2008-2009 University of Illinois (UIC) Secondary Application Thread

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eelleellee said:
Does anyone know if the afternoon interview in Peoria actually goes until 4:30 pm or if it ends a bit earlier than that? Other interviews I've been on tended to end earlier than they said they would.

I'm concerned because I have an 8:40 pm flight out of Midway that I would prefer not missing.

Thanks.
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It all depends on where you fall alphabetically compared to the other people there that day. They assigned the first 4 alphabetically to one interviewer, the next four to another, etc. I was done by about 2:30, but some were there until later.
 
goone2524 said:
Is it me or do the words "Applicant in Process" piss you off so much you just wanna kick the screen. 😡😡 🙁🙁
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I'm still "Application in Progress" so be happy you at least moved on from that!! But yeah I totally understand your frustration :scared:
 
brandold said:
I'm still "Application in Progress" so be happy you at least moved on from that!! But yeah I totally understand your frustration :scared:
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I think mine just changed from applicant in process BACK to application in process, I guess thats not good 😕
 
finally the gods have shown me mercy and granted me an interview here!
 
therocketman said:
finally the gods have shown me mercy and granted me an interview here!
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congrats! In my experience the interview day was really fun and all 3 interviewers I had were extremely friendly and laid back. Don't stress! And according to a post earlier in the thread, UIC accepts over 2/3 of the OOS students they interview 🙂
 
therocketman said:
finally the gods have shown me mercy and granted me an interview here!
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I hate you............ haha im jk. congrats man and goodluck:luck::luck:


i hope the gods show me mercy and i can pass beyond the "applicant in process" status of death.🙁
 
goone2524 said:
I hate you............ haha im jk. congrats man and goodluck:luck::luck:


i hope the gods show me mercy and i can pass beyond the "applicant in process" status of death.🙁
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i was in haitus since august T_T persistance is key. i sent them a letter updating what i was up to (new job, more shadowing, etc). try sending one out, cause it doesn't hurt to try. goodluck 🙂
 
anyone interviewing jan 6 in peoria?
 
I had my interview 10/29 and my status just changed today to "Decision Pending." What does this all mean? Do we know what "Decision Pending" means or is that just a precursor until they meat and make a final decision?
 
therocketman said:
i was in haitus since august T_T persistance is key. i sent them a letter updating what i was up to (new job, more shadowing, etc). try sending one out, cause it doesn't hurt to try. goodluck 🙂
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Did they respond to your update letter at all? I sent one as well but didn't receive any response back. I enjoy the small acknowledgments med schools make so it seems like they care a little 🙄
 
Heston said:
I had my interview 10/29 and my status just changed today to "Decision Pending." What does this all mean? Do we know what "Decision Pending" means or is that just a precursor until they meat and make a final decision?
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I had my interview on 11/12 and my status also changed to "Decision Pending". Just my guess, but I think it means they are going to make a decision on our application at this month's AdCom meeting (rejection, acceptance, waitlist).
 
Alright everyone, this is the week! I think the consensus is that later this week the ad com will be meeting to determine our fate! Since interviewing there I have found out more and more that has made UIC my top choice, so I am really hopeful.

I think that it is cool that we can get an early clue with the CBC e-mail, although I guess those of you who have already been accepted to other places that use the CBC won't get that...

So did anyone who was reviewed at the last meeting get the decision made post and then a rejection? Per the last few years threads it seems like after an interview if you get the decision made message then you are accepted. This year we can add in the CBC e-mail...

Anyway, I am nervous and excited and can't wait to hear! How are all of you guys doing with the wait?
 
I'm pretty nervous. My interview was with the associate dean of the rockford campus who I found out during his talk of the school/campus that he knows pretty well the Doctor that I currently work with. I'm hoping that will work to my advantage, but I don't have a recommendation from that doctor. I could, but I don't have time between now and the adcom meeting.

