Western U Interview

[CedarZ4]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I've tried doing a search, but just wanted to know more.

I have an interview for Western U (in Pomona, CA) this Saturday and I was wondering if anyone on here has already had it?

How did it go? I know the day is pretty much an interview, tour, speech from the Dean, and lunch. However, I'm more interested in learning about the interview. Is it a group interview? How many people interview you? I heard it was about 60 interviewees, and if they do it individually, wouldn't that take like 30 hours?! (assuming 30 minutes each applicant).

Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Also, if they ask any "weird" questions that are not the norm (why dentistry, etc.) and you wouldn't mind sharing I'd really appreciate that too.

Thanks!

 

[destinedsirius]

Yes. 30 hours is exactly how long it takes when you don't know how many interviewers there are.

 

[destinedsirius]

But on the serious I found that the interview feedback link on SDN was very helpful.

 

[PreDent321]

Some weird questions included:

What came first: the chicken or the egg? And why?

What is 22 times 22?

Did you ever steal?

Which schools are your safety schools?

 

[CedarZ4]

I used SDN Feedback for the questions, and were really helpful.

I just wanted to see if there were any other questions that other users had who use the forum but not the feedback system.

Also, it says the average interviewer # was about 1, but it doesn't indicate if everyone had different interviewer or if it was all one Dr. (like my previous interview) so I wanted to ask to clarify, or just any other pointer would be fantastic.

Anyone?

 

[wizi]

Some weird questions included:

What came first: the chicken or the egg? And why?

What is 22 times 22?

Did you ever steal?

Which schools are your safety schools?

....

 

[jeffity]

I used SDN Feedback for the questions, and were really helpful.

I just wanted to see if there were any other questions that other users had who use the forum but not the feedback system.

Also, it says the average interviewer # was about 1, but it doesn't indicate if everyone had different interviewer or if it was all one Dr. (like my previous interview) so I wanted to ask to clarify, or just any other pointer would be fantastic.

Anyone?

I almost don't remember now. But I believe there were 4-6 interview rooms. Each room had 1-2 interviewers (they intended there to be 2, but some people had emergencies of some sort). I believe all were faculty of some sort. The whole crew of applicants is split up so one group is off touring and having a Q&A session while the rest are chatting while waiting for an interview.

 

[CedarZ4]

I almost don't remember now. But I believe there were 4-6 interview rooms. Each room had 1-2 interviewers (they intended there to be 2, but some people had emergencies of some sort). I believe all were faculty of some sort. The whole crew of applicants is split up so one group is off touring while one is is in a Q&A session. The rest are chatting while we wait for an interview.

👍 Thank you.

Is the Q&A session the same as the interview... or different? And is it really just a Q&A session where you try to learn more about the school, or are you being evaluated like you are in the interview. Lastly, interviews are one-on-one correct?

Thanks!

 

[jeffity]

👍 Thank you.

Is the Q&A session the same as the interview... or different? And is it really just a Q&A session where you try to learn more about the school, or are you being evaluated like you are in the interview. Lastly, interviews are one-on-one correct?

Thanks!

Are you AM or PM? AM was like so:

Get a badge and a packet of info. Your badge will have a group # and a letter. Nibble on some fruit and bagels, mingle in the lounge area with all the other suits. Hit a lecture room to have a presentation about the school and be introduced to faculty (who were subsequently doing the interviews). Then they start to split you up by your badge number. Those who are interviewing went back to nibbling and chatting in the lounge area and waited to be called and taken to the room to be interviewed. Those who were not interviewing, went to a Q&A which was really just that. One faculty member up on the sim lab fielding questions. When he was done, some basic admissions info was presented. The main point: do not call on Dec 1 because they send letters. After the Q&A was a tour by students. Then the groups switched. Then we all met up for lunch, including the PM group.

While you always want to be on your best behavior, I think the only real part of the day where you are being looked at is in the interview. Q&A is really just Q&A. The tour with the students and lunch is really just for you to learn about the school and program. Very relaxed day. Very mild interview.

The interview is 2-on-1. Some people only had 1, but that was due to emergencies that prevented additional faculty from being present.

 

[CedarZ4]

Are you AM or PM? AM was like so:

Get a badge and a packet of info. Your badge will have a group # and a letter. Nibble on some fruit and bagels, mingle in the lounge area with all the other suits. Hit a lecture room to have a presentation about the school and be introduced to faculty (who were subsequently doing the interviews). Then they start to split you up by your badge number. Those who are interviewing went back to nibbling and chatting in the lounge area and waited to be called and taken to the room to be interviewed. Those who were not interviewing, went to a Q&A which was really just that. One faculty member up on the sim lab fielding questions. When he was done, some basic admissions info was presented. The main point: do not call on Dec 1 because they send letters. After the Q&A was a tour by students. Then the groups switched. Then we all met up for lunch, including the PM group.

While you always want to be on your best behavior, I think the only real part of the day where you are being looked at is in the interview. Q&A is really just Q&A. The tour with the students and lunch is really just for you to learn about the school and program. Very relaxed day. Very mild interview.

The interview is 2-on-1. Some people only had 1, but that was due to emergencies that prevented additional faculty from being present.

Thank you jeffity! Mine is in the AM (but 7:45 is just WAY to early!)
Very detailed explanation as to I should be expecting. Thanks 👍
If I could give you points like on other forums, you'd get a "point" haha. Since SDN doesn't have that... You get a lucky clover point. Here

Haha, SDNers can never get enough of those!

