2013-2014 University of New Mexico Application Thread

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sup3rnova said:
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.
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It depends on the interviewer. Some might have an agenda, and they'll ask "fishing" questions. I had one of those interviewers one cycle and it threw me (lesson learned right there). The interesting thing is that he came up to me after my white coat ceremony and told me he was thrilled that I finally gained admission.

You WILL get asked questions about your experiences listed on your AMCAS application. Know them front to back, but do not repeat your answers verbatim. Never speak negatively about any experience, the interviewer will report this back to the committee and they will not look favorably upon you. I know I'm repeating myself regarding that, but it cannot be emphasized enough.
 
Doctor Agsteman said:
It depends on the interviewer. Some might have an agenda, and they'll ask "fishing" questions. I had one of those interviewers one cycle and it threw me (lesson learned right there). The interesting thing is that he came up to me after my white coat ceremony and told me he was thrilled that I finally gained admission.

You WILL get asked questions about your experiences listed on your AMCAS application. Know them front to back, but do not repeat your answers verbatim. Never speak negatively about any experience, the interviewer will report this back to the committee and they will not look favorably upon you. I know I'm repeating myself regarding that, but it cannot be emphasized enough.
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Did you run through practice questions leading up to your interview? I feel comfortable with my application and am not planning on preparing very much and just winging it, so to speak.

I have received a lot of different advice about this and either side of the argument has its pros and cons, mainly people have said that it depends on who your interviewer ends up being.
 
sup3rnova said:
Did you run through practice questions leading up to your interview? I feel comfortable with my application and am not planning on preparing very much and just winging it, so to speak.

I have received a lot of different advice about this and either side of the argument has its pros and cons, mainly people have said that it depends on who your interviewer ends up being.
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I've always felt that practice interviews help. Not so much for getting the answers down, but more for the non-verbal aspect (which is important).

PM me if you want to have a practice interview and you live in ABQ. The first-years (myself included) have been holding practice interviews for applicants who are interested. That goes for anybody else who's interested as well.
 
Doctor Agsteman said:
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.
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Adding to this, I volunteered, interned (twice), and am a patient at an IHS facility. Happens to be the only one for our state, so I've seen a lot of patients that live in rural areas and I can understand by having interacted with them the complications that come with living rural. It really impressed my interviewers that I could talk about all that.
 
sup3rnova said:
Did you run through practice questions leading up to your interview? I feel comfortable with my application and am not planning on preparing very much and just winging it, so to speak.

I have received a lot of different advice about this and either side of the argument has its pros and cons, mainly people have said that it depends on who your interviewer ends up being.
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The worst thing you can do is sound scripted. Someone I know who is a student interviewer told me that. I actually read a book on medical school interviews and watched this YouTube video that iTrinity showed me (PM me if you're interested).
 
Doctor Agsteman said:
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.
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That is helpful. I shall ask for a letter from the director of IHS. I figure it shows that i am not making empty promises to serve the undeserved areas after I am finished with school, but that I have been serving there already.
 
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What are the things that UNM likes to hear besides yes I am committed to stay here and practice after worth, yes I am into primary care cause I truly believe in preventive care and yes I want to be a family/primary doc cause I enjoy the interactions with people and educate them, also yes I am willing to go to rural areas, like Crownpoint, Shiprock, gallup and serve there cause I like the communities out there, cause I have done it and I enjoyed it. What else that UNM likes to hear? help! 🙂 :beat::help::help::help::help::help:

P/s: and no I dont want to change the world, i think it is a stupid answer lol
 
LabratABQ said:
What are the things that UNM likes to hear besides yes I am committed to stay here and practice after worth, yes I am into primary care cause I truly believe in preventive care and yes I want to be a family/primary doc cause I enjoy the interactions with people and educate them, also yes I am willing to go to rural areas, like Crownpoint, Shiprock, gallup and serve there cause I like the communities out there, cause I have done it and I enjoyed it. What else that UNM likes to hear? help! 🙂 :beat::help::help::help::help::help:

P/s: and no I dont want to change the world, i think it is a stupid answer lol
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From my perspective, I don't think there are "cookie cutter" applicants or responses for UNM. I know plenty of graduates who are specialty residents and subspecialty surgical residents. The classes are diverse and people have widely different motivations. The interview is a time for them to get to know you and assess your qualities and personality that may not be as apparent in your paper applications.

I think honesty is the best way to approach an interview. The admissions committee interviews a lot of people every year and they are good at detecting insincere responses.
 
sup3rnova said:
From my perspective, I don't think there are "cookie cutter" applicants or responses for UNM. I know plenty of graduates who are specialty residents and subspecialty surgical residents. The classes are diverse and people have widely different motivations. The interview is a time for them to get to know you and assess your qualities and personality that may not be as apparent in your paper applications.

