2015-2016 University of Utah Application Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
For an activity that I have done for the last three years, I made three separate entries. (AKA I listed the same service activity multiple times depending on the number of years I have done it with a breakdown of the # of hours per year)

2013 - Activity A 30 hours
2014 - Activity A 45 hours
2015 - Activity A 34 hours

I also did this, but my activity was slightly different from year to year, so my description changed.
 
Hey all, thought I would send out the information I received from the admissions office at the U. They said not to worry if you haven't received a secondary yet, they have had record applicants this year and they are sending them out in batches. They said that the next batch should be sent out in the next few weeks.
Thanks for the info!
 
How much can you stretch the leadership requirement?
From UUSOM admissions site: "Leadership is defined as a position of responsibility for others, with a purpose to guide or direct others."

So if it meets that requirement, you are probably alright. What were you thinking of listing?
 
Secondary submitted! It surprises that there are that many more applicants this year. Even though they are considering more students as part of the 100 in state seats, OOS tuition is really high at the U. Isn't it like 67,000?
 
I wonder if the kids who are now applying as "in state" (even though they're not residents) realize they'll be paying 67,000 a year for tuition. Utah is an amazing school and is well worth the cost, but 67 grand is a high out of state tuition expense.
 
Last edited:
That's interesting. I don't know if they do know that. The funny thing is I graduated from one of the major 4 year Utah schools didn't meet one person who got in that was actually from Utah. Granted I was not a science major, nor did a socialize much with the premed crowd, but still surprising.
 
Yeah, what do you mean @SCooFS? Did they change something new?

I think he meant that they count anyone as In State if they graduated from high school or college in Utah (whether or not they are actual residents)

That's interesting. I don't know if they do know that. The funny thing is I graduated from one of the major 4 year Utah schools didn't meet one person who got in that was actually from Utah. Granted I was not a science major, nor did a socialize much with the premed crowd, but still surprising.

Yeah it is interesting. I'm IS, and from what I've heard over the past.. 10 years or so, a lot of actual Utah residents have been frustrated because UUSOM is the only med school in the state (no DO), and it just seemed like there weren't enough spots. They used to have only ~80 seats, and some were guaranteed to Idaho residents. Also, BYU and the U of U are the #2 and #29 (as of 2014 - https://www.aamc.org/download/321458/data/factstable2-7.pdf) supplier schools in the nation to medical schools.

Now they have more seats, OOS tuition is expensive, BUT they give more seats to OOS residents (per the new guidelines I wrote above), who could then go back home to practice, and there is already a shortage of physicians (compounded by a recent increase in the number of people who now have insurance). Essentially, many people have felt that Utah tax payers are funding medical education and supplying physicians for people who live in other states and probably have their own medical schools and doctors.

Its hard to say how much of this is actually a problem, and how much is hurt feelings from students/parents of students, who don't get accepted. As a student at one of those two schools mentioned above and a Utah resident, I wish there were 200 seats and all went to actual Utah residents - or 1 went to me and the rest to whoever haha. But alas, it's not so. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out with the tuition, the number of seats, new IS requirements etc. I just hope I get a shot!
 
I think he meant that they count anyone as In State if they graduated from high school or college in Utah (whether or not they are actual residents)



Yeah it is interesting. I'm IS, and from what I've heard over the past.. 10 years or so, a lot of actual Utah residents have been frustrated because UUSOM is the only med school in the state (no DO), and it just seemed like there weren't enough spots. They used to have only ~80 seats, and some were guaranteed to Idaho residents. Also, BYU and the U of U are the #2 and #29 (as of 2014 - https://www.aamc.org/download/321458/data/factstable2-7.pdf) supplier schools in the nation to medical schools.

Now they have more seats, OOS tuition is expensive, BUT they give more seats to OOS residents (per the new guidelines I wrote above), who could then go back home to practice, and there is already a shortage of physicians (compounded by a recent increase in the number of people who now have insurance). Essentially, many people have felt that Utah tax payers are funding medical education and supplying physicians for people who live in other states and probably have their own medical schools and doctors.

Its hard to say how much of this is actually a problem, and how much is hurt feelings from students/parents of students, who don't get accepted. As a student at one of those two schools mentioned above and a Utah resident, I wish there were 200 seats and all went to actual Utah residents - or 1 went to me and the rest to whoever haha. But alas, it's not so. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out with the tuition, the number of seats, new IS requirements etc. I just hope I get a shot!
My feelings exactly. I have never been rejected from the U and would love to go there. However as an outsider some of the things they decide to do don't seem very in line with the school's mission. Most of the complaints come from people with high stats who are turned down. I see nothing wrong with that. Would I disagree with is that they don't seem to be doing their best to provide physicians to the state. I appreciate the opportunity to apply and hope that they find I am a match. Even if accepted, though, I don't think I will change my opinion that they don't currently produce enough Utah doctors.
 
These are where they stand in terms of supplying white applicants
Considering the vast majority of students at both of those schools are white and the vast majority of accepted students are white, I thought it was appropriate.
 
Last edited:
What are the chances of getting in with a verbal 6? Other than that, holistically my app is phenomenal
 
What are the chances of getting in with a verbal 6? Other than that, holistically my app is phenomenal

Unfortunately, probably pretty close to zero. Sorry.

"The minimum acceptable score for each section of the 2013, 2014 and January, 2015 MCAT is 7." -http://medicine.utah.edu/admissions/criteria/index.php#mcat
 
I'm having a hard time developing a coherent organizational scheme for the secondary essay, and I could use some inspiration. Anyone have any advice? Shoot me a message please.
 
