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Those of you who interviewed at Finch, can you please tell me what it's like since interviewfeedback is down? Is it laid back? What kind of questions are asked? Thanks and good luck!
Finch Interview
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Hi I just interviewed there yesterday. i really liked it there, the school is beautiful and the interviews were laid back for me. The only downside is the lack of communication between the interviewees and everyone else. No talks from a dean or anything, and it was very hard to find students to talk to. I stayed with a host and they were really friendly and down to earth, so I recommend that! I stayed in the Woodlands community, which is where a lot of med students live and is a 2 minute walk to campus.
OK, so you get there by 9:30, you sign in at the front desk and the admissions office is down the hall on your left (there's a restrrom there too btw, since they are hard to find there!). You give the lady your name, and she'll give you some papers and a little book about CMS. A few minutes later she'll walk you down to the room by the cafeteria so the interviewees can watch a cheesy video for 10 minutes. There's coffee and fruit and pastries there too. Then you will have 2 interviews, open file, one on one. I had two physicians-one recently retired, the other VERY young and hot :wink: ! They will come get you and bring you back after, Then you will have a tour of the school (which I think is gorgeous). They are building a new section which will have a new lecture hall and more importantly, a new gym! (The one there now sux, but the woodlands has one also). Then you leave. Mine was over at 1:10. Students get out of class at 2, so I talked to some then--everyone was very friendly. Btw, they will give you last week's match list, which rocked the house.
It baffles me why some people get such a negative impression of the school. I would be really happy to go there (and I'm not just saying this because I have no acceptances yet :wink: ). North Chicago is safe, there are restaurants, movies, a HUGE outlet mall, etc, so it's not completely boring. Chicago is 45 minutes away if there is no traffic. You live in Chicago 3rd and 4th year, so that's cool too.
The interviewers asked me stuff straight from my file and they were very easy to talk to. They didn't ecevn ask why I want to be a doctor, no ethics, and no health care stuff. Just all about you! You will get the evaluation sheet in the morning and give it to your interviewers, so you will see how they rate you---1-4 based mostly on personality traits, and there's also a section for "star" applicants that they can check.
My hosts got in the week before school started, so anything's possible. Late interviews mean nothing
Good luck! PM me with any more questions!
OK, so you get there by 9:30, you sign in at the front desk and the admissions office is down the hall on your left (there's a restrrom there too btw, since they are hard to find there!). You give the lady your name, and she'll give you some papers and a little book about CMS. A few minutes later she'll walk you down to the room by the cafeteria so the interviewees can watch a cheesy video for 10 minutes. There's coffee and fruit and pastries there too. Then you will have 2 interviews, open file, one on one. I had two physicians-one recently retired, the other VERY young and hot :wink: ! They will come get you and bring you back after, Then you will have a tour of the school (which I think is gorgeous). They are building a new section which will have a new lecture hall and more importantly, a new gym! (The one there now sux, but the woodlands has one also). Then you leave. Mine was over at 1:10. Students get out of class at 2, so I talked to some then--everyone was very friendly. Btw, they will give you last week's match list, which rocked the house.
It baffles me why some people get such a negative impression of the school. I would be really happy to go there (and I'm not just saying this because I have no acceptances yet :wink: ). North Chicago is safe, there are restaurants, movies, a HUGE outlet mall, etc, so it's not completely boring. Chicago is 45 minutes away if there is no traffic. You live in Chicago 3rd and 4th year, so that's cool too.
The interviewers asked me stuff straight from my file and they were very easy to talk to. They didn't ecevn ask why I want to be a doctor, no ethics, and no health care stuff. Just all about you! You will get the evaluation sheet in the morning and give it to your interviewers, so you will see how they rate you---1-4 based mostly on personality traits, and there's also a section for "star" applicants that they can check.
My hosts got in the week before school started, so anything's possible. Late interviews mean nothing
Good luck! PM me with any more questions!
