2015-2016 University of Iowa (Carver) Application Thread

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I received a mix of aid as an OOS student, so yes. Who knows if that is all of it though?

Yeah, I got a small grant but it isn't enough to make a dent. I was hoping that the aid offer was purely financial based and more merit aid could come later but I'm less than optimistic. Thanks for the reply 🙂
 
Can anyone who was admitted last Tuesday see the discussion board on ICON? I'm trying to figure out housing ASAP.
 
The housing board is not that interesting FYI.
 
Sorry if this has been asked and answered, but does anyone know if merit aid awards have come out? I'm OOS and just got a financial aid package that is probably going to lead to me withdrawing from Carver. I just can't swing the tuition.

I'm OOS and having the same issue. I emailed the financial aid office and they told me that our award notification is final. It includes both merit and need based aid.
 
I'm OOS and having the same issue. I emailed the financial aid office and they told me that our award notification is final. It includes both merit and need based aid.

Your need-based grant may be final, but you could always reach out to admissions regarding other scholarships. Those would not come from financial aid, but the college of medicine.
 
Your need-based grant may be final, but you could always reach out to admissions regarding other scholarships. Those would not come from financial aid, but the college of medicine.

Financial aid makes their awards and then the College of Medicines tacks on any additional awards before sending out the award letter, so it sounds like it's final unfortunately.
 
I have an award letter on my portal, but it says that it's "under departmental review." For those of you who have final award letters, did you get an email/notification about the final version?
 
I have an award letter on my portal, but it says that it's "under departmental review." For those of you who have final award letters, did you get an email/notification about the final version?
Yes. I had an estimated one for a while and got an email when the letter was final.
 
Yeah my first letter is showing a big $0.00 on the grants section :arghh::arghh:

I also haven't turned in my 2015 taxes yet, not sure if that matters
 
The housing board is not that interesting FYI.
Haha, that's what I was afraid of. Well, is anyone on here 100% committed to Carver and looking for a roommate?
 
I saw the in-progress ones and was emailed a couple hours after my final letter was posted.

I believe the departmental review is where they add on merit-based awards.
 
Haha, that's what I was afraid of. Well, is anyone on here 100% committed to Carver and looking for a roommate?

I would try the facebook group or craigslist if you have no luck here.
 
I saw the in-progress ones and was emailed a couple hours after my final letter was posted.

I believe the departmental review is where they add on merit-based awards.

Yep, it goes from financial aid to the College of Medicine who gives out the merit based awards. Once you get your letter, it's final unless you have outside aid coming in.
 
I wonder if there's a chance to end up with more grant money in the end after people end up withdrawing? Maybe that doesn't happen though
 
OOS moved 15 spots last year (sorry, don't have other years), which the rep said was abnormally low. They are currently still over accepted by about 57 students, so you pry won't see movement until the April 30th deadline. Additionally, they generally see 30-40 OOS withdrawls per year likely happening around that date as well.

IS movement for the last four years is:
2015: 34
2014: 28
2013: 31
2012: 27

Majority of movement IS is end of April/May, so sit tight and lets see what happens waitlist fam 🙂
 
The IS list has only moved one spot :bang:
Do you mean for this year? If so, don't get concerned yet. We're still over a month away from the April 30th deadline when people have to pick one and only one school to commit to, so I think it's pretty early to be expecting much waitlist movement. There will probably be a lot more in late April and May.
 
Do you mean for this year? If so, don't get concerned yet. We're still over a month away from the April 30th deadline when people have to pick one and only one school to commit to, so I think it's pretty early to be expecting much waitlist movement. There will probably be a lot more in late April and May.
True.. Just wish I could know ASAP, this waiting over the last half year has been killing me.
 
OOS moved 15 spots last year (sorry, don't have other years), which the rep said was abnormally low. They are currently still over accepted by about 57 students, so you pry won't see movement until the April 30th deadline. Additionally, they generally see 30-40 OOS withdrawls per year likely happening around that date as well.

IS movement for the last four years is:
2015: 34
2014: 28
2013: 31
2012: 27

Majority of movement IS is end of April/May, so sit tight and lets see what happens waitlist fam 🙂

So how does "over acceptance" work? does that mean that they accepted ~100 OOS applicants for ~50 OOS seats in the class?

Subquestion: 57 students have to withdraw their acceptance before anyone from the waitlist is given a seat?
 
So how does "over acceptance" work? does that mean that they accepted ~100 OOS applicants for ~50 OOS seats in the class?

Subquestion: 57 students have to withdraw their acceptance before anyone from the waitlist is given a seat?

Not an expert, but my understanding is that this is correct. Since OOS students are much less likely to accept, they extend more acceptances than spots. An analogy would be how hotels overbook because history shows they can count on a number of people cancelling their reservations. While the overacceptance number sounds really high, there is a ton of movement pretty rapidly once students narrow down to one acceptance. Once the OOS spots are no longer over accepted, they start pulling people off the OOS wait list.
 
Not an expert, but my understanding is that this is correct. Since OOS students are much less likely to accept, they extend more acceptances than spots. An analogy would be how hotels overbook because history shows they can count on a number of people cancelling their reservations. While the overacceptance number sounds really high, there is a ton of movement pretty rapidly once students narrow down to one acceptance. Once the OOS spots are no longer over accepted, they start pulling people off the OOS wait list.

