Vermont Interview? (please help)

[acidhouse303]

Hi beautiful people of SDN.. i have a dilemma. i already booked hotel reservations and tickets for my U Vermont interview on 11/16 but ive been reading interview feedback and have seen so many negative responses that im kind of debating whether or not to go! Alot of people have mentioned they felt burlington was really racist so i was curious about that. if any of you guys interviewed there, could you let me know what was it about the experience that was so bad? I always heard Burlington was very liberal. Im a NYC kid who is an ethnic mix so maybe i wont be able to handle such a small moncultural town. im also really worried something crazy is gonna happen w the planes (us air sux) since its snowing there already and i cant afford to take any more time off of school and my 2 jobs. I hate cancelling an interview, but ive had a bunch of other ones in places that I could see myself livng in, but I just wanted to give myself as many options as possible I guess. Please help! Id appreciate it alot. Thanx

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[derf]

Hi beautiful people of SDN.. i have a dilemma. i already booked hotel reservations and tickets for my U Vermont interview on 11/16 but ive been reading interview feedback and have seen so many negative responses that im kind of debating whether or not to go! Alot of people have mentioned they felt burlington was really racist so i was curious about that. if any of you guys interviewed there, could you let me know what was it about the experience that was so bad? I always heard Burlington was very liberal. Im a NYC kid who is an ethnic mix so maybe i wont be able to handle such a small moncultural town. im also really worried something crazy is gonna happen w the planes (us air sux) since its snowing there already and i cant afford to take any more time off of school and my 2 jobs. I hate cancelling an interview, but ive had a bunch of other ones in places that I could see myself livng in, but I just wanted to give myself as many options as possible I guess. Please help! Id appreciate it alot. Thanx

don't you think your overexaggerating a bit. check out the school. I'm sure nobody's gonna notice your ethnicity nor is a plane gonna crash. You'll be O.K. dude

 

[acidhouse303]

oops i didnt mean to sound neurotic. i just wanted to know why the people who said they had such bad experiences said so and if it is worth my time and money to go up there. but thanks for your response. im chillaxin

 

[docquaker]

do you have an acceptance yet? if not, you should definitely go. if yes, it's up to you...

i have a korean friend who's a 2nd year there and she loves it. but if you don't want to be in a small town, you may want to think about it...

 

[lattimer13]

definitely go to the interview unless you've already been accepted and can afford to not go. i interviewed there a few years ago and liked the small town atomosphere. students were nice too.

 

[DianaLynne]

You could give your interview to me... UVM is definitely one of my top choices. Of course, I've never actually been there or know much about it, but it's supposed to be so pretty there! I'm curious to hear more about the interviews, town, and school too.

 

[docwannabe2]

I went to my UVM interview with pretty low expectations, but I was actually very impressed. As far as the town goes, it's your typical small town with typical townies, and I definitely did run into some racist attitudes (not directed towards me, but the other applicant I was with) within the town - not the school. I echo the other opinions here. If you've gotten an acceptance and aren't really psyched about UVM, don't go (like I said, I was impressed, but I still wouldn't go to school in Burlington if I had a choice), but if not, go for it.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

I'm beginning to think that some individuals are committing a form of slander in some schools interview feedback. One disgruntled student can just go in and post negative feedback about his or her school periodically as a form of revenge.

Look at the University of Missouri-Columbia feedback. Last year there were all sorts of negative posts. Now, mysteriously, more feedback is coming in, and they're all positive. I think a disgruntled student (or someone who just doesn't like MU) has been using interviewfeedback.com as a form of weapon.

The best thing about interviewfeedback.com is that you can learn about the little things, like how many interviews there are, whether or not they serve lunch, what kind of tour they give, etc. I don't place any faith in their subjective opinions.

