2014-2015 University of Colorado Application Thread

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Anybody from the 10/31 group hear anything yet?
 
No call here 🙁. 10/3 Interview. It does appear however that very few acceptances are sent out during these first few months, especially when you consider that 300-350 are eventually accepted ( @claduva94 - you have a more accurate figure from US news right?). So if the statement below is accurate, roughly 14-17% of the acceptances have gone out - not very many... See what this process has done to me!!

This statement is from CU's web site on the FAQ page...
Does University of Colorado School of Medicine have rolling admissions?
Yes. Normally 25 offers are made initially after Oct. 15, and a comparable number in November, December and January. Our process is completed early March, and by the end of March all candidates who have been interviewed will receive notification as to whether they are accepted, on the alternate list or not accepted.
 
No call here 🙁. 10/3 Interview. It does appear however that very few acceptances are sent out during these first few months, especially when you consider that 300-350 are eventually accepted ( @claduva94 - you have a more accurate figure from US news right?). So if the statement below is accurate, roughly 14-17% of the acceptances have gone out - not very many... See what this process has done to me!!

This statement is from CU's web site on the FAQ page...
Does University of Colorado School of Medicine have rolling admissions?
Yes. Normally 25 offers are made initially after Oct. 15, and a comparable number in November, December and January. Our process is completed early March, and by the end of March all candidates who have been interviewed will receive notification as to whether they are accepted, on the alternate list or not accepted.
I can't post exact numbers due to copyright laws but all acceptance rates (IS, OOS, and International) are just below 50% and between 300 and 320 acceptances were offered in total. However that was under a different dean. I also anticipate there may be more waitlist movement this year because applicants applied to more schools on average.
 
No call here 🙁. 10/3 Interview. It does appear however that very few acceptances are sent out during these first few months, especially when you consider that 300-350 are eventually accepted ( @claduva94 - you have a more accurate figure from US news right?). So if the statement below is accurate, roughly 14-17% of the acceptances have gone out - not very many... See what this process has done to me!!

This statement is from CU's web site on the FAQ page...
Does University of Colorado School of Medicine have rolling admissions?
Yes. Normally 25 offers are made initially after Oct. 15, and a comparable number in November, December and January. Our process is completed early March, and by the end of March all candidates who have been interviewed will receive notification as to whether they are accepted, on the alternate list or not accepted.
If this 100% accurate (I really hope it is) you just made my night. You are my internet crush for the day!
 
I can't post exact numbers due to copyright laws but all acceptance rates (IS, OOS, and International) are just below 50% and between 300 and 320 acceptances were offered in total. However that was under a different dean. I also anticipate there may be more waitlist movement this year because applicants applied to more schools on average.

Just curious but it seems like applicants generally apply to many schools every year so is there a reason why you think this year might be different? And if that's the case with more waitlist movement, that's awesome to hear!
 
Just curious but it seems like applicants generally apply to many schools every year so is there a reason why you think this year might be different? And if that's the case with more waitlist movement, that's awesome to hear!
Adcoms say that the increases in applications they are seeing seems to be applicants applying to more schools based on data from the AAMC. As in the number of new applicants is not enough to explain the dramatic increase in apps this year.
 
Adcoms say that the increases in applications they are seeing seems to be applicants applying to more schools based on data from the AAMC. As in the number of new applicants is not enough to explain the dramatic increase in apps this year.

Ahh makes sense. By the way, heard from a mutual friend that you remembered my name haha
 
Ahh makes sense. By the way, heard from a mutual friend that you remembered my name haha
Yes! I felt it was worthwhile since we ideally are future classmates. Quite a funny coincidence that I met him!
 
I can't post exact numbers due to copyright laws but all acceptance rates (IS, OOS, and International) are just below 50% and between 300 and 320 acceptances were offered in total. However that was under a different dean. I also anticipate there may be more waitlist movement this year because applicants applied to more schools on average.

You are probably right. However, I would argue that this increase in # of applications per applicant will have little effect on IS applicants to state schools for two reasons.

