2009-2010 Loma Linda Application Thread

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My AMCAS was verified on 7/10, and I have received secondary invites from everywhere I applied but Loma Linda... How long after verification has it generally taken to receive a secondary invite?
 
My AMCAS was verified on 7/10, and I have received secondary invites from everywhere I applied but Loma Linda... How long after verification has it generally taken to receive a secondary invite?

for me is was about 2 weeks!
 
Is this a question from the secondary application? If so, why? If we do drink alcohol and do not see the problem with it, should we state that in our response? I am Christian 100% yet I do not see the harm in moderate alcohol consumption. Some docs even say that a glass of wine a day is a health benefit.

That is a question on the secondary application. They have lifestyle expectations for students to uphold and the application explicitly asks if you would be willing to refrain from drugs, alcohol, and other illicit substances as a student.

I feel like it's a very minor part in the application, so short and sweet may be more appropriate - without getting into too much detail.
 
how long does it take them to upload the letters? i assigned them last week and its still not there 😕
 
I called and they said they will not interview until December. 🙁
 
I must admit that I am a little surprised by the content of the secondary application. The fact that they even ask you to list what illicit drugs you have taken in the past year!!! Can I plead the fifth?

Also, I am a Buddhist. Wonder how good that will go over... At least we tend to get along with everyone else 🙂
 
I agree with everything my classmate (Brick Walls) has to say on this. Even though I grew up SDA, I'm not the best observer now, but I feel like no one here has looked down on me for that. Our class is fairly conservative, but we do have people of ALL religions (Mormon, Muslim, Presbyterian, Catholic, Agnostic, etc). I think our class is closer to 50% non-SDA, though.

I am impressed with how close our class is and how non-cutthroat we are. So I guess if you want a nice tight-knit medical school, come to LLU!

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding the school/daily life/ the area. I'm here to help you guys get in!
 
I applied to Loma Linda this year because I think the values of this institution coincide strongly with my own. However, I am from Utah, and I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and I hear that applicants from my demographic do not have much success getting into this school. Basically, I am wondering if I am wasting my time applying here because they may consider my religion to be non-Christian, and/or competitive with the religion of the institution. Is this an issue, or should I go through the application process and see what happens?

There are 2 mormons in our class, so whoever told you that was incorrect! So go ahead and apply, because members of your faith are getting into the school.
 
i keep getting "update" emails but none of them say "complete" even though in the last one they received everything! those of you who are complete did you get a clear email saying your application is complete?!
 
Do you think it would be good or bad if I mentioned in my secondary application that my grandfather teaches at Loma Linda?
 
Do you think it would be good or bad if I mentioned in my secondary application that my grandfather teaches at Loma Linda?

It wouldn't hurt. It might even be an advantage to you since you have a connection to their school.
 
My AMCAS was verified on 7/10, and I have received secondary invites from everywhere I applied but Loma Linda... How long after verification has it generally taken to receive a secondary invite?

You said you attended Andrews, right? Unless they have changed something, they'll send someone out who will interview you there in the fall. Being an SDA at and SDA school pretty much guarantees you an interview (NOT an acceptance!)
 
With regards to "diversity" . . . original class of 2006 here, we had blacks, latinos, asians, and whites, 40% SDA, mostly other christians, including Roman Catholics (not just protestants), some mormons, and atheist or two (don't know if they were completely honest with the application) and two openly and accepted gay guys (and I suspect a lesbian, but if she was gay, she was closeted to my knowledge) - a good number of non-trads too.

I don't remember anythings about sexual activity with regards to policy at LLU when I was going there. It never came up actually. So maybe they have changed something, but until I see otherwise, I think this is a "SDN urban ledgend".
 
With regards to "diversity" . . . original class of 2006 here, we had blacks, latinos, asians, and whites, 40% SDA, mostly other christians, including Roman Catholics (not just protestants), some mormons, and atheist or two (don't know if they were completely honest with the application) and two openly and accepted gay guys (and I suspect a lesbian, but if she was gay, she was closeted to my knowledge) - a good number of non-trads too.

