2009-2010 Mount Sinai Application Thread

[smmypnts]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm a fan of the handwritten note. Maybe send a more formal email and follow-up with a handwritten card to the Dean?

Which Dean would you recommend I send a card to? Dean Parkas? My interviewers (although it is a bit late at this point)?

So the general impression is
email: good
typed but snail mail: not as good as email
handwritten note: one is appropriate as a thanks/expression of continued interest, and then follow up with an email.

I wasn't sure about the number of letters to write. I was told that at Georgetown people are basically required to send letter after letter to get off the waitlist. Did anyone get the impression that Mount Sinai likes this too? I have written 2 emails since February and I can write another around May 15th or so, but I don't want to send a letter every 2 weeks especially if that much communication is unwanted.

 

[mitzi82]

Which Dean would you recommend I send a card to? Dean Parkas? My interviewers (although it is a bit late at this point)?

So the general impression is
email: good
typed but snail mail: not as good as email
handwritten note: one is appropriate as a thanks/expression of continued interest, and then follow up with an email.

I wasn't sure about the number of letters to write. I was told that at Georgetown people are basically required to send letter after letter to get off the waitlist. Did anyone get the impression that Mount Sinai likes this too? I have written 2 emails since February and I can write another around May 15th or so, but I don't want to send a letter every 2 weeks especially if that much communication is unwanted.

I would assume Dean Parkas. I also think a handwritten note is more likely to get across her/other decision maker's desk. People like getting cards (isn't it better than a facebook happy birthday message?! hah). It really is a guessing game though.

On my interview day I remember Jessica Maysonet saying something along the lines of "let us know if you're really interested" in response to a waitlist question.

And, can it hurt?

 

[pelliper]

so is there a facebook group up or is it too early?

 

[mdquestion]

so is there a facebook group up or is it too early?

There's been one since like November I think? Search Facebook for Mount Sinai 2014. I'm a member...although I will never reveal my true identity! (unless you reveal yours) 🙂

 

[phantomx87]

Got my rejection via snail mail this weekend... Oh well. I would've like to have gone to MSSM, but I am truly happy with my other school. Best of luck to everyone!!!

 

[mdeast]

Got my rejection via snail mail this weekend... Oh well. I would've like to have gone to MSSM, but I am truly happy with my other school. Best of luck to everyone!!!

Sorry to hear that. But congrats on getting in this cycle! Where are you headed?

 

[Question123]

Does anyone know when Mount Sinai starts next year?? I keep looking online but the only thing I found implied after Labor Day?!? Is this correct?

 

[mdeast]

Does anyone know when Mount Sinai starts next year?? I keep looking online but the only thing I found implied after Labor Day?!? Is this correct?

Someone just posted this. I think orientation is the 18th or 19th, and classes start the 23rd.

 

[phantomx87]

Sorry to hear that. But congrats on getting in this cycle! Where are you headed?

I am headed to Norfolk for EVMS... Before everyone starts in on me 🙄, I'll say that it's the best fit for my SO and myself. We are thinking about getting married and starting a family in the near future, and it's a lot easier to do financially there as opposed to UES. Tuition as an OOS student is going to kill me though

Plus, I'm not about to complain about living at Virginia Beach

 

[jbz24]

I am headed to Norfolk for EVMS... Before everyone starts in on me 🙄, I'll say that it's the best fit for my SO and myself. We are thinking about getting married and starting a family in the near future, and it's a lot easier to do financially there as opposed to UES. Tuition as an OOS student is going to kill me though

Plus, I'm not about to complain about living at Virginia Beach

Good luck at EVMS. Sorry that Sinai didn't work out for you. Plus there's always residency to come to NYC if you ever decide you want to.

 

[phantomx87]

Good luck at EVMS. Sorry that Sinai didn't work out for you. Plus there's always residency to come to NYC if you ever decide you want to.

Hey thanks a lot! Trust me, I WILL be associated with Sinai at some point in my career, even if that means moonlighting as a janitor during residency .