Anyway, what really makes me nervous is the fact that they asked me what i would do if I didn't get into medical school. It didn't throw me off when answering, but it made me wonder if they thought I wasn't good enough to get in this time around.

So yeah, no point in dwelling in the past, but I'm pretty nervous considering this IS the school I want to go to.

Here's to getting that Decision Made/CBC email. That would make my day/life.
 
Heston said:
I'm pretty nervous. My interview was with the associate dean of the rockford campus who I found out during his talk of the school/campus that he knows pretty well the Doctor that I currently work with. I'm hoping that will work to my advantage, but I don't have a recommendation from that doctor. I could, but I don't have time between now and the adcom meeting.

Anyway, what really makes me nervous is the fact that they asked me what i would do if I didn't get into medical school. It didn't throw me off when answering, but it made me wonder if they thought I wasn't good enough to get in this time around.

So yeah, no point in dwelling in the past, but I'm pretty nervous considering this IS the school I want to go to.

Here's to getting that Decision Made/CBC email. That would make my day/life.
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Isn't that weird though? It would totally make our lives... Very rarely does an event happen so crazy important and drastic in someones life.

Perhaps if we talk about the process and UIC it will make the next 4 days go by quicker 👍

I was really impressed with the UIC chicago campus, for those of you who don't know the anatomy lab is on the 7th floor with windows! I didn't have anything to compare it to until this week I spent time in an anatomy lab that was in the basement and I could really see how having the windows made a huge difference. BTW- on the current student page at UIC there is a pdf file that is called "Students to Students" It is advice from the previous years class to the incoming freshmen and I thought it was a great read. It confirmed that UIC was my top choice... You guys should check it out!
 
Mine changed for "application in process" to the "applicant in process" the other day. I ASSUME this is the first time its happened, even though I've been complete since early Sept.

(Assumption because I didn't know to check the status page until mid Sept, also assumption because I called to check my status and the secretary stated that they didn't hear anything from the "screeners.")

How long did you guys sit in "applicant in process?"
 
herewego said:
Mine changed for "application in process" to the "applicant in process" the other day. I ASSUME this is the first time its happened, even though I've been complete since early Sept.

(Assumption because I didn't know to check the status page until mid Sept, also assumption because I called to check my status and the secretary stated that they didn't hear anything from the "screeners.")

How long did you guys sit in "applicant in process?"
Click to expand...

Maybe about a month....
 
DrJD said:
Isn't that weird though? It would totally make our lives... Very rarely does an event happen so crazy important and drastic in someones life.

Perhaps if we talk about the process and UIC it will make the next 4 days go by quicker 👍

I was really impressed with the UIC chicago campus, for those of you who don't know the anatomy lab is on the 7th floor with windows! I didn't have anything to compare it to until this week I spent time in an anatomy lab that was in the basement and I could really see how having the windows made a huge difference. BTW- on the current student page at UIC there is a pdf file that is called "Students to Students" It is advice from the previous years class to the incoming freshmen and I thought it was a great read. It confirmed that UIC was my top choice... You guys should check it out!
Click to expand...

It all depends on when their meeting is. They could meet Wednesday and we could find out on Friday once they update the Check Status. If it's on Friday, damn....we won't hear until next Wednesday because they update only on Tuesday and Thursday.
 
Heston said:
Anyway, what really makes me nervous is the fact that they asked me what i would do if I didn't get into medical school. It didn't throw me off when answering, but it made me wonder if they thought I wasn't good enough to get in this time around.
Click to expand...

I've been asked that at almost every single interview, including at UIC. I think they ask you that just to see if you are dedicated to becoming a physican or if you don't get in will easily pursue a different career or become a PA, RN, etc. I think the best thing to tell them in that situation is that you won't give up and try again while improving on the weaknesses in you application.

Don't stress!
 
