2011-2012 University of Chicago (Pritzker) Application Thread

[MilkIsGood]

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zanzobar, can you talk a little bit about the 3rd year at pritzker? what are the rotations like? do the attendings get to know you pretty well? is there a cap on how many people can get honors in 3rd year? and in the dean's letter, they do they rank the students?

 

[Zanzobar]

zanzobar, can you talk a little bit about the 3rd year at pritzker? what are the rotations like? do the attendings get to know you pretty well? is there a cap on how many people can get honors in 3rd year? and in the dean's letter, they do they rank the students?

3rd year is very up and down. It's tough but you will definitely have some great times as well. I firmly believe that the clinical training at Pritzker is excellent and you will be very well prepared for residency. Most of the attendings will get to know you pretty well and most are very enthusiastic about teaching. Pritzker does a really good job of letting everyone know that there is NO cap on honors and if we all do well, they are more than happy to hand everyone an honors. All in all, 3rd year is tough wherever you go, but I'm happy with my experience at Pritzker.

 

[BrandNewDay12]

I remember reading another post somewhere that says everyone who gets accepted to Pritzker will get a scholarship (varying amounts). Is this really true?

If someone gets accepted off the continued list, does that person still have any chance of scholarships?

 

[NickNaylor]

I remember reading another post somewhere that says everyone who gets accepted to Pritzker will get a scholarship (varying amounts). Is this really true?

If someone gets accepted off the continued list, does that person still have any chance of scholarships?

I don't think the first part is true. Pritzker does have a ton of money for scholarships and many, perhaps most, people will get one.

As far as getting a scholarship after getting off of the continued list, it's 100% possible. I have no idea how common it is, but it does happen.

 

[luckyducky87]

Hey guys - I had not been following this thread since my early-on rejection... 🙂 However, my bf and I recently decided we'll be in Chicago next year! Me at Feinberg and him at UChicago. For those of you who are considering living outside of Hyde Park, where's a good next go-to neighborhood to look into? I'd prefer to find some place where the commute won't be dreadful for the both of us (without a car)... Thanks!

 

[futuredoc808]

Hey guys - I had not been following this thread since my early-on rejection... 🙂 However, my bf and I recently decided we'll be in Chicago next year! Me at Feinberg and him at UChicago. For those of you who are considering living outside of Hyde Park, where's a good next go-to neighborhood to look into? I'd prefer to find some place where the commute won't be dreadful for the both of us (without a car)... Thanks!

Congrats! You should look into South Loop area... the commute by bus would be about 30 minutes for both of you, less if he takes the Metra. Stay east.

 

[NickNaylor]

Hey guys - I had not been following this thread since my early-on rejection... 🙂 However, my bf and I recently decided we'll be in Chicago next year! Me at Feinberg and him at UChicago. For those of you who are considering living outside of Hyde Park, where's a good next go-to neighborhood to look into? I'd prefer to find some place where the commute won't be dreadful for the both of us (without a car)... Thanks!

I actually have a classmate who is in your exact situation, except his girlfriend goes to Feinberg. He lives in the South Loop. I'd say anything in the downtown area would be fine - South Loop, River North, etc.. If you're both willing to be somewhat far away from school, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville would also be good options.

 

[nosugrefneb]

Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville

Barf.

 

[NickNaylor]

Barf.

 

[luckyducky87]

Thanks for the help! Looks like South Loop is a popular option...

 

[NickNaylor]

Thanks for the help! Looks like South Loop is a popular option...

That's where most people that don't live in Hyde Park tend to live, plus it'd be close for you since Northwestern is in the area, but there are other places too. 😛

 

[luckyducky87]

So your classmates who live in South Loop (or any of these "southern" neighborhoods), do they drive to UChicago everyday? Or public transit to school isn't too big a pain? Hows the parking situation for students who commute daily by driving?

 

[NickNaylor]

So your classmates who live in South Loop (or any of these "southern" neighborhoods), do they drive to UChicago everyday? Or public transit to school isn't too big a pain? Hows the parking situation for students who commute daily by driving?

There's a parking garage on campus that you can pay to park at. I've heard the price is $80/mo, but I'm not sure if that's true or not.

You COULD take mass transit depending on where you're at, but driving would probably be the easiest. Even if you live by the closest bus stop, though, you're probably looking at a 30-45 or so minute ride - about 20-30 minutes to get from the loop to Hyde Park and 10-15 to get to campus once you're in Hyde Park. I know that some of the second years who live in the south loop carpool. I'm not sure if any of them take mass transit.

