2014-2015 University of Iowa (Carver) Application Thread

[gettheleadout]

1. We understand you are probably applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500 Characters)

2. Describe any unique personal characteristics and obstacles you may have overcome that will contribute to the diversity of, and bring educational benefits to, the entering class. (1500 Characters)

3. Please LIST and provide a BRIEF description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years. (3000 Characters)

4. If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500 Characters)

Good luck to everyone applying!

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[sunflower18]

OOS, but i am particularly impressed by the research opportunities available at this school. i don't know much about iowa, but carver looks like a great institution 🙂

 

[llamasarefuzzy]

Applying here IS. My top, top, top, top choice. It would be a dream come true

 

[Bbroush]

Applying OOS. Good friends with a physician that went here. I've only heard great things. Hoping for some OOS love!

 

[The Milkman]

have one more spot to add a school, and I'm considering Iowa. Anyone up for convincing me to apply?

 

[AspiringERMD]

Applying here OOS. A good friend of mine is excited to be starting here in the fall. Good luck everyone!

 

[sunflower18]

I am doing a lot of research in order to write my "Why Carver?" essay.... And I am falling head over heels in love with this school!!! It sounds so amazing, and has so many incredible opportunities! I would LOVE to attend here!

 

[Zelda840]

Same here. I have tabs open on MSAR and the school's website and just came to check here for any insider info I may have missed. I can tell you that Iowa City is pretty great if you're into safe, quiet and cheap and don't mind not being in an urban setting. It's very peaceful there.

 

[TheProcess]

I did my undergrad at Iowa. It's a great place and I really loved it there. I'm considering applying but it might be a little out of my reach.

 

[ConsultantMD]

Got the primary received email. Secondary to come in a few weeks. Oos here.

 

[claduva94]

Got the primary received email. Secondary to come in a few weeks. Oos here.

+1

 

[cerno]

Thinking about applying, but my numbers are middle of the line for Iowa and I'm OOS so not sure if worth it. My parents are alumni and I grew up in Iowa though - will that help mitigate being OOS?

 

[mrh125]

Does anyone know how the screening at this school works? is it holistic or based off of numbers alone? i'm OOS so that's another reason why I'm wondering.

 

[dr.0ne]

Should i bother applying here?
OOS, cali resident, 31 MCAT, 3.7 MCAT, great research experience with multiple publications and presentations, i also am a nationally certified EMT, i started up a youth mentorship project in my community, it's really the MCAT that's holding me back. what do you guys think?

 

[Bbroush]

Does anyone know how the screening at this school works? is it holistic or based off of numbers alone? i'm OOS so that's another reason why I'm wondering.

wondering the same thing. I received the primary received email as well

 

[jfirefox]

There's a very low screen for MCAT/GPA to receive secondary, which is on MSAR. Then holistic to determine interviews/accept

 

[AspiringERMD]

Should i bother applying here?
OOS, cali resident, 31 MCAT, 3.7 MCAT, great research experience with multiple publications and presentations, i also am a nationally certified EMT, i started up a youth mentorship project in my community, it's really the MCAT that's holding me back. what do you guys think?

3.7 MCAT? Which was the section you got a 1.7 in? 😉

 

[mrh125]

There's a very low screen for MCAT/GPA to receive secondary, which is on MSAR. Then holistic to determine interviews/accept

hmm, that's odd that we haven't gotten secondaries if there's a low mcat/gpa screen. anyone get secondaries yet?

 

[sofreakinglost]

last year's thread is saying secondaries weren't sent until mid July

 

[jfirefox]

Timeline for me last year was:

7/24 secondary invite. Turned in same day

8/7 complete email

8/20 interview invite

Interviewed September

1/24 final pooled

3/12 Accepted

 

[TheProcess]

Timeline for me last year was:

7/24 secondary invite. Turned in same day

8/7 complete email

8/20 interview invite

Interviewed September

1/24 final pooled

3/12 Accepted

Wow. No word about a decision until 6 MONTHS after the interview? Rough.

 

[GoPelicans]

Wow. No word about a decision until 6 MONTHS after the interview? Rough.

I interviewed in early October and got my acceptance a month later, so the long wait is not universal. I had my best interview of the year here though.

Protip for people interviewing this year: check the SDN interview feedback page. It was EXTREMELY helpful for this school.

 

[jfirefox]

Yea, Iowa does a sort of hybrid rolling/non-rolling admissions.

Basically, everyone is eventually reviewed after being interviewed... Great applicants are accepted, average applicants may be put in the final pool. Rarely are people rejected after interview w/o being placed in the final pool, but I've heard of it happening.

This final pool thing is in the end January, everyone in the pool is re-reviewed. Absolute final decision of accept/waitlist/reject is sent out mid-March.

I've heard something like half the class is accepted from the final pool. So if you're not accepted during the rolling phase... Don't be bummed, still a decent chance.

 

[Scribblers]

Received the secondary a few minutes ago. Prompts:

Question 1: We understand you are probably applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500 characters)

Question 2: Describe any unique personal characteristics and obstacles you may have overcome that will contribute to the diversity of, and bring educational benefits to, the entering class. (1500 characters)

Question 3: Please LIST and provide a BRIEF description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years. (3000 characters)

Optional
Please answer the following if applicable to you:
Question 4: If you are a reapplicant to the Carver College of Medicine, how have you strengthened your application? (1500 characters)

Question 5: If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500 characters)

 

[sunflower18]

OOS, just got the secondary and submitted it! I honestly love everything I know about this school, and would be stoked to get an interview.