RafaTech said:
I've been asked that at almost every single interview, including at UIC. I think they ask you that just to see if you are dedicated to becoming a physican or if you don't get in will easily pursue a different career or become a PA, RN, etc. I think the best thing to tell them in that situation is that you won't give up and try again while improving on the weaknesses in you application.

Don't stress!
Click to expand...

I usually give an answer explaining how I would keep trying, but at UIC she went further and said "assuming you'd never get into medical school no matter how many times you tried, what would you do then?" I'm not sure what she was getting at with that question... she did preface it with "this next question doesn't have anything to do with your decision we just like to ask everyone."
 
merryjoulton said:
I usually give an answer explaining how I would keep trying, but at UIC she went further and said "assuming you'd never get into medical school no matter how many times you tried, what would you do then?" I'm not sure what she was getting at with that question... she did preface it with "this next question doesn't have anything to do with your decision we just like to ask everyone."
Click to expand...

I had a question similar to that. I basically said I was fully dedicated to becoming a doctor. I said eventually I might consider applying to an overseas school or even a DO doctor. But I made it clear THIS is what i want to do with me life. We'll see how that answer pans out.....
 
DrJD said:
I was really impressed with the UIC chicago campus, for those of you who don't know the anatomy lab is on the 7th floor with windows! I didn't have anything to compare it to until this week I spent time in an anatomy lab that was in the basement and I could really see how having the windows made a huge difference. BTW- on the current student page at UIC there is a pdf file that is called "Students to Students" It is advice from the previous years class to the incoming freshmen and I thought it was a great read. It confirmed that UIC was my top choice... You guys should check it out!
Click to expand...

I can't find that pdf. Could you post the url? I'd really appreciate it.
 
DrJD said:
Isn't that weird though? It would totally make our lives... Very rarely does an event happen so crazy important and drastic in someones life.

Perhaps if we talk about the process and UIC it will make the next 4 days go by quicker 👍

I was really impressed with the UIC chicago campus, for those of you who don't know the anatomy lab is on the 7th floor with windows! I didn't have anything to compare it to until this week I spent time in an anatomy lab that was in the basement and I could really see how having the windows made a huge difference. BTW- on the current student page at UIC there is a pdf file that is called "Students to Students" It is advice from the previous years class to the incoming freshmen and I thought it was a great read. It confirmed that UIC was my top choice... You guys should check it out!
Click to expand...

Hey DrJ I couldn't find the file you were talking about. Do you have the url by any chance? I definitely want to check it out before my interview. Thanks buddy!
 
Does the location of your interview determine which campus you'll attend? If not, do you get to choose one after you're accepted or do they just assign people?
 
iheartmpls said:
Does the location of your interview determine which campus you'll attend? If not, do you get to choose one after you're accepted or do they just assign people?
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Where you interview does not determine what campus you'll attend. Once you are accepted you be able to rank and choose which campus you want to attend. As long as your first choice has not filled up, you'll get it.
 
RafaTech said:
Where you interview does not determine what campus you'll attend. Once you are accepted you be able to rank and choose which campus you want to attend. As long as your first choice has not filled up, you'll get it.
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Does the curriculum differ greatly from campus to campus? Do people base the decision mostly on location?
 
iheartmpls said:
Does the curriculum differ greatly from campus to campus? Do people base the decision mostly on location?
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I believe the curriculum is the same from campus to campus, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Obviously locations of your clinical rotations will be very different from campus to campus.

I've heard something on SDN about slightly higher Step 1 scores at the Urbana track over the Chicago track, but that's it. I made my decision primarily on location.
 
RafaTech said:
I believe the curriculum is the same from campus to campus, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Obviously locations of your clinical rotations will be very different from campus to campus.

I've heard something on SDN about slightly higher Step 1 scores at the Urbana track over the Chicago track, but that's it. I made my decision primarily on location.
Click to expand...


Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it!
 
RafaTech said:
I believe the curriculum is the same from campus to campus, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Obviously locations of your clinical rotations will be very different from campus to campus.

