2009-2010 University of Oklahoma Application Thread

[Phange]

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How do they remove the human element? They look at the files don't they February 21st?

Yes, but from what I understand they "rank" deferred applications (basically all non-rejected, non-accepted applications) based almost entirely on GPA and MCAT. Essentially, this eliminates the "he made straight A's the last three years" argument that would otherwise get you in. As well as the "he aced his Master's" which you'd think would mean quite a lot, especially if it's one of the dual-degree options.

 

[medapplicant88]

Yes, but from what I understand they "rank" deferred applications (basically all non-rejected, non-accepted applications) based almost entirely on GPA and MCAT. Essentially, this eliminates the "he made straight A's the last three years" argument that would otherwise get you in. As well as the "he aced his Master's" which you'd think would mean quite a lot, especially if it's one of the dual-degree options.

Are you sure? lol thats not to comforting with a 3.6.

 

[just one]

They did, but I don't know how much it actually helps. It seems like they go to great lengths to eliminate the "human element" from the decision-making process. Which is a shame, because anyone who gets to interview four times and who was waitlisted the last time should probably get at least a courtesy nod. At least, that's my two cents

Did you attend the rejected workshop each year to find out what was holding you up?

 

[Phange]

Are you sure? lol thats not to comforting with a 3.6.

Haha yeah, speaking from experience my undergraduate GPA was not good at all (A 3.2 in Microbiology) but my MCAT pretty much saved me from not getting shots at interviews. My Master's was much, much higher which I'm hoping will factor into the decision-making process this time.

 

[Phange]

Did you attend the rejected workshop each year to find out what was holding you up?

Yeah, and the last time was a bit shocking because we had a guy who was a lot more honest than I think he should've been. Basically, he boiled down how it's really a GPA/MCAT thing; if yours are high enough, you have exponentially better odds of getting in, due to the nature of interview "tiers". In any case, yes, I did attend it the last two or three times.

 

[just one]

Did you apply with the 30 mcat all four years?

 

[Phange]

Did you apply with the 30 mcat all four years?

No, I've taken it three times. Made right around 30 each time. At least I'm consistent.

 

[medapplicant88]

Yeah, and the last time was a bit shocking because we had a guy who was a lot more honest than I think he should've been. Basically, he boiled down how it's really a GPA/MCAT thing; if yours are high enough, you have exponentially better odds of getting in, due to the nature of interview "tiers". In any case, yes, I did attend it the last two or three times.

That's ridiculous. Doctors aren't made solely from books and tests. You know the MCAT a little of it has to do with luck. As in do you get passages that cover subjects that are taught prominently at universities or do you get a passage about the Earth's geological formation as I did one time.

Even the o chem can be hit and miss. For example in physics most people rarely cover fluids and solids (shear and stress) and yet everyone gets a detailed understanding of projectile motion and uniform acceleration. however what if you get a passage about fluids and another person got a passage about uniform acceleration.

 

[just one]

Someone I know that was accepted this cycle talked to an administrator at OU and was told they will include the Masters GPA during selection.

 

[Phange]

That's ridiculous. Doctors aren't made solely from books and tests. You know the MCAT a little of it has to do with luck. As in do you get passages that cover subjects that are taught prominently at universities or do you get a passage about the Earth's geological formation as I did one time.

Even the o chem can be hit and miss. For example in physics most people rarely cover fluids and solids (shear and stress) and yet everyone gets a detailed understanding of projectile motion and uniform acceleration. however what if you get a passage about fluids and another person got a passage about uniform acceleration.

What's really bad is that the Biological Science section can be very uneven. Some years it's very O-Chem heavy, and some years it's very Cell Bio-heavy. On one particular year, nearly the whole thing was nephrology. Completely ridiculous.

 

[just one]

Mine had zero ORG II questions.

 

[Phange]

Someone I know that was accepted this cycle talked to an administrator at OU and was told they will include the Masters GPA during selection.