I'm having a hard time developing a coherent organizational scheme for the secondary essay, and I could use some inspiration. Anyone have any advice? Shoot me a message please.

Write about something nefarious.
 
I'm having a hard time developing a coherent organizational scheme for the secondary essay, and I could use some inspiration. Anyone have any advice? Shoot me a message please.
Just out of curiosity, were there any other essays on the secondary, or just the professionalism one?

Cheering for you two, Ginred and Scentofpeace. I read through last years forum and you guys were everywhere. Hope you can get it this year.
Thanks man! Yes @ScentOfPeace and I are SDN Utah forum alumni! So far I've been a bit more mild in my posting this year, but we'll see if that remains the case. If we get onto a football tangent then I may be getting a bit more involved here.
 
Last edited:
Secondary submitted! It surprises that there are that many more applicants this year. Even though they are considering more students as part of the 100 in state seats, OOS tuition is really high at the U. Isn't it like 67,000?
I think it's because they eased up on their LOR requirements.
 
My secondary only had a vague why do you want to be a doctor prompt and no "professionalism" prompt.

Also, this LOR situation is a HUGE pain in the ass. Is anyone, like myself, applying to this school with a committee letter (I know they don't accept them) BUT, do you have any tips on how to deal with these. Also, how does it work if we have to upload them to AMCAS and then schools without this ridiculous requirement see that we have LORs posted that might overlap with those in our committee letter?

Thanks! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
I applied with a committee letter. I had all my letter writers send their letters directly to my advisor who included all the individual letters in the packet. So I just designated which letters in the packet were for each requirement.
 
I applied with a committee letter. I had all my letter writers send their letters directly to my advisor who included all the individual letters in the packet. So I just designated which letters in the packet were for each requirement.

Committee letter is not the same as a letter packet. They don't accept committee letters but do accept individual letters, or a letter packet as long as it has 4 separate writers that specifically address the 4 requirements.

My secondary only had a vague why do you want to be a doctor prompt and no "professionalism" prompt.

Also, this LOR situation is a HUGE pain in the ass. Is anyone, like myself, applying to this school with a committee letter (I know they don't accept them) BUT, do you have any tips on how to deal with these. Also, how does it work if we have to upload them to AMCAS and then schools without this ridiculous requirement see that we have LORs posted that might overlap with those in our committee letter?

Thanks! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

First, you really didn't have the professionalism prompt?!

Second, I probably wont be TOO much help here, but what from I understand of the whole process on AMCAS you can designate specific letter writers to each individual school, so if you don't assign your 4 to the other schools, they'll never know they were there.

That being said it is a huge pain. When trying to figure out who I should ask letters from and how I should have them do it, I used Utah as a guide. If it fulfilled Utah's requirements, it fulfilled everyone else's haha. And to think they used to require 6 letters....
 
I received my secondary on 8/10, not sure when I was verified but I submitted my primary the first week of June.
 
Did any of you guys used biochemistry as one of the chemistry requirements? They require 2 years of chemistry and I never had to take gen chem 1 because I had credit from high school... Any suggestions would be helpful! thanks!
 
Did any of you guys used biochemistry as one of the chemistry requirements? They require 2 years of chemistry and I never had to take gen chem 1 because I had credit from high school... Any suggestions would be helpful! thanks!
I just put AP chemistry as one of the courses and the score
 
Is anybody having issues submitting the application using the AMCAS Fee Waiver? Its immediately checked for me but when I press Continue it says "Before submitting this form, you must select a method of payment".
 
I just received my secondary and am confused about the essay prompt. In the description it says "The essay question is an opportunity for you to present yourself and your motivations for pursuing a career in medicine to the Admissions Committee" However the prompt itself says "Please describe the concept of professionalism." I'm not sure whether my essay is supposed to focus on what professionalism means to me or whether I should be talking about my motivations in pursuing medicine??
 
I just received my secondary and am confused about the essay prompt. In the description it says "The essay question is an opportunity for you to present yourself and your motivations for pursuing a career in medicine to the Admissions Committee" However the prompt itself says "Please describe the concept of professionalism." I'm not sure whether my essay is supposed to focus on what professionalism means to me or whether I should be talking about my motivations in pursuing medicine??
Yeah, it's an interesting prompt for sure. I defined professionalism, selected what I consider to be a few key components of professionalism, and then wrote about how I developed those components.

Good luck!
 
Just submitted my secondary! I swear I read through every single would 50 times checking for mistakes. 😛 I'm hoping for some Idaho love
 
Dear admissions office,
Send me a secondary this week.
Thanks,
SoP
AMCAS verified 6/19, Utah secondary received 8/21. I guess yours should be coming out next week. I guess they are sending out there secondaries on the weekend. There is 1 month deadline to submit it, so you may start pre-writing it. Hope this info helps! 🙂
 
AMCAS verified 6/19, Utah secondary received 8/21. I guess yours should be coming out next week. I guess they are sending out there secondaries on the weekend. There is 1 month deadline to submit it, so you may start pre-writing it. Hope this info helps! 🙂
Thank you!
 
Any idea on when they start throwing out IIs? The email said they interview starting in September. Maybe for In-staters they can get away with giving less time to spare.
 
Unfortunately, probably pretty close to zero. Sorry.

"The minimum acceptable score for each section of the 2013, 2014 and January, 2015 MCAT is 7." -http://medicine.utah.edu/admissions/criteria/index.php#mcat


Thanks. I read that but I was wondering if anyone has ever gotten in with score below that
 
Top