2015-2016 University of Chicago (Pritzker) Application Thread

[deleted393595]

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OMG first II ahh so exiting! Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back!!

Was marked complete late last week, for reference, so my turnaround was approximately one week.

W0000ttt!! Celebratory party time!

Rejected MSTP.. Ik dosnt necessarily foreshadow rest of cycle, but still not a great way to start out. Very pessimistic now

Do you mind sharing your stats?

 

[clueless192]

Rejected MSTP.. Ik dosnt necessarily foreshadow rest of cycle, but still not a great way to start out. Very pessimistic now

I'm hoping it's just that Chicago is a very selective school. Good luck to you!

 

[Joeshie]

Do you mind sharing your stats?

Not to be a stalker, but shh-pthway posted their stats here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/school-suggestions-any-chance-at-mstp.1141175/

 

[shh-pthway]

34 mcat / 3.5 gpa w steep upward trend at a top 20... Very strong research experience (undergrad....international research experience for summer ....and 2 years at prestigious hospital post-undergrad). Not surprised w stats but hoping another Univeristy will extend an invite!

 

[cactusinmyhead]

Just rejected. I was so excited for this school :/ Oh man, that was my first response too. Now I'm a bit worried about how the rest will go. Is it possible that an outright pre-interview rejection means that I have some huge red-flag? I think I'll call them tomorrow and ask. See if they have any comments.

Edit: received secondary 4/3, submitted 7/15. Rejected in 8 days.

"Dear [my name]:

The Admissions Committees of the Pritzker School of Medicine and the Medical Scientist Training Program have completed their review of your application and have decided not to pursue your application further. Thank you for your interest in the Pritzker School of Medicine and the effort you invested in your application. Best wishes to you as you pursue your interests in medicine."

No, it doesn't mean you have a huge red flag. Most applicants will be rejected pre-interview to most schools they apply to! This is a top 10 school if I'm not mistaken, so don't fret. It is early in the cycle and there are plenty more schools to hear back from. This rejection doesn't mean you don't have an amazing app, it's just a highly competitive school.

 

[NorthOfBroad]

II, letters of rec recieved 7/15. They are fast!

 

[clueless192]

No, it doesn't mean you have a huge red flag. Most applicants will be rejected pre-interview to most schools they apply to! This is a top 10 school if I'm not mistaken, so don't fret. It is early in the cycle and there are plenty more schools to hear back from. This rejection doesn't mean you don't have an amazing app, it's just a highly competitive school.

Thank you for the dose of optimism and sanity 🙂 Application jitters...

 

[pineapplecake]

Mm, how long did it take people to get their LoRs received? Submitted my secondary 7/18 but LoRs still aren't in

 

[starlite911]

Mm, how long did it take people to get their LoRs received? Submitted my secondary 7/18 but LoRs still aren't in

Over a week for me!

 

[Lannister]

Mm, how long did it take people to get their LoRs received? Submitted my secondary 7/18 but LoRs still aren't in

4 days for me, but I submitted my secondary pretty early (7/2).

 

[pineapplecake]

Ohh okay thanks @starlite911 and @Lannister! I will wait patiently then ^_^

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

Ohh okay thanks @starlite911 and @Lannister! I will wait patiently then ^_^

I'm calling them at 3pm tomorrow if my letters still haven't been uploaded. A week is too long.

 

[timeflies]

Not to be a stalker, but shh-pthway posted their stats here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/school-suggestions-any-chance-at-mstp.1141175/

Starting your post with "Not to be a stalker, but..." is the universal sign that you're a stalker.

😉

 

[26point2]

MSTP II!

 

[bpislife]

So if I submitted first week of July and was complete by last Monday (7/13), would it be safe to say that I'm on hold haha?

 

[Lannister]

So if I submitted first week of July and was complete by last Monday (7/13), would it be safe to say that I'm on hold haha?

Wondering the same thing, but I don't even know if a "silent hold" is something Chicago does, seeing as they have the option to indicate a hold right on the application portal =/

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

Wondering the same thing, but I don't even know if a "silent hold" is something Chicago does, seeing as they have the option to indicate a hold right on the application portal =/

I believe NickNaylor or someone else who's a current student said they don't do silent holds. It's either II, reject, or they'll tell you you're on hold.

 

[deleted393595]

Starting your post with "Not to be a stalker, but..." is the universal sign that you're a stalker.

😉

Reminds me of that @NotASerialKiller guy floating around the forums

 

[Lannister]

Hahaha I just found a thread from 2011 where someone got rejected from Chicago less than 24 hours after they submitted their secondary. At least I've made it farther than that guy.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

Hahaha I just found a thread from 2011 where someone got rejected from Chicago less than 24 hours after they submitted their secondary. At least I've made it farther than that guy.

Wow that's quick........

 

[pineapplecake]

I'm calling them at 3pm tomorrow if my letters still haven't been uploaded. A week is too long.

True. Especially since all they have to do is download from AMCAS right? >_<

 

[soccer99616]

Rejected MSTP, LizzyM 73
Same pessimistic feeling as poster above, I know MSTP admissions are a crapshoot but was probably a reach anyway. Good luck everyone!

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

True. Especially since all they have to do is download from AMCAS right? >_<

Well I think what causes the backup is that they have to verify that each letter is signed and on letterhead. Why AMCAS doesn't verify that is beyond me.
And maybe they're only downloading letters once they are ready to review the file, which would explain why they are so quick to make decisions (in most cases) after downloading letters.
But still I would love for them to just download it already.

