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2010-2011 Mayo Clinic Application Thread
Started by ksmi117
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Nothing wrong with getting your hopes up!
The flight is so exhilarating, although the re-entry can be rough.
Ok so I read something on last years thread that said that they don't even read the PS before deciding LOR requests? Do they JUST do it based on the activities section? My stats are really not that high...
Hmmmmmmm this process is so mystifiying.
Hmmmmmmm this process is so mystifiying.
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Exodus 33:20 And God said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Taken in the context of medical school applications, very profound, I think...
To clarify for others, Mayo cares A LOT about what you've actually done rather than just how well you talk about yourself in a PS.
To be honest, I think the reason Mayo ends up giving so many people a chance when others won't is that that they "put their money where their mouth is" in regard to actually looking for what they claim they are during this part of the process, and not just trying to stay atop the ever-changing "who's who" of med schools otherwise known as USNews Rankings.
The people you will meet on interview day will all have shown characteristics that go well beyond travel to Africa (for those that can afford it) and MCAT prep classes.
everyone!
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When is it appropriate to send updates to a school? I am wondering because I submitted my AMCAS in early June. Since then I have started on a research project with a local hospital, and I have also done some more volunteering that is not mentioned in AMCAS.
Also, where do you send an update? How do you address it? How do you format it...for example, "Since submitting my AMCAS application I have...blah blah blah"?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Also, where do you send an update? How do you address it? How do you format it...for example, "Since submitting my AMCAS application I have...blah blah blah"?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Though I am not even at Mayo yet, the only advice I would offer is this: If it needs to be said, then say it. If not, then don't.
If you have really had some amazing breakthrough occur in the past couple of weeks since submitting your AMCAS 🙂confused🙂 (ie. you were published, saved a life, or were featured in Science for your recent discovery of a cure for cancer) then by all means. Or, if you left something off like a leadership experience, significant activity, or volunteer event 🙂))then feel free to send it on in.
In the end, you can do what you want (and you should; have no regrets).
The format is up to you. Be professional (whatever that means to you) and you likely won't go wrong.
If you have heard nothing from them, and don't know to whom it should be addressed, then it might be a bit early to start sending in the love mail, but if you have a genuine concern you can always check out the website for contact info. I believe Marcy is heading up admissions stuff this year as well as last. E-mail is your friend. Simple, quick, and gets the job done.
Though I am not even at Mayo yet, the only advice I would offer is this: If it needs to be said, then say it. If not, then don't.
If you have really had some amazing breakthrough occur in the past couple of weeks since submitting your AMCAS 🙂confused🙂 (ie. you were published, saved a life, or were featured in Science for your recent discovery of a cure for cancer) then by all means. Or, if you left something off like a leadership experience, significant activity, or volunteer event 🙂))then feel free to send it on in.
In the end, you can do what you want (and you should; have no regrets).
The format is up to you. Be professional (whatever that means to you) and you likely won't go wrong.
If you have heard nothing from them, and don't know to whom it should be addressed, then it might be a bit early to start sending in the love mail, but if you have a genuine concern you can always check out the website for contact info. I believe Marcy is heading up admissions stuff this year as well as last. E-mail is your friend. Simple, quick, and gets the job done.
All I know if Marcy was not the one sending me emails...
Interesting.
Then I would respond "To Whom It May Concern" via the e-mail address used to send things your way.
Sometimes the e-mails will come from "mmsadmissions" or some variation similar to that. If that is the case then it likely came from Marcy.
Ya, mine came from MMS Admissions...It was not signed by Marcy, but another person...hmm. out of curiosity, has everyone else been receiving emails from Marcy?
Don't know exactly what the e-mail says, but even if signed from a dean, that "admissions" address typically goes back to the great one.
(Unless she is delegating things around while getting the incoming students ready for the year. She is multi-talented like that 👍)
Thanks for the helpful reply. I cant claim any amazing breakthroughs since I submitted my AMCAS, though that would be nice. I am still working on the cure for cancer, haha.
Basically, as I mentioned, I have started doing research and I was told not to include "future" activities in my AMCAS, so I waited until it started and thought I would send an update. I have also started volunteering with another organization, and I thought that would be worth mentioning. Thanks.
Basically, as I mentioned, I have started doing research and I was told not to include "future" activities in my AMCAS, so I waited until it started and thought I would send an update. I have also started volunteering with another organization, and I thought that would be worth mentioning. Thanks.
My email questioning my biochem pre-req was signed by Marcy.
So was mine.
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what was the answer to this question btw? Biochem isnt a prereq right?
I don't know if it was for anyone else. They required it of me. It may be because my o-chem is taken at a community college.
Here is from the admissions page
Course Requirements
The following courses are required prior to admission:
- One year of biology and/or zoology (with lab)
- One year of inorganic chemistry (with lab)
- One year of organic chemistry (with lab)
- One year of physics (with lab)
- One course in biochemistry
Hey peeps,
FYI, Marcy will be out for the rest of this week, so don't get too worried if you don't hear from her. However, Carmen (also an admissions office person) is still in the office. I'm taking off for Honduras in a few hours, so see y'all in a week!
Carmen is great too!
For those worried about Biochem, they let me take it post-acceptance, but they will want to know when and where you plan on taking the course, so have that info ready.
And for my classmates heading over to Honduras right now: be safe and have fun!
everyone!I got an email today from Mayo that saying I am no longer to be considered.Reserved for prompt.
Please PM the essays or lack thereof to me (ksmi117) when the secondary is available.
I am so confused what factor to make them reject me so quick.
My Mact get 37 Q (B,11,PS, 14, V12), My GPA over 3.9.
Is any one can think about any reseaons I got rejected????
Your input is great appreciated!
