2010-2011 University of California - San Diego Application Thread

[korsian]

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According to the FAQ section on the website, about 32% receive secondaries and then from that another 32% are interviewed.

 

[barcoderider]

^^^Good to know. Thanks!

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

According to the FAQ section on the website, about 32% receive secondaries and then from that another 32% are interviewed.

haha i now feel special!

 

[shoebusiness85]

Bummer....still haven't received secondary.

3.65 cGPA, 36R, in-state.

Any there any other in-staters who haven't received it either?

 

[OGMD]

Bummer....still haven't received secondary.

3.65 cGPA, 36R, in-state.

Any there any other in-staters who haven't received it either?

3.65/35 iS and I got one last year, but no dice this year

 

[smileydoc11]

IS, 3.8/36R. Still no secondary 🙁

 

[masterwolfie]

They're probably sending them out in waves - those who have received so far were verified early in June right?

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Gonna spend today trying to finish this up and have it revised over the weekend...this autobiography will be the death of me. So far, it's coming across as a list of a few experiences during the time periods they wanted..not even like..an autobiography, unless that's what it is supposed to be. wow I sound confusing, haha.

 

[korsian]

They're probably sending them out in waves - those who have received so far were verified early in June right?

That was the case for me. I was verified 6/1.

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

They're probably sending them out in waves - those who have received so far were verified early in June right?

i was verified june 20th and got one

 

[orphn]

for activities are you guys simply listing duties and stuff like on primaries or are you writing more in depth about them (impacts on you, etc)

 

[barcoderider]

IS, Verified 6/2, 3.98/40Q. Hope you guys get yours soon!

 

[masterwolfie]

i was verified june 20th and got one

That's still early compared to when I was verified - I guess I should keep my fingers crossed then!

 

[lemoretired]

for activities are you guys simply listing duties and stuff like on primaries or are you writing more in depth about them (impacts on you, etc)

I listed. If my memory serves me correctly...I believe the prompt for that section asks you to list
I just submitted my secondary, and can't access it anymore.
Anyone have the exact wording of the prompt for the activities section?

 

[Kip]

I listed. If my memory serves me correctly...I believe the prompt for that section asks you to list
I just submitted my secondary, and can't access it anymore.
Anyone have the exact wording of the prompt for the activities section?

It asks to "Briefly Describe".

 

[lemoretired]

mind copy/pasting the prompt?
now I'm getting paranoid that my brief description of my activities might not be descriptive enough

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

mind copy/pasting the prompt?
now I'm getting paranoid that my brief description of my activities might not be descriptive enough

It asked for a brief description of the activities and you were limited to 1200 characters...so they definitely wanted more than just the actiivty name. It wasn't EXPLICIT though...it's also lame they want another description..it's too lame to just copy/paste AMCAS (shows no effort)

 

[lemoretired]

It asked for a brief description of the activities and you were limited to 1200 characters...so they definitely wanted more than just the actiivty name. It wasn't EXPLICIT though...it's also lame they want another description..it's too lame to just copy/paste AMCAS (shows no effort)

meh ok thanks. I gave the activity name and a really short description/list of what I did. I figure they already have my primary to read over...

 

[Seven of Nine]

Extra points for writing it in third person.

lol'd



👍

 

[shoebusiness85]

Can someone please post the FULL prompt with character limits?

Particularly all of the instructions for the autobiographical statement...

Thanks!

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

if I do not get into the PRIME program Ill still be considered for the regular MD right?

 

[lpeachyk]

Can someone please post the FULL prompt with character limits?

Particularly all of the instructions for the autobiographical statement...

Thanks!

2. AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
This should be a true autobiographical statement. Topics to be included are family, childhood, primary and secondary school years. You should focus on major life experiences and influences up to your entry into college. We will ask about major experiences in your undergraduate years and beyond in subsequent sections. Please note: if you are applying to the MD/PhD program, please include why you are seeking the MD/PhD training at UCSD.
You should also discuss the motivational factors which led you to a career in medicine including any disadvantages or obstacles which might put your accomplishments into context. A repeat of your AMCAS statement will not be acceptable.
Note that the autobiographical sketch is limited to 4800 characters.

 

[JustinG]

So basically you should not include any info from your PS unless you put a diff spin to it? Good luck everyone!

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

So basically you should not include any info from your PS unless you put a diff spin to it? Good luck everyone!

I doubt having it would be a big deal if it's an integral part of your reason to be a doctor...for example, in my PS I stated an illness that inspired me...and that has to be in my autobio bc it's a part of my life. Granted, I think the reason behind them putting that statement in there is simply so people will not copy/paste their PS or regurgitate it in its entirety. They want something else about you...but minor repetition is probably okay, if not expected.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Submitted! Woot! Now to wait for a rejection...

