Alabama Schools Thread Part 2!!

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
BigBeefNCheddar said:
I know it's taken forever for acceptances to be announced, but I was wondering if anyone knows if many rejections have been handed out? I know someone on this forum said they were told that the longer you don't hear anything, the better. It stands to reason that this means the adcom is "trimming the fat" before handing out a bulk of acceptances. One of my buddies in the 2012 class said they overaccepted last year and over half of those accepted heard by December. From what I understand, this is definitely not the case this cycle, but if this apprehension on the part of the adcom is true, I would have expected to hear about at least a few rejections by now. Has anyone else heard of anyone getting rejected?
Click to expand...

This all sounds good and I hope it's true, but unfortunately I haven't talked to anyone that has been rejected (pre- or post-interview) yet. I wasn't even offered an interview last year and I didn't receive a rejection until the third week of March. I am assuming the adcom will meet again at the end of this month and send out a handful of acceptances, and then hold a final committee meeting toward the end of March when everyone else is either accepted, rejected, or notified of waitlist position.

BTW, has any one received an interview invite from South recently? It seems like they have fallen completely off the map. I would love to go there, but I am assuming they will only be sending out invites for another three or four weeks so I am kinda getting worried. Pickins are getting slim.
 
WiseGuy1 said:
BTW, has any one received an interview invite from South recently? It seems like they have fallen completely off the map. I would love to go there, but I am assuming they will only be sending out invites for another three or four weeks so I am kinda getting worried. Pickins are getting slim.
Click to expand...

Nope; I haven't heard squat from South about an interview yet despite having had an interview at UAB in early January. I've been complete since late October. Either South has fallen off the map, or we have.
 
i think someone got an invite back in nov. for a jan. interview. so, since the last interview will be in like a month....do you think uab is still hanging out invites? how about usa?

i've had interview with uab back in nov. but still havent heard from usa either.
 
BigBeefNCheddar said:
I know it's taken forever for acceptances to be announced, but I was wondering if anyone knows if many rejections have been handed out? I know someone on this forum said they were told that the longer you don't hear anything, the better. It stands to reason that this means the adcom is "trimming the fat" before handing out a bulk of acceptances. One of my buddies in the 2012 class said they overaccepted last year and over half of those accepted heard by December. From what I understand, this is definitely not the case this cycle, but if this apprehension on the part of the adcom is true, I would have expected to hear about at least a few rejections by now. Has anyone else heard of anyone getting rejected?
Click to expand...

I don't know of any post-interview rejections as of yet.
 
chemnerd89 said:
I don't know of any post-interview rejections as of yet.
Click to expand...

I don't know of any either.

I also don't know of ANYONE hearing anything from USA, interviews.. acceptances... anything.

So I'm guessing we'll have to wait until the 26th or 27th to hear back from UAB. Is anyone else getting tired of having to answer "So have you heard anything yet?!" from friends and family? I know I sure am!
 
auburnO5 said:
I don't know of any either.

I also don't know of ANYONE hearing anything from USA, interviews.. acceptances... anything.

So I'm guessing we'll have to wait until the 26th or 27th to hear back from UAB. Is anyone else getting tired of having to answer "So have you heard anything yet?!" from friends and family? I know I sure am!
Click to expand...

I hate getting asked "So have you decided where you're going yet?" and having to explain that I don't even know IF I'm going yet.
 
I interviewed with UAB in late September and interviewed with South in January and was accepted to USA, still haven't heard from UAB.
 
Rgtry said:
I interviewed with UAB in late September and interviewed with South in January and was accepted to USA, still haven't heard from UAB.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind me asking what are your stats?
 
I haven't heard anything from South, ever. I called them once to ask about my application and the guy that I talked to was rude as hell. I don't know what is wrong with the people down there but they could at least be cordial.

And, come to think of it, I haven't really heard of anyone being rejected so far...
 
Just to help the folks who were wondering whether USA was still contacting folks - I was complete in like Nov. and they sent me an interview invite ~1 wk after; after that I was in e-mail contact with the admissions folks and I interviewed in January as well.

I however, have not heard anything after the end of Jan. The waiting is interminable! I really want to hear something (hopefully an accept!), even that I'm on the hold list or something.

