**2016-2017 URM Medical School Application Thread**

Started by WhittyPsyche
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Lol but yeah, know yourself and your app well. You're confident that you did what you could to prepare so just go in with that mentality that you are going to kill it and you will. But most importantly, be yourself. Remember what makes you passionate about medicine, what uplifts your spirit, why you're doing all this and you will be fine. The best interviews are when it feels like a good conversation.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
cornernat said:
I maybe have the biggest interview of my life this Tuesday at Mount Sinai. Pretty excited/anxious. I feel pretty prepared, I did a mock interview a couple days ago with a faculty member at my school. Any last minute pointers from you wonderful people?


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
Congrats on the II, I know you will rock it!
 
ready2go2 said:
Don't let it phase you girl! You got this!
Click to expand...
bee0f2edd50d39c17a2227d7b0e1891547238f65f66137c1388c7895951538f5.jpg
 
sofpink said:
Just more reason to kill that interview and prove that other school wrong!
Click to expand...
Thanks! ! Hopefully I did well. The interview today was my top choice I just felt bad about that rejection because i was a local and match the patient population of the school to a tee. But life goes on and I'm going to be a doctor anyway .thanks for the support !!!
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
What's good mi gente, so at the point in the cycle where I'm pretty much waiting to hear back from a couple of schools for decisions. I want to send updates, but I have never done so before, and don't really know the protocol or structure of an update letter. If anyone here has tips or know the general structure template of it, I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you!
 
dr.Breezy said:
What's good mi gente, so at the point in the cycle where I'm pretty much waiting to hear back from a couple of schools for decisions. I want to send updates, but I have never done so before, and don't really know the protocol or structure of an update letter. If anyone here has tips or know the general structure template of it, I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you!
Click to expand...

I didn't follow a protocol, I just wrote a summary of what I have been doing since submitting my application and I didn't use a formal letter format. You could either write a paragraph or use bullet points.
 
dr.Breezy said:
What's good mi gente, so at the point in the cycle where I'm pretty much waiting to hear back from a couple of schools for decisions. I want to send updates, but I have never done so before, and don't really know the protocol or structure of an update letter. If anyone here has tips or know the general structure template of it, I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you!
Click to expand...

This is the format I used:

Applicant Name: INSERT
AAMC ID: INSERT

RE: Application Update
FULL DATE

P1. INTRO, FEW SENTENCES THAT TELL WHY YOU ARE WRITING / THANK THEM FOR INTERVIEW IF YOU HAD ONE THERE
P2, P3, ETC. SUMMARIZE EACH UPDATE, BUT ADD DETAIL WHERE NECESSARY
P.4 BRIEF STATEMENT OF INTEREST. ("I like this school because of X...)
P. 5 THANK THEM FOR REVIEWING THIS LETTER AND YOUR APP

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME (include signature if you want)


Keep the entire letter to 1 page or less.
 
Also, has any URM here had any luck with Quinnipiac or Penn State? I've been complete at each for 5+ months with complete silence...
 
CognitiveSci said:
This is the format I used:

Applicant Name: INSERT
AAMC ID: INSERT

RE: Application Update
FULL DATE

P1. INTRO, FEW SENTENCES THAT TELL WHY YOU ARE WRITING / THANK THEM FOR INTERVIEW IF YOU HAD ONE THERE
P2, P3, ETC. SUMMARIZE EACH UPDATE, BUT ADD DETAIL WHERE NECESSARY
P.4 BRIEF STATEMENT OF INTEREST. ("I like this school because of X...)
P. 5 THANK THEM FOR REVIEWING THIS LETTER AND YOUR APP

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME (include signature if you want)


Keep the entire letter to 1 page or less.
Click to expand...

marcelo12 said:
I didn't follow a protocol, I just wrote a summary of what I have been doing since submitting my application and I didn't use a formal letter format. You could either write a paragraph or use bullet points.
Click to expand...

Thank you guys! this is really helpful.
 
CognitiveSci said:
Also, has any URM here had any luck with Quinnipiac or Penn State? I've been complete at each for 5+ months with complete silence...
Click to expand...
I interviewed at Quinnipiac this month and was accepted a week later-- I think they interview through March so don't give up! 🙂

EDIT: Also, I was complete in early August/waited 4-5 months before hearing from them. I'm rooting for you!!
 
