2025-2026 Massachusetts

Started by wysdoc
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brahyia0 said:
Do you live in worcester and how do you like it?
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I haven't explored much of it yet as it seems like it isn't the most walkable city, but I think it has been a great experience overall. Although it is the second biggest city in Mass and ~40min-1hr away from Boston, I think there isn't much of a nightlife if that's what you're looking for and has a slower pace overall. The students and faculty here are wonderful though - I think we all help each other out all the time and actually collaborate on a ton of things.
 
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chunkyxmonkey said:
Hi, also a current student at UMass Chan. Let me know if there are any questions!
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Hi! Thanks for being willing to share, would you say attendance is mandatory for most classes or do you get days off to catch up on studying from home? If you have any insight on WIN weeks or things like that it would be super helpful!
 
I haven't gotten an II and I submitted everything very early, I am in state with 515/4.0. Am I cooked or is there still a chance I could get an interview?
 
premeddddd122 said:
Hi! Thanks for being willing to share, would you say attendance is mandatory for most classes or do you get days off to catch up on studying from home? If you have any insight on WIN weeks or things like that it would be super helpful!
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Attendance is encouraged, but most lectures are recorded. There are small group sessions, PBL, panels, and other types of classes that are mandatory in-person. Wednesdays and sometimes Fridays are usually half-days where you can catch up. The WIN weeks are amazing. "What I Need" weeks where you take the block final on Tuesday and then the rest of that week is off for you to do whatever you need - research, volunteer, shadow, relax/do nothing, or travel.
 
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chunkyxmonkey said:
Attendance is encouraged, but most lectures are recorded. There are small group sessions, PBL, panels, and other types of classes that are mandatory in-person. Wednesdays and sometimes Fridays are usually half-days where you can catch up. The WIN weeks are amazing. "What I Need" weeks where you take the block final on Tuesday and then the rest of that week is off for you to do whatever you need - research, volunteer, shadow, relax/do nothing, or travel.
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That’s so reassuring!! I am out of state so I was hoping there’d be time to visit home and it seems like that would be a good opportunity to do so😌 Also not sure if you’ve taken it yet but do you feel like they prepare you well for step I?
 
They’ll still send out IIs but trust me it’s weird w them. I thought I was a pretty good fit IS with a LM of 80ish and a 9 on preview but I got rejected last year. Had much better writing this cycle and more specific LOR and research yet still nothing. I thought it was a pretty safe bet for an II here but they are picky
 
happy_panda25 said:
chance for any more IIs? 512/4.0, in-state.
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if last year's thread is anything to go off of, they send IIs through February I believe.

MasterOogway said:
They’ll still send out IIs but trust me it’s weird w them. I thought I was a pretty good fit IS with a LM of 80ish and a 9 on preview but I got rejected last year. Had much better writing this cycle and more specific LOR and research yet still nothing. I thought it was a pretty safe bet for an II here but they are picky
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That's bizarre. Did they give you any feedback? You should've at least gotten an interview or a hold or something with those stats
 
EmDeeToBee said:
if last year's thread is anything to go off of, they send IIs through February I believe.



That's bizarre. Did they give you any feedback? You should've at least gotten an interview or a hold or something with those stats
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Shows you how bizarre things are--nothing is certain.
 
EmDeeToBee said:
if last year's thread is anything to go off of, they send IIs through February I believe.



That's bizarre. Did they give you any feedback? You should've at least gotten an interview or a hold or something with those stats
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This is what I got “Unfortunately, we do not review applications with applicants. We ask that you take a printout of your application to your pre-health advisor.” I don’t have a prehealth advisor haha
 
EmDeeToBee said:
Good to know that after taking $100 (or more, I don’t remember) and sucking so many hours out of us in order to finish their long secondary, they just hit you with a response like that. Super disrespectful to applicants tbh
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The entire process is disrespectful. Shows how disconnected UMass is if they think everyone has access to a premed advisor. Non-trads especially, but there are so many other circumstances like mentors retiring that still affects trad applicants. Shame on UMass but only thing we can do is get in and make the path easier and more humane for the next generation.
 
MasterOogway said:
They’ll still send out IIs but trust me it’s weird w them. I thought I was a pretty good fit IS with a LM of 80ish and a 9 on preview but I got rejected last year. Had much better writing this cycle and more specific LOR and research yet still nothing. I thought it was a pretty safe bet for an II here but they are picky
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How do you know your writing was better this time? Did you have people check? The process is brutal but you should at least be considered.
 
EmDeeToBee said:
You said it man. From your mouth to God's ears.

I was reading I think it was your post the other day where you revealed post-app feedback you got from several schools. The comments were despicable, to say the least, and I don't blame you one bit for being furious. Knowing from adcoms that you "should" have gotten an II or there was nothing much else you could have done is just such a cop out answer.
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I got rejected from a school post interview where I had to use my limited PTO to get off of work and they won't even give me any feedback. They won't even reply with, "sorry but we can't". Just ghosted. This whole process is absolutely awful. With job interviews where they ghost you, at least I don't have to pay to apply.
 
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xhvlias said:
Does the PURCH interview include presentations about the program? Surely it's not 2.5hrs of straight MMI?
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It's not actually 2.5 hours. Mine took about 1.5-2 I'd say. Part of it was a discussion about PURCH and Q and A. I THINK (don't remember) there were 4 MMI stations?? I could be wrong tho.
 
brahyia0 said:
How do you know your writing was better this time? Did you have people check? The process is brutal but you should at least be considered.
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Combination of reflection and reading/learning. I had a different approach this year. An adcom told me specifically it was improved compared to last year as well which helped. Had some physicians and recent grads read my writing and it was imo a much much better reflection of me. I initially based my app thinking why I wanted to be a doctor and how learning from good doctors has shown me the Dr I wanna be when in reality I had to say why I wanted to be a doctor and how my experiences have reinforced that.
 
premeddddd122 said:
That’s so reassuring!! I am out of state so I was hoping there’d be time to visit home and it seems like that would be a good opportunity to do so😌 Also not sure if you’ve taken it yet but do you feel like they prepare you well for step I?
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I haven't taken it, so I can't comment on that. However, our curriculum is structured so that the higher-yield topics for Step 1 are scheduled closer to the exam, while the lower-yield foundational blocks are covered earlier in the preclinical years. There is also dedicated time for step.
 
EmDeeToBee said:
You said it man. From your mouth to God's ears.

I was reading I think it was your post the other day where you revealed post-app feedback you got from several schools. The comments were despicable, to say the least, and I don't blame you one bit for being furious. Knowing from adcoms that you "should" have gotten an II or there was nothing much else you could have done is just such a cop out answer.
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What post was it? Can you send it to me
 
Has anyone ever heard of schools--especially uMass, for example--waiving course requirements? I've taken 1/2 physics and every realistic available option ends in late Aug, which is after classes begin... Any input helps 🙂
 
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Hi! Just got the II and would be my first MMI. I was wondering if the circuits were all scenario/behavioral-based questions or if there were any traditional questions like why their school, etc?
 
Hi. I also just received an II and was wondering if the interview took longer than 2.5-3 hour slot they specified. Congrats to everyone who got accepted today!
 
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