2012-2013 University of Wisconsin Application Thread

[topper34]

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I am applying as an in-state student. Can anybody confirm that the secondary cannot be submitted until August 19th for in-state students? Thank you.

 

[1289]

I am applying as an in-state student. Can anybody confirm that the secondary cannot be submitted until August 19th for in-state students? Thank you.

i am in state and received the secondary application, i haven't tried submitting it yet but I see no message in the invitation email or the application itself saying that it cannot be submitted until then.. if I remember correctly the message was displayed very clearly in last year's secondary email as well as on the website. (haven't looked there yet)

 

[topper34]

Here is the message that appears at the end of the secondary for me.

"As a state institution, UW SMPH gives priority to residents of Wisconsin who fill about 80% of positions in the class. State law requires that the information used to confirm your residency be submitted no more than one year prior to the first day of classes. The Office of the Registrar uses the information included in your secondary application to do this so the first day that Wisconsin residents can submit their Secondary Application for the Entering Class of 2013 is August 19, 2012.

Please note that applicants are not allowed to add information to the secondary application once it has been submitted."

 

[1289]

Here is the message that appears at the end of the secondary for me.

"As a state institution, UW SMPH gives priority to residents of Wisconsin who fill about 80% of positions in the class. State law requires that the information used to confirm your residency be submitted no more than one year prior to the first day of classes. The Office of the Registrar uses the information included in your secondary application to do this so the first day that Wisconsin residents can submit their Secondary Application for the Entering Class of 2013 is August 19, 2012.

Please note that applicants are not allowed to add information to the secondary application once it has been submitted."

ok nice! thanks for finding that info. that's a huge relief to me right now I'm swamped with other secondaries..

 

[topper34]

Okay sounds good let me know what they say when you email them.

However just to clarify, that is the message that appears at the end of the secondary application, and it doesn't appear in any email they have sent me either.

 

[GagaOOlala]

.

 

[1289]

Okay sounds good let me know what they say when you email them.

However just to clarify, that is the message that appears at the end of the secondary application, and it doesn't appear in any email they have sent me either.

Yup edited my response when I saw you were talking about the secondary, not the email. I haven't really looked at the app in detail yet. Good luck!

 

[jlescher]

Home school and I haven't gotten the secondary yet. Come on Wisco!

 

[1289]

no worries! can't submit till next month. it's a beast tho...

 

[jlescher]

no worries! can't submit till next month. it's a beast tho...

I'm pretty sure I applied to all the schools with horrible secondaries. Miami, San Diego, Minnesota, ect. All awful. So the postponed August submission date is only for In state applicants?

 

[stolen_biscuit]

I'm pretty sure I applied to all the schools with horrible secondaries. Miami, San Diego, Minnesota, ect. All awful. So the postponed August submission date is only for In state applicants?

Apparently. I saw no such message as OOS and submitted the 11th.

 

[Revolver1045]

no worries! can't submit till next month. it's a beast tho...

How is it a beast? Did it change from an optional essay like last year?

 

[stolen_biscuit]

How is it a beast? Did it change from an optional essay like last year?

I think the beast is the activity list....

 

[1289]

How is it a beast? Did it change from an optional essay like last year?

Yes i was referring to the activities section

 

[deleted454156]

I think the beast is the activity list....

Psh, you wanna see beast, go take a gander at the University of Miami secondary. I'm pretty glad I did it though, because it makes all other secondaries so much nicer to do.

That being said, the activities section on the Wisconsin app is pretty tiresome.

 

[DAPI]

Psh, you wanna see beast, go take a gander at the University of Miami secondary. I'm pretty glad I did it though, because it makes all other secondaries so much nicer to do.

That being said, the activities section on the Wisconsin app is pretty tiresome.

Yikes!

 

[Luvahgilahsa]

I'm excited to go here as well!
I actually didn't prefer Wisconsin schools initially, and I wanted to go to big cities on the east coast or west coast. However, my parents basically planned a "drive by" trip through college town few weeks ago trying to convince me how great it was. I really liked the look and feel of the campus, now I really would like to go there! haha

Anyone know if they give any preference to in state residents? My MCAT scores aren't out yet so I'm still waiting to get screened 😛

 

[deleted454156]

Anyone know if they give any preference to in state residents? My MCAT scores aren't out yet so I'm still waiting to get screened 😛

Pretty heavily in state preference considering it's a public school. Info from MSAR: 371/659 IS vs 188/3,210 OOS, got interviews.

