2014-2015 Albany Medical College Application Thread

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Anyone else who's interviewed here and heard nothing yet? (I went on 9/19)
 
NewTima said:
Does anybody know if Albany is receptive to update letters? Thank youuu!!
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Ace Khalifa said:
+1
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bluemachine said:
im pretty sure they aren't. i think it says on the bottom of the status page that they don't accept anything after you've submitted the secondary.
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Actually, they are VERY receptive to updates! Every time I sent in grade updates, they'd add them to my file. But I guess it also depends on what kind of updates you're sending, because they wouldn't take my publication update. Either way, I'd send them an email. They get back to you pretty quickly.
 
WhereDaCoffeeAt said:
Actually, they are VERY receptive to updates! Every time I sent in grade updates, they'd add them to my file. But I guess it also depends on what kind of updates you're sending, because they wouldn't take my publication update. Either way, I'd send them an email. They get back to you pretty quickly.
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they explicitly stated multiple times at the interview day that they do NOT want any updates of any kind unless it's an update of grades from recent coursework.
 
just withdrew my app - hope the interview slot goes to one of y'all. best of luck!
 
Dr. Stalker said:
Hey guys! Hope interviews and applications are going well for everyone! Any sub-30 interview invites/WLs/acceptances? If so, when were you complete and what were your stats? Thanks for the information and good luck to all applicants!
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I received an II. I was complete mid August. I have a 28 MCAT.
Also non-trad, URM.
 
I'm interviewing on dec 5th at 8AM. Booked the hotel room at the hilton next door for thursday night. The room has 2x queen beds. If anyone wants to split it, PM me. I'm going to be renting a car and driving from boston in the rare event that someone around here is heading in the same direction and wants to carpool and/or split the room.
 
ridethecliche said:
I'm interviewing on dec 5th at 8AM. Booked the hotel room at the hilton next door for thursday night. The room has 2x queen beds. If anyone wants to split it, PM me. I'm going to be renting a car and driving from boston in the rare event that someone around here is heading in the same direction and wants to carpool and/or split the room.
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Ah I'm interviewing then, but driving up from NYC and already rented a room. See you then and good luck!
 
ridethecliche said:
I'm interviewing on dec 5th at 8AM. Booked the hotel room at the hilton next door for thursday night. The room has 2x queen beds. If anyone wants to split it, PM me. I'm going to be renting a car and driving from boston in the rare event that someone around here is heading in the same direction and wants to carpool and/or split the room.
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Too bad you aren't December 11th! I would gladly share a room. If anyone wants to split a hotel room for the night before let me know! I will be driving from Penn State so hopefully the northeast doesn't have any difficult weather during this time!
 
For people who have heard back post interview, were they pretty good about keeping to their 2-3 week turnaround? I interviewed on the 7th, and according to that I should technically hear by this Friday. Just wondering if I should actually be expecting that though.
 
I have been complete since September 8th. Any II today or on "hold"?
 
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I HATE the MMI format. Not too exited about this prospect.
 
Ace Khalifa said:
What's so bad about it? I haven't done it before, but I know how it works.
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I'm the kind of person who needs to connect to others to have a good experience. I'm just too introverted to bounce between 8 people in 80 minutes or whatever the format here will be.

I need the traditional one on one to even stand a chance at an acceptance. Gaaaahhhh.
 
kthxbai said:
I'm the kind of person who needs to connect to others to have a good experience. I'm just too introverted to bounce between 8 people in 80 minutes or whatever the format here will be.

I need the traditional one on one to even stand a chance at an acceptance. Gaaaahhhh.
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I'm also an introvert, so I feel your pain. I think with enough concentrated practice at the MMI format, tho, you should be able to perform well still.

Also, weren't you the one who said, "I'm not a compassionate person" ina different thread? That conflicts with the "I'm the kind of person who needs to connect to others to have a good experience" IMO.
 
kthxbai said:
I'm the kind of person who needs to connect to others to have a good experience. I'm just too introverted to bounce between 8 people in 80 minutes or whatever the format here will be.

I need the traditional one on one to even stand a chance at an acceptance. Gaaaahhhh.
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I'm kind of the opposite of an introvert, but I really enjoy the format. It gives you more of a chance to display how well rounded you are. I guess our personalities are different so take it with a grain of salt, but just wanted to give a different insight. do your best to have fun!
 
That's just what I was told from a local physician who's friends with adcom there. He said that the MCAT is the best predictor of success in medical school so therefore it's weighted more. He said if you're below a 30 you have to be really stellar to get accepted. They accepted someone with a 24 last cycle (this is coming from their admissions office) so it's not impossible.
 
Ace Khalifa said:
I'm also an introvert, so I feel your pain. I think with enough concentrated practice at the MMI format, tho, you should be able to perform well still.

Also, weren't you the one who said, "I'm not a compassionate person" ina different thread? That conflicts with the "I'm the kind of person who needs to connect to others to have a good experience" IMO.
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I wouldn't say that's incompatible. Not compassionate doesn't make me void of sympathy/empathy (of which I have plenty), it just means it's difficult for me to reciprocate in an emotional exchange (I just need time and a little effort to connect). That's why the one-on-one interviews are so much better for me. I can get comfortable and ease into a conversation rather than being all "on" all the time.

