2020-2021 Illinois

Started by TheDataKing
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bigshockshawn said:
Has anybody in this thread participated in or know anybody that has participated in the PAP pre MD program here? I'm not sure if it's worth doing that versus starting right away next year at MCW.
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I don't know too much about it but it seems like a solid program if you haven't gotten in anywhere else. Otherwise, I'd def go ahead and start at MCW (which I think is a great school)
 
bigshockshawn said:
Has anybody in this thread participated in or know anybody that has participated in the PAP pre MD program here? I'm not sure if it's worth doing that versus starting right away next year at MCW.
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I’ve been a peer educator for the PAP students for the past couple of years and I can tell you that doing the program really will prepare you well for med school. Also, don’t underestimate the chance to learn the entirety of gross anatomy beforehand - it’ll save you a ton of time and stress later on.

If I were you, I’d think of it more as a decision of whether you’d rather go to UICOM or MCW. I know someone who is an M2 now who had other acceptances but still chose to do PAP because she really wanted to go to UIC. You can’t really go wrong with either option tbh!
 
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aap12345 said:
How was your interview experience and how long after your interview did you find out?
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my interview was great! you will interview with other pap applicants as well as the summer prep applicants too. It kinda follows the same agenda as regular md such as MMI and one-on-one. Overall very comfortable and if its meant for you it will be! i found out a little bit later than other applicants so like the 4th thursday.
 
That group photo pissed me off. Why? Why are you taking photos of us after an interview? If I don’t get in, I’m going to look GOOFY

Also they’re sending emails today right?
 
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Kathudoo said:
That group photo pissed me off. Why? Why are you taking photos of us after an interview? If I don’t get in, I’m going to look GOOFY

Also they’re sending emails today right?
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Yes, every 3rd Thursday there is potential to hear back. And yeah, I am delayed decision and got that photo so I hope I am not left looking like a fool lol
 
Nvrgiveup01 said:
Yes, every 3rd Thursday there is potential to hear back. And yeah, I am delayed decision and got that photo so I hope I am not left looking like a fool lol
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Do you know what time they let us know? They sent me the photo 11/30 (I believe)
 
Kathudoo said:
Do you know what time they let us know? They sent me the photo 11/30 (I believe)
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At the end of the interview they said to give them til the end of the business day on Friday. They meet to make admissions decisions today, but likely have other meetings back to back and may not get to us today.
 
sarturo said:
At the end of the interview they said to give them til the end of the business day on Friday. They meet to make admissions decisions today, but likely have other meetings back to back and may not get to us today.
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Now that I think of it, they did say that. Well let's look forward to tomorrow then.
 
TSHJB302 said:
I’ve been a peer educator for the PAP students for the past couple of years and I can tell you that doing the program really will prepare you well for med school. Also, don’t underestimate the chance to learn the entirety of gross anatomy beforehand - it’ll save you a ton of time and stress later on.

If I were you, I’d think of it more as a decision of whether you’d rather go to UICOM or MCW. I know someone who is an M2 now who had other acceptances but still chose to do PAP because she really wanted to go to UIC. You can’t really go wrong with either option tbh!
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I’m literally gonna choose this PAP @ UIC and wait another year to start MD instead of starting MD at MCW in august. I want to be competitive for ortho, and UIC is instate and $100,000 cheaper than MCW. I envision the anatomy and physiology classes making med school much less stressful. Thanks for this response. Can I message you?
 
bigshockshawn said:
I’m literally gonna choose this PAP @ UIC and wait another year to start MD instead of starting MD at MCW in august. I want to be competitive for ortho, and UIC is instate and $100,000 cheaper than MCW. I envision the anatomy and physiology classes making med school much less stressful. Thanks for this response. Can I message you?
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Sure!
 
bigshockshawn said:
I’m literally gonna choose this PAP @ UIC and wait another year to start MD instead of starting MD at MCW in august. I want to be competitive for ortho, and UIC is instate and $100,000 cheaper than MCW. I envision the anatomy and physiology classes making med school much less stressful. Thanks for this response. Can I message you?
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Hey - I hope you ask adcoms such as @Goro before making this decision. Many medical schools will blacklist you if you choose to decline an MD acceptance to take a year off. UIC even asks "Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program?" in the secondary application
 
zeddd78893 said:
Hey - I hope you ask adcoms such as @Goro before making this decision. Many medical schools will blacklist you if you choose to decline an MD acceptance to take a year off. UIC even asks "Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program?" in the secondary application
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It's definitely a good question to ask but I feel like he/she will probably be successful at PAP, which is a pre-matriculation program and as long as you met all the cutoffs/mile stones, you automatically join your classmates the following year, if he/she already got an acceptance at MCW. I guess the benefit of choosing MCW is that the acceptance is guaranteed whereas you can still fail the PAP program and losing your potential offer, although very unlikely.