 

[mfcus]

Hi beautiful people of SDN.. i have a dilemma. i already booked hotel reservations and tickets for my U Vermont interview on 11/16 but ive been reading interview feedback and have seen so many negative responses that im kind of debating whether or not to go! Alot of people have mentioned they felt burlington was really racist so i was curious about that. if any of you guys interviewed there, could you let me know what was it about the experience that was so bad? I always heard Burlington was very liberal. Im a NYC kid who is an ethnic mix so maybe i wont be able to handle such a small moncultural town. im also really worried something crazy is gonna happen w the planes (us air sux) since its snowing there already and i cant afford to take any more time off of school and my 2 jobs. I hate cancelling an interview, but ive had a bunch of other ones in places that I could see myself livng in, but I just wanted to give myself as many options as possible I guess. Please help! Id appreciate it alot. Thanx

I lived in Burlington for four years- just moved. While there is not much diversity in race you need to keep in mind that there is very little diversity throughout New England. What is intersting about Burlington is that they embrace individuals and just b/c your a different skin color means nothing. In all actuality the town is a college town that is populated by New York, New Jersey, Conn, Mass, and New Hampshire and is always turning over the people. There are five colleges within in the city limits and remember UVM is one of the most expensive state schools in the country (I think it is #1). The only solid industry that is there is IBM and not much else and the town and state is wicked expensive!!! Also, Burlington/ VT has a liberal side to it but it also has a very conservative side to it. That goes the same for the university where you have trustafarians and then greek preppy kids- which you normally don't hear about but is more consistent. The med school is doing a ton of construction and the library needs to get done b/c what you see now when you go through there is an old court yard where they put a glass roof in that leaks like crazy when it rains. Literally, there are liuttle umbrellas covering the computers because it leaks so much and the amount of sunlight that pulses in is blinding. So, if you can wait it out the facilities will be getting better by the time you leave.

 

[tinnyfluffy]

umm... i would say that you should still go there. personally, i was very impressed with the school and the interviewers. i definitely didn't feel prejudiced against at the school. however, while i was staying at the hotel, my mom and i had a strange encounter. we arrived there late in the evening (around 10pm), and didn't have dinner prior to that. we asked the folks at the front desk where we might find food in the hotel, and they told us to come to this bar. at the bar, there were only one couple sitting there, apparently enjoying a conversation with the bar tender. we stood there for at least five minutes before the bar tender turned his head and told us to sit down. then we waited for at least another 5 minutes before we started feeling weird about why he didn't serve us, etc. so i went to the front again and stood there and waited again! it's not until much later that he revealed to us that they actually weren't serving dinner there! i was like, what the heck! then why didn't you tell us at the beginning?! it's not like he didn't see me or i didn't ask him. i've no clue why he chose to ignore us, but i felt that it's a racial issue. i did meet a shuttle driver, who's incredibly kind to both me and my mom. i would say it depends on the people that you actually meet...

anywayz.. sorry about the long post~ Good luck with the interview!

 

[tinnyfluffy]

oh by the way~ forgot to mention... even though it's a small town, it's very cute! it's got all sorts of cusines. i wouldn't mind living there except for the cold winter.

 

[oniwindu]

however, while i was staying at the hotel, my mom and i had a strange encounter. we arrived there late in the evening (around 10pm), and didn't have dinner prior to that. we asked the folks at the front desk where we might find food in the hotel, and they told us to come to this bar. at the bar, there were only one couple sitting there, apparently enjoying a conversation with the bar tender. we stood there for at least five minutes before the bar tender turned his head and told us to sit down. then we waited for at least another 5 minutes before we started feeling weird about why he didn't serve us, etc. so i went to the front again and stood there and waited again! it's not until much later that he revealed to us that they actually weren't serving dinner there! i was like, what the heck! then why didn't you tell us at the beginning?! it's not like he didn't see me or i didn't ask him. i've no clue why he chose to ignore us, but i felt that it's a racial issue. i did meet a shuttle driver, who's incredibly kind to both me and my mom. i would say it depends on the people that you actually meet...

I went up to UVM for an interview mid-October and had an odd experience like that. Not at a diner, but at a gas station. It was the gas station that was further down past UVM on Main Street, where all the shops are. After filling up a whole tank of gas, I went to pay the cashier. He was basically courteous and nice to the person before me (who might have been a regular, but otherwise, I can tell you this customer was Caucasian), and then when I went up to pay, he did not say anything else but "$29.30." No, "hello," "thank you, "you're welcome," "come again," the normal talk that you get at EVERY gas station. Blatant racism like this happens all the time anywhere you go, (not to mention subconscious racism) but I was really annoyed that this would be my first impression of Burlington.

