2010-2011 University of California - San Francisco Application Thread

[Dianyla]

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The MSAR says that they only get 6000 (and a bit of change) applicants. So the secondary cut isnt THAT extreme.

You're right, it is 6000. I checked again and I have no idea why 8000 was the number that stuck in my head. 😕

Maybe it just feels like 8000. 😱

 

[BrainBuff]

I am getting the feeling that UCSF really knows what it is doing with this secondary cut and the "12 weeks" they MAY give you to send you the secondary. It has been about 6 weeks for me, and to be honest I have almost lost all interest already.

I am OOS and have no connection to the area. I applied because it is a great school, love SF and have a couple of friends applying also, but my connection is with the East Coast.

I am really thinking that if I get that secondary at this stage, I would not complete anyway ( I have been done with all my secondaries now for a month!). Interesting how the excitement changes...

 

[Cramster]

Got a secondary yay!!! about 15 minutes after they got my MCAT scores

 

[Mr Karatepants]

Secondary!!! Soooo happy. It's been over six weeks since they received my application, so don't lose hope everyone 🙂

First choice, for sure.

 

[thechort]

This may have already been asked, but when are secondaries usually sent out?

I know several of the UC's do an automatic score check for screening and you get your secondary almost immediately after your app has been processed. Is it the same for UCSF?

Thanks!

 

[erebusnux121]

Just finished reading everyone's comments. Sorta confusing. In my case:

I was verified 8/26
Received secondary same day 8/26

3.5, 37R, IS

I'm applying for PRIME so I need to answer quite a few :/

Anyone here received interview invites yet?

 

[creeker]

First round of interview invites are out.... Got the email at 9:32

They have dates on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays with the first date on 9/27.

Pretty stoked

 

[cfx]

Soo...got the "we've received you're AMCAS" email about 3 weeks ago. Still no word. Bad sign, or still early? Do they email you if they've decided to not send you their secondary?

I'm honestly not expecting anything at all...not even a sniff or a glance in my direction. As an OOS applicant with a middle-of-the-road MCAT, I'd be completely shocked if I got a secondary, but it's still one of my dream schools.

Congrats to all who are receiving secondaries and interview invites.

 

[RB93]

First round of interview invites are out.... Got the email at 9:32

They have dates on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays with the first date on 9/27.

Pretty stoked

Congrats! Would you mind sharing when you were complete (by your estimation, since I don't think they do complete emails)?

 

[creeker]

Congrats! Would you mind sharing when you were complete (by your estimation, since I don't think they do complete emails)?

Received the secondary on July 13. Submitted July 14 but didn't have my LORs done until July 22 or so.

 

[RB93]

Received the secondary on July 13. Submitted July 14 but didn't have my LORs done until July 22 or so.

Thanks! Good luck to you!

 

[barcoderider]

Congrats creeker! Oh man, 9:30 is going to be the most stressful time of day again...

 

[thebillsfan]

Congrats creeker! Oh man, 9:30 is going to be the most stressful time of day again...

haha. i really dont think it makes sense that people are getting interview invites when people are still waiting to hear about the secondaries.

 

[mikhalidis]

I'm sooo tempted to call the school and sing maroon 5's new song MISERY lol. I just dont understand the system they are going with. I know people with lower stats that got automatic secondaries and people that got verified later but received secondaries before me.

 

[Dianyla]

I logged into the online application today and it says "Your Status has been updated". But it doesn't say what the update is. 😱

Maybe the first round of snail-mail rejections are going out? 🙁

Or maybe something will flip a switch tonight at 9:30pm?

 

[karayraisu]

Still haven't heard anything here...going on 8 weeks tomorrow. Sighhh maybe hope is lost? 🙁 ah well.

 

[The Mull]

Well, someone has to take the role of the guy who got his secondary last year a few days short of 12 weeks and was still offered admission. Until you get the letter in the mail, you could still be that guy. 🙂

 

[Dianyla]

Still haven't heard anything here...going on 8 weeks tomorrow. Sighhh maybe hope is lost? 🙁 ah well.

