2008-2009 UMass Secondary Application Thread

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iheartsnow said:
So ~$70,000 in loans seems to be "normal"? I was just going to post something about this because I recently got my financial "aid" offer. I really don't understand how the FAFSA people decided that I can, personally, contribute almost $10,000 this year. I'm a lab tech... living in Manhattan... who just applied to med school. Mmmm ramen noodles.
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That doesn't sound right -- I would call them and ask them to walk you through how they're coming up with that figure. I am also a lab tech, probably making about what you do, and I still got the full COA. If you have a lot in savings, that could explain it.

$10,000... yikes! I would probably have to sell my eggs or become a porn star or something if Tulane did that to me.

Out of curiosity, for those of us on this thread who have NOT (yet) been accepted at UMass, where will you be going to school? Or if you have not been accepted, what are your plans for the coming year?
 
I'm waitlisted at one of my moderately high choice schools and haven't heard anything from UMass.

If I don't get in, I'll be trying to get another research position in a different field to widen my resume. I'll also be restudying in a month or so to retake the MCAT. I did okay the first time (32) but it was with a horrible headache, and my practices were all between 36 and 40, so I think it's worth risking another bad day.

I'll be temporarily upset, but the chance to get into UMass again will be nice. In some ways it'll be better than getting into one of my lower choice schools, assuming I get in the second time!
 
virusgirl said:
That doesn't sound right -- I would call them and ask them to walk you through how they're coming up with that figure. I am also a lab tech, probably making about what you do, and I still got the full COA. If you have a lot in savings, that could explain it.

$10,000... yikes! I would probably have to sell my eggs or become a porn star or something if Tulane did that to me.

Out of curiosity, for those of us on this thread who have NOT (yet) been accepted at UMass, where will you be going to school? Or if you have not been accepted, what are your plans for the coming year?
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I got the full COA in loans, but my EFC on my FAFSA is just under 10k. So I guess it's not med schools thinking I am rolling in cash, it's the government. I'm going to 2nd look at the school I'm probably going to in a couple weeks, so I think I'll try to set up a time with financial aid to go over things.
 
virusgirl said:
Out of curiosity, for those of us on this thread who have NOT (yet) been accepted at UMass, where will you be going to school? Or if you have not been accepted, what are your plans for the coming year?
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i'm waitlisted at 4 schools including umass. if it doesn't work out this year (i hope i'm not jinxing myself:xf:), i'll continue working in clinical research, try to get my name on a couple of publications, and probably find somewhere new and interesting to volunteer. that's what i'm thinking so far.

for those who reapplied, did you totally rewrite your PS? i may change a sentence or two, but i think it's still represents me well.
 
umass_md said:
i'm waitlisted at 4 schools including umass. if it doesn't work out this year (i hope i'm not jinxing myself:xf:), i'll continue working in clinical research, try to get my name on a couple of publications, and probably find somewhere new and interesting to volunteer. that's what i'm thinking so far.

for those who reapplied, did you totally rewrite your PS? i may change a sentence or two, but i think it's still represents me well.
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From what I understand, you don't want to take your PS in a totally different direction (because you are still the same person,) but you also don't want to look like you couldn't be bothered revising it. So, improve it as much as you can without throwing out the whole thing and starting over. At least this is what my advisor told me.
 
jka said:
From what I understand, you don't want to take your PS in a totally different direction (because you are still the same person,) but you also don't want to look like you couldn't be bothered revising it. So, improve it as much as you can without throwing out the whole thing and starting over. At least this is what my advisor told me.
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thanks for the advice, jka. any thoughts on my chances of being accepted from at least one of the 4 waitlists (umass, bu, gw, vcu)?😕
 
umass_md, i withdrew from bu recently, so hopefull you will get it 🙂
i will be going to temple, unless i'm accepted to umass which would be amazing in so many ways
best of luck to all,
 
Got rejected from 2 schools, application service never submitted my data for the third... that was a hoot

Waiting on UMass to tell me something/anything. If I don't get in I figure I will get a biotech job and work for a year or two to get more experience and beef up the ole resume.
 
although i'm already a reapplicant i haven't heard anything...

plans are to get a full time job in boston. working part time at dana farber now...

possibly retake the mcats but really scared since i think that my previous score which was already my 2nd time, won't get any better. gonna wait til atleast next summer to reapply. beef up the resume atleast a bit... maybe volunteer more... take some classes???

any thoughts/suggestions
 
smdh said:
although i'm already a reapplicant i haven't heard anything...

plans are to get a full time job in boston. working part time at dana farber now...

possibly retake the mcats but really scared since i think that my previous score which was already my 2nd time, won't get any better. gonna wait til atleast next summer to reapply. beef up the resume atleast a bit... maybe volunteer more... take some classes???

any thoughts/suggestions
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definitely take more classes, especially if your employer will pay for them. I have been taking online classes at Northeastern, and it is just so convenient. I said this before, but one of my umass interviewers seemed a little disappointed when I hadn't taken a class in the past year. Even though it is probably not going to change your GPA much, taking more classes shows you are not in a holding pattern, committed to lifelong learning.

Definitely do more volunteering. This is easy and free!!