This is pretty much my only hope right now. My MCAT has always been good enough, but my GPA really held me back until I hit my Master's.

 

[just one]

What's really bad is that the Biological Science section can be very uneven. Some years it's very O-Chem heavy, and some years it's very Cell Bio-heavy. On one particular year, nearly the whole thing was nephrology. Completely ridiculous.

I know it is not strictly GPA/MCAT, a person at my school got accepted this cycle with a 25.

 

[medapplicant88]

I know it is not strictly GPA/MCAT, a person at my school got accepted this cycle with a 25.

Must've had some connections.

Seriously i've heard someone out of state who got accepted to Wisconsin and this person had like a 3.6 and a very low 20's MCAT. From Oklahoma. These extreme cases suggest that the med schools are looking for humans lol.

 

[marshds]

I know it is not strictly GPA/MCAT, a person at my school got accepted this cycle with a 25.

I sure hope it is not strictly GPA and MCAT, or I don't have a chance.

 

[just one]

I sure hope it is not strictly GPA and MCAT, or I don't have a chance.

There's always a chance. I'm hoping for the chance that they confuse my application with someone with higher stats and I accidentally get accepted.

 

[marshds]

Must've had some connections.

Seriously i've heard someone out of state who got accepted to Wisconsin and this person had like a 3.6 and a very low 20's MCAT. From Oklahoma. These extreme cases suggest that the med schools are looking for humans lol.

I really don't think you need connections to get in with a 25.

 

[medapplicant88]

There's always a chance. I'm hoping for the chance that they confuse my application with someone with higher stats and I accidentally get accepted.

there's always a chance. I would find the smartest applicant one year (not too smart like maybe a 38 MCAT and a 3.7 and change my name to the person and apply. It just might work 😉

 

[just one]

Me neither. As far as I know, she didn't have any. An MSI from my interview day had a 26 and interviewed and was accepted in November last year.

 

[medapplicant88]

I really don't think you need connections to get in with a 25.

Yeah, I'm just joking.

But in all honesty.

If you have like a 4.0 and your a bad test taker maybe you got 10 10 and a 6 on the verbal. They have to look at how hard you work. If you can show that you know science and can excel along with the activities.

I've read in so many website, High MCAT possibly could compensate for a low GPA and vice versa.

 

[just one]

Am I the only one sitting by the mailbox?

 

[medapplicant88]

Am I the only one sitting by the mailbox?

maybe, I'm actually thinking there's some pros and cons to waiting. A) I might go insane B) the letter might not show up and I'd have missed some life altering classes*sarcasm

Pros

The letter did come and it's pleading for it to be opened. And waiting means you get instant gratification. or instant disappointment (actually that's a con)

 

[marshds]

I wish....debating on whether to skip a meeting and head home from work. if somebody posts on here that they got it, I might bolt.

 

[just one]

maybe, I'm actually thinking there's some pros and cons to waiting. A) I might go insane B) the letter might not show up and I'd have missed some life altering classes*sarcasm

Pros

The letter did come and it's pleading for it to be opened. And waiting means you get instant gratification.

I only have class from 8-8:50, so not missing anything. Could go to work, but who could concentrate?

 

[just one]

I wish....debating on whether to skip a meeting and head home from work. if somebody posts on here that they got it, I might bolt.

If it is good news, then we call in sick tomorrow and hit the golf course

 

[medapplicant88]

If it is good news, then we call in sick tomorrow and hit the golf course

If its good news I'm taking the rest of the year off lol

If its bad, I'll be headed to the nearest bridge ;(

Hopefully its good.

 

[just one]

If its good news I'm taking the rest of the year off lol

If its bad, I'll be headed to the nearest bridge ;(

Hopefully its good.

I know it is just a joke, but a MSI at OSU actually committed suicide this year.

 

[medapplicant88]

I know it is just a joke, but a MSI at OSU actually committed suicide this year.

Really?

