2010-2011 UCLA/CDU Application Thread

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saintmed

saintmed

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Hey peoples,
So I decided to make a thread for students applying to the UCLA/CDU program in case anyone has any questions. If you got any questions, shoot away.
 
Are you guys still doing rotations at King-Harbor for M3/M4 (I think it opened up again only as a clinic)? If not, where are they sending students?
 
Great! Thanks so much saintmed. Do you know if after you submit the secondary whether interviews are rolling are sent in batches?

Thanks.
 
DancingThruLife said:
Are you guys still doing rotations at King-Harbor for M3/M4 (I think it opened up again only as a clinic)? If not, where are they sending students?
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Ok for rotations we pretty much go on the same rotations as everyone else at UCLA but we have two specific sites for Drew.
We have a site for Psychiatry (Kedren) and I forget the other rotation but it is St. Mary's Hospital in long beach.
So just to clarify again King-Harbor no rotations there, but do rotations with the everyone else at Geffen and have two selected sites for just Drew.
 
King Drew Hospital is scheduled to reopen in 2013 & hopefully the teaching relationship will be re-established there. There are still outpatient clinics at the site & they are available as 3rd year rotation spots.

Harbor hospital (in Long Beach) is similar in demographics (in terms of SES) to what King Drew was & is a normal rotation for all UCLA students.


saintmed said:
Ok for rotations we pretty much go on the same rotations as everyone else at UCLA but we have two specific sites for Drew.
We have a site for Psychiatry (Kedren) and I forget the other rotation but it is St. Mary's Hospital in long beach.
So just to clarify again King-Harbor no rotations there, but do rotations with the everyone else at Geffen and have two selected sites for just Drew.
Click to expand...
 
mb1985 said:
Great! Thanks so much saintmed. Do you know if after you submit the secondary whether interviews are rolling are sent in batches?
Thanks.
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The interviews will be sent out in a rolling process.👍
 
glad there is finally a CDU thread.

so I received the following on the 5th of August:
"Dear Applicant,
We have received your AMCAS application for the CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program. Please allow 4 weeks for your application to be reviewed by our Admissions Committee.
Sincerely,
Admissions Office"

since then...nothing. Anyone else in the same boat without a secondary? should I follow up with CDU admissions? I've received and submitted secondaries to all the other UCs.
 
^ I sent in my primary app at the end of August, but never rec'd anything from CDU, no emails nothing. Im currently complete at all the other UCs
 
I actually never got an email confirmation that CDU got my AMCAS ... only got this from Geffen and PRIME. I called CDU maybe 3 weeks after I got the e-mails from Geffen/PRIME and they told me that my application was in line waiting to be reviewed. Two weeks later aka yesterday, I got the secondary for CDU.

I would call just to check where your app is, they didn't seem to mind us asking.

My AMCAS was verified around 8/20, if that helps.
 
Hi All,

Really excited about this program. I was just kinda worried I was verified 7/28 and received a secondary from Ms. Rodriguez on 8/6 but because of summer school and travels I haven't been able to fully finish it. I also heard that interviews are late fall so I held off a little. Does anyone know when exactly do interviews start? Do you guys thinks that might hurt my chances?

Thanks and Good Luck Everyone
 
Timing questions
Here is my take on when you need to turn in your secondary/primary application. Turn it in at the earliest time possible. It is hard to say that turning stuff in at so and so time will be worse than the other, but try to turn your application in as soon as possible. Try to always be just the applicant (being both the medical school adcom and applicant will only stress you out).

Also if it takes a while to get a response from CDU remember this, its not even October yet so interviews haven't started at either UCLA or Drew. In fact, I interviewed in January and some of my classmates were later than me.
Also CDU must take a while in selecting there students for interview.

So take home message: You are applicant and NOT the medical school, playing both will only add the stress that is medical school applications. If you want to apply somewhere do your best, get your applications in and hold on tight :xf:
 
@saintmed: Where can we obtain admission statistics about CDU/UCLA program? cant seem to find it on the website.. thank you
 
Hi all!. Good to see a Drew thread got started. I received the UCLA/Drew secondary 08/18, fedex'd everything on 08/21, and received an email stating I was complete on 08/31. I wouldn't worry too much if you haven't received a secondary or if you haven't turned it in yet since CDU is notoriously slow with the ENTIRE process (based on old Drew posts I dug up and personal experience). With that being said, you should still follow saintmed's advice and get everything in ASAP, especially if CDU's mission appeals to you. And if you haven't yet received the secondary it might be worth it to contact admissions to inquire about it, especially if you have a background in activities with the underserved. I remember some previous years posts where people got the secondary soon after they inquired about the status of their application.
 