Congrats to everyone that has gotten in, good luck to everyone on the waitlist, and good night to all!

 

[bluedevil51]

Anyone else have to wait a while before getting responses from the admissions office? I sent in an update letter right after my interview, but received an acknowledgment almost a full month and a half later, and it was on the day I got the WL e-mail...That sort of defeat the purpose, as I was hustling to send in the letter well before they made a decision so it would be considered! I also mailed a letter of intent last week to Dr. Parkas, Jessica, and the admissions office, and have yet to receive an acknowledgment that it was received...is it safe to assume that it went through? And if not, how can I go about getting an acknowledgment without bothering the school too much? 😕

 

[Quicky]

Anyone else have to wait a while before getting responses from the admissions office? I sent in an update letter right after my interview, but received an acknowledgment almost a full month and a half later, and it was on the day I got the WL e-mail...That sort of defeat the purpose, as I was hustling to send in the letter well before they made a decision so it would be considered! I also mailed a letter of intent last week to Dr. Parkas, Jessica, and the admissions office, and have yet to receive an acknowledgment that it was received...is it safe to assume that it went through? And if not, how can I go about getting an acknowledgment without bothering the school too much? 😕

I haven't received acknowledgement for either of the two letters I've emailed in. I called on a MW and they confirmed they had received both. I think it's safe to assume they have received them but if you're really worried you can always call the admissions office and make sure they're in your file.

 

[arangatan]

anyone know when we will receive fin aid packages?

 

[Architkt]

anyone know when we will receive fin aid packages?

That's funny I logged in to SDN to get that same question answered but this forum is fully dominated by people on the waitlist. Anyway, when I inquired about a month ago the fin aid guy Dale told me that their budget comes out on April 1st, so they are likely preparing packages now. When yours is ready they will email you with the basic numbers. I would give it until next week then call and ask.

 

[mdeast]

Super secret inside info on revisit weekend:

Friday, April 30th, 2010

2:00-2:45 Students Check-in Aron Hall
98th Street, between Madison and Park Avenue

3:00-4:00 Brief Orientation and Welcome Annenberg, 13-01

Dennis Charney, MD
Dean, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
David Muller, MD
Dean for Medical Education
Gary Butts, MD
Director- Center for Multicultural & Community Affairs
Associate Dean for Diversity Programs, Policy and Community Affairs
Daniel Caplivski, MD
Keynote Speaker

4:00-5:00 Meet and Greet Reception Student Lounge, Annenberg
Students meet staff and faculty
Wine and Cheese

5:30-7:00 Dinner Social with Students and the Revisit Weekend Leaders
Carmines Restaurant 2450 Broadway @91st

Saturday, May 1, 2010

9:00-10:00 Continental Breakfast Annenberg, West Lobby

10:00-10:45 Welcome: Meet A patient Annenberg, 13-01
Valerie Parkas, MD

10:45-11:30 A “Dr. Laitman Anatomy Lesson” Annenberg, 13-01
Jeffrey Laitman, MD

12:00-2:00 Bag Lunch with Student Panel Annenberg, 13-01


2:00-4:00 Break into groups and rotate through stations
Station rotation times:
Clinical Stations Annenberg, 13th Fl. Labs
Human Simulator KCC 8
“Health Disparities” Annenberg, 13-01

4:15-4:30 Wrap-up and Farewell Annenberg 13-01
Michelle Sainte

 

[Question123]

Sad won't be making it - report back though!

 

[mdeast]

Sad won't be making it - report back though!

You're doing UCSF that weekend right? Do you think you'd choose Sinai over UCSF?

 

[Question123]

That's the million dollar question! Right now, yes, I probably will end up choosing Sinai over UCSF though I literally go back and forth daily. It has been my dream since I was about 16 to move out west and I think UCSF would be a dream school, but at the same point, I really don't know how commuting cross cost would be, so I might have to stick to the east coast. I'm going to UCSF visit though b/c I need to see it to be sure I can let it go. Hopefully after 2nd look I'll either be 100% certain that there is no way I can turn it down or finally accept that while its a great place, I can always try to go for residency at a time when the balancing of life is easier...

