Pacific Northwest University (PNWU-COM) Discussion Thread 2013 - 2014

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Dawn 12 said:
Thank you so much; very helpful.🙂
So, there are only 5 stations. Great. I am very excited and at the same time very nervous for my interview on 9th.
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I will also be interviewing Nov. 9th. Good luck! =]
 
I'm a current student at PNWU. I appreciated all the feedback on this site when I was in the application process, so here goes:

Regarding study space---w/the new class size increase there are fewer "private" study spaces, but people are generally respectful and there is plenty of public space. The coffee shops around here are in serious short supply (there are now two downtown), however I've never struggled to find study space at either.

Regarding 3rd/4th year rotations: admin has been changing how these sites are selected based on student feedback from each year. The most recent selection was based upon "geographic preference", as in, wherever you had family or significant relationships or where you grew up. If you chose to return to this region, you would in theory have higher priority than someone else who did not have the same ties. However, you can imagine an assortment of issues that arise with this method. Though it is true that most students walk away happy with where they end up and very very few are still dissatisfied after they actually go to their region. The current sites are available on the PNWU website. Will definitely be different next year considering that the 2017 class is 2x the size of 2016 and will need more sites to accommodate. All of the sites are in the NW, mostly rural. Obviously for 4th year, you are trying to do a lot of audition rotations, which you generally set up on your own.

A huge part of PNWU's mission is to attract students from the region who want to STAY in the region, ESPECIALLY in rural/underserved sites. Many of my classmates from other areas of the country had ties to the NW (had lived here previously, went to school here, had a sig other who lived here, etc). But this is not always the case either. The class has to get filled somehow.

And in the past, it seems as if a ton of students end up flowing off the waitlist, so don't get too antsy. Sometimes someone will get pulled the day that class is supposed to begin!

The school has its "quirks", but most of the profs are down to earth, approachable, caring people who try to accommodate the students. And you will learn your pharmacology backwards and forwards like no other (starting in 1st year).

Even with some predictable pitfalls, the school's trend on the boards has been solidly upward; they are not afraid to make good changes. Last year's class killed it on the boards.
 
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I'm also a current student at PNWU, and I can second what the person above stated

To add, if you end up interviewing at PNWU, be sure to interact with the current students as much as possible. If you see one of us around, we're all happy to answer any questions you might have, give some perspective, or just give you a second to relax during the interview.

Congrats and good luck!
 
Excited for the interview tomorrow! I've been hanging out with a few current students and they speak very highly of the school and faculty, and they say the interview is very fair. Can't wait to meet some of you tomorrow, and good luck!
 
Is there anyway to check your application status before you get a complete email? I never received an email to create a self service account, just an email with an invitation to submit secondary.
 
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I interview at PNWU recently and during the Q and A, it was mentioned that quite a few of the students failed the USMLE but they did not have the stats on this at the time. Can anyone shed some light on this? I think the philosophy and set-up of the school is awesome but this information was quite disheartening, considering I would like to pursue a competitive allopathic residency.
 
ArtOfWar said:
I interview at PNWU recently and during the Q and A, it was mentioned that quite a few of the students failed the USMLE but they did not have the stats on this at the time. Can anyone shed some light on this? I think the philosophy and set-up of the school is awesome but this information was quite disheartening, considering I would like to pursue a competitive allopathic residency.
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Well many of my classmates and myself are planning on pursuing competitive ACGME residencies and none of us failed USMLE. I wouldn't doubt that a few did poorly, but that's hardly enough proof to make a negative generalization about the curriculum.

Having taken both exams, I can tell you they pretty much test the same knowledge, but you have to prepare for the differences when you're studying. In the end, it's up to the individual to put in the time and effort to succeed on these board exams, and with the amount of time you're allotted there's no reason why you can't be successful.
 
ArtOfWar said:
I interview at PNWU recently and during the Q and A, it was mentioned that quite a few of the students failed the USMLE but they did not have the stats on this at the time. Can anyone shed some light on this? I think the philosophy and set-up of the school is awesome but this information was quite disheartening, considering I would like to pursue a competitive allopathic residency.
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Not saying this isn't the case, but I think there are some people at the school that just don't know what's going on. I had someone tell me that all PNWU students are "required" to go onto a primary care residency.
 
Roberie said:
Well many of my classmates and myself are planning on pursuing competitive ACGME residencies and none of us failed USMLE. I wouldn't doubt that a few did poorly, but that's hardly enough proof to make a negative generalization about the curriculum.
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What specialties?
 
Could a current student give some insight on resources that the school provides when preparing for the COMLEX exams? I know some schools style their own exams like the COMLEX or give students some time before the exam to study just for that. Does PNWU provide anything like that?
 
Did you guys get an email to set up your self service account before or after your submitted your secondary app?
 
kaura said:
Could a current student give some insight on resources that the school provides when preparing for the COMLEX exams? I know some schools style their own exams like the COMLEX or give students some time before the exam to study just for that. Does PNWU provide anything like that?
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The exams during second year are similar to board questions.

