2014-2015 University of Virginia Application Thread

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On my interview day's finaid presentation, I asked the representative the same question. The reply: "Oh, hon. You'd have to marry a Virginian." (This was said in a melodic Southern drawl, which made it even better).
For some reason, Gold Digger by Kanye West is now playing in my head...
 
For those students who are married, if your spouse works in VA while you go to school, you'll be able to claim residency starting the second year, and pay IS tuition.
 
any ISers with stats around the average get an II yet?
 
To those of you that got accepted, can we also send in an email to reserve our seat?

I just got my acceptance on Friday, and I've heard of people sending in an email in addition to the offer packet. Does anyone know who we should email?

I just want to cover all bases. This acceptance is like a supernatural occurrence so there is absolutely no way in hell I'm messing this up.
 
To those of you that got accepted, can we also send in an email to reserve our seat?

I just got my acceptance on Friday, and I've heard of people sending in an email in addition to the offer packet. Does anyone know who we should email?

I just want to cover all bases. This acceptance is like a supernatural occurrence so there is absolutely no way in hell I'm messing this up.

You can sign and date your class reservation form and technical standards form, scan them/or e-sign, and then email them to the admissions office. They have the email address on their website.

I had the same feeling so I decided to mail my forms in. I personally think it's more formal, and I also included a business cover letter expressing my gratitude and stating the enclosed documents.
 
Hello! Congrats!!! Would you mind sharing what interview date options you had?

Thanks 🙂 I didn't look at dates past January, so I just saw one interview date in the first week of December, and a couple toward the end of January.
 
Thanks 🙂 I didn't look at dates past January, so I just saw one interview date in the first week of December, and a couple toward the end of January.
Did you send them an update letter?
 
Accepted!! My first acceptance and I have not managed to take a breath since seeing the email 12 minutes ago. OOS, LizzyM 77

FYI for those about to interview, you will hear back Friday of the same week you interview.
what if the interview is on thursday?
 
cool thanks! anybody know what time they release acceptances on the friday? morning/afternoon/evening? hahaha

and do they reject/waitlist too or only acceptances?
 
cool thanks! anybody know what time they release acceptances on the friday? morning/afternoon/evening? hahaha

and do they reject/waitlist too or only acceptances?

Usually around 1pm; I got mine at 1:30. I think they do rejections and wait lists too
 
You'll hear back Friday even if you interviewed on Thursday. Nuts, right?
It's as if they realize that long and inconsistent periods of silence cause applicants great amounts of anxiety. Whoaaaaa, this is revolutionary. It's like...what's next? Dogs and cats living together???? Cookies for breakfast????
 
Do you know what an average MCAT score is for instate accepted applicants? Is a 33 still in the running? thank you.
I'm not sure what the specific instate MCAT score is, but the average for the whole is a little over 34, and probably creeping higher every year. I had a 33, so definitely in the running!
 
What are some things that would separate a school like UVA from a "lower tier" school. I want to take finances out of the equation for a second, and simply focus on how the choice of med school can affect one's future career. Some say that the reputation of your school doesn't matter when applying to residency programs, some say it only matters if you're from the super-elite schools, and some say it matters a lot. I'm just trying to figure out the difference in career opportunities for a medical student who goes to a place like Stanford vs UVA vs "unranked" school. How much better are the opportunities at a place like Stanford vs UVA, and how much better is it for UVA vs unranked school.

Overall, I loved the environment at UVA, and felt I fit in great with the culture over there (which is probably why they accepted me!) However, I'm just trying to weigh my options using more tangible measurements.

Also, are there regional biases in regards to residency matching? Like if I go to UVA for school, but want to match in a program in New Mexcio, will I be at a disadvantage compared to a med student who stayed in New Mexico the entire time? I remember hearing that the match list for UVA skewed heavily to Viriginia programs, so I was wondering if it's a problem for UVA med students to get in good programs on the West Coast.
 
What are some things that would separate a school like UVA from a "lower tier" school. I want to take finances out of the equation for a second, and simply focus on how the choice of med school can affect one's future career. Some say that the reputation of your school doesn't matter when applying to residency programs, some say it only matters if you're from the super-elite schools, and some say it matters a lot. I'm just trying to figure out the difference in career opportunities for a medical student who goes to a place like Stanford vs UVA vs "unranked" school. How much better are the opportunities at a place like Stanford vs UVA, and how much better is it for UVA vs unranked school.

Overall, I loved the environment at UVA, and felt I fit in great with the culture over there (which is probably why they accepted me!) However, I'm just trying to weigh my options using more tangible measurements.

Also, are there regional biases in regards to residency matching? Like if I go to UVA for school, but want to match in a program in New Mexcio, will I be at a disadvantage compared to a med student who stayed in New Mexico the entire time? I remember hearing that the match list for UVA skewed heavily to Viriginia programs, so I was wondering if it's a problem for UVA med students to get in good programs on the West Coast.


The difference in prestige among UVA, Stanford, and an unranked school is very difficult to measure objectively. You have to really decide what you want to get out of med school in the long run. You want to find a place that is supportive and gives you the opportunities to succeed. For me, this would include a low stress, non-competitive environment that will allow you to reach your potential as well as plentiful research opportunities in your desired field. I cannot stress this enough...UVA is very supportive and there is more or less 0 competition during the first 2 years - classmates constantly hold review sessions for other classmates...I haven't heard this as much at other schools. Second, you need to decide where you want to end up for residency. Yes, plenty of my classmates from the West Coast are able to match back there (UCSF for derm, etc - just check the previous years match lists) but it is definitely an uphill battle compared to going to Stanford for med school...just keep that in mind. Regional bias DOES exist...but if you are originally from the west coast and go to an east coast school, it is much easier to match to the west coast than if you have no ties.

