2015-2016 University of Arizona Application Thread

[Ismet]

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Space reserved for prompt.

Please PM the essays or lack thereof to me when the secondary is available and I will update this.

Good luck to everyone applying!

 

[FrancisActovich]

Applying OOS! Good luck everybody!!

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

Whats the consensus here on OOS?

 

[mk2015]

Also applying here OOS. Curious to how they see OOS applicants as well. all I've read on their website was that they originally only accepted in state but expanded to something like "exceptional out of state applicants" to paraphrase.

 

[dextertrip]

They are ALLOWED to admit 50% out of state. While they have offered more than 50% to IS, they are a lot more friendly to out OOS than most public schools. A lot come from California

 

[oobie]

Applying IS! Went here for Undergrad, so hopefully they give me some good news! If anyone wants to know about Tucson, Arizona, just ask or PM! Bear down!

 

[gdb]

Do the Phoenix and Tuscon campuses carry out the same curriculum? If I remember correctly, the MSAR showed that they require slightly different credit hours for some courses.

 

[musicalscientists]

I'll be applying here. I have ties to Arizona, as my parents live and work in healthcare in the Phoenix area. Although, I'm independent, and I'm a WA state resident. Thus, applying OOS! 🙂

 

[goldy490]

Hello, fellow OOS Applicants! Sending in an app all the way from Florida, good luck to everyone!

 

[runs4chocolate]

I was hoping it'd be like the PHX campus and pump out the secondaries early!

 

[sharkbyte]

Just received the secondary!

 

[mk2015]

Secondary received !

 

[sharkbyte]

Prompts (each 350 words max):

• Please share a meaningful experience you have had working or volunteering in the health professional field or a time in your past in which you were responsible for the care and well-being of someone else. What did you learn from this as it relates to becoming a physician>

• Discuss a time in your life in which you have failed at something other than an academic experience. How did you confront the failure and what did you learn from it? Please describe how you typically approach challenges that you face in your life.

• "The mission of the University of Arizona College of Medicine Office of Admissions is to select a diverse cohort of students who will become the future leaders in advancing health care to the distinct communities that comprise Arizona and the United States. Consistent with the mission of The University of Arizona College of Medicine, selection of individuals with a demonstrated commitment to serve as care providers, physician scientists, clinical leaders, medical educators and/or public health experts, including advocates for rural and urban underserved populations, is highly valued. Applicants seeking admission should exhibit qualities of altruism, academic excellence, leadership and dedication to becoming lifelong learners through research endeavors and academic development."
  
  Please describe the role(s) you can play in helping the College of Medicine to achieve its mission.

• Describe the effect that your experiences with engaging diversity have had on your own growth and development. Provide an example and describe how it will impact your career in the medical profession.

 

[meeper2k15]

Those of you who got secondaries, how long ago were you verified?

 

[Proteinz]

Those of you who got secondaries, how long ago were you verified?

June 18th

 

[sharkbyte]

Those of you who got secondaries, how long ago were you verified?

June 5th.

 

[Spector1]

I was verified 7/6 but still havent gotten secondaries from either UArizona campuses

 

[runs4chocolate]

Those of you who got secondaries, how long ago were you verified?

June 10th. But I'm also IS if that makes a difference.

 

[mk2015]

Verified June 10th. OOS, secondary from both campuses.

 

[MD_Hopeful_2020]

So what's the deal with LORs? I submitted my secondary, and under the 'Document Status" there's just some plain text that says "references." Does this mean they have them or what? So confused because they don't even have a little checkbox for LORs in the "status" tab.

 

[Cawolf]

Submitted! 🙂

Hi @oobie.

 

[oobie]

Hi @Cawolf! Your MCAT scores seem a bit high to be applying to UA. But I know you'll get in sooner or later. We're applying to a few places together (I'm still waiting on my primary to be verified). Good luck!

 

[Cawolf]

Hi @Cawolf! Your MCAT scores seem a bit high to be applying to UA. But I know you'll get in sooner or later. We're applying to a few places together (I'm still waiting on my primary to be verified). Good luck!

