Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 10% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did okay.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low 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 cover a wide range of topics, including inquiries about unique hobbies, specialties of interest, ethical dilemmas, personal qualities beyond medicine, research experiences, academic background, challenges foreseen in medical school, motivations for pursuing medicine, and preferences for future practice. Some respondents mentioned questions specifically related to their research, family background, interests outside of medicine, views on healthcare reform, and reasons for choosing a particular medical school, such as Washington University in St. Louis. Additionally, the responses indicate that Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) format may have been used, potentially involving non-disclosure agreements due to the varied and personalized nature of the questions asked.
(Just a note, 1 session is open file and the other is closed.) Tell me about [this unique hobby]?
They do not have pre-planned questions for interviewers. Some interviewers like to ask ethical questions: If you saw an attending mistreating a patient with a disability, will you, a lowly medical student, do anything?
Second interview was 30 minutes of me asking questions. Not everyone has a second interview, its random and for some internal check of their system, to make sure 1 interview is adequate. The man was very nice and convinced me how great Wash U is.
What is a scape goat (part of a story the interviewer was telling me) He tended to ramble about things and I felt like I didn't get to talk as much as I would have liked.
Tell me about your family. Why do both you and your sister want to become physicians? Why medicine and was there an epiphany that substantiated your decision?
What do you think about the current health care reform? (The question was pretty broad. I was just asked about my opinion and we didn't go in to too much detail)
Interviewer #2 (quality control--closed file)
Tell me about yourself & your activities.
Strengths & weaknesses.
How are you going to deal with the pt population in St Louis?
I couldn't imagine how an interview could be less stressful. Both interviewers were genuinely interested in what I had to say and made me feel completely relaxed as soon as I stepped into their offices. I wasn't even asked why medicine or why washu (a question I was dreading to answer since washu is pretty traditional). We really just talked about interesting things that would pop up in the conversation, or things they found interesting from my file (they really read it carefully beforehand). However they did ask me in depth questions about my research. Overall the best interview experience I have had so far.
Often, in science, we start down the wrong path, and an important consideration is recognizing where you've gone wrong and when to start over. Can you think of any times in college when you've had this experience?
Second interview: What do you think of the relationship between doctors and pharmaceutical companies? (brought up as I mentioned my internship experience at a large pharmaceutical company)
Lots of questions directly relating to what you indicated on your application. Both of my interviewers thorougly read my application and knew a LOT about me long before I walked into the interview room. ''So tell me about this book you read...'' (That was my personal statement topic)
She just asked abt activities from my AMCAS. And she even printed out info abt a dr at Wash U whom I could contact abt research...my interviewer rocked!!
(My interviewer had thoroughly looked over my application--he had four pages of handwritten notes/questions to ask me.)
"When did you come to the United States?" (Apparently, WashU is big on diversity and not afraid to show it. My interviewer said that many of the applicants/students were born in another country and immigrated to the US.)
So you were accepted to WashU undergrad and offered a scholarship--why didn't you come? Luckily, I had an answer prepared for this one, and he remarked that I did the right thing/what he would have done.)
What do you think about physician-assisted suicide? Should the doctor's personal beliefs have any influence on the patient's decision? Should a med school applicant's personal beliefs affect his/her chances of getting into med school?
Do you have any other questions? Do you have any other questions? (Both interviewers asked me this about 4 times. Moreover, the tour guide and the attending with whom I asked lunch kept asking this. It seemed more like I was interviewing them, and not the opposite).
What is one personal attribute that you are particularily fond of, and you think would be to your benefit as a physician? What is one personal attribute that you think you need to work on, in order to develop into a good physician?
tell me about your research, x/c's, etc. nothing that's not been asked before - and most were drawn from my file. that was a plus, that my interviewer had obviously read my file.
What else do you want to know about Washington, besides anything regarding student life, academics, research, and the city of St. Louis because I don't want to talk about any of that??? (Ummm...WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK THEN???)
Where else did you apply? Where else did you receive interviews? What interviews have you been on? (Totally f-ing inappropriate questions asked by BOTH interviewers).
A scenario question: you've been assigned a project that involves sex education (to reduce STDs) in a country where the culture discourages discussion about sex. What will you do?
Very few typical questions were asked. The only one I remember being a prepared question was "where do you see yourself in 10 years?" It was essentially an hour long informal conversation.
Students said most interesting question asked at Washington University-St. Louis School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics, including personal motivations for medicine, cultural perspectives, ethical dilemmas, and reflections on life experiences. The interviews appeared conversational with a focus on the applicants' backgrounds, research experiences, and their views on various social and healthcare issues.
When you moved away for college did you have an emotional struggle with a relationship break-up? (not without context--his daughter suffered from some sort of depression because of that situation....but it was still a little odd)
How did [experience mentioned in AMCAS essay] affect your ability to do your work and all of your activities? (This was a good q for me b/c it's something I specifically wanted to address to prove it wasn't a weakness.)
this is your time to really let them know what you're about, so make sure you can articulate your application well. that can be difficult if you are caught off-guard.
Some people wonder if its worth saving premature babies who won't have a very good quality of life--do you have an opinion on this? (or something to that effect)
Follow-up question to discussion of a class I took: Some say that Locke's writings were based on Plato's, what do you think? Who would you say would most likely agree with Plato-- Hobbes or Locke?
Do you think the learning of languages is linked to the learning of music theory? (Question was asked as a follow-up to my response regarding my language studies.)
"I didn't get to read your file, so where are you from?"(I mean do I really want this guy to present me to the admissions committee. He came in 45 minutes late too).
I really couldn't understand my interviewers' questions. I thought they were asking questions, but then they seemed to turn into lectures, or self-guided commentary.
if you were in an interview and the interviewer had something in his or her teeth and you thought you were going to crack up would you tell her/him about it?>
The interviewer asked me a bunch of physics questions because he was trying to help his son with his homework. (I was an engineering major and have taught physics.)
Why did you apply to two schools? You should have applied to more! (I know, but I hold a teaching appointment and a research appointment at the university!)
There are a lot of applicants who take a year off before medical school. Do you think this indicates a lack of motivation? Do you think it might even be selfish? (I am taking a year off.)
Interview was purely conversation and based on my background and application. My interviewer had actually gone through my app and taken a page worth of hand-written notes on me, so he knew me particularly well and tailored the interview around me so it was very laid back.
The interview had read my file and annotated it! I would suggest that you definitely review every piece of info you sent in to them to refresh your own memory. There were mostly questions about my childhood (I wrote about it in my secondary)
Who do you think should be responsible for the regulation of the use of the knowledge gained from stem cell research, genetic engineering . . . (Came out of a conversation we were having)
Why is medicine more of a business in Asian countries than in the United States? (Don't worry -- This came out of a discussion we were having... I brought up the topic due to background)
Students said most difficult question asked at Washington University-St. Louis School of Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including leadership experiences, reasons for career choices, challenges in healthcare, personal attributes, and ethical scenarios. Many responses mentioned a conversational tone, but some indicated more structured questions about research, personal background, and future goals. Notably, several respondents referenced an MMI format, suggesting a nondisclosure agreement could have been in place during their interviews.
Tell me about a time you either stepped up into a leadership position or stepped down from one and how you handled the transition.
How would you compare the education system in the country you lived versus in the US. ( This came up because I lived in another country while completing my undergraduate degree)
If you were to develop a specific research project what would it be? (again it was very conversational and I comfortably told him that I had not thought about this yet since diff med schools offer different opportunities)
A teenage rape victim comes in and find out she's pregnant. What do you counsel her about her options? Why wouldn't you recommend that she have an abortion?
A case study about a young child with sickle-cell, obesity, depression, and lots of other bad stuff going on. How would I try getting through to him in order to help turn his life around?
(1) Do you have any questions for me? This was after a 1.5 hour tour (3 applicants to one tourguide) and after another interview where i'd asked all my questions...also the questions are heavy into your research
What do you think is the most important public health issue today, and what should we do about it? (I don't think pre-meds are in a position to have all the answers for this one... but I guess if you are familiar with the important topics you should do fine)
Nothing difficult. She asked a lot about my research. I feel like it's always impt, in that case, to ask how much experience your interviewer has w/ your particular type of research, to avoid sounding too condescending if he/she knows a lot about it or being completely incomprehensible if he/she has never heard of your stuff.
The interview was pretty relaxed -- it was a fun and interesting conversation. There weren't really any hard questions -- we just talked about experiences in my AMCAS application and my plans as a doctor.
Hypothetical: Prisoner on death row gets a heart transplant (cost to taxpayers: $150K). Dies a few weeks later. Is it a waste of taxpayer money, especially considering that the heart could have gone to an honest, young man with a family and health insurance to pay for the transplant?
none really ... everything was just about myself and my experiences (personal, research, extra-curriculars) Just be able to expand on your AMCAS application and you should be fine
Honestly, it was what I'm looking for in a med school. It doesn't have a discrete answer, since I've never BEEN in med school and I can only guess what will work for me.
So what did you do in Europe? (after I had answered three times that backpacked through Europe, toured cities museums, met people, sample local cuisine and beer, etc. I really didn't know how else to answer it, but he kept asking).
what will you tell a patient who asks you to . . .(i cant remember what the exact situation was, but it was basically to commit insurance fraud in order to have some perscription that they needed covered.)
again, nothing too difficult. if i had to pick something i'd say: are you concerned about entering the healthcare field (ie, because of all the "issues" we hear about)
I have read you file, so is there anything else that isn't here you would like me to know? ( this was the first question I was asked as I sat down. Kind of threw me off).
Do you plan to do research during med school? (I didn't want to lie, but I'm not really into research, and I didn't want to make a bad impression at a research-intensive school...I ended up saying no).
What lead you to decide to become a doctor? Followed by: What lead you to decide to become a doctor? That's so weird to be asked the same question twice...
What is the future of medicine (before I answered he admitted that it was not an easy question to answer, but he just wanted to hear what I thought in general)?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ 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?
Many applicants prepared for their interviews by reviewing their AMCAS application, secondary essays, and the school's website. Mock interviews, practicing with friends or family, and reading interview feedback on Student Doctor Network were also common strategies employed to prepare effectively.
Read over my AMCAS (the interviewer knew my application VERY well- make sure you can talk about anything you wrote), read over my secondary, studied the school's website, read the Dis-orientation guide given to applicants the night before the interview.
Prepared around 3 questions that I could ask the interviewer. Read about the health care reform. Read about the school. Practiced talking to friends/family. The interview here was pretty chill, so don't worry. Everyone's friendly and they just want to get to know your personality, because that's something they can't read from your file.
This was the most relaxing interview that I've had all season! Read some feedbacks and maybe review your application, but you shouldn't need more than that.
I didn't really do anything. It is true that the interviews are very relaxed and conversational. You have the ability to control the direction of the chat. Most of the time, you are talking about yourself, so what would you need to prepare?
Reread both applications to remember what I said; practiced speaking before going to bed; thought about answers to tough interview questions commonly asked at med school interviews (do research on the Internet to learn what they are)
Read over AMCAS, my secondary, SDN interview feedback, school website, school info (they give you a book about Wash U written by the med students), researched my interviewer.
Read my interviewers bio online, read info about Wash U, went to the website, read current news articles, asked my Olin Buddy some questions, reviewed my AMCAS, looked over SDN
SDN interview feedback, printed lots of info from website, read the materials the admissions office gave us in the down time b4 my interview, talked to students, looked up my interviewer's info, this was my 4th
Mock interview, practice questions, read over personal statement, asked a million people for help, talked to 3 first year med students, etc. (It was my first interview so I was slightly on edge)
I read the interviewer's papers, contact friends enrolled at the school, read the materials provided and some of the website and look at the feedback on this website.
This website, my application, secondary apps from other schools (reminded me of possible stories to tell), my AMCAS app, Wash U website, mock interviews with pre-med advisor, practice questions with friends, etc.
re-read amcas, download research papers from labs I was interested in (not very useful, but I didn't have an MD or PhD interviewer), looked up my interviewer on the web, read medical ethics/health policy books
sdn, wash u website, talked with previous students,went over my application and AMCAS, read a bioethics site and a healthcare book. followed current events.