I've heard something on SDN about slightly higher Step 1 scores at the Urbana track over the Chicago track, but that's it. I made my decision primarily on location.
Click to expand...

I actually believe this is half true... Their curriculums are the same in the same way that ALL medical schools teach the same material. I was told my an admissions officer at Georgetown that 85% of all medical schools are exactly the same, and this holds true for the U of I campuses as well. That being said, the curriculum is not exactly the same.

From what I've gathered, the students in Peoria are in class from around 8 in the morning until 5 at night, Rockford typically only has class until noon, and Chicago is somewhere in between where many days you'll be out by noon but a couple days a week you can expect to be there until 3 or 4.

So same material yes, same organization of the material and class hours, no...

Hope this helps! It seems to me that 99% of the people who attend will make their decision for campus based on location and clinical experience. I've heard that Rockford has a "better" clinical experience than Peoria because of how hands on it is. I've heard that Chicago has the best of all because of the variety of cases you see. So when choosing the campuses choose based on location, clinical experience, and then number of hours in class.
 
just scheduled for 1/12 🙂

btw more spots just opened up for interviews so grab them fast! I got lucky cause i guess it just changed after i grabbed my morning coffee.
 
After checking last years thread, this is the consensus I'm getting for post-interview reviews. A decision made on XX before March/ April means acceptance, whereas decision pending means file will be considered again at the next meeting. So what I'm getting out of this is they're not flat out rejecting people just yet. Does anybody want to confirm this for me? Has anybody been passed up in their initial review but was accepted later on?
 
DrJD said:
How are all of you guys doing with the wait?
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The wait is nerve-racking. To think that so many of us have been thinking about accomplishing this for the past several years of our lives, and now to be so close. A medical school acceptance will secure our futures, and thinking about that makes me anxious. I hope that the committee meets on the 20th as planned, and that we can go into our Thanksgiving break with some type of decision.

An acceptance would be great. But I have to say, not getting into the Chicago track would detract greatly from the significance of the acceptance. No offense to the other sites, they all have great programs and their own advantages. But my desire is to stay in the city (personal reasons) for the next four years. I think we will be (knock on wood) only the second batch of accepted people, so I don't see why all 180 Chicago spots would be filled by now. Anyone else have some insight on this?

RafaTech said:
I've heard something on SDN about slightly higher Step 1 scores at the Urbana track over the Chicago track, but that's it. I made my decision primarily on location.
Click to expand...

The students at Urbana are nearly all in the MD/PhD program. Meaning from the outset, they had above-average academic abilities in comparison with students who are going for an MD. The way MD/PhD is broken down, the students do two years of MD, then earn a PhD (around 3 years), and then do their last two years of MD clinical rotations. I would imaging they take their step 1 after getting their PhDs and before starting clinical rotations. So these students, who were already academically above average, also spend an additional three years earning a PhD closely related to the medical field. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they had step scores higher than people at the other sites.

iheartmpls said:
Does the curriculum differ greatly from campus to campus? Do people base the decision mostly on location?
Click to expand...

I'm familiar with the Chicago and Rockford tracks, and I agree with what has been posted above. In Rockford, you are out at 12pm pretty much every day, but it varies in Chicago. Both sites make it easy to miss class, as all the lectures and notes are available online. Also, Rockford's curriculum places additional emphasis on Primary Care. Students start getting clinical experience with primary care during their second year, and throughout their third and fourth year spend one whole day a week at a Primary Care clinic. The Chicago track does not have anything like this built into their curriculum. You also have to consider the locations. Maybe someone from Peoria can comment on the unique aspects of curriculum there?
 
Chicago Person said:
The Chicago track does not have anything like this built into their curriculum.
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I thought that the Chicago track did have something similar where you were paired up during your first year with a primary care physician that you meet with 7 time throughout the year, or something... I think they do have some sort of mentoring system during the later years...

But if we are talking primary care, then Rockford definitely has the focus there.
 
