2005 Secondary Thread part 01

[UCLAstudent]

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I got Northwestern this morning, too. One week deadline! Yikes.

 

[anitat]

a one week deadline?? what happens if we're going on a 2 week vacation the first two weeks of august? bad timing on my part i guess, right when the secondaries are coming in. i didn't apply to northwestern, so that won't affect me, but do people know what other schools (if any) have really quick deadlines like that?

 

[futuremsfdoc]

so what's the deal with the nw on week deadline? does everything (including lor's) have to be in by then and is it flexible at all? there's no way i'll have my committee lor by next week or even by mid-august for that matter, so i'm just wondering if nw is accommodating.

 

[An Yong]

so what's the deal with the nw on week deadline? does everything (including lor's) have to be in by then and is it flexible at all? there's no way i'll have my committee lor by next week or even by mid-august for that matter, so i'm just wondering if nw is accommodating.

Not only that, but they want it prepared in a certain manner: single page, AAMC ID on top, 12 point font.... umm i hope they realize that my lors are pre-compiled and I don't think the advising office woudl be willing to change it. Anyways, if you look at the Special note: Your letters or recommendation link, it gives a phone number that your pre-med committee/office can call to notify them that they won't be able to make the deadline.

 

[IndyZX]

Whooo... busy morning. Logged onto Michigan, and it looks like I have an interview lined up. I guess I have still have to send letters. Also, I just started working on the NW secondary.

 

[wends]

NW that bum! i cant get my lor's in by aug. either!!!!! i dont have a committee so i have to go back to school and talk to my teachers and thats in september!!!!! well, i wanted nw and now i have it....bummer

 

[Dr. Chiquita]

Hey, wends. Did you get a NW secondary?

 

[wends]

yeah i did chiquita, and now i regret wanting it so much! i cant make the LOR deadline cause im from canada and our app cycle is later and i have to wait till sept to speak to my professors, whom i already have a good relationship with. damn it!!!!! im screwed if they wont extend the deadline, Northwestern is like my first choice! i'd take it over any school! sorry for the rant.... 😱 😡 👎

 

[Dr. Chiquita]

yeah i did chiquita, and now i regret wanting it so much! i cant make the LOR deadline cause im from canada and our app cycle is later and i have to wait till sept to speak to my professors, whom i already have a good relationship with. damn it!!!!! im screwed if they wont extend the deadline, Northwestern is like my first choice! i'd take it over any school! sorry for the rant.... 😱 😡 👎

They GOT TO be flexible with LORs. Don't worry. I know for sure if they are not, nobody from my undergrad will be able to apply to NW. 'Cause my school won't send out any committee letters till the end of August.

Cheer up! 😀

 

[gold&black2005]

For VCU, those who got the secondary, did you get the secondary, or just the "we got your application" email? Cause I got that email, and I clicked on the link and i didn't see anything that jumped out and said "secondary -- click here"...Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?

Also, mine said they recieved my amcas 7/16/04...Were all yours earlier?

 

[Ames980]

For VCU, those who got the secondary, did you get the secondary, or just the "we got your application" email? Cause I got that email, and I clicked on the link and i didn't see anything that jumped out and said "secondary -- click here"...Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?

Also, mine said they recieved my amcas 7/16/04...Were all yours earlier?

so i didnt get the secondary -- just wanted you to know that youre not alone! mine says it got my application 7/21 and that it takes 7-14 days for them to let you know from that point. if thats the case, just keep checking your status, you should be getting the secondary soon! good luck!

 

[wends]

Thanks Dr.Chiquitas.....i emailed them my plight, and will phone them if i dont get a reply, and with my crappy luck my hotmail aint working too good right now. i'm in dire straights man.....damn canadian school, why dont why have a committee!!!! half our flippin undergrad is premed too....

 

[wxl31]

Wow...I hope that I don't get a NW secondary til later then. Are any of you guys working full-time and finding it impossible to write essays when you get home? Grrr...

 

[rockstar2525]

Wow...I hope that I don't get a NW secondary til later then. Are any of you guys working full-time and finding it impossible to write essays when you get home? Grrr...

I'm working two jobs just to AFFORD this whole process, and yes, I seem to have little motivation to write about "experiences that demonstrate my maturity" when I finally do get home. I want to write, "please just give me an interview, I can bull**** about this stuff better in person..."
Hang in there, we'll get through it!

