2009-2010 University of Maryland Application Thread

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Wow, this thread kinda makes me feel like a real piece of **** for getting outright rejected post-interview.

It's strange because I though that both of my interviews went very well. Although, I do think that maybe I rubbed Dr. Foxwell the wrong way during a brief discussion that we had at the end of the interview day.

I was OOS, but still a very competitive applicant in other respects. Currently hold multiple acceptances, so I couldn't have been that much of an ******* while I was there...

But hey, c'est la vie. Good Luck guys; I really liked it there.

for me i think it's just more than interviews...i was awkward at my first two interviews but got accepted. I thought i aced 2/3 of my final 3 and got WL from those 2.
 
I would say that, at Maryland, unless you are interested in doing residency in something outside one of the core 3rd-year clerkships, there is little use in "shadowing" once you're in medical school. Residency programs care about your grades, your USMLE scores, your clinical evaluations, your letters of recommendation, sometimes research, your extra-curriculars (but not nearly as important as when you're applying for medical school) and your personal statement (some read it some don't).

"Shadowing" becomes an outmoded term as soon as you start MSIII. Possibly as early as when you start MSI and have your structured ICM time.

ok, does the "surgery" rotation cover neurosurgery? or if i was interested in something like that would i have to shadow?
 
ok, does the "surgery" rotation cover neurosurgery? or if i was interested in something like that would i have to shadow?

during the neurology clerkship, so i was told by the clerkship director, you can choose between a couple of different things including neurosurgery. So you will definitely have the opportunity.

Many kids in my class do shadow, orthopods, pm&r, cardiology, ER, EM, med/peds, really anything. but as lucid was saying its not always 'shadowing' bc at least in em and er, they'll often let you do patient histories.

also IBM is now lenovo, they gave us a Lenovo T400. very nice 2.8 gHz, dual graphics cards. we're happy with em. plus they take good care of us there in the medical student laptop center. (call them and they'll tell u what theyre looking at for next year.)
 
during the neurology clerkship, so i was told by the clerkship director, you can choose between a couple of different things including neurosurgery. So you will definitely have the opportunity.

Yes, you can do neurosurgery during neuro. It is also one of the options for the 1-week electives on the surgery clerkship (the surgery clerkship is currently 2 weeks of trauma, two 3-week rotations (cardiac, peds surg, G1 emergency surgery, urology, transplant, thoracic, MIS, VA, surg onc, or Mercy hospital), and four 1-week electives (ortho, ENT, anesthesia, neurosurg, VA urology, plastics, or wound care).

Many kids in my class do shadow, orthopods, pm&r, cardiology, ER, EM, med/peds, really anything. but as lucid was saying its not always 'shadowing' bc at least in em and er, they'll often let you do patient histories.

Yep, not saying people don't do it. Just that I think its pretty useless for people who are truly undecided. This is all IMHO of course. Doing patient histories doesn't really tell you if you'd like the specialty as a career (and isn't any different than doing "extra" ICM sessions IMHO). It might feel good to be in the hospital instead of in class, because its still a novelty, but I don't think it gives you a real idea of what its like to practice the specialty.

PS - What is the difference between EM/ER in your post?
 
Yes, you can do neurosurgery during neuro. It is also one of the options for the 1-week electives on the surgery clerkship (the surgery clerkship is currently 2 weeks of trauma, two 3-week rotations (cardiac, peds surg, G1 emergency surgery, urology, transplant, thoracic, MIS, VA, surg onc, or Mercy hospital), and four 1-week electives (ortho, ENT, anesthesia, neurosurg, VA urology, plastics, or wound care).



Yep, not saying people don't do it. Just that I think its pretty useless for people who are truly undecided. This is all IMHO of course. Doing patient histories doesn't really tell you if you'd like the specialty as a career (and isn't any different than doing "extra" ICM sessions IMHO). It might feel good to be in the hospital instead of in class, because its still a novelty, but I don't think it gives you a real idea of what its like to practice the specialty.

