2008-2009 UCSD Secondary Application Thread

[DrWookie]

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This doesn't make much sense to me. I understand that every year a considerable amount of people withdraw their acceptances from any school... but how on earth are they able to "predict" how many students will withdraw. You can look a recent trends, but they are not necessarily going to represent what happens this year. Lets say, for whatever reason, the stars align and only 50 withdraw. That leaves 150 people for 125 spots. Then what do they do ? " Um yes.. sorry but we didnt mean to accept you, we anticipated more spots being available.. good luck" .. That would devastate me if that happened.

I don't seen how they can accept that many more spots (75) than the available seats (125) before the May 15th deadline.

Can anyone explain this?

Maybe I'm being a little too nieve, and hoping that this news isn't accurate... Do you all blame me??

They must just go by statistics.

The odds of only 50 people withdrawing, leaving them with 150 people for 125 spots, are probably so low given the data that it is worth "risking it". Does that mean it couldn't happen? No of course it could but maybe medical schools like to live dangerously? 😎

Honestly though...if it was like a 1 percent chance of that happening, based on the past 40-50 years, they will probably continue doing it.

 

[iamSASHAFIERCE]

I know, when I heard "200" I was really shocked, and I think Brian heard it in my voice. He said I know that it sounds like a lot even though its already May, but he sounded pretty confident that many people would withdraw right before the deadline. I asked him if this year is comparable to other years in terms of movement and people withdrawing, and he replied that they've been doing it for a while... so it's about the same each year.

I'm hoping that he's right... and he said that they'll know how many spots they'll be able to offer by May 15. Sorry if this info is causing people to panic... I just wanted to let everyone know what he told me.

This doesn't make much sense to me. I understand that every year a considerable amount of people withdraw their acceptances from any school... but how on earth are they able to "predict" how many students will withdraw. You can look a recent trends, but they are not necessarily going to represent what happens this year. Lets say, for whatever reason, the stars align and only 50 withdraw. That leaves 150 people for 125 spots. Then what do they do ? " Um yes.. sorry but we didnt mean to accept you, we anticipated more spots being available.. good luck" .. That would devastate me if that happened.

I don't seen how they can accept that many more spots (75) than the available seats (125) before the May 15th deadline.

Can anyone explain this?

Maybe I'm being a little too nieve, and hoping that this news isn't accurate... Do you all blame me??

 

[249825]

This doesn't make much sense to me. I understand that every year a considerable amount of people withdraw their acceptances from any school... but how on earth are they able to "predict" how many students will withdraw. You can look a recent trends, but they are not necessarily going to represent what happens this year. Lets say, for whatever reason, the stars align and only 50 withdraw. That leaves 150 people for 125 spots. Then what do they do ? " Um yes.. sorry but we didnt mean to accept you, we anticipated more spots being available.. good luck" .. That would devastate me if that happened.

I don't seen how they can accept that many more spots (75) than the available seats (125) before the May 15th deadline.

Can anyone explain this?

Maybe I'm being a little too nieve, and hoping that this news isn't accurate... Do you all blame me??

No. Your concerns/questions are genuine.

Seems like every year they do the same thing - accept about 200 students before May 15 and then from WL. It has worked in the past so they believe that it would work this year as well. Its a very tricky process but seems to have been working for them, i guess.

One more thing that concerns me is this whole shenanigan about accepting WL applicants "similar" to the ones that withdraw. I mean, its going take about 75+ applicants that need to withdraw before they even start to accept first WL applicant. Now, I would assume that those 75+ applicants would pretty much represent every demographic and experience out there. So how do they really go out about replacing 75+ different type of applicants who withdrew with a "similar" WL applicant? Theres a lot of room for discretion there.

I am pretty much convinced that at this point they would have an internal RANKED waitlist (not acceptable pool..but a proper WL). However, they might have some flexibility of comparing applicants among themselves in groups, like top 10 and so on. Again, I am just speculating but surely it seems like a tricky process. Hence the term - "interesting summer".😉😀

 

[249825]

I know, when I heard "200" I was really shocked, and I think Brian heard it in my voice. He said I know that it sounds like a lot even though its already May, but he sounded pretty confident that many people would withdraw right before the deadline. I asked him if this year is comparable to other years in terms of movement and people withdrawing, and he replied that they've been doing it for a while... so it's about the same each year.