Same here, tomorrow is my "8 week since welcome email". Gah, I'm on pins and needles about what I posted earlier today.

And big congrats to creeker for interview invite! 👍

 

[Bengarama]

Acck! I'm way too excited about this 🙂

Ok, before you ask, I'm oos, 3.5 34. I'm pretty non-trad though, so those numbers might not mean much...

and Dianyla, I'm sending good vibes your way (and the email was right at 9:30.)

 

[floppydisque]

Acck! I'm way too excited about this 🙂

Ok, before you ask, I'm oos, 3.5 34. I'm pretty non-trad though, so those numbers might not mean much...

and Dianyla, I'm sending good vibes your way (and the email was right at 9:30.)

Congrats! When did you submit your secondary?

 

[Dianyla]

I didn't hear anything last night via email. Frankly, this "Status has been updated" non-update is creeping me out.

 

[mikhalidis]

I didn't hear anything last night via email. Frankly, this "Status has been updated" non-update is creeping me out.

Have you thought of calling the admissions office? Or sending them out an email?

 

[Dianyla]

Have you thought of calling the admissions office? Or sending them out an email?

I was seriously considering it, but figured I might give it another day in case a snailmail communication is on its way.

ETA: OK I couldn't wait. 😛 The guy who answered the phone thought it sounded weird, asked for my number and looked himself. And then said "Huh, yeah, I see that too". He said it was something that someone else updated that he doesn't have access to check. So he suggested I wait for a few days and see if I get any communication and then call back if I don't hear anything.

 

[mikhalidis]

I was seriously considering it, but figured I might give it another day in case a snailmail communication is on its way.

ETA: OK I couldn't wait. 😛 The guy who answered the phone thought it sounded weird, asked for my number and looked himself. And then said "Huh, yeah, I see that too". He said it was something that someone else updated that he doesn't have access to check. So he suggested I wait for a few days and see if I get any communication and then call back if I don't hear anything.

Makes me wonder how their system works. But anyways best of luck!

 

[Dianyla]

I don't know if my phone call nudged something loose or not, but I logged back into the App Status site this afternoon and there was a new comment that said:

"Please click on the link below to view the letter explaining the status of your application to the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine."

Then attached was a pdf of a nicely written pre-secondary rejection letter, dated September 8th. I received the initial welcome email on 7/25. Sad Panda. 🙁

According to past app cycle threads these rejections have always come as snail-mail, so I don't know if perhaps my letter was lost and they attached it to my file because I called them to ask, or perhaps now they are doing online rejections?

This is not entirely unexpected, since I am a very longshot candidate for UCSF. So, now I can get to work on writing my appeal letter. 😍

 

[mikhalidis]

I don't know if my phone call nudged something loose or not, but I logged back into the App Status site this afternoon and there was a new comment that said:

"Please click on the link below to view the letter explaining the status of your application to the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine."

Then attached was a pdf of a nicely written pre-secondary rejection letter, dated September 8th. I received the initial welcome email on 7/25. Sad Panda. 🙁

According to past app cycle threads these rejections have always come as snail-mail, so I don't know if perhaps my letter was lost and they attached it to my file because I called them to ask, or perhaps now they are doing online rejections?

This is not entirely unexpected, since I am a very longshot candidate for UCSF. So, now I can get to work on writing my appeal letter. 😍

Maybe when u called the guy knew it was a rejection but he just did not want to be the one to deliver it over the phone. Anyways, I'm sorry about that. Best of luck!

 

[Dianyla]

Maybe when u called the guy knew it was a rejection but he just did not want to be the one to deliver it over the phone. Anyways, I'm sorry about that. Best of luck!

Thanks! I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to say things over the phone as a general policy, so that would make sense. Most likely the snail-mail hard copy will arrive in a few days.

I'm busily drafting up my appeal letter. Please pretty please? 😍

 

[whimsical]

Hmm, no secondary yet, and I got the welcome 7/22.

Doesn't look too good for me...

