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?
Thoroughly researched the school's website. Read every single SDN feedback on the school. Practiced tricky questions with my boyfriend. The night before, just relaxed had a nice dinner, worked out and went to bed.
What impressed you positively?
The location, weather and school was great inside and out. I come from a LARGE university and hate it. This school is small and I get the feeling as a student there you will get a lot of personal attention. That is new for me. Also, for all my school buildings to be on one block is AMAZING. Where I currently go to school, I take buses through all kinds of crazy traffic to get to classes, administrative buildings and bookstores. I hate it, so Western really impressed me.
What impressed you negatively?
The downtown part of town, as my father put it was reminiscent of Spanish Harlem, so not exactly the safest place at night alone. However, you will not spend your time there, the school is in one place and security gaurds abound, so the downtown did not affect my feelings about the school. Most of the students there live 15-30 minutes away and that works out fine for them.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Nothing. I mean i discovered a lot of things, about the school and the area and I fell in love with it, but after reading all the SDN stuff I was not surprised by anything slightly odd and was pleasantly surprised by the beauty all around me in California (mountains, deserts all so close). It was great.
What are your general comments?
It was great. There were two interviewers in the room with me the whole time, one mostly asked the questions, the other took notes and interjected only a few times. It was 30 minutes and it FLEW by. I felt like i was not asked anything b/c it went so fast and also b/c nothing was too difficult. There were no hypothetical or ethical questions. There was no trivia type stuff trying to grill you and see if you know the school well enough. There were no questions like why not MD (but that was probably b/c I addressed that in another question, so it was clear to them already. They did not ask about MCAT scores, GPA, if i have had any other interviews, or about the other schools to which I applied. Again, these are all fair game, but a lot of that info spoke for itself on the application. I suppose if something stood out, they would ask. All the questions were about you and were stemming from/inspired by their desire for you to expand on your supplemetary application. They intro it with saying this will be very laid back ... do you want a glass of water. It is laid back, take the water b/c your mouth will dry up as you speak at such length about yourself. Also, for all you afternoon interviewees, it it not a bad situation at all. I got there 40 minutes before i was supposed to be there so i walked around with my dad for a bit and that made me feel very comfortable and positive about wanting to go there. Then all the information sessions, the lunch with students and meeting other interviewees further eased any anticipatory anxiety. I felt that I had the whole morning to get comfortable in my env't and by the time the interview came along, i felt at home and not very nervous at all. Know this: there is nothing to be nervous about, everyone in so nice including the interviewers and it is very laid back. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
No responses