I don't remember anythings about sexual activity with regards to policy at LLU when I was going there. It never came up actually. So maybe they have changed something, but until I see otherwise, I think this is a "SDN urban ledgend".

I was wondering about these very things and therefore also wondering whether I should apply to LLU. I asked a friend (who has already applied to LLU) to let me look at the “Lifestyle Statement” section of his LLU secondary. There it lists two links so applicants can explore the university’s policies before responding that they will abide by them. One link is for the 2009-2010 University Catalog, and the other for the (interestingly enough) 2006 Student Handbook.

Here’s what the student handbook had to say regarding pre-marital relations and alternate sexual orientations: We believe that God’s ideal for sexuality is achieved when sexual expression is limited to a man and woman who are husband and wife committed in lifelong marriage. All expressions of premarital and extramarital friendship are to be chaste, and behaviors which would suggest otherwise are to be avoided. All forms of sexual expression and conduct between heterosexuals outside of marriage, or between homosexuals, are contrary to the ideals of the University and will result in disciplinary action.

I was particularly not impressed by the fact that homosexuality is subject to disciplinary action. Although I am well aware of SDA views concerning sexuality and can respect them even though they differ from my own, the university’s own policy seems to suggest that the ADCOM would not admit applicants to their medical school if they knew they were not straight. This, I believe, would be overt discrimination. If the two gay men you knew were admitted with the ADCOM aware of their sexuality that would be great, but I suspect that in light of this policy the ADCOM only admitted them because they were ignorant about this while considering them for admission.

I further explored the university’s catalog and this is their statement on diversity: Loma Linda University was established by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church as an integral part of its teaching ministry. The University affirms that Christian principles are incompatible with various forms of discrimination that have divided societies, and that all persons are of equal worth in the sight of God and should be so regarded by all His people. Therefore, the University is committed to equal education and employment opportunities for men and women of all races; and does not discriminate on the basis of handicap, gender, race, color, or national origin in its educational or admissions policies, financial affairs, employment programs, student life and services, and any University-administered program.

While their take on other races and cultures is indeed encouraging, sexual orientation is noticeably absent. So everyone is equal in the sight of God except those who are not straight? Since LLU was one of my top schools before finding out this information, it would be wonderful to find that my now-negative conceptions about the school are indeed misconceptions. However, although I am straight I have several gay friends and family members, and I could not live with myself if I went to a school that did not view them as equals in every way. Based upon LLU’s policies, I must say that it looks like I won’t be applying here 🙁.
 
While their take on other races and cultures is indeed encouraging, sexual orientation is noticeably absent. So everyone is equal in the sight of God except those who are not straight? Since LLU was one of my top schools before finding out this information, it would be wonderful to find that my now-negative conceptions about the school are indeed misconceptions. However, although I am straight I have several gay friends and family members, and I could not live with myself if I went to a school that did not view them as equals in every way. Based upon LLU’s policies, I must say that it looks like I won’t be applying here 🙁.

Not an attempt to train-wreck this thread into other less productive issues, but their policy does not in any place describe homosexuals as "less equal".
 
I could say tons of things right now defending LLU, but I feel this thread will quickly become about sexual orientation and what defines gay rights, so I will hold my tongue.
 
Simple: just don't apply if any of that seems unpalatable. Also, with regards to their position on homosexuality, they do not state that they actively discriminate against them in the admissions process, just that they may not engage in sexual behavior (just like extramarital heterosexuals) while at the school. Whether or not the adcoms secretly or subconsciously discriminate against homosexuals is another matter.

If it doesn't appeal to you, stop complaining and just don't apply. It's a private school that can run itself the way it wants to even if you or I do not agree with it.
 
Simple: just don't apply if any of that seems unpalatable.......If it doesn't appeal to you, stop complaining and just don't apply. It's a private school that can run itself the way it wants to even if you or I do not agree with it.
I'm all about equality and have gay friends myself, but I must agree with this statement. Don't apply if you don't like.
 
I'm all about equality and have gay friends myself, but I must agree with this statement. Don't apply if you don't like.

agree 👍

they can do whatever they want b/c they're a private institution. If this school's philsophy isn't for you...then don't bother applying.
 
