2012-2013 University of California - Los Angeles (Geffen) Application Thread

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Originally Posted by aatia

Did anyone that submitted the secondary notice that the fee says $80, but the payment only takes $70?

yeah i totally noticed that..submitted last night..oh well! $10 saved! haha

Originally Posted by aatia

Did anyone that submitted the secondary notice that the fee says $80, but the payment only takes $70?

Yep.

Originally Posted by Infarction

Is there anyone who was verified in early July that still hasn't gotten a secondary yet? I received secondaries from all of the UCs almost immediately except for UCLA...

Same here

alma - mater, verified 6/29, nothing yet besides receipt email...

Originally Posted by kad

alma - mater, verified 6/29, nothing yet besides receipt email...

Same here and I'm a california resident. Maybe I should give them a call?

Originally Posted by jsak

Same here and I'm a california resident. Maybe I should give them a call?

Me too! What's going on??

Originally Posted by snorlax

Me too! What's going on??

would any of you start pre-writing the essay questions, if you were almost caught up with other secondaries?

Originally Posted by kad

would any of you start pre-writing the essay questions, if you were almost caught up with other secondaries?

I would do it, especially since you're already caught up with the other secondaries. The worst that could happen is that you don't receive a secondary application. But a lot of the questions that UCLA asks can be used for other secondaries so the writing wouldn't technically go to waste.

Can't seem to find this info - how many letters can be sent with the UCLA application??

Pretty sure its 5 max. One science and one non-science required

Still no secondary, verified 6/9/12 with high stats and IS. Should I give them a call? I received the receipt email.

Originally Posted by premed414

Still no secondary, verified 6/9/12 with high stats and IS. Should I give them a call? I received the receipt email.

If you got the receipt email then they have your app. Calling may come off as a little pushy and self-entitled.

Originally Posted by premed414

Still no secondary, verified 6/9/12 with high stats and IS. Should I give them a call? I received the receipt email.

Were/are you an undergrad at UCLA by any chance?

Originally Posted by premed414

Still no secondary, verified 6/9/12 with high stats and IS. Should I give them a call? I received the receipt email.

No way. That has entitlement written all over it.

.

packets count as 1 (one) letter. no worries.

Originally Posted by tjpj77

packets count as 1 (one) letter. no worries.

+1 I called them about my letters (being non-trad my letters don't exactly fit their requirements) and they seem pretty flexible about them anyway

Originally Posted by Infarction

Is there anyone who was verified in early July that still hasn't gotten a secondary yet? I received secondaries from all of the UCs almost immediately except for UCLA...

Same here. Got secondaries from all UCs except LA!

What's everyone doing for "What has been the ONE most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated?"

I'm debating between my teaching experience or a book drive that I ran. The teaching experience isn't really 'unique', but it would involve leadership/entrepreneurial/creative aspects, and I've been doing it for nearly 8 years so its pretty significant. Besides the "where do you see yourself in 10 years" question, I don't mention teaching/tutoring elsewhere in the 2ndary even though its been a big part of my life.

The book drive is more 'unique', but isn't nearly as significant. What do you guys think?

Originally Posted by MD021

What's everyone doing for "What has been the ONE most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated?"

I'm debating between my teaching experience or a book drive that I ran. The teaching experience isn't really 'unique', but it would involve leadership/entrepreneurial/creative aspects, and I've been doing it for nearly 8 years so its pretty significant. Besides the "where do you see yourself in 10 years" question, I don't mention teaching/tutoring elsewhere in the 2ndary even though its been a big part of my life.

The book drive is more 'unique', but isn't nearly as significant. What do you guys think?

Teaching is clearly a bigger part of your life, and something you would be able to talk more in depth about in your secondary and when you potentially interview. Based on that, I would go with teaching!

Originally Posted by cfive22

Same here. Got secondaries from all UCs except LA!

I got them all except for UCSF...maybe it's because I'm a Dodger fan and we're frowned upon at UCSF

Originally Posted by dsk89

Teaching is clearly a bigger part of your life, and something you would be able to talk more in depth about in your secondary and when you potentially interview. Based on that, I would go with teaching!

Thanks! Will do

Originally Posted by cfive22

Same here. Got secondaries from all UCs except LA!

Me too... I can't figure out why I didn't get this secondary

Originally Posted by MD021

What's everyone doing for "What has been the ONE most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated?"

I'm debating between my teaching experience or a book drive that I ran. The teaching experience isn't really 'unique', but it would involve leadership/entrepreneurial/creative aspects, and I've been doing it for nearly 8 years so its pretty significant. Besides the "where do you see yourself in 10 years" question, I don't mention teaching/tutoring elsewhere in the 2ndary even though its been a big part of my life.

The book drive is more 'unique', but isn't nearly as significant. What do you guys think?

I would go with teaching too. Perhaps you had to use a unique method/improvised to get results with a specific student. Or the location or subject matter or how you prepared. Think hard of something you did with it that was out of the ordinary or creative. Could make a great essay.

They just marked that they got my letters of recommendation. Does this mean they plan on sending me a secondary or am I reading too far into this?

Anyone else running into the problem of repeating stuff on their amcas? They ask for a lot of separate experiences and I feel like some of the experiences that best answer their questions are also my "most meaningful" on the amcas. If I talk about the same experiences but with different emphasis than on my amcas, will that get too repetitive?

yo my fellow bear. i basically talked about the same activities but talked about them to show something a little different/added more description than what was on my amcas

Does anyone know if UCLA is still sending out secondaries? I received the "AMCAS received" email a while ago, and have been verified since ~6/10. Stats are high enough to avoid auto screen out, and am a CA resident.

Last secondary left and a top choice, has me worried!