Read the school's website and viewbook, read this website, read over my application/secondary, read over my research lab notebook, thought of answers to questions that would probably be asked, and talked to current/past students.
Almost nothing...I barely read upon the faculty research. sorta collected my thoughts. I already know my research very well didn't need to prepare for that.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the supportive and welcoming environment at the school, with students, faculty, and staff being described as friendly and approachable. The top-notch facilities, including hospitals, research opportunities, and student amenities, were also highlighted as major positives, along with the emphasis on student well-being and the sense of community fostered at the school.
Both my interviewers had been at WashU for a very long time. They described how supportive an environment is. One interviewer said that WashU knows St. Louis isn't that attractive of a city for a lot of people, so the school does a lot of work to attract students and keep them happy by supporting them more than other schools might.
The students are very supportive and approachable. They would dedicate a hour or more talking with interested candidates and offer them breakfast or coffee. The admission staff are also super nice, and they walk you to the interview locations and treat you like their own students. In general, I feel that every one at the school is very supportive to each other.
Great Medical School Building! Attractive Hospitals. Lots of opportunities. Really take care of their students. Good Breakfast and Lunch. Convenient stay at the dorm.
Some of the current students. Excellent facilities for student studying. Lecture I sat in on was excellent with students being in attendance and highly attentive.
The students are all very bright and interesting, really fun to be around. There seem to be a lot of resources available for students, specifically, money, for students interested in pursuing research, community, or student life activities. Students come from schools all over the country. It seems like students are picked on numbers and personality with less emphasis on undergraduate institution.
How they treated us during the whole interview experience (great food!!) also the ppl that were interviewing were really really nice. I was under the impression that washu was going to have a competitive environment but the students seemed amazing! I had dinner, breakfast, and lunch with students and they all seemed so nice and interesting. I was afraid of the grading during the second year but found out that the grades are not curved, so it does not foster completion, but does give you something to show for while applying to residency besides the boards. The Childrens Hospital is the most amazing thing I have seen!
All of the students that I met were very down to Earth and friendly. The medical complex is huge and in good condition. The faculty are very dedicated to their work and students. The financial aid packages sound pretty good. Olin Hall is a nice option to have, but it seems like housing should be very cheap around there.
My interviewers! They were great. The school also has a lot of funding for students to pursue their interests and the faculty/staff are all about supporting their students. Low cost of living in St. Louis.
Everyone was very friendly and relaxed. I knew this was a top-notch school going into the interview/tour, but was still very impressed. Relaxed style of interview was great, especially since it was my first interview.
The interviewers were completely laid back and sincere in their desire to get to know you as a person rather than a GPA and MCAT score
The administration and teachers actually listen to student suggestions and care about their success
The facilities are beautiful. The people are extremely nice. St. Louis is not ideal, but neither is it a pit. It actually has many diversions and cultural features for those few moments that you might spend away from the books in medical school.
The facilities are fantastic. The students seem to absolutely love it there, and the faculty and staff were the most student-focused I had seen. Cost of living is extremely reasonable. The med school is located in about the nicest area of St. Louis.
The students seemed very happy. Wash U's facilities are absolutely amazing. The doctor that interviewed me was very kind and really did a great job of making me comfortable and getting to know me during the interview. I really appreciate that because it hasn't been the case at some med schools I've interviewed at. Olin Hall isn't anything fancy, but I it was nothing to complain of. Staying there greatly simplified the interview day.
The facilities are amazing! The dorms, the learning center, the lecture halls, Barnes-Jewish-- everything is truly state of the art. The students seem to LOVE WashU and seem very well taken care of.
The facilities for the first and second year students are awesome. Forest Park is also great, and the Central West End in general is a very nice area. The students are also super-nice and not crazily stressed-out.
The facilities are amazing, especially Children's Hospital. The classrooms are new and beautiful and well-lit study rooms with couches abound. The school obviously pampers its students. The class I sat on was very interesting. The student gym was great.
The facilities were absolutely amazing. Everyone was extremely helpful and all of the students seemed genuinely happy to be there. The location is amazing, right across from Forest Park, and near great shopping, food, and entertainment.
The facilities are phenomenal (no construction here!!!), students are so enthusiastic! I sat with a few med students and felt like I was a student here too! Amazing people and wonderfule opportunities. Plus, its always ranked top 5 :-)
1) Amazing, brand new facilities. 2) Strong curriculum: pass-fail first year, Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail beginning second year, but there's no curve/maximum number of people who can get honors. 3) Great board scores, average is mid-to-high 230's. 4) Strong match list: lots of people go into competetive specialties and/or go to very prestigious programs. 5) Students seemed really happy.
The faculty(weird i know), my interviewer is like my personal hero, the free lodging (caution no internet connection or tv so get in as late as possible)
Omg. Before I came I thought of this school as a practice interview; I was even thinking of just withdrawing because I was so sure I wouldn't attend. Now it's one of my top hopefuls. Everything about my visit impressed me. The generosity, warmth, and pride of both the students and faculty; the facilities; the fact that the medical school/center is like a world within itself; and the fact that the student body is by far the most diverse I've seen so far, with students from every background as well as every state in the nation!
the amount of $$$ Wash U has and spends on their students, the affordability of housing in the area, the amazing amount of research going on, the opportunities for community service/volunteering at free clinics/international medicine programs, the non-competiveness of the students (1st year is P/F).
Everyone was really enthusiatic about the school and seemed to love it there. They treat applicants really well - three full meals and a place to sleep! The school's facilities are brand new and amazing.
very nice facilities, amazingly large hospitals. first year is pass/fail. there seem to be a lot of resources for students to study abroad/do research, etc.
You get to meet students from all 4 years. The school lets you stay in the dorm one night for free and pretty much provides you with all the meals you'll need.
The way the school caters to the students. How convinient it is to get from Lambert to the school, my tour guide, the security guard that drove me to Olin for the night, the fact that both breakfast and lunch were full meals, no crappy continental stuff here. I'm talking about potatoes, bacon, sausages, cereal and biscuits and omlet orders--I like food. And lunch? I won't spoil it for you.
I think the students are really down to earth and cool. I had thought that there would be a huge research focus, but clinical seems cool, too. The interview day was very nice.
Everything!!!!! I loved loved LOVED Wash U, even more than I expected to!! My interviewer was very nice and well-organized, and she was the one who gave the intial info speech, so she was very helpful in answering my questions. She even printed out info about a faculty member there for me to contact about research! Students were wonderful, and I could easily be friends with everyone I met. The hospitals were absolutely gorgeous/fantastic. Lunch was great (hot food, and nice 3rd years to talk to). They give you dinner the night before and breakfast the day of. My Olin Buddy was perfectly matched for me...seriously, we were like the same person! I ended up being the only one on my tour, and it lasted for over an hour, and my tour guide introduced me to doctors in the hospital and even offered to buy me coffee :) Wash U the most accommodating, welcoming school I've been to...and they don't even have to be b/c they make their big cut after interviews! I love them so much, and I miss being there.
The facilities, the amount of money the school throws at the students (they give money to first years after exams to buy beer and throw parties), and mostly the type of kids that go there. I was expecting really dorky students but the people there were really laid back and personable for the most part. Definetly can see myself fitting in there.
pretty much everything about the school except for the dorms (but you dont have to live there!) the town that it is in is sooo adorable, the students seemed happy and the facilities are top in the nation
Everything!!!!! I feel like I really fit in at Wash U. The facilities are amazing! It's all connected indoors, to help you avoid the bad StL weather. Their first year p/f really is p/f. The rest of the years aren't curved (i.e. all students can get
this is the most well-rounded school i have visited. the patient population is diverse, the research is top notch, the students are friendly, and the usmle scores are through the roof. i encourage you to apply to this school because it is awesome!
Nearly everything. WashU lets you stay in their dorm for free, gives you a pizza party the night before to meet applicants and med students, free breakfast of your choice, as well as a nice lunch at the tower top restaurant. This lunch is typically with a med student, but I ate with one of the assistant deans! This experience alone would be exceptional for a school, but throughout WashU makes the best effort of any school ive seen to impress and wow the applicants.
facilities! extremely friendly students! met with 1st-4th year students at different events. The rooms at Olin are very comfortable and you run into students and get to ask lots of questions.
The students-very smart but also very approachable and friendly and excited about medicine. The facilities are also very nice, and the cost of living in St. Louis is low. The hospital serves a very large patient demographic.
The students I met at the pizza night were all very nice. Whoever did the match for the Olin Buddies did a good job matching me and my buddy. I was pleasantly surprised at how down to earth all the students seemed to be considering how highly Wash U is regarded as a research oriented university.
The students really seemed to emphasize that the atmosphere at Wash U is not competitive; the students seemed very friendly, sociable, and happy; the Barnes-Jewish complex has something like 1400 beds and is top 10 in nearly every specialty; new teaching and learning center is awesome and each 1st/2nd year is assigned their own work area.
Interview day was extremely well-organized -- they even have a pizza party the night before your interview! They also give you a full breakfast, not just a granola bar and coffee. And, they offer you a free night of housing in the student dorm (you get your own room, towels, linens, alarm clock; you share a hallway bathroom).
The faculty are super friendly and accessible. The administration is so open to feedback that they actually give out small gift certificates to students who complete their feedback surveys.
Lots of new facilities (the new learning center with the M1 M2 lecture halls is really nice). Barnes-Jewish would be a great place to do rotations and it's very conveniently located (you can access it from the med school by tunnels and above-ground passageways without going outside). Children's hospital is also impressive and well-designed.
The facilities are amazing! Also, I was amazed that everything was connected (no need to ever walk outside) and that Olin Hall is literally right next to the med school (actually, they were connected).
They have so much money they don't know what to do with it. Facilities and finaid are amazing. They could wallpaper the bathrooms with hundred dollar bills from their humongous endowment.
students' personalities, excellent and gigantic facilities, outreach from admissions staff, free night in olin hall, olin buddies, lots of emails, pizza party
Everything! I was expecting WashU to have a much more competitive and intimidating feel. What I found was an amazing school with first-class facilities and resources, AND very normal, friendly, down-to-earth students. I really enjoyed everything about my visit to WashU.
The faculty I had lunch with was AMAZING. He's involved in the clowning ministry at St. Louis Children's hospital and does prison visits to encourage incarcerated individuals.
I really loved this school! All the students seemed very happy and involved. There are tons of opportunities to get involved in the community, etc. And the facilities are beautiful!!
my interviewer's enthusiasm, and the efforts of the school to recruit us. We got a pizza party the night before to mingle with the students, we got breakfast before our day, and a 1-on-1 lunch with a faculty member.
The students at the school. From the night before the interview to lunch on the following day, we had ample opportunities to interact with medical students (first, second, and fourth years). It is clear that the med students love going to Wash U. and have made close friendships with eachother. I don't think students are burdened by unnecessary competitiveness here. Everyone is talented, but secure enough in their abilities to help one another out instead of gunning for top rankings in the class. There's even a website where students share notes and post study guides for classes.
Also, the facilities are top-notch. The newly constructed Learning and Teaching Center is beautiful and filled with nice touches to make studying and going to class very comfortable. The residance hall for students has its own basketball court and a new weightroom/fitness center. The school bends over backwards to take care of its students.
Absolutly everything. I fell in love with WashU. The people are the nicest, coolest, most fun people ever. I walked into anatomy lab on the friday morning i interview, and every single person i talked to was someone i could see being friends with and learning medicine with. They all say they love it there. Forrest Park is amazing, their new teaching building is pristine, and their children's hospital is really cool, too. I want to go there!
The enthusiasm of the students; they seem really to enjoy being at Washington University. The hospitals are HUGE, and it's obvious that the medical school is very, very well-funded.
