Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine
Pomona, CA
Veterinary Schools | Private Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 34% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school 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
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolve around behavioral scenarios, including handling failure, working in teams, managing conflicts, decision-making, and innovating to solve problems. While some respondents mentioned a structured MMI format and nondisclosure agreements, the focus remains on evaluating applicants' experiences and abilities to navigate various challenging situations effectively.
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Tell me about a time you faced a challenge as part of a team; what was the problem, what part did you play, and what was the outcome?
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Tell me about a time you failed: what happened, what did you learn from this, what solutions did you try?
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Tell me about a time you received criticism on your work; what was it and how did you take it?
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Tell us about a time you had to do something you’ve never done before
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Who is someone you do or don’t get along with and why
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a range of topics including hobbies, challenging accomplishments, innovative problem-solving, risk-taking decisions, workplace challenges, personal reflections, and handling failures. While some respondents mentioned a variety of behavioral questions, there were no specific standout questions mentioned, indicating a focus on standard interview prompts rather than unique or unexpected inquiries.
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What are your hobbies/interests outside of vet med?
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What was your most difficult/challenging accomplishment?
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Describe a time when something didn't go your way and how you reacted
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When was a time you had to use innovation to solve a problem
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What was the riskiest decision you've ever made?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine discussed a wide range of behavioral scenarios such as problem-solving with conflicting beliefs, handling tough decisions, and managing differing opinions in group settings. Additionally, some respondents mentioned an MMI format, suggesting a structured interview with nondisclosure agreements possibly in place for confidentiality.
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Tell me about a time you had to learn a new skill: what was it, how easy or difficult was it to learn, and what strategies did you use to improve?
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What was your most difficult accomplishment
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Talk about someone that you really like OR dislike and why you think you guys get along so well or don't get along so well
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Tell me about a time you had to make a tough decision, are you happy with the outcome?
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Tell us about a time when you had a solve a problem with people who shared different beliefs than you.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
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.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 7+ 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 more than $500.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Ontario International Airport (ONT)
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Orange County
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Ontario, CA
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Ontario! Much easier than LAX!
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Ontario (ONT)
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Ontario
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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Shiloh Inn
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Shiloh Hotel
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Shilo Inn Hotels (free shuttle to school and airport)
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Shilo Inn Hotel (Free Shuttle)
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Shilo Inn Hotel
How would you rate the hotel?
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
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Airbnb 15 minutes from campus
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by researching common interview questions, practicing with friends or family, utilizing SDN interview feedback, and reviewing their application materials to have relevant anecdotes ready for behavioral-based questions. Many also conducted mock interviews, sought advice from current students or professionals, and familiarized themselves with the school's website and interview format.
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Compiled a list of positive attributes I wanted them to know that I have and worked from that list to think of stories from my life where I demonstrated those traits. Then I drew from that list during the interview according to what sort of anecdotes they asked for.
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Have a bunch of situational question/answers prepared
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SDN questions
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Reviewed classic interview questions & SDN interview questions for WesternU
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Used SDN to help prepare, looked at the STAR process for interviewing, asked friends for help
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth nature of the interviewers, faculty, and students at the school. The positive experiences with problem-based learning (PBL), modern facilities, enthusiastic environment, and emphasis on real-world clinical experience were also highlighted as key factors that left a strong impression on applicants.
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The interviewers gave thorough answers to the questions I asked of them.
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Interviewers were very friendly and easy to talk to
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The interviewers were very kind and knowledgable.
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How conversational/kind everyone was at the interview. Very down to earth people, students, and faculty.
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The interviewers (faculty, sponsors that provide places for rotations, alumni) were so friendly and didn't give off an elite attitude even though the school is a private school. I loved how friendly all of my interviewers were and how they made me feel welcome.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the disorganization of the interview process, the high cost of tuition, the lack of personal interaction during interviews, the small campus size, the location of the school in Pomona, and the safety of the surrounding area. Suggestions included improving organization, providing clearer communication about the interview process, offering in-person interview options, and addressing safety concerns around the campus.
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The Zoom format was somewhat unwieldy for moving from one panel to the next and comes with a lot of risks for technical difficulties. I also had trouble accessing a quiet space with reliable wi-fi to do my interview, which isn’t an issue when interviews are held on-campus. It’s more financially accessible, but I would have preferred to at least have the option to do the interview in-person.
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It was hard to think of examples for some things, at least ones that would also be impactful/significant
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Campus was smaller than expected, long interview day
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Nothing!
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N/a
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interview process would be closed-file and more relaxed than expected. Suggestions included being prepared for potential disorganization, arriving early for parking, and not underestimating the importance of understanding the location and surroundings of the interview.
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That the interview was closed file
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Closed file interview
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That this webpage existed!
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N/a
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I wish I would have known that the interview was going to be kind and open- not as formal and stressful!
What are your general comments?
Applicants commonly mentioned that the interview process at Western University was laid back and conversational, allowing them to showcase their personality traits. Many applicants appreciated the friendly interviewers and the opportunity to get to know the school and its unique PBL system. Some expressed concerns about the lack of large animal facilities on campus and the small size of the campus, but overall, applicants had a positive experience.
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Very easy and conversational interview. Make sure your answers are reflective of you as a person because although the questions seem simple, they are looking for specific character traits in your answers
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Relax and make new friends with other interviewees during your time!
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Really laid back interview, they just want to get the chance to know you!
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Great interview process!
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The whole experience was great, I really loved the school!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggest that the admissions office improve communication, be more responsive to emails, provide timely updates, and enhance the organization of interview processes to create a more positive experience for prospective students.
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Admissions counselors don't respond to any emails (reported by many applicants, including myself), but Robin is amazing!
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Try to be better at communicating with the applicants, many applicants I talked to turned down Western because of the lack in communication.
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For online interviews, if applicants will have to wait for the interview to begin, let them know ahead of time so they can anticipate that.
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The interview day was a little disorganized, but overall it was great!
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The admissions folks can't tell your email provider to NOT put their email in the spam folder, so it has to be up to the applicants. CHECK YOUR JUNK FOLDER! Tell your email not to block @westernu emails!
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