2013-2014 University of New Mexico Application Thread

[ComfortCreature]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I think what they're ultimately doing is only accepting a few like that as well as saving a bulk of acceptances for March, which is what has happened in the past...though they do change a little every year. What I mentioned earlier was said at the 11/8 interview day.

 

[ChemNerd07]

I was under the impression that within 3 weeks of your interview they notify you if you are accepted within rolling admissions. Is it different during December?

I interviewed at the end of October and at that time they told us if we were at the very top or the very bottom we'd be accepted/rejected via rolling admissions. If you're in the middle you wait until March. What shocked me is that they told us rolling admissions decisions wouldn't be until December but I was notified of my rolling admissions acceptance before Thanksgiving.

 

[curcumin]

As UNM has rolling admissions, is it more advantageous to interview sooner than later? And are those who interview later competing for spots on the wait list?

 

[ComfortCreature]

I don't think UNM does that cruel thing of making people go through the stress of an interview just to get placed on the wait list. In my experience, people have interviewed at various times of the app cycle with similar results. I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure they only accept a small number with rolling admissions and still wait to accept a large bulk of applicants in March.

 

[WildEMDoc]

As UNM has rolling admissions, is it more advantageous to interview sooner than later? And are those who interview later competing for spots on the wait list?

Every interview day has set aside at least 1 seat in the class, from what they told us last year. That means you can get accepted regardless of what day you are interviewing via UNMs 'rolling' admissions. As for the regular acceptance wave it doesn't matter when you interview to be considered for it.

 

[kazukae]

Would any of you guys who have already been accepted either during this cycle or the past year's mind PMing me your stats? It would help give me an idea of where I stand, thanks 🙂

 

[g2472132]

Has anyone heard anything today? I wonder when they send out the January batch of acceptances. They told me back in November that they send something out in January and March

 

[curcumin]

I haven't heard about the January acceptances. I am curious as to how the offers made in March are evaluated, do the top scoring applicants receive offers until most spots are at least tentatively proposed and the remaining high scorers are waitlisted?

 

[WildEMDoc]

As far as January goes, honestly there was supposed to be a small wave last year too and I don't think it actually happened, unless the wave was 2-3 people or something. Hard to call that a wave though.

From what I understand about March, your score puts you somewhere and the whole list is ranked by score with the people at the top getting accepted as long as seats are open, the waitlist starts where the available seats ends

 

[ChemNerd07]

As far as January goes, honestly there was supposed to be a small wave last year too and I don't think it actually happened, unless the wave was 2-3 people or something. Hard to call that a wave though.

From what I understand about March, your score puts you somewhere and the whole list is ranked by score with the people at the top getting accepted as long as seats are open, the waitlist starts where the available seats ends

Just building off of this, what they told us was that they give you a certain amount of points for the different aspects of your application, interview, etc then sum them together to get this 'total score'. Based on your 'score' they start drawing lines in the sand. Rcheech please feel free to add to this. This whole 'score' thing is also how they determine rolling admissions and rejections. Apparently rolling rejections are new this year??

 

[WildEMDoc]

Just building off of this, what they told us was that they give you a certain amount of points for the different aspects of your application, interview, etc then sum them together to get this 'total score'. Based on your 'score' they start drawing lines in the sand. Rcheech please feel free to add to this. This whole 'score' thing is also how they determine rolling admissions and rejections. Apparently rolling rejections are new this year??

I don't think there were rolling rejections last year. The only thing unm rejected people for right out the gate was if they did not meet the minimum requirements.

 

[curcumin]

What makes a UNM interview different, yet similar to other schools?

 

[g2472132]

Supposedly UNM has already been sending out rolling denials. I wish there were more people on this board so we could see if people actually have been receiving denials.

 

[g2472132]

Just building off of this, what they told us was that they give you a certain amount of points for the different aspects of your application, interview, etc then sum them together to get this 'total score'. Based on your 'score' they start drawing lines in the sand. Rcheech please feel free to add to this. This whole 'score' thing is also how they determine rolling admissions and rejections. Apparently rolling rejections are new this year??

When you were accepted what did the heading of your email say exactly? Such a long waiting process... I guess at this point no news is good news for us that haven't heard anything!

