2015-2016 University of Arizona - Phoenix Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Good thing Mayo is building a satellite brach in Scottsdale for entering class of 2017. @BamaNicole has a good point regarding residency though

That would be the only concern with expanding class sizes and adding more schools

@vantheman Of the 30% of my class that is out of state, a lot of us are from California. Its a good bunch. I'm actually from California.
 
That would be the only concern with expanding class sizes and adding more schools

@vantheman Of the 30% of my class that is out of state, a lot of us are from California. Its a good bunch. I'm actually from California.

Thats good news! I hope they look kindly upon my application. It seems my learning style and personality will really fit with the school.
 
Thats good news! I hope they look kindly upon my application. It seems my learning style and personality will really fit with the school.

Californians are well represented at medical schools across the country! There's just so many applicants. There are also several Californians in my MS1 class as well. Good luck!
 
I believe I fit within the UA COM - Phoenix culture because: (required, 350 words max)

I feel that the last 12-18 months have confirmed my desire to pursue a career in medicine because: (required, 350 words max)

I understand that diversity is defined in many ways at the UA COM - Phoenix and I feel that I would add value to the diverse learning environment and mission because: (required, 350 words max)

I feel that the Admissions Committee should know this about me (note: do not repeat any aspect of your primary application or essays provided above): (required, 350 words max)

🙂

Does anyone know if a foreign literature class counts under "Humanities-related"?


HUMANITIES-RELATED
  • 1 course from the following: art, music, theater, philosophy, religion, literature, ethics, speech and communication, or gender studies.

could the humanities related course be taken pass no pass?
 
I'd ask admissions. I believe it has to be taken for a grade.

ah shoot, I took all of my music and philosophy classes pass no pass. Maybe they will let econ slide as a social science
 
5. I feel that the Admissions Committee should know this about me (note: do not repeat any aspect of your primary application or essays provided above): (required, 350 words max)

I'm having a hard time thinking of anything worth mentioning that was not mentioned, at least in passing, on AMCAS. Can I go in depth about something that I only mentioned briefly?
 
ah shoot, I took all of my music and philosophy classes pass no pass. Maybe they will let econ slide as a social science

From the Supplemental:

  • BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE-RELATED
  • 2 courses from the following: cultural anthropology, economics, healthcare administration, psychology, public policy, sociology, family studies, political science, history, or behavioral health
Econ is fine for social science.
 
Actually there is. At the Wesley Center, the population we see is mostly Hispanic. You could see patients here even as a 1st or 2nd year. Its one of my favorite activities. Also, our program SHOT is opening a clinic to try to give services to the homeless population in Phoenix. We also have opportunities in the summer where you can take a rural rotation for 6 weeks to help underserved areas. My friend went to Fort Defiance, New Mexico near the Navajo reservation and did a rotation. You can also work with Native children for a week at a diabetes preventation summer camp.



That's a really good point, however, if you chose to increase the number of schools we must also consider the increase in residency spots. You can train doctors all day and give them a degree but in the US that's meaningless without a residency spot.

Also, schools and programs are sensitive to the needs of the population in terms of healthcare not in terms of the demand for medical school spots.

Residency spots in Arizona are not as competitive as most people like you to believe in terms of noncompetitive specialties. Look at the list of residents in Banner Phoenix, U of A etc. In IM, Family med, Ob gyn, Peds there are large number of IMG/Carribean students. Most of the AMG are from Arizona. If arizona graduates more students, most of them will likely stay in the state. This will displace some of the IMG that are being matched into the state, which spells bad news for them but great for program directors since they will be getting their top choices of residents. If the number of spots are increased in medical schools, I don't think any of them will have a huge issue matching into primary care specialities in Arizona, which we have a great shortage of docs especially in rural areas.

FYI, i do agree we need more residency spots to train more doctors but more priority needs to be given to graduate more medical students since there is high demand but lack of schools/spots in this state. The increase in residency spots will follow if more people are interested in practicing in Arizona after medical school.
 
Residency spots in Arizona are not as competitive as most people like you to believe in terms of noncompetitive specialties. Look at the list of residents in Banner Phoenix, U of A etc. In IM, Family med, Ob gyn, Peds there are large number of IMG/Carribean students.

I wasn't talking about competitiveness. I was talking about shear number. For example, we need more family medicine residencies.....but there is no money for it. Many good in state students actually do have to go out of state for training because there isn't enough residencies here.

Priority needs to be given to fund more residency spots (which is funded by medicare) before you can responsibly expand the number of medical schools. Otherwise, you may graduate students who cannot practice medicine and are eye balls deep in debt because they cannot match to a residency.
 
Hey! Can someone give me a short list of a few of the organizations that provide medical care to underserved communities? Or send me the link of where I can find this information. Thanks! 🙂
 
Hey! Can someone give me a short list of a few of the organizations that provide medical care to underserved communities? Or send me the link of where I can find this information. Thanks! 🙂

If you have specific interests, PM me and I can let you know if a group exists for it. There's many clinical and non-clinical outreach student organizations here. And if we don't have it, you could be the one who starts it!

Edit: For those who are interested: www.uacomps.org/chip/programs
 
Last edited:
This has got to be the most difficult secondary I have had yet this application cycle. I have had longer secondaries than this one, but for some reason the questions, especially that last question saying "tell us something else about yourself," are really giving me fits.
 
Question: does everyone who has a complete app have a line saying "Interview - Not scheduled yet" at the bottom of their status screen?
 
Yeah I do too. I think everyone gets that so don't read too much into it.

ChillDawg in the other other UofA forum said he's been complete for a week now and it doesn't have that line...
 
ChillDawg in the other other UofA forum said he's been complete for a week now and it doesn't have that line...
I have it for UA Phoenix, but not Tucson.
 
