2009-2010 University of Iowa (Carver) Application Thread

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DrYack said:
Does anybody know if the ad com starts meeting again today, or when they start meeting again if not today?
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I don't know... but I hope so... I feel like I've been waiting forever!
 
I got an email acceptance about 1:40 PM PST today.

C: 10-14, ii: 12-11; i: 12-23; accepted 1-12 OOS

As you might already know, the interview is in a structured format, with an allotted time of 25 minutes.

I tried to answer as fully yet as concisely as I could to get through the 3 questions so that my interviewers could ask me more questions (with the idea being that the more questions I answer the more information they will have on me).

I think it was a good idea in my case.

I am very happy to have been accepted to University of Iowa and will most likely attend. However, I do have two more interviews coming up which I will attend to make sure that Iowa is as good a fit for me as I believe it to be. I am also waiting to hear from another school I interviewed at in December.

Best of luck to all of you, specifically those who applied "late". I finished my secondaries end of September through late October. I think people on SDN are a very biased sample of the typical applicant. Don't let it get your down...
 
I interviewed on 1/6 and a blizzard started about an hour before we were done. I was then stuck in Iowa City for 2 extra days - fortunately I had a friend's apartment to stay in - and the temperature reached -15 one night. Yikes!
 
Seems that my chances are pretty crappy at this point, seeing as how I interviewed on 12/4 and I still haven't heard anything back. I thought I did really well in the interview and the CBL session, but perhaps I didn't do well enough. Oh well, I've been accepted at UK, so come hell or high water I'll be a doctor in four years.
 
TheMan21 said:
Seems that my chances are pretty crappy at this point, seeing as how I interviewed on 12/4 and I still haven't heard anything back. I thought I did really well in the interview and the CBL session, but perhaps I didn't do well enough. Oh well, I've been accepted at UK, so come hell or high water I'll be a doctor in four years.
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Send an update letter. Hadn't heard for two months, sent the letter, got in 2 weeks later. Never hurts...
 
What would I put in the letter if nothing at all has changed?
 
BBender716 said:
Send an update letter. Hadn't heard for two months, sent the letter, got in 2 weeks later. Never hurts...
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What format did you write the letter in? Was it a story of sorts or did you just say I've done such and such since you guys talked to me.
 
DrYack said:
What format did you write the letter in? Was it a story of sorts or did you just say I've done such and such since you guys talked to me.
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P1: I am interested, here are the things different.
P2-5: One paragraph about each significant change (might be one, might be 5)
P6: Conclude with 1 or 2 specific things you liked about Iowa and briefly express your continued interest.

Point is, talk about the additional impact you've made in each update (except grades if applicable), and only briefly mention why you're still interested in the university of iowa. One sentence max in the beginning, and 1-2 specifics in the end. Keep the grand total under a page, save as PDF, and you're good to go!
 
Anyone interview this month (early January) and hear anything? Reading this thread makes me feel like I won't hear anything until March..
 
i'll be interviewing at iowa on a monday - they say the day is supposed to go 1030- 5 - but i know their times are not always accurate. I have a 7 hour drive home after the interview and am trying to plan my time and drive back - have people that have interviewed gotten out significantly earlier than 5?? any insight to the times you got out would be appreciated!
 
medjohnny said:
i'll be interviewing at iowa on a monday - they say the day is supposed to go 1030- 5 - but i know their times are not always accurate. I have a 7 hour drive home after the interview and am trying to plan my time and drive back - have people that have interviewed gotten out significantly earlier than 5?? any insight to the times you got out would be appreciated!
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It really all depends when your interview is. If you're one of the last people to interview then you may actually be there until 5. I had one of the earlier interview times so I got out of there by 3 I think.
 
Anyone know if they take straight up LOIs? I wrote a nice little letter of intent basically and then when I looked at the upload thing it says they take updates but not "extra narratives"(which an LOI might be considered).
I'm working on adding in more update info, but I still think my originally letter is better. Anyone know?
 