Hey! Good luck with your verification.

I have a pretty big stat disparity so overall, I am well under average for UA. Hoping for the best!

 

[huskygirl123]

Verified on 7/20, secondaries received today 7/22 OOS

 

[Gandyy]

I am having a hard time putting 350 words down for some of these prompts. I need like 500 words....

 

[sharkbyte]

Finally submitted this secondary after two weeks of procrastination + staring at the questions wondering what to write.

 

[Dr.Pilot]

Finally submitted this secondary after two weeks of procrastination + staring at the questions wondering what to write.

That's exactly the reason I took so long to finish mine!

 

[vantheman]

That's exactly the reason I took so long to finish mine!

Finally submitted this secondary after two weeks of procrastination + staring at the questions wondering what to write.

Did you two interpret the first question as one single experience (i.e a interaction with a patient), or a culmination of experiences (i.e. Scribing) ?

 

[hrbird]

Finally submitted this secondary after two weeks of procrastination + staring at the questions wondering what to write.

Me too, finally submitted. OOS. Good luck!

 

[Dr.Pilot]

Did you two interpret the first question as one single experience (i.e a interaction with a patient), or a culmination of experiences (i.e. Scribing) ?

Due to the 350 word limit I chose to highlight only one experience. I'm sure you can do it either way, though.

 

[sharkbyte]

Did you two interpret the first question as one single experience (i.e a interaction with a patient), or a culmination of experiences (i.e. Scribing) ?

I interpreted it as the latter, so I talked about my entire experience shadowing a doctor and what I learned from it.

 

[Pickle808]

submitted my secondary today! Hope there's some love for a guy from Hawaii

 

[gkberger]

So what's the deal with LORs? I submitted my secondary, and under the 'Document Status" there's just some plain text that says "references." Does this mean they have them or what? So confused because they don't even have a little checkbox for LORs in the "status" tab.

Have the same issue submitted over a week ago...just a references tab that is blank. My letters were uploaded to AMCAS mid-June so I know they're there

 

[JacktheRipper]

good luck to everyone applying. Ran across 2014 data from AAMC on people applying to MD medical schools from different states (https://www.aamc.org/download/321466/data/factstable5.pdf). It seems people applying as Arizona resident have the highest rejection rate for medical school out of all of the states (69.9%). They also have the third highest number of applicants applying in the West Region. I have seen complaints from many people during the past few years on how many qualified people are not considered by U of A in Phoenix and Tucson and many fail to apply to enough schools. According to data set only 15% matriculated in stated and 16% matriculated out of state. Compared to other states it is quite obvious that people applying from Arizona are not applying to enough out of state schools and I urge everyone to not take this lightly and apply broadly. Last thing anyone wants is to not get into a medical school due to not applying to enough places. In addition, the other issue is there are only 2 MD schools in Arizona accepting <200 students out of ~900 students applying as opposed to other states where they have a better spots:applicant ratios. There are just not enough medical schools and number of spots for the amount of demand in this state. Main reason is lack of funding and we as a community are not doing a good enough job of talking to our representatives in this state to invest and fund more of these schools and encourage more medical schools to meet this demand.

 

[DoctorDoom11]

Have the same issue submitted over a week ago...just a references tab that is blank. My letters were uploaded to AMCAS mid-June so I know they're there

Also having the same issue....

 

[Anomandaris]

Also having the same issue....

I called their office about this and they said that "references" tab is for letters of recommendation that were sent directly to the school (not through AMCAS). So unless you sent something directly to them after you submitted your primary, that page SHOULD be blank.

 

[DoctorDoom11]

I called their office about this and they said that "references" tab is for letters of recommendation that were sent directly to the school (not through AMCAS). So unless you sent something directly to them after you submitted your primary, that page SHOULD be blank.

Hmm weird now all my letters show up in the references tab.

