I have an interview on Friday at Northwestern. I was wondering how the group interviews were going (recently)?
Thank you.
Thank you.
How was interview at Northwestern on 2/18?
- Thread starter MDlawyer
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On a related note, I will be interviewing at NU this upcoming Tuesday (Feb. 25th).
Anyone else going to be there too?
Anyone else going to be there too?
Hey guys, I interviewed at Northwestern yesterday (2/18) and I thought the whole process wasn't bad at all. I was pretty freaked out beforehand about interviewing in front of a panel, but it really felt more like an informal discussion than being grilled by the interviewers. I think there were about 20 of us there, altogether, and everyone was scheduled for their panel interview either at 9am or 10:30am (mine was at 10:30). Most of the panels consisted of 4 interviewees and 3 interviewers (2 MD's and a 4th year). Either before or after your interview you'll meet for about 15 minutes with either Dean Brown or one of her assistant deans. This is a very relaxed meeting that's really just to verify your amcas info.
So some of the people I talked to liked the panel setup, but the majority didn't. It's tough to fully express your thoughts on an issue when there are 3 others there who also have to talk, but just try to be concise and prepared. They'll probably ask you "why medicine" and "why Northwestern" so you should have a good idea how you'll answer those questions, but also be prepared for discussing an ethical issue in medicine. One of the groups had to collaborate on a question that went something like: "If you were given x number of dollar to spend on some medically-related venture, how would you spend it."
Be prepared for a long day and try to get plenty of rest the night before. You're there at 7:30am and don't leave until 3:30pm. There were at least a couple of us who were having a hard time keeping our eyes open during the financial aid session at the end of the day. Dress for cold weather (though it wasn't too bad when I was there) and wear comfortable shoes.
Overall, I had a fantastic time at Northwestern and I'd love to go to school there. You'll find that the students are all incredibly enthusiastic about being there and I met a nubmer of students who turned down great schools to go there (Hopkins, UPenn, Cornell, etc.).
Good luck with your interviews, and PM me if you want any more info. And make sure that you act as CONFIDENT as possible during the panel interview (Dean Brown mentioned this in her intro). Act like you really belong there and you'll be fine.
So some of the people I talked to liked the panel setup, but the majority didn't. It's tough to fully express your thoughts on an issue when there are 3 others there who also have to talk, but just try to be concise and prepared. They'll probably ask you "why medicine" and "why Northwestern" so you should have a good idea how you'll answer those questions, but also be prepared for discussing an ethical issue in medicine. One of the groups had to collaborate on a question that went something like: "If you were given x number of dollar to spend on some medically-related venture, how would you spend it."
Be prepared for a long day and try to get plenty of rest the night before. You're there at 7:30am and don't leave until 3:30pm. There were at least a couple of us who were having a hard time keeping our eyes open during the financial aid session at the end of the day. Dress for cold weather (though it wasn't too bad when I was there) and wear comfortable shoes.
Overall, I had a fantastic time at Northwestern and I'd love to go to school there. You'll find that the students are all incredibly enthusiastic about being there and I met a nubmer of students who turned down great schools to go there (Hopkins, UPenn, Cornell, etc.).
Good luck with your interviews, and PM me if you want any more info. And make sure that you act as CONFIDENT as possible during the panel interview (Dean Brown mentioned this in her intro). Act like you really belong there and you'll be fine.
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I'm also interviewing on Tuesday Feb. 25 at Northwestern.
Cool a fellow SDNer will be with me.
When are you arriving to Chicago. Maybe we can hang out on monday.
Cool a fellow SDNer will be with me.
When are you arriving to Chicago. Maybe we can hang out on monday.
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PelicanMan-
Good to hear you will be at NU next Tuesday. My family is from the Chicagoland area so I will be here after I get back from my interview at Drexel this Friday. Are you staying downtown?
I am leaving for Philly tomorrow afternoon so I will be out of touch on SDN for a day or so but I will be back online Saturday.
PM me if you want.
Good to hear you will be at NU next Tuesday. My family is from the Chicagoland area so I will be here after I get back from my interview at Drexel this Friday. Are you staying downtown?
I am leaving for Philly tomorrow afternoon so I will be out of touch on SDN for a day or so but I will be back online Saturday.
PM me if you want.
