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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 25% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally 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 841 responses
Score Reference:
9â10 Exceptional8â8.9 Very Good7â7.9 Good6â6.9 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 areaâs cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
đŦ Interview Questions âŧ
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the interviewee's motivations for pursuing medicine, their career aspirations within the field, experiences listed in their application essays, strengths and weaknesses, ethical scenarios, and their views on current healthcare challenges. Many respondents mentioned participating in an MMI format, where interview questions were tailored to their application materials, and some indicated being subject to a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked during the interview process.
What job would you want if you were not a physician and why?
Interviews were very informal and flowed naturally off of the activities and background info you provided the school (note, the interviewers only had access to your essays and not your grades)
Go through your entire academic and non-academic career and tell me what has prepared you for medicine. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your application? Do you have any questions for me?
All the questions were from my personal statement and any additional secondary essays. So the questions were repeated by each of the interviewers, because they all had the same info. That was a bit tiresome.
Why medicine? How did you get to the point of wanting to go into medicine? Are you married and do you have kids? (I was completely comfortable answering this last one - being single & childless has to have some kind of advantage despite what my mom thinks)
What specialty do you want to go into. This was asked several times. I don't know what their angle is, but I just answered as honestly as possible. They can tell when you're full of it.
Why medicine?
Why did you pick your major and what types of classes have you taken in this major?
What will you do if you don't get into medical school?
Students said most interesting question asked at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including cultural diversity exploration, coping with stress, lifetime accomplishments, and motivations for entering the medical field. The interviews appeared to follow an MMI format with diverse questions, and some respondents mentioned being subject to a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked.
Honestly got asked a ton of different and short questions being that there were 3 interviewers, so not too in depth. But, most likely, a case-based one about a patient that did not do what I prescribed.
If I had two patients with the same orthopedic injury and treatment, one having family support and the other totally alone, would their outcomes be the same? I don't remember exactly how it was worded, but you get the point.
A very specific ethical question related to something that had just happened in the news. But it was more about my opinion on it than getting a correct answer.
Teach me something. What would you think if America required two years of military service from its citizens/what would you think if we reinstated the draft? What are your thoughts on global warming? (Because I mentioned a book about global warming)
What's your Myers-Briggs Personality Type? Did you know that you have a tendency to set unrealistic expectations for people and to criticize them when they do not meet your expectations?
I was asked to explain a specific line in my personal statement. The first interviewer really enjoyed my personaly statement and she had it underlined/highlighted.
To explain my take on these statements from Orwell's "1984":
"War is Peace", "Knowledge is Ignorance", "Freedom Is Slavery"
Why don't you want to be a surgeon? Obviously if you can play the piano you can handle a scalpel well. (because of course any piano player can become a surgeon and all)
None really. I have been out of school for a while so I was asked what I had done with my time since graduating from college and why I decided to become a doctor, plus the usual why our scholl kind of question.
You have a patient that does not agree to blood transfusions due to his religious backgrounds. You need to operate, but will need to use a transfusion. What do you do?
Name 3 people, a family member, peer, and authority, and a characteristic about them that applies to being a good/bad doctor (ya I know it didn't make all that much sense)
One interviewere started the interview by asking "So, is there anything I you want to know?" which caught me by surprise because that usually ends up last. Otherwise, the interviews were very conversational and low key.
Nothin too intersting as far as questions go. No ethical or moral dilema questions (lucky me). One was interested in whether I thought I'd miss Charlotte (my current location).
None...it was one of those "so tell me about yourself" interviews...where after telling about yourself they sorta keep looking at you like "is that it or is there more?"
If I told you that you're admitted to Wake, but I get to pick your specialty, what would I choose that would make you say "No thanks, I think I'll pass"?
Students said most difficult question asked at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center School of Medicine discussed various topics such as personal qualities, future career aspirations, and ethical dilemmas. Many responses indicated a focus on personal experiences, values, and views on healthcare, with some mentioning the interview being in MMI format and potential subject to a nondisclosure agreement due to detailed questions asked.
If you never, ever get in, what are you going to do? (Wasn't sure if they wanted a determined answer of "that will never happen" or a responsibly thought out plan of action for the future.)
None... the interviews were very conversational. One of my interviewers seemed to make a slight effort to press me on one small issue but was not trying outright to fluster me or anything.. all three were very nice :)
Interviewers have your PS and secondary essays but not your numbers.
What other schools are you applying to? (None of the questions were difficult- I didn't even get an "ethical" question. I guess this question threw me off the most, though, because it was awkward trying to answer it.)
1. What do you think about personalized medicine? (Followed by him lecturing me on its uselessness). 2. Have you ever had to make a really hard decision for someone else? (Yeah, totally, because I deal with life and death situations all the time).
What do you think about the potential shift in the healthcare system?
What would you do if a perfectly normal patient who doesn't need CT stan asked for one (and you would get paid for ordering the scan)?
Tell me about your family. Mostly bc one of the interviewers asked me to tell him about my family, then he asked me to tell him about my father, then asked about my mother. And by the end of it I felt like I had already told him everything there was to say about my family. He was strange...
Explaining strengths and weaknesses and what I Have done to work on my weaknesses. It is always a balancing act to not come off too cocky or too unsure about your abilities.
A series of medical ethics questions (which would you give your patient, drug A or drug B, each with its own costs and benefits). What's your solution to our health care problems?
There werent any questions that I had not prepared for. i was mostly asked about what i did, to tell about myself, why medicine, how my parents influenced me, etc.
A strange question about whether I would tell a terminally ill patient he was going to die in a few days knowing he would die instantly, didn't have any family or friends, and would be happier not knowing he was going to die in a few days.
Can ethics be taught effectively, or does ethical behavior mainly depend on background? Tough question. I should note that this was a follow up question and was discussed in a very conversational manner...the interviewer gave her opinion as well, I certainly didn't feel like I was getting grilled.
For me, the toughest questions are to explain in a coherent fashion my non-traditional route to medicine. I practice but still end up babbling in my excitement.
What would you say if I told you that I learn something new every day from a patient? What might you learn from patients should you become a physician?
Is the reason that you took a year off because you didn't get in last year? (this wasn't hard to answer; but it made me feel like I had to defend myself which was unecessary... other schools have thought it was totally normal and even positive that I took a year off to work)
What are some scientific advancements that will affect medicine in the near future? And the follow up question: Why is that technology applicable to medicine?
Tell me about yourself. It would help if they would have questions after telling about yourself like other schools. Nothing difficult in terms of questions...rather difficult to get a clear idea of who you are in 15 minutes.
Most respondents had an interview of 19 minutes or less.
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?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had a closed file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reading feedback on SDN, reviewing their personal statements and applications, and researching the school's website and curriculum. Many also engaged in mock interviews, practiced common interview questions, and stayed updated on healthcare and ethical issues.
They use Kira Talent to use one-way virtual interview - reminded me of Casper! One of the most stressful experience ever LOL and thought I bombed it but got an A! How you feel post-interview does not reflect how you did. Also, Group interview was just so fun, very low-key
reviewed questions that people have been asked, knew my research, and brainstormed common interview questions:tell me about yourself, why medicine, why this school, why not research, etc
I read through all the interview feedbacks, did mock interviews with myself and the mirror. I tried to answer all "common questions" as best I could could.
I did not prepare. A word of warning, the interviews are speeded, and they will cut you off if you go a second over, so if you have something to say, make sure you say it before time runs out (they give you a 1-minute warning).
Read a few SDN interview feedbacks, printed off graduate faculty research descriptions and read through them, went to a WFU basketball game the night before
SDN and Interview Feedback (helped a lot! I knew a lot more than the other interviewees about the school), read Wake Bulletin, my PS and secondary since these are all they have
I read this website, wrote down all the questions I saw or could think of and answered them before the interview. Also, my parents did a mock interview weeks before the interview and I read up on materials that I was kind of shaky on.
read SDN, reviewed personal statements and had a mock interview with the director of admissions at my undergraduate school. boosted my self-esteem by telling myself i was the best!
Read my AMCAS and secondary applications, read USA Today for one week prior to my interview, read over this site, mock interviews at my university, just know yourself and why you want to become a physician.
Read their admissions bulletin, decided some reasons why I wanted to go to WFU, reread my personal statement (that is the only information the interviewers have about you)
Applicants were most impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the staff, faculty, and students, as well as the modern facilities and technology integration at the school. The sense of community, emphasis on clinical training, low cost of living, and innovative curriculum were highlighted as positive aspects that stood out during their experiences.
The informational videos about the school and its opportunties.
Everyone was really friendly, the school was new and had tons of study space, the new curriculum seemed well done, has houses to help build community among peers.
The cost of living is incredibly low. The autumn scenery is beautiful. The admissions office is incredibly friendly and transparent about their process (they told us the date of the adcom meeting on which our applications would be discussed). And they kept putting out food for us!
the facilities were amazing. everything is connected. Brenner Children's hospital is an incredible building. they just renovated the anatomy labs. The admissions staff were extremely nice. very positive experience.
The financial aid presentation was great. The person presenting seemed very knowledgeable about different federal/state programs and ways to pay for school. The curriculum seemed more organized than I thought it would be. Students seemed pretty happy with Wake Forest, AND with Winston Salem. The all-you-can-eat lunch was great!
I loved the tech-oriented curriculum (laptops, web based) and the case based learning combined with standard lectures appeals to me. The class seems tight-knit though it's hard to tell from an outsider. Facilities are above average.
All of the admissions staff are extremely helpful. Interviews were laid back and extremely conversational. The students were very helpful and excited to be there, and their Dean's Ambassadors (tour guides) are all easy to talk to and will answer all questions honestly. Plus, there's a playground on the roof of the hospital...! Also, their students have some incredible opportunities to get involved in the community from day one.