 

[superdevil]

just an update (man SDN has a way of making you feel like a loser )

still nothing from NW, case western, or Upitt. (in nancy kerrigan-getting-clubbed-in-the-knee-voice, "WHY? WHY?").

also, still nada from vandy, wake (except that useless email), and mayo (again, except for stupid email); though to my knowledge they haven't started yet anyway...

today i received the dartmouth secondary snail mail and that incredibly pointless washU MCAT letter. i already applied to washU, don't they take the time to figure that out first? 🙄

 

[wends]

hey superdevil: nw will come soon im sure...i just got it but i might not be able to apply 😡

case: why don't you just start the secondary? do you have the link? i didnt receive anything either but am just going to write the essay anyways

anyways, good luck

 

[DGhiker]

Got my Northwestern email today - yay! Of course, now I have to work on it this weekend, given that due date and all. What's the deal with that?

Also got Dartmouth snail mail yesterday. Looks pretty easy. Just waitin' on MSSM, NYU and Wake now. I can't wait until this is over!

 

[superdevil]

Origianlly Posted by wends
hey superdevil: nw will come soon im sure...i just got it but i might not be able to apply 😡

case: why don't you just start the secondary? do you have the link? i didnt receive anything either but am just going to write the essay anyways

anyways, good luck

thanks for the good vibes....

you know, for a couple of weeks now, i've been telling myself, "i'll just wait until case contacts me," but now i think i'll just do the password request thing. i've got the time, so i might as well...

i hope they give you that extension on the NW LORs (i'm sure they will, though) 😉

 

[DrThom]

Got my Northwestern email today - yay! Of course, now I have to work on it this weekend, given that due date and all. What's the deal with that?

Also got Dartmouth snail mail yesterday. Looks pretty easy. Just waitin' on MSSM, NYU and Wake now. I can't wait until this is over!

hey, just go ahead and apply to all the schools I am applying too, that's cool, ya mooch....

just kidding 😀 😀 😀

 

[dogbyte]

what's with the Northwestern LORs? do you have to get them in by august? i'm still waiting on one letter.

 

[IceKid]

Wow...I hope that I don't get a NW secondary til later then. Are any of you guys working full-time and finding it impossible to write essays when you get home? Grrr...

yeah... luckily i have plenty of time to work on them at "work" though too 😛

 

[LUBDUBB]

I just got U mich like a second ago..Ok I think another batch of U mich is going out....

the email says NOT to use Internet explorer.....wtf..they should buy some new computers with all the money from secondaries.

 

[DGhiker]

hey, just go ahead and apply to all the schools I am applying too, that's cool, ya mooch....

just kidding 😀 😀 😀

Relax DrThom 😉, it's not exactly ALL. I didn't apply to Rush and I've seen you posting all over the place about that secondary (and boy am I glad I didn't have to do that). Plus I doubt you're applying to the state schools in NY, so it's all good. 👍

 

[calstudent]

Just out of curiousity, does anyone know any schools with different letter requirements than normal (such as NU), so that we can prepare for them ahead of time (unless we get screened out!)?
Thanks

 

[DrThom]

Relax DrThom 😉, it's not exactly ALL. I didn't apply to Rush and I've seen you posting all over the place about that secondary (and boy am I glad I didn't have to do that). Plus I doubt you're applying to the state schools in NY, so it's all good. 👍

Can't blame me for raising a little hell, right?

 

[fun8stuff]

I just got U mich like a second ago..Ok I think another batch of U mich is going out....

the email says NOT to use Internet explorer.....wtf..they should buy some new computers with all the money from secondaries.

Yes, I finally got UMich secondary as well! 👍

 

[Ames980]

Has anyone done the Tulane secondary yet? its an online form but looks like it needs to be printed and mailed in. with the essay questions, though, theres no limit so if you go beyond 1 screen, the rest of your essay gets cut off. how did you deal with this? only do like 5 lines or attach another sheet?

 

[DrThom]

Has anyone done the Tulane secondary yet? its an online form but looks like it needs to be printed and mailed in. with the essay questions, though, theres no limit so if you go beyond 1 screen, the rest of your essay gets cut off. how did you deal with this? only do like 5 lines or attach another sheet?

Just type enough so that the box is full but a scroll bar doesn't appear. I believe it says somewhere to limit your responses to ten lines of text, which is the size of the box (around 750 characters). Also, tulanes wants you to send a paper copy of your AMCAS so expect to be putting alot of stamps on the envelope when you mail it out.

 

[Scubadoc]

so with that tulane app, if you have to send a copy of your amcas, are you sending in the last sheet that shows what other schools you applied to? it is my understanding that the schools don't know whereelse you have applied otherwise

 

[UCLAstudent]

Do you need to be invited to fill out Tulane? I haven't gotten an e-mail, yet. I e-mailed their admissions office last week, but haven't gotten a response yet.