Anyone know how receptive they are to "in the area" emails?
 
IS re-applicant, Lizzy M ~68, not offered an interview last year, complete on 7-19 and already offered an interview to UA Tucson this year. My question is; if I've been passed up for the first round of II, should i be concerned?

Of course, this is assuming they didn't have a cut-off date for interview review before 7-19.

There's so many factors that go into deciding interviews from my understanding (disclaimer: only a student not on admissions). You're reviewers may not be ready with a decision just yet where others had faster reviewers and so they got an interview before you.

I wouldn't lose hope just yet. I don't think there's a cut off date its just a difference in reviewing rates.
 
Hey everyone! Current MS2 here, willing to answer questions on this thread or via PM. First batch of interviewees have arrived and I'm very excited for all of you in this process. Application season is harrowing for almost everyone and I'm here to to help out any way I can, just as other medical students did back when I applied. UACOM-Phoenix is a great school with a phenomenal faculty/staff and student body. The ratio of pros/cons are heavily tipped toward the pros. However, I will try to answer questions as candidly as possible.
 
Hey everyone! Current MS2 here, willing to answer questions on this thread or via PM. First batch of interviewees have arrived and I'm very excited for all of you in this process. Application season is harrowing for almost everyone and I'm here to to help out any way I can, just as other medical students did back when I applied. UACOM-Phoenix is a great school with a phenomenal faculty/staff and student body. The ratio of pros/cons are heavily tipped toward the pros. However, I will try to answer questions as candidly as possible.

Hey thanks for taking the time to drop into the thread. Do you know when UACOM-Phoenix plans on sending out their next batch of Interview Invites?

+1 But also, I know that UACOM-Phoenix isn't that great about OOS applicants. Any idea what they look for in OOS applicants? I have strong ties to Arizona (my dad's entire family lives there, and I have visited every year since I was 2. They all live around Phoenix (Maricopa, Gilbert, Prescott), and I really love the school and am a little higher than average for its stats. I'm really hoping for an II here, but I'm not sure how practical that is.
 
I know a current medical student there from OOS, and his stats were just about the median of the schools admission stats. I think fit is the main priority for them.

Okay, thanks! I tried to explain to them why I would fit with their program and student life in the first essay (along with everyone else who applied) so I guess I'll just have to endure this long wait to see if they agree with my reasons.
 
Hey thanks for taking the time to drop into the thread. Do you know when UACOM-Phoenix plans on sending
out their next batch of Interview Invites?

I don't have an exact date for you. Dr. Cunningham who drops by these forums may have a more specific answer. I would expect they sent out interview invites throughout the fall up until January. I received my interview invite in December for the last interview date in January. Good luck to you! Remain patient.

+1 But also, I know that UACOM-Phoenix isn't that great about OOS applicants. Any idea what they look for in OOS applicants? I have strong ties to Arizona (my dad's entire family lives there, and I have visited every year since I was 2. They all live around Phoenix (Maricopa, Gilbert, Prescott), and I really love the school and am a little higher than average for its stats. I'm really hoping for an II here, but I'm not sure how practical that is.

I am an OOS student and I can tell you that I have no idea what about me stood out among all the other phenomenal OOS applicants. I also did not have any strong ties to the state. The admissions committee really does read every single word of your application and determine if you are a good fit for the school. For me, I'm a non-traditional student and I did a significant amount of research in my "previous career". It's true what they say about medical school admissions -- it's a crapshoot. By sheer numbers, the odds are indeed stacked against OOS students. However, it seems like with your strong ties, you have a better case than most OOSers. I apologize if this answer isn't more helpful. Good luck!
 
I don't have an exact date for you. Dr. Cunningham who drops by these forums may have a more specific answer. I would expect they sent out interview invites throughout the fall up until January. I received my interview invite in December for the last interview date in January. Good luck to you! Remain patient.



I am an OOS student and I can tell you that I have no idea what about me stood out among all the other phenomenal OOS applicants. I also did not have any strong ties to the state. The admissions committee really does read every single word of your application and determine if you are a good fit for the school. For me, I'm a non-traditional student and I did a significant amount of research in my "previous career". It's true what they say about medical school admissions -- it's a crapshoot. By sheer numbers, the odds are indeed stacked against OOS students. However, it seems like with your strong ties, you have a better case than most OOSers. I apologize if this answer isn't more helpful. Good luck!

Thanks for your response! Fingers crossed, I guess!
 
Received my interview invite this evening! I received my undergrad degree from UA so this is definitely a top choice for me. Bear Down!!

EDIT: Posted in the wrong UA forum lol
 
Last edited:
+1 But also, I know that UACOM-Phoenix isn't that great about OOS applicants. Any idea what they look for in OOS applicants? I have strong ties to Arizona (my dad's entire family lives there, and I have visited every year since I was 2. They all live around Phoenix (Maricopa, Gilbert, Prescott), and I really love the school and am a little higher than average for its stats. I'm really hoping for an II here, but I'm not sure how practical that is.

As far as public schools go, we're reasonably friendly to out of staters. Our OOS students seem fairly similar to our IS ones from what I can tell.
 
As far as public schools go, we're reasonably friendly to out of staters. Our OOS students seem fairly similar to our IS ones from what I can tell.

Thanks for the reply! It's good to know that you're more friendly. I'm mostly worried because I'm from Georgia, and I know people have said that a lot of your OOS people are from California. Georgia's a long way away. Haha.
 
Thanks for the reply! It's good to know that you're more friendly. I'm mostly worried because I'm from Georgia, and I know people have said that a lot of your OOS people are from California. Georgia's a long way away. Haha.

Californians are actually well represented across the country, largely because they produce a lot of applicants. My class specifically has people from Florida, Wisconsin, etc. Don't lose hope!
 
Top