PS - What is the difference between EM/ER in your post?
Ha, sorry, i meant EM, IM. And bc my ICM docs are IM, shadowing extra with themis EXACTLY like extra ICM time.
 
Does anyone know when orientation is for students entering in the fall of this year? I can't find that information anywhere on the University's site.
 
Wow, this thread kinda makes me feel like a real piece of **** for getting outright rejected post-interview.

It's strange because I though that both of my interviews went very well. Although, I do think that maybe I rubbed Dr. Foxwell the wrong way during a brief discussion that we had at the end of the interview day.

I was OOS, but still a very competitive applicant in other respects. Currently hold multiple acceptances, so I couldn't have been that much of an ******* while I was there...

But hey, c'est la vie. Good Luck guys; I really liked it there.


sorry dunkmaster funk - when did you interview? I only ask because maybe they saw your multiple acceptances and thought you wouldn't choose them?
 
Wow, this thread kinda makes me feel like a real piece of **** for getting outright rejected post-interview.

It's strange because I though that both of my interviews went very well. Although, I do think that maybe I rubbed Dr. Foxwell the wrong way during a brief discussion that we had at the end of the interview day.

I was OOS, but still a very competitive applicant in other respects. Currently hold multiple acceptances, so I couldn't have been that much of an ******* while I was there...

But hey, c'est la vie. Good Luck guys; I really liked it there.

I really wouldn't take this personally whatsoever. Though there are obvious criteria one must meet, this is still a very subjective process at many levels. I thought I had fantastic interviews (the best of all my medical schools) and am a pretty competitive in-state applicant (3.83, 32S) and was placed on post-interview hold. This is just an extremely competitive process and we all get rejected (enough schools to slightly bruise your ego - or at least mine!). Regardless, I wouldn't read into it. I agree that this is a great school, but congrats, you're going to be a physician! I can think of nothing else I want to do with my life. As my dad always says (and I think this is a bit of an eastern shore saying), "It is what it is." So, make attempts to control matters you can and don't lose sleep over those you can not.
 
I never figured out how to properly quote on this thing, but to the people that responded to my message about feeling bad for being rejected post-interview.

Thanks for the support / condolences, but I didn't really mean I felt like a piece of ****. I was just saying it because people kept insisting that "99%" of interviewees get accepted or waitlisted/hold list/whatever.

It's probably for the best. Foxwell is kind of a Really Neat Guy.
 
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Hey Dunkmaster,

I would take out that last statement if I were you. Its just disrespectful and who knows if you'll regret it someday.

Just a bit of friendly advice.😉

Anyway, I also got put on hold recently (IS, 3/09) and from reading all the latest posts, it seems like I don't have much of a chance..🙁
 
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Anyway, I also got put on hold recently (OOS, 3/09) and from reading all the latest posts, it seems like I don't have much of a chance..🙁

I'd wait till we get the waitlist info. If you are in the top half your chances are about 1 in 3.
 
I'd wait till we get the waitlist info. If you are in the top half your chances are about 1 in 3.

I really hope I'm in the top half (better yet, accepted right away ha!). Maryland is by far and away my top choice and makes the most sense for my long-term goals and my and my wife's current situation (she currently teaches in a very low-income elementary school and loves it and Maryland would mean we wouldn't have to move). Hopefully Maryland will want me as much as I want them!
 
I'd wait till we get the waitlist info. If you are in the top half your chances are about 1 in 3.

Yea but its like 20-30 people out of 140 on the waitlist. I don't know just feels like pretty slim odds.
 
I did a little research and it looks like in the 08-09 thread they got the waitlist letters around May 14th and the letters were sent out May 12th. I am predicting since I got my letter about being on hold on a Thursday and it was sent on a Wednesday we will get our letters on May 13th.

Either way its coming up soon (and for me its been a long time coming).
 
