2011-2012 University of New Mexico Application Thread

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Oh wow- no NM applicants? I'm just wondering if anyone has gotten a secondary yet...
 
Oh wow- no NM applicants? I'm just wondering if anyone has gotten a secondary yet...

I haven't yet, but I know someone who is applying EDP who has. I believe they send them out to that group first. PM me if you want the essay questions.
 
Oh wow- no NM applicants? I'm just wondering if anyone has gotten a secondary yet...

I'm applying regular decision-- secondary received 8/25/2011.

Same prompts as last year:

1. 1. At the UNM School of Medicine we are committed to building a dynamic, productive and positive learning environment in addition to promoting cross cultural and cross racial understanding among students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions and backgrounds. Share any unique or challenging factors in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity and life and work experiences. What would you as an individual bring to our medical community?

2. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacles or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

3. While providing healthcare as a physician is often a rewarding career, it is also a profession that entails addressing constant challenges. What do you see as the most significant issues the medical profession will face in the next 20 years, and what are some potential solutions for these problems?

4. Part of the goal of the UNM School of Medicine is to address the healthcare disparities that face New Mexico. Once you become a physician, how do you foresee yourself helping to address the healthcare challenges that affect communities in the State of New Mexico?

2000 characters max/prompt
 
Cool - hey I guess this probablt doesnt apply to any of you guys, but if anybody wants the whole set of Kaplan MCAT books for free, let me know. I'm moving in like 2 days, so if someone wants them, they're yours.
 
I'm applying regular decision-- secondary received 8/25/2011.

Same prompts as last year:

1. 1. At the UNM School of Medicine we are committed to building a dynamic, productive and positive learning environment in addition to promoting cross cultural and cross racial understanding among students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions and backgrounds. Share any unique or challenging factors in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity and life and work experiences. What would you as an individual bring to our medical community?

2. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacles or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

3. While providing healthcare as a physician is often a rewarding career, it is also a profession that entails addressing constant challenges. What do you see as the most significant issues the medical profession will face in the next 20 years, and what are some potential solutions for these problems?

4. Part of the goal of the UNM School of Medicine is to address the healthcare disparities that face New Mexico. Once you become a physician, how do you foresee yourself helping to address the healthcare challenges that affect communities in the State of New Mexico?

2000 characters max/prompt

Were you at all confused by the wording of the email.

"The SOM Office of Admission will schedule your Interview Day upon our receipt of your fee and completed Secondary Application. If you do not submit your Secondary Application within the allotted 10 day period, you will be scheduled to interview automatically"

Why would they want to interview anyone who didn't care to follow their instructions of completing the secondary within 10 days?
 
Were you at all confused by the wording of the email.

"The SOM Office of Admission will schedule your Interview Day upon our receipt of your fee and completed Secondary Application. If you do not submit your Secondary Application within the allotted 10 day period, you will be scheduled to interview automatically"

Why would they want to interview anyone who didn't care to follow their instructions of completing the secondary within 10 days?

ha, I had the same question and actually asked them about it when I called the admissions office. I thought the email even suggested that receiving a secondary (since they do screen) implies an automatic interview which is not the case either... although apparently it's about 90%.
 
My MCAT scores were released 08/07. Hopefully, I'll get a secondary soon. I'm IS, too.
 
anyone with an interview yet? how long did it take to schedule after submitting secondary?
 
anyone with an interview yet? how long did it take to schedule after submitting secondary?

I believe they have interviewed most EDPs. I have an interview scheduled (regular deicsion) for next Fri 09/23. My secondary was complete on 08/29 and I received the invite 09/12.
 
I applied ED and they said all ED interviews will be completed by 9/15 I think (which makes sense for the 9/30 decision time). Good luck to all you guys!
 
Any ED people accepted yet? I know the notification date is 9/30, but are people ever informed early?
 
Just submitted my secondary app on Sunday (9/25) and got the interview invitation today, Wednesday (9/28). The interview will be Oct. 18 😱.
 
Just submitted my secondary app on Sunday (9/25) and got the interview invitation today, Wednesday (9/28). The interview will be Oct. 18 😱.

Good Luck on your interview. I had mine last Friday. The interviews are pretty relaxed - one on one. Just really know what you wrote on your secondary.
 
Yeah, mine's in the 18th, too. Any suggestions for possible questions they make ask, or general things to be prepared for?
 