I'm hoping that he's right... and he said that they'll know how many spots they'll be able to offer by May 15. Sorry if this info is causing people to panic... I just wanted to let everyone know what he told me.

I agree, I dont think anyone should panic at this point. Just sit back and enjoy - this process is way too subjective to let it get it to you. On that note, hope that Orlando kicks some Celtic azz tonight.

 

[Cellar Door]

This doesn't make much sense to me. I understand that every year a considerable amount of people withdraw their acceptances from any school... but how on earth are they able to "predict" how many students will withdraw. You can look a recent trends, but they are not necessarily going to represent what happens this year. Lets say, for whatever reason, the stars align and only 50 withdraw. That leaves 150 people for 125 spots. Then what do they do ? " Um yes.. sorry but we didnt mean to accept you, we anticipated more spots being available.. good luck" .. That would devastate me if that happened.

I don't seen how they can accept that many more spots (75) than the available seats (125) before the May 15th deadline.

Can anyone explain this?

Maybe I'm being a little too nieve, and hoping that this news isn't accurate... Do you all blame me??

The admissions director from Michigan gave me a pretty behind the scenes look at the admissions process during my interview. These med schools have been doing admissions for a long time and they look at past years trends and have developed statistical methods to make sure that they will only end up with the target class size at the end of the year. Many schools feel comfortable handing out double or triple the amount of acceptance offers to fill their class. They are confident that by May 15th they will still have vacancies, and be able to pull people from the WL. This is where it differs from year to year, one year there might be only 20 ppl pulled off the WL, other years there may be up to 60 or some other number. If all the stars aligned and somehow UCSD ended up with an overbooked class of say 20 ppl, they would not rescind an acceptance offer as far as I know. The admissions director I talked to said that if this ever happend they would start offering matriculants incentives to defer a year, such as large scholarships. A school obviously does not want it to come down to this, but it would have to if it had an overbooked class. If it did the admissions staff and deans would be promptly fired.

 

[249825]

The admissions director from Michigan gave me a pretty behind the scenes look at the admissions process during my interview. These med schools have been doing admissions for a long time and they look at past years trends and have developed statistical methods to make sure that they will only end up with the target class size at the end of the year. Many schools feel comfortable handing out double or triple the amount of acceptance offers to fill their class. They are confident that by May 15th they will still have vacancies, and be able to pull people from the WL. This is where it differs from year to year, one year there might be only 20 ppl pulled off the WL, other years there may be up to 60 or some other number. If all the stars aligned and somehow UCSD ended up with an overbooked class of say 20 ppl, they would not rescind an acceptance offer as far as I know. The admissions director I talked to said that if this ever happend they would start offering matriculants incentives to defer a year, such as large scholarships. A school obviously does not want it to come down to this, but it would have to if it had an overbooked class. If it did the admissions staff and deans would be promptly fired.

This reminds me of US Airways and 400 dollars I made off them recently.😀

 

[chessknt]

The admissions director from Michigan gave me a pretty behind the scenes look at the admissions process during my interview. These med schools have been doing admissions for a long time and they look at past years trends and have developed statistical methods to make sure that they will only end up with the target class size at the end of the year. Many schools feel comfortable handing out double or triple the amount of acceptance offers to fill their class. They are confident that by May 15th they will still have vacancies, and be able to pull people from the WL. This is where it differs from year to year, one year there might be only 20 ppl pulled off the WL, other years there may be up to 60 or some other number. If all the stars aligned and somehow UCSD ended up with an overbooked class of say 20 ppl, they would not rescind an acceptance offer as far as I know. The admissions director I talked to said that if this ever happend they would start offering matriculants incentives to defer a year, such as large scholarships. A school obviously does not want it to come down to this, but it would have to if it had an overbooked class. If it did the admissions staff and deans would be promptly fired.

