2009-2010 University of Colorado Application Thread

[Comoroa]

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In my acceptance email all they said is that the epay system should be up by March 1st! And assuming the second look is the same as the open house, my email also says that it is on Friday April 23rd!

They must have just decided on Second Look. I was accepted in December, and they said in my email that the deposit was due before Feb 2 and that the system should be up in January. Must be technology issues going on...

 

[rockymhs]

They must have just decided on Second Look. I was accepted in December, and they said in my email that the deposit was due before Feb 2 and that the system should be up in January. Must be technology issues going on...

I emailed the school about it, and they said that they are having technical issues.

They told me to not worry about Feb 2nd date since the system won't be up till late Feb.

 

[eatsdonuts]

I think he is confused because your signature says that you are a member of the MSUCOM class of 2014. Now, many people would wait until they decided to attend said school before posted that. Hence, confusion.

Indeed i was. Sorry about the comment, I was not trying to offensive in any way - your signature just led me to believe that you were heading to MSU.

 

[Bstmd86]

anyone that interviewed on Jan 25 hear anything yet? think I am expecting to hear from this school too soon?

 

[Default]

Same here, my acceptance letter said that info about the 200 dollars would go out between January 1st and February 1st and I have yet to hear anything yet. Good to know they moved it back to March.

 

[TAJgoesMD]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am interviewing here on February 12th. I have had a few interviews elsewhere, but not since November.

For people that have already interviewed, what kinds of things should I be preparing to answer? I looked at the interview feedback forum and it looks like just about anything can be asked. I guess I am just worried (as I was in November) that they are going to want us to understand a lot about the current healthcare crisis in the US and what exactly needs to be done. Do you think that interviewers are more concerned with you having the "right answer" or do they just want to see that you understand and are aware of some of the issues relevant to practicing physicians and how they effect the general public? It just makes me nervous when some just flat out asks me "what do you think should be done about the current healthcare crisis"... if our government can't figure it out, how in the world are we supposed to??

Also, I am trying to figure out the OOS tuition. Looking at their website, it looks like it has changed between the 08-09 and 09-10 years.... am I reading it correctly if I think that in 08-09 OOS tuition was around 82K, and in 09-10 it was about 52K?? How does this work, and what is the "accountable student rate"? I don't see how it would change this much over the course of a year!

 

[rockymhs]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am interviewing here on February 12th. I have had a few interviews elsewhere, but not since November.

For people that have already interviewed, what kinds of things should I be preparing to answer? I looked at the interview feedback forum and it looks like just about anything can be asked. I guess I am just worried (as I was in November) that they are going to want us to understand a lot about the current healthcare crisis in the US and what exactly needs to be done. Do you think that interviewers are more concerned with you having the "right answer" or do they just want to see that you understand and are aware of some of the issues relevant to practicing physicians and how they effect the general public? It just makes me nervous when some just flat out asks me "what do you think should be done about the current healthcare crisis"... if our government can't figure it out, how in the world are we supposed to??

Also, I am trying to figure out the OOS tuition. Looking at their website, it looks like it has changed between the 08-09 and 09-10 years.... am I reading it correctly if I think that in 08-09 OOS tuition was around 82K, and in 09-10 it was about 52K?? How does this work, and what is the "accountable student rate"? I don't see how it would change this much over the course of a year!

All I can say is, prepare to answer "Why doctor" question. Also, be ready to have an answer for healthcare. I don't think the interviewers care too much of your opinion, but just have a clear grasp on how things are going in the health care system right now.

Also, just prepare to answer questions regarding your activities that you were involved and included in your application.

As for tuition, 82K is actually the total estimate of how much you would spend as an OOS. So it includes tuition + fee + living expenses. 52K is straight out tuition, which is little too high.

Good luck with your interview!👍

 

[Default]

Too slow! Ditto to what rocky the suggestions about the interview. Even the ethical questions are about how you handle yourself and whether you are aware of both sides. Mock interviews, reading up on the issues etc... will go a long way.