I did a little research and it looks like in the 08-09 thread they got the waitlist letters around May 14th and the letters were sent out May 12th. I am predicting since I got my letter about being on hold on a Thursday and it was sent on a Wednesday we will get our letters on May 13th.

Either way its coming up soon (and for me its been a long time coming).

I got the letter this morning...bottom half of 192. The only reason I haven't withdrawn yet is because i didn't get in anywhere 🙁. O well, I guess I've got two more waitlists to wait on...
 
Top half. I hope the waitlist moves substantially this year. All the best to everyone on the waitlist.
 
Top Half - i feel you fishulous, two waiting lists for me too! I hope this one movesss like CRAZY 192 applicants is a lot!!
 
I also got put on the bottom half. Can I ask how quickly did you guys submit an update letter after being told you were on hold? Good luck to premedchelli and prodizzle, I truly hope you guys are rewarded for all the hard work you've put in!
 
Top Half - i feel you fishulous, two waiting lists for me too! I hope this one movesss like CRAZY 192 applicants is a lot!!

Oh man I can't believe we got letters today! I'm on the eastern shore for mother's day so I didn't get my mail. Oh well, mom is worth it! Good luck everyone!
 
I also got put on the bottom half. Can I ask how quickly did you guys submit an update letter after being told you were on hold? Good luck to premedchelli and prodizzle, I truly hope you guys are rewarded for all the hard work you've put in!

Thanks, Entropic. Not sure about your current status since I've just started being active on the forum, but I also hope you get in this year! I interviewed on 3/8, received the hold decision about 4/10, and sent an update letter within the following week. Considering how the list is ranked in some mystical fashion, I can't say that my update letter made a difference about where I am on the waitlist. For all we know, #1 and #96 are both considered top half.
 
Thanks, Entropic. Not sure about your current status since I've just started being active on the forum, but I also hope you get in this year! I interviewed on 3/8, received the hold decision about 4/10, and sent an update letter within the following week. Considering how the list is ranked in some mystical fashion, I can't say that my update letter made a difference about where I am on the waitlist. For all we know, #1 and #96 are both considered top half.

Welcome to SDN 🙂
 
Yeah just got my letter today, upper half of the waitlist. I guess this is the best I could have hoped for. I wish they could be more specific...oh well at least i'm still in the game...heres hoping for good news come may 15th.
 
Yeah just got my letter today, upper half of the waitlist. I guess this is the best I could have hoped for. I wish they could be more specific...oh well at least i'm still in the game...heres hoping for good news come may 15th.

I'm on hold and no letter came for me. Did anyone else NOT get a letter yesterday?

Oh and my permanent address is in Maryland, so it wouldn't have had far to go.
 
I'm on hold and no letter came for me. Did anyone else NOT get a letter yesterday?

Oh and my permanent address is in Maryland, so it wouldn't have had far to go.

Did you ever get a letter regarding your status? If not, I would give them a call at this point since I assume you should have received one. Mine was waiting for me in the mail when I returned from my parents. Upper half of the wait list for me so I'm excited and very hopeful that I'll receive positive news in the near future.

Please call me with great news Dr. Foxwell!
 
Did you ever get a letter regarding your status? If not, I would give them a call at this point since I assume you should have received one. Mine was waiting for me in the mail when I returned from my parents. Upper half of the wait list for me so I'm excited and very hopeful that I'll receive positive news in the near future.

Please call me with great news Dr. Foxwell!

Congrats on being in the top half!

Still no letter for me though. Does this probably mean rejection? :-( And if that's the case, would they tell me that over the phone?
 
May 15th is a Saturday..safe to assume that the earliest we'll hear of any movement would be Monday?
 
May 15th is a Saturday..safe to assume that the earliest we'll hear of any movement would be Monday?

Thats what I was thinking as well. Hopefully all us waitlisters will be in by this time next week.
 
Okay, so I just called and apparently I'm in the upper half of the waitlist. Not sure what happened to the letter, but that's a relief at least.
 
Okay, so I just called and apparently I'm in the upper half of the waitlist. Not sure what happened to the letter, but that's a relief at least.

