2009-2010 University of Iowa (Carver) Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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cheasus said:
Iowa tends to review and rereview applicants before the final pool. There is really no predicting when you'll hear.

I just wanted to give some quick advice that I think everyone interviewing at iowa (or elsewhere for that matter) should listen to. Apparently, according to one of my professors on the ad com, a student interviewed who had great grades, mcats, experiences and seemed like a shoe-in at Iowa. During his interview he said one sentance that got the whole adcom riled up and was the sole reason he was not admitted: he said one sentance about how medicine is a stable job that pays well for those who put in the work. This was enough to get him rejected by a large margin. My professor didn't agree with his colleagues knowing that everyone cares about job stability and getting reimbursed for efforts. Anyway, as dumb as this is, do NOT mention anything about stability or good future job or anything along those lines as it could be the sole thing that gets you rejected from medical schools.
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Yikes, that is really unfortunate for the applicant. I suppose that is sound advice (bold font) that can carry over to any interview at any medical school. 👍

On a completely different note, I was really impressed with UI when I interviewed. Just curious, how are you liking your first year so far?
 
cheasus said:
Iowa tends to review and rereview applicants before the final pool. There is really no predicting when you'll hear.

I just wanted to give some quick advice that I think everyone interviewing at iowa (or elsewhere for that matter) should listen to. Apparently, according to one of my professors on the ad com, a student interviewed who had great grades, mcats, experiences and seemed like a shoe-in at Iowa. During his interview he said one sentance that got the whole adcom riled up and was the sole reason he was not admitted: he said one sentance about how medicine is a stable job that pays well for those who put in the work. This was enough to get him rejected by a large margin. My professor didn't agree with his colleagues knowing that everyone cares about job stability and getting reimbursed for efforts. Anyway, as dumb as this is, do NOT mention anything about stability or good future job or anything along those lines as it could be the sole thing that gets you rejected from medical schools.
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It's garbage like this that forces pre-meds to be so fake and idealistic. The kid tries to go out on a limb and appeal to the common sense of the interviewer and it blows up in his face because the adcom is in dreamland. I mean of course it is a good idea to reject people who are in it solely for the money, but there is nothing wrong to want a JOB that pays good MONEY. After all, that is what JOBS are for. It's as if the subject of money is off-limits or taboo. I am disappointed in how out-of-touch some people are.
 
eatsleeprepeat said:
Yikes, that is really unfortunate for the applicant. I suppose that is sound advice (bold font) that can carry over to any interview at any medical school. 👍

On a completely different note, I was really impressed with UI when I interviewed. Just curious, how are you liking your first year so far?
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It is a great university and I think some features of it really stand out and work well for me. Having weekly tests and recorded lecture really help reduce stress. There is a lot to like about the school, hope I'll see you around next year.
 
Jihad said:
It's garbage like this that forces pre-meds to be so fake and idealistic. The kid tries to go out on a limb and appeal to the common sense of the interviewer and it blows up in his face because the adcom is in dreamland. I mean of course it is a good idea to reject people who are in it solely for the money, but there is nothing wrong to want a JOB that pays good MONEY. After all, that is what JOBS are for. It's as if the subject of money is off-limits or taboo. I am disappointed in how out-of-touch some people are.
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I understand what you mean. I guess the reason they gave was that he wasn't alturistic enough to go into medicine. Ironically our university (like many) is having a huge budget shortage and all the doctors are not offering to take a 20% paycut at the hospital/med school (gasp!).
 
cheasus said:
I understand what you mean. I guess the reason they gave was that he wasn't alturistic enough to go into medicine. Ironically our university (like many) is having a huge budget shortage and all the doctors are not offering to take a 20% paycut at the hospital/med school (gasp!).
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Haha I thought it was a mandatory 2% paycut campus wide.
 
lrkoehle said:
What if we've been accepted, but don't know for sure if we will be going to Iowa next year but we really really like the school? Are we allowed to post there?
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Yes of course
 
I have a couple of questions that may be dumb, but I am just a little confused and don't want to screw up something stupid. So I got my HawkID and signed into the ISIS page. Under the admissions profile, are we supposed to notify them of our decision to accept the offer of admission? I'm not 100% sure that I will go to Iowa, but I don't want to lose my offer of admission. Does that mean I need to "accept" the offer? Well I already did, so I hope that doesn't create problems if I end up deciding to not go to Iowa.

Also, do we need to pay the "advanced payment" to hold our spot in the class? I'm concerned I screwed this whole damn thing up...please help:scared:
 
lrkoehle said:
I have a couple of questions that may be dumb, but I am just a little confused and don't want to screw up something stupid. So I got my HawkID and signed into the ISIS page. Under the admissions profile, are we supposed to notify them of our decision to accept the offer of admission? I'm not 100% sure that I will go to Iowa, but I don't want to lose my offer of admission. Does that mean I need to "accept" the offer? Well I already did, so I hope that doesn't create problems if I end up deciding to not go to Iowa.