Sorry for the essay response!

 

[mdeast]

That's the million dollar question! Right now, yes, I probably will end up choosing Sinai over UCSF though I literally go back and forth daily. It has been my dream since I was about 16 to move out west and I think UCSF would be a dream school, but at the same point, I really don't know how commuting cross cost would be, so I might have to stick to the east coast. I'm going to UCSF visit though b/c I need to see it to be sure I can let it go. Hopefully after 2nd look I'll either be 100% certain that there is no way I can turn it down or finally accept that while its a great place, I can always try to go for residency at a time when the balancing of life is easier...

Sorry for the essay response!

Not trying to sway you either way, but choose where you'll be happier. If you want to be close to home (I assume you're a NYCer?) then do it. But, if you really love SF and UCSF, I think you should go there. The extra cost and stress of plane tickets home (which you can get good deals on, especially out of NYC) is a small price to pay for fulfilling one of your life dreams. We're all adults now and off into the bigger world. If anything, I think it'd be better to go as a med student than a resident to a new city. Being a resident is way more stressful than being a med student, and I'd rather be close to friends/family at that point rather than being in a new city where I don't know anyone. As a resident you lose the whole "med school class" experience to meet new people.

UCSF and Sinai are both great schools, so you can't really go wrong. Good luck. Sorry you won't be able to make it Sinai's second look.

 

[olefin]

Super secret inside info on revisit weekend:

Friday, April 30th, 2010

2:00-2:45 Students Check-in Aron Hall
98th Street, between Madison and Park Avenue

3:00-4:00 Brief Orientation and Welcome Annenberg, 13-01

Dennis Charney, MD
Dean, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
David Muller, MD
Dean for Medical Education
Gary Butts, MD
Director- Center for Multicultural & Community Affairs
Associate Dean for Diversity Programs, Policy and Community Affairs
Daniel Caplivski, MD
Keynote Speaker

4:00-5:00 Meet and Greet Reception Student Lounge, Annenberg
Students meet staff and faculty
Wine and Cheese

5:30-7:00 Dinner Social with Students and the Revisit Weekend Leaders
Carmines Restaurant 2450 Broadway @91st

Saturday, May 1, 2010

9:00-10:00 Continental Breakfast Annenberg, West Lobby

10:00-10:45 Welcome: Meet A patient Annenberg, 13-01
Valerie Parkas, MD

10:45-11:30 A “Dr. Laitman Anatomy Lesson” Annenberg, 13-01
Jeffrey Laitman, MD

12:00-2:00 Bag Lunch with Student Panel Annenberg, 13-01


2:00-4:00 Break into groups and rotate through stations
Station rotation times:
Clinical Stations Annenberg, 13th Fl. Labs
Human Simulator KCC 8
“Health Disparities” Annenberg, 13-01

4:15-4:30 Wrap-up and Farewell Annenberg 13-01
Michelle Sainte

Hey cool, mdeast! how'd you get that? 🙂

 

[schizosquirrel]

Hey cool, mdeast! how'd you get that? 🙂

Yeah, how did you get that?

 

[jbz24]

It's a trap!

 

[tralu]

mdeast had to do some terrible, terrible things to get that info 😉

 

[jbz24]

mdeast had to do some terrible, terrible things to get that info 😉

How do you think he got into Sinai in the first place?

 

[mdeast]

How do you think he got into Sinai in the first place?

Oh my. Am I already labeled some sort of ***** even before enrolling? I promise, I used protection.

 

[jbz24]

Oh my. Am I already labeled some sort of ***** even before enrolling? I promise, I used protection.

