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

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
This is really depressing. I was told in December they only waitlist about 50... sounds like that changed.

I know how you feel. When I called in January, I was told the wait-list was only 60 and then I called yesterday and was surprise to hear it at 100. Thats not including next months interview where it will be nothing but waitlist acceptance.
 
I know how you feel. When I called in January, I was told the wait-list was only 60 and then I called yesterday and was surprise to hear it at 100. Thats not including next months interview where it will be nothing but waitlist acceptance.

I have an interview scheduled for the 11th. I would love to return to that region of the country but flying from Massachusetts and considering all of the expenses makes me uncertain if it is worth it. I have been observing this school since I was an undergrad and I want to go here so bad but to compete to be waitlisted? I would appreciate some advice on the subject.
 
I have an interview scheduled for the 11th. I would love to return to that region of the country but flying from Massachusetts and considering all of the expenses makes me uncertain if it is worth it. I have been observing this school since I was an undergrad and I want to go here so bad but to compete to be waitlisted? I would appreciate some advice on the subject.

I think the best thing is to call just to get a feel if you should attend the interview or not.
 
I have an interview scheduled for the 11th. I would love to return to that region of the country but flying from Massachusetts and considering all of the expenses makes me uncertain if it is worth it. I have been observing this school since I was an undergrad and I want to go here so bad but to compete to be waitlisted? I would appreciate some advice on the subject.

So I emailed Ms Hope about this coz I also have an interview on 4/11 and will be flying from NY...Here's her reply:

"I intend to send out a more updated answer to those of you interviewing when I have a more solid answer which would be around March 27th. However, in the meantime this is the current status. Currently all seats have been offered, not all have been accepted and they have until 3/27 to make that decision. There are approximately 110 on the waitlist. We anticipate having a few seats to offer at the 4/11 interviews, however, we will not know until after the acceptance deadline of 3/27.


Please keep in mind that we utilized 33 from our waitlist last year and it is likely to be close to that this year but no guarantees. We do have current students that came in this same situation in prior years, so there is still opportunity. I hope this helps and I hope to have a better answer closer to the end of this month."
 
Yes.....sad..I could really use that money back to move and pay down some debt. I was accepted back in January, so was required to pay that along time ago.

Look at the tuition you will be paying at UW then the tuition PNWU charges. That should make you feel a lot better. Tuition is insanely high at so many of these private schools and you are much better off at UW based on that alone, not to mention the countless other perks you will have.
 
Are you in Bozeman? Im just finishing the one here. I talked about it in my interview and explained how it was to strengthen what I felt were some of my weaknesses. They must have liked it because they let me in. I wrote thank you letters to my interviewers which I feel should be a common courtesy, but dont think anyone else thought of it. Also apparently the students are asked to write emails of support for anyone they have had positive (or negative) interactions with. So if you know anyone there I would ask a favor.. or get to talking with some current students.. it shows dedication and connection either way

Oh. no I'm finishing it up at Mississippi. I sent a Letter of Intent already. That explained that situation. I just sorta wanted to get the grades in so at least they know how I did. But yeah, thanks for the advice, I'll try to do that.
 
Look at the tuition you will be paying at UW then the tuition PNWU charges. That should make you feel a lot better. Tuition is insanely high at so many of these private schools and you are much better off at UW based on that alone, not to mention the countless other perks you will have.

That is one of the many reasons I am going to UW even though I REALLY liked PNWU
 
Sorry for the late response. This new SDN format makes it difficult to find replies to prior posts.

Yes, you are right. I understand for most of med school years we're married to books and busy with rotation schedules. I realize 4 years of med school will be more of training and education although I plan to volunteer on my spare times.
But then how do med schools such as PNWU achieve their mottos to serve local patients and communities?

Since the school is new, it remains to be seen whether PNWU actually will. However, the premise is simple: select students with ties to the local community, thus increasing the number of them that will attend medical school. These students, by virtue of their local ties, are more likely to return to practice.

Wouldn't a lot of students choose to match residency in somewhere else if they didn't care after all?

