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Hold. IS, 3.83, 521, non-trad ORM, complete 7/15. After getting II's to a couple of my top choices, I thought UCSD was gonna be an II, but that e-mail subject was an obvious no...
 
Hi everyone.

For everyone who got an interview, how much of a role do you think the quality of your writing in your secondary essay played in it?

Also, how much of your personal statement was found in your secondary essay. I'm definitely shooting for a little as possible, but some elements will overlap.

And I know it says to include primary and secondary school years, but there really wasn't anything meaningful for me to write about these years and I don't really remember them, so I barely mentioned them. Is that okay?
 
WeakThought said:
Hi everyone.

For everyone who got an interview, how much of a role do you think the quality of your writing in your secondary essay played in it?

Also, how much of your personal statement was found in your secondary essay. I'm definitely shooting for a little as possible, but some elements will overlap.

And I know it says to include primary and secondary school years, but there really wasn't anything meaningful for me to write about these years and I don't really remember them, so I barely mentioned them. Is that okay?
Click to expand...

I found a few errors in mine going through it after submission and I thought I was a goner. I had pretty much made my peace with UCSD but the invite says otherwise lol. Other than those errors the actual content I felt is what really saved me.

Very little of my P.S. was in my secondary. My P.S. focused mainly on things I experienced in college and my secondary here focused on my path leading up to college and a very brief description of college. I think the best thing to keep in mind when you're writing your secondary is that it is an opportunity to showcase more about who you are. I'm sure your whole life story didn't fit into the P.S. Maybe it also helps to think that the autobiographical sketch doesn't have to be a "why I want to be a doctor" focus and more of "this is me and who I am" focus.
 
WeakThought said:
Hi everyone.

For everyone who got an interview, how much of a role do you think the quality of your writing in your secondary essay played in it?

Also, how much of your personal statement was found in your secondary essay. I'm definitely shooting for a little as possible, but some elements will overlap.

And I know it says to include primary and secondary school years, but there really wasn't anything meaningful for me to write about these years and I don't really remember them, so I barely mentioned them. Is that okay?
Click to expand...
I’d say from looking at everyone’s stats and mine, the secondary has a large role in determining II. I truly talked about adversities I’ve experienced from primary, to secondary and etc so it was a true autobiography. When I was put on hold for interview last year, I did not expand as much as I did this year and wrote half as much as the essay I submitted this year. I’m not sure of this either, but it seems they love students from UCs too? Just looking at their admitted students list
 
For those who've received a Hold email, does the email explicitly state what being placed on hold at UCSD means?

(At some schools it means they've read your app and are not wanting to interview you right now but at other schools it just means one person has reviewed your app and they're waiting on a second person to review it before making an II decision.)
 
SpreadKindness20 said:
For those who've received a Hold email, does the email explicitly state what being placed on hold at UCSD means?

(At some schools it means they've read your app and are not wanting to interview you right now but at other schools it just means one person has reviewed your app and they're waiting on a second person to review it before making an II decision.)
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They state it means you'll basically be reconsidered for interview in mid-February, and they are not interested in interviewing you now. A soft R is how I'm taking it
 
anyone know if UCSD does the MMI situational interviews?
 
babygreenbeans said:
does anyone know if it looks bad to talk a lot about advocacy in the autobio and not apply to prime? I just feel like the seats are too limited and dont want to spend time on another essay for it....
Click to expand...

I was worried about this too. I received an II for regular MD despite this. Idk if it’ll come up in the interview though, so maybe prepare a response for that situation. However, I also applied regular MD for UCLA and no questions were asked about my decision during the interview.
 
babygreenbeans said:
does anyone know if it looks bad to talk a lot about advocacy in the autobio and not apply to prime? I just feel like the seats are too limited and dont want to spend time on another essay for it....
Click to expand...
I really don't think so I think you can be a physician advocate and still be true to your activities by talking about UCSDs patient population or whatever without wanting to do PRIME. PRIME is just one very specific program that doesn't need to interest everyone who wants to help with inequity
 
Would it be appropriate to mention that I was accepted to UCSD for undergrad even though I was unable to attend and went to a different UC? :thinking:
 
YeMustBeBornAgain said:
Would it be appropriate to mention that I was accepted to UCSD for undergrad even though I was unable to attend and went to a different UC? :thinking:
Click to expand...
I feel like if you bring it up tactfully (maybe in passing in an interview, not in a secondary) it could show a history of wanting to be in SD/UCSD. I might do that tbh (if i ever get a II lol)
 
If there weren't extenuating circumstances preventing you from going there as an undergrad, couldn't it lead them to question why you chose to go elsewhere?
 
BunnyPro said:
If there weren't extenuating circumstances preventing you from going there as an undergrad, couldn't it lead them to question why you chose to go elsewhere?
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I mean people have all sorts of reasons for not going. I didn't go because I couldn't get into the major I wanted. And in this case I'd be like, now I have looked at UCSDSOM and it has exactly what I want yada yada
 
How strict is the one month deadline? Will we be locked out of the portal? Is it right at 12 at the due date?
 
babygreenbeans said:
what time is the deadline to submit? is it like 11:59 pm one month later or 12 am one month later
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did you figure this out? I just realized it's already been a month by the fifth for me. is the deadline right at midnight? does it just lock you out?
 