 

[Anomandaris]

Hmm weird now all my letters show up in the references tab.

Either way, I don't think it matters much. Perhaps that was just what the person at the office thought was supposed to happen, but as long as it says your application is complete/ready (I don't remember their exact wording) you should be fine.

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

Don't think I will be able to obtain a physician's letter, seems like this school really wants one...Worth submitting my app anyways or no?? :/

 

[JacktheRipper]

Don't think I will be able to obtain a physician's letter, seems like this school really wants one...Worth submitting my app anyways or no?? :/

I did not have a physician's letter but 5 strong letters from professors (3 in science, 1 in research and 1 in non-science) and I was accepted to this school. You are not the only one submitting without a physician's letter and is only useful if its going to be a STRONG letter which is hard to get from just shadowing. As long as you have decent clinical experience (>100hrs) and good motivation, I would still go ahead and apply.

 

[sharkbyte]

Don't think I will be able to obtain a physician's letter, seems like this school really wants one...Worth submitting my app anyways or no?? :/

I thought it was the Phoenix campus that wanted a physician letter? I could be wrong, though

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

I did not have a physician's letter but 5 strong letters from professors (3 in science, 1 in research and 1 in non-science) and I was accepted to this school. You are not the only one submitting without a physician's letter and is only useful if its going to be a STRONG letter which is hard to get from just shadowing. As long as you have decent clinical experience (>100hrs) and good motivation, I would still go ahead and apply.

Thanks 🙂

Dang, I have wasted like 4 days just having this application done and not-submitted bc I was worried about the physician LOR :/

 

[judb16]

By looking at past years, it looks like they don't send out II's until around August 18th.

Anyone agree or disagree?

 

[runs4chocolate]

By looking at past years, it looks like they don't send out II's until around August 18th.

Anyone agree or disagree?

Agreed-- when I went searching that's what I found too.

 

[roose911]

Prompts (each 350 words max):

• Please share a meaningful experience you have had working or volunteering in the health professional field or a time in your past in which you were responsible for the care and well-being of someone else. What did you learn from this as it relates to becoming a physician>

• Discuss a time in your life in which you have failed at something other than an academic experience. How did you confront the failure and what did you learn from it? Please describe how you typically approach challenges that you face in your life.

• "The mission of the University of Arizona College of Medicine Office of Admissions is to select a diverse cohort of students who will become the future leaders in advancing health care to the distinct communities that comprise Arizona and the United States. Consistent with the mission of The University of Arizona College of Medicine, selection of individuals with a demonstrated commitment to serve as care providers, physician scientists, clinical leaders, medical educators and/or public health experts, including advocates for rural and urban underserved populations, is highly valued. Applicants seeking admission should exhibit qualities of altruism, academic excellence, leadership and dedication to becoming lifelong learners through research endeavors and academic development."
  
  Please describe the role(s) you can play in helping the College of Medicine to achieve its mission.

• Describe the effect that your experiences with engaging diversity have had on your own growth and development. Provide an example and describe how it will impact your career in the medical profession.

So this is the prompt for secondaries for every person right? Just making sure.

 

[UCIpremed4]

So this is the prompt for secondaries for every person right? Just making sure.

Yes

 

[Pickle808]

Submitted secondary on 7/25. Have not received and II yet
OOS
29 MCAT
3.79CGPA
3.75BCPM

 

[judb16]

Submitted secondary on 7/25. Have not received and II yet 🙁 Hopes are high though..
OOS
29 MCAT (retake; raised exam from 25 MCAT)
3.79CGPA
3.75BCPM
3.86 AO GPA
Chemistry Degree

No one has. Last year they didn't go out until the 18th. You're fine.

 

[ChillDawg]

Argh, this secondary is a killer. How is nobody else complaining about this?

 

[sharkbyte]

Argh, this secondary is a killer. How is nobody else complaining about this?

I found both Arizona schools's secondaries to be very tough. I did some pre-writing for this one, which helped, but there was a lot of blank staring at the screen for this one.