I'm not entirely sure what you're saying here, but the majority of PNWU students already match elsewhere. Whether they actually want to, or because they have limited options in the pacific northwest is another matter.

I guess this is why they pick people mostly from PNW areas but is there any huddling mechanism by the schools to increase the number of physicians in the area?

Correct
 
Last edited:
I just made this statement because you bold fonted and quoted mine: "Seems like a beautiful town!"
But I'm really curious though I'm gonna find out soon. Are you implying it's not?
Yakima valley website photos gave me the impression that Yakima is a small rural town with pretty views.

Well, of course it did. That's the entire point to a community website - to give the best possible impression. Yakima isn't too bad, but most that relocate there don't find it "beautiful."
 
Beside the crime, I would say Yakima is a pretty neat town if you enjoy being in the outdoors. There are great places to go fishing, hunting, backpacking, camping, pretty much anything outdoor related. I plan to do a lot of fishing and hunting on my off time as a way to relax and to feed my poor self, that is if I ever get off the wait list this may!!!!

Agreed. Lots of outdoorsy pursuits to be had in the area.
 
If I was not really interested in Oncology I think I would have stayed with PNWU. I think that the University of Washington will have more to offer if I stick with that route...

Selecting a medical school based on your current interest in one particular specialty is generally unwise. For one, most students change their mind about which specialty they want to pursue. For another, a given department can change (for better or worse) very quickly.
 
Selecting a medical school based on your current interest in one particular specialty is generally unwise. For one, most students change their mind about which specialty they want to pursue. For another, a given department can change (for better or worse) very quickly.
they say 80% change during the course of school
 
I think he's working off the assumption that his perceived greater opportunity in that particular specialty translates to greater opportunity, in general, for all specialties.

Which isn't necessarily wrong in this case (or probably most cases), but it isn't what he said:
"If I was not really interested in Oncology I think I would have stayed with PNWU. I think that the University of Washington will have more to offer if I stick with that route."
 
Everyone has their reasons for choosing the school they want to attend, that doesn't mean they're wrong because you disagree with it.

Nor does it mean they can't explain their reasoning.

Asking someone for clarification of their reasoning is not tantamount to disagreeing. Try not to make this a personal issue.
 
Nor does it mean they can't explain their reasoning.

Asking someone for clarification of their reasoning is not tantamount to disagreeing. Try not to make this a personal issue.

Yes, that's true but you're dissecting his every word like a movie critic. I find that rude. He has his reason for choosing the school he wants to attend. If you read his previous post you can tell that he has other reasons. Why can't we just be happy for him. We're all trying to achieve the same goal so let us all play nice.
 
Yes, that's true but you're dissecting his every word like a movie critic. I find that rude. He has his reason for choosing the school he wants to attend. If you read his previous post you can tell that he has other reasons.

Khoa, I don't think that's a fair assessment.

Choosing between one school and another is quite possibly the most important decision a pre-med will make and analysis of what factors should go into this decision is of critical importance. The value of these forums is largely in the discussion of such "details." It is a resource that I wish I had when choosing between schools.

You seem to believe we should all reinvent the wheel for ourselves. Simply make a personal decision based on who knows what and keep it secret. That helps no one. Facilitating discussion of these decisions is for the benefit of all.

Why can't we just be happy for him. We're all trying to achieve the same goal so let us all play nice.

You are taking a critical analysis as a personal attack. Of course we are happy for him.
 
Last edited:
Khoa, I don't think that's a fair assessment.

Choosing between one school and another is quite possibly the most important decision a pre-med will make and analysis of what factors should go into this decision is of critical importance. The value of these forums is largely in the discussion of such "details." It is a resource that I wish I had when choosing between schools.

You seem to believe we should all reinvent the wheel for ourselves. Simply make a personal decision based on who knows what and keep it secret. That helps no one. Facilitating discussion of these decisions is for the benefit of all.



You are taking a critical analysis as a personal attack. Of course we are happy for him.

