2010-2011 University of Kansas Application Thread

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Oh, I have done almost every possible thing even while working full-time. Volunteer work in many different areas, research at the University of Kansas Medical Center, lab research, physician shadowing in different specialties on multiple occasions, joined the KU Work Group... I didn't do all of it to check off things that pre-medical students should do. Instead, I chose activities that I truly enjoyed and they all helped to broaden my perspective on servicing the community.


Unfortunately, I only applied to 4 schools. I was wait-listed at 3 and the 4th didn't interview me because one of my professors submitted her LOR a day late. I'm definitely taking the Early Decision route this year and hoping for the best!
Whew....rough on you friend!.....But, let us kick butt this cycle! lol
 
We need to get this thread rolling... Case Western is already up to 3 pages.
 
Hey, thanks for asking! I have no clue how the MCAT went! lol I didn't think it was really terrible - only one physics passage (if I remember correctly) so that made a world of difference for me. I really suck at math. I am hoping I don't have to retake it, but I wouldn't be surprised if I had to either. I'm trying to keep it real. ha ha
 
Anyone taking summer classes? (Was this question already asked?) How is the summer going?

Do we need icebreaker questions?
 
I'm only at 30 something posts after a year on here, I could use some padding haha

1 physics passage?? I'm hoping that happens on mine for sure.

I'm not taking summer classes, just studying and volunteering.
 
I jumped on the 6/17 thread and jogged my memory, so I take it back, I had a least two physics passages and only a couple non-passage questions. They were ok, but still not sure if I got them right...
 
oh ok... yeah i can't even imagine waiting for my score though.

So.....Why KU? (there's an icebreaker for ya)
 
Yeah, it's going to be a long month.

Mainly because it is the only school in KS, and I don't have the option to move anywhere else. I have a good feeling about the school, like it's a good fit for me, and everyone I talk to says a lot of good things about the program there.

What about you?
 
Yeah, it's going to be a long month.

Mainly because it is the only school in KS, and I don't have the option to move anywhere else. I have a good feeling about the school, like it's a good fit for me, and everyone I talk to says a lot of good things about the program there.

What about you?


Basically the same. I think KU is a really awesome school and it's what I'm most familiar with. Plus it's my best shot and the in-state tuition is nice. Another thing I have been thinking of.... if one does not get into their state school, they will be paying around $60,000 more over four years (OOS and private tuition). So is it worth waiting a couple years, building a better resume, and re-applying with much better chances to save that money if you're set on the school? Like when I'm 50 I feel like I'll look back and barely remember waiting to get in, but is it worth it financially to wait?

But other than that, everyone I've talked to in the program says it's really great, that they have no regrets, and doesn't really have anything negative to say, except those who don't want to go to Wichita for M3 & 4.
 
Yeah, I feel the same way. I know I will get in, it's just a matter of when. I'm patient lol.

I think someone asked you this before, but is that you in your avatar?
 
No that would be legit though if it was, it's Justin Vernon from Bon Iver
 
oh ok... yeah i can't even imagine waiting for my score though.

So.....Why KU? (there's an icebreaker for ya)
KU is a great school guys. We're ranked in the middle of all of the med schools, meaning that there's no need to go somewhere else to end up paying more money unless it's a top notch school like Harvard, John Hopkins, Pennsylvania, San Fran, etc(unless you are accepted somewhere and rejected at KU). KU's average step 1 board score is higher than the nation's average, which I guess it's higher than 222. If you would look at the residency matching list, people are matched all over! FOr example, if you would look at the highly competitive residency positions such as diagnostic rad, neurology, orthopedic surgery, ENT, and etc, there's a good number of people matched! If you want to do stuff like derm, plastic, neurosurgery, rad oncology, which are extremely competitive, you might want to go to a top med school, or kick serious butt in med school lol. KU all the way!
 
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KU is a great school guys. We're ranked in the middle of all of the med schools, meaning that there's no need to go somewhere else to end up paying more money unless it's a top notch school like Harvard, John Hopkins, Pennsylvania, San Fran, etc(unless you are accepted somewhere and rejected at KU). KU's average step 1 board score is higher than the nation's average, which I guess it's higher than 222. If you would look at the residency matching list, people are matched all over! FOr example, if you would look at the highly competitive residency positions such as diagnostic rad, neurology, orthopedic surgery, ENT, and etc, there's a good number of people matched! If you want to do stuff like derm, plastic, neurosurgery, rad oncology, which are extremely competitive, you might want to go to a top med school, or kick serious butt in med school lol. KU all the way!

Yeah, they do have some pretty good stats and it seems like they keep moving up the ranks each year. I like that they really care about their students and listen to ideas about how to make the program even better- They want feedback from the students and actually make changes. That, to me, is says a lot.
 
