How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
No responses
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
No responses
How did you prepare for the interview?
Visited a dozen or so interview prep websites (the ones linked from about.com)
What impressed you positively?
--Admissions Staff --> Ann Shorrock and Rosemary were very friendly
--Faculty --> The interviewers were all very pleasant. They emphasized how much they want us to succeed...that if we had any problems we should come talk to them. Faculty we met during the tour were similar. Apparently most profs are also extremely open to rescheduling exams if the students ask for it, which is a definite plus.
--Students --> There were at least ten students at lunch from all four years. They were a very diverse group, both in terms of background, ethnicity, and personality. There's no doubt you can find someone similar to yourself at UIC, whether you're the type that studies every day 'til 3am or goes out drinking during lunch breaks. Everyone was very candid...positive about the school but honest about what they didn't like.
--Vision --> Usually I find claims of "We plan to be a Top 5 dental school by 2010" to be empty (esp. for state schools), but UIC does seem to be quickly moving in the right direction. They have made many changes recently like shrinking the class size, upgrading much of the building, adding community outreach/education programs, exposing students to clinical work earlier, and having students take the NBE I after first year (which makes sense)
--Facilities --> The main lecture hall is nice and modern(complete with laptop ports), as are the specialty areas and the International DDS program (has a SIM lab). Every computer I saw was a brand new Dell, complete with large scren LCD. Overall it seems like a pleasant working/learning environment.
--Research --> UIC receives many research grants, and the students were clear that there are plenty of opportunities. If you want to do research you have only to take the initiative and aggressively pursue a position. It's not exceptionally hard.
What impressed you negatively?
--Facilities --> The building is still a study in contrasts. As nice as the first lecture hall was, the second was a total dump, like something out of an inner city H.S. (cement floors, worn plastic chairs). The only restroom I used was filthy even at 9am and the auto-flusher did not work. The exterior of the building is dated. UIC is in the process of upgrading everything, but as a state school they need to do it in stages, rather than one large renovation.
--Neighborhood --> The school is in a tough area of the city. It's no worse than other municipal neighborhoods, but you do need to exercise common sense/caution to maintain safety (walk on the street side of the sidewalk, don't go out at night if female, etc.)
--Tour --> Ann walks too fast! ;-)
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Nothing...the school was pretty much as I imagined it. It has good and bad points (more good), but is definitely my first choice.
What are your general comments?
There were two 30-minute interviews: one with two faculty members and one with one. Both interviews were CLOSED FILE, so I have no idea why the two previous interview reports said open file (unless it varies). The questions are all canned, so if you prepare you will not have trouble with any of them. All interviewers were extremely easy-going and encouraged questions (be sure to prepare a couple). It wasn't quite a casual conversation, but it was close. Trust me, don't stress over it--this was my first interview and it was still a piece of cake.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