 

[Revolver1045]

Can any of you post what they specifically ask and character limits? Thanks

 

[1289]

I'm excited to go here as well!
I actually didn't prefer Wisconsin schools initially, and I wanted to go to big cities on the east coast or west coast. However, my parents basically planned a "drive by" trip through college town few weeks ago trying to convince me how great it was. I really liked the look and feel of the campus, no I really would like to go there! haha

Anyone know if they give any preference to in state residents? My MCAT scores aren't out yet so I'm still waiting to get screened 😛

what was said above. not to discourage you but you need to be an all-star applicant to even get an interview OOS.

 

[unhappytnt]

what was said above. not to discourage you but you need to be an all-star applicant to even get an interview OOS.

Ugh, that's depressing to read. I went to high school in Wisconsin though, maybe I'll get some love 🙁

.

 

[Luvahgilahsa]

Pretty heavily in state preference considering it's a public school. Info from MSAR: 371/659 IS vs 188/3,210 OOS, got interviews.

Oh wow, that's great news! I might have a shot here 😀

 

[Luvahgilahsa]

what was said above. not to discourage you but you need to be an all-star applicant to even get an interview OOS.

I think it's an encouragement because I'm actually a wisconsin resident 😀

 

[Luvahgilahsa]

I'm pretty sure I applied to all the schools with horrible secondaries. Miami, San Diego, Minnesota, ect. All awful. So the postponed August submission date is only for In state applicants?

I applied to Minnesota as well!
Do you think it'll be relatively easier to get into Minnesota as a Wisconsin resident vs being a resident from other states?
I know for undergrad, Minnesota and Wisconsin has this inner state exchange program where they consider applicants from Wisconsin at U of M and applicants from Minnesota at U of W as in state applicants and they get in state tuition as well. I wonder if this is true for the medical school as well?

 

[Pateln381]

Hello Friends,

I know this Q has been asked before, but I just wanted to clarify it one more time.

So I received an email from them saying that they screen for minimum scores on 6/29/12. But after that I haven't received any email from them regarding secondary application. Some of the SDN members already received such emails and some of them already submitted them. So I was wondering what's going on?

I'm IL resident. And my scores also meet their minimum requirements. My AMCAS was verified on 6/26/12 if that helps.

Thanks for your help!

 

[1289]

I applied to Minnesota as well!
Do you think it'll be relatively easier to get into Minnesota as a Wisconsin resident vs being a resident from other states?
I know for undergrad, Minnesota and Wisconsin has this inner state exchange program where they consider applicants from Wisconsin at U of M and applicants from Minnesota at U of W as in state applicants and they get in state tuition as well. I wonder if this is true for the medical school as well?

Unfortunately no.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Hello Friends,

I know this Q has been asked before, but I just wanted to clarify it one more time.

So I received an email from them saying that they screen for minimum scores on 6/29/12. But after that I haven't received any email from them regarding secondary application. Some of the SDN members already received such emails and some of them already submitted them. So I was wondering what's going on?

I'm IL resident. And my scores also meet their minimum requirements. My AMCAS was verified on 6/26/12 if that helps.

Thanks for your help!

I got the email the same day as you and just got the secondary on 7/11. They are probably still working through the stack. If they are going in order of verification, I was verified 6/21.

 

[Pateln381]

I got the email the same day as you and just got the secondary on 7/11. They are probably still working through the stack. If they are going in order of verification, I was verified 6/21.

Aaah ... then it makes much more sense. Since I was verified 5 days later. I guess I should receive secondary next week. I hope this doesn't make me a bit late in the app cycle [i.e not being selected for the first pool of interviews 🙁 ]

Does anyone know when do they send out interview invites?!

Thanks for your reply! I really appreciate it.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Aaah ... then it makes much more sense. Since I was verified 5 days later. I guess I should receive secondary next week. I hope this doesn't make me a bit late in the app cycle [i.e not being selected for the first pool of interviews 🙁 ]

Does anyone know when do they send out interview invites?!

Thanks for your reply! I really appreciate it.

Who knows the working order? It could be anything. I also have a last name at the beginning of the alphabet, if they do it alphabetically.

