2010-2011 University of Washington Application Thread

[BullDog4Eva]

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"Congratulations! The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) has received all secondary materials necessary to complete your admissions file. Your application will now be reviewed to determine your relative competitiveness for an interview. " (Sent 07/26)

Looks like I'll have to wait for the rest of OOS's to complete so that they would have a pool to compare me against. 🙁.

 

[VikingLegacy]

Baleeted

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

how long did it take you guys to get your payment marked as received?

 

[chrisoc13]

how long did it take you guys to get your payment marked as received?

A few days or so. Less than a week, more than three days.

 

[mtmed]

I'm complete and just waiting for my state to certify me. Washington emailed me the other day reminding me I wasn't complete yet with my application due to not being certified by my state yet 🙂.

Same here.

 

[TFS]

how long did it take you guys to get your payment marked as received?

2 days after i mailed it. ridiculously fast.

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[BullDog4Eva]

Ok folks, I have a question about Washington that I feel only the people in this thread stand a good shot at answering.

I am out of state (California 🙁), but I lived in Washington for the first two years of my life. Half of my extended family lives in Washington, at least of what's in the U.S., and the other half lives in Packwood. Meanwhile, my family owns property in Chehalis. If necessary, that property could be legally transferred to me.

My questions for SDN are:

#1: Is there any way this could be turned into on-paper state residency?
#2: If not, is there any way my extensive ties to the state could be used as leverage for admissions purposes?

Once you get the 2ndary, there is a section where you can mention your ties to Washington. The section basically asks you to construct an auto-biography of anything relevant to your drive to go into medicine.

However, pre-secondary-wise, I'm not sure what you can do. They go by what you check off as your residency on your AMCAS... that way someone doesn't have an advantage at two different states.

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[memedimonkey]

There is a form for you to fill out to establish residency:

http://www.washington.edu/students/reg/residency/

One of the key questions would be where have you spent the past 12 months living? If not in WA and OOS for school, then had you established residency prior to leaving for school.

Or are you a tax return dependent of some one who is a WA resident?

Also, car registration, votor registration, tax return address, etc in WA?

I don't think that will work for you, but you could graduate, move to WA-taking a year off- and establish residency in order to apply.

 

[BullDog4Eva]

I wonder if there is anyone I can find out how many OOS gets a 2ndary. 3000 OOS applicants and 80 interview invite is really crazy.

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

I wonder if there is anyone I can find out how many OOS gets a 2ndary. 3000 OOS applicants and 80 interview invite is really crazy.

i feel like a small portion get secondaries.. I at least feel proud of myself for it though Im nervous as hell about interviews (i keep thinking i have a bad letter haha)

 

[Champaigne]

I'm OOS, and also got that "initial email" a couple weeks ago. Still waiting for news on whether or not I'll get a secondary. Have any other OOS-ers heard anything?

I'm in the same boat. UW is my top choice but OOS, so I guess we will see what happens. Does getting the initial email mean we have a shot or is it just a waiting list for rejection?

 

[Champaigne]

I just hit submit a moment ago. 🙂

Crossing my fingers for an interview. They don't seem to offer too many of those to OOS.

Congrats! looks like you're one of the lucky few OOS with a chance. What were the Secondary Questions for OOS?

 

[Champaigne]

Never Mind Bulldog4eva, just took the time to read through all the posts and found my answers...good luck anyways though!!

 

[BullDog4Eva]

Congrats! looks like you're one of the lucky few OOS with a chance. What were the Secondary Questions for OOS?

Thanks for the encouragement. So far I'm not doing so well everywhere else. I think I dug my own grave. My PS spoke heavily of wanting to go into Primary Care, which is great for school who has a strong rep for it... but for everywhere else, they would immediately think "Why would he matriculate here?" as they toss my app out the window.

 

[BullDog4Eva]

Never Mind Bulldog4eva, just took the time to read through all the posts and found my answers...good luck anyways though!!

Though I wouldn't work on it until you get the 2ndary... cuz you just might never know. I hope you do, but it's not a guarantee.

 

[12751]

I'm OOS, and also got that "initial email" a couple weeks ago. Still waiting for news on whether or not I'll get a secondary. Have any other OOS-ers heard anything?

It took me over 3 weeks from the initial to secondary (OOS).

 

[BullDog4Eva]

It took me over 3 weeks from the initial to secondary (OOS).

When was your primary verified? And was U Wash on your list all along?

I'm testing this theory in which I think that U Wash interestingly enough sends 2ndaries not based on chronological order but by "fitness to their mission statement".

From reading last year's thread... it seems almost as if they're blind to an OOS's stats, assuming it's above a certain threshold to begin with.

 

[drugsarefun]

BullDog what's your state residency if you don't mind sharing (sorry you already have and i didn't see the post)?