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

Supposedly UNM has already been sending out rolling denials. I wish there were more people on this board so we could see if people actually have been receiving denials.

The rolling denials are for applicants who don't meet the following qualifications: 22 MCAT, 3.0 GPA, and lack of residency or in-state connections (the most common reason). In my experience, those denials are usually sent around December. I know it sucks to have to wait until March 15th (it's normally around the 12th, but they say the 15th just to give themselves a hard deadline) for the decision. If you are waitlisted, pay close attention to your number. #1-25 have a very good chance of getting in off of the waitlist, #26-50 (yes, they go to 50) should start working on improving their application's for next year. All you can do at this point is just focus on what you're currently doing. Your interviews are complete, the committee has reviewed your application and is finalizing your position in the applicant pool. Nothing you can do now to change that.

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

What makes a UNM interview different, yet similar to other schools?

UNM has every applicant interview with two members of the admissions committee in separate, one-on-one interviews. The committee members can be research faculty (Ph.D.'s), clinical faculty (M.D.'s), private practice physicians or psychologists (I had one last year), or med students. UNM is heavily focused on meeting the healthcare needs of the state, so their interviews will ask about an applicant's experience with the state's multiculturalism and medically disadvantaged groups, along with the traditional interview questions (Why medicine, tell me about yourself, etc.). Be prepared to talk about your extracurriculars extensively, UNM focuses on those heavily. That's where UNM admissions is different than other schools. Other med schools use the GPA and MCAT to filter applicants after secondaries have been submitted, UNM offers an interview to any applicant that meets the minimum requirements (3.0 GPA, 22 MCAT, NM resident or very strong ties to the state). The interview days have become more professional over the years. Lunch is provided by the Admissions Office, and you will have a lunch tour guided by the first and second year medical students (mostly first years because the second years have dropped off the face of the earth to study for Step 1 at this time). You might run into me as I do give the lunch tours. After the lunch tour, the dean of medical education speaks with the applicants (if they aren't interviewing at that time) about the curriculum and the culture of UNM SOM, and then the Financial Aid Officer will speak to the applicants about paying for school.

I can't speak for other schools, as I only interviewed at UNM. I'm sure some of my classmates can chime in about that.

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

As far as January goes, honestly there was supposed to be a small wave last year too and I don't think it actually happened, unless the wave was 2-3 people or something. Hard to call that a wave though.

From what I understand about March, your score puts you somewhere and the whole list is ranked by score with the people at the top getting accepted as long as seats are open, the waitlist starts where the available seats ends

The wave of people is 2-3. Judging by when people were added to the class fb group, I think 1 or 2 of them actually matriculated in our class.

You're right about how the applicant score reflects your place in the applicant pool and how the waitlist works.

 

[kazukae]

When you were accepted what did the heading of your email say exactly? Such a long waiting process... I guess at this point no news is good news for us that haven't heard anything!

It seems we are both in the waiting process. 🙂

 

[ChemNerd07]

When you were accepted what did the heading of your email say exactly? Such a long waiting process... I guess at this point no news is good news for us that haven't heard anything!

I was accepted right before Thanksgiving (11/26sih??), interviewed right before Halloween (10/30). The email said congratulations you have been accepted via our rolling admissions process please complete the following requirements by such and such date (sometime in April). It listed out a bunch of forms and links that I have to sign and mail in before I get my official letter of acceptance in the mail.

 

[ChemNerd07]

The rolling denials are for applicants who don't meet the following qualifications: 22 MCAT, 3.0 GPA, and lack of residency or in-state connections (the most common reason). In my experience, those denials are usually sent around December. I know it sucks to have to wait until March 15th (it's normally around the 12th, but they say the 15th just to give themselves a hard deadline) for the decision. If you are waitlisted, pay close attention to your number. #1-25 have a very good chance of getting in off of the waitlist, #26-50 (yes, they go to 50) should start working on improving their application's for next year. All you can do at this point is just focus on what you're currently doing. Your interviews are complete, the committee has reviewed your application and is finalizing your position in the applicant pool. Nothing you can do now to change that.

