2009-2010 University of Wisconsin Application Thread

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I think the comment about shoes is for women. They are encouraging women to choose footwear so they will be able to comfortably take the tour of the school without hurting/injuring their feet (ex. flats vs. heels).


Was anyone else thrown off by how they mention interview attire?

"We suggest business attire and we encourage you to wear comfortable shoes."

I would love to wear my crocs to the interview 😀😛

I still have to get my suit:scared:
 
Yeah, on all of my interviews I saw a good proportion of the women wearing 3+ inch stiletto heels. I just always wonder what they were thinking, they must have known they would be going on a tour at each school. I can completely understand that heels are what is normally paired with dressing up, but still. That's got to kill by the end of the day.
 
Was anyone else thrown off by how they mention interview attire?

"We suggest business attire and we encourage you to wear comfortable shoes."

I would love to wear my crocs to the interview 😀😛

I still have to get my suit:scared:

I thought the "Additionally, we invite you to bring your own water bottle with you." part was weirder. I know the UW hospital is a maze to walk through, but it's not exactly the sahara...
 
I thought the "Additionally, we invite you to bring your own water bottle with you." part was weirder. I know the UW hospital is a maze to walk through, but it's not exactly the sahara...

They don't even let you go on a tour of the hospital, so unless your interview is in one of the clinics (mine was), you don't even wander very far.

They don't provide water bottles, which I guess is where they were coming from, but they had a pot of coffee and more cups than coffee, so some people got water from the bubbler down the hall.

I didn't think the walking tour was that bad. Probably would've been glad to have flats if they had let us through the hospital, but I did just fine in heels.
 
My interview lasted for over an hour, so I didn't get to tour the school all that much. Good thing- I was asked a lot of pertinent questions that I thought would help me for my file review.

As already mentioned, for H1N1 precautions, no one is allowed in the hospital that isn't needed. Women will be just fine wearing 3 inch heels in my opinion. There isn't a lot of walking. Apprehension will probably inhibit the feeling of the formation of blisters after walking anyway 🙂
 
They don't even let you go on a tour of the hospital, so unless your interview is in one of the clinics (mine was), you don't even wander very far.

They don't provide water bottles, which I guess is where they were coming from, but they had a pot of coffee and more cups than coffee, so some people got water from the bubbler down the hall.

I didn't think the walking tour was that bad. Probably would've been glad to have flats if they had let us through the hospital, but I did just fine in heels.

Did someone escort you between the admissions office and the clinic where you had your interview? Or did you have to find your own way?
 
Accepted II-09/23 I-10/9 A-10/29 Good luck to the rest of you!!
 
My interview lasted for over an hour, so I didn't get to tour the school all that much. Good thing- I was asked a lot of pertinent questions that I thought would help me for my file review.

As already mentioned, for H1N1 precautions, no one is allowed in the hospital that isn't needed. Women will be just fine wearing 3 inch heels in my opinion. There isn't a lot of walking. Apprehension will probably inhibit the feeling of the formation of blisters after walking anyway 🙂

Haha, good point 🙂 And congratulations! Is UW your top choice?
 
Thanks everyone! I actually got a phone call. Apparently, some decisions need to be made yet, but they are sending letters out next week at some point. I am not real sure on anything else, so just hang in there!!

UW is definitely my top choice, and I will foe' show be attending in August!! Hope I get to meet a lot of you!!
 
Did someone escort you between the admissions office and the clinic where you had your interview? Or did you have to find your own way?

Well, I was given pretty good directions on a sheet in the folder. I was escorted by a very nice lady, though. I did have to find my way back, but it wasn't too confusing, as they basically told me to follow the [brown] brick "road" through the hospital to get back to the main interview room.

I wouldn't be too worried. Most of us were in rooms near our headquarters room, but I was walked to the clinic and another guy was walked to the research building.
 
By the way, in case anyone is wondering, my stats for acceptance were:
30Q (12ps, 7vr, 11bs) and 3.75 gpa physiology B.S.
Anyone else heard back? Wait for next week!!
 
I actually got a phone call.

I can't imagine getting a phone call acceptance. I'd gurgle and babble like a complete idiot and they'd withdraw the offer immediately. :laugh:

Are you instate?
 
I can't imagine getting a phone call acceptance. I'd gurgle and babble like a complete idiot and they'd withdraw the offer immediately. :laugh:

Are you instate?
haha i was rather miscombabblegurdlelated when they called!

and Yes, I am instate.
 
Any idea when next interview invites coming out?
 
Letter received in the mail today, dated for the 30th of Oct. Good luck all!!!
 
This is torture!!! Now I want to leave work sooooo badly so I can check my mail!
 
Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I just interviewed last Friday and just wanted to say that I absolutely loved it!! UW is definitely my top choice and is such an awesome school. Please accept me, please, please. 😀
 
I hope the mail brings you good news! :luck::luck::luck:


Thanks!!!! Are you waiting for today as well?

Not so sure about mail actually even coming to me today. Sure it should come seing as I LIVE in madison, but I swear I only get mail every other day which I totally do not understand...
 
Thanks!!!! Are you waiting for today as well?

Not so sure about mail actually even coming to me today. Sure it should come seing as I LIVE in madison, but I swear I only get mail every other day which I totally do not understand...

No, I still have to interview in a couple weeks, just feeling your pain (and building up my good karma for when it's my turn😀). Best of luck!
 
Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I just interviewed last Friday and just wanted to say that I absolutely loved it!! UW is definitely my top choice and is such an awesome school. Please accept me, please, please. 😀

I interviewed last Friday as well and I'd have to agree. Students, faculty, facilities, and programs are all amazing. This is going to be a long 4-6 weeks, might as well enjoy the wait with some popcorn:corny:...
 
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Nothing in my mail box. Boo 🙁

Buffy, which day did you interview? Were you the 9th or the 16th? (Or one of the later ones, though I think you were before mine.) I should really stop getting my hopes up that there's actually going to be something in my mailbox anytime soon. My 4-weeks-after doesn't even start til next Friday👎
 
Buffy, which day did you interview? Were you the 9th or the 16th? (Or one of the later ones, though I think you were before mine.) I should really stop getting my hopes up that there's actually going to be something in my mailbox anytime soon. My 4-weeks-after doesn't even start til next Friday👎

The 9th. Now I am wondering who you are... 😀 I only think it will be there because RJC1224 got his already...
 
I interviewed last Friday as well and I'd have to agree. Students, faculty, facilities, and programs are all amazing. This is going to be a long 4-6 weeks, might as well enjoy the wait with some popcorn:corny:...
I love that icon, it's so fitting for the whole med school application process 😛 Which one were you? Did you sit at the table near the projection wall or near the window?
 
Interview invite today!!! Interview date Dec 18th, application complete September 10th.

So excited!!!
 
Dear UW,

I love you and would be honored to get an interview.

Thanks you.
 
Congratulations Buffy! I am trying to start a thread for accepted people who will definitely go. I know it's early, but figuring out some stuff now would be pretty cool. I looked at the orientation packet online as the acceptance letter said, and it was pretty sweet. Especially regarding books; it basically says with med students used which books for respective classes...saving money is my friend!!
 
Congratulations Buffy! I am trying to start a thread for accepted people who will definitely go. I know it's early, but figuring out some stuff now would be pretty cool. I looked at the orientation packet online as the acceptance letter said, and it was pretty sweet. Especially regarding books; it basically says with med students used which books for respective classes...saving money is my friend!!

For people getting accepted, did you have to wait the full 4 to 6 weeks after your interview before you got accepted?
 
For people getting accepted, did you have to wait the full 4 to 6 weeks after your interview before you got accepted?

3 weeks and 4 days. if you interviewed sept 9 you should hear something anyday. I live in madison so I may have gotten it quicker than others in farther away cities. Good luck everyone!
 
Congrats Buffy! You completely deserve it. Is UW your top choice/will you be attending in the fall?

Its really a difficult decision. I do really like it here and at the beginning of the cycle i wanted no more than to attend here. I have been in WI my whole life though, and if i can find a school that is comparatively good and decently priced it will be a really hard choice. But my parents will probably talk me into staying. It is hard for me to believe that the faculty cares about the students after going to undergrad here though. There was just such a feeling bureaucracy and no one really wanting to help you and if you weren't helped why would they care, you are just a number. They say the med school isn't like this but i don't know. We'll see, maybe I can get another tour or something. The students do seem really chill which I like and it is a really great school. I just feel like my friends who attended twin cities for undergrad were better taken care of and learned more than I did. I hope I didn't offend anyone and if anyone has comments please let me know because I want to figure out where I would best fit.
 
Its really a difficult decision. I do really like it here and at the beginning of the cycle i wanted no more than to attend here. I have been in WI my whole life though, and if i can find a school that is comparatively good and decently priced it will be a really hard choice. But my parents will probably talk me into staying. It is hard for me to believe that the faculty cares about the students after going to undergrad here though. There was just such a feeling bureaucracy and no one really wanting to help you and if you weren't helped why would they care, you are just a number. They say the med school isn't like this but i don't know. We'll see, maybe I can get another tour or something. The students do seem really chill which I like and it is a really great school. I just feel like my friends who attended twin cities for undergrad were better taken care of and learned more than I did. I hope I didn't offend anyone and if anyone has comments please let me know because I want to figure out where I would best fit.

