2010-2011 University of Illinois Application Thread

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Wow University of Illinois I'm convinced your admissions committee is comprised of immature middle schoolers. Here's my story:

Complete early September, "Applicant in Process" for several months. I checked my status about a month ago and saw it had changed to "Application is in Progress." From reading SDN threads, I figured this meant rejection.

I decided to humor myself and call the admissions office. The lady said this status change is something the computers do, that it is meaningless, and my application was "either being reviewed or ready to be reviewed."

I checked today and saw my status had changed again. This time it says a final decision has been made and to wait in the mail for my decision letter….so obviously, pre interview rejection.

Here's my problem. Do these people not realize we talk? That SDN exists? That premeds are not stupid? If you are going to reject me, that's fine, I understand, even the best students don't interview everywhere they apply (although I am in state with slightly above average MCAT and GPA).

Why do you have to use ambiguous wording so applicants must question what is going on? Why even offer a status check page? You don't have to. But then again what are you trying to hide? If you are going to reject us, we WILL find out. At some point we will realize U of I has started classes and we did not interview. Why not tell us sooner rather than later? We know these status changes mean something. Stop lying.

You may think it is more "dignified" to reject us via snail mail letter, but we don't care. We just want to know ASAP one way or the other. Send an email, update our status, text us, write on our walls, send us a SDN PM, call us, facebook chat us. When I read "a final decision has been made," and don't see interview dates, I know I am rejected. Do you not realize this? Save the 44 cents for my envelope and lower the tuition for those you do accept. And interview invites via snail mail? C'mon, it's 2011!

I hope the entire admissions committee reads this, whoever they are. Take an example from MCW, who rejected me within a month of submitting. At least I knew, and could turn my attention to other schools, or reapplication if necessary. Realize people communicate electronically now. Fire the guy who finds possible combinations of the words: applicant, application, process, progress, is, in, and the!
 
I interviewed 1/13 with UIC. No status change, still "decision pending". Does anyone know if today (day of admissions committee meeting) is the only day to expect a status change. Or, did some people see a change on Friday?
 
Still decision pending. Damn. 🙁
Interviewed 12/8, thought it went alright.
 
Kyotoh said:
Still decision pending. Damn. 🙁
Interviewed 12/8, thought it went alright.
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Interviewed Dec 8th as well. Still decision pending. Had a buddy with similar stats and IS - as am I - interview last year in Dec and got accepted in April. I'd be really surprised if I didn't eventually get some UIC lovin
 
IwannabeDrP said:
Interviewed Dec 8th as well. Still decision pending. Had a buddy with similar stats and IS - as am I - interview last year in Dec and got accepted in April. I'd be really surprised if I didn't eventually get some UIC lovin
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I'm really hoping for some...I think I'd have to petition my status if accepted though. I applied OOS but have solid ground for a petition.I've been living in IL since Dec 09, Driver's license change in July 10, employment, etc.

I imagine all the Chicago placements will be taken by now/then though...and that's the only campus that would really work for me...
 
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Sigh...Are we sure there are no updates posted on the Friday?

Interviewed way back in mid November, and still decision pending...
I thought the interview went really well...
 
Kyotoh said:
I'm really hoping for some...I think I'd have to petition my status if accepted though. I applied OOS but have solid ground for a petition.I've been living in IL since Dec 09, Driver's license change in July 10, employment, etc.

I imagine all the Chicago placements will be taken by now/then though...and that's the only campus that would really work for me...
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Kyotoh do you think that's true about the Chicago placements? I don't even have an interview until March 23 and I'll feel like I'm wasting my time if have no chance of getting placed at Chicago campus.

I wonder if there's any way to get an answer about that?
 
sciencenerd6022 said:
I interviewed 1/13 with UIC. No status change, still "decision pending". Does anyone know if today (day of admissions committee meeting) is the only day to expect a status change. Or, did some people see a change on Friday?
Click to expand...

I interviewed on 11/30 and am still "decision pending". I'm pretty sure if you haven't heard today, you're not going to until possibly next month. They don't change statuses on Fridays. Last month the Friday after the adcom meeting I got an e-mail telling me that the committee has not made a decision on me but that I am still under consideration. I assume we'll be getting another one of those tomorrow.
 
Hey can anyone answer this for me? My current status says:

"Recommendations: 4 received from AMCAS, expecting a total of four, awaiting admissions officer letter review"

Anyone else have this? Any ideas what it means?
 
