2014-2015 University of Massachusetts Application Thread

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Just got it, kinda a woozy ._. If you guys don't mind, can you share a bit about what you guys want to write for #3 (I'm kinda confused what to write about it haha)

1) If you are reapplying to UMMS, please describe how you have strengthened your credentials since your last application. Limit your answer to 200 words

2) Have you ever worked/volunteered or otherwise participated in any UMASS Medical School or UMASS Memorial Health Care sponsored activities/programs (Example: Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Pipeline Program, Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), Research) If Yes, please describe. A letter of recommendation from your program supervisor is strongly encouraged. Limit your answer to 200 words.

3) What are your future medical career plans? Please describe your hopes for your chosen medical specialty, type of practice, and size/type of practice community. Limit your answer to 200 words.

4) Please explain any grades:
o Lower than a 'B' in any prerequisite or science course
o Any semester where you feel your academic performance was not representative of your true abilities
Limit your answer to 200 words.

5) How did you study for the MCAT exam? Limit your answer to 200 words.

6)
Please provide a description of a personal dilemma relating to ONE of the nine following personal compentencies that are important to success in medical education and physician practice. Limit your answer to 500 words. Any additional information beyond one page will not be evaluated.

Please check the competency of your choice:
Behaves in an honest and ethical manner; adheres to ethical principles and follows rules and procedures; resists peer pressure to engage in unethical behavior and encourages others to behave in honest and ethical ways.
Integrity & Ethics Competency
Reliability & Dependability

Consistently fulfills obligations in a timely and satisfactory manner; takes responsibility for personal actions and performance.
Demonstrates a desire to help others and sensitivity to others' needs and feelings; demonstrates a desire to alleviate others' distress.
Service Orientation
Demonstrates an awareness of others' needs, goals, feelings, and the ways that social and behavioral cues affect peoples' interactions and behaviors; adjusts behaviors appropriately in response to these cues; and treats others with respect.
Social & Interpersonal Skills
Capacity for Improvement
Sets goals for continuous improvement and for learning new concepts and skills; engages in reflective practice for improvement; solicits and responds appropriately to feedback
Resilience and Adaptability
Demonstrates tolerance of stressful or changing environments or situations and adapts effectively to them; is persistent, even under difficult situations; recovers from setbacks.
Demonstrates knowledge of social and cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors; shows an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity; recognizes and appropriately addresses bias in themselves and others; interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Cultural Competence
Effectively conveys information to others using spoken words and sentences listens effectively; recognizes potential communication barriers and adjust approach or clarifies information as needed.
Oral Communication
Teamwork
Works collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals; shares information and knowledge with others and provides feedback; puts team goals ahead of individual goals.

The information below provides instructions on how you should write your description.
Step1: Review each competency
Carefully read each competency definition to be sure you understand what is important. Carefully reflect on each competency and think about a dilemma you encountered in your activities, experiences, or accomplishments and relate that to it.
Step 2: Choose what you will write about for ONE competency
Choose one dilemma that best describes your demonstration of your chosen competency. The dilemma may be specific, such as a challenging person, situation or assignment. Alternately, it may be an example of a dilemma you witnessed, in which case your relay what your response would have been.
Step 3: Provide a narrative description of the dilemma
Carefully describe the dilemma you have selected. Your response should clearly reflect your individual experience or understanding of this dilemma related to that competency. Your description must reflect the quality of your understanding of the dilemma including how it relates to the specific competency and its scope and impact. Specifically, you should describe:

a) the situation in which the activity, experience or accomplishment occured;

b) actions you took and the resulting consequences of those actions;

c) what you learned from the experience
 
So they sent an email saying that there is a problem with the second tab for the residency section and not to fill it out until they send an email saying it is fixed. Should I go in and delete what I entered since I filled it out before they sent that email out?
 
DummyHippo said:
Just got it, kinda a woozy ._. If you guys don't mind, can you share a bit about what you guys want to write for #3 (I'm kinda confused what to write about it haha)

3) What are your future medical career plans? Please describe your hopes for your chosen medical specialty, type of practice, and size/type of practice community. Limit your answer to 200 words.
Click to expand...

Just talk about what specialty and why. Maybe discuss the pros and cons of different types of practices briefly.
 