Just got email notification at 15:15 today!! Interviewed back in 11/13/09.

Super excited!! I just had a rough morning but now I'm happy as hell 😀

One weird coincidence: I sended a activity update list last week (only 2 new activities, but I've mentioned them in the "what are you planning to do" secondary question and I fulfilled my "promises" during the last two months).

So for those who are still waitting for post-interview decisions, send your activity updates! I think it really helps!
 
yay! I just got my acceptance e-mail! : )

oos, interviewed the 11th of december

choosing between here and UF won't be hard though I will miss my Florida sunshine...
 
Any other Iowan feel like they consider in state applicants as an afterthought?
 
lixxx669 said:
Just got email notification at 15:15 today!! Interviewed back in 11/13/09.

Super excited!! I just had a rough morning but now I'm happy as hell 😀

One weird coincidence: I sended a activity update list last week (only 2 new activities, but I've mentioned them in the "what are you planning to do" secondary question and I fulfilled my "promises" during the last two months).

So for those who are still waitting for post-interview decisions, send your activity updates! I think it really helps!
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I am just wondering where exactly there is an update list on the application, because it seems that a lot of people who update their status are getting acceptances soon after! Is this what you mean?

Additional Information Form Status: Submitted 0
Instructions: You may submit additional information to the committee that has not been included on your AMCAS application. We will only allow 3 submissions; therefore, you should carefully consider what you want to add. Submissions will not be accepted past Saturday, January 30, 2010.
Examples of items we will accept are:
Descriptions of new activities, awards, etc.
Changes in academic record (i.e., new courses, course changes, grade error, etc.)
New or not previously cited publication notations
We will NOT accept:
Research papers or abstracts (please do not submit by mail, either)
Extra narratives, pictures, etc. by U.S. mail or fax.
If you are not sure if an item is admissible, please contact the Admissions Office staff at 319-335-8052 or 800-493-7415 (Option 1)."

Because it seems that here they just want grades etc...am I mistaken?
 
DrYack said:
Any other Iowan feel like they consider in state applicants as an afterthought?
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Yea, I know what you mean. It's hard waiting so long as an in-state applicant (I interviewed way back in mid-September). But hey, there should still be a lot of in-state spots left for those of us in the final pool!
 
CalCyclone said:
Yea, I know what you mean. It's hard waiting so long as an in-state applicant (I interviewed way back in mid-September). But hey, there should still be a lot of in-state spots left for those of us in the final pool!
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I hear ya, I interviewed in September too, but at least from the looks of this website there should be about 90 in state spots left haha
 
MNF said:
I am just wondering where exactly there is an update list on the application, because it seems that a lot of people who update their status are getting acceptances soon after! Is this what you mean?

Additional Information Form Status: Submitted 0
Instructions: You may submit additional information to the committee that has not been included on your AMCAS application. We will only allow 3 submissions; therefore, you should carefully consider what you want to add. Submissions will not be accepted past Saturday, January 30, 2010.
Examples of items we will accept are:
Descriptions of new activities, awards, etc.
Changes in academic record (i.e., new courses, course changes, grade error, etc.)
New or not previously cited publication notations
We will NOT accept:
Research papers or abstracts (please do not submit by mail, either)
Extra narratives, pictures, etc. by U.S. mail or fax.
If you are not sure if an item is admissible, please contact the Admissions Office staff at 319-335-8052 or 800-493-7415 (Option 1)."