You are correct, choosing a school is a very difficult and personal decision. We should all help one another out, especially when it comes to someone asking for assistance. However in this particular situation I believe the individual has already made up their mind and was not asking for help. As a result, we as future physicians should respect that individual's autonomy.
 
You are correct, choosing a school is a very difficult and personal decision. We should all help one another out, especially when it comes to someone asking for assistance. However in this particular situation I believe the individual has already made up their mind and was not asking for help. As a result, we as future physicians should respect that individual's autonomy.

That's still missing the point, Khoa. The reason for discussing what went into his decision-making is for the benefit of OTHERS that haven't made their decision. You seem to think I'm trying to change his mind.

As a result, we as future physicians should respect that individual's autonomy.

This, I don't understand at all. Even if I WAS trying to change his mind, do you think that somehow translates into not respecting a patient's autonomy in regards to medical treatments? That's quite a leap.
 
Ok....ending this back and forth

I withdrew from every school I was invited to interview at EXCEPT PNWU and U of Washington SOM
Why UW SOM?

1. I get to stay in Montana for my first year of school and stay close to my family. And my two kids will only be a few hours away from their grandparents....and my brother lives in the same town I will be studying in....family is my main support and I will have them all close during the transition from stay at home dad to medical student
2. my tuition for the first year of school is only around $10,o00 vs about $48,000!!
3. I have a VERY strong interest in Oncology. With that said it is true that most students change their minds about their career paths, BUT I have been heavily involved in oncology for most of my undergraduate studies and it is the main driving force that put me into medicine vs a PhD to start with. I feel that UWSOM will give me a MUCH better avenue if I decide to go that route in the end. I have multiple connections in the Fred Hutch Institute in Seattle that is affiliated with UWSOM, and will have many opportunities to be involved in research projects there, which will help build a strong resume for residency.
4. TRACK program will allow me to come right back to my current town for 3rd and 4th years just like PNWU, which was the main reason I applied to PNWU. The tracks used to be only based on performance, but they have now changed that to give preference to where you are from.
5. It is an MD vs a DO. I have nothing against DOs AT ALL (I accepted an offer from PNWU over the University of Colorado!!), but again going back to oncology. If I do go that route there is only 1 (yes only 1!!!) oncology residency program in the nation!!! I know I can apply to MD ones as well, but I spoke with all the physicians I shadowed and worked with and they said it would require near perfect board scores. Even with the supposed combining of the residency programs, most programs in specialties are still favoring the MD vs DO.
6. Recent shadowing with more DOs brought to my attention that I have some personal conflicts with the osteopathic principles that I had not had with my other shadowing experiences.....might have just been a personal difference with the few DOs in the clinic I shadowed, but they did make me rethink the DO route.
7. Did I mention the tuition???!!!??? If I get just a few of the MANY scholarships I have applied to already my first year could be FREE!!!!!!!

I hope this ends the long talk about this.........and I agree with Khoa....it is my decision. UWSOM is the right choice for me and my family just like PNWU is the right fit for many other students. We all have our goals and dreams, and are selecting school that put us in the best position to reach for those goals.



Good luck everyone!!! Gratz to everyone who has gotten into PNWU, it is a really great school!!!
 
Ok....ending this back and forth

I withdrew from every school I was invited to interview at EXCEPT PNWU and U of Washington SOM
Why UW SOM?

