2009-2010 University of Illinois (UIC) Application Thread

[Caesar]

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got an email today inviting me to fill out the secondary, so they are still coming. Of course, mine is almost done now with the forgot password method...

 

[Hvm33]

this is where i am applying! in alphabetical order not in order of preference.

1. Albany
2. Creighton U
3. Eastern Virginia
4. George Washington
5. Loyola U
6. Medical College of Wisconsin
7. Michigan State
8. Morehouse
9. Oregon Health Sciences University
10. Rosalind Franklin
11. SUNY Buffalo
12. Medical College of Georgia
13. U of AZ
14. U of AR
15. U of CO
16. U of HI
17. U of IL
18. U of IA
19. U of KS
20. U of MN
21. U of NE
22. U of NV
23. UW
24. Virginia Commonwealth

you?

Had to give a shout out for the GA schools represented. I'm from Atlanta and have friends at MCG and got accepted to Morehouse for 2013. Funny enough though, I'll start at UIC this year. Let me know if you have specific questions about interview and such down the line. Good luck!

 

[Hvm33]

Freaking website! It "timed out" while I was entering all the info for the EC's. Not happy. Not happy at all.

Best thing I did while filling out multiple secondaries was to create word documents for each schools application and just work on my responses on that. Then you can copy the questions, save as often as you'd like, keep an eye on your word count and have spell check. Then you just open the site and copy your responses when they are finished. Also helps when different schools ask similar questions...I may have copied a few responses from other schools and tweaked them to the word count/theme of another secondary. 😀

 

[UICitGuy]

We were wondering how you guys were able to submit supplemental information before being officially sent a request to provide it. The "Forgot your Password" feature was meant to be used in case you forgot the previously officially-mailed password, not to find it out in the first place. 🙂 At the beginning of the medical school application year, AMCAS "burst-sends" hundreds of applications a day to us here at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. We limit the official emails to 200 per day so as not to overburden our application servers. To date, we have received over 1,200 applications. We will catch up by next Monday, so this is only an issue at the beginning of the application year. However, we have modified the login process to disallow login (you will be ineligible) if an official request inviting you to submit additional information has not been sent. That translates to "No more jumping the gun Ladies and Gentlemen.". 😉

I've been reading over the website, and I'll be sending out additional emails to address the website/application issues that have already arisen, but I want to get this one out right away, so that you'll understand why this particular "technique" will not be successful any more.

This is a new online application, so let me know how you like the supplemental website overall.

Your friendly neighborhood Web Designer

 

[medicalkid123]

.

 

[UICitGuy]

I've been reading over the message boards, and I'd like to let you know that we here in the U of I College of Medicine Information Technology Group are aware of a few issues that are throwing some of you for a loop when trying to fill out the new online supplemental application.

1.) Blank Email Body received in the Supplemental Application Invitation: This issue seems to be affecting a small group of applicants with some few Yahoo, AOL, and Comcast email accounts. Although we aren't sure yet, why this is occuring, we have modified the email text a bit to see whether this helps. If this happens to you, just call our admissions office and the webmaster will resend a copy of the original email. These have been getting through just fine.

2.) "To" Date required for ongoing extracurricular activities: We are working on implementing a modification to allow a blank "To" date that you can use to indicate ongoing activities. Until that is implemented, just provide your best guess, or the current month/year in which you feel the
activity will cease.

3.) Data lost on a Page timeout: As Ceasar has pointed out, if you take to long to hit the Continue button, any information you entered in the page will be lost. The timeout is a security issue, and is set at, I believe, 30 minutes. I realize that on some pages, it may take you more time to enter all the information requested. To make sure that you don't timeout, just hit the continue button every 10 minutes or so, and then tab back to the page to continue to enter data.

4.) Essay requested limits: Our screeners individually review each and every supplemental application submitted. As such, we suggest a target of 250 words for an individual essay response. However, if you are being concise, and you still feel that 250 words is not enough to fully answer the question, you won't be penalized for going slightly over the word targets. I believe the application allows up to 6000 characters to be entered before it starts to automatically truncate text.

Let me know if any other supplemental application website-related issues come up, and let me know what your impressions are of the website in general. The IT staff has worked very hard a producing a useable, user-friendly application, and are very interested in any and all comments.

Sincerely,

Your friendly neighborhood IT guy

 

[UICitGuy]

Medicalkid123,

You and the other 14 applicants who submitted supplementals prior to receiving the official emails won't be penalized at all. We're just not going to allow it in the future. There has been no notation made to anyone's file. If it were up to me, I'd count your initiative as a positive thing. Alas, I'm not a screener, just a poor, over-worked Web Designer.

