2019-2020 University of Washington

[PapaGuava]

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UW has their secondary application prompts posted for the coming application cycle on their website:


Autobiographical statement that includes (250-word limit):

• The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
• Your prior experiences in healthcare
• Steps taken to explore a career in medicine
• Your eventual goals as a physician
• Personal attributes that would make you a good physician

Please do not repeat what you wrote in your AMCAS Personal Comments (this will already be on file with our office). If you have already covered all of the above topics in your AMCAS application, use this space to let the Admissions Committee know more about who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician

4 additional short essays (250-word limit each)

• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with?

For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?

Good luck to everyone applying!

Interview Feedback: University of Washington

 

[907914]

@Matthew9Thirtyfive pre-allo moderator tagged.

UW has their secondary application prompts posted for the coming application cycle on their website:


Autobiographical statement that includes (250-word limit):

• The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
• Your prior experiences in healthcare
• Steps taken to explore a career in medicine
• Your eventual goals as a physician
• Personal attributes that would make you a good physician

Please do not repeat what you wrote in your AMCAS Personal Comments (this will already be on file with our office). If you have already covered all of the above topics in your AMCAS application, use this space to let the Admissions Committee know more about who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician

4 additional short essays (250-word limit each)

• How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
• What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with?

For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?

 

[Ghee_Buttersnaps]

Quick question about verifying that you are a resident of WA. I did my undergrad in Utah but I've done my best to maintain residency in Washington. I have a permanent WA address, I have a WA driver's license, I vote in WA and I maintain a bank account in WA. However, because I work in UT, I have been paying UT taxes and the vehicle I purchased here is registered in UT.
Will this cause me an issue when verifying residency in Washington? Should I try to re-register my vehicle in Washington?

 

[907914]

Quick question about verifying that you are a resident of WA. I did my undergrad in Utah but I've done my best to maintain residency in Washington. I have a permanent WA address, I have a WA driver's license, I vote in WA and I maintain a bank account in WA. However, because I work in UT, I have been paying UT taxes and the vehicle I purchased here is registered in UT.
Will this cause me an issue when verifying residency in Washington? Should I try to re-register my vehicle in Washington?

If you have Washington as your legal state of residence then you should be Bueno.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

Quick question about verifying that you are a resident of WA. I did my undergrad in Utah but I've done my best to maintain residency in Washington. I have a permanent WA address, I have a WA driver's license, I vote in WA and I maintain a bank account in WA. However, because I work in UT, I have been paying UT taxes and the vehicle I purchased here is registered in UT.
Will this cause me an issue when verifying residency in Washington? Should I try to re-register my vehicle in Washington?

The taxes may be an issue. Best to contact UW directly.

Residence Certification | UW Medicine

From the UW website:

If you are asked to verify your legal residence, you may need to submit the following documents that could include but are not limited to:

• Proof of employment
• Driver's license/state ID
• Vehicle registration
• Voter registration
• Proof of an established bank account
• Verification from the out-of-state college or university that they were enrolled as a nonresident and paid nonresident tuition. (If you were enrolled in a private school, provide verification of enrollment.)
• A true and correct copy of your state and federal income tax return for the calendar year immediately prior to the year in which this application is made. If you did not file a state or federal income tax return because of minimal or no taxable income, documented information concerning the receipt of such nontaxable income must be submitted.
• A true and correct copy of your W2 form filed for the previous calendar year.
• Other documented financial resources. Such other resources may include but are not limited to: the sale of personal or real property, trust fund, state or financial assistance, gifts, or earnings of the spouse of a married student.

These documents should be on hand and ready to submit to the Residency Classification Office upon request. Washington residents are strongly encouraged to submit the State Questionnaire section on the Secondary Application before November 1st.

 

[babykarat]

If I can't take Casper until the 25th, will this delay or decrease my chances of getting a secondary or interview invitation? I'm applying for the MSTP

 

[Bonne Nuit]

If I can't take Casper until the 25th, will this delay or decrease my chances of getting a secondary or interview invitation? I'm applying for the MSTP

Hey, I'm taking it the 25th too! A UW admissions rep said that CASPer is still in the pilot phase for 2020 matriculants, so while applicants to UW have to take it at some point, it's not going to be factored into admission decisions. I can't imagine that they would delay an interview invite based on something they're still piloting. Also, secondaries should be given automatically if you meet the GPA/MCAT cutoffs (which are very low).

 

[Ortizc]

Does anyone applying for the MSTP know how long the descriptions of the clinical/research experience are supposed to be for the preliminary application?

