2016-2017 University of Illinois Application Thread

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Just got off the phone with someone from admissions. She told me it usually takes around 30 days to get the scores from CASPer and for them to apply it to the specific accounts. Just to give everyone a heads up.

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I submitted my secondary 7/16 but the earliest casper was August 11th. So basically, I won't even be considered complete until then and they won't even receive my scores for 30 days? And judging from previous threads, it takes about a month to receive an interview invite if applicable. It worries me that I probably won't hear anything for at least a couple months. Anyone else taking the casper August 11th?
 
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I submitted my secondary 7/16 but the earliest casper was August 11th. So basically, I won't even be considered complete until then and they won't even receive my scores for 30 days? And judging from previous threads, it takes about a month to receive an interview invite if applicable. It worries me that I probably won't hear anything for at least a couple months. Anyone else taking the casper August 11th?

I'm signed up for the Aug 11 day. It was the earliest available for me also. I bet there are a lot of people in the same boat.
 
I submitted my secondary 7/16 but the earliest casper was August 11th. So basically, I won't even be considered complete until then and they won't even receive my scores for 30 days? And judging from previous threads, it takes about a month to receive an interview invite if applicable. It worries me that I probably won't hear anything for at least a couple months. Anyone else taking the casper August 11th?

From what I've read, it seems like CASPer will not affect whether your application is complete. UIC is likely using the test this year to gather longitudinal data rather than assess applicants.


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From what I've read, it seems like CASPer will not affect whether your application is complete. UIC is likely using the test this year to gather longitudinal data rather than assess applicants.


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I called the admissions office and they said that applications will not even be considered for an interview until they have all materials, casper scores included.
Can I ask where you received your information? Thanks!
 
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I called the admissions office and they said that applications will not even be considered for an interview until they have all materials, casper scores included. Sigh...
Can I ask where you received your information? Thanks!

Early in this thread, a UIC representative said that CASPer scores have no bearing on us being complete for review. If that's what the office said though I guess we should go by that. Thanks for calling!


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Well first, the applications are open until December 1st. So, taking CASPer on July 26th isn't an issue. Interviews don't start until mid-september at the earliest, and having your CASPer scores in before December 1st will not affect whether your application is considered complete. Having said that, I wouldn't wait till the last minute to take it either, just to keep things moving along.

The Extra Curriculars page, whether it's somewhat duplicative, or not, is looked at by the screeners, so fill it out. It definitely isn't just for new ECs, or ones you didn't already tell AMCAS about. They asked for it to be part of the supplemental process. Put in your most relevant ECs, I'd say. Hope that helps.

This is the post I'm referring to.


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I called the admissions office and they said that applications will not even be considered for an interview until they have all materials, casper scores included. Sigh...
Can I ask where you received your information? Thanks!

Can also confirm this. Called admissions over a month ago and was told the same thing
 
I called the admissions office and they said that applications will not even be considered for an interview until they have all materials, casper scores included. Sigh...
Can I ask where you received your information? Thanks!
YEA... Had I known about it in the beginning of the cycle I would have registered earlier... was it written on their website anywhere?
 
No II's have been sent out from this school, right?
 
Looks like they start sending them mid to late-August looking at past years

You can see relatively where you are in the process on your portal. For example, I can tell that they're actively looking at my application now, because my portal says, "Applicant in process." Historically it only took a couple to few weeks to get an initial answer, (interview, rejection, hold for possible later interview) for that initial review, once you see that up in your portal.

I'd expect IIs to start soon.
 
You can see relatively where you are in the process on your portal. For example, I can tell that they're actively looking at my application now, because my portal says, "Applicant in process." Historically it only took a couple to few weeks to get an initial answer, (interview, rejection, hold for possible later interview) for that initial review, once you see that up in your portal.

I'd expect IIs to start soon.

All I see in my portal is that I have payed my fee. Is there something I should click to view my status?
 
