2010-2011 Wake Forest University Application Thread

[letsgomedical]

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This time last year I was screened-in and was less qualified. Since then I have:

-Been published in the Journal of Neurophysiology
-Been published in an undergraduate health policy journal.
-Finished a M.S. in Neuroscience w/ a 3.97 at Tulane
-Volunteered in Neuro Rehab Unit
-Volunteered in Hospice Facility
-Conducted free GED tutoring for brain injured patients

I understand the medical school application process is a crapshoot and seemingly random. I also understand that the caliber of applicants changes year to year. However, I believe I deserve further explanation.

This is just venting, so take it with a grain of salt. I need to forget about this so I can finish my other secondaries strong.

It really does feel like a crapshoot... what is their criteria anyway?? do they just reject every 3rd applicant or something? or reject anyone whose last name starts with certain alphabet? I don't understand.. you will get in somewhere. Somewhere that deserves you more than WF.

 

[acesla07]

Received a secondary to Wake! 27R/3.82 overall gpa/4.0 in my major which is math.

I'm new to the site as well so hello all!

I logged into this site hoping to find a general answer to essay length and whether or not to answer the Personal Statement essay. I've gathered that everyone is writing around 500 words and answering the second essay. Any further info/opinions would be awesome.

I thought about writing an essay interweaving math and a medical career and how it has prepared me. Any thoughts?

Thanks guys.

 

[mdsandman]

I'm getting a secondary! Wow... I thought for sure I got the axe. Good luck to everyone!

 

[Acp2010]

Really hoping for a secondary...my AMCAS was verified 7/20 and i haven't heard anything from wake at all. stats are 34Q/3.77 GPA. anyone in a similar situation?

 

[MD Ani]

Really hoping for a secondary...my AMCAS was verified 7/20 and i haven't heard anything from wake at all. stats are 34Q/3.77 GPA. anyone in a similar situation?

yea i was verified 7/13 and havent heard anything yet. but i figure they have a lot of apps and are getting through them as best they can. there are others also who havent heard anything yet, so right now im not worried.

 

[BioeMD]

I wouldn't hold your breath for the secondary. I was verified 7/6, received an email on 7/19 that my status was updated (it said I would get a secondary within 2 weeks) and am still waiting for the secondary. Granted it hasn't been 2 weeks yet but I didn't think they would take quite that long 😛. Good luck though.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

Don't worry. It will come. The email says we're getting a secondary...so we are. If it hasnt been two weeks, no worries. I got the email on the 19th also. The next batch will be tomorrow or friday i have a feeling 😉

I wouldn't hold your breath for the secondary. I was verified 7/6, received an email on 7/19 that my status was updated (it said I would get a secondary within 2 weeks) and am still waiting for the secondary. Granted it hasn't been 2 weeks yet but I didn't think they would take quite that long 😛. Good luck though.

 

[dbeast]

I got that same initial email that said received but no mention of the secondary which I thought was bad, but then checked the status today and said they will be sending it. Don't give up hope, ppl.

 

[jcwhitts]

yea i was verified 7/13 and havent heard anything yet. but i figure they have a lot of apps and are getting through them as best they can. there are others also who havent heard anything yet, so right now im not worried.

+1 verified 7/14

 

[AriM]

I was verified on June 3rd and didn't get a secondary until July 21st...Be patient, it's coming!!!

 

[crixx]

Geez it's about time
OOS verified 6/22, secondary received 7/30

 

[glasshalfMD]

Geez it's about time
OOS verified 6/22, secondary received 7/30

Ditto! Verified 7/2, secondary received 7/30 👍

 

[Avoidthetiger]

hmmm I just checked my wake forest status and it says Under review again. It said I was getting the secondary over a week ago. 🙁

If they contacted me July 19th that they would be reviewing my preliminary application, at what point should I call and ask about the change in status?

 

[jcwhitts]

Ditto! Verified 7/2, secondary received 7/30 👍

But when did you get that prelim review email? I haven't even seen that yet.

 

[Haftred]

Really stupid question, but I just wanted to make sure:

In the second essay what do they mean by "practice scenario"? Like should I talk about how I want to go into private practice, or should I talk about what specialty (dermatology, etc) I want to go into?

Gracias.

 

[glasshalfMD]

But when did you get that prelim review email? I haven't even seen that yet.

I got my very first email from them on July 19. It said to check my status online, which said that they had received my AMCAS app and would review it. Then, I kept checking my status despite not getting another email, and maybe on the 23rd or 24th or something the status changed to "we will be sending you our secondary, allow 2 weeks" or something like that. And I received it today.

Hope that little timeline helps. 🙂

Avoidthetiger, so sorry your status changed! - I think you should definitely call and say "hey, what's up, my app buddy got one, now where's mine!?"

 

[jcwhitts]

I got my very first email from them on July 19. It said to check my status online, which said that they had received my AMCAS app and would review it. Then, I kept checking my status despite not getting another email, and maybe on the 23rd or 24th or something the status changed to "we will be sending you our secondary, allow 2 weeks" or something like that. And I received it today.

