2012-2013 University of Chicago (Pritzker) Application Thread

Started by gettheleadout
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
Status
Not open for further replies.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I submitted on Saturday night and I was placed on hold for later review today (less than 48 hours later). Haha, I guess what I've been hearing about Pritzker having a fast turn-around time on applications is true.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I just got a secondary. My MCAT score is not released yet. Do they send secondaries to all their applicants?

For a second I felt special when I got the email.
 
NickNaylor said:
There's no screen for the secondary.

(sent from my phone)
Click to expand...


I have read the posts by you in this thread and the fact that they don't screen for secondary is making it sound like Pritzker values the essays/personailites as much as the stats.

gives me hope
 
Xpectation said:
I have read the posts by you in this thread and the fact that they don't screen for secondary is making it sound like Pritzker values the essays/personailites as much as the stats.

gives me hope
Click to expand...

True, but most schools don't do pre-secondary screens, so it isn't anything special about Pritzker in particular.
 
nosugrefneb said:
Yo. Good luck, people. I'll be one of the fourth years on the admissions committee this year, so do ask any questions that you have and I'll try to keep you updated (though perhaps not as well as Nick has done). The podcast is also a good resource to search through if you have random questions about this crazy process.

I also take cash.
Kidding. ORAMI?
Click to expand...

Just noticed your username and post... It's the guy from the pritzker podcast! I just found it and it's really informative for us pre-meds, thanks for doing it!

I'm not applying for a few cycles though so I'd just like to wish everyone here luck! Pritzker looks like an amazing school.
 
Just got rejected, damn that was a fast turnaround time (~2 weeks from confirmation of received rec letters, 2.5 weeks after I submitted the secondary)
 
I'm not sure whether to think its a good or bad thing that my app has been in review for so long. I see all of you guys with your fast rejections or IIs. My app has been "under review" for almost a month now!
 
I submitted Saturday and my status says "Application Complete: Your completed application has been sent to the Committee on Admissions for review. We look forward to learning about you and your accomplishments.", and there are boxes underneath like "MD Only", "checkRecs" etc. There's also a little grey box that says "HOLD". Does this mean I'm on hold for a re-review?
 
IRASNA said:
I submitted Saturday and my status says "Application Complete: Your completed application has been sent to the Committee on Admissions for review. We look forward to learning about you and your accomplishments.", and there are boxes underneath like "MD Only", "checkRecs" etc. There's also a little grey box that says "HOLD". Does this mean I'm on hold for a re-review?
Click to expand...

No. It will say "Application on Hold" instead of "Application Complete" above those little boxes.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
IRASNA said:
I submitted Saturday and my status says "Application Complete: Your completed application has been sent to the Committee on Admissions for review. We look forward to learning about you and your accomplishments.", and there are boxes underneath like "MD Only", "checkRecs" etc. There's also a little grey box that says "HOLD". Does this mean I'm on hold for a re-review?
Click to expand...

Also if you hover your cursor over it the text says it is a hold for MCAT scores
 
thelight02 said:
No. It will say "Application on Hold" instead of "Application Complete" above those little boxes.
Click to expand...

Yup..it will be very clear. I believe mine had "Application On Hold" in large font and in bold on the top line. The descriptive text below said something to the effect of "Your application has been held for re-review later on in the cycle. We encourage you to send us update letters etc. "
 
Are we allowed to send update letters (through email) before the initial review? Or can we only send them if we are placed on hold/receive an interview?
 
Submitted secondary on Saturday...

GOT AN INTERVIEW INVITE TODAY.

3.50 general gpa///3.54 bcpm///32R (11, 11, 10)///URM

I don't know what to do with myself. I didn't expect it to happen. Incredibly excited!


I must prepare!!!

words cannot...even...describe...hnnnngngggghhh
 
Application finally complete. I just got my second MCAT score back yesterday and was pleasantly surprised with a 35, so hopefully I have a much better chance at U of C now.
 
Does this have to medicine related? I work for many years and held leadership positions at the high school where I taught and I wanted to discuss the challenges of trying to bring change in a low performing, low income neighborhood public school without the support of school administration.


Also, i have a friend applying here- do you think in the additional info section she should mention that she started a business which lasted for 3 yrs but had to shut down because of post bacc work? ( she started the business while completing a masters and working a full- time job). How do you think the adcom will view that experience?
 
msamp said:
Does this have to medicine related? I work for many years and held leadership positions at the high school where I taught and I wanted to discuss the challenges of trying to bring change in a low performing, low income neighborhood public school without the support of school administration.


