2014-2015 University of Southern California (Keck) Application Thread

[mostlyharmless1]

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What's wrong with using cultural references?

They're only potentially clever if one understands them. I was insinuating that my use of generation-specific cultural references may have fallen on deaf ears.

 

[Inygma]

II today. So excited to come out to Keck in November

Mind sharing stats?

 

[plainandsimple]

Surprised I received an interview invite today (9/9)! I submitted the secondary almost a month after I received it and I didn't submit the two "required" science letters of rec

 

[leela13]

II today. LizzyM 70+, IS, complete Mid-July (I think). Congrats to those with IIs and good luck to those still waiting! I'm sure there are plenty more to go around.

 

[rhino184]

Mind sharing stats?

OOS, 35 MCAT, 3.83 cGPA, 3.82 sGPA

 

[kjj17]

They're only potentially clever if one understands them. I was insinuating that my use of generation-specific cultural references may have fallen on deaf ears.

lol not to be snarky, but I was under the impression that most admissions staff are not 20-somethings? like even if now you think the dean wouldn't get them, wouldn't most admissions ppl not...? haha

 

[leela13]

Alright y'all, I've figured this out: yesterday morning I watched Scrubs, and a few hours later an II from Keck appeared in my inbox. Coincidence? I think not.

Also, this is a totally ridiculous question, but what do they use the picture you send in with your secondary for? Mine is extremely unflattering (I was tired and just wanted to get the secondary in ASAP). I hope they don't like turn these into ID cards or something...

 

[cupcakesandcadavers]

Alright y'all, I've figured this out: yesterday morning I watched Scrubs, and a few hours later an II from Keck appeared in my inbox. Coincidence? I think not.

Also, this is a totally ridiculous question, but what do they use the picture you send in with your secondary for? Mine is extremely unflattering (I was tired and just wanted to get the secondary in ASAP). I hope they don't like turn these into ID cards or something...

i watch scrubs every night before bed!! i hope this means an II from keck in the near future lol
when were you complete?

 

[hoihaie]

Alright y'all, I've figured this out: yesterday morning I watched Scrubs, and a few hours later an II from Keck appeared in my inbox. Coincidence? I think not.

Also, this is a totally ridiculous question, but what do they use the picture you send in with your secondary for? Mine is extremely unflattering (I was tired and just wanted to get the secondary in ASAP). I hope they don't like turn these into ID cards or something...

i've watched the whole series twice!! my usc II must be on its way........

 

[leela13]

i watch scrubs every night before bed!! i hope this means an II from keck in the near future lol
when were you complete?

Mid-July I think

 

[soccerbabe14]

II on 9/9! Very excited to visit Keck in October 🙂 good luck to everyone waiting and congrats to those of you with interviews!

 

[giraffesuptop]

Any recommendations for hotels? Where are you guys staying for the interview?

 

[onceawolverine]

Any recommendations for hotels? Where are you guys staying for the interview?

I stayed at the Metro Plaza Hotel, and I was overall pleased with it. Not crazy expensive, and a 10-15 minute cab ride form the Medical School. For transportation to and from LAX, I used the flyaway bus, which drops off at the Union Station (0.6 miles/walking distance from Metro Plaza).

 

[FFH]

Any recommendations for hotels? Where are you guys staying for the interview?

I usually do airbnb when I visit LA. Highly recommend it. At least 30-50% off hotel price. And of all the time I've used it, which is quite a lot, never had a bad experience at all.

 

[giraffesuptop]

I stayed at the Metro Plaza Hotel, and I was overall pleased with it. Not crazy expensive, and a 10-15 minute cab ride form the Medical School. For transportation to and from LAX, I used the flyaway bus, which drops off at the Union Station (0.6 miles/walking distance from Metro Plaza).

Do you remember how much your cab fare was? I might also stay at the Metro Plaza

 

[jibblesNbits]

Do you remember how much your cab fare was? I might also stay at the Metro Plaza

I stayed there as well and didn't actually take a cab. The free shuttle between Union Station and the health science campus is adequate and runs pretty much constantly

 

[invissideways]

Where do student hosts live? Or are most people opting for a hotel?

 

[skittles1]

Alright y'all, I've figured this out: yesterday morning I watched Scrubs, and a few hours later an II from Keck appeared in my inbox. Coincidence? I think not.

