2008-2009 Stanford Secondary Application Thread

[thegreenlight]

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This is really interesting. Based on what I see, it looks like they assign scores for research, leadership, originality, non-academic, disadvantaged status, some sort of vote, and interview performance. I wonder how much the interview is weighted in this whole process.


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa.html


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss3.html

http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss1.html

 

[DeVeras]

This is really interesting. Based on what I see, it looks like they assign scores for research, leadership, originality, non-academic, disadvantaged status, some sort of vote, and interview performance. I wonder how much the interview is weighted in this whole process.


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa.html


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss3.html

http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss1.html

I'm going to go with the "ignorance is bliss" mentality. I can sleep better at night thinking about the fact that a group of strangers is judging my existence over the past 3 years with absolutely no rhyme or reason rather than a systematic, computerized approach to determine my future.

Mmmm...comfort. 😛

 

[shemarty]

Geez, how did you even find that?

 

[SDN2013]

Geez, how did you even find that?

he's creeping me out, I don't think those were meant for pre-meds to see lol

This is really interesting. Based on what I see, it looks like they assign scores for research, leadership, originality, non-academic, disadvantaged status, some sort of vote, and interview performance. I wonder how much the interview is weighted in this whole process.


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa.html


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss3.html

http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss1.html

 

[Vihsadas]

Holy crap, lol. That must have been some impressive sleuthing skills. It's the secret backdoor into Stanford. "If you can find our admissions procedures, we'll let you in."

 

[thegreenlight]

Geez, how did you even find that?

I was googling "stanford admissions committee" and it came up.

Okay, I need to obsessing about Stanford right now. Otherwise, I will be setting myself up for a major disappointment later this week (or whenever they finally decide to send out decisions). Won't it be hilarious when I get rejected? Wow. I'm such a loser.

 

[shemarty]

I was googling "stanford admissions committee" and it came up.

Okay, I need to obsessing about Stanford right now. Otherwise, I will be setting myself up for a major disappointment later this week (or whenever they finally decide to send out decisions). Won't it be hilarious when I get rejected? Wow. I'm such a loser.

Yea, the purpose of the website seems to be assessing the computerized database system, not for premeds to see what the admissions criteria are.

I'm a little surprised they didn't at least require you to log in with a Stanford ID before you could see the screenshots.

I have an incredibly hectic week coming up, so that's keeping me a bit distracted.

 

[SDN2013]

I wonder who William Tell is?

And looks like publications matter, afterall! Wish I could click on screenshots though

 

[skiqueen]

I wonder who William Tell is?

And looks like publications matter, afterall! Wish I could click on screenshots though

Haha! I liked the names on all the screenshots. Someone had fun with that.

 

[SDN2013]

Haha! I liked the names on all the screenshots. Someone had fun with that.

Yea, but I think William Tell might actually be real. Probably the guy who developed the MESA or something. Man I wish I was a descendent of Picasso

 

[shemarty]

I wonder who William Tell is?

And looks like publications matter, afterall! Wish I could click on screenshots though

Having a publication is good, obviously, but not having any is okay if you demonstrate that you've been involved in a scholarly endeavor of some sort.

Yes, Stanford's a very research-oriented school, but just having your name on a publication probably doesn't make you a shoo-in, and not being published doesn't mean you have no chance.

And it doesn't have to be basic-science research, either.

 

[SDN2013]

But you can't get the 1 without pub, you'd only get a score of 2 🙁

 

[shemarty]

But you can't get the 1 without pub, you'd only get a score of 2 🙁

I don't know... it seems like "publication" may only be an EXAMPLE of an "in-depth experience with significant productivity."

Maybe presenting at a national conference, or something else along those lines, might also earn an applicant a 1 in that category...?

Again, I really don't know and I'm only speculating. Anyway this isn't going to get us anywhere. Lets just continue to cross our fingers.

 

[SDN2013]

I don't know... it seems like "publication" may only be an EXAMPLE of an "in-depth experience with significant productivity."

Maybe presenting at a national conference, or something else along those lines, might also earn an applicant a 1 in that category...?

