2013-2014 University of California - Los Angeles (Geffen) Application Thread

[DocOpotamus]

---

Members do not see this ad.

did anyone ever figure out the answer to this?

Whoops forgot to update! Yes you can talk about teaching but he did say people tend to talk about clinical experiences for that one and that teaching could be considered for the leadership one. I chose to talk about shadowing for the first one and then teaching for leadership as he suggested.

 

[Juan Solo]

I've been sifting through this thread for a bit now and the general forum, so I guess I'll just go ahead an ask. There's no separate thread this year for UCLA PRIME and/or DREW?

I regret not pre-writing these secondaries (I didn't think I would even get one for UCLA, let alone the other programs, LOL)

There usually is one but it usually has small activity. It may not be up yet.

 

[Juan Solo]

Yay just got the secondary! I thought they had screened me out. I guess not.

Congrats!!

 

[Juan Solo]

Quick question regarding the major paid work experience...I'm going to be a TA in the fall (my glide year). Even though the position won't start until after I've submitted my secondary, I know this is a sure thing that won't fall through. Should I list it for the major paid work experience since I can pretty accurately estimate the hours and dates the position will require? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hmm... usually you should only report what you have done, not what you will do. You should call and check just in case.

 

[neilpryde21]

Got a secondary this afternoon! Was surprised since I never even got a verification email. I'm OOS so I'm ecstatic that I went 3/3 for UC secondaries (UCSF, UCSD, UCLA)!! Now I actually need to get them done lol

 

[Juan Solo]

Got a secondary this afternoon! Was surprised since I never even got a verification email. I'm OOS so I'm ecstatic that I went 3/3 for UC secondaries (UCSF, UCSD, UCLA)!! Now I actually need to get them done lol

Congrats and good luck! Two of those are little a long. 😉

 

[riseNshine]

Congrats to those receiving secondaries! Can you let us know when you received the email stating they have received your primary?

trying to figure out if I was tossed out lol

 

[Jennyfishy]

I haven't seen one. Do you have the secondary questions? I haven't been verified yet, but I'm trying to prewrite.

For UCLA PRIME:

2000 character limit (with spaces)

1. What is the most important health care issue confronting disadvantaged communities and what will be your first steps to address the issue?
2. In what way will graduating from the UCLA PRIME program enhance your career in health care or health services for the disadvantaged communities?
3. Describe the manner in which your experiences demonstrate your understanding of, and commitment to, underserved communities.
4. What are your greatest strengths and your greatest challenges as you approach medical school?

I just double checked my application and I haven't received the DREW secondary yet (just UCLA + UCLA PRIME). You can refer to this old forum for a general idea of the old secondary from 2012-2013: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=911439

Woops

 

[RocDiva4040]

Congrats!!

Thanks!! I'm stoked!

Congrats to those receiving secondaries! Can you let us know when you received the email stating they have received your primary?

trying to figure out if I was tossed out lol

I got the email 8/1

 

[neilpryde21]

Congrats to those receiving secondaries! Can you let us know when you received the email stating they have received your primary?

trying to figure out if I was tossed out lol

I just wrote a couple posts above but I never received an email from them saying they received my primary so if you haven't either yet, maybe you're in the same boat as me. I was verified on 8/10 if that helps

 

[DrZeezan]

Congrats to those receiving secondaries! Can you let us know when you received the email stating they have received your primary?

trying to figure out if I was tossed out lol

Primary Received: 8/7
Secondary Invite: 8/20

I don't think so, it just takes time from what I've read... Hopefully you'll hear back from them soon 🙂

 

[Juan Solo]

Congrats to those receiving secondaries! Can you let us know when you received the email stating they have received your primary?

trying to figure out if I was tossed out lol

Take it easy. It is still August. Most schools are not tossing out any applications at this time. Also some people get an email about when their is received and other people sometimes dont look in their either junk folder or UCLA's applicants site. Either way patients is the key.

 

[deleted526486]

For UCLA PRIME:

2000 character limit (with spaces)

1. What is the most important health care issue confronting disadvantaged communities and what will be your first steps to address the issue?
2. In what way will graduating from the UCLA PRIME program enhance your career in health care or health services for the disadvantaged communities?
3. Describe the manner in which your experiences demonstrate your understanding of, and commitment to, underserved communities.
4. What are your greatest strengths and your greatest challenges as you approach medical school?