The facilities at the school are really top notch. They are building a new building for students. The hospital complex is enormous and looks to be brand new. There are many research opportunities for those who are interested, and the hospital is well respected in many areas. Rent in very cheap and students can live in a nice apartment for less than 500/month/person. There is a large park across the street from the school. The curriculum is Pass/Fail 1st year. Overall it deserves its reputation as a top 10 school.
the student: the happiest, most genuine, down-to-earth and enthusiastic bunch). that there are endless funds to do research. the administration really cares about the students.
Enthusiastic tour guide, we got to see the students interact as a group at the pizza party & very diverse backgrounds, very tight group; great facilities, not everyone does research, the school gives a lot of money to its students for student groups & merit scholarships. Friendly people.
everything: the students, the facilities, the fact that money seemed to pour from the fountains and the halls were lined with gold.
The students are some of the nicest most enthusiastic people I've met.
I was extremely impressed by how well the students and all the interviewees were taken care of. During my entire stay, I didn't have to purchase food and the atmosphere was so supportive and friendly.
the people are soo nice here. I love it, the school genuinely cares about its students and facilitates a great learning experience. the whole interview day was great
The students seem so happy to be there. The school seems to have a lot of funds and there seem to be an incredible amount of opportunities to be involved in a wide range of activities
Everyone was so nice! The staff was infinitely helpful and the students were all very friendly and excited about being there. Also, the facilities are great and the new learning center should be amazing.
Students! I came in thinking they would be a bunch of high-MCAT nerds. not even close. They were so down-to-earth and they seemed very close and happy about the school. This is now my top choice by far.
I student body and the administration. They were amazing and really contributed to my experience there. I also really liked the other applicants who were interviewing that day. Some of us got done in the morning and we were able to hang out for part of the afternoon.
How NICE all the students were, and how friendly they were. They treat you like you're already a part of the school, and whenever they talk to you , it's not 'if you get in,' it's always 'when you come here next year...'. They really made me feel welcomed, and the hospital facilities are IMPRESSIVE. I originally wasn't very serious about coming to Wash U. I didn't even bother sending a primary until they had sent me some information about the school, but after being there, it's become one of my top choices. The school, the people, the facilities, and the opportunities they offer are all top rate.
the students are all very happy. everyone that i talked to was very enthusiastic. the school goes out of its way for the students and for the interviewers. they give you lots of info and little gift sort of things. my interviewer had done a lot of research on my file and was very well informed about me to ask questions. he had looked up several of the organizations that i am in on the internet etc., something that i thought reflected positively on their interest in me
The facilities, faculty, and students are amazing. The whole interview was aimed at selling the school to us. I didnt feel like I had to prove I was capable or worthy of Wash U.
The school is amazing. They have awesome facilities, research faculty, clinical faculty, and everyone is surprisingly nice. Plus, they put you up in Olin Hall at no expense to you and have a pizza party the night before interviews. They also have really good financial aid.
The affiliated hospitals, the number of activities they have planned for the day, the fact that I got to go home right after my interview and that they seemed to care about my flight schedule.
clinical facilities: these were superb, diverse, and booming. you can tell they have a lot of money. there is a mix of private and public facilities, as well as every specialty you could ever think of
other applicants: the people I interviewed with were normal people, who I'd be glad to spend 4 years with
financial aid: the overall cost is very reasonable for such a prestigious school
WashU truly is an amazing school. Almost every aspect of the medical school impressed me--the extraordinarily talented student body, the quality of the faculty, the cooperative and nurturing academic environment, the hospitals (freakin incredible)... just an amazing school. Now I understand why WashU is so highly ranked; its reputation is well-deserved.
they seem like they treat their medical students really well. First year is pass/fail... students say there's no competition. And they have much more free time than I would have thought. Also there's so much opportunity to do research. Also, The hospital is connected to the medical school, which is connect to the med student dorms. This makes it convenient.
The students were very nice and they were very straight forward with their answers, including their likes and dislikes of the school. The school makes a concerted effort to have the applicants meet as many medical students, professors, and staff members through pizza parties, luncheons, etc. I felt that I gained a good overall sense of what the school is like from these people. Finally, the people I met were extremely helpful and most of them gave me their contact information in case I had any further questions.
Facilities are are new and beautiful. Anatomy lab has windows! Love that is has a separate children's hospital right there. Students seemed genuinely happy and friendly - two different med students stopped me randomly during the day to wish me luck. Excellent academic reputation, extensive research opportunities. The atmosphere seemed really cooperative and non-competitive. Administration and faculty seem genuinely interested in the needs and concerns of the students.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The first year students had a final the following day but took time out to have pizza with us and they seemed very relaxed and at ease considering the test the next day. The new library is wonderful and I loved the anatomy lab.
WashU seems fantastically supportive of its students on many different levels. The administration is receptive to student views and suggestions. The facilities are really nice, and there is a new learning center in the stages of being constructed (slated to be complete by spring 2005). They provide a nice lunch for you, and you can stay at their medical dorm for one night. WashU is situated in a nice area of St. Louis- nice big park nearby.
1) the day is very organized (though it starts early!)
2) my interviewer, for knowing so much about me and for, immediately when i walked into his office, pointing out the impressive things in Forest Park, which made me feel like he was really promoting the school and its location to me
3) the fact that i felt the school very much took interview day as a time to sell itself to the applicants, not just a time where the applicants needed to prove themselves to the school
4) facilities & the responsiveness of the administration to the students
5) The provide overnight housing for you, even if you're not Md/PhD. Thanks!
The students and staff (especially the first years) were very laid back, down-to-earth, and friendly. The clinical tour was pretty cool. At the children's hospital, there's this great rooftop garden with a cork floor!
The interviewer had clearly read my file and had good questions to ask me specifically about it. I also got lucky and got a one on one tour by a fourth year student of the campus.
pass/fail during first year, no PBL except in "selectives," VERY nice and relaxed students! There must have been something in the water there! :) Lots of extracurricular activities to do and lots of free time during first year. Classes run from 9-12 most days with a few afternoon classes.
Almost everything...the hospital is amazing, patient contact within the first month, research funding everywhere, Pass/Fail 1st year and all-elective 4th year, anatomy lab isn't in a dungeon, not a single irritating "pre-med type" student.
Barnes-Jewish is an amazing complex. No place like it in the world. And while I know you New Yorkers won't believe me, St. Louis is a GREAT place to live and your stipend will go further here than anywhere else.
The students are SO friendly; they are obviously all smart and motivated, but seem to use competition positively. They love the school and love to talk to you about it.
Everything! They bend over backwards for you. They put you up for free in their dorm, throw a pizza party for you the night before, serve a fancy lunch buffet, and make sure it's as low stress as possible.
The students are very laid back, esp for a top top school. The clinical facilities rock. The faculty is apparently very accessible. They are building a new centre just for teaching med students (ready for 05 school year).
The facilities are amazing, especially the children's hospital. The students, including the prospective students that I interviewed with, were very nice and outgoing. My interviewer was unassuming and seemed genuinely interested in me and my interests, even though he is quite distinguished as a doctor and a scientist.
This school is amazing. Everything impressed, the admissions office is very friendly, the students are really excited and friendly, and my interviewer was very nice.
They really try to help the interviewees. We got to stay at their dorms for free, got a free clock (?), pen, books, lots of literature on the school, and the best interview day lunch ever. The hospital is the nicest I've seen. It looks like a hotel (and I'm not talking Motel 6, either). The faculty is top notch. There is research money lying around everywhere, waiting for someone to pick it up and use it.
facilities (particularly b-j, children's hospital); friendly, accessible medical students; very unpretentious faculty who are trying to sell the school.
Students were so friendly, facilities and location are unreal (since I don't mind that St. Louis is a bit small, particularly when you factor in that rent is so low).
facilities, concern for academic and social success of students. encouragement for students to participate in community activities. emphasis of community role of the physician rather than as a "mover/shaker"
The students - they were VERY friendly and seemed closely knit. A bunch of them even took some of us interviewees out for a drink the night before and we chatted about the school.
They take good care of the interviewees and make you feel like you are really wanted there. It seems as if they go to great lengths to make you comfortable.
Really how nice my interviewer was! But there were a lot of things that were impressive - the students were smart and friendly, the facilities were simply amazing, the faculty were open and easy to talk to, and you were treated well from beginning to end. I think they really do go out of their way to make the whole experience stress free and enjoyable.
The hospital, Barnes-Jewish, is amazing--large, new, innovative, everything you could want. The students at Wash U. were also wonderful, they all went out of their way to ensure that I had a good experience there.
Facilities--everything, especially the hospital, seemed bright, shiny, and new. The students seem to really love the school, and they give you plenty of opportunities to talk to students. First years have a pizza party with you the night before, second years have breakfast with you the morning of the interview, third years have lunch with you, and fourth years lead the tours. Saint Louis seems like a nice city, but I'm not sure how I feel about the mid-west in general.
The tour was fabulous (it's very non-traditional, with a pathology faculty giving a mini-lecture). The hospital was gigantic. The depth and bredth of research is excellent. Stduents seem (on the most part) very happy. The school has money flowing out its ears. MD/PhD is ~1/4 of the medical school class, hence has a big leverage.
the amount of money the school has - damn. the administrators are the best in the country hands down. they will do anything for you it seems. the program is all about md/phd's, there is a large cohort so you wil have plenty of friends in it with you. its a great place.
The hospital and the students. In addition, they let you stay in the dorm for a night and have a pizza party with the med students the night before. You also have lunch one-on-one with a doctor in a nice restaurant.
Great facilites. If you come early--the St. Louis Zoo is closeby and free as are some of the museums. Check out Ted Drews (a great ice cream place everyone in St. Louis knows about)
The St. Louis Children's Hospital and Siteman Cancer Center were amazing facilities for clinical rotations and are located adjacent to the medical school.
The hospitality. They pay for one night stays at the resident Hall..they throw a pizza party the night before...they take you out to lunch to a nice restaurant during the day and they give you a little clock as a gift.
Applicants commonly expressed negative impressions related to the inconvenience of the interview scheduling, lack of diversity, subpar living conditions in Olin Hall, concerns about safety in St. Louis, a perceived lack of social atmosphere among students, and a focus on research over clinical experience. Suggestions included improving the organization of info sessions, addressing diversity issues, enhancing campus facilities, fostering a more vibrant student community, and providing more exposure to clinical practice early in the curriculum.
I hate how the info sessions are spread out at random times during the interview week. Very annoying to keep up with.
People usually put the residence hall here,as something about that was negative, but I can't comment on that since I didn't stay there or get to see the facilities.
Some of the current students who came to the pizza party seemed a little bit stressed out and appeared to be hardcore gunners. I think the first year class is way gunner but the second years I met were very chill, talented people. While I wouldn't expect anything less considering the average stats of the students at WUSTL, they should really try to get some more socially adept students to the pizza party.
Second and third years are intense. I did not meet many students from those two years. I'm glad that arrangements were made for us to stay in Olin Hall, but that place has super thin walls, so good luck if you have loud neighbors! The pizza party was a little awkward because a lot of Med Buddies didn't show up and the students were more content talking to each other. It defeats the whole purpose of the event. St. Louis is not for everyone, but I can think of far worse places to go to school.
Both interviewers talked inappropriately about my race which was a real turnoff. One interviewer asked me about Mayo Clinic (where my parents work) and said, "Oh, is Mayo Clinic an HMO?" Olin hall was horrible. I slept terribly and I cannot imagine living here as a student.
The interview was actually 80 minutes in length -- we ran 20 minutes over the hour allotted for the interview. However, of those 80 minutes, I may have spent 10 talking and the remainder listening. It was a bit disconcerting, and gave the impression that the interviewer wasn't particularly interested in me, but I hear from friends who have interviewed here that such an experience seems to be isolated.
Some of the other interviewees didn't seem very friendly. This doesn't mean they will be my classmates, however, and all the students I met at WashU were very friendly.
There was only one interview, and that WashU invites A LOT of ''qualified'' applicants. Plus, although WashU is highly ranked, they did not quite sell the program well; it doesn't seem to have many unique or innovative aspects.
There really isn't any emphasis on clinical experience in the first two years. Olin Hall was noisy and the rooms were extremely plain. That said, only 1/3 of students live there, and off-campus living is very affordable.
