2011-2012 University of Wisconsin Application Thread

Started by Sammich117
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Diggidy said:
Well, they mentioned none of this too me when I stopped by and asked about it a little over a week ago. I don't understand why they don't just call this what it is, a waitlist...
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I thought that too, but a waitlist usually requires those who are accepted to decline, so this is more of just a rolling admission process, where they want to see how we stack up against subsequent interviewees. I mean, it's disappointing, but we're still in contention to get an acceptance within the next 1.5 months or so (whatever they define as "several weeks," littlefaster's info is looking pretty accurate).

Keep your head up.
 
Diggidy said:
Well, they mentioned none of this too me when I stopped by and asked about it a little over a week ago. I don't understand why they don't just call this what it is, a waitlist...
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I called earlier today prior to the e-mail and talked to the Dean. She said that this is a good position to be in. It sounds like we're more likely to be accepted than a person placed on the waitlist already. This is good news! I know it's hard, but try to relax...🙂
 
littlefaster said:
I called earlier today prior to the e-mail and talked to the Dean. She said that this is a good position to be in. It sounds like we're more likely to be accepted than a person placed on the waitlist already. This is good news! I know it's hard, but try to relax...🙂
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I applaud/appreciate your optimism. I know it's a relatively good position to be in, but like I said previously, I can't help but take this with a fairly negative tone as well.

I saw a previous What are my chances thread you created, and you seem to be a very competitive applicant; and I'd like to think I am as well, so it just makes me curious what kind of applicants UW is looking for to give an outright acceptance to. Do you think this is just a case of being compared to a lot of incredibly qualified applicants that interviewed early (because of their competitiveness) and we just didn't stack up? I know from conversations on the interview day that there were other applicants that were interviewing at top 10/20 schools.

Did they tell you what kind of timeline this puts us on or how they review our applications now? Will we be continually added back into the reviews each week, or will we be under a separate review process now?
 
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Diggidy said:
Do you think this is just a case of being compared to a lot of incredibly qualified applicants that interviewed early (because of their competitiveness) and we just didn't stack up?...Did they tell you what kind of timeline this puts us on or how they review our applications now? Will we be continually added back into the reviews each week, or will we be under a separate review process now?
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There was a long time in the process where I was really, REALLY negative. So much so that I was starting to get depressed. A couple of weeks ago I decided to say "screw it--whatever happens, happens" and since then I've been talking to my friends more and planning lots of events to keep me busy. Finally, some sense of pre-application season normalcy is coming back to my life. The constant waiting kills, so I just don't wait anymore. I completely get where you're coming from.

I've got pretty good stats for UW (3.7/35), so I don't think they're mulling me over because they're waiting for better numbers from in-state residents. I seriously doubt there are 140 residents in the state with comparable numbers. My weaknesses are that I'm relatively young (was 21 when I interviewed) and that my ECs are nothing to write home about. If they exclude my shadowing, my clinical experiences are lacking. If I remember correctly, drizzt mentioned previously how much UW values strong clinical experience. So that's why I believe I'm on "extended review."

I didn't ask the Dean specifically as I didn't want to be too pushy, but she made it sound like they would sprinkle "extended review" applications into the ongoing decisions. I think that's why she couldn't give me a solid date as to when I'd hear back.
 
Diggidy said:
" Your application has been reviewed by the Admissions Committee at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. They were impressed by your qualifications. We are holding your application for Extended Review. It will be several weeks before you receive our final decision.

The Committee will decide to offer you acceptance or place you on our Alternate List. They will be reviewing additional applications before making this decision. "

I really don't understand this at all. They were impressed by my qualifications, but not enough to accept me, but it's not a waitlist either?

DrizzT, since you've worked with admissions in the past, I'd appreciate some insight from you, or anyone else, on why they would do this.
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idk, they never did that in the past, at least not to me or anyone on the thread.
 
littlefaster said:
There was a long time in the process where I was really, REALLY negative. So much so that I was starting to get depressed. A couple of weeks ago I decided to say "screw it--whatever happens, happens" and since then I've been talking to my friends more and planning lots of events to keep me busy. Finally, some sense of pre-application season normalcy is coming back to my life. The constant waiting kills, so I just don't wait anymore. I completely get where you're coming from.

I've got pretty good stats for UW (3.7/35), so I don't think they're mulling me over because they're waiting for better numbers from in-state residents. I seriously doubt there are 140 residents in the state with comparable numbers. My weaknesses are that I'm relatively young (was 21 when I interviewed) and that my ECs are nothing to write home about. If they exclude my shadowing, my clinical experiences are lacking. If I remember correctly, drizzt mentioned previously how much UW values strong clinical experience. So that's why I believe I'm on "extended review."

