2016-2017 University of Arizona - Tucson Application Thread

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For the Meaningful Experience Prompt (Prompt #1), I already included the most meaningful experience I had working with patients in my primary application under the Work/Activities section. Would it be okay to expand upon this experience? Or should I just write about a different experience?
I think if you bring a new aspect to it or are able to expand on it without too much difficulty, then it's fine, especially if it was clear that it was your most meaningful experience in your primary. I purposefully did not mention on some things in my personal statement to include in questions like this on secondaries, but I assume they know that many people might be repeating themselves. I only think it's an issue if you write verbatim what you put in your primary.
 
For the Meaningful Experience Prompt (Prompt #1), I already included the most meaningful experience I had working with patients in my primary application under the Work/Activities section. Would it be okay to expand upon this experience? Or should I just write about a different experience?

I had to do this for a few of my apps. I think it's ok, and the best piece of advice I received with respect to this was: DO NOT LOOK BACK AT YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT. If you are going to write about the same experience, do not even peek at the personal statement. It's going to be tempting, and you are going to think that it is going to help because you already wrote about it /flawlessly/ once, why not just see how you did it, etc etc. It will not help, it will hurt you because that word choice and phrasing will be fresh in your mind and the pieces will come out too similar and then you will have to start all over again. I am unfortunately speaking from experience. Also, this is a chance to expand upon that experience, and bring a new/different/deeper insight into it.
 
Thank you so much!! Damn this application season is quiet hectic. One moment you're pumped to take over the world and the next you're googling your chances of getting accepted!

In addition, I am from a rural city (where my university is located), so I only had the opportunity to follow a Physicians Assistant for the longest time, so for the Clinical LOR requirement, It should suffice right? This PA basically oversees the whole department during evening time which is when I had time to do clinical rotations with him. THanks!!

The clinical LOR is one from a physician or clinical supervisor. So I would imagine a PA would count as a clinical supervisor. I just included the volunteer coordinator for the hospital I volunteered at.
 
just to be clear, you don't need your letters in before you have an interview. correct?
 
Does anyone have any insight into how often we can expect to hear from the adcom? I feel like I heard they meet twice per month and send correspondence once per month, but I can't even remember where I heard that from.
 
just got this
We welcome your continued interest in the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Your application has completed the primary screening phase for an interview invitation. Our medical school is currently unable to invite you to interview. However, we have determined that you are a competitive candidate and you will continue to be considered during this application cycle.

so does this mean im on a waitlist for an interview?
 
just got this
We welcome your continued interest in the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Your application has completed the primary screening phase for an interview invitation. Our medical school is currently unable to invite you to interview. However, we have determined that you are a competitive candidate and you will continue to be considered during this application cycle.

so does this mean im on a waitlist for an interview?
I got the same thing. I think we are waitlisted.
 
just got this
We welcome your continued interest in the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Your application has completed the primary screening phase for an interview invitation. Our medical school is currently unable to invite you to interview. However, we have determined that you are a competitive candidate and you will continue to be considered during this application cycle.

so does this mean im on a waitlist for an interview?

Got the same thing.
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just got this
We welcome your continued interest in the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Your application has completed the primary screening phase for an interview invitation. Our medical school is currently unable to invite you to interview. However, we have determined that you are a competitive candidate and you will continue to be considered during this application cycle.

so does this mean im on a waitlist for an interview?

Does the majority of those placed on the "hold" typically end up receiving an II?

Seeing input from @order66.exe & @ifnotnowwren
 
just got this
We welcome your continued interest in the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Your application has completed the primary screening phase for an interview invitation. Our medical school is currently unable to invite you to interview. However, we have determined that you are a competitive candidate and you will continue to be considered during this application cycle.

so does this mean im on a waitlist for an interview?

I, too, received the quasi-rejection yesterday, and I'm pretty bummed about it. Two years ago, when I was an undergraduate at UA and an average (at best) candidate, I was granted an interview in Tucson. This time around, I have a better MCAT (29 then, 511 now), improved activities, and some new, unique life experiences. Plus, my PS/essays can't be too bad because I've already snagged a handful of IIs. I didn't think my acceptance at Tucson was a given, but I was looking forward to an II. As an AZ resident, I expected more from my state school.
 
Does the majority of those placed on the "hold" typically end up receiving an II?