This is true. They cant rescind an acceptance because by August people who have picked UCSD would be screwed into nowhere to go, even if they originally had over 9000 acceptances. They usually try deferment incentives (I sure as hell would take it haha) or, in rare cases, expand their class size to fit the amount present for that year only.

 

[249825]

This is true. They cant rescind an acceptance because by August people who have picked UCSD would be screwed into nowhere to go, even if they originally had over 9000 acceptances. They usually try deferment incentives (I sure as hell would take it haha) or, in rare cases, expand their class size to fit the amount present for that year only.

From what i recall, UCSD actually reduced its incoming class size by about a couple of spots as compared to last year due to their budget issue. In case they end up paying deferment/s, I am pretty sure you guys would have to bring your own cadavers.😀
I feel the pain of admissions office, seems like a very tricky process to manage.

 

[chessknt]

I was under the impression that cadavers were donated, not bought....

 

[249825]

I was under the impression that cadavers were donated, not bought....

No sense of humor I see? Debbie Downer. Something crawled up there and died or something?

 

[chessknt]

Rather your joke was imprecise. A more appropriate comment would have been something along the lines of bring your own standardized patient or chair since those actually cost money.

 

[DrWookie]

From what i recall, UCSD actually reduced its incoming class size by about a couple of spots as compared to last year due to their budget issue. In case they end up paying deferment/s, I am pretty sure you guys would have to bring your own cadavers.😀
I feel the pain of admissions office, seems like a very tricky process to manage.

Wouldn't it make more sense to increase the class size due to budget issues? Like maybe accept a couple more OOS 😀

I mean I feel like operating costs don't really go up that much per student...it isn't like you have to suddenly pay another teacher because you have 1 more student...maybe i'm thinking about it wrong though.

 

[shemarty]

Wouldn't it make more sense to increase the class size due to budget issues? Like maybe accept a couple more OOS 😀

I mean I feel like operating costs don't really go up that much per student...it isn't like you have to suddenly pay another teacher because you have 1 more student...maybe i'm thinking about it wrong though.

I think it costs an institution more to educate a medical student than the student actually pays in tuition. I see what you mean about how the marginal cost shouldn't be that much, but maybe this is only true for preclinical years.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

I think it costs an institution more to educate a medical student than the student actually pays in tuition.

I see what you mean about how the marginal cost shouldn't be that much, but maybe this is only true for preclinical years.

👍 Yup... this is why they are LCME certified, because schools are non-profit... if you want for-profit schools, look at the Caribbean.

 

[yinxzon]

This doesn't make much sense to me. I understand that every year a considerable amount of people withdraw their acceptances from any school... but how on earth are they able to "predict" how many students will withdraw. You can look a recent trends, but they are not necessarily going to represent what happens this year. Lets say, for whatever reason, the stars align and only 50 withdraw. That leaves 150 people for 125 spots. Then what do they do ? " Um yes.. sorry but we didnt mean to accept you, we anticipated more spots being available.. good luck" .. That would devastate me if that happened.

this makes very little sense to me. brian also told me 100 was rejected. so the numbers add up to 200 accepted + 250 on the wl (no one withdrew) and 100 rejected. they dont add up to 500. i was actually told only 150 was accepted and 280 were on the wl before they had to send emails back. so that makes more sense. but anyway, looks like the chances are slim.. :_(

 

[DrWookie]

I think it costs an institution more to educate a medical student than the student actually pays in tuition. I see what you mean about how the marginal cost shouldn't be that much, but maybe this is only true for preclinical years.

Ya I guess the clinical years would cost more...for the preclinical ones I feel like adding a couple of people into all the classes would cost very little...and cadavers are donated I'm pretty sure...so you would be getting more tuition without having to spend that much on the student...but I guess the clinical years may be expensive...