1. Nearly everyone applies to their state's school, so an increase in IS applicants is likely minimal.
2. If applicants are sending more apps than previous years, I would suspect that most of these "extra applications" are to private schools as most premeds understand that applying to an OOS state school is usually a bad idea. In addition, any bump in OOS apps that actually does occur, will most significantly effect the OOS pool (though certainly not exclusively).
 
You are probably right. However, I would argue that this increase in # of applications per applicant will have little effect on IS applicants to state schools for two reasons.

1. Nearly everyone applies to their state's school, so an increase in IS applicants is likely minimal.
2. If applicants are sending more apps than previous years, I would suspect that most of these "extra applications" are to private schools as most premeds understand that applying to an OOS state school is usually a bad idea. In addition, any bump in OOS apps that actually does occur, will most significantly effect the OOS pool (though certainly no exclusively).
I definitely agree. But I can see it having a slight swing if a small amount of IS students get into a prestigious private school/receive a scholarship based on multiple acceptances. So by no means a huge change but enough to maybe add 5 or so acceptances which certainly isn't insignificant!
 
I definitely agree. But I can see it having a slight swing if a small amount of IS students get into a prestigious private school/receive a scholarship based on multiple acceptances. So by no means a huge change but enough to maybe add 5 or so acceptances which certainly isn't insignificant!

Definitely agree. And I hope this happens!
 
Ok. I was complete 10/8. It's been 6 weeks and I was freaking out. Also searching SDN obsessively.
Its hard not to think about it a lot. I am guessing things slow down a bit around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.
 
So guys, I still have yet to submit my secondary and was wondering if it is even worth it this late in the game. Any thoughts?
 
So guys, I still have yet to submit my secondary and was wondering if it is even worth it this late in the game. Any thoughts?
What are your stats and are you in state our out of state? And are you URM?
 
Are interview invites still going out?

Its hard not to think about it a lot. I am guessing things slow down a bit around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

No worries. I have been complete since 8/19 lol I know your pain

CU sends out interview invites only 2 weeks or so in advance. So yes, II's are still going out and will continue to go out until right around early to mid February.
 
OOS, URM, 3.3-3.5 GPA with 33-35 MCAT

Hmm tough call. Your chances are not very good at this point in the game to be completely honest. However, If you don't mind giving CU a small donation and you have the time to write a good 1000-2000 word essay, then I say go for it!
 
Hmm tough call. Your chances are not very good at this point in the game to be completely honest. However, If you don't mind giving CU a small donation and you have the time to write a good 1000-2000 word essay, then I say go for it!


If I'm completely honest, this above quote is an uninformed guess at best. The fact that acceptances have started to go out means that, yes, your chances of being accepted are not as great as you would have if you submitted earlier (not as many available seats). That said, if you are good enough to be considered a match for the school, the day you submit won't matter. If they like you, they will take you. Therefore the decision rests with you. If you think it is worth it, in that CU sounds like a great place for you to train, then it is worth it to apply, regardless of the time. Last year's class was >180 students; larger than the majority of programs in the country. Therefore a larger pool means, all else being equal, a greater chance of acceptance. So, again, the decision rests with you. No one on here knows any more than you do with regard to your chances at "this stage of the game"
 
If I'm completely honest, this above quote is an uninformed guess at best. The fact that acceptances have started to go out means that, yes, your chances of being accepted are not as great as you would have if you submitted earlier (not as many available seats). That said, if you are good enough to be considered a match for the school, the day you submit won't matter. If they like you, they will take you. Therefore the decision rests with you. If you think it is worth it, in that CU sounds like a great place for you to train, then it is worth it to apply, regardless of the time. Last year's class was >180 students; larger than the majority of programs in the country. Therefore a larger pool means, all else being equal, a greater chance of acceptance. So, again, the decision rests with you. No one on here knows any more than you do with regard to your chances at "this stage of the game"

Hmm tough call. Your chances are not very good at this point in the game to be completely honest. However, If you don't mind giving CU a small donation and you have the time to write a good 1000-2000 word essay, then I say go for it!