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I was there last week, and I got a decidedly different impression than Foxy. The school to me seemed to be out in the middle of NOWHERE and traffic in Chicago itself ws BAD. Also, I had to be there at 8:30 am, and after signing in at security, we just sat in the lobby until someone from admissions came and took us to the "waiting room". The interview day went as Foxy said though. I felt that the tour left something to be desired - we didn't get to see any of the teaching labs and only barely saw the lecture hall.
Also, about the new building - its going to be for the Podiatry school that they're going to be moving out there from downtown Chicago. At least that's what they told us.
Also, while I'm sure the education there is just fine, the curriculum seems to be rather old-fashioned. No doctor/patient / intro to clinical medicine class until 2nd year.
Overall, I guess I wasn't particularly impressed with the place.
Feel free to PM with more questions.
Also, about the new building - its going to be for the Podiatry school that they're going to be moving out there from downtown Chicago. At least that's what they told us.
Also, while I'm sure the education there is just fine, the curriculum seems to be rather old-fashioned. No doctor/patient / intro to clinical medicine class until 2nd year.
Overall, I guess I wasn't particularly impressed with the place.
Feel free to PM with more questions.
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I replied and SDN went down while I hit add post, so it disappeared.
Anyway, ICM starts winter of the first year. My student host shadows a doctor as a first year, so she sees lots of patients.
I visited Vermont the day before Finch, so I did a lot of subconcious (sp?) comparing between the two. At UVM, they go to class everyday from 8-4 (more or less) and have the basic sciences squuezed into a year and a half. Everyone seemed pretty stressed with the workload. Vermont is not diverse enough for me and is really in the middle of nowhere.
Then I got to Finch, where Chicago is less than an hour away and the patient population is extremely diverse (yes, even in North Chicago). They go to class from 12-4 or 8-12, so students have free time to pursue volunteering, shadowing, ECs, sports, etc. My student host shadows a doctor, and that will also come in handy later on for residency LORs.
Anyway, aren't a lot of schools in the middle of nowhere? At least it's safe to walk aroungd there late at night. A lot of their facilities are open 24 hours a day too.
Unfortunately, I think their interview day turns people off. If you don't stay with a student host and ask a lot of questions, you probably won't get to see the good points of CMS. If I end up going there, I'll change the interview day myself!
Anyway, ICM starts winter of the first year. My student host shadows a doctor as a first year, so she sees lots of patients.
I visited Vermont the day before Finch, so I did a lot of subconcious (sp?) comparing between the two. At UVM, they go to class everyday from 8-4 (more or less) and have the basic sciences squuezed into a year and a half. Everyone seemed pretty stressed with the workload. Vermont is not diverse enough for me and is really in the middle of nowhere.
Then I got to Finch, where Chicago is less than an hour away and the patient population is extremely diverse (yes, even in North Chicago). They go to class from 12-4 or 8-12, so students have free time to pursue volunteering, shadowing, ECs, sports, etc. My student host shadows a doctor, and that will also come in handy later on for residency LORs.
Anyway, aren't a lot of schools in the middle of nowhere? At least it's safe to walk aroungd there late at night. A lot of their facilities are open 24 hours a day too.
Unfortunately, I think their interview day turns people off. If you don't stay with a student host and ask a lot of questions, you probably won't get to see the good points of CMS. If I end up going there, I'll change the interview day myself!
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Thanks Dra. Foxy and Monkeyrunner! I just had my interview this morning and it went really well. The people there are so friendly! I loved the school and I know that I would be happy there. I dont know why so many people have such a bad impression of CMS. I was very impressed with their curriculum, match list, and clinical exposure. And by the way, their lounge is really nice!!! :wink: Their classrooms and auditorium reminded me on northwestern's so I know CMS would feel like home.
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Thanks Dra. Foxy and Monkeyrunner! I just had my interview this morning and it went really well. The people there are so friendly, and the interviewers are not out there to get you! I loved the school and I know that I would be happy there. I dont know why so many people have such a bad impression of CMS. I was very impressed with their curriculum, match list, and clinical exposure. And by the way, their lounge is really nice!!! :wink: Their classrooms and auditorium reminded me of northwestern's so I know CMS would feel like home.
