2015-2016 Loyola University Chicago (Stritch) Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
What size photo did you guys upload? The instructions that were attached to the email seem quite different than the upload webpage. The instructions that were emailed gave a limit of 2x2 inches, but the upload pages just gives a 2 MB limit and asks for a "medium resolution headshot".
 
andyrayy said:
What size photo did you guys upload? The instructions that were attached to the email seem quite different than the upload webpage. The instructions that were emailed gave a limit of 2x2 inches, but the upload pages just gives a 2 MB limit and asks for a "medium resolution headshot".
Click to expand...

Just keep the file size within 2 MB.
 
So I have still not yet received a secondary invite yet. Should I be worried?
 
What are you guys doing for the challenge essay? For other prompts, I've written about either overcoming my fear of public speaking or a challenge associated with a leadership position I held. However, I think the former may be considered an "academic issue," while the latter is more of a professional conflict. Or would public speaking be okay, since it's not necessarily related to my performance in a course?
 
starlite911 said:
What are you guys doing for the challenge essay? For other prompts, I've written about either overcoming my fear of public speaking or a challenge associated with a leadership position I held. However, I think the former may be considered an "academic issue," while the latter is more of a professional conflict. Or would public speaking be okay, since it's not necessarily related to my performance in a course?
Click to expand...

Academic challenge refers to difficult courses, generally resulting in low grades.
 
starlite911 said:
What are you guys doing for the challenge essay? For other prompts, I've written about either overcoming my fear of public speaking or a challenge associated with a leadership position I held. However, I think the former may be considered an "academic issue," while the latter is more of a professional conflict. Or would public speaking be okay, since it's not necessarily related to my performance in a course?
Click to expand...
I think this is okay since the context of the issue is a leadership position in an activity. They basically just don't want to hear about your classes and MCAT.
 
For the challenge essay I'm itching to talking about managing my diabetes (because this was a huge problem for me in starting college). But it's quite personal and I am not asking for pity or anything. Is it okay to write about this as it is my gut feeling, or better to think of something else.
 
M.MD said:
Since this thread is starting to pick up steam, I just want to remind everyone that I'm happy to answer questions about the school and what 1st year was like. 🙂
Click to expand...

Are there any specific clinics that Loyola medical students volunteer at regularly or any student run clinics which are affiliated with Stritch? Having some trouble findings specifics about the service that happens on the website. Thanks for you help!
 
Are gap years taken with purpose considered "gaps or delays in education"?
 
Chicag0o said:
Photo problem can be fixed! Strange solution, but if you're on a Mac just move your photo into "Downloads" then drag the photo over Loyola's "choose image" option. That worked for me!
Click to expand...
This still isn't working for me... Anyone have any suggestions? I've tried in Safari and Chrome
 
Has anyone been able to upload their picture using a mac? I can't seem to do it...
 
waterwave10 said:
Has anyone been able to upload their picture using a mac? I can't seem to do it...
Click to expand...

Try changing the file type of your picture to a GIF. That worked for me last year when I uploaded my pic via a Mac.
 
KindleUser said:
Try changing the file type of your picture to a GIF. That worked for me last year when I uploaded my pic via a Mac.
Click to expand...
Hmm. Weird I can't save it as a GIF on my Mac. I'll just have to try on a PC. Thanks!!
 
Hanz93 said:
Are there any specific clinics that Loyola medical students volunteer at regularly or any student run clinics which are affiliated with Stritch? Having some trouble findings specifics about the service that happens on the website. Thanks for you help!
Click to expand...

KindleUser said:
Free clinic mentioned at the bottom.

http://www.stritch.luc.edu/ministry/content/community
Click to expand...

In addition to the CHC there's also the NLVS clinic. Those are the two I remember off the top of my head but there may be more.
 
Khaleesi3 said:
Do we have to talk about gaps between college and medical for that question? Or are they just referring to gaps during highschool and college?
Click to expand...

Yes, you should address your gap year in that question unless there is another prompt in the secondary that specifically asks about post-undergraduate gap years.
 
