2010-2011 Case Western Reserve University Application Thread

[Avoidthetiger]

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Second class. I'm in the third class and will graduate in May. 🙂
The vast majority of surgeons do clinical research (like outcomes), but yeah, if you were going to try to run a basic science lab, you'd almost certainly need to hire someone to run it for you. I know of one surgeon here who does that.

Well... by recently I meant in the last couple of years. I just couldn't remember for sure 🙂

additionally -- My example comes from when I worked at Lerner for a urologist. Coolest man ever -- had patients, surgery and his own rat/mouse basic science lab filled with researchers who graduates from northwestern, to other places globally. I think I got lucky when I was hired - and that was mainly because his sister graduated from the same small high school as me. haha.

 

[limondrop]

Alright okay that question seems to be for the college program. I selected both university and college programs, and it's different from if you just select university program. But still, honestly, the most attractive part of college program is that they cover your tuition.

Do most graduate of College Program go into academia rather than clinical medicine???

I just want to reiterate what CCLCMer has said.

You really shouldn't come to the college program if you're just doing it for the free tuition >.< Its really a different program and you have to see if you're a good fit for it. Of course, it never hurts to apply 🙂

I'm working on the "overcoming adversity" question. I wanted to talk about overcoming my eating disorder, but I was afraid that it may be too personal for a med school application. Would the admissions committee weigh this disorder against me because it is partially a mental health problem?

Thank you!!

So I really can't tell you what the admissions committee is thinking- but I personally would be interested in reading about overcoming an eating disorder. I think its a huge problem in the US (and the world) and you could easily tie it in with medicine.

 

[Punky6]

Thanks, Limondrop 🙂

I just want to reiterate what CCLCMer has said.

You really shouldn't come to the college program if you're just doing it for the free tuition >.< Its really a different program and you have to see if you're a good fit for it. Of course, it never hurts to apply 🙂



So I really can't tell you what the admissions committee is thinking- but I personally would be interested in reading about overcoming an eating disorder. I think its a huge problem in the US (and the world) and you could easily tie it in with medicine.

 

[MedQuack]

For the small group essay do they want us to write it in terms of a hypothetical situation or use a personal experience??

 

[vc7777]

...
Is that app worth beans?
...
Case doesn't accept livers, at least not the last I checked, so instead write a really really good secondary (when it comes out) and put lotssssss of thought into it!

I can do just about anything from tapatalk on my new Google phone...assuming I've got reception where I am 😳
It was two bucks, and I'd say it is worth it.


You make me laugh Auriga...what body organs are accepted?

...I don't seriously consider a career as a full-time researcher. It seems to me that this should be the question for MSTP or at least the College Program. And thoughts? Besides, do most graduate of College Program go into academics rather than clinical medicine?

...But still, honestly, the most attractive part of college program is that they cover your tuition.

Do most graduate of College Program go into academia rather than clinical medicine???

I just want to reiterate what CCLCMer has said.

You really shouldn't come to the college program if you're just doing it for the free tuition >.< Its really a different program and you have to see if you're a good fit for it. Of course, it never hurts to apply 🙂

+1

😕

See my quote below. Let's keep it simple: Do not apply if you do not like research and want to do research as a physician to *some degree*.

I think you terms need to be clarified too - Academic and Clinical medicine are not mutually exclusive.

Right, I would like to think of the typical career options as laying on the "spectrum" of medicine from pure clinical to pure research as follows:

<----Clinical-----------------------------Research---->
MD----------MD/MS---------------MD/PhD--------------PhD

Of course, every individual is completely different, but I think this is a fair representation of the general consensus of standard career paths.

I know as much as you do about the eventual fate of alumni of CCLCM (partly because I am starting there in 8 days and 13 hours and partly because the first class is still in residency 🙂 ). However, I suspect it is like any other group of individuals. Some may decide research is not for them, others may embrace it. Remember, "The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry".

I love quoting myself 🙂

I'm working on the "overcoming adversity" question. I wanted to talk about overcoming my eating disorder, but I was afraid that it may be too personal for a med school application. Would the admissions committee weigh this disorder against me because it is partially a mental health problem?

Thank you!!