How does UMass feel about community college credits, and how strict are they about this "courses must have been completed within the past 6 years" stuff posted on their website? I really don't want to have to take another 2 semesters of English to be able to apply there :rage: (finished undergrad 5 years ago... They also state that if you graduated >4 years ago you need to retake all pre-req's, so maybe I'll just have to suck it up here)

Can you apply and simply finish courses before matriculation? I know that is possible at some schools but not all.
 
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Protip for applicants this year: for the 'future career plans essay', say primary care. No exceptions.
 
DummyHippo said:
Just got it, kinda a woozy ._. If you guys don't mind, can you share a bit about what you guys want to write for #3 (I'm kinda confused what to write about it haha)
4) Please explain any grades:
o Lower than a 'B' in any prerequisite or science course
o Any semester where you feel your academic performance was not representative of your true abilities
Limit your answer to 200 words.
Click to expand...

Hey guys, any idea how to answer this question if I never received lower than an A- and if I feel there were no semesters that were not representative of my true abilities? I feel like it would be pretentious to leave it blank.
 
Being said:
How does UMass feel about community college credits, and how strict are they about this "courses must have been completed within the past 6 years" stuff posted on their website? I really don't want to have to take another 2 semesters of English to be able to apply there :rage: (finished undergrad 5 years ago... They also state that if you graduated >4 years ago you need to retake all pre-req's, so maybe I'll just have to suck it up here)

Can you apply and simply finish courses before matriculation? I know that is possible at some schools but not all.
Click to expand...

Hey Being,

I can't speak to your question about the 6yr course expiration, but I did take quite a few classes at community college and got accepted last cycle.
I even took Bio I and II at a CC and had not completed them prior to applying. Because of the nature of the MMI I did not have to address this during interview nor did I choose to discuss it in any other part of my application. I was asked about my community college classes at another interview but after giving a reasonable explanation (cost) it wasn't an issue.
 
phunky said:
While I am interested in UMASS, it just doesn't seem like I am a good fit for them. Their overly stringent LOR requirements and shoddy website don't inspire too much confidence either.

I'll submit the application, but I don't think I will rush it. They take their sweet time at UMass anyways.
Click to expand...

I didn't really think their LOR requirements were that much more strict than other schools.
 
@phunky

It sounds like I am in the same boat as you. They really do not accept any LORs other than prereq professors? My university doesn't have a committee either and it seems kind of strange that UMASS wouldn't accept LORs from upper level professors. Can we just not apply to UMASS now?

Can anyone else give me any information regarding this rule?
 
Being said:
How does UMass feel about community college credits, and how strict are they about this "courses must have been completed within the past 6 years" stuff posted on their website? I really don't want to have to take another 2 semesters of English to be able to apply there :rage: (finished undergrad 5 years ago... They also state that if you graduated >4 years ago you need to retake all pre-req's, so maybe I'll just have to suck it up here)

Can you apply and simply finish courses before matriculation? I know that is possible at some schools but not all.
Click to expand...

I called last year because I had one prereq that would have been more than 6 years old. They said it should be fine because I was enrolled in a post-bacc program and I recently took classes. I did not get the impression they are terribly strict on this limit, but it's always good to check with them directly.
 
gotr0 said:
I called last year because I had one prereq that would have been more than 6 years old. They said it should be fine because I was enrolled in a post-bacc program and I recently took classes. I did not get the impression they are terribly strict on this limit, but it's always good to check with them directly.
Click to expand...
+1
I got an interview last year with old pre-reqs
 
If you have a committee letter do you fill in the box with additional authors and list the names of people that are part of the committee letter? or just leave it blank...
 
GoPelicans said:
Protip for applicants this year: for the 'future career plans essay', say primary care. No exceptions.
Click to expand...

Is this really a definite? What about if you want to practice in Massachusetts? But a specialty? I believe you, I do, but do they really want thousands of primary care essays? I guess I'm just struggling with what to write.
 
2015med said:
Is this really a definite? What about if you want to practice in Massachusetts? But a specialty? I believe you, I do, but do they really want thousands of primary care essays? I guess I'm just struggling with what to write.
Click to expand...

You're applying to a field where integrity is the most important thing...yet you're considering lying on your application? Write about what field you really want to go into.
 
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mTORC1 said:
Seriously? You're applying to a field where integrity is the most important thing...yet you're considering lying on your application? This should not be a struggle. Write about what field you really want to go into.
Click to expand...