 

[BullDog4Eva]

BullDog what's your state residency if you don't mind sharing (sorry you already have and i didn't see the post)?

No Prob. Raised in Boston. Can't say "born and raised" because I immigrated to America... but that's basically how I feel.

 

[12751]

AMCAS complete: 6/15

Initial Email from UW: 7/1

Secondary: 7/26

U Wash was on my list all along.

 

[brussellnhes]

do you guys think question 8 is asking us to explain what kind of doctor we want to be? i kinda feel like they expect you to explain what kind of doctor you want to be and where you want to be working and how your personal life will revolve around that... what do you guys think?

 

[BullDog4Eva]

AMCAS complete: 6/15

Initial Email from UW: 7/1

Secondary: 7/26

U Wash was on my list all along.

Good luck on your secondary!! I hope all three of us (QuesoAndFromage being the third) gets an interview!! (Sorry if I left out any other OOS that has also gotten a 2ndary. 🙁 )

 

[12751]

That's the spirit. Best of luck finding the perfect fit.

 

[chizomp]

Hi,

I am a little confused about whether or not any action needs to be taken to prove residency for WA state residents. Anyone know?

Thanks and good luck to all!

 

[TFS]

.

 

[memedimonkey]

If there is anything in your AMCAS that might give some one a reason to wonder, like attending UG OOS, they will likely ask. They are pretty quick about the approval, maybe a week or two, but gathering the proof can take time for busy students who may not even be home.

If you think it may apply to you, prepare the packet ahead of time; I actually submitted to residency before I was asked so that it could be done early

 

[chizomp]

got it. thanks!

 

[mtmed]

do you guys think question 8 is asking us to explain what kind of doctor we want to be? i kinda feel like they expect you to explain what kind of doctor you want to be and where you want to be working and how your personal life will revolve around that... what do you guys think?

I focused on work/life balance...

 

[skimsu]

I remember a conversation I had with the "associate dean of admissions" and she told me that they used to automatically send out secondaries to in-state people with certain numbers... 3.5/30 or something like that, but in recent years people in that category made up only about 40% of the matriculants. I found that a little surprising and kind of hard to believe...

 

[memedimonkey]

UWSOM does seem to be less obsessed with the numbers game and more interested in the whole person and especially what you have done to research the medical field and confirm both your interest and that you know what you are getting yourself into by pursuing an MD

They send some people a "not ready" letter, telling them essentially, you are an appealing candidate, but you need to do more volunteering, shadowing, etc to make sure you know what this is all about.

 

[BullDog4Eva]

UWSOM does seem to be less obsessed with the numbers game and more interested in the whole person and especially what you have done to research the medical field and confirm both your interest and that you know what you are getting yourself into by pursuing an MD

They send some people a "not ready" letter, telling them essentially, you are an appealing candidate, but you need to do more volunteering, shadowing, etc to make sure you know what this is all about.

If numbers were important to them, I definitely would not have gotten a secondary. A lot of near-perfect GPA/MCAT seems offended to be screened out, but I think this is one school that is really staunch about their mission statement. Having good stats on top of meeting that requirement is a bonus.

 

[skimsu]

A lot of near-perfect GPA/MCAT seems offended to be screened out, but I think this is one school that is really staunch about their mission statement.

Also, they really do look at your school... i.e. someone who goes to a school and receives letter grades for each course is bound to have a higher GPA than someone who receives numerical grades for each course.

 

[catswym]

so, I finally emailed them earlier this week to say, It's been 6 weeks since I received that initial email and gee whiz I'd really like to apply to UW (I'm OOS).

Got an email today saying my file is still under review and it could take another 3-4 weeks. 10 weeks to tell me whether I can fill out a secondary?! Kinda crazy. 😱

But I'd still love to go if they'll have me.

 

[TFS]

.

 

[Tachybradia]

hey so for the question in the statements section about posting your abstracts; do you think it would be a good idea to give a short overview of my research if I don't have anything published yet or just leave it blank because I haven't published anything yet?

 

[memedimonkey]

If you're excited about it and have good things to say, I don't see why it would not be a good thing to include a brief synopsis and perhaps a timeline to submission for publication.

 

[Champaigne]

At what point does no news stop being good news and start being bad news?!

OOS; Initial Letter Received July 26

 

[BullDog4Eva]

At what point does no news stop being good news and start being bad news?!

OOS; Initial Letter Received July 26

There's been people who waited for 3-4 weeks before getting a 2ndary so I wouldn't call it over yet. They're very quick at sending reject letters, so no news has to mean something.

When was your primary verified?

 

[Champaigne]

There's been people who waited for 3-4 weeks before getting a 2ndary so I wouldn't call it over yet. They're very quick at sending reject letters, so no news has to mean something.

When was your primary verified?