It happened, your being able to successfully login to the website and complete an application, because you were eligible to fill out a supplemental application. If your initial application had not met our minimum requirements for submission of a supplemental application, regardless of your having the password, you would not have been able to get past the login page and submit a supplemental.

 

[medicalkid123]

.

 

[Count Chocula]

We were wondering how you guys were able to submit supplemental information before being officially sent a request to provide it. The "Forgot your Password" feature was meant to be used in case you forgot the previously officially-mailed password, not to find it out in the first place. 🙂 At the beginning of the medical school application year, AMCAS "burst-sends" hundreds of applications a day to us here at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. We limit the official emails to 200 per day so as not to overburden our application servers. To date, we have received over 1,200 applications. We will catch up by next Monday, so this is only an issue at the beginning of the application year. However, we have modified the login process to disallow login (you will be ineligible) if an official request inviting you to submit additional information has not been sent. That translates to "No more jumping the gun Ladies and Gentlemen.". 😉

I've been reading over the website, and I'll be sending out additional emails to address the website/application issues that have already arisen, but I want to get this one out right away, so that you'll understand why this particular "technique" will not be successful any more.

This is a new online application, so let me know how you like the supplemental website overall.

Your friendly neighborhood Web Designer

Thanks for the clarification, IT guy!

 

[JJMrK]

Is the secondary website down right now?

 

[Surgeon44]

I think it is down even now...?

 

[Surgeon44]

its back up

 

[RecyclingBinh]

Surgeon44...

we have like the same stats. you probably have higher pref. b/c your in state. i'm OOS. 🙁

 

[JJMrK]

Just submitted this guy.

 

[diggity]

1. does UIC accept AP credit for their requirements? i can't find anything on the website that says they don't, but i can't find anything that says they do, either.
2. what's the verdict on a women's studies course for the BESS requirement? the class i'd like to use for my 3rd one is called "women's health." it felt just like a psych course to me. i guess i need to call...i wasn't expecting this requirement. i'm an english major and have taken a billion english classes--where's the humanities requirement! strike 5748392 for my pointless major

that's it for now. thanks guys and good luck

 

[Appless]

1. does UIC accept AP credit for their requirements? i can't find anything on the website that says they don't, but i can't find anything that says they do, either.
2. what's the verdict on a women's studies course for the BESS requirement? the class i'd like to use for my 3rd one is called "women's health." it felt just like a psych course to me. i guess i need to call...i wasn't expecting this requirement. i'm an english major and have taken a billion english classes--where's the humanities requirement! strike 5748392 for my pointless major

that's it for now. thanks guys and good luck

what dept is the womens studies course part of? Also its always best to call since this is a case by case basis type thing. But in an email i got from them it was basically like if its part of the psych dept (or any other they would accept) that its fine. For example, they took my human sexuality class....as it was part of the psych dept and the course was given by them...hope that helps a little at least.

 

[nick_carraway]

We were wondering how you guys were able to submit supplemental information before being officially sent a request to provide it. The "Forgot your Password" feature was meant to be used in case you forgot the previously officially-mailed password, not to find it out in the first place. 🙂

If it were up to me, I'd count your initiative as a positive thing. Alas, I'm not a screener, just a poor, over-worked Web Designer

This school has officially become my favorite.

I thought I was getting screened or that secondaries weren't being sent yet and then I checked this thread. As I read through it, I was more and more convinced that I should pull up my password since I thought that I was left behind.

I'm glad I got to this page before I panicked.

Web engineers pwn.

 

[Caesar]

I've been reading over the message boards, and I'd like to let you know that we here in the U of I College of Medicine Information Technology Group are aware of a few issues that are throwing some of you for a loop when trying to fill out the new online supplemental application.

1.) Blank Email Body received in the Supplemental Application Invitation: This issue seems to be affecting a small group of applicants with some few Yahoo, AOL, and Comcast email accounts. Although we aren't sure yet, why this is occuring, we have modified the email text a bit to see whether this helps. If this happens to you, just call our admissions office and the webmaster will resend a copy of the original email. These have been getting through just fine.

2.) "To" Date required for ongoing extracurricular activities: We are working on implementing a modification to allow a blank "To" date that you can use to indicate ongoing activities. Until that is implemented, just provide your best guess, or the current month/year in which you feel the
activity will cease.