 

[MoonUnitZappa]

this makes very little sense to me. brian also told me 100 was rejected. so the numbers add up to 200 accepted + 250 on the wl (no one withdrew) and 100 rejected. they dont add up to 500. i was actually told only 150 was accepted and 280 were on the wl before they had to send emails back. so that makes more sense. but anyway, looks like the chances are slim.. :_(

Perhaps Brian meant 250 is the # of waitlisted people before the 1st cut and withdralws.

 

[maymee3]

Hi guys!

I have to say this is my new favorite forum!! I too, am a die-hard UCSD "acceptable pool" candidate. I am OOS as well, so my chances are tiny tiny tiny However, I will not give up hope until I recieve that rejection email! I honestly felt most of the medical schools I went to were all pretty much the same until I came to UCSD. I was so crushed when I didn't get in intially- I don't think I slept the whole week before I found out (and cried the whole week after haha). I do want to make a point that I feel furtunate to be accepted anywhere at all b/c I have some friends who did not get in this year so far 🙁

I have literally never wanted anything this badly, which is a little frightening... but I am going to try to stay positive😀

Sending good thoughts to all of you who are waiting with me...

 

[249825]

Hi guys!

I have to say this is my new favorite forum!! I too, am a die-hard UCSD "acceptable pool" candidate. I am OOS as well, so my chances are tiny tiny tiny However, I will not give up hope until I recieve that rejection email! I honestly felt most of the medical schools I went to were all pretty much the same until I came to UCSD. I was so crushed when I didn't get in intially- I don't think I slept the whole week before I found out (and cried the whole week after haha). I do want to make a point that I feel furtunate to be accepted anywhere at all b/c I have some friends who did not get in this year so far 🙁

I have literally never wanted anything this badly, which is a little frightening... but I am going to try to stay positive😀

Sending good thoughts to all of you who are waiting with me...

We are with you, dont worry. We will all swim our way out of this pool. *Group Hug*😀

 

[249825]

Originally Posted by yinxzon
this makes very little sense to me. brian also told me 100 was rejected. so the numbers add up to 200 accepted + 250 on the wl (no one withdrew) and 100 rejected. they dont add up to 500. i was actually told only 150 was accepted and 280 were on the wl before they had to send emails back. so that makes more sense. but anyway, looks like the chances are slim.. :_(

Perhaps Brian meant 250 is the # of waitlisted people before the 1st cut and withdralws.

I am not sure from where you got the number of applicants interviewed to be 500. Acc. to UCSD SOM admissions website FAQ's:

"How many applicants do you interview? We interviewed to 678 applicants for the entering class of 2008."

So, 200 accepted + 100 rejected = 300. Just using 650 as a round number for year 2009, there should have been 350 people left on WL. Its hard for me to believe that 100 people would have responded "NO" but lets just take Brian's word for it. So, 250 still left on WL is not that hard to comprehend. Hopefully, all of us on SDN get to be the lucky ones out of those 250.

 

[silverlining1]

Hi guys!

I have to say this is my new favorite forum!! I too, am a die-hard UCSD "acceptable pool" candidate. I am OOS as well, so my chances are tiny tiny tiny However, I will not give up hope until I recieve that rejection email! I honestly felt most of the medical schools I went to were all pretty much the same until I came to UCSD. I was so crushed when I didn't get in intially- I don't think I slept the whole week before I found out (and cried the whole week after haha). I do want to make a point that I feel furtunate to be accepted anywhere at all b/c I have some friends who did not get in this year so far 🙁

I have literally never wanted anything this badly, which is a little frightening... but I am going to try to stay positive😀

Sending good thoughts to all of you who are waiting with me...

Awww I am sorry you were so upset. Congratulations on having at least one acceptance, though! I know you'll be able to do well and be successful wherever you go 🙂 Fingers crossed for you at UCSD, though!

 

[shemarty]

I already withdrew from UCSD, and one of my future-housemates is holding a UCSD acceptance and withdrawing soon 🙂

Hopefully 100 other people will do the same thing 😀

Good luck, you guys!

 

[249825]

I already withdrew from UCSD, and one of my future-housemates is holding a UCSD acceptance and withdrawing soon 🙂

Hopefully 100 other people will do the same thing 😀

Good luck, you guys!