The facilities are nice; all the students we saw/talked to (there were quite a few) seemed very happy (even elated) with the integrated curriculum, etc. and definitely emphasized the non-competitive nature of the school. It seemed like faculty are very accessible. The cafeteria food was pretty good. Also, the financial aid talk was more useful than any of the other ones I have heard.
The friendliness of the interviewers. They were all so nice and not one of them made me feel intimidated. The interviews were more like conversations than interviews.
their anatomy lab, very up to date! Also, you get a free laptop, always a perk. Smaller class size than most schools, 120 students seemed like everyone really knew everyone else.
Everything. The entire day - from start to finish - was incredible, mostly because of the people there. Everyone there absolutely loves the school, the facilities were nice, and they seem to really care about their students. The focus is on clinical training which is great. The faculty seem to be very involved and concerned. A very friendly and family-like atmosphere, definitely got a sense of the "Southern hospitality". This would be an incredible place to go for med school.
Two of the three interviewers were very nice, friendly and outgoing. The other one, ehh not so much since he works in a lab and didn't seem very interested, but he wasn't terrible either. The facilities seemed very nice, the students that lead the tour really helpful and happy.
Parts of the hospital were newer and impressive. The area was OK, but I think the opportunities for cultural aspects of life and "nature-going" are great.
The school is seriously amazing. The staff is very nice and the hospital is sweet. The area is also beautiful. The students I met were very happy to be there and the facilities were excellent.
Cost of living in Winston-Salem, proximity to mountains, Old Salem, the parking lot right next to the hospital for students, the Sticht center, the enthusiasm of the current students
The schools atmosphere! All of the students were SO nice and loved the school, we even ran into a 3rd year "review" type lecture being held and they all were still loving it despite the difficult year of rotations.
Everyone was really friendly. The Dean of Admissions came and chatted informally with us before the interview. The financial aid presentation was also really helpful.
Wake seems to have happy and enthusiastic students, good technology, financial aid meeting was very informative...they pay for your boards and a laptop through tuition, cost of living in the area, everyone seemed nice.
the friendliness and openess of all faculty and staff involved with the interview day. the technology of both the university and med center is outstanding.
Basically everything. The curriculum is extremely innovative, the whole place is really high-tech, anatomy labs are the best I've seen (full-body CT scan of cadavers), students were friendly and honest, faculty seems to value their students' input on the school, also the hospital was very impressive as well.
Facilities... The anatomy lab was great, and it looked like the students had tons of resources available to them. I was also rather impressed by the medical center and the area surrounding the school. It'd be a great place to live.
Facilities were outstanding, curriculum is much better than most, online resources to students are amazing, the faculty are very nice and interested in helping students succeed, school develops wonderful clinicians, but retains a significant amount of research as well. Just a great overall program.
The technology is incredible, especially in the anatomy lab. The curriculum includes substantial small-group opportunities. The first-year students with whom I interacted seemed to be extremely supportive of one another and seemed to know the faculty members well.
The day was relaxed with only 6 interviewees present. The interviewers were friendly and nonintimidating. The students who talked to us seemed happy. The student facilities are high tech and we got to see the anatomy lab and cadaver dissections on the tour.
Facilities are quite up to date, people (both med students/faculty and citizens of Winston-Salem) are nice, good use of technology in the cirriculum, lots of clinical experience.
Personality! Professors, students were REAL people in and out of the lab. Collegiality and collaboration are clearly evident here between both the MD and PhD camps. I was treated very nicely by everyone
All of the students and staff were very competent in answering questions. Wake Forest isn't as bad as most people seem to think, especially if you are coming from a relatively small town. Wake also has some pretty impressive technology(anatomy lab in particular). Med students get tickets to basketball and football games.
-The people: students, faculty, community loves the school. Everybody is extremely happy to be there, and is extremely happy that you're considering coming there.
-Awesome anatomy lab, no smell and great screens at all stations.
-The use of technology in all aspects of the learning process. Incoming students get an IBM thinkpad, the campus is wired, and the curriculum emphasizes electronic materials.
the enthusiasm of the student tour guide (3rd year), the brand new gross lab, the flexibility of the school in dealing with students traveling overseas
The atmosphere was relaxed, and it seemed like everyone I came in contact with wanted to make all of us feel comfortable. The cafeteria food was really good, and I'm a picky eater :)
Everyone I met was kind, helpful, and encouraging - even my fellow interviewees. The school seemed to be very organized and focused on its students and curriculum. I also liked the Winston-Salem area in general.
the technology used in anatomy lab and on student computers is pretty amazing; the hospital is huge and serves a big region; other interviewees were cool; curriculum is innovative and unique; students are happy and feel good about their board scores and match list
Anatomy Lab (AWESOME!!), Technology integrated into the school, Enthusiasm of instructors for their curriculum, Helpfulness of finaid staff, Area culture (City of the Arts), Area life (restaurants, diversity, activities), Student enthusiasm for the school and its ways & facilities, The Public's love for Baptist Medical Center.
nice anatomy lab and hospital. i liked the small size of winston-salem, despite not being the most exciting town, it was pretty, safe, and affordable. and close to outdoors activiites. students were super nice, but didn't seem to have great answers to why they chose/like wfu
Honestly, although I'm not elegible for financial aid, their information on managing your finances and how to organize yourself and money was really helpful which made me feel they do care about their students, even on simple stuff as their money situation.
One of the best technologically integrated curriculi in US medical schools. Great integration of radiology and technology in the anatomy labs, they give you a nice laptop 1st year and a PDA on the 3rd year. Audiotaped and Ppt lectures posted. Well organized curriculum, not in class all day, PBL and traditional mix. Students and most people were friendly.
The students are really close with one another. The facilities are awesome and really high tech. You get an IBM compu your first year and a PDA your third year. Early patient contact.
Everyone was extremely nice and showed amazing hospitality throughout. The students seemed very happy and loved the curriculum. I was able to see the leaves changing and the campus was beautiful.
The tour was amazing. five first years lead the tour, three of whom were tagging along. They took us to thier anatomy lab, introduced us to teachers. They really expressed how much they loved Winston.
Many things positively impressed me. To name a few: the curriculum format, the students seemed so happy and friendly, it's very easy to get around Winston (I hate traffic), many great facilities all withing the Baptist Medical Center, the teaching technology available
the facilities are really technologically advanced, especially the anatomy lab. It has computer/tv screens for every table. Plus, all students are given a laptop (not simply added onto tuition)
The facilities are fabulous. Students all seem veyr normal and nice. Curriculum is totally revolutionary and makes excellent use of technology. You get a FREE laptop! Also cost of living is Winston-Salem is SO CHEAP!
The campus, interviewers were really nice, admissions staff was nice, well prepared day with little down time. Gross lab was really nice too. Quick response time, just a few weeks.
The faculty seem very friendly and approachable and Wake has very nice facilities. The cost of living is pretty cheap and although there is not so much to do in Winstom, I like the absence of distractions. Wake encourages international rotations and volunteer work. My host was the best!!
The curriculum is great. They've put a lot of work into modernizing and updating it. The faculty seemed very friendly and responsive. They've done a great job making full use of the laptops. The anatomy lab is amazingly nonsmelly. Dean Applegate is totally awesome.
People in Winston-Salem and at Wake Forest are very friendly. Cookies were good. Faculty members and students are very nice and willing to answer all your questions.
The facilities were very nice. The students were very interested in making sure we had a good visit and had all of our questions answered. The strength of clinical training students receive is a huge plus. Winston-Salem is a quiet little city, if you're looking for a busy city, this is not the place for you, but I really liked the size and tempo of the place.
Everything! I really enjoyed my time at Wake and in Winston-Salem. It is a smaller town, and slower-paced than many places: this is something I really like. Beautiful scenery, nice facilities, nice students. Everyone seemed very enthusiastic and happy to be at Wake.
how compact the hospital and school are, the weather and the fact that the gross lab incorporates virtual learning. Also, they tell you exactly when the adcom will be making decisions for your group of interviewees
Positive attitude, happiness of students and faculty (despite the small town), facilities, hospital is right there. It was the first anatomy lab I've seen and the cadavers were surreal. Clinical experience right away and throughout time there. The advance technology i.e. laptops, ether net, audio of class, links to relevant information for classes supplied prior to class. Everyone seems to work together. Very good support systems in place. Opportunities to go abroad.
The school is incredible. The technology based learning is perfect. The students seem very happy, and the faculty seems to be concerned mostly about the wellfare of the students. The anatomy lab is new and very nice. The interviewers are friendly and well prepared.
All the students seemed very happy with their decision to go to school at Wake Forest. The system tries to foster cooperation over competition. Also, Wake gives its students lots of patient interaction early on (the school is adjoined to the hospitals). The faculty are very receptive to students' comments and complaints.
Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. All the students seemed very happy and impressed with the program. Oh, and the new vents for the gross lab. It doesn't stink!
School is awesome, I really liked the curriculum. Students are really happy there. I had a chance to visit one of the classes and talk with some of the faculty members.
the women from the Medical Guild that led us around were very nice, and so were the other interviewies; Winston-Salem is pretty and everyone is very friendly, they had a lot more artsy and cultural events in the city than I expected
They described their curriculum in depth and it is really unique. We were allowed to visit the anatomy lab during the tour. A couple of physicians' wives stayed with us during the process to talk with us and answer questions. The cookies were super good.
everything: we liked the area, the hospital, the high tech classrooms. Cost of living is low, there are jobs in the area for my spouse, people are friendly, their program is excellent (patient contact the first week!)
High level of attention paid to students by the faculty and staff, Winston-Salem seems to be a nice quiet town with a really great quality of life. The students are were very enthusiastic about the school, and had great advice. The 20 min X 3 interview format was very relaxed, and quite a nice departure. Overall, I loved this school, and it's definitely my first choice.
All the students I saw and talked to absolutely love the school and talked about how well they were treated there. They also talked about how responsive the faculty are to the students feedback. I had heard briefly about their problem-based curriculum but was not familiar with the details but after hearing more about it I think it sounds like an excellent curriculum especially for someone who is a learn-by-doing type of person.
