2011-2012 University of Iowa (Carver) Application Thread

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Hey guys! I'm an M1 at Carver, just wanted to stop in, say hi and see how our future classmates are feeling. Congrats to everyone accepted so far!
We're currently in our twelfth week and are chugging along to the end of our first semester, and I can say definitively it has been a very trying, but emotionally rewarding, experience. The tests are hard, the trying-to-drink-water-from-a-fire-hydrant analogy about the amount of information you have to take in failed to mention that said fire hydrant is EXPLODING IN YOUR FACE!!!!!, but the facilities are awesome and only getting more awesome, the teachers care about you and will do everything to help you learn, the feeling of accomplishment is impossible to describe and the group of people I'm going through this with is quickly becoming a group I wouldn't trade for anything. Basically what I'm trying to say is: we need adjustable fire hydrants. Also, that I love being here, and I hope that should you get accepted here, you don't pass this place up lightly.
To all of you waiting on an acceptance (and there will be more as these months go on): keep your chin up, no matter how long it takes. I know exactly how you feel - see last year's thread - and I know how easy it is to get down on yourself, but waiting doesn't mean rejection, and rejection doesn't mean it's over: there will be lots of celebrations down the road for all of you, whether you're celebrating for here or not. Speaking of which, I need to give a shout-out to Midwestern Blot for making it in - congrats buddy!! See you soon!
Anyway, I gotta get back to studying Genetics, but if you guys have any questions I and the other M1s still creeping on this thread will be happy to (try to) answer them. Good luck guys!
 
Dear Iowa,

I love you. 😍

Sincerely,
Dr. Shazam
 
Accepted 👍 OOS, interviewed around early October.
 
Hey guys,

How appropriate do you think it would be to write a letter of intent after having just interviewed during mid-October? I know the acceptances (or lack thereof) for my round has yet to come.

Also, how appropriate would it be to include acknowledgement of areas I messed up during the interview? In a non-defensive - but perhaps a wee bit explanatory - manner? Or should I just discard that all together?

Thanks!

Addendum: I'm also an OOS, so I fear that they might not take my interest in this school or settling down in Iowa City as seriously as it actually is.
 
Treesop said:
Hey guys,

How appropriate do you think it would be to write a letter of intent after having just interviewed during mid-October? I know the acceptances (or lack thereof) for my round has yet to come.

Also, how appropriate would it be to include acknowledgement of areas I messed up during the interview? In a non-defensive - but perhaps a wee bit explanatory - manner? Or should I just discard that all together?

Thanks!

Addendum: I'm also an OOS, so I fear that they might not take my interest in this school or settling down in Iowa City as seriously as it actually is.
Click to expand...

I would say an LOI never hurts, but it does seem like going a bit overboard at this point unless it is combined with an update (grades/ publications/ extracurriculars). And I would definitely NOT write an assessment of your interview. It's possible your interviewers didn't even know you had messed up. :luck:
 
DrShazam said:
I would say an LOI never hurts, but it does seem like going a bit overboard at this point unless it is combined with an update (grades/ publications/ extracurriculars). And I would definitely NOT write an assessment of your interview. It's possible your interviewers didn't even know you had messed up. :luck:
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply DrShazam.

I have one more question though... I was writing up thank you notes for my interviewers (I know, I'm doing it pretty late) and it quickly turned into a letter of intent. I think it's best that I just write a letter of intent that includes shout outs to my interviewers. However, does U of I even accept letter of intents? The "Additional Info" tab on the secondary doesn't allow for narratives. Am I suppose to just email the letter to the admissions recruiter?

Has any past applicants gone about it this way?
 
Interview invite yesterday. I'm OOS, 3.7/32, complete mid August
I've heard so many great things about CCOM so I'm definitely excited to visit 🙂
 
Does anyone know whether Carver gives more weight to MCAT or GPA?
 
Raqam4 said:
Does anyone know whether Carver gives more weight to MCAT or GPA?
Click to expand...
I believe they're pretty even, I had a good MCAT, meh GPA got an invite. My friend had a good GPA, meh MCAT and got an invite.
 