 

[PrincessPunchy]

Assuming that the prompts are the same as last year, one of them is "What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?"

Does it seem like this question needs to be answered in plural--ie, multiple obstacles? Or could I use my adversity essay that focuses on the story of one situation?

 

[907914]

Assuming that the prompts are the same as last year, one of them is "What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?"

Does it seem like this question needs to be answered in plural--ie, multiple obstacles? Or could I use my adversity essay that focuses on the story of one situation?

I think it is OK to put in a single adversity essay. I think, at least knowing the school and the stories of the students who go there, a personal challenge is the most reliable obstacle to talk about. ie. They want to know about personal difficulties you have overcome as opposed to say a professional conflict etc.

 

[PrincessPunchy]

I think it is OK to put in a single adversity essay. I think, at least knowing the school and the stories of the students who go there, a personal challenge is the most reliable obstacle to talk about. ie. They want to know about personal difficulties you have overcome as opposed to say a professional conflict etc.

Good, that is what I was feeling too. My essay last year was garbage on this question and I think that hurt me. This year, gettin personal!

 

[907914]

Good, that is what I was feeling too. My essay last year was garbage on this question and I think that hurt me. This year, gettin personal!

Did you at least get an interview or waitlisted last year? UW is a weird one, even for in state applicants...Are you in region or OOR?

 

[PrincessPunchy]

Did you at least get an interview or waitlisted last year? UW is a weird one, even for in state applicants...Are you in region or OOR?

In region. Yes I got an interview last year. I bombed it, but got really good feedback this spring. The main thing besides not interviewing very well was that I didn't have enough clinical experience when I applied last year. Fixed that, wrote about it much better, feel way more confident about this year.

 

[HG17]

If I'm in state, is there anything I need to do to verify my residency? Or will the secondary just come based on what I indicated in my primary?

 

[PrincessPunchy]

If I'm in state, is there anything I need to do to verify my residency? Or will the secondary just come based on what I indicated in my primary?

Yep I'm in state and applied last year. I received the secondary email and an email to register for CASPer, on the same day. No need to verify residency.

 

[907914]

Yep I'm in state and applied last year. I received the secondary email and an email to register for CASPer, on the same day. No need to verify residency.

They send out secondaries later and don’t start interviews till late September, right? Any idea if you can interview in Spokane and attend Seattle or vice versa? (I know you are not Washington, but figured I’d still ask)

 

[Bonne Nuit]

They send out secondaries later and don’t start interviews till late September, right? Any idea if you can interview in Spokane and attend Seattle or vice versa? (I know you are not Washington, but figured I’d still ask)

I don’t think so. Interview sites are cohort specific. Spokane-preferred applicants interview in Spokane only; Seattle-preferred applicants and OOR interviews in Seattle, Montana applicants interview in Montana, etc. If you’re WA state, you have to make a choice between Spokane and Seattle and stick with it, it seems.

 

[907914]

I don’t think so. Interview sites are cohort specific. Spokane-preferred applicants interview in Spokane only; Seattle-preferred applicants and OOR interviews in Seattle, Montana applicants interview in Montana, etc. If you’re WA state, you have to make a choice between Spokane and Seattle and stick with it, it seems.

Hmmm Spokane is cheaper and my support network is here, Seattle has better hiking and more research opportunities...what to do what to do....

Bruh, if I could do Missoula as a WA resident, in a heartbeat. I love western Montana.

 

[PrincessPunchy]

They send out secondaries later and don’t start interviews till late September, right? Any idea if you can interview in Spokane and attend Seattle or vice versa? (I know you are not Washington, but figured I’d still ask)

Yeah secondaries come out later, not sure when interviews start, but late September sounds about right (you can look through last year's SDN board if you want lol). I am not totally sure, but I think you interview just for a specific location. So if they invite you to a Spokane interview, it would be for school in Spokane. Same for Seattle. On the secondary you have the option to choose one or say you're ok with either.

 

[907914]

Yeah secondaries come out later, not sure when interviews start, but late September sounds about right (you can look through last year's SDN board if you want lol). I am not totally sure, but I think you interview just for a specific location. So if they invite you to a Spokane interview, it would be for school in Spokane. Same for Seattle. On the secondary you have the option to choose one or say you're ok with either.

Maybe I choose OK with either and get the luck of the draw? Any idea if there are different acceptance rates at different sites?

 

[PrincessPunchy]

Hmmm Spokane is cheaper and my support network is here, Seattle has better hiking and more research opportunities...what to do what to do....

