Question re: University of Washington

[lulubean]

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To those of you who are students or who have interviewed at UW. What do you think of the school? Any thoughts on curriculum, clinical training, location, student life, anything? Its my last interview and I am trying to figure out if I should go or not (I am sooooo tired and poor from interviews...)

Any feedback would be really appreciated!!!

 

[MedicineBird]

To those of you who are students or who have interviewed at UW. What do you think of the school? Any thoughts on curriculum, clinical training, location, student life, anything? Its my last interview and I am trying to figure out if I should go or not (I am sooooo tired and poor from interviews...)

Any feedback would be really appreciated!!!

Are you interviewing as a WWAMI or traditional student? There is a huge difference in the experience.

 

[lulubean]

As a traditional student (I am a California resident).

 

[MedicineBird]

As a traditional student (I am a California resident).

Well, I haven't had my interview here yet so my insight is limited but I do work at UW. If you want to PM me I can tell you what a couple of the docs I work with (one advises 3rd years) have told me about it.

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

To those of you who are students or who have interviewed at UW. What do you think of the school? Any thoughts on curriculum, clinical training, location, student life, anything? Its my last interview and I am trying to figure out if I should go or not (I am sooooo tired and poor from interviews...)

Any feedback would be really appreciated!!!

I'm an MS1 at UW, so I'll give you my pre-exam (on Monday! AAHHH) thoughts.

Curriculum:
Overall, pretty good. First quarter is incredibly rough. You cover an entire year of anatomy in that first quarter, along with histology and biochemistry. I'm not a big fan of lecture...and we have lots of it.
There is also a lot of professors teaching their specialty, so you get a lot of detail - good and bad, depending.
Mainly, I like how we cover things on a basic level for the first two quarters, and then switch to organ-based for the third quarter and second year. I think it's a good way of learning things.
Did I mention first year is pass/fail?

Clinical Training:
Wonderful! There is a huge emphasis on patients, primary care, and alternative medicine here. It's all about doing what is best for the patient, and the faculty devotes a lot of time on this during lectures. We start interviewing patients and going into the clinic very early, and shadowing docs in the community and the hospital is strongly encouraged.

Location:
I love the weather here. I did undergrad at UW, so I'm a little biased, but I love the mild climate of the Pacific NW. Weather is almost always from 40-70F. Doesn't rain as much as you would think, though it is pretty cloudy.
We're an hour from the beach, an hour from skiing, and two hours from a rain forest. What else could you ask for?

Student Life:
It's great! Everyone in the class works hard to help each other out. Gunner-ism doesn't really seem to exist. We call each other if someone is sick, or can't make it to class, or is having a party, or...anything! Good stuff.

Overall:
As I've heard, we have a very good rate at matching for residencies. Clinical training is great here, and it's by far the best place to go if you're interested in rural medicine. Research is quite strong too, if that's your thing. Extremely good price if you're a WWAMI resident.

PM me if you want any more info.

 

[NeuroSync]

UW is a top ten school. The clinical training is supposed to be great. The students seem really happy. This is a top notch school. I would take the time to interview. You are among something like 3 percent of those who apply from out of region who get an interview! I'd feel pretty good about that.

I applied this year and got in a couple of weeks ago. I cancelled all other acceptances and applications. My interview was really a conversation with three people. They want to know what you are about, but they also want to know how much you know about current events, health care, and medical ethics. If you don't have a lot of clinical exposure, your chances aren't great for getting in. If you DO choose to interview, UW has a medical ethics website that goes over all of the issues and gives case examples with answers. I'd read every one of 'em.

The one down side is the tuition difference between in-state and out-of-state.

I hope that helps. You must have an incredible application packet to be offered an interview as a CA resident! I hope to see you next year. 🙂

 

[lulubean]

thanks for all the feedback, people. i needed a boost to get me to my last interview! 😳

hope to see you next year!

 

[MedicineBird]

thanks for all the feedback, people. i needed a boost to get me to my last interview! 😳

hope to see you next year!

It's this year now, Lulu!!! Isn't htat exciting?!

 

[NeuroSync]

It's this year now, Lulu!!! Isn't htat exciting?!

🙂 You are such a smart alec, Bird...

 

[NeuroSync]

thanks for all the feedback, people. i needed a boost to get me to my last interview! 😳

hope to see you next year!

Hi, Lulu. I just read your profile. You are the type of student they are looking for. UW is #1 in the country for primary care (and has been for the last ten years). Although they are disgusted when applicants tell them that they are interested in working with the underserved where there is nothing to back up that statement, you DO get some extra points for having that slant if you can honestly say it and demonstrate it. That stands out clearly in your application, so play it up! On the other hand, if you are interested in a specialty, that won't count against you. I told them I want to be a neurologist, and it obviously didn't kill my chances. 🙂

If you are interested in doing any research, UW is #2, second only to Harvard in grant funding. One of the graduation requirements is a research project. It can be a clinical research project, a literature review (with your own hypothesis, of course), or a basic science-type project. It's a great opportunity to get published while in school. There are lots of Nobel laureates on staff. The brain power there is actually pretty intimidating, but I want to learn from the best that I can, so that's why I'm going.

 

[MedicineBird]

🙂 You are such a smart alec, Bird...

Better than a dumb alec. neener neener. 😀