I was under the understanding that 22 MCAT and 3.0 GPA were prescreen cut offs?? The rolling rejections is following interviews is the way I interpreted it when the dean/associate dean (can't remember which) explained it to us.

 

[ChemNerd07]

UNM has every applicant interview with two members of the admissions committee in separate, one-on-one interviews. The committee members can be research faculty (Ph.D.'s), clinical faculty (M.D.'s), private practice physicians or psychologists (I had one last year), or med students. UNM is heavily focused on meeting the healthcare needs of the state, so their interviews will ask about an applicant's experience with the state's multiculturalism and medically disadvantaged groups, along with the traditional interview questions (Why medicine, tell me about yourself, etc.). Be prepared to talk about your extracurriculars extensively, UNM focuses on those heavily. That's where UNM admissions is different than other schools. Other med schools use the GPA and MCAT to filter applicants after secondaries have been submitted, UNM offers an interview to any applicant that meets the minimum requirements (3.0 GPA, 22 MCAT, NM resident or very strong ties to the state). The interview days have become more professional over the years. Lunch is provided by the Admissions Office, and you will have a lunch tour guided by the first and second year medical students (mostly first years because the second years have dropped off the face of the earth to study for Step 1 at this time). You might run into me as I do give the lunch tours. After the lunch tour, the dean of medical education speaks with the applicants (if they aren't interviewing at that time) about the curriculum and the culture of UNM SOM, and then the Financial Aid Officer will speak to the applicants about paying for school.

I can't speak for other schools, as I only interviewed at UNM. I'm sure some of my classmates can chime in about that.

So I just got back from an interview at University of Minnesota Twin Cities, I will say Agsteman has provided a VERY through explanation of the interview day at UNM. In comparison to my interview at Minnesota, they asked NO questions about the healthcare in their state, they require one MD to interview every applicant where as UNM it's random (someone in my group had two student interviews, while another had to Skype a physician in Santa Fe *edit: just adding I had 2 MDs), I got no ethics questions at UNM it was very centered around rural, NM healthcare, and why I want to be a doctor where as I don't even think I got asked why I want to be a physician at my Minnesota interview and got one ethics question which apparently is a requirement for the MD to ask. Both were one-on-one interviews, Minnesota was strict to a time limit where as UNM was more relaxed. Interview activities were pretty much the same, Dean comes in and talks to the applicants, applicants interview with two people, lunch with first/second year students, tour around the facilities, financial aide, and then you get to go home. I'll be attending two more interviews closer to February, so I can probably give better insight at that time.

 

[ChemNerd07]

Oh and the thing that I didn't like at Minnesota that UNM had was that the student had no access to my file so it was kind of awkward having to explain everything from square one. The MDs were allowed to see all but your stats, which is the way UNM runs it everyone can read your AMCAS essays and secondary essays so you can assume they know the basics about you allowing time to elaborate more.

 

[vagabondrunning]

What makes a UNM interview different, yet similar to other schools?

I found the UNM interview day very underwhelming compared to the other schools I've interviewed at. Granted, I interviewed two years ago and that was my only interview, while I've had 9 interview invites this year. As for my interview day when I had it, I waited on a couch, interviewed with one person (radiologist), waited on a couch, had a tour of the library and anatomy lab, lunch with a student, had another interview (internal medicine), and it was over. No presentations of the school, curriculum, etc. they just told the two of us to look at the folders they gave us. At most of the schools I've interviewed at this year, it's been breakfast with interviewees and students; amazing presentations of the school, financial aid, state issues, etc by faculty and staff; great lunch experiences eating with current students and faculty (lots of people!); lengthy tours of hospital(s) and facilities (I loved this), etc. I enjoyed my interview experiences at Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, UW-Madison and Georgetown the most- they actually try to sell their schools. I would say Harvard's interview day was similar to my UNM interview day.