Also, this is a totally ridiculous question, but what do they use the picture you send in with your secondary for? Mine is extremely unflattering (I was tired and just wanted to get the secondary in ASAP). I hope they don't like turn these into ID cards or something...

The pictures are available for your interviewers to see before and after the interview. I would also assume they are available for the admissions committee. I will also take this time to write: Don't send in a stupid photo! They care! Just send in a professional looking straightforward photo. It's not the time to show off how much you love surfing or whatever.

Where do student hosts live? Or are most people opting for a hotel?

Host students (and most students) live all over. The students who sign up to host should also be able to help you out with getting to and from campus.

 

[skittles1]

I'm currently a graduate student on the health science campus. I guess there's nothing we can do but to wait. My friend told me that the dean reads through all the application herself and decides who to interview.

If you're in the Global Medicine program, good luck. I'm sorry to say they don't take many students at all from it.

 

[skittles1]

Can any current USC students comment on the medical Spanish courses the medical school offers? This seems like a really cool opportunity, learning to conduct histories in Spanish.

It's what you make of it. A lot of people don't think the Spanish class is that helpful -- but they probably didn't put much effort into it. Any Spanish skills will be helpful in County both during clinical experiences 1-2 years and definitely during 3-4th years. I think it's a great program as long as you're willing to take it seriously. (I guess what I mean is a lot of students will choose to audit the course, never go to classes, never try that hard, and then be like it's not that helpful... duh it's not helpful if you don't try).

I had a quick question if there are any current students here.

What is the living situation like for most students? I know the area around LAC+USC is known to be pretty bad. Do students live in walking distance or do they drive in each day? If they live further away, is there an area where a lot of students live together? Does this detract from the sense of community among the students?

I love it. Very few students live near campus, and those that do pretty much all live in one complex called City View that is all med students/residents/etc. It's about a mile away and there's nothing much around. No one lives on campus (there is one dorm) because it is so inconvenient. Our schedule is different than the university schedule, so for example you wouldn't be able to move in until like a week or two into classes.

Most students live in the following areas: Downtown, South Pasadena, Pasadena, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Echo Park, Alhambra, Monterey Hills. Some live further (West LA, the valley) usually if they have a significant other who works in a different part of town.

Basically everyone drives, even if they live at City View. I know someone who takes the train and then the USC shuttle from Union Station to campus, and I can think of one person who rides a bike.

As for community, I think this is the BEST situation. Now we have so many reasons to explore amazing parts of LA. One night we might go out Downtown near Friend A's apartment, and then Los Feliz the next night because Friend B lives over there, and then Santa Monica for the beach. Yes, you have to think about driving/Uber/Lyft and so on, but I think it's great overall. Since everyone is pretty much away from campus, it does not detract from community the way it would if most people lived on campus and just you chose to live elsewhere.

 

[onceawolverine]

Do you remember how much your cab fare was? I might also stay at the Metro Plaza

I believe the cab fare to USC from Metro Plaza was about 12 dollars, I believe. I preferred taking a cab to the med school because I trusted it more than the university shuttle (the university buses where I'm from are NEVER on time).

 

[leela13]

The pictures are available for your interviewers to see before and after the interview. I would also assume they are available for the admissions committee. I will also take this time to write: Don't send in a stupid photo! They care! Just send in a professional looking straightforward photo. It's not the time to show off how much you love surfing or whatever.



Host students (and most students) live all over. The students who sign up to host should also be able to help you out with getting to and from campus.

Oh, it's professional, don't worry. I just look ugly in it haha.

 

[giraffesuptop]

Just found out my hotel is in Chinatown and I'm super excited to go explore the area. Anyone else know of particular tourist spots you're gonna visit in LA?

 

[MrLogan13]

Just found out my hotel is in Chinatown and I'm super excited to go explore the area. Anyone else know of particular tourist spots you're gonna visit in LA?

Since you're in Chinatown, walk on over to Olvera Street to get some good taquitos, or to Lincoln Heights for Carnitas Michoacan for some great carne asada tacos. Not to mention lots of great Chinese food in Chinatown (stop by Sam Woo on Broadway). lol

 

[invissideways]

The pictures are available for your interviewers to see before and after the interview. I would also assume they are available for the admissions committee. I will also take this time to write: Don't send in a stupid photo! They care! Just send in a professional looking straightforward photo. It's not the time to show off how much you love surfing or whatever.



Host students (and most students) live all over. The students who sign up to host should also be able to help you out with getting to and from campus.