I loved the school. Wonderful student community. But after getting that nasty feeling that Tinnyfluffy also talked about, I was turned off by that darned area.

 

[DianaLynne]

Does it snow a lot there? Is there skiing nearby?

 

[myodana]

burlington rocks, can i have your interview! i'd go there in a minute.
yeah, NYC - represent!

 

[myodana]

Does it snow a lot there? Is there skiing nearby?

STOWE - best mountain. SO good. SNOWY goodness. ski the goat! (it's about 45 minutes from there) http://www.stowe.com/

 

[MNgrrl]

I am a current student here at UVM, and I hae been very happy with my time here. I suppose I'm bias, but I think the educational curriculum is more progressive than many in the country, and Burlington is a nice town. I almost didn't go to my interview for a variety of reasons, but clearly it's a good thing I did go - I got into 2 other schools besides UVM, and waitlisted at another, and I still chose it above the other places I was accepted. So, don't be jaded by interview feedback - Im not sure what is going on there, but pretty much all the feedback prior to this year is positive. If you've already booked everything, which I assume is non-refundable, then give it a shot - what do you have to lose?

Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[acidhouse303]

hey everyone, i really appreciated all your input. (and myodana yea nyc! bk's finest baby!!) hehe sorry.i think ill go, i wanted to see a part of america ive never been to. i think i just have flying anxiety cuase i have the worst flying luck and i heard its snowing up there right now (is the weather bad mn girl?) i do like snowboarding (although ive never been skiing) so i might as well check it out ! those stories about teh diner and gas station were so weird- how do u handle a situation like that?? wow.

 

[oniwindu]

Oh whoops, whilst posting my personal experience at a gas station in Burlington, I did forget to say this to the OP: Definitely go see UVM!

Subsequently, I'm glad to know that you are going!

And as for dealing with situations like that...well, when you deal with it very very often while growing up, you somehow just deal with it. This is not to say that you sit back and do nothing. I think for adults, it can be a lot of work to help them see other perspectives, in terms of identifying their own racial biases, etc etc. Not to mention doing that with a complete stranger. I can imagine a fist fight happening and violence isn't a way to solve a matter (unless you're dueling some evil made-up dude in a video game). At any rate, you work with the younger kids and hope that with more education (laying out the historical context, encouraging them to question that history) and guidance, progress will be made. Easier said than done, I know. Also, despite all the angst I remember going through, I have grown to develop quite a positive attitude, I guess.

Anyway, good luck on your interview at UVM.

 

[MNgrrl]

hey everyone, i really appreciated all your input. (and myodana yea nyc! bk's finest baby!!) hehe sorry.i think ill go, i wanted to see a part of america ive never been to. i think i just have flying anxiety cuase i have the worst flying luck and i heard its snowing up there right now (is the weather bad mn girl?) i do like snowboarding (although ive never been skiing) so i might as well check it out ! those stories about teh diner and gas station were so weird- how do u handle a situation like that?? wow.

The weather's not that bad - we've gotten a light dusting of snow and that's it -- plus you are from NYC, not California! It's not like you've never seen snow before...Glad to hear you're coming - despite what you've read on SDN, I encourage you to come in with an open mind and make your own decisions about the school and Burlington - you may like it or you may not, but make sure you aren't being influenced too much by other people's experiences!

 

[buglady]

Like MNgrrl, I go to UVM, but I'm a 2nd year....I'm originally from CA and lived in a pretty big and diverse city before coming to Burlington. And although Vermont is one of the whitest states in the union (either New Hampshire, Maine or VT is #1 whitest!), I don't feel like there is rampant racism. I mean, c'mon, a state that supports civil unions and had a socialist mayor at one point (who just also happens to be the current state representative) can't be that bad. It's a very liberal minded place. The town nearby is a part of the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program....there are alot of Sudanese, Vietnamese, Eastern European immigrants who have made Vermont their new home.

And yes, I'm sure Vermont is not immune to racist attitudes, but for the most part, I have yet to hear of any problems within my own class....or within the med school, for that matter.