I didn't ask the Dean specifically as I didn't want to be too pushy, but she made it sound like they would sprinkle "extended review" applications into the ongoing decisions. I think that's why she couldn't give me a solid date as to when I'd hear back.
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When I did admissions stuff for UW, they used a point system in which they gave points for different categories. IIRC, they were something like:

+1 pt for GPA > 3.8
+1 pt for MCAT > 35
+1 pt for clinical volunteering > x hours (don't remember but it was like 200)
+2 pts for doing undergrad at UW Madison

there were other things but I don't remember all of the categories. Anyways, people were assigned to interview or not interview based on the pts, and generally like 75-80% of in-state people who interviewed were accepted. I think the #s are lower now for in-state, so the whole system might be different, who knows. In my cycle, some people with really high #s were rejected, which was sad, they would have been good classmates. FWIW, I was accepted in the first group with 3.7/39.
 
Btw, this isn't any different than how things worked in the past, the only difference is that they sent you an email. Apps with a score above a certain level were accepted, apps with the next highest scores were set aside to review again with the next group, after which the 5-10 highest scores were then accepted, which most likely included people from both groups, and so on and so forth. I think your chances of an eventual acceptance are high.
 
So pretty much what happened is what I kind of said before. Me and littlefaster were reviewed with a lot of other very competitive applicants and maybe got overshadowed?
 
Diggidy said:
So pretty much what happened is what I kind of said before. Me and littlefaster were reviewed with a lot of other very competitive applicants and maybe got overshadowed?
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If you're totally set on Uw you can always send dean Hansen a letter of intent. It may or may not help, but it's something at least.
 
I luckily missed the snow b/c I was in NYC earlier this week, it is even cold here in St Louis, so I don't think Madison is alone! The weather isn't that bad though!
 
drizzt3117 said:
I luckily missed the snow b/c I was in NYC earlier this week, it is even cold here in St Louis, so I don't think Madison is alone! The weather isn't that bad though!
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For the current med students on this list, were you or anyone you know put on hold for re-review pre-interview and eventually accepted?
 
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CopaceticOne said:
This isn't cold. Wait until January when the high for the day isn't above zero and there is snow everywhere. 😀
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Ice = cold.

Ice freezes at 32 degrees.

It was in the thirties in Madison.

By the powers of deduction: Ice = 32 degrees = Cold = Cold in Madison.

But seriously, the reason it was very cold to me was because I had to walk a long distance in my suit before the interview, and my suit did not have good insulation.

I lived a year in Great Lakes, IL, and the day I left to move to San Diego the temperature was negative 50 (with wind chill). Now that's just stupid cold!
 
How'd your interview go? There's a lot of information thrown at you during the interview, but what was your overal feeling about the school?
 
Diggidy said:
How'd your interview go? There's a lot of information thrown at you during the interview, but what was your overal feeling about the school?
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I think the interviews went very well and the school was awesome.

Its an incredible education for the price (better than many schools that charge 2-3 times the tuition).
 
corpsman33 said:
Ice = cold.

Ice freezes at 32 degrees.

It was in the thirties in Madison.

By the powers of deduction: Ice = 32 degrees = Cold = Cold in Madison.

But seriously, the reason it was very cold to me was because I had to walk a long distance in my suit before the interview, and my suit did not have good insulation.

I lived a year in Great Lakes, IL, and the day I left to move to San Diego the temperature was negative 50 (with wind chill). Now that's just stupid cold!
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Haha, you get used to it, I don't usually throw a jacket over my scrubs until it's in the 20s or below.
 
CopaceticOne said:
And Wisconsin weather strikes again. It is in the 60s right now. Never know what you are going to get!
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And San Diego weather strikes again. It is in the sixties. Never know what you are going to get. It can be as low as sixty, or as high as eighty year round. It really keeps you guessing. And talk about the variance in the sky, it ranges from clear skies to partly cloudy with sun. Its hard to plan any outdoor event with all the uncertainty.
 
corpsman33 said:
And San Diego weather strikes again. It is in the sixties. Never know what you are going to get. It can be as low as sixty, or as high as eighty year round. It really keeps you guessing. And talk about the variance in the sky, it ranges from clear skies to partly cloudy with sun. Its hard to plan any outdoor event with all the uncertainty.
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😀 Yes, but it hardly ever rains, right? I remember growing up rainy days were the best because would have indoor recess and lunch in the gym with a movie playing. (Apparently I'm turning this thread into one about the weather!)
 
lim1pa said:
Accepted!! 🙂Interviewed 10/21. I'll be withdrawing the rest of my applications!!
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Congratulations!!!! 🙂 Did you hear back from UW sooner than expected? At my interview day, we were told it could be 6-8 weeks before we heard back.
 
snow88 said:
Congratulations!!!! 🙂 Did you hear back from UW sooner than expected? At my interview day, we were told it could be 6-8 weeks before we heard back.
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Thanks! I heard back about 2.5 weeks after interviewing which was pretty lucky
 
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Does anyone know anything about the WARM admissions? Are they interviewing everyone who applies? Anyone have a rough estimate of what the admissions rate is there?
 
