2009-2010 University of Michigan Application Thread

[Quicky]

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I've had application screening completed since July and haven't heard of a single person receiving an interview after having that status. So much for the 'transparency' most of you applaud.

 

[ruiner]

after they say they cannot offer an interview to me at this point, they have to add in:

"Additional reviews may take several months as we compare groups of applicants. Thank you for your patience."

.....why would they throw that in? thank you for your patience? i'm clearly waiting still? more reviews? they could have just said the first part and not the second

Do you think they tailor each message specifically to the applicant? It's a standard message they have been using since July. Not rejected yet but very likely soon to be.

 

[smmypnts]

I would greatly appreciate a formal and kindly rejection, something definitively saying they can't accept me, thanking me for my interest, and saying that the rejection doesn't mean I'm unqualified. After all, I did shell out good money for the secondary, and schools make tens of thousands of dollars each year off of applicants they probably spend 5 minutes looking over before rejecting.

 

[pppfcr]

Amen, smmypnts!!!! 👍 I'm with you 100%.

 

[red10]

I've had application screening completed since July and haven't heard of a single person receiving an interview after having that status. So much for the 'transparency' most of you applaud.

They tell you how many interview slots are left, how many offers they've given, they have a twitter feed that tells you when they are and aren't working. No other school is as transparent. The only way they could be more transparent is if they said "today between 5pm and 6pm we reviewed you file. We wish you had more volunteer experience but we'll look at you again on January 8th between 1pm and 2 pm"

Just because no one on here (hardly a representative sample) has gotten an interview after a complete status does not mean it doesn't happen. Try submitting an update or LOI. Michigan said they still look at complete statuses for interview so at least they're still looking at you instead of closing it completely.

I can't believe how down on Michigan you all are.

 

[anniem]

I submitted an update a few days ago about my grades and volunteering this past semester, but I was wondering if anyone knows if it will make much of a difference if I send in a letter of intent as well. If I got in here I would happily take back all my other applications from the other med schools i applied too..

 

[scapermoya]

i just got an email saying my status was updated, but nothing new on my page.

grr.

 

[red10]

i just got an email saying my status was updated, but nothing new on my page.

grr.

it was telling you that you'd been changed to "complete" status. It takes them a couple days to get the emails out. I just got one this morning too

 

[CielloStelatto]

FYI I had the complete status and later had an interview. It happens. And yes, they're transparency was huge compared to many schools. though it does put some people on edge guess.

 

[BBender716]

FYI I had the complete status and later had an interview. It happens. And yes, they're transparency was huge compared to many schools. though it does put some people on edge guess.

Go Ciello! I personally appreciate the twitters + transparency. Any resulting neuroticism is squarely the responsibility of the neurotic. 🙂

 

[TheFreak]

FYI I had the complete status and later had an interview. It happens. And yes, they're transparency was huge compared to many schools. though it does put some people on edge guess.

that's pretty sweet. when did that happen?

 

[CielloStelatto]

That was back in aug though

 

[BBender716]

That was back in aug though

I knew there was a catch 😉 lol

 

[lunchbox_tragedy]

I'm surprised they didn't give out any acceptances between 12/18 and 1/6...maybe they'll stay that way until Feb when they revisit deferrals (I can only wish). From what I remember from last year's thread, they end up keeping acceptances at 99% around the end of March...dunno if they save any interviews, though.

 

[scapermoya]

I'm surprised they didn't give out any acceptances between 12/18 and 1/6...maybe they'll stay that way until Feb when they revisit deferrals (I can only wish). From what I remember from last year's thread, they end up keeping acceptances at 99% around the end of March...dunno if they save any interviews, though.

maybe they wait to see if everyone makes it to the interviews?

seems kinda silly to have such an arbitrary number of interviews decided upon ahead of time, but you know what they say about ADcoms... their mystery is exceeded only by their power.

 

[JasonE]

maybe they wait to see if everyone makes it to the interviews?

seems kinda silly to have such an arbitrary number of interviews decided upon ahead of time, but you know what they say about ADcoms... their mystery is exceeded only by their power.

i highly doubt the number is arbitrary.