So I really can't tell you what the admissions committee is thinking- but I personally would be interested in reading about overcoming an eating disorder. I think its a huge problem in the US (and the world) and you could easily tie it in with medicine.

+1

For the small group essay do they want us to write it in terms of a hypothetical situation or use a personal experience??

If you had a personal experience, I could see that being fodder for the essay. Why not?

 

[limondrop]

I love quoting myself 🙂

Cuz u like hearing urself talk 😛

jkjk hehehehehe

 

[CCLCMer]

I'm working on the "overcoming adversity" question. I wanted to talk about overcoming my eating disorder, but I was afraid that it may be too personal for a med school application. Would the admissions committee weigh this disorder against me because it is partially a mental health problem?

I'm going to dissent from my esteemed colleagues and advise you to discuss something else instead. Remember that anything you put on your app can be discussed during interviews and by the adcomm, and not everyone is as understanding about mental health issues as all of us posting here might like them to be.

Well... by recently I meant in the last couple of years. I just couldn't remember for sure 🙂

No worries, just corroborating what you said that no one has graduated from residency yet. The very earliest some of them could start working as attendings would be the summer of 2012.

additionally -- My example comes from when I worked at Lerner for a urologist. Coolest man ever -- had patients, surgery and his own rat/mouse basic science lab filled with researchers who graduates from northwestern, to other places globally. I think I got lucky when I was hired - and that was mainly because his sister graduated from the same small high school as me. haha.

Haha, that's pretty funny. Are you a nontraditional student?

For the small group essay do they want us to write it in terms of a hypothetical situation or use a personal experience??

I seem to remember the question being general, meaning hypothetical. But if it's ambiguous, then like vc7777, I don't think it would be wrong to discuss a specific example.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Haha, that's pretty funny. Are you a nontraditional student?

Well, in the sense that I am not starting medical school straight out of undergrad, yes... but I just finished undergrad last year and I am still in academic now (so no real world experience... I am scared of the real world). I got a job as a research assistant over at Lerner my freshman year of college via work-study (isn't work-study amazing) and I kept working there until May of my junior year -- when the physician and most of his researchers moved to another hospital in another state.. leaving me without a job. haha. (But did write me a LOR 🙂 )

 

[MedQuack]

Is 3500 characters the max. or is it okay to go a little over?

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Is 3500 characters the max. or is it okay to go a little over?

I wonder that too. I can save my essays even if they are 100+ characters over. I wonder if CWRU will care as long as we don't go "too" over.

 

[limondrop]

Is 3500 characters the max. or is it okay to go a little over?

I wonder that too. I can save my essays even if they are 100+ characters over. I wonder if CWRU will care as long as we don't go "too" over.

I would strongly advise that you stay under the character limit.

 

[MedQuack]

I wonder that too. I can save my essays even if they are 100+ characters over. I wonder if CWRU will care as long as we don't go "too" over.

Don't trust the MS word characters count...>_< omg....it's so tough just to make it under 3500.

 

[Thom1986]

Don't trust the MS word characters count...>_< omg....it's so tough just to make it under 3500.

Isn't 3500 something like an entire page? Maybe I just don't have as much to say...

 

[MedQuack]

Isn't 3500 something like an entire page? Maybe I just don't have as much to say...

Don't worry it's always quality over quantity....for me, I think I went a little too crazy on the technicalities of my research...

 

[Suncrusher]

I would strongly advise that you stay under the character limit.

Why? They allow you to go over but they then treat it like a red flag if you take them at their word and actually go a bit over? 😕

My essays are 3498/3500, 3499/3500, (took me like 4 hours to whittle these down all the way from above 5000), 867/1000, and 1032/1000. No matter how much I tried, that last essay was not going under 1000 without leaving out something important

 

[limondrop]

Why? They allow you to go over but they then treat it like a red flag if you take them at their word and actually go a bit over? 😕

My essays are 3498/3500, 3499/3500, (took me like 4 hours to whittle these down all the way from above 5000), 867/1000, and 1032/1000. No matter how much I tried, that last essay was not going under 1000 without leaving out something important

I just think if they have a character limit, its there for a reason. I'm sure they aren't going to take the time to word count your essay but I would just be cognizant of the fact that they imposed a limit for a purpose ~shrug~

 

