2008-2009 UCSD Secondary Application Thread

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n3opologist said:
Did anyone else get the second look email? I'm really excited to see the school again and meet everyone!

Silver: what is planned for second look, and do we have to make our own arrangements for the night of the 3rd? I'm sure BZ will update us when everything has been decided, but I was wondering if you could give the inside scoop.
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We just met to hammer out plans for Second Look today, and Brian sent out the email right after the meeting 🙂

Brian is going to contact everyone again and ask if you need transportation from the airport and if you need housing on the night of the 3rd. So no worries, we'll take care of that as the date approaches. If you prefer, of course, you can decline to stay with a student host.

We've got a lot of fun activities planned that are meant to introduce you to us students, to each other, and to the faculty. Highlights include an MS1/MS2 potluck (we're going to cook for you because we're so excited that you're coming to visit 😀), our talent show (so you can see how kooky we are), a party in our lounge, presentations from faculty, student panels and small group sessions, and a casual mingling session with faculty and alumni.

These details are not complete and may change slightly, but in general that's the scoop 🙂 We're hoping to make it informative and welcoming for everyone.

Looking forward to meeting you all! I will certainly be at events on both days!

P.S. Shemarty has already claimed my futon if she comes... but I think I have room for one more 🙂
 
hey whats up everyone...i got the second look email as well! Looking forward to meeting up with you guys in sunny SD!
 
Pre-interview hold in September or October.

Sent an update letter yesterday.

Got an interview for late March today!!!🙂🙂🙂

Very excited but worried with such a late interview.
 
Regley said:
Pre-interview hold in September or October.

Sent an update letter yesterday.

Got an interview for late March today!!!🙂🙂🙂

Very excited but worried with such a late interview.
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Oh I hope this happens to me. I want UCSD SOOOOOO badly. Hopefully after 2 letters, and a phone conversation, they'll consider me one more time. :xf:
 
Regley said:
Pre-interview hold in September or October.

Sent an update letter yesterday.

Got an interview for late March today!!!🙂🙂🙂

Very excited but worried with such a late interview.
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damn what did u put in that letter?
good job!
 
halekulani said:
damn what did u put in that letter?
good job!
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I have activities I've been doing, research primarily, since I submitted the application. I was amazed too, the letter wasn't that ridiculous
 
Regley, how did you open up your letter and do you ahve any advice of what to put in it? I'm goign to send one in too. Thanks so much!
 
Also, has anyone else sent update letters to other schools? Do you do it by email or actual paper letter?
 
Tigerlily13 said:
Also, has anyone else sent update letters to other schools? Do you do it by email or actual paper letter?
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I think for the email attachment is fine. I sent a paper letter, then an email to let them know it was on its way. They replied and said if I sent it as an attachment, they'd be happy to print it and put it in my file. So I'd just email because its faster and they are very nice
 
Brian in the admissions office is super nice and he said I could send him anything I wanted and he would print it and put it in my file.

I'm on the waitlist and sent a letter of interest...hopefully I turns out well! (I'm from out of state so I know I'm already beating the odds)
 
Tigerlily13 said:
Regley, how did you open up your letter and do you ahve any advice of what to put in it? I'm goign to send one in too. Thanks so much!
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I kept my letter very to the point. The big schools seem to not care too much about intent, they assume if you apply you want to be there. So I wrote a sentence about wanting to provide the following info as supplemental to my application. Then I went straight into my first experience I wanted to talk about. Also I sent it as an email attachment.

So I guess my advice is keep it to the point, they're busy people (especially this time of year). Hope that helps
 
Hi guys, it's my first time posting. I've been lurking for a while and decided to create an MDApps profile and join in the fun.

Is anyone else up for review on Monday? I just talked to Brian, and I should know whether I'm accepted or "acceptable" by Tuesday at noon CA time.

Here's [anxiously] hoping!
 
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hot penguin sex said:
Hi guys, it's my first time posting. I've been lurking for a while and decided to create an MDApps profile and join in the fun.

Is anyone else up for review on Monday? I just talked to Brian, and I should know whether I'm accepted or "acceptable" by Tuesday at noon CA time.

Here's [anxiously] hoping!
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I was supposed to be under review last time Jan 27, but I still haven't received a decision. So I assume that my fate will be decided on Monday. I've been anxious since Jan 27. Sigh
 
Yeah, I got pushed back too. If you call Brian, he'll let you know whether you're up for review this time, so that you don't have to stress about it too much if you're not. I confirmed with him on Friday, so my fate should be decided today, and I should know tomorrow.

