2011-2012 University of Massachusetts Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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eHombre said:
While I certainly appreciate your candor and the many important points you made, some parts of your (mostly negative) post would have been better off in a PM or internal communications with the UMMS administration rather than being unleashed on the internet, despite your "I'm not saying, but I'm saying" protestations. Given that you're apparently the kind of student who doesn't mind going online and trashing his/her own school's reputation, I think most of us considering UMass would want to also hear from your less disgruntled classmates. (Seriously, why devalue your own degree by dissuading the best candidates from coming?) 😕
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I'm sorry I'm peeing in your cornflakes. You're awfully defensive for someone who doesn't go here yet. 😕

You will hear a lot about the positives, of which there are many, and which I alluded to (but did not feel the need to elaborate on given how well they are known/covered).

I'm obviously not going to PM every student on this thread, it's an open forum for information, which I am providing. I am not disgruntled. I do not necessarily regret my choice. The administration is very aware of our concerns (and I say "our" because they are hardly just mine).

But again, sorry I'm saying things you would rather not hear. I've gotten far more thank you notes than negative comments, but I did not want to just leave my first post unclarified because I wanted to make it clear that UMass is a decent school. No school is perfect, however. And depending on your circumstances/priorities, the cons I mentioned can be very relevant. This will be my last comment on the matter.
 
eHombre said:
While I certainly appreciate your candor and the many important points you made, some parts of your (mostly negative) post would have been better off in a PM or internal communications with the UMMS administration rather than being unleashed on the internet, despite your "I'm not saying, but I'm saying" protestations. Given that you're apparently the kind of student who doesn't mind going online and trashing his/her own school's reputation, I think most of us considering UMass would want to also hear from your less disgruntled classmates. (Seriously, why devalue your own degree by dissuading the best candidates from coming?) 😕
Click to expand...

Why should he/she cover up the negative points about UMass? I am very appreciative that someone came forward with this information. Every school has pros and cons. UMass aint perfect and no school is. I would rather know what I would be getting myself into now then be blindsided in three years.
 
ah you guys should relax. This guy is probably just an applicant who is trying to scare away everyone else so he can get their spots.

If that is the case, I am fully supportive and appreciate it
 
Hi,

i had a quick question concerning Umass interviews. I applied to a few schools prior to receiving my mcat and was offered an interview at umass medical school. however, my mcat score is horrible, 24Q. I should not have even received consideration for an interview. I am still an undergrad and didn't have anything too great on my application for research or volunteer work. I was rejected post interview within 4 weeks. I was curious if some schools interview for the sake of increasing interview numbers particularly if one falls into the minority category. I was also curious to know if Umass has trouble keeping the URM students they accept? I know that Umass tries to match the racial and ethnic demographics of Massachusetts, but last year I believe according to MSAR that they had less than 10 blacks and latinos combined.
 
silverman23 said:
however, my mcat score is horrible, 24Q. I should not have even received consideration for an interview.
Click to expand...

So silverman23, I'm confused. By your other posts you claim to have a score of 26, 33, 35... Why're you now citing an extremely low score for this UMass interview and coupling it with discouraging diversity statistics?
 
If there are a bunch of questions/concerns regarding a school they should be talked about in the open. Any questions?
 
I'm a current M1 at UMass and thought I'd respond to a few of the points brought up earlier.

The earlier poster expressed some concern about the new curriculum and made it out to be a complete **** show. I really have no idea what the poster was referring to with regards to not having material ready. We have lecture pdf's, prep material, and review material available to us all the time. Maybe this was more of a problem for the current M2 class because they are the first ones going through it, but I can assure you that this is not the case for my current class. Also, the only changes I have seen "at the last minute" were something like the 1pm lecture going at 12 and vice versa due to clinicians schedules. These changes are posted and emailed days in advance so I'm not really sure why this would be any sort of issue.