I'm trying to lighten the mood however hopefully no one takes me seriously and calls like suicide watch or something and also hopefully I'm not offending anyone.

But that sucks. med school can be overwhelming but that's kind of extreme.

 

[just one]

Really?

I'm trying to lighten the mood however hopefully no one takes me seriously and calls like suicide watch or something and also hopefully I'm not offending anyone.

But that sucks. med school can be overwhelming but that's kind of extreme.

I called but they didn't have a listing for medapplicant 88, so I told them to just go to all the houses with envelopes from OU inn the mailbox

 

[keithokc]

Hey guys here is an update straight from a physician on the board I just asked about this cycle. He said there is 75ish on wait list. I asked if interviews really make a difference or is it all mcat/gpa. He told me that where you are placed on the list is reflective of how strong your interviewers felt about you but that many of the board members are very influenced by gpa/mcat. He gave an example of 2 students with low mcats <27 and avg GPAs 3.7. One had a great interview and ended up top of waitlist. The other had a good interview and was at the bottom. Class avg was around 3.8 this year with a 30 mcat as usual. Good luck everyone.

 

[medapplicant88]

I called but they didn't have a listing for medapplicant 88, so I told them to just go to all the houses with envelopes from OU inn the mailbox

Hey i wouldn't mind you heading to my house after your letter comes in. I'm desperate for an answer.

I knew I should've attached a couple of twenties to those thank you cards it might've sped up the process a couple of weeks.

 

[jr87]

Am I the only one sitting by the mailbox?

I'm staring at mine through my window, even though I know full well that the mail doesn't come til after 3.

 

[medapplicant88]

Hey guys here is an update straight from a physician on the board I just asked about this cycle. He said there is 75ish on wait list. I asked if interviews really make a difference or is it all mcat/gpa. He told me that where you are placed on the list is reflective of how strong your interviewers felt about you but that many of the board members are very influenced by gpa/mcat. He gave an example of 2 students with low mcats <27 and avg GPAs 3.7. One had a great interview and ended up top of waitlist. The other had a good interview and was at the bottom. Class avg was around 3.8 this year with a 30 mcat as usual. Good luck everyone.

Thanks for that information

 

[just one]

Since my mail normally arrives between 11:30 and 1:30, I'm conflicted. Do I want my mail to come at 11:30 so I know? Or do I want it to be at 1:30 for that extra little chance that it made it on the truck?

 

[medapplicant88]

how do you know what's a good interview and what's a great interview?

A great one empties the wallet.

 

[medapplicant88]

Keithokc if your there do you know if its one day or two days after they mail the letters that you receive one?

 

[Phange]

Speaking of bridges, that I-44 thing still cracks me up. How can you actually develop a HOLE in a bridge? Oh, Oklahoma. I've lived here my whole life and I still can't believe our roads.

 

[medapplicant88]

Speaking of bridges, that I-44 thing still cracks me up. How can you actually develop a HOLE in a bridge? Oh, Oklahoma. I've lived here my whole life and I still can't believe our roads.

The roads are terrible. i have to be honest the roads are bad. There's not a patch of I-35 that is without cracks or holes.

Not to mention the traffic sucks. I don't know if people've been around the OUHSC, and 235. In the mornings and evenings you really have to pray and enjoy the stalls.

Not to mention I also have a displeasure when drivers feel the need to slow down and observe a wreck of some sort. After the cars have been pulled over to the side people like to examine the damage to the cars.

 

[Phange]

The roads are terrible. i have to be honest the roads are bad. There's not a patch of I-35 that is without cracks or holes.

Not to mention the traffic sucks. I don't know if people've been around the OUHSC, and 235. In the mornings and evenings you really have to pray and enjoy the stalls.

Not to mention I also have a displeasure when drivers feel the need to slow down and observe a wreck of some sort. After the cars have been pulled over to the side people like to examine the damage to the cars.

What insults me is that if you merely drive north of, say, 41st street in Tulsa, the roads suddenly become Swiss cheese. Not only is it absurd, it's also a blatantly obvious sign of the city's economic priorities.

