2013-2014 University of Iowa (Carver) Application Thread

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We understand you are probably applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500 characters)

Describe any unique personal characteristics and obstacles you may have overcome that will contribute to the diversity of, and bring educational benefits to, the entering class. (1500 characters)

Please list and provide a brief description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years. (3000 characters)

If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500 characters)

Good luck to everyone applying! :luck:
 
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Hi Class of 2018!

I'm an incoming M1 and I'll be around to answer any questions you guys have about the school, the city, the application process, interviewing, etc. The whole application process is a whirlwind and has its major ups and downs, but I loved reading the school specific threads especially to hear the opinions of current students. I won't actually be starting until August, so some classroom specific topics/questions might be unknown to me. But I'm definitely willing to ask other classmates and pass on the information! As far as application topics, those memories are really fresh so feel free to ask anything about that.

If anyone needs convincing about this school, just go to the schools website and start reading. Who doesn't want to be part of a Hogwart's type community? Or have amazing summer research opportunities that pay great? Or have brand new facilities and a state of the art hospital next door? Or an administration where everytime I call, we end up just talking for a half hour because everyone is so darn nice! (seriously, this has happened with multiple departments!) Oh and any specialty you might be interested in - Iowa has got you covered http://http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2011/February/021511best_doctors.html

PM me for specific questions and good luck! 👍

Lastly, some pictures to get all this going...

campus.jpg
 

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Wow is it already that time?!?

Welcome entering class of 2014! 🙂. Like my classmate markyb03 up above I too will be an incoming M1 at Carver. I feel I owe it to SDN for all it gave me during my cycle so I'm happy to help you all out the best I can! You will be the first class to experience a revamped new curriculum (which my class is getting a small taste of this year). I will try to find out more information about the curriculum change as it becomes available. Of course other exciting new additions to CCOM/UIHC is the brand new pappajohn biomedical discovery building (opening June 2014) and of course the new children's hospital (opening in March 2016).

Anyways, good luck! I honestly did not think I would ever be heading to Iowa to pursue my medical education at this point last year. But as markyb03 said, it really is a wonderful place with great people, beautiful facilities, and numerous opportunities to succeed.
 
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markyb03 said:
Hi Class of 2018!

I'm an incoming M1 and I'll be around to answer any questions you guys have about the school, the city, the application process, interviewing, etc. The whole application process is a whirlwind and has its major ups and downs, but I loved reading the school specific threads especially to hear the opinions of current students. I won't actually be starting until August, so some classroom specific topics/questions might be unknown to me. But I'm definitely willing to ask other classmates and pass on the information! As far as application topics, those memories are really fresh so feel free to ask anything about that.

If anyone needs convincing about this school, just go to the schools website and start reading. Who doesn't want to be part of a Hogwart's type community? Or have amazing summer research opportunities that pay great? Or have brand new facilities and a state of the art hospital next door? Or an administration where everytime I call, we end up just talking for a half hour because everyone is so darn nice! (seriously, this has happened with multiple departments!) Oh and any specialty you might be interested in - Iowa has got you covered http://http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2011/February/021511best_doctors.html

PM me for specific questions and good luck! 👍

Lastly, some pictures to get all this going...

campus.jpg
Click to expand...

Say no more...you had me at Hogwart's lol j/k but seriously, nice architecture!
 
O Grady said:
Any hope for an OOS applicant here? 3.68cgpa, 3.55sgpa, 24 MCAT (retaking in August) with fairly good ECs
Click to expand...

This largely will depend on your new MCAT score. I noticed after seeing your previous posts your MCAT breakdown. As of now unfortunately you would not pass the preliminary screening for a secondary application (OOS: 8 PS/BS, 6 VR). You're GPA is fairly average so it won't help you or hurt you. Focus on improving your MCAT, polishing your application (creative PS, detailed ECs, and a well written secondary). Play to your strengths and you should have a shot for an interview. 🙂

*I'm not yet familiar with Carver's processing of multiple MCAT scores. Searching previous threads/emailing admissions (they are very helpful and nice!) would help. If they take the new score that's to your benefit. An averaging of scores would make it more difficult as you would need score even higher to balance the 24.*
 
jcaptian said:
This largely will depend on your new MCAT score. I noticed after seeing your previous posts your MCAT breakdown. As of now unfortunately you would not pass the preliminary screening for a secondary application (OOS: 8 PS/BS, 6 VR). You're GPA is fairly average so it won't help you or hurt you. Focus on improving your MCAT, polishing your application (creative PS, detailed ECs, and a well written secondary). Play to your strengths and you should have a shot for an interview. 🙂

*I'm not yet familiar with Carver's processing of multiple MCAT scores. Searching previous threads/emailing admissions (they are very helpful and nice!) would help. If they take the new score that's to your benefit. An averaging of scores would make it more difficult as you would need score even higher to balance the 24.*
Click to expand...

I was have heard that only a handful of schools average multiple mcat attempts, so I was hoping Iowa was not one of them...haha
 
jcaptian said:
Wow is it already that time?!?