With regards to Dean Rogoff saying Step 1 is not important...I think this is a blatant lie. I know Dean Rogoff well and have discussed this with her and at no point does she short sell the importance of Step 1. I think the earlier poster may have misinterpreted her statements because she does say there is more to an application than just Step 1. Step 1, clinical rotations, and lor's are what she said were the most important, but to never forget about the other aspects as well.

I am obviously not into my clinical years yet so I will defer to others about these matters. It may very well be as the other poster portrayed. I simply can not evaluate it since I have not been through it yet.

One last topic....the whole 5th year shenanigans. Yeah, it will now cost a whopping 8k to do an extra year at UMass. There are a bunch of programs to extend a year if that's what you want to do and seriously 8k is cheap for that if it's what floats your boat. The entire argument about it costing a years attending salary isn't a great argument because you can apply that to absolutely anything at any school. The main reason I know of people doing a 5th year is if they're interested in doing some research out of pure interest or desire to go into a field such as optho. In both of these cases it has very little to do with the school. If research opportunities were limited during all other times then yes this would be a very valid argument, but I can assure you there are plenty of projects to get involved with if you so desire. So in reality the earlier poster is trying to portray the ability to pursue research/go abroad/etc. for 8k a year as a bad thing. If you so have the desire to do so and went to another school you would just be writing a larger check.

I'm not trying to create a rah rah UMass post here. There are negatives to it just like any school. I just wanted to present a different viewpoint to what I believed to be some flawed arguments.


If you guys have any specific questions about anything pm me. I'll do my best to give you straight answers.
 
For applicants who have already interviewed, what does the admissions committee evaluate now? Do they still consider GPA/MCAT scores of interviewed applicants or are they past that point and only evaluate whether the candidate did well in the interview and would be a good fit for UMass?
 
I recently had my interviews. They were both open, as in the interviewers had access to my applications/ transcripts ahead of time.

The first one felt like a standard 1-on-1 back and forth interview. I made a couple slip-ups (I had a cold, so it took a moment for my brain to turn on at the start), but the interviewer seemed genuinely interested and friendly.

futuredoc1990 said:
For applicants who have already interviewed, what does the admissions committee evaluate now? Do they still consider GPA/MCAT scores of interviewed applicants or are they past that point and only evaluate whether the candidate did well in the interview and would be a good fit for UMass?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure they still consider GPA and MCAT. I'm 4.0/ 37L. When the second interview began, the interviewer basically told me he already made his (positive) decision before i walked through the door, and he devoted most of the interview to answering my questions about the school; essentially why I should choose UMass as opposed to why UMass should accept me. I hope this means I'll almost definitely be accepted.
 
futuredoc1990 said:
For applicants who have already interviewed, what does the admissions committee evaluate now? Do they still consider GPA/MCAT scores of interviewed applicants or are they past that point and only evaluate whether the candidate did well in the interview and would be a good fit for UMass?
Click to expand...

I would like a current student to answer this, or even better if someone were to ask it on their interview day and fill us in. I interviewed at UMass and logically it doesn't make sense for them to interview you, waste their time and money, your time and money, etc., if they did not think that your stats, coupled with your LORs, PS, and ECs were not UMass caliber. GPA/MCAT probably plays a roll (to what degree dunno), but I don't think the information you or I would like to know can be answered from anyone but UMass.. sorry I can't help save some anxiety.

BTW 4.0/37 you're a ****in beast bro/femalebro

MM
 
I obviously haven't been accepted yet, but my impression from the 2nd interviewer was that the interview can't hurt you if you're already a strong applicant. That may only apply to that one physician though, *shrugs*. I'd err on the side of caution and prepare for your interviews, of course.

At the same time, they're not going to invite you in for an interview if you have no shot of getting in. These MD's and MD/PhD's are taking time out of their busy schedules to talk to you. Plus there's free food 😎.
 
So just out of curiousity, what is the point of rejecting people when you can just put them on the waitlist? After an interview, I mean.
 