Maybe more like 200 😛😀

 

[maymee3]

Maybe more like 200 😛😀

now you're talking!!

 

[yinxzon]

we should give u guys prizes!

 

[calisurfer]

Guys....you're all so gloomy, and seem so powerless, it's saddening. It's obvious what you gotta do now--"trash UCSD like crazy" to help those holding acceptances decide where to go. Think about it--the incredibly old single lecture hall, treehouse facilities, inferior to other names like UCLA or UCSF, being mistaken for a school in south dakota by people on the east coast?

(I'm just joking by the way-hope this cheers you guys up)

 

[MoonUnitZappa]

I am not sure from where you got the number of applicants interviewed to be 500. Acc. to UCSD SOM admissions website FAQ's:

"How many applicants do you interview? We interviewed to 678 applicants for the entering class of 2008."

So, 200 accepted + 100 rejected = 300. Just using 650 as a round number for year 2009, there should have been 350 people left on WL. Its hard for me to believe that 100 people would have responded "NO" but lets just take Brian's word for it. So, 250 still left on WL is not that hard to comprehend. Hopefully, all of us on SDN get to be the lucky ones out of those 250.

According to MSAR, UCSD interviewed 422 residents and 78 non-residents (acceptance and matriculation data for 2006-2007 first year class).

My MSAR has a purple cover. It came out during the previous admission cycle. Can anybody post the data from the MSAR with an orange cover?
Maybe the newest MSAR is out too (not sure what color cover it has)...

 

[funkydrmonkey]

According to MSAR, UCSD interviewed 422 residents and 78 non-residents (acceptance and matriculation data for 2006-2007 first year class).

My MSAR has a purple cover. It came out during the previous admission cycle. Can anybody post the data from the MSAR with an orange cover?
Maybe the newest MSAR is out too (not sure what color cover it has)...

Newest MSAR says 562 IS and 116 OOS... That equals the 678 for Class of 2008...

 

[BomBom]

I can't believe some of you guys spend this much time investigating all these numbers, stats...which you can really do nothing about. It might be interesting to think about what would happen if their class is overbooked, but seriously not when you are waitlisted and waiting to hear from them. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy your life before your first year at medical school. If you guys are really enjoying all of this, keep doing it though, it's entertaining to read some of your posts at times. Let's discuss the case when everyone withdraws his/her acceptance, and you are having too few students from the WL accepting their acceptance offers as well. Would they go back to look at the secondaries and the people rejected and invite them for super late interviews? JK Have fun everyone

 

[pppunjabiMD]

i was just wondering (for those who have been accepted) did u hear anything from UCSD after the intention to matriculate/housing/financial aid emails? i think my email is acting up and just wanted to make sure i'm not missing anything. thanks!

 

[Penguick]

Intention to matriculate email? What was this? I did not receive it.

 

[yinxzon]

what do the numbers for residency have to do with anything...

hopefully this is the last week of waiting in front of my computer or phone. 😛

 

[Penguick]

Has anyone been looking into housing for next year? I've just started looking and might need a roommate (each have own br/bath). Anyone else maybe needing a roommate as well?

 

[chessknt]

Ive been on the housing WL since Oct. Its pretty long/full so get on it asap.

 

[Penguick]

For on-campus housing? I was thinking of doing off-campus. My student host lived in this town home that was pretty great. It was a three bedroom, with the master bedroom being shared by two people. So it came out to about $700 something per person I think (though the two who shared 500 or so). I may look into that or try to get a single somewhere (expensive). It's hard to find places when you aren't there.

But thanks for letting me know about the wait. I will try to get on the list ASAP incase I do decide to do on campus housing and something opens up.

 

[pppunjabiMD]

Intention to matriculate email? What was this? I did not receive it.

the intention to matriculate email was about those matriculation and technical standards forms they mailed to us via snail mail...

 

[jehrdoc]

Soooo....

Any news as we get closer to May 15 for those floating in the acceptable pool?

