2008-2009 University of Miami Secondary Application Thread

[shemarty]

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Questions 1-4

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions explain the circumstances on a separate piece of paper and send it directly to the Office of Admissions (see address below).

Questions 5-6

Please read our technical standards statement before answering these questions. A copy of the technical standards for the University of Miami School of Medicine can be found at our web site at: www.miami.edu/medical-admissions. Click on "MD Program" and then on "Technical Standards".

Page 3
Non-Science/ Non-Medical Life Experiences

Follow the instructions and write brief narratives of your activities in the categories listed. Leaving categories blank in this section will not make the application incomplete. Where appropriate, indicate the year(s) in which you performed the activity and the length of your involvement. Narratives are limited to 375 characters each. Do not refer the reader to your AMCAS application.

Page 4
Narrative One

Briefly describe the one healthcare experience that has had the most influence on your decision to study medicine. Please note that this narrative is limited to 1,875 characters. Do not refer the reader to your AMCAS application.

Narrative Two

Tell us why you would like to study medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. If you chose either the Miami campus or the Boca Raton campus to attend, tell us why you would like to attend that campus.

After You Submit Your Supplemental Application
After submitting the web-based supplemental application you must follow the directions below to make sure that your application becomes complete in the Office of Admissions. Your photograph, letters of recommendation, and alien registration receipt card (for permanent residents), should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions within three weeks after you submit your supplemental application. Send all items to:

Office Of Admissions (R-159)
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
PO Box 016159
Miami, Florida 33101

Photo

We require a recent 2" x 2" (passport-type) photo for your application. This is required and your application will not become complete without it. Print your name and your AAMC ID number (AMCAS file number) on the back of your photograph before you send it to us. Photos also may be sent electronically in JPG format to [email protected].

 

[shemarty]

Letters Of Recommendation

It is very strongly recommended that all letters be sent electronically through VirtualEvals or a comparative service as a complete, single "packet". Sending paper letters will necessitate scanning the letters and slow down the admissions process. The Committee on Admissions requires either a letter of evaluation from the Premedical Advisory Committee of your college or university (preferred), or three letters of recommendation from individual faculty members who can provide an evaluation of your academic performance and insight into your personal qualifications for a career as a physician. Two of these letters must be from science faculty. If you are currently enrolled in a graduate or professional program of study, arrange to have letters sent from faculty members who can write the most comprehensive evaluation. Authors should send their letters directly to the Office of Admissions. When possible, your recommenders should identify you in their letters by your AMCAS identification number instead of your social security number.

In addition to the required letter(s), you may submit two additional letters to support your application. These letters are optional and may not be substituted for the required letters. Letters that can add substantially to the Committee's overall "picture" of you as a candidate for medical school are most desirable. Letters from elected officials, friends of the family, relatives, and fellow students are strongly discouraged unless they can provide truly unique information about you that is not available from any other source.

 

[Emilysmile]

How are you all going to approach the experiences section on page 3? This seems like a repeat of the amcas experiences section (with the exception of the travel prompt etc). I spent a lot of time on my amcas experiences section and don't know that I have much more to add...???

 

[ChubbyChaser]

How are you all going to approach the experiences section on page 3? This seems like a repeat of the amcas experiences section (with the exception of the travel prompt etc). I spent a lot of time on my amcas experiences section and don't know that I have much more to add...???

The ones that overlapped for me...I just went ahead and listed...Volunteer here-May1900-June 2000 for x hrs/week


I had a few that overlapped and I just briefly described them.

and my most memorable travel experience was to the bathroom.

 

[BDNF]

is there a word limit for the second essay?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

is there a word limit for the second essay?

1875 Characters and 1000 Characters

 

[BDNF]

whoah, they changed the format of the secondary from the first time I logged in.

Yeah, the third page seems a little redundant.

 

[BDNF]

so basically there are two different schools that we are applying to at U of Miami?

 

[BeardedRunner]

Does anyone know their screening criteria, did most people get this one back?

 

[smgfan]

Does anyone know their screening criteria, did most people get this one back?

I have no idea, but wondered the same thing. I'm OOS, so I'm hoping that a secondary invite means there's a sincere interest..of course that's probably wishful thinking, hoping for palm trees...😉

 

[happygirl]

I feel like they maybe used to screen, but now I think they give secondary invites to everyone.

The 375 character limit is so annoying! So are you guys just listing stuff? I feel like I have no room to describe anything. I guess thats why everyone is saying it's redundant. But 375 is barely enough to answer the travel question which requires description!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that U of M sends secs to everyone.

