2013-2014 University of Southern California (Keck) Application Thread

[DRos28]

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Rejected today. Complete 7/23. Good luck everyone!

 

[BruinBear13]

What does it mean to be completed in mid-July and not hear a word since?! haha. People completed after me are both getting invited and rejected...

Yeah same here... Complete since 7/20. Maybe they put us on a "hold" pile that they'll revisit later in the cycle.. I just hope there is a chance to get an II from there =[

 

[NavyDoc23]

Rejected today as well. Kind of a long shot for me anyways. At least the secondary was fun to fill out!

 

[guannaberry]

Yeah same here... Complete since 7/20. Maybe they put us on a "hold" pile that they'll revisit later in the cycle.. I just hope there is a chance to get an II from there =[

Fellow bruin? Haha, I was also complete 7/13, just received II yesterday around noon. Hope you hear back soon; I still haven't gotten ucla's secondary for some weird reason though

 

[BruinBear13]

Fellow bruin? Haha, I was also complete 7/13, just received II yesterday around noon. Hope you hear back soon; I still haven't gotten ucla's secondary for some weird reason though

Haha yup bruin at heart =] And congrats! I only wish the same will happen to me. I receive a secondary from UCLA but I'm applying MSTP there so I don't know.

 

[gobruins19]

Another Bruin here!
I have my interview next wednesday (Sept 18) in the morning. If your interested: GPA: 3.7s/3.7c, MCAT 34R (11W,12P,11B), OOS, and completed secondary 7/14.

I have been practicing for the interview by going over generic interview questions on camera cause this is my first interview. I was wondering if the interviewer will read my application beforehand, I understand they don't necessarily have my profile in front of them during the interview? And what types of questions can I expect? Are there any re-applicants who got interviews last year that can shed some light on the USC interview and their experience.

Thanks

The real question is which football program will I follow if I get in!

 

[darkknight9000]

Does anyone know how receptive USC is to international students?

 

[gobruins19]

MSAR states that out of the 300 Int. students that applied, only 1 maticulated. total class size is 184

 

[skab]

Another Bruin here!
I have my interview next wednesday (Sept 18) in the morning. If your interested: GPA: 3.7s/3.7c, MCAT 34R (11W,12P,11B), OOS, and completed secondary 7/14.

I have been practicing for the interview by going over generic interview questions on camera cause this is my first interview. I was wondering if the interviewer will read my application beforehand, I understand they don't necessarily have my profile in front of them during the interview? And what types of questions can I expect? Are there any re-applicants who got interviews last year that can shed some light on the USC interview and their experience.

Thanks

The real question is which football program will I follow if I get in!

Check the SDN Interview Feedback (under Articles & Interviews tab) - they have helpful info on what to expect, whether it's closed/open file, and specific questions that have been asked in the past.

I'll be there on the 20th with some of y'all!

 

[pietachok]

Another Bruin here!
I have my interview next wednesday (Sept 18) in the morning. If your interested: GPA: 3.7s/3.7c, MCAT 34R (11W,12P,11B), OOS, and completed secondary 7/14.

I have been practicing for the interview by going over generic interview questions on camera cause this is my first interview. I was wondering if the interviewer will read my application beforehand, I understand they don't necessarily have my profile in front of them during the interview? And what types of questions can I expect? Are there any re-applicants who got interviews last year that can shed some light on the USC interview and their experience.

Thanks

The real question is which football program will I follow if I get in!

We don't review applications or have any info about you before the interview. We show up at a scheduled time, do the interview, and then have to submit our impressions immediately after the interview. There are no set questions for the interviews, although you'll almost certainly be asked the basics (why medicine? Why keck?) in some form. I usually just try to have a conversation & try to get to know you to figure out if I'd want you to be my classmate/colleague or doctor.

 

[Xzman]

Has USC released its class of 2017 GPAs and MCAT average?

 

[anteater08]

Has USC released its class of 2017 GPAs and MCAT average?

Found this on the admissions site, not sure how recent the data is though:
Admissions Statistics
Average Class Size: 186
Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.6
Average Total MCAT: 34
Under-represented and Other Minorities: 23%
Men: 54%
Women: 46%

 

[Ehe101]

Before last year, their MCAT avg was 30 and GPA was 3.6. It jumped up to 34 last year and I assume it will stay there or increase this year. I guess Keck care about MCAT more than GPA.

 

[nabilesmail]

They have had high MCAT averages for awhile..

 

[Ehe101]

Idunno. I remember my junior year seeing their MCAT avg to be 30, I know the increase in MCAT is only recently cause they were quite happy with it.

 

[joonage]

Keck has been quiet recently... show me some love!!!!

 

[clothcut]

is it too late to apply here? verified already.

urm/low-income, 33 mcat, 3.65, top 10 undergrad. a little off-put by the mass rejections theyve been throwing seemingly like clockwork in this thread

 

[clothcut]

nvm

 

[Xzman]

Found this on the admissions site, not sure how recent the data is though:
Admissions Statistics
Average Class Size: 186
Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.6
Average Total MCAT: 34
Under-represented and Other Minorities: 23%
Men: 54%
Women: 46%

That's last year's class. The gpa was actually 3.64. Someone mentioned they have a much higher GPA this year but we shall see if that means anything.

