WesternU HCOM: Your Interview

Congratulations on advancing to the next step in the admissions process! By now, you should have received an electronic confirmation with the date and time of your interview. If you have any questions or need to make changes to your scheduled appointment, please contact Donna Fulton, who will be happy to assist you.

We encourage you to carefully review the information below to learn more about what to expect on interview day, how to prepare, and additional resources available to support you throughout the process.

We look forward to meeting you and learning more about your experiences, interests, and goals.

Office of Admissions
Western University of Health Sciences

About the Interview and Interviewers

WesternU HCOM conducts online interviews exclusively. We understand that applying to medical school is expensive.  Using an online platform to conduct interviews reduces the expense incurred by applicants and still provides the opportunity for our interviewers to develop a sense of who you are and the motivation behind your desire to become a physician.

Please review the information below carefully to get a sense of what to expect from your online interview. The time spent with us is designed to be informative and enjoyable. The interview is a professional exchange of information. Questions can be challenging and thought-provoking and we encourage you to approach it as you would an in-person interview. To make the best impression prepare, present yourself professionally, and remain focused.

Sample Interview Schedule: Online

To help ease the added stress of the online interview, we are providing you with a brief overview of what to expect on your interview day, including technology tips. Our online interview platform is Zoom. If you do not have Zoom free versions are available for download. Be sure you have the newest version of Zoom to optimize your experience.

Prior to the interview, you will be required to view a series of short videos located at the bottom of this page. They can be viewed all at once or at different times prior to your interview. They are narrated by administration, faculty and staff and contain valuable information about our campus, pre-clinical and clinical education, residency placement, the community of Lebanon, and student support services. The Interview Day Guidebook is also posted with the videos for you to review prior to your interview.

Our online interview days last  approximately four hours and contain the same components as our in-person interview day, a welcome from COMP Administration, orientation, traditional half-hour panel interview with  2 or 3 interviewers consisting of faculty, physicians, community members, alumni, current students or staff, a Q & A session with current students, two MMIs, , ice breaker, a narrated campus tour and a closing that will explain the next steps in the Admissions process. During the 30-minute interview you will be asked to draw from personal experiences to formulate your answers. The interview is meant to be a professional exchange of information. Questions can be challenging and thought-provoking. As you progress through the day, you will be provided guidance on when to move to your breakout rooms and when to return to the main meeting.

You will receive a confirmation email after your registration is complete. The Zoom links will be sent to you three days before your interview. The times listed are in the Pacific Time Zone.

You will also be invited to join a pre-interview Ambassador Social. This is an informal evening event designed to provide you with the opportunity to talk with our students. Students will share their experiences at our college and answer any questions you may have. Spouses and significant others may attend the Ambassador Social with you.

Check-In

A Zoom meeting link and check-in time will be included in your Interview Day Reminder email, 3 days before your interview. You will be able to check in 10 minutes before your designated time. When you enter the meeting, you will be in the waiting area. Please be patient as we admit candidates and invite you to the Main Session.

Ambassador Social

We offer a casual Student Ambassador Social hosted by our current students.  It will be held using zoom.  You can register for the Ambassador Social when you register for your interview day.  You can attend all or a portion of the event, and spouses/significant others are welcome to attend with you. Our Ambassadors are looking forward to meeting you.

Preparing For Your Interview Day

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for your time with us

• Test your system to make sure the audio/video is working.
• Watch the WesternU HCOM Student Support Services video.
• Watch the 1st and 2nd Year Curriculum video.
• Watch the 3rd and 4th Year Curriculum video.
• Visit the WesternU HCOM Program web page.
• Have a few questions ready for the interviewers. They will give you time to ask questions at the end of the interview.
• Have a pen and notepad ready in case you need to take notes.
• Get a good night’s sleep so your body and mind are refreshed.

Technology

On Online Interview Day you will need the following:

• A stable internet connection
• A computer or tablet with a good webcam and microphone. A mobile phone may be used if your mobile data connection is more stable than your internet connection. You will need a phone stand of some sort to keep your phone from moving. Use a device that will not accept phone calls during the interview, a phone call will disrupt the interview and may cause you to lose your focus.

Conduct a Technology Check

• Check your microphone and camera to make sure they are working well, and the picture and sound are good quality.
• Check your internet speed, you can do this at SpeedTest.net. Sometimes switching from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet connection improves your internet speed. If your home’s internet connection is too slow, consider using a private study room at a library or a private room at your school or other location with a stable Wi-Fi.
• Practice positioning the camera at eye level so that you look directly at your interviewers.

Setting Up

Allow time before the interview starts to conduct a last-minute technology check:

• Double check your microphone and camera to make sure they are working well.
• Position your camera and microphone to obtain a clear video and audio.
• Shut down all programs on your device so that no alerts, notifications, or other electronic interruptions distract you.
• Make sure your device is fully changed. Have a charger with you and make sure you can plug into an outlet in case there is a problem with your battery.

Location

Identify a private, quiet, well-lit space where you can complete the interview by yourself, free of potential distractions, and where you can speak freely. Make sure you have control over the background noise and activity, so avoid open or shared spaces.

• Avoid having light sources directly behind you because they will cast a shadow on you. Instead, make sure a light source is in front of you or overhead so the interviewers can see you clearly.
• Consider the background you will use on Online Interview Day and try to keep it clean, neat, and free of distraction.

What Happens After Your Interview

• Please complete the feedback survey sent to your email.
• You will receive a decision in 4 weeks.
• There are 3 decisions: Admit, Alternate, and Deny.
• All decisions are final.

Useful Resources

• Tuition/Scholarships
• Course Catalog
• Office For International Students and Scholars
• Learning Enhancement & Academic Development (LEAD)
• Harris Family Center for Disability Policy
• Student Government Association (SGA)

Identity Verification Policy

Proper identification of individuals allows WesternU to provide a safe and secure campus environment. In addition, the United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Public Law 110-315, requires that University confirm that a person enrolling in the University is the person who is completing the enrollment form, and that the student taking an examination is the student who participates in, completes, and receives credit for the course.

It is the policy of Western University of Health Sciences that applicants to the University are required to provide a government issued ID when registering for an Admissions interview. Government issued IDs will be verified as applicants check in for an Admissions interview.  Applicants who are unable to provide an acceptable form of identification may reschedule their interview if space is available. For more information on acceptable forms of identification, visit the Identity Verification policy web page.

Admissions Policy

It is the policy of Western University of Health Sciences/HCOM that we offer only one interview per application period. Once the interview is over, we do not offer the opportunity to provide additional information to your interviewers. All decisions made by the Admissions Committee are final. We do not offer an appeal process.