As an aside, I was very impressed by USA. The students seem very happy, the staff loves being there and the emphasis is clearly on producing quality physicians. *crosses fingers*
 
SansNom said:
Just to help the folks who were wondering whether USA was still contacting folks - I was complete in like Nov. and they sent me an interview invite ~1 wk after; after that I was in e-mail contact with the admissions folks and I interviewed in January as well.

I however, have not heard anything after the end of Jan. The waiting is interminable! I really want to hear something (hopefully an accept!), even that I'm on the hold list or something.

As an aside, I was very impressed by USA. The students seem very happy, the staff loves being there and the emphasis is clearly on producing quality physicians. *crosses fingers*
Click to expand...

Do you mind posting your stats?

Does anyone know how South determines if they offer you an interview or not? It seems as though some people with average stats are getting looked over while others with average and comparable stats are being offered interviews. I've been complete since October (I know some others on here have been too) and haven't heard anything, and at least three people who were complete in November were offered an interview shortly after being complete. It gets more and more frustrating as the season begins to wind down.
 
WiseGuy1 said:
Do you mind posting your stats?

Does anyone know how South determines if they offer you an interview or not? It seems as though some people with average stats are getting looked over while others with average and comparable stats are being offered interviews. I've been complete since October (I know some others on here have been too) and haven't heard anything, and at least three people who were complete in November were offered an interview shortly after being complete. It gets more and more frustrating as the season begins to wind down.
Click to expand...

34Q, 3.2 cGPA/sGPA, in-state, some - but not as great as many folks' - ECs (int'l clinical volunteering, 1 yr healthcare consulting work exp, 1 yr research in Neuro, 1 yr in Ortho research, but no pubs)

Also not sure how South determines interviewing but if you call the Adm. office they are SUPER nice and helpful. In fact, if you call and he is available Director Scott himself will chat with you. Definitely call though if your stats are good. I know when I went to interview he was saying that they're about halfway through the interview cycle now (so about half their interviews are still to come, so don't lose hope). They interview 200 people, for about 110 spots, for a total class of 75. (I took notes :laugh:)
 
Hey Guys, just reading about the tension surrounding not getting interviewed by South. I applied last year, and was not interviewed by South, was interviewed by UAB, and got rejected by both late March.

So, I called and talked to Mark Scott and Nathan Smith and had my "post-rejection interviews". They both gave me good ideas for how to improve my application. For me it was primarily my MCAT score (I had a 26 at the time, now I have a 28...not much better but it seems that 27 is the real cut-off).

Wiseguy and VanBrown, did you do the same?? If you have, I think you could call Mark Scott and ask him what more you could do to get an interview? Mark Scott is seriously one of the nicest people I have ever met. He was so kind in my rejection interview. I think he really feels for the struggling med school applicant.

My impression from South (the interview process and speaking with Mark Scott) was that they value the student more than the stats. I think they have a minimum for the stats they will consider, but the interview process can really turn things around. Whereas, UAB is much more stats based. This is just my two cents, but I'm rooting for you guys!! Not that I have an acceptance anywhere...

Also, to avoid constant harrassment by family and friends, I have assured all of them that I will let them know when I hear something, and to stop asking. 😳 It's painful enough without that.
 
It seems I'm a late bloomer in the application cycle but I just got an interview invite from South Alabama (on 2/2) and an interview invite from UAB (on 2/6). I've been complete since early fall. Fingers and toes crossed that they go well!
 
I was wondering if you could fill us in on your thoughts on the curriculum changes. I would love to know your perspective, especially as the first class to experience it!

Your house is really cute and Bluff Park is an awesome area. I bet you all have no trouble selling!


uasom2011 said:
I am currently a second year medical student at UASOM. Let me know if you have any questions about the "new curriculum," for those of you who might be deciding whether or not to accept your spot. We were the first class to experience the new curriculum, so I have an interesting perspective of where it started, and what they have done with particular modules to make it better.

On another note, the real reason I just signed up was to shamelessly put a plug in for my house that is for sale. I am about to start my clinical third year in Tuscaloosa, and my wife is finishing residency this year also. We need to sell our house in Hoover (a suburb of the city about 13 minutes from the med school) to be more convenient for my clinicals and my wife's new practice. We were going to wait for match day to advertise to other residents and medical students, but I remembered all the hours I spent on SDN when I was applying and thought it would be a great way to get the word out to those of you moving to Birmingham.