 

[scapermoya]

i highly doubt the number is arbitrary.

my point was that having a pre-determined number set before any interviews take place is in itself arbitrary. I don't think every school does this.

 

[red10]

my point was that having a pre-determined number set before any interviews take place is in itself arbitrary. I don't think every school does this.

They know from years of experience that if they interview X number of people and accept Y number of instate and out of state, they will be most likely to fill their class. Every school has some sort of number. Maybe there's is more of a range like 600-650 depending on the number of apps they get and the quality, but Michigan knows what they're doing, they're a top school that gives out lots of money to people they really want and they know that many people they accept will wind up going there.
They don't just spin the Price is Right wheel to pick a random number of people to interview.

 

[BlueElmo]

So if by now, for those of us without interview invites, are we all basically rejected at this point?

 

[red10]

So if by now, for those of us without interview invites, are we all basically rejected at this point?

well there are still 20 people without interview invites that will be getting them. Feelin lucky?

 

[scapermoya]

They know from years of experience that if they interview X number of people and accept Y number of instate and out of state, they will be most likely to fill their class. Every school has some sort of number. Maybe there's is more of a range like 600-650 depending on the number of apps they get and the quality, but Michigan knows what they're doing, they're a top school that gives out lots of money to people they really want and they know that many people they accept will wind up going there.
They don't just spin the Price is Right wheel to pick a random number of people to interview.

i am not at all suggesting that they pull a number out of thin air.

what i am saying is that having a very specific number from the get-go is necessarily arbitrary. if they don't adapt the number of people they plan on interviewing based on the interviews they have already conducted, then they could be missing out on qualified people.

i realize that their rolling admissions negates this to a certain extent. I also realize that they probably highball the number a bit. but for those of us at the tail end, it kind of sucks to know that the simple fact that they already have reached some number means the doors are closed.

i applied later in the cycle than I should have. my fault. but they didn't get around to reading my application until there were only a few spots left. it doesn't really cost them that much to interview a few more people. in fact, they canceled the last interview of the season before my file was listed as complete. lame.

 

[red10]

i am not at all suggesting that they pull a number out of thin air.

what i am saying is that having a very specific number from the get-go is necessarily arbitrary. if they don't adapt the number of people they plan on interviewing based on the interviews they have already conducted, then they could be missing out on qualified people.

i realize that their rolling admissions negates this to a certain extent. I also realize that they probably highball the number a bit. but for those of us at the tail end, it kind of sucks to know that the simple fact that they already have reached some number means the doors are closed.

i applied later in the cycle than I should have. my fault. but they didn't get around to reading my application until there were only a few spots left. it doesn't really cost them that much to interview a few more people. in fact, they canceled the last interview of the season before my file was listed as complete. lame.

In all honesty they get tons and tons of well qualified people who apply. Potentially hundreds more than they have the time to interview. By setting the number at 650 they miss out on some great people who applied late or got passed over for w.e reason. But the reality is that they have 650 people who are kick ***** already that they have to narrow down to less than 200 to fill their class. Even if half the people who interview are complete weirdos and the other half are as great as they hoped, they still have tough decisions to make. Yes there may be a couple awesome people they fail to interview who eventually go on to cure cancer and the common cold, but they're still going to have a killer class in general with or without those people.

When you apply late you run the risk of getting passed over even if you're a great candidate at ANY SCHOOL. Maybe you would have gotten an interview early on, maybe not. But you're now been compared to hundreds of people who are all probably equally good candidates and who knows if you'll be the one to get picked. It's a crap shoot. Maybe they'll miss out but then that's the nature of the beast.

 

[scapermoya]

yeah i know.

*looks down, puts hands in pockets, and kicks dirt*

 

[JasonE]

it was never really super specific. it changed a few times this cycle.