 

[sss403]

Do you guys know how to check the letter status for UMiami. Their status page is odd. I sent mine in 6/12 via VEvals, but they have not said my app is complete.
tnks!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

how do we check the status of our application...I called the number (305) 243-6791....and they said it was a non working number.


anyone?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

NVm....the number is different than what was listed in the MSAR and on their website

btw the lady was rude.

 

[happygirl]

Do you guys know how to check the letter status for UMiami. Their status page is odd. I sent mine in 6/12 via VEvals, but they have not said my app is complete.
tnks!

Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing. The status page only says that my secondary is submitted and the application fee was paid but I sent my letters via Interfolio last week.

 

[Decicco]

Working on my essays now.... not fun 🙁

 

[greg1184]

NVm....the number is different than what was listed in the MSAR and on their website

btw the lady was rude.

You probably didn't speak to Agnes then. She is one of the nicest people I have talked to.

 

[ufgrad00]

Good luck everyone!

If you have some questions about the application or something else about Miami, you should check out the Florida pages or the class threads (both Boca and Miami). Pretty much everything about the application process has been discussed to death.

how do we check the status of our application...I called the number (305) 243-6791....and they said it was a non working number.

anyone?

Also, that is not the number you should call, and I don't know why USN&WR has it as a contact number. Try (305) 243-3234 instead to get to Agnes. Also everyone I have worked with at the admissions office has been very nice and personable and has never been rude to me or anyone I know.

 

[ufgrad00]

Do you guys know how to check the letter status for UMiami. Their status page is odd. I sent mine in 6/12 via VEvals, but they have not said my app is complete.
tnks!

To get the status of your application at Miami you will need to call.

 

[greg1184]

How are you all going to approach the experiences section on page 3? This seems like a repeat of the amcas experiences section (with the exception of the travel prompt etc). I spent a lot of time on my amcas experiences section and don't know that I have much more to add...???

I used the AMCAS for my major activities. The questions in the secondaries are more casual questions of things you do for fun. You may want to add trivial things that you might not put on the AMCAS (e.g. video games, watching sports, fantasy football). Something like that.

Frankly, I believe the ADCOM puts more stock on the AMCAS list.

 

[BoysLikeGirls]

Is anyone finding it hard to answer page 3 with the 375 character limit? Also, the box lets you type more than 375 characters??

 

[ufgrad00]

Is anyone finding it hard to answer page 3 with the 375 character limit? Also, the box lets you type more than 375 characters??

Be careful. If my memory serves me right, the application lets you type more than 375, but when you submit it, it will cut off all text over the limit.

Page 3 can seem daunting, but try to write succinct sentences. As greg said earlier, they consider the AMCAS application more than Page 3 of the supplementary.

They know that 375 (including spaces) only leaves you with a couple sentences and not enough room to make anything persuasive or flow together. It is also okay to leave some of the boxes empty. I had several boxes empty in my application including the one about journalism and such, so just do your best.

 

[BoysLikeGirls]

Be careful. If my memory serves me right, the application lets you type more than 375, but when you submit it, it will cut off all text over the limit.

Page 3 can seem daunting, but try to write succinct sentences. As greg said earlier, they consider the AMCAS application more than Page 3 of the supplementary.

They know that 375 (including spaces) only leaves you with a couple sentences and not enough room to make anything persuasive or flow together. It is also okay to leave some of the boxes empty. I had several boxes empty in my application including the one about journalism and such, so just do your best.

Ok, thanks for the help!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

So how long do you think I should wait after submitting, before I call and check on my status.

 

[greg1184]

So how long do you think I should wait after submitting, before I call and check on my status.

Once you get everything sent in, wait a couple of days then call to check if your application is complete.

 

[pianola]

how do we check the status of our application...I called the number (305) 243-6791....and they said it was a non working number.


anyone?

I don't know if you got the correct number yet CC, but I called (305)-243-3234. The person I spoke with on the phone was very helpful.

EDIT: Whoops read the previous posts wrong. Anyway, NVM. The phone number is now posted for anyone who needs it.

 

[BDNF]

Once you get everything sent in, wait a couple of days then call to check if your application is complete.

Do they send an email telling us we're complete?

 

[greg1184]

Do they send an email telling us we're complete?

No. You have to call.

 

[umean2tellme]

I'm shocked I actually got the secondary. do they always send an email first saying they're going to make a decision as to whether they'll send it before they actually send it out?

