2016-2017 University of Washington Application Thread

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It has been 5 weeks since I got confirmation that the residency verification office received my paperwork but I am STILL not complete... Should I email them? Their email said that it can take up to 6 weeks, but they also note that med students take 2-4 weeks....

Any help? 🙁

Same situation, I just hit 4 weeks :/ I've tried calling the office multiple times and I just get an automated message saying they are busy. I find that nothing really gets done over E-mail with stuff like this, but I'll try anyway.
 
In state scheduling just came through for me - interviewing on the 4th!
 
Hey my OOR people, how long after submitting mission statement did you hear back, either rejection or secondary?
 
Ok thanks, I submitted mine 4 weeks ago, wondering if the rejections take longer to send out.
 
Any WWAMI residents outside of Washington receive an interview invite yet?
 
Any WWAMI residents outside of Washington receive an interview invite yet?

WASHINGTON NON-TRUST (SEATTLE)*: A varied schedule from October 1, 2016 - March 3, 2017, with 2-4 interview days per week

NON-WWAMI (SEATTLE): A varied schedule from October 1, 2016 - March 3, 2017, with specific dates for out-of-region applicants only

WASHINGTON NON-TRUST (SPOKANE)*: November 21 & 22, 2016 and January 9, 10, 11 & 12, 2017

WASHINGTON TRUST (SPOKANE)*: February 6 - February 9, 2017

WYOMING: January 9 - January 12, 2017 (in Laramie)

ALASKA: January 30 - February 2, 2017 (in Anchorage)

MONTANA: February 13 - February 16, 2017 (in Bozeman)

IDAHO**: January 23 - January 26, 2017 and February 27, 2017 - March 2, 2017 (in Boise)

The non-Washington WWAMI applicants will not interview until next year, so I think the adcom is waiting to review all of the application before sending out IIs. Just my 0.02.

Source: http://www.uwmedicine.org/education/md-program/admissions/applicants/interview#schedule


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Rejected, IS Complete 8/18. Low GPA, high MCAT, URM

... So that's cool
 
Last edited:
Rejected. IS. 3.8ug/4.0 master's/520 mcat. 1000s hours shadowing. 1 publication. 3 years research. ~500hrs in urban homeless clinic. 3000 hours athletic training student. For a general gist.

I'm completely shocked. This hurts.
 
Rejected. IS. 3.8ug/4.0 master's/520 mcat. 1000s hours shadowing. 1 publication. 3 years research. ~500hrs in urban homeless clinic. 3000 hours athletic training student. For a general gist.

I'm completely shocked. This hurts.
Yeah it's funny. I feel like this was a mistake too. I followed all their advice they gave me from my last app.

They even said that my low GPA wasn't what he'd me back. Oh well, life churns on
 
Rejected. IS. 3.8ug/4.0 master's/520 mcat. 1000s hours shadowing. 1 publication. 3 years research. ~500hrs in urban homeless clinic. 3000 hours athletic training student. For a general gist.

I'm completely shocked. This hurts.

Im sorry to hear this. Very shocked. Good luck going forward.
 
Rejected. IS. 3.8ug/4.0 master's/520 mcat. 1000s hours shadowing. 1 publication. 3 years research. ~500hrs in urban homeless clinic. 3000 hours athletic training student. For a general gist.

I'm completely shocked. This hurts.

I had similar stats/experiences to you (mine were slightly lower) and I was also rejected on Friday...also shocked. Thought I'd at least have an interview...
 
I had similar stats/experiences to you (mine were slightly lower) and I was also rejected on Friday...also shocked. Thought I'd at least have an interview...

Yeah, same. Especially applying "early" and being in-state.
 
Anyone else still waiting for IS interview scheduling confirmation?
 
Yupppppp. Got the original II over a month ago but not gonna bother them yet, just scared with the rejections last night that my interview was a mistake because damn they rejected some good people
I knowwww I don't want to call them and prompt them to look at my file again and go "what the hell were we thinking? Nevermind- just give this kid the boot"
 
LOL exactly. Trying to lay low and slip under their radar. But also lets be real I'll probably end up calling in a couple weeks if we still haven't heard back
 
Rejected. IS. 3.8ug/4.0 master's/520 mcat. 1000s hours shadowing. 1 publication. 3 years research. ~500hrs in urban homeless clinic. 3000 hours athletic training student. For a general gist.

I'm completely shocked. This hurts.

I am shocked too.


