2014-2015 University of Central Florida Application Thread

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II today! Scheduled for late January. Does anyone know if the class is full already? I just want to know if I will be interviewing for a seat or for a spot on the wait list. Oh and what are the chances for OOS at this point?
 
drrx said:
II today! Scheduled for late January. Does anyone know if the class is full already? I just want to know if I will be interviewing for a seat or for a spot on the wait list. Oh and what are the chances for OOS at this point?
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Congrats!

I don't think the class is full. I interviewed a few weeks ago (UCF is going to blow you away), and they made it very clear that they were still accepting students.
 
anybody from the northeast planning to matriculate here?
 
drrx said:
II today! Scheduled for late January. Does anyone know if the class is full already? I just want to know if I will be interviewing for a seat or for a spot on the wait list. Oh and what are the chances for OOS at this point?
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I'm in-state, but I interviewed last year on 2/14, and I had a friend who interviewed 2/21. She got in, and I was put on a borderline waitlist position (i.e. people from my date still got in, just not me) So it's not full! Good luck!
 
II, OOS yesterday around 3:30! 31 MCAT, 3.9 GPA. I'm so excited 😀 this school seems awesome.
 
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anyone here know who we should address update letters to? and do we just upload these letters to the attachment section on the secondary website?
 
With regards to clinical rotations, I know they are at Florida Hospital, Orlando Health, and VA. But can someone please explain whether you are assigned to one site where you do all your core rotations or do you move around from block to block? Also, FH and OH both have multiple hospitals in their networks, so do all UCF students go to different hospitals or they each have one main teaching hospital? Thanks!
 
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unforced error said:
anyone here know who we should address update letters to? and do we just upload these letters to the attachment section on the secondary website?
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I believe you should upload the letters on the secondary website (or that is what they told us after our interview if we had any additional updates to include). If you want to be safe, I would just send them an e-mail just to check (they respond pretty quickly). Hope that helps!
 
thereceivr said:
Upper third and OOS!
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I interviewed early Oct and was notified late Oct of my status in the upper half of the upper third on the waitlist. Was accepted 12/17. I think there is probably a lot of movement because the waitlist isn't a typical waitlist. The admission officer said that it's more like a "not yet accepted" list. Also, she said that historically everyone in the upper third gets offered acceptance, and many in the middle third do as well. Now it's possible that I'm confusing this with a different school, but I'm pretty sure that on interview day that said that in some cycles they have accepted people in the bottom third. That being said, I would assume that your position does change as they interview and accept more people. As people get accepted from the top of the list, the people below them move up. As more people are interviewed, they are likely added to the list in their respective place based on their score. At least that's what I speculate happens, as I am by no means an expert...
 
ACMD6584 said:
I interviewed early Oct and was notified late Oct of my status in the upper half of the upper third on the waitlist. Was accepted 12/17. I think there is probably a lot of movement because the waitlist isn't a typical waitlist. The admission officer said that it's more like a "not yet accepted" list. Also, she said that historically everyone in the upper third gets offered acceptance, and many in the middle third do as well. Now it's possible that I'm confusing this with a different school, but I'm pretty sure that on interview day that said that in some cycles they have accepted people in the bottom third. That being said, I would assume that your position does change as they interview and accept more people. As people get accepted from the top of the list, the people below them move up. As more people are interviewed, they are likely added to the list in their respective place based on their score. At least that's what I speculate happens, as I am by no means an expert...
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hmm, are you in-state or OOS?
 
ACMD6584 said:
I interviewed early Oct and was notified late Oct of my status in the upper half of the upper third on the waitlist. Was accepted 12/17. I think there is probably a lot of movement because the waitlist isn't a typical waitlist. The admission officer said that it's more like a "not yet accepted" list. Also, she said that historically everyone in the upper third gets offered acceptance, and many in the middle third do as well. Now it's possible that I'm confusing this with a different school, but I'm pretty sure that on interview day that said that in some cycles they have accepted people in the bottom third. That being said, I would assume that your position does change as they interview and accept more people. As people get accepted from the top of the list, the people below them move up. As more people are interviewed, they are likely added to the list in their respective place based on their score. At least that's what I speculate happens, as I am by no means an expert...
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This sounds exactly right based on my experience. For those of you that want a very clear picture of how an admissions cycle works at this school, read the previous year's thread entirely. You'll see how the entire season unfolds, month by month, with a wealth of clarification from the Director of Admissions. Most of the questions on this thread can be answered by that one.
 
