2015-2016 University of California - San Diego Application Thread

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Only recently received the UCSD Secondary and plan on submitting in the next day or two. I'm curious about the secondary screening process. Do they just look at a few raw numbers to chunk a bunch of apps, or does receiving a secondary actually have solid meaning?
 
Traygus said:
Only recently received the UCSD Secondary and plan on submitting in the next day or two. I'm curious about the secondary screening process. Do they just look at a few raw numbers to chunk a bunch of apps, or does receiving a secondary actually have solid meaning?
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I actually called admissions about this last month and they told me for a certain percentage of applicants who meet a certain stats threshold, they automatically get a secondary from a computer screening process. Brian said the computer used some sort of algorithm. For the rest of the folks, they do a manual review where they look at the whole thing to make a decision.
 
BTW, as anyone who has been complete in September heard a peep yet? I submitted AMCAS in August and completed my secondary mid-September.
 
Pink Panda said:
BTW, as anyone who has been complete in September heard a peep yet? I submitted AMCAS in August and completed my secondary mid-September.
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I was complete around Sept 8th and have not heard anything. I usually give at least 6 weeks until I start to worry.
 
Pink Panda said:
I actually called admissions about this last month and they told me for a certain percentage of applicants who meet a certain stats threshold, they automatically get a secondary from a computer screening process. Brian said the computer used some sort of algorithm. For the rest of the folks, they do a manual review where they look at the whole thing to make a decision.
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I see, thank you for the insight! That is not very inspiring for an applicant like myself who is applying kind of late (stuck in "waiting for committee letter" hell right now), but I guess if I wasn't offered an II it wouldn't be because my numbers were necessarily too low, which is good I guess.
 
Traygus said:
I see, thank you for the insight! That is not very inspiring for an applicant like myself who is applying kind of late (stuck in "waiting for committee letter" hell right now), but I guess if I wasn't offered an II it wouldn't be because my numbers were necessarily too low, which is good I guess.
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When I called admissions, they actually said it doesn't matter when you're complete. I then asked him how that is the case since UCSD is rolling admissions. He said that rolling means they can offer applicants acceptances on a continual basis throughout the year. Of course, the earlier you are complete, the earlier you get to heard back. I, too, was worried about my stats. I got a 32 on the MCAT old scale and a good GPA (3.9+), and I was told I shouldn't worry about my stats.
 
Well since no one who has been complete in September has heard anything, I'll just take as a good sign then. I bet they are still in the process of reviewing our apps. I would be concerned if people who submitted in the same time frame as me got IIs and I didn't. That may imply that I would be in the hold or rejection pile. Last year, people who submitted in September heard back in mid-late October and November.
 
The profiles on MDapps are pretty scary. I saw many well-qualified applicants stats-wise receive IIs from places like Harvard and Stanford not even receive an II from UCSD yet. Perhaps UCSD thinks they don't take the school seriously, but that's just my speculation. Do you guys know why this is? I expressed my interest in UCSD as my top choice in my secondary and based my essay off their mission statement, but my stats aren't perfect and I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now. 🙁 Would love to hear back from people who have gotten IIs here who aren't as perfect stats-wise....
 
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Pink Panda said:
The profiles on MDapps are pretty scary. I saw many well-qualified applicants stats-wise receive IIs from places like Harvard and Stanford not even receive an II from UCSD yet. Perhaps UCSD thinks they don't take the school seriously, but that's just my speculation. Do you guys know why this is? I expressed my interest in UCSD as my top choice in my secondary and based my essay off their mission statement, but my stats aren't perfect and I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now. 🙁 Would love to hear back from people who have gotten IIs here who aren't as perfect stats-wise....
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To be honest, I don't think anyone has the answer to this. I feel like there is some randomness to all of it. There are some MDApps I've seen where people have put together jaw-dropping applications in every category but they'll still be rejected by some schools. Fit is a huge factor, and I wish we knew what was going on inside that admissions room when they're discussing everything. We're pretty much left in the dark :shrug:
 
Pink Panda said:
The profiles on MDapps are pretty scary. I saw many well-qualified applicants stats-wise receive IIs from places like Harvard and Stanford not even receive an II from UCSD yet. Perhaps UCSD thinks they don't take the school seriously, but that's just my speculation. Do you guys know why this is? I expressed my interest in UCSD as my top choice in my secondary and based my essay off their mission statement, but my stats aren't perfect and I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now. 🙁 Would love to hear back from people who have gotten IIs here who aren't as perfect stats-wise....
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Didn't get an II here and hoping to but I'm pretty sure the UCs care much more about fit than they do about power stats. That being said though, they do have the luxury of picking those with incredible stats AND fit their mission.
 