Yeah, mine's in the 18th, too. Any suggestions for possible questions they make ask, or general things to be prepared for?

You definitely will be asked about New Mexico's health problems. Know what affects our state, why, and a possible solution (this is similar to the secondary question). Also know a little bit about nation wide problems and how our health care system has been changing. Be able to explain why medicine and anything you wrote about in your primary and secondary.
 
You definitely will be asked about New Mexico's health problems. Know what affects our state, why, and a possible solution (this is similar to the secondary question). Also know a little bit about nation wide problems and how our health care system has been changing. Be able to explain why medicine and anything you wrote about in your primary and secondary.

That was my general impression. Thanks for confirming! I appreciate it 🙂
 
Hi - anyone had any secondaries or interview as an OOS applicant?
 
Any ED people accepted yet? I know the notification date is 9/30, but are people ever informed early?

Hi! I was an ED and was accepted 🙂 Notifications went out on the 30th, like you said. Anyone else out there?
 
I thought I would post my stats on here is it helps anyone.
Gpa 3.38
Mcat- 29 (PS12, VR, BS9)
IS
Interviewed sept 26.

This school is my very first choice. Any suggestions what I could do now to improve my chances? The wait is killing me.
 
I thought I would post my stats on here is it helps anyone.
Gpa 3.38
Mcat- 29 (PS12, VR, BS9)
IS
Interviewed sept 26.

This school is my very first choice. Any suggestions what I could do now to improve my chances? The wait is killing me.

I'm not sure what you can do now. I was thinking about sending an update letter sometime soon. But I really think we are just going to have a long wait until March.
 
I'm not sure what you can do now. I was thinking about sending an update letter sometime soon. But I really think we are just going to have a long wait until March.

Maybe we will be one of the lucky ones. I was told that they accept some students in dec, jan and feb. If you don't mind me asking what are your stats like? There is so little information about accepted applicant at UNM other than their website.
 
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Maybe we will be one of the lucky ones. I was told that they accept some students in dec, jan and feb. If you don't mind me asking what are your stats like? There is so little information about accepted applicant at UNM other than their website.

GPA 3.89
sGPA 3.81
MCAT 28 (7PS, 10V, 11BS)
IS reapplicant.
Interviewed on Sept 23
 
How long did it take you guys to get a secondary after your AMCAS was verified and received by UNM? Did you get an email from UNM saying they received your application? I didnt. I am assuming they don't.
 
How long did it take you guys to get a secondary after your AMCAS was verified and received by UNM? Did you get an email from UNM saying they received your application? I didnt. I am assuming they don't.

It took quite some time to get the secondary, however, I was verified in early July and the secondary wasn't sent out until the end of August. I don't remember getting a complete email, rather just an interview invite.
 
How long did it take you guys to get a secondary after your AMCAS was verified and received by UNM? Did you get an email from UNM saying they received your application? I didnt. I am assuming they don't.

They were the last to send out a secondary but the first to offer an interview. No app. confirmation email.
 
I interviewed a month ago, regular decision, hoping for good things...
 
I interviewed a month ago, regular decision, hoping for good things...

good luck. aren't we all wishing for good things. I'm glad to see people posting in this thread, can be helpful figuring out when UNM hands out its first acceptances.
 
Hey ktine2016

Just to clarify these prompts are for this cycle with a total of 4 questions per secondary?



I'm applying regular decision-- secondary received 8/25/2011.

Same prompts as last year:

1. 1. At the UNM School of Medicine we are committed to building a dynamic, productive and positive learning environment in addition to promoting cross cultural and cross racial understanding among students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions and backgrounds. Share any unique or challenging factors in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity and life and work experiences. What would you as an individual bring to our medical community?

2. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacles or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

3. While providing healthcare as a physician is often a rewarding career, it is also a profession that entails addressing constant challenges. What do you see as the most significant issues the medical profession will face in the next 20 years, and what are some potential solutions for these problems?

4. Part of the goal of the UNM School of Medicine is to address the healthcare disparities that face New Mexico. Once you become a physician, how do you foresee yourself helping to address the healthcare challenges that affect communities in the State of New Mexico?

2000 characters max/prompt
 
Hey ktine2016

Just to clarify these prompts are for this cycle with a total of 4 questions per secondary?

That's correct-- it's a pretty beastly secondary in that respect.