[UCStudent]

hmm...so how do you get a photo on a digital camera to be no larger than 25 kb...that's like a word document 😵

 

[Phildobaggins]

hmm...so how do you get a photo on a digital camera to be no larger than 25 kb...that's like a word document 😵

http://www.imageoptimizer.net/Pages/Home.aspx

Got my 29kb photo down to ~8kb

 

[UCStudent]

http://www.imageoptimizer.net/Pages/Home.aspx

Got my 29kb photo down to ~8kb

oh nice. and what's the maximum width and height according to their scale? they're using like 1200 x 800...which i dunno how that converts in inches/cm

 

[UCStudent]

or sorry, not the maximum width and lenghth...what i mean is what is the appropriate width and length for a passport photo using their scale.

 

[OGMD]

Marked complete within 24 hours of submitting. Gotta appreciate that.

 

[Myuu]

Marked complete within 24 hours of submitting. Gotta appreciate that.

It definitely pays to have all your stuff in and ready to go.👍

 

[CCLCMer]

I just think if they have a character limit, its there for a reason. I'm sure they aren't going to take the time to word count your essay but I would just be cognizant of the fact that they imposed a limit for a purpose ~shrug~

I agree. There's not really any good reason not to follow their instructions.

On a completely non-app-related note, I know the school is giving the CCLCM first years stethoscopes, but do any of you UP first years need a stethoscope? I have a brand new, still in the box 3M Littmann classic IISE stethoscope that I would be willing to part with for a reasonable price.

 

[FlowRate]

Should be submitted tomorrow. =) Really like Case, esp. CCLCM, hopefully they like me back 😍

 

[limondrop]

Should be submitted tomorrow. =) Really like Case, esp. CCLCM, hopefully they like me back 😍

Good luck 🙂

 

[MDOnlyWillDo]

Has anyone tried to submit payment today? I've gotten two run-time errors and my payment is not being listed as accepted. I'm worried about trying anymore, lest I've already paid twice.

 

[Auriga]

I'm working on the "overcoming adversity" question. I wanted to talk about overcoming my eating disorder, but I was afraid that it may be too personal for a med school application. Would the admissions committee weigh this disorder against me because it is partially a mental health problem?

Thank you!!

I'll preface this by stating I'm a fresh M1 without any internal knowledge of the admissions comittee's mindset.

That said, I honestly believe that they ask that because they want to know. A victory like that is significant, and you will have an element of compassion in your practice of medicine, not just empathy. A very large percent of patients struggle with weight gain/loss.

I definitely recommend at least briefly identifying what you did to conquer your problems, so it is clear that you have created a firm stronghold and developed skills that can be used to combat any other adversities that might arise in your life. Show that you are more resilient because of your experiences.

 

[FlowRate]

Has anyone tried to submit payment today? I've gotten two run-time errors and my payment is not being listed as accepted. I'm worried about trying anymore, lest I've already paid twice.

No problems here, submitted today.

 

[icywrist]

Can someone pretty please post the secondary app questions?😀

 

[tonypiggy]

Can someone pretty please post the secondary app questions?😀

Here they are🙂 I am applying to the College Program, so the questions may be slightly different if you are applying to the University Program (I think at least the area of improvement essay is for CCLCM only, am I right?) Anyway, good luck!

Required Essay: Greatest Challenge
The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a personal challenge you have faced which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a time when you felt you were "in over your head," or a time when you felt personally criticized. You may also discuss a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you may have learned about yourself. Please limit your response to 1 page (about 3,500 characters), and leave a blank line between paragraphs.

Research Essay:
Please describe your research experience, including the hypothesis you pursued, the methods selected to answer this hypothesis, and why, and your results and interpretation of the results with respect to future findings. In addition, please add your thoughts about why this research experience has motivated you to consider a career as a physician investigator. If you have not participated in research or scholarly work, please indicate so in the text area below. Please limit your response to 1 page (about 3,500 characters), and leave a blank line between paragraphs.

Small Group Essay:
Please select one of the following questions:
If you were working on a small group project and another student dominated the group and directed others without listening to their input, how would you handle this?
OR
If you were working on a small group project and another student didn't carry their load, how would you handle it?
Please limit your essay to 300-1000 characters and leave a blank line between paragraphs.

