2008-2009 USC-Keck Secondary Application Thread

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What does Keck mean in the secondary when they ask how we would contribute to the "educational environment"? How is this different from "diversity of the entering class"? Someone clarify please 🙂.
 
I took this to mean "Other than bringing diversity, why should we pick you?" You could talk up teaching experience, or clinical experience (as in sharing what you know with others) or maybe you were the organizer for your study groups. There are plenty of other angles.
 
is that really so bad? i think i could find the 2 minutes to call if i got an interview there! i had to do that for aecom, and i was flying from CA to NY, 8 hour flight, no time to call, you can call the day before too, its probalby just to make sure you're not flaking out on them for another school you'd like to go to more or seomthing...

Youre right, but it just means that I will have to find time between flights.
 
We can worry about how to pay for it once we get in! 😉 Has anyone heard anything lately about an interview? I have been complete for a month.
 
We can worry about how to pay for it once we get in! 😉 Has anyone heard anything lately about an interview? I have been complete for a month.

I once had a constuction job and when I pointed to the guy who was supervising us that the window seems to be in the wrong place he replied by saying "don't worry about it, once we finish building everything, we'll think about the window."
 
Thats gotta be the worst analogy ever.

Worry about doing secondaries, then getting interviews, then getting accepted, before you look at cost/aid. All schools are expensive, USC is slightly above the others, who cares. If you don't think you could pay for it or don't want to pay for it then

DONT APPLY!
 
Thats gotta be the worst analogy ever.

Worry about doing secondaries, then getting interviews, then getting accepted, before you look at cost/aid. All schools are expensive, USC is slightly above the others, who cares. If you don't think you could pay for it or don't want to pay for it then

DONT APPLY!

Not everybody is a self-made millionaire like you. This question was intended mainly for poor people. Sorry for the confusion.
 
Not everybody is a self-made millionaire like you. This question was intended mainly for poor people. Sorry for the confusion.

What's your point, and why be so argumentative? Here are the ways you can pay for school, whether trade school, MBA, or med school:

1. Your parents pay from their life savings.
2. You pay from your life savings.
3. You get a scholarship.
4. You get a loan.
5. Combination of some or all of above. (most common)

If you don't think Keck is worth its price, then by all means, PLEASE don't apply...
 
What's your point, and why be so argumentative? Here are the ways you can pay for school, whether trade school, MBA, or med school:

1. Your parents pay from their life savings.
2. You pay from your life savings.
3. You get a scholarship.
4. You get a loan.
5. Combination of some or all of above. (most common)

If you don't think Keck is worth its price, then by all means, PLEASE don't apply...

You missed the point entirely. I am not asking about POSSIBLE ways to pay for med school. I am asking about ACTUAL ways people intend to pay for USC. It's almost twice as expensive as the UCs.
 
And of what concern to you is how OTHER people intend to finance their medical education? Each person will do what he or she deems necessary and appropriate. If you think cost at USC is not worth the education then I will repeat myself and the previous poster by saying:

Drum Roll please!

DONT APPLY!
 
You missed the point entirely. I am not asking about POSSIBLE ways to pay for med school. I am asking about ACTUAL ways people intend to pay for USC. It's almost twice as expensive as the UCs.

I didn't miss your point entirely, and I suggest that you think about your reactions and your attitude when considering your application to medical school, as well as your temperament as a future caregiver.

Every applicant knows roughly the costs of a medical school education, and most of us are planning on loans, but won't know the exact details until it's all said and done. As others have said, if it bothers you so much, please don't apply.
 
And of what concern to you is how OTHER people intend to finance their medical education? Each person will do what he or she deems necessary and appropriate. If you think cost at USC is not worth the education then I will repeat myself and the previous poster by saying:

Drum Roll please!

DONT APPLY!

Wow. Of what concern to you is why I want to know how other people intent to pay for USC? If that irritates you so much, don't read this thread
and DONT REPLY.
 
I didn't miss your point entirely, and I suggest that you think about your reactions and your attitude when considering your application to medical school, as well as your temperament as a future caregiver.

