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

[wintersrain]

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i think that's fine to talk about something you're passionate about. adcoms understand that people get busier in college, but as long as other parts of your app show that you're still somehow involved in music, then i think its a great answer. its good to give them a well-rounded view of yourself

Thanks for the advice! My app actually doesn't mention piano elsewhere cuz I didn't put any hobbies in my primary :/ I think I might still go ahead and write about it though? And then just mention at end that I only play recreational now.

 

[omnxbeast]

Received secondary with most recent batch of people the other day...OOS...LizzyM 73 +/- 1...Verified 6/22

 

[NotAnotherPreMed]

Hey so for the UCLA prompts for most meaningful experiences in different categories etc. are you guys just using the descriptions you had for the Work/Activities section of the primary app and adding a 100 characters to it? Or are you doing something different?

 

[kubb_champ]

Hello,

I know this is not the UCLA/Drew thread but there does not seem to be one. Could anyone tell us if they have received a secondary invite from UCLA/Drew?

 

[VitalBeansprout]

Hello,

I know this is not the UCLA/Drew thread but there does not seem to be one. Could anyone tell us if they have received a secondary invite from UCLA/Drew?

You should create one!

 

[thenewed]

Hello,

I know this is not the UCLA/Drew thread but there does not seem to be one. Could anyone tell us if they have received a secondary invite from UCLA/Drew?

Hey, I emailed them and this what the ad com said: '
Primary applications will be reviewed at the beginning of August. And secondary applications should be sent out by the end of August.'

 

[washustudent]

For one of the questions, "Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life," does non-academic mean something in college, like an extracurricular activity? Can I put traveling as my most important?

 

[thenewed]

For one of the questions, "Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life," does non-academic mean something in college, like an extracurricular activity? Can I put traveling as my most important?

You can if traveling helped me become more cultural aware and perhaps more competent in a foreign language. I think the aim of these questions is to see how any kind of involvement helped you improve into a better person... (this is my opinion, at least).

 

[musicalfeet]

When do you guys think I should start worrying about not getting a secondary? :X

 

[VitalBeansprout]

When do you guys think I should start worrying about not getting a secondary? :X

Last year my friend got UCLA last (end of July) and he had a near 4.0 and 36MCAT.

 

[omnxbeast]

For one of the questions, "Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity that has been important in your life," does non-academic mean something in college, like an extracurricular activity? Can I put traveling as my most important?

What about research...is that academic or nonacademic 😵

 

[thenewed]

Does anyone know if the admission committee will e-mail applicants whether they are truly 'financially disadvantaged'? I filled out the form after getting the seconday, so I am just wondering if the ad com looks at it after you submit your secondary.
Thanks !

 

[bluemachine]

Does anyone know if the admission committee will e-mail applicants whether they are truly 'financially disadvantaged'? I filled out the form after getting the seconday, so I am just wondering if the ad com looks at it after you submit your secondary.
Thanks !

the adcom definitely looks at it, but i dont think you will get an email stating that you "passed their test" or something. it will just be another thing they take into consideration when they look at your entire application.

 

[bumblebee611]

Is anyone else working on this secondary now and having trouble saving their work? I did part of mine, saved it, and have come back to it to fill in some more and now it won't let me save--I hit update and then it gives me some message about an internal server error. When I re-login to the page, my new work is not there anymore (but the original work is). I have tried Chrome and Firefox (I'm using a Mac) and will try IE and Safari next ....

 

[phuynh94]

Is anyone else working on this secondary now and having trouble saving their work? I did part of mine, saved it, and have come back to it to fill in some more and now it won't let me save--I hit update and then it gives me some message about an internal server error. When I re-login to the page, my new work is not there anymore (but the original work is). I have tried Chrome and Firefox (I'm using a Mac) and will try IE and Safari next ....

I had this problem, and (for me at least) it was due to having a typo in one of my essays. If there's a red squigley line in any of your responses, it won't save.

 

[bumblebee611]

I had this problem, and (for me at least) it was due to having a typo in one of my essays. If there's a red squigley line in any of your responses, it won't save.

Thanks for the tip! I will check! I'm wondering if the problem is popping up in the employment history question--I've been out of school a long time and had a lot of jobs and my entry is quite long and detailed.

 

[Spector1]

When do you guys think I should start worrying about not getting a secondary? :X

same here, I was verified on 7/6 and got an email saying they are screening it but havent heard back from those folks since

 

[kilez12]

same here, I was verified on 7/6 and got an email saying they are screening it but havent heard back from those folks since

I was verified on 7/08 and still have not gotten it either... so maybe we shouldn't worry yet! 🙂

 

[RudyRude]

same here, I was verified on 7/6 and got an email saying they are screening it but havent heard back from those folks since

I was verified on 7/08 and still have not gotten it either... so maybe we shouldn't worry yet! 🙂

Good to know I'm not alone here. Verified the same time about, havent heard a damn thing! And if they screen based off of stats, I'm pretty sure i should make the cut.

