent impression the school made on me.
Not much around in terms of grocery stores, food, bars, things to do... The tuition increases by ~9,000 dollars from second year to third year! Two of the first years who came to talk to us said that they leave the school at 8pm, study until 2am! I don't know if this is the norm or if they are just crazy.
i'm not so sure about the 8 hours of lecture a day. hyde park is a great area, but the neighboring areas are some of the worst neighborhoods in chicago.
There are no small goup discussions, all courses are the intire first year class, and you spend almost all of your time in two large lecture rooms. Though nice, could get boring after awhile. Patient contact is very limited in the curriculum in the first year, but there are volunteer and shadowing opportunities availible if you have time and are interested.
Buildings were relatively old. Students claimed that the board scores weren't very high (U of C doesn't aim at training students to take the board exam).
My first interview was with a physician and he asked if I had a CV to give him. I didn't, of course, and although the interview was supposed to be open file, he hadn't received my materials. After a few general questions, his beeper went off and the interview was over. Not too good.
Price ($50,000-$60,000)/year. The host told us to solicit our aunts and uncles for money (pathetic). One of my interviewers was the interviewer from hell. Very large focus on academic medicine. I didn't like the Hyde Park area either.
The incredibly confusing layout of the hospital. I got lost twice going to the cafeteria but fortunately, a security guard led me both times in the correct direction.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time about the low-stress and conversational nature of the interviews, the emphasis on working with underserved communities, the amount of walking during the tour, and the importance of flying into Midway Airport for convenience. Additionally, they highlighted the supportive and friendly environment at the school, the pass/fail grading system, and the expensive transportation options around the area.
Not to panic if the info sessions took a little bit to enter via Zoom--I think it took a couple minutes and I definitely got paranoid I chose the wrong link or something
Take the 55 Bus from Midway to 55th and Ellis for $2.25 (The area you travel through is pretty sketchy but be smart and you'll be OK) instead of a cab for ~$40. The travel time by bus was around 50mins.
this was my first interview so i was a bit nervous. they aren't tough interviews, but i suggest trying to schedule a school you are less interested in attending before going to a top choice like this was for me.
How happy the students are. Everyone was really friendly, the administrators know all the students, and they really work closely together to make sure that everyone's happy.
Hyde Park is not the safest neighborhood. A student told my wife (who came with me to look at the campus) that since the beginning of school (in late September, it was then late October) there had been multiple armed robberies, a couple rapes and a shooting. My wife and I obviously would not care to live near the school.
Wanted to let other applicants know Hyde park is actually really beautiful, its the surrounding areas south and west that can be dangerous. (I grew up in the area so Im telling you first hand.)
How many great people I would meet. The other students who interviewed with me were very personable and I enjoyed conversing with them during "down time" between interviews.
It was the first day of interviewing for the year and so there was a problem with the air conditioning. It was miserable for the interviewees to sit for over an hour in the admissions office conference room in suits and ties. People were sweating buckets and this was not a pretty picture. However, the admissions office seemed really sorry about everything and insisted that this was not a test.
That no one was going to drill me with hard questions about current events and that everyone at this school truly wants you to succeed and just wants to learn about who you are.
That the parking garage in my student host's building didn't take credit cards - then I wouldn't have spent my last $20 on her dinner and had to borrow it back the next morning :-(
The great extent to which faculty are responsive to students and how highly students are regarded in the hospitals... full-length white coats as 1st year med students!!!
hmm... i had known this before my visit, but it's useful to know that they don't start classes until the end of sept so it's hard to get student hosts before then.
That altogether U of C like most other private schools will cost about $250,000 for four years. That parking around the office is difficult on Tuesdays due to street cleaning. That rental cars in Chicago do not, as they do in Los Angeles, come standard with air conditioning; you have to ask for it: Chicago in September was 91 degrees Farenheit, with 40% humidity.
How close downtown chicago is to the school and how nice Hyde Park is. Its nice to have the school a little separated from downtown on a really nice campus but close enough that you can get downtown in 10 min.
That Chicago is really cool and that people go out into town. If I had known, I would have booked my flight to leave the next day instead of the same day, so that I could go into Chicago and see the city a little more.
It's really tough to prepare for that type of weather, unless you're from an area that is regularly that cold. It seemed like a lot of places would often over-compensate for the cold by cranking up the heat indoors to sweltering levels... Go in layers.