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•
Anyway, aren't a lot of schools in the middle of nowhere? At least it's safe to walk aroungd there late at night. A lot of their facilities are open 24 hours a day too.
Unfortunately, I think their interview day turns people off. If you don't stay with a student host and ask a lot of questions, you probably won't get to see the good points of CMS. If I end up going there, I'll change the interview day myself! •••••Well, I'd argue that most schools are affiliated with major universities, which tend to be in big cities. Or the school is near its teaching hospital, and teaching hospitals are almost always in big cities (with the notable exception of Penn State and probably some others that I can't think of right now). Finch is neither.
I also found it interesting that a full HALF of the class every year is from California, and if you look at their match list, quite a few of these people go right back to CA for residency. Additionally, it also interested me (and concerned me somewhat) to note that there is a 2:1 male:female ratio of the students.
•
Anyway, aren't a lot of schools in the middle of nowhere? At least it's safe to walk aroungd there late at night. A lot of their facilities are open 24 hours a day too.
Unfortunately, I think their interview day turns people off. If you don't stay with a student host and ask a lot of questions, you probably won't get to see the good points of CMS. If I end up going there, I'll change the interview day myself!
•••••Well, I'd argue that most schools are affiliated with major universities, which tend to be in big cities. Or the school is near its teaching hospital, and teaching hospitals are almost always in big cities (with the notable exception of Penn State and probably some others that I can't think of right now). Finch is neither.I also found it interesting that a full HALF of the class every year is from California, and if you look at their match list, quite a few of these people go right back to CA for residency. Additionally, it also interested me (and concerned me somewhat) to note that there is a 2:1 male:female ratio of the students.
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Doctora Foxy,
I wanted to let you know that your reply has helped me to have better perception of chicago med.
When I went to Chicago Med for an interview, I did not like the school. I had gone to interviews at New York Med, Vermont few weeks earlier and compare to those schools, chicago med looked and felt like a "second-class" school. I don't know how to explain this feeling, I think for one, being that I went to UCLA for undergrad, I think I got very used to beautiful buildings, nice surroundings, city life, etc. Of course, I don't think the way the school physically looks affects the education there, but it didn't help that the school was just one red brick building.
However, now that I have to decide between Penn state and Chicago (I'm waitlisted at Vermont and New york med) I think even though Penn state seems to offer great experience at its hospital and the surrounding is "nicer", I will choose Chicago med. I felt that penn state was way too "country" for me. But, because of the negative image I had about Chicago med, I was having hard time reasoning why I would attend chicago med. But your post made me realize how short class time, close proximity to the city, and diversity of the patient population makes the school much more compatible for me. And I would love to come back to CA for the residency, so good match-list results as mentioned (I wasn't aware) sounds good to me as well.
I, however, know that chicago med has a bad reputation. Will I regret later about choosing this school over penn state? I don't know...
I wanted to let you know that your reply has helped me to have better perception of chicago med.
When I went to Chicago Med for an interview, I did not like the school. I had gone to interviews at New York Med, Vermont few weeks earlier and compare to those schools, chicago med looked and felt like a "second-class" school. I don't know how to explain this feeling, I think for one, being that I went to UCLA for undergrad, I think I got very used to beautiful buildings, nice surroundings, city life, etc. Of course, I don't think the way the school physically looks affects the education there, but it didn't help that the school was just one red brick building.
However, now that I have to decide between Penn state and Chicago (I'm waitlisted at Vermont and New york med) I think even though Penn state seems to offer great experience at its hospital and the surrounding is "nicer", I will choose Chicago med. I felt that penn state was way too "country" for me. But, because of the negative image I had about Chicago med, I was having hard time reasoning why I would attend chicago med. But your post made me realize how short class time, close proximity to the city, and diversity of the patient population makes the school much more compatible for me. And I would love to come back to CA for the residency, so good match-list results as mentioned (I wasn't aware) sounds good to me as well.
