2015-2016 University of California - Los Angeles (Geffen) Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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Does anyone know what they are looking for when they want us to explain the gap between graduation and matriculation?

  • Has there been or will there be a gap between achieving your last degree (baccalaureate or other degrees post baccalaureate) and the expected time of medical school matriculation? (yes or no). If yes, please explain.
 
msavvy said:
Does anyone know what they are looking for when they want us to explain the gap between graduation and matriculation?

  • Has there been or will there be a gap between achieving your last degree (baccalaureate or other degrees post baccalaureate) and the expected time of medical school matriculation? (yes or no). If yes, please explain.
Click to expand...

talk about what you have been doing since graduation, and what you plan on doing this gap year.
you can take this space to describe your activities a little bit more, and relate them to medicine (if they do), though im sure if you just listed stuff, that'd be fine too

basically, the only people who don't answer this question are people who are currently in their last year of school (aka seniors in college, 2nd years of masters, etc); everybody else would have had a break between regular school and starting medical school
 
sunflower18 said:
Incoming MS1 here!!! I don't know much yet but I'm happy to answer questions about the app process now. In a month or so, I'll be able to speak to the actual school much better too! Really excited for y'all 🙂 🙂 🙂
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What is your future living situation looking like?
 
For this question from the secondary last year (I assume it will be the same):

"Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life?"

Is tutoring a "non-academic" activity? (Sorry if this is a dumb question).
 
cactusinmyhead said:
For this question from the secondary last year (I assume it will be the same):

"Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life?"

Is tutoring a "non-academic" activity? (Sorry if this is a dumb question).
Click to expand...

I assume that anything that doesn't directly involve school should work.
 
atrain2080 said:
If there is any hardship to which you would like the committee to give special attention in evaluating your application, then check the box labeled 'Hardship' and briefly explain why you are indicating a hardship. Include any geographic, language, economic, academic, physical, or mental factors.

Is it ok to include stuff from my disadvantaged essay in my primary? I am also going to add more recent stuff but just wondering if it would be too repetitive.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't copy and paste, but I think it's absolutely fine to include the same general information.
 
wait... are their secondary essay topics out for this cycle? or are people just pre-writing based on last year's?
 
I just realized I only have two writing courses in my undergraduate record (did it at UCLA).

I used credit (if I recall correctly) to fulfill the introductory writing course, so I satisfied the university writing requirement for me to graduate, but I may not have the required number of writing courses for the medical school!

Has anyone been in this situation?
 
bluemachine said:
talk about what you have been doing since graduation, and what you plan on doing this gap year.
you can take this space to describe your activities a little bit more, and relate them to medicine (if they do), though im sure if you just listed stuff, that'd be fine too

basically, the only people who don't answer this question are people who are currently in their last year of school (aka seniors in college, 2nd years of masters, etc); everybody else would have had a break between regular school and starting medical school
Click to expand...
What if an applicant is pursuing a one year M.S program between college graduation and matriculation? would that still be considered a "gap" year? Thank you all in advance.
 
thenewed said:
What if an applicant is pursuing a one year M.S program between college graduation and matriculation? would that still be considered a "gap" year? Thank you all in advance.
Click to expand...
It won't take long to explain that. Might as well.
 
thenewed said:
What if an applicant is pursuing a one year M.S program between college graduation and matriculation? would that still be considered a "gap" year? Thank you all in advance.
Click to expand...
No, that's not a gap year. gap from education
 
Anybody know exactly how to interpret your application status?
I received one of the "We have noted that you applied here through AMCAS, and we will conduct a preliminary review of our applicants through December" emails. I clicked on the link in the email to check the status of my application. (Note: when you do this, be sure to change your application year to 2016). I am an MSTP candidate, and by "MSTP Supplemental Information," it said "Requested" as of July 3, 2015. This was way before I even got the email from them yesterday.
When I click on the "Requested" button, it tells me that I have been selected to fill out the rest of the form. It looks like a secondary with lots of essays, and it costs the $80 that I have written down for the secondary. Does this mean I passed the screening?! (Super exciting possibility!) Does anyone else see this?