Last edited:
rosemilk said:
I interviewed at Quinnipiac this month and was accepted a week later-- I think they interview through March so don't give up! 🙂

EDIT: Also, I was complete in early August/waited 4-5 months before hearing from them. I'm rooting for you!!
Click to expand...
Thanks! The wait is killer, but it'll be worth in the end I know 🙂
 
CognitiveSci said:
Also, has any URM here had any luck with Quinnipiac or Penn State? I've been complete at each for 5+ months with complete silence...
Click to expand...
Penn state was my first interview. I love everything about the school other than the location! Hit me up if you want a run down of the day or the impression I got from the school of the type of student they are looking for .
 
Panther_ said:
How are you all deciding on which school to attend? What are the most important factors that you all are considering when making your decisions?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
1.where I feel I would be most happy (mostly a gut call but my gut never failed me yet )
2.location (close to NYC)
3.Money /cost
4.commitment to helping the underserved and people of color and promotingdiversity as a whole
5.the amount of hand holding/nurturing vibe of the school. I love a very close nit campus in which the faculty and students have a good relationship and faculty go above and beyond to help their students.
6.pass/fail
 
Chelsea FC said:
7. Chicks(lolz jk)
Click to expand...
:stop::brb:😆

Lol, I feel like that's more on my parents' list than mine (guys for me, but you get the point)...

As for me, I think right now my list is (not necessarily in order):
1. Where I liked and felt a great fit during my interview.
2. Where I feel like I'll get the best medical training.
3. Finances (scholarships, etc.)
4. Distance from family (I can talk to my family from anywhere, so not super important to me).
 
FutrDoc22 said:
I'm stuck between choosing somewhere closer and about $30,000 in tuition cheaper vs more expensive, nicer facilities but able to nurture me more as a black man(not hbcu). Similar curriculum so education really isn't a factor
Click to expand...
I would choose the 30,000 cheaper and closer to home.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
FutrDoc22 said:
I'm stuck between choosing somewhere closer and about $30,000 in tuition cheaper vs more expensive, nicer facilities but able to nurture me more as a black man(not hbcu). Similar curriculum so education really isn't a factor
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "nurture"? If you like that school A LOT more than the cheaper school then it's a good decision. If it's close to a 50-50 I'd go with the cheaper one.
 
Panther_ said:
How are you all deciding on which school to attend? What are the most important factors that you all are considering when making your decisions?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

We already kinda talked about this but I like lists so here is my tentative ranking:

1.) Happiness. Where I felt the most at ease and where I think I could strive the most. Small class size is a plus
2.) Institutional track record of placing students in competitive specialties in East coast/NE and California. Gunners gonna gun lmao
3.) strength of clinical sites and affiliates
4.) Financial package
5.) ~Social scene/Dating options bc I can't be tinderella for much long lmao jk but like lowkey not kidding at all :angelic:
 
I think I'm just about decided on where I want to go. Mostly because the school really surprised me. Supportive staff. Diverse student population. Great community involvement and they have a large population of students going into the military so they provide a lot of support for those students(I'm doing HPSP)


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
SValley said:
We already kinda talked about this but I like lists so here is my tentative ranking:

1.) Happiness. Where I felt the most at ease and where I think I could strive the most. Small class size is a plus
2.) Institutional track record of placing students in competitive specialties in East coast/NE and California. Gunners gonna gun lmao
3.) strength of clinical sites and affiliates
4.) Financial package
5.) ~Social scene/Dating options bc I can't be tinderella for much long lmao jk but like lowkey not kidding at all :angelic:
Click to expand...

Lmao @ #5

But for real those are great factors to consider. I see you trying to go to MGH for residency. I'm having trouble with number one. Mainly because of parental influence.

For me dating scene/social life is dependent on location or am I looking at this wrong?




Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
***2023-2024 URM Medical School Application Thread***
Replies
5
Views
7K
AveragePerson.Psych
AveragePerson.Psych
E
***2024-2025 URM Medical School Cycle Update*** How's everybody doing?
Replies
2
Views
3K
Enkeyo
E
Mr.Smile12
(blog) Achieving the Dream: My Journey to Medical School and Six Tips for Aspiring Medical Students
Replies
0
Views
338
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
OchemOficionado
***2022-2023 URM Medical School Application Thread***
2
Replies
73
Views
22K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
[JAMA] Medical School Admissions After the Supreme Court’s 2023 Affirmative Action Ruling
Replies
0
Views
2K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12