I apologize if this offends anyone, but again, I am also available to answer any questions regarding a second year's perspective on the medical school curriculum. Let me know if you are interested. It is a 3/2 with an extra office that I finished out for 199,900. We are about to lower the price on it, too. Click here to link to it. The MLS # is 405933. I will be happy to talk/meet with anyone interested in the house or my experience at UASOM so far.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah I have had post-rejection interviews with Dean Smith. I have never heard a peep from USA and everytime I call I am treated rudely, as if I my inquiries are a waste of their time.

Essentially I have a low uGPA... nothing I can do about it. I am taking graduate classes right now and have made all As in them... something like 17 hours at this point. I have shadowed, volunteered, etc. And it isn't like my uGPA is bad or isn't somewhat excusable. You guys can check out my MDapps if you wanna know a little more.
 
VanBrown said:
Yeah I have had post-rejection interviews with Dean Smith. I have never heard a peep from USA and everytime I call I am treated rudely, as if I my inquiries are a waste of their time.

Essentially I have a low uGPA... nothing I can do about it. I am taking graduate classes right now and have made all As in them... something like 17 hours at this point. I have shadowed, volunteered, etc. And it isn't like my uGPA is bad or isn't somewhat excusable. You guys can check out my MDapps if you wanna know a little more.
Click to expand...

Have you been rejected by South before? If you have, you can have the same interview (I did mine by phone) with Dean Scott. The details are in the rejection letter, like they are for UAB.

Don't worry about the staff being rude to you. Ignore them and ask for a telephone conference with Mark Scott. I'm serious, he's really nice and helpful. I think it would be worth the effort.

Also, I have a "low GPA" too. Primarily because I went to a liberal arts college that didn't scale. Big mistake. I took classes at UAB and got a Masters in Ecology. And discussed this in my interviews when given the opportunity.
 
I did apply last year and got rejected by UAB and South without being interviewed by either. I never bothered with post-rejection interviews because I knew my MCAT was below an acceptable range (24). I figured both Mark Scott and Dean Smith would tell me to raise the MCAT and re-apply. I improved my MCAT to a 31 this summer and re-applied, got interviewed at UAB in October but haven't heard anything from South. Do you guys think I should call Mark Scott and see what I could do to help me get an interview? I know UAB won't really let you do this until you've been officially rejected, but Im not sure about South. Do I just call the admissions office and ask to talk to Mr. Scott, or do I need to set up an appointment? Thanks for all the replies.
 
I have never heard anything from South after submitting my secondary. I submit my AMCAS, get my secondary about 2 weeks later and submit that and never hear from them again. I have never even received a letter from them as being rejected. I may try to call this Mark Scott fellow.

UAB has it's flaws but at least they have been cordial to me. I was waitlisted there before and took the last application cycle off to work on my application and they have been really nice this year. South, on the other hand, has been cold from the beginning.
 
kdsims said:
It seems I'm a late bloomer in the application cycle but I just got an interview invite from South Alabama (on 2/2) and an interview invite from UAB (on 2/6). I've been complete since early fall. Fingers and toes crossed that they go well!
Click to expand...


Congrats, when are your interviews scheduled?
 
kdsims said:
It seems I'm a late bloomer in the application cycle but I just got an interview invite from South Alabama (on 2/2) and an interview invite from UAB (on 2/6). I've been complete since early fall. Fingers and toes crossed that they go well!
Click to expand...

good luck!!
 
WiseGuy1 said:
Congrats, when are your interviews scheduled?
Click to expand...

They're scheduled for 2/18 and 2/19...not sure if that's a blessing or a curse! Just very thankful to have them! Thanks to all for the good luck wishes!
 
Accepted today to UAB. Just received the email today at 10:36am.😱
 
I have a 28 on the MCAT, and a 3.3 uGPA at Sewanee. I got my Masters in Tropical Ecology at UF and had a 3.92 GPA there. I also took 5 upper level classes at UAB and got As in all of them. I have been a research assistant in Pediatrics here at UAB for 2 years, and have other volunteering and shadowing experience.