Hope that little timeline helps. 🙂

Avoidthetiger, so sorry your status changed! - I think you should definitely call and say "hey, what's up, my app buddy got one, now where's mine!?"

Thanks! It does help. The whole being finished with all the secondaries I've received has made me especially neurotic about those I haven't and it'd be nice to have something to take my attention away from obsessively checking my status... 🙂

 

[Wiingy]

hmmm I just checked my wake forest status and it says Under review again. It said I was getting the secondary over a week ago. 🙁

If they contacted me July 19th that they would be reviewing my preliminary application, at what point should I call and ask about the change in status?

The same thing happened to me and I got my secondary. If you are a current grad student, you should be receiving an email shortly that says "WFU requires you to complete your degree by July before expected matriculation. Please have someone send us an email stating that you are on track to do so." Once the email is received, presto! Status change and you get your secondary.

Also, I went kind of nuts on this secondary and ended up with ~850 words...😱 anyone think that this is a terrible idea? There are things I can cut, but if they give that much space, why not use it?

 

[Avoidthetiger]

The same thing happened to me and I got my secondary. If you are a current grad student, you should be receiving an email shortly that says "WFU requires you to complete your degree by July before expected matriculation. Please have someone send us an email stating that you are on track to do so." Once the email is received, presto! Status change and you get your secondary.

Also, I went kind of nuts on this secondary and ended up with ~850 words...😱 anyone think that this is a terrible idea? There are things I can cut, but if they give that much space, why not use it?

well shoot my PI goes on vacation today for 2 weeks and I still haven't gotten that email. 🙁 I probably will have the dean's secretary send out the email with an attached memo stating the master's program knows I am applying to medical school.

edit: thank you so much for this info. I called them and they told me to do this. Hopefully I will catch my PI before he is out of the country.

edit: Email has been sent. thank you again Wiingyhttp://forums.studentdoctor.net/member.php?u=179804

 

[llanowarelvs]

bump

 

[baileybrown]

hey everyone--i am trying to read up a little more about the school/classes/volunteer opportunities/etc. but i'm not finding too much info on the website.. anyone find any in-depth info? and if so, can you point me in the right direction? thanks in advance!

 

[mwang20]

After having submitted my secondary, how do you check your status? login into the secondary again? it doesnt seem to work for me anymore? anyone else having the same problem?

 

[BiochemGuy]

After having submitted my secondary, how do you check your status? login into the secondary again? it doesnt seem to work for me anymore? anyone else having the same problem?

Go to the link on the original status email.

 

[DoC352]

nvm

 

[brownbag]

Just received the following email from Wake Forest:

"Your application for the next entering class has been received from the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Our office will contact you when further information is required.

If you wish to see the status of your application, click on this URL (Please Note: this is not our Secondary Application, its only a link to check the status of your application)"

Damnit Wake, what a tease!! Got my hopes up so much...wonder what the purpose of even sending this email was...

did you receive this after first submitting your primary application? or after it had been verified? i applied here but haven't received this email... makes me a little nervous.

 

[DoC352]

did you receive this after first submitting your primary application? or after it had been verified? i applied here but haven't received this email... makes me a little nervous.

I know I got it after I was verified, but I was verified before primaries even went out...

don't worry about not getting that email yet... As far as I know everybody who sends in a primary gets that email and then it takes about two weeks to get screened for the secondary. That's what you need to be more worried about...

 

[shoebusiness85]

Are most people filling out the "Additional Comments" section?

Can someone who goes to WF comment on whether the AdCom only wants you to write something here if you have something concerning about your app to explain -- or can it be just something else about yourself that's not anywhere in your application?

 

[chrisoc13]

Are most people filling out the "Additional Comments" section?

Can someone who goes to WF comment on whether the AdCom only wants you to write something here if you have something concerning about your app to explain -- or can it be just something else about yourself that's not anywhere in your application?

I filled it out. Just because I figured why the heck not.

 

[Acp2010]

did you receive this after first submitting your primary application? or after it had been verified? i applied here but haven't received this email... makes me a little nervous.

i received the "we have your primary application" email exactly 2 weeks after being verified. now have to wait another 1-2 weeks to see if i pass the screen...

 

[hemostat5]

Hey guys,

Previous to today, I had not heard anything from Wake. My primary was verified 06/09. I designated Wake as a school 07/15. I Sent them an email today asking for an update.

They got back to me within a half hour and said that they were evaluating my primary as we speak and would send an email soon.

I got the "your primary has been received" e-mail at 2:00 PM Central.

I just checked my status for the first time (5:00 PM) and it says that they are sending me a secondary.

Quick turnaround! w00t.

 

[Acp2010]

Hey guys,

Previous to today, I had not heard anything from Wake. My primary was verified 06/09. I designated Wake as a school 07/15. I Sent them an email today asking for an update.

They got back to me within a half hour and said that they were evaluating my primary as we speak and would send an email soon.

I got the "your primary has been received" e-mail at 2:00 PM Central.

I just checked my status for the first time (5:00 PM) and it says that they are sending me a secondary.

Quick turnaround! w00t.

I had a quick turnaround too! got my first email from them today and then checked back a few hours later and was screened in! does anyone know how selective they are with their screening/what percentage of people they give secondaries to?