I just double checked my application and I haven't received the DREW secondary yet (just UCLA + UCLA PRIME). You can refer to this old forum for a general idea of the old secondary from 2012-2013: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=911439

Woops

Quick question, is it 2000 characters total or per essay?

Thanks so much!

 

[DocOpotamus]

Quick question, is it 2000 characters total or per essay?

Thanks so much!

Per essay.

 

[Jcmil32]

Primary received: 08/15
Secondary Invite: 08/20
Secondary Completed: Today!

Good luck to all of you!

 

[residentyear9]

Primary received: 08/15
Secondary Invite: 08/20
Secondary Completed: Today!

Good luck to all of you!

Was this the secondary where they asked to explain:

"If you are not submitting a committee letter of evaluation from your pre health committee, please explain."

I'm trying to remember whether this was UCI, UCLA, UCSF, or USC....

Any idea?

 

[Jennyfishy]

I remember there's one that says something along the lines of, "if your school has a committee letter service but you are NOT submitting one, please explain"

I don't think anyone asks you to explain why your school doesnt have one. I can check my secondaries in the morning if you're still curious 😛

 

[aak02007]

Apologies for sounding a bit silly. I just got the UCLA David Geffen Invite for supplemental. They told me to look for by accessing "2014 UCLA Applicant Status Database". How do I do that? I try searching for it but the website doesn't yield anything except for error. Can somebody help me out? Thanks a lot!

 

[WorfoSAUR]

Apologies for sounding a bit silly. I just got the UCLA David Geffen Invite for supplemental. They told me to look for by accessing "2014 UCLA Applicant Status Database". How do I do that? I try searching for it but the website doesn't yield anything except for error. Can somebody help me out? Thanks a lot!

Yeah, their website is ancient.

Click on the white jacket on the bottom left of the page with your program listed.

 

[brodrigo]

Apologies for sounding a bit silly. I just got the UCLA David Geffen Invite for supplemental. They told me to look for by accessing "2014 UCLA Applicant Status Database". How do I do that? I try searching for it but the website doesn't yield anything except for error. Can somebody help me out? Thanks a lot!

https://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/applications/appstat/appforms/status.htm

When I received the email it took a few hours for the secondary link to show up so just check again later if it's not there.

 

[Jimsy]

Does volunteering as research assistant in the ER count as a non-academic activity? Thankssssss

 

[Juan Solo]

Does volunteering as research assistant in the ER count as a non-academic activity? Thankssssss

Well, I would say that it does count as academic but others will say otherwise.

 

[lall]

Well, I would say that it does count as academic but others will say otherwise.

Hi hi, curious as to why you'd say that? I'm thinking along similar lines and just want to know the reasoning to see if it applies to me as well 🙂

 

[slz1900]

Does volunteering as research assistant in the ER count as a non-academic activity? Thankssssss

I mean, they clearly want to hear about something that is separate from school and school related activities. Whether research falls within those lines is a matter of opinion, but I think you'd be better served by coming up with something that shows your less academic side. That's my 0.02 as a fellow applicant.

 

[Juan Solo]

Hi hi, curious as to why you'd say that? I'm thinking along similar lines and just want to know the reasoning to see if it applies to me as well 🙂

I am no ADCOM so take this opinion for what it is but after spending a few years in research at a university post undergrad let me tell you that everyone considers it to be academia. You have graduate students, post docs, senior fellows, junior professors and so on and so on. Its like college for grown ups. Now lets not confuse that with an academic class that you may have taken. In the end of the day just pick something that is clearly not being done at university or seem remotely academic based. I'm sure there are plenty of things if you think about it.

 

[ChemEngMD]

Just got an II for Charles Drew...they don't have a thread on here so I figured I'd check in here and see if there were any others in the same boat?


Still haven't gotten a secondary from UCLA yet lol

 

[Lexipi]

Just got an II for Charles Drew...they don't have a thread on here so I figured I'd check in here and see if there were any others in the same boat?


Still haven't gotten a secondary from UCLA yet lol

Congrats!!!
When did you submit your secondary?

 

[ChemEngMD]

Congrats!!!
When did you submit your secondary?

August 13th

The II came by phone too haha so if you get a strange number it could be them.