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Rejected. IS. 3.8ug/4.0 master's/520 mcat. 1000s hours shadowing. 1 publication. 3 years research. ~500hrs in urban homeless clinic. 3000 hours athletic training student. For a general gist.

I'm completely shocked. This hurts.

Wow! I was shocked with my rejection but yours? I honestly cannot understand how you did not at least get an interview. According to MSAR, they had 902 in state applicants last year and they interviewed 491 of them. How are your stats not in the top half of applicants from in state?

As for mine, I received the rejection email yesterday. I am a non traditional so my GPA is based on classes spread out over more than a decade but it is a 3.75 and got a 514 on the MCAT. I graduated in the top of my class in law school and am a patent attorney admitted in Washington. I started back in school a year ago and have been doing research and have shadowing hours. I was born and raised in Washington in a small community and applied for the TRUST program. This was my first school I have received a rejection from. Kind of a weird feeling when the only public school in my state is the first to reject me. I thought my stats would at least get me an interview.
 
Well that all makes me feel a little bit better about expecting a pre secondary rejection as OOS, I mean if y'all didn't make it, then I defiantly won't
 
As I think has been mentioned multiple times in this thread, UWSOM seems to be indifferent about stats beyond whatever their threshold is for "good enough" (i.e. you are academically qualified or you aren't, period, and that's as far as stats weigh into the decision to request a secondary). @BABSstudent wrote either in this thread or it may have been last year's thread that UWSOM really thoroughly reads your primary application for screening before requesting secondaries. A lot of other schools will send the secondary regardless of your primary, and so you get those secondary essays as a way to add a more personal narrative to your application; at UWSOM, it seems their bigger screen is pre-secondary, so all they have to go on is the narrative in your primary. Is it possible that your activity descriptions may have been lackluster or impersonal? Maybe there is a subtle red flag in your personal statement that is overlooked or explained away in secondary essays, but when the primary application has to stand on its own, there is an issue? Or (this is the most frightening possibility to me), maybe a letter-writer has either accidentally or purposefully torpedoed your application with a lukewarm or negative letter (although I don't know if UWSOM considers letters pre-secondary-- I designated my letter at the time of my primary)?

I don't know your personal situation, but being in the middle of this process as well, I can understand how immensely frustrating it feels to be rejected from a school about which you feel passionately, but DOUBLY SO when it is apparently arbitrary or for a seemingly secret reason, so I hope that might clarify a little.

This wasn't a primary based rejection. I had already completed and turned in a secondary application.
 
As I think has been mentioned multiple times in this thread, UWSOM seems to be indifferent about stats beyond whatever their threshold is for "good enough" (i.e. you are academically qualified or you aren't, period, and that's as far as stats weigh into the decision to request a secondary). @BABSstudent wrote either in this thread or it may have been last year's thread that UWSOM really thoroughly reads your primary application for screening before requesting secondaries. A lot of other schools will send the secondary regardless of your primary, and so you get those secondary essays as a way to add a more personal narrative to your application; at UWSOM, it seems their bigger screen is pre-secondary, so all they have to go on is the narrative in your primary. Is it possible that your activity descriptions may have been lackluster or impersonal? Maybe there is a subtle red flag in your personal statement that is overlooked or explained away in secondary essays, but when the primary application has to stand on its own, there is an issue? Or (this is the most frightening possibility to me), maybe a letter-writer has either accidentally or purposefully torpedoed your application with a lukewarm or negative letter (although I don't know if UWSOM considers letters pre-secondary-- I designated my letter at the time of my primary)?

I don't know your personal situation, but being in the middle of this process as well, I can understand how immensely frustrating it feels to be rejected from a school about which you feel passionately, but DOUBLY SO when it is apparently arbitrary or for a seemingly secret reason, so I hope that might clarify a little.

UWSOM sends a secondary to all instate applicants as far as I understand.


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Wow! I was shocked with my rejection but yours? I honestly cannot understand how you did not at least get an interview. According to MSAR, they had 902 in state applicants last year and they interviewed 491 of them. How are your stats not in the top half of applicants from in state?

As for mine, I received the rejection email yesterday. I am a non traditional so my GPA is based on classes spread out over more than a decade but it is a 3.75 and got a 514 on the MCAT. I graduated in the top of my class in law school and am a patent attorney admitted in Washington. I started back in school a year ago and have been doing research and have shadowing hours. I was born and raised in Washington in a small community and applied for the TRUST program. This was my first school I have received a rejection from. Kind of a weird feeling when the only public school in my state is the first to reject me. I thought my stats would at least get me an interview.