For my class they hired some board prep dude who was there for a week. I then had an additional five weeks or so to study. I think they abandoned the board prep company for the current third years. Not sure what they've added instead. They had also negotiated some deal with Kaplan to get their qbank/board prep stuff at a discount.
 
hey guys !!! got ii on Jan11. Flying directly to Yakima is reccomended or flying to Seatlle and renting a car. Not sure with the weather in january with snow and throught the mountains. Suggestions welcome. I work full time and if i fly to seattle and drive thereafter I save a vacation day. Thanks. Coming from North Dakota
 
wzkr51 said:
hey guys !!! got ii on Jan11. Flying directly to Yakima is reccomended or flying to Seatlle and renting a car. Not sure with the weather in january with snow and throught the mountains. Suggestions welcome. I work full time and if i fly to seattle and drive thereafter I save a vacation day. Thanks. Coming from North Dakota
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You don't even need to rent a car; you can ride the bus from Seattle to Yakima. It is $35 for the round trip. I think it is safer than driving yourself🙂
Hope that helps.
 
wzkr51 said:
hey guys !!! got ii on Jan11. Flying directly to Yakima is reccomended or flying to Seatlle and renting a car. Not sure with the weather in january with snow and throught the mountains. Suggestions welcome. I work full time and if i fly to seattle and drive thereafter I save a vacation day. Thanks. Coming from North Dakota
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Regardless of how you plan on getting there, make sure to give yourself an extra 10 hours to get through the pass, I ran in to a 7 hour delay a year ago when trying to get through.
 
For all you future interviewees:

I just wrote up about my experience interviewing at PNWU this past weekend. Feel free to read it here. My post is a bit heavy on my thoughts regarding the school, but I have some advice tucked in there as well. Let me know what you think!
 
KenThePreMed said:
For all you future interviewees:

I just wrote up about my experience interviewing at PNWU this past weekend. Feel free to read it here. My post is a bit heavy on my thoughts regarding the school, but I have some advice tucked in there as well. Let me know what you think!
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Nice post, the only thing I think you missed was that the school has only one fairly small research lab. I feel that this is a huge disadvantage for those looking to boost their e.c.s for competitive residencies.
 
wzkr51 said:
hey guys !!! got ii on Jan11. Flying directly to Yakima is reccomended or flying to Seatlle and renting a car. Not sure with the weather in january with snow and throught the mountains. Suggestions welcome. I work full time and if i fly to seattle and drive thereafter I save a vacation day. Thanks. Coming from North Dakota
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You're coming from North Dakota and worried about OUR snow? 😛 if you take the pass carefully it shouldn't be a problem, sometimes it's closed but I don't remember when that was last year. If it gives you any reference, I just drove it this weekend and barely saw drizzle, but that probably doesn't help much.
 
I just got the acceptance call this morning! Interviewed 11/9
 
KenThePreMed said:
I just got the acceptance call this morning! Interviewed 11/9
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Congrats on your acceptance! Quick turn around.

I was wondering how long after you submitted your application did it take for you to get an interview?
 
cerium said:
Congrats on your acceptance! Quick turn around.

I was wondering how long after you submitted your application did it take for you to get an interview?
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I was complete 9/13 and got my II on 10/3
 
Accepted!!! I'm so excited, I love the school and the area! Congratulations to all those with acceptances, I can't wait to meet everyone in the spring!
 
Got the acceptance voicemail today! (I was asleep when she called haha)
 
pebblesandpink said:
Last year there were 8 scenarios and 1 rest station for a total of 9. I believe it was 3 minutes to read and 5-6 minutes to talk. I have no idea if this has changed. Look up sample MMI questions to get familiar with reading and answering the questions in a short period of time. Also prepare for acting scenarios.

Kp11 - MMI is multiple mini interviews. You are given time to read a prompt and then you enter a room and provide an answer and explanation to an interviewer. When time is up you exit the room and move on to another prompt. Search for MMI examples videos and sample questions.

Best of luck to those of you interviewing on the 9th.

Does somebody want to create the Facebook group? I have never created a group so I'm probably not the best person to do it.
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the school will likely create a facebook page. Check with Hope Ennis
 
I just emailed Hope about the Facebook page. I'll let you know when she gets back to me.

gocougs339 are you planning to attend PNWU?
 
Hope emailed me back and said that we can make our own group and decide how to set it up. She did say it is preferred that we stick with PNWU Class of 2018 as the title.
 
pebblesandpink said:
I just emailed Hope about the Facebook page. I'll let you know when she gets back to me.

gocougs339 are you planning to attend PNWU?
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At first I was leaning towards COMP-NW, but now I'm thinking PNWU more. Both schools have their pro's and con's. Unless I hear of anything that really concerns me about PNWU, I will probably go there.
 
I submitted my supplemental application well over two weeks ago now and I have yet to receive the email to access the PowerCAMPUS Self-Service website. I was wondering how long it took for people to receive this email after they submitted their application?
 
cerium said:
I submitted my supplemental application well over two weeks ago now and I have yet to receive the email to access the PowerCAMPUS Self-Service website. I was wondering how long it took for people to receive this email after they submitted their application?
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You might try calling Hope. I don't know the timetable this cycle but I know I received that email within a week to two weeks after submitting my secondary last year.
 
Received an email for an ii on March 8th, but it appears (from the previous threads) that these interviews would for waitlist positions? I hope that isn't the case this year!
 
embracepeace said:
Received an email for an ii on March 8th, but it appears (from the previous threads) that these interviews would for waitlist positions? I hope that isn't the case this year!
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I interviewed last year at the same time and was told they were for wait list spots. You should go! I was offered a deferred acceptance plus a spot on the wait list. I was pulled off the list but chose to defer. So don't discount the interview as a waste!

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
I've heard in Napa Loop, a new apartment complex was built. I couldn't find it on Craigslist. Does anybody else know about these apartments?
Thanks
 
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