I've done the MMI twice already... With equally sad results.

Basically, human interactions don't come easily to me, but once they happen I make friends for life.
 
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kthxbai said:
I wouldn't say that's incompatible. Not compassionate doesn't make me void of sympathy/empathy (of which I have plenty), it just means it's difficult for me to reciprocate in an emotional exchange (I just need time and a little effort to connect). That's why the one-on-one interviews are so much better for me. I can get comfortable and ease into a conversation rather than being all "on" all the time.

I've done the MMI twice already... With equally sad results.

Basically, human interactions don't come easily to me, but once they happen I make friends for life.
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Hmm, I basically equate compassion with empathy, but your experience sounds possible too. Maybe we have different levels of introversion because I can immediately feel emotionally connected to a stranger and show empathy/compassion if their story elicits a strong enough response. I still don't think you need to be an extrovert to succeed in the MMI or medicine in general. Just be confident with whatever argument or position you're defending.
 
mounty104 said:
That's just what I was told from a local physician who's friends with adcom there. He said that the MCAT is the best predictor of success in medical school so therefore it's weighted more. He said if you're below a 30 you have to be really stellar to get accepted. They accepted someone with a 24 last cycle (this is coming from their admissions office) so it's not impossible.
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Am I wasting my money flying here to interview if I have a sub 30 MCAT?
 
ShabbaRanks said:
Am I wasting my money flying here to interview if I have a sub 30 MCAT?
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You would not be wasting your money. If the committee really cared about your MCAT being 30+, they would not have offered you an interview. Rather, they see potential in you as a future student, and thus you should fly over there and walk into the interview with the attitude that you will be admitted to AMC's program.
 
Something interesting is that the faculty is doing an opt-in personality inventory for the current students: two years of MMI admissions and two years of traditional interview admissions. So it's definitely occurred to them that MMI-style might prefer a different sort of applicant personality-wise.
 
jonnythan said:
Something interesting is that the faculty is doing an opt-in personality inventory for the current students: two years of MMI admissions and two years of traditional interview admissions. So it's definitely occurred to them that MMI-style might prefer a different sort of applicant personality-wise.
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...wait can you explain this more? I've read this like 5 times and I am still having a hard time understanding...?
 
They did regular interviews for the classes of 2015 and 2016, and MMI for 2017 and 2018. They're giving all four years a personality survey to see if there are any differences in personalities of admitted students. I don't want to go into details, but that seems harmless enough to say.
 
jonnythan said:
They did regular interviews for the classes of 2015 and 2016, and MMI for 2017 and 2018. They're giving all four years a personality survey to see if there are any differences in personalities of admitted students. I don't want to go into details, but that seems harmless enough to say.
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Ahh okay I understand now. I was just confused about the current students doing two different types of admissions interviews which is how I kept reading it for some reason lol. Thank you! The results would be interesting...
 
Ace Khalifa said:
Hmm, I basically equate compassion with empathy, but your experience sounds possible too. Maybe we have different levels of introversion because I can immediately feel emotionally connected to a stranger and show empathy/compassion if their story elicits a strong enough response. I still don't think you need to be an extrovert to succeed in the MMI or medicine in general. Just be confident with whatever argument or position you're defending.
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Sure, I can make instantaneous emotional connections too, but my bottleneck is in the exchange. I need a little time to thaw and get comfortable with others, which is once again why the MMI is so painful.

@jonnythan, if Albany finds that there has been a dramatic admissions bias favoring extroverted applicants, do you know if it'll consider amending its interview process? There was a study reporting this format favors extroverts over introverts... Not all of us will be people doctors. Some of us want to be in pathology, radiology, and ID...
 
kthxbai said:
II today. Complete mid-August. Folks, don't give up if you're still in the waiting game. You'll be a-ok!
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Congrats!

kthxbai said:
I HATE the MMI format. Not too exited about this prospect.
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Practice it.

You're going to laugh, but I'm in my mid 20's and one of the things I do relatively often is go on online dates or meetups. Helps to meet strangers and get comfortable in your own skin pretty quickly.

kthxbai said:
I'm the kind of person who needs to connect to others to have a good experience. I'm just too introverted to bounce between 8 people in 80 minutes or whatever the format here will be.

I need the traditional one on one to even stand a chance at an acceptance. Gaaaahhhh.
Click to expand...

Don't psyche yourself out dammit!

kthxbai said:
I wouldn't say that's incompatible. Not compassionate doesn't make me void of sympathy/empathy (of which I have plenty), it just means it's difficult for me to reciprocate in an emotional exchange (I just need time and a little effort to connect). That's why the one-on-one interviews are so much better for me. I can get comfortable and ease into a conversation rather than being all "on" all the time.

I've done the MMI twice already... With equally sad results.