As for the OOS tuition change, I'm not sure when it happened but at some point there was a change in residency policy. Before you could switch residency status after a year in Colorado, so OOS was huge to compensate for the fact that normally no one paid a second year of OOS. That policy changed at some point and so the OOS was lowered. I dont know when that change happened but that is probably were the large difference came from.

 

[mvenus929]

Really? Well I better look into that...I moved here in May and immediately registered my car and got my driver's license and registered to vote etc...I actually called and talked to whoever at the school and they told me that I just had to be here for a year before matriculation. I AM a Colorado resident right now, just not for a full year yet! They also told me to put Colorado as my state or residence on AMCAS as well! But I'll call them tomorrow! Thanks for the heads up! I really hope this doesn't mess stuff up...

I think this is the policy... that's what Sean told us a couple years ago when we interviewed, but Sean's not in the office of admissions anymore, so I don't know if other things have changed as well. Better to be safe than sorry, though 🙂 Best of luck, and I hope they consider you a resident.

For people that have already interviewed, what kinds of things should I be preparing to answer?

I got interviewed by a lawyer, and he was a huge fan of ethical questions. As far as the healthcare crisis, I was just asked to give a very vague idea of what I would do to change the system. Obviously they don't expect you to have a plan, because if it was so easy to change it, it would be fixed now.

Also, I am trying to figure out the OOS tuition. Looking at their website, it looks like it has changed between the 08-09 and 09-10 years.... am I reading it correctly if I think that in 08-09 OOS tuition was around 82K, and in 09-10 it was about 52K?? How does this work, and what is the "accountable student rate"? I don't see how it would change this much over the course of a year!

Look for 'accountable' student fee or something. That's the amount that OOS students pay in addition to in-state tuition. It used to be that CO granted residency after a year, but they no longer do that, so they lowered the OOS tuition as a result.

 

[dangle99]

Is it just me or does it seem the early acceptances are going to people who have had interviews at other schools? Has anyone who has not interviewed or been offered an interview anywhere else been accepted here yet?

 

[mvenus929]

Is it just me or does it seem the early acceptances are going to people who have had interviews at other schools? Has anyone who has not interviewed or been offered an interview anywhere else been accepted here yet?

I'm at the other end... I've been accepted two other places (both state schools, mind), and I've heard nothing from CU.

 

[ARK013]

Is it just me or does it seem the early acceptances are going to people who have had interviews at other schools? Has anyone who has not interviewed or been offered an interview anywhere else been accepted here yet?

Yeah I have! I only applied to a few places though and I felt I made it pretty clear at my interview that I would take UCD over anywhere else. But UCD was my only interview and I did get accepted right away!

 

[ARK013]

I think this is the policy... that's what Sean told us a couple years ago when we interviewed, but Sean's not in the office of admissions anymore, so I don't know if other things have changed as well. Better to be safe than sorry, though 🙂 Best of luck, and I hope they consider you a resident.

I sure hope they do too! Haha but what do you think happens if they don't? I mean I'm 100% sure they told me to apply as a resident of Colorado! But do you think they would take my acceptance away or just make me pay the accountable student fee?

 

[SalemK]

FYI, there was an announcement yesterday that CU has reduced its English requirement.

Effective immediately, the University of Colorado School of Medicine is only requiring SIX (6) credit hours of English to fulfill the English pre-requisite requirement. This can be fulfilled with two composition courses that total to six semester hours or more, two literature courses that total six semester hours or more, or a combination of composition/literature courses. If you have taken courses based on the quarter system, remember that a four quarter credit course will translate to 2.7 semester credit hours. This will NOT be rounded up to three credit hours. You must have six or more semester credit hours to fulfill this pre-requisite.

