2009-2010 University of Chicago (Pritzker) Application Thread

[NormaMD]

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What does the status page say?

Mine still says:

i'm getting nervous for this one. realistically i think my chances aren't great but it's become one of my top choices. . . . .

Why do you have to make me look at it again?

"Final Decision for Interview Invitation has been Made: Yes

The Admissions Committee will not be continuing your application further in our admissions process. We are anticipating close to 8,000 applications this year, and are unfortunately having to make tough decisions regarding who we will be able to bring on campus for one of our 600 interview slots. In April of 2010 interested applicants may call our office to set up an appointment to talk with one of our Directors of Admissions to discuss the reasons for this decision and possible suggestions for improvement."

 

[mdeast]

What does the status page say?

Mine still says:

i'm getting nervous for this one. realistically i think my chances aren't great but it's become one of my top choices. . . . .

You're fine. Chicago doesn't seem to fool around or play any games...they just haven't decided on your app yet. When I applied in early July, it took about a week for them to put me on hold til December, so they're probably a little slower now that the season is ramping up. Just keep an eye out on your status page and check your email for updates. Your current status basically means nothing at this point.

Good luck! Hope it works out.

 

[housefish26]

I guess realistically I never really had a shot there, but the first rejection makes me very nervous. They're expecting 8000 this year!?! Are we all doomed because we're in the latest peak of applications?

 

[MaryLennox]

Why do you have to make me look at it again?

"Final Decision for Interview Invitation has been Made: Yes

The Admissions Committee will not be continuing your application further in our admissions process. We are anticipating close to 8,000 applications this year, and are unfortunately having to make tough decisions regarding who we will be able to bring on campus for one of our 600 interview slots. In April of 2010 interested applicants may call our office to set up an appointment to talk with one of our Directors of Admissions to discuss the reasons for this decision and possible suggestions for improvement."

i'm sorry. 🙁 when the WFU thread wanted me to describe my rejection i just paraphrased . . . i didn't want to look again either 🙂

 

[Chords]

Suppp ya'll.

REJECTED like a pencil at a crayon party. Submitted 7/30.

Pritzker is still a studly school though, so congrats to the people who are/will be getting interviews.

 

[guyski79]

Yup, I just got the axe as well today.

Congrats to everyone who got interviews!

 

[LAman10]

is this all happening via email or status update?

 

[MaryLennox]

REJECTED like a pencil at a crayon party. Submitted 7/30.

👍

I am sorry you got rejected . . . but I enjoy how you described it. no interview here but no rejection yet either so that's about as good a sign as i can hope for i guess

 

[guyski79]

is this all happening via email or status update?

Status update followed by email a few hours later

 

[xcrunner01]

.

 

[Jolt21]

Invite via e-mail. Complete 8/12. woohooo

Congrats to everyone else who got interviews, and those with the bad news today, i'm sure everything will be all good. I believe SDN is all the top pre-meds anyway...

 

[dylan]

Rejection email.

 

[MaryLennox]

I was complete July 17 and still no news. My status page still says:
Final Decision for Interview Invitation has been Made: No
A decision has not been made

I just wanna know something! They've had my complete app for a month now! 😛

i guess it means we're good enough not to be rejected yet, but not good enough to be dealt with immediately either?? 🙄

that's fine. as long as they dont reject me they can take as long as they want!!

 

[mfey]

I was complete July 17 and still no news. My status page still says:
Final Decision for Interview Invitation has been Made: No
A decision has not been made

I just wanna know something! They've had my complete app for a month now! 😛

yeah... i've been obsessively checking the status page every day. i was complete 8/6. midnight last night still had that status above. checked again this morning at around 10AM and it had changed to "hold until december."

alas. here's to boosting the health care system with all the ulcers we're going to get from waiting for these status changes...😳

 

[Alvarez13]

Talk about irony, we had one of UC's top CT surgeons come down and spend the day with us at work, talking about some of the research he's doing. In the middle of his presentation I looked down at my phone and saw the REJECTION email. I'll be honest, I didn't have much of a shot here. Best of luck guys!

