2013-2014 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Application Thread

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Does anyone know if you are absolutely required to buy your laptop from UNC? The letter I got made it seem like you have to, but the online FAQ section (dated for the class of 2017) made it seem like you could bring your own laptop and download certain programs. Is this still true for this year's incoming class?
 
They said you don't have to on interview day. They said you could also have a mac or pc. It doesn't matter.
 
yqwe said:
Does anyone know if you are absolutely required to buy your laptop from UNC? The letter I got made it seem like you have to, but the online FAQ section (dated for the class of 2017) made it seem like you could bring your own laptop and download certain programs. Is this still true for this year's incoming class?
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*If* it's anything like their undergrad system, they will offer macs or pcs through student stores with compatible software included, or you can buy your own computer and pay to have ITS install compatible software. UNC also offers laptop grants for those with financial difficulty, applicable towards student stores computers.
 
For those accepted, is there anything we have to do besides putting down the deposit? When do they give us more info about start date and required materials etc?
 
Thanks everyone! Also, anyone know if with the new 1.5 preclinical curriculum, the entire pre-clinical phase will be pass/fail or just the first year like it currently is?
 
For those asking about computers, the current first year is the first year allowed to use their own Macs or PCs for school - all previous years had to use UNCSOM PC computers that many students complained were outdated, slow, and prone to crashing during exams. A third year during my October interview day confided that his roommate had thrown his laptop out of a 4th story window in order to get a new one, but UNC's IT department somehow fixed it. But no worries! From now on, incoming students just have to download their applications for exams and slides, etc. They MUST be laptops though - iPads and some tablets (but not all) don't seem to be compatible with all of the applications yet, and you need a physical keyboard and ethernet port.

https://www.med.unc.edu/md/orientation/first-year-resources/laptop-info
 
Wolffkishner29 said:
For those accepted, is there anything we have to do besides putting down the deposit? When do they give us more info about start date and required materials etc?
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We should get information about second look weekend soon (based on last year's date of 3/23, it should be March 22), but for now all you need to do is submit a deposit. If you are >80% sure you're going to UNC, you can also submit your official transcript to them now (it's due by some time in June, see your admissions packet for instructions).
 
DChef said:
We should get information about second look weekend soon (based on last year's date of 3/23, it should be March 22), but for now all you need to do is submit a deposit. If you are >80% sure you're going to UNC, you can also submit your official transcript to them now (it's due by some time in June, see your admissions packet for instructions).
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I vaguely remember my interviewer telling me Second Look was scheduled for March 29th. This was a while ago however, so I may have the dates mixed up. Hopefully they send out information about it soon!
 
So I was just accepted into the Air Force HPSP program. At the interview they said to not update. Since I've interviewed, do you think I should update them of this scholarship award or is it pointless?
 
treeoflife45 said:
So I was just accepted into the Air Force HPSP program. At the interview they said to not update. Since I've interviewed, do you think I should update them of this scholarship award or is it pointless?
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How did you get awarded without an acceptance? My recruiter said I needed an acceptance letter first before I could be processed, and that it had to be from the school which I plan to attend.
 
TechToDoc said:
How did you get awarded without an acceptance? My recruiter said I needed an acceptance letter first before I could be processed, and that it had to be from the school which I plan to attend.
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I'm not HPSP but from what I know (talking to other HPSP applicants), you just need one medical school acceptance, from any school.
 
I have several other acceptances. Just not from UNC. I just used one of those letters to apply. I think different recruiting offices may do things differently, but I'm really not sure.
 
treeoflife45 said:
I have several other acceptances. Just not from UNC. I just used one of those letters to apply. I think different recruiting offices may do things differently, but I'm really not sure.
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Congratulations! UNC is financially need-blind, so scholarship updates won't affect your application, and still fall under the "no thanks" policy most likely. You won't know for sure unless you call, but that's my guess. But that's great news!
 
Pentait said:
So your application can actually be "approved" prior to an acceptance letter from an MD/DO school, it just cannot be sent out for final review approval until you have an acceptance in hand.

There are technically 2 stages to the review process: 1) a professional board recommendation and 2) a review board recommendation. The former determines whether your application is suitable (read: likely to be accepted to a school) and then, upon acceptance to a medical school, your file is moved on to the review board for final approval.

At least this is how my recruiter explained it to me (Navy). Also, it need not be from where you will finally attend school (assuming multiple acceptances). The actual school you chose to provide with your application does weigh into how your application is viewed, however. Example being, Applicant A applies to Q'pac/30MCAT/3.5 GPA and Applicant B applies to UNC/30MCAT/3.5 GPA the latter candidate has a much better shot at being funded (again, Navy side) as they want physicians from more well established schools if possible, and they have limited slots to award each year.

That said, I've only heard of a handful of people who volunteered for the HPSP who did not receive it for reasons other than medical disqualification.

Hope this helps!

EDIT: spelling
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Thanks for all this great info!
 
I just about had a heart attack. Received a phone call from a 919 number...but they just wanted to know if they could put their sign in my front yard....I don't live anywhere near that area code haha.