Just my 2c haha
 
zeddd78893 said:
Hey - I hope you ask adcoms such as @Goro before making this decision. Many medical schools will blacklist you if you choose to decline an MD acceptance to take a year off. UIC even asks "Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program?" in the secondary application
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As that SDNer isn't really intetested in being a doctor now, best to give up tje seat and let it go to someone who wants to achieve their dreams now.

Turning down your only acceptance is the single biggest mistake an applicant can make.

Note, s/he hasn't matriculated yet. But some med schools do ask about where you've been accepted.
 
bigshockshawn said:
I’m literally gonna choose this PAP @ UIC and wait another year to start MD instead of starting MD at MCW in august. I want to be competitive for ortho, and UIC is instate and $100,000 cheaper than MCW. I envision the anatomy and physiology classes making med school much less stressful. Thanks for this response. Can I message you?
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TSHJB302 said:
Sure!
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Hi, what are your stats if you don’t mind me asking. I haven’t heard back from Illinois and was wondering how competitive it is to get into their PAP program. Also congrats on getting into PAP. Thanks
 
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sarturo said:
At the end of the interview they said to give them til the end of the business day on Friday. They meet to make admissions decisions today, but likely have other meetings back to back and may not get to us today.
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I remember them saying that, but I was really holding out lol.
 
zeddd78893 said:
Hey - I hope you ask adcoms such as @Goro before making this decision. Many medical schools will blacklist you if you choose to decline an MD acceptance to take a year off. UIC even asks "Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program?" in the secondary application
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No, I wouldn’t be taking a year off, it’s one of the programs at UIC called PAP that matriculates you into the MD program after you finish it if you maintain a 3.0. Then I’d start in 2022 for MD and finish with less debt with UIC than I would if I just took MCW’s 2021 MD acceptance cause I’m paying instate Illinois tuition instead of a private med school tuition. It’ll save me 100,000 bucks! The difference is that much and in my opinion worth the extra year cause that might help me do better in med school as well because I’d be entering the class in 2022 having already taken classes in the program like gross anatomy, histology, physiology, and biochem already. I still might change my mind but it seems like a no brainer to do PAP now in my opinion. I’m not in a rush to start right away since it’ll save me money.
 
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zeddd78893 said:
Hey - I hope you ask adcoms such as @Goro before making this decision. Many medical schools will blacklist you if you choose to decline an MD acceptance to take a year off. UIC even asks "Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program?" in the secondary application
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Just to add on to what @bigshockshawn said, even if they did reapply next cycle (which they wouldn’t need to after successful completion of PAP), the answer to that question for them would still be no. Turning down an acceptance =/= matriculation.

It is a major decision though, so if you (bigshockshawn I mean) want me to get you in contact with PAP alumni so you can make the most informed decision possible, let me know.
 
bigshockshawn said:
No, I wouldn’t be taking a year off, it’s one of the programs at UIC called PAP that matriculates you into the MD program after you finish it if you maintain a 3.0. Then I’d start in 2022 for MD and finish with less debt with UIC than I would if I just took MCW’s 2021 MD acceptance cause I’m paying instate Illinois tuition instead of a private med school tuition. It’ll save me 100,000 bucks! The difference is that much and in my opinion worth the extra year cause that might help me do better in med school as well because I’d be entering the class in 2022 having already taken classes in the program like gross anatomy, histology, physiology, and biochem already. I still might change my mind but it seems like a no brainer to do PAP now in my opinion. I’m not in a rush to start right away since it’ll save me money.
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I'm in state IL as well and when I look at Cost of attendance for both schools I see MCW is actually cheaper due to lower cost of living in Milwaukee. The difference is ~15K over the four years. I think one thing to mention is that UIC has 3 summer semesters that you have to pay for in addition to the Spring/Fall semesters that they don't often make explicit on their website.
 
bigshockshawn said:
No, I wouldn’t be taking a year off, it’s one of the programs at UIC called PAP that matriculates you into the MD program after you finish it if you maintain a 3.0. Then I’d start in 2022 for MD and finish with less debt with UIC than I would if I just took MCW’s 2021 MD acceptance cause I’m paying instate Illinois tuition instead of a private med school tuition. It’ll save me 100,000 bucks! The difference is that much and in my opinion worth the extra year cause that might help me do better in med school as well because I’d be entering the class in 2022 having already taken classes in the program like gross anatomy, histology, physiology, and biochem already. I still might change my mind but it seems like a no brainer to do PAP now in my opinion. I’m not in a rush to start right away since it’ll save me money.
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I would definitely recommend looking more into this before making a decision. Some medical schools offer financial aid to offset some of the COA. Also depending on your budget, you might be able to cut on some of the expenses listed on the COA. If I were you, I would explore the financial aid options available to you and contact the financial aid office for MCW before making the major decision. The way I see it, you will be having to pay for the PAP program and then med school when you eventually start. In the long run would you have saved much money? This is just how I personally would weigh the options. Wishing you all the best whatever decision you make!
 
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For those accepted, Is the commit to enroll button binding? Should I click that now or wait until I know 100% I will attend. I accepted the offer and ranked my campus preferences but want to make sure there’s nothing else I need to do.
 
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