 

[truthDMC]

Rejection email today. Hooray! One less school to worry about...:-(

 

[RocDiva4040]

is it too late to apply here? verified already.

urm/low-income, 33 mcat, 3.65, top 10 undergrad. a little off-put by the mass rejections theyve been throwing seemingly like clockwork in this thread

Apply 🙂

 

[1cor1311]

Interviewed here today. A lot of fun. Cool group of people interviewing. Loved it! 🙂

 

[nihitmehta]

For this question "Have you ever applied, been accepted, or matriculated to any medical school (M.D., D.O., international)? If yes, tell us about your previous cycle(s). Please answer the question in 300 words or less"

I applied last year to keck and got rejected, I improved my stats and experiences and am reapplying now I was wondering, how did some of you answer this question? Do you simply focus on your past application or do you show them that you have improved since you got rejected.

 

[pietachok]

For this question "Have you ever applied, been accepted, or matriculated to any medical school (M.D., D.O., international)? If yes, tell us about your previous cycle(s). Please answer the question in 300 words or less"

I applied last year to keck and got rejected, I improved my stats and experiences and am reapplying now I was wondering, how did some of you answer this question? Do you simply focus on your past application or do you show them that you have improved since you got rejected.

Briefly discuss insight into why you think your applications were rejected (I assume you didn't just apply to Keck) and how that led to whatever you did to improve your applications.

 

[lall]

Briefly discuss insight into why you think your applications were rejected (I assume you didn't just apply to Keck) and how that led to whatever you did to improve your applications.

So what's the consensus on Keck's internal numbers screen? What are the levels?

I've been sitting on this app for a smidge longer than I should have (done and ready to turn in), because I'm worried I'll just lose the money I could spend on a different secondary by getting the auto-reject I've seen happen in the thread- more so in last year's thread when I was researching which schools to apply to. There were people getting rejected within a day or two!! (I saw one in 16 hours without their last letters being turned in!)

The other thing I can think of is that USC really cares about their secondary answers. Maybe they start reading that, and continue reading if they like your answers? But reject you right away if they don't like them?

PS: I know this is a somewhat annoying question, but I'm quickly toooooo close to maxing out a credit card for applications. Starting to scare me a bit even though I know this whole process is a bit of a gamble but also a huge investment in my future.

 

[anteater08]

So what's the consensus on Keck's internal numbers screen? What are the levels?

I've been sitting on this app for a smidge longer than I should have (done and ready to turn in), because I'm worried I'll just lose the money I could spend on a different secondary by getting the auto-reject I've seen happen in the thread- more so in last year's thread when I was researching which schools to apply to. There were people getting rejected within a day or two!! (I saw one in 16 hours without their last letters being turned in!)

The other thing I can think of is that USC really cares about their secondary answers. Maybe they start reading that, and continue reading if they like your answers? But reject you right away if they don't like them?

PS: I know this is a somewhat annoying question, but I'm quickly toooooo close to maxing out a credit card for applications. Starting to scare me a bit even though I know this whole process is a bit of a gamble but also a huge investment in my future.

I have ~3.5 with 30+ mcat and haven't gotten rejected yet, but also no II. I have no idea what they're looking for but I'd say it's worth a shot.

 

[lall]

Yeah you're right. I've got a meh gpa but good mcat. And i think i put some heart into this secondary. This whole process is a crapshoot anyway haha

 

[skab]

Interviewed here today. A lot of fun. Cool group of people interviewing. Loved it! 🙂

Agreed! And the morning interview option is so nice if you can swing it-- get the "hard" part over with and enjoy the rest of your day.

 

[nihitmehta]

So two things:-
1. Filed my Second app with keck today, reading some of the posts, I see they have started their interview process. So typically how long did you wait after submitting your secondary to hear back for an interview.

2. I know this school's somewhat competitive and compared to the rest where I am applying this is Kind of my dream school, so I want to check how i rate against it's stats. I applied last year with a 25 MCAT got rejected. My current stats are as follows:-
1. MCAT- 31
2. BCPM- 3.58 (Freshman year, first few quarters I made some mistakes)
3. All others- 3.8
4. CUMLATIVE- 3.66
Which one of these three GPAs do you look at and how would you rate my chances in general with this school

 

[riseNshine]

for those with interviews, did you send updates? been complete for almost 2 months with no communication

 

[skab]

for those with interviews, did you send updates? been complete for almost 2 months with no communication

They told us very explicitly at the interview not to send in any updates. Not even thank you cards!

But I already asked for my interviewers' contact information so I feel like it would be horrible not to follow up?

 

[pietachok]

But I already asked for my interviewers' contact information so I feel like it would be horrible not to follow up?

A few years ago the admissions office made us start submitting our post-interview feedback immediately after the interview to reduce delays and make sure they were completed when the interview was fresh in our memory. So if you fail to follow up, it will not get reflected in interviewer feedback.

 

[janeeeeeeee]

delete

 

[pietachok]

So two things:-
1. Filed my Second app with keck today, reading some of the posts, I see they have started their interview process. So typically how long did you wait after submitting your secondary to hear back for an interview.