I'd like to point out that I never said I was considering lying on my application. In fact, I'm the one that expressed my doubts about GoPelicans suggestion in the first place i.e. "do they really want thousands of primary care essays" because that seemed pretty unlikely to me. And I did it much more gently than you did when you accused me of wanting to lie. I can see how there might have been a misunderstanding, and so I'm posting this to make myself perfectly clear.
 
I would say that at this point interest is not lying, it is merely playing their game.

Saying you are interested in primary care is not a lie if you are kinda sorta interested in primary care but also interested in other things. If there are parts of your application you can use to show this, then you're better off.

Just sayin'
 
Yup, exactly. To say that focusing on what the school wants to hear is lying is a result of inexperience in life. It's like walking into a job interview for one position and stressing that you're interested in things that have nothing to do with the position advertised.
 
I have to agree, I'm not a fan of the secondary website, and I can't enter the names of my letter writers either.
 
2015med said:
I have to agree, I'm not a fan of the secondary website, and I can't enter the names of my letter writers either.
Click to expand...

I work for the state and we use the same website format for a lot of things, so I felt right at home. lol
 
2015med said:
Is this really a definite? What about if you want to practice in Massachusetts? But a specialty? I believe you, I do, but do they really want thousands of primary care essays? I guess I'm just struggling with what to write.
Click to expand...

Yes this is a definite. The secondary essay is just a hoop to jump through, not some legally binding manifesto of career goals. They will have zero hesitations of rejecting you if you don't play their game. And yes, they want to fill the class with as many primary care focused students as possible -- this is the school's mission.

edit: the interview at UMass is MMI format, so none of your interviewers will have even seen your application. You will not be grilled on anything your write on the secondary by your interviewers.
 
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when entering addresses starting with the most recent, did anyone else have the order scramble randomly after saving?
 
Hi! Anyone know whether UMass screens or not prior to secondaries? It's one of the very few schools I haven't received one from yet, and it's one of my top choices, so I'm worried!

Thanks 🙂
 
phunky said:
I am so confused about this whole no submission button thing. I think my application is done, but how do I let them know it's time to read it.
Click to expand...

There should be a green circle that means complete on the "My Applications" under "Admissions" in the Student Center.
 
Hey @PreciousHamburgers, did you have to do anything to submit? I've completed all of the essays and filled out the required residency information. I just mailed my check today, so I'm sure they haven't received it yet. Will the application automatically be marked as complete when they receive my check?
 
nikkiro said:
Hey @PreciousHamburgers, did you have to do anything to submit? I've completed all of the essays and filled out the required residency information. I just mailed my check today, so I'm sure they haven't received it yet. Will the application automatically be marked as complete when they receive my check?
Click to expand...

Yup! They won't email you or anything. Everything in your "To-Do" list will be done and you will have the green circle meaning you are complete. There is no "Submit" button.
 
The most anticlimactic application I will never submit. Finally done!
 
When are you guys getting your secondaries? After verification?

I got verified earlier this week and still nothing.
 
ridethecliche said:
When are you guys getting your secondaries? After verification?

I got verified earlier this week and still nothing.
Click to expand...

I got the secondary on a Monday, one business day after verification. Maybe they send it out weekly.
 
OOS, verified the first day. Still no secondary.. Should I call the office?
 
Still have no secondary .. Verified a week ago ... Decent stats
 
UMASS isn't the most efficient school when it comes to this process...
 
Just a question on the whole residency thing, do you NEED to fill out the tax data on the second residency tab if you've graduated from a Massachusetts High School? My secondary's been marked as complete for a while and I emailed them a last week about a minor error on a different tab and got no mention about the absence of tax data, but I just thought of it right now and am getting nervous.
 
PreciousHamburgers said:
Yup! They won't email you or anything. Everything in your "To-Do" list will be done and you will have the green circle meaning you are complete. There is no "Submit" button.
Click to expand...

My supplement is marked complete but they haven't downloaded my LORs yet from AMCAS... come on UMASS!
 
I'm still incomplete but LOR's are in AMCAS. I have no idea what's missing at this point. I emailed them but no dice so far.

We'll see what happens. I'm crossing my fingers for this. I talked to them before declaring residency here and they said I should be fine, so I'll be pretty annoyed if it doesn't work out.
 
This may be a dumb question, but does any one know if preference would be given to low income IS applicants?
 
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