I hope UNM has changed the interview day since I interviewed, and it seems that they might have given some of the above responses. YMMV. Either way, just try to enjoy yourself. 🙂

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

I found the UNM interview day very underwhelming compared to the other schools I've interviewed at. Granted, I interviewed two years ago and that was my only interview, while I've had 9 interview invites this year. As for my interview day when I had it, I waited on a couch, interviewed with one person (radiologist), waited on a couch, had a tour of the library and anatomy lab, lunch with a student, had another interview (internal medicine), and it was over. No presentations of the school, curriculum, etc. they just told the two of us to look at the folders they gave us. At most of the schools I've interviewed at this year, it's been breakfast with interviewees and students; amazing presentations of the school, financial aid, state issues, etc by faculty and staff; great lunch experiences eating with current students and faculty (lots of people!); lengthy tours of hospital(s) and facilities (I loved this), etc. I enjoyed my interview experiences at Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, UW-Madison and Georgetown the most- they actually try to sell their schools. I would say Harvard's interview day was similar to my UNM interview day.

I hope UNM has changed the interview day since I interviewed, and it seems that they might have given some of the above responses. YMMV. Either way, just try to enjoy yourself. 🙂

I think that UNM doesn't "sell" the school as much as other schools because they know that most of their applicants will matriculate at UNM if they are offered a seat. They don't need to sell the school because of that fact. The number of applicants interviewed at UNM usually runs between 250-350 in a given year, so they don't need to make a huge pitch to all of the applicants as compared to the schools vagabondrunning mentioned. Harvard probably doesn't "sell" the school because the name sells itself (although I personally don't think a Harvard doc is any better than a UNM doc). 99% of each class is either from NM or has spent a lot of time here. UNM has tried to make Interview Day more formal and similar to what other schools do, but there are some things that UNM (like any med school) could do better. I think the reason that UNM doesn't do a breakfast with students and faculty is because we're in class 8am-12pm usually, and the faculty are usually either teaching, starting clinic, or getting started in their labs. UNM has started having presentations about the school and financial aid (started last year), but I think that the Admissions Office expects the applicants to grill the student tour guides about the curriculum/student life/Albuquerque life/etc. I would like to see interview days start off by having a formal presentation about the school, then get into the interviews. Unfortunately, the Admissions Office has to work around the committee members schedules and availability to travel to campus. I say that because unlike other schools, the UNM SOM Admissions Committee is composed of not only UNM faculty, doctors, and med students, but also some community physicians and psychologists who have their offices a good distance away from the UNM SOM campus. The Admissions Office has done a lot to make Interview Day more formal and similar to other schools, but it's still a work in progress. I will suggest to the Admissions Office about allowing for a longer tour where we can take the applicants into the hospital (thanks for the suggestion vagabondrunning!).

 

[vagabondrunning]

I think that UNM doesn't "sell" the school as much as other schools because they know that most of their applicants will matriculate at UNM if they are offered a seat. They don't need to sell the school because of that fact. The number of applicants interviewed at UNM usually runs between 250-350 in a given year, so they don't need to make a huge pitch to all of the applicants as compared to the schools vagabondrunning mentioned. Harvard probably doesn't "sell" the school because the name sells itself (although I personally don't think a Harvard doc is any better than a UNM doc). 99% of each class is either from NM or has spent a lot of time here. UNM has tried to make Interview Day more formal and similar to what other schools do, but there are some things that UNM (like any med school) could do better. I think the reason that UNM doesn't do a breakfast with students and faculty is because we're in class 8am-12pm usually, and the faculty are usually either teaching, starting clinic, or getting started in their labs. UNM has started having presentations about the school and financial aid (started last year), but I think that the Admissions Office expects the applicants to grill the student tour guides about the curriculum/student life/Albuquerque life/etc. I would like to see interview days start off by having a formal presentation about the school, then get into the interviews. Unfortunately, the Admissions Office has to work around the committee members schedules and availability to travel to campus. I say that because unlike other schools, the UNM SOM Admissions Committee is composed of not only UNM faculty, doctors, and med students, but also some community physicians and psychologists who have their offices a good distance away from the UNM SOM campus. The Admissions Office has done a lot to make Interview Day more formal and similar to other schools, but it's still a work in progress. I will suggest to the Admissions Office about allowing for a longer tour where we can take the applicants into the hospital (thanks for the suggestion vagabondrunning!).