Every applicant knows roughly the costs of a medical school education, and most of us are planning on loans, but won't know the exact details until it's all said and done. As others have said, if it bothers you so much, please don't apply.

I didn't ask you to lecture me on temperament. If my temperament bothers you, perhaps you need to look onto yourself for temperament adjustments. If my post bothered you so much, don't reply.
 
BrokenGlass,
A ton of schools are expensive. I bet there are some that are pricier than Keck. They way people will pay for them is:
1. Your parents pay from their life savings.
2. You pay from your life savings.
3. You get a scholarship.
4. You get a loan.
5. Combination of some or all of above. (most common)
(What NukeQuazar said)
 
I guess this is the point where the idiom "crossing the bridge when you come to it" fits. There's not much point in worrying about how we're going to pay for Keck until we are actually accepted there. At least, I'm not planning to think about it. I'll just take out loans or something. And then, scholarships might come out, making all these worries pointless. 🙂
 
boxing_ring_gloves.jpg


It looks like it's time to put on the gloves to soften the blows a little in here. It's a nerve wracking process, but everyone posting in these threads is going through it, expects to, or already has.

Let's remember to treat each other with respect. You may wind up being classmates for four years with the very people you're talking with today. This is not a time to cultivate poor relationships.
 
BrokenGlass,
A ton of schools are expensive. I bet there are some that are pricier than Keck. They way people will pay for them is:
1. Your parents pay from their life savings.
2. You pay from your life savings.
3. You get a scholarship.
4. You get a loan.
5. Combination of some or all of above. (most common)
(What NukeQuazar said)

Look, a few years ago my friend was applying to graduate schools. He was accepted to Stanford and was shocked at how expensive the tuition was. Had he known the high cost of attending Stanford he would have applied to other schools. Not every premed is aware of the high cost of attending USC med school. Not every premed is rich enough not to care abouth the high cost of USC med school. I asked a very legitimate question but a couple of posters (one of whom I know personally) gave dimwitted replies.
 
Look, a few years ago my friend was applying to graduate schools. He was accepted to Stanford and was shocked at how expensive the tuition was. Had he known the high cost of attending Stanford he would have applied to other schools. Not every premed is aware of the high cost of attending USC med school. Not every premed is rich enough not to care abouth the high cost of USC med school. I asked a very legitimate question but a couple of posters (one of whom I know personally) gave dimwitted replies.
Most of us will worry about how we will pay when we actually get in for a wide variety of reasons. First of all, I am quite willing to take out loans if necessary. I'll be able to pay them back if necessary. Secondly, we have no idea how much it will cost us personally. Every school will make their own financial aid package for you, and who knows, some of us might end up with scholarships.

Right now, the cost to me is irrelevant. Is this because I'm an ultramillionaire? No, its because I want to be a doctor, and will do what it takes, one step at a time. When I decide where I'm eventually going to go, cost will be a factor in that decision, but like they said above, I'm going to cross that bridge when I come to it.
 
Look, a few years ago my friend was applying to graduate schools. He was accepted to Stanford and was shocked at how expensive the tuition was. Had he known the high cost of attending Stanford he would have applied to other schools. Not every premed is aware of the high cost of attending USC med school. Not every premed is rich enough not to care abouth the high cost of USC med school. I asked a very legitimate question but a couple of posters (one of whom I know personally) gave dimwitted replies.

You initially used the word "ridiculous," but that wasn't nasty enough; you had to edit it to "dimwitted." (You should realize that the moment you submit a post it is sent out to everyone who is subscribed. I won't call you insulting names, though, maybe you are just unaware of how the system operates.) That level of discourse does not belong in this forum. None of us is ridiculous nor dimwitted--you are just not getting the replies that you want, so you are throwing a tantrum and insulting other applicants--way to go.
 
Why? Do you get into fistfights with your premed adviser? :laugh:

What a funny mental image.

Actually, I was thinking more about obsessive premeds duking it out to relieve application stress...
 
Most of us will worry about how we will pay when we actually get in for a wide variety of reasons. First of all, I am quite willing to take out loans if necessary. I'll be able to pay them back if necessary. Secondly, we have no idea how much it will cost us personally. Every school will make their own financial aid package for you, and who knows, some of us might end up with scholarships.