Pretty close, but not exactly. Yes UCF uses an A, B, C, F grading system for most of the core modules, but also uses P/F, and H/P/F for other courses and electives. Key point is that the grading is criterion-based and not reference-based (bell curve). Criterion-based means that there is no competition for the top grades and all can obtain the top grade IF they meet the pre-determined reference points. No bell curve = you and another are not competing for the "A." It also benefits residency programs in they can see how strong your "P" was; helpful since many strong candidates for residencies "look alike." Finally it helps a student to determine whether they are performing at their level of acceptability --- it helps you strive for excellence --- though you are again not taking anyone else's grade away since there is no bell curve.

Two things to consider; or questions to ask:
1. If a program says they have a pass/fail system, ask them to define what that means. Many programs use a pass/fail grading system. You probably assume this means they use P or F grades. According to a fairly recent study this would be true for about 20% of the nation's MD programs. There are four other grading systems used in US MD programs and they are all a degree of pass/fail such as H/P/F or H/HP/P/F (which is really A/B/C/F), etc. Crazily enough each of the five grading systems equal about 20% in the US MD schools. There does not seem to be one dominant grading system in US MD schools so this alludes to the fact that there are different philosophies for the use of grades. There is a study that says pass/fail may nominally limit stress and competition for grades which also infers it's comparison to the widely used reference-based (bell curve) grading system. Obviously this is not a problem in criterion-based schools.
2. More importantly, ask that same program whether they calculate a class rank. Most programs do, although many wont tell you that they do. Since many programs are keeping score with a class rank calculation in the background, there is still some form of grade competition.

I hope that this helps.
 
REL said:
Pretty close, but not exactly. Yes UCF uses an A, B, C, F grading system for most of the core modules, but also uses P/F, and H/P/F for other courses and electives. Key point is that the grading is criterion-based and not reference-based (bell curve). Criterion-based means that there is no competition for the top grades and all can obtain the top grade IF they meet the pre-determined reference points. No bell curve = you and another are not competing for the "A." It also benefits residency programs in they can see how strong your "P" was; helpful since many strong candidates for residencies "look alike." Finally it helps a student to determine whether they are performing at their level of acceptability --- it helps you strive for excellence --- though you are again not taking anyone else's grade away since there is no bell curve.

Two things to consider; or questions to ask:
1. If a program says they have a pass/fail system, ask them to define what that means. Many programs use a pass/fail grading system. You probably assume this means they use P or F grades. According to a fairly recent study this would be true for about 20% of the nation's MD programs. There are four other grading systems used in US MD programs and they are all a degree of pass/fail such as H/P/F or H/HP/P/F (which is really A/B/C/F), etc. Crazily enough each of the five grading systems equal about 20% in the US MD schools. There does not seem to be one dominant grading system in US MD schools so this alludes to the fact that there are different philosophies for the use of grades. There is a study that says pass/fail may nominally limit stress and competition for grades which also infers it's comparison to the widely used reference-based (bell curve) grading system. Obviously this is not a problem in criterion-based schools.
2. More importantly, ask that same program whether they calculate a class rank. Most programs do, although many wont tell you that they do. Since many programs are keeping score with a class rank calculation in the background, there is still some form of grade competition.

I hope that this helps.
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Thank you so much for being so thorough, Rel! Very helpful! 🙂 Your guidance and transparency during this application cycle is truly a blessing.
 
Interviewed in December and was waitlisted, and I'm not really surprised because I feel like I had a terrible first interview. I was actually pretty convinced I was gonna be rejected, so was a little surprised to even be waitlisted. I basically almost felt like the latter half of my interview I was being attacked for my beliefs on the current health care system. Was considering emailing them after the interview about it but was advised against it because it could come across wrong to the admissions committee while they're making my decision (UCF doesn't even like thank-you letters because it could come across sounding wrong and hurting you). But since they already made their decision is it worth shooting them an email, or is there no point this late?
 
CueTheSun said:
Interviewed in December and was waitlisted, and I'm not really surprised because I feel like I had a terrible first interview. I was actually pretty convinced I was gonna be rejected, so was a little surprised to even be waitlisted. I basically almost felt like the latter half of my interview I was being attacked for my beliefs on the current health care system. Was considering emailing them after the interview about it but was advised against it because it could come across wrong to the admissions committee while they're making my decision (UCF doesn't even like thank-you letters because it could come across sounding wrong and hurting you). But since they already made their decision is it worth shooting them an email, or is there no point this late?
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I'm sorry to hear about your first interview. What third of the waitlist were you put on? Did you talk to REL about it?
 
veryborderlineapplicant said:
I'm sorry to hear about your first interview. What third of the waitlist were you put on? Did you talk to REL about it?
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Lower third, which is pretty much as good as a rejection considering how many students they accept right off the bat.. I was going to try to catch REL but didn't see him after and I was hitching a ride with a student to the airport and felt bad making the other people she was bringing wait for me to try to get a third interview down..
 