All I see in my portal is that I have payed my fee. Is there something I should click to view my status?

My understanding is that when your app is complete, there is a button at the bottom of the page that will say, "NEXT". If you click on it, it will take you to a page with a status.

Otherwise, there may be something on the 1st page that indicates something missing(letters, scores, fee, supplemental). This may be a little different this year with CASPer. Because I see no reference to it anywhere on my page.

Also, it's weird.... it may not need to be said, but because it could cause confusion, the link to the supplemental and link to get status updates are different.
 
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You can see relatively where you are in the process on your portal. For example, I can tell that they're actively looking at my application now, because my portal says, "Applicant in process." Historically it only took a couple to few weeks to get an initial answer, (interview, rejection, hold for possible later interview) for that initial review, once you see that up in your portal.

I'd expect IIs to start soon.

For those that aren't familiar, here's the flowchart of portal statuses that gets posted every year. Not sure if this changes because of CASPer. I updated the link to the status webpage below since the other one was old and I also cleaned up the formatting.

********************************
START

I. Submit Primary.

II. Wait for the email from UIC giving you your login information for the Applicant Status Check site (usually arrives within 2 weeks of submitting your primary): https://services.com.uic.edu/appstat

III. Login, and check your status in the second page.

---

A. "Application Not Complete" = Secondary not yet complete.

B. "Application in Progress" = You are complete. --> Goto C.

C. "Applicant in Process" = Your file is being reviewed, three possible status changes:
  1. "Select Interview Date" = You are good enough for an interview. --> Goto D.
  2. "Application in Process" = You are not good enough to grant an interview yet, but might be later on in the cycle. Check back periodically. --> Go back to B.
  3. "Final Decision Made ..." = You are not good enough. --> Goto X.

D. "Select Interview Date" (a grid of dates shows up) = Call and schedule an interview date, after which "Interview Scheduled on ... " shows up. After the interview, Goto F.

F. "Decision Pending" = File pending review at the next adcom meeting (every 3rd Thursday of the month). There are 2 options from here, depending on the month:
  1. Before May. --> Goto M.
  2. On or After May. --> Goto N.
M. Before May, 2 Possible Status Changes:
  1. "Final Decision Made ... " --> Goto S.
  2. "Decision Pending" (no status change) + "We'll keep reviewing you" email (a few days later) = You are a good candidate, but not good enough to grant an acceptance yet. UIC will keep reviewing you at every adcom meeting. --> Go back to F.
N. On or After May, 2 Possible Status Changes:
  1. "Final Decision Made ... " You are (very likely) rejected. --> Goto X.
  2. "Applicant is Waitlisted" = Waitlisted. --> Goto Y.
S. There are 2 additional conditions from here:
  1. One of the yellow boxes says "Additional Correspondence" in the upper-right corner of your status page (to the right of the "Confirm Interview" boxes) AND you get a CBC Email (a few days later) = You are (very likely) accepted. --> Goto Z.
  2. There is no "Additional Correspondence" text in the yellow box and/or you don't get the CBC Email = Rejection. [Note: This is tricky. The CBC email usually comes a few days after (1-4 is the consensus) the status change. Be patient. Sometimes, the email never comes, which might be because you already had a CBC done due to an acceptance at another school. In some instances, the CBC Email even comes after the snail-mail. If after a week, neither the "Additional Correspondence" text nor the CBC email shows up, it's very likely a rejection. You've probably already received snail-mail by now alerting you to it.] --> Goto X.
X. "Final Decision Made ..." = Rejection ... Wait for a "Thin Letter" via snail-mail.

Y. "Applicant is Waitlisted" = Waitlisted. ... The CBC Email no longer acts as an indicator of an acceptance. If you get accepted off of the waitlist, then Goto Z, else Goto X.