Gara said:
Kyotoh do you think that's true about the Chicago placements? I don't even have an interview until March 23 and I'll feel like I'm wasting my time if have no chance of getting placed at Chicago campus.

I wonder if there's any way to get an answer about that?
Click to expand...
I don't think anyone can definitively say whether or not you'd be able to get the Chicago campus when you're interviewing in late March. Based on previous years' threads, I would say that the later you interview, the less likely you'd be able to get a Chicago spot. From what I've gathered, Chicago tends to fill up around late-December/early-January and it's been rare coming across people who successfully petitioned to get the Chicago campus (you'd need a very compelling reason, I'd imagine).

Current med students will probably be able to provide more than the vague info I did though.
 
For those that recieved snail mail of the interview invite, do you mind posting the phone number? I just looked on the status update site and I have the interview grid but I never got the mail yet.. Thanks!
 
fishsticks2629 said:
For those that recieved snail mail of the interview invite, do you mind posting the phone number? I just looked on the status update site and I have the interview grid but I never got the mail yet.. Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's just the admissions office number. It's on the bottom of the status page. 👍
 
Gara said:
Kyotoh do you think that's true about the Chicago placements? I don't even have an interview until March 23 and I'll feel like I'm wasting my time if have no chance of getting placed at Chicago campus.

I wonder if there's any way to get an answer about that?
Click to expand...

If you read last year's thread you can see how many people got their petitions granted. Chicago spots will also open up again after people who were accepted early withdraw in the spring.
 
NHBPFA5 said:
A rep came to Champaign a couple years back with whom I talked for a very brief time. When I asked about it, the only thing he told me was that they prefer to admit people of under-represented races... I said uhhh.... thanks?

Me=Whitey to the max...

I hope this was an isolated incident or not true of the program because it sounded really neat.
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I was told the same thing but before you freak out about it, take a look at the class size and the demographics represented and you'll see its still a VERY large white majority. I think the school just wants to increase underrepresented minority enrollment at the school. If your qualified, you have no worries 🙂
 
SpaceDoc18 said:
I was told the same thing but before you freak out about it, take a look at the class size and the demographics represented and you'll see its still a VERY large white majority. I think the school just wants to increase underrepresented minority enrollment at the school. If your qualified, you have no worries 🙂
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Yeah, the large class size is the only consolation for me. When I looked at the MSAR demographics I was so confused. More hispanics than ALL the California schools? Then I found this http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcam/uhp/about/mg.htm and realized that they are doing it on purpose. It's their mission, I guess, and us ORM IL residents are going to have to do something else to show that we are a good fit. I'm so thankful for an interview this time. :xf:
 
Another ADCOM meeting and decision pending...patience is fadinggg :boom:

this time though, no email from Ms. Singleton saying there was no decision made....did anyone else get that?
 
Hey guys!
I just wanted to say good luck to everyone that is still waiting for interview/acceptance news and to hang in there! I have a friend here at UIC who got an interview on the last day possible (I think early April or late March) and still got placed in the Chicago campus. So based on last year's happenings, there's still hope :luck:
 
gujuDoc said:
BTW I'm pretty sure i'm rejected. Guess not shocked about this. Seems like I am able to predict my outcomes based on my friends outcomes to some degree. lol. After they got rejected and they have better stats i wasn't expecting much. But anyhow, good luck to all of you esp. those of u who are illinoisans.

Oh and if u want to know how I'm rejected even though I didn't get the letter in the mail yet, its because I got a message similar to what the guy who posted as mdapply posted a page or 2 ago and no grid for interview dates.

Oh well. GOOD LUCK!
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Sorry to hear that gujuDoc 🙁

Do you have any other schools you're waiting on? Was this your first year applying? There's always next year!
 
gujuDoc said:
BTW I'm pretty sure i'm rejected. Guess not shocked about this. Seems like I am able to predict my outcomes based on my friends outcomes to some degree. lol. After they got rejected and they have better stats i wasn't expecting much. But anyhow, good luck to all of you esp. those of u who are illinoisans.

Oh and if u want to know how I'm rejected even though I didn't get the letter in the mail yet, its because I got a message similar to what the guy who posted as mdapply posted a page or 2 ago and no grid for interview dates.

Oh well. GOOD LUCK!
Click to expand...

