Your Interview – California

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 Coral Esparza, 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

This year, The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) will be conducting both online and in-person interviews. Please note that there are only 4 on-campus interviews offered this cycle. The two options are slightly different, as you’ll see below. It may help to review the two different schedules, but the choice is entirely up to you with absolutely no preference by the Admissions Committee. Please carefully review the information below to get a sense of what to expect from your online or in-person interview. Prepare, present yourself professionally, and remain focused.

Sample Interview Schedules: Online and On Campus

Online Interview

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 and MMI day, including tips on technology. 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.

To minimize wait time, your online interview and MMI take place on a different day. Our online interviews last approximately 4 hours and consist of a welcome from the Dean, an icebreaker, an admissions and student affairs presentation, a pre-clinical presentation, a financial aid presentation, networking, and the interview. The MMI takes place on the same week as your interview and will last for 30 minutes. At the time you select your online interview day, you will be given the opportunity to select your MMI timeslot. The MMI is a required part of the interview process and is needed to be considered for admission. For online interviews, you will be asked to choose one of four MMI timeslots that take place on the same week as your interview. The MMI session may take place in the morning or afternoon and is a half-hour long. You will be given an overview of the MMI process after which you will participate in two 5-minute interactions with standardized patients. Your knowledge of medicine will not be evaluated. Instructions will be given for each interaction.

On-Campus Interview

The on-campus interview will have both the interview and MMI. Our on-campus interviews last approximately 6 hours and consist of a welcome from the Dean, an icebreaker, a financial aid presentation, a pre-clinical presentation, an OMM demonstration, a campus tour, an MMI, and the interview.

Your interview will take place on a Tuesday or a Thursday, and you will be able to select the date and time. 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. The on-campus interview has the MMI preselected for you. The MMI is a required part of the interview process and is needed to be considered for admission. You will be given an overview of the MMI process after which you will participate in two 5-minute interactions with standardized patients. Your knowledge of medicine will not be evaluated. Instructions will be given for each interaction.

COMP & Conversation

You will also be invited to join our COMP & Conversation, which is a pre-interview social which is hosted by our COMP Student Ambassadors. 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 with you.

We will confirm your participation in these events; the Zoom links will be sent to you three days before your interview. Times listed are in the Pacific Time Zone.

Check-In

Online Interviews: 

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.

On-Campus Interviews:

For on-campus interviews, check-in will be held on the first floor of the HEC building. Please bring a valid ID for check-in. You can view our campus map for directions.

Preparing For Your Interview

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

Online Interviews:

• Test your system to make sure audio/video is working.
• Visit the COMP Program web page.
• Explore the opportunity to obtain dual degrees with the DO/MPH Program.
• 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.

On Campus Interviews: 

• Plan to be on campus at least 6 to 7 hours.
• Explore the opportunity to obtain dual degrees with the DO/MPH Program.
• Review Admissions video presentation.
• Review Student Affairs video presentation.

• Print directions and plan to arrive early.
• 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

To complete your online interview, 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.
• Test your system to make sure audio/video is working

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. Sometime switching from WiFi 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 WiFi.
• Practice positioning the camera at eye level so that you look directly at your interviewers. Remember the set up.
• You will be moving from the Main Session to an Interview Breakout room. Please check your device before your interview to determine how the system displays your breakout room number.  Some devices have a breakout room icon at the bottom of the screen, some devices display the breakout room number under the participants icon. Check to see how your breakout room number displays on your device.

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.

NOTE: Your interviewers and your SPs will have your cell phone number in case your technology fails.

Parking Instructions

• How to get to the WesternU California Pomona Campus
• Plan to arrive early to allow time for parking and check-in
• Parking will be available in Lot 12, a piad City of Pomona parking lot located at Gibbs Street and First Street. You can view the location of Lot 12 on the WesternU Campus Map.
• Parking is free for the first two hours. After two hours, a flat rate of $2.00 applies. City parking meters accept both coins and credit/debit cards. After parking, please check in and complete payment, if applicable, at any of the parking payment machines. You do not need to display the receipt ion your vehicle.
• Please do not park in the WesternU Health Center parking structure, as vehicles without the appropriate parking permit may receive a citation. Interview Day Directions and Arrival Plan Ahead.

Interview Location

On Campus Interviews: 

• Health Education Center (HEC)

Health Education Center

Address: 701 E Second St, Pomona, CA

Check in on the first floor at the security desk as you walk through the double doors.

About the Health Education Center

The Health Education Center (HEC) is a central campus hub featuring student study and commons spaces, Cafe Bon Appetit, classrooms, research labs, administrative offices, and a recital hall. The HEC also houses the Dean’s Offices for the Colleges of Optometry, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatric Medicine, and Dental Medicine. 

Online Interviews:

• 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 avoid open 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 so the interviewers can see you clearly.
• Consider the background you will use during your interview and try to keep it clean and 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 2 to 4 weeks.
• There are 3 decisions: Admit, Alternate, and Deny.
• All decisions are final.

Airports & Hotels

When scheduling flights, we recommend flying in and out of Ontario International Airport (ONT), which is approximately 10 miles east of our campus. Additional options include Santa Ana/John Wayne Airport (SNA), which is approximately 30 miles south of our campus or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which is approximately 40 miles west of campus. If you’re an out of town guest, you may also wish to reference some conveniently located hotels.

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/COMP 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.