Hey guys! I’m a current M3 at Creighton SOM, and I thought I would make a list of common questions people often have.
Is there a preference for students from a particular state?
- No. Creighton is a private school, so your state of residence doesn’t really factor into their admissions decisions.
Does X class count for Y requirement?
- If you have questions about whether you fulfill the course requirements, you should just call the admissions office. They are always happy to answer questions.
How is life in Omaha?
- Personally, I’ve loved Omaha. It’s just big enough to have plenty of things to do like bars, restaurants, clubs, concerts, sports, etc. The restaurant scene is particularly on point. But yet it’s still small enough to get from one end to the other in 20 minutes, which is a huge plus if you’re working in a clinic across town. Rent is very reasonable, around $500 per person in a 2BR downtown down to $300 per person in a house in midtown.
- The only cons most people talk about are the lack of outdoorsy things to do. It’s not a bike-friendly city, and there aren’t any mountains nearby. But there are a bunch of lakes, rivers, and nice places for camping. Plus, you can get from the center of downtown to the middle of nowhere in like 10 minutes, for all those people who crave a bit of country now and then.
- The weather is both good and bad. Winters are pretty cold, but there are random 60 degree days every few weeks through January and February, so there’s always a chance to get outside at some point. Fall and spring are beautiful and last for a full 3 months each (which was new to me, being from the Southwest). Summers are brutally hot and humid, but again the temperature dips down every couple of weeks, so you can get out on those days.
What kind of impact does Creighton’s religious affiliation have on their medical education?
- Creighton does not shy away from topics that might not be in line with the Jesuit tradition. We get complete and accurate lectures about reproductive health and contraception. However, Creighton facilities don’t perform certain procedures like abortions, vasectomies, artificial inseminations, etc. If you plan on being an OB and feel like this is an important part of your education, there are plenty of opportunities fourth year to do externships at other places.
- There are a couple of times when the Catholic affiliation comes to the surface. We had one lecture in Ethics class about the Jesuits’ position on various topics, but they were presented as one viewpoint among many.
- The biggest impact Creighton’s Jesuit affiliation has is the underlying attitude that runs through our entire education. Creighton emphasizes service to those in need, respect for each patient and student, and nurturing compassion in their future doctors. Our classes have a lot of emphasis on the social barriers to healthcare and how we can address them.
How are the interviews?
- Structure: two 30-minute interviews, one with a faculty and one with a student. The interviewers have access to anything you submitted to Creighton, including your AMCAS, but they may or may not have read it already.
- The interviews are very laid-back. They just need to be able to fill out a form asking about different types of experiences you may have. They will not be trying to trick you. During our training for interviewing, we are specifically told not to grill you.
Will I get to see a diverse patient population?
- YES. Though you might think of the Midwest as white-washed, Omaha is actually pretty diverse. Omaha is a destination for many refugees around the world, and we have significant populations from the Sudan, southeast Asia, and central America. In my time in clinic this past year, maybe one in six patients was white. There are Spanish-speaking clinic placements available if you want to work on your Spanish. No matter which placements you get, you'll get to see a diverse patient population.
Should I be worried if I’m interviewing late in the interview season?
- No. There are plenty of people in my class now who interviewed in February and March. There are still spots available at that point.
What are my chances of getting in off the waitlist?
- So 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 were bad years for the waitlist. The classes got overfilled, and I’m pretty sure no one got in off the list. BUT in 2015-2016, a ton of people got in off the list (probably because they were trying to make sure the classes didn’t get overfilled again). I don’t know what strategy they’ll be going with this year, but of the ~8 ish people I personally knew on the waitlist last year all got in.
If you have any other questions, just message me! I love to help people out. I’m in and out of rotations all year, so I might take a bit to get back to you if I'm super busy.