Congrats! Talk about your emotions running the gamut between thinking rejection and then finding out you're in the top half.

Hopefully we will all hear positive news sometime early next week! I would literally go and pay them 4 years tuition that day if they let me in - not sure how, but I would certainly try 😉
 
Bottom of the upper half of the waitlist....

How do you know that? I thought they wouldn't give that type of information specifically to avoid any problems with the admissions process. I am assuming you called, but I'm surprised they gave you that information. And, don't worry, all is not lost.

Besides, you've already been accepted at other schools so you're going to be a physician. Congrats!
 
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How do you know that? I thought they wouldn't give that type of information specifically to avoid any problems with the admissions process. I am assuming you called, but I'm surprised they gave you that information. And, don't worry, all is not lost.

Besides, you've already been accepted at other schools so you're going to be a physician. Congrats!

That's what I thought, but my bf who read the letter to me said that.I'm away right now, so I can't read the letter myself.
 
That's what I thought, but my bf who read the letter to me said that.I'm away right now, so I can't read the letter myself.

Who knows I guess. I, long ago, stopped trying to figure out/predict this process. I have made peace with the necessity of waiting and will continue to do so. Good luck wherever you end up going and congrats again!
 
That's what I thought, but my bf who read the letter to me said that.I'm away right now, so I can't read the letter myself.

It seems a little odd to me that they would specify this on your letter but no one else's. Do you think its a possible typo on their part or perhaps that your boyfriend misread the letter?

I think you should call the admissions office to confirm.

Take care and good luck!
 
It seems a little odd to me that they would specify this on your letter but no one else's. Do you think its a possible typo on their part or perhaps that your boyfriend misread the letter?

I think you should call the admissions office to confirm.

Take care and good luck!

it can't be a typo, they send the same letter to everyone in both halves and just change the name - its 192 letters and the med school app process, they have more efficient ways of doing things.

the bf must have misread the letter.
 
I also got put on the bottom half. Can I ask how quickly did you guys submit an update letter after being told you were on hold? Good luck to premedchelli and prodizzle, I truly hope you guys are rewarded for all the hard work you've put in!

Thanks for the kind words Entropic!! All hope is not lost for you either though! Are you already in somewhere else or were you counting on UMD?

UMD was already my top choice, plus the fact that I'm not in anywhere else makes this even more dire for me, I feel like every since I submitted my secondary I've been waiting and waiting... first on hold, then interviewed, then on hold again, now top half with 95 other ppl and I dunno where I am - rumors from last year are that they accept 30 off the waitlist so I have a 1/3 chance of getting off lol.

I hope this works out well for everyone no matter what happens!! 🙂
 
Thanks for the kind words Entropic!! All hope is not lost for you either though! Are you already in somewhere else or were you counting on UMD?

UMD was already my top choice, plus the fact that I'm not in anywhere else makes this even more dire for me, I feel like every since I submitted my secondary I've been waiting and waiting... first on hold, then interviewed, then on hold again, now top half with 95 other ppl and I dunno where I am - rumors from last year are that they accept 30 off the waitlist so I have a 1/3 chance of getting off lol.

I hope this works out well for everyone no matter what happens!! 🙂

Thanks man. I have no acceptances yet and waitlisted here and at another school. Yea this process is the most challenging and ****tiest thing I have ever done before. :/
 
Thanks man. I have no acceptances yet and waitlisted here and at another school. Yea this process is the most challenging and ****tiest thing I have ever done before. :/
I feel your pain. I'm waitlisted at two other schools and I'm about to start the whole process over again. Idk, after a year of this emotional roller coaster I really feel under-prepared to start it all over again.
 
Do we have idea if there's gonna be any WL movement Monday (i.e. after the 15th)? Or are we saying its unlikely because they oversubscribe?
 
Do we have idea if there's gonna be any WL movement Monday (i.e. after the 15th)? Or are we saying its unlikely because they oversubscribe?

