2010-2011 University of California - Los Angeles Application Thread

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Was anyone else a little off-put by the questions on indebtedness on this secondary? I guess I'm a little uncomfortable answering and I'm not sure why they want/ need to know. What would indicating a high educational debt load indicate?

a) That the applicant doesn't have a lot of financial help from parents, etc and thus should be considered more closely for scholarships
or
b) That the applicant is already in debt and made poor decisions taking on such debt to finance undergrad

?

What are your thoughts on just putting "No answer"? I guess I'm trying to figure out why this matters.
 
Was anyone else a little off-put by the questions on indebtedness on this secondary? I guess I'm a little uncomfortable answering and I'm not sure why they want/ need to know. What would indicating a high educational debt load indicate?

a) That the applicant doesn't have a lot of financial help from parents, etc and thus should be considered more closely for scholarships
or
b) That the applicant is already in debt and made poor decisions taking on such debt to finance undergrad

?

What are your thoughts on just putting "No answer"? I guess I'm trying to figure out why this matters.

To be honest, I was puzzled at that question as well because their intentions could be different from what you think. Luckily I had financial aid all the way through college so my answer was zero
 
Yes, for some reason they sent me the secondary invite twice, on 9/2 and 9/10. Primary receipt acknowledgment 8/17. I'm OOS.

There are a lot of essays! =p

Yikes. My primary receipt was on 07/27. I'm OOS too. You think I should call them to make sure there isn't something else I should be doing? Do you know if they send rejections to the people they decide not to give secondaries to? What are the essay questions like, by the way?
 
Rec'd a secondary from the main program at the end of August and was complete a few days later. But I haven't heard from the Charles Drew program. Anyone in the same boat or have an idea of a timeframe from their initial application to hear from them?

I was verified at UCLA around 8/23ish. Thnx
 
I just got PRIME today and received Drew on 8/18 for those of you who are still waiting for them.
:luck:
 
Rec'd a secondary from the main program at the end of August and was complete a few days later. But I haven't heard from the Charles Drew program. Anyone in the same boat or have an idea of a timeframe from their initial application to hear from them?

I was verified at UCLA around 8/23ish. Thnx

Yup. My primary was also verified around 8/19, received a Geffen acknowledgement 8/23 and secondary invitation 8/25.

I received only an acknowledgement from UCLA prime on 8/23.

I've received NOTHING from Drew. I called their admissions office and I told the lady my AMCAS No. and she said that my app. had been received but "had not been reviewed yet and was in line" and that I "should wait a couple of weeks."

Not sure what all the details were, but at this point I'm too busy wrapping up other secondaries to worry about it. ha. 🙄
 
Hi everyone, I am an MSTP applicant and I just checked the applicant status page and for my interview and transcript it reads "Requested." Has anyone else got this?

all the best.
 
My AMCAS was verified 7/12 and I applied to davis, ucla, irvine, ucsd, and ucsf. I received and submitted my davis secondary over a month ago and have received the "thanks, we got your app and we'll get back to you (maybe)" letters from ucla, irvine, ucsd, and ucsf. I still haven't received secondaries from these schools. Anybody else in the same boat? Should I call to see what's going on?

I'm a cali resident and really wanna stay in-state. thanks for your help!
 
Hi everyone, I am an MSTP applicant and I just checked the applicant status page and for my interview and transcript it reads "Requested." Has anyone else got this?

all the best.

got the same thing, does this mean we have interviews?
if so they must've reviewed quick cuz my letters only got in last week
 
Hey all,

I didn't see a UCLA Drew specific thread so I decided to post this here.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-me-drew-20100911,0,5317228.story

Charles Drew University is going through a pretty major financial crisis. They just announced a new Board. I've already submitted my secondary for the UCLA/Drew program. I hope the new Board can turn things around because the UCLA/Drew program is wonderful!

Thought you all should know what's going on 🙂
 
My AMCAS was verified 7/12 and I applied to davis, ucla, irvine, ucsd, and ucsf. I received and submitted my davis secondary over a month ago and have received the "thanks, we got your app and we'll get back to you (maybe)" letters from ucla, irvine, ucsd, and ucsf. I still haven't received secondaries from these schools. Anybody else in the same boat? Should I call to see what's going on?

I'm a cali resident and really wanna stay in-state. thanks for your help!

