2018-2019 Western Michigan University (Stryker)

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Space reserved for prompt.

Please post the essays or lack thereof (in addition to word or character counts) in this thread and tag one of the pre-allo mods (WedgeDawg, Ismet, Lucca, or gyngyn) so we can update the OP.


Good luck to everyone applying!

Interview Feedback: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
At the request of @AllYouNeedIsHope ...these are secondary topics from the 2017/2018 cycle.

1. Describe why you wish to enroll at WMed. You should describe any connection that you have to southwest Michigan.

2. Describe what you bring to the practice of medicine- your values, skills, talents, and life experiences- and how you add to the cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the medical profession.

P.S. While any and all things change, the process for this school was unique this past cycle, with more screening stages to the admissions process than I experienced elsewhere. One's primary and brief secondary applications are reviewed, with applicants of interest receiving a personality type test and subsequently a phone interview. A certain number (but not all) the applicants who make it to this point are extended an opportunity to interview in person on campus. Good luck to all applying, its an awesome place (fair disclosure on bias here, WMed is where I chose to matriculate)
 
Members don't see this ad :)
medschoolzombie said:
Prompts? Also this comes after they screen your primary right?
Click to expand...
Our supplemental application has three steps:
1. Verification & Essay Questions: Please verify your personal information including preferred name. Next, provide written responses to three essay questions. Each question has a 2000 character limit.

The preferred abbreviation of Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is 'WMed'.
Essay #1: Describe why you wish to enroll at WMed. You should describe any connection you have to southwest Michigan.

Essay #2: Describe what you bring to the practice of medicine - your values, skills, talents, and life experiences - and how you add to the cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the medical profession.

Essay #3: WMed Re-Applicants Only: Describe changes to your application from previous cycles - include academics, experiences, and/or personal attributes.

2. Application Fee: We require a supplemental application processing fee of $100.00. If you received the AAMC fee waiver, your supplemental fee will be waived as well.

3. Online Assessment: Upon completion of the supplemental essays, you will receive a separate email with instructions and a link to complete this assessment.

Your application cannot move through our admissions process until this assessment is completed.

WMed utilizes rolling admission and we encourage applicants to complete the next steps as soon as possible (preferably within 10 days).
 
medschoolzombie said:
Prompts? Also this comes after they screen your primary right?
Click to expand...
I do believe someone physically looks at your app before offering the secondary.. just surprised no one else is posting about it haha, i'm not that high of stats
 
sarahbean67 said:
I do believe someone physically looks at your app before offering the secondary.. just surprised no one else is posting about it haha, i'm not that high of stats
Click to expand...

Per the MSAR the primary is screened only by "Applicants who meet minimum academic criteria: GPA greater or equal to 3.00/4.00, and MCAT greater than or equal to the 40th percentile.".
 
Any current students here have any info they can share about the school?
 
Members don't see this ad :)
UnderRepresentedMajority said:
What exactly does Western offer to have a 515 MCAT average for such a new school? I'm so confused.
Click to expand...
My guess is it’s because it’s new. Most of the newer schools take people with high scores the first few years in an effort to compete with more established schools.
 
Any verified OOS gets the secondary?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
TUforMD said:
Things you enjoy about the school and things that you believe make the school stand out vs other med schools
Click to expand...

Things I have enjoyed (I'm an M4):
  • Small atmosphere -- everyone knows everyone, there is no hiding here. Helpful during the dark days of M1 and especially M2.
  • Secondary to the small atmosphere, there's a lot of interaction with faculty and attendings. Insanely important come residency application season for very personalized letters of recommendation.
  • The residency programs here are non-malignant. I have never had a straight up bad/unprofessional encounter with a resident.
  • Kalamazoo
    • Insanely low cost of living. Rent is cheap, groceries are cheap.
    • Big enough to offer some things to do, not so big that you're distracted/feel like you're missing out on much during M2-M3.
    • Located halfway between Chicago and Detroit, 1 hour south of Grand Rapids -- that's a lot of flexibility for airfare and travel.
    • Tons of breweries and local coffee roasters
  • Overall, administration has been responsive to the mandatory feedback we give. M2s/M3s, chime in, but I know the Co2018 and my class certainly had a lot of success in making changes.
  • Facilities -- the school is gorgeous, there's no denying that. Technology everywhere. Local artwork. It's a good looking place.
  • Early clinical experience -- we start rotating through clinics very early during M1.
  • Medical First Responder training right off the bat.
  • Early use of Sim center (initially for MFR training, then for Professions of Medicine: Clinical Skills).
 
