Anyone interviewing at U. of Washington?

[oscar505]

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I was wondering if anyone has interviewed at U. Washington (seattle) and if they can give any feedback. I am scheduled to intervew there on March 9 as an out-of-state applicant. I am actually amazed I got an intervew there because my MCATS and GPA are nothing spectacular.

Oscar Penate

 

[Medigirl]

Congrats on getting an interview. That's tough for out-of-staters at UW. My roommate interviewed there (we went to undergrad. at UW), and I have a friend on the admissions committee, so i can tell you what they have told me. The interview is panel-style: three interviewers asking you questions. My ADCOM friend said it is VERY important to make eye contact with EACH interviewer during your responses even if one is not addressing you at the moment. Typically, one interviewer may play "devil's advocate" to your responses, so be prepared to defend your points.

I applied to UW but never had a prayer of getting an interview (out-of-stater as well). If you need any additional info on Seattle, let me know!

[This message has been edited by Medigirl (edited 02-17-2001).]

 

[Medigirl]

p.s. check out www.interviewfeedback.com. Click on "Statistics" then scroll down to UW, click on it, and there are tons of entries about the interview experience there.

 

[oscar505]

Hey Medi girl: Thanks for your input. I have checked the website and found it pretty useful. It will be crucial on preparing for the interview. I know it's difficult to get an interview at U Wash for out-of-state
applicants. That's why I am even more surprised. Maybe my stories of living in El Salvador during my childhood and teenage years did the trick.
Thanks again and keep in touch.

 

[hershey]

Oscar505: I interviewed at U of W in December of 1999. As said before, the interview is set up as a 3 member panel, with one (in my case the most important interviewer)definitely playing devil's advocate. Basically, one interviewer stuck to asking me what if type questions. Setting me in some senario and seeing what I'd do in that situation. The other interviewer would ask generally about the stuff on my application. Things about my volunteer experiences and such. The last one (devil's advocate) asked about our health care system and compare it to another system like Canada's or Germany's and stuff like that. Hint: they generally want to see a national heath care system formed - that's the impression I got. Once I realized what was going on, because he was very obvious to his mission, I was able to relax a bit and defend myself. It was quite an experience for me. I was the first interview I went to. (By the way, I didn't get in). Hope this helps!

 

[NBIO]

As I understand it the University of Washington has a little different interviewing technique from most schools. There is a three person interview panel, but they interview everyone differently--so they'll be really agressive with some people and really friendly and nice to others--it just depends on who interviews you and what kind of a mood they are in. One of the interviewers will have access to your grades and scores and might have your personal statement, but the other two interviewers won't.
A couple of things to know for sure: They tend to ask people about current-event topics and/or their local govornment (know your senators and govornors etc.--I'm totally serious about this.
Also they apparently do this cookie thing where their is a plate of cookies on the table and they offer you one. As I understand it, the cookies are for the interviewers themselves and they offer you one to be polite.
Hope this helps!
(I'm an undergrad at the UW and an officer of the pre-medical society. If you'de like and you have time, I can ask a couple of people who have interviewed their to give you some more tips, you can e-mail me.)

Jess

 

[adamwait]

congrats on your interview! I hear its next to impossible for out-of-staters to get an interview at UW. I whish you the best of luck!