Areas of Improvement Essay:
Each year our students target for themselves areas of improvement. Other than the acquisition of new knowledge, what personal area do you think needs strengthening? Design a plan as to how you could improve it.
Please limit your essay to 500-1000 characters and leave a blank line between paragraphs.

 

[SodaScientist]

Ok guys, so for my research essay I have two options: I can go with research I did for a year freshman year which was fairly boring / insignificant or I can talk about the research I have started this summer and will continue throughout my gap year. Yes, its only been like a month and a half or so but Ive been working 40+ hour weeks so I have some results / idea of whats going on in the lab. The research I am currently doing is much more interesting and I already have more to say about it but will it be a problem that I only started 6 or so weeks ago? Let me know what you guys think... Thanks!

 

[OGMD]

Ok guys, so for my research essay I have two options: I can go with research I did for a year freshman year which was fairly boring / insignificant or I can talk about the research I have started this summer and will continue throughout my gap year. Yes, its only been like a month and a half or so but Ive been working 40+ hour weeks so I have some results / idea of whats going on in the lab. The research I am currently doing is much more interesting and I already have more to say about it but will it be a problem that I only started 6 or so weeks ago? Let me know what you guys think... Thanks!

Why not mention both. Maybe talk about how you first were introduced to research freshman year but having developed and grown more interested in medicine since then, you recently started a project that you are highly involved and enthusiastic about. And then go more into the specifics of your latest study.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Why not mention both. Maybe talk about how you first were introduced to research freshman year but having developed and grown more interested in medicine since then, you recently started a project that you are highly involved and enthusiastic about. And then go more into the specifics of your latest study.

edit: Answered my own question. Considering it takes an entire page for me to talk about my current research, make it sound interesting, and explain why this makes me want to be a physician investigator... I'm just going to stick with one experience. If CWRU is curious if this is my only research experience they can look at my AMCAS to see two more... or invite me to an interview.

Also -- does anyone know if CWRU looks at re-applicants old application??

 

[Myuu]

Can someone with access to the secondary go check the first post and tell me which prompts are the UP- or CCLCM-specific and which are shared? Thanks.

 

[Wiingy]

edit: Answered my own question. Considering it takes an entire page for me to talk about my current research, make it sound interesting, and explain why this makes me want to be a physician investigator... I'm just going to stick with one experience. If CWRU is curious if this is my only research experience they can look at my AMCAS to see two more... or invite me to an interview.

Also -- does anyone know if CWRU looks at re-applicants old application??

I had a similar problem - there were 3 research projects I could have described in detail, but chose one and then added a short sentence to the effect of "Hey look, I've done other research too, but I like this one experience the most."

Totally different question: One of my LoR writers is slacking, is it OK to have the letter packet posted now and send schools an update when my advisor's letter is added to it? Or would it be best to let CWRU know in advance that I am expecting another letter... Just submitted my secondary app and CCLCM is my top choice, love the program.

 

[TFS]

Can someone with access to the secondary go check the first post and tell me which prompts are the UP- or CCLCM-specific and which are shared? Thanks.

the Areas of Improvement Essay is CCLCM only. the other ones are required for everyone.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

I had a similar problem - there were 3 research projects I could have described in detail, but chose one and then added a short sentence to the effect of "Hey look, I've done other research too, but I like this one experience the most."

Yeah... I basically did the same thing though now I am at exactly 1-page on Word (but 200 characters over) <sigh>

Totally different question: One of my LoR writers is slacking, is it OK to have the letter packet posted now and send schools an update when my advisor's letter is added to it? Or would it be best to let CWRU know in advance that I am expecting another letter... Just submitted my secondary app and CCLCM is my top choice, love the program.

If you want CWRU/CCLCM to know that the advisor letter is coming, create a separate LOR for the advisor and mark it to be received by CWRU. You probably should just though because either CWRU will read your application without your LORs or wait until all have been received.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Can someone with access to the secondary go check the first post and tell me which prompts are the UP- or CCLCM-specific and which are shared? Thanks.

If you are only interested in the University Program (CWRU), this is the question:

Optional Scholarly Essay:
One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a pre-requisite requirement for the University Track, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations.