K, thanks for your input guys, much appreciated. The essay is basically written, I'm just wary about wasting $100 if I have no chance. :/
I just discovered what a great fit this school is for me a few weeks ago despite submitting my primary back in July. I guess I'll check my finances and decide lol
 
If I'm completely honest, this above quote is an uninformed guess at best. The fact that acceptances have started to go out means that, yes, your chances of being accepted are not as great as you would have if you submitted earlier (not as many available seats). That said, if you are good enough to be considered a match for the school, the day you submit won't matter. If they like you, they will take you. Therefore the decision rests with you. If you think it is worth it, in that CU sounds like a great place for you to train, then it is worth it to apply, regardless of the time. Last year's class was >180 students; larger than the majority of programs in the country. Therefore a larger pool means, all else being equal, a greater chance of acceptance. So, again, the decision rests with you. No one on here knows any more than you do with regard to your chances at "this stage of the game"

Uninformed? I don't know what you mean by that. The overwhelming consensus of the most respected people on this site is that your chances drop considerably by applying late. Yes there are exceptions, but when I am giving advise to people, I don't site the exceptions. Your logic is puzzling.

Anyway, I practically encouraged him/her to apply, but with the warning that yes, it's late in the cycle and the chances of admission go down considerably at this point. Period.
 
CU sends out interview invites only 2 weeks or so in advance. So yes, II's are still going out and will continue to go out until right around early to mid February.
ok good. I think I'm over thinking this, which if your thinking about how much your thinking, probably means it's being over thought.
I'm almost digging for things to be wrong. I'm a pretty ok candidate (good EC's including 2k clinic hours and a semester internship at the coroners plus research, 3.56 GPA, avg. MCAT, good letters) I just hate waiting. Oh and IS. So yeah. Any suggestions on calming down and flexing the old "it's going to be ok" muscle. I'm open to suggestions (no yoga) thanks! Plus I'm glad there's some place where being nutty about this is "normal". :beat:
I got mine end of October. I was complete mid-August.
 
So guys, I still have yet to submit my secondary and was wondering if it is even worth it this late in the game. Any thoughts?

Please submit your secondary. Nobody on this site really knows what your chances are. There is extreme sampling bias (among other types) in the information available to those who claim to have identified the trends for CU. I applied later than this last year and I'm sitting here in Ed1 studying for my genetics exam on Monday. It was my second time applying. Please send in the secondary.

The best advice for maintaining your sanity is to swear off looking at this thread until after you're accepted or rejected. Otherwise you will go mad. I was so much happier after I stopped reading about the people who got in when I hadn't.
 
Watm?

What do you look for in a potential classmate?


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Fixed (meant WAMC) - we have a genetics test on Monday and memorizing acronyms for genes is clearly toasting my brain.

Someone I could get along with who I'd believe could succeed in med school. So sociable, helpful to classmates, and interesting in some way.

Also, 4.1 GPA, 47 MCAT, and 11.5/10 in looks.
 
Fixed (meant WAMC) - we have a genetics test on Monday and memorizing acronyms for genes is clearly toasting my brain.

Someone I could get along with who I'd believe could succeed in med school. So sociable, helpful to classmates, and interesting in some way.

Also, 4.1 GPA, 47 MCAT, and 11.5/10 in looks.
Those are all essentials! I thought you meant WATM (when are they meeting) ie. when the adcom will meet and hear back! Lol


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Fixed (meant WAMC) - we have a genetics test on Monday and memorizing acronyms for genes is clearly toasting my brain.

Someone I could get along with who I'd believe could succeed in med school. So sociable, helpful to classmates, and interesting in some way.

Also, 4.1 GPA, 47 MCAT, and 11.5/10 in looks.

Just FYI - this is about the class average.
 
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By the way, if I remember correctly I never got to see what the weekly schedule looked like during the CUSOM interview, so here are two random weeks from the Human Body block and from the Molecules to Medicine block. Any formatting issues are from me trying to make morning + afternoon schedule fit into one image.

Quick note: for the Human Body block you can see that lab is scheduled for almost every day. In reality, there are eight students to a cadaver, which are then split into two groups of four students who alternate dissection days. For M2M, the BCLS thing is a one-time deal. Then for that Thursday the class is split into 3 groups, one group can go to their preceptor that day (or any other day), the second group has communication training, and the third group does some medical economics / cross-cultural touchy-feely activity, then we rotate until all three groups have had communication training and medical economics / cross-cultural touchy-feely.