The students, they all seemed extremely intelligent, but I don't think I would ever want to be in a closed room with any of them telling about my ailments!
Olin residence hall is really impersonal and the walls are thin. St. Louis doesn't seem like the most exciting place as most people were quick to point out that ''It isn't THAT bad''
some of the students, the lack of interaction w/ students at the pizza party, the lack of food options for lactose intolerant, the fact that i just got a map and had to find way to far away interviews
IMHO Olin Hall was less than impressive :> The rooms are tiny dorm rooms with NOTHING but a bed, a closet, a chair, and a heater, and even the oldest dorms at my undergrad institution seem better kept. BUT I would still happily live there if I ever became a student at WashU, I mean come on, it's directly connected to the school and nothing is better than being able to wake up 5 mins before class and attend in pijamas while everyone else had to wear coats and scarves to get to class
other interviewees seemed young and immature, I only had one loooong interview (nearly two hours!). The focus on research, research, research got a little old. I wanted to know more about my clinical time.
Location. Why is such a great school in the middle of nowhere?!? Students (at least 1st years) seemed intense. They all know that they are really smart.
I got grilled to the bone. The only question that I was waiting him to ask me was ''why the hell do you even exist?'' I had to justify every aspect of my application, one little phrase after another.
less culturally diverse than most east coast cities, not as many resources in public health (though they support you pretty well if you decide to pursue that stuff on another campus)
The fact that someone at the admissions office forgot to pass my name down to the Olin people so I could have somewhere to stay.
Also, the people I signed up to meet at breakfast did not show up. Only three M1's showed up and no one mentioned anything about the absence of the representatives of the organizations I was interested in.
Nothing at all. Even if the weather's bad (which it was), you can get anywhere staying indoors, so you never have to go out in the cold if you don't want to.
Apparently a couple of the 1st yr profs aren't too good at teaching (esp physiology), although the students are able to complain and have things changed easily. Little clinical experience in the first 2 years => not quite as good at preparing you for the boards (which are largely clinically-based, according to a student there) as it could be.
the only possible knock against this school you could have is that it is the location (ie in the midwest). this doesn't bother me, but to some it matters.
Public transportation isn't very good. A car is really necessary to get around to the grocery store and such. In response to several critiques about the safety of the subway system, I would say that you take the same precautions that you would in any major city. Traveling alone at night is generally not a good idea in any city. Oh, and this school is pricey, and they count your parent's income, regardless of your tax filing, marital, or other status.
Olin Hall (the place where they house us) was rather plain. The entertainment rooms were great, but our personal rooms, which are identical to the rooms students stay in, were small and uninspiring. Perhaps I expected too much, but it seems like Wash U spends so much money on new facilities that I expected the residences to be as nice. However, the location was convenient, so I would recommend anyone interviewing to stay there.
The first year classes don't sound like they correlate very well with one another; the grading system changes between 1st and 2nd year; the advising program is unclear.
St. Louis doesn't seem like the greatest place to live -- off-campus is slightly dangerous, and St. Louis isn't as much a cultural center as other large cities. BUT, housing is incredibly cheap. Seriously, you could buy a condo for the same price you'd be paying in rent elsewhere and still have money left over.
...nothing...except the shady homeless people clustered around the metrolink station. That was a little disconcerting. I would highly recommend NOT traveling via foot or metrolink at night if it can be avoided, especially for girls...
The medical school emphasized the research much more than they did the curriculum, it seemed. Tuition is very expensive, and the campus is surrounded in part by a large industrial section which looks pretty deserted and dangerous at dark.
The curriculum is H/HP/P/F for the final 3 years. While they say its noncompetitive, I find that hard to believe based on this. Second years that talked to us seemed pretty stressed out. St. Louis is not a very safe city (4th most dangerous in country). One person on my interview was mugged, and a friend of mine had 2 girls on his interview get mugged (I think that is pretty outrageous).
Some of the students (not invovled with interview day) seemed to think that the atmosphere was a tad too stiff. They kept saying, competition isn't that bad here....relative to what? OBviously there will always be competition, but I just got the feeling that the student body wasn't as supportive at other schools I've been to.
They can't seem to decide what kind of school they want to be. Everything they said contradicted something that was said previously. "We are NOT a research school!" followed by "We have a huge research program here, along with one of the biggest MSTP programs and NIH endowments." My interviewers seemed incredibly bored and uninterested in getting to know me. One interviewer told me flat out he doesn't actually listen to the interviewee's answers. Very nice. The school is too big. They don't want their students to do any dirty work (your main goal is to learn which sounds nice but is BS in my opinion). There are virtually no extracurriculars for the students. They claim to have a very cohesive community but it didn't seem like it. I dunno, I just didn't like it.
My interviewer answered pages while we were having our interview. Reason number two why it was so short. We also didn't really talk about me. I don't know why.
I wasn't too impressed with Olin Hall, which is where I stayed (although it was free so no complaints about that). The introduction at the beginning was really long and boring. Our speaker (sadly, I actually don't know who it was) was really....monotonous. Plus the french onion soup at the hospital restaurant was really bad.
the weather was crappy the day i was there so i did not get to walk around the area too much, but i got mixed reviews from students. some said that it was a great area (one told me it was a great place to raise kids) but others said that they did not feel safe there. i talked to several people who had had cars stolen and a few who had been mugged.
The students seemed as a whole a lot more subdued and less excited than other places I've been. The meeting with the dean also did very little to tell us what a great place this is-- she just wasn't very effusive.
It seemed like the interview process was too mechanized. As if, they took the highest scoring students from all over the country and bunched them all together. There were so many interviewees. They processed us like cheese. Also, the area surrounding the school is awful. Smokestacks everywhere.
Lack of diversity in student population in terms of experiences, age, and interests. (I don't have a complete picture, but it seems to be mostly 22 year old white asians with no time off in between. There are exceptions, but they are exceptional.)
St. Louis--ouch! Not sure I can live there.
Olin Hall: this is very much a typical dorm. if i end up at WashU, I won't be living in Olin.
Lecture Halls: nothing intrisically wrong with them, they're just rather standard and the desks looked rather small. they're building new, though I don't think it'd be ready before my class would start 3rd year.
The students and administration really stress research, even if you have no prior experience. I was told by my tour guide that primary care clinical education suffers a little by default.
The study corrals and classroom area is a bit rundown and doesn't seem to inviting, but they will all be remodeled by 2006 so it's not really an issue.
very little. st. louis may not be the place for me though, and that is the only reason against washU for me. otherwise, it is obvious why this school is so highly ranked.
orientation before interview focused on how competitive it was to get in, but the chairman also gave us good pointers for the interview and a clear overview of the admissions process
discipline-based curriculum in the first year (rather than integrated)...also, St. Louis isn't the nicest city (but there's a decent amount of stuff to do if you bring a car, and cost of living is through the floor). And the dorms are tiny and have really thin walls (I woke up to someone else's alarm clock playing as loudly as if it were in my room).
Very little. The classes seem to get along very well and are laid back, but they were highly selected for #s, so they are rather high on the dorky quotient.
The Dean of Admissions. He was supposed to give us a welcome and an orientation to financial aid, but he spent the whole time telling us how selective Wash U. is and how they pick their class. He and others gave me the impression that Wash U. cares more about the MCAT than anything else and they try really hard to get students with high MCAT scores, to the detriment of other qualifications. I heard several students say, "Well, I never volunteered in a hospital before I came here." or "I never did research before I came here." or "I was kind of a slacker in undergrad."
The night before the interview they have a pizza party, which was definitely interesting as you got to meet some first year students. The only thing that didn't impress me was that some of the students were clearly there just for the pizza and just ate and talked in their own clique. But there were students who were willing to talk so overall this was still a good experience.
the public transportation options, having a car would make life easier (transporting groceries) and is necesary for travel to some clinical preceptorships and entertainment options
I was very impressed that they offer you a free one-night stay in their dorms (you get a room all to yourself!). But, the dorm is not impressive. There is a hallway bathroom, the rooms are relatively small, and the temperature is hard to control. Not great living for a year, but when you interview, they provide towels and linens, and there's a sink in the room--so I can't complain too much!
WashU attracts a particular kind of students, very typical midwestern working class (think constant football talk), many from rural communities. St Louis sucks as a city.
Applicants commonly wished they had known to practice more for closed-file interviews, the relaxed nature of the interview day, the availability of resources and amenities provided by the school, the importance of comfortable shoes for the long tour, and the convenience of using the MetroLink for transportation. It was also suggested to relax, interact with current students, and be prepared for potential downtime during the day.
I wish I had practiced more for the closed file portion. It was my first closed file interview, so I didn't do a great job answering some basic questions.
There would be a lot of 20-30 minute periods of time between interviews and other events. Also a lot of getting yourself from one place to another with out any guidance except for some directions on a piece of paper.
That I would get little time to eat lunch. I had to get my lunch packed because my second interview was scheduled so tightly. You will be eating lunch with just 1 other medical student, MS4, but its not in an interview setting. Its relaxed. Or it might be 2 interviewees with 1 MS4.
That they give this neat little care package of a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and a deodorant wipe-type thing when you arrive to Olin Hall. I still use the toothbrush (unsanitary)
The pizza party in Olin the night before the interview was a fantastic way to meet tons of current medical students. Everyone was so friendly, and a couple of students took the applicants on an informal tour of the school and answered a ton of our questions- it really got me excited for the interview!
That carrying a purse around is ok for girls. ( Seems silly I know)
I kept running to the locker room every time I needed to get something from my bag.
They have a program whereby you can stay in their medical student residence hall for a modest fee ($34, I believe). This can save a ton of money in a very expensive process, but I didn't receive notice of this program until two nights before the interview.
How wrong the stereotypes were!! I'm here now visiting because I was just accepted off the wait list but I didn't think I could be happy leaving California. Seeing the rest of the city first-hand was essential! Plan accordingly!
Beware the alarm clock they give you at Olin Hall!!! Mine didn't work, my cellphone woke me up at 7:30, so I had exactly 30 minutes to wash, hop into my interview suit, groom and sprint to the admissions office.
The Metrolink really IS awesome... I took a taxi from the airport because I got in late at night ($40), but took the metro back and it was $2, totally hassle-free.
The financial aid process is pretty demanding- they take into account both biological parents' incomes, even if one of your parents was not part of your life.
In the fourth year all classes are elective. Also the second interview is just a way to get a second opinion on an applicant when the first interviewer is new to the admissions committee.
No need to bring your own sheets, pillowcases, or towels (unless you want a hair towel like I did) if you stay in Olin. Everything they give you is actually really clean.
Stay in Olin: it's actually very clean and it feels as much like a hotel as it does like a dorm. I brought extra pillowcases, etc b/c I don't trust things like that and I'm super-clean, but I didn't even need them. The bed was already made w/ very clean sheets and a down comforter/duvet. They put you on a floor w/ med students, but you don't see anybody on it if it's the night before exams like my night there was :) About 50% of 1st-years live in Olin, and some people from all years live there too b/c it's nice for a dorm and it's very convenient to everything (like I said earlier, you never have to go outside).
They have really good pizza for the night-before-interview pizza party!
If you sign up for breakfast with
the school does a great job emailing you every detail of your interview day, so you know exactly what's going to happen and you can read up on your interviewers. thus, there were no surprises.
The lunch with a faculty member is really just that: a lunch. No interviewing involved. So relax :-) My faculty member cancelled, so I had lunch with two other applicants and a 4th year student.
If you stay at Olin for just one night you have to check out in the early morning before the interview day begins. This means that you can't go back to your room during all the hour-long breaks that you get between things.
If you stay in Olin Hall, you can borrow a iron and ironing board. Also, I read this in someone else's post, so I'll post it here again. You can walk around without ever stepping foot outside, so you don't need a heavy coat during your interview day.
If you're not living on campus, you can call protective services for an escort to the dorm or admissions office (314 - 362-4357).
Oh, also, M1 is P/F but M2 is H/HP/P/F.
No need to bring a coat. Went outside for like 2 minutes -- and afterwards discovered that I could have gotten there without ever stepping outside by going through some walkways.