Also, do we need to pay the "advanced payment" to hold our spot in the class? I'm concerned I screwed this whole damn thing up...please help:scared:
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Good question. I sent them an email (to that instructed address) AND checked that "accept offer" thing on the ISIS. The acceptance of their offer is just a way for them to hold your place in the class. You can always change your mind, I think that's what the whole deposit thing is for.
 
lrkoehle said:
I have a couple of questions that may be dumb, but I am just a little confused and don't want to screw up something stupid. So I got my HawkID and signed into the ISIS page. Under the admissions profile, are we supposed to notify them of our decision to accept the offer of admission? I'm not 100% sure that I will go to Iowa, but I don't want to lose my offer of admission. Does that mean I need to "accept" the offer? Well I already did, so I hope that doesn't create problems if I end up deciding to not go to Iowa.

Also, do we need to pay the "advanced payment" to hold our spot in the class? I'm concerned I screwed this whole damn thing up...please help:scared:
Click to expand...


I'm pretty sure everything is "to hold your spot" you can always withdraw if you change your mind but to keep your spot for now you need to pay the $50 deposit (refundable) and choose accept online. They also said that they wanted a written acceptance but email is fine. I just replied to the acceptance email and they replied again that they had recieved it.
 
Tuesday is tomorrow! Maybe we'll get those emails...=).
 
Have to stop checking my email grrrrrr
 
wantin said:
Have to stop checking my email grrrrrr
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Mine came later in the afternoon (in fact I think most of them have). Just do your best to wait until like 4 p.m. central time. I know it will be hard.

Good luck to all of you waiting. :luck::luck::luck::luck:
 
I received an interview invitation from here today. I declined the interview because I've already been accepted to a few schools with nice scholarship offers. Just wanted to let people know that invites are still going out for anyone still waiting to hear back from them. My app was complete with them late Aug btw.
 
cheasus said:
Iowa tends to review and rereview applicants before the final pool. There is really no predicting when you'll hear.

I just wanted to give some quick advice that I think everyone interviewing at iowa (or elsewhere for that matter) should listen to. Apparently, according to one of my professors on the ad com, a student interviewed who had great grades, mcats, experiences and seemed like a shoe-in at Iowa. During his interview he said one sentance that got the whole adcom riled up and was the sole reason he was not admitted: he said one sentance about how medicine is a stable job that pays well for those who put in the work. This was enough to get him rejected by a large margin. My professor didn't agree with his colleagues knowing that everyone cares about job stability and getting reimbursed for efforts. Anyway, as dumb as this is, do NOT mention anything about stability or good future job or anything along those lines as it could be the sole thing that gets you rejected from medical schools.
Click to expand...

that is crazy . . . i know the subject came up in at least one of my UIC interviews. they ask everyone how they think health care reform will affect their future careers. and i said something about how i am hearing lots of complaining about physician salaries dropping, but that so long as i can pay back my loans i don't really care/ am not worried about that. and then my interviewer launched into a story about some of her colleagues and how much debt they were in and how much they make now.

and i have not heard back from them yet post interview either. i hope my interviewer remembered my side of that conversation right 🙁
 
I almost forgot today was tuesday. damn:scared:
 
Accepted today.. In-state, interviewed waaay back on 9/18, so I definitely thought I was in the final pool. Good luck to everyone else still waiting!
 
I am not sure that I can handle going through this every Tuesday until March!😱
 
UIowaGirl said:
Accepted today.. In-state, interviewed waaay back on 9/18, so I definitely thought I was in the final pool. Good luck to everyone else still waiting!
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Good to hear that someone who has been waiting for 2+ months got accepted! Congratulations. I've been waiting since August as well.
 
Ya, their estimation of 4 to 6 weeks is a load of crap. They seem to pick on in-state people and delay their acceptances. Very annoying.
 
oh come on, i'm sure they don't "pick on" in-state folks on purpose. probably just a lot of applicants to work through. this process just takes time.
 
Iowa finally offered me an interview today. I was starting to get worried. I am OOS, but I go to ISU. I am interviewing December 23rd.
 
Jihad said:
Ya, their estimation of 4 to 6 weeks is a load of crap. They seem to pick on in-state people and delay their acceptances. Very annoying.
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I remember they say that they have separate committe for IS and OOS students, so maybe just the different time frames they have in different committes. So just chill, they will get back to you inventually🙂
 
lixxx669 said:
I remember they say that they have separate committe for IS and OOS students, so maybe just the different time frames they have in different committes. So just chill, they will get back to you inventually🙂
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Yes they didnt differentiate between different committees and different time periods. However, I called and they still hadn't even reviewed my application to determine whether I was in the final pool or not. I'm just saying it's obviously not an appropriate estimate if many people (especially instate people) are taking 2+ months to find out
 
RLeFevre I couldn't help but notice that we have very similar stats and VERY similar interviews. How did you like Duke? You should have visited Miami it is awesome!👍
 
Hey fellow OOS, I interviewed in November and was surprised to find out when I got to my interview that UI was going to pay for my plane ticket and accommodations. I was just wondering if this is what Iowa normally does for people who are OOS.
 