 

[dooley11]

Are you AM or PM? AM was like so:

Get a badge and a packet of info. Your badge will have a group # and a letter. Nibble on some fruit and bagels, mingle in the lounge area with all the other suits. Hit a lecture room to have a presentation about the school and be introduced to faculty (who were subsequently doing the interviews). Then they start to split you up by your badge number. Those who are interviewing went back to nibbling and chatting in the lounge area and waited to be called and taken to the room to be interviewed. Those who were not interviewing, went to a Q&A which was really just that. One faculty member up on the sim lab fielding questions. When he was done, some basic admissions info was presented. The main point: do not call on Dec 1 because they send letters. After the Q&A was a tour by students. Then the groups switched. Then we all met up for lunch, including the PM group.

While you always want to be on your best behavior, I think the only real part of the day where you are being looked at is in the interview. Q&A is really just Q&A. The tour with the students and lunch is really just for you to learn about the school and program. Very relaxed day. Very mild interview.

The interview is 2-on-1. Some people only had 1, but that was due to emergencies that prevented additional faculty from being present.

This was a very helpful response! Thank you! Did you talk to the same faculty members during your entire interview session? Or did you go around and talked to different faculty members? How long does the interview session last?

 

[jeffity]

This was a very helpful response! Thank you! Did you talk to the same faculty members during your entire interview session? Or did you go around and talked to different faculty members? How long does the interview session last?

I just had the same 2 faculty members for my interview. No switching rooms or interviewers or anything. My interview wasn't long. In fact, it may have been too short. I would guess around 15 minutes.

 

[dooley11]

I just had the same 2 faculty members for my interview. No switching rooms or interviewers or anything. My interview wasn't long. In fact, it may have been too short. I would guess around 15 minutes.

15 minutes? Do they only have enough time to ask generic questions like why western/why dentistry etc?

 

[dantemac]

Any impressions of the school anyone?! It looked gorgeous on google maps lol!

 

[jeffity]

Any impressions of the school anyone?! It looked gorgeous on google maps lol!

The area isn't as ghetto as some people make it out to be. Guess it all depends on how you grew up on what you define as ghetto. The location is a little random. It's definitely a commuter school (there are 2 apt. complex within walking distance, but you're going to want a car to commute in if you really want housing options). Overall, I was more pleased with the whole facility and program than I expected.

 

[CedarZ4]

On a side note, anyone interviewing there tomorrow (Oct 1) and interested in starting a social... or like a rager (kidding, of course)

 

[dantemac]

I'm interviewing the day after my ASDOH interview...damn that 5 hour drive overnight is going to suck

 

[John Durian]

Any impressions of the school anyone?! It looked gorgeous on google maps lol!

The school was an old strip mall and there are some creepy-ass statues located all around. Just sayin'

As for the interviewers... I recall a tag team of two professors who made some people cry 😎

 

[OCDFlosser]

I interviewed on Oct 1st. Overall, I was impressed with the school's technology and that it seemed to match other more reputable schools in their overall structure. I really like the idea of dressing as a professional (rather than wearing scrubs 24/7), and that they give D1s the opportunity to use a handpiece very early compared to most schools.

The interview: Mine was one on one...others had two on one. I had a professor who seemed almost nervous in my interview. Luckily, I was able to turn the conversation into an actual conversation at the end of the interview, rather than leaving it with the overly structured Q&A style.
It was scheduled for 7:45 (All morning interviews are), but then we were divided into 3 groups: 1,2,3...and further divided into 3 subgroups: 1A, 1B, 1C, etc. Groups 1 interview first, groups 2 tour first, and I don't know about group 3...
Then when interviews begin, subgroups A go first, and so on. I was the first to go in my group (2A), luckily. It didn't give me time to be anxious or overthink any of the Qs I read on SDN.

READ THE INTERVIEW FEEDBACK FOR WESTERN. If you need preparation - that is the only thing you need to look at.

Anyway...if you have any more detailed questions, PM me. 👍

 

[dantemac]

Could you please elaborate on the part about allowing D1s to use handpieces? Is this the pre-sim clinic I'm guessing?

 

[Just Peachy]

Could you please elaborate on the part about allowing D1s to use handpieces? Is this the pre-sim clinic I'm guessing?

Yes, D1s get this early experience in the Sim Clinic. First year (I'm a D3 at Western - it may be a little different now), they started us prepping within the first week or two of school. We had these little blocks with different patterns to work with at first that had a white, yellow, and pink layer (simulates enamel, dentin, and pulp) to get us used to how deep to go. Then we quickly moved on to practicing on typodont teeth. I think so far this year, the D1s have already learned class 1 and class 2 preps (and it's only October 3). We get early and thorough Sim Clinic experiences here - makes us feel a lot more comfortable when we started seeing patients in the PCC.

 

[dantemac]

Yes, D1s get this early experience in the Sim Clinic. First year (I'm a D3 at Western - it may be a little different now), they started us prepping within the first week or two of school. We had these little blocks with different patterns to work with at first that had a white, yellow, and pink layer (simulates enamel, dentin, and pulp) to get us used to how deep to go. Then we quickly moved on to practicing on typodont teeth. I think so far this year, the D1s have already learned class 1 and class 2 preps (and it's only October 3). We get early and thorough Sim Clinic experiences here - makes us feel a lot more comfortable when we started seeing patients in the PCC.

Thanks just peachy! While you're here...how do you like your clinical experience so far? Are you the first class treating patients?

 

[Just Peachy]

Thanks just peachy! While you're here...how do you like your clinical experience so far? Are you the first class treating patients?

We are the first class treating patients. It's been good! There are your typical irritations like patients canceling on you, being on certain rotations that aren't super exciting, trying to find patients who fit the bill for a particular competency you're trying to complete, etc, but for the most part it's really great. I've seen some cool things, done a good amount of procedures, feel comfortable with patient care, and am getting good feedback from faculty. No real complaints here! 🙂