PNWU-COM (Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences) Discussion 2007-2008

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Originally Posted by Tachymeter

Well my interview was at 4:30 pm. But what happens is that everyone in the morning waits in the conference room after they have been interviewed. While there they give you information on financial aid, rotations, housing, etc. Then at 12pm both morning and afternoon candidates will all come together in the room. At that point you get to meet the dean and have lunch for an hour.(My group didn't get to meet the dean, he spoke to us by conference call ). After that all the morning interviewers are allowed to leave or stay if they want to ask more questions and re listen to the spiel.
I only drove up from Seattle but the big key is to make sure the passes are good because you could get stuck there. That and know if you go by Tacoma and Seattle during rush hour it will be terrible.

Good Luck, hope you make it.

Thanks that is helpful

Hi again!

I just made my flight/car/hotel reservations for my interview on the 15th. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good restaurant to eat at the night before? Also, I fly in on the 14th at 2pm so will have the afternoon to explore. I've never been to Yakima so any suggestions for "exploring" are welcomed .

Very, very impressed with the packet they sent me about my interview. WOW...tons of info about the area. I'm really, really excited about the opportunity to attend this school. Hoping to join those who have been accepted! It will definitely be a fun adventure!

Roselee

Originally Posted by LauraDO

Question for those that have interviewed? My interview is at 8:45 but then the only thing on the schedule after that is at noon. what did you all do between 9:15 and noon, also has anyone driven up from P-town

I drove up on December 14th, drove up the night before took about 2.5 hours, but I am a bit of a lead foot, the pass can be tricky, but no problems when i went, check about the biggs bridge closure of tripcheck.com there is an alternative but it is nice to be aware of it before you get there!

I had the same interview time as well and left about 2pm after the lunch and met and greet. The pass is alot nicer during the day!
Good luck and have fun, they are very nice and welcoming.

Originally Posted by sharkalo

I drove up on December 14th, drove up the night before took about 2.5 hours, but I am a bit of a lead foot, the pass can be tricky, but no problems when i went, check about the biggs bridge closure of tripcheck.com there is an alternative but it is nice to be aware of it before you get there!

I had the same interview time as well and left about 2pm after the lunch and met and greet. The pass is alot nicer during the day!
Good luck and have fun, they are very nice and welcoming.

Thanks that is really helpful, I'm really nervous about the pass and getting stuck!

I was wondering if anyone here who went to the interview picked up a copy of the total attendance cost sheet. It had a breakdown of tuition, rent, insurance, transportation, etc. (Came to something like $47,000) I forgot to take it when I left and now I need it so I can apply for some private loans. If you could somehow scan it and post it here or email me at redviper1999@gmail.com I'd really appreciate it. Thanks alot.

Originally Posted by Tachymeter

I was wondering if anyone here who went to the interview picked up a copy of the total attendance cost sheet. It had a breakdown of tuition, rent, insurance, transportation, etc. (Came to something like $47,000) I forgot to take it when I left and now I need it so I can apply for some private loans. If you could somehow scan it and post it here or email me at redviper1999@gmail.com I'd really appreciate it. Thanks alot.

Tachymeter,

I have a copy right here. I will email it to you this evening.

I have an interview with PNWU this Friday at 10:30 and was wondering if any of you can offer up any last minute advise. In addition, how early did you guys (those whose already had interviewed) showed up for your interview. thanks

hey luke,

i'm gunna be at PNWU this friday (9:30a). i'm aiming to show up an hour early, just to be prepared.

Don't worry so much. Be yourself. Everyone there is very accomodating and friendly. I asked questions to staff and a few faculty before my scheduled interview and that seemed to loosen up some of the nerves. The interview is pretty straightforward with no trick questions. If you go in confident you'll do fine. Good luck.

Is there an official acceptance thread for PNWU-COM?

Originally Posted by Climber512

Is there an official acceptance thread for PNWU-COM?

The mods like to keep this forum usable, so there's just one for all schools. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=445584

anyone staying at oxford suites right now? i heard the passes were snowed in

I'm currently at the oxford suites. if you want to talk, I'm on the main floor.

Does anyone know if there are any rock climbing gyms in Yakima??

Dunno about rock climbing gyms but most likely. This IS the NW.
One of my DO colleagues handed me a flyer a couple of years ago when it was still in the thinking stage. I got tired of waiting and moved to SC to establish residency here. But I am thinking I'll go ahead and apply for 2009 and send one off to PNWU as well. I graduated from Pacific U. PA school in 2000, who knows, maybe I'll continue the Pacific trend...???
Would be nice to get closer to home too. As a nontrad my credentials are not really in league for OHSU, although I would probably apply there too since my baby sis will most likely apply and attend there if admitted.
Good luck to all who are still interviewing. I actually thought of moving to Yakima a few years ago to establish residency, maybe work for Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (loan repayment, yay), but stupidly didn't. This was back when houses were cheap there too.