Does the college require an ethics or religion class? If so, do they want to see that you have taken it before when you apply, or can you complete it before you get into medical school?
 
Could someone please post the secondary prompts? Thank you.
 
So this may be a dumb question, but how do we know when our application is complete? Mine was submitted on 7/25 and all LOE's and such have been received, but I'm looking for an email or section on the status page that says complete, but can't find it...
 
So this may be a dumb question, but how do we know when our application is complete? Mine was submitted on 7/25 and all LOE's and such have been received, but I'm looking for an email or section on the status page that says complete, but can't find it...

apparently there is an email! i submitted mine a week before you and was complete around the same time but haven't gotten the complete email yet!! cant wait, but if they wanna send that along with an interview invite im not complaining :xf: 😉
 
Is it bad if we put down that we do not attend services of a church or religious group and that we have not religious affiliation?
 
Is it bad if we put down that we do not attend services of a church or religious group and that we have not religious affiliation?

I think you really have to be honest about it, I did that and I really doubt it would be counted against you!
 
So, I am still waiting for the Loma Linda Secondary....it has been about 3-4 weeks now. Were you guys waiting any longer than that for the secondary?
 
Does anyone if they give fee waivers? I have FAP, but it does not say anything on their secondary about the fee being waived.
 
I received an email from the adcom saying my application was complete. It's the second complete email I've received so far. They said when my file is reviewed, I will be notified by mail.
 
I received an email from the adcom saying my application was complete. It's the second complete email I've received so far. They said when my file is reviewed, I will be notified by mail.

ditto.
 
when did you guys submit? i submitted mine mid july and they received everything by the 20th but didnt get the complete email yet 😕
 
I submitted early. Loma Linda was the first secondary I submitted. Really foolish, looking back, considering they don't send out invites until November. Anyway, I think I submitted about a week before you, so I would expect an email soon.
 
LLU hasn't received my letters yet. I submitted late last week. How long does it take?
 
LLU hasn't received my letters yet. I submitted late last week. How long does it take?

It took them about 5 business days to "receive" my letters. Don't stress yet!
 
they have received everything from me since mid july with a bunch of update emails but still no complete email 😱
 
they were sending my updates on my app...then later I fianlly got a complete email on 8/10!!! And I submitted like in July.
 
yay, i got a complete email a few days ago!
 
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Just to recap: Interviews start in Dec. if you do not got to a SDA college (invites sent in Nov.)? Otherwise, interviews start in Sept. if you go to a SDA college? Correct?
 
Just to recap: Interviews start in Dec. if you do not got to a SDA college (invites sent in Nov.)? Otherwise, interviews start in Sept. if you go to a SDA college? Correct?

Correct, if you go to an SDA college, the interviewers come to you around mid-late September, early October.
 
Does the college require an ethics or religion class? If so, do they want to see that you have taken it before when you apply, or can you complete it before you get into medical school?

I called the admissions, and the lady said if your school doesn't require any religion/ethics class for your degree, then it's ok if you haven't taken any religion/ethics class. Meaning, if not required by your school, then it's not required by the LLU admissions.
 
is there a limit for the individual LORs? it lets me add as much as i want even though they require 3 =)

The school admissions told me over the phone that there is no maximum limit to the number of letters you can send. It's left up to your discretion.

But I think if you send too many, then the admissions committee can't read the letters as carefully.
 
hey does anyone know if we are required to put down a contact number for our clergy or religious leader on LLUSOM's secondary application? (my clergy apparently does not have a cell phone)
 
Can any current students tell me about the hospitals where most 3rd/4th years complete their rotations? And whether or not the patient populations are diverse? I'm interested in working with underserved and in expanding my spanish skills. I know there is Loma Linda University Medical Center, but where else?

Also, are there any good programs for first year students to get early clinical exposure?

Thanks in advance. 🙂
 
Is anyone struggling with the first two essays? I feel like the two questions overlap and don't know what to write that will set the questions apart. The things that I know about LLU is what makes the school attractive to me 😛 Also, how are you guys answering the third question w/o sounding so cliche?

Thanks for the help!
 
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