M.MD said:
Yes, you should address your gap year in that question unless there is another prompt in the secondary that specifically asks about post-undergraduate gap years.
Click to expand...

I just graduated in May, so should I just say what I'm going to do during my gap year?
 
For the prompt

"Please use the space below to further explain anything in your application that may help us in our review of your candidacy-gaps or delays in education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere, etc. (this is an optional response limited to 1500 characters)"

Are you guys going to respond?--I feel like I already addressed the issue in the personal challenge question. I didn't take any gaps or delays and such. Moreover, I kind of don't want to nitpick small things about my grades/classes.

Do you think admissions is looking for a response even though its optional?
 
effovex said:
For the prompt

"Please use the space below to further explain anything in your application that may help us in our review of your candidacy-gaps or delays in education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere, etc. (this is an optional response limited to 1500 characters)"

Are you guys going to respond?--I feel like I already addressed the issue in the personal challenge question. I didn't take any gaps or delays and such. Moreover, I kind of don't want to nitpick small things about my grades/classes.

Do you think admissions is looking for a response even though its optional?
Click to expand...

Admissions is NOT looking for a response if the question is optional. If you have something relevant to add, go ahead. Otherwise leaving the space blank is fine.
 
shweetz911 said:
I recieved a C in a course due to using my AP credit for the prior class thinking I was prepared when I really wasn't. Is this something worth noting or no?

I guess what I'm getting at is do they want a reason for your academic missteps (if there is one) or would it be better off not saying. i.e. I recieved a B- in orgo2 because I tried to do too many things during the semester. should I mention that?
Click to expand...

IIRC, if you receive an II, there will be a survey asking you to list courses that you received a grade BELOW a C. I imagine any grade equivalent to a C or better is not worth mentioning simply because you don't want to draw unnecessary attention.

Edit: a C in one or two courses over the years is not a concern. Multiple C's in a semester or a year is more likely to be viewed as an academic misstep and should probably be explained. Remember to show how you learned and grew during these times of academic difficulties. Admissions is not looking solely for excuses for sub-par grades.
 
Last edited:
KindleUser said:
IIRC, if you receive an II, there will be a survey asking you to list courses that you received a grade BELOW a C. I imagine any grade equivalent to a C or better is not worth mentioning simply because you don't want to draw unnecessary attention.

Edit: a C in one or two courses over the years is not a concern. Multiple C's in a semester or a year is more likely to be viewed as an academic misstep and should probably be explained. Remember to show how you learned and grew during these times of academic difficulties. Admissions is not looking solely for excuses for sub-par grades.
Click to expand...

Got it thanks for your input!
 
Don't bring up any academic issues that are not glaring issues. These would be low MCAT and grades that are C- or lower. I got one C+, and it was in a semester when I was taking 5 math, science, and engineering courses. I figured that the reason for the C+ was fairly obvious, and I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to a C+ when all my other grades have been B or higher.
 
hey guys, I know that this may not be the right place but I am wondering if someone can help. I transferred colleges and not all of my credits transferred. when doing the amcas app, do I entered all classes or just those classes that transferred? I requested a transcript from the college I graduated from which includes courses that transferred and that's how I am entering the info into amcas. amcas already received transcripts from both colleges. TIA
 
Medschoolboy88 said:
hey guys, I know that this may not be the right place but I am wondering if someone can help. I transferred colleges and not all of my credits transferred. when doing the amcas app, do I entered all classes or just those classes that transferred? I requested a transcript from the college I graduated from which includes courses that transferred and that's how I am entering the info into amcas. amcas already received transcripts from both colleges. TIA
Click to expand...
You enter every course you've ever taken at a college. This includes courses you took at your first university that didn't transfer to your second university. You must send the AMCAS a transcript from every college you've ever taken any classes at. This includes the school you started at and transferred out of.
 
nRomaleos said:
2 Paragraph or 500 word limit per question (absurdly high maximum):

1) Becoming a person for others is a core Jesuit value. Please describe your own development in becoming a person for others. How have you demonstrated this value?