From what I've heard, as spots open up later in the cycle, they re-review all the wait list applicants for acceptance, so it'd be an unnecessary amount of extra work if they didn't reject those they were confident they didn't want.
 
alerk323 said:
From what I've heard, as spots open up later in the cycle, they re-review all the wait list applicants for acceptance, so it'd be an unnecessary amount of extra work if they didn't reject those they were confident they didn't want.
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Good call. Well, on to more stressful waiting, I guess.
 
ChartaBona said:
I obviously haven't been accepted yet, but my impression from the 2nd interviewer was that the interview can't hurt you if you're already a strong applicant. That may only apply to that one physician though, *shrugs*. I'd err on the side of caution and prepare for your interviews, of course.

At the same time, they're not going to invite you in for an interview if you have no shot of getting in. These MD's and MD/PhD's are taking time out of their busy schedules to talk to you. Plus there's free food 😎.
Click to expand...

I can assure you the interview can hurt you even if you look like an all-star applicant. You most likely have a bigger buffer and can get away with weaker responses, but you can still tank it. If you talk to some of the interviewers and hear the stories or see some of the stats of people who get rejected then you'd understand. Some people with high stats are incredibly stupid in person, a-holes, or just so socially awkward that you couldn't imagine them talking to patients.
 
yupper said:
I can assure you the interview can hurt you even if you look like an all-star applicant. You most likely have a bigger buffer and can get away with weaker responses, but you can still tank it. If you talk to some of the interviewers and hear the stories or see some of the stats of people who get rejected then you'd understand. Some people with high stats are incredibly stupid in person, a-holes, or just so socially awkward that you couldn't imagine them talking to patients.
Click to expand...

You forgot malodorous.
 
Someone posted last month asking about post-interview letters of intent but it looks like the thread got sidetracked and no one responded. Does anyone here know if they are receptive to LOI after interviewing? I called earlier this week and they didn't seem thrilled to be asked about the waiting but if it doesn't hurt I want to send one...
 
Another MS1 here. In response to the poster in their clinical years, please take it with a grain of salt. It is one person's point of view. I think the statistics speak for themselves that more UMMS graduates are happy with their education compared to the average med school in US. (100% and 97% in 2009 and 2010.)

I agree with the other MS1 student who reassured you that the pre-clinical curriculum is NOT a **** show. Plus, the faculty and admin are extremely responsive and the professors are very dedicated. By the time you guys get here, it will be in its 3rd year and running smoother than ever.

For those of you concerned with UMMS' reputation in primary care--first of all, there's a lot less pressure to go to a specialty to pay off your enormous loans, so you have actually more freedom to think about what you really want. The new curriculum also adjusted so that we start clinical rotations early, so you can jump into electives earlier.
 
aker321 said:
Someone posted last month asking about post-interview letters of intent but it looks like the thread got sidetracked and no one responded. Does anyone here know if they are receptive to LOI after interviewing? I called earlier this week and they didn't seem thrilled to be asked about the waiting but if it doesn't hurt I want to send one...
Click to expand...

I'd like to know the same. However, I have a feeling that they are going to decide whatever they're going to decide, and won't be all that excited about having one more thing to read.
 
alpinebrook said:
I'd like to know the same. However, I have a feeling that they are going to decide whatever they're going to decide, and won't be all that excited about having one more thing to read.
Click to expand...

I sent the school a LOI after my application was complete and a month later I was invited for an interview...this was back in last October. I recently sent them another LOI...about two months post-interview. Both times they emailed me back saying thanks and that they have added it to my file. I've also gotten another PCP I shadowed to write me an additional LOR post-interview. Not sure if any of it will benefit me, but I really hope it doesn't hurt me!
 
abcveq said:
I sent the school a LOI after my application was complete and a month later I was invited for an interview...this was back in last October. I recently sent them another LOI...about two months post-interview. Both times they emailed me back saying thanks and that they have added it to my file. I've also gotten another PCP I shadowed to write me an additional LOR post-interview. Not sure if any of it will benefit me, but I really hope it doesn't hurt me!
Click to expand...

