2020-2021 Central Florida

Started by TheDataKing
BU Medical Sciences
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aspiringdoctor9701 said:
Yes I am in exactly the same position as you with regards to the waitlist position and OOS. Also wondering if UCF matches financial aid offers from other places because I want to send this letter of intent so badly, but UCFs OOS sticker price tuition is so high (almost double my state school with scholarship).

Not sure about the general consensus, but I believe that sending a LOI benefits those from very high socioeconomic backgrounds that can afford to attend a school irrespective of the cost. Unless there is a statement we can add to our LOI, sending one in basically says that “I’ll attend your school no matter how much I get charged.” Granted, most med school applicants are in the higher socioeconomic class regardless, but LOIs seem unfairly hinged towards the incredibly rich. Backing out from a LOI purely because of the significantly higher financial burden it’ll place on your family and yourself, but being penalized for it subsequently, probably hurts those from poorer, marginalized communities most. I think to send one in as an OOS student, according to what I’ve seen implied on this thread earlier, you either have to be 1) incredibly well off or 2) willing to take an additional 6 figures in loan debt over 4 years compared to in state schools.
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Just a heads up, LOIs really don’t have that much effect on admissions anymore (if at all) for most schools. All it really lets them know is the likelihood that you will accept a seat when your position on the waitlist is reached for selection. I say likelihood because so many LOIs are broken every year. As far as getting “bumped” up the waitlist because of your LOI... very few schools still do this. Some schools only count things like LOI’s directly after your interview before the admissions committee meets to decide your fate. However, once on the waitlist most schools do not adjust positioning.

I don’t think UCF matches financial aid, and in fact they made a point of touching on that during our interview day. I’ve also never heard of a school giving someone a financial aid package pre-acceptance while on a waitlist.
 
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premeddie19 said:
Has anyone specfically had luck with UCF increasing their fin aid package?
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This isn't my year, so I have no personal experience, but maybe the post below provides a clue into their philosophy:

REL said:
Yes, FAP is another factor allowing more applications and acceptances. As for med school cost, it can be well worth the extra ~$10k per year if the program had a better match opportunity/outcome. You will make up that $40k in extra expenditure over a fairly short time (after residency of course). The outcome of the program is something that you have to study at least as much as the financial cost.
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premeddie19 said:
Has anyone specfically had luck with UCF increasing their fin aid package?
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According to fin aid, for students that have been accepted:
-a good portion of those who did not initially receive fin aid offer will receive a package after committing to enroll as other students drop
-a few of those who already received their offers may have a small chance of having their package increased as other students drop off
-all matriculated students will constantly be presented with other offers during medical school, both private (applications) and school based. A solid chunk of students receive additional aid during medical school on top of what they already have.

Additionally as students reach the cost of tuition or cost of attendance scholarship cap, their scholarship levels are adjusted which frees up that gift aid to be disbursed to other students
 
nevergonnagiveyouup said:
According to fin aid, for students that have been accepted:
-a good portion of those who did not initially receive fin aid offer will receive a package after committing to enroll as other students drop
-a few of those who already received their offers may have a small chance of having their package increased as other students drop off
-all matriculated students will constantly be presented with other offers during medical school, both private (applications) and school based. A solid chunk of students receive additional aid during medical school on top of what they already have.

Additionally as students reach the cost of tuition or cost of attendance scholarship cap, their scholarship levels are adjusted which frees up that gift aid to be disbursed to other students
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Exactly how does this work? How can different caps apply to different students? And, do you happen to know how many even come close to them (i.e., does this really happen in a meaningful way where aid is redistributed after enrollment due to people maxing out)? @REL ????
 
KnightDoc said:
Exactly how does this work? How can different caps apply to different students? And, do you happen to know how many even come close to them (i.e., does this really happen in a meaningful way where aid is redistributed after enrollment due to people maxing out)? @REL ????
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Tuition vs cost of living cap, the way it was explained to me, is based off of the amount of loans you may take out. Say one student took out loans to cover up to the tuition cost aside from what their scholarship provided initially, While another took out a larger loan to cover their entire cost of living plus tuition. The way I understood it, these instances are rare but this is how that factors in. If you want additional info, I would suggest reaching out to fin aid directly. They also hosted a zoom session on the topic yesterday
 
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highhighhopes said:
Hi @REL are students who are accepted from the waitlist considered for scholarships? And if so, how long after being accepted would we be notified?
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Once the scholarship committee finishes awarding to those currently accepted there will not likely be much left to award. Remember that right now we, like most programs, over accepted during the interview season. This means that they will likely have exhausted most (?all?) of their funds. When WD's occur that money goes back to be re-awarded. WL members can anticipate an award to come their way a short time after the acceptance has been offered and within the national timeframe for you to consider your decision to accept or WD.