Bruh, if I could do Missoula as a WA resident, in a heartbeat. I love Montana.

My sense is that the research opps in Spokane are definitely growing! And having grown up in Spokane, I can tell you there is plenty of great hiking around there, if you're willing to get outside the Cascades mindset a little bit 😉

 

[907914]

My sense is that the research opps in Spokane are definitely growing! And having grown up in Spokane, I can tell you there is plenty of great hiking around there, if you're willing to get outside the Cascades mindset a little bit 😉

Oh, I am a spokanite born and raised. Actually go to EWU lol plenty of hiking out here, very true - it is just 2.5-3 hours away instead of just one lol Just backpacked in the Selkirks this last weekend. Finally snow free.

If anyone doesn’t want to Spokane campus because you want the mountains, this is a 2 hr drive away:

 

[PrincessPunchy]

Oh, I am a spokanite born and raised. Actually go to EWU lol plenty of hiking out here, very true - it is just 2.5-3 hours away instead of just one lol Just backpacked in the Selkirks this last weekend. Finally snow free.

If anyone doesn’t want to Spokane campus because you want the mountains, this is a 2 hr drive away:

Aw yeah, that's what I'm talkin about! Yes it is a bit of a drive, but you can see everything from amazing mountains and lakes (Lake Pend Oreille from the top of Schweitzer is awesome) to crazy waterfalls in the high desert (Palouse Falls). Sorry to sidetrack the secondary conversation lol

 

[Bonne Nuit]

Maybe I choose OK with either and get the luck of the draw? Any idea if there are different acceptance rates at different sites?

Spokane was more competitive than Seattle last year. People love that low cost of living. Someone in last year’s UW thread calculated the acceptance rates per cohort IIRC. As you might expect, the non-Washington state cohorts had the best shot - there just aren’t that many premeds in Wyoming.

 

[907914]

Aw yeah, that's what I'm talkin about! Yes it is a bit of a drive, but you can see everything from amazing mountains and lakes (Lake Pend Oreille from the top of Schweitzer is awesome) to crazy waterfalls in the high desert (Palouse Falls). Sorry to sidetrack the secondary conversation lol

You are good, no one has gotten the secondaries yet anyway lol And it is good for other WA residents to see that ‘Eastern Washington’ is like 2/3 to 3/4 of the state with highly varying topography. What is great about Spokane is that 2 hours in every direction is something different - West is desert then the Cascades, North is a Rainforest and low rolling mountains, East is the Rockies, South is...I mean South is farmland and Lewiston, but still something different!

Spokane was more competitive than Seattle last year. People love that low cost of living. Someone in last year’s UW thread calculated the acceptance rates per cohort IIRC. As you might expect, the non-Washington state cohorts had the best shot - there just aren’t that many premeds in Wyoming.

Dang, I would NOT have thought that. I guess the low COL advantage makes sense. Any idea if there are matching differences between the sites based on available resources? Or if any preference is given to Spokane for students with children? And OFC Wyoming has the best. There are as many people in the entirety of Wyoming as there are just in Spokane county lol

 

[97premed97]

If I am out of state (and region now unfortunately) when should I expect a secondary if they decide to send one? I spent a significant portion of my childhood in Alaska (hence my interest in this school) but due to being in a military family I was relocated to Virginia and then Florida. I indicated Anchorage, Alaska as my primary childhood area on my AMCAS specifically because of this school.

 

[907914]

If I am out of state (and region now unfortunately) when should I expect a secondary if they decide to send one? I spent a significant portion of my childhood in Alaska (hence my interest in this school) but due to being in a military family I was relocated to Virginia and then Florida. I indicated Anchorage, Alaska as my primary childhood area on my AMCAS specifically because of this school.

I am sorry to say, but you may be SOL

Residence Certification - UWSOM Intranet

Publishing Page Content In Right Rail AMCAS Legal State of Residence To be considered as a WWAMI applicant, your legal state of residence in AMCAS must be listed as Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho. (Applicants interested in the Wyoming cohort may have another legal state of...

www.uwmedicine.org

 

[97premed97]

I am sorry to say, but you may be SOL

Residence Certification - UWSOM Intranet

Publishing Page Content In Right Rail AMCAS Legal State of Residence To be considered as a WWAMI applicant, your legal state of residence in AMCAS must be listed as Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho. (Applicants interested in the Wyoming cohort may have another legal state of...

www.uwmedicine.org

I mean, I am also a disadvantaged applicant so there is that. URM, SES EO1, first in my family to receive a bachelor's, etc

 

[907914]

I mean, I am also a disadvantaged applicant so there is that. URM, SES EO1, first in my family to receive a bachelor's, etc

Right on (not right on, but right on...)