I, however, know that chicago med has a bad reputation. Will I regret later about choosing this school over penn state? I don't know...
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Does anyone know the average waiting period to hear a response is post-interview? I know they said that we can hear till the day of orientation in July, but what is the "normal" wait? Thanks and good luck!
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NUgirl,
I was lucky and heard back in 1 week! Good luck!
I was lucky and heard back in 1 week! Good luck!
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I was there yesterday and the girl in the office told me I would hear in about two weeks (I hope that's a good sign!). In the morning, all she told us was that they meet once a month, and twice a month as orientation approaches.
Only the MS1 class has the 2:1 ratio of guys to girls. My student host (MS2) said her class was approximately equal. But hey! Bring on the men!
p.s. I think my impression of the school's location was affected the other schools I have interviewed at. UF is not in a big city (although the hospital probably has diverse cases). AT BU and GW, EVERYONE complains of the cost of living. Vermont is just not diverse enough for me (my interviewer called it "lilly white!!!!). So my impression of Finch is that it has the best of both worlds. Cheap housing first two years in a safe location, and then fun city life in a great city for 3rd and 4th years.
For those who interviewed prior to March 22, you should call and have them send you the match list if you are interested. It was pretty impressive regarding specialties.
TryingtoBecomeMD, I'm glad I could show you the goods at CMS! Hopefully you're not just going by what I say though!
BTW, CMS is having a med student formal this week. They had a talent show last week. I have a feeling they tend to have campus events since it is not easy to go to downtown Chicago very often. But everyone seemed really excited for the dance!
My undergrad is in a suburb of Boston, so I'm used to being a little secluded from the city. But hey, as long as I get to practice my Spanish in med school, I'll be happy! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />
Only the MS1 class has the 2:1 ratio of guys to girls. My student host (MS2) said her class was approximately equal. But hey! Bring on the men!
p.s. I think my impression of the school's location was affected the other schools I have interviewed at. UF is not in a big city (although the hospital probably has diverse cases). AT BU and GW, EVERYONE complains of the cost of living. Vermont is just not diverse enough for me (my interviewer called it "lilly white!!!!). So my impression of Finch is that it has the best of both worlds. Cheap housing first two years in a safe location, and then fun city life in a great city for 3rd and 4th years.
For those who interviewed prior to March 22, you should call and have them send you the match list if you are interested. It was pretty impressive regarding specialties.
TryingtoBecomeMD, I'm glad I could show you the goods at CMS!
Hopefully you're not just going by what I say though!BTW, CMS is having a med student formal this week. They had a talent show last week. I have a feeling they tend to have campus events since it is not easy to go to downtown Chicago very often. But everyone seemed really excited for the dance!
My undergrad is in a suburb of Boston, so I'm used to being a little secluded from the city. But hey, as long as I get to practice my Spanish in med school, I'll be happy! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />
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I know a lot about Finch, since I've friends there and I've visited the campus before. I will tell you what I know.
First, the good... Students there are diverse and the cost of living is cheap the first two years, as Dr. Foxy said. Students tend to do well on the boards, because the preclinical curriculum is as traditional as can be (i.e., didactic / lecture-based), and there is a strong incentive on the part of students to earn good board scores to compensate for Finch name. Students have chance to do clerkship at Cook County, which is a great training site. Although Finch has no dorms, the apartment complex next door practically functions as Finch's dorm and I personally like that kind of living arrangement.
Now, the bad... Despite Cook County, the overall clinical training is not exactly the best. Finch has no primary affiliated hospital per se, and most of the clerkship sites are not that great and are spread out. Clinical exposure and training in 1st and 2nd years are not as extensive as most other med schools, and so many Finch students don't feel as ready as they should heading into the rotations. I hear Finch really works their students with hefty workload, more than most other schools. Their tuition is among the highest.