Also, i have a friend applying here- do you think in the additional info section she should mention that she started a business which lasted for 3 yrs but had to shut down because of post bacc work? ( she started the business while completing a masters and working a full- time job). How do you think the adcom will view that experience?
Click to expand...

Definitely doesn't have to be related.

And that sounds like a good thing to talk about. Obviously it's difficult to say with limited information, but I don't see an obvious problem with it.
 
Secondary Submitted 7/18, Secondary Complete 7/20, Primary Verified 8/6. Waiting to hear back - anyone in the same boat?
 
kaige333 said:
Verified 8/7, so I guess that's kinda in the same boat.
Click to expand...

I was verified 8/7 also, but it took a couple days after that for them to receive my secondaries. My application was officially complete 8/9 and still waiting on a response. It has only been two days, so not really worrying about it at this point.
 
Syrdas said:
I was verified 8/7 also, but it took a couple days after that for them to receive my secondaries. My application was officially complete 8/9 and still waiting on a response. It has only been two days, so not really worrying about it at this point.
Click to expand...

Especially since we're now in the weekend. 🙂

For those of you that are waiting, hang tight! You WILL get a decision at some point.
 
Does anyone know approximately when the apps that were held for further review will be reconsidered?
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Just submitted! I worked on these essays longer than any of my other ones because I'd really like to go here. A physician mentor of mine is a teacher/researcher/clinician here and she raves about how great this school is. Really hoping for an interview even though less than school average stats
 
xroc said:
Does anyone know approximately when the apps that were held for further review will be reconsidered?
Click to expand...

Of course there are exceptions, however the past couple of years most people that I've seen that were continued but invited to interview got invites around November or December and later. Again, that's just a rough guideline so take it for what it's worth, but that's when I would expect to hear back.
 
Received my secondary today. I'm new to SDN (came here because I was also wondering why I also got my secondary before my AMCAS was verified), and I just have a few questions to current medical students about the school:

1. Do you guys take shelf exams? How well do the classes prepare you for Step 1 material, and how do the students score on the shelf exams and boards? What is the matching rate?

2. Do most accepted economically disadvantaged students get financial aid?

3. Which hospitals do you rotate in? (Are they all in Chicago?)

Thanks a lot, this thread has been very helpful. This school is quite a reach for me, but I love Chicago and hope I get in somewhere in the city! 🙂
 
DrS3uss said:
Received my secondary today. I'm new to SDN (came here because I was also wondering why I also got my secondary before my AMCAS was verified), and I just have a few questions to current medical students about the school:

1. Do you guys take shelf exams? How well do the classes prepare you for Step 1 material, and how do the students score on the shelf exams and boards? What is the matching rate?

2. Do most accepted economically disadvantaged students get financial aid?

3. Which hospitals do you rotate in? (Are they all in Chicago?)

Thanks a lot, this thread has been very helpful. This school is quite a reach for me, but I love Chicago and hope I get in somewhere in the city! 🙂
Click to expand...

1) I'm assuming shelf exams are taken during third year, but there were none during first year and I don't think there are any during second year.

2) Not sure, but there's a SIGNIFICANT amount of merit aid available to the class. However, all of my interactions with the financial aid office have been great, and if money is a serious concern, then I would suggest talking to them. They seem more than willing to make it work if at all possible.

3) Yes - the two main hospital systems students rotate in are UCMC (U of C's medical center) and the NorthShore system, which is ~45 minutes north of Chicago in the Evanston suburb. The school will pay for you to stay in a hotel if you rotate there, and if you don't have a car there's a shuttle that runs from the hospital to the hotel. I'm not too sure about any more than that though. I think you can list preferences for where you'd like to be (UCMC vs. NorthShore), but I don't think those can always be accommodated. It's entirely possible/likely that you will do at least one rotation at NorthShore based on the upperclassmen I've talked to.

Hopefully Ben can provide some mana-from-above fourth year insight.
 
Complete last Monday, and still no answer. Seriously thought I'd get a rejection by last Friday....maybe I have a chance?
 
NickNaylor said:
1) I'm assuming shelf exams are taken during third year, but there were none during first year and I don't think there are any during second year.