I consider cost a tier 2 level decision point. You should be reconciled to the point that you will go into debt, probably to the tune of $200k depending upon how you choose to live over the next four years. The difference of ~10k per year is not a large difference over the long term of repayment as well as some of the forgiveness plans that you may be eligible for upon graduation. Two federal programs completely negate that cost and pay you during medical school - you can enter these programs prior to, or after graduation. Finally, in looking at the most recent MSAR data our Tuition prices seem to be one of the lowest in the state a well as guauduate indebtedness.

Things that are most important when selecting a school are support and comfort over the next four years, being able to"see" all that medicine has to offer so that you can find that special residency for you. So being able to mesh with your classmates and having a variation of training opportunities will enhance the quality of your life as well as your selection of residency opportunities. These "rankings" of medical schools are very misleading for many reasons, two are that they are ranking "research" institutions and they obtain their data directly from the school itself. You should anticipate that newer programs will not have fully built-out their research effort (if that is their focus) for 20+ years and since they dont go to the AAMC for vaild and impartial source data (they would have to pay for accurate and impartial source data). There are many more reasons such as patient diversity, ease of travel, etc. Once I complete a review of tuition, COA, and student debt from the MSAR I will publish it here for your reference.
 
REL said:
Once the scholarship committee finishes awarding to those currently accepted there will not likely be much left to award. Remember that right now we, like most programs, over accepted during the interview season. This means that they will likely have exhausted most (?all?) of their funds. When WD's occur that money goes back to be re-awarded. WL members can anticipate an award to come their way a short time after the acceptance has been offered and within the national timeframe for you to consider your decision to accept or WD.

I consider cost a tier 2 level decision point. You should be reconciled to the point that you will go into debt, probably to the tune of $200k depending upon how you choose to live over the next four years. The difference of ~10k per year is not a large difference over the long term of repayment as well as some of the forgiveness plans that you may be eligible for upon graduation. Two federal programs completely negate that cost and pay you during medical school - you can enter these programs prior to, or after graduation. Finally, in looking at the most recent MSAR data our Tuition prices seem to be one of the lowest in the state a well as guauduate indebtedness.

Things that are most important when selecting a school are support and comfort over the next four years, being able to"see" all that medicine has to offer so that you can find that special residency for you. So being able to mesh with your classmates and having a variation of training opportunities will enhance the quality of your life as well as your selection of residency opportunities. These "rankings" of medical schools are very misleading for many reasons, two are that they are ranking "research" institutions and they obtain their data directly from the school itself. You should anticipate that newer programs will not have fully built-out their research effort (if that is their focus) for 20+ years and since they dont go to the AAMC for vaild and impartial source data (they would have to pay for accurate and impartial source data). There are many more reasons such as patient diversity, ease of travel, etc. Once I complete a review of tuition, COA, and student debt from the MSAR I will publish it here for your reference.
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Thank you for the thorough explanation! That makes complete sense. Just as a follow-up question, do you anticipate the COM will go back to having rotations at Advent Health and Orlando Health by the time the class of 2025 goes into their third year?
 
highhighhopes said:
Thank you for the thorough explanation! That makes complete sense. Just as a follow-up question, do you anticipate the COM will go back to having rotations at Advent Health and Orlando Health by the time the class of 2025 goes into their third year?
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Understanding that you are asking for a prediction, I would say that it is very possible. It depends upon the normalization of our lives post-Covid which will allow medical facilities to restart their version of normalcy. It would not take long to reopen our partnerships since the processes of the past were quite functional. It just takes the handshakes of hospital leadership.
 
As promised here are the Tuition & Fees, Cost of Attendance, and average Financial Debt per the current MSAR:
1617993945980.png


It is possible that current costs are different since the MSAR is an annual document and some programs may have changed these costs.
 
lagunabeach26 said:
@REL do you think we'll start seeing WL movement on the 15th?
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LIkely not, more likely as we near the end of the month based on movement to date. This could change based on the 4/15 date to drop to a single acceptance, but I dont think so.
 
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Hi @REL is there anything that UCF COM is doing currently to try to reopen partnerships with AdventHealth and Orlando Health? Also, will students be given the opportunity to complete rotations at the new Lake Nona Medical Center? Thank you so much 🙂
 
There was a discussion regarding letters of interest and letters of intent several days ago.....I found this on the internet and it explains it better than I would have:

The main difference between a letter of interest and letter of intent is the nature of commitment. In short, a letter of intent demonstrates a higher degree of commitment compared to a letter of interest. Using Queen Beyoncé’s own words, a letter of intent is like “putting a ring on it.” If that medical school says, “I do” and accepts you off of a waitlist, you are promising to attend that medical school. Although I have no specifics of the consequences of violating a letter of intent, committing to a school then pulling out usually does not bode well on you as a candidate. For more information about writing a letter of intent, I’ve gone over 5 tips for writing a letter of intent.