 

[MD Ani]

so i got my first email from wake yesterday saying they have my primary and i should check my status to find out the result of the screening. yesterday the status page said they were screening. now, at 5:45 PM pacific time (8:45 eastern) it says my application is complete, and gives info about interviews.
how can my applicaiton be complete if i haven't submitted a secondary? if i haven't even been screened in or out?

maybe my primary was so good they decided i didn't need a secondary lol

 

[divot787]

For those who are debating whether to write in the extra comment box or not, I would avoid doing so if it means repeating yourself. Think concise and meaningful- these people have thousands of essays to read.

 

[mickeymed]

hey, this is my first sdn post wahoo! okay, I was just wondering if those people who have completed this application can post what they are seeing when they check their status now. I was looking at last years thread and there were 3 different statuses people got after completing and I just wanted to see if thats what was happening this year. good luck to everyone! LOVE this school.

 

[DoctorLiuser]

hey, this is my first sdn post wahoo! okay, I was just wondering if those people who have completed this application can post what they are seeing when they check their status now. I was looking at last years thread and there were 3 different statuses people got after completing and I just wanted to see if thats what was happening this year. good luck to everyone! LOVE this school.

I have "Your application is complete. Interviews are by invitation from September to March. If you are invited, you will receive a e-mail or phone call to schedule an interview."

Can't think of any other way they would put this that is code for "you're rejected" or "you're gonna get an interview," though

 

[mickeymed]

I have "Your application is complete. Interviews are by invitation from September to March. If you are invited, you will receive a e-mail or phone call to schedule an interview."

Can't think of any other way they would put this that is code for "you're rejected" or "you're gonna get an interview," though

last year there were basically three from what I understand.

1) Paraphrasing it basically said, don't call us we'll call you.
2) The status you had
3) Your application is complete. please call to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience

so I was just curious

 

[brooksie442]

Woo, got a secondary invite and am OOS. Not sure how much they screen though...

 

[sensejae]

what are the word/character limit guys??

 

[mickeymed]

what are the word/character limit guys??

no limit.

 

[Thom1986]

So, for those of us who have finished and submitted the secondary- any status changes? People were getting interview statuses this time last year (started 8/4/09). I think there are three statuses as well, apparently one of them essentially means you are on hold, the other is they have not finished looking at your app, and the third means you are going to interview.

 

[Thom1986]

This is my current status:

Your Secondary Application has been recieved. If your recommendation letters have been received by AMCAS we will be loading them into our system soon. We do this in batches so please allow 2-3 weeks for your file to be complete.

 

[OGMD]

This is my current status:

Your Secondary Application has been recieved. If your recommendation letters have been received by AMCAS we will be loading them into our system soon. We do this in batches so please allow 2-3 weeks for your file to be complete.

Mine says:

"Your application is complete. Interviews are by invitation from September to March. If you are invited, you will receive a e-mail or phone call to schedule an interview."

Which according to last year's thread:
"Alright everyone, I've got some good news! I emailed Wake Forest about what the status "means", and if it's a post-secondary hold or not. Here's the reply I got:

"What the status means is that you have been placed in an interview pool and may get an invitation for interview. There usually ends up being about 1,000 in the top interview pool with spaces for only 550 to be interviewed. So we send the invitations. That hasn't been done as of yet for the interviews which will begin mid September. Stay tuned, you could possibly hear something soon."

That's more re-assuring than a straight-up hold. So everyone sit tight and hope for good things."

 

[cocacola142]

Woo, got a secondary invite and am OOS. Not sure how much they screen though...

They just informed me that I wouldn't be getting a secondary invite today (34N, 4.0 gpa) research, volunteering etc. Ha, I think that "N" on my MCAT got me kicked off the list. Any guesses guys?

 

[Carbon inc]

They just informed me that I wouldn't be getting a secondary invite today (34N, 4.0 gpa) research, volunteering etc. Ha, I think that "N" on my MCAT got me kicked off the list. Any guesses guys?

I just got rejected pre-secondary as well...wasn't really expecting that. First school that didn't screened me in. CA resident 3.83/32Q

Oh well...I'm not too crushed. Good luck to the rest of ya!

 

[mcctwist1]

Just got an interview invite. OOS 3.7/35Q.

 

[ronaldo23]

Rejected pre-secondary...3.5/32. Can't say I knew anything about this school, but still anyone rejection stings!

 

[orphn]

woke up to an interview invite 🙂 3.65/36s oos

 

[obgyny]

Screened out 🙁. 3.99cGPA/4.0sGPA, 28M (9-9-10). CA resident. Guess my GPA didn't make up for the MCAT score.

I kinda guessed it was a rejection, considering the email indicated that you should read the PDF attached... obviously a rejection letter!!

2 pre-secondary rejections... but this one stung more because it's a private school. (The other one was an OOS public school, so I wasn't as surprised). This worries me greatly, I am hoping I get some good news early on to keep my morale up.

Good luck everyone who got screened in!!

 

[marshmallow]

First interview invite!

OOS, 3.9, 31

 

[lollybo]

Congrats to those with early interviews! When did you guys submit/ get completed?