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

does anyone know if PRIME admission is separate from UCSD regular MD? I am interested in prime but i dont wanna apply if I wont have a shot at regular MD too

 

[dragon529]

how is everyone approaching the autobiographical essay?

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

how is everyone approaching the autobiographical essay?

I googled a lot of information about autobios..so I started out with some sort of basic "about me intro" and dove into paragraph/topic 1--family life, moved onto another paragraph/topic--primary/secondary school education and activities, paragraph 3/conclusion. In each topic, I addressed how it shaped meinto wantting to be a physician or how it will help me..

4 paragraphs in all. 4800 characters.

 

[jazz lover]

does anyone know if PRIME admission is separate from UCSD regular MD? I am interested in prime but i dont wanna apply if I wont have a shot at regular MD too

Ditto. Does anyone have an answer to this question?

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

Ditto. Does anyone have an answer to this question?

haha my friend called them and yes they are separate

ok and for the autobio, due to space constraints I left out a significant event that happened in my senior year because it was addressed extensively on my personal statement. DO you think they will view this as some strange contradiction or would they get the point that due to space and already mentioning it that I opted out of rehashing it (I could not in any way mention it in a different light, its not that kind of situation)

 

[jazz lover]

haha my friend called them and yes they are separate

ok and for the autobio, due to space constraints I left out a significant event that happened in my senior year because it was addressed extensively on my personal statement. DO you think they will view this as some strange contradiction or would they get the point that due to space and already mentioning it that I opted out of rehashing it (I could not in any way mention it in a different light, its not that kind of situation)

I would leave it out if I were you. They already get the point from your PS, and it's not very constructive to squeeze in a repeat of the information in your autobiography when they're explicitly looking for something different from your PS, but that's just my opinion.

with the app!

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

I would leave it out if I were you. They already get the point from your PS, and it's not very constructive to squeeze in a repeat of the information in your autobiography when they're explicitly looking for something different from your PS, but that's just my opinion.

with the app!

to be honest that is exactly what I wanted to hear haha thanks alot!

good luck to you too, and everyone else who has applied

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

I feel like I missed something-- how do I pay for the secondary?

 

[The Mull]

I feel like I missed something-- how do I pay for the secondary?

You need to mail them a check. The address is on the last page of the secondary.

 

[bastar88]

You need to mail them a check. The address is on the last page of the secondary.

Can someone post the address? I submitted my secondary without printing the address.

 

[bruincat]

UCSD School of Medicine, Office of Admissions
MTF 180
Mailcode 0621
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0621

 

[Xinlitik]

So what about those of us who didn't decide to be a physician until, like, junior year high school? hah.

 

[jazz lover]

So what about those of us who didn't decide to be a physician until, like, junior year high school? hah.

haha, I didn't decide until the end of my first year in college, but I still wrote about factors in my primary and secondary years that influenced me to even explore the option of becoming a physician in college.

 

[athenalux]

For "Background Information", what would be best to type in for type of community if I grew up in Orange County? Urban? Suburban? I'm surprised there isn't a more moderate answer choice than rural and low income.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

For "Background Information", what would be best to type in for type of community if I grew up in Orange County? Urban? Suburban? I'm surprised there isn't a more moderate answer choice than rural and low income.

I would put suburban if you grew up in most of the OC cities...ex: Irvine is a suburb...urban is more like LA

 

[Ramachandran]

For the activities section, did you guys just copy and paste your description from the primary application? I dont get why they are asking this question...the primary app has all this information already.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

For the activities section, did you guys just copy and paste your description from the primary application? I dont get why they are asking this question...the primary app has all this information already.

I modified it, which basically meant...a reworded version of my AMCAS with some details removed and some "what did I learn" added.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to update their system with a "complete" status after secondary submission? (out of curiosity)

 

[bastar88]

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to update their system with a "complete" status after secondary submission? (out of curiosity)

Never! Maybe, until the rejection letter 🙁

 

[medicineman2015]

For "Background Information", what would be best to type in for type of community if I grew up in Orange County? Urban? Suburban? I'm surprised there isn't a more moderate answer choice than rural and low income.

I completely agree! I definitely grew up in a suburban part of Silicon Valley. Why isn't there a choice for that? This app seems to be tailored towards those who have had a "disadvantaged" upbringing...

 

[athenalux]

Who do we make the payment out to?

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Who do we make the payment out to?

It's on the website...I think. but in any case, you make the check out to UC Regents.

 

[dancer220]

does ucsd send you an email saying that they received your application before they send out secondaries? or do we just wait to see if we got the secondary or not

 

[Kip]

anyone get marked complete yet on the status website?

 

[bruincat]

anyone get marked complete yet on the status website?

i was wondering the same thing. i submitted over a week ago, and my status hasnt changed/i havent been marked complete. sent the payment in 7/16, havent heard a peep from them.