2016-2017 University of Virginia Application Thread

BU Medical Sciences
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Checking in thread, II earlier today, OOS 78 LizzyM, completed August 5!

First one, so I'm super excited about everything but the drive (NJ resident) . . . .
 
I had a question for current students. Apart from the core curriculum, what sorts of opportunities are available (i.e. research)? How much room is there in the curriculum to get involved in these sorts of activities?
 
01923847 said:
I had a question for current students. Apart from the core curriculum, what sorts of opportunities are available (i.e. research)? How much room is there in the curriculum to get involved in these sorts of activities?
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I think the schedule provides plenty of flexibility for non-curriculm activities. However, very few students participate in research during the school year and there isn't a structured program. But you can contact whoever you're interested in working with, see if they have room for you, see if their schedule works with yours, etc. The summer after the first year is popular for research and there are funded programs at that time. If you wanted to participate in research during the school year, it's definitely possible if that's how you want to spend your time. Class is roughly 8 am to 12 pm on weekdays with maybe 3 to 6 classes a week that are required, varies by system. Nearly all courses are podcasted and one day a week there's a required afternoon small group class, so the schedule gives students a lot of room to do whatever they want. Most students participate in extracurriculars like student clubs, intramural sports, and volunteer work.
 
HooAreYou said:
Current UVA medical student here. Since no one has answered, I'll take a shot at this...

2. Curriculum is P/F. People make a big deal out of this. It’s a nice thing to have, for sure: If life events intervene at some point, you don’t have to worry about a ‘C’ showing up on your transcript. As long as you pass, you’re fine. Also, maybe you can focus somewhat more on boards or big picture topics during MS2 rather than getting bogged down in details. Beyond those things, though, I don’t see much benefit. This is medical school. You’re going to work hard whether you're in a graded or a P/F system. (If you don’t, step 1 and MS3 will bite you in the ass.)
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Personally, I disagree. It's all that matters. I'd also want to make it clear for anyone out there that the first 1.5 years are P/F. However, third year is letter grades. You can still get that C on your transcript, but I don't know anyone that does (although I am sure there are looking at class histograms). Sure you will work hard, but you don't need to work nearly as hard as you think. All of the work hard/stress is entirely self-inflicted. You got into UVA. Most of us would have to actively try to fail. MS3 will bite you in the ass anyway until you figure out the game.

Iwannaknow said:
Doesn't the fact that some topics aren't taught well affect overall performance on boards and stuff? I feel like anatomy and pharmacology are huge topics to not be taught well (though I obviously don't know). What is taught particularly well?
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Honestly, you're going to teach yourself everything you need to know for STEP1. I wouldn't worry about the teaching.

Best of luck.
 
I am an M1 at UVa and just wanted to add my thoughts about the school to potential applicants. I promise I'm not getting paid to say any of the following. I am just in awe after my month here.

UVa was one of my top choices when applying to med schools, but I could have never imagined how amazing this school is. They restructured the MD program a couple of years ago, and basically everything from the curriculum to the daily lectures to the CPD mentorships are outstanding and seem like they were workshopped at a conference for How to Be the Best Possible School for Every Future Physician.

There are incredible amounts of opportunities to interact with patients from LITERALLY the first day. I am even part of a project that has paired me up with a patient that I will follow up with weekly, for the next four years! Other schools I interviewed at bragged about their simulation centers... I don't even remember hearing about it at my UVA interview but of course it is state-of-the-art and worked in seamlessly through the curriculum. I already feel so enriched and at ease here. Everyone involved with the medical school is generous and kind, from the wonderful ladies in the Admission Office to the tenured professors who have been teaching for decades to the IT services guys who will fix any possible computing issue you might encounter.

So, even though UVa has a brilliant reputation across the country, I believe it is still vastly underrated. It needs to be seriously considered one of the best medical schools in the country. Of course I'm biased though. Please PM if you have any questions-- especially if you're torn between UVa and somewhere else.
I am so so glad I chose this school over everywhere else.
 
01923847 said:
I had a question for current students. Apart from the core curriculum, what sorts of opportunities are available (i.e. research)? How much room is there in the curriculum to get involved in these sorts of activities?
Click to expand...
This is a research university so we are constantly encouraged to pursue research. The summer between M1 and M2 we can even get a UVA researcher salary to pursue a faculty-directed project. There are lots of grants available to do local or international research (i.e. they will PAY you to go to Guatemala, Nepal, etc.). Additionally, there are many tracks (like the Human Centered Design track) where you can work on hands-on projects and innovative health design under faculty mentorship. People are very involved with ECs here.
 
dadjokes said:
This is a research university so we are constantly encouraged to pursue research. The summer between M1 and M2 we can even get a UVA researcher salary to pursue a faculty-directed project. There are lots of grants available to do local or international research (i.e. they will PAY you to go to Guatemala, Nepal, etc.). Additionally, there are many tracks (like the Human Centered Design track) where you can work on hands-on projects and innovative health design under faculty mentorship. People are very involved with ECs here.
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I did see the international research and international rotation opportunities - which are both big draws for me. But this is the first I'm hearing about tracks. Are those offered directly by the medical school or are those graduate certificates that are UVA-wide?
 