Great, thanks! Wasn't sure if there was a centralized dorm or something like that.

Wasn't able to find it in this thread/readily on their website, but could someone shed light on how pre-clinicals are graded? True P/F hopefully?

 

[prdv]

Is Keck known for silent rejections?

 

[DirkN]

Is Keck known for silent rejections?

Judging by last year's thread, they reject consistently throughout the cycle

 

[Swartzlehman]

Great, thanks! Wasn't sure if there was a centralized dorm or something like that.

Wasn't able to find it in this thread/readily on their website, but could someone shed light on how pre-clinicals are graded? True P/F hopefully?

Pre-Clinicals are a true 70% P/F.

 

[Swartzlehman]

Since you're in Chinatown, walk on over to Olvera Street to get some good taquitos, or to Lincoln Heights for Carnitas Michoacan for some great carne asada tacos. Not to mention lots of great Chinese food in Chinatown (stop by Sam Woo on Broadway). lol

Another great place for Chinese food is Yang Chow's! Get the slippery shrimp...omg so good.

 

[Swartzlehman]

I believe the cab fare to USC from Metro Plaza was about 12 dollars, I believe. I preferred taking a cab to the med school because I trusted it more than the university shuttle (the university buses where I'm from are NEVER on time).

The shuttles are almost always running on time. Just make sure you're going to the Health Science Campus and not the Undergrad campus.

 

[DirkN]

Another great place for Chinese food is Yang Chow's! Get the slippery shrimp...omg so good.

I took cadaveric anatomy with Dr. Habib as an undergrad (he teaches anatomy in the medical school), and he told me they do fail, pass and high pass.

 

[hellanutella]

Great, thanks! Wasn't sure if there was a centralized dorm or something like that.

Wasn't able to find it in this thread/readily on their website, but could someone shed light on how pre-clinicals are graded? True P/F hopefully?

I took cadaveric anatomy with Dr. Habib as an undergrad (he teaches anatomy in the medical school), and he told me they do fail, pass and high pass.

"Examinations in all systems throughout the first two years are graded pass/fail." (pg 756, paragraph 3). Link.

 

[DirkN]

"Examinations in all systems throughout the first two years are graded pass/fail." (pg 756, paragraph 3). Link. .

I'll ask him again when I see him on ThursdayThursday

 

[anthropmed]

Hey everyone, a question about handling updates/current activities with Keck. I'm currently on my gap year and just realized that Keck is the only school I've applied to that didn't ask about current activities in the secondary application or allow room for further information. Since I'll be spending the year working a highly clinical job that I started earlier this month, this detail is an important component of my application. How am I supposed to inform Keck about this before the interview, since it could be an important factor in the II decision?

 

[NucleusO]

If you're in the Global Medicine program, good luck. I'm sorry to say they don't take many students at all from it.

Haha no I'm not. I'm in their MPH program.

 

[DirkN]

Still no word from these guys..starting to give up hope 🙁 so many friends have II's here already, it's definitely demoralizing.

 

[hellanutella]

Just wanted to report back post-interview! I had a grand 'ol time at Keck, though this school did the least amount of "selling itself" out of all my interviews (or at least for my interview session). There's no formal curriculum talk or extracurricular opportunities spiel... and they don't seem to expect you to come with a pre-formed argument for "Why Keck" either. They just want to have a friendly conversation.

While I found their approach refreshing, I think students unfamiliar with the program end up missing out on a lot of USC's assets. Ex: as a researcher in the LA area, I am able to see firsthand what a research giant USC is... though this was not touched upon at all during interview day. For those unimpressed with their interview day, please be sure to talk to current students. I'm not affiliated with USC, but I think there's a lot more to Keck than what was presented on interview day.

PS: they seemed very anti-update letter. Hang in there, guys!

 

[Skatoodles]

Flight got significantly delayed = missed connection to LAX (last one for the night). Now I'm waiting in my hotel room, pondering whether it's worth going to half the interview day or if rescheduling is even possible...... word of advice, NEVER travel the day before your interview (unless you live pretty close)

 

[godawg300]

Flight got significantly delayed = missed connection to LAX (last one for the night). Now I'm waiting in my hotel room, pondering whether it's worth going to half the interview day or if rescheduling is even possible...... word of advice, NEVER travel the day before your interview (unless you live pretty close)

This stuff happens. Especially for Cali residents flying to the east. Give admissions a call/email. Seriously, you are not the first person for this to happen to and sometimes you don't have a lot of options when you are flying across the country.