 

[pharmacy85]

Rejection email.

holy crap I don't see how, your stats are amazing.

 

[xcrunner01]

.

 

[MaryLennox]

holy crap I don't see how, your stats are amazing.

i noticed that too. i guess it really is about fit. especially when you look at Jolt who got an interview with a 3.0/6 MCAT (thanks for the helpful mdapps jolt!! jeez!) 😉

seriously though it does make me feel good to know they are looking for a fit . . . well, if i am one, that is.

 

[Jolt21]

i noticed that too. i guess it really is about fit. especially when you look at Jolt who got an interview with a 3.0/6 MCAT (thanks for the helpful mdapps jolt!! jeez!) 😉

seriously though it does make me feel good to know they are looking for a fit . . . well, if i am one, that is.

i know you wonder how amazing my EC's, LOR's, and PS were.

and they say the writing score doesn't matter....pssh

😉

 

[MaryLennox]

i know you wonder how amazing my EC's, LOR's, and PS were.

and they say the writing score doesn't matter....pssh

😉

you shoulda just said your PS was a picture of you flexing with your shirt off

 

[jerew]

interview! Complete 8/8. Interview 8/18. 42/3.8

Any thoughts on odds from here? Looks like they take ~250, but I'm not sure if they start out with more acceptances, then interview more for fewer slots. Med schools are so cryptic...

Also, they are very random. Some schools I think forgot I exist (ahem Vanderbilt...)!

 

[amph119]

interview! Complete 8/8. Interview 8/18. 42/3.8

Any thoughts on odds from here? Looks like they take ~250, but I'm not sure if they start out with more acceptances, then interview more for fewer slots. Med schools are so cryptic...

Also, they are very random. Some schools I think forgot I exist (ahem Vanderbilt...)!

Starting with my class (keep in mind I'm not sure if this year's data is out yet in terms of interviews and acceptances given out), Pritzker's class size is 88. Given the amount of money Pritzker gives to their students, I wouldn't count on more than double the number of matriculants for acceptances this year. Though it is obviously possible that 250 acceptances will go out this year, I would be shocked if more than 200 interviewees eventually get accepted before classes begin in 2010.

 

[Food]

I don't think I'm going to turn mine in. It's been 3 weeks since I got their secondary and from the rejections I'm seeing, I'm not encouraged...

 

[itsalovestory]

And, after ages of not getting this application done, I've finally submitted and am in the waiting.

 

[MaryLennox]

I don't think I'm going to turn mine in. It's been 3 weeks since I got their secondary and from the rejections I'm seeing, I'm not encouraged...

lol. thats pretty much exactly what i said two or three weeks ago in this thread, and everyone encouraged me to apply anyway. i don't know yet whether that was a good idea. we will see.

And, after ages of not getting this application done, I've finally submitted and am in the waiting.

welcome to the waiting . . . it seems like it may be a while.

 

[itsalovestory]

welcome to the waiting . . . it seems like it may be a while.

Thanks! I brought you all some kettle corn since I figure you all must be bored of buttered popcorn by now.

 

[PritzkerGuy]

hey guys ... thought I'd jump in here again ...

second year here ....

for those of you who are rejected with great stats ... pritzker is really about the best fit ... and to determine this they place a good emphasis on the secondaries ... yes they are painful to write, but the adcom feels that this is the area where you can really shine and show your uniqueness ...

congrats to everyone with an interview!! pritzker is beyond amazing ... i never imagined med school could be this great ... this school loves its students and wants to give the best education ... we just got a letter from the dean assuring us that all scholarship money is safe and protected no matter what happens to the economy. Most people here are on half rides or better ... heck some people have full rides + living money Plus the class is so cohesive ... the Pass now/Pass Later system is amazing and really helps you learn the material and work together. The faculty are all amazing and love to teach, the hospital has a diverse popluation, you are in the clinics your first year and the administration listens to you!