I really haven't been thinking about it much at all... nothing to stress about, right?

[...]
 
Good luck to those of you waiting for a decision tomorrow!
 
the free clinic tour was awesome...dinner was cool too...I mean hey...free food at a nice restaraunt is always good
 
riceman04 said:
the free clinic tour was awesome...dinner was cool too...I mean hey...free food at a nice restaraunt is always good
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Man... on my tour we were going to get some local mexican food, and I was really excited, until someone said they didn't want to eat spicy food the night before an interview. We ended up getting California Pizza Kitchen. Meh. Less exciting. (Sorry if that person happens to be on this thread, but I was really disappointed).

In any event -- I'm going to try and be productive. I'll be back after noon CA time to post my decision!
 
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hot penguin sex said:
Man... on my tour we were going to get some local mexican food, and I was really excited, until someone said they didn't want to eat spicy food the night before an interview. We ended up getting California Pizza Kitchen. Meh. Less exciting. (Sorry if that person happens to be on this thread, but I was really disappointed).

In any event -- I'm going to try and be productive. I'll be back after noon CA time to post my decision!
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They were probably just being really responsible. Even if you like spicy food and eat it all the time, it is probably not the best thing to have the day before a very important interview.

I always eat food the day before an interview that is LEAST likely to unsettle my stomach...I want to be able to sleep.
 
Yeah, I can definitely understand not wanting an upset stomach going into the interview.

Incidentally, I just got an email from Brian. Apparently I've been filed under "acceptable." This is a much bigger letdown.

Anyone know what UCSD thinks of letters of interest/intent?
 
hot penguin sex said:
Yeah, I can definitely understand not wanting an upset stomach going into the interview.

Incidentally, I just got an email from Brian. Apparently I've been filed under "acceptable." This is a much bigger letdown.

Anyone know what UCSD thinks of letters of interest/intent?
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Sorry. I think it's well worth your time to send a letter of interest or intent if you're set on going to the school. They aren't going to re-review your app till May so there's no rush.
 
hot penguin sex said:
Yeah, I can definitely understand not wanting an upset stomach going into the interview.

Incidentally, I just got an email from Brian. Apparently I've been filed under "acceptable." This is a much bigger letdown.

Anyone know what UCSD thinks of letters of interest/intent?
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I was put in the acceptable pile a couple of weeks ago. I've sent in a letter of interest (just in case...but I probably didn't need to) but I'm waiting until closer to May to send an update of what I am doing. They won't rereview you until May so there is no reason to send an update now and then have to send one closer to the date.

I asked Brian what he suggested and he said he would put anything you want into your file. Updates/LOI are really JUST to let them know you are still interested...but that is definitely important.

EDIT:

Your profile says you are from Ohio, do you have Cali residency?
 
hot penguin sex said:
Man... on my tour we were going to get some local mexican food, and I was really excited, until someone said they didn't want to eat spicy food the night before an interview. We ended up getting California Pizza Kitchen. Meh. Less exciting. (Sorry if that person happens to be on this thread, but I was really disappointed).

In any event -- I'm going to try and be productive. I'll be back after noon CA time to post my decision!
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I ended up going to the Mexican restaurant and was not overly impressed with it and definitely not impressed by its prices. There is so much good food in SD though that I didnt need that to persuade me or anything.
 
I do not have CA residency, so it might be looking grim for me as an OOS applicant on the waitlist. Who knows.


chessknt87 said:
I ended up going to the Mexican restaurant and was not overly impressed with it and definitely not impressed by its prices. There is so much good food in SD though that I didnt need that to persuade me or anything.
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Haha, good to know. I guess I didn't miss much.
 
hot penguin sex said:
I do not have CA residency, so it might be looking grim for me as an OOS applicant on the waitlist. Who knows.




Haha, good to know. I guess I didn't miss much.
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I'm in the same boat. I'm not from California.

I really don't know at this point in the process if residency is as big of a deal...I know they are more selective with out of state people in terms of interviews (On my interview day with like 14 people I was the ONLY person that wasn't a california resident). However, maybe at this point in the process there are so few of us that we basically have an equal shot as everyone else.

That is what i'm hoping 🙂 I really liked UCSD and am excited to find out. I'm accepted to USC but I would take UCSD in a heart beat though. The area is just much nicer to live in which is really important to me.
 
hot penguin sex said:
Yeah, I can definitely understand not wanting an upset stomach going into the interview.