I was sure that my low stats would keep me out of UAB, but it seem like there is hope for people like me!!
 
genipa said:
I have a 28 on the MCAT, and a 3.3 uGPA at Sewanee. I got my Masters in Tropical Ecology at UF and had a 3.92 GPA there. I also took 5 upper level classes at UAB and got As in all of them. I have been a research assistant in Pediatrics here at UAB for 2 years, and have other volunteering and shadowing experience.

I was sure that my low stats would keep me out of UAB, but it seem like there is hope for people like me!!
Click to expand...


That's really super, my friend. It's also a big boost for those of us with average stats. I have a 29R with a 3.4 uGPA at a school similar to Sewanee with an MPH in epidemiology from UAB (4.0 grad gpa). Maybe I have a chance.

Congrats again.
 
Congrats Genipa!!!! Since this is the second Tuesday in a row that someone has been accepted, does this mean we should compulsively check our emails on Tuesdays rather than Fridays??
 
genipa said:
I have a 28 on the MCAT, and a 3.3 uGPA at Sewanee. I got my Masters in Tropical Ecology at UF and had a 3.92 GPA there. I also took 5 upper level classes at UAB and got As in all of them. I have been a research assistant in Pediatrics here at UAB for 2 years, and have other volunteering and shadowing experience.

I was sure that my low stats would keep me out of UAB, but it seem like there is hope for people like me!!
Click to expand...

Congrats! It sounds like all your hard work paid off! When was your interview btw?
 
genipa said:
Accepted today to UAB. Just received the email today at 10:36am.😱
Click to expand...

Congrats! That's awesome.

I wonder if the adcom will still meet at the end of this month? Starting to get a little nervous here...
 
What is with this Tuesday business? And two in a row at that?
 
chemnerd89 said:
What is with this Tuesday business? And two in a row at that?
Click to expand...


I have been thinking about this too...

It doesn't seem likely that they have changed the admissions standard the past two weeks in a row and someone said they werent meeting again until the end of this month. So here is my theory. Since the cycle is entering the final stretch people are starting to wittle down their acceptance lists to the schools they really want to go to. UASOM has been accepting a lot of high-stat folks who most likely have multiple acceptances and they are starting to withdraw. As they withdraw people are accepted one at a time off of the list. Not sure if that is what is happening but it is a possibility.
 
Thanks so much for all the well wishes.

I interviewed back in December.

Good luck to everyone!! I hope to see you all next year!
 
VanBrown said:
I have been thinking about this too...

It doesn't seem likely that they have changed the admissions standard the past two weeks in a row and someone said they werent meeting again until the end of this month. So here is my theory. Since the cycle is entering the final stretch people are starting to wittle down their acceptance lists to the schools they really want to go to. UASOM has been accepting a lot of high-stat folks who most likely have multiple acceptances and they are starting to withdraw. As they withdraw people are accepted one at a time off of the list. Not sure if that is what is happening but it is a possibility.
Click to expand...


so.....if you're right.....does that mean....the acceptance email can come any day of the week? You think anything will happen tomorrow?
 
angelhair said:
so.....if you're right.....does that mean....the acceptance email can come any day of the week? You think anything will happen tomorrow?
Click to expand...

I keep telling myself I'm going to stop doing this Friday dance. Maybe Friday the 13th will be our lucky day...
 
I am not sure about how often people can expect to be accepted but I do know that UAB doesn't generally just send out block acceptances. I think that if the things we assume are true (low acceptance # at this point, mostly only very competitive applicants accepted, attrition of applicants) then, yes, acceptances could, under those circumstances, come at any time. Of course, we have a very limited few of what is going on and all of this is just speculation but it is fun.

Personally I would be OK with being accepted on any day...
 
VanBrown said:
Personally I would be OK with being accepted on any day...
Click to expand...

True enough, but Fridays are ideal. I'd hate to miss work the day after. Does anyone else have a special bottle of whiskey saved up for such an occasion?

Part of me wants to let mine age another year, but the rest of me doesn't give a damn how old it is.
 
LumberJack said:
True enough, but Fridays are ideal. I'd hate to miss work the day after. Does anyone else have a special bottle of whiskey saved up for such an occasion?

Part of me wants to let mine age another year, but the rest of me doesn't give a damn how old it is.
Click to expand...