Just had my interview today. I'm an Iowa student so I like the school, but I believe that this interview day made me like the school MUCH more. Everything is kept classy and professional. Interviewers are amazing and friendly, I felt like talking to a friend! Please, don't stress about the interview, it is actually really fun. The CBL session is just awesome. Current medical schools are friendly and had great things to say about Iowa. Bottom line, I would kill for an acceptance at Iowa hahaha!
Please consider coming here if you get accepted. I felt that It would the best decision.
Good luck everyone
 
Guys! help me out on this one please.
So I had my interview on Friday. I'm currently an Iowa Student, so I went on ISIS( Iowa's online service to pay ubills, check grades and admission profiles, etc...). Under admission profiles I have a link that says: Fall 2012/ Carver College of Medicine/ Medicine admission profile. However, when I click on it, nothing shows up. The weird thing is that 2 of my friends (also Iowa students) interviewed already and when they checked ISIS that link was not listed under their accounts. IS this a good thing? or is my app being sent to the final pool? any suggestions would be helpful.
Also, it is really strange that they usually meet on Tuesdays but this link was listed on Friday Night ( about 3 hours after the interview). Do they have pre-interview decisions? and if interview didn't affect their premade decision then they will go with their decision? Should I be expecting an email tomorrow since it is Tuesday?
 
To current students or students who were accepted this cycle:

So I just got my ISIS access information. Do we need to reserve our spot in the 2016 class while still considering other schools?
 
Local Native said:
To current students or students who were accepted this cycle:

So I just got my ISIS access information. Do we need to reserve our spot in the 2016 class while still considering other schools?
Click to expand...

Just a quick question, so under admissions profile, you have your carver college of medicine fall of 2012 admission profile listed and when you click on it it gives you instructions and more info? in my case, I just have the link listed but when I click on it, it gives me a blank page. What do you think of this? I haven't gotten an email from them yet but I'm an Iowa student and already has access to ISIS. Sorry I couldn't answer your question but if you can help me that would be great
 
MCATBUSTER said:
Just a quick question, so under admissions profile, you have your carver college of medicine fall of 2012 admission profile listed and when you click on it it gives you instructions and more info? in my case, I just have the link listed but when I click on it, it gives me a blank page. What do you think of this? I haven't gotten an email from them yet but I'm an Iowa student and already has access to ISIS. Sorry I couldn't answer your question but if you can help me that would be great
Click to expand...
It doesn't mean anything for students at Iowa, it's just an artifact of the system they use to keep track of applications.
 
Accepted!!! In state 34Q... Interviewed November 2, I am really surprised they got back to me this fast...
 
Local Native said:
To current students or students who were accepted this cycle:

So I just got my ISIS access information. Do we need to reserve our spot in the 2016 class while still considering other schools?
Click to expand...

It says you need to reply to them in writing within two weeks of being accepted to hold your spot. I sent like a one line email and they responded saying I'm good to go.

There doesn't seem to be a deposit anywhere (or am I missing something). So I think you just accept, and then if you decide to go elsewhere, let them know. I'm fairly certain nothing is binding until May, when you can only hold an acceptance at one school. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

Also, is anyone else having troubling logging into ISIS? It recognizes my HawkID, but it won't accept the password they said should work...
 
Does anyone know what is the order in which files are reviewed (post interview)? Is it by when the secondary was complete or by the interview date? I'm asking because I'm in-state, and I was offered an interview before all my LORs were received, so technically I wasn't complete at the time of my interview. My letters were received the same week as my interview. Just wondering 🙂 Good luck to everyone still waiting and congratulations to the lucky ones who have already heard back!
 
Zaara22 said:
Does anyone know what is the order in which files are reviewed (post interview)? Is it by when the secondary was complete or by the interview date? I'm asking because I'm in-state, and I was offered an interview before all my LORs were received, so technically I wasn't complete at the time of my interview. My letters were received the same week as my interview. Just wondering 🙂 Good luck to everyone still waiting and congratulations to the lucky ones who have already heard back!
Click to expand...

