2017-2018 University of Utah

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
gyngyn

gyngyn

Alta California
Staff member
Administrator
Volunteer Staff
Lifetime Donor
Verified Member
10+ Year Member
Physician
Faculty
Verified Expert
Admissions
Gold Donor
Joined
Nov 4, 2011
Messages
28,820
Reaction score
55,100
Members don't see this ad.
Space reserved for prompt.

Please post the essays or lack thereof (in addition to word or character counts) in this thread and tag one of the pre-allo mods (WedgeDawg, Ismet, Lucca, or gyngyn) so we can update the OP.

Good luck to everyone applying!
 
Hi everyone! I'm a MSIV here at the UofU, please feel free to ask any questions about anything that may come up! As a heads up I'd like to point out that your essays are quite important at this school, please make sure adequate time gets put into them, I also highly recommend checking out dr Chan's video series on the admission office's fb page. Good luck everyone!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
zhopv10 said:
Hi everyone! I'm a MSIV here at the UofU, please feel free to ask any questions about anything that may come up! As a heads up I'd like to point out that your essays are quite important at this school, please make sure adequate time gets put into them, I also highly recommend checking out dr Chan's video series on the admission office's fb page. Good luck everyone!


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

Based on the podcast that Dr Chan does (it's awesome btw), it seems like the school has a really good culture. What is your favorite part of the culture, and are there any areas for improvement that you would like to see for the program (e.g. mandatory attendance)?
 
I really like the culture here a lot!! It was one of the big factors for me when I was deciding on the school. Our class is really cohesive and very teamwork oriented, we share notes, have great study groups available, help each other out etc. There is some variation of course between classes but more importantly the school really espouses a teamwork driven culture that is not cut-throat. The mandatory attendance has been removed (our class played a decent role in that, you're welcome! 🙂 haha) but ya no I think the administration in general is accepting of student feedback and such. I also think they are pretty good to work with in general, i've had to have a couple of "custom" set-ups of sorts for rotations and such and it has been so far painless and helpful.

My favorite part of the culture is the p/f curriculum and the now non-mandatory attendance as I think it allows a lot of flexibility in those first two years to explore interests like research, shadowing, etc. The downside of it that there is the potential to really isolate more, I would try to get to lectures once in awhile and make an effort to get to know people those relationships are valuable. Also, I think we have a really good culture and atmosphere in the clinical years. I've enjoyed my rotations and it really has been largely malignancy free and a very good learning environment. I hope that answers your questions! feel free to ask more!
 
Incoming MS1, here to answer any questions about the application process having just gone through it!
 
Probably will be different. They also changed their system where now you aren't required to meet the average criteria in the 5/7 areas, now it's just "recommended."

Anyone received secondaries?
 
Non-science GPA was too low, and no I didn't receive a secondary. I have some bad grades from 10+ years ago which brought by non-science GPA down to something like 2.8. I'm a bio major so I didn't take very many non-science classes to balance out multiple Fs in english and art classes.

And no, I won't be applying to USUHS. I've had my fill of the military and 7 years AFTER residency is a bit much for me.
 
livingthepremednightmare said:
Non-science GPA was too low, and no I didn't receive a secondary. I have some bad grades from 10+ years ago which brought by non-science GPA down to something like 2.8. I'm a bio major so I didn't take very many non-science classes to balance out multiple Fs in english and art classes.

And no, I won't be applying to USUHS. I've had my fill of the military and 7 years AFTER residency is a bit much for me.
Click to expand...
...... Oh boy. I may be in trouble. I didn't know they screened non science. I've got a 3.1 cGPA, 3.5ish I the bcpm, 3.92 for my last 100 credits. I've never actually calculated non science. I knew it was a near impossible long shot to go here, but maybe it is actually impossible, not just near
 
Last edited:
Yhorm the Giant said:
...... Oh boy. I may be in trouble. I didn't know they screened non science. I've got a 3.1 cGPA, 3.5ish I the bcpm, 3.92 for my last 100 credits. I've never actually calculated non science. I knew it was a near impossible long shot to go here, but maybe it is actually impossible, not just near
Click to expand...
If you look at the PDF of your AMCAS application it'll have your calculated non-science GPA. I'm assuming you'll hear from them soon if you aren't above the minimum standards.
 
livingthepremednightmare said:
I cant remember the exact day but I submitted my primary for verification on 6/1
Click to expand...
I wonder if they go through the primary apps for secondaries in the order they are received from AMCAS. I was verified for the first batch but I am sure they have access to the date we actually submitted.
 