EDIT: Just found this webpage. Looks like it is a secondary, but that "most" applicants get one. Still kinda exciting! 🙂
http://mstp.healthsciences.ucla.edu/application-procedure
 
Last edited:
Got the "application under review" email as well. Does anyone know the manner by which UCLA screens? Is it just stats based or is it a combination of stats and the rest of the application?
 
starfun21 said:
Anybody know exactly how to interpret your application status?
Does this mean I passed the screening?! (Super exciting possibility!) Does anyone else see this?

EDIT: Just found this webpage. Looks like it is a secondary, but that "most" applicants get one. Still kinda exciting! 🙂
http://mstp.healthsciences.ucla.edu/application-procedure
Click to expand...


sharkbyte said:
Got the "application under review" email as well. Does anyone know the manner by which UCLA screens? Is it just stats based or is it a combination of stats and the rest of the application?
Click to expand...

i think at least last year, all mstp applicants automatically receive secondaries (no screen). for regular md (geffen)/prime/drew, they invite about 1/3 of all applicants to a complete a secondary. and ucla definitely looks at everything holistically. there have been many of us (me included) where our stats were below UCLA's median but not only were we invited for a secondary, but also for an interview and eventually accepted. UCLA is one of the schools which really values the intangibles, such as your personal statement, e.c's, LOR's, etc.
 
Does anyone know if the 800 characters include spaces?
 
Out of all the schools that I applied to there were only 4 that actually prescreened their applicants before inviting them for secondaries, UCLA being one.
 
For all you who got secondaries did they change the prompts from last years. @phuynh94 Im tagging you again because your bound to get one lol.
 
Thats_L-DOPA_Dude said:
For all you who got secondaries did they change the prompts from last years. @phuynh94 Im tagging you again because your bound to get one lol.
Click to expand...
Ahaha, I'm flattered, but I have not received one yet. I'll let you know if I do! 🙂 Please let us know as soon as you receive one as well!
 
Last year, this was the last secondary I received out of all the schools I applied to. I got the UCLA secondary on August 1.
 
Long Way to Go said:
I feel like a *****, but I have received a secondary invite and I literally cannot find the link to log onto their website
Click to expand...
I can't either. Whaaat. The status page doesn't take you to anything but your status. Which is currently empty for me bc obvi I can't find the link......
 
Long Way to Go said:
I feel like a *****, but I have received a secondary invite and I literally cannot find the link to log onto their website
Click to expand...

The invite for me wasn't there for me until a few minutes after I got the email
 
+1 on the secondary, I'm also a re-applicant to this school. IS
 
Also received a secondary. Of the people who got one, did you guys already have your LOR in? Just wondering if they might have taken those into account for the screening. Mine were in on the 2nd.
 
GrinningAlpaca said:
Also received a secondary. Of the people who got one, did you guys already have your LOR in? Just wondering if they might have taken those into account for the screening. Mine were in on the 2nd.
Click to expand...
Mine were not in, I was wondering this too.
 
GrinningAlpaca said:
Also received a secondary. Of the people who got one, did you guys already have your LOR in? Just wondering if they might have taken those into account for the screening. Mine were in on the 2nd.
Click to expand...
+1 OOS, LOR sent in 7/2 as well
 
The questions they ask about disadvantage are really long. Intense!
 
Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life: (800 max)



What has been the ONE most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated? (800 max)


What has been the ONE most important volunteer work you have done and why was it meaningful? (800 max)


Has there been or will there be a gap between achieving your last degree (baccalaureate or other degrees post baccalaureate) and the

expected time of medical school matriculation? (yes or no). If yes, please explain. (800 max)


What is the ONE most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important? (800 max)


What has been your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities)?

Describe one and give number of hours, dates and advisor. (800 max)


Describe a problem in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth. (800 max)


List major paid work experience during (or since) college. Give dates, description, approximate hours worked

(list the most recent first). (800 max


If there is any hardship to which you would like the committee to give special attention in evaluating your application, then check the

box labeled "hardship" and briefly explain why you are indicating a hardship.Include any geographic, language, economic, academic,

physical, or mental factors. (800 max)


Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What experiences have led you to this goal? (800 max)
 
How did you find the link for the supplemental? I can't find it lol. My e-mail says the "2016 UCLA applicant Status database". help please
 
My LORs are listed as being in on the status page, however I know that 3 of mine have not been submitted yet. Weird.
 
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