2014-2015 University of Massachusetts Application Thread

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Do you mind commenting on how you obtained the data that all slots were already filled and that the waiting list was long by early March of last year? Were you told this in your interview? Just curious because I just received an II for early March and I'm trying to gauge if I still have any chance of acceptance. Any advice would be appreciated.
Good luck to all!
I think you should still be hopeful. I spoke to a first year med student at UMass and she said she didn't hear that she was wait listed until April and was actually accepted a few weeks after. Apparently a big amount of students come from the wait list depending on where else students are getting accepted.
 
I'm not applying this cycle but does anyone know if umms accepts biochem 1 as a replacement for orgo 2?

No. You may be able to use it in place of a Bio requirement, but most med schools including UMASS require Orgo 1 & 2

Hey does anyone know what the Umass med school social scene is like? I researched a few clubs/bars in Worcester and was wondering if the med students went there?

Procrastinating MS2 here. What would you like to know? Worcester is not Boston, but it has it's own perks. There are some bars that are a lot of fun, but you will spend most of your time with people from UMASS unless you actively try to make friends elsewhere. There are a lot of house parties and MS1-MS3s usually party together. The average age per class is ~25, but there is a wide variation with people in many different stages of life. Most are ~2 years post undergrad. There are also some great food spots, but they can be a pricey as Boston. What is great about Worcester is that you are 45 min to everything (Providence, Boston, Wachusett, etc.). The people here are also great. After meeting students elsewhere, the type of student at UMASS is definitely unique and unlike some of the other schools of the same caliber. It is a collaborative, supportive environment likely due to the fact that many students want to go into primary care or work in medically under-served areas.

Also, UMASS is notorious for not letting people know about their status until late. I interviewed in March along with two of my current classmates, so don't worry about when your interview was scheduled. Wait-lists won't go out until April and they never accept more than 120 at a time. This means that the wait list is a good place to be as ~40% of the class comes from the wait list. It is annoying to play the waiting game, but it is worth it.
 
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Anyone know if the thursday interviews are still on with the blizzard going on?
 
The school released a statement saying the school is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday (AM Only). After that it is business as usual unless something changes.

"For updates on the status of UMMS campuses, visit the home page and click on the “Campus Status” link or call the UMMS weather information line at 508-856-4000."
 
Do you mind commenting on how you obtained the data that all slots were already filled and that the waiting list was long by early March of last year? Were you told this in your interview? Just curious because I just received an II for early March and I'm trying to gauge if I still have any chance of acceptance. Any advice would be appreciated.
Good luck to all!

Hello! If you look at last years UMass application cycle thread, someone had received an email about when to expect more financial aid info, if I remember correctly, and it had everyone's email listed who was actually sent the email, and presumably accepted. Someone counted all of them and posted it to the thread.

This being said, it sounds like they are taking things slower this year, and I just want to make sure we have a chance too!
 
Any chance that IIs will be sent out at this point in the cycle for UMass? What is the latest that they send out?
 
Any chance that IIs will be sent out at this point in the cycle for UMass? What is the latest that they send out?

I was in the second to last interview slot when I interviewed and got my invitation the last week of January. I wouldn't be surprised if one more set of invites went out in the next couple of weeks.
 
Is anyone interviewing tomorrow and perhaps staying at the Beechwood Hotel? I realize that most people will probably be driving in. I just checked in and I'm pretty nervous/excited.
 
Question 3 seems easy enough, but question 6 stumps me...
 
I really really want to apply to UMass, but they keep throwing more issues at me 🙁

First I was unsure if I would count as in state - I moved to Mass in 2008 for college and literally never left, even my summer jobs and such were always in Boston. Then I graduated and immediately got a job and apartment in Boston. You would think this would be sufficient, but UMass doesn't count college years and asks for 5 years worth of tax returns. I will have 3 full years of employment tax returns when I apply. Hopefully I can scrape together some W2 forms from summer jobs and write a really convincing petition letter...

But now I read they want pre-req courses within 6 years too.....by time I am considered a resident I will be so many years out of college lol. I am in a Biology MS program, so maybe they will take that into consideration, but now I am asking for two exceptions when there are plenty of smart, Mass-born, recent grads out there 🙁
 
You don't qualify as per their requirements. They're clear that they don't accept college as part of the 5 years. Summer jobs etc were probably filed back home for you as a dependent, so I doubt that would help you.

This is the first year I'm eligible for the school so I understand the frustration.
 
No, but they do explicitly list on their website alternate forms of documentation and how one could go about petitioning for a waiver. I'm not saying I'm guaranteed to get it, but the system exists so I would be a fool not to try.
 
For those of you who interviewed yesterday; I just want to say that it was a pleasure meeting you. I hope everyone had a great time just as I did.