 

[luckyducky87]

One more question! So it seems that public transit in and out of Hyde Park can be tricky... especially in evening/late night. And the impression I got was that Hyde Park itself isn't quite like downtown Chicago in terms of fun things to do. So if med students at Pritzker don't have a car, how do you take advantage of the city? Not that med students are swimming in time, but if you do want to go out on weeknights or weekends, do you rely on public transport, and is that sufficient (not too inconvenient)?

 

[Zanzobar]

One more question! So it seems that public transit in and out of Hyde Park can be tricky... especially in evening/late night. And the impression I got was that Hyde Park itself isn't quite like downtown Chicago in terms of fun things to do. So if med students at Pritzker don't have a car, how do you take advantage of the city? Not that med students are swimming in time, but if you do want to go out on weeknights or weekends, do you rely on public transport, and is that sufficient (not too inconvenient)?

Some classmates will always have cars to carpool with. Otherwise there are buses that go downtown and a shared cab ride isn't that expensive either. Really though, by the second half of 2nd year, people won't have the time to go out every week.

 

[NickNaylor]

One more question! So it seems that public transit in and out of Hyde Park can be tricky... especially in evening/late night. And the impression I got was that Hyde Park itself isn't quite like downtown Chicago in terms of fun things to do. So if med students at Pritzker don't have a car, how do you take advantage of the city? Not that med students are swimming in time, but if you do want to go out on weeknights or weekends, do you rely on public transport, and is that sufficient (not too inconvenient)?

Hyde Park is definitely lacking with fun things compared to downtown, though some things do exist.

It's actually very easy to get to downtown. The #6 bus runs directly from Hyde Park (and stops at the corner where more than half of the class lives) to downtown and stops all along Michigan Ave. It's no more than a 15-20 minute ride and bam, you're at the river. Mass transit is only annoying/inconvenient in the sense that you can't leave immediately - you might have to wait a few minutes at the stop before a bus comes. I think it's an easy trade-off though (my girlfriend and I NEVER drive downtown and we have a car; parking is expensive and irritating, and traffic can also be irritating in the heart of downtown).

Cabs are also an option, though at $20 a pop plus tip they aren't the most economical (unless you share the fare with friends).

 

[NickNaylor]

Activity here is going down fast, but I want all of you coming to Revisit tomorrow to know that we're eagerly awaiting your arrival! If you're coming, be sure to ask your host(s) (or any first year students) about the "unofficial" events happening tomorrow and Saturday night... and then be sure to come!

 

[modelslashactor]

One more question! So it seems that public transit in and out of Hyde Park can be tricky... especially in evening/late night. And the impression I got was that Hyde Park itself isn't quite like downtown Chicago in terms of fun things to do. So if med students at Pritzker don't have a car, how do you take advantage of the city? Not that med students are swimming in time, but if you do want to go out on weeknights or weekends, do you rely on public transport, and is that sufficient (not too inconvenient)?

I went to Pritzker back in the (not too distant) day.

We had an AWESOME time pretty much all 4 years - our class was pretty outgoing and we all jumped in cabs and headed downtown on the weekends for about 5 dollars each from Hyde Park. And of course the whole class can get together for free in HP at someone's apt to save money on drinks and such 😉 You'll be shocked how much free time you have to enjoy in med school, yeah it's less than undergrad but it's much better than the corporate world because you have a good group of people to enjoy it with. The only year I think you need to have a car is 3rd, although some didn't and just walked/biked/took cabs to work when they were on surgery or OBGYN. It's a hassle but probably cheaper than the 100-200/mo of parking you'll pay.

The way I rationalized living in HP was this: if you live in a 700/mo apt in HP as opposed to 1200/mo downtown, you have a good 500/mo to spend on cabs to get downtown for dinners/going out/whatever. I do know people who lived downtown and would never move to HP if their lives depended on it, though. Just make sure you have a car if you go this route.

 

[Var_Surfin23]

Hey everyone congrats on those being accepted. I am an undergrad and I was accepted to the summer research program at pritzker and I just want a quick poll: Did any of the people accepted participate in any of the summer programs offered at U Chicago?

 

[Invin22]

It was fun to meet everyone at revisit! Hope everyone enjoyed their time in Chicago 🙂

 

[nike292]

Revisit was sick! I had a blast meeting everyone. Can't wait to start

 

[Fanforever]

How much do students usually receive in financial aid?