1. I get to stay in Montana for my first year of school and stay close to my family. And my two kids will only be a few hours away from their grandparents....and my brother lives in the same town I will be studying in....family is my main support and I will have them all close during the transition from stay at home dad to medical student
2. my tuition for the first year of school is only around $10,o00 vs about $48,000!!
3. I have a VERY strong interest in Oncology. With that said it is true that most students change their minds about their career paths, BUT I have been heavily involved in oncology for most of my undergraduate studies and it is the main driving force that put me into medicine vs a PhD to start with. I feel that UWSOM will give me a MUCH better avenue if I decide to go that route in the end. I have multiple connections in the Fred Hutch Institute in Seattle that is affiliated with UWSOM, and will have many opportunities to be involved in research projects there, which will help build a strong resume for residency.
4. TRACK program will allow me to come right back to my current town for 3rd and 4th years just like PNWU, which was the main reason I applied to PNWU. The tracks used to be only based on performance, but they have now changed that to give preference to where you are from.
5. It is an MD vs a DO. I have nothing against DOs AT ALL (I accepted an offer from PNWU over the University of Colorado!!), but again going back to oncology. If I do go that route there is only 1 (yes only 1!!!) oncology residency program in the nation!!! I know I can apply to MD ones as well, but I spoke with all the physicians I shadowed and worked with and they said it would require near perfect board scores. Even with the supposed combining of the residency programs, most programs in specialties are still favoring the MD vs DO.
6. Recent shadowing with more DOs brought to my attention that I have some personal conflicts with the osteopathic principles that I had not had with my other shadowing experiences.....might have just been a personal difference with the few DOs in the clinic I shadowed, but they did make me rethink the DO route.
7. Did I mention the tuition???!!!??? If I get just a few of the MANY scholarships I have applied to already my first year could be FREE!!!!!!!

I hope this ends the long talk about this.........and I agree with Khoa....it is my decision. UWSOM is the right choice for me and my family just like PNWU is the right fit for many other students. We all have our goals and dreams, and are selecting school that put us in the best position to reach for those goals.



Good luck everyone!!! Gratz to everyone who has gotten into PNWU, it is a really great school!!!

Dude it's UW, it's the school to go to if you are from the PNW and/or want to practice there. I absolutely despise UW (see username) but I would go to their med school in a heartbeat. I liked PNWU as well but it would be insane to even consider going there over UW. You made the right decision.
 
Ok....ending this back and forth

I withdrew from every school I was invited to interview at EXCEPT PNWU and U of Washington SOM
Why UW SOM?

1. I get to stay in Montana for my first year of school and stay close to my family. And my two kids will only be a few hours away from their grandparents....and my brother lives in the same town I will be studying in....family is my main support and I will have them all close during the transition from stay at home dad to medical student
2. my tuition for the first year of school is only around $10,o00 vs about $48,000!!
3. I have a VERY strong interest in Oncology. With that said it is true that most students change their minds about their career paths, BUT I have been heavily involved in oncology for most of my undergraduate studies and it is the main driving force that put me into medicine vs a PhD to start with. I feel that UWSOM will give me a MUCH better avenue if I decide to go that route in the end. I have multiple connections in the Fred Hutch Institute in Seattle that is affiliated with UWSOM, and will have many opportunities to be involved in research projects there, which will help build a strong resume for residency.
4. TRACK program will allow me to come right back to my current town for 3rd and 4th years just like PNWU, which was the main reason I applied to PNWU. The tracks used to be only based on performance, but they have now changed that to give preference to where you are from.
5. It is an MD vs a DO. I have nothing against DOs AT ALL (I accepted an offer from PNWU over the University of Colorado!!), but again going back to oncology. If I do go that route there is only 1 (yes only 1!!!) oncology residency program in the nation!!! I know I can apply to MD ones as well, but I spoke with all the physicians I shadowed and worked with and they said it would require near perfect board scores. Even with the supposed combining of the residency programs, most programs in specialties are still favoring the MD vs DO.
6. Recent shadowing with more DOs brought to my attention that I have some personal conflicts with the osteopathic principles that I had not had with my other shadowing experiences.....might have just been a personal difference with the few DOs in the clinic I shadowed, but they did make me rethink the DO route.
7. Did I mention the tuition???!!!??? If I get just a few of the MANY scholarships I have applied to already my first year could be FREE!!!!!!!

I hope this ends the long talk about this.........and I agree with Khoa....it is my decision. UWSOM is the right choice for me and my family just like PNWU is the right fit for many other students. We all have our goals and dreams, and are selecting school that put us in the best position to reach for those goals.



Good luck everyone!!! Gratz to everyone who has gotten into PNWU, it is a really great school!!!

