2014-2015 University of Florida Application Thread

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Hey Guys! I'm a current MS-3, and just wanted to pop in to say hello and offer to answer any questions you may have as you go through the application process! Good luck, and I hope to meet many of you as fellow gators next year!
 
Following @Bluepanda87's example, would like to offer my insight as well! I am an incoming M1, so for now I will be more useful in answering questions about the application, interviews, and why I chose to attend UF (because it's the best medical school evar, of course, but in case you want more details, don't hesitate to ask). Good luck everyone! Go Gators 🙂
 
Applying in-state and did my undergrad at UF so I'm hoping for some gator love there lol

Did anyone else see that they changed their letter requirements this cycle!? Or am I seeing things?
 
Thank god! I have 4 professors and a PI writing my letters. According to them that wouldnt have made the cut lol
 
Hey Guys! I'm a current MS-3, and just wanted to pop in to say hello and offer to answer any questions you may have as you go through the application process! Good luck, and I hope to meet many of you as fellow gators next year!

Hello! I am an OOS applicant but grew up in the southeast and am seriously considering this school. I am wondering if you could tell me a little bit about the location of the school with respect to the undergraduate campus and what you like most about the school in general. Thanks!
 
Hello! I am an OOS applicant but grew up in the southeast and am seriously considering this school. I am wondering if you could tell me a little bit about the location of the school with respect to the undergraduate campus and what you like most about the school in general. Thanks!

Hi there, I'm an MS1 here too. The medical school and teaching hospital are within the same building on main campus. I'm not sure what I like most about the school, but one big thing is that there are tons of different research opportunities. Another thing, though it didn't affect my decision to chose UF, is Gator football. We're due for another good season soon!
 
Thank god! I have 4 professors and a PI writing my letters. According to them that wouldnt have made the cut lol

A lot of schools will be lenient as far as who writes the letters - especially for non-traditional applicants. You might email other programs and ask if your packet is OK, but most likely you won't be denied an interview if that's the only thing that's not quite right. I can only speak out of my own experiences.
 
Hi there, I'm an MS1 here too. The medical school and teaching hospital are within the same building on main campus. I'm not sure what I like most about the school, but one big thing is that there are tons of different research opportunities. Another thing, though it didn't affect my decision to chose UF, is Gator football. We're due for another good season soon!

What's the dress code for class?
 
Another incoming MS1 here. I'd also be happy to answer whatever questions I can. Good luck guys!
 
Sorry for taking a bit to get back to you guys! I'm on surgery, so...well, you can imagine it's a little busy! As for the location, all the health science stuff is in its own building connected to the hospital, so all the stuff you'll have to do will be together. The undergrad campus is just up the hill and easily accessible, but I'd say it's a good 15-20 minute walk to get from the hospital to the heart of campus (so, it's doable, but you're probably not going to be hanging out on the Plaza of the Americas in between classes.)
What do I like about UF? Though there's been a lot of things I enjoy, I think what stood out to me the most was the kindness of Dr. Lynch, Dr. Duff, and the other admin. Almost every school I went to said they "promoted humanism" and wanted "compassionate physicians," but UF was the only one I really felt truly acted on those values by choosing people who personified those ideals to run the medical school. That was important to me. There are other reasons too, which some other people have touched on, but that sold it for me.
Dress code for lecture is pretty much non-existent (I suppose they might say something if you showed up in a bikini, but...I'm not totally sure about that.) The only times you have to dress professionally is when there are patients (if a patient comes into class to talk about their experience with a disease, if you're doing clinical exam practice with standardized patients, if you're going into the hospital with your small group leader, etc.)
 
When I applied I didn't get it until July 13, and I submitted my primary application as soon as AMCAS would let me. The earliest one I got was July 2 and latest one was Aug 5. Some schools send them in rounds, some don't. Some schools have minimum requirements, some don't. I think UCF is the only school with a minimum requirement in FL.
 
Working on secondary now. Was calling them about LoR and found out they had tried to send a secondary to me on the 1st, but it got lost in the interwebs. Having a hard time right now picking which essay to write about. Both of them are interesting introspective stories.
 
Working on secondary now. Was calling them about LoR and found out they had tried to send a secondary to me on the 1st, but it got lost in the interwebs. Having a hard time right now picking which essay to write about. Both of them are interesting introspective stories.

Did it seem like they tried to send to everyone on the 1st? I didn't get one either at this point and I've been verified since before the 27th.
 
Did it seem like they tried to send to everyone on the 1st? I didn't get one either at this point and I've been verified since before the 27th.
They told me they were sending as people were verified and had test scores. So If you have both of those done and haven't received a secondary I would give a call and check.
 
Submitted. On my secondary, it says they decided to give me one on July 1st. But I didn't receive an email with log in info till I called and asked today. They offered to resend the email, which I received this time. However, I know that some people have completed their secondaries before I called, as the admission office told me. I know everyone is checking their spam (do this if you haven't), so there might be a glitch.

Admissions info:
http://admissions.med.ufl.edu/contact-us/
 
I didnt get my secondary either but then again my MCAT isnt in yet
 
Haven't gotten one either. Verified around 6/25. Might give them a call tomorrow.
 
If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2013 and May 2014, please detail your current and planned activities below.

Do you see yourself as more of an extravert or an introvert and how will this impact how you learn to communicate with patients and colleagues?

*For this one there are two essays - you can't prewrite till you read. Pick one, and describe the skills of the author that you notice and think are helpful, then describe how one or both of these stories relate to the kind of physician that you want to be.

