First Year Medical Students share their experiences:
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Tara Brito had an open mind about Moscow-Pullman and didn't have
any expectations before living there. She was pleasantly surprised in
every aspect, and loved her time there! She enjoyed her classmates at
group activities, studying together and potlucks at each other's homes.
The anatomy classes were her favorite - the professors were amazing, and
so accessible. The staff went out of their way to make your first year
very special. "First year of Medical School is an adjustment wherever
you are and getting close to my classmates eased me through that
transition. The bonds we made in first year carry through to second
year and we still study together. I think Pullman and Spokane sometimes
get overlooked and applicants don't think about them during the
interview process. I would encourage applicants to find out more about
these areas ahead of time. The smaller learning environment worked well
for me. One of UW's strengths is having so many options and we can
tailor our experiences, so be sure to take advantage of that."
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John Nguyen's experiences in Moscow-Pullman were better than he expected
- the professors are awesome - the advantage of a small class size is
'first assist' in surgery, since there's no waiting in line. John enjoyed intramural sports, the anatomy
lab being open 24 hours a day and attending classes at both WSU, Pullman,
and U of I, Moscow. "Medical School is all encompassing and it's nice to
have a support system both inside and outside of school, they all want you to succeed." John can only say great things about Pullman because it was such a wonderful experience. He recommends to an incoming student, if you are considering Pullman, DO
IT!
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Megan Svec did her undergrad in Moscow so was familiar with the
area. The class size of 40 was perfect to get to know everyone. Pullman
caters to the students and has a strong sense of community - she enjoyed
the coffee shops for studying, the small town atmosphere with less
distractions being conducive to first year studies. It's affordable, no
parking or traffic problems, lots of outdoor activities, live jazz
music and shopping is 1.5 hour away in Spokane. The professors are eager
to teach, provide quick email responses and are very accessible - just
down the hall from the study carrels to assist and answer questions.
Megan is grateful to have attended her first year in Moscow-Pullman; it was a
great opportunity because the people there make it great!
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More experiences:
"The class size was perfect. We were all very unique people from various places but by the end of the year, we were a family. Those friends are the ones that I have the strongest bond with. Being in Pullman made the transition into medical school a smooth one. I wouldn't change a thing."
"I grew up near Seattle, but went to Moscow/Pullman for my first year. Instead of being lost in a sea of 100 students I was one of 40. We all knew each other and we all supported each other. I lived in Moscow, and each day that we had to go to Pullman one of my classmates picked me up along with 4 other classmates and we all rode over to Pullman. Those van rides gave me a chance to really get to know and get close with a few of my classmates. I made some really great friends while there, probably more so than I would have in Seattle, cause I was in a smaller, closer-knit group. Another advantage of going to Moscow/Pullman is the excellent teachers."
"You get to know a smaller group of students on a much more personal level. Your professors get to know you quite well and easily provide one on one attention when needed."
"Did I mention how awesome the professors are? AMAZING!"
"When you precept, you don't have to compete against clinical students or residents. YOU are often the 1st assist on surgeries, and it's common to learn how to suture and be incredibly involved in surgeries. These are opportunities that are rare when talking to the Seattle first year students. There is often a long line in Seattle, and as the 1st year student, you are at the bottom of the ladder."
"Outstanding. A superior academic experience over the Seattle site. This year is all about honing your study techniques for second year, when a real foundation of medical knowledge sets in. In Pullman I had less distractions so I was able to hone away. Lower cost of living by far, big house, sweet parties. Real friends."
"Pullman has 4 seasons...It's not always gray and cloudy in Autumn-Winter-Spring ;)
Cost of living: CHEAP! Save up money for
vacations, board exam prep courses, shopping sprees..."
"Congratulations on being selected for Pullman-Moscow WWAMI! I had the best experience in my first year WWAMI. The staff are SO wonderful, especially the office ladies or our "room moms". They really helped us figure out the complexities of first year, and I sorely missed them in Seattle where it is easy to get lost in the shuffle and not know who to talk to! The professors were equally wonderful. Anatomy at this WWAMI site is probably the best anywhere, including Seattle, because of the fabulous teaching, the professors are always available and they truly love teaching and interacting with students! All of the courses were well taught and our class almost always scored higher on the common exams than the other sites, including Seattle, so we know we were getting at least as good of an education as elsewhere. I just can't say enough about how wonderful the camaraderie was among the students. Having a class of 40 makes it easy to know everyone, and riding in the vans between campuses added some extra "debrief" time when things were stressful. I am sure Seattle and the other WWAMI sites are wonderful, but I cannot imagine having a better experience during my first year."
"I couldn't have asked for a better year. The faculty are top-notch, the class size of 40 was optimal for stimulating close friendships while preserving diversity, and the facilities are great, especially the WSU classroom. The low cost of living was also a nice bonus."
"I am from Seattle and went to UW for undergrad, but decided to head East after hearing from so many other students who had great experiences in Moscow/Pullman. I had a wonderful experience, hands down I would choose to do it again at WSU/UI. The academics are superb, the staff is incredible, there are more clinical opportunities in the community, and the smaller group of students really bond as a supportive community."
"As for the towns, you can do it for a year. I promise. You don't have enough time to do a lot anyway. :) I went to the University of Idaho (yes, I'm a WA resident, it's very complicated), so I lived there for 5 years. That was too many, but I really enjoyed the first three, and a year in medical school was a fresh perspective."
"I was originally hesitant to leave Seattle, but it was well worth the move. The environment is great for studying, everything is so close, you escape traffic for 9 months. The best part is the people in Moscow/Pullman. The physician mentors are very excited about teaching, the professors are top-notch and incredibly approachable, and they know you personally. The WWAMI staff are absolutely irreplaceable. You pretty much acquire a dad and several moms who look out for you and help you with anything you might possibly need. It's also a great way to build camaraderie among a medium-sized group of classmates."
Speak to a Student:
If you would like to speak to a student who spent their first year in Moscow-Pullman, we have several students who have volunteered and would be happy to answer your specific questions. Please contact us and we will put you in touch with them.
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