Lol. Thanks for putting an end to that. Was far too drawn out. Just thought id remind you to leave your griz stuff at home. We dont take kindly to it around here. Curt takes a lot crap for being a grizzly. Otherwise you'll love Bozeman. Greatest place in the world. Ill be back in a couple years if they open up a rotation here. One thing im not understanding though. If you go into the trust program your dedicated to primary care... not oncology. I thought they were extremely strict about that.
 
Dude it's UW, it's the school to go to if you are from the PNW and/or want to practice there. I absolutely despise UW (see username) but I would go to their med school in a heartbeat. I liked PNWU as well but it would be insane to even consider going there over UW. You made the right decision.

GO COUGS!!
 
Ii
Ok....ending this back and forth

I withdrew from every school I was invited to interview at EXCEPT PNWU and U of Washington SOM
Why UW SOM?

1. I get to stay in Montana for my first year of school and stay close to my family. And my two kids will only be a few hours away from their grandparents....and my brother lives in the same town I will be studying in....family is my main support and I will have them all close during the transition from stay at home dad to medical student
2. my tuition for the first year of school is only around $10,o00 vs about $48,000!!
3. I have a VERY strong interest in Oncology. With that said it is true that most students change their minds about their career paths, BUT I have been heavily involved in oncology for most of my undergraduate studies and it is the main driving force that put me into medicine vs a PhD to start with. I feel that UWSOM will give me a MUCH better avenue if I decide to go that route in the end. I have multiple connections in the Fred Hutch Institute in Seattle that is affiliated with UWSOM, and will have many opportunities to be involved in research projects there, which will help build a strong resume for residency.
4. TRACK program will allow me to come right back to my current town for 3rd and 4th years just like PNWU, which was the main reason I applied to PNWU. The tracks used to be only based on performance, but they have now changed that to give preference to where you are from.
5. It is an MD vs a DO. I have nothing against DOs AT ALL (I accepted an offer from PNWU over the University of Colorado!!), but again going back to oncology. If I do go that route there is only 1 (yes only 1!!!) oncology residency program in the nation!!! I know I can apply to MD ones as well, but I spoke with all the physicians I shadowed and worked with and they said it would require near perfect board scores. Even with the supposed combining of the residency programs, most programs in specialties are still favoring the MD vs DO.
6. Recent shadowing with more DOs brought to my attention that I have some personal conflicts with the osteopathic principles that I had not had with my other shadowing experiences.....might have just been a personal difference with the few DOs in the clinic I shadowed, but they did make me rethink the DO route.
7. Did I mention the tuition???!!!??? If I get just a few of the MANY scholarships I have applied to already my first year could be FREE!!!!!!!

I hope this ends the long talk about this.........and I agree with Khoa....it is my decision. UWSOM is the right choice for me and my family just like PNWU is the right fit for many other students. We all have our goals and dreams, and are selecting school that put us in the best position to reach for those goals.



Good luck everyone!!! Gratz to everyone who has gotten into PNWU, it is a really great school!!!

I'm interested in scholarships mind pm info? Thanks
 
Lol. Thanks for putting an end to that. Was far too drawn out. Just thought id remind you to leave your griz stuff at home. We dont take kindly to it around here. Curt takes a lot crap for being a grizzly. Otherwise you'll love Bozeman. Greatest place in the world. Ill be back in a couple years if they open up a rotation here. One thing im not understanding though. If you go into the trust program your dedicated to primary care... not oncology. I thought they were extremely strict about that.

A school can generally influence things only as far as your residency. And since Hem/Onc is a fellowship of IM, he still starts off in a PCP specialty. There are also vastly undeserved areas of the country in regards to Oncology so I feel like it still probably fits their mantra for rural medicine.
 
A school can generally influence things only as far as your residency. And since Hem/Onc is a fellowship of IM, he still starts off in a PCP specialty. There are also vastly undeserved areas of the country in regards to Oncology so I feel like it still probably fits their mantra for rural medicine.
Never thought of it that way. I want to say they really govern your rotations. But hey what do I know. Lol
 
New subject. Anyone attending the open house on the 5th? Anyone want to do some house hunting or at least catch dinner or something. I know a couple first years, but am starting fresh as far as a friend's circle in our class.
 