DrJD said:
I thought that the Chicago track did have something similar where you were paired up during your first year with a primary care physician that you meet with 7 time throughout the year, or something... I think they do have some sort of mentoring system during the later years...

But if we are talking primary care, then Rockford definitely has the focus there.
Click to expand...

From my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, that mentoring portion at Chicago is a real hit-or-miss when it comes to clinical experience. I have a few friends at UIC. Some said that their preceptors let them become really involved, others said it was no different than a shadowing experience that they had done during undergrad. At Rockford, you will definitely be getting experience other than just shadowing (taking patient histories, checking basic vitals, etc). And its once a week, making it a regular part of the curriculum.
 
Chicago Person said:
From my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, that mentoring portion at Chicago is a real hit-or-miss when it comes to clinical experience. I have a few friends at UIC. Some said that their preceptors let them become really involved, others said it was no different than a shadowing experience that they had done during undergrad. At Rockford, you will definitely be getting experience other than just shadowing (taking patient histories, checking basic vitals, etc). And its once a week, making it a regular part of the curriculum.
Click to expand...

Okay yea, I agree with you there... I misunderstood that we were talking about the quality of the primary care experience. I have heard the same thing as you... 👍
 
Chicago Person said:
An acceptance would be great. But I have to say, not getting into the Chicago track would detract greatly from the significance of the acceptance. No offense to the other sites, they all have great programs and their own advantages. But my desire is to stay in the city (personal reasons) for the next four years. I think we will be (knock on wood) only the second batch of accepted people, so I don't see why all 180 Chicago spots would be filled by now. Anyone else have some insight on this?

The students at Urbana are nearly all in the MD/PhD program. Meaning from the outset, they had above-average academic abilities in comparison with students who are going for an MD. The way MD/PhD is broken down, the students do two years of MD, then earn a PhD (around 3 years), and then do their last two years of MD clinical rotations. I would imaging they take their step 1 after getting their PhDs and before starting clinical rotations. So these students, who were already academically above average, also spend an additional three years earning a PhD closely related to the medical field. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they had step scores higher than people at the other sites.
Click to expand...

You should have no problem getting into Chicago at this point in the application cycle from what I've read from previous UIC threads.

With regards to the Step 1 scores, the first two years you're either at Urbana or Chicago. So the Step 1 scores at Urbana include the MD/Phd students and the regualr MD students. However, I do think you have a point that those few MD/Phd students might bump the average Step 1 score over Chicago.
 
I picked the Rockford track and I'll be doing my last 3 years in Rockford, not my last 2. Same goes for the Peoria folks. So the Step 1 scores of the Urbana students would definitely be almost exclusively MD/PHD, maybe 1 or 2 MD.
 
l7anxtl7lvln2n said:
After checking last years thread, this is the consensus I'm getting for post-interview reviews. A decision made on XX before March/ April means acceptance, whereas decision pending means file will be considered again at the next meeting. So what I'm getting out of this is they're not flat out rejecting people just yet. Does anybody want to confirm this for me? Has anybody been passed up in their initial review but was accepted later on?
Click to expand...

That may or may not be true, but I had my interview after October's meeting and it turned Decision Pending before November's meeting. I wouldn't look too deeply into that yet unless it says Decision Pending for a couple of adcom rounds. My guess is that they have a number of files to read in this one meeting each month and I wonder if they actually can get to all of them.
 
Anyone here get an e-mail in the last day or so about interest in the Medical Scholars Program at Urbana-Champaign despite applying MD? this is the text

Dear Medical School Applicant:

Congratulations on your fine performance on the MCAT(I got a 34L). As part of our recruiting efforts, we send
information to MCAT examinees who performed well in order to let them know about the unique MD/PhD
opportunities available through the Medical Scholars Program (MSP) at the University of Illinois. If you
have done undergraduate research and have considered a career in academic medicine and medical
research, we encourage you to take a few moments to check out our web site
(http://www.med.uiuc.edu/msp/).

