2013-2014 Oakland University Application Thread

[nbahsan]

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Under the semester/quarter box, how do we input the semester? For my school, its Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring/Summer 2012, Fall 2012... Do I put it in like this or do I follow the same setup as the AMCAS application?

Thanks guys and good luck everyone 🙂

 

[jamiechan]

You are supposed to use the "notes" section to indicate whether or not you have done additional coursework. For example, they require one semester of organic chemistry. At my school, I have done three quarters of organic chemistry so I am explaining that in the notes section.

Ohhh I see. what i did was put my third class in the same format. How about biology? did you just pick 2 random classes and labs?

And for labs I only did 2 gchem labs...2gchem labs =/= 2 semester labs

 

[Noggin]

Ohhh I see. what i did was put my third class in the same format. How about biology? did you just pick 2 random classes and labs?

And for labs I only did 2 gchem labs...2gchem labs =/= 2 semester labs

For biology I listed the first two biology classes that I took.

 

[Anicetus]

It's from a few years ago, but there's an Excel sheet with pretty much all the secondaries in one file. PM me if you want me to send, but just a heads up that some have changed (even then though, it seems only very slightly... like one of my schools just added one question). You can also look at last year's threads for the questions but this was my lazy way to get an overall idea, 🙂.

Perhaps they removed that explanation for this year because they are accepting gaps as in gap years after undergrad?

 

[Lucidity]

Please anyone?

It is asking if your parents had an associates degree or higher when you first started college. So if your parents did not then you answer no, if they did answer yes.

 

[Lucidity]

This is how I took it as well.

Question: Do you think applying the year of your graduation applies here? I graduated in May and will have this year off as I apply. Some schools explicitly state not to considering time off after graduation.

This question can be tailored either as lapses in good grades or time off. I did both because one led to the other.

 

[sciencebooks]

Perhaps they removed that explanation for this year because they are accepting gaps as in gap years after undergrad?

Cool, I'll roll with it. Though I guess that means thinking of a better explanation than "I wanted a year to breathe, thanks"... 😛

 

[AdrianVeidt]

I doubt they will be a stickler if you used it for actual time gaps or for bad grades.

As for quarter issue, I'm pretty sure as long as you have one quarter of a class they will count it as a semester. My undergraduate institution did, and if you think about it, there isn't really that big of a difference between semesters and quarters.

Semester = longer time/shorter duration in class
Quarter = shorter time/longer duration in class

 

[Captain Sisko]

Submitted! My first secondary 🙂

31 to go...

 

[bazinga14]

.

 

[gobigorgohome22]

Just finished writing the essays. I will look over it one more time tomorrow before submitting.

 

[LUV29]

Also applying here. This is probably a stupid question but does 400 word limit also include character and space?

Good luck to everyone applying this cycle👍

 

[Anicetus]

Is there any update about the LOR's not being received? It still says no LOR's have been submitted.....

 

[jamiechan]

For biology I listed the first two biology classes that I took.

so i called them today and they want the 3 quarters worth of courses.....(b.c that equals to one year)

thats concerning b.c i only have 2 gchem and physics labs which equal 2/3 of a year.🙁

 

[gobigorgohome22]

Also applying here. This is probably a stupid question but does 400 word limit also include character and space?

Good luck to everyone applying this cycle👍

No, It is just words.

 

[gobigorgohome22]

so i called them today and they want the 3 quarters worth of courses.....(b.c that equals to one year)

thats concerning b.c i only have 2 gchem and physics labs which equal 2/3 of a year.🙁

That's weird. They may make an exception if that's the only thing your school offors. You need to decide if its worth $75 to apply if you dont meet their requirment.

 

[ZeaL6]

If you plan on taking a course (I'm taking biochem in the Fall) do you put it in the supplemental app?

 

[sciencebooks]

If you plan on taking a course (I'm taking biochem in the Fall) do you put it in the supplemental app?

I actually called on that. She said yes. Fill out what you can and make a note of it in the "Notes" section. Something like "Register for Fall 2013" or whatever.