 

[mmmcdowe]

i am not at all suggesting that they pull a number out of thin air.

what i am saying is that having a very specific number from the get-go is necessarily arbitrary. if they don't adapt the number of people they plan on interviewing based on the interviews they have already conducted, then they could be missing out on qualified people.

i realize that their rolling admissions negates this to a certain extent. I also realize that they probably highball the number a bit. but for those of us at the tail end, it kind of sucks to know that the simple fact that they already have reached some number means the doors are closed.

i applied later in the cycle than I should have. my fault. but they didn't get around to reading my application until there were only a few spots left. it doesn't really cost them that much to interview a few more people. in fact, they canceled the last interview of the season before my file was listed as complete. lame.

They do and they know this. It's a shame, but interviews are expensive, time consuming, and a lot of extra work for the adcom. In the grand scheme of things, interviews are cheap for a medical school. However, the admissions office is not a medical school, it is a small department with a limited budget. My school interviews about 1100 a year and the dean of admissions has told me straight up that he wishes he could interview a lot more, but ultimately it isn't realistic.

 

[scapermoya]

i just got an email from michigan:

XXXXXX,
We do still have some interview spots available, and will be making offers in the very near future.

Sandra Davis
Business Analyst
University of Michigan
Medical School Admissions
734-763-3043


it was in response to my question as to why all of our statuses were still ambiguous.

a glimmer of hope!

 

[pppfcr]

Thanks for letting us know!!!!! Thats awesome. *luck*

 

[GracilisMuscle]

Good luck everyone still waiting, like me!

 

[red10]

i just got an email from michigan:

XXXXXX,
We do still have some interview spots available, and will be making offers in the very near future.

Sandra Davis
Business Analyst
University of Michigan
Medical School Admissions
734-763-3043


it was in response to my question as to why all of our statuses were still ambiguous.

a glimmer of hope!

we already knew they had more to give out, did we not?
This isn't exactly a big revelation...

 

[scapermoya]

it was more about whether the statues we got were tacit rejections or not (for me anyway). sounds like they weren't

 

[ruiner]

They have definitely done rejections. A guy I interviewed with today at a different school said he had been cut loose.

 

[scapermoya]

Michigan twitter updates today:

Candidate no-show for interview Friday sent e-mail today: "sorry, I forgot to cancel"---Really? Wow...just wow! Unbelievable! about 8 hours ago from web

you have got to be f&%#king kidding me.

i hope there is some kind of ADCOM batphone and they can blackball that person across the country. probs not though.

Timeline: We anticipate making our final interview offers-at the latest, very early next week. about 2 hours ago from web

nice. and they are expecting those invited to get plane tickets on less than a week's notice? or do you think they will interview into feb despite that PDF schedule?

 

[red10]

Michigan twitter updates today:

Candidate no-show for interview Friday sent e-mail today: "sorry, I forgot to cancel"---Really? Wow...just wow! Unbelievable! about 8 hours ago from web

you have got to be f&%#king kidding me.

i hope there is some kind of ADCOM batphone and they can blackball that person across the country. probs not though.

Timeline: We anticipate making our final interview offers-at the latest, very early next week. about 2 hours ago from web

nice. and they are expecting those invited to get plane tickets on less than a week's notice? or do you think they will interview into feb despite that PDF schedule?

Don't forget that they'll be interviewing mostly in state who may not require plane tickets. Also, not to make them seem callous but I don't think they are too concerned about how much you have to pay to come see them. If it's important to you, you'll make it work

 

[scapermoya]

Don't forget that they'll be interviewing mostly in state who may not require plane tickets. Also, not to make them seem callous but I don't think they are too concerned about how much you have to pay to come see them. If it's important to you, you'll make it work

i'm personally lucky enough that I don't have to worry about the cost of a plane ticket, but I still wonder what their reasoning is for waiting so long to issue these invitations. it makes a huge difference for those people who do have to worry about the financial cost of an interview.

it has been weeks since the deadline for the secondary application. one has to believe that the vast majority of applications got in well before this deadline. barring optional updates submitted online, they have had everything they need to make a decision for some time now.

i understand that they have limited resources, and that those resources have to be allocated between many difference functions aside from screening for interview invitations. in some ways it is nice to know that they are being thorough, but if they have truly canceled their last interview date in feb, this is kinda pushing it.