If you plan on flying in, make reservations to fly into Midway. (much closer) If you take a taxi, have them take the roads rather than the freeway. (it'll save you about 15 bucks)
I was really blown away and loved the school. I didn't know you ended up paying more some years with the quarter system. I didn't know how beautiful Chicago was.
i wish i had known how great it would be, would have saved me a lot of nervousness! my faculty interviewer had not even read my app, so we talked about sailing, bush/kerry, baby boomers. i was concerned that we had not covered my app, but at the end he said that he prefers to get to know the student as a conversationalist, person, rather than just a student/researcher/etc
they've just renumbered the elevators in billings hospital, so if you have an interview there, it's probably better to ask how to get there when you get to the hospital.
i thought i'd be able to handle the cold in chicago in january, but it really takes a lot out of you! and everyone kept saying it was balmy compared to how it usually gets.
how friendly the students were-- I expected it to be like U of C undergrad (I have friends who go there) which is very dog-eat-dog, and it was very laid back. Also, while I knew this, the third year is graded, so it's a bit more stressful according to students.
They want applicants who are interested in being leaders in the medical field. They aren't looking for people who want to be primary care. They want people who are going to be the best at whatever field they choose. Also they have a MD/MPH program where you enter the MD program at UChicago and after two years you go to either Harvard or Hopkins for the MPH (1 year), then return and finish your 3rd and 4th years of med school. Very appealing!
wish i had known more about u of chicago before i filled out my secondary, just to stress all the points where i felt i fit in very well with the school, but when you are applying to 15+ schools, it's really hard to make such an effort towards each one.
The METRA train station is very far away from the medical school! It seems like there is not much public transportation to the school, it's better to drive or take a cab. It's also very far from downtown Chicago itself.
My student interviewer stated clearly that for those of us looking into family practice or peds, Pritzker is not the place for that. You'll get a better education at much less cost elsewhere (e.g. state school) for that.
I wish I had known how supportive and reassuring the interviewers were going to be, that way, I wouldn't have had the stomach knots I experienced before I left in the morning.
That you should look like you come from a big name school, even if you don't...ie. executive pen, a nice binder, leather attache case (50%+ of the interviewee's had these)
Students raved about the pass/fail system. The patient population is relatively homogenous--primarily African American. There is a Hispanic population in Chicago but they appear to elsewhere for medical care.
That the neighborhood surrounding the university is NOT THAT BAD. Everybody told me it was in a terrible neighborhood, and while not the greatest, Hyde Park has its own personality.
Applicants generally found the interview day at Pritzker to be well-organized and enjoyable, with a relaxed and conversational atmosphere during the interviews. They appreciated the friendly nature of the staff, faculty, and students, as well as the opportunity to learn more about the school and its community.
School is very receptive to letters of interest/intent and update letters (especially from those on the waitlist).
Awesome, was a little skeptical of Hyde Park before coming, but truly amazing neighborhood. The student body is more relaxed, friendly, and family-like than any other including some schools that you would think would be more tight-knit by virtue of having fewer students.
Great school, I would love to go here. Small class size and great, sociable, balanced people make it highly appealing. Its close to the city, but not in the city, which I think is a plus
I was really impressed by the facilities, faculty and students. Everyone was very helpful and supportive of each other.
Our day started at 9am with a brief overview of the curriculum, fin aid, etc. We had three interviews scheduled with a student (AMCAS only), faculty member (AMCAS only), and admissions committee member (Full File). Each interview was supposed to be 30mins but often ran over to ~40-45mins. We had Chicago deep-dish for lunch and also had tours of the medical facilities. The interviews ran from 9:30am to ~3:00pm (start times) and, for some people, were all over the campus. The interviews themselves were very relaxed and there weren't many difficult questions. Be sure to know your AMCAS reasonably well! The Pritzker website says to plan to be out by 5pm but expect to be done much sooner (I was out closer to 3pm).
Also, stay with a student host if possible.
The Admissions Office does a great job of showing you a lot of different aspects of the school, and the integration between the different interviewers allows you to get a good picture of what the school is like!
Also...definitely go to MDW if possible! Much easier to get to the school.
I ended up getting into Pritkzer, but honestly didn't think I had a shot in h*ll because the student interview went so poorly because he was rude. The school itself and the admissions committee are great, but just take your impressions of the other interviewers with a grain of salt.