Please limit your response to 1 page (about 3,500 characters), and leave a blank line between paragraphs. If the 3,500 character recommendation is exceeded, your essay WILL be saved in it's entirety.

Same greatest challenge and small group question. No improving weakness question.

 

[limondrop]

😱

case on the second page? this should not be allowed!!!

Today at CCLCM there's going to be a "State of the College" Address by Dean Young 😀

Should be interesting- I'll keep you all posted 😀

 

[cluelessnoob]

I have not received the secondary yet but was verified on 07/01. Is anyone else in the same position?

 

[hitsugaaya]

Does anyone know how CCLCM views reapplicants? I applied last year and got an interview, but unfortunately did not get accepted. I am reapplying this year with a completed independent study, more clinical hours and more volunteer hours. When I emailed the Dean before to ask on how to improve my application, she stated I should improve my interview skills. Bearing that in mind, do they often consider reapplicants? Or will my former application hurt more than help?

 

[CCLCMer]

Does anyone know how CCLCM views reapplicants? I applied last year and got an interview, but unfortunately did not get accepted. I am reapplying this year with a completed independent study, more clinical hours and more volunteer hours. When I emailed the Dean before to ask on how to improve my application, she stated I should improve my interview skills. Bearing that in mind, do they often consider reapplicants? Or will my former application hurt more than help?

Yes, reapplicants can be considered. There would be no point in telling you how to improve if the adcomm wouldn't reconsider your app, right? Since Dean Franco told you that you need to improve your interview skills, what you need to do is find some tough people to mock interview you, and practice your interview skills. Assuming you are invited to interview again, the adcomm will definitely look to see if you've improved on whatever deficiencies they identified last time. The extra stuff you did this year can only help you, but make sure you're ready to nail the interview. Good luck!

 

[RB93]

Hi everyone, do you know if it's ok if one of the essays (personal challenge) is under the limit? Mine is like 2500 characters and I don't really think it would add much by expanding.

Also, does CCLM/Case interview separately?

 

[Myuu]

Ok, I need one person from each program to triple check the first post to see if I've rearranged that correctly? Thanks.

 

[Evergrey]

Applying for UP/CCLCM, looks good to me!

I'm working on the Greatest Challenge essay right now... it's a hard essay to write, just because it's so personal. I'm writing about basically the only topic I really could write about (in terms of things that have made me struggle in life, this one is way up there). I'm trying to do it in a way that avoids sounding like a mental health issue, which is... tricky.

 

[limondrop]

Hi everyone, do you know if it's ok if one of the essays (personal challenge) is under the limit? Mine is like 2500 characters and I don't really think it would add much by expanding.

Yup~ being under limit is fine 🙂

I was under limit for several of my essays

Also, does CCLM/Case interview separately?

Yes they interview separately but they do their best that its on consecutive days so you only have to come down once. (I think I did like a Thursday and Friday)

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Ok, I need one person from each program to triple check the first post to see if I've rearranged that correctly? Thanks.

It's correct. One thing to mention though is if you click that you are interested in UP/CP, you get the CP research question (asking why you want to be a physician investigator). You do not get the optional scholarly essay (since it's no longer optional since you are applying to CP, which requires this essay)

 

[biophysicianai]

Poll: Who's CCLCM, and who's University Program?

 

[TFS]

It's correct. One thing to mention though is if you click that you are interested in UP/CP, you get the CP research question (asking why you want to be a physician investigator)

weird. the questions are showing up a little differently for me.

required for all applicants:
1) greatest challenge
2) small group essay
3) research essay

required only for CCLCM applicants:
1) areas of improvement essay

i don't even have the optional scholarly essay.

😕

 

[Avoidthetiger]

weird. the questions are showing up a little differently for me.

required for all applicants:
1) greatest challenge
2) small group essay
3) research essay

required only for CCLCM applicants:
1) areas of improvement essay

i don't even have the optional scholarly essay.

😕

The optional scholarly essay is only if you click on the UP program. If you click UP and CP, you get the research essay. The optional scholarly essay and research essay are very similar to each other -- just slightly worried different. The research essay also asks why you want to be a physician investigator, which the scholarly essay does not.

That is what I was trying to explain in the sentences you quoted.