2014-2015 David Geffen School of Medicine University of California - Los Angeles Application Thread

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Okay, I just realized that for my primary application I submitted 6 letters (they have been received and secondary is complete). Since UCLA only requires a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5, what do I do? I know which letter I want to take out also.
 
Bruce7ee said:
Okay, I just realized that for my primary application I submitted 6 letters (they have been received and secondary is complete). Since UCLA only requires a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5, what do I do? I know which letter I want to take out also.
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I would let them read all six. If you're really worried, you could call/email them and politely tell them which to not read.
 
alt12345 said:
I would let them read all six. If you're really worried, you could call/email them and politely tell them which to not read.
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I guess that is an option, but if they specifically say 3-5 letters, and I had submitted 6--doesn't that just imply that I am someone who didn't read the directions? In all honesty, I did read the information but it was just a long time ago that I submitted my primary and completely forgot about their policy. I guess I should call just to make sure!
 
Bruce7ee said:
I guess that is an option, but if they specifically say 3-5 letters, and I had submitted 6--doesn't that just imply that I am someone who didn't read the directions? In all honesty, I did read the information but it was just a long time ago that I submitted my primary and completely forgot about their policy. I guess I should call just to make sure!
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The way I did it last year (letter packet and committee letter), it was difficult to send different numbers of letters to different schools. If I recall correctly, UCLA will just ignore one letter--probably the last one in your packet.
 
Bruce7ee said:
Okay, I just realized that for my primary application I submitted 6 letters (they have been received and secondary is complete). Since UCLA only requires a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5, what do I do? I know which letter I want to take out also.
Click to expand...

I would just call and let them know which one you want to exclude from your application, if you are really concerned.
 
Okay, thanks guys! I emailed them and they said that they will just review all of them. I was hoping they would have given me the option to exclude a letter since I had one that was a bit weaker and probably added much less value compared to the other letters. Oh well, I can't be too picky at this point since they already responded and it was my mistake to begin with.
 
Writers block, especially for the most important non-academic activity! :lame:

I don't really wanna repeat anything from my meaningful experiences (i.e community work, any of my volunteering at hospitals, tutoring, etc)...any advice on how to approach this? thanks in advance!
 
prdv said:
Writers block, especially for the most important non-academic activity! :lame:

I don't really wanna repeat anything from my meaningful experiences (i.e community work, any of my volunteering at hospitals, tutoring, etc)...any advice on how to approach this? thanks in advance!
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I ended up going with a hobby. After doing all those secondaries, I got sick of rehashing my ECs and just wanted to talk about my favourite pastime.

We'll see how that pans out for me, but I think as long as you can articulate something with clarity and passion, they'll be happy.
 
prdv said:
Writers block, especially for the most important non-academic activity! :lame:

I don't really wanna repeat anything from my meaningful experiences (i.e community work, any of my volunteering at hospitals, tutoring, etc)...any advice on how to approach this? thanks in advance!
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I talked about one of my most meaningful activities, but shared a specific story and reiterated how I could continue to do that activity at UCLA.
 
For the most important honor question, are you guys choosing an academic one? Or can a non-academic one fly you think?

I'm honestly debating between a gold medal at a big national tournament for a sport (which I will mention in my non-academic activity too) or a research grant I received in undergrad that is moderately competitive....what do you guys think?
 
kool. do they send them to everyone? haven't received one yet 🙂
 
For people who got the secondary already, about how long was the wait from when you were verified?
Trying to get a feel for the probability that UCLA is still on its way :xf:
 
Avo Cado said:
For people who got the secondary already, about how long was the wait from when you were verified?
Trying to get a feel for the probability that UCLA is still on its way :xf:
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Same day I got the email that they received my app and 2 days after being verified (7/22)
 
godawg300 said:
Same day I got the email that they received my app and 2 days after being verified (7/22)
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Thanks! I haven't gotten any email correspondence from them yet. but I was verified the day before you...
 
Avo Cado said:
Thanks! I haven't gotten any email correspondence from them yet. but I was verified the day before you...
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I would wait for you to first get the email that they received your primary. They are completely swamped right now. I'm sure you will be okay.
 
godawg300 said:
I would wait for you to first get the email that they received your primary. They are completely swamped right now. I'm sure you will be okay.
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Interviewed here last year and just a heads up - I never got a confirmation that they received my primary app but about 2 weeks after I was verified, I got a secondary invite so you never know!

Edit: Also, good luck! This school is amazing!
 
Thanks for the reassurance. Hopefully I'll hear something in the next few weeks! Not sure I can convince myself to pre-write this, though.
 
Does anyone know if UCLA is Canadian-friendly? I speak some Spanish and have stats above the matriculant median if it helps.
 
NoHyphensNeeded said:
Does anyone know if UCLA is Canadian-friendly? I speak some Spanish and have stats above the matriculant median if it helps.
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UCLA is international friendly. There are medical students here that are from other countries. I don't know of any bias towards Canadian applicants specifically.
 
Juan Solo said:
UCLA is international friendly. There are medical students here that are from other countries. I don't know of any bias towards Canadian applicants specifically.
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Its interesting cuz on MSAR UCLA did not admit any international student into the MD class....
 
Verified 6/6, if I have not received a secondary yet does this indicate I've been screened out?
 
I applied to the UCLA PRIME program, and since it was its own medical school selection on the AMCAS primary (as in I spent 36 bucks on it), errr, has anyone heard from them?
 