In addition, effective immediately, if you receive a 10 or higher on the verbal portion of the MCAT AND a P or better on the writing sample, some writing intensive courses in disciplines such as history, political science, or philosophy can be considered as substitutes for fulfilling the English pre-requisites. You must contact the School of Medicine if you want these courses considered. Each course will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis and a decision made by the admissions office at the School of Medicine. Courses outside of English will NOT be considered if you have not taken the MCAT or do not receive a minimum 10/P on the verbal/writing component of the MCAT. There will be no exceptions to this.

 

[Default]

FYI, there was an announcement yesterday that CU has reduced its English requirement.

Where did you see/hear that?

 

[nhoang]

The 83K tuition rate came about because in 2008?, OOS matriculants were required to a higher rate the first two years of school and then as students gain Colorado residency they would pay a lower instate rate the last two following years.

This year the legislature stated that OOS students must pay the unaccountable student tuition rate all four years despite whether they obtain colorado residency or not. The new OOS tuition of 52K reflects this change because you pay 52K for 4 years rather than 83K for two years and then 25K for 2 years.

 

[SalemK]

Where did you see/hear that?

Sorry. I'm on a listserv for CU Denver undergrad health sciences, and the email came from Dr. Charles Ferguson, a pre-med advisor/biology professor.

 

[specialK32]

FYI...I emailed the school and they confirmed that, starting with the 2010 entering class, only 6 semester hours of English is required.

 

[mvenus929]

The 83K tuition rate came about because in 2008?, OOS matriculants were required to a higher rate the first two years of school and then as students gain Colorado residency they would pay a lower instate rate the last two following years.

This year the legislature stated that OOS students must pay the unaccountable student tuition rate all four years despite whether they obtain colorado residency or not. The new OOS tuition of 52K reflects this change because you pay 52K for 4 years rather than 83K for two years and then 25K for 2 years.

It's been longer than that... and it was only one year before they could claim residency.

 

[JerryRacecar]

So two things to clear up some of the misinformation in this thread. First the OOS tuition to the accountable student fees happened 3+ years ago. Part of the reason being that you are only able to obtain federal student aid up to a certain dollar amount which was less than the total COA for that 1 year of OOS tuition. Because of that students had to take out private loans at a higher interest rate than federal student loans. Just to clear up any confusion regarding this.

Second and I'm only about 95% sure on this but IIRC CU measures it residency from the time the AMCAS application was submitted not when you are accepted or anything else. So if you weren't a resident when you submitted your AMCAS you're not a resident regardless of how long you've lived in the state or when you obtained a driver's license. Hope that clears up some confusion.

 

[Comoroa]

Second and I'm only about 95% sure on this but IIRC CU measures it residency from the time the AMCAS application was submitted not when you are accepted or anything else. So if you weren't a resident when you submitted your AMCAS you're not a resident regardless of how long you've lived in the state or when you obtained a driver's license. Hope that clears up some confusion.
[/QUOTE]

They told us at my interview that they measure residency from the time you matriculate. If you matriculate as a Colorado resident, then that's your tuition payment. If not, even if it is a week later, you are stuck paying OOS.

 

[ARK013]

Second and I'm only about 95% sure on this but IIRC CU measures it residency from the time the AMCAS application was submitted not when you are accepted or anything else. So if you weren't a resident when you submitted your AMCAS you're not a resident regardless of how long you've lived in the state or when you obtained a driver's license. Hope that clears up some confusion.

They told us at my interview that they measure residency from the time you matriculate. If you matriculate as a Colorado resident, then that's your tuition payment. If not, even if it is a week later, you are stuck paying OOS.[/QUOTE]


Yeah actually in the interview packet they gave us at the bottom of the tuition sheet it says the same thing....that you just have to be a resident for one year by the date of matriculation. It says that means that I would have needed to be a resident by July 10, 2009. Which I am 99% sure I was...But I will still call to verify! But thanks for the help everyone!

