2020-2021 UNC - Chapel Hill

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brendog97 said:
Yep. Complete 9/24 IS, gpa and mcat above their median.
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What is their actual median MCAT score? I MSAR says 515...UNC has on their website it is 512. Those three points are pretty critical...
 
pelotan1 said:
What is their actual median MCAT score? I MSAR says 515...UNC has on their website it is 512. Those three points are pretty critical...
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On the topic of MCAT scores, the way a former Ad Comm member explained it to me was that scores 511+ are more or less considered equal. Its like it gets you a check mark and they move on to consider other factors to differentiate candidates. That's not to say that 511 is the lower cut off (I have plenty of current classmates who had scores lower than that), but to say that those points actually don't make much of a difference, so don't worry about it 🙂
 
alibon said:
On the topic of MCAT scores, the way a former Ad Comm member explained it to me was that scores 511+ are more or less considered equal. Its like it gets you a check mark and they move on to consider other factors to differentiate candidates. That's not to say that 511 is the lower cut off (I have plenty of current classmates who had scores lower than that), but to say that those points actually don't make much of a difference, so don't worry about it 🙂
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As someone with a 511, I hope that’s true lol
 
I just checked my online application portal and it says that my application status is "Decided." But, I have not heard anything yet. I am applying MD/PhD. Do any other MD/PhD or MD applications have this same status on your portal? Do you think I should email asking what this means or just wait?
 
superapps said:
I just checked my online application portal and it says that my application status is "Decided." But, I have not heard anything yet. I am applying MD/PhD. Do any other MD/PhD or MD applications have this same status on your portal? Do you think I should email asking what this means or just wait?
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I mentioned this last week, but the application portal status means nothing. Don't pay attention to it. That being said, you should check out this link- Deadlines and Key Dates | UNC MD-PhD Program which details the timeline for the MSTP this year. Looks like you should hear something this month. I wouldn't bother emailing admissions though, they likely won't answer and if they do, it takes forever.
 
If someone’s MCAT isn’t within their range or higher, are they automatically thrown out and not reviewed?
 
MedApp Lurker said:
If someone’s MCAT isn’t within their range or higher, are they automatically thrown out and not reviewed?
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My MCAT is a 505 and I received an interview, although I haven’t heard anything back yet
 
MedApp Lurker said:
If someone’s MCAT isn’t within their range or higher, are they automatically thrown out and not reviewed?
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My mcat is 504 and also received interview. No acceptance at Unc yet. They must look at the whole picture. I’m a non trad student with a lot of healthcare experience
 
MedApp Lurker said:
If someone’s MCAT isn’t within their range or higher, are they automatically thrown out and not reviewed?
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Definitely not. Like I said in an earlier comment, they consider 511+ more or less equal, but its not a minimum requirement. They really do look at everything in your app, with the MCAT as just one factor. Plenty of my classmates had scores in the 500s.
 
How about those lower than 500? Med schools in other countries don’t seem to be as harsh as the US.
 
MedApp Lurker said:
How about those lower than 500? Med schools in other countries don’t seem to be as harsh as the US.
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I could be wrong, but I figure if they wanted to screen for a certain cutoff MCAT score they would have probably done so at the secondary invite stage. Most schools decided not to do that this year and extended secondary invitations to everyone who submitted a primary. I would hope that they wouldn't accept "donations" only to cut off at a certain score anyway.
 
emnuss said:
I could be wrong, but I figure if they wanted to screen for a certain cutoff MCAT score they would have probably done so at the secondary invite stage. Most schools decided not to do that this year and extended secondary invitations to everyone who submitted a primary. I would hope that they wouldn't accept "donations" only to cut off at a certain score anyway.
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All the schools I applied to (UNC included) did universal secondaries prior to COVID, so they absolutely would take your money and screen out by MCAT score later. That being said, I don't know that they do, as they claim to evaluate all parts of your app before deciding, and I think they actually would look at everything. However, realistically, if you have a score below 500, I think you would need a pretty high GPA to balance that and demonstrate you can be successful in med school. (Usual disclaimer that I'm not on ad comm and can't say this definitively)