BertMacklin said:
Things I have enjoyed (I'm an M4):
  • Small atmosphere -- everyone knows everyone, there is no hiding here. Helpful during the dark days of M1 and especially M2.
  • Secondary to the small atmosphere, there's a lot of interaction with faculty and attendings. Insanely important come residency application season for very personalized letters of recommendation.
  • The residency programs here are non-malignant. I have never had a straight up bad/unprofessional encounter with a resident.
  • Kalamazoo
    • Insanely low cost of living. Rent is cheap, groceries are cheap.
    • Big enough to offer some things to do, not so big that you're distracted/feel like you're missing out on much during M2-M3.
    • Located halfway between Chicago and Detroit, 1 hour south of Grand Rapids -- that's a lot of flexibility for airfare and travel.
    • Tons of breweries and local coffee roasters
  • Overall, administration has been responsive to the mandatory feedback we give. M2s/M3s, chime in, but I know the Co2018 and my class certainly had a lot of success in making changes.
  • Facilities -- the school is gorgeous, there's no denying that. Technology everywhere. Local artwork. It's a good looking place.
  • Early clinical experience -- we start rotating through clinics very early during M1.
  • Medical First Responder training right off the bat.
  • Early use of Sim center (initially for MFR training, then for Professions of Medicine: Clinical Skills).
Click to expand...

I'm an M2 and I ditto everything said here. Additionally, I really like how the curriculum is structured. Having a week off every 5-6 weeks is wonderful, as you get to decompress or participate in electives. There are many excellent teachers and physicians here who take teaching very seriously and make concepts clear and fun to learn. I feel like I will be very prepared for clerkships, Step 1, and residency. Overall a great program with lots to offer.
 
BertMacklin said:
Things I have enjoyed (I'm an M4):
  • Small atmosphere -- everyone knows everyone, there is no hiding here. Helpful during the dark days of M1 and especially M2.
  • Secondary to the small atmosphere, there's a lot of interaction with faculty and attendings. Insanely important come residency application season for very personalized letters of recommendation.
  • The residency programs here are non-malignant. I have never had a straight up bad/unprofessional encounter with a resident.
  • Kalamazoo
    • Insanely low cost of living. Rent is cheap, groceries are cheap.
    • Big enough to offer some things to do, not so big that you're distracted/feel like you're missing out on much during M2-M3.
    • Located halfway between Chicago and Detroit, 1 hour south of Grand Rapids -- that's a lot of flexibility for airfare and travel.
    • Tons of breweries and local coffee roasters
  • Overall, administration has been responsive to the mandatory feedback we give. M2s/M3s, chime in, but I know the Co2018 and my class certainly had a lot of success in making changes.
  • Facilities -- the school is gorgeous, there's no denying that. Technology everywhere. Local artwork. It's a good looking place.
  • Early clinical experience -- we start rotating through clinics very early during M1.
  • Medical First Responder training right off the bat.
  • Early use of Sim center (initially for MFR training, then for Professions of Medicine: Clinical Skills).
Click to expand...

drv123 said:
I'm an M2 and I ditto everything said here. Additionally, I really like how the curriculum is structured. Having a week off every 5-6 weeks is wonderful, as you get to decompress or participate in electives. There are many excellent teachers and physicians here who take teaching very seriously and make concepts clear and fun to learn. I feel like I will be very prepared for clerkships, Step 1, and residency. Overall a great program with lots to offer.
Click to expand...

M2 here and totally wanna echo the same sentiments! i've also posted in the previous cycle's forum (the one finishing up rn) so there's a few more details there, but overalI I think what these things all together results in is a really warm and almost family-like culture and environment. The class size being so small and everyone in Kalamazoo being so friendly will blow you away. Any events and social gathering and also academic stuff like notes or stuff like that, is always shared amongst everyone. Student clubs orgs are always popping up and we're doing so many new things and have even bigger plans that the school has totally jumped into and supports! Everyone looks out for everyone else and it really nurtures that "we're all here together and we'll make it out together" feeling. Everyone's considerate and respectful of each and it really shows you why the screening process is so thorough and effective. I love it, so if that's the sorta thing you're looking for, we totally welcome you! 🙂
 
I just took the personality test. Be careful because if you hit "Next" as the question expires, it can skip the next question. There is no timer so you just need to wait for each question to expire unless you're done immediately and want to move on. This happened a few times so 2-3 of my questions were blank. Do you think this is worth emailing them about?
 