 

[Lexipi]

August 13th

The II came by phone too haha so if you get a strange number it could be them.

Nice!! Good to know. I'm planning to submit mine today- I'm just proof reading and need to get myself a passport photo lol

 

[Jennyfishy]

Just got an II for Charles Drew...they don't have a thread on here so I figured I'd check in here and see if there were any others in the same boat?


Still haven't gotten a secondary from UCLA yet lol

Congrats! I never heard back with any confirmation or email from DREW; do they do anything to let you know about getting a secondary/screening?

 

[ChemEngMD]

Congrats! I never heard back with any confirmation or email from DREW; do they do anything to let you know about getting a secondary/screening?

Thanks!

I was verified on 7/17 and didn't get the secondary from them until 8/7...it was emailed directly and was a .doc file. You have to fill it all out, go get a passport picture and then send them a money order for the application fee. It may be the last school in the country that doesn't have everything digitized haha. So if you haven't heard anything yet it's probably just because it takes em a little bit of time to get to people.

Also, as far as IIs go, I was told that they were focusing on people from out of town right now so we could set up travel plans. They only interview one Saturday a month and he told me Oct. 19th and Nov. 26th are the first two dates.

 

[Jennyfishy]

Thanks!

I was verified on 7/17 and didn't get the secondary from them until 8/7...it was emailed directly and was a .doc file. You have to fill it all out, go get a passport picture and then send them a money order for the application fee.

UCLA'S PRIME is the exact same way!

The only diff was that PRIME sent a first confirmation email saying they're reviewing my app before a secondary email with the doc app. Hopefully I hear something in a few weeks 😛

 

[Lexipi]

UCLA'S PRIME is the exact same way!

The only diff was that PRIME sent a first confirmation email saying they're reviewing my app before a secondary email with the doc app. Hopefully I hear something in a few weeks 😛

If I haven't heard from PRIME, do you guys think its a silent rejection? I was verified on 8/5 and shortly received an email saying they received my primary

 

[Lexipi]

If I haven't heard from PRIME, do you guys think its a silent rejection? I was verified on 8/5 and shortly received an email saying they received my primary

No secondary yet 🙁

 

[Jennyfishy]

If I haven't heard from PRIME, do you guys think its a silent rejection? I was verified on 8/5 and shortly received an email saying they received my primary

I was verified 7/31, and got a secondary on 8/16, so it was a long period of 'silence' while they reviewed my primary. There's still hope!

 

[Lexipi]

I was verified 7/31, and got a secondary on 8/16, so it was a long period of 'silence' while they reviewed my primary. There's still hope!

Oh ok thanks for the response jennyfishy!

 

[lall]

I am no ADCOM so take this opinion for what it is but after spending a few years in research at a university post undergrad let me tell you that everyone considers it to be academia. You have graduate students, post docs, senior fellows, junior professors and so on and so on. Its like college for grown ups. Now lets not confuse that with an academic class that you may have taken. In the end of the day just pick something that is clearly not being done at university or seem remotely academic based. I'm sure there are plenty of things if you think about it.

Ah...I see. Good point! I coordinated a section of a free clinic and provided care there, I guess that's less academic, and I'm sure I could find other things if its still a bit iffy, eh?

So nice to have an insiders view from someone who has been through the process!! Have ya'll started class yet?

PS: Huge congrats to you, ChemEngMD!

 

[Juan Solo]

Ah...I see. Good point! I coordinated a section of a free clinic and provided care there, I guess that's less academic, and I'm sure I could find other things if its still a bit iffy, eh?

So nice to have an insiders view from someone who has been through the process!! Have ya'll started class yet?

PS: Huge congrats to you, ChemEngMD!

I had the understanding that you were a research assistant, not a coordinator at a clinic.If that's the case then I guess so. I still think that a well rounded applicant can have something completely out of the realm of science or medicine to be non-academic, though many people every year put research or clinic work as non-academic. The choice is up to you. Orientation began 3 weeks ago.

 

[ShivTron]

I'm sorry this thread has gotten lengthy could someone please repost the secondary questions??

 

[Juan Solo]

I'm sorry this thread has gotten lengthy could someone please repost the secondary questions??

It's on it's 7th page, I have read news articles longer than this thread. Check on page 5 or 6.