2) Please describe a personal challenge that required resiliency or adaptability (and the skills, resources and strategies you employed to take on the challenge). DO NOT write about the MCAT, a course, or an academic issue.

3) How will you contribute to the diversity of the Stritch student body and community? Specifically, what unique traits, identities, experiences, skills and perspectives will you contribute?

4) Please use the space below to further explain anything in your application that may help us in our review of your candidacy-gaps or delays in education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere, etc. (this is an optional response limited to 1500 characters)
Click to expand...

This may be a dumb question but just want to be sure...do the instructions imply that the 500 words need to be formatted into 2 paragraphs? Or can it be any number of paragraphs as long as its under 500 words.. thanks
 
Hey Guys I am desperate. Loyola is one of my favorite schools and the admissions office said they sent me the secondary but i literally cannot find it in my email anywhere. the admissions counselor said i am screwed basically because they cant give me the url for the supplemental. Can someone please post the url? I have been invited to apply but my email lost it.
 
mdizzle17 said:
This may be a dumb question but just want to be sure...do the instructions imply that the 500 words need to be formatted into 2 paragraphs? Or can it be any number of paragraphs as long as its under 500 words.. thanks
Click to expand...

Ideally the 500 words should be formatted into 2 paragraphs.
 
Hi everyone! So, I just submitted my secondary for Stritch school of medicine, but unfortunately, they said that the school hasnt received my primary application via amcas yet. My acmas has been approved and verified already and I haven't had a problem with this before this secondary. Has anyone else had the same problem?? Thanks in advance everyone!
 
So in their email attachment to us inviting us to complete the secondary, Loyola says "It is VERY important that all letters of recommendation include your full name and AMCAS ID#"

So I never gave any of my letter writers my AMCAS ID#. I didn't know we were supposed to do that. Anyone else in the same boat? I feel like I've made a lot of errors for schools concerning letters about requirements I wasn't even aware of 🙁 Guess I should have done more research first
 
sharkbyte said:
So in their email attachment to us inviting us to complete the secondary, Loyola says "It is VERY important that all letters of recommendation include your full name and AMCAS ID#"

So I never gave any of my letter writers my AMCAS ID#. I didn't know we were supposed to do that. Anyone else in the same boat? I feel like I've made a lot of errors for schools concerning letters about requirements I wasn't even aware of 🙁 Guess I should have done more research first
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter. You're fine.
 
Hanz93 said:
For the challenge essay I'm itching to talking about managing my diabetes (because this was a huge problem for me in starting college). But it's quite personal and I am not asking for pity or anything. Is it okay to write about this as it is my gut feeling, or better to think of something else.
Click to expand...
sounds very much like a personal challenge where you would show resilience and adaptability. go with it!
 
sharkbyte said:
So in their email attachment to us inviting us to complete the secondary, Loyola says "It is VERY important that all letters of recommendation include your full name and AMCAS ID#"

So I never gave any of my letter writers my AMCAS ID#. I didn't know we were supposed to do that. Anyone else in the same boat? I feel like I've made a lot of errors for schools concerning letters about requirements I wasn't even aware of 🙁 Guess I should have done more research first
Click to expand...
Well, there are a lot of "rules" but I take them as more guidelines. Some of my letters are from 2 years ago, when I was back at school. Some say all letters need to be current. Ah well, the professors have moved on, so I'm just submitting what I have. Also, my "non science" teacher is not technically a faculty member, but an academic specialist (has a PhD). Again, I have what I have. Don't sweat it, I don't think the LORs strict rules can't be overcome with the rest of your app. My brother applied 2 cycles ago, and had more PIs than "teaching" faculty. No one batted an eye. His one non science letter was 3 years old (professore retired). Never came up that he noticed. Go with what you have, and don't worry about it, nothing you can do now.
 
For the "becoming a person for others" essay, would you advise against starting the narrative with a pre-college experience? I've avoided mentioning anything high-school related in the rest of my app, but a lot of my development in becoming a person for others was as a result of experiences in high school, which I've built upon throughout college.
 