I don't see the issue with calling a school. Just be polite, know what you're going to ask, and listen carefully to what they say. Just don't ask them questions that are readily answered online, and don't make them repeat information to you. In my opinion, a polite call to your schools will at least quench your curiosity and concern.
 
Do Drew/UCLA and UCLA Prime also screen for secondaries?

Also, can someone tell me what the secondary prompts for these programs are?

Thanks!
 
Do Drew/UCLA and UCLA Prime also screen for secondaries?

Also, can someone tell me what the secondary prompts for these programs are?

Thanks!

Yes. They also screen for secondaries.
 
Umm... Is it just me or is it truly IMPOSSIBLE to answer the questions on the Drew secondary in 600 characters or less? Also, a lot of the questions they want bullet point answers for don't seem to lend themselves to bullet points... does anyone else think this or am I just being silly?
 
The 600 character limit is definitely difficult to deal with. forget adjectives exist in your vocabulary. :laugh:
 
Umm... Is it just me or is it truly IMPOSSIBLE to answer the questions on the Drew secondary in 600 characters or less? Also, a lot of the questions they want bullet point answers for don't seem to lend themselves to bullet points... does anyone else think this or am I just being silly?


i completely agree. it's actually kinda annoying.
 
This was THE most difficult secondary to narrow down my responses to the essentials. The bullets were ridiculous ... I just hope that I got everything I wanted to say across.

Luckily, the prime secondary has 2000 character limits
 
Umm... Is it just me or is it truly IMPOSSIBLE to answer the questions on the Drew secondary in 600 characters or less? Also, a lot of the questions they want bullet point answers for don't seem to lend themselves to bullet points... does anyone else think this or am I just being silly?

I couldn't agree more. "Describe your socioeconomic environment"...in bulletpoints?
 
for those who got PRIME secondaries, do you get an email , or is it on the status check? thx
 
Has anyone noticed a trend in the amount of time David Geffen takes to offer an interview after one submits a secondary app?
 
Does UCLA ever send an application complete confirmation email? The status page is kinda ambiguous... there's a blank space next to "transcript" where there should be a date.
 
Anyone else have Your online forms are due on: 9/3/2010 on the status check in RED even though your secondary and LORs are marked as received??? It's making me nervous that there was something else I was supposed to do.....
🙁

Also, in response to people thinking UCLA students are being interviewed....I haven't heard anything about that. I not only went to UCLA, but currently work for UCLA. I know people at UCLA med right now and they have not mentioned anyone interviewing yet for the MD program.
 
Anyone else have Your online forms are due on: 9/3/2010 on the status check in RED even though your secondary and LORs are marked as received??? It's making me nervous that there was something else I was supposed to do.....
🙁


No, you're fine. Those are the only documents they asked for.
 
MDapps has a couple people with UCLA invites (and from UCLA), but MD apps is about a as reliable as a stock tip from Bernie Madoff. Last year people on SDN were reporting interview invites a lot earlier than this year, so something appears to be different this year. Of course I probably have a better chance of getting with Jessica Alba then I do getting into UCLA so I don't know why I'm so concerned.
 
I haven't heard anything from PRIME since they told me my AMCAS was received about a month ago.

I wonder if their screening has a higher cut-off. Or if my application got lost in some pile and is now scattered along the sidewalks of West LA somewhere... 🙁
 
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MDapps has a couple people with UCLA invites (and from UCLA), but MD apps is about a as reliable as a stock tip from Bernie Madoff. Last year people on SDN were reporting interview invites a lot earlier than this year, so something appears to be different this year. Of course I probably have a better chance of getting with Jessica Alba then I do getting into UCLA so I don't know why I'm so concerned.

i received an interview invite on 9/9 last year. this year, i haven't heard a single word from them since i sent my secondary.
 
Anyone else have Your online forms are due on: 9/3/2010 on the status check in RED even though your secondary and LORs are marked as received??? It's making me nervous that there was something else I was supposed to do.....
🙁

Also, in response to people thinking UCLA students are being interviewed....I haven't heard anything about that. I not only went to UCLA, but currently work for UCLA. I know people at UCLA med right now and they have not mentioned anyone interviewing yet for the MD program.

Are you sure you submitted all the documents needed? Because for me as soon as I submitted my secondary, that line was taken off. So I think you should double check just in case.
 
