2015-2016 Western Michigan University Homer Stryker Application Thread

Applying to Med School? Get In Or Your Money Back
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
taylorloche said:
Any idea what day people who interviewed in early December will hear back? I was kind of expecting it to be today based on when past groups heard back, but nothing so far! :(
Click to expand...
Ms. Shelton mentioned before Christmas (I would say by Wednesday). However, I believe she said that if a decision wasn't made, that they would inform us when we might here back.
Members don't see this ad.
 
Waitlisted. :/ Although I'm definitely happy to know my application will still be re-evaluated at future meetings, does anyone actually get rejected post-interview?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
Members don't see this ad :)
Was also accepted this morning. Interviewed 12/4
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users
Got the call just now! Accepted!!!!! Was waitlisted on 12/9. Interviewed 11/20
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users
Just got my phone call this morning. Interviewed 12/11, so people should hear back soon. Good luck!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Looks like Santa came a little early this year for me. Got the call late this morning. Accepted with small merit scholarship!! Interviewed on 12/11.

This is my first acceptance for the cycle. What a wonderful way to start off the holidays.

Best of luck to those still awaiting news. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 users
Members don't see this ad :)
Merry Christmas to everyone! Congrats on all the new acceptances. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday with people that love them (and lots of good food!)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
bananafish94 said:
Has anyone been rejected post-phone interview but pre-real interview?
Click to expand...

Yep, and I'm hoping this is a good sign for us who had a phone interview a long time ago and haven't been rejected yet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Speak of the devil! Interview just now. There are weekly interview days beginning in mid January. Thank you based Homer Stryker.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users
II !! Stats in MD Apps =) Telephone interview complete 9/21

SO EXCITED my kid brother goes there for undergrad!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
I know this has been asked before, but I don't believe it was ever answered (sorry if it was!). Does anyone know approximately how many people are accepted off the waitlist?
 
taylorloche said:
I know this has been asked before, but I don't believe it was ever answered (sorry if it was!). Does anyone know approximately how many people are accepted off the waitlist?
Click to expand...

Many. From what I've heard a good portion of the matriculating classes in the past were from the waitlist.
 
star.buck said:
Many. From what I've heard a good portion of the matriculating classes in the past were from the waitlist.
Click to expand...

See previous posts for a better explanation of how the waitlist works at WMed, but...

The waitlist is sort of poorly named, it's more like the "being considered at every adcom list." Some people are accepted from that pool of people being considered immediately, some people a week or 2 weeks after interviewing, and some people months after interviewing. In essence, everybody spends some time on the waitlist - but many people never know that because they've been accepted right away off the pool of "applicants under consideration."

So don't panic if you get "waitlisted," that just means they're continuing to consider you alongside everyone else interviewing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Does anyone know what your application number is? Is it the same number as the one you use to log in, sign up for interviews... etc? I don't see my AAMC number any where on my WMed app or website... trying to figure out what number the school uses to identify me.
 
star.buck said:
Does anyone know what your application number is? Is it the same number as the one you use to log in, sign up for interviews... etc? I don't see my AAMC number any where on my WMed app or website... trying to figure out what number the school uses to identify me.
Click to expand...
It's the ID you log in as. : D
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I'm going to ask a potentially stupid question... where do you go on interview day? Is there only one WMed building with one main entrance? That's what it looked like on google maps, but just wanted to be sure. I didn't see a particular address that we should go to listed in the interview confirmation email...
 
stayingpositive2014 said:
I'm going to ask a potentially stupid question... where do you go on interview day? Is there only one WMed building with one main entrance? That's what it looked like on google maps, but just wanted to be sure. I didn't see a particular address that we should go to listed in the interview confirmation email...
Click to expand...
Yup! Though make sure you're going to the med school building and not the university building to the left of it. It's hard to miss the cake-looking building.
 
stayingpositive2014 said:
I'm going to ask a potentially stupid question... where do you go on interview day? Is there only one WMed building with one main entrance? That's what it looked like on google maps, but just wanted to be sure. I didn't see a particular address that we should go to listed in the interview confirmation email...
Click to expand...

