2009-2010 University of California - San Francisco (UCSF) Application Thread

[premedoenophile]

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for people who got complete recently.. did any of you not have your check cashed for a while after that?


plz plz plz ucsf you would make my life if you give me an interview

My check was cashed right around my interview day, which was 8-9 weeks after I was complete.

 

[ApoK]

ApoK, I'm 99% sure we got the same interviewer. 🙂

Haha, it's probably pretty obvious if we did lol. Did you take the chocolate??

 

[premedoenophile]

Well, he started the interview right off the bat telling me he didn't care about my activities or anything I've done up to now. He said we wanted to really understand how I think and my motivations for a career in medicine. He asked repeatedly "why I wanted to be a doctor" ... and would repeat the same question over and over again. He did this with several different questions. Then, he would ask "How do you feel now?... scared? overwhelmed?" , it was definitely intense but I thought at the end of it all, he got a really good picture of why I want to be a doctor. He said at the end that people come in with prepared answers and he does everything he can to get into deeper motivations. Then we talked about Tennis lol.

My interview (actually both) ran over an hour and I feel as though they both went pretty well (I hope!). It was just a very, very different experience... unlike any of my other interviews.

Oh man, I'm pretty sure I know who this is. My friend interviewed two seasons ago with this person and had the exact same interview experience. He kept asking "but WHY?" "but, really, WHY" to all her answers and she left UCSF pessimistic. And then she got in in February (she interviewed in November)!

My experiences were the same...a little over an hour each, really conversational. We talked a lot about health policy in the second interview but I encouraged the conversation to flow in that direction because I'm pretty on top of that stuff. Dean Wofsy said November people would hear back end of Jan or maybe end of Feb, like others have said.

 

[sunsfan]

Haha, it's probably pretty obvious if we did lol. Did you take the chocolate??

Heck yeah, I think I earned it after all that. 🙂

 

[ApoK]

Heck yeah, I think I earned it after all that. 🙂

Haha, good man. Always take the chocolate when offerred :ROFL:. I had 3 or 4 by the time my ordeal was over!

 

[ApoK]

apok: I heard it at my penn interview
basically once you reach interview, stats don't matter
interview does a lot more

Haha, that's pretty cool. Hmm, I liked the place a lot. I can't believe we have to wait until the end of March!

Also, I hope those of us with relatively early interviewers at UCSF hear back in December... although I'll be in Brazil at the end of December. lol

 

[neuronal]

Thanks for the quick feedback everyone! You guys are awesome. I'm so excited for this interview.




Go Bears! We have the axe!



That sounds great. The only way I could see something more laid back than the UCI interview is if UCSF popped open some Coronas during the interview LOL.

I was straight up grilled about healthcare questions in mine. The interview was short, and he always found faults in my answers. It was the worst interview I had so far...but he apologized for grilling me at the end. I was really traumatized after this interview. haha.

 

[CalBear2009]

I was straight up grilled about healthcare questions in mine. The interview was short, and he always found faults in my answers. It was the worst interview I had so far...but he apologized for grilling me at the end. I was really traumatized after this interview. haha.

haha your guy's answers have made me go from really relaxed, to slightly worried about this. No worries, studying the new health care bill starting today.

 

[neuronal]

haha your guy's answers have made me go from really relaxed, to slightly worried about this. No worries, studying the new health care bill starting today.

haha, I wouldn't worry too much. Most of the interviewees on the date I interviewed had relaxed and great interviews... I think mine was an anomaly. In any case, good luck! oh and Go Bears! 🙂

 

[TheFreak]

hey has anyone tried sending in an appeal?

 

[Psych MD]

Hey I have a question about UCSF's requirements. They say that 8 quarter units of o chem are required but I'm not sure if this is one semester or two, does anyone know? It's also the only one that doesn't say one year with lab. And is it ok if my pre-reqs are not all complete by the time I apply?

 

[FutureScaresMe]

Hey I have a question about UCSF's requirements. They say that 8 quarter units of o chem are required but I'm not sure if this is one semester or two, does anyone know? It's also the only one that doesn't say one year with lab. And is it ok if my pre-reqs are not all complete by the time I apply?

2 semesters. And it's ok to apply without fulfilling the requirements. You just have to finish them before matriculating.

 

[FutureScaresMe]

So I have a question. Are an applicant's letters of rec used to decide who gets an interview? I'm guessing yes. So presumably, getting an interview here essentially means one's letters don't contain anything strange. Or at least, nothing strange enough to deny an applicant an interview.