You actually summed it up perfectly- they don't really need to sell the school because most people really want to go there, know about it, and will hopefully want to stay in the state. That's my guess on why Harvard's interview day is similar- they don't need to sell it (and physician interviewers are at a number of different hospitals). I will say, though, that having it be more formal does help one feel more at home 🙂. I would definitely recommend you suggest a lengthy tour of the hospital and facilities because UNMH is actually pretty cool!

Best of luck to everyone interviewing and waiting to hear back! I envy that those accepted will be living in a place with relatively nice weather, breakfast burritos, and trails to run! 🙂

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

You actually summed it up perfectly- they don't really need to sell the school because most people really want to go there, know about it, and will hopefully want to stay in the state. That's my guess on why Harvard's interview day is similar- they don't need to sell it (and physician interviewers are at a number of different hospitals). I will say, though, that having it be more formal does help one feel more at home 🙂. I would definitely recommend you suggest a lengthy tour of the hospital and facilities because UNMH is actually pretty cool!

Best of luck to everyone interviewing and waiting to hear back! I envy that those accepted will be living in a place with relatively nice weather, breakfast burritos, and trails to run! 🙂

Well, I'd like for there to be more snow so I can go skiing! Those students at Utah Med can take the city bus system to the Wasatch ski areas! So jealous!

 

[vagabondrunning]

Well, I'd like for there to be more snow so I can go skiing! Those students at Utah Med can take the city bus system to the Wasatch ski areas! So jealous!

Ah!!! Wouldn't that be lovely!?

 

[ChemNerd07]

Well, I'd like for there to be more snow so I can go skiing! Those students at Utah Med can take the city bus system to the Wasatch ski areas! So jealous!

I'll bring the snow 😉 this girl isn't bringing her snowboard down for nothing!

 

[newsocks]

Thanks for all the insightful posts! I have my interview on 1/22 and I'm pumped but nervous. Could anyone give me some good places to help brush up on NM's health issues? I feel informed about them but you can never know too much!

 

[g2472132]

Thank you for the response! They told us that this year was the first time they were doing rolling denials for ppl that they interviewed and were at the bottom of the list. So I think it is a bit different from what you described . They are doing this so that not everyone is waitin till march and that the ppl who were interviewed and don't have a chance can study to retake the MCAT or whatver they need for this upcoming cycle

The rolling denials are for applicants who don't meet the following qualifications: 22 MCAT, 3.0 GPA, and lack of residency or in-state connections (the most common reason). In my experience, those denials are usually sent around December. I know it sucks to have to wait until March 15th (it's normally around the 12th, but they say the 15th just to give themselves a hard deadline) for the decision. If you are waitlisted, pay close attention to your number. #1-25 have a very good chance of getting in off of the waitlist, #26-50 (yes, they go to 50) should start working on improving their application's for next year. All you can do at this point is just focus on what you're currently doing. Your interviews are complete, the committee has reviewed your application and is finalizing your position in the applicant pool. Nothing you can do now to change that.

for

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

Thank you for the response! They told us that this year was the first time they were doing rolling denials for ppl that they interviewed and were at the bottom of the list. So I think it is a bit different from what you described . They are doing this so that not everyone is waitin till march and that the ppl who were interviewed and don't have a chance can study to retake the MCAT or whatver they need for this upcoming cycle

for

That would actually help out a lot of rejected applicants, as March is often a little too late to start improving applications for the following cycle. Especially since the Admissions Office does not have exit interviews until May at the earliest, which really put people at a disadvantage for improving their application if they didn't know exactly what the committee thought was deficient in their application.

It sounds like UNM SOM is improving their admissions process from both the applicant and the committee aspects. I wonder what other new things the admissions office will do next cycle?

 

[sup3rnova]

Hi everyone - new to SDN! Great feedback so far and best of luck to all those applying this cycle!

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

Thanks for all the insightful posts! I have my interview on 1/22 and I'm pumped but nervous. Could anyone give me some good places to help brush up on NM's health issues? I feel informed about them but you can never know too much!

Well,for starters you can read "The Scalpel and the Silver Bear" by Lori Arviso Alvord. It's written by the first Navajo surgeon and talks extensively about the cultural differences between Western medicine and traditional Navajo beliefs.