CueTheSun said:
Lower third, which is pretty much as good as a rejection considering how many students they accept right off the bat.. I was going to try to catch REL but didn't see him after and I was hitching a ride with a student to the airport and felt bad making the other people she was bringing wait for me to try to get a third interview down..
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That's not fair to you. Definitely contact REL and see what can be done. I'd call him and email, even if there's not much you can do now, reporting the interviewer would be a good idea. I remember Rel mentioning that if an interview didn't go well or represent you you could request another interview before the end of the day.
 
REL-
Will there be a January status update soon for those on the waitlist?

Thanks.
 
Does anyone know if those wait listed in the top one half of the top one third should be accepted before may 15 so during the regular cycle or is it usually after may 15? Also when is the next time wait listed candidates will be updated?
 
ABC123321 said:
Does anyone know if those wait listed in the top one half of the top one third should be accepted before may 15 so during the regular cycle or is it usually after may 15? Also when is the next time wait listed candidates will be updated?
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fyi, i believe this year the date to give up multiple acceptances is april 30
 
ABC123321 said:
Does anyone know if those wait listed in the top one half of the top one third should be accepted before may 15 so during the regular cycle or is it usually after may 15? Also when is the next time wait listed candidates will be updated?
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I would check last year's thread for info about waitlist estimates. I started trying to do it, and it looks like May 15th last year they had made it to the bottom half of the upper third. May 15th was the traffic date last year for multiple acceptances. It'll be different this year for sure, but it'll probably be a pretty good indicator.
 
ABC123321 said:
Does anyone know if those wait listed in the top one half of the top one third should be accepted before may 15 so during the regular cycle or is it usually after may 15? Also when is the next time wait listed candidates will be updated?
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I will probably send out the next update in the week after the MLK holiday since there had not been much going on through due to the Christmas break that always causes lag times for interviews/committee meetings. Not a lot has changed yet.
 
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REL said:
I will probably send out the next update in the week after the MKL holiday since there had not been much going on through due to the Christmas break that always causes lag times for interviews/committee meetings. Not a lot has changed yet.
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When will the last updates for individuals with AORTA go out?
 
exitonly29 said:
When will the last updates for individuals with AORTA go out?
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I am not sure of the question so I'll take a stab at what I believe to be the question. Currently our final interview date is in early March, as such the committee will likely select that group from the AORTA group by the middle of February. Once the committee has completed interview selection for that final group, all who were not selected will receive an email informing them that we were unable to offer them an interview for the class that will begin in August 2015 class.
 
stethosaurus said:
@REL any idea when the UCF COM Class of 2019 facebook page will be up? Thanks for being so helpful, both in person and on SDN!
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I am departing on a trip for AAMC tomorrow and will return on Friday. I will attempt to create this group during the week if at all possible. I will also bring it up slowly inviting an initial few to help get it established.
 
Just got an II via phone call earlier today. I was told there was a Jan 23 date but that was too soon for me so I scheduled for early Feb. So there's still hope for everyone out there waiting for an II!
 
spyke570 said:
Just got an II via phone call earlier today. I was told there was a Jan 23 date but that was too soon for me so I scheduled for early Feb. So there's still hope for everyone out there waiting for an II!
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When did you submit?
 
If we want to submit any updates, we just do so through the secondary application site on the "attachments" tab right? On the UCF website it said to submit via email so I was a little confused..
 
Amurica45 said:
If we want to submit any updates, we just do so through the secondary application site right? On the UCF website it said to submit via email so I was a little confused..
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Yeah that's what i was told after emailing admissions
 
Amurica45 said:
If we want to submit any updates, we just do so through the secondary application site on the "attachments" tab right? On the UCF website it said to submit via email so I was a little confused..
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Ahhh, thanks. I wondered why there was such difficulty since our initial email to all applicants said to update via attachment and we were receiving several via email. Now I know!!! We'll get the web site updated ASAP!!!
 
Just wanted to post some encouragement here for all you waitlisters! After my interview (in November), I was placed in the bottom third and figured I wouldn't have a chance of getting in...however by the end of the interview cycle I had moved to the middle third and ended up getting an acceptance in late May-ish. Point is hang in there and keep your chin up, the application process is rough but getting that acceptance makes it all worth it and then some. UCF is a great school, faculty are awesome, fellow students are like family, and it's an honor to walk in the doors every day :-D
 
When filling out FAFSA, does UCF want our parental information?
 
This might be a stupid question, but what is the next step after filling out FAFSA, do we apply for loans on our own or do we wait for UCF to give us instructions. Sorry, I'm really lost with this financial aid process.
 
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