Thanks. I still don't understand it. I'm trying to roll with the punches. I've been fortunate to have two interviews already, and many people haven't had any. Just stings to get rejected from my top choice/in-state school. Especially when I thought I had a good chance for an interview. And I really wanted to go home. I'll probably keep an eye out for WSU....but I don't know if I want to be a guinea pig class. I am hoping to get some feedback on my application at some point, since I really have no idea where I'm lacking.
 
Well I got it! Pre secondary rejection as OOR, not surprised, it was a huge reach. I guess I'll aim for residency in Washington and save a lot of $$$ Good luck everyone!
 
Well I got it! Pre secondary rejection as OOR, not surprised, it was a huge reach. I guess I'll aim for residency in Washington and save a lot of $$$ Good luck everyone!

Avoid Seattle and its suburbs if that's your goal
 
Ha bc of traffic?? Ya I hear it horrible! Just want to live somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, near mountains.

Agreed with @freak7 . If PNW is where you want to live for cheap, go for residency in Portland, OR. Muuuuch cheaper and quite a lovely city and atmosphere.
 
Thanks. I still don't understand it. I'm trying to roll with the punches. I've been fortunate to have two interviews already, and many people haven't had any. Just stings to get rejected from my top choice/in-state school. Especially when I thought I had a good chance for an interview. And I really wanted to go home. I'll probably keep an eye out for WSU....but I don't know if I want to be a guinea pig class. I am hoping to get some feedback on my application at some point, since I really have no idea where I'm lacking.

Are you attending school out of state? If so, have you made sure UW considered you an in-state applicant?


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Are you attending school out of state? If so, have you made sure UW considered you an in-state applicant?


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Yes, I'm doing my Master's degree out of state. I completed Washington state residency verification, so they should certainly consider me an in-state applicant.
 
Yupppppp. Got the original II over a month ago but not gonna bother them yet, just scared with the rejections last night that my interview was a mistake because damn they rejected some good people

Im glad im not the only one waiting still
 
Rejected. IS. 3.8ug/4.0 master's/520 mcat. 1000s hours shadowing. 1 publication. 3 years research. ~500hrs in urban homeless clinic. 3000 hours athletic training student. For a general gist.

I'm completely shocked. This hurts.

UW is completely heartless, especially to instate applicants AND especially those with high MCATs. Honestly, they reject people who really deserve to go instate. I think it's the worst state in the country to be from - worse than California. I bet you'll get into a good school though it's just sad that you'll have to leave the state and potentially pay OOS tuition.
 
Yeah, it just felt so wrong to get rejected. I'm still in shock.
 
Thanks. I still don't understand it. I'm trying to roll with the punches. I've been fortunate to have two interviews already, and many people haven't had any. Just stings to get rejected from my top choice/in-state school. Especially when I thought I had a good chance for an interview. And I really wanted to go home. I'll probably keep an eye out for WSU....but I don't know if I want to be a guinea pig class. I am hoping to get some feedback on my application at some point, since I really have no idea where I'm lacking.

Wow! I was shocked with my rejection but yours? I honestly cannot understand how you did not at least get an interview. According to MSAR, they had 902 in state applicants last year and they interviewed 491 of them. How are your stats not in the top half of applicants from in state?

As for mine, I received the rejection email yesterday. I am a non traditional so my GPA is based on classes spread out over more than a decade but it is a 3.75 and got a 514 on the MCAT. I graduated in the top of my class in law school and am a patent attorney admitted in Washington. I started back in school a year ago and have been doing research and have shadowing hours. I was born and raised in Washington in a small community and applied for the TRUST program. This was my first school I have received a rejection from. Kind of a weird feeling when the only public school in my state is the first to reject me. I thought my stats would at least get me an interview.

Both of you have stats that put you way past the average interviewee (and probably accepted applicant as well), so that means there is something missing or problematic in your personal statement/extracurriculars/secondary.

You can try writing to admissions and say that you believe the UWSOM really is the place for you based on XYZ reasons (I know someone who was successful with this technique). However, with your stats I'm sure you guys will have multiple acceptances to choose from. I would also be happy to take a glance at your app if you want some insight from a current student.
 
Both of you have stats that put you way past the average interviewee (and probably accepted applicant as well), so that means there is something missing or problematic in your personal statement/extracurriculars/secondary.