Whelp, hopefully we'll start hearing something soon. The wait is killing me.
 
wakeforestkid12 said:
I just about had a heart attack. Received a phone call from a 919 number...but they just wanted to know if they could put their sign in my front yard....I don't live anywhere near that area code haha.


Whelp, hopefully we'll start hearing something soon. The wait is killing me.
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You're telling me! I need to start making a plan for the upcoming year with my job and apartment haha
 
Easonred57 said:
You're telling me! I need to start making a plan for the upcoming year with my job and apartment haha
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Same here! Still holding out hope for an acceptance. It sure would be nice to know what to tell my landlord and employer!
 
sapphire86 said:
Same here! Still holding out hope for an acceptance. It sure would be nice to know what to tell my landlord and employer!
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Same! I've been dreaming that in 3 months I get to tell my boss thanks for the last couple of years, but now I'm going to be a doctor at UNC! Ahhh I can only wish...
 
DragonStallion said:
So when are we anticipating the next meeting?
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Not sure, but sadly according to previous years threads there's only 1 more meeting and it doesn't seem many people get in the last meeting. Then it's all rejections and waitlists after that.

Not sure about you guys, but this entire process has been really depressing for me. I'm really trying to not think about it, but it's hard. Hopefully you guys are doing better than me this year.
 
acrewjewl said:
Not sure, but sadly according to previous years threads there's only 1 more meeting and it doesn't seem many people get in the last meeting. Then it's all rejections and waitlists after that.

Not sure about you guys, but this entire process has been really depressing for me. I'm really trying to not think about it, but it's hard. Hopefully you guys are doing better than me this year.
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Well they have to give out a number of acceptances equal to the number of open seats before the end of March. So I would guess that the number of seats remaining would determine how liberally they give out the remaining acceptances.
 
When I interviewed in October, the new curriculum was still pretty vague except for a smushed time frame and the guarantee that we would still have a summer break (one of the big questions that day haha). Any new info from anyone? Is the whole thing P/F now and not just first year of 1.5? Whether any classes have been added, dropped, or combined from previous curriculum? I know we'll get the low down during second look (or at least I sincerely hope so), but just checking.
 
DChef said:
When I interviewed in October, the new curriculum was still pretty vague except for a smushed time frame and the guarantee that we would still have a summer break (one of the big questions that day haha). Any new info from anyone? Is the whole thing P/F now and not just first year of 1.5? Whether any classes have been added, dropped, or combined from previous curriculum? I know we'll get the low down during second look (or at least I sincerely hope so), but just checking.
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I interviewed in February and we were told it was all P/F with the opportunity to obtain honors. Some of the students also informed us that there aren't very many lecture courses anymore and that we'll do a lot of self-learning and group-learning. The professors will provide a "syllabus" which is not like an actual syllabus, but more like a small book of notes for the lecture, in addition to recorded lectures online and powerpoints. I believe they also said that instead of learning the normal function of a specific part of the body one year, and then the pathological conditions and so on the next year, you'll learn everything together so that you're not trying to recall normal function of the respiratory system, for instance, a year later, in order to determine what's pathological and what's normal. All of the students I spoke to seemed to really enjoy the new curriculum.
 
wakeforestkid12 said:
I interviewed in February and we were told it was all P/F with the opportunity to obtain honors. Some of the students also informed us that there aren't very many lecture courses anymore and that we'll do a lot of self-learning and group-learning. The professors will provide a "syllabus" which is not like an actual syllabus, but more like a small book of notes for the lecture, in addition to recorded lectures online and powerpoints. I believe they also said that instead of learning the normal function of a specific part of the body one year, and then the pathological conditions and so on the next year, you'll learn everything together so that you're not trying to recall normal function of the respiratory system, for instance, a year later, in order to determine what's pathological and what's normal. All of the students I spoke to seemed to really enjoy the new curriculum.
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Thanks for this information!

Doesn't the bolded mean its actually H/P/F? Did they mention how honors would be determined? And any idea how much group learning there will be?
 
UNC is closing at 2:00 due to adverse weather. If there was a meeting today, I guess this means it's cancelled.
 
Remy LeBeau said:
UNC is closing at 2:00 due to adverse weather. If there was a meeting today, I guess this means it's cancelled.
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Easonred57 said:
Maybe they meet early in the morning? *grasping at straws*
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Do they really meet on Mondays? I heard by phone on the Friday before emails were sent out Monday - which leads me to believe meetings are Thursday or Friday, emails and packets sent out Monday. So maybe, hopefully the ice doesn't affect any possible decisions this week!
 
DChef said:
Do they really meet on Mondays? I heard by phone on the Friday before emails were sent out Monday - which leads me to believe meetings are Thursday or Friday, emails and packets sent out Monday. So maybe, hopefully the ice doesn't affect any possible decisions this week!
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I think they do meet on Mondays. My interviewer called me right after a meeting at ~6pm on a Monday.
 
wakeforestkid12 said:
I interviewed in February and we were told it was all P/F with the opportunity to obtain honors. Some of the students also informed us that there aren't very many lecture courses anymore and that we'll do a lot of self-learning and group-learning. The professors will provide a "syllabus" which is not like an actual syllabus, but more like a small book of notes for the lecture, in addition to recorded lectures online and powerpoints. I believe they also said that instead of learning the normal function of a specific part of the body one year, and then the pathological conditions and so on the next year, you'll learn everything together so that you're not trying to recall normal function of the respiratory system, for instance, a year later, in order to determine what's pathological and what's normal. All of the students I spoke to seemed to really enjoy the new curriculum.
Click to expand...