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LAtoDavis said:
I applied to the UCLA PRIME program, and since it was its own medical school selection on the AMCAS primary (as in I spent 36 bucks on it), errr, has anyone heard from them?
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I just received a PRIME application received email. It says the UCLA PRIME admissions screening committee will begin screening applications in early August. Secondary applications will be offered to qualified applicants.
 
asyouwish said:
I just received a PRIME application received email. It says the UCLA PRIME admissions screening committee will begin screening applications in early August. Secondary applications will be offered to qualified applicants.
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+1
 
asyouwish said:
I just received a PRIME application received email. It says the UCLA PRIME admissions screening committee will begin screening applications in early August. Secondary applications will be offered to qualified applicants.
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I was about to type up a response answering my question... you beat me to it. Maybe the admissions office is reading this thread? :ninja:
 
Juan Solo said:
I don't know what MSAR considers as an international student.
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Non citizen and non green card holder. Source: was once an international.
 
Noticed this on the UCLA website:

"Reapplication: Students who were not successful in gaining admission to medical school may submit a second application. We would prefer that these individuals remain in an academic environment, either in a graduate degree program or doing remedial work in areas of weakness. The applicant should forward two letters of recommendation from associates during this period of time."

Does anybody (eg - @Juan Solo) have any insight into how important this is? I graduated last year and have been working full-time since then. By the time I matriculate, I will have been out of school for a full two years. Will UCLA just toss out my application? It is one of my top choices, but this application cycle is getting extremely expensive and I don't want to pay another secondary fee if I don't have much of a shot.

Thanks!
 
AndyQC said:
Noticed this on the UCLA website:

"Reapplication: Students who were not successful in gaining admission to medical school may submit a second application. We would prefer that these individuals remain in an academic environment, either in a graduate degree program or doing remedial work in areas of weakness. The applicant should forward two letters of recommendation from associates during this period of time."

Does anybody (eg - @Juan Solo) have any insight into how important this is? I graduated last year and have been working full-time since then. By the time I matriculate, I will have been out of school for a full two years. Will UCLA just toss out my application? It is one of my top choices, but this application cycle is getting extremely expensive and I don't want to pay another secondary fee if I don't have much of a shot.

Thanks!
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Are you a reapplicant? The only reason they would "throw out" your app is if you are a third time applicant and even then they might not. Working for two years doesn't disqualify you, it actually helps I believe.
 
alt12345 said:
Are you a reapplicant? The only reason they would "throw out" your app is if you are a third time applicant and even then they might not. Working for two years doesn't disqualify you, it actually helps I believe.
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Thanks for your response.

I am a re-applicant. No glaring academic deficiencies - 74 LizzyM - but I will still have spent a fair bit of time away from the academic environment come August, 2015.
 
AndyQC said:
Thanks for your response.

I am a re-applicant. No glaring academic deficiencies - 74 LizzyM - but I will still have spent a fair bit of time away from the academic environment come August, 2015.
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You will be fine, there are several reapplicants attending--just make sure you've been productive since your last application, which I'm sure you have.
 
AndyQC said:
Noticed this on the UCLA website:

"Reapplication: Students who were not successful in gaining admission to medical school may submit a second application. We would prefer that these individuals remain in an academic environment, either in a graduate degree program or doing remedial work in areas of weakness. The applicant should forward two letters of recommendation from associates during this period of time."

Does anybody (eg - @Juan Solo) have any insight into how important this is? I graduated last year and have been working full-time since then. By the time I matriculate, I will have been out of school for a full two years. Will UCLA just toss out my application? It is one of my top choices, but this application cycle is getting extremely expensive and I don't want to pay another secondary fee if I don't have much of a shot.

Thanks!
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Yeah as others have already commented on you should be fine. I would say that this statement you found is for people who took time off to rebuild their application. For example if they applied, were accepted and are in a post bac, masters, phd programs and or went to a city college to/4 year to and are actively retaking science classes then the committee wants to hear from your current professors on how you as an applicant are doing.

However, if you have don't done this then your letters aren't probably going to change. In which case you should be fine.
 
would it be ok to talk about the same activity in different ways for the non-academic question, leadership question, and problem question? i've been working with an organization for over four years and have quite some experience i'd like to share, but was wondering if the committee might be annoyed i'm saying the same thing?
 
manofmen said:
would it be ok to talk about the same activity in different ways for the non-academic question, leadership question, and problem question? i've been working with an organization for over four years and have quite some experience i'd like to share, but was wondering if the committee might be annoyed i'm saying the same thing?
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In most cases I would say no. Although in your case I would say yes. As long as you do not do what you said in your last sentence, "say the same thing." However, if you want to talk about different things that you learned and as well as different skill sets that you have learned from the same source experience (aka your involvement for four years) then that would be acceptable.
 
For the following question, are they looking for academic honors or would any meaningful award be appropriate?

Scholastic Activities
What is the ONE most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important?
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Thanks!
 
It says scholastic, so I assumed academic (or at least something related to academia)
 
For those who have already submitted a secondary application to the Drew-UCLA Education Program: does anyone know whether a completion email should be expected?
 
tofuuu said:
For those who have already submitted a secondary application to the Drew-UCLA Education Program: does anyone know whether a completion email should be expected?
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I got one after they received my payment. Said to wait 6-8 weeks for an update.
 
Still haven't received a secondary. Verified 6/5 but received a secondary from UCSF, which I know also screens. Anyone else still waiting for a secondary?
 
Hugh_Honey said:
Still haven't received a secondary. Verified 6/5 but received a secondary from UCSF, which I know also screens. Anyone else still waiting for a secondary?
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Me! I got one from UCSD but not UCLA (didn't apply to UCSF). I added UCLA later though.
 
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