- The integrated curriculum - it's great for self motivated people who don't like being spoon fed.
- Hospital & school are all in one building
- New conprehensive cancer research center going up soon
- Hospital & facilities were nice
- PBL is a key component of this curriculum. Though there are substantial lectures, there is also a strong emphasis on clinical skills development. I think it's a good balance.
- They "give" you an IBM Thinkpad & Palm. This not really true - you pay for it. It's just that everyone gets the same one.
- No over night calls on the wards (except if you want)
- They tell you when exactly when they will make a decision and notify you. No admissions office games.
the students were very cool, the facility is excellent, curriculum is well thought out, interviewers seemed nice, school is building new research institute downtown
Everyone was very friendly and very laid-back. The medical students who give you the tour will answer any questions you have about the school honestly. Also, a volunteer with the hospital guild is there with you all day to make you feel more comfortable. She was very nice and helped make the process less stressful.
The facilities are very nice. It's apparent the difference money can make. The students seem very intelligent, and more importantly, happy. Very nice place to study. Cheap apartments, too.
The students seemed very laid back and honest about everything and said that they were very happy there. The facilities are nice and very modern and technologically advanced. Everyone was very friendly. Cheap cost of living is a definite plus!
The free top of the line laptops and palm pilots given to all students(which are upgraded after 2nd yr). The hospital is constantly being renovated and made better. Consequently even though the school has been around since the 1900's, everything looks fairly new. The curriculum is neat, very integrated. Faculty is very responsive to student complaints. ACC basketball is cool and the med students get free tickets to wake games. Housing is cheap. 675 rent for a house across the street. I pay that much to share a room in LA.
The school has a really student-oriented attitude. Wake Forest wasn't one of my top choices, but after visiting the school, it's definately one of my top two choices.
The use of tech. on campus is impressive. Everything is wired; the students get labtops their first year and palm tops in their third years. Also, what is transcribed on the white boards and power point presentations are all available on the internet.
the use of technology in all the class settings; the small-group classes (6 ppl) to discuss a case every week; I didn't talk to a single student who did not love Wake Forest
the use of technology (not just the school but the hospital as well), interesting problem-based curriculum, very responsive faculty to the students' wants & needs
The cost of living in Winston-Salem is extremely cheap--particularly if you come from large cities like New York City or San Francisco. The Community Practice Experience is an awesome opportunity to interact with patients for a solid week after the end of each phase.
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions of the one-way virtual assessment, dated facilities, limited campus tour, lack of student engagement during interview day, heavy class schedule, isolated location, lack of diversity, small town atmosphere, lack of enthusiasm among students, and concerns about the interview process and format. Suggestions included improving facility conditions, increasing student involvement in tours and interviews, providing more information on the curriculum and student life, and addressing concerns about campus culture and the interview experience.
A one-way interview is very hands-off and depersonalized.
The surrounding area is quite boring. The student lounge and study areas are rather gloomy and dated. The gym is TINY. And one of my interviewers kept cutting me off mid-sentence over and over again.
Seems like a lot of time spent in class. I was not a big fan of the 3 short interviews because I didn't get a chance to have really good conversations with my interviewers. We barely had time for just a few rapid-fire questions without a lot of discussion or "bonding" time. Also, the school's website doesn't have a lot of information on it, especially regarding the curriculum.
Seems to be little to no freedom in 1st and 2nd years, i.e. 8-5 mandatory lecture 3-4 days a week. Seems to cater a bit towards NC residents. No pharmacology. This is just nitpicking though.
First year students at lunch did not know ANYTHING about years 2, 3, or 4. That is to say they had no answers about support services, curriculum, clinical opportunities - pretty much, they seemed to be in their own little bubble - which may be good for med school success but is bad for being a visiting applicant resource.
The classrooms and med school facilities were old. The med school didn't seem to really have it's own dedicated facilities, either. Fairly expensive school. Very little contact with students during the interview day. Way too much time spent in class.
The facilities aren't that great, and very few students came to tell us why they liked the school. It felt like a place a lot of people weren't excited to be at. It also seems to cater to NC residents with scholarships and opportunities. The schedule looks jam packed with not a lot of free-time, and there don't seem to be that many interesting innovations in their curriculum.
Not much - I don't see why some people dislike the school. The people seemed really nice, the facilities definitely above average, and students happy to be there.
Everything else. This is a school that is built around what I call "the good ole boy system." If you are from the area you are set. If not, you better be freakin' great. My third interviewer, PhD, was a joke. He was hyper-defensive about Obama, poorly designed research, and grant funding. I was polite and handled him as well as possible, but let's just say that, Wake, if you are reading this, please follow my advice on this one: you are going to lose a LOT of good people who would LOVE to go to your school if you maintain your current interview method. Having one jerk every day does nothing but cut people down quickly, and if I were you, I would stick to MD's for interviewers. The MD's were friendly, outgoing, and concerned for getting to know the applicants. The other person has a thing or two to learn about a little thing called "people skills." Also, don't have the Dean come out and meet us "one-on-one" in a big group and then proceed to show how she memorized one fact about us all. It is tacky and unreal. Be real and just be friendly. I was not impressed but did very well with your system. This should tell you several things, none of which are good.
Winston Salem is..well...behind in the times. The buildings are very dark and gray. Everyone seemed so down. The students looked like they want to be there. Two of my student hosts said this wasn't their first choice.
Every student I met seemed apathetic at best, unhappy at worst. Almost everyone I talked to said they were only there because it was the only school they got into. I felt like I was missing something. The school looked so amazing, I thought for sure I wanted to go there during the interview day, but I felt like I was missing something huge that was the reason why nobody wanted to be there. I don't know what it was, but it was kind of eerie. Like there's some ugly secret that no one talks about.
They have a interview "mom" who is a wife of one of the doctors on faculty, but the one I had was really opinionated about the economy and pretty much thought everyone else's opinion was incorrect.
Also, my second interviewer was really rude and kept interrupting me. When I was talking about my research, he interrupted me and said, "It's not that I don't care, but I don't. I'm not going to remember, but I just wanted to know you did research." Thanks pal, you're a good PR agent for the school.
Also, it was very disorganized. The student volunteers for lunch never showed up so a roaming student just volunteered.
Also, every student that was with us was from North Carolina. I got NO out-of-state perspective.
About the interview/school? Not a single thing. The area is the only negative, but I definitely think I could live there. Most people in the school didn't smoke :)
We didn't get to meet any 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year students, or any faculty members except for the interviewers. Also, we weren't able to see any of the hospital on the tour.
Almost everything else. Location, student body, class schedule and style, the 'incidents reporting system' wherein you can rat out your classmates, the fact that you have to swipe in to classes. The interview style and process is nerve wracking, and I don't imagine it's any more useful than a less-aggressive process would be.
Winston-Salem isn't for everyone. I loved it (I'm from a smaller town), but if you're looking to go out to clubs, bars, etc., you might want to look elsewhere. Seems like an ideal setting for medical school (lack of major distractions; a very liveable and affordable city). The medical campus gym is a little small.
The food in the cafeteria wasn't that good. The hostess from the medical guild was a little inappropriate (reminded me of my opinionated grandmother). The buildings were old and dingy on the surface although the teaching technology was up to date.
actually ... the technology ... which everyone loves ... but honestly ... they were like look how impressive this is .. our anatamoy lab with flat screens and no textbooks .. and we dont even have microscopes ... we just use computers ... ''after all doctors dont need to know how to use microscopes'' ... i dont know ... just gave me an uneasy vibe
Although the Medical Guild person was very nice it is highly inappropriate in this day to have what is essentially a ''Doctor's wives club'' to be a part of the interview day. It perpetuates the sexist image that medicine is a man's profession when most incoming classes have a 50-50 ratio. In addition, the students I met lacked any enthusiasm for the school.
One professor (not an interviewer) had a very negative opinion of MD/PhD students, claiming that the compression of time in the PhD program was tantamount to ''diluting'' your PhD.
The facilities, with the exception of the anatomy lab, were not nearly as up to date as you would expect. The lecture halls and small group rooms and library were not on par with other schools at all.
-The area is what everyone says it is: a little bland. They are revamping downtown though.
-Medical students have a tiny health center, and don't have access to WFU's main workout facilities.
I didn't think that the interview format allowed enough time to really communicate much of anything. I'm sure there is a reason that they do it this way...
never saw or mentioned match list, tour guide was supposed to take us on an hour long tour, but she managed to cover everything in 15 minutes, which suggests she probably forgot to show us a lot
OHHHH THE AWFUL, RIDICULOUS, TRULY OBNOXIOUS DOCTOR WIFE THAT IS WITH YOU ALL THE TIME WITH NO CONECTION WHATSOEVER SINCE SHE NEVER WENT TO MED SCHOOL, IS ONLY THERE COZ SHE HAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO IN HER LIFE BESIDES TALKING ABOUT HOW PERFECT HER FAMILY IS AND ASK YOU STUPID QUESTIONS LIKE, WHERE YOU LIVE? IS THAT A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD?
THe hospital is somewhat confusing to navigate. Try to visit the night before or go early for good directions. Easy to find the hospital where the admissions office is, however.
The financial aid people couldn't be there that day, so that info session was conducted by someone from admissions, who didn't seem to know a whole lot about it
Rigid curriculum, no electives until 4th year, few students took part in research (this was confirmed by an interviewer who told me that she was disappointed with the amount of basic research that takes place at Wake), some facilities looked worn, high average student debt, most of the students you talk to are 1st Year without much experience in med school, seems like a lot of politics among the admin/faculty, MEDICAL GUILD CHAPERONE!
The facilities are really big so easy to get lost. The interviews are done like a round robin. Half of the people interview are one time and you have a 15 min time limit, which is good if the interview is going poorly but annoying if it is going well. The proctor knocks at the door and then will walk in on the interview if you go over time.
