Chicago, IL
Allopathic Medical Schools | Private Non-Profit
Application Cycle: 2009-10
⭐ Overall Impressions
How did the interview impress you?
Positively 🙂
What was the stress level of the interview?
4 out of 10
0 = Low Stress, 10 = High Stress
How you think you did?
7 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
8 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
9 out of 10
0 = Below, 10 = Above
What are your general comments?
I was very impressed by Northwestern and am ecstatic to have an acceptance there. With that being said, I've learned a lot as I've gone to other interviews, and I don't think Northwestern is as unique as it markets itself to be. This may sounds cynical, but in the end I think that all upper-tier medical schools will give you more or less the same education and opportunities, so things like "mall-like facilities!" and "an innovative PBL curriculum!" aren't huge selling points for me. Location, on the other hand, definitely is, and NW gets a big freaking gold star in that category.
💬 Interview Process
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
What has been your biggest failure?
What was the most interesting question?
If a physician were a player on a football team, what position would he/she play? Also the group question: Create a reality show where the winner gets a full ride to medical school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
It was my first interview, so I did a lot of research on the school and practiced verbalizing answers to the expected questions to myself.
What impressed you positively?
The location is indescribably fantastic, and everyone I met was so passionate about Chicago. Chi-town is definitely the place to be, thanks to Obama! The facilities are lovely and I like the curriculum (although as I've interviewed at other schools I've learned that it's not unique to Northwestern, as they would lead you to believe). The students I met were friendly. The learning environment seems laid back and very collegial. I came away feeling like NW was a great fit for me, and the feeling must have been mutual as I was accepted in November.
What impressed you negatively?
The class size is rather large (175). There was a lack of visible diversity (both ethnic and geographic - everyone I met on my interview was white and from the midwest). Also, the folks who led our PBL session in the morning acted somewhat paternalistic towards us. If that's a reflection of the actual experience, it's off-putting.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
That all the time I've wasted watching ANTM and Project Runway over the years actually helped me get in to a top-20 medical school! (see "most interesting question" below). I find this hilarious.
🤝 Campus and Facilities
How do you rank the facilities?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this school's location?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
10 out of 10
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
📍 Travel and Logistics
Who was the tour given by?
Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Enthusiastic
What is your in-state status?
Out of state
What were your total hours spent traveling?
2-3 hours
What was your primary mode of travel?
Airplane
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
$401-$500
What airport did you fly into?
ORD
Where did you stay?
With students at the school
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