Really liked this school, it might be my top choice if I get in. I felt that I really connected with my student interviewer. My faculty interviewer was really friendly/enthusiastic. Administrator interview not as good.
i talked with my faculty interviewer a lot about the changes in the curriculum concerning the Urban Health Initiative, and its implications on students. We also talked about the surrounding community of Hyde Park. my student interviewer and i talked about more general stuff re:campus, student life.
The student interview was about one hour and very laid back. It was like meeting a new friend. The faculty interview was a little more formal and it was hard to tell what he thought of me. He either liked me or thought I was a total loser. The day itself was a lot of fun and laid-back.
not blown away. the tour guide kept going on and on about how they have a helicopter pad--I would expect that a good urban hospital would have this so why is it so special?? Also, not a level 1 trauma center and no burn clinic.
Simply the best interview yet. It was intense, having three interviews back to back, but I felt they specifically chose interviewers who could speak to my background and they took a lot of time to make sure this was a valuable experience for both sides.
Pretty stressful- had to run through the hospital searching for my interview, then that interview ran over which made me late for the next interview, etc.
My favorite interview thus far. Staff seemed to love their students. Everyone was incredibly welcoming. Interview were surprisingly laid-back and conversational.
You have the general orientation in the morning, followed by a financial aid session. Some interviews are held before lunch with the medical students and the tour. Then afternoon interviews and the Multicultural presentation.
It was very nice. We had people who were charasmatic and enthusiastic about the school. The students were very warm and took time to talk with us and let us know to relax and enjoy the day.
Great orientation session where you learn a lot about the school and their programs. Current students also constantly took a minute to say hello and wish the candidates good luck. Overall a very inviting atmosphere.
The day started pretty early (8am). The Assistant Dean of Admissions gives a powerpoint presentation of the school, then we recieve our schedules for the day. There were 3 interviews total: one with a person from admissions, one with a student and one with faculty. The faculty interview si the really important one. Interviews can start as early as 10am and end as late as 4:30, so the day is VERY spread out. There was a lot of downtime to get to know the other interviewees, sit in on lectures or talk to current med students. The group came back together for lunch (stuffed pizza!) and some med students come in to talk to us and give us a tour of the campus. After the tour, interviews continue and when you are done with your last interview you are free to go.
excellent! even though there are three interviews and they are spread out during the day, it's a nice experience, everyone is so friendly, and you get chicago deep dish pizza for lunch! it was pretty cold, windy, and it snowed, so be prepared during the tours, but overall a great school, great people, students ect.
it was great. again ive interviewed at some solid schools and pritzker is now near the top if not the absolute top of my list. I hope I hear good news from them soon.
three interviews, one faculty, one student, one admissions officer. i knew a lot about the school going in, so wasn't really wowed by anything in particular. the other interviewees were really, really qualified and really interesting too, so it was fun to talk to them.
Three interviews: 1 admissions, 1 faculty and 1 student. Very nice interviews, very applicant-focused. I didn't get grilled or anything like that but I was asked to give very detailed accounts of some of my experiences. The Deans could not be nicer.
Three very relaxed interviews, informative and funny orientation presentation, stuffed pizza for lunch, and enthusiastic tour guides. Hands down the best interview day I've had so far.
Very laid back. Just be yourself and you'll do fine. If you get any scenario questions, remember that there is no right or wrong answer. They just want to hear your thought process.
very relaxed, ppl friendly. overall, know how ppl see your application, as it will prepare you to answer questions specific to your app. Stay with host, get a better feel for ppl
Incredible schools...tons of opportunities...the day was very organized with 15 interviewees...the interviews theselves were very laid back and the interviewers all very kind...school was beautiful and the students very nice...everyone seemed to be done by 4 if u need to get to the airport soon after
Three interviews: One administrative, one faculty, one student. All were laid back and the time seemed to fly by. I had a bit of down-time between interviews but I think that was a neccessary evil based on the students' schedules. Only my administrative interview was fully open-file; my faculty member had my GPA/MCAT, my personal statement, and my AMCAS activities (but not my transcript); my student interviewer had only my personal statement and AMCAS activities -- no GPA/MCAT.
ALl three interviewers had obviously read my file and made some notes in it, which impressed and mildly intimidated me, but overall all three were very relaxed.