 

[red10]

i don't think fretting or whining about it is going to make things move any faster. If you're too annoyed or frustrated with the way Michigan does things you're always welcome to withdraw.

 

[scapermoya]

i don't think fretting or whining about it is going to make things move any faster. If you're too annoyed or frustrated with the way Michigan does things you're always welcome to withdraw.

i don't think that admissions style should play much of a role in which schools one applies to. this is a forum, don't criticize people for speaking their mind.

 

[Taffarel]

I think some of these comments regarding Michigan's admissions office are unfair. They do know that plane tickets are expensive. When they invited me for an interview I almost couldn't go because I was broke. They were the last school to invite me for an interview, and I had already been on several and paid my ticket for others scheduled in the future. There was no way i could make it financially. I had nowhere to go to for money, and it was a very difficult situation for me considering that at the time i applied they were one of the top schools on my list. Thankfully they helped me out, and I'm glad they did because that is the most impressive school i've been to (i've interviewed at a couple of ivys + others in top 5-10). And after going there and hearing the admissions staff speak to us, I can honestly say they try to judge each applicant holistically. They spend a good deal of time going over each applicant. Unfortunately, some really good applicants won't be invited to interview. It's tough, but it dosen't mean you won't be a good doctor. A bunch of schools grapple with this same issue; however, the difference is that they are not as transparent as UMich is about the process. So, they do care about applicants. I'm proof of that - they could have left me scrambling to find money some how..
Best of luck to you all.

 

[BlueElmo]

Hurry up and send my rejection letter, Michigan.

 

[masturhu]

Wow that's really kind of them. I really love Umich too. I looked at other schools that are ranked higher by "research" and I still think Michigan will give me a better education with the flextime quizzes.

I think some of these comments regarding Michigan's admissions office are unfair. They do know that plane tickets are expensive. When they invited me for an interview I almost couldn't go because I was broke. They were the last school to invite me for an interview, and I had already been on several and paid my ticket for others scheduled in the future. There was no way i could make it financially. I had nowhere to go to for money, and it was a very difficult situation for me considering that at the time i applied they were one of the top schools on my list. Thankfully they helped me out, and I'm glad they did because that is the most impressive school i've been to (i've interviewed at a couple of ivys + others in top 5-10). And after going there and hearing the admissions staff speak to us, I can honestly say they try to judge each applicant holistically. They spend a good deal of time going over each applicant. Unfortunately, some really good applicants won't be invited to interview. It's tough, but it dosen't mean you won't be a good doctor. A bunch of schools grapple with this same issue; however, the difference is that they are not as transparent as UMich is about the process. So, they do care about applicants. I'm proof of that - they could have left me scrambling to find money some how..
Best of luck to you all.

 

[red10]

i don't think that admissions style should play much of a role in which schools one applies to. this is a forum, don't criticize people for speaking their mind.

after repetitive comments about "why aren't they updating us" "why aren't they faster" "this is inconvenient for ME" and other on-going complaints I feel like . It's not just you specifically but other people too.
When you become Dean of Admissions you can run admissions however your heart desires, but until then you gotta deal with their way of doing things and just be thankful you are even being considered.

All this fretting and whining about when are we gonna hear, why haven't we heard, etc etc is just a bunch of mental masturbation that isn't doing any good. Just because you're free to do something doesn't make it any less annoying or prevent me from telling you so. free speech goes both ways😀

 

[Taffarel]

Masturhu, i agree with you. I could not be more thankful for what they did.
Flextime quizzes are awesome. The students with whom I spoke during my interview love the set up. And you couldn't go wrong with Michigan. On that note, when did you interview?

 

[medat101]

i'm personally lucky enough that I don't have to worry about the cost of a plane ticket, but I still wonder what their reasoning is for waiting so long to issue these invitations. it makes a huge difference for those people who do have to worry about the financial cost of an interview.

it has been weeks since the deadline for the secondary application. one has to believe that the vast majority of applications got in well before this deadline. barring optional updates submitted online, they have had everything they need to make a decision for some time now.

i understand that they have limited resources, and that those resources have to be allocated between many difference functions aside from screening for interview invitations. in some ways it is nice to know that they are being thorough, but if they have truly canceled their last interview date in feb, this is kinda pushing it.

