2015-2016 University of New Mexico Application Thread

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My application has been "Under Review" for a few days now. How long did it take for you guys to be verified?
 
Out of curiosity, does anyone know what they consider "strong ties" to the state? I'm OOS but most of my extended family lives here and I've spent a great deal of time in Albuquerque. I definitely wouldn't mind practicing here, but I know they are very in-state focused. Thanks! And sorry if this has been answered earlier in the thread. I didn't apply EDP.
 
asyouwish29 said:
Out of curiosity, does anyone know what they consider "strong ties" to the state? I'm OOS but most of my extended family lives here and I've spent a great deal of time in Albuquerque. I definitely wouldn't mind practicing here, but I know they are very in-state focused. Thanks! And sorry if this has been answered earlier in the thread. I didn't apply EDP.
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How long have you and your extended family lived here? I would email Admissions if I were you. EDP would've been the safest route, but you could still be considered as a regular applicant.
 
Hatfield0429 said:
How long have you and your extended family lived here? I would email Admissions if I were you. EDP would've been the safest route, but you could still be considered as a regular applicant.
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Ah, I think I may have miscommunicated my connections. I live in the southwest but not in NM, but I do have strong familial ties to the state. Regardless, I'll send an update email. Thanks!
 
Does anybody know if they are offering spots on a rolling basis this year? I know it's their official policy, but it seems as if rolling offers are few and far between.
 
redferrari said:
Does anybody know if they are offering spots on a rolling basis this year? I know it's their official policy, but it seems as if rolling offers are few and far between.
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Last year they offered 2-3 seats in December and I think at least a couple more before March 15th. I'm not sure if that's how it'll be done this year, but they will probably give you the details on interview day.
 
redferrari said:
Does anybody know if they are offering spots on a rolling basis this year? I know it's their official policy, but it seems as if rolling offers are few and far between.
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Yes - last I heard, they'll be doing more of the same - a few acceptances in a rolling fashion, while the majority will get their decisions in March. Hang in there!
 
Afaik, UNM uses a point system to rank applicants. Your GPA, MCAT, ECs, and interview all contribute points towards your total. If you get above a certain threshold, you get an autoacceptance, and below a different threshold, an autoreject.

In March, they start accepting people in the Grey zone, from the highest points below the auto accept threshold to the lowest until their class is full.

At least, that is my understanding of the process for regular decision applicants.
 
soundofserenity said:
Afaik, UNM uses a point system to rank applicants. Your GPA, MCAT, ECs, and interview all contribute points towards your total. If you get above a certain threshold, you get an autoacceptance, and below a different threshold, an autoreject.

In March, they start accepting people in the Grey zone, from the highest points below the auto accept threshold to the lowest until their class is full.

At least, that is my understanding of the process for regular decision applicants.
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soundofserenity Do you or anyone else know if science GPA is used when determining ranking, or is it overall GPA? My guess is overall GPA since I haven't seen anywhere where they specify it's only science?
 
I've not heard any specification either. When I went to the premed 'so you want to go to medical school' thing like two years ago, I have in my notes that they count your senior year GPA heavier than your freshman year. I didn't hear anything like that during my interview/orientation session, however, although the associate dean reiterated that everyone is ranked by points.

So it's a mystery if they look at science GPA separately or not! Maybe I'll give the admissions office a call tomorrow. x)

Keep in mind your two interviewers are blinded to your numbers - they are trying to base their opinion of you solely on your ECs/communication skills.
 
And as an aside - that makes it double important if you had a bad semester to bring it up to them - because they won't see the numbers to ask you about why you did.
 
Ok cool, thank you! It seems that UNM is one of the most, if not the most fair and holistic med schools when it comes to viewing and accepting applicants (and their higher than most schools' acceptance rate), which is amazing! I have a decent science GPA but my overall is higher so I wasn't really sure which would ultimately count when it comes to ranking.

I found this on a previous year's application thread for UNM, thought I would share it for those who haven't seen it before - it's a guide for how ranking applicants is typically done (just a guide, not sure how exact it is or if it ever changes, but sure seems helpful)!

"They told us that the minimum score to be accepted last year was an 86, so on their 2-4 point scale that's a 3.44 average. The Cog is 50% and Non-Cog 50%, so say you get a 26 on the MCAT and have a 3.5 GPA, your cog score would be 3.0, that means you would need a 3.88/4.0 on Non-cog to get the 3.44 overall average (see table below). Nobody quote me on this but this is the info I came up with after my exit interview. But they also said there is subjective scoring, so for example if they feel you're a strong student although you have a marginal GPA your score could be higher."

GPA SCORE
3.0 2.0
3.1 2.2
3.2 2.4
3.3 2.6
3.4 2.8
3.5 3.0
3.6 3.2
3.7 3.4
3.8 3.6
3.9 3.8
4.0 4.0

MCAT SCORE
22 2.0
23 2.25
24 2.5
25 2.75
26 3.0
27 3.25
28 3.5
29 3.75
30 4.0
 
soundofserenity said:
And as an aside - that makes it double important if you had a bad semester to bring it up to them - because they won't see the numbers to ask you about why you did.
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Do you think dropping a class would be considered a bad semester? My GPA was virtually the same from freshman to senior year, but I did drop two classes. However, I had circumstances surrounding both drops that I feel explain my rationale for dropping them. I just look at my transcript and those drops stand out like a sore thumb.
 