We would hope so 🙂

 

[dw2158]

Oh my. Am I already labeled some sort of ***** even before enrolling? I promise, I used protection.

i've been on SDN hiatus for a while but i just skimmed through this thread, and cornell's, and columbia's... please be my friend at sinai's revisit? kthanks.

 

[mdeast]

We would hope so 🙂

Hey, you'd be my trick...so don't be acting all innocent and naive.

 

[mdeast]

i've been on SDN hiatus for a while but i just skimmed through this thread, and cornell's, and columbia's... please be my friend at sinai's revisit? kthanks.

Hey there dw. Where did you end up getting into? I'll be at Sinai re-visit. Are you on the facebook group yet?

 

[dw2158]

Hey there dw. Where did you end up getting into? I'll be at Sinai re-visit. Are you on the facebook group yet?

i was in the group, and then i left because all my friends were like ZOMG YOU PICKED A SKOOL OMG and i was like, no.

i'm like 80% decided on sinai at this point. holding out a bit of hope for columbia WL though.

 

[mdeast]

i was in the group, and then i left because all my friends were like ZOMG YOU PICKED A SKOOL OMG and i was like, no.

i'm like 80% decided on sinai at this point. holding out a bit of hope for columbia WL though.

Wow, just saw your MDApps. We basically got into the same schools. Well, I got waitlisted at Cornell, not sure what happened with you there.

I got WLed at Columbia as well but decided to withdraw. Just had a bad interview experience and I just couldn't see myself write Dean Frantz a bajillion letters begging to get in. I'm on the waitlists at Penn and Stanford, which I might choose over Sinai. But as of now, I'm probably attending.

Whats your NYU vs Sinai stance? I was debating going to their second look weekend as well.

 

[dw2158]

Wow, just saw your MDApps. We basically got into the same schools. Well, I got waitlisted at Cornell, not sure what happened with you there.

I got WLed at Columbia as well but decided to withdraw. Just had a bad interview experience and I just couldn't see myself write Dean Frantz a bajillion letters begging to get in. I'm on the waitlists at Penn and Stanford, which I might choose over Sinai. But as of now, I'm probably attending.

Whats your NYU vs Sinai stance? I was debating going to their second look weekend as well.

got into cornell and declined a spot after thinking a lot. not the right place for me.
WLed at columbs and really disappointed... working hard to get off (TWSS) but totally happy with sinai as my best option right now.

have always liked sinai slightly better than NYU; i'm interested in academic medicine and i have this (really dumb on my part) mental block about NYU because of the personality of the undergrad institution. NYU also gave me zero grant money, which is hilarious because my family was low-income enough to qualify me for FAP last year. so... screw NYU. i think i might not even go to the revisit now. not sure.

 

[mdeast]

got into cornell and declined a spot after thinking a lot. not the right place for me.
WLed at columbs and really disappointed... working hard to get off (TWSS) but totally happy with sinai as my best option right now.

have always liked sinai slightly better than NYU; i'm interested in academic medicine and i have this (really dumb on my part) mental block about NYU because of the personality of the undergrad institution. NYU also gave me zero grant money, which is hilarious because my family was low-income enough to qualify me for FAP last year. so... screw NYU. i think i might not even go to the revisit now. not sure.

I just had to google what "TWSS" stood for, lol.

Yeah, I'm still interested in Cornell and just sent them off an letter and talked to my interviewer, who seemed like he thought I'd fit in there too. If I end up really liking Sinai admit weekend though, I think I'll withdraw. But as of now, I'm still keeping that option open in my mind.

Yeah, I've been debating NYU as well. I think I definitely prefer Sinai, and I know the tuition will end up being cheaper there (because I'm gonna have to take out loans....or parental loans, to pay for this..as I don't qualify really for grant aid).