LONG TOUR! WEAR COMFY SHOES! Bring some to change. I actually took my heels off during the tour (there are long carpeted hallways that you walk through a lot of the time, glassed-in overpasses between buildings and such...perfect to kick off the old heels and give my tootsies a break :)
st. louis has this reputation for being ghetto but at least the area around the school is really nice. oh, and if you go to the pizza party, try to get a few pieces right away because the med students come and chow down on it.
That the curriculum was more traditional in nature, but had several elements of organ systems and problem based learning. That students do not interview applicants.
If you're staying in Olin Hall, make sure to bring a CD player or something to pass the time, because otherwise it can get very quiet and lonely in the room all by yourself.
The facilities are beautiful but be careful traveling in St Louis especially on the train from the airport to the school (It is NOT safe especially if you are alone, and sadly if you are a woman).
How cold it was going to be in St. Louis. Flip flops for the Olin showers. I wish I had known how easy and laid back the entire interview was going to be...that way, I would've prepped more questions for my interviewer instead of preparing to answer questions!
Nothing ... the tips from this website were useful ... wear comfortable shoes (the tour is long) and take the metro (it's so much cheaper than a cab and the station is right by the university) and it's not a bad idea to bring some warm pj's (my room was freezing in Olin)
I wish I had looked up my interviewer before I went there. This was my fourth interview, and I just assumed from all my previous interviews that they would give me some information about my interviewer before the interviewer. Yeah, they don't do that, so definitely come more prepared than I did. It turned out okay though, because my interviewer turned out to be a 4th year resident, and I wouldn't have been able to find him in the system anyways.
This site prepared me pretty well -- I wore comfortable shoes for tour, changed into heels for the interview. Take Metrolink from and to the airport if it's daylight hours -- cheap and the stop is basically right next to the medical school.
Make sure you have an umbrella if the weatherman says it could rain. I had to walk outside to my interview...they will loan you an umbrella, but it isn't a very big one!
That the pizza party was a good opportunity to meet lots of students. I had too many obligations to make it. Also, Wash U is pretty open about the fact that they tend to lean toward specialization rather than primary care.
That I wouldn't offend anyone if I failed to ask for a buddy. I dont't think anyone else asked for one. I just wanted to seem more interested than I really was.
If you stay at Olin hall the night before, know that you have to check out by 11:00am. My interview/tour lasted until 2ish. You can, however, pay to stay longer. Also everything is inside--you don't have to walk outside to get to your interviews.
I heard over and over again how relaxed and casual the interview is but I was still nervous since it was my first one. Really, there was no need for me to be worried. The interviewer was great at carrying the conversation along and was very friendly.
St. Louis was a surprisingly nice city (wasn't expecting to like it at all). Didn't realize the med school had such a non-competitive, friendly atmosphere.
Just how low stress the day was going to be. And, don't be worried if you don't have specific q's for your interviewer, you will be asking questions all day so you may not have any left. I wish I had more time to check out St. Louis, but none of the students had bad things to say.
That there are a number of full scholarships available. I also discovered, after receiving my interview invite, but prior to going for the interview, that WashU is very numbers based in how they make their cut offs and that intimidated me.
That the school has a great emphasis on research (75% of students do research; my tour guide wasn't into research but said she felt pressured to do it, so she did some).
that it would be so hot in St. Louis in October! Check the weather before you go--I've been to St. Louis in winter and assumed it would be cold now, but I walked of the plane into 80 degree weather
St. Louis has a great public transportation system for a city of its size, especially in the midwest. It also helps that Wash U. has its own shuttle system that serves the main campus, the medical campus and several of the surrounding neighborhoods, and anyone can ride it for free.
Parking is a little tricky, but not too bad. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to find a spot, go inside and get a permit, and come back out to put it on your car.
You can park anywhere overnight, but before 8am, you have to get a permit from the Admissions office (which opened around 7:15am) and put it on your car, and park in the surface lot. To get on the surface lot, you have to push the intercom button on the blue poll, and ask to be let in. Same goes for getting off the lot.
they don't give you toiletries besides a towel. sounds obvious, i know, but i had to borrow toothpaste, shaving cream, et al. again, hooray for friendly med students.
1. Wear comfy shoes, you will walk a lot
2. It's not as snobby as people like to make it out to be
3. If you want to talk to 1st-2nd years, go to the pizza party
The hospital is huge, so if you have an interview that looks like it's on the other side of the hospital, plan on giving yourself at LEAST 20 minutes to get there. I gave myself 15 minutes to get there and it took me about 20 - I was late (but luckly he was too).
That I would be finished in time to make it to the airport for a 5:00 p.m. flight. I ended up getting a flight for the next morning. Take the metro, it doesn't cost much and you get there in 30 minutes.
That the financial aid is actually much better, even for people who don't get full-tuition assistance. The school is actually much cheaper to attend than it looks on paper. Also the lunch is with 3rd year students on some days and as one-on-one with a faculty member other days. I personally enjoyed talking to the faculty member, who was very nice and easy to talk to. I know some of the people who interviewed with me though felt a bit intimidated being 1-on-1. It's not part of the admissions process though so you should just relax.
how relaxed everything would be, there was no need to be nervous (if you get Dr. Robert Packman as your interviewer you're in the clear, he tells jokes and will not ask you difficult questions)
The school is relatively easy to navigate, especially because they give you a map and explain how to get to all your interviews, so don't worry about that. The tour is pretty long because the campus is HUGE, so make sure you have comfortable shoes.
Stay with a student in the Central West End -- it has alot of character, neat shops, and it'll be nicer accomodations than Olin Hall, the residence hall.
Applicants generally found the interview experience at Washington University to be welcoming, relaxed, and conversational. They appreciated the friendly atmosphere, supportive staff, impressive facilities, and the opportunity to interact with current students. Some applicants mentioned concerns about the location of the school or had mixed opinions about certain aspects, but overall, they had positive impressions of the institution.
Enjoyed my interview very much there and was grateful to meet so many interesting students and the welcoming atmosphere at the school. They have fantastic facilities and students can get support very easily from the school. Highly recommend it. And I hope I can get in.
I love everything about this school other than the location. But, I don't think the location is that big of a deal to make it a deal breaker. I still think this is a fantastic school and I would be honored to go here. The second interviewer really emphasized to me that the curriculum is tailored and customized to each student, rather than making the student mold to the curriculum. This is done through electives starting in the first year. Also there is good international opportunities for research. Other things that are good to know but I found difficult to find on their confusing site: first year P/F, then Honors/HP/P/F. There are multiple student clinic opportunities. Two of the hospitals are really close to the school. Cost of living in the area is very low. Crime in the city is high, but not near the medical school. If you use common sense you should be fine.
Great school! If you are flying in I recommend taking the Metrolink from Lambert to Central West End and then walking ~ 5mins to Olin Hall. Go to the pizza party if you can. We had the chance to meet with many MS1/2s and they all seemed very relaxed and happy to be at WashU. I stayed in Olin Hall and they provided a pillow, sheets, towels, and soap. You can also ask for an ethernet cable from the front desk if you need to go online. There is an early breakfast the next day that I also recommend (there is no food other than candy in the admissions office). Most people will have 1 open-file interview lasting ~1hr but a few have a second, short "quality-control" interview. The interview itself is low stress and more of a getting to know you experience. The tour of the hospital complex was one of the best I have been a part of. We had the chance to see the main hospitals, the anatomy lab, and also sat in on one of the first year lectures. The facilities were excellent and there was a diverse patient population. I think most people were done around 2-3pm. If you have some extra time I would also recommend checking out the nearby park and zoo.
Everyone is SO NICE!!! The faculty and administration seem to truly care about the students, and the atmosphere is very welcoming and supportive. The facilities are BEAUTIFUL- the study carrels, lecture halls, lounges, penthouse, gym, even the anatomy lab are all extremely nice. The students have so much support and opportunities to pursue outside interests via 4 selective courses first year and other extracurricular activities. Children's Hospital and Barnes Jewish area also fantastic hospitals, and I love that Wash U does not have to share those hospitals with other medical schools- so Wash U students are given full attention during third and fourth year. Finally, I love that the grading is pass/fail first year, which is a great way to allow students to adjust to the rigors of medical school and eliminates any competitiveness. But the honors/high pass/pass/fail system 2nd year gives residency directors an additional way to evaluate applicants going in to competitive specialties.
We were told at orientation that we (applicants) obviously have great credentials (or we wouldn't be interviewing), so the interview is really to assess how our personalities "fit" the school. I suppose this is pretty normal for interviews, but they aren't kidding around about that. However, the lack of intensity and difficult questions makes judging my performance difficult- I keep wondering did I get my key points across?
I didn't know what to expect because of some things that I had heard about the school. But honestly, this was one of the best interviewing experiences that I've had all season, and I've gone to many. My interviewer was very nice and we literally had an easy going conversation for the whole hour. They are willing to talk about anything, so as long as you have some direction to what you're saying, the interview will be great! I came away very impressed with WashU and the opportunities that going to a school of this caliber entails.
Some students will have 2 interviews because WashU does internal reviews to make sure interviews are fair and accurate. It doesn't mean anything either way so don't sweat it!
I liked the school and the students but both interviewers commenting about my race in inappropriate ways REALLY left me feeling negatively about the school (or at least the selection/training of their interviewers). I have heard that 2nd years are extremely stressed because only 1st year is P/F.
I was very impressed with Wash U. It seems that they make their school a great environment. This was my first interview, so I was pretty nervous going in. The interview was very low stress, however, and I found myself really enjoying the conversation my interviewer and I had. Although the students I met were very intelligent people, they were friendly and not eggheads. I was accepted about a month after my interview!
great place if you can look past St. Louis. Our student tour guide was sortof a jerk. People would ask questions and he'd say, I'll answer that later and keep rambling. Everyone else was so nice that it outweighs him but still...
The night before the interview there was a pizza party with current students. The next morning, we had breakfast with current students, then an orientation meeting, then interviews and a long tour, then lunch with a current student. Done around 2.
Hard to tell how I did with the first interviewer, who preferred not to study my file until after the interview. Second interviewer seemed ready to admit me and focused on why WashU would be my best choice. Overall, I was very impressed!
This was my first medical school interview so I was surprised that it was very relaxed. We had a visit with the financial aid person and an overview of the medical program. They took us on an hour-long tour of the facilities (the cadaver lab, the group study areas, the hospitals). Then I had about 2 free hours while most others had interviews. We all had lunch together. After lunch, I had two one-on-one interviews. Both were very unstructured and conversational. We pretty much talked about everything that wasn't on my application. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
I had heard a lot about how friendly and laid back the students were, but I did not really get that impression. Perhaps my interview was just poorly timed (they had an anatomy exam that day)
I had one subcomittee interview which was closed-file and only ~20 minutes. It wasn't enough time to really express anything convincingly; she just asked what activities I did, etc. My hour-long interview with a faculty member consisted of him talking and me listening. I didn't really say much, so it's hard to tell if I did well or not.
awesome. loved it. st louis gets a bad rep but you can tell the area the school sits in is very nice and safe. there seems to be alot to do. the students cant be happier but they are still down to earth. you dont feel like they try to sell you something like at some other places.
The pizza party the night before was great! There were definitely a wide variety of breakfast options, though it was not the most delicious meal I've ever had. We were given our schedules, and then a brief welcome and financial aid talk. Then everyone was pretty much out on their own schedule. My interview was early, and then I had a ton of free time from then until the tour, so I sat in on part of a class. I had actually already seen everything along the tour, because my interview was all the way across campus, at the end of the indoor tunnels. So its true, bring comfy shoes. Lunch was delicious and both students and faculty members showed up. Oh! As for the one-on-one lunches, they only happen certain days a week. On the busier days, they lump everyone together. That was the end of my day, and a bunch of us took the metrolink back to the airport. Definitely take metrolink unless its really late.