Where to begin... Getting greeted by the Medical Center Guild (aka the "wives of doctors club"), the overall attitude - extremely conservative, no merit scholarship for out-of-staters, the fact that the admissions people lied to us (yes yes, we still have about 10-12 spots available only to find out from the students that the class was filled weeks before my interview), etc., etc.
I got lost walking frim parking to interview- rambling hospital which I'm sure you get used to. The interviewers asked many of the same questions, and none of then had read any of my expereinces, so I didn't feel that they were well prepared about me.
Upon my arrival, I was told that enough acceptances had already been sent out to fill the class and I would therefore be placed on the waiting list. I still think I have a chance though!!
Winston-Salem. Tiny, conservative town. Seriously about three bars and lots of tailgating. Students told me they liked this because they were afraid they wouldn't get studying done if they lived in a city with more to do. Uh-huh. Watch out for Dr. Lee if you get him as an interviewer. He's a killer.
It is a really small town, sort of out in the middle of nowhere. This is good for some people, not good for those who like big cities. The women from the Medical Center Guild (wives of physicians) welcomed us. That was nice, but what kind of message does that send to future female physicians? I'd like to see the husband of a physician welcome applicants. People seem conservative and old-fashioned here. Winston-Salem seems sort of stuck in time. Tour given by a student was disorganized...she didn't seem to know what to show us or where we were going.
I got the impression that there was maybe a little bit TOO much structure to the curriculum. There didn't seem to be any elective time available until Phase 4. The students seemed to feel that they had great relationships with the administration/faculty which is good, but a couple of them mentioned that they thought that the administration was TOO involved in their academic lives...treating the students more like children/less like adults.
The price of tuition. Coming from NC, there are two other public schools in our state that would provide a great education for about 30% of the price of wake.
the interviewer who asked the competence/professionalism question was a bit snide, but nothing i couldn't handle. other than that, i was positively impressed by everyone and everything.. maybe i'm too easy to please :)
The interviews were too short and of the three, only one was with a physician. I felt like I could never get in an interesting conversation because they were so short.
The students said "it's okay. I only got in here, so I had no other choice." My interviewer tried to convince me away from Wake Forest because "it's expensive." He also had rude mannerisms (rolling his eyes, questioning my reasons for applying there, etc).
It was made abundantly clear that the learning here is very intense and stressful at times. One admissions officer made it sound like the students hardly have any time to do anything but study. Also, at the lunch with students, the host from the admissions office was there with us, so I got the impression that the students may have been less than honest with some of their answers about the negative aspects of the school.
Well the school is very expensive and also there seems to be a heavy religious influence even though students claim that it doesn't really permeate the academic environment.
The medical students were not very enthusiastic. The ones we had lunch with were first year and still were trying to learn the ropes (Not much help) and the ones for our tour were fourth year and too tired to be enthusiatic but their comments actually were very helpful.
The interviewers couldn't really answer any of my questions about the medical school. On the flip side, after the interview, I asked my "host" and she searched some one down who could answer my question.
We didn't see many students, and those we did speak too were not all that enthusiastic; the grading system is 3-2-1-0 which sounds a lot like a b c d to me
- No Pass/Fail; they have a "3 point grading system", which I'm assuming goes 3,2,1,0 for honors, pass, marginal pass, and fail. Depending on how you look at it, it may be a positive or negative. I think it's positive because it rewards those who put in extra effort, but many people don't.
- Students don't have their own cubicles
I wouldn't mind going there. The school seems to offer a good education. However, the Winston-Salem area isn't the most happening place(i'm from cali so i'm jaded). Just doesn't seem like theres much to do there outside of med school. The med school is not on the undergrad Wake Forest campus. The gym inside the med school sux and the undergrad gym is technically not available to med students(however, med students seem to go there to workout and just slip in). The south is really really slow.
ok... the student who gave us the tour told us about the new curriculum and how it has given them a failure rate on step I that is double the national average. Also, they seem to be all about making changes just for the sake of making changes. Several students I spoke with were less than pleased with the direction the curriculum was heading in and the way it has been implemented.
I did not particularly like the format of the interviews - three 15 minute interviews, back to back. I got asked many of the same questions and felt like I was having the same conversation over and over again.
Applicants wished they had known ahead of time that interviews were more relaxed and conversational than expected, the importance of comfortable shoes for a long tour, the difficulty in finding the admissions office, and the potential for one interviewer to be challenging. Suggestions included arriving early, being prepared to discuss personal statements, and considering transportation options carefully.
The MMI questions don't require much preparation; just be yourself.
As you have probably read elsewhere, it IS difficult to find the admissions office. To be on the safe side, I would try to park/arrive at the hospital a half hour before your interview so you have plenty of time in case you get lost. Even one of our student tour guides got a little lost trying to find the admissions office after the tour!
That they were testing our ability to handle stress a bit differently this time. Instead of having a rude interviewer, they now have an interviewer who asks tough questions(he asked one of the other interviewees for treatment options for breast cancer!), while sitting with you in a tiny room with the temperature turned up.
Not much - the hospital is confusing to get to where you're going so make sure you schedule enough time to find the admissions office, because you will have to ask at least 3 people once you get there.
Wish I had gotten detailed directions better than mapquest. Luckily I left an hour early and still made it on time (I flew into Richmond, VA and drove). Also, it was difficult to find the admissions office inside the medical complex.
The cost of your Computer (during 1st year), USMLE Step 1, 2 (fees), PDA (during 3rd year)are all included in your tuition. No additional fees are tacked on by the school. Very nice!
To find the office of admissions:
1. Park in structure A
2. Find nearest information booth, ask dir to Whatling Hall (spelling)
3. You should be in the G part of the building, take the elevator to the 3rd flr.
It took me 10min to find the office from the parking structure.
fly into raliegh or charlotte ... way cheaper ...
i flew into GSO and rented a car ... be sure to rent ... do not take a taxi! even if ur 21-25 ... the $15 fee is still way cheaper
I wish I had known about the bus route before I came. I knew it was $2 but i didn't know the stops or where the bus station was- I ended up spending close to $70 going from the airport, hotel, interview and back.
CTSA - clinical translational science awards. The GCRC programs (NIH funded) are going to undergo a fundamental shift in the next 5 years (GCRC grant expiration date) as the grant program has been replaced by CTSA. Wake's Molecular Medicine program has already made changes for when their GCRC grant expires (along with a few others) so the transition to the new clinical research funding program will be a bit smoother. Really adds value to a clinical research education.
That the Triad area of Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point has a population of over 1 million. Also, Wake is in the midst of building a huge research park a few blocks from the school in downtown W-S.
It was the last week of interviewing. Also, MSI's were on Spring Break, and MSII's were on 'break' to study for Step 1. It was pretty quiet around the school.
That parking wasn't free... Duke gave me a free parking pass. Wasn't expensive, it was like $3.85 I think for more than 3 hours but still give out free stuff that always helps ;)
The interviewers are not on the acceptance committee, they just make reccommendations. There are only 6 people at the interview. The interviewers convene the same afternoon after the interview and make their reccommendation. The admissions committee meets later that week and then you get a response about 2 weeks after the interview.
The medical school office is a little confusing to find. Luckily, a medical student saw that I was confused and gave me directions, she also stopped by the office to make sure that I had found it ok!
How beautiful Winston-Salem is. Also, the interview day is pretty much over by 3:30. I could have flown home that night, and not paid for an extra night in a hotel.
You're greeted and attended all day by a volunteer, who on my day was a woman whose husband was on the faculty. I found this really aggravating because I felt like I was being shepherded by a "mom" figure all day. She talked about how much she loved Winston-Salem and how much there was to do, but I was like, of course you love it and find lots of things to do -- you're in your fifties! She also took up a lot of valuable time with the current med students by asking them questions whose answers I already knew or didn't care about. Also, every student they assigned to us was from Winston-Salem or nearby, and didn't apply out-of-state. It really made me think twice about going there when over 40% of the students might be expected to share the very ... provincial outlook of the ones we talked to.
The cookies are good, but eat breakfast before you go, unless you want cookies for breakfast.
This is a small town which is not very diverse. It is a great place for married couples, and people who like quiet, scenic places. Younger people who may like big cities...may not be for you!
The clinical experiences seem great, and I was impressed by the amount of hands on experience the students can get through the community preceptorship. Also liked the variety of opportunities that are available to students throughout NC.
I didn't realize this until afterwards, but Wake students can do 4th year electives at UNC/Duke/ECU (and vice versa) without applying and getting approved as an external site rotation. I think this is a great opportunity and wish I had known about it so I could get more details during my interview day.
They provide five one-week preceptorships during the first year of medical school where M1 students work with primary care physicians in their offices to gain experience.
Would have made an effort to get to know the Winston-Salem area. Seems small, but I also didn't get much exposure to what the area can offer. Also, the admissions office accepts 10-15 students at a time, so most are not accepted right away.
That interviewers only have your personal statement to ask you questions from. They assume your GPA/MCAT score is fine. Plus everyone is just super nice.
Just about everyone who is going to Wake Forrest was initially wait listed. Only 10-15 students are accepted every time the committe meets which is 4-5 times a season. The rest are wait listed or rejected. They then pull people off the list as time goes on (it sounds like they do it even up to the day before class). So don't despair if you don't get in right away.
The admissions office IS quite tricky to find so give yourself about fifteen minutes at least to find it, and the people at the hospital itself did not seem to know where the school of medicine is even though they are more or less adjoined.
We walked into the cadaver lab about 20 minutes before the interview and a doctor was sawing through a skull- just be mentally prepared if you have not seen this before
At the point of interview, you have statistically about a 50% chance of either getting accepted or pulled off the waitlist. And there are about 20 full tuition scholarships for NC residents.
Don't be fearful that the interviews are short. I was concerned that I wouldn't have enough time to sell myself in such a short amount of time. However, I learned that you can share much about yourself in 15 minutes. I did not know that the curriculum was entirely problem-based. The school no longer requires the Scholarly Project.