Here is where you want to go. Can't miss the entrance, it's directly across from an Alamo Drafthouse.
 
tellme_areyoufree said:
Here is where you want to go. Can't miss the entrance, it's directly across from an Alamo Drafthouse.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Across from the drafthouse?? That could end up being the death of me if I go here...

Also, does anyone know how long each interview is? Do you interview with faculty or students? or both?
 
stayingpositive2014 said:
Thanks! Across from the drafthouse?? That could end up being the death of me if I go here...

Also, does anyone know how long each interview is? Do you interview with faculty or students? or both?
Click to expand...

There 2 structured interviews, with people from the community or the medical school (they don't know your app), they are 15 mins each (if I remember right), and one one-on-on interview with a faculty who knows your app, mine lasted about 30 mins. Count on the day lasting from 9:30 til about 3:30. They serve a very nice lunch, and go over what the school has to offer nicely.

(p.s. The Alamo Drafthouse is actually a movie theater, that serves beer... the good beer is a few blocks away at Bells, Arcadia, or Shakespeare's). ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
wmed.jpg

Entrance on the right...
 
Is the acceptance form at Western the same as other schools? For some reason their wording makes me feel like it is more permenant, but you're just holding a spot correct?

Thanks!
 
So do you think they are still giving out phone interviews? My experience review was completed 8/11 and nothing but silence since. Is there anyone else in this position? They have sent out pre-phone interview rejections correct?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
easty04 said:
Is the acceptance form at Western the same as other schools? For some reason their wording makes me feel like it is more permenant, but you're just holding a spot correct?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

For med schools across the US, you can hold as many acceptances as you want until the date in May set by the AAMC (the day in May on which you have to let go of your multiple acceptances and hold only a single acceptance at a time). To the best of my knowledge, no US MD schools are excepted from that - including WMed.
 
Withdrew. Also does anybody else get weird vibes from schools that include "MD" in their names? Frank H Netter MD, Homer Stryker MD, etc. Might be a pet peeve but it just seems so strange...
 
navigator said:
Withdrew. Also does anybody else get weird vibes from schools that include "MD" in their names? Frank H Netter MD, Homer Stryker MD, etc. Might be a pet peeve but it just seems so strange...
Click to expand...

Doctor Stryker is a hometown hero. He and his family have done a lot for this community, including contributing millions to the building of the medical facilities and helping make this school a reality. I think it would be odd to include his name, but not the profession which is such a deep part of his legacy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users
navigator said:
Withdrew. Also does anybody else get weird vibes from schools that include "MD" in their names? Frank H Netter MD, Homer Stryker MD, etc. Might be a pet peeve but it just seems so strange...
Click to expand...
I have an old anatomy book by Netter. : O I don't think it's bad to have names of prominent doctors backing schools.
Better than having presidents' names... presidents that have very little to do with the medical professions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
navigator said:
Withdrew. Also does anybody else get weird vibes from schools that include "MD" in their names? Frank H Netter MD, Homer Stryker MD, etc. Might be a pet peeve but it just seems so strange...
Click to expand...
If you've ever worked in or volunteered in a hospital/OR you'd probably see Stryker equipment all over. It's one of the 3 biggest medical appliance companies in the US. So needless to say including Homer Stryker's name and profession makes a lot of sense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Holmwood said:
I have an old anatomy book by Netter. : O I don't think it's bad to have names of prominent doctors backing schools.
Better than having presidents' names... presidents that have very little to do with the medical professions.
Click to expand...
Bbroush said:
If you've ever worked in or volunteered in a hospital/OR you'd probably see Stryker equipment all over. It's one of the 3 biggest medical appliance companies in the US. So needless to say including Homer Stryker's name and profession makes a lot of sense.
Click to expand...

Exactly. +1+1
 
Make sure you know what your getting into with WMed's "innovative" curriculum...
 