One more thing, I realized I forgot to add UC davis to my list of schools, so i added it on monday. Yet, they're the ONLY UC who have send me a seconday.... dafuqs going on

 

[meekachuu]

no worries dude, I still haven't got secondaries from davis, sf, sd, or riverside. (38 mcat, 3.99) It seems pretty random

 

[sharkbyte]

Just got a secondary!!!! IS, 3.7/33, AMCAS verified June 5, received preliminary email from UCLA July 7. Yay!!

 

[neoneurohocuspocus]

Just received a secondary invite! Verified 7/14.

 

[ChillDawg]

+1, verified 7/16.

 

[bobmccorweg]

damn i was verified 7/14 but I haven't heard from them 🙁

 

[chezbi]

got my secondary today! verified 7/14
34/3.8 OOS

 

[omnxbeast]

Hey so for the UCLA prompts for most meaningful experiences in different categories etc. are you guys just using the descriptions you had for the Work/Activities section of the primary app and adding a 100 characters to it? Or are you doing something different?

This...anyone?

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Secondary received! Verified 4 days ago. Probably my top choice school.

 

[soccerusa]

For everyone worried about not getting a secondary yet:

My primary was verified on the pest day last year and I had a 3.9/39. I didn't get a secondary until first week of August and then didn't get an interview invite until November. I ended up getting Geffen scholarship. There is no need to worry about timing. UCLA seems to take their time as their entire process seems to be very diligent and holistic.

 

[phuynh94]

For everyone worried about not getting a secondary yet:

My primary was verified on the pest day last year and I had a 3.9/39. I didn't get a secondary until first week of August and then didn't get an interview invite until November. I ended up getting Geffen scholarship. There is no need to worry about timing. UCLA seems to take their time as their entire process seems to be very diligent and holistic.

You, my friend, are such an inspiration. Thank you for keeping us grounded and hopeful! 🙂

 

[kilez12]

For everyone worried about not getting a secondary yet:

My primary was verified on the pest day last year and I had a 3.9/39. I didn't get a secondary until first week of August and then didn't get an interview invite until November. I ended up getting Geffen scholarship. There is no need to worry about timing. UCLA seems to take their time as their entire process seems to be very diligent and holistic.

That made me feel a lot better. Thanks for sharing 🙂

 

[valorain]

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 🙂 🙂 🙂

I have a quick question. 🙂 I know that many schools look for students who will stay in the area to practice medicine while other schools do not. My goal is to work with the World Health Organization or the CDC and most of my work would be abroad. I know that UCLA offers the global health pathway and an opportunity to work with the CDC or the UN but do you think bluntly stating that I don't plan to stay in Los Angeles will hurt my chances? Thank you and congrats!!

 

[SoCalPipeDreamer]

I was verified like june 3rd and i didnt get a secondary. I know one of my friend didnt submit his primary until like june 12 and got a secondary. I think the initial screen is a computer stat screen like all the other UCs. If you dont make the cutoff, im hoping they read your app manually and see if you qualify for secondary

Unless they have a new process this year, I think it has to be more than just a stat screen. Last year I didn't receive a secondary, but after improving my AMCAS this year I did (no change in stats).

 

[bobmccorweg]

Unless they have a new process this year, I think it has to be more than just a stat screen. Last year I didn't receive a secondary, but after improving my AMCAS this year I did (no change in stats).

What did you improve? (if you dont mind me asking)

 

[ShadyLane]

This...anyone?

Just an applicant, but I think we should stay away from using the same exact description as in the primary. I used the opportunity to expand on work/activities, e.g. by talking about specific experiences within an activity.

 

[Flashfan]

Secondary -OOS, LizzyM 74. Born and raised in California.

 

[sunflower18]

I have a quick question. 🙂 I know that many schools look for students who will stay in the area to practice medicine while other schools do not. My goal is to work with the World Health Organization or the CDC and most of my work would be abroad. I know that UCLA offers the global health pathway and an opportunity to work with the CDC or the UN but do you think bluntly stating that I don't plan to stay in Los Angeles will hurt my chances? Thank you and congrats!!