No essay prompt!! You just have to input all your community service, leadership, research, physician shadowing, and patient exposure experiences in the following format:

1. Service Activity
2. Description (300 characters)
3. Starting/ending Year
4. Hours

Thinking I'll just use a condensed version of my AMCAS activity descriptions for #2
 
Can confirm there is no essay prompt. Is this the first year with no essay?
 
Is this the first year they won't accept committee letters or is this a new thing?
 
OOS, Seconday received.
Have some ties to the school and area, good luck to everyone applying!
 
Docdocwhoisthere said:
Is this the first year they won't accept committee letters or is this a new thing?
Click to expand...

Also confused about this. I have a committee letter, but do not have access to my individual letters, as they were all submitted directly to my health careers office. Has anyone had this problem in the past/know the best way to handle it?
 
Secondary deadline of 8/16? Is that for everyone or just based on when you submitted the primary? That's way earlier than most other schools. Maybe they will do II and acceptances earlier than they did last year based on the thread.
 
Potentia Virtus said:
Secondary deadline of 8/16? Is that for everyone or just based on when you submitted the primary? That's way earlier than most other schools. Maybe they will do II and acceptances earlier than they did last year based on the thread.
Click to expand...
It's just 30 days from whenever you receive the secondary. From the website, it says "Applicants invited to complete secondary materials will have 30 days from the date of the invitation to submit the required materials including letters of recommendation."
 
Docdocwhoisthere said:
Snooferfoofin, do you recall this being the case when you applied? Did you have a committee letter?
Click to expand...

Yes this was the same! I had a committee letter and various LORs. Some schools I applied to wanted just the committee packet and some schools (Utah) wanted just LORs from specific people. A lot of schools I applied to had specific but different requirements, so I had my pre-health office send in both the packet and then each letter (including committee) specifically to AMCAS, so I could designate the according letters to each school.

I'm sure there is a better/easier way to do this out there, but this is what worked for me.
 
Do we double dip on the activities or just pick one category? It doesn't say.
 
JohnQ666 said:
Do we double dip on the activities or just pick one category? It doesn't say.
Click to expand...
The description box accepts more than required 300 characters, so do we put more or restrict to 300 characters?
 
I am assuming they are sending these out in batches? Did not get one today.
 
snooferfoofin said:
Yes this was the same! I had a committee letter and various LORs. Some schools I applied to wanted just the committee packet and some schools (Utah) wanted just LORs from specific people. A lot of schools I applied to had specific but different requirements, so I had my pre-health office send in both the packet and then each letter (including committee) specifically to AMCAS, so I could designate the according letters to each school.

I'm sure there is a better/easier way to do this out there, but this is what worked for me.
Click to expand...
@snooferfoofin - I am going to have to call the school tomorrow for clarification, but maybe you can shed some light on the situation. My school uses a letter service that sends out a letter packet, but not a committee letter or cover letter or anything. Just a packet with all the individual letters contained within. The problem is that I have no way of separating these individual letters out- they are all in a packet in AMCAS, and it's all or nothing. WTH do I do?
 
Potentia Virtus said:
@snooferfoofin - I am going to have to call the school tomorrow for clarification, but maybe you can shed some light on the situation. My school uses a letter service that sends out a letter packet, but not a committee letter or cover letter or anything. Just a packet with all the individual letters contained within. The problem is that I have no way of separating these individual letters out- they are all in a packet in AMCAS, and it's all or nothing. WTH do I do?
Click to expand...

I would ask if your school's pre health secretary or advisor can quickly send your letters separately to AMCAS as well. That way on AMCAS you can pick which ones you want for each school. Some can get a letter packet and others can get the individual letters of your choice. Does that help?
 
JohnQ666 said:
Do we double dip on the activities or just pick one category? It doesn't say.
Click to expand...

I think you can double dip but make sure to meet the base requirements without double dipping if that makes sense. Maybe tailor your blurb to what category you are putting it in
 
snooferfoofin said:
I think you can double dip but make sure to meet the base requirements without double dipping if that makes sense. Maybe tailor your blurb to what category you are putting it in
Click to expand...