In terms of US schools having harsher restrictions that other countries, you're absolutely right they do. The US MD is considered the gold standard for medical education around the world (direct quote from a global health physician I used to work with). You have an MD, you meet requirements to practice in basically any country in the world. The reverse is not the case. Medical degrees from other countries are often not eligible to practice in the US without additional training.
 
alibon said:
All the schools I applied to (UNC included) did universal secondaries prior to COVID, so they absolutely would take your money and screen out by MCAT score later. That being said, I don't know that they do, as they claim to evaluate all parts of your app before deciding, and I think they actually would look at everything. However, realistically, if you have a score below 500, I think you would need a pretty high GPA to balance that and demonstrate you can be successful in med school. (Usual disclaimer that I'm not on ad comm and can't say this definitively)

In terms of US schools having harsher restrictions that other countries, you're absolutely right they do. The US MD is considered the gold standard for medical education around the world (direct quote from a global health physician I used to work with). You have an MD, you meet requirements to practice in basically any country in the world. The reverse is not the case. Medical degrees from other countries are often not eligible to practice in the US without additional training.
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My bad, I was under the impression that many schools screened their secondaries under normal circumstances, and just assumed that UNC did because they explicitly list minimum MCAT and GPA requirements on their website. Thanks for clearing that up!
 
Pre-II R this morning, MD/PhD. I got an email saying my status change and logged into my portal- it says application status "Decided" with a letter underneath. Bummed as this is an amazing program but good luck to everyone else!!!
 
alibon said:
All the schools I applied to (UNC included) did universal secondaries prior to COVID, so they absolutely would take your money and screen out by MCAT score later. That being said, I don't know that they do, as they claim to evaluate all parts of your app before deciding, and I think they actually would look at everything. However, realistically, if you have a score below 500, I think you would need a pretty high GPA to balance that and demonstrate you can be successful in med school. (Usual disclaimer that I'm not on ad comm and can't say this definitively)

In terms of US schools having harsher restrictions that other countries, you're absolutely right they do. The US MD is considered the gold standard for medical education around the world (direct quote from a global health physician I used to work with). You have an MD, you meet requirements to practice in basically any country in the world. The reverse is not the case. Medical degrees from other countries are often not eligible to practice in the US without additional training.
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Do you have classmates that are re-applicants to UNC? Was wondering how favorably they look at re-applicants in your opinion 🙂 I'm a re-app who interviewed recently & was WL last year.
 
frogontherock said:
Pre-II R this morning, MD/PhD. I got an email saying my status change and logged into my portal- it says application status "Decided" with a letter underneath. Bummed as this is an amazing program but good luck to everyone else!!!
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Appreciate your honesty and transparency. Best of luck with other applications that you still have active. Stay hopeful 🙂
 
superduper1151 said:
Do you have classmates that are re-applicants to UNC? Was wondering how favorably they look at re-applicants in your opinion 🙂 I'm a re-app who interviewed recently & was WL last year.
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I definitely do, but honestly we never talked much about who was a re-app vs a first time applicant. I know ~85% of students in my year took at least one gap year before med school, so I would bet there's a decent number of re-applicants in my class. I don't really know anything about UNC's stance on it, sorry! Though I do know a few friends of friends who were admitted on their 3rd or 4th attempt, so I think they admire the persistence 🙂 If you made waitlist last year then you probably have a decent shot!
 
alibon said:
I definitely do, but honestly we never talked much about who was a re-app vs a first time applicant. I know ~85% of students in my year took at least one gap year before med school, so I would bet there's a decent number of re-applicants in my class. I don't really know anything about UNC's stance on it, sorry! Though I do know a few friends of friends who were admitted on their 3rd or 4th attempt, so I think they admire the persistence 🙂 If you made waitlist last year then you probably have a decent shot!
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Thanks so much for the honesty and taking the time to respond! I really appreciate it. 🙂
 
alibon said:
I definitely do, but honestly we never talked much about who was a re-app vs a first time applicant. I know ~85% of students in my year took at least one gap year before med school, so I would bet there's a decent number of re-applicants in my class. I don't really know anything about UNC's stance on it, sorry! Though I do know a few friends of friends who were admitted on their 3rd or 4th attempt, so I think they admire the persistence 🙂 If you made waitlist last year then you probably have a decent shot!
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I know for sure that I’ll keep on reapplying until that opportunity is sealed! I’ve also heard from students that UNC Med doesn’t like to see UNC undergrads applying because they want them to “move out from the nest”.
 