Applicants generally found Wake Forest to be a great school with friendly staff and students, a low-stress interview experience, and an informative interview day. Some expressed concerns about the short interview duration and the location of the school. Suggestions included being prepared to discuss personal statements and engaging with the interviewers in a conversational manner.
Unsure about the upcoming curriculum changes, but overall nice school, new building plans look great, nice city to live in, very happy and pleasant students
Probably the biggest downside of the school was the drabness of the student areas. They are tucked into a corner of the hospital and they have no windows. If bright and spacious study areas are important to you then Wake Forest might not be the best fit.
The interviews were SO conversational and laid-back. I did not encounter the 2 nice/1 mean interviewer style that some people have mentioned. Definitely would come here if accepted!
I liked Wake Forest more than I thought I would! I will definitely go here if I can figure out a good way to pay for it without it being dramatically more expensive than a state school.
there are 3 15-20 min interviews. they have ur amcas personal statement and the essays you wrote on your secondary. they dont ask about your grades, and just want to get a feel for you outside of the application.
Liked the school more than I thought I would. Students seem happy and they said that all their classmates are very helpful and supportive of each other. They have a very integrated curriculum so you are exposed to each topic in numerous different ways (lecture, lab, clinical, case centered learning).
really great school, but super expensive. They did provide some very in-depth details about Financial Aid that I didn't know about before so that was good
The interviewers only have your secondary and your AMCAS primary. They do not have any numbers, so you might have to use grades in some of your answer responses. I was asked about rebounding after an academic difficulty and realized I had to actually tell him how I fared in my next semesters because the interviewer simply did not know.
Loved the school and the hospital. Hoping to hear some good news in the next few weeks.
If you print the little footprinted map from their website, the admissions office is not at all hard to find.
I had kind of a negative view of the school going in, but coming out of the interview day it's among my top choices.
Everybody was nice but the school just isn't a good fit for me. The admissions people were cool about finding me a student host, so that was a big plus. Winston-Salem looks like a good city, but the school is just not what I'm looking for.
I was accepted and am attending Wake Forest. I picked it over Mount Sinai, Georgetown and Rush University.
Wake Forest is all about its students and the faculty does everything to make sure everyone succeeds. I love the environment here--it's so chill yet students are serious about learning.
This was a VERY weird itnerview. One interviewer seemed as if he had not read my application and we had nothing to think about. The city is not very cultural, and the classrooms are dark. Two of my student hosts (from NC) said this was not their first choice. One said he didn't get in to UNC the other said he didn't want to go to ECU. wow..
I had three acceptances prior to this interview so i withdrew after the interview.
I loved this school and location. I really wanted to go here. However, the students and interviewers creeped me out big time.
All three interviewers were different. The first was straightforward and blunt, very military-like and proper, yes, no, thank you sir. Easy to talk to if you can speak confidently. The second interviewer was nice and comforting, very motherly. You could say anything and she would smile and nod approvingly. The third interviewer was angry, hostile, and bitter, and used profanity to express disapproval. It seems like the interviewers were chosen purposely to see how the candidates responded to different forms of inquiry.
The interviews go very quickly and interviewers have access to your primary and secondary essays. The tour is good but doesn't go into the hospital--although my tour guide took me to an additional location when I asked. Lunch is at the hospital cafeteria where you can select whatever you would like. The host "mom" was very friendly and helpful.
Everyone had three 15-min interviews. Each of us had the same 3 interviewers. It wasn't actually closed-file because the interviewers had our essays in front of them. They did not know our grades or anything else, though. Think of things that aren't in your essays that you can bring up so you aren't wasting the little time you have on what they already know.
Great program, happy students, approachable and caring faculty. Very technologically savvy curriculum. Just an all around solid place to learn medicine.
Overall I enjoyed the interview day a lot, it was stressful since it was my first interview and the first of the 3 20-minute interviews was with a strange man who just asked me about my family. It threw me off guard. However, the other 2 interviews went well and I ended up with an acceptance. I really liked the school a lot and would likely attend if I had not gotten accepted somewhere closer to home.
One of the interviewers wasn't able to be there, so it was just two people instead of the usual three. They really didn't ask many questions; it was more of a conversation.
There's a big emphasis on clinical practice at Wake, so it's a good place if that's what you want to do. There's a good vibe of camaraderie between the students. One of the tour guides was a little strange (he was quizzing us on anatomy and stuff), but most of the people are fairly laid back.
Wake seems nice, and I would love to go here, but it would be difficult justifying their $58,000 per year vs. my state schools $25,000. I really didn't feel like I got a better impression of what the school was about after the interview.
this interview day was not very high stressed. You start in the morning with about six interviewees, you sit aand chat for a while. The hostess comes in and we all introduce ourselves and talk about where we are fom and general information about the school. we then eat lunch with some of the current students. GREAT FOOD!! We then break up into two groups of three...one group starts interviewing, the other group goes on a tour. The interview style is unique...there are three interviews with three different ppl at three different times...each lasting about 15 mins...we go into the room...the interview is closed file but they do have your personal statement and your secondary answers (no grades or scores)...we chat for 15 mins and we have to stop when the hostess knocks...we wait for a few mins for the interviewer to jot down notes about the interview and then we start again in the next room...it isn' very stressful because you don't have enough time to get nervous. It is hard because in that time, you don't have time to get to know the interviewer and you can't really judge how well you did. However I did enjoy myself very much!
My best interview experience to date. They had a ''mom'' for the day (a spouse of a physician involved at Wake) that kept everyone on schedule and going to the right place. EVERYONE was very warm and friendly, not to mention helpful. It was a low-stress fun day.
I had the exact same interview 3 times in a row, but with 3 different doctors... It seems like they didn't discuss beforehand what types of questions they were going to ask. I was quite literally asked the exact same questions by all 3 of my interviewers. It was frustrating, because I ended up having to talk about similar things in each one, and I don't think I was able to portray a lot about myself that I would have liked to.
It was great, I could easily see myself staying there for four years. If you're used to a big city, then this might not be the place for you. But, after spending 4 years in a relatively small city--Winston Salem seems perfect. Faculty interviewers were very friendly and the school seems very high tech.
Met by medical guild in the morning (the wife of a medical school faculty member), who was super nice and made everyone feel relaxed. Went to presentation on the school and financial aid for about an hour. Then we went to lunch with three first year students. They were very honest about Wake and gave us a clear picture of the school. After lunch, we toured the medical education building (anatomy lab, classrooms, and the library). Finally, at 2 we went back for our interviews, which weren't stressful at all (very conversational, get-to-know-you type of interviews). I was done by three o'clock and drove right to the airport to catch my flight.
I arrived at 9:45 and basically just sat around talking with the other interviewees and a doctor's wife until 10:45. There are 6 interviewees on any given day. I thought both the presentation about the school and financial aid were very good. Lunch with M2's and tour with M1's. Interviews were only 15 min. each interviewer just has your personal statement, but they may not have read it very closely or remember it well. Two of my interviewers were very stoic/aloof at first but they warmed up by the end of the interview... I think they may do that at first to see how you respond.
Showed up to the hospital about 45 minutes early. Parked in parking structure ''A'' althugh ''B'' would have been fine as well. There is no sense in trying to find the school yourself, just ask the first information desk you see. Checked in at the admissions office. They have a hostess from the Wake Forest Medical Guild (Spouses Club) that help out during the day. I saw previous posters suggest that this was sexest, but I think there is nothing wrong with family members trying to be involved in the community where their spouses work, whether they are male or female it really doesn't matter. We received a presentation on admissions (7500 applicants last year(entering class of 2007), 500 interviewed, about half of them accepted). Received a wonderful financial aid presentation. Then went to lunch with current MS2s. There were 6 of us in the interview group, after lunch 3 of us went with a couple MS1s for a tour, the other 3 did interviews and then we switched. The interviews were very short and very easy, made me wonder how important they could really be in the application process. We were done by 330pm.
You meet the guild lady who is nice. She helps to break the ice with everyone. She seemed too happy but I cant discredit her for that. You listen to the dean of admis followed by a financial aid presentation. We had lunch with M1s but a M3 stopped by. Then the groups are divided into those that will interview next or take the tour. The tour is very spontaneous b/c they find people at the last min to do it.
The atmosphere was extremely friendly and relaxed. Everyone with whom I interacted seemed eager to help. Over all, it was a very informative and enjoyable day.
It was a really laid-back experience. This was my first interview, but I was pretty much at ease once the interviews began. The build-up was by far the worst part. All I was asked were questions about what I do outside of studying, etc.
The school is my ideal, hence the high ratings above. I live in Winston, know the area and the types of people there, and thus really want to go to Wake.
I'm a Christian, and indicated as much in my primary application, and got a little bit of flack from one of the professors in the form of the ''God thing'' question and other ethical questions. I was ready for the interviews, though the way in which some of the questions were asked was a bit disconcerting.
On the whole, I'm impressed with the school, and am looking forward to attending if at all possible.
It was a pleasant and relatively short interview day. There was a very brief curriculum and financial aid presentation. We spent a lot of time sitting around in the morning talking to the hostess. Two 2nd year students took us to lunch. The food wasn't great, but the discussion of Wake was. We had three 15 minute interviews. They were very short, but I liked it that way. Two other students took us on the tour. We mostly only saw the basic science areas, none of the clinical, but the school of medicine is right within the hospital.
i actually really liked it ... and contrary to most reviews i really liked the speed dating interviews ... i felt everyone was able to get a small flavor
Short interview day, arrived and spent 30+ minutes with the wife of a physician. Short presentation on school and financial aid. Lunch with 3 students who were not enthusiastic about the school at all. After lunch tours and speed dating/interviewing which was kind of chaotic and too short.
I liked the school and curriculum. I just don't know if I would go out of state to live in Winston-Salem for the same price as an in-state school I am applying to.