In order to apply, please visit our Admissions website at www.med.uiuc.edu/msp/Admissions.asp
and use the on-line application. Please note that only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are
eligible to apply to the College of Medicine, and thus to the Medical Scholars Program. Our MSP on-line
application deadline is December 31, 2008. You must also designate school code #128 University of
Illinois at Chicago on your AMCAS application by December 31, 2008. On the AMCAS application,
please make sure to check the MD/PhD Box and complete the associated MD/PhD essays if you are an
MD/PhD applicant.

The MSP web site provides additional information about the MSP and has links to most graduate
departments. A few highlights about the MSP:
 
Heston said:
That may or may not be true, but I had my interview after October's meeting and it turned Decision Pending before November's meeting. I wouldn't look too deeply into that yet unless it says Decision Pending for a couple of adcom rounds. My guess is that they have a number of files to read in this one meeting each month and I wonder if they actually can get to all of them.
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure that they get to all of the files that they need to review for that month. At our interview day they were very transparent about when our file would go to committee and during the deans talk they said, "At that time we will either issue an acceptance, a deferral to a later meeting or a rejection." They also said that if they do defer your application to the following meeting that they would e-mail you.
 
I don't think there is a difference between an acceptance or rejection on the status page. If a "Decision has been made on XX-XX-XXXX, then you will receive your decision in the mail. But correct me if I'm wrong...
 
l7anxtl7lvln2n said:
I don't think there is a difference between an acceptance or rejection on the status page. If a "Decision has been made on XX-XX-XXXX, then you will receive your decision in the mail. But correct me if I'm wrong...
Click to expand...

I believe you are correct... Pre-interview the Decision made message is always a rejection. Post interview Decision Made on can be either an acceptance or a rejection. From what I've read this decision made is generally an acceptance, especially this early in the cycle. I have conflicting sources, but it seems that this early in the cycle it is either accept or defer. In the past years threads a Decision made message after interview seems to have always meant acceptance, did you guys gather that too?

We are almost to Thursday!
 
DrJD said:
I believe you are correct... Pre-interview the Decision made message is always a rejection. Post interview Decision Made on can be either an acceptance or a rejection. From what I've read this decision made is generally an acceptance, especially this early in the cycle. I have conflicting sources, but it seems that this early in the cycle it is either accept or defer. In the past years threads a Decision made message after interview seems to have always meant acceptance, did you guys gather that too?

We are almost to Thursday!
Click to expand...

i really really want good news here so much😱
 
I wish you all good luck 🙂 I miss IL sooooo so much, having spent 18 yrs in IL but been in Fl for 6 years as a FL resident, yikes! Aww good luck u guys, and f$%# u packers fans... kidding 😛 Not really..... :laugh: But really, good luck my IL loves I'm rooting for u! :luck::luck::luck:
 
DrJD said:
I believe you are correct... Pre-interview the Decision made message is always a rejection. Post interview Decision Made on can be either an acceptance or a rejection. From what I've read this decision made is generally an acceptance, especially this early in the cycle. I have conflicting sources, but it seems that this early in the cycle it is either accept or defer. In the past years threads a Decision made message after interview seems to have always meant acceptance, did you guys gather that too?

We are almost to Thursday!
Click to expand...

That's what I got from reading previous threads. So I guess we can tentatively established that Decision made on XXX post-interview = acceptance (only early in the cycle... till I think Feb/March). Let us know once you get that big envelope in the mail next week DrJD 😉
 
l7anxtl7lvln2n said:
That's what I got from reading previous threads. So I guess we can tentatively established that Decision made on XXX post-interview = acceptance (only early in the cycle... till I think Feb/March). Let us know once you get that big envelope in the mail next week DrJD 😉
Click to expand...

Thanks for the vote of confidence 🙂 UIC is my top choice at this point, so here's hoping for some good news... Good luck to you too!!
 
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