2010-2011 University of Arizona Application Thread

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
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neurojunkie said:
+1 to bomb coffee and sweet wedding spots.

If all goes well, my gf and I will be getting married in Alaska this summer.
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Where in Alaska? AK is great... I spent seven weeks there Aug-Oct this past year. Loved it. Y'all sound like a fun adventurous group (just my type)... I really want to do the Narrows.. recently did Water Holes outside of Page.

Best of luck to those of you still waiting to hear!
 
Just got accepted to Phoenix! OOS, 29, GPA 3.9, interviewed 1/10. Good luck to everyone!!
 
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
 
DesiMaster said:
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
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Well, I am actually moving to Phoenix from Utah. My wife got a full-time job at ASU; so, I will reapply as an instate resident and hopefully get in. While I am applying I am going to go to ASU to start my second bachelor's degree (first in Spanish) because its free (yes!) and take French classes. I have interviewed at other places and even if I do get in those other places we arent going. We have decided that financially it is worth it to reapply in Arizona because of the HUGE tuition break I will receive because of my wife's job.
 
DesiMaster said:
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
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Apply for the 4th time. Continue to get clinical experience and also apply DO next year.
 
DesiMaster said:
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
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Reapply... and continue cancer research, teaching college physiology and volunteering at a hospice. I'm hitting the MCAT study books for a retake - I am SO having a bonfire after I get in...

I'm trying to remain optimistic though, I bet another 90 or so people will get an acceptance (mainly off of the waitlist)
 
DesiMaster said:
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
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I'm a re-applicant this year and have gotten accepted. The difference maker for me this year was me getting my CNA and working in a nursing home. This experience allowed me to write a better personal statement and have some good ammunition for interviews. If I could go back I would have gotten my EMT or CNA years ago.
 
DesiMaster said:
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
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Reapply, retake MCAT (I didn't study adequately the first go), consider DO or Caribbean schools.

I have a more time before I move on to alternatives. However there are a few options that appeal to me to include, retire from military, physical therapy, anesthesiologist aide. However none of these appeal to me as much as becoming a physician.
 
ShameFame said:
I'm a re-applicant this year and have gotten accepted. The difference maker for me this year was me getting my CNA and working in a nursing home. This experience allowed me to write a better personal statement and have some good ammunition for interviews. If I could go back I would have gotten my EMT or CNA years ago.
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I am also a reapplicant this year who got accepted (not at U of A yet, but at another MD school). If I could go back I would have started hospice volunteering years ago. My interviewers always asked about it, and many of them had actually done hospice work at various times. So for anyone thinking about how to get more clinical experience, it's is an amazing option. Plus you learn a ton, get to spend time with really great people, and have many profound patient-care experiences. Moreover, hospices really WANT volunteers and have many important jobs for them to do, in contrast to sitting at the greeting desk at a hospital. That's my two cents, for what it's worth.
 
sundevil11 said:
Anyone knows when Tucson is sending out their next wave?[/QUOTE

I believe it will be at the end of the month, but I don't have an exact date. Definitely sometime in the next two weeks, though.

Man, is it just me or is Feb flying by?!
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DesiMaster said:
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
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I had a friend in a similar situation. He was unable to find a job in the science field (research, healthcare etc.) so he ended up doing lots and lots of volunteering during the day, and being a waiter at night. He made enough money to financially support himself and was able to flesh out the weaker areas of his application.
 
MWLH said:
Agreed. I think I am gonna drop by Ann's office today and get an official statement on release/waitlist ranking dates.
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Thank you! Then we can get an official countdown going to the last acceptance wave. Do you know if they release the waitlist/rejections March 1st? Or just sometime in early March?
 
PsychDO said:
Thank you! Then we can get an official countdown going to the last acceptance wave. Do you know if they release the waitlist/rejections March 1st? Or just sometime in early March?
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I don't know. That is precisely what I'd like to find out. I'll let you know around 3 or so I think.
 