If you google "NM healthcare issues" you'll come up with a lot of information.

http://bit.ly/1cZJxyu

 

[ChemNerd07]

Another good one is "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down", it's placed in California and talks about the Hmong population. However, it is interesting to see the differences between Western medicine and Hmong beliefs. Actually, I read both books back in high school as required reading. On the random tangent of books (for your interview The Scalpel and the Silver Bear is WAY more relevant) I have been told by the doctors that I've shadowed to read "The House of God" during medical school, residency, and after residency to see how your views and opinions on the book change and how you interpret the different situations.

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

Another good one is "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down", it's placed in California and talks about the Hmong population. However, it is interesting to see the differences between Western medicine and Hmong beliefs. Actually, I read both books back in high school as required reading. On the random tangent of books (for your interview The Scalpel and the Silver Bear is WAY more relevant) I have been told by the doctors that I've shadowed to read "The House of God" during medical school, residency, and after residency to see how your views and opinions on the book change and how you interpret the different situations.

We're currently (not) reading that for our diversity class at the moment, so you'll be way ahead of the game ChemNerd07 if you matriculate here. "The House of God" is a great book as well, but don't read it until you're accepted.

The best advice is to remain humble, calm, yet confident during your interviews. Do your own research on the healthcare needs of the state and be prepared to talk about things YOU find most pressing about health care in NM.

 

[ChemNerd07]

We're currently (not) reading that for our diversity class at the moment, so you'll be way ahead of the game ChemNerd07 if you matriculate here. "The House of God" is a great book as well, but don't read it until you're accepted.

The best advice is to remain humble, calm, yet confident during your interviews. Do your own research on the healthcare needs of the state and be prepared to talk about things YOU find most pressing about health care in NM.

Haha nice! I'd love to re-read it as a med student who actually started caring about education not as a teenager who barely put in effort lol. I remember it being super interesting. I just find it interesting that books I was forced to read are now coming back to haunt me. As long as I don't have to read the Heart of Darkness again, I'm good haha!

 

[LabratABQ]

I have read each and every reply in this thread carefully and it seems to me that UNM doesn't care much about your MCAT nor GPA, well as long as you have somewhat met the expectations.

Now, would it be correct to say that your chance of gaining an admission ticket is heavily based off of how well you do in your interviews - stay calm, humble, smile, and be authentic. Also, it is significantly depends on your statements?

 

[sup3rnova]

I have read each and every reply in this thread carefully and it seems to me that UNM doesn't care much about your MCAT nor GPA, well as long as you have somewhat met the expectations.

Now, would it be correct to say that your chance of gaining an admission ticket is heavily based off of how well you do in your interviews - stay calm, humble, smile, and be authentic. Also, it is significantly depends on your statements?

I completely agree those qualities should be projected during your interview. I am under the impression that you should be comfortable to discuss yourself and your motivations to become a physician. With that said, I am not sure if any "fishing" questions are asked solely to evaluate your response. It seems as if UNM is not as focused on these types of questions.

 

[LabratABQ]

So basically it is based heavily on the interviews then? Congrats to those who got accepted. I was wondering how many LoRs did you submit that are from clinicians?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

 

[ChemNerd07]

So basically it is based heavily on the interviews then? Congrats to those who got accepted. I was wondering how many LoRs did you submit that are from clinicians?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

I want to say I submitted both of my physician recommendations as well as a recommendation from my hospital volunteer coordinator.

 

[LabratABQ]

I want to say I submitted both of my physician recommendations as well as a recommendation from my hospital volunteer coordinator.

I see, I have a letter from a PA, and an MD who are both primary care providers and a letter from a pathologist, also a letter from my medical director and a letter from my who-used-to-be-my-lead, now is my subordinate due to the new changes in policies of the college of the American pathologists. What do you all suggest that I submit beside the obvious 2 LoRs from the primary care providers? I am debating between my now-subordinate vs. the pathologist.

 

[sup3rnova]

I see, I have a letter from a PA, and an MD who are both primary care providers and a letter from a pathologist, also a letter from my medical director and a letter from my who-used-to-be-my-lead, now is my subordinate due to the new changes in policies of the college of the American pathologists. What do you all suggest that I submit beside the obvious 2 LoRs from the primary care providers? I am debating between my now-subordinate vs. the pathologist.

