2009-2010 University of Wisconsin Application Thread

[souperjim14]

---

Members don't see this ad.

A: Information about life activities is requested on our secondary application. It does parallel that on the AMCAS application. However, this information on our secondary is designed to provide a chronological listing of your life activities and experiences when it is viewed by reviewers. It provides a bar graph listing activities over time. Therefore, be sure to give a full accounting of life experiences since completing high school. In addition, the secondary allows you the opportunity to expand or add dimension to the accounting in the AMCAS application. We are aware that there will be repetition.

hmm so i'm just gonna base it very much off AMCAS then.

Anyone going to include awards/scholarships/honors? or just activities/jobs/experiences?

 

[lrkoehle]

Anyone going to include awards/scholarships/honors? or just activities/jobs/experiences?

I took everything from my AMCAS and added some. I had some awards and stuff on my AMCAS, so I just put that on there too.

 

[CielloStelatto]

Anyone going to include awards/scholarships/honors? or just activities/jobs/experiences?

i saw it as a timeline of experiences, and didn't see my awards as experiences, so i didn't put them.

 

[Lacipart]

Uh... so last week Thursday I went on AMCAS and sent my letters.
Today I submitted my application and paid the fee, the status screen reads that my application has been written and my fee has been paid but that they still haven't received me letters😕😕

Did anyone get their letters confirmed?

 

[red10]

Uh... so last week Thursday I went on AMCAS and sent my letters.
Today I submitted my application and paid the fee, the status screen reads that my application has been written and my fee has been paid but that they still haven't received me letters😕😕

Did anyone get their letters confirmed?

I'm guessing they do what other schools do which is download the letters from AMCAS in batches. So it may take a few days before they download them. Don't panic

 

[Lacipart]

I'm guessing they do what other schools do which is download the letters from AMCAS in batches. So it may take a few days before they download them. Don't panic

Ah, they just got them, all is well

 

[red10]

I'm stumped as to whether or not I should do the optional essay. Any time I think "oh I could talk about this!" I realize that it was included in my activities description or my initial AMCAS essay.
Plus I'm not really disadvantaged at all.

Any suggestions? or did any of you leave it blank?

 

[Sharka]

I got an email today saying everything was complete and that my letters were already downloaded. I wonder if they will accept another letter if it comes in later.

red: I wrote about how I am financially supporting myself in college and how it has made me more responsible/mature (~350 words). If I didn't have that to write about, I'm not sure what else I would say.

 

[red10]

So here is what the premed adviser at my school said about the prompt:

Thank you for the clarification of the question. Some schools will give you this direction, some will let you decide what you want to add. This is an opportunity to share those less desireable things about you that you didnt want to add in the primary essay.. Did you have a tough semester, and how did you deal with it? Did you have a work schedule that hindered your full commitment to your classes? Did you come from a high school that you feel didnt prepare you well for the competition at UIUC? This is your space to share, if you have anything to share, those kinds of events in your life. Did your family suffer issues, as illness, separation, divorce, death that would of infringed upon your coursework, IF you want to share these details. Remember, if you write it, it is fair to ask about it in an interview. You can also leave it blank, since many have had little barriers here or at home.. this is a personal decision to fill it out...

 

[red10]

SUBMITTED! first one out! yay

 

[mrpuff26]

Has anyone had any problems paying the fee? Every time I try to pay I get an error page...

 

[Wheee]

Has anyone had any problems paying the fee? Every time I try to pay I get an error page...

The first time I tried, it just never went anywhere. I didn't get an error, but I wasn't sure if it paid. Checked my email, nothing, tried again. I hope it didn't charge me twice, but I did eventually get to pay.

 

[neutropos]

What nonacademic letter should I include? I have one from a lab research adviser who I worked with during the school year for a research credit course. I know this letter is personal and probably pretty damn good, but would they see this as academic? Or, I have one from a volunteer research adviser. This had no connections to any college credit.

 

[red10]

What nonacademic letter should I include? I have one from a lab research adviser who I worked with during the school year for a research credit course. I know this letter is personal and probably pretty damn good, but would they see this as academic? Or, I have one from a volunteer research adviser. This had no connections to any college credit.

I took non-academic to mean anything thats not from a prof being like "i had this student in my class, they got good grades, etc"

 

[neutropos]

I was thinking the same thing. So either one would probably be OK, right? I'd hate to get rejected because of some stupid disqualification for doing something wrong. Another question: do they accept ONLY 4 letters? Can you add more?

