2015-2016 University of Oklahoma Application Thread

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For those who got IIs so far:
1) Again congrats and good luck!
2) Do you know how they calculate the LizzyM? The recruiter yesterday said it was called a Cognitive Score and there was a formula doing with part BPCM GPA and part MCAT, but didnt say exact formula. Just interested to see where mine might lie.
3) When was your AMCAS and Secondary Application Complete? If they are starting chronologically with application complete dates I may be waiting a while since most all done in July but my Pre-Health Committee took forever to do my letter and wasnt submitted until 30 Sep?
 
The Captain said:
For those who got IIs so far:
1) Again congrats and good luck!
2) Do you know how they calculate the LizzyM? The recruiter yesterday said it was called a Cognitive Score and there was a formula doing with part BPCM GPA and part MCAT, but didnt say exact formula. Just interested to see where mine might lie.
3) When was your AMCAS and Secondary Application Complete? If they are starting chronologically with application complete dates I may be waiting a while since most all done in July but my Pre-Health Committee took forever to do my letter and wasnt submitted until 30 Sep?
Click to expand...

I haven't gotten an II yet but was complete on 9/1 so relatively late.

LizzyM isn't used by med schools (as far as I know), it's more of a generalized representation of what an applicant looks like numbers-wise. It was developed prior to the MCAT changing, and so scores are based on the old 3-45 scale. The formula is LizzyM= (cGPA*10)+(MCAT[old]). If you took the new one, then use the percentile you got to convert your score to the old MCAT, then calculate LizzyM from there.

So for example, I made a 518, 97th percentile, which translates to a 36 on the old MCAT, and I have a 3.85 cGPA, so my LizzyM is: (3.8*10)+36=74.

So, it is a very limited measure and doesn't account for the other half of your application, but tends to correlate well with how likely you are to get an acceptance, all other things being equal. Hope that helps!
 
Gambino01 said:
I haven't gotten an II yet but was complete on 9/1 so relatively late.

LizzyM isn't used by med schools (as far as I know), it's more of a generalized representation of what an applicant looks like numbers-wise. It was developed prior to the MCAT changing, and so scores are based on the old 3-45 scale. The formula is LizzyM= (cGPA*10)+(MCAT[old]). If you took the new one, then use the percentile you got to convert your score to the old MCAT, then calculate LizzyM from there.

So for example, I made a 518, 97th percentile, which translates to a 36 on the old MCAT, and I have a 3.85 cGPA, so my LizzyM is: (3.8*10)+36=74.

So, it is a very limited measure and doesn't account for the other half of your application, but tends to correlate well with how likely you are to get an acceptance, all other things being equal. Hope that helps!
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First, Holy s%^@ awesome MCAT. Secrets/hints? Im pretty frigin' smart if I say so myself but it never translates on the MCAT.

Second, Thanks. The OU recruiter said they do use what he called a CS or Cognitive Score to determine interviews. He said it was based on BPCM GPA and the MCAT at some percentage of each added together but I did not get the formula. I forgot to ask and maybe he could or couldn't have given it. But it was definitely was on his slides with averages from last 2 years classes. I did ask specifically and wrote down the GPA he was referencing was the BPCM and not the cumulative though.
 
Thanks, I was pretty happy about it, although I was disappointed with my Psych score, especially since I spent a lot of time studying for that section. My only secret is just be honest with yourself. You can BS papers and tests in school and you might get by, but there's no subjectivity on a test like the MCAT and it requires you to not only know things but to be able to actively retrieve them. I basically went through content and listed everything I couldn't explain to someone else and focused on that. Sorry that's so general but I think studying for a test like the MCAT is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor.

Yeah that CS score they calculate is basically accomplishing the same goal as LizzyM. They may weight GPA or MCAT more than LizzyM which equates .1 GPA to 1 MCAT point.
 
Good luck all. Message moved.
 
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For those of you with interview invites, when were your secondaries complete?
 
For those inquiring about completion dates etc:

AMCAS processing complete 7/15, LOR packet received by AMCAS 7/30.
Secondary offered 7/15. Secondary submitted 7/20.
Interview invite offered 10/6.

LizzyM of 69. In-state.
 
