2015-2016 Stanford University Application Thread

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avgn said:
Yeah of course but there isn't even a "regular doctor at a hospital" choice. It's like academic medicine or primary care only, which doesn't cover the majority of the population I'm referring to. Ah, Stanford... 😍
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Ah I see what you mean. I guess they're lumping in anyone who's employed by a hospital or network of whatever kind as being in academic medicine.
 
avgn said:
Yeah, the secondary makes it very clear the type of people Stanford's looking for. It's so interesting that they removed "private practice" as a practice scenario choice this year! :O Are they not even interested in having a portion of their class just be regular non-primary care physicians at all?? :O

Why did you make your primary so one-sided? Are you applying to all the same type of school? What angle are you coming at it from?
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I am actually applying to a very select list of medical schools. I had to arrow it down a LOT due to finances and personal reasons (location wise as well). But yes, they are mostly primary care centered, but regional with focus on underserved. From what I keep hearing Stanford is huge on stats and research based careers, which I AM interested in, but have not shown it much on my primary or personal statement. Is that accurate? I am aiming at one school for now, worse case scenario, I'll reapply to a broader list a cycle after the next (giving myself time to make my application more competitive depending on the feedback). Hoping I wont have to though.
 
Submitted this late last night. From a stats perspective, I'm not going to blow them away. However, my activities and work experiences seem to really fit what they're looking for. We will see what happens! I'd love the opportunity to stay in the Bay Area, but I'm down for whatever happens at the end of this process.
 
charlie517 said:
I am actually applying to a very select list of medical schools. I had to arrow it down a LOT due to finances and personal reasons (location wise as well). But yes, they are mostly primary care centered, but regional with focus on underserved. From what I keep hearing Stanford is huge on stats and research based careers, which I AM interested in, but have not shown it much on my primary or personal statement. Is that accurate? I am aiming at one school for now, worse case scenario, I'll reapply to a broader list a cycle after the next (giving myself time to make my application more competitive depending on the feedback). Hoping I wont have to though.
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Yes, you're correct. But your overall strategy this cycle is pretty dangerous, it seems. Having such a narrow list of schools with a plan to reapply sounds very, very risky, but I take it you know this and did the cost-benefit analysis already. Good luck!
 
So I received my "application complete" email, and literally seconds later I got an email saying that my "application has not been selected for further
consideration."

Does this seem strange to anyone else? I know rejections start pouring in once you submit secondaries, but it seems strange that my application would be marked complete and rejected in the same minute... Oh well, so much for Stanford, I guess...
 
rawr4 said:
So I received my "application complete" email, and literally seconds later I got an email saying that my "application has not been selected for further
consideration."

Does this seem strange to anyone else? I know rejections start pouring in once you submit secondaries, but it seems strange that my application would be marked complete and rejected in the same minute... Oh well, so much for Stanford, I guess...
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That's weird. Do you have really low numbers? Check the online portal to see if your status is actually rejected and make sure the email wasn't a blimp
 
@rawr4 @avgn i think the email from stanford said decisions regarding acceptance, rejection, or waitlist aren't made available online so you might not be able to find anything related to it in the portal. does seem weird that they moved through it that quick tho unless there was something in your app that didn't meet stanford's criteria for review.
 
jagster92 said:
@rawr4 @avgn i think the email from stanford said decisions regarding acceptance, rejection, or waitlist aren't made available online so you might not be able to find anything related to it in the portal. does seem weird that they moved through it that quick tho unless there was something in your app that didn't meet stanford's criteria for review.
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Wait, you're correct! It said everything would be done via snail mail...could @rawr4 post the exact wording of the email for us?
 
the prophet said:
YOLO!
... or should i say, hopefully - YOAO (you only apply once)
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Just don't let the SDN neuroticism get to you lol. Being complete at any school before September 1 is still like pretty early. Remember that the rest of the uninformed country still takes the 10/31 deadlines seriously! 😛
 
avgn said:
Wait, you're correct! It said everything would be done via snail mail...could @rawr4 post the exact wording of the email for us?
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It's definitely not a numbers issue. It could be that I don't have enough research experience, but still it's the crazy-fast turn around that seems really strange. The email said something like "your app has not been selected for further consideration."