Go to a school where you will be happy (both academically and financially), which will allow you to succeed (top grades, board scores, etc) and get into whatever residency you want. One of my undergrad classmates (1 yr above me) went to VCU (more or less unranked) for med school, killed it there (AOA, top board scores/third yr grades), and matched at MGH for urology. Clearly an unranked school didn't hold him back. If you are motivated and smart, you can go to any med school, do well, and end up where you want. Don't over-think the decision...med school is only 4 years and doesn't matter too much in the long run (residency matters >>>>> than med school).
 
The difference in prestige among UVA, Stanford, and an unranked school is very difficult to measure objectively. You have to really decide what you want to get out of med school in the long run. You want to find a place that is supportive and gives you the opportunities to succeed. For me, this would include a low stress, non-competitive environment that will allow you to reach your potential as well as plentiful research opportunities in your desired field. I cannot stress this enough...UVA is very supportive and there is more or less 0 competition during the first 2 years - classmates constantly hold review sessions for other classmates...I haven't heard this as much at other schools. Second, you need to decide where you want to end up for residency. Yes, plenty of my classmates from the West Coast are able to match back there (UCSF for derm, etc - just check the previous years match lists) but it is definitely an uphill battle compared to going to Stanford for med school...just keep that in mind. Regional bias DOES exist...but if you are originally from the west coast and go to an east coast school, it is much easier to match to the west coast than if you have no ties.

Go to a school where you will be happy (both academically and financially), which will allow you to succeed (top grades, board scores, etc) and get into whatever residency you want. One of my undergrad classmates (1 yr above me) went to VCU (more or less unranked) for med school, killed it there (AOA, top board scores/third yr grades), and matched at MGH for urology. Clearly an unranked school didn't hold him back. If you are motivated and smart, you can go to any med school, do well, and end up where you want. Don't over-think the decision...med school is only 4 years and doesn't matter too much in the long run (residency matters >>>>> than med school).

Very informative post, thanks.
 
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I know that I'm just a pre-med like y'all, but one of the things that stuck out during my interview day was the fact that we had two fourth years as tour guides, so they were able to give us their input on all four years there (they both had really positive experiences). Only at a few other schools did I get fourth year tour guides; generally the tour guides were cheerful and enthusiastic first and second years (it was a little awkward being given a tour of my alma mater by someone who had only spent 3 months there and who clearly still didn't know the area that well). I feel like being told that a school is awesome by a couple of fourth years is different than being told that by first or second years. At the other instances where I had fourth year tour guides, one (awesome) tour guide gave a passionate tour and presentation of the school, but also openly offered his opinions on what he disliked about the school, which ultimately convinced me that I didn't want to go there, and in another instance, the fourth year tour guide was also an interviewer, so I felt less comfortable with asking her about what the school was bad at.
 
Really need advice on traveling to UVA. Has anyone flown into the charlottesville airport? Were you on a small turboprop plane?
 
Really need advice on traveling to UVA. Has anyone flown into the charlottesville airport? Were you on a small turboprop plane?
Yes it is always small planes. It's about 15-20 minutes from UVA.
 
If I remember correctly, the day proceeds like the list that follows. The end of the Dean talk/beginning of the lunch time might be a little off though.

10:00AM: Talk with the Dean of Admissions about U.Va. SOM
11:00AM/11:30AM: Lunch with 4th Year Medical Students then a Tour, including a presentation of the simulation center
1:30-3:30PM: Interviews
3:30PM: Financial Aid Presentation

They don't give you a schedule when you get there either. Just a list of interviewers and times that you're being interviewed.

Thanks! Judging by the 2 hours of allotted interview time I'm assuming there's 2 interviews? One with faculty and one with student?
 
Thanks! Judging by the 2 hours of allotted interview time I'm assuming there's 2 interviews? One with faculty and one with student?

Its 2 thirty minute interviews, you have a 30 minute break in between (you have them at 1:30 and 2:30 or 2 and 3:00). They're with two members of the admissions committee, some people had two faculty, some one faculty and one student. Just depends who is there I think.
 
If I remember correctly, the day proceeds like the list that follows. The end of the Dean talk/beginning of the lunch time might be a little off though.

10:00AM: Talk with the Dean of Admissions about U.Va. SOM
11:00AM/11:30AM: Lunch with 4th Year Medical Students then a Tour, including a presentation of the simulation center
1:30-3:30PM: Interviews
3:30PM: Financial Aid Presentation

They don't give you a schedule when you get there either. Just a list of interviewers and times that you're being interviewed.

what time does the finaid presentation end?
 
Hello wonderful SDNers..I'm interviewing here in a couple of weeks and was wondering if anyone had any advice. I really love this school and would greatly appreciate any help. You can PM me if you'd like 🙂 Hope everyone has a great week!
 
Any hotel recommendations for interviews? Something close and cheap of course.
 
So UVA is my number one school, but I have yet to hear anything back from them at this time. I've called a few times during the application season checking on my status to show interest as I heard that sometimes this helps. I know that there's still plenty of time to hear back, but I still can't help being nervous. Does anyone have any advice as far as calling in to check on my application? I don't want to do it too much, but at the same time I really want to show just how much I want to go to UVA.
 
So UVA is my number one school, but I have yet to hear anything back from them at this time. I've called a few times during the application season checking on my status to show interest as I heard that sometimes this helps. I know that there's still plenty of time to hear back, but I still can't help being nervous. Does anyone have any advice as far as calling in to check on my application? I don't want to do it too much, but at the same time I really want to show just how much I want to go to UVA.

Hey UVa is also my top choice too. Are you IS? Looks like they are reviewing IS people more frequently now. So maybe we will here soon? Ah what do they say when you call?
 
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