 

[DrThom]

so with that tulane app, if you have to send a copy of your amcas, are you sending in the last sheet that shows what other schools you applied to? it is my understanding that the schools don't know whereelse you have applied otherwise

When I sent mine off I didn't include the last two pages....they are going to have to work to find out where I am applying to schools ( *cough* interview *cough*)

 

[dcm37]

Sorry, stumbled upon this late... but here is my list of secondaries received

Albert Einstein
Univ. of Vermont
Univ. of Pittsburgh
Michigan-Ann Arbor
Univ. of Iowa
Wisconsin-Madison
Washingitn Univ. in St. Louis
Univ. of Washington

AMCAS Received: 6/21
Verified: 6/24
Transmitted: ?

 

[medic170]

Anyone heard from Tufts, Wayne State, MSUCHM, or Rosalind Franklin? So far, all I have is Albany. I have not even got a UMICH secondary yet, and I am a mich resident 😱 Anyone know anything about these schools secondaries?

 

[calstudent]

Anyone heard from Tufts, Wayne State, MSUCHM, or Rosalind Franklin? So far, all I have is Albany. I have not even got a UMICH secondary yet, and I am a mich resident 😱 Anyone know anything about these schools secondaries?

I dunno about any of them, but no need to fear--none of them are out, or someone would've posted.
As for UMich, they don't screen for the secondary, so expect it pretty soon. There were some people with amazing #'s that didn't get them until this week

 

[sockandmittens]

Yup I sent in Tulane (and no i never got invited to but they don't screen or really appear to care who applies or when so just fill it out when you feel like)

-if you just use print selection only for amcas and print twice you can get around the list of schools you are applying while including your hopefully lack of convictions

-just type in the box- i had to use internet explorer and if you are scrolling down to type nothing in those final lines will show up ie don't use the scroll bars

-i was able to cut and paste into the boxes just fine, though it of course rearranged my text- about nine lines in microsoft world in times 12 will be about ten lines on tulane

hope this helps

 

[Scubadoc]

When I sent mine off I didn't include the last two pages....they are going to have to work to find out where I am applying to schools ( *cough* interview *cough*)

rockin 👍 that's what i was planning to do

 

[wends]

for those of you doing teh case secondary, what kind of things are you writing about?

 

[superdevil]

Originally Posted by wends
for those of you doing teh case secondary, what kind of things are you writing about?

well, the research essay will be a slam-dunk, but as for the "interest outside of medicine" essay, i am clueless. as i just ranted in another thread, none of my non-medicine experiences (that aren't on my AMCAS) are things that i learned from, per se. its like these schools want to turn our lives into 30-minute sitcoms where we talk about things we do and then at the end of the show/essay, we say what we learned and how we've used those experiences to grow as people. blech. i guess i'll write about how i started a dynasty in NCAA Football 2005 last night... 🙄

 

[Ames980]

Yup I sent in Tulane (and no i never got invited to but they don't screen or really appear to care who applies or when so just fill it out when you feel like)

-if you just use print selection only for amcas and print twice you can get around the list of schools you are applying while including your hopefully lack of convictions

-just type in the box- i had to use internet explorer and if you are scrolling down to type nothing in those final lines will show up ie don't use the scroll bars

-i was able to cut and paste into the boxes just fine, though it of course rearranged my text- about nine lines in microsoft world in times 12 will be about ten lines on tulane

hope this helps

it does! and thanks DrThom!
and as a side note, it actually says on the tulane website that you dont even have to wait for AMCAS to say youre verified before filling out their application, so fire at will

 

[wends]

well, the research essay will be a slam-dunk, but as for the "interest outside of medicine" essay, i am clueless. as i just ranted in another thread, none of my non-medicine experiences (that aren't on my AMCAS) are things that i learned from, per se. its like these schools want to turn our lives into 30-minute sitcoms where we talk about things we do and then at the end of the show/essay, we say what we learned and how we've used those experiences to grow as people. blech. i guess i'll write about how i started a dynasty in NCAA Football 2005 last night... 🙄

LOL, i know what you mean.

I wanted to take a chance with the case secondary and write about me and my life.....how i watch oprah to unwind, taught myself to play the flute, almost burnt my apartment down during my first times cooking during undergrad, my childhood and how i adjusted to immigrating to north america. but would they care? AHHHH i hate essays 😕

 

[Ames980]

LOL, i know what you mean.

I wanted to take a chance with the case secondary and write about me and my life.....how i watch oprah to unwind, taught myself to play the flute, almost burnt my apartment down during my first times cooking during undergrad, my childhood and how i adjusted to immigrating to north america. but would they care? AHHHH i hate essays 😕

honestly, not that i know anything about this crap, but i feel like thats exactly what they would want to hear!! i mean, isnt the whole point of these essays to show yourself beyond a bunch of numbers? something for them to remember you by? so when a group of adcoms are sitting around they can say - oh yeah, the flute-playing one who needs cooking lessons.... lets take her.
but who the hell knows?