Again, I really don't know and I'm only speculating. Anyway this isn't going to get us anywhere. Lets just continue to cross our fingers.

True. Yea it's too late to worry about this now, would only help if I was a freshman choosing labs or something.

 

[LadyDemosthenes]

Okay, some things that will HOPEFULLY help people calm down. I was in the October group. I haven't heard from the dean, but I heard from an interviewer. So that must mean the dean hasn't made all his calls yet (for certain). Also, I did not publish. In fact, one of my projects did not work out at all, and I mentioned this. I did; however, do a lot of research and show an interest in academic medicine. -crosses fingers- Good luck everyone.

 

[MarylandDude]

This is really interesting. Based on what I see, it looks like they assign scores for research, leadership, originality, non-academic, disadvantaged status, some sort of vote, and interview performance. I wonder how much the interview is weighted in this whole process.


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa.html


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss3.html

http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss1.html

WOW this is an amazing find 😱!!

 

[waytooez]

This is really interesting. Based on what I see, it looks like they assign scores for research, leadership, originality, non-academic, disadvantaged status, some sort of vote, and interview performance. I wonder how much the interview is weighted in this whole process.


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa.html


http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss3.html

http://med.stanford.edu/irt/development/mesa_ss1.html

WHAT THE EFFFF!

so all i had to do was do more than 1 year of research and get a pub and then become a "leader?"

 

[thegreenlight]

Okay, some things that will HOPEFULLY help people calm down. I was in the October group. I haven't heard from the dean, but I heard from an interviewer. So that must mean the dean hasn't made all his calls yet (for certain). Also, I did not publish. In fact, one of my projects did not work out at all, and I mentioned this. I did; however, do a lot of research and show an interest in academic medicine. -crosses fingers- Good luck everyone.

A few questions, hope you don't mind answering,

- when did you hear from your interviewer?

- did you hear from a faculty interviewer, a student interview, or both?

- was the purpose of the e-mail to congratulate you or inform you of your acceptance?


I'm just trying to figure out what might be going on right now; waiting for decisions is driving me crazy. 🙁

 

[LadyDemosthenes]

Yesterday, just the student, and I had no idea before the email, so I guess both inform and congratulate? I haven't heard anything from any other source (i.e. the Dean), so if it weren't for my student interviewer, I would be in the dark, too. And obviously, I heard from my interviewers at a different time than others, so I think it's just based on interviewer preference. Some may say nothing at all.

 

[skiqueen]

I'm a bit frustrated right now too about the publication thing. When I applied I had a few papers "in preparation" but nothing published (I'm a PhD student). I was fortunate enough to have one accepted to Science about a month ago, on which I'm first author (I was shocked!). I was able to update other schools with this info, but not Stanford as they don't take pre-interview updates. Guess they'll never know, but maybe there were other parts of my app. that concerned them. Oh well, I know I've been really fortunate with my other acceptances. Good luck to those of you waiting to hear within the next few days. Stanford's a great place to be!

 

[SDN2013]

I'm a bit frustrated right now too about the publication thing. When I applied I had a few papers "in preparation" but nothing published (I'm a PhD student). I was fortunate enough to have one accepted to Science about a month ago, on which I'm first author (I was shocked!). I was able to update other schools with this info, but not Stanford as they don't take pre-interview updates. Guess they'll never know, but maybe there were other parts of my app. that concerned them. Oh well, I know I've been really fortunate with my other acceptances. Good luck to those of you waiting to hear within the next few days. Stanford's a great place to be!

I think they are looking for high impact first author papers. Something along the lines of Scientific American or Popular Mechanics

All jokes aside, Stanford is missing out, although you are a PhD, but still!

 

[thegreenlight]

Less than 8 days left...


Last year, someone was accepted on the 10th. If they are following a similar schedule this year, then I expect that phone calls will be made around this Friday.

 

[AppleGeek]

hey, less than 8 days left, what does that mean? I thought their rolling interview/admissions process goes till april?

this is what they sent to me:

Invitations to interview will be sent beginning in October
and will continue through April.

but since is rolling admissions, if they've filled their spots already, there's no point in sending more invites i guess?