Well I guess thats comforting...sort of 🙂 Primary Verified July 20th. Did you hear back about an interview yet?

 

[BullDog4Eva]

Well I guess thats comforting...sort of 🙂 Primary Verified July 20th. Did you hear back about an interview yet?

The moment I open the mail... whether it's reject or interview, I would post it on SDN within 5 seconds, so don't worry about missing out on the news. LOL.

If you were only verified 07/20, there was probably an exponential increase of OOS applicants to screen through before getting to yours.

 

[brussellnhes]

i assigned my letters to UW over a month ago but apparently they still haven't been received. i submitted my secondary two weeks ago and it still says on my status page that they're missing. i just received an incomplete email from UW saying my letters are still outstanding... should i call them to find out what's going on or should i just wait? i figure sorting these letters takes a while. any opinions? has this happened to anyone else?

 

[BullDog4Eva]

i assigned my letters to UW over a month ago but apparently they still haven't been received. i submitted my secondary two weeks ago and it still says on my status page that they're missing. i just received an incomplete email from UW saying my letters are still outstanding... should i call them to find out what's going on or should i just wait? i figure sorting these letters takes a while. any opinions? has this happened to anyone else?

They received my letters like 2 days after I submitted my 2ndary. They even e-mailed me about my letters not qualifying as "committee letter" (they later decided that it does). It seems to me they are quite pro-active about making sure every applicant's app is complete.

I would call and check. Of all the admissions office I've called, they are the nicest people I've talked to so far.

 

[brussellnhes]

They received my letters like 2 days after I submitted my 2ndary. They even e-mailed me about my letters not qualifying as "committee letter" (they later decided that it does). It seems to me they are quite pro-active about making sure every applicant's app is complete.

I would call and check. Of all the admissions office I've called, they are the nicest people I've talked to so far.

They said at this point that they are just backed up... oh well, i guess i just have to wait...

Based on last year, it seems like interview invites don't start coming out until september/october so we still have a little time

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

i assigned my letters to UW over a month ago but apparently they still haven't been received. i submitted my secondary two weeks ago and it still says on my status page that they're missing. i just received an incomplete email from UW saying my letters are still outstanding... should i call them to find out what's going on or should i just wait? i figure sorting these letters takes a while. any opinions? has this happened to anyone else?

im in the same boat-- i also got the same email.. ill wait another week before calling. if you call let us know

 

[skimsu]

You know, I understand why all of these schools are concerned with security and making sure everyone's applications are genuine, but... This whole process (for every school) is a little crazy. I go to UW, and all of my letters are from the Seattle/Washington area. I could easily drop off all of my stuff in a manilla envelope one day and show the secretary that everything is there... We pay soo much money for these "services" like AMCAS and the secondary systems for each school, and yet they still cause us pain lol. Oh well, I guess it will just be something that we look back on once and laugh at when we're in school.

 

[powersr8810]

UWSOM does seem to be less obsessed with the numbers game and more interested in the whole person and especially what you have done to research the medical field and confirm both your interest and that you know what you are getting yourself into by pursuing an MD

They send some people a "not ready" letter, telling them essentially, you are an appealing candidate, but you need to do more volunteering, shadowing, etc to make sure you know what this is all about.

I am a re-app here and actually had an "exit interview" aka why-I-didn't-get-in interview. I was told that I was not ready and needed life experience to mature etc etc etc. So hopefully during the last 2 years of my life I have managed to accomplish this.

 

[missjuicy]

i assigned my letters to UW over a month ago but apparently they still haven't been received. i submitted my secondary two weeks ago and it still says on my status page that they're missing. i just received an incomplete email from UW saying my letters are still outstanding... should i call them to find out what's going on or should i just wait? i figure sorting these letters takes a while. any opinions? has this happened to anyone else?

This happened to me as well. My AMCAS was verified 7/16 and I received the secondary 7/19. I submitted the secondary two days later and kept checking every day for my letters to be received. I figured it said "several weeks to be downloaded" so I would try to be patient. On 8/16 right when I was going to contact them to check if there was a problem, I received an email from the admissions office stating that my file was incomplete. I emailed them back right away telling them how I had assigned my letters when I submitted my AMCAS so they should be in their system and I thought they were just waiting to be downloaded. A few hours later the day I got the incomplete email, the staff emailed me back saying that my application was complete...so I dunno...I feel like my letters got "lost" in their system 🙁 I don't know how much sooner my application could've been completed by...

 

[kitanai]

I am a re-app here and actually had an "exit interview" aka why-I-didn't-get-in interview. I was told that I was not ready and needed life experience to mature etc etc etc. So hopefully during the last 2 years of my life I have managed to accomplish this.

Have you made it to the interview two years ago? If so, was your interview experience pleasant? And as for the exit interview, was the dean very specific on the things you have to do? Thanks!