There were about 6 people interviewing. First we met with financial aid, but this is unusual. Then we met with admissions. After that we had lunch with two first year students. And the group was divided in half. Half went on tour and the other half went to interview.
It was pretty relaxed, at least for 2 of the 3. One of the interviewers was a psychiatrist and that was kind of intimidating at first, but they all just really wanted to get to know you. None of the interviewers were trying to throw you off or anything like that.
Cookies, overview of school, financial aid session, cookies, lunch with med students, tour with med students(or interview), cookies, interview (or tour with med students), cookies
Very relaxed interview day. Our host from the Medical School guild, Hazel, was very friendly and informative. Lunch was great, and all the interviewers were enthusiastic and very positive. Great interview day!
Overall, it was very laid back and informal. The fifteen minutes goes by quicker than you realize, make an effort to hit on the strong points you want to make before time is up. In general, though, it's a very pleasant interview.
It was great, the doctors who interviewed me were very laid back. It just seemed very intimate and conversational. They didn't ask any questions to really throw me off, just to get to know me. The 15 minutes does just fly by though.
There was a lot of sitting around and waiting at the beggining of the day (possibly because I got there pretty early). We then were given a presentation on the school and on financial aid, then ate lunch at the hospital cafeteria (which was pretty good). Then the interviewees were split into two groups, and one group had interviews while the other took a tour, then we switched. Overall, the students seemed like pretty normal people trying to pursue a medical career. The atmosphere was fairly relaxed and the professors seemed to be pretty chill according to the students.
Overall, a very good time. Students were friendly, so were the professors, and I never felt like anyone was ''out to get me''. A small city with not a huge club and party scene, Winston-Salem to me was a large enough place to call home. Their MD/PhD is not MSTP funded. Disadvantage: fewer slots for dual degree
Advantage: more freedom in curriculum development-->no government-mandated ''get out in 7'' requirement (the school recognizes that the PhD may take more than 3 years)
There are three 15 minute interviews with three different staff members. Two were MD's and one was a PhD. The interviews were very relaxed and conversational. They didn't ask any intimidating questions, and the 15 minutes really goes by faster than you would like. I found myself rushing my speech sometimes because I knew I was on the clock, but if you speak slowly and just keep up with the interviewers pace you'll be fine. In fifteen minutes they don't expect to get your entire life story, so just be yourself and create a nice first impression.
After a negative interview day the day before, Wake seemed like a breath of fresh air. Everyone seemed happy to be there. The faculty was nice; interviews actually asked me relevant questions. The whole day was very informative. Prior to interviewing, when I looked at the schedule, I thought that the amount of time alloted for the information sessions was excessive. However, they were very useful to learn more about the school, the financial aid process (there and elsewhere), etc. Compared to other schools, Wake really tried and I felt like I was being wooed. Winston-Salem is lame but cheap living.
Late arrival night before, lost luggage, had to get new suit at mall. Arrived late, staff concerned and very nice. Great students, amazing facilities. Time crunch on interviews, but good.
I had three interviewers and they were pretty decent but my last interviewer was amazing. She recommended places to salsa dance and was genuinely interested in learning about me. We both were a little disappointed when our session ended and she called me a
An attending's wife talked to us before we went to an informational session regarding the school and financial planning. Next, we had lunch with two fourth-year students (MS I's and MS II's were taking a test). Aftewards, half of the group went on the tour and half started the round-robin interviews (20 min sessions w/ three separate interviewers; one physician, one PhD researcher, and one
All in all I had an awesome time. My interviews were relaxed and informal. All the students loved their decision to go to Wake, and there is a lot of camaraderie amongst them. I couldn't have asked for a better first interview experience and I hope I get an acceptance. In the end, I think I'd be very happy at Wake.
2 of the 3 interview went very well, and the other was ok too, I just didn't click well with that interviewer. Each only touched on 2 or 3 topics and then it was over.
The day was planned out exactly the way Wake said it would be. Our "medical guild volunteer" didn't show in the morning, so I just talked with the other interviewees (6 of us total) from 10-10:30. Irene Tise from Admissions took us into a small conference room and showed us a ppt presentation on Wake and the curriculum, with lots of handouts. A Financial Aid lady told us all we needed to know about need-based aid, federal loans and private loans, and even showed us that if you buy a Starbucks coffee 4 days a week during med school, you could end up owing over $3000 when it's time to pay back student loans!
Two MSII's took us to lunch who seemed very happy with Wake. They told us not to worry if we're waitlisted because almost half the class has been traditionally taken from this list. Cafeteria was pretty darn good.
Interviews started at 1pm. Three students go on a tour, while the other three stay to interview. You interview with 3 different faculty members for 15 minutes each, then they spend ~5 minutes writing about you before the next one. They only have your PS and secondary essays, so you end up talking about the big obvious stuff you've done, and don't get a chance to get to anything really nitty-gritty. I personally liked that because it makes it much less stressful! Preparing with SDN Interview Feedback reeeeeeeally helped.
The tour was fine. You don't get to see much more than Watlington Hall, which is where the med school facilities are. It's basically two pretty drab looking floors with drab rooms: 2 lectures halls (one for year 1 and one for year 2), a student lounge, the library, some small-group learning rooms, a couple Standardized Patient Assessment rooms, a super small 'fitness center',and that's pretty much it. The anatomy lab is pretty cool though -- each cadaver has a 20" flat screen above it, so you can see what the profs are doing. You can also see CT scans of your cadaver, on this screen and on your laptop anytime.
The "speed dating" aspect goes smoothly. After lunch... 15 min. in interview one, 5 min. off while they take notes (a kitchen timer goes off and a lady knocks on the door), then repeat for interviews 2 & 3. The interviewers only had my amcas personal statement and the add'l comments I added to my secondary.
The day starts with a meet & greet with a physician's wife (liaison). Ours is a drug rep married to an anesthesiologist (imagine that). She was great. Then we heard talks on the school, its curriculum/technology and finaid. Lunch was in the anything but diminutive cafeteria (w/ 2 first years). After the interviews we had a tour given by another 1st year (the only downside to the whole thing. all 1st year contact). No closing meeting.
Honestly there were so many times I wanted to slap the lady sitting next to us. Except for one in the group we are like 20 years younger than her and we are not married yet, we still have a life of our own, all her conversation was about her husband "my husband is the head doctor of surgery", "my daughter blah", "my son is in college", "we live there", LADY WE DO NOT CARE!!! BORING! Then, she said to ask her questions, well "mmm can you tell me how many pass the Boards?" and her answer was, "I don't really know, but my husband told me all the students are so intelligent and capable to pass any test"!!!
I was sort of medium on the whole deal. The "speed dating" was as bad as people had said -- I felt like I said the same things to 3 different people (plus I had this weird anxiety that if I phrased something a bit differently they would all cross-check with each other and decide I was lying). The school really likes to brag about their anatomy lab -- which is great, but you have to think about the fact that you will only be in there for the first 12 weeks of your first year, then you'll probably never go in it again. The rest of their facilities were very cramped. Small room with small desks for the first years, and the whiteboard seems barely visible from the back row. Also, I would like to get my own computer with better specs than the one they hand you.
For starters, I am not the typical medical school applicant. I come from a pretty rough background but I have decent grades and a pretty good MCAT score. I really felt out of my league because I was interviewing with people from MIT and the ivy league. However, what I found was that the overall interview process at WFU was very laid back and inviting. I was a nervous wreck and my interviewers made a point of easing the atmosphere. The conversations during my interviews were very open and non-confrontational, while still focusing on specific questions. They really wanted to get to know me as a person. My best advice to anyone is to be yourself, answer questions as honestly as possible. Oh yeah, show some excitement about getting an opportunity to go to medical school.
Well structured day in general, Don't have much time outside of the packed 10am-3pm schedule they give you. In the afternoon, a series of 3 interviews, closed file each 20 minutes long really feels like speed dating. Enthusiastic students for the most part, but I was left wishing for more student interaction.
While we were waiting, we had hostesses who kept us company and kept the conversation rolling. Then, we had lunch and a tour with a few med students. I had read off this site that the interviews themselves were like "speed-dating", and they were! After 15 min. with an interviewer, someone knocks on the door to tell you time is up and then you move onto the next interviewer. If it's going well, it's a little frustrating, but if the interview is stressful, it's relieving to hear that knock!
All three interviewers were friendly and laid-back. They all asked different types of questions so I didn't feel like I was repeating myself over and over, which is nice.
Arrived at the admissions office to be greeted by the wife of one of the dean. She was nice and interesting to talk to. I drank a lot of the tea they had placed out and once all the student had arrived (around 6 or so) we went to see some mind-numbing presentation about the school and finacial aid. We went to lunch after this, which was nice because I felt very burnt out from the presentation. The students that talked with us at lunch were nice and seemed to answer all our questions honestly. We then went back to the office for interviews. These were fine. Even if you do terrible, you will probably feel like you did okay, just because the staff is so friendly. After the tour, we went on an interview, which would have been as boring as the presentation had our guide not been so fun to talk to.
Overall the school itself was great. However, anyone who casts Winston-salem in a good light is either lying or from a very, very boring town.
It was my first interview so I don't have much to compare it to, but it seemed like a nice place and I will seriously consider coming here if I get in. Everyone was very friendly and relaxed.
It seemed the 3 interviwers may have had different tasks... One interviewer barely touched on any medical school questions, in fact, it just seemed as if he was assessing behavioral aspects to a semi-stressful situation. It was a little odd, but relevant. None of the interviews were confrontational, but some of the interviewers may "dig" a bit for answers.