Perhaps I'll call and ask, but I also don't want to be "that guy" that calls about a rejection.
 
rawr4 said:
It's definitely not a numbers issue. It could be that I don't have enough research experience, but still it's the crazy-fast turn around that seems really strange. The email said something like "your app has not been selected for further consideration."

Perhaps I'll call and ask, but I also don't want to be "that guy" that calls about a rejection.
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That is strange, the only other things would be a felony conviction or you are not a US citzen?
 
rawr4 said:
It's definitely not a numbers issue. It could be that I don't have enough research experience, but still it's the crazy-fast turn around that seems really strange. The email said something like "your app has not been selected for further consideration."

Perhaps I'll call and ask, but I also don't want to be "that guy" that calls about a rejection.
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You should call because that is weird. You really don't have any other red flags?
 
I submitted about a week ago but when I went to go check my application I noticed my last essay got cut off!! The first sentence randomly starts in the middle of the sentence. It was within the character limit too...I emailed them but no response..should I call?
 
bobmccorweg said:
I've called literally 7 times for some other question but no ones answered.
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Well that's frustrating.. you'd think Stanford might be a bit more on top of their game
 
Yes, and I have not received an email back in quite a few days. I'm being patient though, I know they have plenty to deal with.
 
Caffein3 said:
Yes, and I have not received an email back in quite a few days. I'm being patient though, I know they have plenty to deal with.
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Yeah I don't think your issue would matter at all in a couple of weeks. I also emailed about something small, didn't get a response, so I just submitted and whatever lol
 
NorthOfBroad said:
That is strange, the only other things would be a felony conviction or you are not a US citzen?
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avgn said:
You should call because that is weird. You really don't have any other red flags?
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Nope, no red flags here. Just a normal, law-abiding US citizen. I just checked, and my numbers are actually a little higher than the median for Stanford, too...

Don't get me wrong, I'm completely fine receiving a rejection from them. I'd just like to know that my application was in fact reviewed (which seems somewhat questionable). Too bad it's impossible to get in touch with anyone in the admissions office... I sent an email, so I'll keep you guys posted if I hear anything.

Good luck to everyone else! Hopefully no one else has this problem.
 
Nixing private practice from the scenario question is making it a stumper.. It'd be nice to stay affiliated with the academic institution to some level whether that be a little teaching or research, but I think patient care would be the bulk of my focus at this point. Leaning towards putting primary care because I like the breadth of general internal medicine, but I'm also quite interested in orthopedics. Anybody have any more insight into this question?
 
rawr4 said:
Nope, no red flags here. Just a normal, law-abiding US citizen. I just checked, and my numbers are actually a little higher than the median for Stanford, too...

Don't get me wrong, I'm completely fine receiving a rejection from them. I'd just like to know that my application was in fact reviewed (which seems somewhat questionable). Too bad it's impossible to get in touch with anyone in the admissions office... I sent an email, so I'll keep you guys posted if I hear anything.

Good luck to everyone else! Hopefully no one else has this problem.
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Has to be a mistake. While they don't screen for secondaries, it's hard to believe your application was not reviewed. The first post said that the first pre-interview rejection wasn't until January so this would be really early. I believe you made the right move by emailing them and potentially giving them a chance to actually look into it.
 
meekachuu said:
Nixing private practice from the scenario question is making it a stumper.. It'd be nice to stay affiliated with the academic institution to some level whether that be a little teaching or research, but I think patient care would be the bulk of my focus at this point. Leaning towards putting primary care because I like the breadth of general internal medicine, but I'm also quite interested in orthopedics. Anybody have any more insight into this question?
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Yes, this is stumping me too. I also want to be primarily patient centered but I can't choose between primary care or academic medicine. I feel like if I choose primary care they'll expect me to want to be a PCP and I'm not sure I have enough research or teaching experience to back up the academic option (I would like to do research). I feel like I'm being forced to make a decision on limited options when most MS3's aren't even sure about their future practice settings. A lot of MS graduates even switch.
 
