2018-2019 University of Colorado

Just a heads up everyone, CU is requiring CASPer this year.

 

Is it worth applying here as an OOS?

 

I was perusing the CU website and found that they require CASPer. This came as quite the surprise as I have never heard of this test before. Does anyone have more information on what this specifically means to CU and this application cycle?

 

It means you have to sign up and take the test. It’s basically a behavioral/scenario based test. Check out takecasper.com to sign up/get more info

 

Kinda wish the essays were longer (looking at last years prompts). The first essay mentions talking about how your app has changed if you are a reapplicant but then there is a reapplicant essay. With such little space, is it better to put the diversity+fit essay only and then elaborate on the reapplicant improvements in the separate essay?

 

I think so, I did. It is worth it to have a chance of living in CO.

 

If CU is where you want to matriculate, then it is worth it. The Medical Campus is amazing! But the cost of living is high compared to some schools. I was really impressed by CU.

 

Any idea whether OOS students can get scholarships?

 

Sorry, I'm not a CU medical student. But it was one of my favorite interviews/campus visits.

 

When does Colorado want you to take the CASPer?

 

I think they're one of the schools that needs it to mark your app as complete

 

Definitely check on CASPer's website to see if any schools you're applying to are on there. If you're trying to keep track of how fast money disappears during this process, it's also $10 base fee for the test and $10 per school you distribute it to.

 

Do you have to complete CASPer to get a secondary?

 

Yes they can! There are several scholarships any student can apply for. You dont hear much about them really until youre accepted tho...

 

Hoping to get some love from CA! (URM 3.7/3.73 512 MCAT)

 

Just a heads up: I heard they may be changing the prompts for this year (source: MS4 at Univ of CO)

 

Thank god I was too lazy to pre write for this school

 

Secondary received. Prompts same as last year.

Part A. The School of Medicine regards the diversity of an entering class as an important factor in serving the educational mission of the school. Please write about things in your background that have been important to your development or that have been challenging to you on your path to a career in medicine. These could include your socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual identity, and work or life experiences. Explain how these have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine.

Part B. Please write about the “fit” between your experiences and goals and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. If you are a reapplicant, please include information on how your application has changed. Please answer both parts in this single essay. Limit the essay to 1500 characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).

 

+1 secondary received -- went automatically to my spam folder in gmail. Check your spam filters people!!!

 

Does the 1500 character limit include Part A and Part B? It is a little bit unclear.

 

Unfortunately there is no box to enter the Part A answer

 

Submitted! Dream State school!

 

This secondary seems a little weird to me. Are you guys just using it as a regular diversity essay?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

Just got my secondary! OOS.

 

Does anyone know what they pre-screen for?

 

Ya it does. How are people writing this?

I can’t talk about my life struggles and why I want to go here in less than 1500 characters! What is this!

 

Any other re-applicants? I feel like it would be weird to address how my application has changed in Part A and B combined essay, while also writing a separate essay about that further down. What are other people's approach to this?

 

Lol I wish you good luck man. Fitting 3 essays into coherence under 1500 characters is hard

 

On last year's CU thread, somebody who is allegedly knowledgeable about the CU admissions practices said that they only screen out <500 MCATs.

 

Hi everyone, I just copy&pasted a long essay into the box too see if it was 1500 char for both. It is. So that's kind of a tough secondary to fit basically "diversity + why UCDenver+ why are you better than last time". It is a little bit confusing, because that doesn't seem right to me. Especially because another box opens up to answer reapplicant information if you select "yes". We'll figure it out I'm sure. Good luck everyone!

 

I received CU's secondary earlier today!

I also found the character limit breakdown confusing. Right now, I'm planning to answer part A and part B separately but keep my total character count below 1500.

Best of luck to everyone applying!

 

Just FYI, it says in the prompt to answer them both in a single essay which makes me think it has to flow together as one

 

I think you're right! I initially thought that referred to the "why Colorado" & "what has changed" parts of the second prompt but after reading it again it does seem like they want us to combine Part A & B into a single essay.

Thanks!

 

Uggh there's so much to write in such little space!

 

I submitted my secondary and on the status page all boxes are checked off as complete except the "application complete" one. Could it be because my Casper score isn't in yet?

 

I think so

 

After looking through information on “Tracks.” I’m wondering if I apply to both and am accepted to only one can I reapply to a different one after matriculation or is this the only shot I get? I’m locked into one or the other?

 

I think it depends on the track. What’s confusing is that they actually have like 5 tracks but only 2 are listed on the secondary. My guess is you can only apply to these 2 beforehand but the others you can apply to after matriculation

 

I have interest in those tracks, but I don't want to be locked in from day one. Seems weird to say I'm not interested when I am so I guess I'll fill em in.

 

I think the 2 tracks that they have you check are probably more about structuring your education around those goals while the others are just "additions" to the regular education track.

 

Has anyone's CASPer score already been sent to the school? If so, have your turned in your secondary and is your app now marked as complete?

 

Yes to all of that and I received an email saying it is complete.

 

I would think so.

 

So for this secondary if we indicate we are interested in a specific type of medicine, does that mean we are committed to it from submission of secondary? Or is that just an indicator for if we get into their program and we can make the decision later on? Any current students who know how the programs at Colorado are?

 

Are you talking about the urban/rural ones? I feel like these are the 2 that you're basically committing to because you're writing the essays for them but I could totally be wrong

 

Ya I was talking about those two, because I am interested in rural medicine, but my mind could totally change once I get into medical school and am exposed to other areas so I don't wan to like 100% commit right now, but I am also interested...

 

As far as I know the track specific courses start pretty early on in MS1 so there is not a lot of time to change your mind and switch to a different track. But they are just bonus courses/programs. They don't lock you in to practicing rural medicine for the rest of your life . You can still do whatever residency

 

Bless, you saved my life. I've received secondaries from nearly all medical schools I've applied to and was wondering why I hadn't gotten one from here yet. Turns out it was in my spam folder as well and I got it over a week ago.

 

Secondary was also in my junk folder!