I was complete a few weeks prior to my interview, however they told us after our interviews that we may not find out until January. So I am really unsure of how they determine when they review files as it looks like I was reviewed the week after my interview.

Good luck!!
 
Just got accepted today, in-state, 3.8/32R, interviewed on October 26. I am honestly quite surprised to have heard so early, I was all prepared to not find out until January or March. I am half-afraid that tomorrow I will get an email saying it was all a mistake (which would be so awful that they should let me in anyway for doing that to my heart). I am really happy to have gotten in here, I have lived in Iowa City for four years but I'm not sick of it yet 🙂, look forward to another four!
 
I asked admissions this question, and they said this:

"Your application is complete and you have been here for an interview, so now your application may be selected to be reviewed further by the Admissions Committee. This process of selecting the best candidates for our medical school does take some time to complete. If your application is chosen to go thru the full committee and you are voted to be accepted into the class, you will be notified by email at that time. In January everyone who has interviewed and hasn't had an decision made on their application will be notified that they are in the final pool."

What I gather from this email and also speaking with them is that it is like this:

1) Interview
2) Each week 25 people who have interviewed at any time are chosen to go to the sub-committee
3) From those people you are voted on to go to the final committee or be final-pooled
4) From those that went to the final committee, you are voted on to be accepted or final-pooled

I asked if it was a bad sign that I was interviewed and not reviewed yet because I had interviewed about 6 weeks ago (if you call they will tell you if you have been reviewed at all) and she told me that NO it was not a bad sign.

So I take it this means that it is slightly random who is chosen to go to the subcommittee each week?
 
I just got accepted yesterday after interviewing in late September, so don't get discouraged. I felt kind of passed over, plus the awkward structured questions and the interviewers not having read my file made it probably my worst interview.

But I loved Iowa, so I am super excited.
 
So I will arrive Thursday morning and leave close to Saturday night. I won't be rooming with students so any input on what places to check out while I am there? I don't want to spend all that time in a hotel room.
 
SmokeyJunior said:
So I will arrive Thursday morning and leave close to Saturday night. I won't be rooming with students so any input on what places to check out while I am there? I don't want to spend all that time in a hotel room.
Click to expand...

Downtown is awesome and you'll be there on a weekend, so you'll definitely get to experience some nightlife if you want. Prairie Lights is a super cute bookstore, and I think the Java House has live performances on either Thursday or Friday.

Shorts is definitely a must if you like good burgers, but there are a ton of good little eateries in that area that I've heard are worth trying. I've also gotten recommendations for Stella's, which is actually on the west side of the river. It's also associated with Shorts, but a little more upscale. I LOVED Iowa City. Have fun! and of course, good luck :luck::xf:
 
t0othpick said:
Interview invite yesterday. I'm OOS, 3.7/32, complete mid August
I've heard so many great things about CCOM so I'm definitely excited to visit 🙂
Click to expand...


That's awesome! I am OOS with 3.7 cum, 3.9 sci and a 35 MCAT and still waiting to hear from CCOM. Hopefully I will be fortunate enough to get an II.
 
Someone PM'd me and asked me to elaborate more on my day at Iowa.

It was my second interview, so even though I had only gotten 4 hours of sleep the night before (had to fly in) I was stoked. We were talked to about financial aid and the curriculum (keep these things, you really do start mixing schools up, I really wish I could remember which school said they had a class that was 50% nontraditional). Then some of us sat in the hall and alternated with others for interviews. I was interviewed by two M.D.'s who had never met each other. They introduced themselves, and I introduced myself and then they asked me the structured questions. They couldn't really engage me, I guess, so it felt kind of weird and one of the answers I gave was really short. Then the fact that they knew nothing about me kind of limited how we could connect--usually people come prepared to talk about what I did after college and have really interesting questions, so the open file interviews have been the best ones for me.