MedApp Lurker said:
I know for sure that I’ll keep on reapplying until that opportunity is sealed! I’ve also heard from students that UNC Med doesn’t like to see UNC undergrads applying because they want them to “move out from the nest”.
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So I was a UNC undergraduate and I remember hearing all the stuff about them being biased against their own undergrads, but its definitely not true. The thing is, UNC graduates about 600 pre-meds every year. UNC SOM can't take them all, so it feels like they're biased against us. But my class of 190 has 50-60 UNC grads, so they definitely do take a good number of their own students, more than they take from any other undergrad school actually.
 
ToMD2025 said:
Nope. Interviewed 11/16 tho. I assume it might take them 2-3 weeks more given past timelines.
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From previous acceptances on here it seems it's taking 5-6 weeks post II for people who are definite acceptance for admissions, otherwise it may take more weeks/months before final decisions.
 
So...I have heard that most in state students DO NOT get acceptances to both UNC and Brody. Can anybody confirm or deny this?
 
pelotan1 said:
I have certainly known of people who got accepted to both, but legend has it that no matter your stats...it is usually an acceptance to one or the other.
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I’ve actually heard the opposite. I’ve heard most get accepted to both but the financial aid packages are pretty different when you are choosing between them
 
Does one typically have better aid than the other? And are we talking about need based aid, or merit/scholarship? I'm just asking because I am curious.
 
pelotan1 said:
Does one typically have better aid than the other? And are we talking about need based aid, or merit/scholarship? I'm just asking because I am curious.
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I don’t know the truth to this. But from people in previous cycles, they explained it to me by saying Brody is easier to get into than Chapel hill. Thus the merit scholarships go to “elite” applicants at Unc where as there is more potential for great and good applicants to receive the merit at Brody.
Again. I don’t know how true that holds.
 
I heard that unc and brody both look for different things so brody may not be necessarily easier to get into. i do know a few people who have gotten into both, but it seems more common to be accepted to only one of the two. if most in state people did get into both unc and brody, i dont think they'd have enough people to fill their classes each year and would have to dip into the waitlists a lot.
 
ToMD2025 said:
Good luck on the new week guys! May it lead to interview invites and acceptances!
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Indeed good luck to everyone. I am a WL reapplicant from last cycle no II yet! My status has changed to decision pending so hoping for a II!🤞🏼🤞🏼
 
strawberryflower said:
I heard that unc and brody both look for different things so brody may not be necessarily easier to get into. i do know a few people who have gotten into both, but it seems more common to be accepted to only one of the two. if most in state people did get into both unc and brody, i dont think they'd have enough people to fill their classes each year and would have to dip into the waitlists a lot.
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yeah it's also worth noting that unc's class size is over double brody's class size and they interview fairly similar amounts (in-state at least) so statistically speaking it could be easier to get into UNC after interviewing... also brody is a massive mission-focused school so they know exactly the types of students theyre looking for which probably makes them the more selective school! i personally don't know anyone that has gotten into both but i know probably equal amounts of people that have gotten into one or the other....and some neither!
 
goheeeels said:
yeah it's also worth noting that unc's class size is over double brody's class size and they interview fairly similar amounts (in-state at least) so statistically speaking it could be easier to get into UNC after interviewing... also brody is a massive mission-focused school so they know exactly the types of students theyre looking for which probably makes them the more selective school! i personally don't know anyone that has gotten into both but i know probably equal amounts of people that have gotten into one or the other....and some neither!
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i always just assumed UNC would interview 2x many as Brody. If they are the same then, getting an II in Brody is equally challenging....
 
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