 

[neutropos]

Wow, another question (I know, I know...): is it a good idea to include research presentations, such as a symposium? It is already on my primary. They don't really have a "from" and "to" date. I can't put N/A in those boxes, and there were two of these presentations.

 

[red10]

I was thinking the same thing. So either one would probably be OK, right? I'd hate to get rejected because of some stupid disqualification for doing something wrong. Another question: do they accept ONLY 4 letters? Can you add more?

I think they can always reject your letters and tell you you're still incomplete if they don't like em

 

[red10]

Just got this:

"Dear Applicant to the University of Wisconsin MD Program:
We have received your AMCAS application for the 2010 entering class and have invited you to submit our secondary application. It has come to our attention that in two instances inappropriate passwords have been generated via our computer algorithm within the invitation. Our sincere apologies for this occurence. Our algorithm has been changed and the possiblity of another such occurence should be nihil.
We look forward to receiving your secondary application and appreciate your interest in our medical school."

A) I wonder what the password were...
B) The email subject was "our apologies" and I nearly thought they had already rejected me. My heart was racing for a second lol

 

[Appless]

Just got this:

"Dear Applicant to the University of Wisconsin MD Program:
We have received your AMCAS application for the 2010 entering class and have invited you to submit our secondary application. It has come to our attention that in two instances inappropriate passwords have been generated via our computer algorithm within the invitation. Our sincere apologies for this occurence. Our algorithm has been changed and the possiblity of another such occurence should be nihil.
We look forward to receiving your secondary application and appreciate your interest in our medical school."

A) I wonder what the password were...
B) The email subject was "our apologies" and I nearly thought they had already rejected me. My heart was racing for a second lol

ahah same dude. Iwas freaking out. Just to make sure, if we already submitted theres nothing we need to do right since obviously our passwords workeD?

 

[lrkoehle]

ahah same dude. Iwas freaking out. Just to make sure, if we already submitted theres nothing we need to do right since obviously our passwords workeD?

Glad to know I'm not the only one who freaked out. I thought "our apologies" can only mean one thing...

 

[red10]

ahah same dude. Iwas freaking out. Just to make sure, if we already submitted theres nothing we need to do right since obviously our passwords workeD?

if it worked and you already changed it then there's nothing to do really. I think they just were hoping they didn't offend anyone

 

[nick_carraway]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who freaked out. I thought "our apologies" can only mean one thing...

Yeah, as I was reading it, I was thinking this is a weird way to start a rejection letter.

 

[MN premed]

Haha, after I read this e-mail, I just stared at it with a weird look on my face because I couldn't figure out what it was talking about. When I realized it meant 2 people had gotten inappropriate passwords, I burst out laughing. I can't believe they sent an e-mail about it

 

[Wheee]

Yeah, as I was reading it, I was thinking this is a weird way to start a rejection letter.

ha, me too. We are so paranoid, it can't be healthy. I freaked out when I got the skinny envelope from MCW (without even being complete, my letters still aren't in!) but it was just residency. Now this...they ought to start everything with "THIS IS NOT A REJECTION."

I really want to know what the inappropriate passwords were. I bet they were funny! I wonder if it's related to the thing somewhere in South America, where the passwords sent to job hunters by the bureau of labor or something were "bum" and "shameless". it was on MSN yesterday but I can't find the link...

 

[memos87]

ditto..since they were random words..I guess someone got screw_you or something along those lines

 

[CielloStelatto]

mine was lumpy-moist (which i think is ew) but i didn't get that email. what up with that? maybe it's different through the mstp program? no funny/initially-scary email?

 

[Justforkicks4]

ditto..since they were random words..I guess someone got screw_you or something along those lines

I'm guessing I was one of the two passwords in question. Mine was "zero-boner"

I wasn't offended at all; actually I laughed pretty hard when I saw it.

 

[red10]

I'm guessing I was one of the two passwords in question. Mine was "zero-boner"

I wasn't offended at all; actually I laughed pretty hard when I saw it.

why would boner even be in the database of words to choose from. I bet whoever created the program is in trouble. lol

mind was minds-stud

maybe someone got "moist-boner" or "stud-boner"

 

[Lacipart]

I got chilli-smear.

My first thought was picturing a chilli smear, then I thought "wtf kind of password maker do they have... i want it!"

 

[red10]

I got chilli-smear.

My first thought was picturing a chilli smear, then I thought "wtf kind of password maker do they have... i want it!"

my first thought was that your password sounds like something you find in dirty underwear after bad mexican...

 

[tallandshort]

OMG...you guys are so hilarious!! Lol! Yeah, I got that e-mail too. I read the title and it scared the crap out of me until I realized I haven't even submitted my secondary yet 😛.