Because it seems that here they just want grades etc...am I mistaken?
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Not just grades. It says it on the site. I also had a similar experience as the previous poster. No decision for close to three months, uploaded the letter, accepted within 2 weeks FWIW.
 
very true about the updates, they do help...i updated my profile last week (wed/thurs) in addition to sending a letter saying how much i loved the school and interview day and got an acceptance today...i honestly thought i FAILED that interview too so i really wasn't even anticipating being in the final pool...weird how things work out : )
 
BBender716 said:
Not just grades. It says it on the site. I also had a similar experience as the previous poster. No decision for close to three months, uploaded the letter, accepted within 2 weeks FWIW.
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What if I do not have any new activities to add...if you don't mind me asking what did you include in your update?
 
soccerdoc6 said:
very true about the updates, they do help...i updated my profile last week (wed/thurs) in addition to sending a letter saying how much i loved the school and interview day and got an acceptance today...i honestly thought i FAILED that interview too so i really wasn't even anticipating being in the final pool...weird how things work out : )
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Did you send this letter directly to the school or with your other updates?
 
MNF said:
What if I do not have any new activities to add...if you don't mind me asking what did you include in your update?
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Progress at my job, followed through on my promised activities on my secondary, etc. I am currently one year post-grad. Hope this helps! Mine was pretty usual so don't stress about not having a pub or something like that to update.
 
I also did an update, still waiting to see if it helped any though. I'd imagine it only helps if you're already being seriously considered but still on the fence.
 
sent the e-mails to the office of admissions address and also to the director of admissions (kind of ballsy)...just spoke from my heart, told them how their mission/program coincided with where l wanted to go in medicine etc etc etc...updated my current activities in the application along with last semester's grades
 
well I just submitted an update so hopefully it'll win them over in time for next tuesday. It's not nearly the work of art my original letter was, but it'll do.
 
Interviews go through the end of Jan., if I'm not mistaken. Hopefully when the month's over they will start sending out acceptances more readily:xf:.
 
Hmm, so they do silent rejections? I've actually forgotten I applied here because it was so silent.
 
DrYack said:
Interviews go through the end of Jan., if I'm not mistaken. Hopefully when the month's over they will start sending out acceptances more readily:xf:.
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There were some interview dates for the first week of feb.
 
red10 said:
well I just submitted an update so hopefully it'll win them over in time for next tuesday. It's not nearly the work of art my original letter was, but it'll do.
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I submitted an update to my application yesterday, as well as sent a letter to the associate dean of admissions stating my continued interest. Kathi Heubner just sent me an e-mail back saying that "we have wrapped up our rolling admissions and are now in our final pool stage. The committee will be looking over your application in the next month, and we'll have a decision from them by mid-March. We will let you know of their decision as soon as possible." ... as much as I hate to say it, it looks like we can stop stressing every Tuesday and just wait until March!! ugh!
 
Just got the final pool email. This is part of it:
"I am writing to inform you that the Admissions Committee has reviewed your application and held your file to be reviewed again in the Final Pool. This review begins in late January and takes approximately 5 weeks to complete (around mid-March but no later than March 20, 2010). These decisions are final and will be sent by US mail. We will not give out decisions over the phone or by e-mail."


 
red10 said:
Just got the final pool email. This is part of it:
"I am writing to inform you that the Admissions Committee has reviewed your application and held your file to be reviewed again in the Final Pool. This review begins in late January and takes approximately 5 weeks to complete (around mid-March but no later than March 20, 2010). These decisions are final and will be sent by US mail. We will not give out decisions over the phone or by e-mail."
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I got the same email a couple of hours ago 🙁. Iowa's not out of the question I guess but it's a longshot. I liked it a lot there, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.
 
TheMan21 said:
I got the same email a couple of hours ago 🙁. Iowa's not out of the question I guess but it's a longshot. I liked it a lot there, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.
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I don't think final pool is a death sentence. someone correct me if I'm wrong but I thought they did most of their decisions from final pool.
 
Early decisions are more the exception than the norm from what I've heard.
 