Thanks Kai and Saint Med. I really love this program one of the few on the west coast and especially in home state of california. I was just starting to freak out that I would be so late. Great news just sent it in today so hopefully good news to come. Any idea on how the timeline is like now? Thanks



kai1581 said:
Hi all!. Good to see a Drew thread got started. I received the UCLA/Drew secondary 08/18, fedex'd everything on 08/21, and received an email stating I was complete on 08/31. I wouldn't worry too much if you haven't received a secondary or if you haven't turned it in yet since CDU is notoriously slow with the ENTIRE process (based on old Drew posts I dug up and personal experience). With that being said, you should still follow saintmed's advice and get everything in ASAP, especially if CDU's mission appeals to you. And if you haven't yet received the secondary it might be worth it to contact admissions to inquire about it, especially if you have a background in activities with the underserved. I remember some previous years posts where people got the secondary soon after they inquired about the status of their application.
Click to expand...
 
xducexx said:
@saintmed: Where can we obtain admission statistics about CDU/UCLA program? cant seem to find it on the website.. thank you
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Hmmm...I don't know where exactly but off the top of my head, here is last years stats
2000 people applied
700 interviews

The accepted number is where I draw a blank. Clearly 28 people get accepted but I'm not sure the exact number of how many people got ACCEPTED.
 
The only place I know of that you might be able to find that information is the MSAR book. Given that you've already applied, etc. I wouldn't focus too much on it. CDU will offer you an interview based on more than those numbers, and then at the interview stage acceptance depends much more on your story, your passion, and your vision -- not just those numbers.

Like saintmed said in another post, don't try to put yourself in the admission committee's shoes. It'll just stress you out & won't accomplish anything. Enjoy the ride & focus on what's important to you & expressing that to others throughout the admissions process and you'll do well!

xducexx said:
Cool any ideas about ave gpa mcat ? Etc
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saintmed said:
Hmmm...I don't know where exactly but off the top of my head, here is last years stats
2000 people applied
700 interviews

The accepted number is where I draw a blank. Clearly 28 people get accepted but I'm not sure the exact number of how many people got ACCEPTED.
Click to expand...

700 interviews seems like quite a bit for only 28 spots. You sure? 🙂 I'm still waiting for this secondary...
 
Hi,

they definately DO NOT interview 700 people, I interviewed there in Jan 2009 and I remember them telling us that they interview about 120-200 (don't remember exact #) people for 24 spots. They are also very careful to not over accept as they cannot have more than 24 people in the class
 
TexasBelle87 said:
Hi,

they definately DO NOT interview 700 people, I interviewed there in Jan 2009 and I remember them telling us that they interview about 120-200 (don't remember exact #) people for 24 spots. They are also very careful to not over accept as they cannot have more than 24 people in the class
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So hmmmm made a little mistake in my numbers lol, yeah it is around 200. 700 is definitely from another school I interviewed at lol. Another one of my classmates tossed the question out via email and yep its 200 interviews, they don't over accept, and we have a class of 28. 👍
 
If we haven't received the secondary would it be a good idea to call and ask whats up?

I'm scared theres a hold-up cause they would think I'm not disadvantaged (middle-class asian) but I have very well established ECs (6+ years primary care clinic, 10+ years medical missions in Vietnam) that demonstrate my commitment to underserved and disadvantaged populations.

Also would it help if my dad is an Alum resident there and does primary care and makes next to no profit (intentionally) in a surrounding neighborhood. He provides affordable care and purposefully makes next to no profit. Our money comes from real estate.
 
USCTrojan11 said:
If we haven't received the secondary would it be a good idea to call and ask whats up?

I'm scared theres a hold-up cause they would think I'm not disadvantaged (middle-class asian) but I have very well established ECs (6+ years primary care clinic, 10+ years medical missions in Vietnam) that demonstrate my commitment to underserved and disadvantaged populations.

Also would it help if my dad is an Alum resident there and does primary care and makes next to no profit (intentionally) in a surrounding neighborhood. He provides affordable care and purposefully makes next to no profit. Our money comes from real estate.
Click to expand...

I honestly never got the impression that one needed to be disadvantaged in order to be a successful applicant at CDU. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it would seem that you would, most importantly, just need to prove your commitment to serving underserved communities. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I called them because I never received an AMCAS confirmation e-mail from CDU (which I did from both Geffen and PRIME). They said they were backed up and that I should wait a few weeks. The secondary came ~2 weeks later (which was 4 weeks after my primary AMCAS was verified). The secondary invitation was the first e-mail I got from them.
 