On the other hand, letters of interest are like Valentine’s Day cards. You can write multiple letters of interest. The main difference is to not include that you intend to attend the medical school if accepted off the waitlist. Otherwise, your letter of interest can include all the content you would include in a letter of intent — the reasons why you love the medical school, why you are qualified, etc. (REL's note -- it is always good to make sure that you change the school name in these letters.)
 
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Kingofthebar said:
Anyone got accepted off the WL list yet?
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Actually Not yet. That earlier 811 post was actually a person that was on the Not Yet Accepted List (precursor to wait list) during the interview season before the admissions committee process had been completed. That applicant was actually on the NYAL during in the interview season and was selected at the final committee meeting for an acceptance offer. Once the committee concludes their annual meetings we form the true Wait List and we have not accepted any since the committee finished their business.

As of today we have not accepted any off the Wait List. It is possible that we will be in a position to begin accepting from the FL WL toward the end of this week or early next. We should activate the non-FL WL not long after that. I predict that both should be active by the end of this month.
 
REL said:
Actually Not yet. That earlier 811 post was actually a person that was on the Not Yet Accepted List (precursor to wait list) during the interview season before the admissions committee process had been completed. That applicant was actually on the NYAL during in the interview season and was selected at the final committee meeting for an acceptance offer. Once the committee concludes their annual meetings we form the true Wait List and we have not accepted any since the committee finished their business.

As of today we have not accepted any off the Wait List. It is possible that we will be in a position to begin accepting from the FL WL toward the end of this week or early next. We should activate the non-FL WL not long after that. I predict that both should be active by the end of this month.
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@REL What does it look at the current moment with regards to WL movement, especially for non-FL WL? Any indications this cycle will have aberrant movement relative to previous cycles?
 
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REL said:
We appear to be on pace to begin WL movement for FL and Non-FL by the end of this week. This pace is similar to last year for now, but I do expect us to go deeper into the WL this year once the year has been completed.
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in a normal year, what part of the WL do you get through?
 
@REL Do you still have to narrow down your acceptances to one by April 30th even if you get off of the waitlist at more than one school a few days before? I want to follow the rules but I also don't want to rush into a decision if I don't have to. Two days isn't much time to make such an important decision.
 
Rheopecty said:
Before 4/30, you have 2 weeks to respond to a new offer. After 4/30, you have 5 days. 30 day window before new offer matriculation date, you have 48 hours.
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Actually, these are just AAMC guidelines. The real amount of time you have is however much the school giving you the new A allows. Just be sure to carefully follow whatever they say. Otherwise, you risk having the new A pulled away from you. Please do not rely on anything you see on SDN, or anywhere else, as gospel. The gospel is whatever the school says it is.
 
Rheopecty said:
Yeah...unironically, my A school only gave me 5 days to respond to the offer. But, as in general, these are the potential, "standard" expectations.
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And... the real irony, on this thread, is that UCF is probably the coolest, most transparent, most willing to work with students school in the entire AAMC. So, while @REL would not be able to see any WLs that turn into As unless you select PTE at that school, from my impression of him, he'd be the first person to give you as much time as you needed, within reason, to make a decision. JMHO -- I certainly am not authorized to speak for him or UCF. 😎

But, to answer @Kicknka1's question, the 4/30 deadline does not apply in his case. If he has pre-existing As, and if those schools require PTE by 4/30, THAT applies. But @Kicknka1 will have as much time as the new school gives him to make that school PTE or drop it, and that is not a violation of any so-called rule, at UCF or anywhere else.
 
KnightDoc said:
And... the real irony, on this thread, is that UCF is probably the coolest, most transparent, most willing to work with students school in the entire AAMC. So, while @REL would not be able to see any WLs that turn into As unless you select PTE at that school, from my impression of him, he'd be the first person to give you as much time as you needed, within reason, to make a decision. JMHO -- I certainly am not authorized to speak for him or UCF. 😎

But, to answer @Kicknka1's question, the 4/30 deadline does not apply in his case. If he has pre-existing As, and if those schools require PTE by 4/30, THAT applies. But @Kicknka1 will have as much time as the new school gives him to make that school PTE or drop it, and that is not a violation of any so-called rule, at UCF or anywhere else.
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Thank you for the advice!
 
Yes concur, offer tendered before 4/30 has should provide max 14 days to make a decision, after that minimum should be 5 days but can be extended if you are validly awaiting factors (financial aid) or other needed information but you must coord extra time with program(s). As for CTE you should coordinate with the CTE program and ask for reasonable extension of time.
 
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