A couple years ago people complained about how tough anatomy was in the fall quarter on top of the classes. Solution: let's move anatomy out into the summer and do it by itself. Done. It's an amazing summer. Anoterh example: why aren't lectures recorded. Done - In fact let's improve our technology even more. Now you can "pritzker" search any keyword and it will come up with all past lectures/materials posted on all class sites you ever taken at pritzker. any power points any lecture notes anything will pop up so if it's your third year and you want something from an old lecture, you can have it in a second. Another example: two years ago the neuro professor was horrible and the students gave a bad eval. Solution: Get a new neuro professor.

Not exaggerating it when I say coming to Pritkzer was the best choice I've ever made. I had options to where to go and made the right one at pritzker. Let me know if I can answer any q's about it. I don't come on here often, but I'll try now that interview season is picking up.

Good luck!

 

[mdeast]

hey guys ... thought I'd jump in here again ...

second year here ....

for those of you who are rejected with great stats ... pritzker is really about the best fit ... and to determine this they place a good emphasis on the secondaries ... yes they are painful to write, but the adcom feels that this is the area where you can really shine and show your uniqueness ...

congrats to everyone with an interview!! pritzker is beyond amazing ... i never imagined med school could be this great ... this school loves its students and wants to give the best education ... we just got a letter from the dean assuring us that all scholarship money is safe and protected no matter what happens to the economy. Most people here are on half rides or better ... heck some people have full rides + living money Plus the class is so cohesive ... the Pass now/Pass Later system is amazing and really helps you learn the material and work together. The faculty are all amazing and love to teach, the hospital has a diverse popluation, you are in the clinics your first year and the administration listens to you!

A couple years ago people complained about how tough anatomy was in the fall quarter on top of the classes. Solution: let's move anatomy out into the summer and do it by itself. Done. It's an amazing summer. Anoterh example: why aren't lectures recorded. Done - In fact let's improve our technology even more. Now you can "pritzker" search any keyword and it will come up with all past lectures/materials posted on all class sites you ever taken at pritzker. any power points any lecture notes anything will pop up so if it's your third year and you want something from an old lecture, you can have it in a second. Another example: two years ago the neuro professor was horrible and the students gave a bad eval. Solution: Get a new neuro professor.

Not exaggerating it when I say coming to Pritkzer was the best choice I've ever made. I had options to where to go and made the right one at pritzker. Let me know if I can answer any q's about it. I don't come on here often, but I'll try now that interview season is picking up.

Good luck!

Hey any advice for getting off the hold list? This is basically my top choice and probably the best fit med school from the things I've seen.

 

[ytrewq]

Hey any advice for getting off the hold list? This is basically my top choice and probably the best fit med school from the things I've seen.

I know I'm not PritzkerGuy, but I think in general sending a letter to the adcom reaffirming your strong interest in the school is a good idea if you're on hold. I read that in a couple advice books and maybe even heard it on the Pritzker podcast.

 

[zizou232]

Is anyone else not being able to access Pritzker's secondary? I've wanted to submit mine for two days now but I get an error message everything I try to go to the website...

 

[Snurping]

For those of you who are using a student host during your stay in Chicago: have you heard anything back from the program about where you'll be staying?

(I did get the initial email acknowledging my request and they said they'd be in touch closer to the interview date - just wanted to see if anyone has heard anything.)

 

[cardinalsrock]

Got an email saying my application was marked as complete but one of my assigned LOR never came in yet. My PI who I worked with for the past 3 years told me she was putting the finishing touches and would get it in by next Monday at the absolute latest. Does Chicago review secondaries without looking at LORs? Should I email them back and ask them to wait for that letter if they do look at LORs? I would probably just delay the inevitable rejection at this point though... getting really worried after seeing the last couple of posts

 

[Jolt21]

Got an email saying my application was marked as complete but one of my assigned LOR never came in yet. My PI who I worked with for the past 3 years told me she was putting the finishing touches and would get it in by next Monday at the absolute latest. Does Chicago review secondaries without looking at LORs? Should I email them back and ask them to wait for that letter if they do look at LORs? I would probably just delay the inevitable rejection at this point though... getting really worried after seeing the last couple of posts

probably don't look at secondary until LORs are in...the interview e-mail states:

Dear Jolt:

Our Committee on Admissions congratulates you on your achievements and the fine impression you have made both on those who recommend you to us and on those of us here who have read your application.


that means LOR's. don't be afraid to tell the writer that timing matters.