Basically, human interactions don't come easily to me, but once they happen I make friends for life.
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STOP THIS THINKING!

kthxbai said:
Sure, I can make instantaneous emotional connections too, but my bottleneck is in the exchange. I need a little time to thaw and get comfortable with others, which is once again why the MMI is so painful.

@jonnythan, if Albany finds that there has been a dramatic admissions bias favoring extroverted applicants, do you know if it'll consider amending its interview process? There was a study reporting this format favors extroverts over introverts... Not all of us will be people doctors. Some of us want to be in pathology, radiology, and ID...
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You're setting yourself up for failure and being self defeatist. This is silly. Knock it off.

Also, ID docs see patients. Radiologists and pathologists work with a ton of other doctors and health staff. No one is an island.

You really need to practice these things. Concentrate on the content of what you're saying and doing instead of wondering how weird the interaction might be going. Remember to smile, make eye contact, and be thoughtful while weighing the pros/cons of different things.

All interviews are independent events: two tails do not mean that the next one will be a tail as well.
 
ridethecliche said:
Congrats!



Practice it.

You're going to laugh, but I'm in my mid 20's and one of the things I do relatively often is go on online dates or meetups. Helps to meet strangers and get comfortable in your own skin pretty quickly.



Don't psyche yourself out dammit!



STOP THIS THINKING!



You're setting yourself up for failure and being self defeatist. This is silly. Knock it off.

Also, ID docs see patients. Radiologists and pathologists work with a ton of other doctors and health staff. No one is an island.

You really need to practice these things. Concentrate on the content of what you're saying and doing instead of wondering how weird the interaction might be going. Remember to smile, make eye contact, and be thoughtful while weighing the pros/cons of different things.

All interviews are independent events: two tails do not mean that the next one will be a tail as well.
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Wow. Therapy in 5 minutes flat.

Thanks for this! I'm going to make third time the charm then 😉
 
There are times in social interactions that I feel like I'm coming off wrong or for some reason I feel really self conscious and if I lose control it just spirals. I've told certain work friends about it too, and they were like, "huh, you were fine. We didn't notice anything was off!"

Point being that there is so much in your own head that you can do to sabotage yourself before the other person even has the chance to judge you that you give them no reason to give you a chance if you don't believe you deserve one. Long story short, I had a bad accident in college where a lot of the resulting damage was to my face. It's taken a long time feeling comfortable in my own skin and I struggle with it sometimes and fail miserably, but more often than not I'm successful.

Concentrate on the task at hand. If you're not being clear in your content, then fix that. You can't change how the other person is perceiving you through mind control, so you might as well fix it through your own thinking and action.

1905c1290569414900508712ecad9113-micdrop06.gif


(more like gets off soapbox, but I like this gif!)
 
Daaaaaang just got the under consideration email 🙁. Oh well. Interviewed 11/7 btw.
 
Interviewed two weeks ago. Under Consideration-zoned today :/ oh well. better this than a flat out rejection I suppose.
 
mrmcspicy said:
Interviewed two weeks ago. Under Consideration-zoned today :/ oh well. better this than a flat out rejection I suppose.
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The email says the interview season runs through April and that's when they'll creat the alternative list and accept people based on their ranking. But I though they said late Jan-mid Feb during my interview... Any idea which will be the next time UCs may hear something?
 
Ssina said:
The email says the interview season runs through April and that's when they'll creat the alternative list and accept people based on their ranking. But I though they said late Jan-mid Feb during my interview... Any idea which will be the next time UCs may hear something?
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i interviewed last year, UC then waitlisted at the end of may.
so after you interview, you either get accepted, UC (most people) or rejected. if you are on the UC list, you can potentially get accepted at anytime until they form the actual waitlist in may. when the waitlist is formed, many people on the UC get rejected and those that remain get put on the waitlist...
im pretty sure this is how it worked last year so it should be the same this year
 
According to the student who did my tour and works with the admissions committee, they rarely give out post-interview rejections. They also rarely give out immediate accepts. Most people are placed on the UC list and most of the actual movement occurs in the spring when they reject most people on the UC list and create the wait list.
 
ridethecliche said:
There are times in social interactions that I feel like I'm coming off wrong or for some reason I feel really self conscious and if I lose control it just spirals. I've told certain work friends about it too, and they were like, "huh, you were fine. We didn't notice anything was off!"

Point being that there is so much in your own head that you can do to sabotage yourself before the other person even has the chance to judge you that you give them no reason to give you a chance if you don't believe you deserve one. Long story short, I had a bad accident in college where a lot of the resulting damage was to my face. It's taken a long time feeling comfortable in my own skin and I struggle with it sometimes and fail miserably, but more often than not I'm successful.

Concentrate on the task at hand. If you're not being clear in your content, then fix that. You can't change how the other person is perceiving you through mind control, so you might as well fix it through your own thinking and action.

1905c1290569414900508712ecad9113-micdrop06.gif


(more like gets off soapbox, but I like this gif!)
Click to expand...

True words right there. Yes, I had better go work on what I *can* do. Best of luck to you this season!
 
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