Right now, the cost to me is irrelevant. Is this because I'm an ultramillionaire? No, its because I want to be a doctor, and will do what it takes, one step at a time. When I decide where I'm eventually going to go, cost will be a factor in that decision, but like they said above, I'm going to cross that bridge when I come to it.

Thank you. Finally an intelligent reply.
 
You initially used the word "ridiculous," but that wasn't nasty enough; you had to edit it to "dimwitted." (You should realize that the moment you submit a post it is sent out to everyone who is subscribed. I won't call you insulting names, though, maybe you are just unaware of how the system operates.) That level of discourse does not belong in this forum. None of us is ridiculous nor dimwitted--you are just not getting the replies that you want, so you are throwing a tantrum and insulting other applicants--way to go.

I didn't insult you anymore than you insulted me.
 
I guess this is the point where the idiom "crossing the bridge when you come to it" fits. There's not much point in worrying about how we're going to pay for Keck until we are actually accepted there. At least, I'm not planning to think about it. I'll just take out loans or something. And then, scholarships might come out, making all these worries pointless. 🙂

What if the bridge is burning? What if it's on fire? Maybe it's just me, but I prefer to worrry about it before I cross it.
 
Do you realize your annoying everybody on this thread? There's a reason nobody agrees with you, your the one who is dimwitted.
 
:prof:The question about how students pay to attend Keck was answered more than sufficiently a long time ago - the same ways that people pay for any other medical school. Yes, it's more expensive than the public schools. When it comes down to deciding where to attend, cost is an important consideration. If someone does not want to pay the price, they do not have to attend. That discussion is now CLOSED.

No further warnings about bickering or insulting other members will be issued in this thread. That behavior annoys other members, and detracts from their ability to use and enjoy the thread productively. Any further behavior like that in this thread will be dealt with severely.

/lecture

Without further ado, we shall now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast. Enjoy!
 
Personally, I did not consider cost as a factor when I APPLIED to medical school. The actual 'tuition' at a school doesn't mean anything until you find out what kind of financial aid they are going to offer you.

Keck is a private school with a LOT of money to throw around.

In fact - almost every classmate who I asked received some sort of scholarship ($5000 up to full-ride). Also, the school has their own credit union with low interest loans that it seems like everyone is qualified for.

Honestly though, when I was deciding which school to go to money was pretty low on the list of things I was concerned with. I'm the farthest from 'rich' so that's not an applicable argument at all.

Medical school is a place where you are going to spend four years of your life. The people you meet there are the people you are going to be seeing allll day every day! The patients at the hospital are going to be YOUR patients. You're stuck in that city for the next four years. Its probably a good idea to choose a school & city where you will actually be happy.

I can name at least 10 states that I would GLADLY pay the $42K of tuition per year NOT to live in. Plus, the faculty and students at my school have met and exceeded any hopes & expectations I ever had. The trojan family rocks!

If you have an opportunity to go somewhere and get your MD for a really good price, thats great! Especially if it is a place where you can be happy. A lot of people won't have that option. Some people will be choosing between several schools that cost as much as USC. Some people only get one choice. Why should they limit their choices based money? I've never met a doctor that said "gosh my student loans are taking up all my money & I can't afford my house payments". So, why all the raining all over everyone's parade?
 
man, this waiting is making me depressed. I have been complete for a month and a half 🙁
 
yea i feel ya buddy. this is one of the first secondaries I submited back at the end of July beginnin of august. My letters were probably uploaded shortly thereafter. I havent received any rejection letter tho so as far as i am concerned there is stilll hope!
 
Yay. I just got an interview invite recently. I was complete probably around mid-late August, so about two months now.

I had some questions about USC that maybe people could help answer though? So how is the location that Keck School of Medicine is in? I've heard some stories about it being in a pretty sketchy area of LA and that there are often shootings. I'm not sure I'd be too comfortable with that, which would be a shame as they are such a good school.

Also, how expensive is it to get a taxi around the area? I may get a hotel that's further from the school and just taxi there in the morning.