Seeing input from @order66.exe & @ifnotnowwren

Someone said this in last year's thread:
Did the digging from the old threads and here is what I got.
-A lot of people that were not selected were put on "holds" and it doesn't look like anyone was outright rejected.
-People on "hold" were given II anywhere from 10 days after to 2 months after.
-People that interviewed and not selected were given an email that said "The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson sent out a round of acceptances today. Although you have not been selected at this time, you are still an active candidate in our applicant pool. This is not a rejection letter. You will remain eligible for an acceptance at any time in the season." and they receive that email EVERY TIME acceptances were sent out (I'm not joking). Also the subject line of this deferment email was "UA Tuscon Acceptance update." (still not joking)

tldr Arizona loves keeping you as their side-bitches and letting you know it.
 
I'm pretty sure I dun goofed on the question #2 on the secondary. I wrote about how I failed moving out for the first time right out of high school, how I recovered, and what I learned. It did have an impact on my grades, so I mentioned that but I tried to emphasize the moving out experience overall. After reading other replies I think it was still too academically-oriented though :bang:. Is this something they would automatically trash my app over, do you think?
 
I applied 2 cycles ago and got the "still a competitive candidate" email. The next round of screening, I was invited for an interview so don't give up all hope just yet.
 
I applied 2 cycles ago and got the "still a competitive candidate" email. The next round of screening, I was invited for an interview so don't give up all hope just yet.

Congratulations!!!! By the way, when did you complete your UA secondary app and when did you get your II?


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I'm pretty sure I dun goofed on the question #2 on the secondary. I wrote about how I failed moving out for the first time right out of high school, how I recovered, and what I learned. It did have an impact on my grades, so I mentioned that but I tried to emphasize the moving out experience overall. After reading other replies I think it was still too academically-oriented though :bang:. Is this something they would automatically trash my app over, do you think?
I mean moving out of a parents' house is something the majority of people experience so it is extremely weak in that regard. Additionally, I do not think mentioning anything related to academics in that prompt is good because it shows you did not read the directions ("Discuss a time in your life in which you have failed at something other than an academic experience. How did you confront the failure and what did you learn from it? Please describe how you typically approach challenges that you face in your life.").

For example, saying moving out impacted your grades, then you recovered by moving out which then helped your grades, is talking about an academic experience because part of the failure is academic, your grades being impacted.

That being said, it is just ONE VERY SMALL part of the application, you could be amazing in other areas so do not worry about it. Hopefully they read just into the "how I recovered, and what I learned" parts of it!
 
A question for those who have received interview invites. One can not see the available interview dates till the photo is uploaded?


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I mean moving out of a parents' house is something the majority of people experience so it is extremely weak in that regard. Additionally, I do not think mentioning anything related to academics in that prompt is good because it shows you did not read the directions ("Discuss a time in your life in which you have failed at something other than an academic experience. How did you confront the failure and what did you learn from it? Please describe how you typically approach challenges that you face in your life.").

For example, saying moving out impacted your grades, then you recovered by moving out which then helped your grades, is talking about an academic experience because part of the failure is academic, your grades being impacted.

That being said, it is just ONE VERY SMALL part of the application, you could be amazing in other areas so do not worry about it. Hopefully they read just into the "how I recovered, and what I learned" parts of it!

Thanks for the reply teenagemutant! I keep forgetting how easy it is to fall into the habit of obsessing over little details when it comes to applying. I agree that my answer was weak to begin with, I guess time will tell if the rest of my app was good enough.
 
Congratulations!!!! By the way, when did you complete your UA secondary app and when did you get your II

I don't remember exactly when I completed. I was a late applicant last time - submitted my primary in late August, I think. I do vividly remember getting my II in my Biochem lecture on Halloween for an interview in December. I applied much earlier this cycle, so fingers crossed.
 
just got this
We welcome your continued interest in the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Your application has completed the primary screening phase for an interview invitation. Our medical school is currently unable to invite you to interview. However, we have determined that you are a competitive candidate and you will continue to be considered during this application cycle.

so does this mean im on a waitlist for an interview?

Welp. Just got this email too.
 
OOS joining the "competitive but no interview rn" party :laugh: it's still so early in the cycle so there's plenty of time for them to send out more invites & I'm just happy it's not a rejection!
 
Boooo got the "hold" email. I like this school 🙁
 
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