Be sure to really think about your answers to the questions about the issues that face New Mexico and healthcare reform in general because BOTH of my interviewers really pressed these.

Best of luck!
 
Thanks ktine2016! Very helpful info. Found this cute simple videos on health care reform:

This health policy stuff is confusing to me but I know that as a future physician it is crucial to know the system and how to navigate and help our patients through it.

Just to share a small story, I am volunteering in a clinic and the doc I am shadowing told me that if she writes a prescription for 40 mg of the drug it cost 3X if she writes 20mg. So she wrote a pres. for 20 mg and asked the pt to take 2 pills a day. Likewise there are so many ways of filling out forms and paperwork that helps the patient get the most out of their health care coverage.

I also realized that there are so much paperwork for docs to do...that there isn't much time for "seeing" the patient. I know a doc who works on the Reservation and she needs to make phone calls to make specialist apts for her patients and do other paperwork that is such a pain in the ass. The staff needs to be trained to do these things. Anyway, just ranting here.

Enjoy the vids: Let me know if you know of other vids that simplify these important issues! :idea:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Ilc5xK2_E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NevFL1rGeew




http://forums.studentdoctor.net/member.php?u=411972
 
Hey guys, I interviewed a few weeks ago and just wanted to let everyone know how it went. As mentioned above, the interviews were very relaxed and conversational. NM health issues were a big topic of discussion, and we also talked some about national issues. Know your secondary very well. One interesting question I got was "what is the greatest advancement in health care?" with no specific time frame mentioned. Also both interviewers asked me to talk about a specific patient experience and what I learned from it, how it affected me, etc. Interview is open application but they are blind to your grades and MCAT. Also, UNM allocates a certain amount of points for grades, MCAT, interviews, etc. and a score of 30 and above will grant you the full amount of points. So a 35 is the same as a 30 is the same as a 40 in their book. Finally, they did mention that they will hand out a very limited number of acceptances beginning in December, but that March is when most go out.

My stats are in MDapplicant, but if you are curious I am in-state, 3.98 non-science, 3.92 science, 36S
 
Helllo everyone,

I sumbitted my secondary Sunday evening. I can't wait for my interview! Best of luck to everyone.

Stats:

In state

Overal GPA: 3.91

Science GPA : 3.86

MCAT: 33... PS 11, VR 10, BS 12
 
Dang you guys have some awesome stats. It seems like everyone has better stats than me this cycle. Anyone one applying to DO schools too?
 
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I am just applying to UNM this year. It is my first choice and I do not want to go anywhere else. If I don't get accepted this year I will go for other schools next year. I am only 21 so I figure I have time. My interview is next week and I am really excited. Is anyone else interviewing next week? Any pointers for my interview would be appreciated...
 
I just interviewed there yesterday, i think it went pretty good but you never know. The interviews were pretty relaxed and conversational but know your personal statement very well. Make sure you can describe experiences you had while volunteering/shadowing and definitely know NM and national health issues.

Only thing I didn't like was that they didn't really offer a good intro or presentation about the school. The tour guides were very nice and helpful but I didn't really get to see much of the facilities which would've been great.
It was a very different interview experience from others I've had but in the end really liked the school and people. Hoping to hear from them soon..:xf:
 
So most of us have to wait till March to get accepted??
 
Did anyone else in this thread do a pipeline program. MCAT+ or Clin. Ed.?
 
Yes. I was fortunate enough to participate in the MCAT+ program. Great program. I couldn't be more thankful to the Office of Diversity for the opportunity.
 
Yes. I was fortunate enough to participate in the MCAT+ program. Great program. I couldn't be more thankful to the Office of Diversity for the opportunity.

Cool, what year did you complete the program?
 
Hey everyone. I was accepted early decision. Like everyone has said, the interviewers are relaxed and basically want to have a conversation with you.

Is anyone thinking about housing yet? I would really like to find a roommate. Has anyone heard about Lobo Village?
 
Hey everyone. I was accepted early decision. Like everyone has said, the interviewers are relaxed and basically want to have a conversation with you.

Is anyone thinking about housing yet? I would really like to find a roommate. Has anyone heard about Lobo Village?
Lobo Village is a party crazy complex with a lot of undergrads but it is close to campus with free transportation to campus. I think all units are 4/4 suites, not ideal for studying.
 
Did anyone discuss topics mentioned in their secondary essay during the interview?
 
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