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cipher is tight😉...everything he has said is correct. Just thought I'd offer my 2 pennies on the panel system. I hated it, especially on the 18th since we were 3 on 4 instead of 3on3. Perhaps my "hating it" had more to do with my panel though. The med student was pretty smug and emotionless for most of the interview(guess thats why shes going into rads), one of the doctors kept asking these hypothetical questions that had really long scenarios, and the third seemed normal.
Dean Brown is chill. She basically asks you if your file is correct.
My problem with tha panel interview was that I felt it really didn't allow for the interviewers to get to know us. You would answer a question but then have to end it soon so the panelist can ask the next person another question. Thus the whole interview seemed to lack continuity IMO. Unfortunately my panel never really asked the standards like why medicine or why northwestern. Instead they jumped straight into scenarios and what you would do in them. I also felt it was somewhat of a game of luck. They didn't ask everyone the same thing and I felt I got all these questions that I couldn't answer as well as some of the questions others had. (perhaps they felt the same way so its even). Like cipher said it seems to be all about confidence. My panel never really got any questions regarding why medicine or why we would be good fits for medicine or our qualities. Everything was hypothetical. (ie if you were stranded here and nw was closed what would you do? you have $2000.)
Our group question was to decide on the biggest healthcare issues of the century that will also be big issues in the future. It is definitely to your advantage to meet your group beforehand as you will feel more at ease with them during the interview.
I felt I tanked my interview. I found it difficult to settle in because I felt like I was always anticipating what the next question would be. During 1 on 1's its much more like a conversation than a grill and kill session so it feels a lot less stressful IMO. My friend who is an MS1 said that he got the impression that the panels didn't go over so well. When he stopped by the admissions office he felt that none of the interviewees were very chatty. He said that had people felt like they had done really really well on the panels then they probably would have been amped and very talkative.
I dunno. I must admit, out of all the places I've visited I really liked NW. It is definitely my first choice at the moment and I doubt it will be matched by other places I will visit. I hope the interview doesn't count as much as I think it may.
Good luck all!
Dean Brown is chill. She basically asks you if your file is correct.
My problem with tha panel interview was that I felt it really didn't allow for the interviewers to get to know us. You would answer a question but then have to end it soon so the panelist can ask the next person another question. Thus the whole interview seemed to lack continuity IMO. Unfortunately my panel never really asked the standards like why medicine or why northwestern. Instead they jumped straight into scenarios and what you would do in them. I also felt it was somewhat of a game of luck. They didn't ask everyone the same thing and I felt I got all these questions that I couldn't answer as well as some of the questions others had. (perhaps they felt the same way so its even). Like cipher said it seems to be all about confidence. My panel never really got any questions regarding why medicine or why we would be good fits for medicine or our qualities. Everything was hypothetical. (ie if you were stranded here and nw was closed what would you do? you have $2000.)
Our group question was to decide on the biggest healthcare issues of the century that will also be big issues in the future. It is definitely to your advantage to meet your group beforehand as you will feel more at ease with them during the interview.
I felt I tanked my interview. I found it difficult to settle in because I felt like I was always anticipating what the next question would be. During 1 on 1's its much more like a conversation than a grill and kill session so it feels a lot less stressful IMO. My friend who is an MS1 said that he got the impression that the panels didn't go over so well. When he stopped by the admissions office he felt that none of the interviewees were very chatty. He said that had people felt like they had done really really well on the panels then they probably would have been amped and very talkative.
I dunno. I must admit, out of all the places I've visited I really liked NW. It is definitely my first choice at the moment and I doubt it will be matched by other places I will visit. I hope the interview doesn't count as much as I think it may.
Good luck all!
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You know, I think I read that Good Monkey also felt like NW's interview wasn't the best and she was still accepted. You never know what the interviewers are looking for that particular day.
I feel like the interview went well and I was able to say everything I needed to, but my numbers are lower than the avg matriculant and I'm wondering if that's going to override my interview or 'soft criteria'. I woke up at 5am stressing about getting a waitlist or rejection. Ball of stress. ick.
😱
I feel like the interview went well and I was able to say everything I needed to, but my numbers are lower than the avg matriculant and I'm wondering if that's going to override my interview or 'soft criteria'. I woke up at 5am stressing about getting a waitlist or rejection. Ball of stress. ick.
😱