Welcome entering class of 2014! 🙂. Like my classmate markyb03 up above I too will be an incoming M1 at Carver. I feel I owe it to SDN for all it gave me during my cycle so I'm happy to help you all out the best I can! You will be the first class to experience a revamped new curriculum (which my class is getting a small taste of this year). I will try to find out more information about the curriculum change as it becomes available. Of course other exciting new additions to CCOM/UIHC is the brand new pappajohn biomedical discovery building (opening June 2014) and of course the new children's hospital (opening in March 2016).

Anyways, good luck! I honestly did not think I would ever be heading to Iowa to peruse my medical education at this point last year. But as markyb03 said, it really is a wonderful place with great people, beautiful facilities, and numerous opportunities to succeed.
Click to expand...

Does this mean you were OOS? Could I ask what your stats were? I am an OOS'er from New York, hoping to get some love from Iowa, 30 MCAT but low end 3.0 GPAs.
 
SixStringPsych said:
Does this mean you were OOS? Could I ask what your stats were? I am an OOS'er from New York, hoping to get some love from Iowa, 30 MCAT but low end 3.0 GPAs.
Click to expand...

I'd say Iowa seems to be in the middle when it comes to OOS love. They definitely let OOSers in and not just 4 or 5 people like some places, but it is MUCH tougher as an OOS student. It would be interesting to know the accepted OOS stats compared to IS. But as far as advice, I'd say Iowa really does look at the whole application and not just your numbers. If you think the rest of your application can really shine, I think you'd absolutely have a good shot. If you look at the MSAR, I think that tells you the 10th percentile for GPA and MCAT, but again this might be slightly skewed down for instate. If any other students could comment on this, I'd actually be very interested to find out
 
SixStringPsych said:
Does this mean you were OOS? Could I ask what your stats were? I am an OOS'er from New York, hoping to get some love from Iowa, 30 MCAT but low end 3.0 GPAs.
Click to expand...

I can't speak to the differential standards for in/out of state admissions, but I can say that we Iowans generally have a lot of pride for our state, and Iowa City residents have a lot of love for the city (related side note: we're the birthplace of the world's first trampoline! ..as well as other cool things like the Iowa Writer's Workshop and the Hamburg Inn, hahah). Since you have the chance to show off in the "Why UIowa?" secondary, if you're an OOS-er, I'd go all in for this one and maybe include what about Iowa/Iowa City as well as Carver attracts you.

..then again, I'm just an applicant, so who knows what actually works! :laugh:
 
jeghaber said:
I can't speak to the differential standards for in/out of state admissions, but I can say that we Iowans generally have a lot of pride for our state, and Iowa City residents have a lot of love for the city (related side note: we're the birthplace of the world's first trampoline! ..as well as other cool things like the Iowa Writer's Workshop and the Hamburg Inn, hahah). Since you have the chance to show off in the "Why UIowa?" secondary, if you're an OOS-er, I'd go all in for this one and maybe include what about Iowa/Iowa City as well as Carver attracts you.

..then again, I'm just an applicant, so who knows what actually works! :laugh:
Click to expand...

This reminds me of http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=qLZZ6JD0g9Y&desktop_uri=/watch?v=qLZZ6JD0g9Y

This guy has a couple other funny videos I enjoyed too if you feel like looking them up!

Edit: btw I think there is some bad language in there FYI
 
Good luck to all you applicants!

I was an OOS applicant last year who will be matriculating this Fall. I had absolutely NO ties to Iowa, and my first time in the state was the day of my interview. So I think they're pretty cool about giving us OOSers a chance 🙂
 
SixStringPsych said:
Does this mean you were OOS? Could I ask what your stats were? I am an OOS'er from New York, hoping to get some love from Iowa, 30 MCAT but low end 3.0 GPAs.
Click to expand...

I am indeed from OOS 🙂. I had no intention to apply to Iowa at first but a mentor of mine convinced me to. I am so happy I did because I love this school and I am very happy to be matriculating here.

Interestingly, my "why Iowa" was one sentence long. One sentence, albeit a long one. You don't have to drag on your response for paragraphs searching for reasons. Just make it meaningful and write what you want to tell them. Quality over quantity of course.

I'll agree with my classmate marky that Iowa does give a holistic look at the application. My GPA was around the mean but my MCAT was 10%ile. As an OOS applicant I thought I was done for. However, 6 days after submitting my secondary I received an interview. I think it's important to own what you have. There are many facets to your application: GPA, MCAT, coursework, experiences, PS, and the secondary. Highlight your strengths and play them up. You might just get that coveted interview 🙂 and maybe after even an acceptance!

Iowa appreciates diversity. This can be racial, but it's also geographical, educational and based on life experiences. That's why Iowa is friendlier then most state schools to OOS.

For those curious on numbers, here are some general ones:

~3200 OOS applications received
~450 Interviews invitations extended
~180 Acceptances
~50 Matriculants
 
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Does anybody know if you can still get an interview/be accepted if you have met all the pre-reqs except for one? More specifically, only a few schools require biochem (Iowa being one of them) which I have not taken, but I would totally take it in the Spring of 2014 or the summer of 2014 if they asked me to...Thanks for the advice!
 