Last edited:
CurrentWMedStudent said:
...
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that you're having difficulties. If you're worrying about passing step 1, keep in mind you won't be taking it until after 3rd year, at which point you will have acquired a broad range of skills (not just scientific knowledge, which is emphasized on step 1). Combining that knowledge with other skills (such as several that you mention above) allows for an overall better understanding of the material. I haven't seen the data myself, but apparently step 1 scores improve significantly as a result of this methodology. Hang in there and keep studying.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
CurrentWMedStudent said:
Before you apply to WMed stop and take a long hard look at their "innovative" curriculum. The shear quantity of useless mandatory events will burnout any eager aspiring physician. You are guaranteed at least FOUR HOURS A DAY of absolutely useless content whether it be mandatory medical Spanish, 'Explorations', Active Citizenship, Ethics, Clinical skills, MFR, ACLS, TBL, Introductory clinical experience, Professions of Medicine. True that all of these components have a place in medical education, but devoting on average 20 hours a week to them is absolutely ridiculous. Good luck passing step 1!
Click to expand...
Hearing about all of those actually makes me want to g to WMed even more =) I'm assuming (hopefully) that since the curriculum is new, they will be making adjustments in accordance with student feedback if the time commitments are too much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
CurrentWMedStudent said:
Before you apply to WMed stop and take a long hard look at their "innovative" curriculum. The shear quantity of useless mandatory events will burnout any eager aspiring physician. You are guaranteed at least FOUR HOURS A DAY of absolutely useless content whether it be mandatory medical Spanish, 'Explorations', Active Citizenship, Ethics, Clinical skills, MFR, ACLS, TBL, Introductory clinical experience, Professions of Medicine. True that all of these components have a place in medical education, but devoting on average 20 hours a week to them is absolutely ridiculous. Good luck passing step 1!
Click to expand...

I agree with CurrentWMedStudent, you should take a hard look at the curriculum. This is not the school for you if you look down on things like medical ethics, cultural competency, developing your clinical skills early (instead of being thrown into 3rd year with no support), getting early clinical exposure ("Introductory Clinical Experiences") and being involved in your community. If you're not a team player, this isn't the place for you.

Interestingly, the student government at WMed administers a yearly survey to the entire class to ask about tons of things, including these courses and these issues. Consistently, about 90+% of the class is really satisfied with everything and only a few people are really dissatisfied. That's a real experience for those dissatisfied people - maybe even they weren't a great fit for the school (I can't speak for them). Part of our admissions process weeds that out, but no process is perfect.

Again, I encourage you to take a really close look at WMed's curriculum. I hope those of you who do decide to come here will come because it's the right fit for you.

As always, a number of current students (including myself) read and comment on these forums. Feel free to ask specific questions, even about these issues. I won't dismiss "CurrentWMedStudent"'s real, lived experiences - but I will encourage you to ask yourself whether the things they're experiencing would be a negative for you or a positive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
tick_tock_tick_tock said:
Hearing about all of those actually makes me want to g to WMed even more =) I'm assuming (hopefully) that since the curriculum is new, they will be making adjustments in accordance with student feedback if the time commitments are too much.
Click to expand...

Some pretty massive adjustments have actually been made, including cutting some activities down by half. Additionally, in-person attendance at basic science lectures went from being mandatory to non-mandatory (a majority of students still attend them, but it's nice to have the flexibility some days). I've found the administration to be very responsive to student feedback, but I also see more of it (as a member of the student government).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

wysdoc
2022-2023 Western Michigan (Stryker)
8 9 10 11 12
Replies
593
Views
124K
popegreemIII
popegreemIII
PapaGuava
2021-2022 Western Michigan
11 12 13 14 15
Replies
746
Views
160K
TheHatMan
TheHatMan
wysdoc
2022-2023 Michigan
7 8 9 10 11
Replies
517
Views
165K
hopefully1234
hopefully1234
PapaGuava
2022-2023 Michigan State
9 10 11 12 13
Replies
647
Views
126K
Maybesomeday
M
chilly_md
2022-2023 Central Michigan
6 7 8 9 10
Replies
463
Views
98K
mar47
M
Top