Was this pre-LOR request? Mayo seems to be less numbers driven than most other top schools I guess. Sorry 🙁
From what I have read, Mayo cares more about the applicant's personality and what they have done to show they are ready to be "Mayo" medical professionals--looking at attributes, altruism, etc. They don't care about numbers "as much" as other schools that are as well-ranked at Mayo tend to do.
Sorry to hear about your rejection.
If you read last year's thread, you will see similar posts at about this time. So unless trolls attack the same thread about the same time each year with similar stories, this could very well be true.
I'm sorry, qsue. But with those numbers you won't have a problem getting a very nice place at some very nice school.
While I can't attest to the veracity of any particular rejection claims, I can say that Mayo seems to be on the lookout for some very particular types of experiences to have been fulfilled (and I don't mean in a "med school application checklist" sort of way, but rather as a verifiable pattern of behavior in an applicant's life).
Disclaimer: this is my own list of some attributes that I have noticed in people who have been accepted to Mayo.
-Some significant leadership experience
-Teaching experience of any type
-Proven interest in learning "above and beyond"
-Experiences that show people "get it" with regard to patient care
-Long-term dedication to something (typically music/athletics of some sort, but could be just about anything)
The above are vague. They are meant to be. But these are just some of the things that *I* believe Mayo values far more than 99th percentile MCAT scores and perfect GPAs.
If you look at the Mayo Clinic's website, you'll get a good feel for what they value. If you go to the Clinic in person, you'll come to understand that they don't just pay these things lip service, but put a TON of time and energy into making these values a part of the day-to-day patient care experience. This is why I fell in love with the place.
all!
Wow, that looks like an exciting list that makes me feel good. Of course, at my age, if I hadn't shown the qualities listed above I would be pretty ashamed of myself. Do you have young classmates (23ish) that actually have done all of those things so early in life?
Now that MMS has sent out several LOR requests to us, has anyone gotten a "LORs received" email? Most of the other schools I've applied to (well all of them) have received them..so I was just curious...Thanks 😀
I think that we are still on the front-side of this whole thing. The very first interview invites last year (BamTuba, of course) was 7/18.
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*Fingers crossed* for that too! 😀 Although I have a feeling with my lackluster LORs, it may not happen. hehe. oh well.
It was pre-LOR request. Thank you for your input!
You make me feel better, otherwise I think something is wrong with my applications.Still hope my application is ok.
Check out last year's thread and the guy that got rejected with the same stats as you (it's about page 11). Look at his apps and see that he got accepted some good places.
yea i got rejected as well and had similar stats to the guy rejected up there as well...oh well, probs not a good fit for the school. also, mayo's stats aren't amazing so clearly they're looking for a lot more than grades
I guess no news is good news, huh?
The weird thing is...even though we're making blanket statements with "they're not looking for grades", they still take kids with high stats, so...there must be "something in particular" that they're looking for...and I think we ALL want to know what that is.
Ok, I am mystified by Washup's rejection. Teaching in an inner city school, strong hobby interest, research, leadership, clinical volunteering. 39 MCAT 3.9+ GPA. Looks like a stellar app.
Well, Washup, I'll put you on my watch list. I'll be shocked if you don't get in one of those Ivy league places.
I wonder if Mayo is looking for people who aren't necessarily Ivy League shoo-ins, but are nevertheless interesting in many ways.
For the people already rejected -- or once I get rejected -- I think someone should email Mayo and just ask if they are reading our personal statements. I hate the idea that I just spent $100 (up $15 since I applied two years ago. arghh) only for them to glance at my ECs and then toss me out (not that my personal statement is that good but I do like it). I feel like if we are paying $100 dollars (that's alot of money Mayo!) that they should atleast be reading our entire application... so I hope they are. It would be nice in email if they said they are... even if they aren't.
You applied 78 places !! And I say again !! By the time you finish interviewing you'll be out quite a bit of money.
Somebody intends on getting in this time. Good luck. Did you apply to narrowly the first time?
Yes, but with some schools raising prices (mayo, boston), I'll be out of a little more money. But I'm happy to spend the money if I know they are considering my entire application... and I hate the idea that so many aren't. Thanks for thinking I will be interviewing though... I've been freaked out that I won't get a single one out of the bizzilion schools I applied to
Still waiting for LOR request... or a rejection. One or the other.
Yes.
Scary, isn't it?
Or cool, depending on how you look at it.
Again, I doubt the list I came up with is all-inclusive, or even a standard for what they use, but they do NOT use numbers (outside of making sure people can hack it for school) to really make their decisions.
There are people in my class and others that turned down JHU, WashU, and even Harvard.
They seem pretty ambivalent about whether someone went to or could gain entry to an Ivy. There is a good mix of both in the students I've met.
everyone!
Well, of course. If you graduate from Hawvawd, you are an Ivy-league doctor. You went someplace that will please the people with lots of snot.
But if you graduate from Mayo you are a healer. When someone is truly sick and fears that they cannot get well, where do they go for treatment? Harvard? No. They go to Mayo Clinic. And it doesn't matter if you are rich as Howard Hughes or on welfare. They will do their best to cure you.
The big research schools are about names, but Mayo is about patients. I didn't even have to tour the school to know this, I just had to live life in America and talk to my friends, cousins, and neighbors who went there to be healed.
Oh, I mean 38. I can't type. Still a whole lot.
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you my friend, are a G. I hope you get in... really. Even if it is taking my spot👍
That's why I got a 13 in VR and an S in writing and a 9 in BS. I talk and write.
That my letters of recommendations will be submitted in the near future...Plus, I want to get this thread to the first page again 🙂
fyi they will start reviewing your app as soon as the minimum letters get in (3 letters, I believe). I can't get over how nice their admissions staff is, hot damn this place is tight.
Really? Hmm, good to know! Has anyone received a 'complete' email as of yet?
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