 

[twoinone]

Hey Jolt - any idea when you were complete at UChicago

 

[itsalovestory]

I just received the complete email this morning. For those of you with experience in this thread, about how long am I looking at until a decision? I also remember that some decisions were conveyed by USPS, but my complete email says, "You will be notified of the Committee's decision by email." Any thoughts?

 

[Mary Jane]

Finally submitted this secondary, looks like I just missed a review cycle. Wonder when they will send out another wave of decisions.

 

[Andy71600]

Just got my complete e-mail!

 

[LeftyUM]

.

 

[Jolt21]

hey jolt - any idea when you were complete at uchicago

8/12

 

[souperjim14]

For those of you who are using a student host during your stay in Chicago: have you heard anything back from the program about where you'll be staying?

(I did get the initial email acknowledging my request and they said they'd be in touch closer to the interview date - just wanted to see if anyone has heard anything.)

I got the contact info for my student host a little more than 2 weeks after getting the interview invite and submitting the request for a student host

 

[Snurping]

I got the contact info for my student host a little more than 2 weeks after getting the interview invite and submitting the request for a student host

Thanks for the information, souperjim. I scheduled this more than a month ago, so I guess I'll get in touch with someone.

 

[CielloStelatto]

finally complete!

 

[Jolt21]

anyone know if my flight LEAVES at 7:55 from O'Hare, if i can make it from Pritzker? (They said we'll be out at 5). no checked bags.

 

[CielloStelatto]

if you can actually be gone from pritzker at 5, you'd make it, especially without bags to worry about. you should be able to get to the airport by at least 6, and that would be fine

 

[CUSEguy88]

anyone know if my flight LEAVES at 7:55 from O'Hare, if i can make it from Pritzker? (They said we'll be out at 5). no checked bags.

It will be rough. you will have to be sure to get out right at 5 and hope the train transfers aren't too long. My suggestion is to get a later flight.

For me, I booked yesterday and opted to pay a little extra so I could leave O'Hare 9:30 instead of 7:40.

 

[CielloStelatto]

to avoid back luck with train transfers and such, you could always just take a cab to union station and take a direct train.

 

[seira]

I submitted my chicago secondary around end of july and my letters has been available since aug 6th. I dunno why my letters still have not been downloaded according to the status page. Should I contact the admission office now? How often does chicago download their letters??

 

[CielloStelatto]

I submitted my chicago secondary around end of july and my letters has been available since aug 6th. I dunno why my letters still have not been downloaded according to the status page. Should I contact the admission office now? How often does chicago download their letters??

Are you sure your letters fulfill all their requirements? My letters were went the 17th but that wasn't indicated on my status page until today when my last research letter was in. Either that or it was just coincidence.

 

[FuSoYa]

I submitted my chicago secondary around end of july and my letters has been available since aug 6th. I dunno why my letters still have not been downloaded according to the status page. Should I contact the admission office now? How often does chicago download their letters??

My letters have been available since early July, but I just submitted the secondary last week. My application was marked complete a few days ago. You may want to call or email the office. They seem pretty quick about marking the status page.

 

[MaryLennox]

anyone know if my flight LEAVES at 7:55 from O'Hare, if i can make it from Pritzker? (They said we'll be out at 5). no checked bags.

i think you would be fine, since it's during rush hour trains come like every eight seconds. plus i think they are done with construction on the blue line, there's no way it would take more than like 1-1.5 hours tops. if that.

with a cab you never know- accidents, rush hour traffic, etc . . .