It was low stress. It was more of an attempt for them to get to know who you are. They provide a nice lunch and they give you a tour of the school. Everyone I met asked me if I was interviewing and wished me good luck and told me how much they loved the school.
And they have a very honest administration that tells you thing other medical schools won't.
a very nice school; chicago-style pizza for lunch and a short program in the morning. the interviews were very low stress. one student, open file interview; one open file admissions interview, and one closed file faculty interview.
There are three interviews, all open file, but very laid back and conversational. You're really catered to the entire day, which is a great thing if you're from out-of-state.
This interview was probably the most positive that I've had to date. While the school is very prestigious, they don't come off as sonbby at all! Everyone on the staff, from the people high up to the interviewers to the students, are very professional yet approachable and so nice to talk to. The campus and surrounding area are awesome and Hyde Park is a very cool place to get some real world experience. The school's programs, students, and faculty are all top notch - I will definitely be going here if I don't get into my top choice.
I had a great time at Pritzker! Everyone was so friendly that it put me right at ease. You have a short interview with an admissions person, and longer ones with a student and faculty member. Both of my longer interviews were in the afternoon after lunch and tour which gave me a lot of down time in the morning and made for a long day. I think everyone else interviewing that day had two interviews in the morning and just one in the afternoon.
The interviews were okay. The first one with the director of admission went well, she really seemed to care about me and what I had to say. My student interview was horrible. He was 10 minutes late to get me, and then talked to me about movies I'd seen. My faculty interview was in the very last time slot of the day, and I cold tell she did not want to be there. For my hour interview she only kept me 20 mintues. I imagine that my interview experience was probably just an abnormality, but I felt like I had wasted my day.
the interview day was great 3 intervies (1--> 15-20 minute talk with adco member 2--> 45-60 min with faculty member 3--> 45-60 min with student) although there was one student that played the piano in the interview room (he was really annoying and obnoxious).
Well it was a small interview group, about 8 or nine of us. We all got along very well. We had to be at the admissions office for 9 am. There were three interviews where the interviewers had everything in my file except my grades and MCAT score...I think. Interviews were not stressful at all, in fact it is probably the best interview experience I have had. The day I visited there was a christmas party going on for the students and it really struck me how happy everyone seemed. I really liked this school.
You have 3 interviews...faculty, student (4th year), and someone from the admissions office. With the exception of my faculty interviewer (see what negatively impressed me), the day was amazing. Everybody there was nice. The administrators really seem like they are there for the students to help them reach their goals, whatever they may be. The scholarly atmosphere of the school urges you to pursue your interests and questions about anything and everything. It's a great school, and if I don't get into my top choice school, I will likely be going there!
You start the day at 9:00 am with a meeting and introduction. The dean speaks for about 30 minutes and try to stay awake but I assure you that it will probably be hard because of his tone of voice. Then, you basically have 1 or 2 hrs to do what you want or go to an interview and then meet back at the same room for lunch and tour. Then go to your next interview and then go home. If you can, stay with student host! I went out with 20 medical students the nigth before my interview and we drank, watched a movie and went out to dinner... cool experience and they really love it there.
You arrive in the morning at the main medical educational building for the school in Hyde Park. After that, you have a rather long introduction/financial concerns/our school is great session (about 1-1.5 hours). Before lunch, you have an interview with a faculty member. The interview is open-file and everything is fair game. Lunch is served in the conference room and three medical students joined us to answer any and all of our questions. This session really is open to all of your questions. I asked some pretty picky questions and I just received my admissions letter from Pritzker so definitely don't hesitate to ask questions...it won't hurt you. After that, you have a tour of the college area, the student lounges, the anatomy lab, and one of the hospitals. After the tour, you have either your very brief meeting with an admissions committee member or your student interview. Don't sweat either! The admissions member just wants to make sure that your file is accurate and just wants to get to know you in 15 minutes. The student interview is about 45mins-1hour. The student has seen your entire file and may very well ask tough questions. They just want to see whether you're the type of person they'd want in their class, so don't sweat it...be calm, ask good questions, and be sincere. Overall, the day is well-planned and everyone is very friendly! I've had 8 interviews now and I'm serious when I say that this is one of the most laidback days that you can possibly get. I got into Pritzker and I will probably go there!
The stress level was extremely low and everyone was very friendly. The interviews themseleves were very conversational. I really enjoyed my time there and speaking with my interviewers and especially the current students.