It's so hard to say...you might have gotten an interview invite regardless, because it was already clear to them that you are awesome...haha. I haven't written any LOIs yet; mainly because I don't really know how to write one without coming across as desperate, nagging, unoriginal, etc... I have some thinking to do. I'm sure there's a resource on SDN about how to write a LOI but I haven't searched for it yet. If anyone else has any advice for me, thank you in advance!
 
In my LOI to another school (where I was accepted shortly after), I kept it short. I wrote 3 or 4 sentences saying that I loved the interview day, that I could see myself feeling at home at the school, and that if they were to offer me a spot, I would be delighted to accept.

I don't think you should worry about coming off as desperate unless you're begging and pleading. Just be honest, tell them you're really interested, and if it works, hurrah! If not, bummer, but you did what you could. Also...I wouldn't worry about being "original." Very little in this process is original!
 
aker321 said:
In my LOI to another school (where I was accepted shortly after), I kept it short. I wrote 3 or 4 sentences saying that I loved the interview day, that I could see myself feeling at home at the school, and that if they were to offer me a spot, I would be delighted to accept.

I don't think you should worry about coming off as desperate unless you're begging and pleading. Just be honest, tell them you're really interested, and if it works, hurrah! If not, bummer, but you did what you could. Also...I wouldn't worry about being "original." Very little in this process is original!
Click to expand...

Keep it short and sweet... good point. Thanks for your input. 🙂
 
yupper said:
I'm a current M1 at UMass and thought I'd respond to a few of the points brought up earlier.

The earlier poster expressed some concern about the new curriculum and made it out to be a complete **** show. I really have no idea what the poster was referring to with regards to not having material ready. We have lecture pdf's, prep material, and review material available to us all the time. Maybe this was more of a problem for the current M2 class because they are the first ones going through it, but I can assure you that this is not the case for my current class. Also, the only changes I have seen "at the last minute" were something like the 1pm lecture going at 12 and vice versa due to clinicians schedules. These changes are posted and emailed days in advance so I'm not really sure why this would be any sort of issue.

With regards to Dean Rogoff saying Step 1 is not important...I think this is a blatant lie. I know Dean Rogoff well and have discussed this with her and at no point does she short sell the importance of Step 1. I think the earlier poster may have misinterpreted her statements because she does say there is more to an application than just Step 1. Step 1, clinical rotations, and lor's are what she said were the most important, but to never forget about the other aspects as well.

I am obviously not into my clinical years yet so I will defer to others about these matters. It may very well be as the other poster portrayed. I simply can not evaluate it since I have not been through it yet.

One last topic....the whole 5th year shenanigans. Yeah, it will now cost a whopping 8k to do an extra year at UMass. There are a bunch of programs to extend a year if that's what you want to do and seriously 8k is cheap for that if it's what floats your boat. The entire argument about it costing a years attending salary isn't a great argument because you can apply that to absolutely anything at any school. The main reason I know of people doing a 5th year is if they're interested in doing some research out of pure interest or desire to go into a field such as optho. In both of these cases it has very little to do with the school. If research opportunities were limited during all other times then yes this would be a very valid argument, but I can assure you there are plenty of projects to get involved with if you so desire. So in reality the earlier poster is trying to portray the ability to pursue research/go abroad/etc. for 8k a year as a bad thing. If you so have the desire to do so and went to another school you would just be writing a larger check.

I'm not trying to create a rah rah UMass post here. There are negatives to it just like any school. I just wanted to present a different viewpoint to what I believed to be some flawed arguments.


If you guys have any specific questions about anything pm me. I'll do my best to give you straight answers.
Click to expand...