Are you sure you submitted all the documents needed? Because for me as soon as I submitted my secondary, that line was taken off. So I think you should double check just in case.

Ut oh! What else did you submit besides the secondary application, LORs and the payment?????
 
my 9/3/10 due date is still visible as well, so you're not alone!
 
Same situation here too

Just to be on the safe side, I spoke to admissions. According to their records I am complete so they told me to ignore the red due date. Hope this helps!
 
I decided to apply to Drew just for the heck of it 2 weeks ago and got the secondary on 09/20. Finally got some time to fill it out today.

Does anyone know if the 600 characters limit includes spaces or not?

Thanks
 
I decided to apply to Drew just for the heck of it 2 weeks ago and got the secondary on 09/20. Finally got some time to fill it out today.

Does anyone know if the 600 characters limit includes spaces or not?

Thanks
it didn't specify so i chose to not include spaces
 
I tried to keep my answers down to 600 characters including spaces. But for some answers it just wasn't possible. I just made sure not to go over 600 including spaces for any answer. It's not like they're going to sit down with your printed app and count the characters. It will probably only be an issue if it's way over the limit.
 
Google is currently failing me so I'm reaching out on SDN - does anybody have current contact information about the Dean of Admissions for UCLA/Geffen, as in how a letter would be addressed, full name, etc? Many thanks in advance.
 
Google is currently failing me so I'm reaching out on SDN - does anybody have current contact information about the Dean of Admissions for UCLA/Geffen, as in how a letter would be addressed, full name, etc? Many thanks in advance.

The dean of admissions for Geffen in Dr. Neil Parker. I don't know contact info for him, but I would try searching the directory: http://www.directory.ucla.edu/
 
I called for Drew today, but got nothing more than answering machine from a Ms. Rodrigez. I left my question about the 600 limit...
I tried my best to keep the answer under 600 including spaces, but for some questions, like many of you said, it was almost impossible, and for those I did not include the spaces in the 600 limit.

I will wait and call again on Monday to mail in.
 
I called for Drew today, but got nothing more than answering machine from a Ms. Rodrigez. I left my question about the 600 limit...
I tried my best to keep the answer under 600 including spaces, but for some questions, like many of you said, it was almost impossible, and for those I did not include the spaces in the 600 limit.

I will wait and call again on Monday to mail in.


I have found that the best time to reach her via telephone is after 3PM. If you end up having to call back, try that.
 
ok so I contacted admissions and they told me that the 600 character limit does not include spaces (yay!)
Also, I asked how strict are they on that word limit and the lady laughed a little and told me they aren't that strict.

But I also asked whether they accept FAP (fee waiver) and she told me they don't.. but she had to put me on hold before she could give me an answer. The email invite says
"If you have been granted an AMCAS fee waiver, include a copy and the application fee will be waived." so I am not sure how reliable is the information I just got...

Can anyone tell me what "copy" are they referring to? is it the FAP email approval or is there another form I am unaware of. And can we send this confirmation via email? Thank you
 
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ok so I contacted admissions and they told me that the 600 character limit does not include spaces (yay!)
Also, I asked how strict are they on that word limit and the lady laughed a little and told me they aren't that strict.

But I also asked whether they accept FAP (fee waiver) and she told me they don't.. but she had to put me on hold before she could give me an answer. The email invite says
"If you have been granted an AMCAS fee waiver, include a copy and the application fee will be waived." so I am not sure how reliable is the information I just got...

Can anyone tell me what "copy" are they referring to? is it the FAP email approval or is there another form I am unaware of. And can we send this confirmation via email? Thank you

I'm assuming you're talking about Drew (600 characters). I submitted mine via e-mail - forwarded the e-mail confirmation from AMCAS. I also sent one hard-copy just in case. For the hard-copy, I just logged into the FAP system and printed out what was on the screen. It worked for me!
 
Quick questions:
1. Has anyone been waiting more than 2 months for the secondary?

2. Has anyone waited longer than 2 months and still managed to receive it?

Good luck to all who have completed their secondary!
 
I received the Drew secondary, although not Geffen. It's been well over two months since I received the initial email from Geffen. Lets hope they're still sending more out!
 
I am actually a reapplicant.
The last time I applied, I recieved the secondary I think well into October,
close to 3 months since initial email.
 
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