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redferrari said:
Do you think dropping a class would be considered a bad semester? My GPA was virtually the same from freshman to senior year (I had one B in three different years), but I did drop two classes. However, I had circumstances surrounding both drops that I feel explain my rationale for dropping them. I just look at my transcript and those drops stand out like a sore thumb.
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I don't know for sure, maybe soundofserenity would have a better idea but in my opinion I don't think 1 or 2 drops throughout undergrad is that big of a deal. I think a much worse situation would be a lot of drops, or failing grades that really affect your GPA, especially in science classes. I'm not 100% positive on this but that's what I would think especially if your GPA is pretty solid overall.
 
Oh, goodness, I'm just a fellow premed, I don't have any secret insight into these processes. x) I can only speak about my own experiences, which is a bit like the blind leading the blind.

I talked about my C's and my semester that I entirely withdrew from. We got to have a laugh about our mutual dislike of physics, mostly.

You can always mention them. Probably wouldn't hurt to mention it? Depends on how badly you think it makes you look.
 
Soundofserenity did you take the new version of the MCAT? I'm anxiously awaiting my score...too long of a wait! Also if you don't mind me asking, if you can remember what were you mainly asked in your interview?
 
Goodness. I took the old version last year, in my senior year. (An error, I know, but it turned out ok - it was a retake even!)

I don't think anyone could really give you any solid guides on what you will precisely be asked. Studentdoctor has a question bank for each school, but I can confirm that I wasn't asked but the most generic questions from that bank on my interview.

I would try to have a solid answer for "Tell me a little about you" "Why medicine", but that's pretty typical for every med school interview ever. Mostly I got the sense that the interviewer was just trying to get to know me so they could advocate for (or against) me on the selection committee - we talked about my ECs, and about current medical related events. I got thrown a couple weird questions, but I don't think you can prepare for those. Just stay calm, and carry on.
 
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soundofserenity said:
Goodness. I took the old version last year, in my senior year. (An error, I know, but it turned out ok - it was a retake even!)

I don't think anyone could really give you any solid guides on what you will precisely be asked. Studentdoctor has a question bank for each school, but I can confirm that I wasn't asked but the most generic questions from that bank on my interview.

I would try to have a solid answer for "Tell me a little about you" "Why medicine", but that's pretty typical for every med school interview ever. Mostly I got the sense that the interviewer was just trying to get to know me so they could advocate for (or against) me on the selection committee - we talked about my ECs, and about current medical related events. I got thrown a couple weird questions, but I don't think you can prepare for those. Just stay calm, and carry on.
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What "current medical related events" were you asked?
 
adj904 said:
Did you have two interviews and was one different than the other in format or just different interviewers?
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I can't speak to soundofserenity's experience, but I had one interview via Skype. My advice if you get one on Skype, make sure to look at the CAMERA and not the person's face on the screen. It will seem as if they aren't keeping eye contact with you, but remember that they are looking at your face on their screen, and you never know, they may make a note of it. Besides that, the format was the same, 30-90 minutes one-on-one (both of mine were around 70 minutes).
 
Has anyone been accepted here yet or does anyone know if any acceptances have gone out from here yet?
 
medstu28 said:
Has anyone been accepted here yet or does anyone know if any acceptances have gone out from here yet?
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A few EDP have been accepted. Dr. Sapien told my group last week that after EDP, BA/MD, PrEP and deferrals that 53 spots were left. A select few of us will find out at the end of next month, a few more around the end of January and the rest by March 15.
 
medstu28 said:
Has anyone been accepted here yet or does anyone know if any acceptances have gone out from here yet?
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I just got a rolling rejection today so I'd imagine they've sent out a couple acceptances by now as well.
 
Does anyone know how many in state regular decision applicants there are this year?
 
Hello, just scheduled my interview date for Nov. 24th. Do they let you know beforehand who will be interviewing you or do you find out the day of?
 
JustDoIt777 said:
Hello, just scheduled my interview date for Nov. 24th. Do they let you know beforehand who will be interviewing you or do you find out the day of?
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You find out the day of. They will tell you who they are and what department they are in.
 
Has anyone taken the new version of the MCAT and is satisfied with their score and if so, do you mind sharing how you studied? Just wondering in case I have to end up retaking. Also has anyone taken the MCAT+ summer program that UNM offers, and do you think it was adequate preparation? Any input is appreciated, please free to message me.
 
Fpd06 said:
Congratulations!! Mind sharing or PM'ing stats?
Such an exciting time! So curious how these rolling acceptances are evaluated.
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I am not sure what my LizzyM is. I am an IS applicant. Went to school out of state. Completed the middle of August. First time applicant.
 
Has anyone heard anything about acceptances?
 
Hey everyone! I am a first year med student at UNM. Starting our third block! Ah! If any of you have questions feel free to direct message me! Good luck
 
Anyone get word or hear word from anyone that interviewed in October?
 
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