I was complete in early August. How long does SLU interview? I am just gauging my chances. I am definitely competitive on the numbers side of thing. I am not sure how they view non-traditional students with unrelated previous degrees.
This is exactly what I was wondering! Just so I know when to give up hope. I couldn't find the info anywhere on the website.
I've been complete here since 9/29. Is it normal to not hear back for this long? I know this process is lengthy and tedious, but I'm just wondering what a "typical" turnaround time might be for SLU.
Relax! SLU extends interviews late into the season. When I applied, I got my interview invite at the end of December and interviewed in January (I think I was complete in like October). I was accepted beginning of March (the same day I was offered an II to another school) and flew out to Saint Louis like 2 weeks later to tour the school (I had a regional interview)... there were still a significant number of interviewees when I was there touring, and I know at least a couple of those people became my future classmates.
Anyone else have Dr. Cooper?
I interviewed 10/25, so now I'm hoping to hear (in the positive!) soon.
I found her really hard to read but she ended with "I think you'll make a great pediatrician (the area I told her I want to go into). You have a bright and perky personality."
That's hopeful right?
Dr. Cooper is notoriously difficult to read, and she often asks pointed questions that make interviewees nervous or will critique answers. She actually told me during mine "You should have said ___ up front. Do that in future interviews." She's just trying to be helpful. She often slips in comments like above at the end of the interview though. It's a good sign. She told me at the end of mine "Well, tell your little sister you did well" (we had discussed her during my interview and my family was traveling with me). She did similar things with my friends who interviewed with her.
Current students, would you be willing to provide some info on the neighborhoods where students live? I'd like to start browsing apartments and stuff at a leisurely pace 😀
Thanks!
Edit: Nvm, found housing site. Leaving question up here if any students have anything to add though!
The housing website should be helpful. Students live all over the place.
Many of the guys live in the few blocks surrounding the school at Front Door Properties (the Creamery, Teresa Lofts, etc.). They like how close it is to school, but prices tend to be a little steep for places owned by Front Door and I've heard it's a pain to get broken things fixed. Also, there are a lot of vehicle break-ins on the side streets around the school (so, park in secured lots).
A lot of students also live in the Tower Grove area (adjacent to Tower Grove park) and the Hill (the Italian neighborhood... great restaurants). They're close to campus, rents tend to be reasonable, and most of the places are houses that 2+ students live in.
Central West End is one of the other most popular places for students to live. It's close to a lot of restaurants, bars, Forest Park, etc. It tends to be more secure, but car break-ins are sometimes a problem in certain areas. Also, the rents tend to be more steep and the apartments tend to be smaller.
The area near SLU's undergrad is a mixed bag. The apartments tend to be really nice inside (two of my friends lived there and their apartments were gorgeous), but the area around them (especially more than a block away from the SLU undergrad) can get a little sketchy. They also tend to have a lot of undergrads around there. They're easy walking distance from two bars that med students frequent.
Lafayette Square is a cute little area not far from campus. Apartments tend to be really nice, but rent is steep.
A few students live downtown. They like it and have relatively nice apartments. They're near a lot of downtown night life, and rents vary a lot. Even though they have secured parking lots at most of the apartments, safety tends to be an issue in the area in general and parking for guests is a major pain. Also, the apartment walls tend to be thin, and noise is a problem (especially Friday and Saturday nights as well as when they have parades or festivals there).
Very few students live by the loop or university city. It tends to be too far away, and isn't the greatest area to live.
I live further out than most med students in the Crestwood/Kirkwood/Websters Grove area. I absolutely love it. It's a 15-20 min. drive to campus, but it's a very safe area (almost entirely families and older couples... think suburbia) with lots of stores and restaurants nearby. I live in a very large house with 2 other students (3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 living rooms, basement, large kitchen, dining room, etc.), and my rent is substantially cheaper than any of my friends pay for small apartments.
Most students won't start looking for housing until late March through July though; so, it may be difficult to plan yet if you're hoping for a roommate.
MD Class of 2016!!!!!