Yeah I play quite a bit but I just wish I could write music...

So I've decided that physics sucks... I'm going through Berkeley Review's physics and doing all the problems over and it is still pretty painful.
 
Yeah I play quite a bit but I just wish I could write music...

So I've decided that physics sucks... I'm going through Berkeley Review's physics and doing all the problems over and it is still pretty painful.

That's cool that you play. I bought my husband a guitar for xmas a couple years back, but he hasn't practiced much. He cut the tips of his ring and pinky fingers off (left hand) and isn't sure if he can get em callused up enough to play. They are a little sensitive.


My thoughts exactly!! I had two really bad professors. They were super smart guys, just couldn't reach down to our level to explain stuff, so I had to learn everything on my own. The problem with me trying to learn it on my own is, I suck at math. 🙁 Physics is my nemesis. 😡
 
That's cool that you play. I bought my husband a guitar for xmas a couple years back, but he hasn't practiced much. He cut the tips of his ring and pinky fingers off (left hand) and isn't sure if he can get em callused up enough to play. They are a little sensitive.


My thoughts exactly!! I had two really bad professors. They were super smart guys, just couldn't reach down to our level to explain stuff, so I had to learn everything on my own. The problem with me trying to learn it on my own is, I suck at math. 🙁 Physics is my nemesis. 😡

Hmm, whenever I had problems with my calluses, I just put a layer of super glue over that part of my finger which needed it. It becomes really high maintenance but it works for awhile... other than that I would have no idea how to get around that kind of hand injury for guitar.

Yeah my physics professor was the same way... so whenever I would prepare for tests I would get old tests and practice them over and over without ever really learning the concept... it worked at the time for his problems cause I was good at math but I really just dug myself into a hole.
 
Hmm, whenever I had problems with my calluses, I just put a layer of super glue over that part of my finger which needed it. It becomes really high maintenance but it works for awhile... other than that I would have no idea how to get around that kind of hand injury for guitar.

Yeah my physics professor was the same way... so whenever I would prepare for tests I would get old tests and practice them over and over without ever really learning the concept... it worked at the time for his problems cause I was good at math but I really just dug myself into a hole.


That's a good idea, I'll have to let him know. Thanks!

I understand some of the concepts, but my math was shaky. I'd just practice the problems because most of the test questions were from the homework, but it didn't help studying for the MCAT lol.
 
ya know if we keep posting back and forth at this rate I think we'll surpass Case Western....they're at 143 already 🙂
 
I don't mind padding my posts. :meanie:
 
Whered everyone go? There has to be more than 4 of us applying to KU. If that is the case - easiest acceptance ever!
 
Whered everyone go? There has to be more than 4 of us applying to KU. If that is the case - easiest acceptance ever!

Yeah this thread has tons of views, I assume lots of people are interested but don't post or anything. Or maybe Kansas is just too much to handle.

But I got a harmonica and holder so between volunteering and studying I've been playing that and guitar.😀
 
That's awesome! I remember messing with my dads when I was a kid lol
 
Progress:

3 of 4 LOR in
PS minor tweaks and then done
MCAT - taken score released on July 20
Transcripts sent and received
Application filled out - needs a few tweaks and a PS

Hopefully submitting in July, but we will see how bad the MCAT is. 😀
 
Wow your writers are fast, I've only got 1 of 5 letters.
 
Wow your writers are fast, I've only got 1 of 5 letters.


Yeah, I kinda lucked out with the professors. They pretty much wrote their letters after the semester was over before they started working on their projects, but the physician took forever to send his in. I knew him well enough that I could harass him to keep him on track though. :meanie: I finally had to give him a deadline and he even turned it in on time! I'm just waiting for the one from my employer which shouldn't take long to get turned in.
 
So what are your plans for living arrangements when you get into KU? Will you live with roommates, family, alone?

I will have to move up there and commute to Hutch on the weekends. The agreement to me going to med school is I have to get a roommate(s) - my husband does not like the idea of me living up there alone despite the fact that I lived in Tucson for 7 years before we got together. lol He's protective. This is why Wichita opening up a 4 year class would be great for me.
 
Yeah, I'm going to start pestering if they don't get those letters sent in a couple weeks...

Living arrangements? haha, yeah that "when you get into KU" will have to come first... I'm thinking of living wherever's cheapest haha, I'm not to worried about finding a nice area of town or anything
 
See, I said when you get in to help your chances. 😀 :luck:
 
Yeah, I kinda lucked out with the professors. They pretty much wrote their letters after the semester was over before they started working on their projects, but the physician took forever to send his in. I knew him well enough that I could harass him to keep him on track though. :meanie: I finally had to give him a deadline and he even turned it in on time! I'm just waiting for the one from my employer which shouldn't take long to get turned in.
hopefully it's not the physician who I'm waiting on lol
 
So what are your plans for living arrangements when you get into KU? Will you live with roommates, family, alone?