djg6228 said:
M2 here and totally wanna echo the same sentiments! i've also posted in the previous cycle's forum (the one finishing up rn) so there's a few more details there, but overalI I think what these things all together results in is a really warm and almost family-like culture and environment. The class size being so small and everyone in Kalamazoo being so friendly will blow you away. Any events and social gathering and also academic stuff like notes or stuff like that, is always shared amongst everyone. Student clubs orgs are always popping up and we're doing so many new things and have even bigger plans that the school has totally jumped into and supports! Everyone looks out for everyone else and it really nurtures that "we're all here together and we'll make it out together" feeling. Everyone's considerate and respectful of each and it really shows you why the screening process is so thorough and effective. I love it, so if that's the sorta thing you're looking for, we totally welcome you! 🙂
Click to expand...

As someone who is headed up there to matriculate next week...that is really great to hear!! That was the feeling that I got in Kalamazoo as well, that the school had managed to find that elusive balance in being big enough to have top notch clinical facilities and instructors, yet small enough to keep things personable. I'll try to update sdn folks as my M1 experience unfolds.
 
that kid said:
It says "select applicants" so I'd assume not.
Click to expand...

Really? From their email I just assumed that anyone who submitted both the secondary and the questions got sent to the experience review.
 
maggracers said:
Really? From their email I just assumed that anyone who submitted both the secondary and the questions got sent to the experience review.
Click to expand...
I got the email too, and it didn't really specify. It just said something along the lines of your application has now moved into the experiences review phase and no action is required on your part.
 
Am I missing something on the portal? I log in and it is just a white screen with some logos but with nothing clickable. Anyone else solve this? Thanks everyone you're doing great!
 
meakmouse said:
I just took the personality test. Be careful because if you hit "Next" as the question expires, it can skip the next question. There is no timer so you just need to wait for each question to expire unless you're done immediately and want to move on. This happened a few times so 2-3 of my questions were blank. Do you think this is worth emailing them about?
Click to expand...

I emailed them about the same issue and they said that they understand applicants have trouble with the assessment and not to worry about it, won't negatively impact application.
 
fatjonahhill said:
I emailed them about the same issue and they said that they understand applicants have trouble with the assessment and not to worry about it, won't negatively impact application.
Click to expand...

This also happened to me, from your email did it seem like they made a note of it in your file or that the general sentiment is not to sweat it?
 
Apowis1 said:
Am I missing something on the portal? I log in and it is just a white screen with some logos but with nothing clickable. Anyone else solve this? Thanks everyone you're doing great!
Click to expand...
The top left says "admissions", there is where you can click to see your status. Their website is very basic.
 
Would any current WMed students be able to comment on what kinds of opportunities there are for med student research here?
 
Does anyone else have two separate status updates for "Experiences Review Started"? My portal says they started reviewing my experiences once at 2:24 pm and then again at 2:41 pm.
 
SeltzerMFwater said:
Does anyone else have two separate status updates for "Experiences Review Started"? My portal says they started reviewing my experiences once at 2:24 pm and then again at 2:41 pm.
Click to expand...
+1
Not sure why, but I have two statuses for each step lol
 
SeltzerMFwater said:
Does anyone else have two separate status updates for "Experiences Review Started"? My portal says they started reviewing my experiences once at 2:24 pm and then again at 2:41 pm.
Click to expand...

How long after submission did you get this status? I just have 2 copies each of amcas received/app submitted
 
how do u guys check the status of your application, my status is only saying AMCAS received and fee paid....I did get the experience email as well
 
So in the question about having a connection to south west Michigan, can I write I went to UofM? I know it's south east but I met a bunch of people from south west and I was exposed to southern Michigan communities. I'm not sure if this is too much of a reach but what do you guys think?
 
I moved on to phone interview consideration today. I had three different experience review started on my applicant status with one yesterday (day before I moved on).
 
sarahbean67 said:
I moved on to phone interview consideration today. I had three different experience review started on my applicant status with one yesterday (day before I moved on).
Click to expand...
Did you get an email notification about any of them?
 
sarahbean67 said:
No, only for the first one. The rest just showed up on the status without any updates
Click to expand...
How are you checking your status? I always get redirected to login to the alumni page and then click on the admissions tab but I only have 2 lines each of " AMCAS Received and Fee Paid & Essays Completed". Is that the same thing
 
medschoolzombie said:
How are you checking your status? I always get redirected to login to the alumni page and then click on the admissions tab but I only have 2 lines each of " AMCAS Received and Fee Paid & Essays Completed". Is that the same thing
Click to expand...
Yes
 

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