Standard interview questions. Just know your file, no difficult questions.
Stay with students overnight if possible, it's a great way to get to know the school
The day started out with a presentation by the admissions staff...short, entertaining and very informative. There were three interviews...one short one (about 20-25 minutes) with a member of the admissions staff and two longer ones (about 60 minutes), one with a faculty member and one with a student. Lunch was very good, and included a student qustion and answer period. This was followed by the tour, which was also very informative. Overall, the day was very smooth, and downtime was easily filled by talking to the admissions staff or friendly students passing through the office.
the weather was perfect, everyone i met was extremely nice and genuine, the campus is beautiful, and the med school has amazing facilities! i really got a feeling that all the students are innately curious as i am, which is exactly what i want in a school! i loved it even more after visiting :)
Overall the interviewers were friendly and seemed very interested in me. Very conversational (my student interviewer talked to me outside at a picnic table) but I think I might have been a bit too relaxed!
The doctor I interviewed with was difficult to understand (he had a thick indian accent). Also, he didn't quite seem to understand what I said to him. Otherwise it was low pressure and I wasn't asked any tough questions that I was expecting (like about the health care system, etc.). Student interviewer was very sweet and friendly.
Two interviews + one Administrative interview...each of the first two is one hour long (Though my faculty interviewer had to leave after half an hour to see a patient)
Pritzker is an overall incredible institution. The research opprtunities are unbelievable, the clinical training is great, and most of all, the administration and students are the most cooperative group I have seen (and I interviewed at a lot of "top schools." I think you can tell that the admissions office goes out of their way to respect you as a person and that is reflected in the class that they select. A 4.0/40 will not guarantee admission. After seeing the likes of harvard and yale, it was refreshing to see a school less pretentious but still just as strong in my opinion. Both interviewers knew my file very well and asked challenging, yet good questions trying to get to know me. There is an enthusiastic approach to not just medicine but other areas of interest as well. The dual degree programs are very attractive and the p/f system is a HUGE plus. Finally, the match list is amazing, which shows the respect that residency directors have for the U Chicago students. I think this school should be ranked in the top ten for sure. If accepted, I would choose this school and its enviornment for the next 4 years.
Relaxed! One of most relaxing and least stressful interviews I have ever had. Really, really low key. The interveiwers really knew everything about you. Be sure to read up on your secondaries and your AMCAS, b/c they will ask questions.
The motivation and proactiveness of the students and faculty, combined with having some of the best research faculty and facilities at your disposal is an unbelievable draw of Pritzker. I was extremely impressed by the school, the facilities, the students, the faculty, the MD admissions staff, and the organization of the interview day (save the lunch Q&A session). Sitting in on a class gave me a good sense of the interaction students have with their professors. The students and professors seemed mutually encouraging and fascinated by what they were discussing in class. Although the tour was a bit hard to enjoy on account of the cold, I felt I got a good sense of the school by the end of the day.
I had a great time. I felt that I could feel free to be myself and that it was actually as much of an opportunity for them to get to know me as it was for me to get to know them as a school, faculty and student body.
The first part of the day I met with a doctor in the hospital. He asked me fairly difficult questions and probed harder than most interviewers. Probably depends on the interviewer more than the school. He was incredibly friendly and obviously felt very strongly about the quality of the school. In the afternoon I met with a student interviewer, which was really nice because it was much more relaxed and I had a student all to myself to figure out what life was like as a Chicago med student.
Overall, my experience at U of C was wonderful. I was very impressed by the faculty and the students. The facilities are beautiful and it seems the school really listens to the students. The non-competitive atmosphere between students was encouraging and students are very happy even though it's freezing there.
I had a very favorable impression of Pritzker before I went to the interview. I only rated the stress level as 8 because it is my first choice. If granted the privilege of admittance, I will definitely attend as I cannot imagine a better environment in which to spend my four years in medical school.
I really liked the school and everything about my experience. I had the good "gut" feeling about the program and the school in general. It seemed a good fit for me. Even though the curriculum is traditional and the lecture days are long, it's pass fail, so you put in a 9-5 and you're done for the day. I was later accepted and it is definitely one of my tops.
a horrible disaster. worst interview experience by far and i've been on a lot of interviews.. just got a cold, unfriendly and weird vibe from many aspects of the school.