2. I know this school's somewhat competitive and compared to the rest where I am applying this is Kind of my dream school, so I want to check how i rate against it's stats. I applied last year with a 25 MCAT got rejected. My current stats are as follows:-
1. MCAT- 31
2. BCPM- 3.58 (Freshman year, first few quarters I made some mistakes)
3. All others- 3.8
4. CUMLATIVE- 3.66
Which one of these three GPAs do you look at and how would you rate my chances in general with this school

The current class has an average MCAT somewhere around 34 with a cumulative GPA around the same as yours. Your chances are going to completely depend on how you are presented in the rest of your application if you are a US Citizen.

That said, based on your prior posts, I suspect you are an international applicant (if asking your chances, you need to include that information as it is highly relevant). If so, please avail yourself of a copy of the MSAR -- Keck like many schools rarely enrolls foreign citizens (1 last year)--and I would presume said occasional international admits are above-average. If you are not a citizen, it would save you money and stress to use the MSAR to find schools that regularly take applicants who are non-US citizens.

 

[joonage]

Hey guys I don't post too frequently but this application process thing is so nerve wrecking and reading posts on when people have been getting interviews has been making this somewhat less stressful...and also somewhat more...haha

So I thought I would contribute 🙂

Completed: 9/11
Interview received: 9/24
Scheduled for: 1/14 (the soonest one)

Mcat: 35
cGPA: 3.89
sGPA: 3.85

In state- go bruins hehe

EC are okay. Year of volunteering, research three years, shadowing one year, a couple school clubs that I'm not really involved in lol, club sport, and fashion (perhaps the most interesting aspect of my EC)

Good luck!

Man ... the fact that USC is already on January interview dates and they're on September submitted apps makes me depressed. 🙁 Hopefully I'm still in the running!

 

[calgirl1234]

Man ... the fact that USC is already on January interview dates and they're on September submitted apps makes me depressed. 🙁 Hopefully I'm still in the running!

oh nooo this makes me sad too. when does their interview season end? feb?

 

[Hipocrates]

oh nooo this makes me sad too. when does their interview season end? feb?

Last cycle they were still sending out II's as late as mid January.

 

[joonage]

Last cycle they were still sending out II's as late as mid January.

The thing that's odd is usually IIs now were for Oct/Nov while Jan/Feb dates were given in Dec/Jan.

Everything seems so odd this year haha xD

 

[1cor1311]

They told us very explicitly at the interview not to send in any updates. Not even thank you cards!

But I already asked for my interviewers' contact information so I feel like it would be horrible not to follow up?

Dont do it! haha Dean arias was very clear on thank you cards haha. My interviewer even provided personal email, but im afraid to go against the dean's instructions haha

 

[1cor1311]

for those with interviews, did you send updates? been complete for almost 2 months with no communication

Ya dean arias made it very clear they did not want updates "Unless you get published in nature or something" (her exact words)

 

[fedoraenglish]

Rejected today, but as a Canadian it was a long shot.

 

[milkandcereal]

The thing that's odd is usually IIs now were for Oct/Nov while Jan/Feb dates were given in Dec/Jan.

Everything seems so odd this year haha xD

I may be remembering incorrectly, but wasn't Keck the school that was undergoing construction on their admissions office? This may be pushing their interview schedule back later than usual.

 

[Hipocrates]

I may be remembering incorrectly, but wasn't Keck the school that was undergoing construction on their admissions office? This may be pushing their interview schedule back later than usual.

Yes, you are correct.

 

[MCAT or bust]

just submitted a few hours after they sent me the secondary!

definitely my favorite one to fill out

only California school I applied to, so fingers crossed!

 

[DennisdaMenace]

- repost

 

[DennisdaMenace]

Before last year, their MCAT avg was 30 and GPA was 3.6. It jumped up to 34 last year and I assume it will stay there or increase this year. I guess Keck care about MCAT more than GPA.

From 2007-2011, the average matriculated student MCAT score was 33.6. In 2012, the average matriculated student MCAT score was 34.11. So no, the average score has not been 30. Yes, Keck does care more about MCAT than GPA.

They have had high MCAT averages for awhile..

Correct.

 

[lall]

USC got quiet eh? Where are those rejections/invites latley? haha

 

[Bubble Rainbow]

Hi guys,

Does someone would like to share with us some of your answers to the secondaries questions? I have a hard time on how to form my answers for the secondaries that I just received over the weekends. Thanks in advance. please PM. Thanks. 🙂

 

[Plecopotamus]

Hi guys,

Does someone would like to share with us some of your answers to the secondaries questions? I have a hard time on how to form my answers for the secondaries that I just received over the weekends. Thanks in advance. please PM. Thanks. 🙂

You cannot form a proper sentence, so you're soliciting others' application answers (on multiple threads)? Not smart. Not ethical. Not ok.

 

[gothamist]

Does anyone know what the out-of-state interview:acceptance ratio is?

Couldn't find anything on MSAR.

Also, interviewing here tomorrow. Very excited and loving that LA weather 🙂