After that, we had case-based learning with a fourth year. Do remember that this is part of your evaluation, although I doubt it is a significant part. The other participants didn't seem to know much about what we were trying to solve (and it was an STD!! I was horrified that college kids were so deficient in this knowledge...) but they say it doesn't matter if you don't really know, just so you try to participate.

Then I think we met up again to learn about the admissions process (most schools, if they talk about it at all, have done it after the interview so we aren't freaked out). Almost all Iowans who apply get interviews, but they are a lot choosier for out of state. I don't remember exactly but they don't try and fill their class during the interview season, they hold off until the end for some. And then they make an in-state and oos waitlist to keep the numbers even. And they said it is highly variable how many people they will whip through on the waitlist, especially the OOS one.

Then we had lunch and a tour with 3 students and the students were SO COOL. The building is also new and gorgeous and really nice. I was really happy with the amount of time we got to spend with students because some med schools were really deficient on this one.

I also got into Case Western and for the past month have been thinking I'd probably go there, but remembering my day at Iowa so fondly, I am definitely going to hold onto my spot and maybe go to the second looks.

Anyway PM me if you have any questions.

And I'm 29O, 3.88, OOS, so there is hope for us under 30s.
 
CougarMD said:
Yeah! It is still super early guys. Iowa keeps making offers for quite awhile. Hang in there!
Click to expand...

I guess its because I already got 4 rejections from schools. Then again, they were either pretty prestigious or hard on OOS applicants . I spent so much time volunteering in Council Bluffs and Chautauqua though, come on Iowa.:xf:
 
Does anyone know if the IIs go out on Tuesday like the decisions or are they not connected?
 
I am an M1 at Iowa, and I didn't get my interview invite until early december, so there is definitely hope.
 
I can't type much since I am at work but...... this school impressed the heck outta me! Not because they seemed well funded and had nice facilities, but because the people were just wonderful. I am glad I applied.

Only complaint - the strict 25 minute interview with 2 people at the same time. I enjoyed the entire (and I do mean entire) day there.
 
SmokeyJunior said:
I can't type much since I am at work but...... this school impressed the heck outta me! Not because they seemed well funded and had nice facilities, but because the people were just wonderful. I am glad I applied.

Only complaint - the strict 25 minute interview with 2 people at the same time. I enjoyed the entire (and I do mean entire) day there.
Click to expand...

Definitely looking forward to mine! Anyone interviewing on the 30th?
 
sent an update yesterday. would abs love an interview here! maybe this will convince you iowa...

puss_in_boots_big_eyes_antonio_banderas_shrek_01.jpg
 
I would cry of happiness if I got an acceptance email today...waiting since September 28th!!
 
csot said:
I asked admissions this question, and they said this:

"Your application is complete and you have been here for an interview, so now your application may be selected to be reviewed further by the Admissions Committee. This process of selecting the best candidates for our medical school does take some time to complete. If your application is chosen to go thru the full committee and you are voted to be accepted into the class, you will be notified by email at that time. In January everyone who has interviewed and hasn't had an decision made on their application will be notified that they are in the final pool."

What I gather from this email and also speaking with them is that it is like this:

1) Interview
2) Each week 25 people who have interviewed at any time are chosen to go to the sub-committee
3) From those people you are voted on to go to the final committee or be final-pooled
4) From those that went to the final committee, you are voted on to be accepted or final-pooled

I asked if it was a bad sign that I was interviewed and not reviewed yet because I had interviewed about 6 weeks ago (if you call they will tell you if you have been reviewed at all) and she told me that NO it was not a bad sign.

So I take it this means that it is slightly random who is chosen to go to the subcommittee each week?
Click to expand...

sounds like it.

FWIW, on my interview day, they told us the next committee meeting would be solely devoted to discussion of MD/PhD candidates and we shouldn't expect to hear back until January. Just something to keep in mind. :luck::xf:
 
idf27 said:
sounds like it.

FWIW, on my interview day, they told us the next committee meeting would be solely devoted to discussion of MD/PhD candidates and we shouldn't expect to hear back until January. Just something to keep in mind. :luck::xf:
Click to expand...
Bummer, when did you interview?
 
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