This is just a summary of my friends' opinions and what I felt when I went to visit them. I'm sure others may feel differently. I do think the school has a chance to get better, and I know that the administration there is really trying different things to carve out a niche for the school. For example, Finch merged with a podiatry school, which should be a good thing.
If I get in to Finch, I'll of course be ecstatic to go there, since I have no acceptance yet. There're many good things about the school, like I mentioned. If I had other options, though, I'd have to think twice.
First, the good... Students there are diverse and the cost of living is cheap the first two years, as Dr. Foxy said. Students tend to do well on the boards, because the preclinical curriculum is as traditional as can be (i.e., didactic / lecture-based), and there is a strong incentive on the part of students to earn good board scores to compensate for Finch name. Students have chance to do clerkship at Cook County, which is a great training site. Although Finch has no dorms, the apartment complex next door practically functions as Finch's dorm and I personally like that kind of living arrangement.
Now, the bad... Despite Cook County, the overall clinical training is not exactly the best. Finch has no primary affiliated hospital per se, and most of the clerkship sites are not that great and are spread out. Clinical exposure and training in 1st and 2nd years are not as extensive as most other med schools, and so many Finch students don't feel as ready as they should heading into the rotations. I hear Finch really works their students with hefty workload, more than most other schools. Their tuition is among the highest.
This is just a summary of my friends' opinions and what I felt when I went to visit them. I'm sure others may feel differently. I do think the school has a chance to get better, and I know that the administration there is really trying different things to carve out a niche for the school. For example, Finch merged with a podiatry school, which should be a good thing.
If I get in to Finch, I'll of course be ecstatic to go there, since I have no acceptance yet. There're many good things about the school, like I mentioned. If I had other options, though, I'd have to think twice.
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If you have been accepted to Finch, how long did it take after your interview to hear?
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•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•Only the MS1 class has the 2:1 ratio of guys to girls. My student host (MS2) said her class was approximately equal. •••••OK, another red flag... what happens to 1/2 the men (1/3 of the class) between the M1 and M2 years. I'm sure the school doesn't admit another 75 women, so the only way to make that 2:1 ratio 1:1 would be for 1/2 the men to leave (drop out, since no school I've heard of will accept an M2 transfer).
Makes you wonder.....
Or is this just an anomaly of last year's MS1 class?
•Only the MS1 class has the 2:1 ratio of guys to girls. My student host (MS2) said her class was approximately equal. •••••OK, another red flag... what happens to 1/2 the men (1/3 of the class) between the M1 and M2 years. I'm sure the school doesn't admit another 75 women, so the only way to make that 2:1 ratio 1:1 would be for 1/2 the men to leave (drop out, since no school I've heard of will accept an M2 transfer).
Makes you wonder.....
Or is this just an anomaly of last year's MS1 class?
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huh? I'm confused. There's nop way to change the ratio of the class of 2005, it will always be 2:1 men to women. I think it was just a random thing that happened--I would assume they accepted a 1:1 ratio and it was just weird.
Maybe Finch is easy to get into and "better" schools accept more women than men as "minorities?" So the ladies went to another school and the men had no other option. Just an idea, but I really think it was just a fluke.
But like i said, bring on the men!
There are also affiliated professional schools at Finch, like the podiatric school and I think a PA school, so if you're worried about meeting women in the area, there might be more to choose from than you think.
Also, Finch has a large class. i think the MS1 class now has about 65 women. Compared to a school with a class of 100 (~50 women), you will have more women at Finch anyway. So it's not a big deal.
Maybe Finch is easy to get into and "better" schools accept more women than men as "minorities?" So the ladies went to another school and the men had no other option. Just an idea, but I really think it was just a fluke.
But like i said, bring on the men!
There are also affiliated professional schools at Finch, like the podiatric school and I think a PA school, so if you're worried about meeting women in the area, there might be more to choose from than you think.
Also, Finch has a large class. i think the MS1 class now has about 65 women. Compared to a school with a class of 100 (~50 women), you will have more women at Finch anyway. So it's not a big deal.