 

[AspiringERMD]

Got the secondary (OOS).

"Question 3: Please LIST and provide a BRIEF description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years. (3000 characters)"

I have no idea why schools sometimes ask this a second time...

 

[Bbroush]

OOS & Received secondary! Working on it now!

 

[ram1senk]

Go Hawks. That is all.

 

[Mayday_]

Received the secondary today! OOS applicant

 

[sahmoc]

Received the secondary today! OOS applicant

Woo! Same! Their secondary website font is so tiny

 

[Mayday_]

Woo! Same! Their secondary website font is so tiny

That was the first thing I thought too!

 

[Retnuh07]

To those working on their secondary, do you know if the character limits for the essays include spaces? I would assume so, but my last secondary didn't count spaces in the character count so just thought I would ask. Thanks in advance and good luck!!

 

[ConsultantMD]

It does. I just submitted. It won't let you pass if you are over so don't worry.

 

[AspiringERMD]

To those working on their secondary, do you know if the character limits for the essays include spaces? I would assume so, but my last secondary didn't count spaces in the character count so just thought I would ask. Thanks in advance and good luck!!

Really? Which one didn't? I've been so frustrated with people asking 10 million times because I assumed they all did.

 

[Retnuh07]

GWU. I have the feeling they are the exception to the rule lol.

 

[tmm9]

In the final application part D you are asked to fill in a chronological account of your major activities for the three years immediately proceeding your proposed entry into CCOM. the examples give basic/nonspecific names like "summer job" and "research". Does anyone know if we are supposed to be that broad when we put in the names of our activities or should we specify what kind of research or what our summer job was? I'm a little confused as to what this section is supposed to really include/what it is exactly for?

 

[BMC11]

In the final application part D you are asked to fill in a chronological account of your major activities for the three years immediately proceeding your proposed entry into CCOM. the examples give basic/nonspecific names like "summer job" and "research". Does anyone know if we are supposed to be that broad when we put in the names of our activities or should we specify what kind of research or what our summer job was? I'm a little confused as to what this section is supposed to really include/what it is exactly for?

Part D was related to Iowa residency? Are you instate? Because if you're not, I don't think you're supposed to fill that part out.

 

[tmm9]

Part D was related to Iowa residency? Are you instate? Because if you're not, I don't think you're supposed to fill that part out.

I am a resident of Iowa but attend an out of state college in Nebraska. I clicked yes to D1 so it says I am also to fill out D3. What I kind of got from this section was you are trying to show how much time you have actually spent in Iowa the last three years, but I am not sure.

 

[BMC11]

I am a resident of Iowa but attend an out of state college in Nebraska. I clicked yes to D1 so it says I am also to fill out D3. What I kind of got from this section was you are trying to show how much time you have actually spent in Iowa the last three years, but I am not sure.

Ah ok. For a second I thought maybe you were OOS and I messed something up by not filling out a section haha.

 

[deleted289061]

...

 

[ScentOfPeace]

OOS just submitted secondary. Do they send a confirmation when I am complete?

 

[TheProcess]

Submitted. Not a huge fan of the layout of this secondary or the lack of email confirmation. But I love this school and just hope I filled everything out alright.

 

[nicmar22]

Made a really stupid mistake on the "final application" portion but I emailed them and hopefully it doesn't have any effect on my application! It had nothing to do with my essays, just me reading something incorrectly. Love this school, please love me back, Iowa!!

 

[Overanxious]

Applying here OOS! Just working on the secondary.

 

[minion16]

AMCAS was verified on 7/15. No secondary yet! Any ideas?
One more question! Does anyone know how they look at non-trad applicants?

 

[LaceyMD]

Anyone else noticing a lengthy delay in them marking your letters as received? I submitted the secondary about a week ago, but my letters still aren't marked, so the app is incomplete. Just wondering if this was a typical delay time for them or if I should email them to see what's going on?

 

[minion16]

Applying here OOS! Just working on the secondary.

Can I ask how long it took them to send you the secondary?
I know they pre-screen before sending out the secondaries.

 

[Overanxious]

AMCAS submitted June 19th
Verified July 9th
Received application acknowledgement from Iowa on July 2nd
Received secondary on July 17th

Hope it helps! Good Luck! They have a low screen according to MSAR. GPA 3.0 Mcat (residents: 6V, 7PS/BS; non-residents: 6V, 8PS/BS)

 

[Heplayer92]

@gettheleadout

1. We understand you are probably applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500 Characters)

2. Describe any unique personal characteristics and obstacles you may have overcome that will contribute to the diversity of, and bring educational benefits to, the entering class. (1500 Characters)

3. Please LIST and provide a BRIEF description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years. (3000 Characters)

4. If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500 Characters)



For 3...research counts as a medically related experience right? They don't mean straight up clinical experience right? Or am I thinking too hard on this? XD

 

[VaNilla1]

@gettheleadout

1. We understand you are probably applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500 Characters)

2. Describe any unique personal characteristics and obstacles you may have overcome that will contribute to the diversity of, and bring educational benefits to, the entering class. (1500 Characters)

3. Please LIST and provide a BRIEF description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years. (3000 Characters)

4. If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500 Characters)



For 3...research counts as a medically related experience right? They don't mean straight up clinical experience right? Or am I thinking too hard on this? XD

.

I included a research experience in #3. It was done in a hospital setting so I consider it a medically related experience