Hey all, how did you incorporate your personal statement into the autobiographical sketch? Like, I cant NOT mention the main theme of my PS in my sketch.....This shouldnt a red flag, correct?
 
YeMustBeBornAgain said:
Hey all, how did you incorporate your personal statement into the autobiographical sketch? Like, I cant NOT mention the main theme of my PS in my sketch.....This shouldnt a red flag, correct?
Click to expand...

Mine differed quite a bit as I focused chronologically on life events/family events that led me to where I am. It's not too difficult to add a thread or two mentioning or underscoring themes from your PS. Not a red flag
 
BunnyPro said:
Anyone who applied MSTP hear anything?
Click to expand...

I just checked and in the portal/secondary app under interview information, they say that "Interviews for the MD/PhD program will take place in mid-to-late January 2021." Since that's still far away, I'm not sure we'll be hearing anything any time soon.
 
wpneuro said:
I just checked and in the portal/secondary app under interview information, they say that "Interviews for the MD/PhD program will take place in mid-to-late January 2021." Since that's still far away, I'm not sure we'll be hearing anything any time soon.
Click to expand...
Hello! Do you have a new tab that says Interview Information? I cannot find this on my portal.
 
fishberry said:
Hello! Do you have a new tab that says Interview Information? I cannot find this on my portal.
Click to expand...

Should've clarified, it's not a new tab! It's actually in the secondary app: the "Secondary App" tab, and then in the menu there's "Interview Information". I'll copy all the info here so it's easy to find.
Interviews for the MD program, Global Health Academic Concentration, and the MD/MAS-Clinical Research Track.
If you receive an interview invitation, you will be directed to a website where you will be able to choose from among a few different dates. While interviews will run from early October 2020 through mid-March 2021, we will only open a few dates at a time in an effort to eliminate/reduce the number of “unfilled” interview slots. If you are unable to make any of the dates that are made available to you, please contact us ASAP after receiving the interview invitation.

Interviews for the PRIME-HEq program will be conducted on five selected dates. If you are invited to interview for PRIME-HEq but unable to make any of the available dates, please contact us ASAP after receiving the interview invitation. It is possible to interview on an alternate date and still be considered for PRIME-HEq.

Interviews for the MD/PhD program will take place in mid-to-late January 2021. If selected for interview, you will receive information regarding specific interview dates from the MD/PhD offices in the coming weeks.
Click to expand...
 
wpneuro said:
Should've clarified, it's not a new tab! It's actually in the secondary app: the "Secondary App" tab, and then in the menu there's "Interview Information". I'll copy all the info here so it's easy to find.
Click to expand...
Ah, thank you!!
 
Just noticed that my LORs were received 9/2 even though I've had them on AMCAS since 7/1 and my app was transmitted 7/11...might want to check on yours as well to see if that's the holdup
 
sproutlatte said:
Just noticed that my LORs were received 9/2 even though I've had them on AMCAS since 7/1 and my app was transmitted 7/11...might want to check on yours as well to see if that's the holdup
Click to expand...
I think that date refers to when you last re-submitted your app. I re-submitted mine today for another school, and mine now says 9/8 on UCSD's portal
 
vocalspectrumfan said:

"For all applicants, we will make decisions regarding interviews without consideration of the MCAT score, and will mask the MCAT scores of applicants who do have them from review."

Real nice of them to tell me this (sub 3.6, 520+) AFTER I wasted $120 on their secondary 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Wow. So they’re reviewing apps for interviews without looking at MCAT scores for everyone?!
 
Microbe_Hunter said:
RIP for me
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I feel the same way. Maybe this means they will interview more applicants? It seems unfortunate for people with lower GPAs but higher scores. At the same time, I feel like the committee took that into account and developed a system we don't know about.
 
Do you guys know if they care about the “2 week turnaround”? I work full time and have been working on other secondaries/moving so I’m a little over 2 weeks now.... saved this massive secondary for last tbh even though it’s one of my top.
 
aristrutz523 said:
Do you guys know if they care about the “2 week turnaround”? I work full time and have been working on other secondaries/moving so I’m a little over 2 weeks now.... saved this massive secondary for last tbh even though it’s one of my top.
Click to expand...
We have a month for this one so you're good!
 
For those who have received II, on holds, and rejections - how well did UCSD stick to their 6 week turnaround time for an initial response? It will be 6 weeks for me this week and I am anxiously awaiting any news, positive or negative.
Also has anyone been rejected yet?
 
ficusroxburghii_plantmom said:
For those who have received II, on holds, and rejections - how well did UCSD stick to their 6 week turnaround time for an initial response? It will be 6 weeks for me this week and I am anxiously awaiting any news, positive or negative.
Also has anyone been rejected yet?
Click to expand...
this is the first i've heard of a 6 week turnaround. complete 7/13 and haven't heard anything
 
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