Wouldn't worry at all about being late. I don't think anyone out of TX gives invites this month at all, but I could be wrong. It seems most schools list interview season as beginning in September, so next month would make sense.

 

[jlescher]

Pretty heavily in state preference considering it's a public school. Info from MSAR: 371/659 IS vs 188/3,210 OOS, got interviews.

I'm working on Miami's right now and I don't find it to be too bad. The essays are short so it seems fine. Just got done with San Diego and that was a beast. 6,000 charater autobiography and 5,000 charater about masters in clinical research (optional).

 

[jlescher]

In state, verified 6/21/12, and I meet the minimum requirements. I haven't received the secondary yet so I wouldn't worry about it if you got the confirmation email regarding receipt of your AMCAS and still lack a secondary. It seems like there are a lot of people that haven't gotten it yet.

 

[drizzt3117]

It looks like last year they offered a lot more IS interviews than in past years, dropping the acceptance % quite a bit. My cycle they only interviewed 250 IS and accepted 75% of them, it sounds like now they accept around half of IS students who are interviewed.

 

[CopaceticOne]

Ugh, that's depressing to read. I went to high school in Wisconsin though, maybe I'll get some love 🙁

.

If you graduated from a WI high school then you might still be considered a WI resident for tuition purposes. PostHaste provided this info last year:

36.27(2) (c) Any student who is a graduate of a Wisconsin high school and whose parents are bona fide residents of this state for 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the student registers at an institution or whose last surviving parent was a bona fide resident of this state for the 12 months preceding death is entitled to the exemption under par. (a).

Quick source: http://registrar.wisc.edu/wisconsin_statute.htm

 

[smileycenter]

Hmm...if I haven't gone through any of the hardships they listed for the optional essay, would it be wise to tell them why I want to go to Wisconsin? Or leave it blank? Thanks!

Oh and I just got the secondary this morning even though i received that screening email way early on like some of you did so no worries! Just sit tight 👍

 

[1289]

Hmm...if I haven't gone through any of the hardships they listed for the optional essay, would it be wise to tell them why I want to go to Wisconsin? Or leave it blank? Thanks!

Oh and I just got the secondary this morning even though i received that screening email way early on like some of you did so no worries! Just sit tight 👍

suppose it's better than leaving it blank.

 

[jlescher]

I applied to Minnesota as well!
Do you think it'll be relatively easier to get into Minnesota as a Wisconsin resident vs being a resident from other states?
I know for undergrad, Minnesota and Wisconsin has this inner state exchange program where they consider applicants from Wisconsin at U of M and applicants from Minnesota at U of W as in state applicants and they get in state tuition as well. I wonder if this is true for the medical school as well?

I applied to Minnesota because I have ties there. My brother went there for undergrad and completed his master in architecture there. My sister-in-law got her PhD there and subsequently was the assistant to the provost. She got me a meeting with two of the adcoms for the MD/PhD (I was think about this last year but now I'm just going MD). I want to do translational medicine. After meeting the faculty and students it seemed like an awesome school.

Given the lack of a tuition break at Minnesota for a Wisconsin resident I think I would pick Wisconsin over UM if I get in. I think the two schools are pretty comparable in terms of quality so it really comes down to cost and the feel of the school for me.

 

[drizzt3117]

suppose it's better than leaving it blank.

I would just leave it blank if you don't fit the criteria for the question.

 

[DAPI]

Hmm...if I haven't gone through any of the hardships they listed for the optional essay, would it be wise to tell them why I want to go to Wisconsin? Or leave it blank? Thanks!

Oh and I just got the secondary this morning even though i received that screening email way early on like some of you did so no worries! Just sit tight 👍

suppose it's better than leaving it blank.

I would just leave it blank if you don't fit the criteria for the question.

The question technically says, "You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant." and then gives hardships as an example, so writing about why Wisconsin could be done. I think they are however looking for uniqueness in applicants. ("the supplemental information we receive in this secondary application is to gain additional insight into the applicant as a unique individual.") Writing about why Wisconsin would tell them nothing about you, but things they already know about themselves.

I would say find something that is unique to you, even if that mean expanding (not repeating) on something you have already touched upon in AMCAS.

 

[cbas07]

So I just submitted my secondary and payed the fee, but the application says that I do not have my LORs in. All of my LORs, however, have been process by AMCAS. Does anybody know what's going or has had the same issue?