 

[thegreenlight]

hey, less than 8 days left, what does that mean? I thought their rolling interview/admissions process goes till april?

this is what they sent to me:

Invitations to interview will be sent beginning in October
and will continue through April.

but since is rolling admissions, if they've filled their spots already, there's no point in sending more invites i guess?

Less than 8 days left for October/November interviewees to hear back (at least, this is what we hope).

 

[thegreenlight]

Anyone read through last year's thread? It's so depressing. It looks like, every year, Garcia calls a few applicants in December. I assume that this is done for the very best applicants only. In the first two weeks of January, most of the Oct/Nov interviewee acceptances go out. Waitlists and rejections for this cohort are sent out in the first week of February. 🙁


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=476530&

 

[MarylandDude]

Anyone read through last year's thread? It's so depressing. It looks like, every year, Garcia calls a few applicants in December. I assume that this is done for the very best applicants only. In the first two weeks of January, most of the Oct/Nov interviewee acceptances go out. Waitlists and rejections for this cohort are sent out in the first week of February. 🙁


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=476530&

I don't exactly feel sympathy for you.
You just got an interview at YALE 😀 😛

 

[frostedflakes]

Anyone read through last year's thread? It's so depressing. It looks like, every year, Garcia calls a few applicants in December. I assume that this is done for the very best applicants only. In the first two weeks of January, most of the Oct/Nov interviewee acceptances go out. Waitlists and rejections for this cohort are sent out in the first week of February. 🙁


http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=476530&

Yeah, I must admit I am similarly lacking in sympathy. You still have plenty of time to get good news!

Oh, and about your name -- did you have the green light from 'The Great Gatsby' in mind? I have to plug the last paragraph from that novel -- one of the best in literature.

 

[thegreenlight]

Oh, and about your name -- did you have the green light from 'The Great Gatsby' in mind? I have to plug the last paragraph from that novel -- one of the best in literature.

For me, the green light is admission to Stanford (or UCSF).


"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning—
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

 

[thegreenlight]

Sigh. Another day with no news......

Last year, someone was accepted on 1/10, so hopefully, we'll starting hearing something tomorrow or Monday.

 

[Tiare208]

Yeah, my guess is Monday because I think they probably need this whole week to catch up after the holidays. Good luck, everyone! (and to me too, I hope)

 

[shemarty]

Sigh. Another day with no news......

Last year, someone was accepted on 1/10, so hopefully, we'll starting hearing something tomorrow or Monday.

I guess the meetings are on Thursdays... the 1st Thursday of the month, from the acceptance dates on last year's thread...though there were some ppl who found out in the middle of the month, too.

So, today is the equivalent of January 10th from last year...

 

[KaiHa]

I guess the meetings are on Thursdays... the 1st Thursday of the month, from the acceptance dates on last year's thread...though there were some ppl who found out in the middle of the month, too.

So, today is the equivalent of January 10th from last year...

Could give me the link to last year's acceptance threads? I cannot find it anywhere 🙂

 

[thegreenlight]

I guess the meetings are on Thursdays... the 1st Thursday of the month, from the acceptance dates on last year's thread...though there were some ppl who found out in the middle of the month, too.

So, today is the equivalent of January 10th from last year...

By the way, when you spoke to Greg, did he ask you for your AMCAS ID or your interview date?

 

[serikk85]

I'm in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just got off the phone!!!! So pumped!!!!!

 

[AspirinPlease]

just got off the phone with Dean Garcia. got the nod, i'm in.

 

[Tiare208]

just got off the phone with Dean Garcia. got the nod, i'm in.

When did you interview? Your MDApps didn't load for me. Unless you're an October interviewee, no October interviewees have been admitted yet. So there's still hope for me in that case...

 

[serikk85]

When did you interview? Your MDApps didn't load for me. Unless you're an October interviewee, no October interviewees have been admitted yet. So there's still hope for me in that case...

There's definately still hope for you. I don't think that they accept in any sort of order. I interviewed mid-November. I seriously doubt they passed up all the Octobers on their way to November.