Students were awesome. Faculty interviewer was very nice and professional. He did not try to scare me. If you can, you need to take some extra time to see what the city has to offer. The park right next to the school is amazing!! there are free broadway musicals in the park at night! The zoo is amazing and free! The boat area on the lake is awesome!! The art museum is a must see! The area the students live is is shockingly nice! Just walk a few blocks north of campus, restaurants, bars, and even little shops (but these are expensive). I wish I would have explored more and not had to fly back out, I would have said yes in a second.
I had a second closed-file interview with a subcommittee chair that lasted about 20 minutes. It was also very laidback and sweet.
The lunch was the best--they serve you at the Queeny Tower restaurant. Yes, an actual restaurant meal! I was also paired up with a non-adcom faculty for lunch, and he turned out to be the coolest, nicest person ever. That was a very sweet one hour...
WashU is an amazing medical school-facilities, students, and faculty. They make it clear that the number one thing necessary to be admitted is an exceptional MCAT. Also, make sure your shoes are comfortable.
Overall, the interview was great. I actually had fun, which is weird, because I usually dread things like this. I love St. Louis, I love the school, the people, the treatment I received. I probably won't get in, but at least I gave it my best shot.
Awesomeness... read the other reviews... they are soooo accurate.... I had two open-file, one-hour interviews first thing in the morning... great experience... I want WashU!!!!
Overall a wonderful experience. My two interviewers were very impressive. They were both warm and friendly and seemed genuinely interested in me. Both asked about activities on my AMCAS. The second asked about what attracted me to Wash U, and both talked to me about St. Louis and life in the midwest etc.
This was my first interview and I'm really grateful that it was so laid back and everyone at the school was so friendly. I love the school but the location leaves something to be desired in my mind.
Overall, I loved the facilities and faculty and about half of my fellow interviewers. the students seemed stressed(but it was exam time) and a little standoffish/geekish.
Overall great. Got there the night before and stayed in olin hall. Went down for pizza and chilled with whatever med students showed up. Got to talk with them. In the morning had breakfast, orientation/fincial aid, then everyone has different schedules. I had 2 interviews and seemed to be the only one where they were both open file. They were really laid back, just talking about everything and anything with very few questions. After that lunch with med students and tour with the same students.
Breakfast in the morning with a few students all who seemed pretty nice (though the niceness of the breakfast is overrated - if you hate eggs, like me, then you're kinda out of luck). Then a quick, 45 minute long orientation + financial aid session. Most people only have one interview, though about half of us had two: the regular open-file interview which is about 1hour and half long and then a 20-30 minute closed file interview. The tour is pretty intimate (ours had 4 people only because 1 tour guide couldn't make it) and lunch was really yummy. At lunch, you eat one-on-one with someone, either faculty or a med student. I got a med student, but it was the same person who gave me the tour so though he was really sweet it would have been nice to get another student's perspective. There was a lot of downtime in the afternoon so read something (I recommend the Dis-O guide that they provide - very informative and funny!)
It was my first interview so I was a little nervous, but everyone was so easy-going and friendly that it went really well. The facilities & hospital are amazing, everything is connected by covered walkways so you never have to go outside. The lecture halls and study areas for 1st & 2nd years are brand new and beautiful. They give you a ton of free food (breakfast & lunch the day of the interview, pizza party the night before - definitely go & talk to students!). Interview day: 7:30am breakfast with students (they didn't really push the student orgs they were supposed to be representing, which I thought was a little suprising), 8am check-in, orientation & financial aid presentation, 1hr break, 10am interview, 12pm lunch with a faculty member (not on the admissions committee, so it was totally relaxed), tour by a 4th year med student (definitely gives you a different perspective than the 1st & 2nd years). An amazing school!
Overall, a very nice day. Admisssions staff are friendly and organized. Student schedules vary- you may have two itnerviews in the mornign, and a tour in the afternoon, or one before and after lunch. Lunch is on the top floor of the tallest building with an amazing view.
Wash U does more and is well prepared for the applicants. They give you free accomodations, detailed directions, and 3 meals (dinner the night before, breakfast and lunch the day of the interview). Overall, I think they did the best job in making the applicants feel welcome, which made the experience almost stress-free.
It was horrible. I have interviewed at six places and this was the least laid back overall. They say it's pretty laid back, but it was a pretty bad experience overall. The interviwer did not make any attempts at all to make me feel comfortable. I even made a joke somewhere during the interview and he did not get it even though it was really obvious, I actually had to say that it was a joke! Horrible experience overall, might have been a result of Olin's thin walls not letting me get enough sleep. I don't know.
Flew in the night before, stayed in Olin Hall, then had breakfast with MS-2s in the lobby. Short info session, a very impressive tour, then an hour open file interview which was pretty much just rehashing AMCAS with a few tangents. Lunch was in a 17th floor conference room with a stunning view of Forest Park. Quick 20 minute closed file interview followed in the afternoon. These second interviews are apparently assigned at random to a certain percentage of applicants to ''standardize'' their procedures (whatever that means), but are nothing to stress over.
It was a long day, starting at 7:30 and going until 3. You could have one or two interviews, I'm not sure how much each counted so take them both seriously. Wear comfortable shoes, Wash U is HUGE and the tour covers a lot of it.
The day starts with breakfast, then you go to the admissions office and get directions to different parts in the medical center where your interviews might be. Then you attend an orientation session and off you go! Well it all really depends on your schedule. most people have only one interview. I had two and while other people's second interview only lasted 15 minutes, both of my interviews were over an hour long EACH! I was answering a lot of questions on ethics and my passion for medicine and health care disparities.
The facilities are amazing, and the school has beaucoup money for students.
It was a good interview day. The Olin Buddy system is very welcoming. They do a good job. The weather was very sucky, though, but yeah. Oh, and St. Louis won the World Series while I was there.
Pizza party (with really good pizzas, like BBQ chicken!) the night before, met Olin Buddy and friends and they showed me the anatomy lab and other stuff, stayed in Olin that night, breakfast the next day, info session was good, some down time (but it was spent well, talking to students who were really helpful and nice), interview, fantastic lunch (talked to a 3rd yr for over an hr b/c he didn't want to go back to hosp :) ), personal tour, very sad to leave
Very laid back, and enjoyable. A lot of free food and cool people for the most part. St. Louis is not exactly a college town but the positives definetly outweight the negatives in this case.
I came in the night before and stayed in the dorm (free!) which was perfect for an interview night but you probably couldnt pay me to stay there during medical school. I had my
pizza party night before
stay in olin hall
breakfast morning of
info session/fin aid
1-hr break
1-hr interview
1-hr break (i talked to a bunch of 1st-yrs)
really nice lunch
1-hr break (talked to a 3rd-yr)
tour (i was the only one scheduled for that tour, and it was really nice b/c it was extra long, and i got a lot of good info from the 4th-yr student one-on-one)
The interview day was awesome...first we had breakfast which was just okay...then we had an informational session followed by a tour of the medical school...then I had my interview and was really converstational and flowed well...then lunch which was okay...and then another interview that went well also
There was one open file interview for 50 minutes which was very relaxed. We just went over everything in my application. I also had a second interview that was closed file and 20 minutes.
The interview itself was the most laid back ive been at. We talked about my school, its environment, how that related to me. We talked about WashU and its environment as well. The only even remotely probing or difficult question was as follows:
'do you have a general idea of healthcare and its problems/how to fix them?' - if you cant field some answer to that, you shouldnt be interviewing lol.
WashU is a great school. They obviously have a lot of resources, and their new learning center is amazing.
However, the pizza party the night before kind of worried me. The students there were kind of weird, and not very social with the applicants. I was worried about fitting in.
The interview day made me feel a lot better about the school though. Everyone I met that day was very nice (and seemed normal!).
Also, while it sounds really convenient, I don't think you could pay me to live in Olin Hall. It was the most depressing, institutional feeling dorm I've ever been in. It was fine for the interview day though -- convenience and $$ is a big advantage.
The interviewers were very familiar with my file. I felt like they knew it by heart. They asked very probing questions about my experiences that tested what I learned, and their impact on me.
The night before there was a pizza party at 8 pm with mostly 1st years attending. The interview morning starts off with breakfast with some of the students (a second year for us). The official schedule then begins with an introduction by the Dean and financial aid. I then had my interview, which was very relaxed. We actually spent some of our time talking about Project Runway, which was great. We then had a tour of the school by a 4th year, and then lunch in the Tower Restaurant in the Jewish-Barnes Hospital. Overall, very relaxed, and lots of opportunities to ask the students questions about the school and get their honest opinions.
the pizza party was nice, a bunch of students eventually showed up to talk and answer questions, lunch was incredible - great food, one-on-one with a physician, amazing view of the city from the top of queeny tower
The interview was wonderful. The questions were so seamlessly interwoven into the conversation that it felt very natural. I feel like because it was so conversational, I didn't get to talk about some things that I've talked about elsewhere, but otherwise, I left feeling good.
Interview was very laid back. My interviewer said that his job during the Oct-Feb season is mainly interviewing applicants (then again, he was also like 80+ and had given up the whole private practice/clinic world a long time ago to write books, research, and be on the admissions committee). The interview is nothing to be worried about, and my lunch with a faculty member went just as smoothly. In fact, she insisted on taking me on her own tour because she was afraid that the student tour guide wouldn't have time to show me everything. The day is VERY organized and everyone was so nice. Show up early the night before for the pizza party!
i went to the clinic where my interviewer worked, and waited for him outside in the waiting room. He was seeing a patient at the time, so we didn't start on time. Very laid back interview. Afterwards, he walked me to where lunch was held.
My interviewer was such a nice guy. Very conversational like everyone says but not too casual. I still felt like he was directing the course of the interview but at the same time he was very receptive and responsive to my comments so I really feel like he was truly listening and trying to get a feel for who I am as a person, beyond the statistics on the paper in front of him. Honestly I am shocked I got an interview at this school. My MCAT was good but not so superior, in my opinion (35) and my GPA is flatout average (3.6 total, 3.3 science which is below avg for this school I'm sure). I did do a lot of research and I am an articulate writer (not that you can tell from this piece here...but I'm decent on essays and the like) so I think that may have helped me out. What a great day, if I get into this school I would give my life to go there.
washu med school goes out of their way to make sure that their students (including applicants) are happy. everything from shiny brochures to support for student groups, the infamous nightly pizza parties, and general feeling of student body coherence... all are positive characteristics of this school. food and lodging were good, and mass transit to campus was easy.
I got into St. Louis at 11pm the night before my interview, and checking into Olin was not a problem. The room was spacious, but it was a bit cold (good for me, others may disagree). They gave me an alarm, towels, and blankets. I woke up at 6:30, showered, etc., and checked out - they store your luggage for you. I then joined the other ten applicants for breakfast at the Cafe next to Olin lobby, and then to the admissions office for the orientation session. I had a 9am interview, so I had to leave the FinAid presentation a bit early so as to compose myself - I shouldn't have, because my interviewer was about 20 minutes late. The interview was very conversational, and the interviewer was very complementary - a really nice man. After that, the other student who interviewed at 9 and myself went on the tour with an M4. The facilities are amazing, especially the Children's Hospital and the new Medical School building. After the tour, Lunch in Queeny tower with a doctor who must have been my twin, separated by birth and 20 years - try the honey glazed salmon, it's really good! Then back to admissions to drop off my name badge and survey, and then back on the road.
it was very laid back and fun. there were about 20 students there together, and everyone was really nice. plus the food was excellent. my interview seemed a little short, but it was good and i felt very confident about it.
the day was very well-organized and fun. my interviewer was so laid back, and i got to have lunch with another doctor who was really cool. i was sort of intimidated going there because the school has a such a good reputation, but everyone was really normal and down-to-earth.
My interview was basically a conversation. It lasted for an hour and a half and we just chatted the entire time about anything and everything. Then towards the end he asked me two questions, why wash u and why medical school?
The night before there was a pizza party in Olin Hall and some of the first-year students took us on an impromptu tour of the med school and the hospital. It was a really fun night and I really enjoyed meeting all of the students and other interviewees in a relaxed environment. The next morning I had breakfast with an AMWA member, went on a tour with a 4th year student, had a 2-hour interview (I think that was a good thing) and had a fabulous lunch in Queeny Tower.