USCTrojan11 said:
If we haven't received the secondary would it be a good idea to call and ask whats up?

I'm scared theres a hold-up cause they would think I'm not disadvantaged (middle-class asian) but I have very well established ECs (6+ years primary care clinic, 10+ years medical missions in Vietnam) that demonstrate my commitment to underserved and disadvantaged populations.

Also would it help if my dad is an Alum resident there and does primary care and makes next to no profit (intentionally) in a surrounding neighborhood. He provides affordable care and purposefully makes next to no profit. Our money comes from real estate.
Click to expand...

The CDU family is def. not made up of 28 individuals who are disadvantaged but composed of 28 individuals who truly want to make a significant impact in the community. I think the CDU family wants people who are dedicated in this mission, so having an previous work will greatly help you.
 
saintmed said:
The CDU family is def. not made up of 28 individuals who are disadvantaged but composed of 28 individuals who truly want to make a significant impact in the community. I think the CDU family wants people who are dedicated in this mission, so having an previous work will greatly help you.
Click to expand...

Continuing w/what Saintmed said, our class is very diverse both in ethnicities and socioeconomic status. The one thing we have in common is our undeniable passion for the underserved. CDU and even the Prime program are really experienced when it comes to weeding those people out who aren't genuinely interested in disadvantaged communities.

Don't stress too much (even though you are) about the process. I believe everyone ends up where they're meant to be in the end. Also, from personal experience, if CDU is where you want to be then show continual interest but DO NOT become a pest. Showing interest means: sending in an update email (w/updates), interest letter, letter of intent (this would be for later in the process after you get an interview). ALSO, CDU can take until early/mid-July to get back to you, so PATIENCE is the name of the game.

With that said...good luck!!
 
AMCAS verified 9/15, got secondary 9/29. This was the first e-mail I've received from them! It's going out tomorrow!!! 😀
 
AMCAS verified 9/17 and new MCAT scores received 9/28 and I got my secondary today!!!! Drew is my TOP choice school, This secondary takes priority above all others!!!
 
TexasBelle87 said:
AMCAS verified 9/17 and new MCAT scores received 9/28 and I got my secondary today!!!! Drew is my TOP choice school, This secondary takes priority above all others!!!
Click to expand...

Hey, you're from Texas!!! Texas shows out-of-staters no love, so let us have this one! :laugh:
 
Esteban said:
Oh NO you di'int...:laugh:! Seriously, though, good luck! I would love this program too. 🙂
Click to expand...

Thank you, best of luck to you also :luck:

When I applied in 2008 I was invited for an interview about a week later after turning in the secondary, hoping its the same case this time!
 
TexasBelle87 said:
Thank you, best of luck to you also :luck:

When I applied in 2008 I was invited for an interview about a week later after turning in the secondary, hoping its the same case this time!
Click to expand...

Oh really?? I turned in my secondary almost a month ago and still no word 🙁 I've been checking my status like a crazy person and it still says to allow 4 weeks for review. Dang it! I am so inpatient!!!!
 
USCTrojan11 said:
Dear CDU students

Do you think this would be a good idea? My personal statement I talked about my humanitarian trips (for the last 10 years to my home country!!!) but I didn't talk about my dedication to the underserved though I thought it was implied. I don't think I implied it adequately enough though. I was verified on 9/2 and still have not received anything and I'm afraid I'm screened out. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to write an email explaining my dedication or would that look too much like I'm being a whiny pest. My dad is an alumni and is pretty well known in LA as one of the selfless physicians who work in underserved areas. I didn't talk about my dad or his clinic at all since I was planning to on the secondary. I really like this school and I am strongly devoted to its mission. I don't know how to convey that without seeming fake though. Any advice?

Ps Do you think theres a hold-up due to my MCAT scores not being released until next week?
PPS. Do you think it would be a good idea to have a letter from my dad or an associate professor at CDU? It seems unfair even though hes our good family friend, knows my dad's mission, traveled with us on a humanitarian trip and is partially my god-father.

Last point: Do you guys think its cause my stats are below UCLA's and I'm just not good enough.

Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...


I'm sure they're waiting for your new MCAT score. I highly doubt they would send out any secondaries without seeing scores first. But even if your new MCAT isn't that great, I don't think they're that strict with numbers. My MCAT score is definitely not competitive and I received a secondary. I do have significant experience working with underserved communities, which I'm sure is why I got one. Sit tight and wait for your new score. Good luck!


