University of Illinois College of Medicine

2 out of 10

10 out of 10

7 out of 10

7 out of 10

The students and faculty I met were nice, laid-back and friendly, and the clinical training amazing. I also loved the location downtown. However, the facilities were pretty worn (1930's dark musty building, microscopes for histology instead of online slides & computers, etc.), and didn't stand up so well in comparison with other facilities I've seen. The student resources/computer lab/lounge area is in the basement. While the facilities were lacking, and the curriculum pretty lecture-heavy, the clinical training is great the first two years, and amazing the last two years. I felt like UIC probably offers some of the best clinical training opportunities around. If you can see past the facilities, I think this school offers a great medical education. I recommend the afternoon interview slot since you get the dean's presentation, the tour, and lunch with other interviewees first, and then your three interviews (one was a PhD, one an MD, and one a 2nd year student). If you do the morning interview, you have your three interviews first, and then join the afternoon interviewees for the presentation, tour and lunch. Going for the afternoon interview gives you a lot more to talk about during your interviews.

Why medicine?

What are three recent break-throughs in medicine?

SDN, UIC web site

Three questions asking in the following order: Why UIC? Why UIC if you got into another Chicago-area school? Why UIC if you got into Northwestern?

Laid-back non-competitive student body, great location, research.

The facilities.

I was glad I'd read SDN the night before. I read about the ''3 medical break-throughs'' question, and got asked it at my first interview! If you say ''stem cell research,'' be sure to be able to answer some questions about the technology itself! I winged it, and think I did fine.

2 out of 10

10 out of 10

10 out of 10

Student

Neutral

In state

0-1 hour

Automobile

< $100