OOS applying here... got an email a few days ago that they were screening my app. Hoping for the best from this school. 👍
 
Anyone know around what time interview invites started going out last year? Haha I may be thinking too far ahead since secondaries aren't out yet but I am curious.
 
StudentDrWho said:
Anyone know around what time interview invites started going out last year? Haha I may be thinking too far ahead since secondaries aren't out yet but I am curious.
Click to expand...

First interview invite was 8/28 last year 👍
 
Does anyone know if U of I asks about misdemeanor convictions on their secondary? I have an expunged "drunk in public" from nearly a decade ago that I didn't have to disclose on the primary, and I would rather not have to mention it in a secondary. 🙁 Thanks!
 
Hoping for secondaries today or tomorrow (the 24th was a Tuesday last year I think). I am complete everywhere else!
 
StudentDrWho said:
Hoping for secondaries today or tomorrow (the 24th was a Tuesday last year I think). I am complete everywhere else!
Click to expand...

+1 My last secondary! ...to receive, hahah. I'm still 12/19 with the ones I have so far 😛
 
Dragon13 said:
OOS secondary received today, was verified July 11th
Click to expand...

Same here except submitted the first day.

Their first e mail (when the primary was submitted) said they screened, does anyone know if it was a rigorous screen or just like 2.75 GPA and such ?
 
IllinoisHopeful said:
Same here except submitted the first day.

Their first e mail (when the primary was submitted) said they screened, does anyone know if it was a rigorous screen or just like 2.75 GPA and such ?
Click to expand...

Well I was complete July 8th and didn't get one, so it has to be at least a little more rigorous than 2.75 GPA :/
 
IS and submitted first day. Nothing yet.
 
OOS received secondary yesterday! about to submit now!! love this beautiful school!
 
jeghaber said:
To add, it's a purely stat based cut-off that's more lenient for IS than OOS. I seem to recall the IS cut-off to be 8/8/8 for the MCAT, but I'm not entirely sure.
Click to expand...

hmm i'm OOS with an 8 on VR and got the secondary.

also, what's up with the essay question about listing and describing our medical activities? i already put most of this in my amcas primary. do they really want us to just repeat that?
 
yoyohomieg5432 said:
hmm i'm OOS with an 8 on VR and got the secondary.

also, what's up with the essay question about listing and describing our medical activities? i already put most of this in my amcas primary. do they really want us to just repeat that?
Click to expand...

They underlined brief and list in the prompt...so I guess so.
 
IllinoisHopeful said:
Same here except submitted the first day.

Their first e mail (when the primary was submitted) said they screened, does anyone know if it was a rigorous screen or just like 2.75 GPA and such ?
Click to expand...

From what I know, the screening is a pretty standard one. All applicants are screened for minimum 2.5 GPA and a minimum MCAT dependent on residency (IS: VR-6, PS/BS-7 while OOS:VR-6, PS/BS-8).
 
Cambover said:
They underlined brief and list in the prompt...so I guess so.
Click to expand...

These responses can be very brief. On my secondary, I used one sentence for each experience. If you have had a new experience since you submitted your primary (such as additional shadowing) this is a nice way to update your application with that information.
 
jcaptian said:
These responses can be very brief. On my secondary, I used one sentence for each experience. If you have had a new experience since you submitted your primary (such as additional shadowing) this is a nice way to update your application with that information.
Click to expand...

+1 did pretty much the exact same thing here. I did add a couple of small things that didn't fit into any of my official activities on my amcas. On some of mine I might have had 2 sentences to describe the activity
 
Question 3: Please list and provide a brief description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years.

hi
does medically related mean research too? if they meant clinical wouldnt they have said clinical?
 
jamiechan said:
Question 3: Please list and provide a brief description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years.

hi
does medically related mean research too? if they meant clinical wouldnt they have said clinical?
Click to expand...

Well if your basic research is on the mechanism behind a disease or if you are doing translational research that is medically applicable, I think you can include those. They probably just don't want anything on Drosophilia populations studies or the ilk.
 
Hey guys I am curious if any of you have asked the admissions people about the Biochemistry section or yourself have a good understanding of what they are requiring. I've had two semesters of general chemistry with labs and two semesters of organic chemistry along with a lab for that as well, but I haven't taken biochemistry. I still have time to enroll in a course for Biochemistry at a local community college that I would do concurrently with my Master's program this year, but if I don't have to do that I would really rather focus on my Masters at this point. If anyone knows that would be a huge help otherwise I will call them tomorrow and find out what they have to say. I'll make sure let you guys know whats up in case you have a similar concern since they changed requirements this year.
 
Hey for those of you guys that got the secondary could you post the essay prompts (with character limits) for those of us who are waiting to get verified?

It would be a huge help to start working on it so I can get it in ASAP while I'm waiting.
 
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