Never thought of it that way. I want to say they really govern your rotations. But hey what do I know. Lol

They can (and possibly do) govern your rotations, but the core curriculum is still there so you're eligible for the same M.D. as everyone else. Applying for residency is largely an individual effort and you really only need your school to provide transcripts and a dean's letter. They could be snide and try to sabotage your dean's letter if you were applying to a non-PCP specialty, but I seriously doubt a school would do that. And if you match into a PCP residency like IM, I doubt they would really follow your progress through and into fellowship. And you don't need them for the fellowship application process anyway.
 
Lol. Thanks for putting an end to that. Was far too drawn out. Just thought id remind you to leave your griz stuff at home. We dont take kindly to it around here. Curt takes a lot crap for being a grizzly. Otherwise you'll love Bozeman. Greatest place in the world. Ill be back in a couple years if they open up a rotation here. One thing im not understanding though. If you go into the trust program your dedicated to primary care... not oncology. I thought they were extremely strict about that.

I am not trust....TRACKS are different than trust. The TRACKS are a program for doing your clerks in one specific area in the WWAMI region vs Seattle, or ratations

I am not brining my Griz stuff.....but my little guy is...lol
 
A school can generally influence things only as far as your residency. And since Hem/Onc is a fellowship of IM, he still starts off in a PCP specialty. There are also vastly undeserved areas of the country in regards to Oncology so I feel like it still probably fits their mantra for rural medicine.
and bringing this up I think that PNWU is getting a great name for itself in the region!! And as they expand into other healthcare areas (like the PharmD they just started) it will get even better. I think PNWU also has really good teachers. I have talked to a number of past students and they LOVE the teachers. They are all physicians that are teaching because they want to teach. One the other side some are teaching because they have to, and they see it as taking away from their research. Just a thought.....
 
Ii


I'm interested in scholarships mind pm info? Thanks
I have been getting emails from UW about scholarships....most are for UW students only....I will PM you with any general ones I get!!! I looked and all the non-school specific ones are already past the deadline
 
So 33 got in off the wait list last year. Were most of those deferred acceptance waitlistees? (How many are offered deferred acceptance?) About how many general waitlistees get in then?
 
I talked to Hope and she said there were roughly 11 deferred acceptances offered and they are on the top of the waitlist above everyone else. So if everyone who got deferred acceptances decided to matriculate that same year instead of waiting until next year, then roughly 22 people would get off the waitlist. But it could be more or less depending on how many people give up their acceptances here
 
Thank you, very helpful. Can we find out if we're high, medium, or low waitlist, anybody know?
 
I tried to search through the forums and couldn't really find a definitive answer- does anyone recommend sending a letter of intent with regard to a deferred acceptance? Would it be of any benefit for gaining admission this year, or is waiting patiently the best option right now? Thanks! 🙂
 
I tried to search through the forums and couldn't really find a definitive answer- does anyone recommend sending a letter of intent with regard to a deferred acceptance? Would it be of any benefit for gaining admission this year, or is waiting patiently the best option right now? Thanks! 🙂

Seems like you're pretty much guaranteed a spot this year already if you want it. You're at the top of the waitlist (11 deferred, 33 got in from the waitlist last year).
 
Seems like you're pretty much guaranteed a spot this year already if you want it. You're at the top of the waitlist (11 deferred, 33 got in from the waitlist last year).

What do you mean by that statement? How do you know if someone is guaranteed a spot when the waitlist has not been posted?
 
What do you mean by that statement? How do you know if someone is guaranteed a spot when the waitlist has not been posted?


He's saying that of you have a deferred acceptance, your basically guaranteed a spot because deferred people are placed at the top of the waitlist.
 
Hi, everyone!

I just got an interview for April 11th. I don't know if this was already posted, but does anyone have any tips on where to fly in and what's the best place to stay at? Thanks!
 
A lot of people fly into seattle and then take the bus or rent a car to yakima. You should receive an email from Hope with information regarding hotel accommodation.
 
Does anyone know when they start to take people off the waitlist?
 
Top