The interview went great. Make sure that you give yourself PLENTY of time to get to the school from where ever you are in Chicago because morning traffic is horrendous. Two people were late (and not just five minutes) because of traffic, and I know that didn't make the best impression.
Relatively organized day, and everyone I interacted with was excellent. The school is great, the faculty are great and the students are great. Overall a very positive experience.
I loved Pritzker. It's a wonderful University, although they refuse to conform to changes in education. No PBL and the 8-5 day is a bit outdated. Lots of construction and no parking so if you are driving make sure you arrive well before schedule.
The interview was wonderful! My hosts were great, my MD interview went really well and all the students that I met were helpful and friendly. With both interviews we just chatted for an hour. Nothing really hard was asked. They just want to get to know you as a person, things that are not obvious on paper.
It starts of with a presentation, followed by interviews, a tour, and then the second set of interviews. Both student and faculty member were very nice during the interview and I felt like they were genuinely interested in getting to know me.
excellent, the best i could ask for- left feeling great about myself and the school, and honestly even if i do not get in, i will know without a doubt that i was treated fairly throughout the process
Got there a little before 9, had a long but informative talk about U of C's positive points, faculty interview, own wonderings around campus/bookstore, lunch, tour (including anatomy lab!), student interview, done by 3ish
Don't worry: I only indicated a stress level of 7 because EVERY SINGLE PERSON THERE THAT DAY WAS IVY LEAGUE. All 11 of them. Coming from a Big Ten school, that was a little intimidating first thing in the morning. Aside from that, the school is amazing and hands down my top choice, no question. My interview day only strengthened my feelings about the school. This school has zero flaws, as far as I can tell.
There was a student and a faculty interview. The faculty one was more stressful, but he wasn't being difficult or anything, just asking the right questions. The student was more laid-back, and I got the feeling she ran out of questions to ask. I hope that's a good sign!
Quite positive. I had such a great conversation with my first interviewer that he forgot he was interviewing me. The day was very structured, and the people in administration were very helpful.
Most of the interviews were laidback, with a lot of leeway to talk about whatever I wanted. There was one tough one, but it was interesting. Student interaction at dinners and lunch. No tour, but it's not that necessary, I guess.
it was a great day. My faculty intervier was busy, so I interviewed with the asst. dean. She is wonderful and you should talk to her if you have a chance.
It was a great experience. My faculty interviewer was very cool and relaxed. We went for coffee and walked around campus and just chatted. I was extremely impressed.
The day started at 8:45am. There was an overview of Pritzker history and there curricula guidelines and mottos. The first interview was at 10am with a faculty member at the hospital. This took about an hour and it was very conversational and relaxed. After that I read until lunch at 12pm. During lunch we were entertained by medical students with conversation and question and answer and this took about 30 minutes. Next we went on a campus tour which showed all the new construction taking place. This lasted til about 2 at which time my stuent interview took place. THis interview was harder than the faculty interview and she asked pretty tough questions but she was so nice about it that it was easy to talk to her. THis went on for about 45-50 minutes and the day was over. We also got a group photo which was good.
I got to Chicago the night before, checked into International House (really nice, quaint dorm, only $50/night), then figured out where the admissions office was for the next day. Went back to Int'l House, and was hoping to maybe talk to some students, but it was *really* quiet (maybe it was exam period?), not many people just hanging out, but nice nonetheless. Interview day starts around 9am, someone gives you a little one-hour schpeal about the school, then you have a 1-hr interview with a student in the morning (10am or 11am), followed by an informal lunch and tour with a bunch of med students, then another interview with a doctor/faculty in the afternoon (2pm or 3pm). Overall, I had a REALLY great time. The student questions were probably "harder" but it's really more of a see how you think kind of deal; I was a little more perplexed by my doctor interview, which only lasted 30 minutes, but she was nice nonethless. Lunch and interview were really funny, the medstudents were really great, and I could tell I'd really like it there (despite the isolation and cold weather)
The day started at 8:45am with coffee and a long introduction to the school and its philosophies. There was an hour-long interview with a med student which was very casual and informative. Then we had lunch and a tour with current med students. We had time to socialize and ask the med students any questions we had. The last interview was an hour, with a faculty member. The faculty member was very nice and easy to talk to. I really enjoyed my visit, and it made uchicago one of my top choices.
The school was wonderful, but keep in mind it is extremely challenging.