2) Not sure, but there's a SIGNIFICANT amount of merit aid available to the class. However, all of my interactions with the financial aid office have been great, and if money is a serious concern, then I would suggest talking to them. They seem more than willing to make it work if at all possible.

3) Yes - the two main hospital systems students rotate in are UCMC (U of C's medical center) and the NorthShore system, which is ~45 minutes north of Chicago in the Evanston suburb. The school will pay for you to stay in a hotel if you rotate there, and if you don't have a car there's a shuttle that runs from the hospital to the hotel. I'm not too sure about any more than that though. I think you can list preferences for where you'd like to be (UCMC vs. NorthShore), but I don't think those can always be accommodated. It's entirely possible/likely that you will do at least one rotation at NorthShore based on the upperclassmen I've talked to.

Hopefully Ben can provide some mana-from-above fourth year insight.
Click to expand...

Pritzker gave out $11 million in merit and need based aid last cycle.

I would also like to hear about 3rd year from Ben and what his experiences were like.
 
I am getting pretty excited to check out Chicago after my interview. I've never spent any time there. I'm flying in on a Wednesday, interview on Thursday, & flying out on Saturday afternoon...what the heck should I do? For folks who got accepted, what do you think are some important things to check out (other than Pritzker) when one is deciding whether to spend 4 years in Chi-town? I've been told it's a great city, but I don't know a lot of specifics.

Edit: For anyone interviewing to whom this may apply, I just found a pretty cool document that the University puts together on LGBTQ student life: http://lgbtq.uchicago.edu/compass
 
Last edited:
got rejected tonight.. 3.75 GPA 35 MCAT & put a lot of time into the secondary.. disappointing, but at least i gave it a shot! best of luck to everyone else out there!
 
rachelkj said:
I am getting pretty excited to check out Chicago after my interview. I've never spent any time there. I'm flying in on a Wednesday, interview on Thursday, & flying out on Saturday afternoon...what the heck should I do? For folks who got accepted, what do you think are some important things to check out (other than Pritzker) when one is deciding whether to spend 4 years in Chi-town? I've been told it's a great city, but I don't know a lot of specifics.

Edit: For anyone interviewing to whom this may apply, I just found a pretty cool document that the University puts together on LGBTQ student life: http://lgbtq.uchicago.edu/compass
Click to expand...

Typical tourist things: check out Grant park, go downtown and walk along the Magnificent Mile, go check out one of the beaches, Navy Pier... all kinds of stuff. If you're into trying food, Lincoln Park is a good place to go. Really if you just wander around the city you'll find stuff to do.
 
rachelkj said:
I am getting pretty excited to check out Chicago after my interview. I've never spent any time there. I'm flying in on a Wednesday, interview on Thursday, & flying out on Saturday afternoon...what the heck should I do? For folks who got accepted, what do you think are some important things to check out (other than Pritzker) when one is deciding whether to spend 4 years in Chi-town? I've been told it's a great city, but I don't know a lot of specifics.

Edit: For anyone interviewing to whom this may apply, I just found a pretty cool document that the University puts together on LGBTQ student life: http://lgbtq.uchicago.edu/compass
Click to expand...

The Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Field Museum are all right next to each in Millenium Park just a short bus ride away from the University. A bit further north is the Hancock tower and Art Institute. You could probably book yourself a bus tour, segway tour, or boat tour if you want to make sure to at least see the main tourist attractions of the city.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Invin22 said:
The Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Field Museum are all right next to each in Millenium Park just a short bus ride away from the University. A bit further north is the Hancock tower and Art Institute. You could probably book yourself a bus tour, segway tour, or boat tour if you want to make sure to at least see the main tourist attractions of the city.
Click to expand...

Good call... should've thought of that stuff, haha.

(sent from my phone)
 
If you're looking to get Chicago deep dish pizza definitely go for Giordannos over Gino's or Lou Mahlnatis if you don't want to spend as much but still want good legit deep dish
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2025-2026 U Chicago (Pritzker)
3 4 5 6 7
Replies
339
Views
145K
ijustwannagotomedschoolug
I
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Chicago (Pritzker)
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
778
Views
245K
X0001234
X0001234
wysdoc
2025-2026 University of Georgia School of Medicine
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
281
Views
99K
cheeseplease
C
wysdoc
2023-2024 University of Chicago (Pritzker)
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
763
Views
235K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
wysdoc
2025-2026 University of Tennessee
2 3 4 5
Replies
204
Views
47K
ABCWRDB
ABCWRDB