 

[sciencebooks]

For this optional question:

2. Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that is not already represented in your application materials?

How did you guys interpret it? Do you think it would be out of place to discuss diversity if you think it gives you a fresh perspective and/or guides your story?

 

[gobigorgohome22]

For this optional question:

2. Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that is not already represented in your application materials?

How did you guys interpret it? Do you think it would be out of place to discuss diversity if you think it gives you a fresh perspective and/or guides your story?

I dont think you should discuss diversity here. If they wanted that, they would have made a specific question about it. I talked about a blemish I have on my application. I would leave it blank if you dont have anything like that.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

For this optional question:

2. Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that is not already represented in your application materials?

How did you guys interpret it? Do you think it would be out of place to discuss diversity if you think it gives you a fresh perspective and/or guides your story?

I discussed diversity.

 

[sciencebooks]

I discussed diversity.

👍 Awesome, thank you!

 

[Ubiquinator]

.

 

[TechToDoc]

I'm a non-trad applicant. For the optional prompt about what else makes me qualified to be a med student, I was considering emphasizing life skills in some sort of eloquent fashion. Skills such as the ability to manage my household, manage my time, effectively handle stress and a heavy workload, work with people, etc. Does that sound appropriate?

 

[Lactobacillus]

I'm a non-trad applicant. For the optional prompt about what else makes me qualified to be a med student, I was considering emphasizing life skills in some sort of eloquent fashion. Skills such as the ability to manage my household, manage my time, effectively handle stress and a heavy workload, work with people, etc. Does that sound appropriate?

As a fellow non-grad applicant, it makes sense to me. There's a lot to be said about balancing life, which many applicants have not been exposed to.

 

[TechToDoc]

As a fellow non-grad applicant, it makes sense to me. There's a lot to be said about balancing life, which many applicants have not been exposed to.

Thanks! Cute puppy 🙂

 

[badooda]

For the "what have you done to better your community" prompt, I was thinking about writing abt one of my activites I listed on my primaries and also including random volunteering I've done here and there for the community.....does this sound like a good idea? I didn't include the random volunteering in my primaries because I didn't do it continuously throughout the years, just maybe 3-4 times a year

 

[badooda]

Also, do responses need to be 400 works ( or close to it). Would 150ish words look bad?

 

[Lexipi]

Did anybody else get a packet through the mail? I don't know what I should make of it...probably just spam right

 

[Lucidity]

Also, do responses need to be 400 works ( or close to it). Would 150ish words look bad?

Quality over quantity my friend. If you get your point across in less words that's awesome, especially to those reading it 🙂

 

[cyaneidae]

Oh man I am going to have such a difficult time with the community essay...there are so many different ways to interpret what your community is--and I've had more than 2 (and all in different states)!

 

[Noggin]

Is anyone else not complete here with letters of recommendation? I submitted, and assigned letters but it still says that they haven't received any letters.

 

[Captain Sisko]

Is anyone else not complete here with letters of recommendation? I submitted, and assigned letters but it still says that they haven't received any letters.

same boat.

 

[VerynCE]

Hey all,

Check out the admissions twitter page for updates on the process.

https://twitter.com/OUWBAdmissions

Good luck with your apps!

 

[nbahsan]

same boat.

My LORs don't show up either.

Edit: I believe they will receive them from AMCAS next week.

 

[swift3y]

would the location of this school be considered suburban or urban?

 

[Lucidity]

would the location of this school be considered suburban or urban?

Rochester, MI is definitely suburban.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

LORs received. Officially complete.

Although I have all the required prereqs, I forgot to include my semester stats class as the 2nd required math and instead just put 2 quarters of math. Hope this doesn't cause a problem.

 

[Noggin]

LORs received. Officially complete.

Although I have all the required prereqs, I forgot to include my semester stats class as the 2nd required math and instead just put 2 quarters of math. Hope this doesn't cause a problem.

I am complete as well! Good luck!