Finally, it's a bit premature, as I'm only in the interview stage, but how is financial aid at Keck?

Thanks for your help in advance!
 
Congrats!! 😀

I've only been there once, but I didn't feel unsafe at all. I got to see where most of the students live, and it seems really safe - I've been told by 3 students that it is 🙂

I don't know about the whole taxi and hotel thing - I didn't do that route. Just to let you know, they do have a student host program, but it's only mentioned once on the website. I definitely missed it/didn't see it. I have a friend who's a MS1 so I stayed with her - I didn't see the info about student hosting until I was already down there with her.

They have a talk with you about financial aid during the interview day. I missed it because of an interview (but don't worry, I was the only one out of 12 so you're chances of missing it aren't high). The admissions office was really nice, the secretary gave me the material I had missed and offered to walk me to two different offices of people who could help me. (I declined, I didn't need the info, but it was really nice that she offered! 😀)

Like I said, I've only been there once, so I'm definitely not an expert, hopefully this helped at least a little. 😳
 
Thanks for your information. I see you just had your interview yesterday. Congrats on that and I hope it went well :0). Do you also know much about their research. I've looked on their website and it seems that they emphasize research a lot. But I've always heard they are more of a clinical school.

If anyone else has any information on USC, I'd greatly appreciate it. :0)
 
They didn't say anything to me about research, but I didn't ask, so I'm not sure. I did hear several people state that they focus A LOT on clinical experience and making one a good clinical physician.
 
Yea! Interview Invite! I've never even been to California -- hope I like the place when I interview there -- can someone say AWESOME FOOTBALL, GREAT WEATHER, and A+ EDUCATION? I really, really hope I get in here!

Good luck everyone!
 
Yea! Interview Invite! I've never even been to California -- hope I like the place when I interview there -- can someone say AWESOME FOOTBALL, GREAT WEATHER, and A+ EDUCATION? I really, really hope I get in here!

Good luck everyone!


werd!!! invite 2day 2! congrats dude and best of luck w ur interviews!

cmon trojans!
 
Hmm...this was the only school that offered me an interview when I applied last year. I wonder if I'll get another one or if they'll just toss me aside faster this time? 😳
 
Does anyone know if the two interviews are on the same day or two different days?
 
Yea! Interview Invite! I've never even been to California -- hope I like the place when I interview there -- can someone say AWESOME FOOTBALL, GREAT WEATHER, and A+ EDUCATION? I really, really hope I get in here!

Good luck everyone!


Hey mmagnett and whatupdoc, when were you guys complete?
 
Does anyone know if the two interviews are on the same day or two different days?

If you choose to do them oncampus, they're on the same day. I think I read somewhere that if you choose to have one interview elsewhere in the area, it'll be the day before. But I could be wrong.
 
One of my friends still hasn't turned in his application for USC. He was wondering how long it would take at this stage of the game to get the app processed and maybe (if) get an interview?
 
Does anyone know if the two interviews are on the same day or two different days?

It is possible to have it on two different days, but don't count on it. I suggest you just pick having both on one day and save yourself some time & money. You are required to go to USC medical for one of the interviews anyway, so you might as well do both interviews while you're there. There really is no point to splitting up the interviews.



mmagnett: I can log on fine.


TheElement: No one can say how long it will take for USC to process an application at this time. As long as you meet USC's deadline, you will still have a shot at an interview. However, I believe USC is rolling which means that the chance of getting an interview is lower.
 
To those who have interviewed:


The invite says that the names of your interviewer and schedule will show up before you interview, mine's this week and it hasn't showed up yet.. and I know that you're supposed to call and confirm with the interviewer. How close to your interview did this show up?

Also, is there not any presentation or anything during the day? It sounds like a pretty short day, student lunch, tour and interviews.

Also, anyone familiar with the LA area? I'm staying with a friend out in La Mirada, what's the best way to get there in the morning and about how long will it take? I know nothing about LA. I'm actually from the Midwest and am scared to death! And on top of that we're required to find the interviewer's office/ room on our own? Ah.
 
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