Z. "Final Decision Made ..." + "Additional Correspondence" text + CBC Email = (very likely) Acceptance ... Wait for a "Fat Packet" via snail-mail. [Note: Sometimes CBC emails come after the packet. CBC emails also might never arrive if you got an acceptance to another school that also does CBC through AMCAS.]

FINISH

---

*** NOTE: There are no guarantees in the above information, since there is always the chance that UIC changes things up. Just always keep in mind that the above is of what has happened, and not what will happen.


**********************************
 
My understanding is that when your app is complete, there is a button at the bottom of the page that will say, "NEXT". If you click on it, it will take you to a page with a status.

Otherwise, there may be something on the 1st page that indicates something missing(letters, scores, fee, supplemental). This may be a little different this year with CASPer. Because I see no reference to it anywhere on my page.

Also, it's weird.... it may not need to be said, but because it could cause confusion, the link to the supplemental and link to get status updates are different.

Apparently there is a different link to check the status of your application. For some reason I thought that it would show up on the secondary. It says that I am in process. Thanks for the information!
 
I'm having trouble finding the status. I go to application status in the side bar, however, it just goes to the checked boxes that I have already completed. Could someone please guide me to where you can see your status?
 
I'm having trouble finding the status. I go to application status in the side bar, however, it just goes to the checked boxes that I have already completed. Could someone please guide me to where you can see your status?

So you should go to the email that you received from the admissions office and then it should have a link that talks about checking the status of your application.
 
When you guys hover the different sections in the supplemental application status page, do all the different sections say "complete" or "incomplete?"

I'm having a minor panic attack
 
When you guys hover the different sections in the supplemental application status page, do all the different sections say "complete" or "incomplete?"

I'm having a minor panic attack
Oh wow, that is so weird. Some of my sections say complete and some say incomplete when my mouse hovers over the checkmark...
 
Oh wow, that is so weird. Some of my sections say complete and some say incomplete when my mouse hovers over the checkmark...

Don't worry about that. I called the admissions office earlier about something and she said my application was complete and the same thing is happening to me when I am hovering. So don't worry!
 
Oh wow, that is so weird. Some of my sections say complete and some say incomplete when my mouse hovers over the checkmark...

Same thing with mine. I was freaking out so badly because I thought this whole time I was complete. I guess if all the boxes aren't filled in, they say the section is incomplete. But I just looked at the status page, and I'm in process, so it's all good
 
Apparently there is a different link to check the status of your application. For some reason I thought that it would show up on the secondary. It says that I am in process. Thanks for the information!

It looks like everyone already figured this out, but I'll post the links anyway in case others can't find it. 🙂
 
It looks like everyone already figured this out, but I'll post the links anyway in case others can't find it. 🙂
So my status at the bottom says

"Recommendation(s): 1 received from AMCAS, expecting a total of 1, awaiting Admissions Officer letter review"

and I have no next button. Does this mean they haven't received my letter or they have yet to like check it in? My rec should have gotten there 7/25.
 
So my status at the bottom says

"Recommendation(s): 1 received from AMCAS, expecting a total of 1, awaiting Admissions Officer letter review"

and I have no next button. Does this mean they haven't received my letter or they have yet to like check it in? My rec should have gotten there 7/25.

I would call and ask. Last year my app was held up a little because a writer did not put the letter on letterhead. I didn't know they were having issues with the letter until I called.
 
For all those already in process, when did you take CASPer?
 
For all those already in process, when did you take CASPer?

I took mine 07/10, but I'm not sure if they're factoring it in to consider an application ready for review (i could be wrong though)
 
I took mine 07/10, but I'm not sure if they're factoring it in to consider an application ready for review (i could be wrong though)

As per the admissions office, your application is not complete until they have your CASPer results.
 
I took mine 07/10, but I'm not sure if they're factoring it in to consider an application ready for review (i could be wrong though)

I spoke with one of the professors that sits on the admissions board who happens to work out at the same gym as me today and he told me that CASPR is not being factored into admissions decisions this year. He told me it was simply being used for data collection so that it can be used in the future. That being said, they still may require it for an app to be "complete" but I don't believe your performance on it is going to affect your admissions decision. Hope that's helpful!
 