 

[lall]

I had the understanding that you were a research assistant, not a coordinator at a clinic.If that's the case then I guess so. I still think that a well rounded applicant can have something completely out of the realm of science or medicine to be non-academic, though many people every year put research or clinic work as non-academic. The choice is up to you. Orientation began 3 weeks ago.

I'm a clinical research coordinator at ucsf, and i voluntarily coordinate a section of a free clinic. But you're right and i actually ended up writing about something i felt was much more unique which it'd probably actually be me sticking a nametag to my username to mention on here...so i won't. Haha.but thank you because i have no idea what i was thinking not using it prior to your advice. Good luck to you.

 

[lall]

I'm not even kidding. Instead of using it add an opportunity to stand out, i had literally written five different answers with 1 crc.2. Clinic coordinating 3. Lab managing 4. Writing my publications and 5. Presentation I'd done.

Every single thing can be spun academic more easily than not. Not to mention, everyone has them in their resumes. So thank you! Your perspective really helped

 

[Juan Solo]

I'm a clinical research coordinator at ucsf, and i voluntarily coordinate a section of a free clinic. But you're right and i actually ended up writing about something i felt was much more unique which it'd probably actually be me sticking a nametag to my username to mention on here...so i won't. Haha.but thank you because i have no idea what i was thinking not using it prior to your advice. Good luck to you.

It's easy after you're in and I am very familiar with UCSF. I was there for about 5 years for research. Good luck to you.

 

[tclark1286]

Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster here!

I got a secondary from DREW but am having problems interpreting one of the questions: Describe your community and socioeconomic environment.

Is socioeconomic environment different from socioeconomic status? I grew up pretty much poor but just moved to a totally new city in an area that is surrounded by VERY wealthy people. I'm talking Bentleys in the streets, etc...I sometimes don't even know how I ended up here lol. Anyway, I'm not sure how to approach this question since I don't know whether to talk about my background or my current environment (the people around me). 😕

Any help is appreciated!!!!

 

[Juan Solo]

Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster here!

I got a secondary from DREW but am having problems interpreting one of the questions: Describe your community and socioeconomic environment.

Is socioeconomic environment different from socioeconomic status? I grew up pretty much poor but just moved to a totally new city in an area that is surrounded by VERY wealthy people. I'm talking Bentleys in the streets, etc...I sometimes don't even know how I ended up here lol. Anyway, I'm not sure how to approach this question since I don't know whether to talk about my background or my current environment (the people around me). 😕

Any help is appreciated!!!!

I can try and get some DREW peeps on here. to be continued.

 

[striker15]

Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster here!

I got a secondary from DREW but am having problems interpreting one of the questions: Describe your community and socioeconomic environment.

Is socioeconomic environment different from socioeconomic status? I grew up pretty much poor but just moved to a totally new city in an area that is surrounded by VERY wealthy people. I'm talking Bentleys in the streets, etc...I sometimes don't even know how I ended up here lol. Anyway, I'm not sure how to approach this question since I don't know whether to talk about my background or my current environment (the people around me). 😕

Any help is appreciated!!!!

Mind posting the prompts? Thanks

 

[ChemEngMD]

Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster here!

I got a secondary from DREW but am having problems interpreting one of the questions: Describe your community and socioeconomic environment.

Is socioeconomic environment different from socioeconomic status? I grew up pretty much poor but just moved to a totally new city in an area that is surrounded by VERY wealthy people. I'm talking Bentleys in the streets, etc...I sometimes don't even know how I ended up here lol. Anyway, I'm not sure how to approach this question since I don't know whether to talk about my background or my current environment (the people around me). 😕

Any help is appreciated!!!!

I spoke about where I grew up. The town I spent the first 16 years of my life in. I currently live ~1500 miles from where I grew up, but it isn't my hometown. Write about what influenced you.

 

[striker15]

Any one know why I have yet to receive the Drew Secondary? Been verified since July. Maybe silent reject?

 

[Juan Solo]

Any one know why I have yet to receive the Drew Secondary? Been verified since July. Maybe silent reject?

Apparently UCLA doesn't do silent rejections

 

[ChemEngMD]

Any one know why I have yet to receive the Drew Secondary? Been verified since July. Maybe silent reject?

According to last year's Drew thread only about 300-400 people of the 1800 applicants get the secondary so they do a major screening. Also if you look at that thread people didn't receive official rejections until April-ish