musicalfeet said:
Didn't get an II here and hoping to but I'm pretty sure the UCs care much more about fit than they do about power stats. That being said though, they do have the luxury of picking those with incredible stats AND fit their mission.
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According to their mission statement, they want to train physicians who are "sensitive to the needs of the special populations in the region and nation" and add to their "research strengths to train future academicians." So far, the people who I have seen receive IIs from here have extensive experience working with under served and underprivileged populations. Did you mention working with special populations or going into academic medicine in your secondary? What were stats like?
 
Pink Panda said:
According to their mission statement, they want to train physicians who are "sensitive to the needs of the special populations in the region and nation" and add to their "research strengths to train future academicians." So far, the people who I have seen receive IIs from here have extensive experience working with under served and underprivileged populations. Did you mention working with special populations or going into academic medicine in your secondary? What were stats like?
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I haven't received an II here (I think my stats are a bit too low for here...LizzyM 69), but I do have extensive underserved work (which is probably what got me the irvine II)
 
Pink Panda said:
According to their mission statement, they want to train physicians who are "sensitive to the needs of the special populations in the region and nation" and add to their "research strengths to train future academicians." So far, the people who I have seen receive IIs from here have extensive experience working with under served and underprivileged populations. Did you mention working with special populations or going into academic medicine in your secondary? What were stats like?
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At this point, the best thing you can do is relax and breathe a little.

Not everyone who receives an II is emulating their mission statement. I have very little ECs relating to service for the undeserved or underprivileged, for example, but I do know that everything I wrote about in my app was genuine (my motivations, story, etc). That's what matters in the long run. Your questions may or may not help tailor your application for a potential reapplication, but for now it's just a semi-subjective toss-up (plus, even if you do manage to check the right boxes on paper, your fit to the school will be clarified at the interview--save their time and yours by being yourself the whole way!)

Think about it, would a med school want their 100+ person class to come from similar backgrounds/experiences... that wouldn't be the most diverse group right?
 
Mr Magpie said:
At this point, the best thing you can do is relax and breathe a little.

Not everyone who receives an II is emulating their mission statement. I have very little ECs relating to service for the undeserved or underprivileged, for example, but I do know that everything I wrote about in my app was genuine (my motivations, story, etc). That's what matters in the long run. Your questions may or may not help tailor your application for a potential reapplication, but for now it's just a semi-subjective toss-up (plus, even if you do manage to check the right boxes on paper, your fit to the school will be clarified at the interview--save their time and yours by being yourself the whole way!)

Think about it, would a med school want their 100+ person class to come from similar backgrounds/experiences... that wouldn't be the most diverse group right?
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I agree. What were your stats? My MCAT is pretty low (511) and nearly everyone who has gotten a II here have 35+. Should I just give up hope?
 
I wouldn't give up until you receive a firm rejection... plus I doubt they're even through August completion dates (I recall you posting you were complete in September?)

I had a ~3.8 out of undergrad and a 31 MCAT retaken to a 35. Average ECs after that... with maybe more paid employment than those straight out of college.

How are your other applications coming along?
 
Mr Magpie said:
I wouldn't give up until you receive a firm rejection... plus I doubt they're even through August completion dates (I recall you posting you were complete in September?)

I had a ~3.8 out of undergrad and a 31 MCAT retaken to a 35. Average ECs after that... with maybe more paid employment than those straight out of college.

How are your other applications coming along?
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This admissions process doesn't really make sense to me. There are people who have been complete since late July receive IIs after those who were complete late August, so it's really unpredictable when any of us hear will back. I finished the rest of my apps now and just been waiting. From what I've seen from people who have gotten IIs here, no one is perfect. Some have lower GPAs, some don't have publications, and some don't have lots of clinical experience. But all of them managed to land an II somehow and I'm hoping they are willing to overlook my less than perfect MCAT score and give me a chance. Let me know if you're interest in reading my CV and essays and chance me based on your application. ~Thanks PP
 
Hey guys, what do you think would happen (hypothetically) if one were to submit their secondary application after the 30 day deadline? Secondary invite got archived in a random folder in my email account somehow (no idea how that even happened)...Would that just be an auto rejection? Is it even worth filling out the secondary/is there any chance at all with the school? :/
 
tonythetiger10 said:
Hey guys, what do you think would happen (hypothetically) if one were to submit their secondary application after the 30 day deadline? Secondary invite got archived in a random folder in my email account somehow (no idea how that even happened)...Would that just be an auto rejection? Is it even worth filling out the secondary/is there any chance at all with the school? :/
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I would call the admissions office and try to explain your situation like tomorrow!
 