I completely understand where you're coming from, the undergrad at UW-Madison is just so huge that many students get left behind and don't get the help they need. Plus there's only one pre-med advisor and I've heard some not-so-great things about that person (although they may or may not be true). Even if they were the best advisor on the planet they would just have too many students for one person to help, so it's a terrible system. I wish you the best of luck deciding on where to go, I totally feel your pain. Just to let you know though, the medical school is very different. From every student I've ever talked to they have said that all the resources you need are there, you just have to ask for anything you want whether it be academic advising, counseling, help with board preparation, or help with residency match choices, etc. Maybe some current students on the forum can weigh in on this? I am biased when it comes to UW's med school so don't just take my word for it, but I'm sending you good vibes for your decision-making process :luck:
 
Its really a difficult decision. I do really like it here and at the beginning of the cycle i wanted no more than to attend here. I have been in WI my whole life though, and if i can find a school that is comparatively good and decently priced it will be a really hard choice. But my parents will probably talk me into staying. It is hard for me to believe that the faculty cares about the students after going to undergrad here though. There was just such a feeling bureaucracy and no one really wanting to help you and if you weren't helped why would they care, you are just a number. They say the med school isn't like this but i don't know. We'll see, maybe I can get another tour or something. The students do seem really chill which I like and it is a really great school. I just feel like my friends who attended twin cities for undergrad were better taken care of and learned more than I did. I hope I didn't offend anyone and if anyone has comments please let me know because I want to figure out where I would best fit.

I attended UW both as an undergraduate and now for med school; I am a nontrad student, and at least a part of my nontraditional status is due to exactly what your complaints are regarding the undergraduate portion of the institution. It is huge, very impersonal, your profs don't know you, don't seem to care to, and advising is substandard.

That being said, I can honestly say the med school is completely the opposite. Think of a small town high school where everybody knows everyone else. Professors tend to have office hours everyday they lecture right at HSLC- and the majority are genuinely interested in seeing you succeed. There are TA's for every course, who can also be helpful. There are two learning specialists (?I think that is their title?) who are there to help with suggestions and set you up with a free tutor if you want one. My understanding is that if someone does not do well, people will "come out of the woodwork" to help.

Are there occasional lecturers who are not invested in our success? Yes- but the course directors and TA's are available. I did a second undergrad at a smaller institution within WI prior to med school, and the atmosphere here at UWSMPH is more like the small institution.

Feel free to PM me with any questions- we have block exams next week, so it may take me a week to get back to you. I would also encourage you to take a second look at UWSMPH and ask all of the questions you have of current students. Good luck with your decision- and Congratulations!
 
I attended UW both as an undergraduate and now for med school; I am a nontrad student, and at least a part of my nontraditional status is due to exactly what your complaints are regarding the undergraduate portion of the institution. It is huge, very impersonal, your profs don't know you, don't seem to care to, and advising is substandard.

That being said, I can honestly say the med school is completely the opposite. Think of a small town high school where everybody knows everyone else. Professors tend to have office hours everyday they lecture right at HSLC- and the majority are genuinely interested in seeing you succeed. There are TA's for every course, who can also be helpful. There are two learning specialists (?I think that is their title?) who are there to help with suggestions and set you up with a free tutor if you want one. My understanding is that if someone does not do well, people will "come out of the woodwork" to help.

Are there occasional lecturers who are not invested in our success? Yes- but the course directors and TA's are available. I did a second undergrad at a smaller institution within WI prior to med school, and the atmosphere here at UWSMPH is more like the small institution.

Feel free to PM me with any questions- we have block exams next week, so it may take me a week to get back to you. I would also encourage you to take a second look at UWSMPH and ask all of the questions you have of current students. Good luck with your decision- and Congratulations!

I couldn't agree more! I didn't go here for undergrad but I did go to a large state university and had similar experiences there. One thing that I really enjoy about UW is the fact hat we are not on the undergrad campus. If I lived by Hilldale instead of on the square then I could effectively never know how large that ugrad portion is since we never see any evidence of it.

I also agree that the vast majority of the faculty (not just Profs, but also TA's and general office people) seem very interested in not only ensuring we are successful at this whole school thing, but also that we remain some what sane. They are all very approachable, in fact one in particular always seems to be hanging around the atrium and is open to questions.
 
So quick question: I'm sending thank yous to my interviewers and wondering if it would at all be appropriate to mention anything along the lines that UW is my first choice, that if accepted I would definitely matriculate, and that I want to stay in WI to practice after residency. I don't know if this would help my case at UW or not, it never came up in my interviews so maybe it just wouldn't matter to them. What do you guys think? Would that be too much? Inappropriate or something I should mention?
 