 

[229685]

I had an interview last September and still have not heard anything back yet from CU. A person I know, let's call her megan, apparently got in two days after her interview. This is frustrating because she has minimal volunteer experience and almost no clinical experience.
CU says to wait until March, but I really have no idea where I stand with them. I was confident at first because they extended an offer to interview only 2 weeks after I sent in my supplementary application. Has anyone else who interviewed in the fall not heard back yet?

 

[3cheers4snow]

Not to worry DenverMedic!
I interviewed in October, apparently on the third interview day CU had, which left me feeling very confident. I haven't heard anything from them.
I got the impression on interview day that they extend few (as in less than 30%) acceptances before March both from the admission staff as well as the current students who said the majority of them didn't hear until March regardless of when they interviewed.
So, I feel your pain! And it has been painful, for me at least. I lost that confident feeling about a month after I interviewed. I would say just hold out, its almost over.

p.s. are you in fact a Denver medic?

 

[mvenus929]

I had an interview last September and still have not heard anything back yet from CU. A person I know, let's call her megan, apparently got in two days after her interview. This is frustrating because she has minimal volunteer experience and almost no clinical experience.
CU says to wait until March, but I really have no idea where I stand with them. I was confident at first because they extended an offer to interview only 2 weeks after I sent in my supplementary application. Has anyone else who interviewed in the fall not heard back yet?

I highly doubt Megan got in so soon after her interview, because CU doesn't have an EDP, and thus could not extend acceptance invites until mid-October.

I know how frustrating it is. I interviewed early October and felt really confident coming out of my interview, but I've heard nothing. Which makes me a little nervous because last time I heard nothing, I got rejected, despite interviewing early in the process... and a friend of mine is now an M2 and I had better stats than he did going into the process. I really hate that CU doesn't give you any hint as to your status, and doesn't accept LOIs, but it's all part of the waiting game, I suppose.

 

[Default]

Well "Megan" could have gotten in two days after her interview but most likeyl she interviewed after him and was the last interview day of the month so her acceptance was most likely with the monthly batch of acceptances. As for the OP, from what I have seen, the interview is the biggest part of CU's decision. It has been frustrating over the last few years to see people get into med school with lower grades/MCAT scores/clinical hours/volunteer experience. Just dont give up hope. There are still alot of acceptances that will go out in march.

 

[runap]

There are still alot of acceptances that will go out in march.

From what I understood at the interview day, most of the slots will be filled in March - only a couple are chosen right after an interview round.

 

[mvenus929]

From what I understood at the interview day, most of the slots will be filled in March - only a couple are chosen right after an interview round.

I think they said like 20-30 people would be accepted each month, starting in October. That's 5 months before the final decision day in March, which means 100-150 will be accepted before March. My guess is that they offer enough spots to fill the class (so they can meet the AAMC requirements to issue that many acceptances prior to March 15), but obviously not everyone accepts those slots. Yeah, most people who end up at CU probably are accepted in March or later, but that doesn't mean they don't offer a sizable number of acceptances.

 

[TAJgoesMD]

I interviewed here last Friday!! I loved the school and would go here over anywhere else that I'm still in the runnings for. I just hope that my nervousness in my first interview didn't make the wrong impression! That interview is all I can think about! If I screwed it up I can only blame myself so I'm crossing my fingers that my second interviewer will vouch for me!!

 

[runap]

I interviewed here last Friday!! I loved the school and would go here over anywhere else that I'm still in the runnings for. I just hope that my nervousness in my first interview didn't make the wrong impression! That interview is all I can think about! If I screwed it up I can only blame myself so I'm crossing my fingers that my second interviewer will vouch for me!!

I thought both my interviews were pretty iffy (at least the worst med school interviews I've done), and I got accepted two weeks later. Good luck!

 

[TAJgoesMD]

I thought both my interviews were pretty iffy (at least the worst med school interviews I've done), and I got accepted two weeks later. Good luck!