You will likely get a secondary after everyone else and will go through a more rigorous screening process. They have like a 0.3% acceptance rate for OOR.

 

[97premed97]

Right on (not right on, but right on...)

You will likely get a secondary after everyone else and will go through a more rigorous screening process. They have like a 0.3% acceptance rate for OOR.

sad, considering it is my top choice OOS school. Curse the military for making me move haha

 

[Bonne Nuit]

I mean, I am also a disadvantaged applicant so there is that. URM, SES EO1, first in my family to receive a bachelor's, etc

Unfortunately that’s not a consideration for out of state. You have a vanishingly small chance, less than 1%. I heard someone say that if you’re not WWAMI, UW is the #1 most difficult medical school to get into in the US.

Look at last year’s UW thread. OOR applicants received a pre-secondary request to explain how they fit the mission. Virtually all were rejected pre-secondary unless they had significant (like Peace Corps level) work with underserved communities.

 

[907914]

sad, considering it is my top choice OOS school. Curse the military for making me move haha

It is genuinely unfortunate that there are only 3 MD schools in the PNW. Washington + Oregon has a higher population than Ohio, but only half the schools. Same goes for most states out east, they have many more schools per capita...

 

[Cornfed101]

You are good, no one has gotten the secondaries yet anyway lol And it is good for other WA residents to see that ‘Eastern Washington’ is like 2/3 to 3/4 of the state with highly varying topography. What is great about Spokane is that 2 hours in every direction is something different - West is desert then the Cascades, North is a Rainforest and low rolling mountains, East is the Rockies, South is...I mean South is farmland and Lewiston, but still something different!

Dang, I would NOT have thought that. I guess the low COL advantage makes sense. Any idea if there are matching differences between the sites based on available resources? Or if any preference is given to Spokane for students with children? And OFC Wyoming has the best. There are as many people in the entirety of Wyoming as there are just in Spokane county lol

That and Wyoming has tough residency requirements: either you or your parents have to have lived in the state for the last five years. I think they do that because you have to do a contract deal to practice in the state for 3 years in exchange for basically free tuition.

 

[97premed97]

Unfortunately that’s not a consideration for out of state. You have a vanishingly small chance, less than 1%. I heard someone say that if you’re not WWAMI, UW is the #1 most difficult medical school to get into in the US.

Look at last year’s UW thread. OOR applicants received a pre-secondary request to explain how they fit the mission. Virtually all were rejected pre-secondary unless they had significant (like Peace Corps level) work with underserved communities.

I mean, on the website they say "Out-of-region applications undergo additional screening processes and will only be considered for admission into the MD program if they have an exceptional record of service and/or come from a disadvantaged background. "

I plan on adding service to the underserved during my gap year and will probably try to send them updates for that. I will hold on to hope haha

 

[PrincessPunchy]

Unfortunately that’s not a consideration for out of state. You have a vanishingly small chance, less than 1%. I heard someone say that if you’re not WWAMI, UW is the #1 most difficult medical school to get into in the US.

Look at last year’s UW thread. OOR applicants received a pre-secondary request to explain how they fit the mission. Virtually all were rejected pre-secondary unless they had significant (like Peace Corps level) work with underserved communities.

I don't know, if @97premed97 can show why they want to be a doc in Alaska + their connections, that might be perfect for WWAMI mission.

 

[97premed97]

I don't know, if @97premed97 can show why they want to be a doc in Alaska + their connections, that might be perfect for WWAMI mission.

I would honestly give anything to be back in Alaska, I love the area and the community there. I was actually in Alaska for late elementary and early middle school when I decided that I wanted to pursue medicine.

 

[907914]

I would honestly give anything to be back in Alaska, I love the area and the community there. I was actually in Alaska for late elementary and early middle school when I decided that I wanted to pursue medicine.

I hate to continue to be the bearer of bad news, but they want to see current and up to date service not during your gap year ( that’s all medical schools not just UW) and you lived there what, a decade ago? And have shown little to no commitment towards Alaska since, despite ‘loving it’? I am sorry if I am coming off as harsh and you are more than welcome to throw your money wherever you want to see if it sticks. Just don’t count on UW as being a likely option.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

I don't know, if @97premed97 can show why they want to be a doc in Alaska + their connections, that might be perfect for WWAMI mission.