Very sorry to hear that. You contributed a lot to these forums... hope all that good karma pays off. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
 
startswithb said:
Yeah, the large class size is the only consolation for me. When I looked at the MSAR demographics I was so confused. More hispanics than ALL the California schools? Then I found this http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcam/uhp/about/mg.htm and realized that they are doing it on purpose. It's their mission, I guess, and us ORM IL residents are going to have to do something else to show that we are a good fit. I'm so thankful for an interview this time. :xf:
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Our school is very diverse all around...not just urm vs orm but in terms of age, life experiences etc. Also, the demographics are for the total class. I'm not sure what the makeup is of the other campuses.
 
Anyone know about how long it takes for the additional correspondence to be sent out?
 
mybubbles14 said:
Our school is very diverse all around...not just urm vs orm but in terms of age, life experiences etc. Also, the demographics are for the total class. I'm not sure what the makeup is of the other campuses.
Click to expand...

Good to know. When I inquired to an adcom member what the school looks for, the answer was something like, "are you an ethnic minority? Do you speak another language?" Although it seems like such a big game you have to play, and has seemingly little to do with your quality as a prospective physician, I actually tend to be more attracted to this school over my other state school for the quality of the classmates. Go figure. It would be nice to not go to the same school as all of my former classmates.
 
gujuDoc said:
what is the other state public school outside of UIC in illinois? I thought all the others are private schools.
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southern illinois. I think they only accept from the southern half of the state... I didnt even bother applying.
 
Sorry for the delayed response - but startswithb/bruinshd just wanted to thank you guys for your advice regarding Peoria. Real life 🙁 🙂.

Asking a general interview question - I assume it's not too unusual/weird to bring/leave a carry on bag w/ the office while you're interviewing? I know I've seen it before...

@gujuDoc - just want to echo other posters and wish you the best of luck, you've been a super active and effective poster.

@ Everything else - best of luck in this grind
 
mybubbles14 said:
Our school is very diverse all around...not just urm vs orm but in terms of age, life experiences etc. Also, the demographics are for the total class. I'm not sure what the makeup is of the other campuses.
Click to expand...

As far as Peoria, I don't think we're tremendously diverse in age. There are a few outliers on either side of the younger/older spectrum, but the vast majority are traditional 22-in/26-out agers. My class, as far as racial diversity is, what I would call, diverse.... frankly, we've become more diverse over the last two years as we've picked up students who are on repeat years (or who took time off to repeat Step 1 or to do research) and 4 of 5 were Latino or Black. Not implying anything about that, but just saying there's a disconnect between our entering M2 class and graduating M4 class.
 
Gara said:
Kyotoh do you think that's true about the Chicago placements? I don't even have an interview until March 23 and I'll feel like I'm wasting my time if have no chance of getting placed at Chicago campus.

I wonder if there's any way to get an answer about that?
Click to expand...

I would say with 99% certainty that you would not be placed in Chicago if accepted on a March 23 interview date. I interviewed at roughly the same day in 2008 (March 12 or so) and did not get into Chicago. Of course, every year is different. The only other alternative is to petition, but unless you have a really significant reason that you need to be in Chicago (i.e., family, significant other, interest in the research program with a background in research), that petition will most likely be denied. Flat out: Pretty much everyone would "prefer" to go to Chicago; they can't satisfy everyone.

Reading your previous question: you definitely can tour Chicago, but keep in mind that Chicago is 170 miles from Peoria, where you're interviewing.

I'm curious as to why you think it'd be a waste of time? UIC admits 75% of the people they interview, so turning down an interview would be as akin as you can get to throwing away an acceptance letter. Have you already been accepted to a medical school? If not, surely it's not worth wasting an entire year just to live in a big city for a few years. Besides, medical school will leave you far too busy to realize where you're living, and far too busy to even realize how fast the time will go by. Believe me.
 
kai35 said:
I would say with 99% certainty that you would not be placed in Chicago if accepted on a March 23 interview date. I interviewed at roughly the same day in 2008 (March 12 or so) and did not get into Chicago. Of course, every year is different. The only other alternative is to petition, but unless you have a really significant reason that you need to be in Chicago (i.e., family, significant other, interest in the research program with a background in research), that petition will most likely be denied. Flat out: Pretty much everyone would "prefer" to go to Chicago; they can't satisfy everyone.

Reading your previous question: you definitely can tour Chicago, but keep in mind that Chicago is 170 miles from Peoria, where you're interviewing.