Edit: nevermind! problem solved 🙂
 
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For all those already in process, when did you take CASPer?
I took mine 7/26.

I was told initially that it would take 30 days for results to come in. However, one of my recommendation letters went in without a signature or letter when I was (assuming I was) complete 7/14. Got that sent in, and it now says my file is "applicant in process" so it could take a little less time than the quoted frame! Unless they go ahead and start the review process without the CASPer score.

What did you guys think of CASPer as a test? Evidently, Canadian schools use it as a primary deciding factor is my understanding!
 
Hi, I just finished my first week of M1 here at UIC. I can't really help you all with admissions questions (I still don't understand how it works and I empathize with you all), but I do have a great opportunity to ask my classmates your most pressing questions. Hopefully I can get a solid anonymous sample size, and you use that info to judge what's accurate about the admissions process and what's important. I'll get the list started - feel free to add on:

GPA? Science GPA? MCAT? LizzyM Score? Any particularly poor grades? (and how these vary according to answers to the following)
major?
college? do you think there's consideration of college difficulty?
age?
gender identification?
research experience/s?
community service experiences?
IL resident?
'non-traditional' applicant?
when did you interview / receive offer?
did you get accepted elsewhere?
are you a reapplicant?
Free response: General thoughts about admissions process? Things you wish you knew before applying? Things you could've done more of? Things that don't really matter?
 
What did you guys think of CASPer as a test?

I think the time limit was too strict. I've been in a few dilemmas similar to the kind on the test, and I never had a time limit of a few minutes. Quick thinking is a good trait, but some people just need a bit more time to think through these dilemmas. You barely get enough time to type out a canned response about perspectives, much less delve into the intricacies of the dilemmas and provide more nuanced views.

Then again, our current healthcare environment does demand quick thinking, so perhaps they're right to use such a strict time limit.
 
I think the time limit was too strict. I've been in a few dilemmas similar to the kind on the test, and I never had a time limit of a few minutes. Quick thinking is a good trait, but some people just need a bit more time to think through these dilemmas. You barely get enough time to type out a canned response about perspectives, much less delve into the intricacies of the dilemmas and provide more nuanced views.

Is that really what it's going for, though? Nuance? Maybe it wants your split second reaction. That could potentially be more telling than having a whole bunch of time to think things through well. Our hopeful future career outcomes will often rest on our split second decision making abilities.
 
Is that really what it's going for, though? Nuance? Maybe it wants your split second reaction.

I edited this in moments after you responded: "Then again, our current healthcare environment does demand quick thinking, so perhaps they're right to use such a strict time limit."

Personally, I think med schools would value the quality of the responses over speed, but that's of course biased by my own values and beliefs about medicine.
 
I edited this in moments after you responded: "Then again, our current healthcare environment does demand quick thinking, so perhaps they're right to use such a strict time limit."

Personally, I think med schools would value the quality of the responses over speed, but that's of course biased by my own values and beliefs about medicine.

I know this is a different situation, but I had a physics lab once where there was literally not enough time to cover everything, performing the lab, the questions, etc, in a quality manner. And we had to turn our lab notebooks in at the end of each period completed for the session. No outside edits. I sent a note to my professor and explained that even if we could turn our lab notebooks in the next day(hell, an hour later), I felt like I could both learn and turn in a higher quality product.

His very canned responses was. "Apparently you and I have very different goals for these labs." And my initial reaction was, "On what planet are we not striving for quality?" I guess the answer was, on his.

I feel like this is the same type of thing.

Hopefully, at least they know what they're hoping to get out of CASPer. lol.
 
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they don't offer enough dates/options for interviews
 
So apparently July 26th CASPer results are behind schedule... I called Tulane asking if my scores had been received and was told this information.
 
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