 

[Decicco]

I'm shocked I actually got the secondary. do they always send an email first saying they're going to make a decision as to whether they'll send it before they actually send it out?

They sent me one

 

[greg1184]

I'm shocked I actually got the secondary. do they always send an email first saying they're going to make a decision as to whether they'll send it before they actually send it out?

They send secondaries to all applicants.

 

[umean2tellme]

If they send it to everyone why do they even bother with the other email? Meh

 

[beejan012]

I have a question about one of the essays:

".Briefly describe the one healthcare experience you have had that most significantly influenced your decision to study medicine. Do not send or simply copy information from your personal statement in your AMCAS application. Limit your answer to 1,875 characters."

I'm fairly certain they're just asking about one clinic/hospital etc. that I've volunteered at, but can it also mean just one specific case I saw that was inspiring? I would appreciate it if someone can clear this up.
.

 

[greg1184]

I have a question about one of the essays:

".Briefly describe the one healthcare experience you have had that most significantly influenced your decision to study medicine. Do not send or simply copy information from your personal statement in your AMCAS application. Limit your answer to 1,875 characters."

I'm fairly certain they're just asking about one clinic/hospital etc. that I've volunteered at, but can it also mean just one specific case I saw that was inspiring? I would appreciate it if someone can clear this up.
.

"One healthcare experience". If that one case inspired you, then by all means write it! Remember that they still read your personal statement. Just focus on the one experience that sparked your interest.

 

[umean2tellme]

Yeah i had a problem with this one too. I have wanted to be a doc since I was 10 b/c of my sister being an ICU nurse and looking up to my pediatrician. Those are the real reasons why I wanted to become a doctor, but it doesn't seem like those are clinical experiences. All of the clinical experiences I have have come after I decided I wanted to be a physician.

 

[ChemGrad08]

Someone up above said that the character limit included spaces, but for the first narrative the space is much allowed is much longer than 1875 characters including spaces, does anyone know if we are supposed to count spaces or not?

 

[noodle32]

Hey guys I have a question. Did anyone go to a school on the quarter system? I am not sure how to enter the grades for my prereqs since there are only 2 spaces for each class. I have 3 grades for each science class, not 2, so I'm not sure where to put them all!

 

[Decicco]

How do we know if we are complete at Miami? There status page doesnt make sense... Do they send an email??

 

[greg1184]

How do we know if we are complete at Miami? There status page doesnt make sense... Do they send an email??

You have to call them and find out if your application is complete.

 

[shemarty]

ignore this. im doing administrative stuff

 

[sakmak]

Hey so I have a quick question.
On the secondary application where they ask for prerequisite courses, they ask us to write the name of the institution. Does this mean the name of the school at which we took the course or the name of the course itself?
Thanks.

 

[sakmak]

bump

 

[greg1184]

Hey so I have a quick question.
On the secondary application where they ask for prerequisite courses, they ask us to write the name of the institution. Does this mean the name of the school at which we took the course or the name of the course itself?
Thanks.

Institution = school.

 

[ej37]

So I am just now discovering the secondary invite email that was in my junk folder, sent 7/9/08... it says that it should be completed within 2 weeks... should I still bother at this point?

Thanks.

 

[aixoise]

So I am just now discovering the secondary invite email that was in my junk folder, sent 7/9/08... it says that it should be completed within 2 weeks... should I still bother at this point?

Thanks.

i might call the adcom and ask

 

[greg1184]

So I am just now discovering the secondary invite email that was in my junk folder, sent 7/9/08... it says that it should be completed within 2 weeks... should I still bother at this point?

Thanks.

2 weeks is suggested. You can complete it now if you want.

You should read the website when you apply:

Is there a deadline for submitting my secondary application?
We ask that you submit your secondary within two weeks after you are invited to complete the application. But clearly understand that we will not process secondary applications that are received after January 15.

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2600-1;14190-2;47735-3,00.html

 

[IssaErie]

Question: How long did it take for everyone to get their secondary after AMCAS was verified or until after they sent out an email saying they received your AMCAS?

THANKS!!

 

[MiketheAnimal]

Yes, you do have to call, and all they will tell you is that everything has been received and your application is complete. They will not give you any generic timeline on when you can expect to hear back from them. Sigh....this waiting is sooo frustrating!

 

[chemolupusMD]

I dont know wut is up with this ppl. my committee letter was sent 7/31 by virtual eval and up to last wednesday they say they r still missing them. They just say just keep waiting. 😡😡😡