It seems that the II are fairly scattered. People who were complete on 8/10 got II before some of you who were complete earlier. I was complete at the end of August. I wonder when I will get to hear back about whether I will be offered an interview
 
MagentaKarma said:
It seems that the II are fairly scattered. People who were complete on 8/10 got II before some of you who were complete earlier. I was complete at the end of August. I wonder when I will get to hear back about whether I will be offered an interview
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Good luck. We're there with you waiting. My secondary complete was 30 Sep so I'm probably one of the last if they go by date complete so can judge based on that
 
skinofteeth said:
I heard some students used a committee letter and a MD letter of rec and that was fine. Did you have a faculty letter?
Click to expand...

Sorry it took me so long to reply! I used a committee letter from my school and a letter from an undergrad research supervisor. I think that if you have several physicians who know you well that it would work fine to only have MD letters.
 
anyone know what the OOS stats are like for last years matriculants? I have a 3.6 gpa and a 31 mcat so idk where my chances stand..
 
Aspiring Aggie Dr said:
anyone know what the OOS stats are like for last years matriculants? I have a 3.6 gpa and a 31 mcat so idk where my chances stand..
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Depends on your ECs. You're about average as far as stats go and generally OOS applicants need to be higher than average to be considered for an interview.
 
Aspiring Aggie Dr said:
anyone know what the OOS stats are like for last years matriculants? I have a 3.6 gpa and a 31 mcat so idk where my chances stand..
Click to expand...

I'm not sure precisely what our average OOS stats, but I do know they're a good bit higher than that. Unfortunately, I doubt you realistically have much of a chance, unless you have very strong EC's.
 
what's considered a good/competitive score for the new test?
 
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banksbrooks said:
what's considered a good/competitive score for the new test?
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I think a lot of the schools are still figuring that out. As always it depends on the school. Since your posting in here on OU site, the recruiter I talked to said still converting what is "good" for the new test. Obviously the old MCTA of 21 as a bottom minimum converts to around a 495 or so if I remember correctly on the chart from AMCAS. However to be competitive the average score for the last few years at OU was a 30 MCAT so that would be around a 509-510 on the new one. Remember that is the 'average' of the those accepted so some above and some below. I'd 'assume' and Im not an admission person that a bare minimum of 500 to get looked at if have other high points such as GPA, life experience, etc. Also since 75% of class is instate your scores if an out of state applicant should be above the averages (so new MCAT above 510). FYI average BPCM GPA was like 3.72

* Id bet it would be a year or so before the real averages start to be visible, right now the AMCAS chart I saw was just based on first 2 months worth of test last April/May. Plus a lot of questions still about how pysch/soc section is weighted and/or how they tilts averages.

Good luck.
 
Hey all, current MS1 here who will be leading a few of you around on interview day! I'm happy to answer any questions you might have!
 
zip10946 said:
Hey all, current MS1 here who will be leading a few of you around on interview day! I'm happy to answer any questions you might have!
Click to expand...

Why did you choose OU, and what do you think its strengths and weaknesses as a school are?
 
Gambino01 said:
Why did you choose OU, and what do you think its strengths and weaknesses as a school are?
Click to expand...

I am an OU grad so I wanted to stay in state and go back to my home school. It was the only MD school I applied to, the rest were DO programs. Now, I only interviewed at 3 other schools. But, it was by far and away better than every school I went to in terms of facilities, academics and atmosphere. I honestly felt my best chance to succeed was here. As far as strengths and weaknesses go, I'm still relatively new but I'll do what I can here.

The facilities are top notch. The CSETC is one of the best, if not the best, clinical skills labs in the country. OU students never fail the CS portion of step II. I really like the mod system, it helps you get to know people and facilitates group study. Technology is also a huge plus. Being able to watch the lectures at home on 1.4x or 1.6x speed make me much more efficient and I don't have to get up early to go to class (except for anatomy, it's no fun).

The only weaknesses that I've seen so far are that sometimes the lectures that get recorded get lost, which they tell us has never been a problem until this year, so if you miss lecture and then it never gets posted you are kind of on your own. Also, they kinda screwed us in scheduling things this week, lots of stuff going on before our big anatomy test on monday of next week.

Hope that helps!
 
Gambino01 said:
Why did you choose OU, and what do you think its strengths and weaknesses as a school are?
Click to expand...

MS2 here, agree with a lot of what zip said. As someone who literally knew zero people in our class coming in (which can be worrying, as many people in our class were OU grads who already knew like half the class), the mod system is amazing. For the most part, OU also doesn't force you to attend unless there is something you actually need to attend (clinical skills workshops, standardized patient stuff), so you can watch lectures at home on double speed. Med school is all about efficiency, so this is great.