Also, I should stop procrastinating.
 

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To be a little less flippant about it, I'd say there isn't any specific profile that Colorado looks for. Our classmates are a hardworking, dedicated bunch, like nearly all medical students. Our class stats are above average, but if you're in the range, then you're in the range and that's that. The attribute that probably sets us apart from other schools is how supportive an environment we create for each other. For example, I have yet to hear of any cases of students undercutting each other to get ahead. The school seems to select for positive, happy people. That's about the extent of the analysis I can provide.

So, really, my advice is if you are reading this, then you should close this browser window and stop logging back in to find out what did or (more likely) did not happen in the last ten minutes. Go play some music or go for a run. You're not going to get good news here, and the best way to prepare for med school is finding ways to minimize other stress in your life. I recommend that you start practicing that now.

Best of luck!! 🙂
 
To be a little less flippant about it, I'd say there isn't any specific profile that Colorado looks for. Our classmates are a hardworking, dedicated bunch, like nearly all medical students. Our class stats are above average, but if you're in the range, then you're in the range and that's that. The attribute that probably sets us apart from other schools is how supportive an environment we create for each other. For example, I have yet to hear of any cases of students undercutting each other to get ahead. The school seems to select for positive, happy people. That's about the extent of the analysis I can provide.

So, really, my advice is if you are reading this, then you should close this browser window and stop logging back in to find out what did or (more likely) did not happen in the last ten minutes. Go play some music or go for a run. You're not going to get good news here, and the best way to prepare for med school is finding ways to minimize other stress in your life. I recommend that you start practicing that now.

Best of luck!! 🙂
I fully agree with these statements. I think our class facebook group is a microcosm of the themes @ThreadStalker mentioned
- a bunch brainscape flashcard decks, tables / figures being shared to help each other study
- leadership positions / volunteering activities postings
- memes / hilarious videos to procrastinate
- semi-competition to take a picture of everyone who has fallen asleep during class.

The last point bears repeating though, avoid SDN! It was a huge source of stress for me during app season. You'll need to have your mental batteries charged for when you start medical school 🙂.
 
To be a little less flippant about it, I'd say there isn't any specific profile that Colorado looks for. Our classmates are a hardworking, dedicated bunch, like nearly all medical students. Our class stats are above average, but if you're in the range, then you're in the range and that's that. The attribute that probably sets us apart from other schools is how supportive an environment we create for each other. For example, I have yet to hear of any cases of students undercutting each other to get ahead. The school seems to select for positive, happy people. That's about the extent of the analysis I can provide.

So, really, my advice is if you are reading this, then you should close this browser window and stop logging back in to find out what did or (more likely) did not happen in the last ten minutes. Go play some music or go for a run. You're not going to get good news here, and the best way to prepare for med school is finding ways to minimize other stress in your life. I recommend that you start practicing that now.

Best of luck!! 🙂

I fully agree with these statements. I think our class facebook group is a microcosm of the themes @ThreadStalker mentioned
- a bunch brainscape flashcard decks, tables / figures being shared to help each other study
- leadership positions / volunteering activities postings
- memes / hilarious videos to procrastinate
- semi-competition to take a picture of everyone who has fallen asleep during class.

The last point bears repeating though, avoid SDN! It was a huge source of stress for me during app season. You'll need to have your mental batteries charged for when you start medical school 🙂.

Definitely will try and take this advise to heart, SDN has been stressing me out! It's so hard to stay away though!
 
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Hi All! For people who interviewed there already, did you end the day at exactly 3pm? I know some interview days will end earlier or later than the schedule describes. Right now there's a huge difference in flight prices depending on when it departs and wanted to know whether I could sneak by with the earlier flight time. Thanks guys.
 
Hi All! For people who interviewed there already, did you end the day at exactly 3pm? I know some interview days will end earlier or later than the schedule describes. Right now there's a huge difference in flight prices depending on when it departs and wanted to know whether I could sneak by with the earlier flight time. Thanks guys.
I was out of there at about 3:10 on my interview day so I would guess that it should be pretty close to 3
 
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