And only take the MCAT if you are very confident you are going to do better.
 
umass_md said:
thanks for the advice, jka. any thoughts on my chances of being accepted from at least one of the 4 waitlists (umass, bu, gw, vcu)?😕
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unfortunately, I don't have any thoughts on getting off these waitlists since I haven't been successful in the past! I did send them an updated transcript and am going to send them an update letter about some other stuff I have done and will do in the very recent future. So, I would definitely recommend something along these lines...Don't know if it will work, though. Good luck!
 
jka said:
unfortunately, I don't have any thoughts on getting off these waitlists since I haven't been successful in the past! I did send them an updated transcript and am going to send them an update letter about some other stuff I have done and will do in the very recent future. So, I would definitely recommend something along these lines...Don't know if it will work, though. Good luck!
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thanks again for the insights, jka.

i just have to keep reminding myself that may 15th is only about a couple of weeks away. good luck to you.:luck::luck::xf::xf:

i assume nobody's heard anything yet this week?
 
I just received an email that I was waitlisted. Last name begins with G
 
Congrats! It is so odd how they are wait-listing people in little batches. I hope they start accepting that way too 😉
 
chocolateMD said:
Congrats! It is so odd how they are wait-listing people in little batches. I hope they start accepting that way too 😉
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I hope they start accepting at all! How long has it been??

Congrats tip top!🙂
 
raraxavis said:
I hope they start accepting at all! How long has it been??

Congrats tip top!🙂
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Congrats tip top! Looks like there is still some good news to come!

I think the last acceptance was late March...I don't think we've seen any in April so far, just far more batches of waitlists than last year...

I sent in an update today as I recently completed an ASL class... and they added it promptly to my file.

I think the economy and financial aid are complicating things this year. The earlier post about people haggling for more financial aid is probably widespread this year and on the money (forgive the pun). This makes things tough to gauge until mid-May.

Also, I haven't heard anything about govt loans being denied due to credit markets tightening, but I wouldn't be surprised if people are having trouble getting private loans based on credit scores.

Magic 8 ball says:

Magic8Ball.jpg
 
Thats weird. I sent an update-letter/LOI but they never responded. I call them they said if I had sent it...then it was added.
 
chessodoc said:
Thats weird. I sent an update-letter/LOI but they never responded. I call them they said if I had sent it...then it was added.
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Same here ... maybe the MD/PhD committee doesn't acknowledge receipt of these kinds of materials?

I snail mailed, but out of curiosity, did you guys snail mail or e-mail?
 
chessodoc said:
I think I e-mailed to Anne.
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I have emailed all my updates to the admissions at ummedu email.

And haven't sent any snail mail ... I am still waiting for the day when schools say "please conserve resources - do not send paper mail" 😉
 
chessodoc said:
I think I e-mailed to Anne.
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I've always sent snail mail and then followed up with them by email about 5 days later. I usually get a prompt reply from the office that afternoon saying they've got it and filed it away.
 
virusgirl said:
I knew it! I guess I should go home now -- I wouldn't want to infect the Thermo service engineer I have to spend the entire day with! (oh wait a minute... yes, I would)
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Serves him right for touching you on the shoulder too much!
 
Suenya said:
That was perfect.

UMass never confirmed they got my update letter until I asked to double check, about a month later. So if you sent something in and they didn't respond, don't worry.
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speaking of updates. do we know how much they help? and how about letters of intent. if i remember correctly, umass is mums the word about all of this. any thoughts? i'm dying to go, but am wondering if an update/letter of intent is even going to help? ...i'm expecting my second rejection anyways. waaa waaa
 
mexikeen said:
speaking of updates. do we know how much they help? and how about letters of intent. if i remember correctly, umass is mums the word about all of this. any thoughts? i'm dying to go, but am wondering if an update/letter of intent is even going to help? ...i'm expecting my second rejection anyways. waaa waaa
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I think trying to figure out how much they help will always be conjecture on our end. Nonetheless, I can't see how writing a letter expressing your sincere desire to be at UMass could hurt. It's always a good idea to be clear about how interested you are in a school, so I'd say go for it.

Or, conversely: YES, PANIC!!
 
thanks guys!! I am in shock right now.
 
Congratulations guys! You were both waitlisted on the same day, right?
 
CONGRATULATIONS HOYA AND JKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so happy for you!
 
although i'm disappointed i didn't get in today and correct me if i'm wrong, but i think it's a good sign the waitlist is moving so early this year. i think the waitlist didn't move until 5/12 last year (haven't gone back and checked, though).:idea:
 
Congrats indeed!

Of course if the waitlist is moving then what about those of us that haven't heard
 
Good morning, guys.

Thanks for the congrats. My status did change. I didn't check it yesterday but just checked it, and it is different.

I do think hoya and I were waitlisted on the same day.

And I do think it is a good sign that the waitlist is moving so early. Last year, I think a few people got off the waitlist in early May, but most of the movement occured on May 13th (I think.)

Anyhow, good luck! Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. You just have to keep plugging away, and eventually good things will happen.:luck:
 
I just got the waitlist e-mail about two minutes ago! Hopefully that means more good news for everyone who hasn't heard yet. My last name starts with an M by the way.
 
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