Doc_Applicant08 said:
For the "becoming a person for others" essay, would you advise against starting the narrative with a pre-college experience? I've avoided mentioning anything high-school related in the rest of my app, but a lot of my development in becoming a person for others was as a result of experiences in high school, which I've built upon throughout college.
Click to expand...
I started with my childhood service work with Girl Scouts, to show a long term commitment in first paragraph, then the rest was work I did in College and thereafter. Shows this isn't a box checking activity, but a value deeply rooted. Go for it.
 
Doc_Applicant08 said:
For the "becoming a person for others" essay, would you advise against starting the narrative with a pre-college experience? I've avoided mentioning anything high-school related in the rest of my app, but a lot of my development in becoming a person for others was as a result of experiences in high school, which I've built upon throughout college.
Click to expand...
When the question is about your "journey" if you will, I think it is totally fine to start with stuff that happened before college, as long as the events continue up through college.
 
KindleUser said:
Yes.
Click to expand...
So does that mean to talk about gap year stuff in response to the optional question...

4) Please use the space below to further explain anything in your application that may help us in our review of your candidacy-gaps or delays in education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere, etc.

...and not the following question?

7) Please use this space to bring the information in your AMCAS application up-to-date. Please indicate additional grades earned, alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation date, address changes, additions to your list of activities, and anything else you feel we should know. If you have not been enrolled in coursework, please let us know what you have been doing since coursework ended.

I feel like it would be appropriate to talk about it in both, so I'm not sure what each is asking for.
 
starlite911 said:
So does that mean to talk about gap year stuff in response to the optional question...

4) Please use the space below to further explain anything in your application that may help us in our review of your candidacy-gaps or delays in education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere, etc.

...and not the following question?

7) Please use this space to bring the information in your AMCAS application up-to-date. Please indicate additional grades earned, alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation date, address changes, additions to your list of activities, and anything else you feel we should know. If you have not been enrolled in coursework, please let us know what you have been doing since coursework ended.

I feel like it would be appropriate to talk about it in both, so I'm not sure what each is asking for.
Click to expand...
I think gap year stuff should be addressed in response to #7. To me, #4 sounds like it means gaps in education you have completed or are working on (taking a year off between high school and college, taking a semester or a year off in college, taking a year off between undergrad and your masters, etc.) Just my two cents.
 
starlite911 said:
So does that mean to talk about gap year stuff in response to the optional question...

4) Please use the space below to further explain anything in your application that may help us in our review of your candidacy-gaps or delays in education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere, etc.

...and not the following question?

7) Please use this space to bring the information in your AMCAS application up-to-date. Please indicate additional grades earned, alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation date, address changes, additions to your list of activities, and anything else you feel we should know. If you have not been enrolled in coursework, please let us know what you have been doing since coursework ended.

I feel like it would be appropriate to talk about it in both, so I'm not sure what each is asking for.
Click to expand...

Question 4 is asking for explanations for gaps during your undergrad education, e.g taking a semester off to study for the MCAT or for personal reasons.

Question 7 is where you should address gap year activities, which occur after you have graduated.
 
just submitted the secondary app here, but where do we pay? I'm probably so over-tired that its right in front of me but i can't see it for some reason. also my status says secondary received but not my letter packet, even though all other schools I applied to had it...just wait a few days to see if the status has changed?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Loyola (Stritch)
8 9 10 11 12
Replies
575
Views
146K
bruhmoment12
B
chilly_md
2023-2024 Loyola (Stritch)
7 8 9 10 11
Replies
546
Views
162K
MrBear1999
M
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Chicago (Pritzker)
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
778
Views
211K
X0001234
X0001234
wysdoc
2022-2023 Loyola (Stritch)
8 9 10 11 12
Replies
552
Views
160K
cempasuchil
C
wysdoc
2023-2024 University of Chicago (Pritzker)
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
763
Views
216K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top