2014-2015 University of Michigan Application Thread

[gatawatago]

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On hold today. First correspondence from any medical school so far so I'm a bit bummed 🙁

 

[hoihaie]

On hold today. First correspondence from any medical school so far so I'm a bit bummed 🙁

when were you complete+ your stats?

 

[gatawatago]

when were you complete+ your stats?

Complete 7/8, 3.68/37

 

[Datsyuks]

Does any know how long it takes for your payment to show up on the status page? been over a week but nothing yet

 

[The Milkman]

Does any know how long it takes for your payment to show up on the status page? been over a week but nothing yet

it took a while for everyone, but over a week sounds a bit excessive... wouldn't hurt to call

 

[amad01]

still under review.... stayin alive...😏

seems like they reviewing in order of IS and high stats.. where I am neither of those

 

[CTU Surgeon]

II, OOS >3.75 gpa and >37 mcat

 

[Lamel]

Are you guys getting invites via email or status update?

 

[john3298]

I have no idea what order they are reviewing in...I'm OOS with a 3.95 and a 36. I was complete on 7/3 and still nothing :/

 

[ForHumors]

Under review now! Is it typical to go straight to "under review" right after submission? Just submitted on Saturday.

 

[tenniseagle92]

Are you guys getting invites via email or status update?

It was posted via status update this morning, and I got an email at 5:00 pm EST today.

 

[CTU Surgeon]

I found out about my II by checking my status, although Mich usually sends an email to you at the end of the work day if your status has changed that day.

 

[CTU Surgeon]

did they have the 6 MMI type interviews last year or is this their first year doing this?

 

[TBear13]

Interview Invite!

 

[Salt Salt]

On hold today. First correspondence from any medical school so far so I'm a bit bummed 🙁

Same. IS (UM actually), >3.85, >38. Complete 7/9. 🤔

 

[PreMedCadet]

Interview Invite. OOS. ~30 MCAT, 3.2-3.5 sci. URM. Not complete yet - still missing my LORs and secondary app.

 

[:))]

Interview Invite. OOS. ~30 MCAT, 3.2-3.5 sci. URM. Not complete yet - still missing my LORs and secondary app.

Wait, you got an interview invite without completing your secondary app questions?

 

[PreMedCadet]

Wait, you got an interview invite without completing your secondary app questions?

Yep. Not sure how that happened. They said I just need to get my secondary and letters in by 2 weeks prior to my interview.

 

[FFH]

Would there be an disadvantage to be interviewed during the first wave where everyone has high stats? Like having maids of honors who are very pretty if not prettier than the bride? 🙂

 

[FFH]

Yep. Not sure how that happened. They said I just need to get my secondary and letters in by 2 weeks prior to my interview.

Dude that's very interesting. I've never heard anything like this. Good luck!

 

[daenschl]

Yep. Not sure how that happened. They said I just need to get my secondary and letters in by 2 weeks prior to my interview.

Yeah, last year's thread had a bunch of people getting II's without completing their secondaries.

 

[gettheleadout]

Would there be an disadvantage to be interviewed during the first wave where everyone has high stats? Like having maids of honors who are very pretty if not prettier than the bride? 🙂

Unlikely to have a significant negative effect. Your chances of being extended an acceptance at always better when they have more acceptances left to give out, plus receiving an early II with those strong applicants means they don't view you as too weak in comparison.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile

 

[gettheleadout]

Second round of II's gone and still on hold here.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile

 

[FFH]

Yeah, last year's thread had a bunch of people getting II's without completing their secondaries.

About 10pgs into last year's thread. I saw what you were referring to

 

[FFH]

Unlikely to have a significant negative effect. Your chances of being extended an acceptance at always better when they have more acceptances left to give out, plus receiving an early II with those strong applicants means they don't view you as too weak in comparison.

Yeah, I see what you are saying. I won't risk to send in secondary late though. I mean, after all, 1/6th of the interview spots are already used up as of now and the season barely began.

 

[thethreeheadeddragon]

I've been "under review" since 7/3. Arghhhhhh

 

[john3298]

I've been "under review" since 7/3. Arghhhhhh

Same. Does this mean they haven't even read our applications?

 

[thethreeheadeddragon]

Yeah, I think that's what it means. Apparently, people are saying that your application status changes once they read it.

 

[ifhbp]

Interview Invite. OOS. ~30 MCAT, 3.2-3.5 sci. URM. Not complete yet - still missing my LORs and secondary app.

Okay, I’m just going to say what everyone else is thinking … isn’t this infuriating!

 

[Hermione L Knope MD. Ph.D]

Okay, I’m just going to say what everyone else is thinking … isn’t this infuriating!

No, I don't think everyone else is thinking this is infuriating. You don't know what this person has to offer. Perhaps they've overcome some serious obstacles or something similar. Stats aren't everything.

 

[ifhbp]

No, I don't think everyone else is thinking this is infuriating. You don't know what this person has to offer. Perhaps they've overcome some serious obstacles or something similar. Stats aren't everything.