Incidentally, I just got an email from Brian. Apparently I've been filed under "acceptable." This is a much bigger letdown.

Anyone know what UCSD thinks of letters of interest/intent?
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seriously? still no information. ok i have to call tomorrow. i can't deal with this.

btw sorry about the waitlist :/
 
mzchristee said:
seriously? still no information. ok i have to call tomorrow. i can't deal with this.

btw sorry about the waitlist :/
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I got my waitlist email around 5 when I found out. he said the dean sometimes calls into the evening at her home, and sometimes has to wait until the next day. He also said he sometimes doesn't get the complete list of people to email until the next day...but you still may get a call tonight!

Good luck!
 
DrWookie said:
I'm in the same boat. I'm not from California.

I really don't know at this point in the process if residency is as big of a deal...I know they are more selective with out of state people in terms of interviews (On my interview day with like 14 people I was the ONLY person that wasn't a california resident). However, maybe at this point in the process there are so few of us that we basically have an equal shot as everyone else.

That is what i'm hoping 🙂 I really liked UCSD and am excited to find out. I'm accepted to USC but I would take UCSD in a heart beat though. The area is just much nicer to live in which is really important to me.
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really over USC?
 
DrWookie said:
I really liked UCSD and am excited to find out. I'm accepted to USC but I would take UCSD in a heart beat though. The area is just much nicer to live in which is really important to me.
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mzchristee said:
really over USC?
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HECK YES.

Of course, different strokes for different folks... I personally love the San Diego area, and it's neat to hear that DrWookie likes it as well. I have said this before, but in med school, it's so important to be somewhere that you can relax and do what makes you feel happy and supported. I think that, even if you were at a school with a "great curriculum", if you were in a location that did not afford you opportunities to escape and rejuvenate, your experience would be horrible.
 
silverlining1 said:
HECK YES.

Of course, different strokes for different folks... I personally love the San Diego area, and it's neat to hear that DrWookie likes it as well. I have said this before, but in med school, it's so important to be somewhere that you can relax and do what makes you feel happy and supported. I think that, even if you were at a school with a "great curriculum", if you were in a location that did not afford you opportunities to escape and rejuvenate, your experience would be horrible.
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My thoughts exactly.

My sister goes to USC for undergrad and she has to live in downtown LA in a loft apartment. I've been LA a lot and I am super familiar with it, and it is just too urban and crazy for me. I like to have some trees (I'm from the northwest).

The San Diego area is beautiful and the area around UCSD was especially so. I'll be moving with my girlfriend and I know she also appreciates nature, so we can take walks (walk our dog!) and enjoy the outdoors without the sound of honking horns constantly.

Academically I would be very happy at USC, and I would probably learn to deal with the area (I've been looking at some places to live in Pasadena whic his a little nicer). However, UCSD I wouldn't have to learn to deal with it, it would be perfect from the get go.

So here's hoping they overlook my out of state residence 🙂 (My girlfriend is a CA resident, does that count? 🙁)
 
I should also add that I've been doing research since the second semester of my freshman year and I KNOW it will be something I will continue.

UCSD seemed to be way more accessible for research opportunities...while USC has them (and some of the labs have projects I am interested in) the school itself when I visited wasn't very knowledgeable about their own opportunities and the students I talked with didn't really do much. I actually LOVE the idea of an independent project at UCSD.

Oh ya and I study C. elegans....Sydney Brenner (The FATHER of the organism) is on the faculty at the Salk Institute across the street...I'd just like to meet him 🙂 (Though I heard he isn't a very nice person...who cares)
 
DrWookie said:
I should also add that I've been doing research since the second semester of my freshman year and I KNOW it will be something I will continue.

UCSD seemed to be way more accessible for research opportunities...while USC has them (and some of the labs have projects I am interested in) the school itself when I visited wasn't very knowledgeable about their own opportunities and the students I talked with didn't really do much. I actually LOVE the idea of an independent project at UCSD.

Oh ya and I study C. elegans....Sydney Brenner (The FATHER of the organism) is on the faculty at the Salk Institute across the street...I'd just like to meet him 🙂 (Though I heard he isn't a very nice person...who cares)
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=D C. elegans is awesome. Shemarty did research on them for a couple years.

Write a letter to UCSD talking about how excited you are about the research opportunities! I can certainly vouch for the ease of access to research... I emailed just one PI to start out, and he emailed me back, invited me into his office, gave me a project that I could first author, and told me not to worry about funding. Whoa!