 

[Tone]

I also received that first email back in July. I think it was around July 13th. Still no secondary. Doesn't look good for me either. But my MCAT scores from July just came out last week, and I sent UCSF an update letter yesterday. My score went from a 28 to 34. Even with that, I don't feel good about my chances on getting a secondary from UCSF :-(

 

[OGMD]

I also received that first email back in July. I think it was around July 13th. Still no secondary. Doesn't look good for me either. But my MCAT scores from July just came out last week, and I sent UCSF an update letter yesterday. My score went from a 28 to 34. Even with that, I don't feel good about my chances on getting a secondary from UCSF :-(

I'm pretty sure their site explicitly states not to send update letters but who I could be wrong. Oh well.

 

[cxp119]

Initial email: 8/17
Secondary request: 9/9
MSTP, OOS 🙂
yaaaay

 

[Tone]

I'm pretty sure their site explicitly states not to send update letters but who I could be wrong. Oh well.

well it says that additional information cannot be added to my file. but i didn't see any harm in sending them an update letter just to get their attention and have a second look at my application.

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

ok so I have a question. If I am not mistaken, UCSF does rolling admissions but doesnt start sending acceptances until December right? I scheduled my interview for the last week of September. Does scheduling it super early give me an advantage over someone who interviews around November or is everyone who interviews before acceptances go out on the same level (in terms of having a benefit from interviewing early)?

 

[UCSFstudent]

ok so I have a question. If I am not mistaken, UCSF does rolling admissions but doesnt start sending acceptances until December right? I scheduled my interview for the last week of September. Does scheduling it super early give me an advantage over someone who interviews around November or is everyone who interviews before acceptances go out on the same level (in terms of having a benefit from interviewing early)?

It's a little bit more complicated than that. When you hear back is correlated with when your interviewers can make the admissions committee meetings. Essentially, your interviewers are sort of like advocates for you and so it's to your advantage for your file to be discussed when they're present. Dean Wofsy will explain this in detail on your interview day.

 

[dcjpitt]

i'm coming up on week 9 after getting the initial email. can i really get a secondary at any time up until 12 weeks, or should i start assuming the worst?

 

[RB93]

It's a little bit more complicated than that. When you hear back is correlated with when your interviewers can make the admissions committee meetings. Essentially, your interviewers are sort of like advocates for you and so it's to your advantage for your file to be discussed when they're present. Dean Wofsy will explain this in detail on your interview day.

Hi UCSFstudent - do you think it's a lot more advantageous to interview in the last week of Sept vs the 2nd week of October? Or does it not really matter that early in the interview cycle?

 

[karayraisu]

i'm coming up on week 9 after getting the initial email. can i really get a secondary at any time up until 12 weeks, or should i start assuming the worst?

Same here! I'm still holding out but at this point I feel like no one can really tell us what the final decision is until we either see a status change or that thin envelope in the mail.

If it's the latter, however, I am definitely going to appeal though. UCSF is by far my first choice, and I want to try my hardest to at least get a chance to apply.

 

[obgyny]

Same here! I'm still holding out but at this point I feel like no one can really tell us what the final decision is until we either see a status change or that thin envelope in the mail.

If it's the latter, however, I am definitely going to appeal though. UCSF is by far my first choice, and I want to try my hardest to at least get a chance to apply.

You can actually appeal? I've never heard of that... Good luck though, you haven't gotten a final decision yet, so there's still hope!

 

[obgyny]

Thanks! I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to say things over the phone as a general policy, so that would make sense. Most likely the snail-mail hard copy will arrive in a few days.

I'm busily drafting up my appeal letter. Please pretty please? 😍

Good luck, Dianyla!! It seems like I see you in a lot of forums I'm in 🙂

 

[UCSFstudent]

Hi UCSFstudent - do you think it's a lot more advantageous to interview in the last week of Sept vs the 2nd week of October? Or does it not really matter that early in the interview cycle?

I would say that it doesn't matter, but to each his own. Some of my classmates were accepted from October interviews, whereas others interviewed much later in the cycle. Personally, I would go with the day that you feel most comfortable with and the day that you'll be best prepared for.

