Negatively
9 out of 10
45 minutes
At the school
3
In a group
Open file
"Do you know how many Americans are have no health care coverage?" Report Response | I was asked this question too
"You have a cancer patient with chronic pain to the point where he can't sleep. He asks you to prescribe him 60 sleeping pills? What do you do? (extensive follow-up questioning)" Report Response | I was asked this question too
"You go to Hopkins...you must want to go into research, right?" Report Response | I was asked this question too
"So you have a patient who...(insert 5 minutes of setting up a complicated ethical scenario)...what do you do?" Report Response | I was asked this question too
"see above." Report Response | I was asked this question too
"Not well enough. Should have read more on healthcare policy and medical ethics issues." Report Response
"Not much. It was my #1 choice going in, and not so afterwards." Report Response
"The fact that the admissions office didn't try to impress the applicants. All the staff seemed very pretentious. " Report Response
"The emphasis on ethical and healthcare policy questions in the interview." Report Response
"I went into it not knowing what to expect (especially about the emphasis on ethics/health care policy question). I didn't prepare much for those types of questions beyond what I would do for other schools' interviews. Unfortunately, the UW interview was BY FAR more difficult than all of the other schools I've interviewed at. I was caught off guard by some of the questioning. Here's a little bit about what the interview: There are 3 faculty interviewing you at the same time. I had Dr. Werner Sampson, who is Assistant Dean and Chairman of Admissions and quite intimidating. He was the head interviewer and there were 2 others with him. They started the 45 minute interview with about 5 minutes of discussion about my background, academics, research, then launched into a discussion on medical ethics scenario by laying out the scenario for a roleplay on physician-assisted suicide. After I gave my answer, they were very confrontational, and kept trying to get me to change my mind. They prodded, but I stood firm. So after about 10 minutes, they moved on to asking me about my ECs for 5 minutes. Then, back to another ethical scenario, again on physician assisted suicide, but with different circumstances. We talked about this one for 10 more minutes, then about 10 minutes on health care policy. In the end, 2/3 of the interview was spent on ethics & health care policy, and I found their line of questioning to be very challenging and confrontational. It felt like nothing I was saying was "the right answer" in their minds. I think that the key is to stand your ground, although I DID have my admissions deferred until April. Now I know there's at least another team of 3 interviewers, and they are a lot less harsh, so if you're lucky you'll get them. I would prepare by reading up a good deal on medical ethics (particularly physician assisted suicide) and formulating your opinion on the matter, all the while being prepared for their rebuttals. Read up on health care policy more than you would for other schools, as well (I got kind of stumped by the depth of our discussion in this topic). As for the tour, if they're still taking you where they took me, keep in mind that the medical school is MUCH nicer. They don't do a good job of showing off their facility. I used to work in the UW Health Sciences Center, and it's a LOT nicer than what you see on the short tour. I also didn't get the feeling that the students I met on my interview day were very happy, but I know a bunch more personally who ARE. All in all, UW doesn't go out of its way to try to impress you, but it IS a great school with a lot to offer (especially if you like primary care). Don't let the interview or the experience discourage you (although that's easier said than done)." Report Response
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