I think honesty is the best way to approach an interview. The admissions committee interviews a lot of people every year and they are good at detecting insincere responses.
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Thank you and no i am not being insincere or making things up. Preventive care saves my family a couple of times, I work for rural hospitals, I like primary care. Those are all real, not make up nor trying to fit into their cookie cutter.
 
So out of curiosity, is there anyone on here who had multiple acceptances? If so, why UNM?
 
Does ANYONE know of anyone that has received a denial email? I don't think any of us on this thread have. Also does anyone know when UNM is done interviewing? Is it in February? The suspense is killing me!!!!
 
g2472132 said:
Does ANYONE know of anyone that has received a denial email? I don't think any of us on this thread have. Also does anyone know when UNM is done interviewing? Is it in February? The suspense is killing me!!!!
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I don't. Besides the auto reject pre interview. Someone I know just interviewed today so they're still going on.
 
LabratABQ said:
@rcheech7 when did you get your acceptance letter?
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You'll get an email saying whether you're being offered a seat/waitlisted/rejected around mid-March. You will also receive a formal letter in the mail within a couple of days of that email. I can't speak for rcheech7, but I was offered a seat via phone call (I was waitlisted) on May 16th of last year. If you didn't get an email regarding your status, it will come mid-March. If you're waitlisted, make sure Admissions has your cell phone number.
 
Doctor Agsteman said:
You'll get an email saying whether you're being offered a seat/waitlisted/rejected around mid-March. You will also receive a formal letter in the mail within a couple of days of that email. I can't speak for rcheech7, but I was offered a seat via phone call (I was waitlisted) on May 16th of last year. If you didn't get an email regarding your status, it will come mid-March. If you're waitlisted, make sure Admissions has your cell phone number.
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Oh ok, so if I understood what everyone said correctly is that if you are in the top or on the bottom of the list, they will notify you around Dec, and if you are in the middle then you just have to wait for March?
 
LabratABQ said:
Oh ok, so if I understood what everyone said correctly is that if you are in the top or on the bottom of the list, they will notify you around Dec, and if you are in the middle then you just have to wait for March?
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If you get offered a seat via rolling admissions, you'll hear within a couple of days of your interview (top of the list). Same if you're at the bottom of the list. Everybody else is waiting until March.
 
Doctor Agsteman said:
If you get offered a seat via rolling admissions, you'll hear within a couple of days of your interview (top of the list). Same if you're at the bottom of the list. Everybody else is waiting until March.
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Mine took about 3 weeks. That's what I've been hearing has been the amount of time for them to get back to you for rolling.
 
Doctor Agsteman said:
If you get offered a seat via rolling admissions, you'll hear within a couple of days of your interview (top of the list). Same if you're at the bottom of the list. Everybody else is waiting until March.
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Thanks for that. I remember them saying that during our interviews it is just sooo hard to wait! On one hand it is kind of exciting to think I haven't gotten denied yet so hopefully I am either in or wait listed but then on the other hand I am thinking if I should start studying to retake the MCAT again. UNM is such an amazing school so hopefully they like what I had to offer. I wonder if they will send out all the denials before March 15th and they everyone that hasn't heard is either admitted or waitlisted. That would be nice but they probably will be sending out rejections on the 15th as well. Oh well.. wishful thinking lol.
 
g2472132 said:
Thanks for that. I remember them saying that during our interviews it is just sooo hard to wait! On one hand it is kind of exciting to think I haven't gotten denied yet so hopefully I am either in or wait listed but then on the other hand I am thinking if I should start studying to retake the MCAT again. UNM is such an amazing school so hopefully they like what I had to offer. I wonder if they will send out all the denials before March 15th and they everyone that hasn't heard is either admitted or waitlisted. That would be nice but they probably will be sending out rejections on the 15th as well. Oh well.. wishful thinking lol.
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Everybody will find out by the 15th at this point. Accepted/waitlisted/rejected, they aren't going to give anybody early notice now.
 
LabratABQ said:
Wait so early notice isnt the same as rolling admission?
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I think you're getting them confused. Rolling admission is when they tell an applicant who is going to make the cut that they're accepted within a couple days/weeks of the interview. UNM doesn't do early notice. There might be one or two more applicants accepted from the interviews in the next week, but other than that, everybody must wait until March 15th.
 