Based on their interview day explanation on how admissions works at this point, I would say that the reason they are stalling on giving out the remaining interviews is because they have to see where they stand in terms of IS/OOS, diversity of experience, etc. so they can produce a balanced, well-rounded class. On my interview day, the director of admissions directly said that as of 1/8/10 they were still not attempting to meet "quotas," but with the later interview/admission dates they would have to start looking to balance out the class. Since the 1/8/10 interview date hears back on 1/14/10, that gives the adcom a few days to better figure out the make up of the incoming class before releasing more interview offers next week.

Good luck to those still waiting!

 

[lunchbox_tragedy]

Based on their interview day explanation on how admissions works at this point, I would say that the reason they are stalling on giving out the remaining interviews is because they have to see where they stand in terms of IS/OOS, diversity of experience, etc. so they can produce a balanced, well-rounded class. On my interview day, the director of admissions directly said that as of 1/8/10 they were still not attempting to meet "quotas," but with the later interview/admission dates they would have to start looking to balance out the class. Since the 1/8/10 interview date hears back on 1/14/10, that gives the adcom a few days to better figure out the make up of the incoming class before releasing more interview offers next week.

Good luck to those still waiting!

It may be relevant to note that the acceptances given out to December deferrals were largely based on state residency, with the vast majority of Michigan deferrals being accepted and the vast majority of OOS deferrals being deferred again to February. It would seem that this, coupled with frequent mentions on the twitter of juggling interview invites between in-state and OOS applicants, suggests that the in-state goal/quota has been at their attention for a while.

 

[scapermoya]

i've been too critical. my bad.

i think it is a result of the fact that they communicate more than any other school. you might think that this would give them some leeway, but instead it has heightened my criticism. it's just that I think the school is amazing (even without an interview), and I really hate being up in the air. i know almost nothing about the process at other schools that haven't rejected me or offered me an interview, as it is much more closed off.

i just want to know what's what. sorry for b!tch!ng.

 

[JasonE]

lets all relax guys. remember, umich is prob as friendly to OOS students as its gonna get. im pretty sure they accept more OOS than IS to make it 50.50 at the end

 

[Taffarel]

"Based on their interview day explanation on how admissions works at this point, I would say that the reason they are stalling on giving out the remaining interviews is because they have to see where they stand in terms of IS/OOS, diversity of experience, etc. so they can produce a balanced, well-rounded class. On my interview day, the director of admissions directly said that as of 1/8/10 they were still not attempting to meet "quotas," but with the later interview/admission dates they would have to start looking to balance out the class. Since the 1/8/10 interview date hears back on 1/14/10, that gives the adcom a few days to better figure out the make up of the incoming class before releasing more interview offers next week"



This is spot on, and it proves that there is much more to the admissions process at michigan than simply picking an applicant based solely on mcat, gpa, and state of residency. It is an arduous process for the admissions staff.
Good luck to those still waiting. Just keep in mind that everyone is getting a fair shot.

 

[pppfcr]

Just received my FILE CLOSED status. Adios Michigan! 🙁 Good luck to the rest of you...

 

[BBender716]

Just received my FILE CLOSED status. Adios Michigan! 🙁 Good luck to the rest of you...

I'm sorry! I feel for you. Another reason us holdees should still be grateful rather than impatient. I hope things work out elsewhere for you. Best of luck!

 

[BlueElmo]

Just received my FILE CLOSED status. Adios Michigan! 🙁 Good luck to the rest of you...

Sorry, pppfcr. Hope other schools work out.

 

[pppfcr]

BBender716 and BlueElmo, thanks! I am keeping a positive attitude!! Still have some others to hear from. Good luck to you all! Hope that you get the offers! Looks like they still have ~20 to go.