3.) Data lost on a Page timeout: As Ceasar has pointed out, if you take to long to hit the Continue button, any information you entered in the page will be lost. The timeout is a security issue, and is set at, I believe, 30 minutes. I realize that on some pages, it may take you more time to enter all the information requested. To make sure that you don't timeout, just hit the continue button every 10 minutes or so, and then tab back to the page to continue to enter data.

4.) Essay requested limits: Our screeners individually review each and every supplemental application submitted. As such, we suggest a target of 250 words for an individual essay response. However, if you are being concise, and you still feel that 250 words is not enough to fully answer the question, you won't be penalized for going slightly over the word targets. I believe the application allows up to 6000 characters to be entered before it starts to automatically truncate text.

Let me know if any other supplemental application website-related issues come up, and let me know what your impressions are of the website in general. The IT staff has worked very hard a producing a useable, user-friendly application, and are very interested in any and all comments.

Sincerely,

Your friendly neighborhood IT guy

I like the setup of the secondary. Other than my timeout issue (which was resolved thanks to firefox remembering what I had previously entered) I thought it was super. The date to issue is a bit unfortunate, I wish it was jut set up with drop down boxes for month and year with on option being "ongoing" but I assume we won't be penalized for lack of prophetic talents. I think it's super cool that you are on here. Given the issues Rosalind Franklin had with secondaries I assumed notificarions were lagging behind the screen, hence the workaround. Though, as I still haven't submitted it seems like a bit of a waste to see it early... Haha

 

[146233]

There won't be any notation in your files about submitting early; but seriously, try to relax. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

 

[vc7777]

1.) Blank Email Body received in the Supplemental Application Invitation: This issue seems to be affecting a small group of applicants with some few Yahoo, AOL, and Comcast email accounts. Although we aren't sure yet, why this is occuring, we have modified the email text a bit to see whether this helps. If this happens to you, just call our admissions office and the webmaster will resend a copy of the original email. These have been getting through just fine.

Your friendly neighborhood IT guy

Hey, UICitGuy, I got the blank e-mail a couple of days ago and called the office like a good little soldier, but have yet to receive the re-sent e-mail (I use Yahoo! mail, by the way).

However, I also received the e-mail with my login info within 4 minutes of the blank one. I was able to log in just fine. My question to you is this:
Is there anything pertinent in the blank e-mail that I truly need to have? I really have an aversion to calling again, and if it contains nothing but pleasantries and salutations, I won't call again.

Thanks!

 

[Count Chocula]

there is no explanation for the EC's on this secondary. i meant are people using the same list of EC's

yeah dude, I guess I'll just reuse/word stuff, considering no direction is given.

 

[Caesar]

just submitted.

 

[vc7777]

Hey, UICitGuy, I got the blank e-mail a couple of days ago and called the office like a good little soldier, but have yet to receive the re-sent e-mail (I use Yahoo! mail, by the way).

However, I also received the e-mail with my login info within 4 minutes of the blank one. I was able to log in just fine. My question to you is this:
Is there anything pertinent in the blank e-mail that I truly need to have? I really have an aversion to calling again, and if it contains nothing but pleasantries and salutations, I won't call again.

Thanks!

Ok, I made a mistake, the second e-mail was just a link to the status page, and not an on-line application! My bad! **I really do need the re-send of the secondary application e-mail** I am not sure it will be coming anytime soon? May I make a suggestion? Could you guys setup a disposable e-mail address so we can send the actual IT "gatekeepers to the mail-server" a request to re-send the secondary invitation e-mail? I suspect my verbal request fell through. 🙁

 

[RecyclingBinh]

on the activities section...is it ok if I put down the wrong/ non-direct phone # or email address b/c some of the people who i worked with left the rganization. I don't want to lie but that's the best that I can come up with. Any suggestions?

 

[MN premed]

I just submitted, for UIC, does that mean it's "complete" too? I don't see a status page for that. Or will I get an e-mail when it is considered complete?

on the activities section...is it ok if I put down the wrong/ non-direct phone # or email address b/c some of the people who i worked with left the rganization. I don't want to lie but that's the best that I can come up with. Any suggestions?

One of my contacts is also no longer with the organization, but he was my supervisor so I still put him. Mine was a small organization so his contact number was just the front desk's number, and I used that. If they were to call, they would just be redirected to the new volunteer coordinator, who I have not met. I'm hoping it's ok that I still put his name instead of the new person.

 

[Ari1584]

how long did it take for them to send out their secondaries? i have been verified about a week by amcas...