Thanks! Hopefully I can join you there in the fall! Are you instate or OOS?

 

[TAJgoesMD]

If you sent thank-you's to your interviewers, did you e-mail them or snail-mail them? I have e-mail addresses but I'd have to call and get snail mail addresses if that would be better.

 

[dangle99]

If you sent thank-you's to your interviewers, did you e-mail them or snail-mail them? I have e-mail addresses but I'd have to call and get snail mail addresses if that would be better.

You can mail them back to the school to Ahsley Ehlers and she will distribute them for you via snail mail.

 

[runap]

thanks! Hopefully i can join you there in the fall! Are you instate or oos?

oos

 

[themule]

If you sent thank-you's to your interviewers, did you e-mail them or snail-mail them? I have e-mail addresses but I'd have to call and get snail mail addresses if that would be better.

If you do do this please know that it won't matter for your overall application. The decision regarding your app was made on the day of your interview. Best of luck.

 

[WeenieRoast]

If you do do this please know that it won't matter for your overall application. The decision regarding your app was made on the day of your interview. Best of luck.

Not always but maybe generally speaking. Follow the same etiquette you would for any business interview because there are waitlists and other forms of "fence riding". Congrats to everyone getting going!

 

[Default]

Well they make it pretty clear on interview that they will make their decision that day and the only real updates they take are for deficiencies that have been completed. But then again who knows...

 

[dangle99]

Thank You letters are professional and really show character. Plus, if you get rejected or waitlisted and have to reapply the next year, I'm sure they will remember things like that. Anything to separate you from the rest!

 

[TAJgoesMD]

Thank You letters are professional and really show character. Plus, if you get rejected or waitlisted and have to reapply the next year, I'm sure they will remember things like that. Anything to separate you from the rest!

I ended up sending thankyou's yesterday... the M2 student I interviewed with gave me her e-mail address and the I sent Ashley Ehlers the letter to forward to the M.D. interviewer. I want to go here SO BAD!! it's all i can think about. Anyone on here interview the same day as me (Feb 12th)??

 

[parasur]

Hey guys,

Yay UCD, it's my top choice too and after giving up hope I finally got an interview for March 8. Anyone else?

Also, Does anyone know the final interview date or is March 8th it? Have they been flexible in changing interview dates?

Thanks

 

[JonathanKark]

From what I understand, March 8th is the final date. When I interviewed Feb 12th, they said they had 4 more interview dates (Feb 22, March 1, 5, 8).

I know they can be flexible on dates, but since it is the last day of interviews, who knows.

 

[Jessie Rae]

Anyone know if they are giving out acceptances this month or not since its so close to March?

 

[mvenus929]

who knooooooooows im so tired of waiting for my state school i just would very much like a decision already. oh well.

Mmhmm....

 

[LanMan]

Anyone know if they are giving out acceptances this month or not since its so close to March?

At the interview yesterday Dr. Wagoner said they may or may not give out another round of acceptances prior to those they will send out at the end of March. If they do, she said, it will be over the next couple of weeks. There are three interview dates left.

One of my interviewers told me that the class size will be 165 this year. Dr. Wagoner said that they have sent out 155 acceptances to date and they will be giving out 268 total acceptances by the end of March. Meaning there are more than one hundred still to be sent out.

 

[crazycab]

At the interview yesterday Dr. Wagoner said they may or may not give out another round of acceptances prior to those they will send out at the end of March. If they do, she said, it will be over the next couple of weeks. There are three interview dates left.

One of my interviewers told me that the class size will be 165 this year. Dr. Wagoner said that they have sent out 155 acceptances to date and they will be giving out 268 total acceptances by the end of March. Meaning there are more than one hundred still to be sent out.

I think it's probably 268 acceptances total, not just by March, unless CU has had a LOT of people go elsewhere this year. From their website, it says that for the class of 2012, 270 total acceptances were given. It seems unlikely that they would give out an equivalent number by the end of March. So don't give up if you don't get an acceptance right away! Good Luck!!