Hi,
I have an interview on Friday Feb 15. I am flying from Newark to Seattle and then driving from the Tacoma airport to Yakima. I don't know what is this pass but can any tell me if I am leaving in the morning, how long it will take to get to Yakima? Is the town good enough to spent four years?

Originally Posted by thesearc

then driving from the Tacoma airport to Yakima. I don't know what is this pass but can any tell me if I am leaving in the morning, how long it will take to get to Yakima?

I can't give you an exact number, but I'll tell you that it will take a lot longer than you think. It's February, which means there's lots of snow up in the pass (and as of late, I-90 has been closed a few times because of storms). You're going to need traction tires to get through the passes. In fact, I think they're required.

to the op...ya, its I-90 snoqualmie pass...and then there is another smaller elevation pass you'll have to go over between ellensburg and yakima (when you turn on to I-82)...its called manastash. you'll be able to look up both passes on the state dot website. fyi, it takes about 3 hours to drive from seatac airport to the school in yakima when the roads are bare and dry. dependent on the weather...your trip will likely take a little longer. the other poster is right, there has been a lot of temporary closures (of I-90 snoqualmie pass) recently due to heavy snow and avalanche control. just a thought...but yakima has an airport and has daily service from seatac (the seattle airport you are flying into) on either alaska air and/or horizon for like $99 each way...maybe less if you book now. You might consider flying there either initially by changing your ticket now and paying the penalty...or by buying an extra ticket to yakima. you can rent cars in yakima as well, it is a large city (maybe 1-200k) with everything you'll need, i'm certain there are rental cars at the airport.

probably the best thing to do is to call the school and ask for their advice. they're extremely nice people and will bend over backwards to help you out with recommendations and stuff.

good luck

who made it yesterday?

Hey does anyone remember if they said they had a simlab and if so how many sim people they have? Also does anyone know if the curriculum is a systems based approach? I don't remember those things out of all the stuff they told us, and the student packet isn't too clear on the overall structure of the curriculum, I really hope it is systems based.

Hi all,

This may be a stupid question (sorry! I did do a search ), but is the interview site at the same address as the school's (listed on their letterhead)? I know the school building isn't finished yet. I want to mapquest the route from Oxford Suites.

Thanks!

Yeah its the address listed on the letterhead. Its at a building that's really close to where the school is being built.

I was wondering if anyone has an interview on friday Feb 15 th. I am flying from Newark, NJ to Seattle on Thursday and driving friday morning to yakima. I have rented a car. If anyone has the same schedule please let me know.

Originally Posted by thesearc

I was wondering if anyone has an interview on friday Feb 15 th. I am flying from Newark, NJ to Seattle on Thursday and driving friday morning to yakima. I have rented a car. If anyone has the same schedule please let me know.

Hi thesearc,

I will be there this Friday! However, I'm flying into Seattle and then taking the little plane to Yakima on Thursday. How long will it take you to drive Friday AM? I'll send good thoughts to you Friday morning!

Roselee

I have interview at 1:30 p.m. I will be leaving like 6 am from Seattle most likely. I also thought to take the plan to Yakima but realized that it would be very tough to do anything besides going to interview. What time is your interview? I imagine you are flying from Cali..

Originally Posted by thesearc

I have interview at 1:30 p.m. I will be leaving like 6 am from Seattle most likely. I also thought to take the plan to Yakima but realized that it would be very tough to do anything besides going to interview. What time is your interview? I imagine you are flying from Cali..

Yep, from San Jose. My interview is from 11-11:30 and I then plan to stay for the lunch meeting from 12-1, leaving for the airport at 1:30pm. Will you be there in time for the lunch thing? If so, say hi! (and I can give you the low-down on the interview)

Good luck with the drive. I'll be wishing you pleasant "no snow" thoughts on Friday morning.

Roselee

Originally Posted by RoseLee

Yep, from San Jose. My interview is from 11-11:30 and I then plan to stay for the lunch meeting from 12-1, leaving for the airport at 1:30pm. Will you be there in time for the lunch thing? If so, say hi! (and I can give you the low-down on the interview)

Good luck with the drive. I'll be wishing you pleasant "no snow" thoughts on Friday morning.

Roselee

Hopefully I will be there by 10 or so. I will definately be there in the lunch. If I see you and recognize you will say hi and would discuss the interview. Wish you all the best. If I could do anything from my side.. feel free to ask..

Neel

Hi guys! Anyone on here interviewing on Feb 29th?

Originally Posted by RoseLee

Does anyone have any suggestions on a good restaurant to eat at the night before?