I know many people who have overcome difficult life challenges but are completely looked over because they don’t fit a certain mold.

 

[Hermione L Knope MD. Ph.D]

I know many people who have overcome difficult life challenges but are completely looked over because they don’t fit a certain mold.

Unless you're an admissions officer, I doubt anyone on here knows what exactly is being looked for. Maybe this person had 5 first authored papers in Science. There's no point in speculating, be happy for your future colleagues and work on being content with your own application before you judge others so quickly.

 

[ifhbp]

Unless you're an admissions officer, I doubt anyone on here knows what exactly is being looked for. Maybe this person had 5 first authored papers in Science. There's no point in speculating, be happy for your future colleagues and work on being content with your own application before you judge others so quickly.

I guess I’m not concerned so much with my application, just thinking about the hundreds of applicants who come from a disadvantaged background but will never be given second look.

 

[kozelkid]

Dude that's very interesting. I've never heard anything like this. Good luck!

It happens. I have a friend who goes to Vandy med school and he got a II from Pritzker before completing their secondary.

 

[Redpancreas]

I've been "under review" since 7/3. Arghhhhhh

That's not that long. I was too until January. Ultimately got a silent rejection from here. Didn't have the best stats for this place though.

 

[FFH]

Okay, I’m just going to say what everyone else is thinking … isn’t this infuriating!

I think your anger might be misdirected. A lot of people I knew more or less share the same thoughts as you did. However, I want to remind you that your chance at UMich is not really affected by admitting URM with lower stats. If you don't have a real shot at UMich, even if they admit more people who are not URM, it won't be you. Your chance are determined by how many people have better stats/application than you have.

Another thing people who come from relatively well-off, normal and stable family never experienced is the difficulty of trying to focus and to get good grades when your immediately environment is unstable, incapable of providing you with guidance or simply working against every efforts you made. Sometimes it takes greater determination, more character strength to get a 30/3.2 than a 40/4.0. Such students are assets for medical school because they bring in their appreciative attitude for educational opportunity, they know what to do when circumstances are not in their favor. I personally would want to go to med schools with more of such students.

UMich takes the "distance traveled" very seriously. Source: Dean Ruiz, during a speech he gave at an info session at my undergraduate school. So concur with someone above, you don't know other people's story. Don't make assumptions. I wouldn't like a physician who stereotypes, makes assumptions and comes to rush judgment for your medical problem and for you as a person, would you?

 

[ifhbp]

I think your anger might be misdirected. A lot of people I knew more or less share the same thoughts as you did. However, I want to remind you that your chance at UMich is not really affected by admitting URM with lower stats. If you don't have a real shot at UMich, even if they admit more people who are not URM, it won't be you. Your chance are determined by how many people have better stats/application than you have.

Another thing people who come from relatively well-off, normal and stable family never experienced is the difficulty of trying to focus and to get good grades when your immediately environment is unstable, incapable of providing you with guidance or simply working against every efforts you made. Sometimes it takes greater determination, more character strength to get a 30/3.2 than a 40/4.0. Such students are assets for medical school because they bring in their appreciative attitude for educational opportunity, they know what to do when circumstances are not in their favor. I personally would want to go to med schools with more of such students.

Another thing is that UMich takes the "distance traveled" very seriously. Source: Dean Ruiz, during a speech he gave at an info session at my undergraduate school. So concur with someone above, you don't know other people's story. Don't make assumptions. I wouldn't like a physician who stereotypes, makes assumptions and comes to rush judgment for your medical problem and for you as a person, would you?

I understand your point, especially the fact that UMich accepting a few URM’s doesn’t really affect other applicant’s chances of getting in. Also, coming from a disadvantaged background myself, I understand fully that for people in such environments, a 30/3.2 can be impressive. What I am concerned about however, are the applicants who had a difficult upbringing but regardless, will likely not be considered for admissions as they do not provide superficial diversity (the kind of diversity that can easily be displayed on a chart).

 

[SN12357]

I understand your point, especially the fact that UMich accepting a few URM’s doesn’t really affect other applicant’s chances of getting in. Also, coming from a disadvantaged background myself, I understand fully that for people in such environments, a 30/3.2 can be impressive. What I am concerned about however, are the applicants who had a difficult upbringing but regardless, will likely not be considered for admissions as they do not provide superficial diversity (the kind of diversity that can easily be displayed on a chart).

You're creating a straw man and concern trolling. You have zero evidence that UMich doesn't value the less-obvious diversities.

Applying to medical school is a long, difficult, frustrating, often opaque process. You need to let go of unfounded resentments. They aren't going to serve you well during the process.

 

[ifhbp]

You're creating a straw man and concern trolling. You have zero evidence that UMich doesn't value the less-obvious diversities.

Applying to medical school is a long, difficult, frustrating, often opaque process. You need to let go of unfounded resentments. They aren't going to serve you well during the process.