The curriculum is quarter based so it is fast. I have come to discover
that more is expected of the third and fourth year students than most
medical schools. You actually have patients you are responsible for.
They will call in the middle of the night for you to administer
care. So if you are up to the challenge and plan to be in research
involved in academic medicine this is the place to be.
In addition although there were not a great deal of minority students
the school is very supportive of those students traditionally
under representated in medicine and is working hard to recruit more
talented students who fit this profile.
the day was really mellow. during free time, they give you the opportunity to sit in on classes and talk to students. everyone was friendly and everyone wanted to help. students outside the builiding were looking for people in suits and guiding them to the admissions office.
Great - this school really impressed me with its laidback atmosphere, fun campus, interesting patient population, and new facilities. I'd love to go to school here.
this is a great school. if not for the price tag, it would be the one at the to of my list. during the course of the day, the staff and students do an amazing job of communicating the school's philosophy towards learning and the experiences of the students. my second interview went really well. the student asked good questions and gave great feedback.
The day was pretty relaxing and the interviewers were very nice. I had an interview with a 4th year med student first so that loosened me up a little and then another one with faculty in the afternoon. We got a tour in between, be prepared for a lot of walking, especially once it gets cold and windy.
I had a really great time at Chicago. The campus is beautiful and the students and faculty and admisisons committee totally make you feel at home and welcome. It wasn't at all scary or stressful. You also get a lot of time to meet the other interviewers and chill. And they gave us a picture of the group of us and a bubble pen! The interviewers were very nice and not at all scary. Very conversational feel. Good times!
we arrived pretty early and had a paltry breakfast. sylvia led an orientation session that was very informative and helpful, she was super sweet and nice, then we had two hours til lunch. most people had at least one interview. at lunch we talked with some current and former pritzker students, then had an hour long tour. after that we finished up interviews and were free to go. it was a great, stress free day...
Pritzer is a great school. The interview process is very relaxed. You interviewers don't get to look at your grades and scores but rather your essays and activities. Make for a great conversation.
I had a really good experience. The admissions staff is very friendly and welcoming, they want the process to be as relaxing as possible. It would be amazing to attend UChicago.
It was a hard interview; the interviewer probed a lot into my choice of medicine and my definition of maturity, and even asked a very bizarre question (See "interesting question"). I didn't know how I did. Later on, my interviewer volunteered to give me a ride to my friend's place, where I stayed, and he told me all about Chicago. I really have no clue if th interview went well or not
My physician interview was really bad b/c he was too busy for me so I couldn't really express myself too much. That lasted only 25 min. However, the student interview was great; for over an hour and a half we just talked casually on a bench outside.
The day started at 8:45 AM and went all the way until after 4 PM, so it was long. My first interview was with a physician at 10 AM and it was very laid back and very conversational. It ended by 10:30 and I just kind of hung out until lunch at noon. We had a tour of the hospital and classrooms by some students after lunch and it was really impressive. The students were really happy there and they seemed to enjoy being part of Pritzker. My second interview was at 3 PM with a 4th year student. It was also very conversational, but he had taken a serious look at my application and highlighted things he liked or didn't really understand. It lasted around an hour. He was very helpful and informatiove, not just about U of Chicago, but medical school admissions in general. Great place, by the end I felt honored to be interviewed there.
I enjoyed my visit to Chicago. The facilities were nice, the students were friendly and it really felt like an urban school. There are two longer interviews: one with a faculty and one with a student. Everyone meets for fifteen minutes with the dean of admissions and has to answer three questions: 1. Why Chicago 2. What have you done since submitting AMCAS and 3. What are you doing this year before attending med school.
The interview day was very enjoyable and the stress level was very low. The interviewers were well prepared and seemed to be very familiar with her application.
You can change into your suit when you get there and bring extra clothes for afterwards so you won't freeze! Facilities were great everything is really modern and students seem nice enough.
Two of my interviews were fine, but the third was the worst in my life. The interviewer kept harassing me and questioning my answers to all questions, frowning at things I was saying. After that interview, I became completely uninterested in the school.
Excellent school, students are happy and open. All interviews were conversational. Be prepared to answer "Why Pritzker?" There were no difficult questions, the interviewers are friendly and just want to get to know you.