I'm curious as to why you think it'd be a waste of time? UIC admits 75% of the people they interview, so turning down an interview would be as akin as you can get to throwing away an acceptance letter. Have you already been accepted to a medical school? If not, surely it's not worth wasting an entire year just to live in a big city for a few years. Besides, medical school will leave you far too busy to realize where you're living, and far too busy to even realize how fast the time will go by. Believe me.
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75%?? Surely it can't be that high can it? 😱

Well I'm an OOS who lives in a state with a very good medical school. If I got into UIC but not my own state school I'd have to consider whether I should take the higher tuition or wait another year and reapply. OHSU, my state school, has a weird obsession with making applicants reapply.
 
I got my big packet (w/ the acceptance letter) on Saturday, for all of those who had an 'additional correspondence' status. You should be getting that packet soon.

For the rest of you, :luck: ... I think we all end up wherever we are meant to go... and if we end up no where, life has something greater in store for us. 😉
 
DancingThruLife said:
I got my big packet (w/ the acceptance letter) on Saturday, for all of those who had an 'additional correspondence' status. You should be getting that packet soon.

For the rest of you, :luck: ... I think we all end up wherever we are meant to go... and if we end up no where, life has something greater in store for us. 😉
Click to expand...

Where do you live? I am in Georgia and haven't gotten my big packet yet. Also, did you ever have a date next to your Additional Correspondence tab? I don't have one... does that mean something?
 
johndoe417 said:
Where do you live? I am in Georgia and haven't gotten my big packet yet. Also, did you ever have a date next to your Additional Correspondence tab? I don't have one... does that mean something?
Click to expand...

I live in Chicago. The only dates I had next to my "additional correspondence" tab were the ones that were previously there, RE: the interview.
 
Wondering if anyone could help me out with the interview schedule...just got a phone call to move my interview up a month (now 2/28) and I need to know how long the AM session lasts. I'd like to buy my flight tonight, so any help is appreciated! I figured a late evening flight would be reasonable, but I have work/school the next day and need to get back to Atlanta as soon as possible. 🙂
 
mdmphhopeful said:
Wondering if anyone could help me out with the interview schedule...just got a phone call to move my interview up a month (now 2/28) and I need to know how long the AM session lasts. I'd like to buy my flight tonight, so any help is appreciated! I figured a late evening flight would be reasonable, but I have work/school the next day and need to get back to Atlanta as soon as possible. 🙂
Click to expand...

I wanna say the AM session ends after the tour, which is after lunch if I remember correctly. I was in the PM session and that ended around 4pm so I think AM ended between 2-2:30pm.
 
Anyone here have any experience with UIC's undergraduate courses? I want to take Organic Chemistry at UIC, but I noticed on their website http://www.uic.edu/ucat/courses/CHEM that Organic Chemistry, without lab, is 4 hours, would AAMCAS convert this to 3 credit hours (or is it called semester hours?)?
 
Any1 else get the email from Linda Singleton about being reviewed at the adcom meeting but no decision was made? Just wondering if that's a standard email all applicants that were reviewed receive..
 
toppers88 said:
Any1 else get the email from Linda Singleton about being reviewed at the adcom meeting but no decision was made? Just wondering if that's a standard email all applicants that were reviewed receive..
Click to expand...

I got it too.
 
toppers88 said:
Any1 else get the email from Linda Singleton about being reviewed at the adcom meeting but no decision was made? Just wondering if that's a standard email all applicants that were reviewed receive..
Click to expand...

It's standard if you didn't get accepted this round of reviews.
 
fishbait63 said:
Accepted today.

3.15 32Q OOS CA
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Congrats! If you don't mind disclosing...when did you receive an invite to interview?

Also, can anyone comment on how far into the season UIC interviews and if it is likely that anymore interviews will go out?
 
atran017 said:
Congrats! If you don't mind disclosing...when did you receive an invite to interview?

Also, can anyone comment on how far into the season UIC interviews and if it is likely that anymore interviews will go out?
Click to expand...

Atran017, I can't speak for when the season officially ends but I knowt that I scheduled recently and there was pretty slim pickings. I had to schedule as far out as March 23 and there weren't really any other options than that 🙁

Maybe they had more but only released a certain amount of dates at a time?
 
Gara said:
Atran017, I can't speak for when the season officially ends but I knowt that I scheduled recently and there was pretty slim pickings. I had to schedule as far out as March 23 and there weren't really any other options than that 🙁

Maybe they had more but only released a certain amount of dates at a time?
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Umm I scheduled last Friday for this Thursday. I think I got lucky bc someone withdrew.
 
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