Great, thanks! So a bit more like Duke's integrated curriculum now. Though how do current students enjoy it if the incoming class is the first to use it? Do you mean like the students who helped with the process? It sounds great, still nervous about being the first to use a brand new curriculum along with 1 yr old computer applications though.
 
DChef said:
Great, thanks! So a bit more like Duke's integrated curriculum now. Though how do current students enjoy it if the incoming class is the first to use it? Do you mean like the students who helped with the process? It sounds great, still nervous about being the first to use a brand new curriculum along with 1 yr old computer applications though.
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I know the current first years are piloting some elements of the curriculum, like the flipped classroom approach. I think this is customary for schools that are switching curriculums. What do you mean by the 1 year old computer applications?
 
For what its worth:

Applied mid-August. Verified first week of October. Interviewed late November. Accepted Dec. 17th.

In-state
30 MCAT (12, 7, 11)
3.6 sci GPA/3.7 overall (UNC)
Great recs, published, +3 years lab, +3 hospital vol, 100 hrs shadowing, unique extra curriculars, residence in rural county but grew up in Atlanta.

Thought by adcom interview went horribly, thought student interview went perfectly.
 
agroguy87 said:
For what its worth:

Applied mid-August. Verified first week of October. Interviewed late November. Accepted Dec. 17th.

In-state
30 MCAT (12, 7, 11)
3.6 sci GPA/3.7 overall (UNC)
Great recs, published, +3 years lab, +3 hospital vol, 100 hrs shadowing, unique extra curriculars, residence in rural county but grew up in Atlanta.

Thought by adcom interview went horribly, thought student interview went perfectly.
Click to expand...

Who was your adcom?
 
yqwe said:
I know the current first years are piloting some elements of the curriculum, like the flipped classroom approach. I think this is customary for schools that are switching curriculums. What do you mean by the 1 year old computer applications?
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Before this current MS1 class at UNC, all students had to use UNCSOM PCs hard-wired for use in taking exams, lectures, etc. This fall, students were allowed to download new applications and use the programs on their own computers. I'm sure it works fine, but the first years had only been in class for a few weeks when I interviewed so I had doubts. Haven't heard anything about it since, so it was probably a good transition.
 
Got the email invite for second look - it's going to be March 29th as previously reported.
 
I'm attending!

There's also a mixer planned for that evening! 😀 Link in the 'Second Look' letter accessed via the link provided in the email.
 
Anyone know if interviews are over yet? Still waiting for any kind of info, interviewed almost 4 months ago now
 
The second look weekend invitation only allows 180 participants for scheduling, which is the exact number of advertised spots on MSAR. Just information for those wondering if they over-accept to account for some acceptances enrolling elsewhere - it doesn't look like they do, and so a wait list will likely have at least some movement, however small.
 
debeer22 said:
I'm sure mines coming.. Mind sharing adcom/when u interviewed?
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I interviewed September 7. My adcom may have been Dr Vines, I don't remember my other interviewer's name. She was upset that I didn't ask what it's like to be a female physician at UNC (umm I didn't think it was really an issue since the class is 50/50??) 33/3.9 nontrad. I've got one school who put me on the alternate list, they're my last shot!
 
So does anyone know if this was the last adcom meeting? I feel like there should be one more.
 
kikas said:
Joni had said that they would wrap it up and make their final decisions about acceptances around the 15th...which makes me think that there still has to be one more meeting.
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According to last years thread, they had their last committee meeting on Monday, March 11th. It also looks like several people were accepted via email the following Wednesday, March 13th. So, hopefully we will hear some news soon. Waitlists/Rejections went out early April last year via email. Sooo, they are more than likely meeting next Monday.
 
sapphire86 said:
According to last years thread, they had their last committee meeting on Monday, March 11th. It also looks like several people were accepted via email the following Wednesday, March 13th. So, hopefully we will hear some news soon. Waitlists/Rejections went out early April last year via email. Sooo, they are more than likely meeting next Monday.
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Accepted via email as opposed to a phone call? I wonder if that changed for this year. My stomach drops every time my phone chimes for an email and I almost pass out every time my phone rings haha.
 
wakeforestkid12 said:
Accepted via email as opposed to a phone call? I wonder if that changed for this year. My stomach drops every time my phone chimes for an email and I almost pass out every time my phone rings haha.
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Yea, that was the only time last year they did it- at the very end of the cycle.
 
That's interesting. The fact that there were several acceptances just on SDN in mid-March would seem to indicate that there were a considerable number of offers made overall. The fact that those offers went out via email could also indicate that there were more given out than usual, since email would be a more efficient way to handle it. These two assumptions taken together would then support the notion that the majority of decisions are made at the end of the process.

Whether I'm correct or not, it paints an optimistic picture, and I'm running with it.
 
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