Thanks for putting in your perspective. I think that where you go to med school is less important than how proactive you are in pursuing clinical experiences and relationships that support your post-graduate doctoring goals. Your education is up to you, not the school you go to. Highly competitive residency programs care more about passion and ability, and those will come through no matter what school you attend. if you do a good job and act professionally, you'll have good recommendations. that is what helps get you into your choice residency along with grades, scores, etc. They will also weed out folks that don't seem like a good fit. And same for less competitive. Regarding locations... the goal of UMass is to serve the state, so they have clinicals all over the state, not just at UMass Memorial. So it seems to fit with the state- and primary care-foci of the school mission that students would go to rural and otherwise underserved parts of the state instead of just worcester and eastern mass which have so many resources.

Another thing to consider is that the more out-of-the-way / rural your clinicals are, generally the MORE YOU GET TO DO. Everyone is so rah-rah about Longwood rotations but all you do is sit there and watch with your thumb up your butt because there are 2 residents, an attending, lots of students from diff't allied health, nurses, etc. I'd rather be in a place that really needs my help and I can check someone's vitals or take social history and actually make a difference.
 
I interviewed 11/8...still no word. Getting more and more annoyed as every day passes without a decision.
 
annabanana1690 said:
I interviewed 11/8...still no word. Getting more and more annoyed as every day passes without a decision.
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Just in case you haven't gotten the memo... You might not hear anything until April or May, along with the rest of us. 🙁 It stinks, I hear you.
 
dougkaye said:
Another thing to consider is that the more out-of-the-way / rural your clinicals are, generally the MORE YOU GET TO DO. Everyone is so rah-rah about Longwood rotations but all you do is sit there and watch with your thumb up your butt because there are 2 residents, an attending, lots of students from diff't allied health, nurses, etc. I'd rather be in a place that really needs my help and I can check someone's vitals or take social history and actually make a difference.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree with you more.
 
Umass sent me an acceptance letter. I hope annabanana gets one soon as well.
 
I'm one of the 12/7 folks waiting to hear still.
 
Any current students, how serious is the need for your own transportation??
 
chemistryguy said:
Any current students, how serious is the need for your own transportation??
Click to expand...

I go to school in Worcester for undergrad and you have to have a car to do anything/get anywhere since there is virtually no public transportation. Also, since the rotations in M3 and M4 are all over the state you probably will then. The students at my interview day all said you had to have a car to stay sane in Worcester as well.
 
Has anybody made a Facebook group yet for accepted students/those planning to attend UMass next year?
 
chemistryguy said:
Any current students, how serious is the need for your own transportation??
Click to expand...

It is possible to do without. Anything's possible. LoL. At least the first two years. But you probably don't WANT to. Someone close to me went to school in Worcester for undergrad and did not have a car all 4 years. As for med school, I don't know anyone without a car, but I know people who regularly walk or bike to school.
 
kiwifruit487 said:
It is possible to do without. Anything's possible. LoL. At least the first two years. But you probably don't WANT to. Someone close to me went to school in Worcester for undergrad and did not have a car all 4 years. As for med school, I don't know anyone without a car, but I know people who regularly walk or bike to school.
Click to expand...

The first thing they said at my interview day was that you NEED a car. I also spoke with an M1 friend of mine who said that people can get shadowing placements their first year all over Massachusetts (e.g. Springfield, etc), so my guess is that you really will need a car.
 
ChartaBona said:
The day I went in for my interviews, the staff and students said it was mandatory.
Click to expand...
lol half the kids in the class of 2015 don't have cars. if you happen to get a preceptor far away u need a car, otherwise just get an apt close to school and walk
 
Probably. They seem to send at least a few every Friday. Fingers crossed!!
 
Technically you are supposed to have a car. However, there are plenty of students without them. If you get assigned a preceptor outside of the university campus you can most likely switch just like plenty of current M1s did this year. Once you're doing rotations that's probably a different story and will most likely need a car.
 
Does anyone who has been accepted know when the second look weekend is for UMass this year?
 
The end of February has come and gone. No one heard anything?
 
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