You sure your stats protected you from auto screen? 9 in verbal is quite low for UCLA

Originally Posted by basedbear

You sure your stats protected you from auto screen? 9 in verbal is quite low for UCLA

9 is fine. I have a 7 in verbal and I received a secondary invitation.

Originally Posted by premed414

Does anyone know if UCLA is still sending out secondaries? I received the "AMCAS received" email a while ago, and have been verified since ~6/10. Stats are high enough to avoid auto screen out, and am a CA resident.

Last secondary left and a top choice, has me worried!

I'm still waiting too. Their "AMCAS received" email says they're doing preliminary reviews through January, and according to the status page (https://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/appl...rms/status.htm) I haven't been outright rejected yet, but I'm worried too. I think it's because I'm a re-applicant though. C'mon UCLA, give me a chance!

Originally Posted by ModernAlchemist

They just marked that they got my letters of recommendation. Does this mean they plan on sending me a secondary or am I reading too far into this?

They've had my LORs since 8/2 and still haven't heard from them, I think you might be reading a little too much into it.

Originally Posted by arabwolverine13

They've had my LORs since 8/2 and still haven't heard from them, I think you might be reading a little too much into it.

Haha thanks for the honesty. I wasn't sure.

Does anyone know about the English pre req. I emailed the admissions office over a week ago to ask if a writing intensive class could substitute. No answer.

Anyone else have an answer to this question?

Originally Posted by aps91

Does anyone know about the English pre req. I emailed the admissions office over a week ago to ask if a writing intensive class could substitute. No answer.

Anyone else have an answer to this question?

According to their own Pre-Health page, the writing course (W after the course name) will be sufficient

One year of college level literature and composition. Writing I and Writing II courses, select general education literature courses, and any upper division English literature or English Composition courses will satisfy this requirement. Please see the “English requirement for health professions schools” sheet for a complete list of suggested courses. These courses will prepare you for the Verbal Reasoning and Writing Sample sections of the MCAT.

http://career.ucla.edu/Students/Grad.../Medicine.aspx

Originally Posted by aps91

Does anyone know about the English pre req. I emailed the admissions office over a week ago to ask if a writing intensive class could substitute. No answer.

Anyone else have an answer to this question?

I didn't ask that exact question, because my situation was minorly different. But I think they screen out any pre-req questions, so feel free to call them, they are quite nice.

But you can take a post-bacc English course at a CC to fulfill this requirement prior to matriculation. So if I get interviewed/accepted... I'm going to love taking a freshman English class at a CC.

On the status page there is a blank next to transcript. I thought amcas automatically forwarded our transcripts?

They already have my LOR from amcas and my secondary, so I was curious as to whether my application is complete or not without the transcript?

Originally Posted by idontcaureuknow

I didn't ask that exact question, because my situation was minorly different. But I think they screen out any pre-req questions, so feel free to call them, they are quite nice.

But you can take a post-bacc English course at a CC to fulfill this requirement prior to matriculation. So if I get interviewed/accepted... I'm going to love taking a freshman English class at a CC.

I just feel awful saying "no" on the secondary to "have you completed a year of college English".

Originally Posted by aps91

I just feel awful saying "no" on the secondary to "have you completed a year of college English".

I don't even understand why they care if you've been to college in England.

Anyone still waiting on secondary here? Or is it something like a silent rejection if you still haven't gotten one yet (AMCAS complete 7/17)?

Originally Posted by meix

Anyone still waiting on secondary here? Or is it something like a silent rejection if you still haven't gotten one yet (AMCAS complete 7/17)?

Have you received an email with the subject "Medical School Application Receipt" from David Geffen UCLA yet? I believe everyone gets that email first, so if you haven't received that email yet, they probably haven't processed your application yet.

Originally Posted by An MD Hopeful

Have you received an email with the subject "Medical School Application Receipt" from David Geffen UCLA yet? I believe everyone gets that email first, so if you haven't received that email yet, they probably haven't processed your application yet.

Yeah, I got that 7/23. I really wish schools would do outright rejections instead of making us wait in limbo =\

Has anyone received the secondary in August? I don't see anyone rejoicing about getting it this month, maybe they send them out in really big batches? *hoping*

Originally Posted by not my name

Has anyone received the secondary in August? I don't see anyone rejoicing about getting it this month, maybe they send them out in really big batches? *hoping*

Me too. Hate to waste my pre-written essays

Originally Posted by elevenses

I don't even understand why they care if you've been to college in England.

Hahaha...

Originally Posted by AllDay24

Me too. Hate to waste my pre-written essays

The lack of secondary from UCLA is really tanking my spirits. One of my top choices and I might get rejected pre-secondary.

In bold below, it states that AP credit will not be accepted for completion of required courses. Does the same apply to IB (International Baccalaureate) credit? Are IB courses (similar to AP courses) counted towards prerequisite requirements?

Completion of Requirements: Students must complete all premedical requirements before beginning the first year of medical study, although these requirements need not be completed at the time application for admission is filed. AP credit will not be accepted for completion of required courses.

http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/offices/admiss/admreq.cfm#prereq

For those that have already filled out the secondary, how did you guys answer the "most important honor" question, generally speaking?

It was under the scholastic area of the secondary so does it have to be academically related? Anyone take a different approach?

Originally Posted by mirimonster

The lack of secondary from UCLA is really tanking my spirits. One of my top choices and I might get rejected pre-secondary.

I agree. I got a secondary from UCLA Drew yesterday but still waiting on Geffen

Originally Posted by WWPWillis52D

For those that have already filled out the secondary, how did you guys answer the "most important honor" question, generally speaking?

It was under the scholastic area of the secondary so does it have to be academically related? Anyone take a different approach?

I don't think it has to be academically related, though it can be. I wrote about a position I was elected to and how I was honored my peers were confident in my abilities to fulfill that role.