 

[thegreenlight]

No call. It looks like I'm either waitlisted or rejected. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but I'm pretty sure that *all* October and up to mid-November interviewees have been reviewed at this point. I looked at the threads from the past few years, and it seems that, if you are in this group (like me) and you didn't receive a phone call tonight, then you can probably expect a waitlist letter to come in a week or so. Phone calls take place on Thursday nights only; there will be no additional phone calls tomorrow. The next round of phone calls will be for late November and early December cohort.

Anyways, congratulations to everyone who was accepted! You are all amazing, and I wish you the best of luck at Stanford or whichever other school you choose.

 

[shemarty]

I didn't get a call tonight either.

All the SDNers who have gotten in (all 4, anyway) interviewed in mid November. I don't know what to think, but I don't think that not getting a call tonight automatically means that you're waitlisted/rejected. There were ppl getting calls on Friday before... *shrug*

 

[silverlining1]

Congratulations to those of you who were accepted! Good luck to those of you still waiting - I know it's frustrating...

 

[LadyDemosthenes]

Yeah, Dean Garcia did call this evening.

 

[AspirinPlease]

I interviewed Nov. 4th. Look out for area code 650

 

[shemarty]

Can everybody who got in post on the acceptance thread so the data is easier for next year's applicants to find?

I had to read through 6 pages of last years thread to see when a couple people got the phone calls, haha.

 

[Tiare208]

Maybe there are such a small number of interviewees that the people who happened to interview in October and be accepted just aren't on SDN? Stanford waitlists and rejects, right? They don't just defer a decision until March?

 

[thegreenlight]

Maybe there are such a small number of interviewees that the people who happened to interview in October and be accepted just aren't on SDN? Stanford waitlists and rejects, right? They don't just defer a decision until March?

I think that is the case. Also, considering that we were invited so early, I think we will most likely be waitlisted rather than rejected outright.

 

[Tiare208]

Is it wrong that I almost want to be rejected so I can have closure? I hate waiting around for schools...

 

[serikk85]

I think that is the case. Also, considering that we were invited so early, I think we will most likely be waitlisted rather than rejected outright.

Are you guys sure? I was told not to expect to hear anything until mid-February, and yet the call came last night. I'm still not convinced they make decisions in interview order.

 

[CALibration]

I interviewed in October and got the phone call last night. Dean Garcia also told me that he had been away and had a lot of phone calls to make. Maybe he'll call more people today or early next week.

Best of luck to all of you waiting👍

 

[shemarty]

A med student interviewer at Stanford told me:

"All i know is that the first round of calls went out this week. i know the one person i interviewed in the first batch got it...i think they all interviewed a few weeks before you did, so you might not even come up until the next admissions committee meeting in a few weeks. that's all i know though. keep your head up...it's still too early!! 🙂"


I interviewed on 10/15 though, so I didn't even think there were interview dates a few weeks before that! So, I'm not totally sure what this means.

Yes, Stanford does send rejection and waitlist letters - they did last year, anyway. It's not just silence until March - we are supposed to hear something either way.

Does this confirm that the admissions committee meets once a month, on the first Thursday of every month? It's starting to sound like it, right?

I am not convinced that they CALLED PEOPLE in the order that they interviewed. Its possible that Nov interviewees got called before Oct interviewees. I *am* convinced that not all of the accepted people have received calls so far, since Dean Garcia told CALIbration that he had a lot of calls to make.

Lastly , when I called on Monday January 5th, Greg Vaughn said that I should hear something within 10 days, and if not I should call back. So either that means that Dean Garcia is in the process of making calls over the next several days, or that my letter is in the mail and I will receive it over the next several days. Either way, I hope to hear *something* by next Wednesday.

Again, if you got in, please post on the acceptance thread so the data is available to next year's applicants. It takes so long to read through the thread looking for all the "I got the call!" posts.

 

[Tiare208]

I interviewed on 10/6. I think that was one of their earliest dates but that they started in late September. So yeah, there were interviews a few weeks earlier. That means bad things for me though.