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MNF said:
Hey fellow OOS, I interviewed in November and was surprised to find out when I got to my interview that UI was going to pay for my plane ticket and accommodations. I was just wondering if this is what Iowa normally does for people who are OOS.
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😕 MD-PhD?
 
Jihad said:
RLeFevre I couldn't help but notice that we have very similar stats and VERY similar interviews. How did you like Duke? You should have visited Miami it is awesome!👍
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Duke was very nice. I'm sure Miami is cool I just don't see myself going to school there.

How was your Iowa interview?
 
whens the last time to get an invited to an interview here. Is it really December?
 
RLefevre said:
Duke was very nice. I'm sure Miami is cool I just don't see myself going to school there.

How was your Iowa interview?
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I thought it went very well. However, I haven't heard back since october and listening to comments about the adcom, im second guessing myself.

Either way, I'm lookin forward to Duke also!
 
Anyone who is familiar with the area, do they have decent apartments within a ten minute walk from the medical school? When I was visiting, I did not seem to notice any around.
 
CalCyclone said:
Hmmm, troll much? Otherwise, I'm not sure how you pulled that off, but nice.
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no troll...I'm going to guess URM is likely though.

They offered me a travel stipend the day of my interview as well. (OOS here too)
 
mybubbles14 said:
no troll...I'm going to guess URM is likely though.

They offered me a travel stipend the day of my interview as well. (OOS here too)
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Good deal.

As for apartments, there are definitely some within a short walking distance.

And good luck on finals to all. Anyone else slacking off a little extra this year?
 
Starting to get worried about this one. Any Iowa students lurking this thread that can give me an idea about when I can expect to hear from them? I know they only interview through January. I got in after the deadline because they invited me to submit my app and opened the app up for me specifically. I did make a followup call about a week ago and all the very polite woman would tell me is that they make all their decisions by January. Would love to end up here so I've got my fingers crossed. Sure hope I didn't blow money getting in so late, even with the secondary invite. Just give me a shot to interview, Iowa! 🙂

Good lord Im on pins and needles. 🙁
 
FSAP said:
Anyone who is familiar with the area, do they have decent apartments within a ten minute walk from the medical school? When I was visiting, I did not seem to notice any around.
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I'll put in a disclaimer first - I'm not from Iowa City. But one of the things that impressed me during my visit to U Iowa was how close all of the students I talked with lived from campus. It's true that they were mostly living in houses, not apartments, but not a one complained about either the rent or the commute. In fact, several walked or biked to school. The community around campus seems quiet, safe, and affordable. Really sweet.
 
SunnyBlues said:
I'll put in a disclaimer first - I'm not from Iowa City. But one of the things that impressed me during my visit to U Iowa was how close all of the students I talked with lived from campus. It's true that they were mostly living in houses, not apartments, but not a one complained about either the rent or the commute. In fact, several walked or biked to school. The community around campus seems quiet, safe, and affordable. Really sweet.
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+1

I stayed with an M3 for my interview. She lived extremely close to school in a really nice 1 bedroom apartment by herself. She said when it's not too cold she bikes to school and other times she takes the bus.
 
So as an M1 at U I the living really is not bad at all, most all of our class either walks/bikes to class (takes about 10 to 20 min), or some of us live further out in Coralville and take the bus. I would recommend signing your lease BEFORE mid summer. I signed on mine in late July, and am paying the same as my friends, but their apartments are sweeet. It's all very affordable and very safe in Iowa City, the worst thing that happens here is some random drunk undergrads do something dumb downtown on the weekends.
PS - NOBODY drives to school because parking is re-gosh-darn-diculous, it'll cost you an arm, a leg, and whatever else they can nickel and dime you for to park in the ramp, so bus, foot and bike are your best options - plus there's the whole "going green" fad.
 
mybubbles14 said:
+1

I stayed with an M3 for my interview. She lived extremely close to school in a really nice 1 bedroom apartment by herself. She said when it's not too cold she bikes to school and other times she takes the bus.
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I am interviewing on 12/23 (got the invite on 12/11).

How did you arrange to stay with a med student?

Did you just fill out the form online? And if so, how long did it take for them to get back to you?

I used the online form. I figure I will give it until middle of next week, then follow up with the admissions office.
 
So if no news so far pre-interview, is it a rejection? Does this school do silent rejections? Complete long ago in August.
 
BlueElmo said:
So if no news so far pre-interview, is it a rejection? Does this school do silent rejections? Complete long ago in August.
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they stop interviewing in jan...so silent or not anyone w/o an interview now isnt looking good.
 
Elijah05 said:
they stop interviewing in jan...so silent or not anyone w/o an interview now isnt looking good.
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This was my fear as well, getting in so late. I had thought of Iowa but decided not to apply at first because I figured they'd favor IS people heavily. Then I got an email invite to submit an app there after the deadline in November. I did so and have been hoping! Should I follow up again tomorrow?
 
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