Good luck, and I hope you become one of those lucky OOSers 🙂
 
silverlining1 said:
=D C. elegans is awesome. Shemarty did research on them for a couple years.
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My honors thesis research was one of the most frustrating experiences I've ever had, but I do have an irrational love for C. elegans.

Sydney Brenner is at UCSD!?! +1 for UCSD 😀
 
DrWookie said:
I got my waitlist email around 5 when I found out. he said the dean sometimes calls into the evening at her home, and sometimes has to wait until the next day. He also said he sometimes doesn't get the complete list of people to email until the next day...but you still may get a call tonight!

Good luck!
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waitlisted too 🙁. so many waitlists sigh
 
Hang in there waitlist people. I'm sure you've heard it a thousand times already, but a lot of people get in off the waitlist. I'd say half of the people I spoke to on my interview day got in off the waitlist, and I spoke to at least 15-20 students that day.

Is there a UCSD Class of 2013 thread yet? I can't seem to find one.
 
shemarty said:
My honors thesis research was one of the most frustrating experiences I've ever had, but I do have an irrational love for C. elegans.

Sydney Brenner is at UCSD!?! +1 for UCSD 😀
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He is technically on staff at the Salk Institute, which I believe is pretty tight with UCSD.

What was your honors thesis on? (What lab were you in? My PI seems to know everyone and has stories about everyone....a particular really BAD story about Sydney and a young graduate student...but we won't go there)

My lab studies cell and developmental biology, specifically the formation of specialized lysosome-related organelles in the intestine. I'm doing my thesis right now. I did a genetic suppression screen in the fall (Yay for EMS!) to identify suppressors of another gene. This semester its a bunch of genetics to figure out what they are (I got 8 of them out of the screen...8 out of 100,000 worms 😉)


I already sent a letter of interest after getting waitlisted, I'm going to send an update letter when it gets closer to May (since it sounded like they don't review anyone on the waitlist until early May). I'm quite excited about how my research is going, so hopefully they will be as well.
 
first-time poster, long-time lurker...

but seeing everyone on sdn getting a waitlist is not very encouraging. i, myself, just had an interview on february 5th and won't be reviewed until supposedly the 23rd.

are they even handing out any more acceptances?
 
prokrastinazn said:
first-time poster, long-time lurker...

but seeing everyone on sdn getting a waitlist is not very encouraging. i, myself, just had an interview on february 5th and won't be reviewed until supposedly the 23rd.

are they even handing out any more acceptances?
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I think i recall them saying they accept about half of the people off the waitlist or something like that...so it isn't THAT bad.

I'm sure some people are getting accepted.

Good luck.
 
shemarty said:
My honors thesis research was one of the most frustrating experiences I've ever had, but I do have an irrational love for C. elegans.

Sydney Brenner is at UCSD!?! +1 for UCSD 😀
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Oh wait you went to Stanford? Did you work in the Fire lab?!?!?
 
prokrastinazn said:
first-time poster, long-time lurker...

but seeing everyone on sdn getting a waitlist is not very encouraging. i, myself, just had an interview on february 5th and won't be reviewed until supposedly the 23rd.

are they even handing out any more acceptances?
Click to expand...


They are handing out acceptances. I was accepted recently. Still am waiting for some other decisions, but as of now, I am very excited about UCSD.
 
sydney brenner was at the salk last week, he was giving some lectures and a post-doc in my lab is joining his lab, so he ate lunch with our lab. i was at the table next to them and snapped a cell phone pic when i realized i was in the midst of a nobel laureate! 😛
 
Arpan5145 said:
sydney brenner was at the salk last week, he was giving some lectures and a post-doc in my lab is joining his lab, so he ate lunch with our lab. i was at the table next to them and snapped a cell phone pic when i realized i was in the midst of a nobel laureate! 😛
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I met Martin Chalfie at the last worm meeting in UCLA (2006), though it was before he won the nobel. Worm people are a tight-nit community.
 
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shemarty said:
Haha, no. Shen Lab. Pre-synaptic proteins and exocytosis.
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I only asked cause I was doing a bunch of RNAi for like a year and sometimes I just want to give him a hug and thank him...I couldn't imagine what it would be like microinjecting the RNAi. I did get to thank Julie Ahringer for the Ahringer Library...it got me published 🙂
 
I got an interview offer today, so there is still hope for people!
 
surfinghaole said:
I got an interview offer today, so there is still hope for people!
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Yay, congratulations! I think we interview until the end of March... at least that's when the free clinic tours stop being given.
 
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