Applicants generally found the interview experience at WashU to be positive and laid-back, with interviewers focusing on getting to know the applicants. The school's facilities and student support were highly praised, though some expressed reservations about the location of St. Louis. The free accommodations, meals, and friendly atmosphere were highlighted as positive aspects of the interview day.
-
WashU is the best school so far in sharing school-related info and student support ahead of time. I got emails from relevant student groups, which I have indicated interest in in my secondary essays. As a final tip, I think interviewees should do their homework carefully and thoroughly to find something that they genuinely like the school and program
-
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.
-
THERE WAS ONE OPEN FILE AND ONE CLOSED FILE INTERVIEW.
-
Very conversational, stress-free and friendly
-
Great school
-
The interview definitely changed my view of this school for the better, however, I am not sure if I can see myself living in St. Louis.
-
Pizza party and breakfast are a great way to chat with current students.
-
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.
-
Stunning facilities. Great med school!
-
Everyone in the admissions office will tell you to relax and smile, so take their advice! People (including interviewers) like happy, friendly people.
-
So impressive.
-
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.
-
The interview at Washington University was really relaxed. It's in your best interest if you're relaxed as well, and that you enjoy your time there.
-
I loved WashU and could very well be attending next year.
-
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?
-
All the students seem pretty happy, overall a pretty impressive medical school
-
Very low stress interview. No "why medicine" question. The best overall experience I've had so far.
-
I love washu
-
Washu really exceeded my expectations. It is a great school, with great students, a great rep and renowned faculty.
-
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.
-
Interview was conversational and enjoyable.
-
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!
-
Olin Hall isn't that bad...for one night. To be honest, I can't remember much about this day except the actual interviews...
-
My stress level was only due to it being my first interview, the process itself was very laid back and not stressful.
-
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 had two interviews. One was closed file and lasted 25 minutes. The other was open file and lasted an hour.
-
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...
-
It was neutral. Not bad, or anything--just okay.
-
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.
-
Three people around a table taking turns to ask me questions. The questions were mostly about stuff on my application. They were friendly.
-
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!
-
The day started extremely early, with the intro spiel, followed by a tour, about 2 free hours, lunch, interview.
-
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.
-
Great school, great facilities, overall good experience, students were available all day and very helpful
-
Liked the school, the students were a bit stuffy though.
-
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.
-
Wonderful wonderful! Definitely a great school even though few ppl in my home state have heard of it.
-
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!
-
Very laid back, both my interviewers did their best to put me at ease.
-
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.
-
Long but the interviewers seemed as though they'd read my file and asked me pertinent questions about my experiences
-
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.
-
Interview was easier than my state school interview... VERY laid back. all the usual questions, but absolutely no grilling...
-
Overall it was pretty positve. The facilities and opportunities are amazing. Most people were really nice and friendly.
-
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)
-
I loved this place and it seemed like everyone else i was there with loved it too
-
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.
-
Very positive, friendly, informative, stress-free. I have been accepted.
-
Really relaxed and friendly interviewer. I was actually surprised when it was over.
-
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.
-
Great! she was insightful, encouraging, kind
-
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.
-
Nice interviewer, he had written notes on every part of my app and we just went through it all and I explained why, how, what I did, etc.
-
Very laidback.
-
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.
-
Wash U is an amazing school with wonderful students and faculty. I had a wonderful visit and no major complaints about the school.
-
Overall, very enjoyable. I left with a very favorable impression of the school -- they really take care of their students.
-
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 interview was nice and low stress
-
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.
-
Breakfast at 7:30, info session at 8, interview at 9, tour at 10:30, lunch at noon.
-
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.
-
Very low key and comfortable
-
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.
-
All in all a very positive experience. Every effort was made to make students feel welcome and relaxed :)
-
Pretty standard interview day.
-
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.
-
Read above
-
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.
-
Very positive
-
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.
-
Overall it was very relaxed. Again, I emphasize how great the staff and the students are at WashU. Everyone is happy and willing to help. I like it!
-
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.
-
Terrific
-
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.
-
Overall I liked it a lot. the interviews were low key and people were very friendly, esp as wash u gives you so many free meals etc.
-
Relaxed Friendly.
-
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!
-
The faculty that runs the interview process are extremely welcoming, my interviewer was extremely polite and carried the conversation very well.
-
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.
-
The interview barely asked anything. we just chatted about st. louis, research, and american airlines.
-
Night before: Free pizza & accomodation
Day of: Breakfast, orientation, interview, lunch, tour
-
Conversational, some odd questions, no ethics questions
-
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.
-
The interview was so well planned.
-
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.
-
Most people have 1 interview, some have 2. the reason is just so the committee can check the interview skills of new members.
-
Very nice and happy people seem to populate WU
-
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.
-
Very laid back. I had a slow start because I was a bit more nervous knowing how good the school was and how much I wanted to go there.
-
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 really fun day. Overall I had a good impression of the school and I think I would be comfortable there.
-
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.
-
I was very impressed!
-
My interviewer was very nice and basically asked pre-written questions, mostly about my primary application. very informal and stress-free. you just have to relax, as cliché as that sounds.
-
All around it was a good experience, not nearly as uptight as I expected.
-
Very relaxed interview, went about 90+ minutes, very impressed with the school and students.
-
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.
-
Very laid back and comfortable overall. Nothing to worry about.
-
Great first interview experience.
-
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.
-
Very positive experience!
-
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.
-
The students were so great. The whole experience was a lot of fun and well-designed to be stress-free.
-
~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.
-
It was overall a great interview experience with really nice people who go out of their way to impress you.
-
Laid back and easy interview experience.
-
Everyone was very friendly and trying to convince you to come to the school (even my interviewer). The students I met were relaxed.
-
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!
-
It was an AWESOME school with great hospitality and even nicer facilities. The students were very accessible and a lot of questions were answered