You guys have been really helpful. Its nice to hear such good things about the school from current students. I think one major thing that my UW interview experience lacked was the connections I made with students while doing the host stays at other schools. Since I live here I obviously stayed at my own home, but I missed out on the excitement that the student passes on to you about the school. I just asked someone I knew from undergrad if I could follow him around to classes for a day. Hopefully this will help me see what it is like. I want to want to go to Madison. It is a great school, near my family and the price is right. If I don't feel the fit factor though I think it will be a hard sell to myself...
 
You guys have been really helpful. Its nice to hear such good things about the school from current students. I think one major thing that my UW interview experience lacked was the connections I made with students while doing the host stays at other schools. Since I live here I obviously stayed at my own home, but I missed out on the excitement that the student passes on to you about the school. I just asked someone I knew from undergrad if I could follow him around to classes for a day. Hopefully this will help me see what it is like. I want to want to go to Madison. It is a great school, near my family and the price is right. If I don't feel the fit factor though I think it will be a hard sell to myself...

Buffy, I hear ya regarding the fit. UW actually is OOS state for me. I alos got accepted to my state school but the fit you are talking about is what drew me to UW as opposed to my state school. It was odd, I really-even still-greatly prefer the area I am from and plan on returning there, the school was good I did my undergrad there, but the UW med school offered me a fit I instantly recognized as what I was looking for in a school.

Feel free to PM me as well if you want to talk more about my experience here. Its a tough decision, but an important one.

Good luck and congrats on even having a decision to make, thats huge!
 
I couldn't agree more! I didn't go here for undergrad but I did go to a large state university and had similar experiences there. One thing that I really enjoy about UW is the fact hat we are not on the undergrad campus. If I lived by Hilldale instead of on the square then I could effectively never know how large that ugrad portion is since we never see any evidence of it.

I also agree that the vast majority of the faculty (not just Profs, but also TA's and general office people) seem very interested in not only ensuring we are successful at this whole school thing, but also that we remain some what sane. They are all very approachable, in fact one in particular always seems to be hanging around the atrium and is open to questions.

I couldn't disagree more with both Crelal and ericL. I go to undergrad at UW-Madison and I think the education is great. Sure, our upper level biochem classes are large and so are many other classes. However, I've only had 2 bad professors who did not care about my success. At a big school like UW and even at UWSMPH, I truly believe it's what you make out of it. You have to take the initiative to go out and meet faculty and advisers. I have had a very personalized education here at UW and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Almost all my professors know me very well and I have had a chance to be a leader and make a difference in many ways at UW. It's the same way regardless if you go to a big university or a small liberal arts college; it's up to U! I feel like i got the most bang for my buck like I will at UWSMPH if I get accepted in the near future! Good luck everyone!

Also, how long's the waiting gap between interview and acceptance?
 
Another question: For those who have interviewed here, how was the social before the interview night? Any food at all? What is the level of dress I need to expect? Was it just sitting around the table mostly?
 
Another question: For those who have interviewed here, how was the social before the interview night? Any food at all? What is the level of dress I need to expect? Was it just sitting around the table mostly?

As far as the social- very relaxed- no one there will be evaluating you the next day or give input. It is pretty much sitting around a table in the main room you will be in the next day. It is an opportunity to ask questions you may forgot to ask later and find out specifics about the interview day schedule/format. Don't feel the need to be dressed up- we don't even notice, to be honest.

For interview day, however, one tip to the ladies: make sure you wear comfortable shoes. I have seen quite a few people looking unsteady and uncomfortable, especially running up and down stairs and to/from their actual interviews.

I'm glad you had a good experience with the undergrad institution- everyone's experience is different, and a less than positive experience is not due to a lack of effort. That being said, I would highly recommend UWSMPH.

I do have to admit, however, that I am slightly biased. My blood has run Badger Red since my first football game at the ripe old age of 4 months. 😉
 
Another question: For those who have interviewed here, how was the social before the interview night? Any food at all? What is the level of dress I need to expect? Was it just sitting around the table mostly?
Social is very laid back. Definitely wear casual clothes. There is snack food, but no meal food. Before my interview, we sat at a large square table, about 20 of us, and just chatted. There were probably 10 med students and 10 applicants, something like that. Maybe 8 med students and 12 applicants is more accurate. Other than that, I agree with Crelal
 
thats pretty cool about the meet and great. toledo does that too, but the numbers are more applicant heavy
 
Wow congrats to all of you who got accepted!
One question, did you guys send out LOI's? Does UofWisconsin accept LOI's?
 
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