Just basing this off of what happened in years prior. Vast majority of OOR rejected pre-secondary, even those reporting childhood addresses and significant ties (e.g. spouse’s state of residence). The one OOR SDNer who received a UW II had to take an international flight from her Peace Corps gig to attend.

I mean, the worst UW can say is no, so no harm in shooting your shot. OOR applicants should just be realistic and assume they’re going with their plan B.

 

[97premed97]

I hate to continue to be the bearer of bad news, but they want to see current and up to date service not during your gap year ( that’s all medical schools not just UW) and you lived there what, a decade ago? And have shown little to no commitment towards Alaska since, despite ‘loving it’? I am sorry if I am coming off as harsh and you are more than welcome to throw your money wherever you want to see if it sticks. Just don’t count on UW as being a likely option.

I have fee assistance so this is not costing me money, but it's kind of hard to show commitment to a state that you were forced to move to Florida *shrug*

I'll shoot my shot, but I have 18 other schools I have applied to

 

[Bonne Nuit]

Alaska residents should also be aware of the ongoing threats to Alaska’s WWAMI membership. The Alaska/UW partnership ultimately survived the budget cuts but it’s been under fire.

Alaska's lone medical school may need state resuscitation

 

[Bonne Nuit]

And for those of you who are curious about the acceptance rates by WWAMI state...

These are the average rates of acceptance for each applicant pool over the last three years for the M.D. program only.

Washington (Spokane & Seattle) 17%
Wyoming 37%
Alaska 32%
Montana 31%
Idaho 28%
Out-of-region applicants 0.4%

From Acceptance Statistics | UW Medicine

 

[97premed97]

And for those of you are curious about the acceptance rates by WWAMI state...

These are the average rates of acceptance for each applicant pool over the last three years for the M.D. program only.

Washington (Spokane & Seattle) 17%
Wyoming 37%
Alaska 32%
Montana 31%
Idaho 28%
Out-of-region applicants 0.4%

From Acceptance Statistics | UW Medicine

Ouch

 

[907914]

Alaska residents should also be aware of the ongoing threats to Alaska’s WWAMI membership. The Alaska/UW partnership ultimately survived the budget cuts but it’s been under fire.

Alaska's lone medical school may need state resuscitation

Oh wow didn’t even know. If it does fail, I feel like UW would spread the class out among the other 4 site

 

[booksinlibraries]

Just received MSTP secondary after submitting the prelim 7/3

 

[chemisht]

Just received MSTP secondary after submitting the prelim 7/3

Mind sharing your approach to the prelim questions asking for any additional information you'd like to share on AMCAS personal comments or research experience? Are they optional?

 

[booksinlibraries]

Mind sharing your approach to the prelim questions asking for any additional information you'd like to share on AMCAS personal comments or research experience? Are they optional?

I essentially used the Personal Statement part of the preliminary as an additional diversity statement to synthesize my background and special experiences (those that I didn't elaborate on in my primary app materials) to why I'm applying MD/PhD. I think it's good to take advantage of extra space if you have something new to say, whether it's elaboration on something you've already mentioned in your primary or a new approach involving something that may not have been in your primary.

 

[chemisht]

I essentially used the Personal Statement part of the preliminary as an additional diversity statement to synthesize my background and special experiences (those that I didn't elaborate on in my primary app materials) to why I'm applying MD/PhD. I think it's good to take advantage of extra space if you have something new to say, whether it's elaboration on something you've already mentioned in your primary or a new approach involving something that may not have been in your primary.

Fair enough, that sounds like a solid approach. Thank you!

Would you mind posting the secondary prompts as well?

 

[booksinlibraries]

Fair enough, that sounds like a solid approach. Thank you!

Would you mind posting the secondary prompts as well?

To submit MSTP secondary, the only additional essays are both optional: "Use this opportunity to provide any autobiographical information which you feel would be helpful for the MSTP office" and "if you are not currently enrolled in coursework (nor planning to be enrolled throughout the application process), please describe your activities in this period"
You also have to reenter the prerequisite coursework and agree to a bunch of things like honor codes etc.

 

[Sarasa Zebra]

"if you are not currently enrolled in coursework (nor planning to be enrolled throughout the application process), please describe your activities in this period"

When they are asking about this, does summer research count as "not being enrolled"? Or is this question a "what have you been doing in your gap year"?

 

[babykarat]

When they are asking about this, does summer research count as "not being enrolled"? Or is this question a "what have you been doing in your gap year"?

I'd include research and other notable activities that you have done/will be doing after graduation day