I will have to move up there and commute to Hutch on the weekends. The agreement to me going to med school is I have to get a roommate(s) - my husband does not like the idea of me living up there alone despite the fact that I lived in Tucson for 7 years before we got together. lol He's protective. This is why Wichita opening up a 4 year class would be great for me.
You can choose the Wichita campus for your 3rd and 4th years
 
hopefully it's not the physician who I'm waiting on lol
:laugh:

Yeah, I plan on coming back for 3rd and 4th year, but I will have to go back up for residency. 🙁 Unless I change my mind and actually like one of the few they offer in Wichita.
 
Anyone happens to get the secondary yet? lol.....Or is it in early July? Anyone knows when is the deadline for LORs? I'm still waiting for one more.
 
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.Here are lasts years prompts. I know they change a little each year, but this should get you started..
.LOR's are due in Sept I believe.
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.Essay Prompts:
Provide relatively brief (1000 character maximum) answers to the following questions. Use Notepad or other non-formatting text editors if you would like to copy-paste your answers from drafts prepared elsewhere. If you copy-paste more than a 1000 characters into a text box, you will lose your answer when you click the <Save> button. Required fields are marked with an asterisk.*

1. Describe examples of leadership experience in which you have significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

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.2. Describe any of your special interests and how you have developed knowledge in these areas. Give examples of your creativity: the ability to see alternatives; to take diverse perspectives; to develop varied or original ideas; or the willingness to try new things..
. .
.3. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing that challenge, the role that person played, and what you learned about yourself..
. .
.4. Explain what you have done to make your community a better place to live. Give examples of specific projects in which you have been involved over time..
. .
.5. Describe your experiences facing or witnessing discrimination. Tell how you responded and what you learned from these experiences and how they have prepared you for your future in medicine..
. .
.6. If you are not a ..Kansas.. resident, what is your specific interest in applying to the University of ..Kansas.. School of Medicine?

7. If necessary, update the information contained in your AMCAS application. Indicate grades earned, alterations in your proposed course work or graduation time, additions to your extracurricular activities, or other pertinent information.

8. If there are discrepancies in your application that have not been explained in your personal statement, use this space to clarify. Examples may include unexplained gaps in time, multiple undergraduate institutions attended, multiple course withdrawals, inconsistent academic performance, inconsistency between academic performance and MCAT scores.

9. If you are currently enrolled, or plan to be enrolled during the next academic year, in a graduate or professional degree program, please describe your status within the program and your intentions to complete the program. You must also request a letter from your graduate program advisor or from the dean of your professional school. This letter must include acknowledgement of your application to medical school and a description of your status in the program.

10. For Repeat Applicants Only: Since your last application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Please note relevant academic, employment and personal experiences.

11. For Combined MD/PhD Program Applicants: Do you also want to be considered as an "MD-only" applicant?

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Thanks buddy! lol I'll probably start on those this weekend
 
So there was no 12th & 13th prompts from last year asking about criminal charges? I have the prompts from '08-'09 and they had those... Just curious.
 
So there was no 12th & 13th prompts from last year asking about criminal charges? I have the prompts from '08-'09 and they had those... Just curious.

Worrying about malpractice already? :laugh:

And yes, those prompts were there last year:
*13. Have you ever been convicted for violation of a regulation or law relating to controlled substances (answer YES or NO)? If yes, provide appropriate explanation(s), including the date(s) of conviction, case number(s), and the jurisdictional court(s) involved.

*14. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony (answer YES or NO)? If yes, provide appropriate explanation(s), including the date(s) of conviction, case number(s), and the jurisdictional court(s) involved.

Also I think there is one missing from the list above:
6. As a student, what is unique or special that you would bring to KU School of Medicine?
 
I will bring my martial arts skills to KU-SOM so we can fight off diseases lol
 
Hey Omzy, What is your avatar pic? It looks funky but I can't figure it out. lol
 
Hey Omzy, What is your avatar pic? It looks funky but I can't figure it out. lol
Just a microtubule / actin stain of some cells from Google Images. Honestly have no idea why I put it, now that you mention it. Guess I just wanted to fill that blank spot with something colorful related to biology.
 
It's neat. It almost looks like something in a hooded cloak so I was trying to figure it out
lol
 
Haha, you've got quite the imagination, I still cannot see it :laugh:
 
BWSTW are you applying early decision?
saw you said you were submitting in july, isnt it due by july 1st for ED?
 
July 1 is "strongly recommended". August 1 is the deadline for ED
 
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