 

[Dianyla]

Good luck, Dianyla!! It seems like I see you in a lot of forums I'm in 🙂

Mmm, yeah I get around! 😛

I dropped my appeal letter in the mail last Friday and am hoping to hear something soon.

 

[wildlifeiskey]

Can anyone shed light on this "appeal" process? I've never really heard of it before. Is it some sort of formal request you can make, or do you just draft a letter reiterating your desire to enter the school?

 

[Dianyla]

Can anyone shed light on this "appeal" process? I've never really heard of it before. Is it some sort of formal request you can make, or do you just draft a letter reiterating your desire to enter the school?

It's right on their website:
Appeals
Applicants who do not receive a secondary application or an invitation to interview may appeal the decision of the Committee on Admissions by writing to the Chair of the Admissions Committee at the Admissions Office. Please note that applicants who have interviewed are not eligible to appeal because their files have already received final Committee review.

I just wrote a letter, describing why specifically I want to go to UCSF. I mentioned things about them that I really like, discussed my local ties, and offered to throw in a kidneytalked about what I bring as an applicant. 🙂

 

[dcjpitt]

ahhhh, i just checked my status and got a link to the pdf file with the rejection letter. would it be worth it to appeal the decision? i'm from PA and don't really have ties to california. other than just really wanting to go to the school, is there anything else i can really say to get them to reconsider my file?

 

[mdeast]

ahhhh, i just checked my status and got a link to the pdf file with the rejection letter. would it be worth it to appeal the decision? i'm from PA and don't really have ties to california. other than just really wanting to go to the school, is there anything else i can really say to get them to reconsider my file?

They definitely respond to appeals. I know a couple of people who got interviews that way. To be honest, I think it's more of a test to see your dedication. I wish I had learned about them earlier, otherwise I would have considered doing it last cycle when I was rejected pre-secondary.

Oh well. Good luck. There's really no hurt in trying if you're already rejected.

 

[dillydally]

It's right on their website:
Appeals
Applicants who do not receive a secondary application or an invitation to interview may appeal the decision of the Committee on Admissions by writing to the Chair of the Admissions Committee at the Admissions Office. Please note that applicants who have interviewed are not eligible to appeal because their files have already received final Committee review.

I just wrote a letter, describing why specifically I want to go to UCSF. I mentioned things about them that I really like, discussed my local ties, and offered to throw in a kidneytalked about what I bring as an applicant. 🙂

Thanks for the info; I didn't realize there was an appeals process. Wednesday will be 8 weeks from the time they received my application and I haven't heard anything--getting a bit nervous

 

[tlaloc87]

They definitely respond to appeals. I know a couple of people who got interviews that way. To be honest, I think it's more of a test to see your dedication. I wish I had learned about them earlier, otherwise I would have considered doing it last cycle when I was rejected pre-secondary.

Oh well. Good luck. There's really no hurt in trying if you're already rejected.

That's exactly what my family/S.O. said so it must be true 🙂. I never want to play the woulda, coulda, shoulda game, so I'll draft my appeal tomorrow. Good to know they are responsive to them.

 

[emiko]

I randomly logged into my UCSF status page just right now and found out that I got a secondary @__@?? I never bothered to log into the system because I thought they will for sure notify me if they do want a secondary from me. I suppose you should definitely log in and see your status on their website since there might be delays in e-mailing applicants. I got verified by AMCAS about last week (submitted my app 2nd week of August).

btw I am a MSTP applicant

 

[Potatoman1800]

Just applied last night and got the secondary today. sweet! good luck peeps

 

[obgyny]

ahhhh, i just checked my status and got a link to the pdf file with the rejection letter. would it be worth it to appeal the decision? i'm from PA and don't really have ties to california. other than just really wanting to go to the school, is there anything else i can really say to get them to reconsider my file?

I agree with the other posters, what can the appeal hurt at this point? Do you mind sharing when you submitted your secondary?

Thanks and good luck!!