 

[Sharka]

If someone on this forum has the inappropriate pass PLEASE POST IT.
Zero-boner is quite unreal.

 

[Toadsworth]

What nonacademic letter should I include? I have one from a lab research adviser who I worked with during the school year for a research credit course. I know this letter is personal and probably pretty damn good, but would they see this as academic? Or, I have one from a volunteer research adviser. This had no connections to any college credit.

I took non-academic to mean anything thats not from a prof being like "i had this student in my class, they got good grades, etc"

Yeah, I wanted to know this too because I hope a research adviser counts for this. From their definition of non-academic it seems like it won't though...? "someone other than a faculty or family member or personal friend"

 

[neutropos]

Does anyone have any info. about the Generalist Partners Program? I like the idea of the program, but I don't have a lot of information about it. I was hoping a current medical student or someone who is in the know could shed some light on this program.

 

[Blahblahologist]

Has anyone else had problems with getting the activities section to go from "INCOMPLETE" to "COMPLETE"? I've entered all my activities and saved, but it's still marked as incomplete and I can't submit the application.

Thanks.

 

[tallandshort]

yeah, I did but I figured it out. If any of your spaces are left blank it will allow you to save it but will keep giving you the incomplete message on the left-hand side of the page. Make sure everything is filled in and if anything doesn't apply just enter N/A in that section. Hope it works for you 🙂

 

[Polycarp]

A: Information about life activities is requested on our secondary application. It does parallel that on the AMCAS application. However, this information on our secondary is designed to provide a chronological listing of your life activities and experiences when it is viewed by reviewers. It provides a bar graph listing activities over time. Therefore, be sure to give a full accounting of life experiences since completing high school. In addition, the secondary allows you the opportunity to expand or add dimension to the accounting in the AMCAS application. We are aware that there will be repetition.

hmm so i'm just gonna base it very much off AMCAS then.

Yeah, it sounds like they expect you to just copy paste, so that is what I will do. No sense trying to re-word ALL of my activities haha. That would be so boring to do, not to mention for them to read!

 

[CielloStelatto]

I shortened mine up quite a bit for this. Used it as more of a timeline, and threw in a couple of smaller things, or split up activities that were together on amcas.

 

[DrBOshkosh26]

Do you think putting a life activity of a significant other is adequate? I've been with my girlfriend through all my years of undergrad, and it definitely has taken time even in the most inconvenient situations😛

Thank you for your time

 

[red10]

Do you think putting a life activity of a significant other is adequate? I've been with my girlfriend through all my years of undergrad, and it definitely has taken time even in the most inconvenient situations😛

Thank you for your time

i don't think they give a d@mn about whether or not you have a gf. it'll look like you're trying to use up space (which you are)

 

[DrBOshkosh26]

OUCH! Good point, I clearly misinterpreted what they meant by life experiences.

 

[DrBOshkosh26]

Since they seem to encourage such activities where you practice then compete like sports, is it reasonable to put on competitive eating😕? I Have won a competition and done challenges.

 

[housefish26]

Since they seem to encourage such activities where you practice then compete like sports, is it reasonable to put on competitive eating😕? I Have won a competition and done challenges.

This guy is hilarious.

Yes, go ahead an put your girlfriend, competitive eating, any video games you've beaten, that time you and your buddies went to Buffalo Wild Wings and you beat the Blazin' Challenge, etc. into your life activities. These are all of high importance to the admissions committee.

 

[OOOaF]

Since they seem to encourage such activities where you practice then compete like sports, is it reasonable to put on competitive eating😕? I Have won a competition and done challenges.

Depends on how much effort you really put into it. If it shows dedication, commitment, etc. and you can explain it well then go ahead otherwise it might come off as looking for things to add.

 

[CielloStelatto]

maybe if they were so good at it, they won all the national competitions, and the prize from the international competition is how they got the money to pay for college?

actually, that would be pretty sweet. and ridiculous. perhaps binge eating isn't the healthiest extracurricular for your application applying for medical school

 

[lrkoehle]

This guy is hilarious.

Yes, go ahead an put your girlfriend, competitive eating, any video games you've beaten, that time you and your buddies went to Buffalo Wild Wings and you beat the Blazin' Challenge, etc. into your life activities. These are all of high importance to the admissions committee.