I believe UNM has recommendations of the letters they would like to receive, however is there more of a preferred emphasis on clinical based letters as opposed to one written by an professor?

 

[ComfortCreature]

The advice I was given was to go with which letters you think are going to be the strongest.

 

[LabratABQ]

I believe UNM has recommendations of the letters they would like to receive, however is there more of a preferred emphasis on clinical based letters as opposed to one written by an professor?

Exactly! That is the same question that I have. Well I hang out with these peeps lol. So they are strong ones.

Also did any of you use the professional editing services?

 

[ChemNerd07]

Exactly! That is the same question that I have. Well I hang out with these peeps lol. So they are strong ones.

Also did any of you use the professional editing services?

It says on their website what they're looking for as far as required letters.

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

I have read each and every reply in this thread carefully and it seems to me that UNM doesn't care much about your MCAT nor GPA, well as long as you have somewhat met the expectations.

Now, would it be correct to say that your chance of gaining an admission ticket is heavily based off of how well you do in your interviews - stay calm, humble, smile, and be authentic. Also, it is significantly depends on your statements?

That's not entirely true. UNM does value your GPA and MCAT. Somebody with a 3.1 and 30 MCAT will have a more difficult time gaining admission than someone with a 3.8 and a 27 MCAT, if their volunteering/community service/shadowing are similar. GPA is very important in admissions to UNM, 25% of your total admissions score so don't think that UNM doesn't put as much stock in it. The MCAT is also 25% of your total admissions score as well, so you have to do well. Where UNM is different from other school is that they don't care if you get a score higher than 30, someone with a 35 has just as much of a chance of getting in as somebody with a 30.

UNM really focuses on the community service and clinical experience listed in each application. Those are what will get people offered seats over other applicants. I speak from experience on this. Your statements will matter, but you need to be able to communicate about your clinical and volunteer experiences with your interviewer in a professional, yet personal manner. There is such a thing as talking too much in an interview! You are right in that the interview can make or break an applicant's chances for gaining admission, but that is true at every med school in the country.

 

[LabratABQ]

How much then do you say working at an IHS would enhance the chances of gaining an admission to UNM?

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

Regarding LOR (I don't want to quote every response because it will just get tedious): UNM has a suggested list of ideal LOR writers for applicants. That's not a hard and fast rule. My LORs came from the following: rural family practice physician, executive medical director (now interim CEO) of Tricore Reference Labs, the manager of the chemistry/hematology/urinalysis/immunology departments at TriCore, Special Olympics coordinator, and UNM SOM Rheumatology faculty member. I know that's five LOR, but I wanted to use different LORs for different schools. The key thing is that you need to have LORs from references who know you the best and can write the strongest LOR. One year at the post-admissions workshop, the Admissions co-chair said that some of the best LORs they have ever received came from English professors(?!). The reason stated was that they knew how to write in an affirmative tone to best promote the applicant to the committee.

At this point, you can't change your applications! If you've interviewed already, you can't change anything you said or didn't say! You just have to wait it out, which is the worst part about UNM. If you haven't interviewed yet, I will see you on the 28th as I'm one of the student tour guides that day.

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

How much then do you say working at an IHS would enhance the chances of gaining an admission to UNM?

UNM likes to see applicants who work with underserved communities. So working at an IHS will help your application when the committee takes it up for evaluation and scoring (which is done AFTER you interview). Some of the best advice I received from a post-admissions workshop was to "get in the s**t" regarding clinical experience.

 

[Doctor Agsteman]

Haha nice! I'd love to re-read it as a med student who actually started caring about education not as a teenager who barely put in effort lol. I remember it being super interesting. I just find it interesting that books I was forced to read are now coming back to haunt me. As long as I don't have to read the Heart of Darkness again, I'm good haha!

Don't read Heart of Darkness again, just watch Apocalypse Now. Same story, different setting, a little more entertaining. How many movies have a scene where the lead actor has a real heart attack while the scene is being filmed?!