Doctor Agsteman said:
I think you're getting them confused. Rolling admission is when they tell an applicant who is going to make the cut that they're accepted within a couple days/weeks of the interview. UNM doesn't do early notice. There might be one or two more applicants accepted from the interviews in the next week, but other than that, everybody must wait until March 15th.
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got it! thanks
 
UNM sent out some denials yesterday. Who knows if they will send out more before March 15th. Good luck everyone. This time is very nerve racking. I wish you all the best during this process!!!
 
g2472132 said:
UNM sent out some denials yesterday. Who knows if they will send out more before March 15th. Good luck everyone. This time is very nerve racking. I wish you all the best during this process!!!
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I guess I was mistaken regarding notifications regarding denials.
 
supposedly they send out denials pretty often. I hope and pray we all get in .
 
g2472132 said:
supposedly they send out denials pretty often. I hope and pray we all get in .
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I am aware of a few people who have received rolling denials this cycle... I think they are considerate in doing so (besides the obvious rejection). It allows people more time to begin the reapplication process. I think UNM trims down that list significantly before March with rolling rejections.

When I interviewed a rough estimate of applicants interviewed were 250 for a remaining 54 slots.
 
sup3rnova said:
When I interviewed a rough estimate of applicants interviewed were 250 for a remaining 54 slots.
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Wonder what is the total number of interviewer for the normal MD alone, not BAMD, AAMC lists both.
 
sup3rnova said:
I am aware of a few people who have received rolling denials this cycle... I think they are considerate in doing so (besides the obvious rejection). It allows people more time to begin the reapplication process. I think UNM trims down that list significantly before March with rolling rejections.

When I interviewed a rough estimate of applicants interviewed were 250 for a remaining 54 slots.
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Have you been accepted or are you playing the waiting game like some of us
 
g2472132 said:
Have you been accepted or are you playing the waiting game like some of us
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I am waiting, hoping for the best. I am sure we are all super competitive and very similar on paper - we all have a great shot of getting in and becoming classmates! Good luck and godspeed.
 
sup3rnova said:
I am waiting, hoping for the best. I am sure we are all super competitive and very similar on paper - we all have a great shot of getting in and becoming classmates! Good luck and godspeed.
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Yes! Except I didn't apply hahahah
 
LabratABQ said:
Yes! Except I didn't apply hahahah
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Are you taking a gap year? : )

And to everyone else waiting, best of luck! We only have a little over a month left... It's making me insane though, considering the fact that all of my Texan friends have already heard back from their schools.
 
kazukae said:
Are you taking a gap year? : )

And to everyone else waiting, best of luck! We only have a little over a month left... It's making me insane though, considering the fact that all of my Texan friends have already heard back from their schools.
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Ya lol. Just ended a break from school before I become cray cray.
 
LabratABQ said:
Ya lol. Just ended a break from school before I become cray cray.
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Haha that's alright. Everyone (I mean literally everyone) I know that has taken a gap year said it was the best thing they ever did.
 
kazukae said:
I did. I interviewed back in November and am now residing in limbo with everyone else until March. xD
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oh wow that is not cool. I think I will go nutty....lol how was the interviews and how early did you submit your app?
 
Haha yeah, but it is what it is. : ) The interview day was great! I fell more in love with the school after having met the medical students and toured the campus. Everyone is so chill, even the interviewers. One of my interviewers did throw a lot of hardcore questions at me though (regarding health policy and issues), so I hope my answers were adequate. I actually submitted my app a bit late, on the first of August. It took AMCAS forever to process my application so I did not receive secondaries until October (I submitted those super fast and received an interview in 2 days).
 
kazukae said:
Haha yeah, but it is what it is. : ) The interview day was great! I fell more in love with the school after having met the medical students and toured the campus. Everyone is so chill, even the interviewers. One of my interviewers did throw a lot of hardcore questions at me though (regarding health policy and issues), so I hope my answers were adequate. I actually submitted my app a bit late, on the first of August. It took AMCAS forever to process my application so I did not receive secondaries until October (I submitted those super fast and received an interview in 2 days).
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oh wow that is cool!
 
sup3rnova said:
I am aware of a few people who have received rolling denials this cycle... I think they are considerate in doing so (besides the obvious rejection). It allows people more time to begin the reapplication process. I think UNM trims down that list significantly before March with rolling rejections.

When I interviewed a rough estimate of applicants interviewed were 250 for a remaining 54 slots.
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That's about what it was when I interviewed also. They haven't admitted very many through rolling. It was like 60ish seats in October.
 
I know they said about half go to the students in Prep and their undergraduate MD program and then the other half go to people that are currently in this cycle. I also fell in love with the school after visiting. They have an amazing program and great facilities.
 
There are 25 slots coming from BA/MD give or take a few depending on how any are deferring or deferred the year before. 7 slots are from PrEP.

100 spots total
 
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Hola, people. I am waiting as well. Interviewed late October. I'm the ex-military guy with 269 college credits- anybody on this forum from my interview group?

Good Luck to everyone!
 
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