While I was super impressed by the school, I was not thrilled by the students interviewing with me. Also, meeting to "go over your file" with the assistant dean is an interview, NOT a time for doing paperwork.
Dean Lombard spends about 40 minutes talking about the school's unique history and how this influences that medical education Pritzker students receive. He's easy to talk to and he asks all interviewees the same three questions: 1) How has your application changed since you first submitted it? 2) What are you planning to do between now and matriculating into medical school? 3) Why did you apply to Pritzker? Priztker has three interviews: one faculty, one student, and one with Dean Lombard. I felt that the student interview was more of a chance for the student to sell the school to applicants. The day is well organized and you will know who you will interviewing when you arrive. If you are flying into Midway, take the 55 Garfield bus. It will cost you only $1.50 to get to campus.
The atmosphere is really friendly and the students seem really happy there. Before the interview I was not that interested in the school, however, I can now easily see myself attending Pritzer--it would be an honor.
When I got to the international house the night before my interview, I first realized that it was a dorm and NOT a hotel. I did not have a towel, a clock, or a pillow and finding a place to eat on a Sunday night was not easy. (The pillow/towel thing seems to be an exception...everyone else who interviewed with me had these supplied to them at the international house.) After a bunch of complaining, I decided to try not to let this housing experience alter my impression of the school. The next morning, however, went much better. When I first got there, we were offered food and coffee. Then, the Dean talked about why we should go to Pritzker. My first interviewer, a fourth year student, was EXTREMELY friendly. My second interview was with the undergraduate pre-medical advisor who also sits on the Pritzker admissions committee. She was also very nice. My last interview was with the Dean. He was super! Finally, my overall impression is that the students are extremely cooperative and encouraging. I had two people in different circumstances offer to take me to the train station to get to O'Hare. Overall, Chicago was great!
An amazing university!!!
Truly the "Harvard of the Midwest".
The administration is amazing. The location "Hyde Park" is truly charming.
I was really scared of this interview, and the admissions staff (the deans especially) were so friendly from the get go. I had about an hour between my interviews, which intially was a downer, but as I sat in the lounge medical students randomly came up to me and introduced themselves, and we had nice conversations.
I was really impressed by Pritzker and the surrounding University. The interviewers were exceptionally sharp, and asked engaging, meaningful questions. The HYde Park area was also quite a surprise. I had heard that U Chicago was in a bad area, but the school is fairly sequestered from the surrounding bad areas, which really aren't that bad. In fact, they're an interesting slice of Black america which the University Hospitals serve. The facilities were also very impressive: clean, well lit, beautifully constructed architecure. And the students all seemed enthusiastic and proud without being arrogant. I loved the place!
my interview day started in the morning. sylvia robinson gave us a brief introduction while we had juice and donuts/muffins which was a nice touch. then i had my student interview(while some had facutly)-this was open file and my student who was from n.d. was this amazingly nice guy. he was really balanced-had a life with his wife and stressed that he was really happy at pritzker. after lunch and tour with students i went to my interview with ryan who was extremely nice although asked tough questions/and checked me in a way that was meant to figure out who the "real" me was. she was trying to get past prepared answers. at the end of the day i touchbased briefly with sylvia. don't ask stupid questions at the beginning of the day. one kid in our group was cocky and asked how long he could "sit on his acceptance to pritzker as he was planning on being interviewed and accepted at a number of places". blagh!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should maintain their friendly and welcoming approach, improve the organization of the interview day to avoid long waiting times and make the schedule feel less rigid and more structured to enhance the overall experience.
Keep doing what you're doing. Best interview experience by far. Good people, conversational interview.
The Multicultural Affairs breakfast could be better. Almost all of the interviewees went and socialized, which was great, but not the stated purpose of the event.
One very small thing that was not actually a big deal at all (this was easily my favorite interview day thus far). It would be nice if they better facilitated attending classes. I thought it would be a structured activity, but on the actual interview day it wasn't clear which classes we were even allowed to sit in on.
Make the day feel less regimented and stiff. I understand that there's a lot that goes into organizing an interview day, but many other schools have interview days with as many if not more activities planned, and they don't make the applicants feel like they're being rushed around on a tight schedule. The hurried feel of the day especially doesn't add up when one considers that we were all told to expect to stay from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Great experience, thank you! Tip for being more eco-friendly: reduce amount of material in folders, it's helpful but mostly available online, and now I feel sad just tossing it out!
