Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine Interview Feedback Summary
Pomona, CA
Veterinary Schools | Private Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 34% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did okay.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
7.4
Good
Generally favorable experience overall, applicants reported positive interactions with some minor issues noted.
Based on 286 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools are behavioral questions focusing on experiences such as handling failure, innovative problem-solving, conflict resolution, and working with diverse individuals. Some respondents mentioned being asked similar or identical questions, indicating a standardized approach possibly in an MMI format with potential nondisclosure agreements in place.
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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 us about a time you had to do something you’ve never done before
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Describe a time when you had a problem and how you solved it.
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Why dentistry?
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Describe a time you had to pursue a new idea and how you did it
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 from personal challenges to problem-solving scenarios, with a focus on behavioral questions. The interview format was not specified as an MMI, and no mention of nondisclosure agreements was made in the responses.
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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 most difficult question asked at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine discussed various scenarios related to problem-solving, decision-making, interpersonal relationships, and personal experiences. The interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) with a nondisclosure agreement in place, as respondents mentioned being asked behavioral-based questions that were thought-provoking and focused on reflecting on group situations.
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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 Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had 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 utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN) for interview feedback, practicing with friends or family, reviewing behavioral-based interview questions, and conducting mock interviews. They also focused on identifying personal anecdotes and experiences that demonstrated their strengths and qualities relevant to the interview questions.
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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, kind, and welcoming nature of the interviewers, faculty, and students at the school. Additionally, they appreciated the emphasis on problem-based learning, the modern facilities, and the enthusiasm of everyone they interacted with.
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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 virtual interview format, the lack of in-person options, disorganization during the interview day, high tuition costs, the small campus size, safety concerns in the surrounding area, the limited facilities, and the unenthusiastic demeanor of some staff and students. Suggestions included improving communication, offering more in-depth information sessions, enhancing campus security, and addressing the challenges of the online interview setup.
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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 was closed file and that it would be more relaxed and laid-back than expected. Suggestions included being prepared for potential disorganization, familiarizing oneself with the area, arriving early for parking, and managing expectations about the interview format and location.
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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 generally found the interview process at Western University to be laid back and conversational, with a focus on getting to know the candidates as individuals rather than on trick questions. Many appreciated the friendly interviewers and the opportunity to showcase their personalities, though some expressed concerns about the teaching style and facilities available at the school.
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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 suggested that the admissions office improve communication by responding to emails in a timely manner, providing updates on interview processes, and being more organized. Many applicants highlighted the importance of clear and timely communication throughout the admissions process in order to enhance the overall 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!
📍 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.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
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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LAX
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Los Angeles International Airport
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ONT
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Ontario
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Ontario (ONT)
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly mentioned hotel that users stayed in is Shilo Inn.
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Best Western Chino Hills
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Comford Inn
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Comfort Inn
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Comfort Inn Pomona
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Diamond Bar Best Western
How would you rate the hotel?
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What are your comments on where you stayed?
N/A
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Airbnb 15 minutes from campus
All Responses
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