You can try writing to admissions and say that you believe the UWSOM really is the place for you based on XYZ reasons (I know someone who was successful with this technique). However, with your stats I'm sure you guys will have multiple acceptances to choose from. I would also be happy to take a glance at your app if you want some insight from a current student.
Are you a current student? Because if you are, I am definitely interested in this xyz e-mail. I addressed everything that I was critiqued on last cycle, and I've gotten so much feedback from UWSOM staff that it just makes no sense to me.
 
UW is completely heartless, especially to instate applicants AND especially those with high MCATs. Honestly, they reject people who really deserve to go instate. I think it's the worst state in the country to be from - worse than California. I bet you'll get into a good school though it's just sad that you'll have to leave the state and potentially pay OOS tuition.

Washington is a weird place, that is for sure. They have one of the highest levels of education per capita but have one of the worst doctors produced per capita in the nation. Until WSU gets their school up and running, UW is the only public school in the state but it isn't a normal state school. They promise a chunk of the class to other states. Then the remaining spots are highly competitive, even among what I would consider elite candidates because the school is rated so well. I haven't read the laws in Washington but based on the people who get in from WWAMI states, their in state percentage is much lower than other states, such as Texas which has a 90% minimum from in state. As I posted earlier in the thread, I was hoping to at least get an interview even if I knew UW was one of my reach schools.


Both of you have stats that put you way past the average interviewee (and probably accepted applicant as well), so that means there is something missing or problematic in your personal statement/extracurriculars/secondary.

You can try writing to admissions and say that you believe the UWSOM really is the place for you based on XYZ reasons (I know someone who was successful with this technique). However, with your stats I'm sure you guys will have multiple acceptances to choose from. I would also be happy to take a glance at your app if you want some insight from a current student.

I was told this by a classmate, so who know how much truth there is to it. Anyways, she told me that UW in their screening process will often just look at the first two years of your academic career as an easy, quick way to sort people. She said I could contact UW and have them review my entire academic career and then I might not be sorted out as quickly. Have you heard anything about that? I mean, the worst case scenario is they say no as I am already rejected. I was just waiting a few days before I called to ask them about it. I won't go too much into details other than to say that my freshman year was a very poor year for me academically and that is why I pursued options other than medicine because I told myself I could not overcome it. That was over ten years ago and my GPA has been much higher both in law school and in the prerequisite courses I have been taking in the past year.
 
Are you a current student? Because if you are, I am definitely interested in this xyz e-mail. I addressed everything that I was critiqued on last cycle, and I've gotten so much feedback from UWSOM staff that it just makes no sense to me.

Yes I'm a current student. Did you meet with Dr. Teitz? If so you should email her and let her know. The gist of what this person told me (who has now graduated and moved on to residency) is that they wrote and said that the UW was their number one choice because of several specific reasons, and that they believed that the UW had made a mistake by not inviting them to interview.


I was told this by a classmate, so who know how much truth there is to it. Anyways, she told me that UW in their screening process will often just look at the first two years of your academic career as an easy, quick way to sort people. She said I could contact UW and have them review my entire academic career and then I might not be sorted out as quickly. Have you heard anything about that? I mean, the worst case scenario is they say no as I am already rejected. I was just waiting a few days before I called to ask them about it. I won't go too much into details other than to say that my freshman year was a very poor year for me academically and that is why I pursued options other than medicine because I told myself I could not overcome it. That was over ten years ago and my GPA has been much higher both in law school and in the prerequisite courses I have been taking in the past year.

In their screening process they look at the first 3 years of undergrad, calculate a weighted GPA, and combine that with your MCAT score. I believe the equation was (1*(freshGPA)+2*(sophGPA)+3*(junGPA))/6. And yes if your undergrad GPA is low you should definitely write and explain your situation. It is possible that they will re-review your app.
 
Hey is anyone else from the 8/11 batch of IIs still waiting on scheduling email? I know that I just have to be patient but easier said than done
 
I will say that those who have been rejected with very high stats, UW has a very experienced based screening process. They look for balance all throughout your application. High GPA and MCAT may mean to them that you spent too much of your time on those and didn't diversify your portfolio. It means that your experiences should be even richer with that high of MCAT. Also, if 90% of your essays weren't completely based upon reflections, they will put you in a pile with all the other hundreds of students who list meaningless activities that they didnt learn anything from, or werent able to write about well enough. I would encourage you to contact them and ask how you can strengthen your application because they are very good with feedback.
 
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