 

[cks208]

Super secret inside info on revisit weekend:

Friday, April 30th, 2010

2:00-2:45 Students Check-in Aron Hall
98th Street, between Madison and Park Avenue

3:00-4:00 Brief Orientation and Welcome Annenberg, 13-01

Dennis Charney, MD
Dean, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
David Muller, MD
Dean for Medical Education
Gary Butts, MD
Director- Center for Multicultural & Community Affairs
Associate Dean for Diversity Programs, Policy and Community Affairs
Daniel Caplivski, MD
Keynote Speaker

4:00-5:00 Meet and Greet Reception Student Lounge, Annenberg
Students meet staff and faculty
Wine and Cheese

5:30-7:00 Dinner Social with Students and the Revisit Weekend Leaders
Carmines Restaurant 2450 Broadway @91st

Saturday, May 1, 2010

9:00-10:00 Continental Breakfast Annenberg, West Lobby

10:00-10:45 Welcome: Meet A patient Annenberg, 13-01
Valerie Parkas, MD

10:45-11:30 A “Dr. Laitman Anatomy Lesson” Annenberg, 13-01
Jeffrey Laitman, MD

12:00-2:00 Bag Lunch with Student Panel Annenberg, 13-01


2:00-4:00 Break into groups and rotate through stations
Station rotation times:
Clinical Stations Annenberg, 13th Fl. Labs
Human Simulator KCC 8
“Health Disparities” Annenberg, 13-01

4:15-4:30 Wrap-up and Farewell Annenberg 13-01
Michelle Sainte

anyone know whether it is okay to bring significant others to second look?

 

[aarm08]

anyone know whether it is okay to bring significant others to second look?

the e-mail we just got (i'm assuming it wasn't just me?) a few hours ago with the schedule and rsvp information said significant others could attend the friday events but could not stay over with a student host.

 

[mdeast]

Yup, SOs welcome. Who else is going?

 

[olefin]

Yup, SOs welcome. Who else is going?

I'll be there! 😀

 

[Farmerator]

I'll be there! 😀

Yup Yup!

 

[ZaccaZ]

Has anyone else STILL not heard back from Mt. Sinai? I know that obviously I've been rejected, I'm just wondering why I never got a letter or email or anything. I didn't think they did silent rejections. Just curious if anyone else had the same experience...

 

[adele87]

I'll be there! 😀

me too, can't wait!

 

[mdeast]

Has anyone else STILL not heard back from Mt. Sinai? I know that obviously I've been rejected, I'm just wondering why I never got a letter or email or anything. I didn't think they did silent rejections. Just curious if anyone else had the same experience...

I think maybe Sinai does silent rejections? If you haven't interviewed you clearly are rejected by now.

 

[chinchillah]

just withdrew my accepted position last week. I know some of you are genuine and really interested in this school, I hope it goes to one of you.

 

[mdeast]

just withdrew my accepted position last week. I know some of you are genuine and really interested in this school, I hope it goes to one of you.

Cool. Were you headed instead?

 

[Architkt]

I called up the office again on Friday and was told packages will be going out starting today.

So assuming snail packages went out today, hopefully by Wednesday morning things will be squared away

 

[dw2158]

I called up the office again on Friday and was told packages will be going out starting today.

So assuming snail packages went out today, hopefully by Wednesday morning things will be squared away

woot! thanks for checking!

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

I really want to check out this second look but its the same weekend as another second look that's out of state. I hear its going to be a very good time! (I work here). Aww well, guess I'll just bother the people that do go for details.

 

[topsurgeon2010]

congrats Mt. Sinai on improving like crazy every year on the US News Rankings..you guys are now top-20 at number 18..

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=719181

 

[jbz24]

congrats Mt. Sinai on improving like crazy every year on the US News Rankings..you guys are now top-20 at number 18..

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=719181

Pretty impressive. I believe it was around 32 when I applied 4 years ago.

 

[mdeast]

Wow. Go Sinai. Pretty surprising because I always thought Cornell was way more numbers heavy than Sinai.

Average MCAT matriculated students
Sinai: 34.8
Cornell: 34.5
......
WashU: 37.2 (freaking ridiculous)