Sorry to be unclear. I am referring more to programs to pursue your interest (under faculty mentorship) rather than any structured track/certificate program. Here is more information about the design program at UVA Med: http://uvareboot.healthcare.
 
dadjokes said:
Other schools I interviewed at bragged about their simulation centers... I don't even remember hearing about it at my UVA interview but of course it is state-of-the-art and worked in seamlessly through the curriculum.
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Just an FYI -- At UVA, the Simulation Center is used primarily by residents, fellows, and attendings. You'll definitely use it some, albeit minimally, as a medical student -- once per semester during MS1 and MS2, and maybe 3-4 times during MS3. I haven't been there at all during MS4, but I expect that it's used in some rotations (e.g., the 'Intern Prep Course' in March). The simulations are always thought-provoking and fun. Definitely student favorites, across the board.
 
For all you IS applicants, how did you email the IS privileges form? When I fill it out, I cant save the data I enter?
 
Iwannaknow said:
Maybe it's just this year and they are trying to get stronger students?
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I dont think so, tbh. I think they have great OOS candidates, but the matriculants are ultimately below what the acceptance stats are by a large margin. They also admit 50% IS, so that may be contributing to averaging downwards.
 
libertyyne said:
https://med.virginia.edu/admissions/about/quick-stats/

What is interesting about this it that the average LizzyM for the class is 72.5~ Based on the II's offered so far it seems like they have been sending out invites to superstars 75+. The IS acceptances are probably 68ish and OOS 72-76.

Do they give any credence to strong state ties?
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Schools tend to send the first batch of IIs to superstars. It is stratified based on points assigned to each app (including aspects such as stats, ECs, fit, essays, etc.) As the cycle moves along, lower priority scores are given IIs.

Scores under those receiving IIs are waitlisted, and those under the score range for the waitlist are ultimately rejected. Take this with a grain of salt since I'm not an adcom, but this seems to be the prevailing wisdom here on SDN.

What introduces a sense of randomness is the qualitative nature of many point assignments, in which the same app could give you a low priority score in one school, and a very high one in another.



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wahoowa2017 said:
For all you IS applicants, how did you email the IS privileges form? When I fill it out, I cant save the data I enter?
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I filled it out in the browser and then printed it to PDF to get the info to save.
 
Did anyone hear back following the submission of the residency documents? I'm sure it's fine, but I didn't get a confirmation or anything and was wondering about this. Thanks.
 
Hendeaux said:
Did anyone hear back following the submission of the residency documents? I'm sure it's fine, but I didn't get a confirmation or anything and was wondering about this. Thanks.
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I never got any confirmation but I called and they were able to verify that it had been received. They were super nice so I'd suggest asking if you want to double check!


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II this am! Complete 9/13, OOS, Lizzy 78-80. Actually found out as I was walking into an interview, which made for a much happier morning!
 
Current students and those who have already interviewed: how would you recommend getting to the school from the Charlottesville airport? And does UVA offer a student host program, or should I go the hotel route?
 
Asclepius1354 said:
Current students and those who have already interviewed: how would you recommend getting to the school from the Charlottesville airport? And does UVA offer a student host program, or should I go the hotel route?
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I just interviewed here. There is a student host program, there should be info in the II email, if I'm remembering right, about who to contact to get set up with a student host. As far as getting there from the Charlottesville airport to campus, I asked my host and he said there aren't any shuttles or anything leaving from the airport (it's super small), so you've got to do either Uber or taxi. I took Uber from the airport to the campus, it was around $15 I think, and then I took a cab from campus back to the airport for $25. It's about a 15-20 min. drive each way.
 
My portal just says application complete, does it say anything more for a review or is it under review now? Thanks!


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It's definitely possible that UVA waits to do IS applicants until later. This is anecdotal but I know current M1s and M2s at UVA who had great stats & ECs that didn't get their invites until November. Patience is key
 
scarlet_begonias said:
It's definitely possible that UVA waits to do IS applicants until later. This is anecdotal but I know current M1s and M2s at UVA who had great stats & ECs that didn't get their invites until November. Patience is key
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Looking back at last year's UVA application thread, there doesn't appear to be any IS IIs until early November. This is despite someone of unknown ethos (to me at least) comment about the IIs being given for both IS and OOS starting in July. Seeing the same trend happening this year. If there's a Virginian out there with an II to UVA please let us know to (a) dispel this potential myth and/or (b) smash our hopes and dreams. 👍
 
Judson said:
Looking back at last year's UVA application thread, there doesn't appear to be any IS IIs until early November. This is despite someone of unknown ethos (to me at least) comment about the IIs being given for both IS and OOS starting in July. Seeing the same trend happening this year. If there's a Virginian out there with an II to UVA please let us know to (a) dispel this potential myth and/or (b) smash our hopes and dreams. 👍
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My friend is IS and he got an II about 2 weeks ago.
 
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