Last year may 15th was a Friday and the first waitlist movement on SDN was on the 19th (a Tuesday). Makes sense that it might take them a day or 2 to process everything so we might not hear anything tomorrow, Im thinking Tuesday/Wednesday at the earliest.

The class is over subscribed every year and at least last year there was a lot of movement (if you check last years thread by June 15th there were 20 offers). I think we are going to get some movement. Dr. Foxwell just didnt want everyone on the waitlist to get their hopes up since its really hard to tell for all we know very few people may withdraw from UMB this year (the opposite is also possible). Its impossible to tell since there are so many variables that determine WL movement, all we can really do is wait.
 
Congrats! Talk about your emotions running the gamut between thinking rejection and then finding out you're in the top half.

Hopefully we will all hear positive news sometime early next week! I would literally go and pay them 4 years tuition that day if they let me in - not sure how, but I would certainly try 😉

I know how you feel...I really really want to get in too. Hopefully some good news will come soon now that it's past May 15 🙂

Anyway, so in the end that letter never did end up coming. I guess it's just lost for good. I have a question though - did the letter say that we have to contact the admissions office to confirm that we want to remain on the waitlist? I know some waitlists are like that, although the person I spoke with on the phone didn't say anything about that so I'm assuming no...
 
I know how you feel...I really really want to get in too. Hopefully some good news will come soon now that it's past May 15 🙂

Anyway, so in the end that letter never did end up coming. I guess it's just lost for good. I have a question though - did the letter say that we have to contact the admissions office to confirm that we want to remain on the waitlist? I know some waitlists are like that, although the person I spoke with on the phone didn't say anything about that so I'm assuming no...

yeah there was a form we had to mail back, I'd email or call the admissions office to let them know.

Good luck!
 
Got in off the waitlist at my first choice this weekend. Will be withdrawing from Maryland as soon as I get the paperwork (probably by Wednesday). Hope someone who wants the spot gets it. Good luck!!
 
Just letting you guys know I read this in the May 15th policy clarification thread

"When May 15 falls on a weekend, the following Monday is the deadline. Yes, I KNOW what the rules say, I also know the way it operates. The deadline is more for applicants to get of the dime and narrow this thing down. The schools will normally wait another day or two to let each other update AMCAS to see what the rosters are. If you are holding two spots on ~Wednesday, schools may start to call you to decide. From this point forward the wait list invitations will kick in with a vigor. Once you get an offer you get two weeks to make your decision; this gives you time to get financial info before your decision. Schools may begin to shorten this "two weeks" the closer you get to start time for that program."

apparently the guy who posted it was an adcom member so its legit info. This means that we likely wont hear anything until Wednesday at the earliest about waitlist movement. I'm thinking we really wont start to see any real movement until the end of the week. Sigh waiting never ends.
 
Just letting you guys know I read this in the May 15th policy clarification thread

"When May 15 falls on a weekend, the following Monday is the deadline. Yes, I KNOW what the rules say, I also know the way it operates. The deadline is more for applicants to get of the dime and narrow this thing down. The schools will normally wait another day or two to let each other update AMCAS to see what the rosters are. If you are holding two spots on ~Wednesday, schools may start to call you to decide. From this point forward the wait list invitations will kick in with a vigor. Once you get an offer you get two weeks to make your decision; this gives you time to get financial info before your decision. Schools may begin to shorten this "two weeks" the closer you get to start time for that program."

apparently the guy who posted it was an adcom member so its legit info. This means that we likely wont hear anything until Wednesday at the earliest about waitlist movement. I'm thinking we really wont start to see any real movement until the end of the week. Sigh waiting never ends.

True enough, I think it will take a bit of time for them to begin the bulk of the WL movement. However, if you look at the official WL movement thread for 2010 there has already been some movement in various school across the country. Quite a large number of these were even contacted a few days before the 5/15 "deadline". *shrug* not sure what to make of it but im getting a little bit nervous.
 
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