Is there anyone else who is not able to see the option of adding/deleting the course?
Premedical Course List
To Add course(s), click on the associated "Premedical Courses" link in the left menu to go to that course page in your browser. Once there, enter the Course No., Course Name, indicate Lab if applicable and Academic Term in each section below. Once you complete the requested information, click the "Save" button.
 
JohnQ666 said:
Do we double dip on the activities or just pick one category? It doesn't say.
Click to expand...
Tucked away in the applications system:
"The Admissions Committee suggests that you make your decisions about where to list your activities based on the impact that they have had on you and on your personal development. Overlapping or "double dipping" experiences may be viewed negatively if done in excess."
 
snooferfoofin said:
I would ask if your school's pre health secretary or advisor can quickly send your letters separately to AMCAS as well. That way on AMCAS you can pick which ones you want for each school. Some can get a letter packet and others can get the individual letters of your choice. Does that help?
Click to expand...
It would help, yeah. But I've been told specifically that they don't do that and that they can't split out the letters they get.
 
Trying to list the coursework, but you are only allowed to select from their prepopulated list in each section. They require Biochem to fulfill their biology requirement, so only BIO courses are listed, but at my university Biochem is a CHEM class, so it's not an option.

*Edit, you can navigate down and create your own course from scratch. In case this helps anyone in the future.
 
Potentia Virtus said:
Trying to list the coursework, but you are only allowed to select from their prepopulated list in each section. They require Biochem to fulfill their biology requirement, so only BIO courses are listed, but at my university Biochem is a CHEM class, so it's not an option.

*Edit, you can navigate down and create your own course from scratch. In case this helps anyone in the future.
Click to expand...
I don't see where you can navigate and create!
 
Potentia Virtus said:
@snooferfoofin - I am going to have to call the school tomorrow for clarification, but maybe you can shed some light on the situation. My school uses a letter service that sends out a letter packet, but not a committee letter or cover letter or anything. Just a packet with all the individual letters contained within. The problem is that I have no way of separating these individual letters out- they are all in a packet in AMCAS, and it's all or nothing. WTH do I do?
Click to expand...
Let me know what the school says. I am in a similar situation.
 
lebronisking23 said:
They told me to designate the letters you want read from the packet. Then they will download only those letters from the packet.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
Confirmed. Gal who answered sounded fairly exasperated, cut me off and told me they were getting this question a lot. Just type in the name of the letter writers you want them to pull from the packet.
 
For anyone else having trouble creating or submitting coursework, zoom out on your browser (I used Chrome) to about 60% or try a different browser, and the buttons should become visible on the left hand side.

The admissions office gave me a quick reply via email helping me out.
 
For everyone concerned about the committee letter policy:

I talked to the admissions office and they said as long as your committee attaches each of the original letters in the packet you are fine. You just indicate the letters you want them to consider in the secondary app and they will use them from the packet. No need to send them individually through AMCAS.

Edit: just saw the above posts also confirming this. So +1 I guess.
 
Just to clarify the Research (hypothesis-based) section - I think it is because I do not like what I believe to be the answer, but I wanted to double-check: can only research that involved testing a hypothesis be inserted here? I have completed hundreds of hours of translational science where I informally test hypotheses, as well as presented a poster comparing two treatment methods (again, no formal hypothesis). Should I NOT include these here since there must be a hypothesis? Or can I add them with discussions about the kinds of tests I did, yet as Alan puts it, "It's not illegal, it's just frowned upon!"

Thanks in advance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wysdoc
2024-2025 Utah
4 5 6 7 8
Replies
382
Views
81K
chimmychangooey
chimmychangooey
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Washington
10 11 12 13 14
Replies
680
Views
142K
stew_md
S
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Chicago (Pritzker)
12 13 14 15 16
Replies
778
Views
200K
X0001234
X0001234
wysdoc
2024-2025 Medical University of South Carolina
3 4 5 6 7
Replies
301
Views
56K
RainyDaze
R
wysdoc
2024-2025 University of Central Florida (UCF)
3 4 5 6 7
Replies
318
Views
71K
LaurelePoole
L
Top