The interview process is strange...almost like speed-dating. You get a max of twenty minutes with each interviewer, who only has access to your AMCAS and secondary essays. What I found to be frustrating is that you spend 10-15 minutes just revisiting the experiences you listed in your AMCAS. If you're going to have short interviews, the interviewers need to have your background so you can quickly move onto other topics. I didn't particularly like the system. I didn't think it was stressful, I just thought it was odd. Also, I thought the Medical Guild (AKA Doctors' Wives Club) Liason was detrimental to the interview experience. It's like having your mom there the whole time. I mean what kind of insight can they offer that goes beyond the input of the students? Did they go to the school? No. Did they EVER go to medical school? No. What's the point? Additionally, I thought their presence detracted from open discussion among the group interviewing as well as the Q&A with current students. Personally, I just thought this contributed to the my sense that Wake doesn't really trust it's students and does everything for them. I felt like I was being talked down to at the curriculum brief, there are no electives until 4th year (we wouldn't want you thinking on your own now would we?), and you have to find your own funding for study abroad. Not the place for someone who really wants to set out on their own path. As for the facilities, I thought some of the buildings and classes looked run down. In the 1st Year lecture hall some of the ceiling tiles were missing and the wires were hanging down. Overall, I wasn't particularly impressed, but that is just my opinion. I'm older than most students and I just didn't feel like was the place for me.
My experience was great. I was really nervous going into the interview, but I must have done well because I got a letter of acceptance one week later. The people are really nice and the city is really pretty even if there is not a lot to do there. I was really impressed with the school and their curriculum.
There were presentations about the school and financial aid before the interviews that really helped me get an idea of what questions I should ask my interviewers about the curriculum. The lunch was great. We ate at the cafeteria, which isn't half bad, with three med students, who weren't on the committee. We were able to ask them any questions we had. Then we rushed back to begin our interviews consisting of three 20 min, interviews with three diff. faculty members, for one hour. The interviews were very informal and conversational. They had only read our personal statement. Overall I had a great experience. They are so up with the technology and it is a major teaching tool. Their anatomy lab is also very cutting edge.
Interviewers were conversational and friendly. Mostly, they wanted to get to know me better. They only had access to my personal statement, nothing else.
Three 15-20 minute interviews in a row, each one one-on-one with a faculty member who has a portion of your AMCAS application (no grades). Not enough time for a very long, deep conversation, but enough to get across a couple of big points.
Overall, it was very relaxed and everyone was really nice. It was a little disconcerting hearing that both my tour guides came to Wake because it was the only place they got in...it's a great school but in a bad location, and I think that hurts its student recruitment.
The entire experience was nice and well put together. There was always something to do. The woman from the Medical Center Guild was very nice. The interviews were twenty minutes. Not too long, not too short. Interviewers were nice. Low stress interviews. The anatomy lab is really clean and doesn't smell. It is very nice. Baptist medical center seems to be a very good hospital. All in all, a good experience.
It was a fast-paced day, very informative. I'm a nursing mom and they made accommodations for me to breastpump discretely during the day. We were given a financial aid lecture, then an informational talk, lunch with students, tour with students, three interviews.
The 3 interviews were not as stressful as I had imagined and the tour guides were truthful and excited about their school. I really hope I get into Wake and I can't wait for three weeks to go by. Overall, the interview was very conversational and the financial aid session was very informative.
There are 3 timed interviews, 15 minutes each. The interviewers have an evaluation sheet they fill out right after the interviews. There are 1 or 2 questions on the sheet that each interviewer has to ask. It was my favorite interview experience yet. I liked having 3 interviewers.
This is a great school in the middle of nowhere. The vibe is very small-town. If you want this, great. It's very laid back, which is nice, but would get frustrating to me. It seems like the curriculum, outlook, and training are great, but I couldn't possibly live in Winston-Salem for four years. The interviewers have your PS and nothing else. Much has been written about the 15-minute timed interviews. I found them stressful. The financial aid presentation is nice, but the tour is useless (you never even see the hospital).
There is a welcome in the morning by the women from the Medical Center Guild. They give you cookies and drinks which are good. Three 15-minute interviews which are back-to-back. This is a bit stressful but the interviewers are pretty nice, even when asking you tough questions. Overall a nice day, but Wake Forest is just not really for me.
I really enjoyed my time at Wake Forest and am hoping to be accepted there! There are only 6 interviewees total, so there is lots of space for personal attention (only 3 people per student tour! no herds of black suits storming through the halls! amazing!) Having the medical guild member guide you through your day and the hospital was very helpful. Our guide was very nice and talkative, although having her there constantly did make you feel like you had to be "on" even when you were just with the other interviewees. The lunch was fantastic (for a hospital cafeteria) and I felt like I got a ton of information talking to the students during that time. The presentations on the admissions process/curriculum/financial aid were all very informative and to the point. It is so nice that they tell you the exact day the committee is meeting to evaluate you and how your interviewers will submit their evals. The interviewers are faculty volunteers. They interview you each for 15 minutes and then meet as a group to discuss the applicants directly after. This report will be submitted to the admissions committee who will review the entire application and make a decision).
The interviews themselves were very relaxed. They have your AMCAS personal statement and your secondary essay. They asked mainly questions about experiences that I detailed in my essays and a couple of the broad ethical questions that are highlighted here on SDN. Everything was very conversational and I never felt like I was on the spot to provide the "right" answer. A fifteen minute interview is too short if you hit if off with the interviewer, but actually feels a bit long if you don't really "click". I had one of each and one that was somewhere in the middle, so overall I was happy that they were only 15 minutes.
Being my fourth interview this fall, I felt confident that I "knew the drill" as far as interviews go. These, however, were quite different than the other schools to which I applied. First of all, the interviews are all conducted in the admissions office, and they bring in three different faculty members to conduct the interviews. All other interviewees have the same interviewees. Secondly, the office keeps an alarm set for 15 minutes per each interview. Three different applicants go to three different interviews for 15 minutes, the alarm goes off, then the applicants rotate. All in all, I was very impressed with the school as a whole, other than its steep price.
Fantastic school! I like the area and the people. The facilities are nice, and the students seem quite content. You will have a brief admissions and financial aid presentation, then have lunch with some students. After that, you will either do interviews and then a tour, or the tour and then interviews, depending on how they schedule you. I interviewed with 6 other students. Everyone was very friendly and supportive. The interviews will last for 15-20 minutes each, and you will be interviewed by three faculty independently. They only have access to your AMCAS essay and any Wake secondary essays. All of the interviewers were very nice, supportive, and appeared interested in what I had to say. A lot of redundant questions, simply because none of the interviewers know what the others asked you. You go from one, to another, to another, with at most a 5 minute break in between (usually less).
Overall a positive experience, despite the very different format. You're literally timed in each room by a kitchen timer being kept by a member of the Medical Guild outside the interview room. I'd be interested to know why they choose to interview in this way
Good experience. Winston-Salem doesn't seem to be the greatest town for young people, but its not bad. Definitely wouldn't be a bad place to go to medical school
The interviews were 15 minutes each, timed. You rotate through different rooms. It's a bit intense, and it's hard to adjust to very different interview styles so quickly. But the school is great and I hope I get in!
Overall, an awesome experience for the first interview. the cookies in the admissions office are quite delish. also you get all the info on the curriculum and financial aid, and it's just enough. i was still quite stressed out about those 15 minute interviews...other than that....way to go wake!!!
Probably one of the most thorough and well-managed days I have seen. Not too much down time and plenty of time for questions and seeing the facilities. Talks with Admissions officer and Financial Aid are super informative and give you a lot of details about the school.
The students who gave us a tour were not really enthusiastic about the place and even told us that Wake was not their first choice. Not what you want to hear from the very beginning.
The office is a bit difficult to find from the parking garage (park on the orange level and walk straight ahead). I went the night before and did a dry run to get the right entrance and I asked for directions since I got a bit turned around. It really helped because I had no problem finding it the next morning. Parking is $3.75 for the day. It was supposed to be 6 interviewees but one canceled at the last minute. We all came early, so we had a chance to chat with each other. A volunteer then talked to us for about 30 mins. She kept telling us how wonderful everything was. I appreciated her enthusiasm but she never experienced going to school there. She was however very helpful with general questions about the town, living expenses, etc. and very friendly. We then met with a staff member that rattled off the description of the program. I swear she said "Any questions? Good, let's move on" withour skipping a beat. The Financial aid person came next and explained the whole thing which was nice as they don't do that at many other schools. Thinking about debt was kind of depressing though. We then went to lunch in the cafeteria with the volunteer and 2 1st years. A couple 2nd years showed up later. From there it was the 15 minute interviews for half while the other half did the tour and then we switched. The 15 minutes were up really fast. We couldn't really get into depth about much and I felt like I had to answer asap before time was up hence the tendency to babble. :-) My 1st interviewer was awesome. He had a great sense of humor and had me rolling most of the 15 mins. The other 2 were more serious but okay. You are interviewed by MDs and PhDs and they don't have any information from your file except your personal statement. Most of the questions come from there. Try hanging out in Walmart for a bit to see if you're going to like it there. It is a totally different environment from the hospital/school setting.
All in all, Wake surprised/impressed me. It's not super high on my list mainly because of the location (I'm not a huge fan of the South--no offense), but it's still a wonderful school worth looking into. Of all the schools at which I interviewed in the same tier as it, Wake stood out by far.
I had a lot of high hopes for this school. Unless you are really comfortable going to school in a smaller Southern town, I wouldn't put too many high hopes in this school.
There were six people there to interview. Three of us first went on a tour while the other three interviewed, and then we switched. There were three short interviews with faculty members, two MDs and one PhD. The interviewers were all nice, and they all asked different sorts of questions. The PhD asked a different sorts of questions--ones that were relevant to both the clinical and the research sides of medicine. Overall, the interviews weren't too stressful.
this interview experience was friendlier than i expected. the admissions people and finanical aid talked to us, then it was lunch in the cafeteria and a tour. finally, three short, short interviews.
Wow. This is by far the best school I have interviewed at (out of 8). The technology is great and really is helping students to be prepared for practice in the future. The curriculum is a great mix of tradition w/ small group problem based learning. The interviews were good. Yes, they were a little rushed, but everyone understands that, so don't feel like you have to answer quickly and try to exploit your good points. It seems like they really just want to get a feel for you as a person, so time really isn't an issue. Great school. Great education. Good location (Winston-Salem really is a nice place-not a ton of social areas, but still plenty to do). Moving forward and getting better all the time.