HEY! Sorry to you and everyone who PMed me... Things have been crazy and I haven't been on SDN! But I can do my best to help 🙂

There is a big global health initiative at UCLA so I don't think that would be a negative at all! I think they would love to hear of your passion for global health and your plans to integrate that into your future practice 🙂

 

[SoCalPipeDreamer]

What did you improve? (if you dont mind me asking)

Of course I don't mind! This is embarrassing to admit, but I wrote most of my AMCAS while on vacation the first time around. I didn't really seek any advice on how to write my activities/PS and didn't go through many drafts. My PS was lackluster and, as I later discovered, very generic. I was lucky enough to get feedback from a few schools and one of them said something along the lines of "it's as if no one helped you prepare your app". A few schools expressed that I did not have as much clinical experience as other applicants (not true, I just didn't describe it in my activities well enough).

So basically all I had to do to improve was put more effort into it haha.

 

[B-wildered]

Of course I don't mind! This is embarrassing to admit, but I wrote most of my AMCAS while on vacation the first time around. I didn't really seek any advice on how to write my activities/PS and didn't go through many drafts. My PS was lackluster and, as I later discovered, very generic. I was lucky enough to get feedback from a few schools and one of them said something along the lines of "it's as if no one helped you prepare your app". A few schools expressed that I did not have as much clinical experience as other applicants (not true, I just didn't describe it in my activities well enough).

So basically all I had to do to improve was put more effort into it haha.

I had a similar experience last cycle, nice to know that I am not alone.

 

[Oranges2]

poop still waiting for secondary 🙁 anyone else?

 

[bobmccorweg]

poop still waiting for secondary 🙁 anyone else?

+1

 

[rukia013]

poop still waiting for secondary 🙁 anyone else?

Me too! I've already gotten secondaries for UCSD and UCI but still waiting for UCLA, UCSF, and UCR. Secondaries seem to be sent out randomly in batches without any regard to when your AMCAS was verified, so hopefully we'll hear back soon! 🙂 In the mean time I am working on my last secondary and then I'll be playing the waiting game to see which additional secondaries trickle in...

 

[mehc012]

poop still waiting for secondary 🙁 anyone else?

+1

Me too! I've already gotten secondaries for UCSD and UCI but still waiting for UCLA, UCSF, and UCR. Secondaries seem to be sent out randomly in batches without any regard to when your AMCAS was verified, so hopefully we'll hear back soon! 🙂 In the mean time I am working on my last secondary and then I'll be playing the waiting game to see which additional secondaries trickle in...

+3
I've gotten UCD and UCSF, so I'm not sure what's up. I'm a bit of an odd duck of an applicant, though, so perhaps some inconsistency isn't too terribly surprising in my case.

 

[bobmccorweg]

Me too! I've already gotten secondaries for UCSD and UCI but still waiting for UCLA, UCSF, and UCR. Secondaries seem to be sent out randomly in batches without any regard to when your AMCAS was verified, so hopefully we'll hear back soon! 🙂 In the mean time I am working on my last secondary and then I'll be playing the waiting game to see which additional secondaries trickle in...

I haven't gotten any secondaries from UCs or vandy. Just mayo LOR request.

 

[kilez12]

+3
I've gotten UCD and UCSF, so I'm not sure what's up. I'm a bit of an odd duck of an applicant, though, so perhaps some inconsistency isn't too terribly surprising in my case.

+4
Verified 7/08; got UCR so far, but not any of the other UCs, sadly

 

[hrbird]

Verified 7/2, LizzyM 64 and I've received UCLA, UCD, UCI, and UCSD. Submitting them all Monday 🙂

 

[Habdulra]

,,

 

[alreadynotyet]

Question for you guys: I have 2 quarters of college English and 1 quarter of college Spanish. The UCLA supplemental is asking if I will have a year of college english and spanish by the time I matriculate.

I'm planning to say 'yes' to english and complete it if i get in, and 'no' to spanish because i won't be able to fit two more quarters before i matriculate. Does that sound like a good idea, or will it ruin my chances?

 

[bluemachine]

Question for you guys: I have 2 quarters of college English and 1 quarter of college Spanish. The UCLA supplemental is asking if I will have a year of college english and spanish by the time I matriculate.

I'm planning to say 'yes' to english and complete it if i get in, and 'no' to spanish because i won't be able to fit two more quarters before i matriculate. Does that sound like a good idea, or will it ruin my chances?

i think thats totally fine. you definitely need to have that year of english, but spanish is just "recommended" for ucla, so no worries!

 

[alreadynotyet]

i think thats totally fine. you definitely need to have that year of english, but spanish is just "recommended" for ucla, so no worries!

Perfect, thanks!

 

[nih15hopeful]

Several of my responses require me to include phrases or words that trigger the red squiggly typo response, like my adviser's name and several enzyme names. Anyone know how to get around this problem? I ask because I seem to be having the same issue @phuynh94 described earlier.