 

[1289]

The question technically says, "You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant." and then gives hardships as an example, so writing about why Wisconsin could be done. I think they are however looking for uniqueness in applicants. ("the supplemental information we receive in this secondary application is to gain additional insight into the applicant as a unique individual.") Writing about why Wisconsin would tell them nothing about you, but things they already know about themselves.

I would say find something that is unique to you, even if that mean expanding (not repeating) on something you have already touched upon in AMCAS.

ya I have something pretty relevent to write in there, not sure what I'd do if I didnt. i'd listen to drizzt, he knows his shet.

 

[jlescher]

So I just submitted my secondary and payed the fee, but the application says that I do not have my LORs in. All of my LORs, however, have been process by AMCAS. Does anybody know what's going or has had the same issue?

Yeah, wait a few days and they will be in. LOR don't instantly show up when you submit your secondary to most schools. It can take a few days, but they will show up.

 

[futuremdmph18]

Just received the secondary ... hoping for some out-of-state love. Out of all of the medical schools in the U.S., UWSMPH's mission statement parallels my personal statement the most. Nothing better than integrated primary care AND public health. This is to say the least my dream school.

 

[cbas07]

Also, I'm OOS but UW is at the top of my list. I just completed the secondary. What might be a good way to let them know that I'm really interested? I also kind of regret not putting on the optional essay that my dad's family came from Wisconsin (it didn't seem like it fit the prompt but I was probably wrong). Could I send a letter of interest with those details?

 

[1289]

Also, I'm OOS but UW is at the top of my list. I just completed the secondary. What might be a good way to let them know that I'm really interested? I also kind of regret not putting on the optional essay that my dad's family came from Wisconsin (it didn't seem like it fit the prompt but I was probably wrong). Could I send a letter of interest with those details?

sorry UW accepts absolutely no updates/LOIs in written form after the secondary. if you get an interview i'm sure you'd find a chance to mention it though and you get a chance to "update" your interviewer.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Anyone know why they hold back IS apps until Aug. 20th, but let OOS apps come in ASAP? Not complaining, just curious.

Also, haven't recieved my secondary yet.

 

[1289]

Anyone know why they hold back IS apps until Aug. 20th, but let OOS apps come in ASAP? Not complaining, just curious.

Also, haven't recieved my secondary yet.

someone posted above that it has to do with WI residency. your res has to be determined no more than a year before you will matriculate, i.e. we can't submit our apps as wi res until august 20th. doesn't matter for OOS

 

[Bonus Eruptus]

what was said above. not to discourage you but you need to be an all-star applicant to even get an interview OOS.

I think to get into any medical school, you have to be an all-star applicant. I got the impression during my interview last year that the ADCOM was interested in OOS applicants with more life experiences that is expected from a non-traditional student. That's not to say that several traditional applicants weren't accepted as well.

 

[1289]

I think to get into any medical school, you have to be an all-star applicant. I got the impression during my interview last year that the ADCOM was interested in OOS applicants with more life experiences that is expected from a non-traditional student. That's not to say that several traditional applicants weren't accepted as well.

Yes I wasn't trying to sound like an expert about OOS admissions here bc I'm certainly not. I only meant to convey that there are very few OOS interviews for very many qualified applicants.
Congrats on getting in here BTW. you'll love Madison

 

[Bonus Eruptus]

Yes I wasn't trying to sound like an expert about OOS admissions here bc I'm certainly not. I only meant to convey that there are very few OOS interviews for very many qualified applicants.
Congrats on getting in here BTW. you'll love Madison

Oh no, don't worry about it. I just like to give people hope through the application process. I almost didn't apply to Wisconsin because I was nervous about their OOS acceptance rate. Here I am a year later about to start classes in about 4 weeks; after choosing Wisconsin over a couple other schools. If you like the school, give it a shot, I honestly fell in love during the interview and second visit. Incredible facilities, amazing people and great city.

Thanks for the congrats, Im sure Ill love it. I wish you the best in your application process and hopefully Ill see you around during interviews. Best of luck!

 

[doctorluv19]

Question:

Did everyone get that email about UW reviewing your stats before getting a secondary? Because I did not get that email but I got their secondary today.... I just want to make sure emails aren't getting lost because that would kindaaaa suck!