The interview was extremely relaxed and conversational. I really felt my interviewer was interested in what I had to say, and he even said he learned something new. He took lots of notes and asked me very specific questions from my application, so I felt he read my file carefully.
The tour was a little boring but only because I already know the campus well.
The lunch was delicious and a great effort by admissions to woo us for the school. We got to lunch one-on-one with a faculty member.
AMWA breakfast at 7:30,orientation from 8:15-9. I then had my interview at 10 with Dr. Brand, who is the nicest man I have ever met! It was a very conversational interview and he didn't ask me any hard questions. We mostly went down my list of activities. Lunch was one-on-one with a member of the faculty (I think they do this on tuesdays and wednesdays when there arent as many interviewees. Other days there is a group lunch.) I then had a tour at 1:30. Lots of downtime during the day, but overall a great interview experience!
The interview itself was conversational and low key. I was a little nervous at first, mostly because this was my first interview and I have a strong desire to attend this school. However, the interview was long enough so that I could settle down. The doctor who interviewed my really wanted to gauge my personality and my desire to go into medicine. They are looking for people who would fit will with the class they are assembling, not necessarily students with incredible credential and extemely high numbers.
Washington is definitely a good school that encourages research and gets you ample funding for your research interests. The curriculum seems almost eclipsed in the process, however, and it's hard to tell how the pricey tuition translates to an outstanding and unique medical education here.
I think that the school itself is great. Barnes Jewish and the Children's Hospital are among the best in the country. This brings great research opportunities and clinical opportunities to its students. First year seems great but after that the grading system seems to create a stressful environment. St. Louis seemed like it could be a good place to live but safety was definitely a concern.
There were some problems. First of all, the interviewer was very nice, but it didn't seem like he was interested in hearing anything I was talking about. Almost as if he had a preconceived notion of my beforeo I walked in the door and anything I did or said wouldn't alter his opinion (his opinion probably wasn't bad, but feeling like the interview is predetermined doesn't feel very good either way). Also, the student tour guide was just annoyed....she buzzed through everything and said how much she loved it here, but I could tell she didn't give a shit. Another problem was that the class was EXRTREMELY Young...most people came right out of undergraduate...i want a more diverse student body. People who took more time off...i dunno, that's just me. It felt like most of the students were still in college in terms of emotional maturity.
This interview was unique for several reasons. It was my longest interview (90min). It was the only interview where I was asked any ethics or health policy questions. About 75% of the interview was ethics and health policy questions. The AdCom seems really nit-picky. This was the only school that asked me why I got a C in my class (only C I ever got).
I had one interview with a clinial professor who showed up 45 minutes late and who made it obvious that he did not read my file before hand. He proceeded to criticize the efficacy of MSTP programs, claiming that MD's do better research than MD/PhD's, and that the MSTP funds are better off being used for providing research funding for all MD students. keep in mind that Wash U has the oldest, and the largest MSTP program. This is their claim to fame. Moreover, he bashed the speciality which I interested in pursuing (infectious diseases) saying that it was "extremely boring".
My other interview (luckily, I had two) was much better. The lady had thoroughly looked through my application. She had specific questions about my file, in order to clear up things before presenting me to the admissions committee. She also asked me a lot of questions in order to learn more about my personality, character and interests.
Was surprised by the stimulating chat. It seems a standard question for them to ask "What are the problems with that?" after you say what you want to do in your career. (they mean challenges).
I was interviewed by a member of the admissions commitee, many others were interviewed by doctors or professors. The interview was pretty standard but lasted a while, over an hour. I don't remember too many actual questions being asked, but just a long conversation about what I'm doing with my life, the kind of doctor I want to be, etc. I think they're just trying to get a feel for who you are as a person. Also she answered a lot of questions for me concerning the University, the student body, and the St. Louis area.
Definitely go to the pizza party the night beforehand, it's a great opportunity to meet tons of current students and become nervous about your fellow impressive candidates.
Brilliant experience. I felt so taken of and spoiled during my visit. St. Louis is okay, but the school is wonderful...it lives up to it's reputation. I absolutely loved talking to the students because they all seemed to realistic, friendly, enthusiastic, interesting, and diverse.
they day is pretty standard - i'd say that the breakfast in the morning isn't very necessary, you'll get opportunities to talk to students at lunch anyway. i didn't go to the pizza party, but i had friends in STL so i didn't feel like socializing with other applicants was that important. overall, it's not a bad place, it's a pretty relaxing interview day and the education, allegedly, is top-notch. i've seen more impressive hospital facilities but Barnes-Jewish and its associated hospitals is definitely pretty huge. how this actually translates into your med school experience, i can't say, but it probably won't suffer for a lack of opportunities, if you look for them. maybe i'm just tired of interviewing, since this is my fifth, but i didn't get that great of a vibe from washU, although i'd be more than happy to get accepted.
Overall the experience was amazing. The students are so nice, and you get to talk to a variety of them. They clearly love to be here and care to show it to the prospective students. The stay at Olin was great, it's good to know people or having something to do in your down time, I encourage you to not sit in your room and just be lonely. The whole day went by smoothly, there was about an hour of downtime between the tour and lunch so I went to the library to use the computers, you can attend classes and check out the facilities. Interview was very relaxed, it was all about getting to know who I was, and using the amcas application as a guide.
I got "lucky" with two interviews; one of the interviewers was new to the committee, so they were double checking her, I think. Anyway, the whole day is great, especially the amount of student interaction.
This school is totally bizarre. They have absolutely no idea what kind of institution they want to be. They contradicted themselves at every possible moment. They claimed they weren't a research institution, but then boasted about their top notch research program (claimed it was one of the best in the nation). They told us flat out that the US News and World Report rankings really dont mean much, yet thet used EVERY opportunity to tell you that they were a top 3 school. No one (students, faculty, staff) seemed excited about the school AT ALL. There was no effort made to sell the school. In fact, both my interviewers made reference to how you could get a great medical education at so many other schools, right after they proceeded to bash Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, etc. My interviewers seemed bored. They had no interest in being there. One had absolutely no personality, the other just lectured me and didn't give me an opportunity to answer questions. The whole day was just weird. I tried so hard to find the positive side of this place, but I came up empty. I left with a migraine. The Gateway Arch is awesome though. Definitely check it out.
My expectations of WUSTL & of ST. Louis were completely shattered -- I really like what I saw of the city & of the school. No one was stuck-up like I had read; if anything, it was too far in the opposite -- some of the students that I met seemed not to take any of it seriously.
I had a really good experience overall despite my interview. Even though it was short, he asked me to come around the hospital with him when he was doing rounds and meeting up with his residents and fellows. I thought that was kind of unique and interesting. The people are great. The administration was great.
They take care of all your travel arrangements, and you get to stay at, probably, the nicest hotel in St. Louis. They keep you pretty busy, but you'll have a little downtime in the evenings. The interview day, Friday, comprises several one-on-one faculty interviews, a one-on-many committee interview, and a "wrap-up" with a committee member - a supposed chance to save yourself if you blew the committee interview.
The interview was really nice. I had mine in the afternoon, so I got to St. Louis the night before, went to the pizza party, stayed in a room in Olin Hall, and then the next day had breakfast, went to an intro/financial aid presentation, went on a tour with a 4th year med student, had lunch with another 4th year med student, and then had an interview with a 4th year resident. The actually interview was really laid-back. My interviewer didn't ask me questions like 'so, why do you want to be a doctor?' or 'tell me about HMOs'. He was just like, 'so what do you like to do for fun?' or 'how do you like St. Louis?' and the conversation just went off from there. He asked a bit about my research, and I was really impressed that he was actually interested in the topic/the actual research instead of what my role was in the project. Overall, I really appreciated the fact that he didn't pound me with the usual, mundane questions that you get asked at every interview.
Washington U. seems to go out of their way to show that they want you. The free night's stay in Olin, the pizza party, pairing you with a "buddy" (a first year) who has similar interests to you, the breakfast, the lunch with a faculty member (not your interviewer), the tour. I had a very nice impression of the school. However . . . my interview was terrible. I don't think I was terrible in it -- I was calm and articulate. But my interviewer opened with "What do you want to talk about?" NOT "Tell me about yourself" (which is easy!) but "What do you want to talk about?" How awkward! I thought I was here to talk about myself but do I really WANT to talk about myself? In retrospect, I should have said, "This is my first medical school interview. You have so much more experience at this than I do -- could guide me as to what you think would be helpful to you, to me?" But I didn't say that. I wound up asking him the questions. What did he think of his time at Wash U (he went to school there)? How did he choose his specialty? etc. I don't know, maybe he'll think it was a great interview because he got to talk about himself. I believe that he had not read my file -- however, I put that the interview was open file because he had the file in front of him and so he could have read it. I doubt it. There are some very strange elements in my application and I can't believe that, if he had read it, he wouldn't have asked me about them. He was very nice but totally uninterested in me. I'll admit it -- I was (and am) pissed off. I am poor, I spend money to fly for an interview because the school expressed an interest in me -- I'd at least like someone to fake that they are interested in my story (which, as I said, before, is a very bizarre one). Ah, well. Live and learn. I'll never let that happen to me again. I don't think the guy set a trap for me -- I think that (1) he didn't know anything about me and didn't want to expose his ignorance and (2) he thought his not asking questions made it a stress-free interview. NOT!
I thought that Wash U did a great job presenting themselves and making you feel that they were interested in you as an applicant and a potential student. this school has a huge endowment and they seem to use it well. there is construction going on everywhere, and their financial aid packages seem to be really impressive. the students were very happy and enthusiastic. i got mixed reviews on the area (see below), but overall it seemed like an excellent place.
The interview was very enjoyable. It lasted almost an hour and a half and was mostly conversational. I was able to talk about what I wanted him to know about me. Several times he allowed me to initiate the conversation. Just know your application and answer questions honestly and you will do fine.
Everyone was just too quiet and not so very interesting. They just didn't have that much to tell me. I couldn't see myself there, but that's a personal opinion.
It was very easygoing. The interviewer seemed to already have a good impression of me and seemed to ask questions to simply confirm it. Then he spent the rest of the time telling me historical medical anecdotes. The breakfast, orientation, tour and lunch meetings were great. Everyone was very helpful.
Make sure you have your research spiel down (what did I do, significance, etc.), everyone will ask you about it.
Do not BS, you have limits and make sure you acknowledge them.
Many of your interviews are like conversations, so the more you know about your interviewer's research, the easier it is.
I was extremely impressed with Wash U. The interview was very low-stress, lots of just chatting about stuff that was only marginally related to med school. We talked for about an hour, which made me late to lunch, but it was worth it.
Washington U. has a great reputation (probably for a good reason), but they don't seem to have any soul. They just want to get the smartest kids together without giving much thought to having a real mission statement. You could just feel that you were surrounded by a bunch of nerds. Granted med students are all a bit nerdy, it was just wierd there. They didn't seem to care about who we were. The dean gave a phony explanation as to why they only do one interview vs. two. I think that they just care about what's on paper and not what's in your mind or your heart. My interview was very nice but very short.
WashU certainly seems entitled to their reputation as a top school. The clinical facilities are better than most every I've seen while interviewing. The interview day goes from around 8 till 3, but it's rather loosely structured. You'll probably have some free time to wander about and sit in on lectures. You only get 1 interview and it's open-file. Mine was very stress-free. My interviewer seemed intent on mainly seeing how I communicate my ideas, and never even grilled me on why I haven't done research. I got the impression she simply wanted to see how I'd fit into the WashU "family." You can also tell that WashU realizes they're competing with the schools on the coasts, and I think they make a good sell. St. Louis seemed like a very liveable city to me, with enough stuff to do. They were also nice enough to let us know that us late interviewees still had a shot at acceptances, not just waitlist position.