 

[ApoK]

So I have a question. Are an applicant's letters of rec used to decide who gets an interview? I'm guessing yes. So presumably, getting an interview here essentially means one's letters don't contain anything strange. Or at least, nothing strange enough to deny an applicant an interview.

Yes, your letters are probably good if you got an interview. That's a huge part of screening secondaries from what any of us can gather... it's the only new information!

 

[dermda]

does anyone know if UCSF accepts post-interview updates as an email attachment? --thanks

 

[Lycheegal]

Does anyone know if it is too late to ask that they change my preferred mailing address? I won't be in my apt. over winter break and hate to think about that decision letter just sitting in my mailbox until I get back in January 🙁

 

[shemarty]

Unfortunately I had to un-sign up for some of my tour dates because we have lots of tour guides who haven't had a chance to sign up as much. So if you signed up for a date that I said I was giving a tour...you might get a tour from one of my fabulous classmates instead! If you want to chat with me when you get here just shoot me an email or something 🙂

 

[lunchbox_tragedy]

Just got the rejection letter -- be aware that they're sending these out without updating the status page. I was complete 4 weeks ago. Bye bye San Francisco dreams! :-(

 

[shemarty]

My new (limited edition!) tour guide dates are Jan 19th and Feb 16th 🙂

 

[sr9]

hey guys

has anyone who was complete on 11/20 heard back about interviews?

i know it hasn't been that long, but i was just wondering

 

[Arrhenius]

Just got the rejection letter -- be aware that they're sending these out without updating the status page. I was complete 4 weeks ago. Bye bye San Francisco dreams! :-(

Ugh...bummer. I was complete about the same time (on 11/5). Is anyone getting interview invites that was complete in early Nov?

 

[ApoK]

Found this... it has some relevant info in it, if anyone is interested.

http://medschool.ucsf.edu/medicaleducation/OMEAnnualReport0809.pdf

 

[sewcurious]

OMG, gotta love obsessed pre-meds 🙂 Thanks for the great info!

 

[JJMrK]

So I have a question. Are an applicant's letters of rec used to decide who gets an interview? I'm guessing yes. So presumably, getting an interview here essentially means one's letters don't contain anything strange. Or at least, nothing strange enough to deny an applicant an interview.

Really, it probably means that your letters are good.

 

[ApoK]

OMG, gotta love obsessed pre-meds 🙂 Thanks for the great info!

Hahahaha, I actually posted in the "most pleasant school thread" about how I had no idea Hallen was the Director of Admissions. I ended up googling her name and this report came up! lol

 

[sewcurious]

Hahahaha, I actually posted in the "most pleasant school thread" about how I had no idea Hallen was the Director of Admissions. I ended up googling her name and this report came up! lol

I stand corrected. I was actually similar, called and emailed her thinking Hallen was her last name.

 

[oknow]

big meeting is (hopefully) one week away!

 

[Cezanne]

.

 

[dermda]

one more week until the committee meets. Best of luck to everyone!

 

[sr9]

Me too! Complete the same day. Gluck to you! Starting to get worried with each passing day. For people who have gotten invites recently, what dates were you complete??

yea, i'd love to know this too!

complete 11/20 so i'm getting nervous as well...

 

[FutureScaresMe]

one more week until the committee meets. Best of luck to everyone!

Yeah you're right! It's almost here! Does anyone have the inside info as to when exactly they're going to meet?

 

[itsalovestory]

Yeah you're right! It's almost here! Does anyone have the inside info as to when exactly they're going to meet?

They told us December 15th, next Tuesday.

 

[LSU Gladiator]

They told us December 15th, next Tuesday.

I want to be in the Dec 15 group of consideraries.

Good luck everyone!

 

[shemarty]

*Fingers crossed* for all of you!

I can sympathize...I'm personally waiting to hear back about interviewing for a scholarship that I applied for, and we're supposed to find out "before Christmas."

 

[CalBear2009]

Hey all,
Just got back from my interview. Absolutley fell in love with the school. I feel like I did well, but my interviewers were really hard to read. Would give anything to go here, but tryin to not get my hopes up.

FYI Dean Wofsy and my interviewer both said they have already had the admissions meeting. He said oir group would hear back Jan-as late as feb. hope this helps you guys. Good luck to everyone who got talked about.

 

[itsalovestory]

Hey all,
Just got back from my interview. Absolutley fell in love with the school. I feel like I did well, but my interviewers were really hard to read. Would give anything to go here, but tryin to not get my hopes up.

FYI Dean Wofsy and my interviewer both said they have already had the admissions meeting. He said oir group would hear back Jan-as late as feb. hope this helps you guys. Good luck to everyone who got talked about.