Anger can be a catalyst for change. The medical community is disproportionally composed of the wealthiest class. If medical schools truly wish to create student bodies representative of the American population, they should give preferences to low-socioeconomic applicants regardless of race.

 

[SN12357]

Anger can be a catalyst for change. The medical community is disproportionally composed of the wealthiest class. If medical schools truly wish to create student bodies representative of the American population, they should give preferences to low-socioeconomic applicants regardless of race.

They do.

 

[ifhbp]

They do.

My experience says otherwise.

 

[FFH]

will likely not be considered for admissions as they do not provide superficial diversity (the kind of diversity that can easily be displayed on a chart).

You said yourself that a lot of the diversity information cannot be displayed on a chart or can easily be made apparent. The admission process cannot take into consideration of everything especially the information that they don't have. Considering how many applications the medical admission offices needed to go through, with very limited pairs of eyes and time, people are doing their best they can, especially UMich I feel like. If you truly feel that you are disadvantaged, feel free to reflect that on your secondaries or through updates. The admission office has no obligations to explore your story but they will certainly consider it if you make the effort of showing it to them.

 

[SN12357]

My experience says otherwise.

And mine doesn't. The fact that you worked up anger against, again, a single solitary stranger on the internet based solely on their race (assuming that's why they have the interview and you don't) doesn't speak well to your assessment of the situation.

UMich values diversity of all types and this is very evident in their student body.

 

[FFH]

My experience says otherwise.

You said you weren't concerned for your own application and now you emphasize your personal anecdotal...inconsistencies...

 

[ifhbp]

You said you weren't concerned for your own application and now you emphasize your personal anecdotal...inconsistencies...

I guess I should change that to ‘my observations say otherwise’ because it is pretty clear from AMCAS published statistics that applicants who are not lumped into a superficial URM category receive no breaks.

 

[ifhbp]

And mine doesn't. The fact that you worked up anger against, again, a single solitary stranger on the internet based solely on their race (assuming that's why they have the interview and you don't) doesn't speak well to your assessment of the situation.

UMich values diversity of all types and this is very evident in their student body.

I think this is an issue throughout the medical education system, not a single solitary stranger on the internet. Disadvantaged non-URM's receive very little breaks compared to their URM's counterparts.

 

[FFH]

I guess I should change that to ‘my observations say otherwise’ because it is pretty clear from AMCAS published statistics that applicants who are not lumped into a superficial URM category receive no breaks.

There will be greater obstacles in your life that will trouble your more than the fact that "no one is cutting my a slack". I don't want to throw in my personal anecdotal here but I can assure you no matter what you experienced, a lot of people have it worse. Better way would be accept the situation and work towards the future where you are in power to change it. it is the system that might need change, not the individual URM students. What you have expressed towards the one URM student was not "anger" or "motivation to improve the system", it's irrational hatred. The world can really use a little less of the later.

 

[SN12357]

I guess I should change that to ‘my observations say otherwise’ because it is pretty clear from AMCAS published statistics that applicants who are not lumped into a superficial URM category receive no breaks.

Care to link to exactly the tables you're talking about? Because there are no data tables on the AAMC's applicant and matriculant data page pertaining to disadvantaged status: https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/ No inferences can be made from the race and ethnicity tables without that specific breakout.

Regardless of any problems with 'the system', your comment here towards a specific person was inappropriate and your attempts to defend a general stance don't change that.

 

[ifhbp]

There will be greater obstacles in your life that will trouble your more than the fact that "no one is cutting my a slack". I don't want to throw in my personal anecdotal here but I can assure you no matter what you experienced, a lot of people have it worse. Better way would be accept the situation and work towards the future where you are in power to change it. it is the system that might need change, not the individual URM students. What you have expressed towards the one URM student was not "anger" or "motivation to improve the system", it's irrational hatred. The world can really use a little less of the later.

One thing you might not have noticed is that I said nothing personal about PreMedCadet. I’m disappointed at how unjust the medical school application process is. I understand your point that people from unstable and unsupportive backgrounds have overcome very difficult obstacles and sometimes deserve a break and I agreed with that point. I merely expanded that concept to all applicants, not just applicants with a URM label. I feel that your comment about my concern simply being hatred in disguise doesn’t add anything meaningful to this.

 

[SN12357]

One thing you might not have noticed is that I said nothing personal about PreMedCadet. I’m disappointed at how unjust the medical school application process is. I understand your point that people from unstable and unsupportive backgrounds have overcome very difficult obstacles and sometimes deserve a break and I agreed with that point. I merely expanded that concept to all applicants, not just applicants with a URM label. I feel that your comment about my concern simply being hatred in disguise doesn’t add anything meaningful to this.

You quoted their post directly and said it was infuriating they had an interview. How is that not personal?

Seriously, if you want to rail on this, take it to the main forums. You'll have a large and sympathetic audience there. It isn't appropriate for the school-specific threads.