Another strength is how easy they make it to get involved with extracurricular stuff. For instance, in the field I want to go in to (anesthesia), OU last year did all of the following: 1. they have a summer research program where you can either be full-time paid or part-time volunteer, and you were pretty much guaranteed to be able to do research if you applied. Very good for residency apps. 2. they have a paid externship program that you can do outside of your rotations 3rd and 4th year where you set up rooms prior to surgery. Good for residency apps, some $$$, and good experience in general. 3. they put on a clinical skills workshop every year where you get to practice some cool stuff (intubating, doing a cricothyrotomy, and putting in a central line on some very lifelike dummys). And this was all just in one specialty; I know several of the other fields do lots of stuff like this too. OU makes it very easy to get outside experience and strengthen your residency application.

Finally, they have what is called the OUCHA program, which is great for clinical experience. You can sign up to volunteer in local free clinics, where you can practice your clinical skills. Different clinics give you different responsibilites, so you can find yourself doing anything from taking vitals, to doing history and physical, to running A1C's and other lab tests. It's a great way to hone your clinical skills and start learning how to integrate the material you learn in class into practical application. Plus, if you rack up enough hours, you can get up to one whole extra month of vacation 4th year, which is awesome.

The only weakness I can really think of are the afternoon, non-science courses. I'm pretty sure most schools have these classes, and the first-year biostatistics course will come in handy for Step 1, but it can get a little frustrating having to come in for 2 hours on a Wednesday afternoon for a humanities class when you have a neuroscience test Friday morning you'd much rather be studying for. Like I said though, every other school I looked at had this same problem, so it's not necessarily a weakness of just OU.
 
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Thanks you guys! I think I would probably be in the "not knowing a single person" boat because I didn't go to OU but am still in state. Hopefully having gone to a liberal arts school will help out in some of the humanities aspects, but I can see how it would seem to be a drag in that situation. I appreciate the input!
 
Is there a way to confirm that you are listed as in-state and not out-of-state?
 
The Captain said:
Is there a way to confirm that you are listed as in-state and not out-of-state?
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1. Go to your secondary app in the portal
2. Click residency tab
3. ???
4. Profit

(It's based on what you selected there, I believe)
 
Finished my interview yesterday and wanted to update you all on the new format. OU has decided to switch to a structured interview format, so it will no longer just be a free-flowing conversation like it has been in recent years. They asked us 7 questions, each with an allotted 5 minutes to answer. There were some issues with my interview with the questions not necessarily pertaining to the topic that was supposed to be exemplified by your answer, but your interviewers will work with you on that as you go along. This is something new for your interviewers as well as you to adjust to, so don't stress! If you just brush up on your typical interview questions (When have you failed? What's your biggest weakness? How have your experiences shaped you?) then you all will be just fine.

Good luck to everyone interviewing later this week or still waiting to hear back!
 
I can expand on the interviews, as I also interviewed this Sunday. It is a panel of three people- a faculty doctor, a student, and a doctor from the community. Mine was this format, but the director of admissions did say some people would have three doctors.

Also, the standardized question thing did sound a bit scary at first, but it wasn't too much more formal than the other interviews I've been to. They definitely had a list of questions they referred to, but it was still a conversation. They ask you a question, you answer, and then they ask any follow up questions about it. I thought it was relaxed, my interviewers were very nice. I think overall this format could help to reduce some discrepancy between interviewers and make sure everyone gets a fair chance and gets asked the same sorts of questions.
 
Instate Interview invite this morning!
Really excited for this school, my top choice!
 
Usually deadlines of X day mean by 5pm on that date, but it can also sometimes mean midnight. In my experience it's usually the former though. Sorry:/
 
Does anyone know when the last interview invites go out each year?
I know interviews continue thru January and maybe Feb but when are last invite letters sent out?
 
The Captain said:
Does anyone know when the last interview invites go out each year?
I know interviews continue thru January and maybe Feb but when are last invite letters sent out?
Click to expand...

One of my friend sent me this. Been right so far. So I'm guessing latest invites go around XMAS.

ImageUploadedBySDN Mobile1447136476.296785.jpg
 
Last year I was a part of the final interview invite group. I believe I got the email invite the first week of January and then interviewed the second or third week of January. I received my acceptance email less than a week after my interview day. For anyone still waiting to hear..... I was in this place last year and I know just how bad it sucks. Keep your head up... there are still spots to fill!!
 
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