Thank you for explaining 🙂

Was the admissions office welcoming to questions about the waitlist/over-acceptance number? Do think they would mind the occasional call about what the over-acceptance number is at/if they've started accepting people from the OOS waitlist?
 
Thank you for explaining 🙂

Was the admissions office welcoming to questions about the waitlist/over-acceptance number? Do think they would mind the occasional call about what the over-acceptance number is at/if they've started accepting people from the OOS waitlist?

You're welcome! They would absolutely welcome that; it is what they're there for. The (319) number on the admissions committee decision page will link you with an admissions rep who is fantastic and extremely helpful. I would wait to start calling until after the April 30th deadline if you want any worthwhile news, but you are welcome to do as you wish.
 
I definitely want something I can use a digitizer pen with. I'm looking at the HP Spectre x360 or the Surface pro, but I've never owned anything mac. Have you seen anything about requirements? I'm wondering if we are required to use our own laptops for exams. I don't know how "comfortable" I would be using the Surface Pro 4 for this.

I'm thinking about going with the Surface Book. Its slightly more expensive, but it is a laptop primarily and doubles as a tablet with the Surface pen. Anyone have any experience with the surface book?
 
I'm thinking about going with the Surface Book. Its slightly more expensive, but it is a laptop primarily and doubles as a tablet with the Surface pen. Anyone have any experience with the surface book?
There is a pretty even split between Surface Pro users and iPad w/ a digital pen at CCOM. Personally I absolutely love my Surface Pro. Either way you will want a laptop/tablet that can write with a pen on the power points. Especially when you are in a lecture with Dr. Rubinstein and he's going over O. Chem stuff. If it can change colors like the surface pro and swap to a highlighter function you will be even happier.
 
There is a pretty even split between Surface Pro users and iPad w/ a digital pen at CCOM. Personally I absolutely love my Surface Pro. Either way you will want a laptop/tablet that can write with a pen on the power points. Especially when you are in a lecture with Dr. Rubinstein and he's going over O. Chem stuff. If it can change colors like the surface pro and swap to a highlighter function you will be even happier.

Sorry for the add on! I saw a few people were asking about the exam side of technology. About 75% of the time you will need your own computer to take the exams. It just depends on what room you are in or if they haul out computers for us in certain rooms. iPads/Surface Pros/traditional laptops will all work perfectly fine. The Surface Pro keyboard is a little noisy on the comment section that is optional at the end of each exam, but otherwise i just tap on the screen during exams. You may need to buy an adapter for a few bucks on amazon to link up with the ethernet cord for the exams to make sure you don't drop wifi (it is more of a just in case thing, but we all do it - ethernet cord is provided, adapter is not). Cheers!
 
I'm thinking about going with the Surface Book. Its slightly more expensive, but it is a laptop primarily and doubles as a tablet with the Surface pen. Anyone have any experience with the surface book?
I saw this, but I simply cannot justify how expensive the Surface Book is. It has the same specs as the Surface Pro 4 (minus a few things), but is a lot pricier. But, it's ALL personal preference. 🙂

I would suggest going to Best Buy or wherever and playing with the different laptops. I was worried about the Surface Pro 4's keyboard, but I instantly felt comfortable with it. I was honestly amazed at how nice of a device it is.

You can get the Surface Pro 4 for $800 at Best Buy right now, if you decide on it! 😀 (i5, 256 gb Storage, 8gb RAM)
 
ugh... started in the low 70s on the OOS waiting list, I dream of CCOM every night, but I'm pretty sure I need to start working on my re-app 🙁(
 
Did you get these numbers from the admissions office? When I called they gave me slightly different numbers...

Yeah, got them from Carolyn. Maybe you talked to a different rep? What did they give you?
 
2015: 31
2014: 25
2013: 28
2012: 27

so 2013-2015 were off by 3 which is weird.

Alright, so I called again to sort this out. This is what was provided for IS waitlist movement:

2015: 34
2014: 28
2013: 31
2012: 31
2011: 27

This accounts for total movement, so both withdrawals from and acceptances to students on the WL. Maybe your numbers were acceptances extended? I guess it might be easiest to just think of movement as falling between 27-34 on a given year, although past performance doesn't guarantee future results (obviously). About 1/4 of IS students that have been extended acceptances have multiple offers as of now. Movement isn't expected to pick up till the April 30th deadline. Hope this helps clear it up!
 
Being that I am currently on the OOS wait list, is it a good idea to send an email further expressing my interest? or nah.......??
 
Being that I am currently on the OOS wait list, is it a good idea to send an email further expressing my interest? or nah.......??

Call in and ask. They are super helpful in the office and will better answer this question than asking a forum; the number is on your admission decision page
 
I'll be going to get acquainted day too! I'll be driving through Cedar Rapids and it's possible I could pick a few people up from around IC/Cedar Rapids if our schedules line up and you have no other inexpensive means of transportation!
 
Does anyone have the schedule for get acquainted day? Can't find it online!


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