DesiMaster said:
I know it is depressing, but I was just wondering what people's backup plans were?

If I dont get in this year, I will have to become completely financially independent of my parents and support myself. I am not exactly sure what my plans are so far, so I was just wondering what other people are doing to support themselves and get prepared for reapplication if that becomes the case. Are any of you reconsidering the thought of going into medicine? What are some alternate plans?
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I honestly have not decided if I will reapply or not. I have already applied three times in five years. I have a good, stable, well-paying, career-type job already - I've been in it for five years now - and I was planning on leaving that if I ever managed to get into med school. But I by no means am relying on med school to make/break my financial life. I already have my Master's. Plus, I am very busy, and I don't think I can make any time to do something that would significantly improve my application...I thought it was pretty strong already.

Anyway, my girlfriend wants to change her title to fiance soon, and since we live together it is getting harder to keep asking her to put her life and career plans on hold because I can't be sure where we will have to live come the following August. Sure, becoming a doctor is my life's dream, it always has been, but I'm about at the point where I need to accept that some things just aren't meant to be.

DesiMaster, I know it's tough thinking about becoming independent in a job/career that isn't your first choice. But trust me, having that independence, and starting to be able to have enough money to buy that car you always wanted, or that house you always wanted, or to be able to support a family...it can be pretty rewarding in and of itself. You can always reapply if it means that much to you - but you can save some $$ and pay off some debt (if you have any) in the meantime. In the end everything works out okay. 🙂
 
DesiMaster, I know it's tough thinking about becoming independent in a job/career that isn't your first choice. But trust me, having that independence, and starting to be able to have enough money to buy that car you always wanted, or that house you always wanted, or to be able to support a family...it can be pretty rewarding in and of itself. You can always reapply if it means that much to you - but you can save some $$ and pay off some debt (if you have any) in the meantime. In the end everything works out okay. 🙂[/QUOTE]

You know, during my interview, my interviewer noted that the admissions committee likes seeing people with real world experiences that have had to work to survive etc. and that me working 2 jobs to survive was a strong point of my application...so, if you have to reapply after making the plunge out into the working world, it's not a bad thing. Not to mention, expanding the menu beyond ramen was a huge plus once I started working full time. Now, I eat carne asada relentlessly.
 
I just dropped by Ann's office, and she said the last wave of acceptances would being going out (probably) in the first couple days of March (3/1 to 3/3). She also said they have accepted 80 students thus far, so the final wave will fill the class up to the final number of 115. Therefore, they will be releasing a total of 35 more spots. It may end up being a few more if they get some withdrawals from any of the 80 they have already accepted. As far rejections/waitlist, she said they will probably go out in the third week of March (between 3/21 and 3/25), but that is not for sure. It may be a bit earlier or later. Hope that helps. As a side note, they did 700 interviews this year.
 
neurojunkie said:
Thanks for dropping by and giving us some dates to look forward to. I wonder how many rejections they have sent out post-interview.
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None. I think all people who will be rejected are notified at the same time they send out the ranked waiting list.
 
MWLH said:
None. I think all people who will be rejected are notified at the same time they send out the ranked waiting list.
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I wish they sent out rejections. It seems so unfair to wait for so long and not even know if you'll make the waitlist. Also, I'm a little disappointed that we have to wait until March for the final wave from Tucson.
 
+1

I've already received my rejections from UCSD, OHSU, and Mayo, it would be nice to know where I stand with UA.
 
As far as I know, U of A is the only school that does this whole 'waves of acceptances' business. I think it's an artifact of only accepting in-state applicants, which was the case up until only two years ago.
 
MWLH said:
As a side note, they did 700 interviews this year.
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WOWWW!!! 700??!!! In most app years up until now, they have capped interviewing at around 500 people. I wonder why so many - just that many qualified applicants this year? With a total acceptance count (including waitlists) of around 180, that means your chances of acceptance post-interview are around 26%...most schools its somewhere between 33-50%.
 