Don't be too harsh. I think they want to see things that will add depth to you as a person (don't they even say this on the optional essay?). Having a long time girlfriend shows commitment and that you will have a support system in place. If some one feels it is an important part of who they are, I don't think it will hurt them really. As for competitive eating, if I was interviewing you I would want to ask about that. It is a little strange, but it intrigues me a little bit. I don't think these things will be a major difference maker, but they show the adcoms who some one is. A person who only went to school, volunteered at a hospital, did research, etc. is boring. If that is all you put in your app, that is all they can assume you did.

 

[red10]

Don't be too harsh. I think they want to see things that will add depth to you as a person (don't they even say this on the optional essay?). Having a long time girlfriend shows commitment and that you will have a support system in place. If some one feels it is an important part of who they are, I don't think it will hurt them really. As for competitive eating, if I was interviewing you I would want to ask about that. It is a little strange, but it intrigues me a little bit. I don't think these things will be a major difference maker, but they show the adcoms who some one is. A person who only went to school, volunteered at a hospital, did research, etc. is boring. If that is all you put in your app, that is all they can assume you did.

I'm sorry but I've had a bf for 4 years and I would never put it on an app. Thats not the kind of commitment they are looking for. If the gf has been a huge part of your life, write about it in an essay about how they supported you blah blah blah. Or if you saved their life with your awesome pre-med skills, put it in the essay. Don't put it in the activities section. Like "GF. 8 hrs/week. 4 years ongoing."

Hobbies that you have put time and effort into can be put on an app but going to Hooters and challenging your bros to a hot wings eating contest does not count. To have eating looked at as anything significant, you'd need to be semi-pro at least to be taken seriously(ish).

The want to see the person, not the BS they use to fill space.
Obviously they've got nothing else meaningful to put on their app if they're adding all this random stuff. There's a difference between hobbies and BS filler

 

[tallandshort]

The want to see the person, not the BS they use to fill space. Obviously they've got nothing else meaningful to put on their app if they're adding all this random stuff. There's a difference between hobbies and BS filler

Come on now, play nice. While I do agree that trying to fill up space on your application with random things is not a good idea, not everyone applying to medical school has excellent advisors to tell them what is appropriate and what is not. For the gf, I think I would leave that off just because many applicants are in this situation and its not really a work or EC activity. For the competitive eating, I might put that on. It's definitely unique but I'm not sure if an ADCOM would think it was unique in a good way (sorry, I just think of people stuffing lots of food in their mouth and get a little hurly 😛 it might just be me). Good luck!

 

[lrkoehle]

I'm sorry but I've had a bf for 4 years and I would never put it on an app. Thats not the kind of commitment they are looking for. If the gf has been a huge part of your life, write about it in an essay about how they supported you blah blah blah. Or if you saved their life with your awesome pre-med skills, put it in the essay. Don't put it in the activities section. Like "GF. 8 hrs/week. 4 years ongoing."

Hobbies that you have put time and effort into can be put on an app but going to Hooters and challenging your bros to a hot wings eating contest does not count. To have eating looked at as anything significant, you'd need to be semi-pro at least to be taken seriously(ish).

The want to see the person, not the BS they use to fill space.
Obviously they've got nothing else meaningful to put on their app if they're adding all this random stuff. There's a difference between hobbies and BS filler

We are both talking about the Wisconsin secondary right? It isn't like they give people a limited number of activities, like AMCAS. In fact the section is called "Life Activities," which implies to me they would like to know about important activities in our lives. Would I put something down about having a GF? Probably not, but I got married during college so I put that life activity on the Wisconsin secondary (not on my AMCAS, that is only for my important med school related activities).

As for the eating contest stuff, where does the poster say they just challenged their friends to eating a bunch of wings, hot dogs, pies, or whatever? It sounds like it was an actual contest (whatever that means). It may just be a BS activity to go with all the volunteering, research, etc., but it seems better to be remembered by an adcom as that guy who did an eating contest then just the premed who volunteered at a hospital (they already have thousands of those applications). So if this guy is qualified in other ways, this may help add a strange (very strange?) uniqueness to his app. If he isn't qualified, it won't matter anyways.

 

[housefish26]

As for the eating contest stuff, where does the poster say they just challenged their friends to eating a bunch of wings, hot dogs, pies, or whatever? It sounds like it was an actual contest (whatever that means). It may just be a BS activity to go with all the volunteering, research, etc., but it seems better to be remembered by an adcom as that guy who did an eating contest then just the premed who volunteered at a hospital (they already have thousands of those applications). So if this guy is qualified in other ways, this may help add a strange (very strange?) uniqueness to his app. If he isn't qualified, it won't matter anyways.

You're right, that was rather presumptuous of me. I guess I just think that unless this guy's name is Joey Chestnut, his competitive eating accomplishments probably aren't that impressive.