When were the last round of II's sent out? Are there any people who were verified in June/July and still waiting for a decision?
 
tonythetiger10 said:
Hey guys, what do you think would happen (hypothetically) if one were to submit their secondary application after the 30 day deadline? Secondary invite got archived in a random folder in my email account somehow (no idea how that even happened)...Would that just be an auto rejection? Is it even worth filling out the secondary/is there any chance at all with the school? :/
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Something similar happened to me and I just chalked it up to an auto rejection without asking. Not saying that is accurate, but anyways, I reapplied this year and managed to snag an II so if it doesn't work out this cycle for some reason don't lose hope 🙂
 
At my interview day they said it would more likely be 10/16 because they have interviews today. But they also said we'd get an email to that effect earlier this week, so I guess plans may have changed.
 
magagna said:
We were told the same thing (10/15) on my interview day. Looks like decisions were postponed in the last two years though.
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This is true, who knows though?

Last two years they came out by the end of October
 
TheRhymenocerous said:
At my interview day they said it would more likely be 10/16 because they have interviews today. But they also said we'd get an email to that effect earlier this week, so I guess plans may have changed.
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10/16 it is :xf:
 
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magagna said:
Confirmed.
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Damn... you gave them a call, and it was confirmed? Did they give a specific date or anything?

I really, really wanted to be able to cancel my next interview dates/not have to book the necessary flights/hotel bookings... would've been really nice to have been able to save a bunch of money.
 
KungFuPanda123 said:
Damn... you gave them a call, and it was confirmed? Did they give a specific date or anything?

I really, really wanted to be able to cancel my next interview dates/not have to book the necessary flights/hotel bookings... would've been really nice to have been able to save a bunch of money.
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Same here. Oh well looks like im going cross country again!
 
II mid October! Complete late August. LizzyM 70. IS.

I was also given December and January dates, though they seemed to allow for more flexibility if you couldn't make any of those days. They also allowed you to change your date as many times as you need up until a week before the scheduled interview (space permitting).
 
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maroonspinstress said:
II! Complete 8/24. LizzyM 70.

I was also given December and January dates, though they seemed to allow for more flexibility if you couldn't make any of those days. They also allowed you to change your date as many times as you need up until a week before the scheduled interview (space permitting).
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Are you OOS or IS? What is your GPA and MCAT scores? What do you think made you stand out?
 
This waiting is driving me nuts. I can't believe they're still on August completion dates and no one from September has heard back. Interview slots are limited and already being filled into January near the end of the interview season so I'm guessing they're going to run out of slots and put everyone else on hold. 🙁
 
Pink Panda said:
This waiting is driving me nuts. I can't believe they're still on August completion dates and no one from September has heard back. Interview slots are limited and already being filled into January near the end of the interview season so I'm guessing they're going to run out of slots and put everyone else on hold. 🙁
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Yeah I'm really sorry--I'm in your situation for many other schools as well. The waiting drives us all nuts but (and this can't be said enough) don't spend too much time on SDN, it'll drive you insane. Knowing other people's scores and knowing what makes them stand out does not make your application better and does not speed your review process along. Make sure you occupy yourself with other fun things, to distract you from the wait. And remember, SDNers tend to be more neurotic than others, so it is still early in the process. Schools have many applicants to go through and it's not a linear process. Interviewing in the spring is not a waitlist-sentence by any means. It's not over til it's over!

Best of luck with all of your apps!
 
Still no rejection from them and I applied last year. Not impressed with this office.
 
If it makes anyone feel better, my friend from grad school received an interview invite in December for a date in January and she is now in her 4th year at UCSD. She said she also remembers receiving an invite from Irvine after she interviewed at UCSD. She is an awesome person and anyone who has interviewed here already may have met her because she was one of the interviewers.
 
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