If we include the waitlist and have 180 spots total, 80 of which have already gone out...and we also subtract 80 from 700, this means that there are 100/620 interviewees that will get in...which is roughly 16%. 🙁
 
physio84 said:
WOWWW!!! 700??!!! In most app years up until now, they have capped interviewing at around 500 people. I wonder why so many - just that many qualified applicants this year? With a total acceptance count (including waitlists) of around 180, that means your chances of acceptance post-interview are around 26%...most schools its somewhere between 33-50%.
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😱 !!!

...ok...what's my "plan B" again.... ???
 
physio84 said:
With a total acceptance count (including waitlists) of around 180, that means your chances of acceptance post-interview are around 26%...most schools its somewhere between 33-50%.
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Keep in mind that they accept (at a minimum) 75 percent in-state. Additionally, they interview about 450 IS students. Overall, that means your chance IS is really ~30% just by the numbers.\ (135/450). Realistically, however, I would guess it is higher. I think, with IS applicants, many individuals apply to med school on a whim and are actually pretty underqualified. But that is just supposition on my part. Really, who knows.
 
True, there probably are a lot of kids that just decide to apply without dedicating a significant portion of their life to prepping for med school.
 
MWLH said:
Overall, that means your chance IS is really ~30% just by the numbers.
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So, about 1 in 3 for IS are accepted.... doesn't seem too bad
 
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neurojunkie said:
True, there probably are a lot of kids that just decide to apply without dedicating a significant portion of their life to prepping for med school.
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Yeah, I know a few of them. I don't think the general public really understands all that goes into this.
 
MWLH said:
Yeah, I know a few of them. I don't think the general public really understands all that goes into this.
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I might be one of them! I didn't decide until a few years ago to start seriously pursuing medicine. But I actually heard positive things about that in my interviews, so I've decided to think of myself as "well rounded" rather than "unprepared".
 
MWLH said:
Keep in mind that they accept (at a minimum) 75 percent in-state. Additionally, they interview about 450 IS students. Overall, that means your chance IS is really ~30% just by the numbers.\ (135/450). Realistically, however, I would guess it is higher. I think, with IS applicants, many individuals apply to med school on a whim and are actually pretty underqualified. But that is just supposition on my part. Really, who knows.
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If 250 of the interviews really are OOS candidates, then yes, the IS candidates have significantly improved odds post-interview from what I posted originally.

But I'm not sure I feel the same about the # of "underqualified" applicants. If that were accurate, then I would find it hard to believe so many of us SDNers would still be sitting here without a seat with 70% of the seats already filled. The general consensus is that we are, on average, the most dedicated applicants with the best stats. It would be quite an undertaking for someone with no real knowledge of the process to sit for the MCAT, do well enough on it (at least from their perspective) to apply, fill out the AMCAS primary, pay the fee, fill out the AZ secondary, pay the fee, etc.
 
physio84 said:
If 250 of the interviews really are OOS candidates, then yes, the IS candidates have significantly improved odds post-interview from what I posted originally.

But I'm not sure I feel the same about the # of "underqualified" applicants. If that were accurate, then I would find it hard to believe so many of us SDNers would still be sitting here without a seat with 70% of the seats already filled. The general consensus is that we are, on average, the most dedicated applicants with the best stats. It would be quite an undertaking for someone with no real knowledge of the process to sit for the MCAT, do well enough on it (at least from their perspective) to apply, fill out the AMCAS primary, pay the fee, fill out the AZ secondary, pay the fee, etc.
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I may just be trying to make myself feel better...
 
MWLH said:
I may just be trying to make myself feel better...
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Haha I know the feeling. 😀 But doing this three times, with stats well in the range of those accepted each time, has made me the ultimate pessimist. Sorry about that. 🙂
 
Does anyone know if (for Tucson) it's too late to provide them an update? Such as job changes, class grades from last semester, etc.? And if yes, best to write a physical letter or email sufficient? (I do not live in Tucson, so driving there would be possible but not idea).
 