 

[wanderyonder]

Well I think what causes the backup is that they have to verify that each letter is signed and on letterhead. Why AMCAS doesn't verify that is beyond me.
And maybe they're only downloading letters once they are ready to review the file, which would explain why they are so quick to make decisions (in most cases) after downloading letters.
But still I would love for them to just download it already.

Yeah, they only verify after your secondary is complete. Mine took 8 days, which I thought was on the long side, so yours should be anytime now!

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

Yeah, they only verify after your secondary is complete. Mine took 8 days, which I thought was on the long side, so yours should be anytime now!

I would love to wake up to an "application complete" email.

And by 8 days do you mean 8 business days or 8 days including weekends?

 

[wanderyonder]

I would love to wake up to an "application complete" email.

And by 8 days do you mean 8 business days or 8 days including weekends?

My bad, 8 days in total, including weekends.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

My bad, 8 days in total, including weekends.

Cool! That would be tomorrow for me.

 

[abc84463]

They send an email when your app is complete?

 

[OrangeTub]

They send an email when your app is complete?

Yeah, I'm curious too, since I never got one either. My app was marked as complete on July 10, although I don't think my rec came in until later. No rejection letter yet either!

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

They send an email when your app is complete?

Oh maybe not. I don't know. All the others schools I applied to sent an email to say my app was complete so I assumed that was the norm.

 

[abc84463]

I submitted on the 6th and had my app marked complete (in status) then but still haven't heard anything.

 

[rukia013]

They send an email when your app is complete?

Yeah, I'm curious too, since I never got one either. My app was marked as complete on July 10, although I don't think my rec came in until later. No rejection letter yet either!

Oh maybe not. I don't know. All the others schools I applied to sent an email to say my app was complete so I assumed that was the norm.

Nope, no confirmation email that your app is complete; you just have to check your portal for updates!

 

[tick_tock_tick_tock]

Rejected just now, regular MD (3.93, 30 and 515). Disappointed but not terribly surprised! Best of luck to everyone who's still waiting to hear

 

[bpislife]

Lulz just rejected. LizzyM between 74-78. Such a cold email haha.

 

[canttellmenothin]

Lulz just rejected. LizzyM between 74-78. Such a cold email haha.

Add me to that list.. When I saw pritzker show up on my phone my eyes lit up only to read that short blurb lol. So bittersweet 🙁

Nonetheless, GL to those still in the running!

 

[Lannister]

Just got rejected as well. LizzyM ~73. I thought I'd be upset but I'm pleasantly surprised to find that I'm not upset in the least. Good luck to everyone still in the running!

 

[dsxmchn]

Rejected... Oh well, the cycle continues.

Best wishes to all of you who will be interviewing!

 

[Lannister]

sorry to hear guys. when were you all complete if you don't mind?

7/6, but on last year's thread @NickNaylor said that they don't review applications in the order they were received, it's just totally random.

 

[idontknowwhatnametopick]

My letters got uploaded so I'm happy about that, but sorry to hear about all the rejections 🙁

 

[SurgeonOfLife]

.

 

[MaxPlancker]

Haven't heard a peep yet...submitted 7/2, complete 7/6...

 

[rukia013]

End of the road for me here too but considering this was a reach school for me and I have absolutely no research experience outside of the classroom, I'm not too shaken up. ^^
Good luck to everyone who's still waiting for responses and CONGRATS to those who have been awarded interviews! UChicago is an AMAZING med school and their hospital is SUPERB--my grandpa went here for his cancer treatment and he's been cancer free for many years now and he's always talked about how wonderful the doctors there are 🙂

 

[wanderyonder]

End of the road for me here too but considering this was a reach school for me and I have absolutely no research experience outside of the classroom, I'm not too shaken up. ^^
Good luck to everyone who's still waiting for responses and CONGRATS to those who have been awarded interviews! UChicago is an AMAZING med school and their hospital is SUPERB--my grandpa went here for his cancer treatment and he's been cancer free for many years now and he's always talked about how wonderful the doctors there are 🙂

So glad to hear the good news about your grandpa! In the grand scheme of things, what does all this med school app stuff this matter? Nice to hear that he's doing well 🙂

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Just submitted, my first secondary to complete 😎

 

[edc1618]

MSTP II!

Contrats! Were you able to schedule your interview yet? (if so, would you mind telling me what the first date was? I haven't gotten through yet and I'm eager to know!)

 

[hueso]

Complete today, about a week after submission. Based on the thread so far, I could be looking at some news from Chicago any day now!

 

[RiverSpirit]

Complete since 7/6 still nothing. Hpfly the order they process doesn't have anything to do with the quality of my app; starting to lose hope.

 

[starlite911]

I wouldn't begin to worry until late August/early September. No one knows exactly how the process works. It's going to be a looooooooong year 😕

 

[HawksWin]

For the question about a challenging situation, what exactly constitutes a situation? Does it have to be something instantaneous or can it be more of a long term challenge (ie. overcoming a mental illness over the span of several years)?

 

[Stoich53]

For the question about a challenging situation, what exactly constitutes a situation? Does it have to be something instantaneous or can it be more of a long term challenge (ie. overcoming a mental illness over the span of several years)?

Both long term and short term are fine. I wrote about a very short term experience (and got an II this cycle) and a friend (last year) wrote about one that took place over 10+ years. He ended up getting an acceptance and almost matriculating! As vanilla and regurgitated as this advice might sound, really just write about something meaningful that you can really flesh out into a nice story. They give you a lot of space to write 😛

Also I have no idea of this is founded or not but apparently people say to stay away from one's personal mental health issues in these essays? I don't know why or if it is even true, but perhaps others can weigh in on this?