Best place to eat in all of Yakima is Miner's. Its a family owned/run burger joint. http://www.minersdriveinnrestaurant.com/ Its been around since the '50s and it is a Yakima tradition. My husband was born and raised in Yakima and it is the one place we have to visit every single trip back home. Its awesome. Get a Miner burger (they are HUGE!!) and fries (don't forget the miner's fry sauce). This is the time to splurge on fries even if you don't normally do the fried food thing. I think they fry everything in real lard, that's what makes it all so d*mn good. Mmmm mmmm mmmm.

Hey bioteach, have you decided where you are going yet?

Thanks Bioteach! I'll definitely go there Thursday night for dinner!!!

Roselee

Originally Posted by LauraDO

Hey bioteach, have you decided where you are going yet?

Its going to be KCOM unless my instate MD comes through for me. CU has always been my first choice because I won't have to move and my husband could keep his job. If we move, though, it will be to Kirksville, Missouri!

Hey does anyone know if PNWU is going to be using dissected or prosected bodies for anatomy lab?

If I remember right, we get to dissect the bodies for anatomy lab?

Originally Posted by Luke16

If I remember right, we get to dissect the bodies for anatomy lab?

Depends on the school. Prosection means the structures are exposed for you; dissection means you have to find and expose the structures. Prosection is considerably less time consuming. DO programs, arguably, teach anatomy more thoroughly than allo, because of OPP, so prosection is arguably sufficient. Picking fat is arguably teaching you nothing. (Personally I'm more interested in dissection because I like anatomy a lot.)

A new school like PNWU may have a limited number of cadavers, but there'd be no other program (such as pharm) that needs your cadavers as well. It takes years to establish a willed body program, so finding out where PNWU is going to get its cadavers would be a good idea.

A number of schools have extracurricular anatomy programs, where you help prep bodies for pharm/dental/etc. during the summer, and then you get to TA the next med school class. Or you can observe the county coroner or potentially assist with hospital autopsies. If you are interested in surg or path, the more anatomy you do the better.

Questions to ask are "prosection or dissection?" and "how many students per cadaver?" and "do other programs use the med school's cadavers?" and "what opportunities are there to work with cadavers outside regular class time?"

Best of luck to you.

Ok all! I asked the question about anatomy during my interview today. I was told that since the cemetery is across the street from the school, there will be no problems with obtaining cadavers. j/k (but, they really told us that as a joke and there really is a cemetery across the street!) ) Both prosection and dissection will be used. Four students per cadaver which is really nice. Plans show a HUGE anatomy lab.

Looks like it's going to be a great, high-tech school! The faculty looks to be top-notch and they really made me (and the other interviewees) feel comfortable. Very excited about the possibility of attending!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Roselee

To all those that interviewed Friday the 15th...and those prior also...

What statistics were given in your presentation about number of accepted slots vs. open seats?

I interviewed about a month ago and we were told that as of our interview they'd offered about 50 admissions and 18 had put down a seat deposit...anyone have an update to these numbers?

Sorry OLYWA, i didn't think to ask and it wasn't discussed at the lunch meeting. Maybe someone else though to ask during their interview?

Ok...I'm gonna tie my new question in with my last and direct this post at those that have interviewed recently.

Ok, I've interviewed at both of the new schools...PNWU and RVU. Ok, as we all know the financial aid situation for both of these schools, being new, is very similar.

At RVU we had a very thorough financial aid presentation and the Stafford and Grad Plus loan situation (i.e. federal loans) was explained this way. RVU, as a new school, will become eligible for federal loans by either of two mechanisms.

The first being graduation of a first class...this is of no value to us because we'll be the class graduating...so no loans for us. The other mechanism is if the university starts another program within the school...a nursing or PA program for example.

RVU has stated that they are attempting to start a nursing program and anticipate this to happen within the next two years...thereby enabling the D.O. students (along with the nurses) to qualify for federal finacial aid.

PNWU, on the other hand, tells us that federal loans will likely be available after the first year...or maybe after the first 6 months.

OK...why the descrepancy?

The schools are both new...PNWU isn't a sattelite of another currently qualified university...I don't think the for profit thing even figures in...and I don't remember PNWU being aggressive about starting up a new program (although maybe they told us that and I simply didn't hear it).

SO...why loans in 6 months at PNWU...but 2 years at RVU? Was this addressed at the more recent presentations?

Originally Posted by OLYWA

...SO...why loans in 6 months at PNWU...but 2 years at RVU? Was this addressed at the more recent presentations?