Were you by any chance in the 9am group?
 
do you know if this is the absolute last interview invite slot that is being offered?
Not sure, since they didn't say specifically, but my guess is no. They gave me February 18, and I thought their interview season was longer than that
 
Congrats to everyone getting II's. I had my interview yesterday and was offered it in october. It's awesome to not have to wait that long between a II and an interview!

Don't stress about the MMI since there's honestly nothing you can really do to prepare. Be honest and be yourself and let the process take its course.

Also, don't listen to them when they tell you not to take water into the MMI! Go take a leak right before the interview and have a few sips of water between your different rooms. It really helps. I can't imagine talking for 48 minutes without any water!

No, but they do explicitly list on their website alternate forms of documentation and how one could go about petitioning for a waiver. I'm not saying I'm guaranteed to get it, but the system exists so I would be a fool not to try.

Good luck!

For those of you who interviewed yesterday; I just want to say that it was a pleasure meeting you. I hope everyone had a great time just as I did.

I was in the 10:30 group and I'd like to echo this sentiment. Saw a few familiar faces from previous interviews as well. The group was great. I had a blast killing time before the MMI with everyone.
 
Congrats to everyone getting II's. I had my interview yesterday and was offered it in october. It's awesome to not have to wait that long between a II and an interview!

Don't stress about the MMI since there's honestly nothing you can really do to prepare. Be honest and be yourself and let the process take its course.

Also, don't listen to them when they tell you not to take water into the MMI! Go take a leak right before the interview and have a few sips of water between your different rooms. It really helps. I can't imagine talking for 48 minutes without any water!



Good luck!



I was in the 10:30 group and I'd like to echo this sentiment. Saw a few familiar faces from previous interviews as well. The group was great. I had a blast killing time before the MMI with everyone.

thanks for the tips RTC, I agree it's definitely frustrating to wait this long for the interview (II in Mid-November for mid-feb)... Balls yo. Welp, I hope to see some of you goons at my interview!
 
No. You may be able to use it in place of a Bio requirement, but most med schools including UMASS require Orgo 1 & 2



Procrastinating MS2 here. What would you like to know? Worcester is not Boston, but it has it's own perks. There are some bars that are a lot of fun, but you will spend most of your time with people from UMASS unless you actively try to make friends elsewhere. There are a lot of house parties and MS1-MS3s usually party together. The average age per class is ~25, but there is a wide variation with people in many different stages of life. Most are ~2 years post undergrad. There are also some great food spots, but they can be a pricey as Boston. What is great about Worcester is that you are 45 min to everything (Providence, Boston, Wachusett, etc.). The people here are also great. After meeting students elsewhere, the type of student at UMASS is definitely unique and unlike some of the other schools of the same caliber. It is a collaborative, supportive environment likely due to the fact that many students want to go into primary care or work in medically under-served areas.

Also, UMASS is notorious for not letting people know about their status until late. I interviewed in March along with two of my current classmates, so don't worry about when your interview was scheduled. Wait-lists won't go out until April and they never accept more than 120 at a time. This means that the wait list is a good place to be as ~40% of the class comes from the wait list. It is annoying to play the waiting game, but it is worth it.
So is most of the partying done at people's houses/apartment? I enjoy that, but I like going out dancing at clubs or going to bars (preferably with other students). Is that something not many med students do? Is the downtown area too far away?
 
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So is most of the partying done at people's houses/apartment? I enjoy that, but I like going out dancing at clubs or going to bars (preferably with other students). Is that something not many med students do? Is the downtown area too far away?

A majority of the partying is definitely done at houses, but I think a big part of that is just because we enjoy each other's company so much. There are bars that people frequent and most of them are on Shrewsbury St. (which is very close to school/student houses) Also, people put together fun things. For example, in the fall a large group of people went out in Boston party-bus style. However, like clibby said, we celebrate most often with each other... and there's lots of dancing.
 
I really really want to apply to UMass, but they keep throwing more issues at me 🙁

First I was unsure if I would count as in state - I moved to Mass in 2008 for college and literally never left, even my summer jobs and such were always in Boston. Then I graduated and immediately got a job and apartment in Boston. You would think this would be sufficient, but UMass doesn't count college years and asks for 5 years worth of tax returns. I will have 3 full years of employment tax returns when I apply. Hopefully I can scrape together some W2 forms from summer jobs and write a really convincing petition letter...

But now I read they want pre-req courses within 6 years too.....by time I am considered a resident I will be so many years out of college lol. I am in a Biology MS program, so maybe they will take that into consideration, but now I am asking for two exceptions when there are plenty of smart, Mass-born, recent grads out there 🙁

Don't worry about the pre-reqs within 6 years thing.
 