It was not the best interview experience I had. The interviwer, who is an administrator, lectured me on why I should apply to 10 different medical schools instead of just two. The interviewer also questioned my volunteer and patient contact experience. Overall, if you don't like me in the first place, then why invite me to fly over to St. Louis for an interview!?
interviews were very conversational - always nice to talk about oneself. Student pizza night was useful.
stay in Olin Hall to get a better sense of student life!
Overall, its hard to judge how the interviews went. It is true about the unstressful interviews. They were very conversational. The interviewers were extremely nice and even walked me to my next session to make sure I got there ok. Also, you practically don't have to pay for any food--I had dinner, breakfast, and lunch all provided to me.
Interviewer was very friendly. Asked all the basic interview questions about my extracurriculars, majors, family, experiences, etc. Wanted to know how I became interested in medicine and asked a few general medical ethics questions (nothing too difficult). When she found out I was staying that night in St. Louis, she gave me lots of recommendations on things to do in the city. Part of the interview was more conversational where we discussed books, interests, etc.
I was pleasantly surprised by the entire day. It was my first interview so I was nervous, but there was absolutely no need to be. My interview was almost 2 hours long, but it didn't seem to be long at all. I was simply having a nice conversation with him and I didn't even think he asked me any questions, that's how well things flowed. I was very happy and would love to go to Wash U.
I was stressed because it was my first interview and I felt unprepared. I shouldn't have been, though, because the interview was relaxed and conversational.
Low-stress level interview. The interviewers try to make you feel as comfortable as possible and create a free-flowing conversation to get to know more about you. Everyone (students, docs, admin) was really nice and accomodating. The med students seemed really happy to be there.
Interviewing at WashU is a wonderful experience! Their considerate nature is epitomized by the fact they put you up for a night, and in the course of your stay cover you for 3 meals (one of which is a really nice buffet!). I was very impressed that the school used the interview day very much as a platform to sell itself, and also that my interviewer really took the time to study my file and get to know me. It is a great school and very obvious why it is so highly ranked. I'm not sure if St. Louis is the place for me though, but other than that... the school is fantastic.
it was odd- my interviewer didn't have any questions for me, she kept asking what else should I know? and then she started complaining about st louis and how conservative wash u is, and how poor the primary care program is (but she was a surgeon, so?)
Amazing school and facilities, even the anatomy lab is nice (with windows). There was a bit of down time for me, but nothing too bad. Lunch with a faculty member was great, you go to Queeny Tower and have a view of all of Forest Park. For those of us from urban environments on the west or east coast, St. Louis is pretty tame, but the school is so good, and the people in the area are so friendly, being happy there should be do-able.
Really an awesome school! The students are very relaxed and enthusiastic...it seems like they have a ton of free time but somehow still learn a lot. The group split up for the tour, so we had 3 interviewees to 1 fourth-year, which was really nice. My tour was about half as long as it should have been, however, because my interview was scheduled for an hour after the tour started. The facilities are nice and new, and a new learning/teaching center is under construction. The interviewers are nice and conversational. No ethical questions or current events...they basically just want to get to know you. Most people will have only one interview...if you have 2, it's probably because they're training new interviewers, but both still count. Overall, probably my best interviewer so far...they really bend over backward to make us comfortable.
One word sums it up: pleasent. Everyone from the students (and you get to meet 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students), to the faculty, to the addmissions office staff was friendly, inviting, and not the least bit pretentious. Don't over-prepare for the interview, its really just a nice conversation loosely focused on your AMCAS application and any other information you provided.
Wash U has the most incredible administrative staff! Your visit will run very smoothly (and it's completely paid for!) The committee meeting is a little intimidating when you first walk in (12 faculty sitting around a board room table with you at the head), but the committee isn't out to trick you and asked by far the most interesting questions about my research that I've gotten so far. I actually got some great ideas for control experiments. The committee interview is pretty short (20 minutes) too, so it's over before you know it. The one on one interviews are more for your benefit and not stressful at all, so don't worry:)
It was great. Wash U is a wonderful place. My interviewer was very relaxed, very friendly, and made this a great conversation which ranged from movies to climbing Everest and back to my application.
The day starts with a talk on financial aid and the admissions process. Then I had my interview with one of the deans, followed by a very LONG tour given by a fourth year, and then lunch with third and fourth years. The day was organized really well and very low stress.
He was an older guy, one of their medicine heads, and we didn't connect very well. He loves baseball apparently but I couldn't draw him out on it. I felt like he was cutting off my (granted- long winded) answers so I made few of my major points.
It was a great experience. The students were really willing to answer your questions and show you around St. Louis and the school. Everyone was very friendly and the whole experience is pretty relaxed.
Excellent experience and school! A continental breakfast is offered in the morning, followed by a BRIEF overview of the curriculum and financial aid, then a tour, interview, and some lunch!
I arrived the night before and went to the pizza party. It was cool, but the med students tended to cluster amongst themselves. A few friendly med students came and talked to us for a long time. Then one of them took a few of us driving around the cool parts of St. Louis. Then we got back and everyone went to bed. I stayed in the dorms, and they had turned off the A/C for the winter, so it was hot in my room, so I opened the windows. A couple of times during the night, a garbage truck came by and made a lot of noise, so I didn't sleep well. The next morning, they had a women's breakfast and a minority breakfast. I am neither a woman or a minority, so I went to the white boy continental breakfast in the dorm. Then we checked in at the admissions office and got a whole bag full of stuff. Next we met in this really nice conference room with an admissions person and a financial aid person. I had to leave early because I had an interview. My interviewer was a nice guy. He totally memorized my file!!! He didn't open it once, but knew everything about me! We talked a lot about movies, books, what my parents do for a living, and some about my medical career. It was the longest interview I've had so far, just under an hour. Then came the tour. The school itself is pretty good, but the hospitals were awesome. After the tour was the best interview lunch I've had. Steak, pasta, rolls, soup, brownies, etc. (Definitely made up for the weak white boy continental breakfast.) Then that was it. Over by 1:30pm.
It was kind of odd - I got there, and he said he hadn't read my file, and then flipped through it and just asked about anything that caught his eye. It was pretty short, but I didn't feel like it went poorly.
Wash U is a great school. The entire University is pretty much built around the med school and it shows. The only thing I didn't like was the location. Also, some of the students were a little arrogant, but this is my subjective opinion (keep in mind this is the only top 10 school I interviewed at).
impressed by encouragement for students to participate in community activities. emphasis of community role of the physician rather than as a "mover/shaker," despite research-oriented reputation fo school
Pass/fail grading system is a plus
The fourth year being entirely composed of electives is a plus.
Involvement of students in extracurriculars is a plus.
Students seemed very laid back! No stress.
Overall impressed by the school and the students, seems like there is stuff to do in St. Louis. A school to seriously consider.
It was a great first interview experience. They don't put you under any stress, and it seems to me that they try to pair you up with an interviewer with a similar background. Go to the pizza party and the breakfast.
This place is great. They treat their students and interviewees right. They even give you lunch in a restaurant with a doctor who has no input on the admissions process so you can be totally at ease with them. The area that the school is in is beautiful and I was assured plenty of times that there's lots to do in St. Louis. Oh, and take the metro. It's far superior to a cab or limo.
It was by far the best interview I've had so far. I loved my interviewer and really felt that she knew me and wanted me to get in. She was very open about the good things and the bad things in my application, which was good to know. The facilities are amazing. The students weren't as stressed as I expected, probably less so than other, less respected schools I've visited. I loved it there.
I ended up liking Washington University a lot more than I thought I would. St. Louis is small, but it's a very friendly city and it has all the basics. The students at Wash U were so incredibly happy and close, and so receptive towards interviewees. This is definitely a safe, nurturing environment. The interviews reflect that. It's very casual, very conversational. Don't worry about it. They won't try to scare you in any way.
I really enjoyed my day at WashU. I thought the faculty and interviewer were very friendly, the students were nice, and the school itself amazing. I live in St Louis and I like the city, but it is a unique place - anyone not from the area should probably think about spending a couple of days getting to know the city as theres a lot more to it than just the medical school neighbourhood.
they give you a free room for one night, it's not fancy but it was very clean and comfortable (with a sink in the room, alarm clock is provided) and in the same building basically as the pizza party and meeting location for the breakfast and tours. Lunch was on real plates and with silverware, no wrapped sandwiches! Go to the pizza party, lots of med students show up and stick around to talk to you. Take the metrolink from the airport (not a cab), it's easy and cheap, it's just hard to find the signs in the airport. arrive during daylight hours so you can explore the area and get a feel for the layout of the buildings nearby.
I had a great interview experience at Washington University. The people were incredibly friendly, my interview was very personal and sincere and went way beyond the typical "why do you want to be a doctor?"-type questions.
Overall, it was a pretty good experience. They bend over backwards with the pizza party and free lodging to make sure you have a pleasant trip, which is very nice. My interviewer didn't seem overly positive and excited about my application, which was kind of disappointing. If ya dont think I'm Wash U material, dont invite me to the interview already.
Overall a very relaxed day. My interview lasted 80 minutes, and my interviewer was very nice. However, I'm not sure she could hear a single thing I was saying, because she would answer my questions with responses that totally did not match the question I had asked! After a while I just gave up asking questions, but, she was really nice, so hopefully that won't matter. The day started at 8am with a group talk with the dean. Then everyone splits up for their interviews/tours. Lunch at noon was very nice. Lunch is at the same time for everyone interviewing that day, but your interview and tour can be at any time. They split up interviewees into groups, so the tour is with 4 interviewees and one fourth year student.
Definitely positive, the people were very nice and adamate about what a good education Washington gives you. The interviewers were nice, it wasn't that stressful or difficult just basically talking about your activities.
It was an interesting day. The pizza party the night before was hectic but fun, but I did not have a really good experience with the hotel arrangements (I was put there because all other options were full.) I was also not very impressed by the folks who took the hotel shuttle to the school without me, when I was the one who suggested that we all shuttle together in the morning (I guess that comment will give me away, but oh well). The interview group was huge so it was checking in at the admissions office was hectic. The interview was nice enough, and the lunch was awesome. The student tour left something to be desired, our tour guide had no experience and showed up really late--he made up for it by being a really cool guy. Be prepared for a VERY long and thorough tour. The facilities are amazing, a little overwhelming even in their size and swankiness.
~six faculty semi-formal interviews
one group (~15 faculty) conference style interview (MSTP)
one one-on-one interview (MD)
It was not stressful. Students are very very nice. Research is high calibre. MST program very well run. Andrew and Brian excellent. But I didn't like the city that much and was fairly unimpressed by the students.
ok - this is the place with the dreaded panel interview. its relaly not bad at all and i had a lot of fun with it. the key is leading the discussion with confidence, and never ever BSing them. they open with why md/phd - most people start with a chronological story, but i recommend (and brian does as well) that you start with the research you know best cause thats what they will be asking questions about. its a free form 20 minutes, so be prepared for anything. they are super super friendly and they smile and everything so don't worry too much. the faculty interviews are a breeze, and from what i understand they don't count too much. but they matter, and they are great experiences to talk to peopel you could be potentially doign your thesis with. the md interview was easy in comparison to everything else. low stress place (my experience at least) and they were all about recruiting.
Overall the day was very low stress. All the students, staff, and faculty are willing to share their experiences and enthusiasm for Wash U. My interviewer didn't ask me any tough questions; he didn't ask hardly any questions at all for that matter. He just wanted to know what a Californian would want with a school in the Midwest.
overall very positive experience. my interviewer impressed me not only with her intelligence and demeanor but with her total lack of arrogance or pretension.
The visit gave me an entirely new and very positive view of the school. The students are genuinely happy, incredibly laid-back, and more than willing to tell you all about their experiences and opinions. Oh, and Pass/Fail grading the first year is great!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally provided positive feedback about the admissions office, with some suggesting improvements in communication regarding document submission procedures and a preference for digital information over mailed brochures. Additionally, applicants appreciated a warm and organized check-in process and suggested offering a vegetarian lunch option during visits.
Have one standardized one for update letters, LOI, etc. There is an upload option in the portal, but on my interview day, one of the committee chairs also said to send it to the admissions email. Then people on this forum have also said email to the dean is the most effective way. What is truth lol