Pretty laid back and very short interviews. They do not let you go any length of time over 15 minutes. They are very proud of their curriculum so make sure that you know it well and why it would be a good fit for you.
very low-stress! all 3 interviewers were friendly and laid-back. we couldn't get into much depth in the interviews since they were short, but i didn't feel like that was a problem.
I had a wonderful time at Wake. It is a good school. Winston-salem is a small town and things seem to close early but given that you will be busy most of the time, I think it's alright. I am a small town kind of person so if you are, Winston-Salem may just be a perfect fit.
There were three interviews, 20 minutes each. The interviewers had only seen the personal statement from my AMCAS application beforehand. Two of the interviews were just conversational, while the other one was designed to make you think on your feet about some non-conversational questions (see below). It's just key to remember that the whole point isn't your answers, it's how you handle yourself while delivering them.
There are three 20 minute interviews. It sounds really stressful, but it's really not. Just make sure to get points across about yourself if you want to because once the hostess knocks on the door it is time for you to rotate to the next interviewer.
All the interviews were very conversational and the interviewers only look at your personal statement from the AMCAS application so make sure you know it well because most of the things that end up being discussed come from that.
The interviews were a little like musical chairs. Fast & intense pace for 40 mins. Two of my interviewers were really conversational while one was ethical/healthcare stuff. But none were too stressful. Remember you can always ask interviewers questions about themselves - it's a good opportunity to learn about individual doctors in medicine. You can really learn a lot about what problems doctors encounter.
The interview day is interesting. You have 3, 15 min interviews... make sure you get out what you want to say at that time because you're literally asked to leave after 15 min.
Okay, There will be a hostess who will insist that you eat lots of cookies and drink lots of refreshments. She is there to encourage you to socialize so you will "loosen up". Although she does not have an official vote she does report back to the Admissions people so put on your best face and compliment the cookies. They really are good. You to to a meeting where the curriculum and financial aid people let you know what is going on. Then you go to lunch with a med student and the hostess. When you come back three people go tour the school and the other three interview. Wake Forest seemed a little more conservative than the other schools I interviewed at so watch out. Don't be too out there. Also you have to interview for 20 minutes per person and the funny part is at 15 the hostess comes and raps on the door then at 20 she comes back to knock one more time. If she comes back a third time you are "removed" from the room =) so rap it up when you hear the knock they are relentless! Have fun be ready for the cheesy who do you look up to type questions.
Overall this is a nice school and I don't mean to convey such a negative opinion, its just that the interviews were so short and the format of rotating from one to the other was stressful... it was hard to feel like anyone got to know me.
No wonder Wake is called the Harvard of the Yadkin River. This is a school that deserves more credit than it gets. I had a wonderful experience and would be honored to attend this school.
Great overall, though it was the second day of the interview season and no students could be found to take us on our tour, so teh dean of admissions did, and the wife of the Dean of the Medical School sat and talked with us for hours.
I arrived at 10am with 4 other applicants. We socialized for 30 minutes and then went into a conference room where they talked about the curriculum, statistics of acceptance and answered our questions. Then financial aid came in and thoroughly depressed us with the money issue (private school $$$). Afterwards we were escorted to lunch with 2 second year medical students. Interviews were with 3 different people from different areas of medicine (dentistry, research and clinical). We were told that the interviews would be conversational in nature and nothing to stress about. However, one of the interviewers decided to grill us on ethical questions. It was unexpected, but we got through it! The other 2 were as promised...conversational. They were all given access to our personal statements, but nothing else in our file. After the hour of interviews was over we took a quick tour of the class rooms and facilities with 2 different second year students. They took us to the anatomy lab where a couple of lab groups were working. It was my first time seeing a cadaver. All students are given laptops and access to a fully functional workout center as part of their tuition. They had a lot of energy and really seemed happy about their choice to attend Wake Forest. I left at 3:45. Overall, it was great.
Interviews there are semi-open-file in that the interviewers have copies of your AMCAS essay and your personal statement but none of your statistics. So they ask questions mostly related to what you talked about in your essay. The interviews are also strictly kept to 20 minutes. I had heard before going to the interview about how their USMLE scores had plummeted since switching to the problem-based learning curriculum and I ask the students that took us to lunch about that. They said that initially the school went a little overboard away from tradition core science teaching but now the curriculum has moved back to a better balance and that they expect scores this year to be back where they should be. They also said that even though Step 1 scores dropped after PBL Step 2 scores rose significantly, something which I had not heard. So basically it boils down to PBL may be harder initially but it pays off in the long run.
They have a unique interview format. You have 3 interviews, each lasting no longer than 20 minutes. I
like this because in most interviews, I've felt like the interview has made an assessment after 5 minutes. The rest is just a waste of time. It's less pressure this way. Just go into it with the attitude that you're meeting someone new for a short conversation (at a cocktail party if that helps).
I really liked Wake. Its curriculum is flexible and can somewhat be compared to Yale's. Though Yale has a more traditional curriculum (less PBL, etc.), both schools seem to foster academic independence and self-directed learning. Bottom line: you can get a super competitive residency if you want, but you gotta do the work. It's all up to you; you get what you put into it.
came away very impressed with the program. seems to be an intimate environment(class size 108) and program is highly integrative. lots of good technology and winston-salem is a nice (if not exciting) city. school just got a new dean who is well thought of. my impression was that school in general was very forward thinking.
It was a great experience! Definitely not stressful at all. The interviewers really want to know about you and don't try to stump you with any ethical questions. Great school!
Wake's a very nice school. It would be hard to decide b/t WFU and UNC. The only thing leaning in UNC's favor is the 20k+ I would save per year going there. All in all, though, I would probably pick WFU over UNC. (these things really are anonymous, right?)
Overall the day was very informative and enjoyable. One of my interviews was very tense but the other two were relaxed which was nice and the faculty all had nice things to say about the school.
I was impressed by the school; its facilities, curriculum, technology, faculty, etc. If it was the only school that accepted me I would gladly go without any remorse. However, Winston-Salem just doesn't feel like the place for me so if other opportunities present themselves then I would not go to wake. But if you like the south and don't mind spending four years in a quiet area then consider wake. Good thing the turnaround from interview is pretty quick.
I was not impressed with this school at all. Some of the classes that the students talked baout seemed to be a complete waste of time. Many gave the impression that they were forced to do classes and assignments that made no sense and would not serve them in their profession at all. Further, their philosophy of training "life-long learners" made me want to puke. I was waiting for someone to hug me and start singing Kum-by-yah.
The day went very well. Great cookies in the morning, summary of financial aid and free lunch. After lunch we had a quick tour of the campus and then our interviews. The interviews were mostly pleasent. They lasted only 15 minutes each so you didn't have much time to show yourself. It seemed as though they just wanted to see if you were easy to talk to.
Every interviewer asked the basics: Tell me about yourself, your family, your experiences and activities, why do you want to be a doctor, how do you know, and they all asked why Wake Forest and related questions such as where is Wake on your list, would you come to Wake if I told you you were in, etc.
I showed up at the hospital with my map in hand but still couldn't find my way. Finally after asking like 5 people, I found the admissions office. There were only a five other applicants interviewing on that day so it was pretty intimate. After a few presentations and lunch in the hospital cafeteria, you either have your interviews or the tour. In each interview, after 15 minutes, someone comes to knock on the door to signal time is up. Then you go back out to the lobby area and wait for the next interviewer to get done with the other applicant. The day was over at about 3, I think.
The interview experience was great. The interviewers and volunteers were very helpful. The students all seem to love it there. You meet at 945 in the admissions office, then they go over some admissions statistics, facts, etc. Then you talk with a financial aid person. After those are done, you either go on a tour or wait in the office for your 3 different interviews. Each interview is 15-20 mins, and they go by very quickly. If you didn't already take the tour before your interviews, you now go on a tour of the facilities and then your day is finished. Here's one piece of advice I have to give you all- MAKE SURE YOU EAT THE COOKIES!
overall a good experience. The students were very open & honest, incredibly friendly people overall... and not that stressful of an interview proces... what horrible things can happen in 15 minutes? Well... I guess I don't want to know.
When you arrive at the Admissions Office, you will be greeted by a volunteer from the Medical Center Guild. My volunteer was extremely nice and had some good connections--her husband was chief of surgery at Wake Forest. You will have three interviews by three different people. I had one MD and two clinical faculty. Each interview lasts 15 minutes. The interviewers have a copy of your AMCAS application.
Traveling from the Greensboro airport can be pretty expensive if you are taking a shuttle to Winston-Salem. There is a counter at the airport where you can request a shuttle. There is no formal student hosting program but you can ask the Admissions Office to set you up with a student host--if you wish.
The interviewers were generally very friendly and seemed to want to keep the interview as low stress as possible. The faculty and students were also very friendly and helpful, and seemed to really enjoy Winston Salem and the school.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office should provide more specific and detailed directions to their office, including maps or signage for easier navigation. Additionally, many applicants recommended the implementation of a student hosting program to enhance the overall experience for prospective students.
To not do a one-way interview. It was as good as it could be, but it feels very disconnected still.
The admissions office was not pleasant, and gave me a negative first impression on Wake Forest. The timing of the interview day was poor, and it felt like we spent a lot of time sitting around, waiting for the next thing to happen.
I think the directions to the Admissions office should be a little more detailed. Specifically, park in the B parking garage on the Orange level. (They don't tell you which garage and they call it level G, but the garage is color coded, it's not level G until you're inside the hospital.)
Please put out signs or something to help us find the admissions office. I got lost many times. Also a student hosting program would be nice. But otherwise in person they were incredibly nice and I loved the endless supply of snacks.
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Greensboro Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) is the most commonly entered airport information.