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physio84 said:
Haha I know the feeling. 😀 But doing this three times, with stats well in the range of those accepted each time, has made me the ultimate pessimist. Sorry about that. 🙂
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I vacillate between what I said and agreeing with your post. I guess I find it hard to believe that 450 other people in this state have expended as much energy on this goal as I have. Who knows? This thought process could drive me crazy if I let it. End of rant.
 
SolidWater said:
Does anyone know if (for Tucson) it's too late to provide them an update? Such as job changes, class grades from last semester, etc.? And if yes, best to write a physical letter or email sufficient? (I do not live in Tucson, so driving there would be possible but not idea).
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I contacted Tanisha with that exact question during the last part of January. She replied, "at this point it is best to be patient..."

Hope this helps 🙂
 
AZhope said:
I contacted Tanisha with that exact question during the last part of January. She replied, "at this point it is best to be patient..."

Hope this helps 🙂
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Darn! I just found out a couple hours ago that my latest manuscript was accepted. It would have been nice to send that update....

The good news is that I am becoming quite excellent at "being patient". If nothing else comes out of this cycle, at least I will have learned how to be a great wait-er.
 
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PsychDO said:
Darn! I just found out a couple hours ago that my latest manuscript was accepted. It would have been nice to send that update....

The good news is that I am becoming quite excellent at "being patient". If nothing else comes out of this cycle, at least I will have learned how to be a great wait-er.
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Congrats!! I would call Ann and ask, the adcom might want to know about new publications
 
AZhope said:
Congrats!! I would call Ann and ask, the adcom might want to know about new publications
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Thanks! I might as well give it a shot! It's a first author paper, so I'd love to sneak it into my file if I can.
 
PsychDO said:
Thanks! I might as well give it a shot! It's a first author paper, so I'd love to sneak it into my file if I can.
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Nicely done! Of course, in the lab, this just means that you get to move on to the next project...but I know how agonizing the manuscript approval process can be. Congratulations, good sir! First author publications = Rockstar status.
 
neurojunkie said:
Nicely done! Of course, in the lab, this just means that you get to move on to the next project...but I know how agonizing the manuscript approval process can be. Congratulations, good sir! First author publications = Rockstar status.
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I know, its like birthing a child and then putting that child in a beauty pageant where people judge it harshly and sometimes send it back asking for more analysis.
 
Alby said:
Where in Alaska? AK is great... I spent seven weeks there Aug-Oct this past year. Loved it. Y'all sound like a fun adventurous group (just my type)... I really want to do the Narrows.. recently did Water Holes outside of Page.

Best of luck to those of you still waiting to hear!
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Been to the Narrows - it was AWESOME

BearDownAZ said:
Apply for the 4th time. Continue to get clinical experience and also apply DO next year.
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ShameFame said:
I'm a re-applicant this year and have gotten accepted. The difference maker for me this year was me getting my CNA and working in a nursing home. This experience allowed me to write a better personal statement and have some good ammunition for interviews. If I could go back I would have gotten my EMT or CNA years ago.
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I agree with these and other posts about reapplying.

MWLH said:
I just dropped by Ann's office, and she said the last wave of acceptances would being going out (probably) in the first couple days of March (3/1 to 3/3). She also said they have accepted 80 students thus far, so the final wave will fill the class up to the final number of 115. Therefore, they will be releasing a total of 35 more spots. It may end up being a few more if they get some withdrawals from any of the 80 they have already accepted. As far rejections/waitlist, she said they will probably go out in the third week of March (between 3/21 and 3/25), but that is not for sure. It may be a bit earlier or later. Hope that helps. As a side note, they did 700 interviews this year.
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Despite my user name, I was MadeInReydn last year. We went through over 70 people on the WL (73 to be exact) so if you're in the top 50 you can be confident about getting pulled. I'll post a graph again of the progress. I was pretty deep on the WL and was worrying my pants off, but it all turned out well 🙂 PM me if you have more questions about WL movement, or anything else
 
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