I am really leaning towards academic because I would like to do research and I like a learning environment but I also want to avoid the "Why not MD/PhD?" question lol
 
meekachuu said:
Nixing private practice from the scenario question is making it a stumper.. It'd be nice to stay affiliated with the academic institution to some level whether that be a little teaching or research, but I think patient care would be the bulk of my focus at this point. Leaning towards putting primary care because I like the breadth of general internal medicine, but I'm also quite interested in orthopedics. Anybody have any more insight into this question?
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I believe and would not be surprised to learn that Stanford's point in doing this is to make it known that they're not as invested with making regular, every day specialists who don't want to incorporate research as a large part of their careers. If I were in your shoes I would rethink the purpose of applying to a school whose demonstrated viewpoint is so unlike your own. It just may not be the best fit :shrug:
 
avgn said:
Yes, you're correct. But your overall strategy this cycle is pretty dangerous, it seems. Having such a narrow list of schools with a plan to reapply sounds very, very risky, but I take it you know this and did the cost-benefit analysis already. Good luck!
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Yup I did!! 🙂 Good luck to everyone in this cycle for Stanford!
 
starlite911 said:
Stanford has research integrated so much into their medical curriculum, so I think it would be difficult to come of as "too interested in research for straight MD"
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So how would you emphasize that you are interested in research but not in the MD/PhD (like if they ask, so...if research being integrated into the curriculum so much attracts you, why not just do MD/PhD?)?
 
bobmccorweg said:
You're overthinking it. We haven't applied to MD/PhD for a simple reason: we don't want to do a PhD. I want to do research as an MD. Stanford of all places can understand that.
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Yeah I imagine for most people who are interested in research but don't want the PhD that the main reason for not doing PhD is because of the huge amount of extra time it takes. I'm not sure if that type of answer would be politically correct though for an interview so I was trying to find a politically correct answer.
 
justadream said:
Yeah I imagine for most people who are interested in research but don't want the PhD that the main reason for not doing PhD is because of the huge amount of extra time it takes. I'm not sure if that type of answer would be politically correct though for an interview so I was trying to find a politically correct answer.
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"I want to do patient-centered research, while still maintaining a strong and active clinical career. My research and clinical goals do not necessarily require a PhD."
 
Has anyone not received a secondary? My primary was verified june 5, so I was sent out with the first batch. Should I be worried? They dont screen right?
 
justadream said:
Yeah I imagine for most people who are interested in research but don't want the PhD that the main reason for not doing PhD is because of the huge amount of extra time it takes. I'm not sure if that type of answer would be politically correct though for an interview so I was trying to find a politically correct answer.
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"I don't want to spend that many years on research" is a perfectly politically correct answer. I don't know what you're worrying off about. Like if you need someone to tell you to what to say, you're basically telling half-truths and people are going to know. Say it like it is. No one is going to dock you at a research school if you just say you don't want to get the full PhD and invest so much energy. You're interested in the amount of research Stanford gives you. Boom, done!
 
omnxbeast said:
Balancing secondary response time with paper acceptance: If I have a paper that is likely to be accepted within the next two weeks, is it worth it to wait? At the expense of making my secondary response time 1 month+. FWIW, I am first-author. I received feedback from the editor that it is ready for acceptance with a few subtle edits (hence my confidence).

Thanks.
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Submit now, send an update when accepted. Trying to guess when a paper is going to be accepted is not worth it! You never, ever know what's gonna happen with submissions even when your PI and the editor is sure, etc. etc. etc.
 
avgn said:
Submit now, send an update when accepted. Trying to guess when a paper is going to be accepted is not worth it! You never, ever know what's gonna happen with submissions even when your PI and the editor is sure, etc. etc. etc.
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The problem is they do not accept updates unless they offer you an interview. To a.) assume they will offer me an interview as is or b.) that this would play no role in whether they would or not both seem very naive.

Also, this was not talked about that much in my primary because it was unclear if (even despite writing the entire paper) I would be first author, or even that it would be finished so fast.
 
omnxbeast said:
b.) that this would play no role in whether they would or not both seem very naive.
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One pub, even first-author doesn't make or break. I forgot about the no pre-II updates, thanks. In this case, I'd wait 2 more weeks then as you surmise. Don't worry about the stupid 2-week secondary rule that people sell...it's not a real rule lmao. As soon as the publishing schedule deviates from what you think it is, submit! You don't wanna wait at the mercy of the journal for your application.
 
bobmccorweg said:
god im still waiting for my paper to be accepted 😡. im not sitting on this secondary, however. will submit either today or tomorrow.
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Yah Char Char get that in already!
 
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