 

[medapplicant88]

What insults me is that if you merely drive north of, say, 41st street in Tulsa, the roads suddenly become Swiss cheese. Not only is it absurd, it's also a blatantly obvious sign of the city's economic priorities.

It's not going to get any better any soon. I've probably obsessed about the economy, but man its bad for the state.

This recession won't disappear. I think the country's been living far above our wealth status and now that the revenue streams are down, it looks like painful cuts are having to be made especially at the state level.

In public schools their considering cutting quite a few AP courses for high school students, their also thinking about cancelling the optional 7th hour for overachievers. And consolidating classes. This recession unfortunately is here for at least a couple of years.

Yet, oil prices are on the rise, my guzzler takes a huge chunk of my money.

 

[medapplicant88]

Anybody's mail come yet?

 

[Phange]

Anybody's mail come yet?

Nope, but I'm pretty sure I've burned about 4,000 calories due to all the coffee I've had.

 

[medapplicant88]

Nope, but I'm pretty sure I've burned about 4,000 calories due to all the coffee I've had.

Knowing my luck personally, this is going to be an anticlimactic day. It's one of those things when you find out important things in your life when you least expect it.

I'm sorry my luck will ruin it for others also.

If you think about it when they say their mailing it on the 2nd. i mean who is going to want to take the time to inconvenience themselves and mail it before the end of the day. i honestly would wait till the end of the day to mail something so I can only expect this from prospective senders.

 

[Phange]

Knowing my luck personally, this is going to be an anticlimactic day. It's one of those things when you find out important things in your life when you least expect it.

I'm sorry my luck will ruin it for others also.

If you think about it when they say their mailing it on the 2nd. i mean who is going to want to take the time to inconvenience themselves and mail it before the end of the day. i honestly would wait till the end of the day to mail something so I can only expect this from prospective senders.

As a student of the HSC, I can promise you I had it worse than anyone. All last summer I was on the waitlist, but the College of Public Health kept sending me huge packets related to my MPH. They all were giant Health Science Center packets that could've easily been acceptance packets. It drove me CRAZY!

 

[Plus 20]

Knowing my luck personally, this is going to be an anticlimactic day. It's one of those things when you find out important things in your life when you least expect it.

I'm sorry my luck will ruin it for others also.

If you think about it when they say their mailing it on the 2nd. i mean who is going to want to take the time to inconvenience themselves and mail it before the end of the day. i honestly would wait till the end of the day to mail something so I can only expect this from prospective senders.

ou has been pretty true to it's 10 day cycle, this year and past years. i would expect it today, unless you live further out.

 

[medapplicant88]

ou has been pretty true to it's 10 day cycle, this year and past years. i would expect it today, unless you live further out.

You mean from the 21st?

 

[Plus 20]

You mean from the 21st?

yeah. from the final meeting.

 

[keithokc]

If your in okc Norman ect letters will get here today. Tulsa tomorrow. Oos 3 days. A great interview vs good would prob be one that left you feeling great vs one that left you feeling good. 🙂 who knows. But I was told in my case my great interview made a difference b/t accept and waitlist.

 

[medapplicant88]

If your in okc Norman ect letters will get here today. Tulsa tomorrow. Oos 3 days. A great interview vs good would prob be one that left you feeling great vs one that left you feeling good. 🙂 who knows. But I was told in my case my great interview made a difference b/t accept and waitlist.

Okay that's very informative thanks very much.

And I was only making a joke about the great vs. good interview lol. Not a very good one however 🙂

 

[Phange]

If your in okc Norman ect letters will get here today. Tulsa tomorrow. Oos 3 days. A great interview vs good would prob be one that left you feeling great vs one that left you feeling good. 🙂 who knows. But I was told in my case my great interview made a difference b/t accept and waitlist.

In the past it's only taken a day for mail to arrive in Tulsa, so I guess it just depends.