(BTW, I'm not a CDU student. I just noticed that you addressed your post to CDU students. Sorry!)
 
How do you check your status ahahhhaha



IlaEm said:
Oh really?? I turned in my secondary almost a month ago and still no word 🙁 I've been checking my status like a crazy person and it still says to allow 4 weeks for review. Dang it! I am so inpatient!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Kalu123 said:
I'm sure they're waiting for your new MCAT score. I highly doubt they would send out any secondaries without seeing scores first. But even if your new MCAT isn't that great, I don't think they're that strict with numbers. My MCAT score is definitely not competitive and I received a secondary. I do have significant experience working with underserved communities, which I'm sure is why I got one. Sit tight and wait for your new score. Good luck!


(BTW, I'm not a CDU student. I just noticed that you addressed your post to CDU students. Sorry!)
Click to expand...

Tuesday can't come soon enough! I have experience working with underserved communities too I was just concerned that wasn't conveyed strongly in my PS and Activities. Do they screen people out? Thanks alot guys.

PS to the post asking about status - go to the top of the CDU website and on the right it has a status check icon.
 
saintmed said:
Also from Texas😎.. but you prob could tell from my signature
Click to expand...

Yes!!! I wanted to PM you the other day, bc I saw you also were accepted to TAMU. I was waitlisted at Drew in 2009 up until the week before school started. Hoping for a better outcome this year, Are you also from Austin??

Actually...I'm PMing you now!!!🙂
 
I haven't forgotten your questions, we're in finals right now. I'll provide a thorough response after Wednesday.


USCTrojan11 said:
Dear CDU students

Do you think this would be a good idea? My personal statement I talked about my humanitarian trips (for the last 10 years to my home country!!!) but I didn't talk about my dedication to the underserved though I thought it was implied. I don't think I implied it adequately enough though. I was verified on 9/2 and still have not received anything and I'm afraid I'm screened out. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to write an email explaining my dedication or would that look too much like I'm being a whiny pest. My dad is an alumni and is pretty well known in LA as one of the selfless physicians who work in underserved areas. I didn't talk about my dad or his clinic at all since I was planning to on the secondary. I really like this school and I am strongly devoted to its mission. I don't know how to convey that without seeming fake though. Any advice?

Ps Do you think theres a hold-up due to my MCAT scores not being released until next week?
PPS. Do you think it would be a good idea to have a letter from my dad or an associate professor at CDU? It seems unfair even though hes our good family friend, knows my dad's mission, traveled with us on a humanitarian trip and is partially my god-father.

Last point: Do you guys think its cause my stats are below UCLA's and I'm just not good enough.

Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...
 
I got an e-mail for a scheduled interview 10/16!!!

It says to show up at 9am and that it should last about 3 hrs.

I sent in my Secondary ~ 9/23 got the ii 10/5. My AMCAS was verified 8/20 if that helps.

I've read through some of the interview feedback posts and it seems that it should be a low stress day, with a group interview. Can any current students give tips about the interview day? Thanks!!!

So stoked!!
 
DancingThruLife said:
I got an e-mail for a scheduled interview 10/16!!!

It says to show up at 9am and that it should last about 3 hrs.

I sent in my Secondary ~ 9/23 got the ii 10/5. My AMCAS was verified 8/20 if that helps.

I've read through some of the interview feedback posts and it seems that it should be a low stress day, with a group interview. Can any current students give tips about the interview day? Thanks!!!

So stoked!!
Click to expand...

Congrats!!!! Hopefully I will be hearing from them soon! Although I submitted my secondary to them much longer ago so I'm thinking I may not get the interview 🙁

jydeguzm said:
How do you check your status ahahhhaha
Click to expand...

Go to this link....

http://www.cdrewu.edu/admissions/graduate/UCLA-Medical-Education-program

🙂
 
DancingThruLife said:
I got an e-mail for a scheduled interview 10/16!!!

It says to show up at 9am and that it should last about 3 hrs.

I sent in my Secondary ~ 9/23 got the ii 10/5. My AMCAS was verified 8/20 if that helps.

I've read through some of the interview feedback posts and it seems that it should be a low stress day, with a group interview. Can any current students give tips about the interview day? Thanks!!!

So stoked!!
Click to expand...