 

[superdevil]

Originally Posted by wends
I wanted to take a chance with the case secondary and write about me and my life.....how i watch oprah to unwind, taught myself to play the flute, almost burnt my apartment down during my first times cooking during undergrad, my childhood and how i adjusted to immigrating to north america. but would they care?

me too! truth is, i'm just a regular joe, but i'd feel like an idiot writing an essay about that to get into med school. i would like to say i've been listening to heavy metal since i was 10 and that i taught myself to play guitar by watching music videos, but honestly, i'm not very good anymore, because i don't have time to practice/play! i'd feel uncomfortable talking about it, because i would feel like a fraud or something. here's my going-to-class-in-your-underwear nightmare scenario:

at an interview:

interviewer: so, your essay says you play guitar?

superdevil: well, um, technically, i guess.

interviewer: well, here's a guitar, show me something (hands superdevil a guitar).

superdevil: oh (voice cracks), um, ok, how about (i start playing an old metallica song i haven't played since i was 18)...

interviewer: that's it? that's what you wrote about? you're not as talented or diverse as our other applicants, you know.

superdevil: (with great shame) yes, i know....

interviewer: you suck. i'm suing you for application essay fraud. your ass is grass, little man.

superdevil: thank you, sir. 😳

 

[leechy]

LOL, i know what you mean.

I wanted to take a chance with the case secondary and write about me and my life.....how i watch oprah to unwind, taught myself to play the flute, almost burnt my apartment down during my first times cooking during undergrad, my childhood and how i adjusted to immigrating to north america. but would they care? AHHHH i hate essays 😕

You know, I agree with Ames80, this is a good tack to take with the Case essay. I think I'll do something a little more personal / casual myself. Nothing x-rated, mind you, but personal. Dartmouth has a similar sort of essay, so I could do the same for that.

 

[DrThom]

me too! truth is, i'm just a regular joe, but i'd feel like an idiot writing an essay about that to get into med school. i would like to say i've been listening to heavy metal since i was 10 and that i taught myself to play guitar by watching music videos, but honestly, i'm not very good anymore, because i don't have time to practice/play! i'd feel uncomfortable talking about it, because i would feel like a fraud or something. here's my going-to-class-in-your-underwear nightmare scenario:

at an interview:

interviewer: so, your essay says you play guitar?

superdevil: well, um, technically, i guess.

interviewer: well, here's a guitar, show me something (hands superdevil a guitar).

superdevil: oh (voice cracks), um, ok, how about (i start playing an old metallica song i haven't played since i was 18)...

interviewer: that's it? that's what you wrote about? you're not as talented or diverse as our other applicants, you know.

superdevil: (with great shame) yes, i know....

interviewer: you suck. i'm suing you for application essay fraud. your ass is grass, little man.

superdevil: thank you, sir. 😳

I hear ya with this. In my essays I really pumped how the trombone and my involvement in music led be to pursue medicine. I can just picture them having a trombone at my interview and I screw up the "audition of a lifetime"

 

[SOUNDMAN]

I can just see my secondary for hobbies of...Yea I play computer video games, I like first person shooters the best and am in a TFC clan that competes in weekly league matches. Were doing well and in the top of our league. I play four to five positions very well, and can play offense or defense. (That last part show off my versatility). The ability to manipulate a mouse and keyboard at lightening fast speeds will help me in my quest to be a successful surgeon and physician.

Oh how I wish I could write something of the sort for a secondary.

 

[leechy]

For the questions about "why our school", I'm beginning to feel like i'm slyly summarizing their website materials. i try to personalize it, but it's approximately like, "school x has excellent research facilities... and I like to do research" or something lame like that

 

[DrThom]

For the questions about "why our school", I'm beginning to feel like i'm slyly summarizing their website materials. i try to personalize it, but it's approximately like, "school x has excellent research facilities... and I like to do research" or something lame like that

There's a better way to do this?

 

[leechy]

There's a better way to do this?

Heh yeah, i guess there's no better way. it just feels so lame 🙁 <-- smiley contemplates lameness.

 

[wends]

hey ames80, superdevil and leechy, thanks for the comments!! lol, i'm just going to write about that and show a bit of my personality (maybe i should leave out the part of being reduced to sneaking packets of beef jerky into the library so i wouldnt starve to death during exams. 😱 ). superdevil, i think its really cool that you learned the guitar by yourself, you should def add it!

has anyone got news on Tufts, MSSM, USC??

 

[UDbiochem]

i'm sorry if this has been asked already... but has Columbia sent "invites"? I've filled out most the secondary online, but I haven't heard from them like most of the other schools i'm applying to. Does this mean I've been rejected?