Consider three areas of integrity: personal, professional, and intellectual. Using an example, describe how these areas may be interrelated. In your response include why the connection between these areas is significant.

And there is one more supplemental section, which if you are out of state you must talk about your ties to Florida.
 
does UF have a pre-secondary screen? i didn't think they did, but on their website it seems to imply that there is some sort of screen...
 
Secondary Received

I'm not sure if they pre-screen.
 
Guys, do not worry preemptively about not receiving a secondary. They may send them out in waves. As far as I know, even if there is a screen, it's not too strict.
 
Interesting, I just got Miami's secondary but still nada from Florida
 
is anyone else who just received the secondary having trouble with the application website? when i click the link in the email, it says server not found
 
I am ok with not receiving this one until the weekend haha. I am already swamped with other secondaries...
 
Hey Guys! I'm a current MS-3, and just wanted to pop in to say hello and offer to answer any questions you may have as you go through the application process! Good luck, and I hope to meet many of you as fellow gators next year!
Hey BluePanda, how has it been like on the wards? I know there are two teaching main hospitals (Shands Gainesville & Shands Jax). Do you get to pick which one you want to rotate in for each specialty?
 
I called this morning and they also said that they sent me one, but I had never received it! But I got it now. I would probably call at this point
 
I called this morning and they also said that they sent me one, but I had never received it! But I got it now. I would probably call at this point
I had to do the same.
 
Does everyone's essay specify dates as being last year? Like on essay 1 it says: "If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2013 and May 2014, please detail your current and planned activities below."

I didn't accidentally get the secondary for last year, did I?
 
could someone with the secondary pm the link to me? the link in the email still isn't working :/
 
Hey BluePanda, how has it been like on the wards? I know there are two teaching main hospitals (Shands Gainesville & Shands Jax). Do you get to pick which one you want to rotate in for each specialty?

Honestly, I've been having SUCH a better time on the wards- it's great to finally be working with patients all day! As for Jacksonville and Gainesville, you get to pick, sort of. Right before 3rd year starts, you're broken up into rotation groups, so you'll know your overall schedule (so, for example, mine is surgery->peds->internal med->OB-Gyn->psych-> family/neuro.) This is done by a lottery system (meaning person #1 chooses first, and so on and so forth.) Then, within your group, you'll decide who's going to Jacksonville and when (they'll tell you they need X number of people to be in Jax for any given time.) So, after that, it really depends on your group and how they do things. Sometimes, if you have someone who's family is in Jax and they really want to stay there, they'll take a lot of the Jax time and most everyone else is free to stay in G-ville. There are a few exceptions, where some make it mandatory you spend at least some time in both places, but for the most part it's totally up to your group. For most people, they'll have about 3-4 months of Jax time.

As for how I like it, while I have to admit it's annoying sometimes living in the Jax dorms and being away from my loved ones, I do think it leads to a lot more flexibility and the chance to work with different patient populations. Jax is way more urban, and you'll get a totally different experience which is really valuable. The atmosphere in Jax vs G-ville is different too (Jax tends to be more chill,) so it really lets you customize your rotations. All in all, I think it's a good thing, though it can be frustrating at times being far away.
 
WELL, finally got the secondary....here we go!
 
I haven't received the UFCOM Secondary, so I called Admissions. They have NO RECORD of my application!! Called AMCAS and they verified they sent it!
I submitted on June 3rd and was verified on June 13th. All LOR's are in.
Has this happened to anyone else???

Now I'm worried I'm way behind the curve...
 
I haven't received the UFCOM Secondary, so I called Admissions. They have NO RECORD of my application!! Called AMCAS and they verified they sent it!
I submitted on June 3rd and was verified on June 13th. All LOR's are in.
Has this happened to anyone else???

Now I'm worried I'm way behind the curve...

Same here. Glad to know I am not the only one. They may be still be processing our app. We will get it eventually, i hope.
 
Same here. Glad to know I am not the only one. They may be still be processing our app. We will get it eventually, i hope.
We applied at all our schools on that same day, and some were processed sooner than later. Some schools are so overloaded that it has not been processed yet. Hope that is your case, but stay on it! Good luck!!!
 
FYI, there are two parts and one is a residency information section. For all you dependent students, your parents will need to provide their residency information. Just a heads up in case they are planning to take a month long trip away from their voter registration cards like mine did...
 
UFCOM APPLICANTS:

UF IS HAVING A TECHNICAL GLITCH AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY 730 APPLICANTS BEHIND ON THEIR DOWNLOAD PROCESS. THEIR IT DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON IT!!!
 
I haven't received the UFCOM Secondary, so I called Admissions. They have NO RECORD of my application!! Called AMCAS and they verified they sent it!
I submitted on June 3rd and was verified on June 13th. All LOR's are in.
Has this happened to anyone else???

Now I'm worried I'm way behind the curve...

No one that submits a secondary and is complete in the month of July is behind the curve at all. Most programs do not even begin sending interview invites until around mid August. They keep interviewing through March. You guys have some time for sure.
 
Hi Everybody,
This is Leila from UFCOM. Our IT issues are resolved at this time and we are able to see all of the applications that we have recieved in AMCAS. Secondary links will be emailed on Monday since it takes 24 hours for the applications to download into our system from AMCAS.
Have a wonderful weekend and dont worry about the little things!
 
can some one post the secondary questions for the ones waiting for it? thanks and good luck 🙂
 
Anyone else notice that for Essay 1 is asks for activities "between September 2013-May 2014"?
 
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