A majority of the partying is definitely done at houses, but I think a big part of that is just because we enjoy each other's company so much. There are bars that people frequent and most of them are on Shrewsbury St. (which is very close to school/student houses) Also, people put together fun things. For example, in the fall a large group of people went out in Boston party-bus style. However, like clibby said, we celebrate most often with each other... and there's lots of dancing.

I agree with all of this. There is usually a party after every 1st and/or 2nd year exam and groups of people organize trips each year. There was a group of people who went to Montreal a few weeks ago, some of us went to Jamaica for spring break, and there has been at least one part bus each year I have been here. UMASS recruits some great people, so it is pretty easy to make some great friends here.
 
Ugh this wait is going to be so painful...

Has anyone heard anything since the last batch of acceptances people posted about in mid december?

Edit: the school said they have more committee meetings this time of year and moving forward.
 
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ACCPETED!!!!!!

interviewed late Jan.
Congratulations!! Would you mind sharing your stats?

Edit: Also, were you notified by email? If so, was it a mass email or did it seem personal?

Thank you in advance.
 
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For those accepted, has your status on the portal changed?
 
I'm interviewing Thursday 2/12. Anyone know if they might cancel the interview because of the snow? Have they cancelled any interviews in the past few weeks?
 
my status on the portal has not changed...accepted early Jan.
 
according to a brief look at last year's thread, acceptances are only sent on Friday. notifications that you're on the waitlist start to trickle out in April? Rejections are sent out at the beginning of May? Is that the impression everyone else got? At what point is everyone who has been accepted elsewhere going to make arrangements for housing etc at other schools? UMASS YOUR SNAIL-LIKE PACE AFFECTS OUR LIVES
 
I noticed the same thing. Besides the few people that killed the MMI and were accepted directly after, it seems like more acceptances started coming out in late Feb (I think?). Fingers crossed that they pick up the pace! Sure is a brutal wait.
 
That feeling when people from your interview day get in and you haven't heard anything yet.

Guess I'm playing the long game here.

I noticed the same thing. Besides the few people that killed the MMI and were accepted directly after, it seems like more acceptances started coming out in late Feb (I think?). Fingers crossed that they pick up the pace! Sure is a brutal wait.

They did say they do more committee meetings and stuff this time of year so who knows.

FINGERS CROSSED GOT DANGIT!
 
Loved UMass!

Do they accept update letters of any sort?

They will, but I don't know what effect it has, and I have no idea what bearing it had on my getting accepted. I think, overall, letters don't have as much impact as we hope they will, unless the school explicitly says they do as in coming off the waitlist at USC.

according to a brief look at last year's thread, acceptances are only sent on Friday. notifications that you're on the waitlist start to trickle out in April? Rejections are sent out at the beginning of May? Is that the impression everyone else got? At what point is everyone who has been accepted elsewhere going to make arrangements for housing etc at other schools? UMASS YOUR SNAIL-LIKE PACE AFFECTS OUR LIVES

Relax, people. Plenty of people in the first year class were accepted off the waitlist in late April/early May.
 
Hey Nicpok, I was in the 10:30 group. Still no word yet for me.... fingers crossed.
 
They accept a few students right away, the rest are delayed admits. It doesn't mean anything for you other than that they liked someone else's entire application package more than yours, which is frankly par for the course in this process!
 
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.

Hey, Im a UMass 4th year and I was in a similar situation. I had 4 years between graduation and matriculation and some of my pre reqs were taken 8 years before i started. I didnt have to retake anything and I dont even think it was ever brought up. However, I had a BS and did 4 years of research before going back to school so Im not sure if that made a difference. Hope that helps!
 
Loved UMass!

Do they accept update letters of any sort?

The pre-health advisor at my undergrad told me to write to them and tell them they were my first choice.. he said he knew the old dean of admissions would respond positivel to that on somedays and negatively on others... but he didn't know how the new dean ( of 2 years) responded to that
 
I interviewed in oct, still waiting to hear back --think its a good idea to send in an update letter or LOI?
 
Have there really not been any acceptances in a month? I have to assume people just aren't posting on SDN but still seems weird. I know UMass is slow but its March comeonnnnn
 
I've been wondering the same thing... Not one decision mentioned here for this long is incredible. It has been a quiet thread so presumably it's just that people aren't posting, but I know about five others waiting for a decision who haven't heard a peep.
 
I've been wondering the same thing... Not one decision mentioned here for this long is incredible. It has been a quiet thread so presumably it's just that people aren't posting, but I know about five others waiting for a decision who haven't heard a peep.

same. I know 7 people who interviewed at UMass. 1 was accepted a month (or more) ago. rest of us have heard nada
 
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