What are your thoughts on Georgetown

[woolie]

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I am about to write up my secondary for Georgetown and I have to admit, that after 30 other secondaries (yes, 30), I am really pooped. I know it's a great school and they have really excellent things on their website, but I am feeling mentally deficient at this point and am having a hard time writing something that sounds intelligent and sincere. I've done that for 30 other schools and now I feel like I have run out of steam.

What do people know/feel about Gtown? I've also been reading some threads and comments where people were not so friendly about the school. It seems pretty excellent to me, and I think they're non-trad friendly.

It's my last secondary so I am trying to just get it done and out the door. I appreciate any thoughts people might have ...

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

my hint for secondaries:

Copy, Paste.

Nuff said
🙄

 

[Bones2008]

I dunno if this is what you mean, but I've heard that G-town is having some serious, serious financial problems and that they're having trouble keeping up the funds to educate their students. Someone from my college who went there ended up transfering out for that reason.

 

[Smitty75]

Gtown seems like a solid school. I interviewed there earlier this year and the students I met were pleased with their decision to attend. Keep in mind they have a religious affiliation, and this might have an impact on your impressions depending on your own personal beliefs and preferences. Also, they have a pretty intense schedual for the first year. They tack on some extra courses in addition to the traditional MS1 classes. In some cases this means class on the weekends.

I personally prefer my state schools to georgetown, but I did not regret my decision to apply. I think they have a lot to offer, and I recommend going ahead and completing their secondary. Put some thought into the secondary essays, I assure they do matter.

 

[woolie]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I was kind of interested in the religious/spiritual emphasis they have and the first year ethics and religion class they require. It doesn't seem to over the top and could be pretty interesting if done well. I don't mind the catholic/jesuit tradtions and the school seems really open to people of other faiths and respectful of the different traditions.

I am glad I waited to write their essay because I agree that they do really put alot of weight on it. Some people have mentioned the cura personalis emphasis, and the focus on a broader understanding of medicine and our ethical place in people's lifes. (I think I said that right ...)

I'm surprised they are struggling since the hospital system seems so incredibly excellent. I like their curriculum and their program alot so I guess I just have to really think about how to express that well.

 

[cather]

I liked Georgetown a lot when I went there for my interview.
First off, the people there are very open with you in communicating Georgetown's philosophy. My interview was very fair and the interviewer asked fair questions. At other schools, my interviewers made snide remarks and asked inappropriate questions --this experience has really made me question the medical profession.
So I appreciate that the interviewer at Georgetown was very fair and respectful.
What I hate about this admissions process is that some admissions officers/interviewers don't seem to respect us applicants. I mean, they grant us an interview, and then they either make rude comments or ask strange questions during the interview. I have had to travel to these interviews and pay money in applying and the least they can do is respect what I have to say.

Second, Georgetown doesn't really have financial problems.

Third, I like Georgetown's curriculum. It emphasizes "amicus personalis" the dignity and worth of each person you treat as a patient. I think its important for medical schools to teach core values/ethics.

To sum it up: I liked Georgetown because they treat the interviewers with respect. They tell you whatever you want to know about Georgetown. By the way, I am not Catholic or very religious. It didn't seem to me that there is a strong religious influence at the school.

 

[Tezzie]

One of my worst interviews was at Georgetown. The school didn't impress me as much as others. Solid school but i am not really that interested.

 

[vscarlet27]

I second Tezzie - last year when I interviewed, Georgetown was the only one that negatively impressed me. I think that it relies on its reputation from its other schools (eg undergrad and law, etc) to recruit students for its not-as-remarkable medical school. The student I stayed with actually said that he chose the school because he was a "***** for the name" -- and during the interview introduction, the woman repeatedly talked about "Harvard, Duke, Stanford, Georgetown" in the same breath. Over and over again. I wanted to scream, your med school is NOT Harvard, Duke or Stanford!!

During the interview, which lasted all of 20 minutes, the only question that I was really asked was, "So why do you want to come to Georgetown?" It was his first question, and then after my reply, followed by a very limited discussion about me, he returned to it, asking me really, why i would want to come to Georgetown and how I had even decided to apply, being from the West Coast. I know they were looking for some kissass answer about its reputation and prestige, but I just couldn't bring myself to answer him like that.

And on a followup note, Georgetown was the only school to reject me post-interview, and the 7 other schools I interviewed at were all "more competitive". (i most likely did not show the enthusiasm for their school that they were looking for?) Sorry for this rant, and nothing personal against people who do go to Gtown, it is a fine med school, I'm just relaying my not-so-hot interview experience to you. Save the 100 bucks they charge you for the secondary (by the way, is it still write a page about why you want to go to Gtown?) and bank on the fact that of the THIRTY others you'll end up at a school where they have the confidence that they are a good medical school and don't need to be reassured of that by their applicants.

 

[indiamacbean]

I want to just add on to what people are saying about Georgetown. Many of my impressions when I interviewed last year were similar to vscarlet 27. I was mostly turned off by their very real financial situation. What other school has a talk about financial stability on interview day, a credit check, a third year clerkship experience that is partially underwritten by a drug company as well as the fact that their teaching hospital system is owned by an HMO (medstar, I believe). Remember that clinical research and innovative and novel treatments/therapeutics are often conducted at a net loss for the teaching hospital. Will an HMO be more or less willing to underwrite these losses? All that being said, I was in the ER last night and there was a fourth year G-town med. student there on an elective rotation. he was very very impressive and on top of his game. i don't doubt that G-Town turns out solid clinicians but if you are really looking into a research focused/academic career, there might be better places.

 

[XxRocKxX]

they give you the financial talk so you arent in the dark...you see all the threads about MSSM's financial crisis and they dont even mention it at their interviews.

besides, Gtown fixed their financial problem by selling their hospital to Medstar. As you can see their rankings are going up (weren't ranked last year but are now)....but rankings mean jack


still, id take state school over gtown (not worth the extra money) but it is a fine school (facilities are run down but you get an excellent clinical education)

 

[UCIgrad2002]

hey people,

i have a question which is kinda off topic. i sent my secondary and fee to georgetown probably over 5 weeks ago. i just received an email TODAY saying that my file was complete. is this normal? does it usually take them this long? (for those of you that applied there). thanks for the help! peace.

 

[ATPase]

It took several weeks to hear from them that my file was complete and then another month before I got an interview invite.