 

[yinxzon]

just called.
was told that at this moment, not even enough ppl withdrew to be even under class size...

 

[jehrdoc]

Thanks for the update.
That really sucks. I am guessing people like to withdraw at the last minute?

 

[yinxzon]

well now the deduction is that they proly did accept around 200 in the beginning then.
it still doesnt look good.. if someone hears good new on Monday, please report!

 

[mochi bear]

that doesn't sound like good news... but there are people holding acceptances to UCSD hoping to get off a waitlist from another school. those applicants will eventually withdraw if accepted off a waitlist at a different school....so that will allow room for waitlist movement at UCSD ...hopefully.

 

[silverlining1]

Has anyone been looking into housing for next year? I've just started looking and might need a roommate (each have own br/bath). Anyone else maybe needing a roommate as well?

Ive been on the housing WL since Oct. Its pretty long/full so get on it asap.

FYI last year we found off-campus housemates two ways: 1) Facebook group and 2) UCSD SOM forum, which opened up in early July for us. When the forum opened, there was another incoming MS1 who had already found a place and was looking for a roommate, so I got in on that. There will be tons of posts of people looking for a place or for a roommate. Actually, current students are already posting advertisements, so PM me if you're interested in me forwarding you some of that information.

(In fact, I may even need new housing next year... lol. Maybe I'll room with one of you cats - I'm sure we're equally nutty.)

just called.
was told that at this moment, not even enough ppl withdrew to be even under class size...

Yikes. Well, I personally know of a couple people who are making last-minute decisions, and I am sure there are many more who will do it right at the deadline. We'll see what happens.

 

[chessknt]

FYI last year we found off-campus housemates two ways: 1) Facebook group and 2) UCSD SOM forum, which opened up in early July for us. When the forum opened, there was another incoming MS1 who had already found a place and was looking for a roommate, so I got in on that. There will be tons of posts of people looking for a place or for a roommate. Actually, current students are already posting advertisements, so PM me if you're interested in me forwarding you some of that information.

(In fact, I may even need new housing next year... lol. Maybe I'll room with one of you cats - I'm sure we're equally nutty.)

Yikes. Well, I personally know of a couple people who are making last-minute decisions, and I am sure there are many more who will do it right at the deadline. We'll see what happens.

Right, but if you want on-campus housing which, as far as I can tell, is way cheaper and closer than anything else, you need to get on the WL asap.

 

[jehrdoc]

If you look at the thread from last year, the class was overbooked (150 people) two days before May 15th also. And it looks like there was eventually substantial movement.

I don't think we should stress...yet...

 

[BluntSurgeon]

Speaking of on-campus housing waitlists, when will we hear about any kind of developments. I think it's getting close to the time where I need to figure out the living situation and UCSD housing isn't making that any easier. Also a big FU to the housing department for not being able to choose our roommates. I have had so many roommate issues I may just consider off-campus housing in the UTC area just so I can be sure that I am living with a classmate.

 

[shemarty]

(In fact, I may even need new housing next year... lol. Maybe I'll room with one of you cats - I'm sure we're equally nutty.)

I'm sure everyone on this thread would love to be apartment-mates with the famous silverlining1! 😀

...I'm not sure why I'm reading this thread...

 

[silverlining1]

Right, but if you want on-campus housing which, as far as I can tell, is way cheaper and closer than anything else, you need to get on the WL asap.

Agree with you. Not actually sure why I quoted your post in my earlier reply about off-campus housing... I woke up from a nap and immediately logged on to SDN. Probably should allow myself a longer waking period before posting.

...I'm not sure why I'm reading this thread...

Hahahahha nice.

 

[PowerButton]

If you look at the thread from last year, the class was overbooked (150 people) two days before May 15th also. And it looks like there was eventually substantial movement.

I don't think we should stress...yet...

Sigh, "eventually"..

 

[yinxzon]

on that somber note, all good things end eventually. tomorrow is may 15th, baby! give me a L a U a C and a K. 😕

 

[drmcsteamy2008]

OOS withdrawal here. Good luck guys; its a fantastic school!