Chiefer said:
Does anyone know anything about the WARM admissions? Are they interviewing everyone who applies? Anyone have a rough estimate of what the admissions rate is there?
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They don't interview everyone that applies. I was told that last year, a little over 50 people applied and they accepted 25. Obviously, the rate will be higher than the general pool because you can only apply if you are in-state. I hope that helps 🙂
 
Interviewing tomorrow and attending the social tonight! I'm very excited! I live/and went to undergrad in Madison so I'm lucky to not have to travel far.
 
HulaHippos said:
Interviewing tomorrow and attending the social tonight! I'm very excited! I live/and went to undergrad in Madison so I'm lucky to not have to travel far.
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Good luck! Let me know how everything goes! My interview is on Tuesday and I'm starting to get nervous.
 
If anyone has any questions about the school at all, feel free to post here or PM me.

Just a little background, I'm a m4 who is currently interviewing for residency in radiology. I've interviewed at the most competitive programs in the country, and the message I've gotten across the board was that our school is extremely highly regarded. Many of these top programs have former residents/faculty who are now at Uw and/or have lots of Uw grads in their programs. You all are applying to a great school, so welcome to the Wisconsin family!
 
Rejected a week or so ago. Actually surprising and disappointing. I am a MN resident, so I already had that going against me. I felt my secondary was very well written. 35R, >3.9 sGPA >3.7 cGPA. Kind of humbling and just goes to show you how stochastic this process can be even when you think you're a very competitive applicant at a given school. Congrats to those who've been accepted and best of luck to the rest of you!
 
lim1pa said:
Accepted!! 🙂Interviewed 10/21. I'll be withdrawing the rest of my applications!!
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If you don't mind me asking, since you heard back very quickly, are you an in state? Did your interview go well? Were your credentials very good? Thank you!

I interviewed 11/18, it went very well, and I can't wait to hear back!
 
Mokum60 said:
If you don't mind me asking, since you heard back very quickly, are you an in state? Did your interview go well? Were your credentials very good? Thank you!

I interviewed 11/18, it went very well, and I can't wait to hear back!
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Sure, I am in state and I went to UW for undergrad. My GPA and MCAT are about average for UW (my MCAT a little lower than their average). I would say it may have been my extracurriculars that possibly made me stand out? My volunteer work and clinical experiences show that I have strong ties to Wisconsin- which I mentioned in my optional essay. Other than that, I thought my interview went well, nothing out of the ordinary. I made sure to mention to my interviewer that UW is number one choice. Hearing so fast was definitely a surprise!

Good luck! Hopefully we will be classmates!!🙂
 
Interview invite! OOS, low 30s MCAT, complete early August, 3.4 cum GPA, non traditional, very excited!
 
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lim1pa said:
Sure, I am in state and I went to UW for undergrad. My GPA and MCAT are about average for UW (my MCAT a little lower than their average). I would say it may have been my extracurriculars that possibly made me stand out? My volunteer work and clinical experiences show that I have strong ties to Wisconsin- which I mentioned in my optional essay. Other than that, I thought my interview went well, nothing out of the ordinary. I made sure to mention to my interviewer that UW is number one choice. Hearing so fast was definitely a surprise!

Good luck! Hopefully we will be classmates!!🙂
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I appreciate the feedback! Congratulations on your acceptance!!! UW is my first choice as well. Hopefully I will be joining you! 😀
 
FullStache said:
Waitlisted (hold?) pre-interview. Hoping for some love come January or February.
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FullStache said:
Interview invite! OOS, low 30s MCAT, complete early August, 3.4 cum GPA, non traditional, very excited!
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'Grats on the invite and all, but you have no idea how antsy you've made me (and probably a few others in this thread) if you're saying that they're looking at the pre-interview hold people already.
 
extended review. fml. probably because i'm OOS with strong but not-the-strongest numbers.

so much for my interviewer saying "i look forward to mentoring you next year.

i really, really don't want to go to my own crappy home state school. 🙁
 
wavves said:
'Grats on the invite and all, but you have no idea how antsy you've made me (and probably a few others in this thread) if you're saying that they're looking at the pre-interview hold people already.
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just got an invite after being on pre-interview hold. don't lose hope!!!!
 
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