 

[RRTinCO]

I think it's probably 268 acceptances total, not just by March, unless CU has had a LOT of people go elsewhere this year. From their website, it says that for the class of 2012, 270 total acceptances were given. It seems unlikely that they would give out an equivalent number by the end of March. So don't give up if you don't get an acceptance right away! Good Luck!!

No offense to anyone, but there have been so many random numbers presented by people who "have heard" or "have connections" that contradict each other in both this year's thread and last year's thread. Last year anywhere from 175-220 acceptances were given out before the waitlist of 125-175 was formed for the class size of 160.

It also looks like the last round of "fill the rest of the class" acceptances have gone out mid March the last couple of years with the waitlist positions given out at the end of March.

Best of luck to all of us not holding an acceptance to Colorado

 

[zenlike]

I think it's probably 268 acceptances total, not just by March, unless CU has had a LOT of people go elsewhere this year. From their website, it says that for the class of 2012, 270 total acceptances were given. It seems unlikely that they would give out an equivalent number by the end of March. So don't give up if you don't get an acceptance right away! Good Luck!!

I know one guy in 2012 who got his acceptance the day before class started.

 

[momanddoc]

I think it's probably 268 acceptances total, not just by March, unless CU has had a LOT of people go elsewhere this year. From their website, it says that for the class of 2012, 270 total acceptances were given. It seems unlikely that they would give out an equivalent number by the end of March. So don't give up if you don't get an acceptance right away! Good Luck!!

So at the end of the month of March, every single person that was interviewed at CU will know whether they were accepted, rejected, or waitlisted. I've interviewed there twice (once successfully) and what they have told us both years is the same number of acceptances, 270. So they give out 270 acceptances by the end of March AND they put together the alternative lists. Because yes, CU, like all other med schools has A LOT of people that they accept that go elsewhere. A lot of top candidates hold many acceptances so it makes sense that they need to accept a large number of people. So if there have already been 155 acceptances then there are still about 115 to go out at the end of March. Additionally, the top tier of the waitlist also gets in usually so those of you that haven't heard yet should still have lots of hope!! I hope to see a lot of you there this fall with me!!!

I know there is a lot of conflicting info out there, but I looked back at my notes from my interviews and this is what Dr. Wagoner told us both times.

 

[mvenus929]

So at the end of the month of March, every single person that was interviewed at CU will know whether they were accepted, rejected, or waitlisted. I've interviewed there twice (once successfully) and what they have told us both years is the same number of acceptances, 270. So they give out 270 acceptances by the end of March AND they put together the alternative lists. Because yes, CU, like all other med schools has A LOT of people that they accept that go elsewhere. A lot of top candidates hold many acceptances so it makes sense that they need to accept a large number of people. So if there have already been 155 acceptances then there are still about 115 to go out at the end of March. Additionally, the top tier of the waitlist also gets in usually so those of you that haven't heard yet should still have lots of hope!! I hope to see a lot of you there this fall with me!!!

I know there is a lot of conflicting info out there, but I looked back at my notes from my interviews and this is what Dr. Wagoner told us both times.

Their website states that 270 acceptances were granted for the class of 2012 (entrance in 2008). Not by the end of March, but total. Not that I doubt what Dr. Wagoner told you, but I think a lot of people are misinterpreting what was said.

So, I don't think that many acceptances are going out at the end of March. I suspect a handful are, but not 115. But, the waitlist has movement, so all hope is not lost.

 

[dangle99]

Last year they didn't even make it through Tier 1 of the waitlist (which, historically, has been the "everyone gets in" part of the waitlist). Point being - you never know.

Dr. Wagoner told us that everyone on the Tier I who was in-state last year got accepted and only 1 person on the Tier 2 (IS) was accepted. The out-of-state Tiers were a lot different though.