 

[sportsfan101]

Hi

Quick question: on MSAR it says only screened applicants receive secondaries..do they mean screened in terms on minimum GPA/MCAT or screened in terms of entire primary application(PS, work/activities?) Anyone mind sharing MCAT/GPA that is OOS and that got secondary? I want to know if it's worth prewriting now or waiting.

 

[Noggin]

Hi

Quick question: on MSAR it says only screened applicants receive secondaries..do they mean screened in terms on minimum GPA/MCAT or screened in terms of entire primary application(PS, work/activities?) Anyone mind sharing MCAT/GPA that is OOS and that got secondary? I want to know if it's worth prewriting now or waiting.

3.8/30 OOS CA resident received secondary

 

[Pandaeac]

Hi all, I'm pre-writing the secondary but haven't actually received it yet so I don't know what the site is like. For the last question, can we put bullet points in, or is it just plain text that's allowed?

 

[IgA]

I am a bit confused about my application status. I am still waiting for my pre-health advisor to send my committee letter to AMCAS (which I hope will be next week). However, I submitted my secondary to Oakland the first day and because I had three other letters entered into AMCAS (which have already been received) it says my file is complete and ready for review. I want them to wait for my committee letter though because I assigned it to them in AMCAS.

Anyone know what is going on with this? Same thing happened for Hofstra.

 

[sciencebooks]

I am a bit confused about my application status. I am still waiting for my pre-health advisor to send my committee letter to AMCAS (which I hope will be next week). However, I submitted my secondary to Oakland the first day and because I had three other letters entered into AMCAS (which have already been received) it says my file is complete and ready for review. I want them to wait for my committee letter though because I assigned it to them in AMCAS.

Anyone know what is going on with this? Same thing happened for Hofstra.

Oh, mine's doing that too, with the check next to the LORs and all and I really feel like my missing letter will be one of the best, 😳. Maybe that just means we've fulfilled their specific requirements?

 

[TechToDoc]

Hi all, I'm pre-writing the secondary but haven't actually received it yet so I don't know what the site is like. For the last question, can we put bullet points in, or is it just plain text that's allowed?

No bullets, just plain text. I suppose you could use dashes if you like.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Hi

Quick question: on MSAR it says only screened applicants receive secondaries..do they mean screened in terms on minimum GPA/MCAT or screened in terms of entire primary application(PS, work/activities?) Anyone mind sharing MCAT/GPA that is OOS and that got secondary? I want to know if it's worth prewriting now or waiting.

From their website: "Select applicants, scoring a 24 or higher on the MCAT, will be invited to submit a supplemental application." I would think this means that they only screen based on MCAT scores (or that, at least, MCAT scores below 24 would preclude you from getting a secondary).

 

[TechToDoc]

Hi

Quick question: on MSAR it says only screened applicants receive secondaries..do they mean screened in terms on minimum GPA/MCAT or screened in terms of entire primary application(PS, work/activities?) Anyone mind sharing MCAT/GPA that is OOS and that got secondary? I want to know if it's worth prewriting now or waiting.

3.92/33, submitted my secondary on Thursday... Nervous!

 

[versary]

I'm a non-trad applicant. For the optional prompt about what else makes me qualified to be a med student, I was considering emphasizing life skills in some sort of eloquent fashion. Skills such as the ability to manage my household, manage my time, effectively handle stress and a heavy workload, work with people, etc. Does that sound appropriate?

Yes, I feel as if this is a great topic. I was considering not writing the second essay, but then I thought about everything that I could say and decided to go ahead and write it. Anyway, it sounds like a great idea. Stick to that!

 

[versary]

I discussed diversity.

I cannot discuss diversity in terms of race, but I guess I can talk about diversity in terms of background and skills. Thanks!

 

[MadRadLad]

I've got a question regarding the prereq coursework listing in the secondary.

I got AP credit for bio so I don't have any bio labs on my transcript. Should I just enter "No" for those two and remark in the notes that I will complete them in the next few semesters? IIRC, prereqs have to be met by matriculation, not acceptance correct?