That email, was it after interview or before interview?
 
final pooled here as well....at first I thought it was a rejection email by the wording. Didn't sound very hopeful lol
 
I'm hoping my update submitted via the secondary website is enough. I basically said I'd go there if admitted and mentioned how my TA experience connected with wanting to do the Teaching Distinction among other things.
I could send my LOI to the dean but maybe I should wait and use that in case I get waitlisted?
 
final pool
 
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Does anyone have any idea what our chances are in the final pool... maybe based on last year? How many people have they already accepted, and what percent of the final pool is accepted/waitlisted/rejected???
 
TAJgoesMD said:
Does anyone have any idea what our chances are in the final pool... maybe based on last year? How many people have they already accepted, and what percent of the final pool is accepted/waitlisted/rejected???
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Last year someone post something about them still having half the class to fill from the final pool. If you search for last year' thread, there wasn't a lot of posting about Iowa last year. Only about 8 pages and a few of those were people monitoring waitlist movement or lack there of
 
For those who got accepted and wanted to hold the spot, did you guys send a written confirmation letter or just an e-mail? What contents did you guys write in the letter?
 
I just withdrew from here. I hope that opens up another spot for a fellow SDNer. It was not an easy decision, but I think it would be best for me to stay in AZ near my family. Good luck to those waiting.

lixxx669 said:
For those who got accepted and wanted to hold the spot, did you guys send a written confirmation letter or just an e-mail? What contents did you guys write in the letter?
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I just sent an email.
 
oh how i wish they were sending out acceptances still. Waiting is going to be my demise.
 
For the Iowans out here, how are you coping with the blizzard conditions? Do school and work closed during blizzards or does it depend on the severity? Also what weather hazards do you nromally get? In the recent past, I've heard about floods, blizzards and tornadoes, is that it?

I'll be moving to Iowa City from the sun and hurricanes so i want to know what to expect.
 
Bernoull said:
For the Iowans out here, how are you coping with the blizzard conditions? Do school and work closed during blizzards or does it depend on the severity? Also what weather hazards do you nromally get? In the recent past, I've heard about floods, blizzards and tornadoes, is that it?

I'll be moving to Iowa City from the sun and hurricanes so i want to know what to expect.
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Depends on the severity. I highly doubt you will have a single day of class cancelled due to weather, as roads in IC are quickly cleared. Maybe a current med student can speak to this. If you're not used to winter in the midwest, it gets cold. Really cold. But you will survive. :laugh:

Iowa City was hit by a very damaging flood in the summer of 2008. Things are pretty well back to normal, though they were still working on cleaning up the west side of the river when I was there this past summer. Tornadoes are also possible, although not as likely as blizzards and floods. 😛

Iowa underwater, summer 2008:
iowa7.jpg
 
Bernoull said:
For the Iowans out here, how are you coping with the blizzard conditions? Do school and work closed during blizzards or does it depend on the severity? Also what weather hazards do you nromally get? In the recent past, I've heard about floods, blizzards and tornadoes, is that it?

I'll be moving to Iowa City from the sun and hurricanes so i want to know what to expect.
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i'm not an iowan but go to school here. as someone who came from the west coast, here is my assessment: it gets cold. i'm definitely not a fan of the cold but it's not that bad. you wear a thick coat, dont stay outside too long, and its all good. i think your question about blizzards is actually right on- my school only gets shut down if there is an actual blizzard with whiteout conditions which make it very hazardous to drive (in one case there really wasnt much snow coming down but with wind at 50mph it was picking it up from the ground and blowing it around). snow, even in large amounts, generally results in just having to leave earlier to go anywhere so you have time to get all the snow off your car. my advice on coping- live somewhere that minimizes your need to drive. in this case, somewhere close to campus. you probably aren't used to driving in snow so it would just be easier to not have to everyday, plus it eliminates some of the time required to clean off your car, dig it out of a parking lot etc. also, talk to people who live there (ie what you are doing lol). my version of winter wear used to be a sweatshirt, so my first year here i asked friends to take me shopping and make sure i wouldnt get frostbite. so far i havent died 🙂
 
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