Good luck!! I'm hoping for an interview too!!! :xf:
 
I didn't even know there was a status website. 😳

Good luck to us all! I think that they can sense who is truly committed to the mission and hopefully I'll be hearing about your interviews soon enough!! I'll remember to come back and post on here after my interview. 🙂
 
Hey USCTrogan,

I know this is probably long overdue, but thought I include my two cents w/some admin commentary I've picked up along the way. I believe the personal statement is the applicants time to express the most relevant and important event(s) in their life that inspired or encouraged them to go into medicine. With that said, if your personal statement focused on your work abroad b/c you felt it was relevant to your reasons for being a doctor then you did the right thing. Sending additional emails to "prove" your dedication to the underserved may be overzealous this early in the application process.
Updates and interest letters are more effective if you haven't heard from the school after the secondary or interview. But again this is my personal opinion so take it with a grain of salt.

As far as the MCAT, I believe someone addressed that previously. Schools tend not to look at incomplete applications and since your scores haven't arrived your app is considered incomplete.

In regards to having your dad or a CDU faculty write a letter; I think it is helpful including it if you decide to send a letter of interest or intent.

With grades/scores, a lot of schools look at the whole picture so don't underestimate yourself. What I learned about this process, it is very arbitrary and you cannot compare yourself or underestimate yourself....b/c you just never know. And like Saintmed said, don't spend your time trying to be the admin committee...it never works out.

With that..good luck!!

USCTrojan11 said:
Dear CDU students

Do you think this would be a good idea? My personal statement I talked about my humanitarian trips (for the last 10 years to my home country!!!) but I didn't talk about my dedication to the underserved though I thought it was implied. I don't think I implied it adequately enough though. I was verified on 9/2 and still have not received anything and I'm afraid I'm screened out. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to write an email explaining my dedication or would that look too much like I'm being a whiny pest. My dad is an alumni and is pretty well known in LA as one of the selfless physicians who work in underserved areas. I didn't talk about my dad or his clinic at all since I was planning to on the secondary. I really like this school and I am strongly devoted to its mission. I don't know how to convey that without seeming fake though. Any advice?

Ps Do you think theres a hold-up due to my MCAT scores not being released until next week?
PPS. Do you think it would be a good idea to have a letter from my dad or an associate professor at CDU? It seems unfair even though hes our good family friend, knows my dad's mission, traveled with us on a humanitarian trip and is partially my god-father.

Last point: Do you guys think its cause my stats are below UCLA's and I'm just not good enough.

Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...
 
Congrats on the interview!! 😍

My advice will be like all the other generic interview advice you'll be given or have been give: be yourself, show confidence and research the school!!! (know why you want to come to Drew).


DancingThruLife said:
I got an e-mail for a scheduled interview 10/16!!!

It says to show up at 9am and that it should last about 3 hrs.

I sent in my Secondary ~ 9/23 got the ii 10/5. My AMCAS was verified 8/20 if that helps.

I've read through some of the interview feedback posts and it seems that it should be a low stress day, with a group interview. Can any current students give tips about the interview day? Thanks!!!

So stoked!!
Click to expand...
 
DocOfKind said:
Congrats on the interview!! 😍

My advice will be like all the other generic interview advice you'll be given or have been give: be yourself, show confidence and research the school!!! (know why you want to come to Drew).
Click to expand...

Congrats on the interviews ppl and ditto what Doc said.
 
Does anyone know if the Charles Drew program will also be using the MMI format?
 
Anyone interview this weekend? How many were there? Should I call if I haven't received a secondary? Its been since 9/2 (though my new MCAT came in 10/5). Thanks!
 
So, I was one among 20 students that interviewed on 10/16. 🙂
The interview day was different than the first interview I got. It consisted of an activity and then two interviews, one with a faculty member and another with a med student.

I really hope that I get into Drew/UCLA. It's my first choice from all the schools I applied to.
 
I also interviewed this past weekend.

It was a veryyyyyyyy (I don't think I can emphasize this enough) relaxed interview. Everyone was very nice and friendly, willing to answer any questions you asked them.

I thought I was going to get grilled on my stats/application since it's open file, but my faculty interviewer quickly flipped through my file and made it more of a conversation. My student interviewer was also very conversational, though I heard others saying that their student interviewers went down a more formal list of questions.

I would LOVE to attend CDU. My only complaint is that there was no tour component, but you will eventually find out what it looks like if you end up going.

Point of emphasis: they REALLY want to make sure that the 24 selected students will mesh well with each other and with the other CDU students. There is a group interview where current CDU students observe (and evaluate?) your interactions. There's also a (handwritten) essay component, but it's not too difficult.

Overall, everyone was very down to earth which speaks volumes about the students and administration there. Anyone can PM me if they have any more questions. 🙂
 
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