As I understand it spirits do not age in-bottle. Your 12 year old Scotch, Whiskey, Rum, etc. is always a 12 yr because the aging process requires the spirit to be in wood barrels being tempered by the wood and environmental contaminants (air, etc.).

Aging in-bottle only applies to wine, beer, port, etc. where the drink actually continues aging in-bottle.

My conclusion being: you can let the whole of you be excited to crack open that bottle! Now, back to obsessing about letters, e-mails and days of acceptance (the wait is killing me btw)! :xf:
 
SansNom said:
As I understand it spirits do not age in-bottle. Your 12 year old Scotch, Whiskey, Rum, etc. is always a 12 yr because the aging process requires the spirit to be in wood barrels being tempered by the wood and environmental contaminants (air, etc.).

Aging in-bottle only applies to wine, beer, port, etc. where the drink actually continues aging in-bottle.

My conclusion being: you can let the whole of you be excited to crack open that bottle! Now, back to obsessing about letters, e-mails and days of acceptance (the wait is killing me btw)! :xf:
Click to expand...

Thank you for the treatise on spirits. Everyone should understand such things.

However, I should have probably clarified that my "bottle" of 131 proof 2005 G.T. Stagg Kentucky Bourbon has been aging in a 1L wine cask since mid-2007.
 
Hey VanBrown, did you ever try to call Mark Scott?

I hate thinking I might get out right rejected from South with no interview.
 
WiseGuy1 said:
Hey VanBrown, did you ever try to call Mark Scott?

I hate thinking I might get out right rejected from South with no interview.
Click to expand...

No, i have been mad busy this week at work and school and I have my Tulane interview on Monday and a neuro test Tuesday when I get back... I might call him next week. Is he the South guy that everyone should call?

Hope all is well!
 
hey the interview season is not over yet. they will send you an email 2-3 weeks before the interview, which ends on mar 18. (South) so don't give up hope yet!
 
I am curious. I have been reading the profiles on this thread. Most people who have posted on this thread only apply to three to five schools, and almost all of these schools are in the South. This is very different from the typical SDN profile where generally an applicant will apply to 15-20 schools located in various geographical areas all over the United States. Why is this? Deep afinity for the South, fear of leaving the familiarity of the South, no interest in living in another area of the country, stronger family ties in the South. I understand that attending your state school is less expensive, but there must be more to it than just that - since that factor applies to everyone other than those who do not have a state school such as New Hampshire. I don't see this with applicants from the East Coast, the West Coast, or the midwest who apply to med schools scattered around the country. It is an interesting sociological phenomena. The principle of applying broadly and widely does not seem to apply to applicants from the South in general.
 
Last edited:
searun said:
I am curious. I have been reading the profiles on this thread. Most people who have posted on this thread only apply to three to five schools, and almost all of these schools are in the South. This is very different from the typical SDN profile where generally an applicant will apply to 15-20 schools located in various geographical areas all over the United States. Why is this? Deep afinity for the South, fear of leaving the familiarity of the South, no interest in living in another area of the country, stronger family ties in the South. I understand that attending your state school is less expensive, but there must be more to it than just that - since that factor applies to everyone other than those who do not have a state school such as New Hampshire. I don't see this with applicants from the East Coast, the West Coast, or the midwest who apply to med schools scattered around the country. It is an interesting sociological phenomena. The principle of applying broadly and widely does not seem to apply to applicants from the South in general.
Click to expand...

I applied to 15 I believe, but mostly to Southern/East Coast schools.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wysdoc
  • Sticky
*~*~*~* Official TMDSAS Questions Thread 2025-2026 *~*~*~*~*
2 3 4 5
Replies
217
Views
18K
thestrugglingpremedd
T
chilly_md
  • Sticky
*~*~*~* Official AMCAS Questions Thread 2025-2026 *~*~*~*
2
Replies
90
Views
13K
chilly_md
chilly_md
wysdoc
2025-2026 Alabama
Replies
26
Views
7K
nutinyoursoup
N
chilly_md
~*~*~*~*~* Official Letters of Evaluation Questions Thread 2025-2026 *~*~*~*~*~
2
Replies
70
Views
5K
chilly_md
chilly_md
wysdoc
2025-2026 U South Alabama
Replies
6
Views
2K
nutinyoursoup
N
Top