 

[NickNaylor]

Revisit was sick! I had a blast meeting everyone. Can't wait to start

Glad you enjoyed it!

How much do students usually receive in financial aid?

What do you mean? That's a very vague question. Scholarships range from (I think) $120k over four years ($30k/year) to full tuition. I could be wrong about the lower range there but that's the smallest I've heard of from my friends. As far as need-based aid, who knows - that really depends on your financial situation as reported by FAFSA and U of C's financial aid application. More than likely, though, your financial aid package will be a combination of scholarships and loans; some might receive grants if they qualify.

 

[Fanforever]

I was asking about the scholarship component of FA, yes, since I had heard from somewhere that almost all of the students receive more than 50% in scholarship funds. Do students ever try to ask for more finaid if they fall way below that bracket?

 

[NickNaylor]

I was asking about the scholarship component of FA, yes, since I had heard from somewhere that almost all of the students receive more than 50% in scholarship funds. Do students ever try to ask for more finaid if they fall way below that bracket?

I don't know how many students receive scholarship support, but I do know that many do. I also don't know what the average or most common scholarship amount is.

You are certainly free to request a larger scholarship. The worst that can happen is nothing, right?

 

[aathrash]

Any movement from the continued list or word of the waitlist??

 

[tomatosauce]

Any movement from the continued list or word of the waitlist??

Received a letter in the mail today stating that I've been selected for the "waitlist pool." I was a continued candidate prior to that. Anyone know how many people are ultimately placed in the pool?

 

[cactuscake]

Just received my waitlist letter today. Been continued since the very first day decisions came out so thought the small letter was a rejection for sure. Surprised that I'm still under consideration after all this time!

 

[NickNaylor]

Hey everyone,

For those recently waitlisted, I hope to have some information to share with you about the process (including approximate size of the waitlist pool). No guarantee that I'll have anything helpful to share, but hopefully I will.

In the mean time, enjoy your summer!

(sent from my phone - please forgive typos and brevity)

 

[NickNaylor]

Hey everyone,

For those recently waitlisted, I hope to have some information to share with you about the process (including approximate size of the waitlist pool). No guarantee that I'll have anything helpful to share, but hopefully I will.

In the mean time, enjoy your summer!

(sent from my phone - please forgive typos and brevity)

Unfortunately I have no information to pass along to you other than that you are encouraged to contact the admissions office if you have any questions about the waitlist or your status on the waitlist. I was told that the office would rather discuss individual cases than provide general information that may or may not apply to everyone.

Sorry guys, but best of luck.

(sent from my phone - please forgive typos and brevity)

 

[NickNaylor]

For those accepted students that might be lurking: PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR WHITE COAT SURVEY. We've had a pretty low turnout thus far, and while you still have two weeks, you don't want to forget about it (and, thus, not have a white coat for the ceremony). Please make sure you get it in on time (June 15)! It shouldn't take more than two or three minutes to complete.

 

[chicitie]

Just wondering if anyone knows if ALL continued applicants are first wait-listed instead of rejected?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app

 

[MilkIsGood]

For those accepted students that might be lurking: PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR WHITE COAT SURVEY. We've had a pretty low turnout thus far, and while you still have two weeks, you don't want to forget about it (and, thus, not have a white coat for the ceremony). Please make sure you get it in on time (June 15)! It shouldn't take more than two or three minutes to complete.

do they run large? i wear a small for my shirts. should i get a small for the white coat?

 

[NickNaylor]

do they run large? i wear a small for my shirts. should i get a small for the white coat?

First: they definitely run large. I went a size smaller and my coat still looks a little goofy because it's big.

Second, be sure you provide the NUMERICAL size, not just the S/M/L size. You actually need to measure yourself and use the provided chart to pick the right size. If you don't, you'll almost certainly get the wrong size.

(sent from my phone - please forgive typos and brevity)

 

[akaul23]

Just wondering if anyone knows if ALL continued applicants are first wait-listed instead of rejected?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app

nope. I think they narrow it down and some continued applicants receive rejections, but I have no idea how many. I checked out some older pritzker podcasts and found that in the past the waitlists have been 150-200 students and that anywhere from 2-30 kids have been taken off the waitlist in the past and its all dependent on the current year.. and getting off can happen anytime between now and the day before orientation in august.

 

[nosugrefneb]

I don't want to put any false expectations out there, but my understanding is that everyone currently continued will also be on the waitlist. Post-May 15th, continued=waitlist.

This is from about 5 years ago, so I'm not 100% sure it's still accurate, but I believe that's still how it works.