 

[UICitGuy]

For those of you who received a blank supplemental application email, I'm printing the text here. We've made some modifications to the email text in an effort to prevent the blank emails in some email systems by the way, but the overall message is the same...remember, we've modified the login so that if you haven't received the "official" password email, you won't be allowed to log in, even if you are otherwise eligible (passed screening) to submit a supplemental.

=======================================================

We are delighted that you are interested in pursuing your medical career at the UIC College of Medicine. We have reviewed your American Medical College Application Services (AMCAS) application. We would like to invite you to submit additional information about yourself, so that the College of Medicine will have as complete a record as possible before considering your application for admission.

Enter <https://applications.comd.uic.edu/suppapp>https://applications.comd.uic.edu/suppapp to proceed to the Online Supplemental Application website, and follow the instructions found therein. In order to enter your supplemental information, you will be asked to login using your AAMC ID and the UIC admissions password that was sent to you under a separate email. The application was designed to allow the entry of your information over several sessions, if you desire. You do not have to enter it all in a single browser session. Information on a specific page is saved whenever you continue to another page in the application.

Please note that your supplemental application will not be considered until you click the SUBMIT link that will appear in the sidebar, after entering sufficient information. Visit each page in the application, and provide the requested data. If you have not received a fee waiver from either AMCAS, or our admissions office, you will be allowed to utilize the university's secure I-Pay application to submit your payment via credit card online. You can also opt to send a paper check by mail.

Before the Committee on Admissions can review your application, it must have been submitted online, payment of the seventy dollar application fee must have been received, and any supporting documentation (such as a copy of both sides of your alien registration card (if applicable)) must be on file with College of Medicine Admissions. In addition, if you have not already done so, request that your letters of recommendation be sent to AMCAS.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Admissions Office at (312) 996-5635. Again, thank you for considering the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.

This email has been automatically generated. You cannot reply to it.

 

[UICitGuy]

When you "submit" your online application, that does not mean it is complete. We need the required letters of recommendation as well as any supporting documents, and the supplemental fee as specified in the online instructions. The Application Status application should be used to keep yourself apprised of your current processing status. It can be reached by the following URL: http://services.comd.uic.edu/appstat.

Admissions officers are available to answer any questions that you might have regarding your supplemental application, as well as your current status in the admissions process, if the application status webpage does not sufficiently answer your questions.

Good luck, and remember that because we give a lot of individual attention to each applicant, the process takes a while to unwind. I know it seems like an eternity for you guys, but the limited staff we have to handle the annual onslaught of applications works very hard to process them as quickly as possible.

Your friendly neighborhood IT guy

 

[CielloStelatto]

submitted 7/6. got the secondary email today. 🙂

edit: false alarm. email was for the status login page.

 

[RaginRajon]

Submitted secondary today. Now we play the waiting game...

 

[vc7777]

For those of you who received a blank supplemental application email, I'm printing the text here. We've made some modifications to the email text in an effort to prevent the blank emails in some email systems by the way, but the overall message is the same...remember, we've modified the login so that if you haven't received the "official" password email, you won't be allowed to log in, even if you are otherwise eligible (passed screening) to submit a supplemental.

Thanks UICitGuy,

If only all schools had somebody like you who is responsive and tech-savvy.

 

[BBender716]

Three cheers for UICitGuy!

 

[red10]

So what do you guys think about the employment section of the secondary? I worked constantly throughout college. Sometimes 2 jobs. I figured I'd average the hours for the 2 jobs I had during the school year but should I include summer employment in the time frame and hour count or just employment during the school year its self (making the period Aug-May of w/e school year instead of Aug-Aug). The difference would be averaging 10 hours during the school year itself or averaging 20+ hrs if I included summer working

 

[FML]

So what do you guys think about the employment section of the secondary? I worked constantly throughout college. Sometimes 2 jobs. I figured I'd average the hours for the 2 jobs I had during the school year but should I include summer employment in the time frame and hour count or just employment during the school year its self (making the period Aug-May of w/e school year instead of Aug-Aug). The difference would be averaging 10 hours during the school year itself or averaging 20+ hrs if I included summer working

I had similar problems, I put in my summer workload and in the "supervisor" or something section (can't remember which) I snuck in "varied hours." I figured since it was explained better on my AMCAS they could reference that.

 

[red10]

I had similar problems, I put in my summer workload and in the "supervisor" or something section (can't remember which) I snuck in "varied hours." I figured since it was explained better on my AMCAS they could reference that.

Are we talking about the same section? I'm talking about the "Employment History" tab where there's only "Senior Year of High School", Freshmen year, etc and then a place for dates and a place for hours/week. There's no where to type anything but numbers in that section of the 2ndary

In the Extracurricular Activities tab in my job title I put stuff like "Summer office assistant" and then put the time period as spanning 2 years.