Now you know why we all fell in love! 🙂

So wait... Dean Wofsy said that he would take a few days after the meeting to process acceptance/waitlist/rejection letters. We were told Dec 15th: meeting, Dec 20th: letters mailed out. Does this mean we should expect letters any day now?!

 

[casillas]

Hey all,
Just got back from my interview. Absolutley fell in love with the school. I feel like I did well, but my interviewers were really hard to read. Would give anything to go here, but tryin to not get my hopes up.

FYI Dean Wofsy and my interviewer both said they have already had the admissions meeting. He said oir group would hear back Jan-as late as feb. hope this helps you guys. Good luck to everyone who got talked about.

I read that and all-of-a-sudden I was overcome with anxiety. Here's to stalking the mail-man everyday for the rest fo the year.

 

[CalBear2009]

Now you know why we all fell in love! 🙂

So wait... Dean Wofsy said that he would take a few days after the meeting to process acceptance/waitlist/rejection letters. We were told Dec 15th: meeting, Dec 20th: letters mailed out. Does this mean we should expect letters any day now?!

I read that and all-of-a-sudden I was overcome with anxiety. Here's to stalking the mail-man everyday for the rest fo the year.

Yeah the meeting was super recent (if I remember right, I think he said yesterday) so don't freak out yet. They might decide to wait till the 20th, you never know. Good luck guys.

 

[itsalovestory]

Yeah the meeting was super recent (if I remember right, I think he said yesterday) so don't freak out yet. They might decide to wait till the 20th, you never know. Good luck guys.

Alright, does someone want to call tomorrow and ask when letters will be mailed out?

 

[FutureScaresMe]

aghhhhh!!! I just mailed my letter of intent today!

Sigh...

 

[dermda]

aghhhhh!!! I just mailed my letter of intent today!

Sigh...

i just mailed mine's today also!

 

[ballin]

word. i think i interviewed with you lsu gladiator. were you on thurs, nov. 12th? to us.

I want to be in the Dec 15 group of consideraries.

Good luck everyone!

 

[ballin]

thanks for the info Calbear! this really helps us all of us who are neurotically checking our mail haha

Hey all,
Just got back from my interview. Absolutley fell in love with the school. I feel like I did well, but my interviewers were really hard to read. Would give anything to go here, but tryin to not get my hopes up.

FYI Dean Wofsy and my interviewer both said they have already had the admissions meeting. He said oir group would hear back Jan-as late as feb. hope this helps you guys. Good luck to everyone who got talked about.

 

[FutureScaresMe]

i just mailed mine's today also!

What terrible timing. I guess I should have mailed it out earlier, but I figured I had till the 15th. Oh well. Hopefully that letter won't be necessary to sway the minds of my committee.

 

[ApoK]

What terrible timing. I guess I should have mailed it out earlier, but I figured I had till the 15th. Oh well. Hopefully that letter won't be necessary to sway the minds of my committee.

Why didn't you wait until post-decision? I feel like it would have more sway later in the process and it might not even be necessary.

 

[oknow]

Alright, does someone want to call tomorrow and ask when letters will be mailed out?

there must be a brave soul among us...

 

[JJMrK]

Hey all,
Just got back from my interview. Absolutley fell in love with the school. I feel like I did well, but my interviewers were really hard to read. Would give anything to go here, but tryin to not get my hopes up.

FYI Dean Wofsy and my interviewer both said they have already had the admissions meeting. He said oir group would hear back Jan-as late as feb. hope this helps you guys. Good luck to everyone who got talked about.

😱

GL guys.

What terrible timing. I guess I should have mailed it out earlier, but I figured I had till the 15th. Oh well. Hopefully that letter won't be necessary to sway the minds of my committee.

It's no biggie, probably no reason to write one pre-decision anyway.

 

[itsalovestory]

there must be a brave soul among us...

Please be the brave soul! I won't be able to get to my phone until after the office closes today!

 

[IHeartSleep]

i called and got a vague "in the next couple weeks, but i don't have a specific timeline as to when you'll hear back" answer.

perhaps it was the way i worded the question, and i did not indicate when i interviewed.

 

[ugob1985]

Hey all,
Just got back from my interview. Absolutley fell in love with the school. I feel like I did well, but my interviewers were really hard to read. Would give anything to go here, but tryin to not get my hopes up.

FYI Dean Wofsy and my interviewer both said they have already had the admissions meeting. He said oir group would hear back Jan-as late as feb. hope this helps you guys. Good luck to everyone who got talked about.

Hey calbear,

who did u interview with, for the PhD guy? did u end up going to Laurel Heights for that one? I had a similar interview experience. Not that he intimidated me but he thoroughly interrogated me.

GL everyone!