I've been trying to get some traction on this issue since November.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show....php?p=5973471

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=473300

I think the loan thing has to do with the fact that RVU is a for profit school while PNWU is a non-profit school. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Originally Posted by Tachymeter

I think the loan thing has to do with the fact that RVU is a for profit school while PNWU is a non-profit school. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't see how that could be a factor. If there's a preference by the federal loan administration for for-profit schools, that would be unexpected, wouldn't it?

I don't know I just looked it up and RVU is the ONLY medical school in the United States, allopathic or osteopathic that is for-profit. Non-profit organizations tend to get different financial breaks and incentives from the government.

So I've been looking at loans and it seems alot of loans, at least private ones mention specifically that the loans must be for non-profit schools. http://www.keybankcollegenotes.com/keyproducts.html
Also for-profit schools seem to be the target of loan cutbacks according to the news articles I just read(Just google them).

Originally Posted by Tachymeter

I don't know I just looked it up and RVU is the ONLY medical school in the United States, allopathic or osteopathic that is for-profit. Non-profit organizations tend to get different financial breaks and incentives from the government.

So I've been looking at loans and it seems alot of loans, at least private ones mention specifically that the loans must be for non-profit schools. http://www.keybankcollegenotes.com/keyproducts.html
Also for-profit schools seem to be the target of loan cutbacks according to the news articles I just read(Just google them).

Let me be more clear with what I'm getting at: I think PNWU is not being truthful about having "loan packages" (whatever that actually means) available in six months. Private loans, maybe, but is PNWU making that clear? When I interviewed at ATSU-SOMA, that non-profit school is still waiting to graduate its first DO class before a DO class is eligible for some forms of federal aid. Lots of other health professions training in the same building there don't affect the DO school's status.

My point is RVU seems to be more forthcoming with realistic financial aid expectations than PNWU. OlyWA is finding, as I unfortunately expected, that PNWU isn't being terribly direct. I encourage acceptees to push PNWU really hard for answers in writing, and to do your homework (as you're doing, tachy).

Well I've figured out one thing so far. RVU is considered a proprietary institution of higher education (with private, for-profit control) (34 CFR 600.5), whereas PNWU is an institution of higher education (with public or private, nonprofit control), which is sometimes called an IHE (34 CFR 600.4) The significance of this is that there is a 2 year rule for any school that is not an IHE,
"Any school that is not an institution of higher education (IHE) must have been legally authorized to give (and must have been continuously giving) postsecondary instruction for at least two consecutive years." So that's the reason RVU must wait the two years.

I've found all this stuff at ed.gov and I'm going over more of it tomorrow, very interesting stuff.

Originally Posted by OLYWA

To all those that interviewed Friday the 15th...and those prior also...

What statistics were given in your presentation about number of accepted slots vs. open seats?

I interviewed about a month ago and we were told that as of our interview they'd offered about 50 admissions and 18 had put down a seat deposit...anyone have an update to these numbers?

OLYWA,

Have you called to check on the status of the waitlist?? If not, it may not hurt to check in PNWU. You could probably even ask about how many seats have been filled, how likely it will be that you will be accepted etc. etc.. Just a thought.

So does anyone know how many simbots they will have and what kinds? And does anyone know if the curriculum is a systems based approach or is it done by body area or something else?

Hi all,

I'm waiting for a potential call today (they're calling today bc of the long wknd). Does anyone know around what time the calls are made? I'm a bit nervous bc my cell phone battery was out this morning.

Thanks,

Lulesy

Originally Posted by Parabola

I interviewed on 11/30 and it was a great experience. What stood out to me the most was not all of the cool stuff about the school, but how the staff seemed so enthusiastic about their job and the school. My interview was 45 mins long and it was only supposed to be 30. I think that they ask different questions for different people interviewing. I answered at least 20 questions. Some of them were ethical questions and some of them were about getting to know your personal life. They say that it is standardized, but I think they have different eval forms with different questions on them. Their really not questions that you could prepare yourself for. For example, "What is your motto?", "What are you striving to be in life?" Though they were not supposed to give oral feedback on the questions, the 3 interviewers did give facial expressions.

I got a call from the Dean today and I was accepted! I am definitely going to this school! Yakima is beautiful and the cost of living is low. I cant wait to start.

I interviewed on the 15th. They didn't want to give out any numbers but said the class was 60% full. That means they have 42 out of 70 seats filled.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OLYWA
To all those that interviewed Friday the 15th...and those prior also...

What statistics were given in your presentation about number of accepted slots vs. open seats?

I interviewed about a month ago and we were told that as of our interview they'd offered about 50 admissions and 18 had put down a seat deposit...anyone have an update to these numbers?

OLYWA,

Have you called to check on the status of the waitlist?? If not, it may not hurt to check in PNWU. You could probably even ask about how many seats have been filled, how likely it will be that you will be accepted etc. etc.. Just a thought.

Hey thanks Lules...just the info I was looking for...