 

[womp]

How long does it take for your letters to be downloaded by UIC after you submitted your secondary? I submitted my secondary on Friday, and they still haven't downloaded my letters, so my app is still not complete. My letters were long ago submitted to AMCAS and UIC was added.

 

[FML]

oops, we are not talking about the same section. my bad!

for the employment section, I just averaged out for the whole year.

 

[FML]

How long does it take for your letters to be downloaded by UIC after you submitted your secondary? I submitted my secondary on Friday, and they still haven't downloaded my letters, so my app is still not complete. My letters were long ago submitted to AMCAS and UIC was added.

mine took a few days.... they just uploaded them today when I submitted early last week.

 

[EckXXX]

A new button appeared on my status page--says "next."

The linked page shows "[a]pplicant in process."

sweet...

 

[CielloStelatto]

did anyone get the status check link, but not the secondary? seems a bit backwards to me.

 

[nick_carraway]

did anyone get the status check link, but not the secondary? seems a bit backwards to me.

Yes, I did. UIC's rep here assures us that it is coming. 200/day should've included me now, but I guess not.

 

[CielloStelatto]

ok, good. thanks!

 

[skrilladoc]

Hello all!

I recently just finished last year's application cycle and am now a rising M1. If any of you have questions about UIC, the interview, or want to vent about waiting for decisions (trust me, you will) feel free to message me. I will try to help you or refer you to individuals throughout the campus that can help you with your application.

It is a marathon, not a sprint. I was complete from July to November of 2008 before I received an interview. It then took six months for a decision to be made near June of 2009.

Don't freak out, UIC is the place to be, look forward to seeing many of you in 2014.

Again, feel free to bug me or ask questions. I know how stressfull these next steps will be.

BTW Gentleman, always unbutton your suit jacket at an interview when you sit. Certain interviewers hate it when you do not. Just good suit etiquette.

 

[Appless]

Hello all!

I recently just finished last year's application cycle and am now a rising M1. If any of you have questions about UIC, the interview, or want to vent about waiting for decisions (trust me, you will) feel free to message me. I will try to help you or refer you to individuals throughout the campus that can help you with your application.

It is a marathon, not a sprint. I was complete from July to November of 2008 before I received an interview. It then took six months for a decision to be made near June of 2009.

Don't freak out, UIC is the place to be, look forward to seeing many of you in 2014.

Again, feel free to bug me or ask questions. I know how stressfull these next steps will be.

BTW Gentleman, always unbutton your suit jacket at an interview when you sit. Certain interviewers hate it when you do not. Just good suit etiquette.

serious? lol im so clueless

 

[Count Chocula]

How long does it take for your letters to be downloaded by UIC after you submitted your secondary? I submitted my secondary on Friday, and they still haven't downloaded my letters, so my app is still not complete. My letters were long ago submitted to AMCAS and UIC was added.

Same here

 

[felipe23]

For the second essay, would it be okay if i wrote about interest in music and how i did showchoir and lots of other competitions in high school and junior high but haven't really had time for it in college. I still like to sing in my free time and what not and its still a hobby of mine i just have no organized musical experience in college....

 

[alljazz]

For the second essay, would it be okay if i wrote about interest in music and how i did showchoir and lots of other competitions in high school and junior high but haven't really had time for it in college. I still like to sing in my free time and what not and its still a hobby of mine i just have no organized musical experience in college....

I think you should stick to college......

 

[felipe23]

The thing is, my hobbies are singing and basketball, neither of which I was able to participate in in terms of organized activities. However I still sang and what not in my FREE time...I use singing as a way of stress relief. If that doesn't work....i don't really have any activities I was apart of in college except for research, volunteering, shadowing etc...

 

[felipe23]

And more on essays, i really have no disadvantages as a pre-med student. I wrote an essay on my dad being a physician and all the opportunities and exposure that provided me and how I took advantage of it. Would that be alright? This is my number one school and I'm kind of getting worried....

 

[skrilladoc]

everyone has a disadvantage in some regard. you really should reevaluate your essays not to sound pretentious and/or flippant. although it is fantastic to have the opportunities that you have had with access to medicine, UIC does look for real, down to earth people.

consider highlighting your extracurriculars, volunteering and how you were able to couple these experiences into a legitimate reason for attending medical school other than your father already being a physician.

this is about describing yourself to very discerning people reviewing many applicants. write truthfully, honestly, and with prudence.