 

[DirkN]

Flight got significantly delayed = missed connection to LAX (last one for the night). Now I'm waiting in my hotel room, pondering whether it's worth going to half the interview day or if rescheduling is even possible...... word of advice, NEVER travel the day before your interview (unless you live pretty close)

They accommodate these kinds of things. Give admissions a call and tell them what happened, I'm sure they'll give you some alternatives.

 

[Skatoodles]

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[AA|FCB|DOC]

Does anyone know what the focuses are at keck? The mission statement seems so general. Also, for those that received II, did you guys make your responses to the secondaries medically related or were they answers that weren't related to medicine? Thanks.

 

[AA|FCB|DOC]

Hi, to answer your second question- I received an II about a month ago and none of my short answer questions were medically related, but my essay answer was. I think you should just be honest for each answer! For example-they don't expect that the most fun you had in the past year was necessarily a clinically related experience. Just tell a cool short story about something fun/unique you did! I hope this helps!

Perfect, the exact type of answer I was looking for. Anyone have any idea on the first question? I am searching around

 

[invissideways]

Does anyone know what the focuses are at keck? The mission statement seems so general. Also, for those that received II, did you guys make your responses to the secondaries medically related or were they answers that weren't related to medicine? Thanks.

None of mine were related to medicine. One was to science in general, but not medicine specifically.

 

[leela13]

Just wanted to report back post-interview! I had a grand 'ol time at Keck, though this school did the least amount of "selling itself" out of all my interviews (or at least for my interview session). There's no formal curriculum talk or extracurricular opportunities spiel... and they don't seem to expect you to come with a pre-formed argument for "Why Keck" either. They just want to have a friendly conversation.

While I found their approach refreshing, I think students unfamiliar with the program end up missing out on a lot of USC's assets. Ex: as a researcher in the LA area, I am able to see firsthand what a research giant USC is... though this was not touched upon at all during interview day. For those unimpressed with their interview day, please be sure to talk to current students. I'm not affiliated with USC, but I think there's a lot more to Keck than what was presented on interview day.

PS: they seemed very anti-update letter. Hang in there, guys!

You, Ms. Nutella, seen like an awesome person and I hope we end up at the same school next year. I've seen a lot of your posts on various threads and they are all very helpful, humble, and hilarious. I have a feeling you have a lot of acceptances coming your way!

 

[hellanutella]

You, Ms. Nutella, seen like an awesome person and I hope we end up at the same school next year. I've seen a lot of your posts on various threads and they are all very helpful, humble, and hilarious. I have a feeling you have a lot of acceptances coming your way!

Awh, oh my goodness you're making me blush. The same to you, too!

Best of luck on your interviews, and I'm so glad you're getting CA love! Hopefully our paths will cross in the near future!

 

[FFH]

You, Ms. Nutella, seen like an awesome person and I hope we end up at the same school next year. I've seen a lot of your posts on various threads and they are all very helpful, humble, and hilarious. I have a feeling you have a lot of acceptances coming your way!

I had the luck to meet with this legend girl in person and she's everything you said. Me too think she'll be showered with sparkly offers. 🙂

 

[hellanutella]

I had the luck to meet with this legend girl in person and she's everything you said. Me too think she'll be showered with sparkly offers. 🙂

You are too sweet. 😍
I will cosign the fact that FFH is, true to her username, really really friendly. (And has awesome taste in restaurants). Good luck on your UMich interview!

 

[leela13]

You are too sweet. 😍
I will cosign the fact that FFH is, true to her username, really really friendly. (And has awesome taste in restaurants). Good luck on your UMich interview!

I will also note that I had a crepe with nutella, peanut butter, bananas, and whipped cream the other night and and it was fantastic.

 

[hellanutella]

To people who have already interviewed- do any of you know if the interview is open or closed file? I don't know if it will affect my preparation either way, but I'm just curious! Thanks 🙂

Interview is completely closed file!

Maybe just prepare a succinct, engaging response to "Tell me about yourself." The interviews here were very conversational, so don't ramble on and on about your accomplishments... my interviewers mostly wanted to talk about my upbringing, hobbies, and thoughts about the recent changes in healthcare. Check out the interview feedback page for Keck as well. A lot of the feedback may be obsolete, but the responses from the past few years should be largely accurate. 🙂 Good luck!